From the memories (who never fade away)

Agatha scoffed as she passed the Westview welcome sign, the old bleached wood greeted her mockingly. She’d sworn never to step foot here again, to move on and start over somewhere else. Instead, here she was, back in this cesspool of a town.

Two years. Two damned years had passed before she was able to get her body back and now she was left with one goal. Agatha pulled over the driveway and went straight up to her previously-borrowed- house, carrying everything she needed to perform the ritual. She reached the backyard, her jaw clenched looking at the bed of flowers where her body was supposed to rest. Agatha dropped the items, huffing as they landed with a loud thud. It was unbelievable. Yes they had an agreement. And yes she took the risk. But Agatha couldn't believe that Rio has not shown once in the last two freaking years.

They were wives for the Goddess' sake! The purple witch sat cross legged, the dusk orange light cast across the yard almost set the mood. She positioned the large map along with the black sand, expecting to find her wife somewhere in the woods. Then she started to chant in Latin.

Rio wouldn’t show up? Fine, Agatha would find her. The woman felt the soil humming under her as the sand started moving from the border of the sheet, piling up in a dot. The purple witch's eyes widened as she realized they pointed Eastview.

-What in the world?!- She stood glancing at the map. Checked and rechecked. Okay then. Agatha closed her eyes and tried to visualize her, green magic flowing up in her veins as the image of a house crossed her mind. Black letters and numbers written beside the door. She didn't know why Rio would choose to rest in Eastview of all places between her travels to and from the afterlife.

She wondered why Rio hadn't just taken over her old house at that point, but she pursued her plan anyway. Agatha flipped her hair and returned to the car, still loaded with her newly acquired possessions, unwilling to waste time. The engine started with a pained noise, stupid temperamental car, she should've stolen a better one.

It was a short drive. She stopped and studied the neighborhood: perfect little houses aligned with perfectly cured gardens. All the lawns and hedges were trimmed perfectly; she barely held back the urge to puke. Then someone caught her eye: black boots, green overalls and a white t-shirt. Dark raven hair pulled into a ponytail. The woman walked up the driveway and entered a house. Her house apparently. Like it was nothing.

A low growl left Agatha's throat, she stepped out of the car and rolled her shoulders, heading to the front door with her head held high and her magic flowing out through her palms. With a burst of purple, the wood disintegrated into thousands of splinters, allowing her access to a little living room. A man stood frozen at the other entryway. A look of horror on his face; a shattered cup of coffee by his feet.

-Where is she?!- Agatha jumped to his throat, pinning him to the wall. Their eyes locked, green on blue. He swallowed hard but stayed silent.

-I won't ask again, blondie locks. Where is Rio?-

-I don't know what you’re talking about.- Orange sparks shot from his hands and Agatha grinned: ”Tsk tsk tsk. Rookie mistake.”

The purple witch felt the young man's power begin to flow into her body as he, understanding what was happening, started to squirm in her grip.

-Agatha stop!-

That voice. Her voice.

Agatha froze, the woman looked at her horrified, with her hair still damp… before she fainted, hitting the floor.

-Rio!- The man broke free from Agatha, pushing her off him, causing the woman to stumble backwards. He knelt beside Rio still gasping. Agatha followed immediately frowning, her throat closed:“What happened? What did you do?”

-Me? What did I do? What did you do!- The man yelled in response; they looked at each other suspiciously, Agatha’s hand lingered on Rio's face, she tried to pick her up but the man slapped her wrist: “Don’t touch her.” The purple witch stopped outraged, her breath ragged: “Don't leave her on the floor!”

She shouted at him before he carried the unconscious woman bridal-style and laid her down gently on the sofa.

—

They stared at each other in silence for a while, both sets of arms crossed on their chests, scowling. Agatha took in the room, it was an open space with the only thing that divided the living from the kitchen, being a low slung wall.

-You could’ve at least offered me a coffee.-

Agatha scoffed, arms still crossed. Who was this man? And why was her wife sharing her house with him?

His jaw fell open and his cheeks reddened in frustration: “Oh, I'm sorry I didn't respect the etiquette Mrs door blaster! My neighbors will never stop harassing me after the show you just put on.”

Fair point. With a flicker of her hand the door returned to its original position: “See? Good as new.” She wiggled her fingers toward the man, he flinched, then stiffened.

-The only reason I didn't kick your ass…- He said as they locked eyes: “ It's because Rio started to remember something.”

Remember. Something.

A bell rang in the back of Agatha’s mind. The woman huffed, rolling her eyes: “Oh sure, because you had the upper hand before she came to the rescue, right?”

The man scoffed, then turned and started fumbling in the cabinets: “How many sugars do you want in your coffee?” 

He mumbled: “I'm Ari, by the way.”

They sat in awkward silence, sipping their coffees and glancing at the woman slumped on the sofa; her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, a sign of a deep sleep. Agatha’s attention drifted to the guy sitting at the other end of the table as he kept shifting uncomfortably in his seat, before he looked at her scratching his neck: “So, what does the infamous Agatha Harkness want from a gardener and a barista?”

