Ada observed the girl. She had known the moment that she saw Mildred that something was special about her. At first the fact that the girl had done poorly on her tests when she told Hecate she had been down for Pentangle's troubled her, but when she realized Mildred was not from a magical family, well that was a different story. When she had come back still, after having been sent away by Hecate, Ada's respect and care for the young girl jumped tenfold. Though her mother likely would have been skeptical, she could not fault Mildred for having been born to a non-magical, though how that was possible still shocked her. Regardless, she knew that Pentangle's had others at their academy from such walks of life and felt that perhaps this could be what started Cackle's in the same direction. First thing first though, she would have to get the young girl's mother on board.
"Very well, I think we should summon your parent or guardian, Mildred." Ada informed and waved her hand, pausing when Hecate flickered and reappeared, face paling as she stared at the young girl in front of them.
"A-A-Ada?" Hecate whispered and Ada swallowed, waving her hand again, causing the same reaction. She saw Mildred's confused face, obviously thinking the spell had gone wrong, and then she noticed Hecate sway and reached out to steady her deputy head, waving a chair into existence underneath her.
"Did the spell fail, Miss Cackle?" Millie questioned, tugging one of her braids nervously. Miss Hardbroom looked particularly dreadful and the color of her skin was like her Mum's waxed candles that came out during Halloween, shaped like the vertebras from someone's back. However, Miss Cackle shook her head and patted Miss Hardbroom's knee before turning to look back at her.
"Mildred, I need to ask, who is it that you live with at home?" Ada inquired and Mildred frowned slightly but answered nonetheless.
"I live with my Mum, just Mum and me." Millie explained and Ada squeezed Hecate's knee.
"What is her name?" Ada continued, leaning forward and regarding Mildred intently.
"Julie...Julie Hubble." Mildred replied watching as Miss Hardbroom clenched her fists and leaned forward, gasping for breath. Miss Cackle actually looked no better but she seemed to remember that Mildred was there and with only a slight hesitation, she waved her hand and caused her Mum to finally appear.
"Mum!" Millie cried and rushed forward into her Mum's arms, noticing that the older woman was shaking as she carded her fingers through Millie's hair. Mildred leaned her head back and raised her eyebrow in question, causing Miss Cackle to laugh which quickly turned into a sob.
"W-what are we...how did you...?" Julie whispered and Mildred went to answer before she realized her Mum was looking at Miss Hardbroom, though the darker haired witch was not even moving at this point. In fact, as Millie peered closer, she noticed that Miss Hardbroom's lips were quivering and there were tears trickling down her face. Glancing back up at her Mum, she noticed her Mum was glaring to cover up the fact that she too was emotionally a mess.
"It...it was me, Julie. I transferred you here. Mildred, she...well actually she fell into the pond today...with our Maud Spellbody...and well it's honestly rather a long story, but we were hoping that Mildred could come to Cackle's...it's just when I went to call her parent..." Ada trailed off and Julie breathed deeply before turning to face Ada.
"No. My daughter will never go to a school where you are the head. I think that you have caused quite enough trouble. I will not allow Mildred to become some pawn in your game..." Julie snapped gently pushing Mildred to the side and advancing forward as she spoke.
"Julie....please." Hecate sobbed and Julie froze, turning back towards the other witch, eyes narrowed but quickly filling with the tears she had successfully kept at bay. The two continued to stare at each other and Mildred was shocked when Miss Hardbroom stumbled around the side of Miss Cackle's desk and hesitantly placed her arms on her Mum's arms. At first, Julie shrugged Hecate off, but when the darker haired woman dropped to her knees, Millie watched as her Mum faltered. Miss Hardbroom did not try to approach her again though, she just braced herself against the floor as sobs shook through her, causing her arms to wobble and her breath to become labored.
"Julia Paige Cronwin Hardbroom that is enough! I will not stand here and watch you treat my Godchild like that. I do not know what kind of game you are playing at, but it stops now or I will physically remove you from this castle and bar you from ever seeing Mildred again!" Ada bellowed and Julie saw red. Starting forward, she was about to smack Ada when Millie screamed.
"No! No, Mum please. Please, let's just go. Please." Millie sobbed and Julie stopped, turning back to her baby and catching her as she barreled into her chest.
"Shh, shh, Mummy's here. Shhh. It's alright. I've got you. I'm here. I'm here." Julie soothed, kissing Millie's head and rubbing her back in circular motions around first one shoulder blade and then the next. As Mildred's sobs quietened, Julie became aware that apparently Hecate had stood and cast a silencing spell as she was in Ada's face shouting and gesturing to Millie's distraught form. Shaking her head and refusing to let Ada appear to actually care about the darker haired witch, she closed her eyes and focused, grinning in triumph when she heard a small 'pop' and sound filtered back in.
