A Historical Foxxay AU fic prompted by lightxxxdarkness

A few years after the Civil War, Robichaux's has been turned into an orphanage for gifted young girls.

Headcanoned with and beta-ed by Grace

"What are you doing here?" The woman rounded the sofa warily, her knuckles white on the back of the material. "You said you'd never come back."

"I didn't think you'd take it so personally. If I had, I wouldn't have said it the way I did back then."

"You haven't answered my question."

"I missed ya, is that good enough of an answer?"

"Misty."

The taller girl breathed out through her nose and looked away almost shamefully, her hand reaching beneath her hat to scratch at her scalp. A rural curl slipped out and she tucked it back beneath the brim. "I just," She paused and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I messed up bad. I guess I left too quickly. I shoulda waited, like ya said."

"You didn't have much time left with us, I don't think staying would have helped."

The girl scuffed her boot on the floor, blue-green eyes watching rain water roll down her leather coat and onto the white wooden floors. She laughed lightly. "So you're sayin' I was screwed anyways."

"No, I-"

"I get ya."

The woman's shoulders fell, and her voice was softer than before. "Misty, what are you doing here?"

"I, ah, I can't find a place to live. I've been workin' down at the docks and I'm makin' money but no one'll give me a place to stay. They don't know I'm no girl at the wharf, I don't talk much, ya know? They can't tell because I don't say nothin'. I just do my work and I don't bother none. But I gotta open my mouth when I try and lease out and no one'll give me anythin' because they don't lease to single women. Ya know that."

The woman in front her nodded softly, though she didn't make a move to step closer.

"And it was fine durin' the summer, I stayed down at the shore, at that one place ya and I used to visit with the girls on our days out and it was fine. It's gettin' cold though, Miss Cordelia."

"I know, Misty."

The wild blonde took a step back, gaze still averted, and she crossed her arms in front of her jacket. "I ain't askin' for much. Just a place to stay for the winter. I'll pay for my food and my furniture. I just need a room."

"We're not a poor house, Misty. I can't keep you here, I have a roster to keep and-"

"We don't got to tell nobody though, right?" The girl asked. "I can work if I have to, I can clean or somethin'. Help the girls with their education?"

"You know why you had to leave."

"I got too old."

Cordelia Goode sighed as she shook her head. Her smile was sad. "That was the official version of it."

Misty did a half turn on herself, unable to meet the woman's black gaze. "I apologized."

"You almost exposed us all."

"I couldn't let 'im die, Delia!"

They stared each other down for a moment before the younger woman pulled away first, fighting the angry blush running up her neck.

"I didn't mean to yell, I'm sorry. I just-" She closed her eyes. "I don't really see myself goin' from the cold. That's not really honorable." She glanced sideways at Cordelia. "I've worked on it, ya know? I don't get seen anymore, I haven't been seen since then. I get to save drownin' folks. I hit their chest once or twice to make it look convincin' but no one knows it's me. They just think I'm some kind of nurse or somethin'. I tell them mama was."

"Wasn't she?"

"Yeah."

Cordelia ran her fingers through her silky blonde strands, free hand picking at the flaps on the bottom half of her dress, beneath her corset. Misty watched her paw awkwardly, but she glanced away when Cordelia looked up at her.

The older blonde mulled over her words. "You're too old, that's the truth of it. If I'm asked, I have no reason to have you here. And you and I both know how quickly information flies from fishmonger's wife to fishmonger's wife. And I don't want her visiting at the mere sound of a rumor."

"It wouldn't exactly be a rumor if it's true."

The two shared a small smile, but Cordelia's fell away quickly. "She won't take it kindly if she finds you here."

Misty tugged on her jacket. "I know. She made it real clear last time." She took a light breath. "I never thanked ya for keepin' me, even though she asked ya to throw me out for fuckin' up so bad."

Cordelia grimaced, but didn't correct her language. "You left. I didn't keep you."

"Ya tried, that's what counts. I left on my own, ya had nothin' to do with my choice." Misty muttered. She stuck her hands into her pant pockets.

The woman looked away, biting on her lower lip. "You need to find somewhere to stay." The wild blonde looked up. "I'll give you a week or two. You can't be here at the end of the month. You need to be gone for the holidays."

Misty let out a deep breath, her eyes closing in relief. "Thank ya, God, thank ya."

"Get out of those clothes, alright? I'll ask Kyle if he has anything he can lend you." Cordelia cocked her head to the side. "I know how you hate wearing dresses."

Misty blushed and nodded tightly.

OOOoooOOO

Cordelia walked the orphanage's halls with the dawn, but the wild blonde was already gone. She'd slipped out as the woman's eyes had opened, her bare feet padding past her room, and had stolen into the early morning. She didn't know where she was going, but she hadn't stopped her to ask. Her figure was retreating far down the street, hazy in the fog, when she'd opened her windows, too far to call out.

She fixed herself a quick breakfast of bread and fruits, choosing to leave the substantial ingredients to the younger girls she watched over, and settled into her office. Her expenses were up, as was her blood pressure, she was sure of it. Like most mornings, she held her head in her hands, unable to move more than a few inches at a time. She didn't really want to. The realization would hit her too hard.

Though maybe she could duck.

A gripping sense of shame struck her where she sat, her breathing uneven, as the house woke around her. I'm not even strong enough to face them. Her black eyes closed when her door was knocked on. It was a rhythm of life she was becoming too accustomed to for her taste.

Nan stepped in, all prim and proper like she always was in a night black dress, and Cordelia couldn't help the smile that graced her lips, sad as her gaze was. The black haired girl grinned back.

"Good morning, Miss Cordelia."

"Hi, Nan. How are you?"

"Queenie kept me up."

The blonde sighed shortly. "Nightmares again?"

"Of course. Will you be eating with us this morning?"

Cordelia pushed her plate a little farther along her desk, a blush running up her neck. "Not today, Nan."

The girl nodded, her hand still on the door. She cocked her head to the side thoughtfully and Cordelia waited as she mulled over her words. There was no need to rush her.

"Misty came back."

The blonde let out the breath she'd been holding. "Yes, she did."

"I can't quite tell how you're feeling about it." Nan admitted. "I can't say I like it."

"Never forget who taught you how to control yourself." Cordelia laughed lightly. "I'm sorry, but you know how I like my thoughts. Organized and to myself. I'll be in the kitchen soon, I'll keep you company. Give me a few minutes, alright?"

Nan smiled and left the office, leaving the door open just enough that Cordelia wouldn't forget to join her girls. She hadn't answered her but Nan had been right, as usual. She wasn't sure how she was feeling either, but more about the necromancer gracing her life again rather than her foggy, muddled, thoughts.

She closed her door behind her as she made her way to the kitchen, steps light and in the squares of sun coming in through the tall windows.

Zoe was sitting shoulder to shoulder with Madison, bleary eyed at the earliness of the clock as the dirty blonde enticed her to eat, holding food out by her mouth. The girl turned her head once in a while to eat from her hand, gaze still closed, a soft frown on her face as Madison cooed teasingly in her ear. Cordelia heard the word 'baby', but she didn't say anything.

She took a seat at the head of the table, fingers playing with the napkin she laid on her lap out of habit, even though she wasn't planning to eat. Her voice was clear, soft, but it carried nicely in the white walled kitchen. "I don't know if Nan's told you-?"

"I left it to you, Miss Cordelia."

"But Misty Day has come back."

Madison and Queenie stared openly, but Zoe exchanged a confused look with Nan.

"She left." The black girl said bluntly. "She's too old to be here, you said so. She said she was going to make a life for herself."

"I know, Queenie. She's run into some trouble, and you know our doors are open, I couldn't turn her away."

The girls shared a look between them, one that had Cordelia frowning, but she didn't voice her concerns as Zoe spoke up.

"I don't understand."

"Misty is a girl who left last year, she turned eighteen and had to go." Madison said quickly, almost quietly. "She wasn't supposed to come back."

"I wouldn't let anyone leave if I could help it." The headmistress put in, voice breaking. "I have a set of rules to follow and I'd break everyone of them if I could." She softened. "I know she's not supposed to be here, but this is only temporary, three weeks at the most. There's no need to go running to the authorities."

Queenie's head bowed low.

"I'll ask you to treat her as you did when she lived here. She's just like all of you, a witch needing a home and a family. Don't make me regret this." She wanted to add a please but fought against it, hating feeling weak in front of her tenants. More than she already felt at the moment, anyway. She ignored Nan's burning gaze. The girl had heard the plea.

Madison spoke up. "This isn't a good idea, Miss Cordelia. You know she won't like it. Not after what happened last time." Again, Zoe glanced around, puzzled, but the rest ignored her.

Cordelia's black eyes closed. "Three weeks. I swear."

OOOoooOOO

The headmistress's arms were crossed as she walked into the kitchen, tight lipped, black eyes on the figure trudging through the cupboards. Misty stepped back, arms laden with the food she'd found, untouched by the other girls living inside the mansion, and met Cordelia's gaze. She opened her mouth to speak, but the older blonde cut her off.

"Where have you been?"

Misty blinked almost lazily, her free hand reaching for a roll of bread to bite into. "Workin'."

"You could have said so. I was worried, you left so early and you're only now just coming back. It's past midnight." Cordelia admonished.

"It starts early at the docks, Miss Cordelia." The necromancer answered easily. "Ya worried?"

"You know I did."

"Ya shouldn't. I ain't one of your girls no more."

Misty watched as Cordelia's shoulders fell, but the blush overpowered her words and she found herself unable to fix the mistake she'd made. Instead, she chewed silently, gazing anywhere but at the older blonde.

A long minute passed by with the necromancer swallowing heavily, the bread turning into a paste in her mouth. It tasted like ash. She cleared her throat, suppressing a cough into the back of her hand, and frowned lightly when Cordelia turned away.

"Try not to make much noise." The alchemist said quietly. "I haven't missed Nan complaining about you walking around in the middle of the night." She glanced back at the necromancer. "I guess old habits die hard. Do you ever sleep?"
Misty didn't answer, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Cordelia's shoulders fell even more. "Why are you being so distant with me?"

"I ain't."
The headmistress shook her head, black eyes swimming. She reached for the door, posture low, but Misty's voice broke through and stopped her.

"I hate to ask, but who am I supposed to stay with? That new girl, Zoe, she took my bed in our room." She looked down. "Madison's room. Their room."

"I don't, I don't have a bed ready for you tonight. Where did you sleep last night?" Cordelia's insides churned. I didn't even check the arrangements last night. Oh god she was right about me.

"With Madison. It was cramped."

"Can you handle her for another night?"

"She kicks, Miss Delia."

Cordelia's face softened at the pout and the use of her nickname. She hadn't heard or seen Misty act this way in too long a time. "I have no other rooms ready, Misty."

"A blanket, then? I'll sleep on the couch. I'd rather do that."

The alchemist bit her lower lip. "I can't let you."

"Not Madison, please, anythin' but-"

"This is highly inappropriate, Misty." Cordelia cut her off. "And I hope you won't mind my suggestion or take it as anything else but me trying to help, but my," She paused and took a light breath. "My bed is rather big."

