Chapter one
2007 somewhere in the US
Agatha Harkness never felt this strange since she got the Darkhold many years ago. But something felt very different, she felt almost like 300 years ago. Even after all this time Agatha could still remember how it felt to have a child inside her belly. But she couldn't be pregnant. Right? Yeah, she met Rio three months, two weeks and five days ago -not that she keeps track of the time that had passed since then- and yes, they got intimate but how high are the chances to be pregnant after this one time? Luckily for Agatha, the world had changed since the 17th century and it is easy to confirm if her gut feeling has been right or not. Agatha went to a pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test. After that, she went home and immediately took the test. "Shit". "This can't be happening again" she mumbled to herself after the test confirmed what Agatha already knew deep down. With the positive pregnancy test in her hand, she made herself a promise. She would protect this baby at all costs, and that also involved not to tell Rio about this. "I won't let her take you little one, I promise," she whispered while stroking her stomach.
Agatha kept that promise. She already hid from Rio with the help of the Darkhold but she made those protection walls even stronger and it was impossible for Rio to find them now. The spirit witch decided to go to a doctor which helped her during the pregnancy and nine months later, on the 23th of August, she gave birth to a completely healthy and beautiful baby girl. She named her Willow because the name is connected to nature and so her daughter is also connected to Rio in some way -even if she tells herself this isn't part of the reason for her name choice- and the name represents strength and confidence, perfect for her little girl. After she was allowed to leave the hospital, Agatha decided it would be the best for Willow if she had a real home. So Agatha settled down in Westview, it was the first time she had a real home since the cottage she had shared with Rio and Nicky.
2008, Westview
Willow had turned one year a few days ago and Agatha still couldn't believe how her life had changed since she learned that she was pregnant. She now had a beautiful daughter, something she never dared to dream about since Nicky. She also owns a house now, maybe she stole it and killed the original owner of this house, but only maybe. No one misses him anyway, he was very old and had no family or friends and the neighbors just thought that he died because of natural causes. Agatha had to stay away for a day to be sure not to bump into Rio accidentally but it was worth it because now she owns a beautiful house in a small town and her daughter has good circumstances to grow up with a happy childhood. Even though she already had experience with parenthood, Agatha was still scared to turn out like her mother and to lose her daughter like her son. The thought of losing Willow was almost unbearable for the spirit witch. But every time her daughter smiled at her or laughed just because her mother looked at her, those thoughts vanished from Agatha's mind and she was just happy to be blessed with her beautiful baby girl.
Agatha loved her daughter's smile and how she managed to light up her mood only with her smile, because of that, Agatha started to call Willow 'Sunshine' and it quickly became Willow's nickname. During her daily walks with her daughter, Agatha met an old lady named Sharon Davis. Sharon only lived down the street with her husband Todd Davis. Thanks to the fact that Agatha walked by their house during her walks, Sharon started to talk to her whenever she was in her front yard, working on her flowers. They got along very well, even if Agatha just couldn't remember Sharon's name, no matter how often she heard it. They started to talk daily and it quickly became a constant at Agatha's walks which ended with the talk to Sharon ever since.
2013, Westview
In a few days, it will be Willow's sixth birthday and Agatha was already scared because she had lost Nicky when he was six years old. The fear of losing her daughter would never completely go away of course, but Agatha was positive that the fear would weaken once Willow would turn seven. A few years ago, when Willow was three years old she got the flu and was very sick. Those days were one of the most horrific for the spirit witch since she became a mother again. Luckily, Sharon, who became a very close friend for Agatha and even though she wouldn't admit it, also became kind of a mother figure for Agatha, helped her with her sick daughter and Willow fully recovered after a week. Fortunately something like that hadn't happened since then. Of course Willow still got sick sometimes, which child doesn't? But it never got this bad again.
The older Willow got, the more she was interested in nature and especially into flowers. Agatha felt like the universe was mocking her, because of course her daughter was into flowers like her wife. No, her ex-wife , Agatha had to remind herself of this fact on a daily basis. To be fair, they never really got a divorce but their fights and the fact that Agatha hid behind the darkhold, makes normal divorces look like a sunny morning walk. But not only the shared interest in nature and flowers made Willow look like Rio, she also was almost a copy of the green witch. Sure, she also got features from Agatha but just like Nicky, she looked exactly like Rio. Agatha felt betrayed because of this fact. She carried both children inside her belly for fucking nine months and they still looked like Rio. Fucking Rio who didn't even knew of the existence of her daughter. Who was the universe kidding with making both her children look like a copy of her wife? NO EX-WIFE! God, she really had to get that into her head.