"Oi! That's enough!" Julie shouted and both witches froze, pivoting towards her.
"H-how?" Hecate gasped and Julie blushed, averting her eyes.
"Julie...did you? How is that even? What has happened over these last twelve years? Are you truly Julia Cronwin?" Ada demanded, waving her hand before Julie could respond and causing a document to appear in her right hand as a vial popped into her other.
“Fine, Ada, if that’s the game you want to play, here, test my blood. You will find it is an exact sample to the blood given on the day that Hecate and I were married.” Julie snapped and Millie gasped, causing Julie to wince at how thoughtless that had been. Still, she was tired of Ada’s games. Ada knew good and well why she could use magic. Trying to pretend was just salt into a wound and to purposefully send a first year to befriend Millie was uncalled for. Yes, she could have moved far away from Cackle’s eleven years ago, but she thought that if she stayed close by, perhaps occasionally she might catch of glimpse of Hecate. Plus, she could keep an eye on any activity that Ada was getting up to not to mention her heart felt heavy at the thought of removing Millie from what should have been like a home to her. So, she had stayed in an apartment with a great view of the castle and watched as Millie began to notice it. When she had been little, Millie would build castles out of clay and building blocks to match what she saw and then just that morning she had been painting another painting of it. In fact, she had almost caved and admitted that she could see it too but honestly that did not seem like a great idea because there was no way she would trust Ada to be around her little girl.
Of course, now she supposed that was a rather moot point. Millie had found her way to Cackle’s and the look on Hecate’s face was killing her. Never had she seen her so distraught, not even on the day of their wedding when her biological family refused to come and their friends had stood up for her. The fact that Julie’s family did not come was not surprising to say the least but Hecate had hoped that at least her older sister, Constance, could be talked into attending. The pain on her face as she stood at the end of the aisle, unable to walk even a step because she could tell that none of her family had come, had done Julie in. Instead of forcing Hecate to walk to her, Julie had cantered off down the aisle and slipped her arm through her bride-to-be’s, escorting Hecate back to the platform herself. Ada had met the duo at the platform and gave Hecate away, which at the time had really pulled at Julie’s heartstrings but now made her furious. How could the woman who claimed to love Hecate as her own, had since she was a little girl in fact, be responsible for the pain both women and Millie had felt over the last twelve years?
Turning back, she watched as Ada dropped her blood just below the part that was infused with her blood from the wedding ceremony and the paper glowed first a bright white before settling into a light blue. When the area stayed light blue, Ada and Hecate both looked at her in shock and once again Hecate was barely able to keep herself upright. It was Ada’s reaction though that truly confused her. Ada’s eyes were locked onto Millie but not in a calculating way. No, Ada was observing her little girl like a grandma would her a new baby, freshly christened and cocooned in a basinet. The love that showed through her eyes was unmistakable and it cut Julie to the quick when Ada realized she was being watched and looked up into her eyes, the same love radiating at her, though perhaps a tad more hesitant.
“Please, Julie, can we talk? I…I don’t understand… w-we thought you were dead.” Ada admitted and Julia felt the breath catch in her chest, breastbone searing in agony.
“How dare you!?! You are the one that sent me away with that spill about how-.” Julie ranted and then stopped, turning back to look at her little girl. O, Millie. This part was not going to be fair to her little girl. All of her life, Julie had avoided conversations of Millie’s other parent. Skirting around the topic the best way she knew how. Now, though, not only would her little one realize she should have grown up in this world she found herself suddenly thrust into but that the ‘dad’ she had long ago envisioned did not exist. It was so cruel, but to even let Ada have time to form a rebuttable was not something she would let happen.
“Millie, love, I… I promise that I will explain everything as soon as I have finished speaking with… Miss Cackle, ok?” Julie pleaded and Millie nodded, looking more confused than ever and also a little intrigued.