Misty's blue-green eyes were wide. "Miss Cordelia, I can't."

"I won't even know you're there, it's just an expense of sheets. I get lost in there myself."

They shared a small laugh, both unable to look at each other.

"Just don't stay up too late, alright?" Cordelia asked. "And shut the door behind you when you come in. I take the left side."

Misty nodded, and watched the older blonde disappear into darkness.

OOOoooOOO

Cordelia figured it was a lie, what she'd said a few hours prior. She felt Misty turn all night, unable herself to fall asleep, and her black eyes were open when the necromancer rose to leave the mansion, her back arched and her spine out. She wanted to call out, beg the girl to stay (she told herself it was for warmth, but her mind screamed for companionship), but she couldn't find her words, her throat stuck as her mouth opened. Misty didn't seem to notice the war on the other side of the mattress.

The wild blonde left in silence and darkness, eyes raking over the headmistress's seemingly sleeping form before slipping out into the hallway.

The older blonde turned onto her back, staring up at the ceiling, arms thrown out and her breathing heavy. She considered sleeping in, or not getting up at all. She wanted to say she was sick, fake a cough, maybe find some plant from the basement to make her tint a little green. Maybe she could catch a plague.

Maybe she could catch Misty and ask her to bring back a rat or two.

She managed to get out of bed, throwing the covers at the bottom of the mattress and leaving it there, unable to tuck it properly. She hastily threw on a pair of pants that the blonde haired butler had given her ages ago to work in, the surface streaked with dried mud. She was only slightly taller than the sun kissed boy but her ankles showed over her low heels, and in some bizarre way they stopped her from feeling completely stifled, so she'd never fixed them.

Though she'd been criticized for showing them.

She darted out into the still house, walking quickly, trying not to let her shoes echo but failing miserably as she grimaced and hurried even faster to the backyard. She'd wanted to build an access to the basement from inside the mansion for a long time now, but had no money and no want to ask for it, so she walked across the wet grass to the door.

The key fit easily into her safe haven and she finally breathed out, thoughts full and much too in the forefront.

But her plants helped, they always did. They didn't judge, didn't ask how she was going to survive through the coming winter months, her and her girls. Though she wondered herself, loud and clear, over and over again.

Myrtle Snow had ran the orphanage before her, tenants carefully chosen for the scholarships given out by her mother. She herself had been a girl living there as a child, half orphan, her dad gone, her mother away somewhere in the north.

She wasn't much older now, but still old enough that she'd been given the reins to the mansion after Myrtle had taken a leave of absence, one that didn't seem to end.

Madison's mother lived up in New York, unable to take care of her child, Nan had lost both of hers to disease and Zoe to Indian raids, Queenie had been hiding in a dark work house in Boston before she'd joined them. All four had been found by Fiona Goode, Supreme, and given free passage to New Orleans and easily accepted into the coven. All four were promising witches, being bred to be upstanding women of society. Somewhere along, Cordelia must have failed herself when she'd been their age.

Misty's parents had died during the war that'd raged on ten odd years prior, though the wild blonde had never explained what side they'd been on. But Cordelia knew. Her screams at night, her vivid nightmares, said enough.

She bit her lower lip. Although the necromancer would be gone soon enough (And she couldn't wait for that breath of relief), Madison was the oldest and she was barely sixteen years old. Cordelia didn't have the funds to keep her for another two years, much less the others. She remembered the glorious Snow days, every candle lit in the house and tables overflowing with food, her bright black eyes mirrored in the redhead's cat eye glasses.

The cats. She'd had to give them up.

She, at twenty four, was much too young. She wondered into her insomnia filled nights about what she was doing wrong, and couldn't put her finger on it. She did her finances carefully, how had she so easily run out?

In a way, she knew, but she didn't want to face the truth. Surely, Fiona wouldn't have dared?

Hours passed with her exercising her talent over her little kingdom, mother nature to her children. She'd always been gifted in alchemy, but God she hid it. From her mother and from her girls, they were all so much more powerful than her and she didn't need the teasing on top of the sideways glances when dinners became smaller and smaller.

Her mind trailed off more than once to memories of Misty spending time in the greenhouse with her, the last encounter almost a year ago. The necromancer would sit on the steps and watch her from there, blue-green eyes glued on the woman, a light smile gracing her lips as Cordelia worked in front of her, offering tips as blushes ran up her neck at the girl's excited nods.

She'd been the only one who'd ever been somewhat interested back then, and the alchemist wondered if Misty still cared now.

Her head didn't snap up until a distant church bell rang out, loud enough that it passed through her greenhouse's concrete walls, and her fingers dropped to the low counter tops. She hadn't even heard the girls moving about upstairs, enamored with her silent protectors as she was. She bit the inside of her cheek, wondering if she was to go up or not.

Surely, Kyle would take care of them. He'd been hurt during the war, left with less mental capabilities than he'd been born with, but his stutter was now less noticeable than it'd been when she'd first hired him and he hid his scars and his limp so well.

And if he didn't, his deaf ear turned to them, then Spalding would. One with hearing issues, the other mute. She knew where she'd found Kyle, but she wondered where Myrtle had found Spalding.

Her fingers were tapping out a random pattern on the table beneath her touch and she knew she had to run up to check. She trusted the men, but it left a nagging sensation when she didn't check on her girls.

She was breathless when she reached the kitchen, trying to hide the fact that she was, but she let herself slump forward when she found only Madison standing by the table. The girl's hazel eyes were trained on her, questioning, but she didn't ask. She didn't much anymore, she'd learned that Cordelia never had an answer for her.

"Drink?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

Madison shrugged and turned away. They stood a few feet away from each other for a few awkward seconds before the dirty blonde glanced back at her. "You know, you stay down there a lot. Especially lately." Cordelia watched her carefully. Madison's eyes slid to the windows, the sun setting behind them. "But you haven't stayed down there that long since," She paused. "Since that one day, when Misty left."

The alchemist had nothing to reply with.

OOOoooOOO

She'd changed her schedule around, she realized it now and hadn't at the time, but she did as she sat in her study, staring at the opposite wall, moon up behind her. She'd bid Nan good night when she'd stopped by, waved halfheartedly to Zoe. Madison had walked past, eyes far from meeting her heavy gaze.

The alchemist guessed it was around midnight, since Kyle had doused the fireplace and the candles, light not coming in beneath her door anymore. She shifted back into her chair at the sound of footsteps, heavy boots on white wooden floors, and her head angled up at a light knock. She replied with a little 'enter' and watched Misty slip in through the door. The wild blonde removed her hat.

"I have this week's rent, if ya want it now? I just got paid last night and I woulda given this to ya this mornin', but ya were sleepin' and I didn't want to wake ya." Misty's voice, usually strong, was almost wavering now as she held her hand out awkwardly. The alchemist took what she was given.

Black eyes raked down the necromancer. The bottom of her slacks had been wet and were now drying slowly, streaked with paint and mud and god knew what. Her blouse was untucked, her cap in her hand, hair tousled in a mass of wild curls. Cordelia thought it was sweat still beading beneath her ear.

"Thank you." She finally murmured. Cordelia fingered the money uneasily, eyes unable to meet Misty's as she moved to round her desk. Her black gaze lifted to finally fix the wild blonde and her words began to spill out before her thoughts could catch up.

"She cut me off, Misty. She's bled me dry."

The necromancer watched her as she began to pace the office, arms crossed over her chest, blue-green eyes searching Cordelia's features.
"Mother cut me off and I," The alchemist laughed lightly, a tinge of bitterness buried there as she began to play with the bills in her hands. "I can't pay for the girls' room and board. I can't keep them here. Zoe came and," Her eyebrows raised as she explained, head shaking. "I can't do it."

"Miss Delia-"

"I don't know why I'm telling you this. It's none of your concern." She bit her lower lip. She began to mutter to herself, seemingly forgetting that Misty was but a few feet away. "I'm going to have to let the men go. How am I supposed to run an orphanage without the funds to do so? The tax collectors are going to come knocking again." She wiped at the corners of her eyes with her free hand, turned away from the girl. "Dammit. Look at me, fawning all over you with my problems. I'm sorry." She waved her hand vaguely. "Thank you for being so punctual with this, but don't feel like you owe me on the spot. If you need time, take time."

"I'm fine, Miss Cordelia." Misty looked down, blushing lightly before glancing up momentarily. "Ya haven't changed a bit."

"You haven't been gone a year."

The girl's blush had fallen. "And yet ya have."

The headmistress didn't look up. She could almost hear the wild blonde's words screaming in her head. Sad. Pathetic.

Useless.

"You should probably head to bed, Misty. Since you'll be up so early."

"And ya?"

"I'll be there soon."

OOOoooOOO

She woke, again, to Misty rustling around in pitchblack. The necromancer had become something akin to a morning ritual for the older blonde, even though the girl herself didn't know, oblivious to her waking the alchemist as she was.

This morning she was muttering and letting out expletives that made Cordelia shiver on her side of the room, and she watched the wild blonde with bright, black, eyes to Misty's failed knowledge.

The girl turned to stand in what little light filtered through the curtains and Cordelia breathed in tightly. Misty played with the ties on a corset, hissing at it as she struggled to close the loop in front of her chest. The alchemist noticed that it gave her anonymosity, tightened and flattened her breasts, and if it wasn't for her full lips, bright eyes, and her curls down and framing her face, Cordelia would have taken her for a young boy. A really tall, young boy.

Especially in the Louisiana heat and hidden behind a cap. It was no wonder the sailors hadn't looked twice. What man did?

But the pattern looked familiar and Cordelia found herself raising her head to look at the details on the girl's corset, and suddenly her voice was echoing lightly through the room.

"Is that mine?"

Misty turned to her abruptly, blush so deep Cordelia could see it in the darkness. "I, what?"

The alchemist raised up onto her elbows, black eyes narrowed. "Misty Day, are you wearing my corset?"

The necromancer's hands tightened around the edges of her blouse and she pulled it close. "Do ya, do ya mind? I just, oh god."

The older blonde sat up properly, pulling the covers up around her shoulders, shielding herself from the cold. The girl's head chin had dropped to her chest and she was breathing heavily. "Mist."

The wild blonde's head raised at that, the nickname, blue-green eyes somber. "Yeah, yeah it's yours. It's just easier to work with, the, ah, the others don't notice my chest then. I'm scared they will." She bit her lower lip and looked away. "It's only been since I've been back here. I, uh, noticed it the other day and, yeah. I can take it off. Right now. Give me a minute."

"Misty, it's okay." Cordelia murmured, voice soothing. "I'd have liked it if you'd asked but keep it on, alright? I don't need you losing your job because of my clothes."

"Thanks Delia." Misty's breath hitched. "Miss Cordelia. Thanks." She turned away. "I'll buy my own soon. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, to get one? Before I came back I mean."

"Misty."

"Yeah?"

"You'll be late."

"Oh, right. Yeah. Thanks, again." Misty tried to stammer out something else but didn't manage to and she left quickly, awkwardness burning into her skin.