He sneered, Agatha pursed her lips, tracing the rim of her cup with her pointer finger. A gardener. Living a suburban life, with a roommate. This was ridiculous.

She stood, her finger tapping against her chin. Agatha paced the room slowly, wondering, then she sat beside the sleeping woman, caressing her cheek: “We know each other. You don’t need to know more than that.”

-If you care for her so much, then where were you these last two years?-Ari stood, fist clenching at his side, his tone was sharp: “Why are you only coming now?”

Agatha sighed, avoiding his gaze. She felt her heart pound faster in her chest as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

-It’s complicated, blondie locks. Is…is this the first time that it’s happened?- Agatha focused on Rio’s sleeping form, she pushed a strand of hair behind the woman's ear, taking in her relaxed expression; she could sense her green magic humming underneath her skin, noticeably weaker than it used to be. The woman’s lips twitched, her breath stuttering as her hands tried to grasp something in her sleep.

«What happened to you, mi amor?»

-Soo…How do you know each other?- The man asked, approaching the two of them. He seemed calmer.

-I asked you something, blondie locks. You go first.- The purple witch dodged his question, Ari narrowed his eyes: “She’s never passed out before, I think you triggered both her memories and the fainting.”

-What do you mean?- Agatha grumbled and tilted her head puzzled, Ari huffed: “I mean, she shouted your name and fainted. So maybe…”

A shuffle of the blanket brought their attention to Rio, who stirred and opened her eyes. She stared at Agatha, who's hand bolted back, crawling up to her neck; the purple witch grabbed the cup then, trying to ground herself.

«Please say something.»

The woman sat up immediately and kept looking at Agatha with furrowed brows and a perplexed expression: "Who are you?"

Ari recomposed himself immediately, smiling at the brunette and passing her his cup of coffee: “Hey, sleepyhead.” She smiled back at him, took a sip and grimaced: “It’s too bitter, Ari.”

The woman shuddered, passing back the mug, then peered at Agatha and asked again: “And you are?” The purple witch felt her heart sink, an unsettling feeling spread through her body: “I’m Agatha.” Rio chuckled, glancing at the clock on the wall: “Okay, Agatha. And you're here at nine pm because…?”

The woman felt the heat crawl up her neck as she cleared her voice but Ari was faster: “She’s a friend of mine. Her garden is a mess and I told her you can fix it. “

The man nudged at Agatha’s side with his elbow: “Yes, exactly. I’ll pay you, of course.”

Rio smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes: "Sure. Can we discuss the details on the phone? It’s been a long day."

She passed a hand over her face as a pained expression flashed across it.

-I…I don't have a phone…- The duo glanced at Agatha like she was an alien. All of this felt so wrong and suddenly she felt suffocated, the air in her lungs wasn’t enough and she could only hear the beating of her heart in her ears. The purple witch stood abruptly and headed to the door: “I need some air." She mumbled.

-She’s a bit touchy.- The woman overheard Ari muttering to Rio on her the way out. Once the door was closed, Agatha inhaled deeply. She tilted her head back and pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt the familiar sting of tears gathering in her eyes. What the hell had happened to Rio? Was this the reason the woman never showed up when Agatha tried to summon her? There were too many questions boiling in her head, a shiver crept down her spine: she needed to clear her mind. And discover why her wife didn't remember her. How did Rio end up in this town, in the first place?

The shift of air and the click of the door startled her, Agatha wiped her cheeks quickly before Ari reached her: “Did you take enough air, Harkness?” She glared in response, not trusting her voice and bracing herself. Ari hesitated for a moment, studying her with an unreasonable expression: "Rio was tired and went to bed. She said she'll take a look at your garden and then decide whether to accept the job." Agatha exhaled sharply and steeled herself: “Good for you I actually own a messy garden, blondie locks. See ya.” Before he could say anything else, the woman beelined to her car and headed home. She had some work to do.

–

Once she was back in Westview, Agatha brought her stuff inside, Señor Scratchy appeared from her basement and the woman chuckled softly, lifting the familiar to her chest: “Long time no see, huh?”

The rabbit twitched his nose, nuzzling into the witch.

-Something is wrong with Rio, Señor. I need to find out the truth.-

The familiar tilted his head, questioning, but she was too tired to engage in talk: “I don't know. We’ll stay here for a bit.”

He thumped on her with his back legs, protesting, Agatha huffed: “Yeah, I'm annoyed too. C’mon, I need a nap.”

His little pet’s eyes softened and he snuggled deeper in her embrace, she knew she would likely sleep a few hours, but her body was too fatigued. Agatha casted a few protection spells around the house and once she was in the master bedroom, she simply stripped her clothes and slid under the quilt. Scratchy cuddled into her side and she allowed herself to drift off into a light sleep.

--

True to her thoughts, she slept without a real rest and woke up at dawn, cold sweat ran down her neck as she took in the room. Her familiar's eyes stared at her with a curious expression.

-You don't wanna know, mister.- 

Agatha rose and slid inside her robe, not quite ready to face the day.