Nodding and pivoting back, Julie pointed her finger at Ada, “This is not how I wanted my little girl to find all of this out, but you have left me no choice. How dare you stand there looking concerned and elated to see the two of us, acting shocked that I have powers, and flabbergasted that Millie exists, when you were the one that sent me away. What happened to that rubbish you said? ‘O, Julie, dear. I can tell there is something you’ve neglected to tell Hecate, isn’t there? A wee little one brewing within you, perhaps? I am so disappointed in you, Julia. At a time like this of all times. Hecate has so much on her plate. How can you do this to her? It’s not enough that her parents have contacted her about disowning her, which she has hidden so you would not feel guilty, but now you are going to weigh her down with a child? Was convincing her to open a school with Pippa not enough? What more do you expect from her? The poor girl is going to be stretched to the quick. I have already found her, night after night, sobbing in her lab, uncertain of what she is going to do. If you truly loved her, you would see what you are doing is going to kill her. Hecate is focused on her career right now, but if she finds out you are expecting, there is no way that she can leave a child unattended. She will let her duties fall to care for both you and the child, trying to be whatever you both need, and in the end, when the job with Pippa falls through, she will resent the both of you. Your child will grow up knowing that her existence caused her mother’s pain to increase. Caused both of her mothers to drift apart, to self-destruct. If you really loved my little Cat, you would leave. Pretend that you are tired of this marriage, tired of being with someone who can exist in two worlds while you are forced into one, and never mention the child. Raise the little one by yourself and let that be your gift to Hecate. After all, if she really cares, she will find her way back to you one day, yes? Of course if she doesn’t, well…’ Then, I—I tried so…. to explain…. I told you…. but you insisted whatever powers were there would fade…” Julie sobbed, burying her hands in her face, sobs coursing through her, stealing her ability to breath and forcing her to take gasping breaths to function. Then, she felt the air shift and looked up to see bottles all around the office shaking.
At first, she was afraid that Millie was causing this, as it had happened a few times before during her youth, but then she realized, as lightening crackled outside and a storm trickled in that it was Hecate. Hecate was a very different witch indeed, as Julie had seen time and again, formulating best in her control of electrical currents. Whenever she was angry, lights in the apartment would blow, televisions malfunctioned, and even the odd microwave or two had short-circuited. However, her most iconic reactions were like this one. Because electricity reacted to her so readily, the atmosphere around her became charged and reacted as it would if a storm was coming. Thunder, lightening, wind, sometimes rain, and even an occasional tornado would roll about, causing hazardous conditions to be out and about in. In fact, that was why Pippa had been such an amazing friend to Hecate. While others were leery of her ability to control such a sporadic element, even being able to create sparks and begin fires when needed with just a soft snap of her fingers, Pippa found it enthralling. Pippa was similarly inclined, able to manifest weather conditions, most primarily sunny days or occasionally light breezes, and found as the two aged that if Hecate got too upset, Pippa’s powers could undo the storms brewing within, making the rain and damage caused by Hecate’s outburst disappear in seconds, leaving behind sunshine and calm. It had been that connection that had carried the two through their years at Cackle’s, allowed both to flourish during secondary school, and caused Hecate to listen when Pippa had spotted Julie one evening in London, shopping in Diagon Alley with her friends, when Hecate was visiting the local apothecary.
Glancing back now though, the smiling young woman that had knocked over some of the unicorn horns and caused damaged to two of them, blushing as she paid for the products and gave one to Julie as a keepsake. Later, after the two had dated for around three months, Hecate explained that what she had meant by giving her the horn was that Julie’s smile that day had wiped away all the pain she had been in over Constance siding with her parents concerning Hecate’s choices to teach much the same way unicorn horns were used in potions to dispel poisons. It had warmed Julie to the core, and she had fallen even more hopelessly in love with the darker haired witch. Now though, Hecate’s eyes were dark and the storm was striking trees in the forest left and right. While a part of her thought she should feel vindicated, the truth was seeing Hecate so distraught did not make-up for getting to see Ada realize she had messed up. Only, when she glanced over to Ada, the older woman was trembling, tears coursing down her cheeks, as she stood there, not even trying to place a barrier between her and Hecate. The glass that had busted from the vials was headed towards her and still she did nothing. Knowing how the other witch would react once she had calmed enough to realize she hurt someone, Julie inched forwards and wrapped her arms around the darker haired witch, wincing as a few pieces of glass scraped her cheeks, penetrating her weak shield.
“Hecate… Hecate… HICCUP, stop!” Julie screamed, pulling Hecate’s head down to her shoulder and kissing her temple. As she made contact and her words filtered through the trembling witch’s head, the pieces fell to the ground and Hecate clung to her, body shaking, before she lost consciousness, and Julie was left to support her as she tried to carefully lower the two to the ground. Then, she felt magic envelope the two and knew that Ada was assisting her, and while she wanted to scream, keeping Hecate’s head from slamming into the floor took priority. The odd thing, Julie noted, was that Ada’s magic felt calming…nurturing…loving. Often, since she had become pregnant with Millie, and for a short time in her youth, she had been able to feel a person’s magic and its intent. For example, each time Millie wanted to play with a small stuffed tabby kitten Hecate had given her for their first valentine’s day, the magic that whizzed by her would feel excited, nervous, and just a touch angry. It had taken seventeen times for the little kitten to go missing before Julie had given up, feeling the sadness in Millie the last time she had sent for it at having to always look for it. Causing her daughter more sadness than she knew she would feel as she aged and realized that it was only Julie there was not something she was capable of. Not to mention the fact that knowing something Hecate had gifted her caused their daughter to be happy calmed a deep ache in Julie.