Cordelia's head fell back against the pillow and she bit her lip as she stared up at the ceiling. An overwhelming sense of shame overtook her and she hid in her arm.

OOOoooOOO

"I know you're a little smaller than me, but I'm just askin' for a few days."

"A little? You're going to stretch them."

"Dammit, Madison, I can't go fuckin' lookin' for this in town, ya know that. If someone sees me-"

"I know, if someone sees you you could lose your job, I get it." The dirty blonde growled back. "But you're too tall and you're too big!"

"Fuck, Maddie."

"Misty."

Cordelia took a step back from the door, biting her lip. She'd come back later.

OOOoooOOO

"You're still up."

Cordelia looked up from her book and glanced furtively at the candle by her side. It'd melted into just a stub. She bit her lower lip and nodded up at Misty. The necromancer's shoulders were slumped and she nodded back slowly. She threw her blouse across the room and it landed cleanly on the dresser, Cordelia following its trajectory with piercing black eyes.

"Sorry I'm so late." The wild blonde murmured. "There was this real big shipment, it took a little while."

"Nan told me."

Misty gave her a small smile. "Did she? Smart girl that one. Always was."

The headmistress shook her head. "Look at you, acting older than you are."

"And ya?"

"I'm older."

They shared a grin, both looking away quickly once it happened. Misty pulled her slacks off and they followed the shirt's way. Cordelia looked up as she turned, eyeing her corset on the girl. It was much too small and had left deep red grooves in her back, along her shoulder blades. The headmistress guessed that if she took it off, the ties would leave criss-crossing marks down her spine.

But Misty didn't, instead climbing into bed besides her tiredly, slinking along the bedsheets. She'd left her boots on.

She burrowed her head into her pillow, curls a mass on her head, hat forgotten god knew where. Cordelia fought the urge to reach over and tuck a strand of hair behind the girl's ear.

"Not by much."

The headmistress blinked, torn out of her endless gazing. "What?"

"Ya said ya were older." Misty repeated, voice muffled and dripping with sleep. "Not by much, darlin'. Not by much."

Cordelia began to respond, but the girl was long gone, snoring softly into the crook of her elbow.

She reached over and tucked a curl behind Misty's ear.

OOOoooOOO

"Could you hand me that ornament? The red one? Made out of glass?"

Cordelia glanced down at the box in her lap, black eyes narrowed in the dim lights. She opened her mouth to speak, but Nan's voice drowned hers out.

"Yes, the one with the white stripes."

The headmistress nodded softly and handed the girl what she'd asked for, smiling lightly as she watched her find a place for the decoration on the fir tree. She was sure Kyle had gone out with Spalding and begged for the tallest one they could find.

And Spalding had obliged.

The top of the tree flirted with the ceiling, and there'd be no place for a star this year, but the girls and the sun kissed boy were too busy weighing down the branches to care. It was as bright as usual, colors reflecting the candles and the dying sunlight, but to Cordelia it seemed a little brighter than it'd been before.

"We didn't put the tree up this early last year." Madison commented. "Or the year before."

"I felt we needed some spirit." Cordelia replied cheerily, reaching for an ornament. The dirty blonde glanced sideways at her but didn't voice her thoughts. Nan ignored them. "And who doesn't like Christmas trees?"

"I like Christmas trees."

Cordelia grinned at Kyle. "See? Smile, Madison. Who knows, maybe it'll snow."

"Maybe the river'll ice, maybe we can go out to the docks." Zoe suggested. "That'd be nice."

The headmistress's smile faltered, Nan's voice ringing in her head but she pushed it away, offering the youngest blonde a quick twinkle of her black eyes. "It would be."

Kyle hummed lightly as they continued working, Queenie joining in though she denied it whenever Madison mentioned it. They teased each other back and forth and Cordelia had no wish to stop the banter, even when it became a little heated. It'd pass.

The front door opened and closed before Spalding had time to turn around and Misty appeared in the salon's doorway, hair matted to her face and blouse hanging off, muddy.

"Hey."

They replied as one, Cordelia's lips curling up into a smile at the action, and Misty blushed a little.

"I, uh, can I join y'all?"

Kyle jumped at the chance to answer, dragging her into the room by her wrist, but she pulled back, laughing lightly.

"I'll go change, I'll be right back. Don't want mud gettin' tracked everywhere, right, Miss Cordelia?"

The older blonde took a moment to nod, lips separated as she breathed through her mouth. "No. I don't think I would."

OOOoooOOO

"I'm sorry, Miss Cordelia."

The headmistress shook her head stiffly. "There's nothing to apologize about, Madison. I don't see why you'd even think you'd need to."

The dirty blonde shrugged, upper lip curled back in a grimace. "Maybe I'm asking you to find some way to keep me here."

"If your mother wants to see you for Christmas, I can't deny her that. And you know it."

"Yeah."

The girl uncrossed her legs and crossed them again, shifting to lay back in the study's chair. She sniffed lightly, hazel eyes trained on Cordelia, but the alchemist had nothing to say and no reason to stare back. She played with the biscuit that Kyle had left with her tea, uneaten and crumbling between her fingers. She dusted them against the saucer and intertwined her hands, clearing her throat lightly.

"I know it can be hard, mothers? I know." The woman bit the inside of her cheek. "But I can't do anything."

"I wish you could."

Me too.

"Misty's not gone yet." The dirty blonde added.

"No. She's not."

"It's been three weeks already."

The girl stood abruptly, knowing the older blonde wouldn't reply, and tucked her dress's folds in (Cordelia had noticed that every time she saw her, her hems were shorter and shorter, but she hadn't said anything). She raised her head, face passive. "I stand by what I said, you put the tree up early this year. Is your mother coming home?"

Cordelia froze, fingering the silk napkin on her lap. "Yes."

"You've always been a horrible liar."

"I'm not a liar."

"Exactly."

OOOoooOOO

Fiona was in through a flurry of fancy dress layers, lightning in her eyes, and thunder in her steps. Barely anyone noticed Madison leaving around the same time on that day, though Cordelia watched her leave with a heavy heart, black eyes downcast from her mother's, the Supreme's. Her she didn't want to see.

The woman was as intimidating and powerful as how Cordelia remembered her, tall and dark as she was light, even if their hair were the same color. It was amazing how alike they looked (though the alchemist hated it) and how much Cordelia resented herself for it. She'd wished she'd taken more of her father's traits, whatever he looked like.

She glanced sideways down the line of her girls standing at attention as Fiona watched them critically, eyebrow raised. Madison had obviously helped Zoe with her hair, she looked like her twin, and Nan had helped Queenie clean up and even added a bow. The girl didn't look exactly happy about it.

"Is this it then?"

Cordelia's head snapped forward and she froze as she watched Fiona's lips sneer. "I, pardon?"

"There's a girl missing, isn't there."

"Madison Montgomery. Her mother asked for her for Christmas." The younger blonde bit her lower lip thoughtfully. "She's the one you found-"

"I know who she is." The Supreme said flippantly. "God, this place is dreary." She turned around and handed her ermine coat to Kyle, whose arms were out and waiting. "It's so cheery it's depressing. You've always tried too hard."

Cordelia nodded, unwilling to fight back. Her black eyes flitted to the stairwell as Fiona turned around, spying a pair of boots. She turned back to her mother. "Would you like something to drink? Eat? The voyage must have been long."

"Have Spalding fix me something."

The alchemist looked to the man and he cocked his head silently at her before moving forward, opening the way for the Supreme. Cordelia held Zoe back.
"I'll be upstairs for just a moment. Keep her occupied."

The girl's eyes were wide but she nodded.

Cordelia patted her shoulder quickly before moving upstairs, following the necromancer's trail. She'd ducked back into the alchemist's room and was sitting on the bed, gazing at the door almost guiltily when it opened.

"I told you to stay up here." Cordelia whispered, shutting the door and standing with her back flush to it.

"I did."

"Whose shoes were those I saw then? If Fiona sees you-"

"I know, 'm sorry." Misty looked down at the floor. "I just, I don't know, wanted to see if she'd changed. She hasn't."

"She never does." The alchemist replied quietly. "Stay up here. Please."

The wild blonde nodded, hand rubbing at her collarbone. "Sorry." She repeated. "I am."

"Just don't move." Cordelia pleaded. She grimaced lightly at the girl and left her room, closing it silently behind her before resting her forehead on the cool wood.

It took her a minute to descend the stairs, Fiona's voice making her wince every time it reached a peak, her foot pausing before every step. She almost wanted to throw herself down them, and if she survived, she'd say she tripped.

She reached the ground floor and floated to the kitchen, plastering a small smile on her face, a placating smile to please her mother. The Supreme watched her carefully, her lips to a hot cup of tea, Spalding hovering above and behind her shoulder, resembling a vulture. The girls sat around the tables by her side, eyes flitting between the mother and the daughter. Zoe met Cordelia's gaze and quickly looked away and Nan blushed for all three of them.

"Will you be staying long?"

"Oh Cordelia, throwing me out already?"

The younger blonde stiffened. "No, I didn't mean it that way-"

"I know what you meant." Fiona raised herself up in her seat. "You're an open book. A short, open book." She looked down at her nails. "I don't think you even have an index."

Cordelia fell into a chair across from her, unable to respond.

"I'll be staying until after Christmas. I won't be spending New Year's here, I've been invited to a party in Boston." She looked up, disgust behind her smug smile. "Myrtle will be there."

"You'll tell her all I hope is well."

"I'll try and remember."

OOOoooOOO

Misty'd snuck down to the greenhouse much to Cordelia's dismay, and she gazed calmly as the headmistress scolded her, blush rising with her voice, tears building at the corner of her eyes.

But the necromancer didn't stop her, instead waiting her out as she sat on a stool, hands in her lap and shoulders drooped lightly, blue-green eyes intent in the hazy darkness. She cocked her head to the side, gaze following Cordelia as she paced the room, watching her exhaust herself. The older blonde finally dropped onto a stool across from the girl, sighing deeply and reaching up to wipe at her eyes.

"You're an idiot."

Misty looked down at the stone floor. "Yeah."

"Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it I'm just-" The alchemist took a shuddering breath. "Worried. I don't want her finding you."

"I thank ya for that. But I'll be fine, ya don't need to worry yourself about me." Misty paused, softening a little more. "Ya always did, but ya really don't have to. I've told ya."

Cordelia laughed lightly, brokenly. "That won't stop me."

She took another long breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly, black eyes everywhere but on the wild blonde. Misty opened her mouth to say something but took a long time before voicing her thoughts. She held a bitter tint, but it wasn't aimed at the younger Goode.

"Some of the best stories are short ones."

Cordelia looked up at the necromancer, surprised, forgetting to be angry. "What?"

"Your ma. What she said." Misty watched the alchemist blush and stammer for her words. She shrugged. "Nan told me."

"Word travels quick."

"Yeah." Misty stood and crossed to stand in front of Cordelia, tilting her head back until the alchemist was gazing up at her, black eyes bright but still so hesitant. Awed. "You're a novella one can't put down."