Thanks to the fact that Willow will turn six during the summer break, she will start elementary school after the summer. Agatha decided to send her to the local elementary school because she wanted her daughter to be able to connect with children from their neighborhood and maybe even to find some friends. The only concern that still settled in Agatha was that Willow still hadn't shown any signs of magic. To be fair, Agatha doesn't really know when children start to show their magick because thanks to her mother, her own magic was released at a very young age for protection and Nicky's magic never came out because of his illness. So she doesn't really know when Willow’s magic will burst out of her daughter but she hopes it happens before Willow is starting school because how should she explain a magic outburst to the teachers?
Luckily, Agatha didn't have to worry about that for long. On Willow's birthday she woke to a scream from her daughter. "MOOOM HELP" was all the spirit witch needed to hear before she practically jumped out of her bed and teleported herself into her daughter's room. After she noticed what made her daughter scream for her help, she immediately relaxed because the only extraordinary thing was the small purple light in her daughter's hands. Her magic finally came out and of course, the sudden outburst of purple light scarred the little girl. "Come here sunshine, everything is fine, that's your own purple" she gently pulled her daughter in her arms with her left hand and called on her own magic with her right hand and copied the light of her daughter. "See? You don't have to be scared, little one". "I also have purple like you?" Willow's voice was small and you could hear how impressed she was because of the fact her mother and she shared the same magic. "Of course, you're my daughter, aren't you?" While asking that, Agatha called her purple back and hugged her daughter who started to giggle and hugged her mother back. Thanks to the movements,Willow's purple light went out and she looked amazed at her hand. "Don't worry, I will show you how to control your purple" Agatha reassured her daughter before wishing her a happy birthday.
Later that day, Sharon and Todd came over to celebrate Willow’s birthday with them. For that Agatha had baked a cake, she never was the best at baking and never even really liked it but thanks to her daughter, who loved those things, she eventually had to get along with baking. Agatha had told Sharon and Todd that she’s a witch a few years ago after she let her walls down and felt comfortable enough with them. She even told them her true story, not all details of course but they knew most of it. Naturally, the first thing she told them was that Willow finally got her magic and while they both got excited, Willow just smiled and proudly showed them the purple light from this morning. Agatha spent the entire morning teaching her how to control this light because Willow wanted to show it to Sharon and Todd.
2015, Westview
It was the last day of school before the winter break when it happened. Willow, who was now eight years old, came home and told Agatha that one of her teachers will die this day. Agatha was confused and asked her why she would say that and her daughter just told her that she had the feeling that he would die and nothing could change that.
A few hours later, Agatha got a message in the parent’s group chat -yes she had to buy herself a mobile phone because those noisy parent’s wanted to update each other, as if she cared what goes on in their pathetic lives or what happens to their children- that Mr.Miller had a car accident and died because of his injuries, he was only 37. Naturally it was very surprising for everyone. Shocked, Agatha put her phone down and called for her daughter. “Willow, which teacher is going to die?” she had to ask because maybe, just maybe there is a chance that this is only a very big coincidence. “Mr.Miller”. Agatha had to take a deep breath to steady herself. She had hoped that Willow only had inherited her purple but it seems like she got the ability to sense people's death from Rio. “It happened, didn’t it? He died because of an accident, am I right mom?” Agatha couldn’t answer, she was shocked and was only able to open and close her mouth while she searched in her mind for an answer she could give her daughter without freaking her out. “I know I am right, because after I had the feeling that he was going to die, I had to give him a hug because he looked so lonely and than I just knew that he is going to die during a car accident when he drives home from grocery shopping in the afternoon, I couldn’t do anything about it mom. I swear I tried, I placed a protection spell around him without him noticing of course but he still died. I am so sorry, I swear I tried to save him mom, I promise” Willow started to cry and Agatha pulled her in her arms immediately. “hey, sunshine that wasn’t your fault okay? First of all it is not your job to protect people, especially if you know that they are going to die no matter what and secondly, you told me yourself that you could sense that nothing was able to change the outcome of this situation, so remember that and stop blaming yourself for this. You’re the most kind and helpful girl I know, you tried to help him but sometimes, people die. It’s the natural order of all things, death is a part of life. It's totally fine to feel sad about his death but don’t blame yourself, you did absolutely nothing wrong sunshine” Agatha told her daughter while stroking her hair and kissing her forehead between her sentences. She never had thought that she would ever say those things about death, but somewhere during these last years and with the help of Sharon, she learned that nothing and most important, no one could have changed what happened with Nicky. He was too small and too ill to live and the only reason that he lived for those six years was Rio. Agatha had forgiven her a few years ago after realising that. If Agatha was fair, there isn’t even something she has to forgive Rio for, she gave them time, thanks to her ex-wife -at least she got that finally right- she had those six years with her son. She was still a little angry at Rio that she took Nicky in the night but maybe Rio had a good reason why she had done that. Even though she finally had forgiven Rio, she couldn’t bring it over herself to break the spell which shielded herself and her daughter from Rio because she was scared. Agatha still loves Rio, there’s no doubt but she didn’t know if Rio still loved her and she wasn’t ready to find that out. She couldn’t even blame her after all those centuries full of hatred from her towards her ex and maybe, that was the worst part.