In fact, she had noticed as Millie grew older that even if Millie was projecting one feeling to the world, her magic gave off her true pain or joy. So, she had surmised, while humans might be capable of creating and inventing emotions to portray to the world, magic had no such talents, being a pure, raw source that reflected its owner’s soul. The fact that Ada felt as she expected her magic would feel towards Millie shocked her, and when it did not change as it came into contact with her alone, Julie felt adrift. Either all of her years studying her new gift had been wrong or something had happened twelve years ago that Ada truly had no knowledge of. Still, how was that possible? Sure, magic could do a number of things, but the person had called Hecate her 'Cat', which was Ada's nickname for her whenever Hecate was feeling down. How was it even possible that someone would know Hecate that well, aside from Pippa? Pippa, whom had been her best friend ever since the two first met before starting at Cackle's, as Ada used to drag Hecate to all kinds of conferences and functions. The pink loving witch that would sooner die than hurt Hecate or Julie and would have been over the moon about Millie's existence, since the two had promised her before they were even married that she would be the Godmother for all of their children to come. Therefore, Julie did not see how any thing other than Ada being the one to send her away was possible, but if it were true, then...o...she would have hurt her family for nothing.
Holding Hecate close, she reached out her arm and Mildred bent down, sitting beside her and leaning against her side, looking in interest and confusion at the darker haired witch currently adorning her Mum's lap. She was by no means stupid and realized that, if her Mum was certain, Miss Hardbroom was actually her other parent, and from the reaction she had, Miss Hardbroom might even want her.... she might have two parents that loved her after all. She wasn't one-hundred percent sure how that was possible but then again, just today Agatha had won Miss Drill's allegiance with just one single concoction. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against her Mum's chest and yawned. All of this was exhausting and Millie just wanted to go to sleep, wake-up, and start again so that her Mum could calmly explain how everything had gotten so out of hand to begin with. Apparently though, Miss Cackle might be able to read minds because she bent down just in front of them, although not close enough to touch any of them, and began to speak.
"Julie... I... Hecate has a room here. Maybe I could show it to you? The three of you could rest there until... I promise that I will not interefere. I am unsure what has happened, but if it... if you will stay... I just want her to be happy... you all to be happy." Ada swore, taking a shuddering breath and feeling herself die just a little. This was her family. When Julie had been reported as dead, the pain that she felt by not only losing her but also watching Hecate lose the love of her life was indescribable. The screams and storm that surged through Cackle's grounds, torching trees and setting half the beds on fire before Ada could intervene would never quite leave her mind. Yet, here Julie was, with a child, Hecate's child, her Godgrandchild and she could not even touch either of them. The ache that caused was enough to take her breath nine times over, but she would face any amount of pain if only to be able to know that her little Cat was no longer feeling like her heart had turned to ash. Even if she did have to continue to lose her Jule in the process and never form a bond with the one child that might have called her 'Gran', 'Grams', or even 'Granna', it would all be worth it to know that her family was whole.
Looking back at the trio, she noticed that Julie was scrutinizing her, confusion, fear, anger, and hope at war, constantly trying to take charge as the dominant emotion the curly-haired woman felt.
"I... can you wake her?" Julie whispered and Ada hesitated. She could of course wake Hecate but if Julie was just going to leave the minute the darker haired witch awoke, she could not do that to her little Cat just yet.
"Can you promise that you will at least talk with her before you leave?" Ada begged and at Julie's nod, she waved her hand and Hecate's eyes began to flutter as a groan escaped her throat. Slowly, dark eyes opened and darted around frantically before Hecate realized who had her and calmed briefly. However, as she woke, Ada noticed Mildred lean back, clearly uncertain of how the other witch would react to her being so close to her. Then, before she could even begin to think to intervene and address Hecate or Julie, Hecate swallowed and managed to speak, albeit with a hoarse voice.