OOOoooOOO

"I, uh, I went out and, it's Christmas and all you know?" Cordelia paused, suddenly blushing. "I took a liberty, and I apologize for doing so right now, if it was a bad idea." Misty watched her carefully from where she stood, blue-green eyes gazing over her. The headmistress thrust the satin wrapped box at her, biting her lower lip.

The necromancer took the package to the little table by the bed, eyes flitting between the extravagant bow and Cordelia's worried black gaze. She opened the box carefully, letting out a deep breath at the contents. "Miss Cordelia, ya shouldn't have."

"I did. I overheard you talking with Madison and I know you can't go out and get some yourself so-" The older blonde trailed off, shrugging halfheartedly. "I went out and got fitted. Well, I had them fit bigger. So they could fit you." She breathed in. "Since you're taller and, ah," She glanced over Misty. "You have a stronger musculature than me." She laughed nervously. "Word goes fast around here, the city'll think I'm pregnant now." Her eyebrows raised and she braved a teasing smile. "The scandal."

Misty glanced at her, fingering the night black corsets in the package. Her voice was soft, accent drawled like honey. "Thank ya, Delia."

The alchemist ducked her head, blushing behind a curtain of blonde strands.

She awoke the next morning and turned in her bed, finding Misty's space cold, but her fingers closed around bills and she began to cry.

OOOoooOOO

"You've been dragging mud everywhere, girl."

Cordelia looked up, slight panic settling in her bones. "Mother?"

"Mud. There's mud everywhere. You and your damned greenhouse I swear." The woman snapped. "Why aren't your maids cleaning up?"

"They're, they're not maids." The younger blonde replied weakly. "Kyle's our butler and-"

"All I know is that there's mud trailing from your room and all the way out the front door and that I have no desire to step into it with my heels. Fix it, Delia."

The headmistress flinched at the nickname and she found herself nodding her head quickly. "Of course, yes. I can do that. I'll fetch the broom."

The Supreme watched her almost painfully, hazel eyes burning a hole into her soul. She began to hiss. "You don't clean up your own things, you idiot. Get Spalding to do it!" Her voice grew into a small roar. Cordelia nodded again, wringing her hands together. She began to move away, muttering out in little squeaks about how she'd get it fixed when Fiona's fingers wrapped around her wrist and tugged forcefully.

The older blonde stared Cordelia down, the force she was exerting on her daughter's arm making her bend her knees so that she could relieve the pain. Her black eyes began to water.

"I may not be able to read minds like some girls of this house," Fiona began. "But I know no one can stay as long in a dank hole as you do."

"Nothing's going on, I swear." Cordelia whined back. She wanted to reach out with her free hand and claw at her trapped one. "I just have some delicate plants that need tending to and there's just a lot of dirt and it's been raining an awful lot-"

The Supreme wasn't listening and instead she pulled the headmistress's skirt up a foot off the floor. Her eyebrows raised and Cordelia's fell and she winced as Fiona tsked lightly, hazel eyes staring at clean heels. She let go of the younger blonde who fell back a step, catching her balance at the last second.

"If you're going to lie, make it look convincing."

OOOoooOOO

"Merry Christmas, Delia."

The alchemist shifted lightly in the dark at the whispered wishes, goosebumps running down her body at the mouth against her ear. Misty began to pull back but she threw her arm out and caught her by her elbow. The swamp witch paused, hovering dangerously above her and with her free arm bracing her against the wall.

"Misty."

"Yeah."

"You have work?"

The wild blonde watched her carefully. "Yeah, I do. I don't stop because the calendar does, ya know?"

"Yes, I- Sorry." Cordelia let her go, fingers tracing patterns into the skin inside her arm. The necromancer gave her a small, confused, look and she began to pull away again but the headmistress sat up and took her in her arms, clasping her grip around the girl's neck. Misty fell onto her outstretched knee and she struggled to keep herself and the older blonde upright, her head buried in strands of silky blonde hair. She squeezed her back and Cordelia almost began to cry, mouth open in silent gasps and breathing harshly.

"Ya okay?"

"I'm fine." Cordelia whispered back. She played with the ties on the girl's corset absently, closing her black eyes. She turned her head slightly and pressed her lips to Misty's burning cheek, pausing there for a moment too long. "Merry Christmas, Misty."

OOOoooOOO

"Please, at least look at me." The headmistress pleaded. "At least answer my questions. You haven't the three days you've been here and you're leaving in the morning, what will I tell the girls if they ask?"

"Ask what, Delia?" Fiona replied. She shrugged lightly. "There's nothing to ask." She cast a long look around the salon. "It's obvious as to what's going on and there's no need for a question."

"Then answer me-!" Cordelia rounded the sofa to look down at her mother, fingers tight around the back of the couch. "Why did you do it? Why are you doing this?" She paused, breath shaking in her lungs. Fiona stared back and she knew she'd have to say it out loud. She glanced around wearily, afraid of the girls overhearing, and leaned in. "Mother, I need the money."

"No, you don't. Not from me. Figure it out yourself."

"But why?"

"You need to learn responsibility."

Cordelia's shoulders fell. "I have to let people go by next week."

Fiona shrugged. "Then so be it." She rose to her feet and her daughter followed her with dark eyes. "This school is decadent, Delia, you can't teach these girls anything and we both know that, you're useless. You and your mud. No one wants to pay for sixteen year old witches to be taught how to saw people in half and how to pull rabbits out of hats by a mud slinger." The older blonde sighed lightly, but it was devoid of sympathy. "Robichaux's reached its peak fifty years ago. Every empire declines, and so will your shitty little kingdom here in the swamps. Grow up, Cordelia, you're no monarch. You're a simple stand-in."

"Stand-in?" The girl echoed, voice breaking.

Fiona grinned. "For the eminate glory that is the Supreme."

OOOoooOOO

"She wants to come back. She's bleeding me so that she'll have a reason to take the mansion as hers again. She had me dropped to half my allowance three months ago but she's just now got me down to barely a quarter. She told me so yesterday."

"Fuck."

Cordelia's head snapped up and she gave Misty a reproachful look. But she continued, her shoulders falling a little more. "If I can't pay the house then it immediately falls to her."

"Why would she need it? Why now? And why suddenly cut you off even more?"

Cordelia sighed. "What do I know?" Misty's fingers found hers in the expanse of bed sheets and she relaxed lightly as she flirted with the palm of the girl's hand. She felt a chill run through her body and she hoped the necromancer wouldn't feel it herself. She did know why the Supreme was being the way she was, taking it further than she had meant to in the beginning.
Because Fiona knew.

And the alchemist knew that when her mother finally dragged the truth out of her, made her say out loud that she was harboring a fugitive in the coven's eyes, she'd be cut off to the last cent and destitute and good for the streets.

The wild blonde shifted to look at her in the darkness. "I want to help."

"You're already doing plenty by listening to me ramble about problems that aren't yours."

"No, I mean-" Misty sat up, resting her elbows on her knees, her spine arched. "I mean money wise. If she won't help, maybe I can." She paused and glanced back at the headmistress who'd raised herself to sit against her headboard. "I've been offered a job, Delia."

"Misty, that's wonderful."

"And it pays real well. Like, real well." The girl breathed in. "I want to help ya. For all you've done for me and the girls. Let me."

"No."

"Cordelia, don't be stupid."

"I can't let you, this is my mess. Not yours."

"Delia, it's not like it ain't my mess neither. It's just as mine that she hates ya a little bit more than before." Misty watched the woman bite her lip. "Hey, it's not like I need the money 'nyways."

"You could save it. Get a house or something."

"Ya wanna kick me out?"

Cordelia whined lightly. "Misty, this is dangerous as it is, you being here. You have to go at some point and I've already let you stay much further than you were supposed to. What if she finds you? Why are you hanging around here still? Why stay when all you can do is hide?"

"I have people to stay for."

The alchemist's shoulders fell and this time she couldn't stop her tears. Misty hushed her and crawled back to hold her, whispering in her ear that it'd be okay. That they'd be okay.

OOOoooOOO

Madison easily took the embrace the headmistress gave her when she walked in through the door, her cheeks still wet. Cordelia thought she'd caught a glimpse of the girl's mother in the carriage driving away in the same moment but she didn't ask, knowing it was a sensitive subject the dirty blonde would later ignore as best as she could.

"Is she still here?"

"Fiona just left, you're lucky." Cordelia sighed, passing her hands over the girl's shoulders.

"No, I mean Misty."

The woman looked away, taking a deep breath.

"I knew it, you know? I was gone for barely a week and I just knew that you wouldn't be able to get her out." Madison's voice fell to a whisper. "I'm guessing she didn't find her."

Cordelia didn't meet her gaze. "Oh, she knows."

"Miss Cordelia?"

"She didn't say anything. I'm sure she caught a glimpse of Misty once or twice, she's not the most silent or gracious of beings. But she had nothing to say."

"And do?"

"That's a different story. I made some tea, you must be cold?"

The dirty blonde nodded warily and followed Cordelia to the kitchen, wringing her hands. "How was Christmas?"

The headmistress glanced sideways at her, a small smile reserved for the girl. "Zoe went and left your present on your bed."

"I left hers in her closet." Madison admitted softly. "Though I'm guessing she hasn't found it, she's not in there as often as I am." She paused. "Cordelia, did something happen?"

The woman stiffened lightly at the casual use of her name but she shrugged as well as she could. She gave Madison a brave smile and a light laugh. "Apart from Fiona scaring me half to death every waking moment? Not much."

"Cordelia."

The alchemist snapped a cabinet shut and she turned to face the girl, features hard. "You're not stupid."

"I like to think not."

"Then you know what's going on."

Madison raised her shoulders. "It depends on what subject you want to elaborate..."

"The money, Madison."

"Yeah, Fiona got her hand in there." She sighed. "I overheard you talking with Misty." Seeing Cordelia's hardened gaze she backtracked. "It wasn't that secret of a conversation, you got heated. I was just walking by."

"Well, I've-" Cordelia took a light breath. "I've agreed to let her help me out, rent wise, so that the house doesn't get taken away."

"Taken away? I didn't think it was this serious-"

"It is. I'd like you to be the one to tell the girls that resources may be slim in the coming months but that I'm working on it. In fact, I'll most likely get a job. Sewing or something. Maybe some gardening, if I can. I can do that." She nodded to herself. "Don't tell them about the job. Just that it'll be slim. And not to worry."

"Okay."

Cordelia looked back at Madison. "Thank you, Maddie."

The dirty blonde nodded.

OOOoooOOO

"Don't you dare get out of that bed." Misty growled. "Ya sit back down."

"You can't tell me what to do!" Cordelia snapped back. She dropped her voice to a whisper. "I'm going if it's the last thing I do. I'm not letting you do all the work. I will help."

"I told ya, I got this! I'm making plenty enough money for everythin' to work just fine, why are ya bein' so stubborn?"

"Because I can't take all that you are and use it for me!"