Of course, Willow was curious why she rightfully predicted the death of her teacher and Agatha decided to tell her a few things about this ability. Agatha thought that her daughter was still a little bit too young for the full story but she told her that this power comes from her other parent. “I already told you that you have two moms but what I haven’t told you is that your mama is the original green witch, this means she is Death” Willow’s head shot up from Agatha's shoulder and she looked at her mother with big confused eyes. “Death? Does this mean she kills all the people who die, is she dangerous and is that the reason she’s not with us?” Agatha could hear that her daughter is scared of the fact that Rio is death and her heart broke a little at this fact. “No sweetheart, Death isn’t allowed to kill people, like I already told you, death is a part of life, it is natural and your mama’s job is to help those people who die to cross over into the afterlife. Her being Death has nothing to do with her not being with us, I will explain it completely to you when you’re older but your mama hasn't abandoned you, I promise you that she loves you very much. You don’t have to be scared of her, never.I promise there isn’t any reason you have to be scared and she would never hurt you. Just like me, she would do anything she can to protect you Willow” Agatha used her daughter’s full name to make her statement clear, Rio would never hurt their daughter and she would love her unconditionally if she knew about her existence. Agatha is sure about this fact and she feels bad that Willow didn’t know Rio just because of her choices, even if the decision felt right all those years ago, she wasn’t sure if she still could believe that it was right. “You promise mom?” Willow asked with a small curious voice. “I promise” Agatha held out her pinky. “Pinky promise, you don’t have to fear her and she loves you” Willow smiled and combined her pinky with her mother’s.
2020, Westview
Willow was now thirteen and a lot had happened since she predicted her teacher's death five years ago. She could now completely control her purple and she had learnt to live with her ability to sense people's death. She also was able to save a few people because thanks to her power, she could also sense if something was able to change if their going to die or not and if she knew she could save them, she projected a protection spell around them for a day and because of that, she had managed to save a few people. When she had turned ten, her green witch powers also came out. Willow loved those powers because she was able to grow her own flowers and thanks to her love for flowers, this was her favorite power.
Her mother finally had told her the truth about Rio and she really wanted to meet her but she also could understand why her mom was scared to let the hiding spell go down. Agatha had made sure that Willow wasn’t scared of Rio and somewhere during her stories about her wife -yes, she started to call her “wife” in her head again because she still loved her very much and the title “ex-wife” just broke her heart and made her feel uncomfortable, also they never got divorced so why call her “ex”- her daughter started to adore Rio. Agatha was aware of the wish of her daughter but selfishly, she couldn't grant Willow the wish to meet Rio because she still was too scared to face her. The logical part of her knew it only got worse the longer she waited but the scared part always won over the logical part.
Even after those thirteen years, Agatha still got scared sometimes to turn out like her mother or to be a bad mother in general but Sharon reassured her every single time that she hasn’t to worry about that. Deep down, Agatha knew that Sharon was right. She was good to Nicky and nothing has happened with Willow and she was now a wonderful thirteen year old girl and Agatha couldn’t be more proud of her daughter. She was doing very well in school, she only got good grades and was even in the school's basketball team and she was very good at it. Willow also was pretty good with her magic, with all three of them. Agatha also managed somehow to teach Willow to control her siphoning ability. How she did that was still a miracle for Agatha. All in all could you say that Agatha's life was really good now. She had a wonderful daughter, a real home and she even had found a family with Sharon and Todd. The only thing missing was Rio, but Agatha had to live with the fact that she had shot her out of her life and that there’s no one else to blame than herself for that. She has to live the rest of her life without the love of her life, without her best friend and without the person she always felt the safest with. She had not only lost her wife, she had lost her best friend, her soulmate, her home and it was entirely her own fault.