"J-Jules?" Hecate sobbed and this time Julie answered in the way her heart pleaded with her to. Gently, she leaned over until her head was just resting against Hiccup's and closed her eyes, breathing and allowing each of her exhales to tickle against the other woman's cheeks. Then, though she knew it would likely gross Millie out, she tilted her head until her lips brushed against quivering ones. Slowly, she kissed her wife for the first time in almost twelve years and felt shuttering breaths flit against her mouth as she was kissed back. As the two continued to kiss, sob after sob fought its way to the surface until both woman were equally distraught and curled against one another, Hecate's face pressed into the space between Julie's left shoulder and neck while Julie's was nestled against the bun atop Hecate's head as she took deep breaths to center herself. Slowly, Julie became aware of other sniffles roaming through the air and looked to see Millie silently crying, though albeit only slowly. Before she could react and pull her baby to her, Hecate moved and her eyes darted towards Mildred.
"M-mine?" Hecate questioned, unable to articulate further and looking at Mildred in awe and trepidation.
"Yours, love. Ours." Julie swore and Hecate gasped, slightly screaming as she exhaled in shock and elation. The darker haired witch then forced herself into a sitting positon and stared at Mildred, uncertain of how to proceed. For a moment, Julie just watched her as the little baby she had carried for nine months and five days stared back equally as unsure in how to proceed before she took pity and reached out, gently pulling her little girl's hand until Millie was closer to the two of them again.
"Millie, love, there is a lot I need to tell you. I should have told you long ago, but without the use of magic, there was no way to explain how you could be mine and also another woman's child while truly being both of ours. Still, I should have thought of something, anything and.... I am so sorry that you have had to grow up not knowing.... not being able to feel the love of both of your mothers. Hiccup, I... o darling.... I.... she is yours. Every time she raised her eyebrows in distress, twisted her hands when she was uncertain, or smiled with her eyes before her lips even twitched, all I could see was you." Julie whispered and smiled as Hecate's hand gently reached out, stopping just in front of Mildred while Julie felt a sob trying to come out as with the twist of Hecate's hand a small stuffed eagle, gold in color, though parts had faded to a dim yellow, appeared and Hecate tilted her hand, offering the small creature to Millie. Millie studied it curiously before looking at her and with a confirming nod from Julie, Millie scooped the little comfort item in her hand and pulled it close, bopping the top of its head with a kiss. As her little girl looked back, Hecate smiled and Millie grinned, cheeks burning red but her smile never wavering.
After emotions had died down, Julie had agreed to go with Hecate to her quarters, to give Millie somewhere to rest if nothing else, and had even conceded, although reluctantly, to permit Ada to accompany the trio. Of course, she kept a close eye on the older witch and still felt flummoxed as to why only emotions of love and sorrow filtered through on Ada's end. This was why, now that the quartet were stationed around Hecate's living room, Julie sandwiched between Millie and Hecate, she was once again running through the conversation she had with Ada days after finding out Millie was growing inside of her. Ada had been adamant that Hecate needed her to leave but what perhaps had always hurt her the most was that Hecate had made it seem as if Ada was right. At first, Julie had chalked Hecate not coming after her up to anger at being left, but then when days past and weeks started to sprout up, her heart had broken even further. Had it all meant nothing? For months, she had laid in bed each night, sobbing and holding the little stuffed kitten, feeling as if her heart had shriveled up inside of her. So, to think that Hecate had felt the same way because Julie was supposed to be dead caused her to want to scream. How could someone have done this to her family? O, the pain that Hiccup had to have felt. She had closed herself off from everyone and in the back of her mind was the same question 'where was Pippa in all of this? Where was she now? H-had Pippa truly died? No, not her Pip... one of her best friends... please no.'
Glancing up, she caught Ada watching her and started to snap at her only to feel Millie squeeze her hand. Looking down, she turned her head and watched Millie shake hers.
"She's so sad." Millie whispered and focusing on Millie allowed Julie to feel all the pain that Ada was feeling unbiasedly, without allowing her anger to block any of it. Sorrow burned her chest, pain gargled in her stomach, and tears pulsed behind her eyes. As she allowed each emotion to roll through her, she noticed that as Millie watched Ada her face filled with pain.
"Please." Millie whispered and Julie sighed, knowing that she had to at least talk this through and admitting to herself in the recesses of her mind that honestly she was feeling the same pull Millie likely was that made her want to take the older woman into her arms.
"Miss Cackle... you said you wanted me to at least let talk to Hiccup.... b-before I left... but I..." Julie began and stopped as Hecate whimpered and sobbed, burying her face into Julie's shoulder. The small whimpers and gasps coming from beside her ear made Julie's face flush in shame. Honestly, she could have phrased that better. To offer Hiccup comfort and then make it sound as if she was just going to disappear again was cruel.