"I don't need you cleanin' other people's houses!" Misty fiercely whispered . She suddenly softened. "Delia, I have this, okay?" She cradled the woman's head in her hands, watching her closely. "Trust me?"

"You know I do." Cordelia flushed. "I just feel horrible about this."

"Don't."

Misty pressed a tight kiss to the headmistress's forehead and raised herself off the bed. She cast a long look at the woman before slipping through the crack in the door.

Cordelia was on her feet a second later, running after Misty and only catching up to her when she reached the bottom of the stairs. She grabbed onto the swamp witch by the clothes on her back and tugged her until she turned.

The necromancer watched her closely, emotions between worried and lightly outraged. "What are you doin'?"

"Misty, I-"

The wild blonde hushed her, grimacing. "Stop yellin', you'll wake the entire house up." She relaxed, her shoulders falling, and brought Cordelia to her. They stood chest to chest. "What is it?"

"I want to help."

"You're doin' just fine as ya are. I told ya. God, Delia, I swear."

"Sorry."

Misty shook her head and took a step back. "Stop apologizin'. Don't follow me."

The headmistress bit her lower lip. "I won't. Misty?"

"Yeah?"

Cordelia's lips parted but she paused, and finally shrugged. "Have a good day."

"Yeah." Misty shot her a quizzical look as she reached the door. "Ya too."

OOOoooOOO

The alchemist's knee was moving on its own accord, hitting the dinner table with every pass and she knew from Madison's exasperated sighs and Zoe's sideways glances that it was becoming tiresome, but she couldn't stop herself.

The youngest blonde finally sighed and threw her playing cards down onto the table, mumbling out an apology as she left, leaving the older girl to fume silently as she watched her match dissolve. She'd had a good hand. She fell back into her chair and looked up at the ceiling, unable to leave the room. She played with her own heel, glancing furtively at Cordelia Goode. She was biting her lip and she thought she could see blood welling up beneath her teeth but she didn't mention it.

The woman finally spoke, her voice soft, trembling, her hands coming up to rub at her black eyes.

"I feel so bad about this. All of this." Cordelia whispered. Madison looked up, somewhat surprised, hazel eyes bright and eyebrows up. "Taking her-" She paused, breath rattling. "She used to live here, for god's sakes, and here I am, taking her hard earned money week after week and spending it on keeping myself fed." The headmistress looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. "I can't believe she's taking my shit."

The dirty blonde's eyebrows raised a little higher. "Shit?" She paused. "Miss Cordelia, there's nothing to feel bad about. You're not stealing from her, she's just being honest about living here and isn't taking advantage of you, that's it. And you're not using it to keep yourself fed, you're using it to keep us warm, your girls, and keep us with full bellies when we go to bed. You have been for a month, and there's no shame in that. That's how you work, that's how you've always worked, that's how you function. Others before yourself." The girl shrugged lightly. "Misty's just the same, that's why she's doing what she's doing."

Cordelia looked up, fighting back tears, and Madison offered her a small smile, a little gleam in her eyes.

"Though Misty doesn't cry about it."

A little laugh was torn out of the alchemist's throat and her fingers reached up to dab at her the corners of her eyes. "You're terrible."

Madison sniffed lightly. "I've been told." She softened. "You're not doing anything wrong, Cordelia."

The older blonde glanced disapprovingly at her but didn't correct her as she accepted the girl's handkerchief. Her shoulders fell. "It's just, it's just that she came here a child and she was kicked out a child and she's back and she's still a child-"

"Misty is far from a child." Madison snapped forcefully. "And you know that. And she walked away, and you know why."

"Madison-"

"She left because your mother was being a right old bitch and because she loved you and didn't want to see you hurt if she stayed. You know that."

"Madison. Stop."

The girl's hazel eyes blazed. "You can beat yourself up all you want, but don't you dare bring Misty down with you because you can't stand up to Fiona Goode and because you can't admit to yourself that you love her with all your heart. Don't you dare."

Cordelia's black eyes followed her as she left but her voice couldn't stop the dirty blonde from leaving and slamming the door shut behind her.

OOOoooOOO

"I won't be back tonight."

Cordelia glanced up, her hand pausing in between her written words, feather inches above her paper. The necromancer stared back at her, eyebrows up as she waited for the headmistress to acknowledge her.

"Actually, I won't be back until, I don't know, Friday night? Late Friday night."

"But why?"

Misty shrugged lightly. "I told ya I got a new job, right?"

"Yes, you did."

The girl began to flush. "I got a new one, but I gotta go out of New Orleans, to Florida. I've been asked to, ya know, make sure these shipments get there alright, talk to the buyer and stuff, find some more. It's gonna be a weekly thing from now on."

Cordelia began to rise out of her chair. "Misty, I'm so happy for you." Misty met her halfway, intertwining her fingers freely with the headmistress's.

"Thanks."

"You're leaving now?"

"Yeah, the ship's goin' an hour from now, I gotta get down to the wharf. If they leave without me it'll be an issue."

The two shared a laugh and Cordelia leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "Just be careful, alright?"

"Ya know it, Miss Delia."

"Feel free to write me."

"I'll be back in four days, I think I'll be back before any letters reach ya." Seeing the alchemist's face fall, she smiled lightly. "But I will, don't worry." She mirrored Cordelia's actions and kissed her temple. "Ya gonna be okay with the girls?"

"We'll be fine, don't worry about life back here while you're out there."

"I will, though."

"And I'll worry about you, so we're even."

Misty shook her head. "I always did."

Cordelia sighed shortly. "I did too." She pulled Misty into a quick hug before pushing her off and through her office's door, unable to speak her thoughts and not especially wanting to. "Come on, get those boots on."

OOOoooOOO

"You'd think you'd have stopped crying by now. It's been what, a month since she began this? And every Monday it's like this." The dirty blonde let out an exasperated grunt as she threw her head back. "Tears and tears and jesus Christ lady, get over yourself."

Cordelia wiped at her nose with the back of her hand. "She's sacrificing a whole lot for you, you should feel ashamed."

"But I don't. And you're not feeling ashamed, you're just bawling. And we both know why."

"Stop it."

Madison shrugged lightly as she laid back comfortably in her armchair. "You're the boss." Cordelia gave her a look that didn't seem to bother the girl at all as she crossed her legs. The alchemist ignored that she could see her ankles. "Even though sometimes you'd need a good shake." The telekinetic added softly.

"I just think that what she's doing is very brave and selfless." Cordelia sniffed. "But I understand that that doesn't come naturally to you."

"Ouch." Madison deadpanned. "I can be selfless when I want to be, you know?"

"And brave?"

"That's another story. I'm not six feet tall and packed with muscles. I'm dainty."

Cordelia laughed lightly. "Dainty wouldn't have been the word I'd used to describe you."

"What would it have been then?" Madison snapped back.

The headmistress shook her head, grinning past her earlier tears, and the girl accepted the cup of tea she was handed begrudgingly, swirling the liquid almost angrily with her spoon clinking against the side.

She swallowed bitterly. "She'll be back Friday anyway."

"I know."

"Then stop looking so damn sad."

"It's hard to when you lo-" The headmistress suddenly paused.

Madison snapped her head up. "When you what?"

"Nevermind."

"You were going to say it."

Cordelia looked away. "No, I wasn't."

"God, I hate you."

The older blonde hummed lightly as she sipped at her tea.

OOOoooOOO

She hadn't been able to stop the wild blonde from crossing the threshold. Telepathy had never been a strong suit of Cordelia's, and she watched with wide black eyes as Misty walked into the academy, already flinging her backpack across the floor and with a grin on her face, happy to be home.

But it quickly fell away as she came to a halt, a few feet from Fiona Goode.
The Supreme turned to regard her coldly, her arms crossed across her chest and her chin angled up. She let out a deep sigh, somewhere between disgust and disappointment, as she turned to look the alchemist standing behind her down.

Misty's question was blunt. "What are ya doin' here?"

"I came to see my supposedly struggling daughter, Misty Day, to see if she'd finally let me help. And you?" The oldest blonde asked, delicately raising her eyebrow. "Surely you must have a reason for coming back to where you'd been thrown out of."

The girl shifted her weight from one hip to the other, blue-green eyes flitting to Cordelia. "And by 'help', ya obviously mean that you're wonderin' if ya puttin' her in this mess in the first place has finally given fruit?"

"Watch your place, Miss Day. You're not supposed to be here."

"Neither are ya."

"I go wherever I please." Fiona replied cooly. "I'd like to see you stop me."

"Misty." Cordelia said softly. "It's fine, wait for me in the greenhouse, alright?"

"Go with your plants and mud, little girl." Her mother added. "Isn't that where you belong?"

Cordelia's hand went up to her mouth as the necromancer threw out a 'fuck you' to the Supreme before storming off, pausing long enough to grab her bag and to shoulder past the oldest blonde. The alchemist wanted to reach out to grab Fiona's arm before it went up and in a flick of fingers hurt the swamp witch but her mother didn't even flinch. She looked almost amused.

And that scared Cordelia even more.

OOOoooOOO

"Why is she here."

Cordelia's gaze followed the furious blonde walking back and forth across the greenhouse floor. "Misty-"

"I never asked what was wrong or why she was doin' this because I don't think I wanted to know. All ya'd told me was that she had cut ya off but never why, and I think you owe me an explanation."

"I do, and I'm sorry." Cordelia pleaded. "It's vague for me too, you have to believe me." She took the necromancer's hand in hers, wincing when nails dug into the back of her hand. "She wants to come back and take over, that's all I know. She wants to mold girls to her image, and the only way she can that is by owning the academy. It's under my name, Myrtle's name, not hers."

"An army of mini-Fionas, amazin'."

"You don't believe me."

"Christ on a burnin' stick, of course I do Delia!" Misty snapped. She untangled her fingers from the woman's and began to pace angrily. "I want her out."

"I can't do that."

"Because you're scared!"

Cordelia began to crumple into herself and she let her back hit a counter as she watched the girl. "I know." She took in a rattling breath and Misty turned to watch her. "I know because I'm not you. I never was you. You know that and everyone knows that and you know I try to be but I'm not. I just can't be, no matter how hard I try, no matter how hard I tried when you left." She shied away from the necromancer. "When you left, you left. And I couldn't copy the light you'd given this place and believe me when I say the girls resented me for it, when it got so dark."

"Delia."

"Please don't." Cordelia brought the back of her hand to wipe at her nose. "Look, I'll try to have her out soon, but I can't promise anything. Just stay out of the way until then. I know you only get two days to rest but please don't walk around here when she's in. Just stay in my room, or down here. I'll have Kyle bring you lunches and dinners."

"You're imprisonin' me."

"What else do you want me to do!" The alchemist cried back. "She'll kill you if you confront her, Misty! And if not your body, then your soul, and I can't have either!"

The necromancer caught her as she fell forward and as she ducked her head into the girl's neck, shoulders shaking with sobs as Misty held on tight to her, cheek against blonde strands. She ran her fingers up and down her back, trying to soothe her as best as she could.