"Shh.... I'm not.... I'll stay.... shhh.... hush..." Julie soothed, running her hand up Hecate's arm and stopping at the base of her skull, massaging the hairs there and squeezing her shoulders gently. Slowly, Hecate relaxed and stopped crying but kept her face pressed against Julie, breathing deeply and fighting against a wave of drowsiness. She had actually almost dozed off when Ada's voice flashed through her and caused her to jerk.
"Very well. I... I still do not understand though. Can you please explain... Julie I would never say those things to you. Not now and certainly not almost twelve years ago. You and Cat... the two of you... Julie... you were all I ever needed, wanted, for my Cat to have. If I.... had I known there was a baby... Cat would have been overjoyed. In truth, even if I had thought... that... I never would have told you. Though it would have been selfish... the chance to hold a wee one... to be... I would have wanted that too much to let you or Mildred go." Ada swore and Julie watched as tears trickled down her cheeks but Ada's voice never wavered. In fact, listening to her now, Julie felt love and adoration flow around her, almost incasing her little trio.
"I... Ada.... I saw you though. You were looking at me, closer than we are now. You knew Hecate's nickname. You were furious that my pregnancy was causing powers to manifest and even ventured far enough to say that since the pregnancy had brought them and would likely take them back that I was a risk to Hecate because it was something I could never hope to control. When I left, you were there. You watched as I packed my things, leaving behind almost everything Hecate had given me. I had to sneak the stuffed kitten for goodness sake. How can you have been so cruel then? I felt it. Everything you said was powered by an undercurrent of fury and disgust... yet now.... now.... all I feel is how much you love us... how is that even possible?" Julie demanded and it was Millie that spoke, even though Julie had started to wonder if her little witch had fallen asleep.
"Agatha! Mum, it had to be Agatha. She... when she saw me... she followed me into the shadows today. The things she said... it was like that. Like I should feel bad for doing poorly on my tests... should feel like a bad friend to Maud... like I failed before I even started. Then, she tried to take over. She... well I did help with that.... not that I meant to.... I really thought Miss Cackle was in danger... honest. I wouldn't have even known Agatha wasn't Miss Cackle though, but... when I asked for another lemon drop... the pause in her face... that's when I realized something was wrong." Millie admitted and Julie looked up, watching as Ada's face paled.
"O, Cat, darling, I am... o, Cat." Ada winced, shrinking into herself as Hecate started to sit up.
"You swore to me! She... you just took her word for it? My life was falling apart and you just listened? You have always had a blind spot when it came to Agatha. I never even wanted her near here. The wards! Ada... you were supposed to sit the wards to make sure Agatha could not enter the castle with Julie here. I thought.... when you said that someone told you... I thought... that's why you never mentioned who it was? I have spent twelve years of my life in pain for nothing. Every year, every memory, the agony that caused. You have no idea... we are talking about my wife.... and ch-child! I am her mother and she does not even know me. And for what reason? All because of some misplaced sense of loyalty... some need to protect her... to make sure it was fair.... to giver her another chance? Get out." Hecate growled and curled her hand to send Ada away as something latched onto her wrist. Glaring sideways, her facial features softened the minute timid eyes met hers. Slowly, she turned her hand slightly and slid it down, capturing the small fingers in her own hand and staring, transfixed at how close the fingers mirrored hers. In fact, the nails were bitten almost to the quick in a few spots, a sure sign that Mildred had also inherited her anxiety. An anxiety that caused her to bite her nails, rock her arms back and forth when nervous, and snap at anyone within a 30 foot radius. Hesitantly, she rubbed Mildred's hand, though briefly, and then squeezed it before looking at her little girl.
"No. Please...no more pain." Millie begged and Hecate swallowed hard, nodding slightly and looking at Julie for help. Julie smiled encouragingly and leaned over, resting her head on Hecate's shoulder and allowing her left arm to move forward while she ran one hand through Mildred's hair.