"I'll do what ya want me to do, alright? I will, please don't cry." Misty begged. "I'm sorry for yellin' at her and at ya and please stop cryin'. I don't want ya to." She pulled back and brushed her thumbs past the woman's tears. She kissed her once on the forehead before hugging her to her body again, no place left for either to breathe. "I'll make things right, ya understand? I'll stay back and I won't say nothin' and we'll wait her out. Together. Yeah?"

She felt Cordelia nod against her and she pulled back, pressing another kiss to a wet cheek. "We'll be okay. You'll be okay. Don't shake your head at me, Delia, we'll work this out." She braved a smile when Cordelia finally did. "I'll head upstairs, okay?"

The alchemist swallowed heavily. "Thank you." The girl let go of her gently and carefully stepped back, watching her. She began to turn away but was pulled back by the woman's voice. "Misty?"

The necromancer turned, hope somehow shining through her eyes. "Yeah?"

"I-" Cordelia paused and finally shook her head. "Thanks."

OOOoooOOO

"I say we stick it to the old bat."

"I'd rather have my bones intact, I'll be honest."

Madison turned to stare Misty down, her hazel eyes narrowed. "Since when aren't you up for a fight? You bite and I laugh, that's how it's always been between us." She shifted in her seat to face the necromancer properly.

Misty shrugged. "I promised Delia I'd be careful about Miss Fiona this time 'round. She doesn't want a repeat of the last time I clashed with her. I didn't exactly win."

"You didn't lose either."

"But I didn't win."

The dirty blonde sighed shortly as she crossed her arms. "You weren't there for the aftermath."

"I know." Misty replied, chewing on her bottom lip. "How bad was it? I'm too afraid to ask Delia."

"It was bad." The girl said. "Real bad. Lots of crying and yelling and that bitch was just horrible about it. I'd rather pass on the details for your sake and mine."

"Thanks."

Madison nodded smoothly.

"For takin' care of Delia while I was gone, I mean."

"I haven't. I didn't."

Blue-green eyes turned to gaze over the girl, mirth pooling in them. "Cordelia and I talk, ya know? She's not one to shy away and not tell me about your little tea dates."

"Damn her." Madison sniffed once. "Anyway, you're back now and that's going to be over real soon."

"Liar." Misty righted herself. "Just admit ya like her, stop bein' such a glacier 'bout everythin'."

"Why do you care?"

"Because I care about ya. And your feelin's, even if ya may not. Stop puttin' such a front, at least when you're with me."

"I don't." The dirty blonde snapped back. "This is as real as you'll get me."

"You're doin' it again, in little bursts of courage, or cowardice, whatever ya want it to be." Misty smiled. "But I'll take it."

"You'd better." Madison grouched. "When are you leaving?"

The wild blonde laughed as she shifted to cross her legs beneath her. "Soon enough, don't worry." She took a moment before sobering. "Though I'm thinkin' it ain't a good idea."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid Fiona's gonna do somethin' nasty while I'm gone. I don't want that."

Madison nodded, biting her lower lip as she thought, eyes on the ceiling. "You could stay. But is it a good idea? Fiona's bound to be mad if you stick around, especially since Cordelia told her you'd be gone by Monday."

"She did?"

"To placate her."

Misty let out a light 'oh' as her frown deepened. "Well there goes that."

"I'd invite you to hide but we both know you walk around like a fucking elephant." Madison threw her a glance. "Silence is not in your vocabulary."

"Ya sleep lightly."

"Sure." Madison began to squirm. "I'll cut you a deal." The necromancer gazed at her questioningly. "You go and do your job, make everyone happy and by everyone I mean me, and you come back next Friday, yeah? And I'll stay here and take care of her. Of Cordelia."

Misty let out a long, relieved sigh. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

OOOoooOOO

Though her back hurt and her knees wanted to buckle beneath her own weight, Misty held on tight to Cordelia and tangled her fingers in her hair, swaying lightly with the woman in her arms.

"It's okay darlin'." She murmured. "It's okay."
Cordelia nodded into her neck, biting back bitter tears as she ran her nails down the necromancer's back. She pulled away, wiping at the corners of her eyes, and finally, carefully looked the girl up and down. "Misty?"

"Hmm, yeah?"

"You look-"

"I had a run-in with a little storm." The girl laughed lightly. She leaned forward and buried her face in ivory strands before reaffirming her hold on the alchemist. "Is everythin' alright? I haven't seen-"

"She's out." Cordelia said quickly. "For now."

"I'll head upstairs."

"Can I follow you?"

Misty opened her blue-green eyes and grinned. "It's your room." She paused to move a curl from her face. "And ya can tell me everythin', okay? I wanna make sure you're okay. I just gotta get out of these clothes. And I need to sit down because I feel like I'm gonna fall."

Cordelia nodded avidly and followed the girl up the stairs, biting her lip at the way Misty kept her hand in hers. She was tugged to her room, their room, and she stayed by the door as the wild blonde tugged her shawl off and threw it to the far side of the bed. Misty reached forward and grabbed her by her hips, pulling her to sit beside her.

She sat back on her haunches and faced Cordelia. "How was your week?"

"Fiona spent a lot of time out the house, if you were wondering." Cordelia assured her. "But she's been sniffing around a lot, asking Kyle if he knew how I was keeping this place alive."

"And what'd he say?"

"He acted deaf."

Misty let out a giggle as she fell back against the mattress. "God bless that boy." Cordelia nodded softly, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Did you ask Madison to take care of me?"

"What?"

Cordelia followed her down, facing her with her elbow supporting her head. "Madison was extremely nice."

Misty nodded, playing with the skin on her thumb. "I think she understands too that things are a little tight right now."

"Did you talk to her?"

The necromancer shook her head. "She gets what's goin' on, Delia." She fell quiet. "But are ya okay?"

"She rattles me, I'll be honest. She always has."

"I know."

"She yelled a little but I stayed out of her way, I didn't want to aggravate anything. I don't think I'd have survived if I had." Cordelia sighed lightly. "Does that make me a coward?"

"It makes ya damn smart." Misty watched the headmistress blush, smiling herself. She pulled Cordelia to her and wrapped her arm around her waist. "Ya got anywhere to be?"

"Not until dinner."

The necromancer grinned broadly before resting her forehead on the woman's shoulder and closing her eyes.

OOOoooOOO

She paced her study endlessly, biting on the skin of her thumb and sparing a look at the old cuckoo clock in the corner of the room once in a while.

As time went on, she checked more frequently and her pacing grew tireless. She passed her hand down the side of her dress, letting the blood that had accumulated by her nail run into black threads before she grimaced at her action, choosing to cross her arms and eye her thumb critically.

Her head snapped up when she heard the front door close, the hinges creaking against the old wood and she rushed quietly to her doorway, peeking her head out to look down the hallway, the front door unseen from her angle. She waited, her teeth biting at her lower lip, for a wild blonde head to make its way past her.

Misty passed, running the back of her hand across her tired eyes, and she jumped back when Cordelia hissed her name, taken aback in surprise. Blue-green eyes landed on the woman dressed with a heavy cloak around her shoulders, and Misty raised an eyebrow in question before making her way over.

"If you're cold, ya could have gone to bed." She commented.

"I was waiting for you to come home. Where were you?"

The girl shrugged. "Out."

"Misty."

"I was doin' stuff, Delia." The wild blonde smiled. She leaned forward to wrap her fingers around the sides of the alchemist's blanket and pulled her closer. "I could call it a surprise, if that makes ya feel better."

"It doesn't."

"I'm back home and safe." The necromancer frowned. "What's the real problem?"

"I-" Cordelia began to blush. "Don't worry."

"Don't be like that. What is it?"

The answer blurted itself out from between Cordelia's lips before she could stop herself." You only get weekends here, and I feel like you could have stayed the afternoon here instead of going out. Since you're not in often." The headmistress pulled away as she let her eyes fall to the floor. "Forget it."

"Are you jealous of the outside world, Miss Goode?" Misty teased. She softened and shook her head. "I won't do it again, I promise. I got it done."

"Got what done?"

"Ya won't get me that easy."

Cordelia smiled sheepishly. "I tried."

"You'll see soon enough. Come on, get upstairs."

OOOoooOOO

Madison whistled lightly as she let her feather scribble along the sides of the notebook before her. She paused to hum out a new tune, ink dripping onto the wooden table that she wiped at hastily before anyone could see. She wrote a new number into the margins, crossing out the one that'd been written in days before.

She tilted her head when the bedroom door was opened but she ignored the girl passing through, or at least she tried to. Zoe came to stand behind her and she leaned forward, putting her chin on Madison's shoulder and wrapping her arm around her neck.
"I didn't think you liked arithmetic."

"I don't, but neither does Misty. And I'm better at it than her."

"What are you helping her with, anyway?" Zoe asked, her brow furrowing. "Are these money counts?"

Madison glanced back, inches from the younger girl. "Yes." She passed her hand over the notebook. "Do you think you could keep a secret?"

Zoe smiled. "Of course."

"I want to have a career."

"Oh, Maddie."

"Can you keep another?"

"You know I can." The youngest witch stood straight. "Unless it's dangerous?"

"Misty's going to give it to me." Madison turned in her chair to face her friend. "I don't want to get groomed and get married and have kids and die a simple mother. I want a life, Zoe. I want something more than what Fiona wants of us. We're witches, why couldn't we use our abilities for something more than blood lines? Why let our descendants do what we could do now?"

Zoe watched her carefully. "I could tell you whatever I wanted to, but you wouldn't listen to me. You're headstrong." She sighed as she sat down on Madison's bed. "I hope it goes well for you." She paused. "I'm behind you on this, alright?"

"I know you are. But keep it to yourself. Some tenants like to talk." Madison said quietly, glancing sideways at the wall, almost as if she could see through it.

"I will." Zoe cocked her head to the side. "What is Misty going to do for you?"

"It's not settled yet, you know?" Madison shifted uncomfortably. "But when it is it'll be big, for her and for the academy."

"And for you?"

"Definitely. And for Miss Cordelia." The dirty blonde glanced sideways at the notebook. "Especially for her, I think."

"What's she planning?"
Madison turned, almost in surprise, and smiled at Zoe's narrowed eyes. "A takeover. Oh, don't look at me like that, there's no violence involved."

"I don't know, Madison, you tend to lose your temper. And so can she, you know that."

The older girl grimaced, but finally shook it off with a flippant wave of her hand. "It's to do with her work. It's actually very exciting."

"You're not going to tell me."

"I like it when you get irritated." Madison admitted. "Your nose goes up and you cross your arms."

The girl let her arms fall to her side as she blushed, smiling. "Please?" The dirty blonde shook her head and stood to sit beside her friend, taking her hand to intertwine their fingers.

"She's going to buy her own ship."

Zoe turned to stare her down, eyes wide.

"She's going to buy her own ship and she's going to build her own company." Madison paused. "I'm to help with the finances."

"Madison, that's amazing."

The dirty blonde nodded tightly. "But that's between us two."

"My lips are sealed."

OOOoooOOO

"I can't say I'm one for calculations." Fiona began. Cordelia flinched lightly as she turned to watch the Supreme reaching for a tumbler. The older blonde carefully poured herself a drink before gazing at her daughter over the rim of her glass. "But even I know that it's any day now that you'll have to ask for help."

Cordelia gritted her teeth, the lie already burning in her throat. She was thankful that her mother could not read minds. "Just a few days."

"Why do you look so calm?"

"Maybe I know there's no reason to fight you anymore." The headmistress replied.

"I'm glad you realize what's best for you." Fiona sighed lightly. She drank, waving her free hand vaguely at Cordelia. "It's better this way, Delia. All you have to do is ask and I'll take this carcass off of your body."

"What would you want with a carcass?"

The Supreme threw her a bemused look. "Once you're done here, I'll have you moved back home, to Salem."

"I don't especially want to go home." Cordelia murmured.

"And I'm not especially asking your opinion." Fiona reminded her. "There's a nice man up north named Hank. You can marry him when you leave here."
Cordelia paled. "M-marry? You're joking."

"As much as I enjoy my own sense of humor, I've never been more serious in my life, Delia." Fiona replied, looking over her nails. She looked up at her daughter, eyebrows high. "You're getting old."

"I don't think marriage-"

"-And I'm not about to watch my daughter shrivel and die surrounded by girls. You're no Myrtle Snow."

Cordelia's muscles tensed as she followed her mother with black eyes, the Supreme's words meaningful enough, both knowing nothing else needed to be said.

It was another three days before the alchemist let herself think of the potential prospects of marriage to a stranger, and it had her pacing across her bedroom floor, a confused necromancer watching her wearily from the bed.

Misty had had to find the alchemist on her own when she'd come home, the woman having retreated to the greenhouse for hours at a time since the encounter. She'd placed a kiss to her cheek but frowned when Cordelia had barely acknowledged her, gaze fleeting and her hand shaking in Misty's when the girl had tugged her up the stairs wordlessly.

The wild blonde shifted so that she sat up properly, her fingers tight around the edge of the covers. "Cordelia, are ya gonna tell me what's wrong? You've been burnin' a hole in the rug for the last half hour."

The headmistress spared her a look, wincing at the girl's furrowed brows, and she finally made her way to the bed, crawling up it to join Misty at the head. She pressed a quick kiss to the girl's cheek. "I don't think you want stress on top of stress."

"If it relieves ya of some, I'll gladly take it." Misty let her fingers run up and down Cordelia's arm. "And ya look so tortured, it'd be hard to ignore ya."

The alchemist laughed lightly as she let her forehead fall against the necromancer's, hovering above the wild blonde. Misty's hands closed around her hips and she was guided down to the mattress, the younger woman helping her rearrange her skirts as she settled to look into blue-green eyes.

Misty moved to be closer, nose flirting with the headmistress's. "What is it, Delia?"

"Fiona's found a man for me."

The necromancer moved back. "Oh."

"I don't want to marry him, Misty, I don't know him." Cordelia pleaded, closing her black eyes. "I don't want to marry him."

"Ya don't have to." Misty assured her. She draped her arm over her waist, watching as the woman's gaze wavered in between tears. "Ya don't have to do nothin' ya don't want to."

"She owns me, Misty." The alchemist sighed out. "I don't think I have a choice. When she gets the house it's all over."

"Nobody said she's gettin' the house." Misty replied forcefully. "We're gettin' the payments in, darlin', ya know that, ya know ya know that." She shifted to move Cordelia's hair behind her ear. She cocked her head, giving her a teasing smile. "Maybe I can buy ya too."

Cordelia shook her head, a lazy grin finding its way across her features as she pecked Misty on the cheek. She ducked her head beneath the girl's chin, settling there, her arms between their bodies and against their chests. "I wish you could, Misty."

The necromancer pulled her closer.

"I wish you could."

OOOoooOOO

The two blondes paced around each other in the dimly lit kitchen.

The Cajun was used to staying up until impossible hours, she'd only managed to sneak away from Cordelia's bed once the woman was truly and deeply asleep in her arms. She'd always hated the stillness and she knew the headmistress didn't mind her leaving as long as she awoke in her arms. But now she wished she'd stayed in the crook of Cordelia's neck, she wouldn't have the Supreme watching her from one corner and then the other if she had.

And as for Fiona, she wondered what the oldest blonde was doing shadowing around the mansion.

She didn't exactly want to ask.

Misty drank heavily from the glass of water she'd placed on the counter before the matriarch had entered, watching her with bright blue-green eyes from over the rim, watching her for any signs of sudden anger, hate, anything Fiona Goode was known for. Things Misty didn't want to see or be on the end of.

Fiona's voice was sickly smooth. "If that's vodka, I hope you'll share."

"Alcohol keeps ya up at night." The necromancer raised an eyebrow. "It's not vodka."

"No, I'm sure you, out of all the girls, followed Cordelia's strict rules around the house. The others never did."

"They don't." Misty corrected lowly.

Fiona hummed back, ignoring her. "No drinking, no staying up past dusk, no fire making unless it involves tinsel and logs." She looked around the kitchen thoughtfully. "I wonder why they stay."

"Because they love her." The wild blonde replied easily. She shifted to cross her arms over her chest. "What are ya tryin' to get to?"

The Supreme waved her hand vaguely. "Nothing. I got what I came for."

Misty's brows furrowed as she stood straight. "Ya-what?"

"Don't worry your frizzy little head about it, Misty Day. You could hurt yourself thinking." She smiled lightly before turning, triumph in her steps, triumph that Misty was swallowing heavily.

"What's your problem with me, 'nyway?" Misty called from the corner of the room.

Fiona turned to watch her, eyes glinting in the raising dawn. "You're just not good enough." She began to walk away but paused, back straight, when the girl called after her, voice strong.

"Fuck you."

The Supreme retraced her steps, jaw set tight before she looked up into blue-green eyes. "I'm going to give you a moment to take that back, girl."

Misty's gaze narrowed. "A moment would never be long enough for me to put as many 'fuck you's as I wanted to."

She was thrown against the counter before she could blink, her back hitting the marble so forcefully that she thought she heard something crack along her spine, but it was hard to tell above the older woman's yelling.

She pushed off the island to get into Fiona's face, fighting the urge to rest her weight on her left side. She raised her hand and pressed it against the Supreme's shoulder until she was pushing, harder and harder until Fiona could do nothing but move.

"Do it again." Misty rasped. "Do it again!"

"You stupid child!"

It was roared, and the slap to her cheek hurt, the flesh from her jaw to her eye suddenly burning as she stared at the floor, taking a moment to move her lower jaw. The blood rushing in her head was loud but the frantic steps down the stairwell were even louder.

Cordelia burst into the room when the necromancer's head was snapped back by another blow, she tittered lightly but caught her balance, back of her hand against her lip. Fiona grabbed her by her hair and tugged her down until she was practically kneeling, hissing countless threats in her ear, but Misty's blue-green eyes were on the headmistress and she wasn't listening.

She brought her chin up and the top of her head connected with Fiona's jaw, sudden fire licking at where the Supreme held her. She was wrenched from the Supreme's grasp by Madison and Nan (from where they'd come, Misty didn't know), and they held her back as she fought to claw her way to her, the alchemist blocking Fiona's way.

"Stop it!" Cordelia pleaded, voice breaking into another octave. "Mother, stop! What are you doing?"

"Teaching your students lessons you should have taught them a long time ago. Move out of the way."

"Be rational, please-" Her daughter was moved out of the way easily, fragile body unable to hold back the furious Supreme. "Mother-!"

"Oh no, Delia, the gator lover wants to fight." Fiona snapped. She grabbed Madison by her collar, the girl letting out a yelp as she was pulled aside, Cordelia catching her before she lost her balance. She pushed her arm forward violently and Misty gave way by a few feet, sliding into the counter again, her arms coming up behind her to brace herself.

Fire illuminated their faces, flames running up the Supreme's lithe fingers in little flicks as her anger steeled into her gaze. "Get out, Misty."

Misty suddenly began to laugh, a low rattle from deep in her lungs that became giggles as she straightened and passed a hand through her hair, the others watching on with disbelief in their eyes.

The necromancer finally sighed out, letting her hands fall limp to her sides, her shoulders shrugging. "The house ain't yours no more, Miss Fiona."

The Supreme watched Misty with cold, cold eyes for the longest time and finally sniffed."And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, there's this neat little thin' called a foreclosure? Your daughter couldn't pay the rent no more so," The wild blonde shrugged lightly, her grin growing as she wiped at the blood across her chin. "I bought the house in the window of time I was given before it fell back to ya." She glanced back at the headmistress. "She don't know about the house fallin' from her hands, she just thought I was payin', and apparently ya didn't know neither. I can't say I'm proud of lyin', but it's better than what you've done."

Cordelia gasped out beside her, spine nodding forward as she grasped at her chest at the sudden admission, the necromancer shining brightly with light arrogance in front of the Supreme.

"How dare-!"

"Really, and I'm sorry to say this, but you're not welcome on my property. Or Miss Cordelia's."

Fiona grimaced at her. "Cordelia's?"

"Yeah I, uh," Misty laughed lightly, a blush running up to her ears. She glanced sideways at the alchemist. "I forged your signature, sorry."

"You wrote her into the contract?" The Supreme growled.

"I figured I could, I paid for the damn thin'." Misty fired back. "Doesn't matter who's on it anyway, just that you're not." She softened by an inch. "Don't make me call Spalding and have him escort you off the lawn. It wouldn't really be dignified."

"And what are you going to do when I leave, necromancer?" Fiona barked. "Know that my name will not be associated with this place anymore."

The girl shook her head. "We don't need ya to be. Not when Cordelia's is." She wanted so badly to reach for the older blonde's hand. "She's just as important as ya, Supreme or not. What powers she doesn't have she makes up for in heart, something you sorely lack." She paused. "And ya know what? I do think I'm good enough."

There was a long pause, silence deafening the academy, and finally Zoe's voice was heard from the back of the room. "Kyle's having the horses harnessed."

Fiona let out a low curse, blazing eyes shifting from Misty to Cordelia before resting back on the necromancer, and finally she stormed out of the room, voice crying out for Spalding as she made as much noise as a witch could make.

OOOoooOOO

Cordelia knew she was breathing erratically and she was fighting to do so normally, counting her breaths and holding them and the seconds in between, letting her head get dizzy before she gulped in air.

Misty had left sporting a small smile, a triumphant one, blue-green eyes searching the street through the windows as the coach holding a rather angry Supreme wheeled her away to god knew where, most likely where she could lick her wounds. She'd left Cordelia in the kitchen and the rest of the girls had left too, talking lowly. Madison had placed a hand on the alchemist's shoulder quickly, unable to find words, and followed Zoe and Nan a second later.

Not that Cordelia could answer her, dumbstruck as she was.

Cordelia coughed lightly a few minutes later, breaking herself out of her own stupor, her black eyes sliding from window to door. She flexed her fingers, finding them tight around the back of the chair before her still. She began to walk, her heart hammering against her ribs, her thoughts tumultuous.