"I have absolutely no idea what is going on right now, but Millie is right. Ever since I... from the moment... it was how I realized something was different really. I started to be able to feel if you were upset about Egbert stalling the school starting, noticed when Pippa was anxious and needed a donut to stress eat, and absorbed every spark of pain when a new letter arrived from your parents. At first, I thought I was just imagining how I was certain the both of you felt, but then, I could not be looking at either of you when feelings came through and still I would know what was happening just from being in close proximity to you. Truthfully, I was confused. I had not felt magic in that way since I was little. Uncle Marius always said that it was my imagination, swore that it was just because I wanted to be like all the other kids. Still, until I was nine I could feel emotions... or a least I thought I could. So, when it started happening again, I reached out to some of my cousins and there families. I asked if they had heard of or even developed powers themselves that were not known suddenly or exhibited abilities that maybe they had not felt since childhood before learning to control their magic. The men answered no, but Meda and even Cissa responded that it was common during magical pregnancies to have magic act out like that. Apparently, Meda's hair would change to red if she were angry, blue when she got emotional, and yellow any time she was excited or happy. It's not completely uncommon in our line, so at first she thought nothing of it, but when the morning sickness took hold, a mediwitch chuckled that she had not realized sooner that some of her baby's gifts were manifesting in her. It's the reason, when Nymph came out, Meda was not shocked to watch her hair travel through colors as she wailed to be fed or whimpered at being cold. She even related how the only reason Nymph realized she was pregnant with Teddy was that her hair started cycling colors again without her express permission, even when she was just sitting and having tea with Remus, calm as could be.
So, at her urging, I traveled to Diagon Alley and met her at the Leaky Cauldron. From there, as we traveled along the shops, she discreetly cast spells to tell her if I was indeed expecting my own little witch. The smile on her face as we entered Magical Menagerie and her last spell glowed a light blue was enough to calm any nerves I had felt about being too young, not knowing what I was doing with my life, yada yada. Anyway, I wanted to tell you, but I also wanted to surprise you and everything with the new school was causing so much discord. I planned to tell you.... I promise.... on our trip to watch plans for the school be finalized, but then... I never quite understood how Ada knew but the fact that she did. The fact that she said you would... please... forgive me..." Julie begged and Hecate sobbed but pressed her face closer to Julie's neck, placing a soft kiss there and then another before leaning back and bringing her hands up to wipe away Julie's tears.
"Can you forgive me?" Hecate whispered back, heart racing and acid rolling in her stomach.
"O, Hiccup, there is nothing to figure. My heart... nothing.... you did nothing wrong..." Julie soothed and Hecate sniffled, burying her face back into Julie's neck, nuzzling close, pulling Julie tighter against her and allowing her curls to brush against Hecate's forehead.
"I should have told you. I should have looked. I never thought she would.... I thought you were safe." Hecate wept, fists curling into Julie's top and clutching tight.
"Love... who is Agatha... who were you trying to protect me from?" Julie whispered, grabbing one of Hecate's hands and holding it close to her heart. Before Hecate could answer though, Ada spoke, reminding the trio that she was still there, which a part of Julie had forgotten, as her focus was only calming Hecate and holding her close.
"My sister... my twin sister... though in looks only. Agatha has always been my opposite. Younger than me by thirteen minutes, she always resented that being the oldest allowed me to take over at Cackle's. I tried... in the beginning... albeit briefly... to let her run the school with me. Cat was just in her last year here when that happened and had to stay another year to learn enough to pass her boards and go on to college. Julie... please... believe me when I say... I never meant for this to happen. You were, are, like another child to me, but I have been a poor excuse of someone you can trust. I did promise, Cat and I am.... Cat.... if I could.... honey please believe me. I just... when you asked me to bar Agatha from being here if Julie was around... I.... never did I imagine she could or would find her such a threat. I thought that if she met Julie, saw her around the castle, she would understand why you, Julie, and Pippa wanted your own school. Honestly, I thought she would be happy. If you were no longer inheriting this school, should something happen to me, it would have been hers. I still fail to see her motive in getting rid of Julie and Mildred, unless she truly thought you would no longer pursue opening a new school in order to have less stress or be certain of the school you were running and its place in the magical world... but if that is the case... then she never knew you. Mildred would have made you want this school even more. A place where she could not only be with her mothers but also feel accepted when traditional families would have scoffed at her. It excuses nothing though. I... I just.... there was a collapse at the castle that day. Aurors, cops, mediwitches, doctors, emergency teams... people from both sides were everywhere. When she came to me, sobbing that Julie had been in the blast... that doctors said they could not get her out in time... and Pippa was hurt and in critical condition.... Cat.... it never occurred to me she was lying... not about that... not when so many were truly injured... not when people had seen Julie enter the building shortly after Pippa... I just assumed they were together, planning something to surprise you with or some event to have...o, kitty Cat... I.... I love you so much.... forgive me... please... please..." Ada begged, face caving in on itself as her chest constricted at the sounds of Hecate's grief. The sobs and moans leaving her little one reminded her of having to watch as Hecate almost wasted away, shoved Pippa out, and tried to follow Julie to the grave. All of this.... all of it was her fault. There was nothing she could do here now, and with a close her eyes and a soft snap of her fingers, she left Hecate's quarters, falling onto her bed and pulling Pendle close as she allowed her guilt to surround her.