Of course Misty would be in the greenhouse, her radiant happiness like a beacon of light. Most likely giggling at rendering Cordelia and her mother, both Goodes, mute in the same sentence.

She barged out into the backyard and down the steps leading to her safe haven, following the wild blonde's aura and the smell of fresh earth. The second door had been left wide open.

"Misty-!"

The necromancer turned from where she stood at the wooden island, surprise in her features and then worry as she watched Cordelia run down the stairs and through to the basement. Almost as if she was suddenly rethinking what she'd done. She bit her lip as she awaited a storm, but her shoulders slumped when she saw only relief in the older woman's black eyes.

The alchemist ran into her and she caught her to keep her still, gaze doing a one over on the blonde. "Delia, ya okay?"

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, no harm done, I'm fine." Misty laughed lightly, brushing hair out of her face. "I'm just glad ya didn't trip or nothin'-"

"No, Misty, I mean-" The headmistress cut off and suddenly she was blushing, her grip tightening around the girl's arm. Misty paused and relaxed, letting her go and her own gaze softening. Almost as if she'd suddenly received Nan's powers. Understanding. This wasn't about the present. Not anymore.

"It's okay, Cordelia. I told ya, I already told ya. It's a thing of the past now, okay?"

But Cordelia barged on. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for not telling you while Fiona was here because I'm a damned coward and I'm sorry about letting her use you the way she did when you saved that man. I should have stepped up and I didn't. I'm sorry I didn't tell you then. If I had,-"

"I wouldn't have left, you've said it before. But I did." Misty said quietly. She pressed a kiss to Cordelia's temple, closing her eyes. "And I came back. That's what matters. Yeah? And now we got this all resolved and ya and I got the mansion back." Cordelia nodded, skin warm where the necromancer had pressed her lips. "Tell me what, Delia?"

"I love you, Misty Day."

The admission was heavy, Cordelia's throat closing as soon as the words left her mouth and she swam in her own confession, fingers tight around Misty's upper arms, nails digging into pliant flesh.

The necromancer pressed another kiss to her forehead. "And I ya, Delia Goode." Her lips traveled down to the older blonde's cheekbones, to her jawline.

She pressed a kiss to the corner of Cordelia's mouth, lingering there longer than necessary, the embrace no longer platonic. The headmistress shook lightly in her arms, but suddenly she was pushing back and wrapping her arms around Misty's waist, tugging her closer. Their lips parted and met again, fitting perfectly.

Cordelia pulled away to rest her forehead on the girl's collarbone, fingers playing with the fabric on her hips. "We haven't done that in a while."

"Done what?"

"Been this close."

Misty laughed lightly into Cordelia's hair, thumbs brushing past the woman's jaw before her arms anchored around her neck, pulling her in. "I missed it." She smiled a little wider. "The kissin' too."

The alchemist burrowed into the necromancer's neck, tone teasing. "We kissed once, Misty. And I don't think it counted." She paused, shoulders falling a little. "I'm half expecting mother to walk through that door, like last time."

"She's not here no more."

"She wasn't supposed to be here last time, either. And that turned out well, didn't it?"

Misty nudged Cordelia's chin up until she could kiss her. She trailed to her jaw and spoke between sloppy embraces. "I don't see her-" She moved back to plump lips. "Walkin' in now." Cordelia whimpered into her mouth, tugging her down by her curls. Their teeth clashed, tongues dancing. Misty pulled away and traveled down her neck, biting the skin she found, arching Cordelia into her.

They kissed languidly, sharing breaths and sweet words in the spaces between them. Cordelia pecked her lips repeatedly, smiling when Misty did, both amazed at the novelty of being able to, both pushing their insecurities far enough to enjoy themselves.

The necromancer backed the woman against the workbench, grinning a little more, humming into their embraces. "I missed ya so much, Delia. Even though you've been right here these last few months I missed ya so much."

"I missed you too." Cordelia admitted. "More than you can imagine." Her voice fell to a whisper. "You know I would have come to get you from where you were. You know that, right? You know I was coming to get you?"

"I was waitin', and you know that." Misty murmured back. "I just got too impatient. It was gettin' cold, 'nyway."

They shared a grin and a nuzzle, but Cordelia pulled back, frowning lightly. "I just, I just didn't expect mother to do what she did. I was planning to get you, you can ask Nan or Queenie or Madison, they all knew. Myrtle knew, the last time we talked. Fiona-"

"I know." Misty kissed her again, almost desperately. "I know, Delia, I know." She pulled the older blonde closer, no air left between them.

"I love you."

"I love ya." The necromancer breathed back, awe in her voice. "I'll never stop sayin' it, God strike me down if I do."

OOOoooOOO

"I'm namin' her Abigail."

"Naming what, sweetheart?"

Misty flushed at the word, watching Cordelia from across her study's desk. The headmistress had looked up and smiled brightly when she'd entered, her black eyes swimming in joy at the sight of the necromancer gazing at her from across the room.

Cordelia paused. "You're not about to surprise me with anything, are you?"

"No, no." Misty laughed. She leaned over the desk to rest on it, hands finding the woman's. "My ship. I'm namin' her Abigail."

"Your ship?" Cordelia echoed. "What ship?"

"Oh, well I do have a surprise then. I thought Madison would have spilled the beans already or somethin', guess she didn't."

The alchemist sighed out, her smile returning at the obvious giddyness in Misty's voice, her twang waltzing in with a vengeance as she practically giggled before her.

It'd been five weeks since Fiona had been sent back to Salem (Myrtle had written in her monthly letter of the joy she'd felt watching the Supreme come home with her tail in between her legs and had sincerely thanked them), five weekends of the two witches holding each other tight at night, five mondays of crying and five fridays of more emotions, but Misty's happiness only grew.

And Cordelia's grew right along with hers.

She shifted back to look up at the girl, cocking her head to the side to smile, and Misty grinned back as she rounded the desk to tip Cordelia's chin up to look into her eyes.

"I may or may not have bought a ship."

"And why?"

"To start my own tradin' company."

"Oh, Misty."

"I needed a ship, ya know? Couldn't really use my former employer's any more, he'd given me a few weeks to use it but I had to get my own." She shrugged. "I say ship, it's really a dingy."

"You bought a ship."

"Raft. But yes. And I've named it Abigail." Misty bit her lower lip. "Ya like it?"

"I love it. I wouldn't have expected any less of you, for some reason."

The two shared a laugh and the necromancer bent down to kiss her sweetly, hands tangling in her hair.

"I'll be borrowin' Maddie though." The wild blonde added against her lips.

Cordelia pulled away, surprised. "Madison?"

"She'll be back on the weekends, like me."

"I'm supposed to be looking after her." The headmistress smiled weakly. "I can't really do that if she's going around the gulf doing whatever it is you're doing, something I don't truly understand yet."

"Tradin'. And she's real good with money."

"I know."

"As in, ya know, countin' and percentages and stuff." Misty kissed her forehead. "I'll take good care of her, ya know that."

"You're making it sound like she's leaving with you in the morning." Cordelia laughed lightly, but seeing the necromancer's light grimace, she sobered. "Misty!"

The girl waved her hand vaguely. "It'll be fine. Do ya trust me?"

"With all my heart. It's Madison I don't trust."

Misty giggled against Cordelia's hair, wrapping her arms around her neck and holding her to her chest. "Ya don't mind then?"

"Mind what, you starting your life?" Cordelia shook her head. "Never. I'm proud of you, proud of you for finding your way and proud of you for figuring it out yourself. And weirdly proud of you somehow keeping it a secret. You usually talk so much."

"Blabberin', Zoe calls it."

"I'd have to agree with her."

Misty kissed her again, once, twice, blushing at the woman's words. "I want ya to see it."

"Hmm, see what?"

"Abigail." The wild blonde shifted her weight. "Though not today, sometime soon. I have to have her fitted out first, get the cabin properly done. Put some red in. Maybe some green." She looked to the ceiling as she thought aloud. "And a figurehead, I need one. I'd guess it'd be too hard to get ya up there but maybe an alligator. With its maws open and everything'."

"An alligator would be better than me. I'd just bring bad luck."

"No. I'll keep ya for the flagship."

"You're going to buy more?"

"When the company gets big enough, sure!" Misty smiled. "I want to have this thin' be transcontinental. Hell, why not South America? Europe!"

"Why not."

The necromancer gazed down at Cordelia, figuring she'd find her smirking like Madison had at the idea, hours before, but she found only earnest in her wide black eyes, earnest and pride and a little bit of mist as she blinked back tears. Misty softened.

"I love ya, ya know?"

Cordelia nodded. "You tell me every time you can."

"And I mean it. I love ya." She cocked her head to the side and tugged on blonde strands. "You're gonna make a beautiful figurehead. I'll carve it myself. I just need ya to pose naked for me sometime soon."

She received a light smack on the thigh.

OOOoooOOO

Misty tugged Cordelia to her by her waist, dragging her across the bedsheets until she could wrap her arms around her, nuzzling into the back of her neck. "I don't wanna leave."

The older blonde sighed lightly, jaw twitching when the necromancer bit her earlobe. "I know, Misty, but a company needs her leader."

"Tell me not to leave."

Cordelia turned in her arms and pressed her head to the girl's chest, leaving kisses on burning skin. "You know I can't." Misty kissed her hair, threading her fingers through blonde strands. "I want to, but I can't. You'll leave anyway." She angled her head up and met the necromancer's lips languidly. She pulled back. "You're not one to push away your duties, you know that."

"You're my duty."

Cordelia shook her head, unable to stop the smile that graced her features as Misty grinned back.

The girl peppered kisses down her jaw. "You're so much more than four ships and fifteen thousand kilos of cargo a day and-" She laughed when the woman slapped her lightly, and she surged forward to kiss her quickly, moving down to her jaw and back to embrace her again. The alchemist squealed against her, giggling as she bit back, their teeth clashing.

Misty spoke between sloppy, open mouthed, kisses. "I love ya, I'm always comin' back to ya-" She tried to continue but Cordelia shushed her, pushing herself up the bed to tower over the wild blonde, fingers digging into her scalp. Misty's hands held her by her ribs, gripping so tight she'd leave bruises.

They parted, the necromancer rubbing the palms of her hands up and down Cordelia's frame, nose against the older blonde's. She pecked her lips once, twice, but the headmistress denied her a third one, hiding beneath her chin instead, placing her lips against her pulse point.

Misty opened her mouth to talk but a groan found a way out of her throat instead when the alchemist licked up her neck, pausing to suck on her skin. She bit the beginnings of a hickey and traveled up the girl's jaw to kiss her lightly.

"I love you."

The wild blonde nodded and kissed her back, their embrace deepening into lengthless moments. She smiled when Cordelia's eyes began to close from fatigue and from emotion. She pushed on the woman's hip until the alchemist turned to her other side and she tugged her back against her, no space between them. Her lips trailed down to the back of her neck and Cordelia sighed, her breath rattling.

"I'll leave in an hour."