Though it took some time, slowly, Julie felt Hecate's pain began to ebb and noted that Millie's cautiousness faded with it. Left behind was concern, curiosity, and need. A concern that the other witch would be ok and that she might not want her, a curiosity of what it would be like to have two parents, and a need to get to know this woman... a need to be held close.... a need to know if she was loved by this newfound parent. Adjusting her body so that she was once again facing forward instead of being cradled in Hecate's lap, Julie wrapped her arm through Hecate's and intertwined their fingers before holding her other hand out for Millie to take. Thin fingers wrapped around her own, pulsing with nerves. At the gentle tug Julie gave, Millie moved onto her lap, sitting in between Julie's legs and leaning against her chest. She kept her eyes cast downward though and felt tears enter her eyes. What if... what if she was a disappointment? Had that been what Agatha had felt? Was she the reason that her family was torn apart? Would her... mother be disgraced by her?
As these thoughts filtered through her mind, Millie did not notice Hecate's body angle more towards her. When a hand with long, dark nails covered her own though, Millie looked up and could no longer keep the tears from cascading down her face.
"I... I'm sorry." Millie cried and spurred forward by all the emotions warring in her own body, Hecate extracted herself from Julie and reached out, pulling Mildred onto her lap and into her arms, breathing a sigh of content when arms circled around her neck and a small head nestled into the crook of it. Slowly, she rocked Mildred back and forth, jostling her shoulders and smoothing her hair down in an effort to soothe her child... her child...and felt Julie's arm slip behind her as the other came around Mildred's back and Julie's head laid onto Hecate's shoulder while she leaned her head against Millie's arm and side. Closing her eyes, Hecate memorized the feel of Mildred's braid pressed against her cheek, marveled at how right it felt to have this weight in her arms, and hiccoughed past her sobs as she leaned her head over against Mildred's. All of her life, at least since meeting Julie, she had wanted nothing more than to have this, to have a child of her own. That she had acted in any way harsh towards Mildred was tearing her to shreds inside. It had not been that she did not like the girl, no it was that she reminded her too much of everything she, Julie, and Pippa had hoped to build. A place where witches, witches from nonmagical backgrounds included, could come and be at peace. The fact that Julie had been ostracized for being considered a squib coupled with Hecate's family going against her for choosing this career and loving Julie and topped off with the fact that amongst them, Pippa had been the only one to have had loving parents raise her and take her friends in as their own shortly before they passed, caused the three to swear that their school would nurture all magical children. When Julie had... when she thought Julie was gone, and Pippa was injured for months and unable to leave the hospital, Hecate had closed herself off to that, blaming their dreams on her losing Julie and ultimately losing Pippa as well. To think that it had all been for not, that Julie was alright, that it had all been wrong... she held Mildred tighter and shuddered... she had already missed so much and she could have missed this too. If Maud Spellbody had not found Mildred, if Mildred did not have as big of a heart as she did, then Hecate would have went on, teaching and trying to instill in future witches a strong discipline but ultimately still against all things that were not traditional, not safe.... against things that reminded her of Julie. So, with that thought in mind, though she would not realize fully until years later why she always had a soft spot for her daughter's friend, Hecate Hardbroom instantly became one of Maud Spellbody's biggest supporters, the only child she cared for more being the one nestled in her arms.
Speaking of said child, as Hecate left her thoughts behind, she noticed that Mildred had started to doze off and a flood of love filled her, warming her chest and causing a small sob to bubble up. Though she knew it was not going to be easy, rebuilding this life with Julie, meeting her daughter, forgiving Ada, begging Pippa's forgiveness, and deciding how to move forward, in that moment, surrounded by the embodiment of her soul, it felt as if the pain of those years was already starting to take a back seat. Oh, she could never forget the pain, never completely move past the loss, but the love, the feeling of being wanted, needed even, by her wife and little girl, that was all she could feel at the moment. There would of course be many trials ahead. Choosing if she should stay at Cackle's or join Pippa at Pentangle's where Julie could teach and Mildred could flourish, instigating the reunion between Pippa and Julie, navigating rebuilding their friendship when she felt she would never deserve Pippa's forgiveness, watching as Pippa and Millie bonded, doubting sometimes if her reputation made it harder for Mildred, wincing as Mildred would defend her, crying as Mildred cried over someone saying something against her having two mothers, and learning to allow Julie to hold her through it all was really just the beginning of things to come, but there, in that moment, Hecate Ana Hardbroom was whole.