I had a brainstorm last night about another Tom and Alice themed family night – yes, I know I promised one about Tom's family but I've struggled so just think of this as more of a special addition.
It's a short story so there's a lot of time skipping: 'It is nearing Alice's sixteenth birthday and her powers threaten to veer out of control. She needs to go to Pendle and learn how to control them but she could be gone for a long time. Tom is upset and doesn't want his lover to leave. However, the Deane witch clan have looked into Alice's betrayal and have seen her future through her cousin Gianna's eyes. Will Alice really be gone for a long time, or will something pop up and get in the way?'
"So, that's it then, Tom, all I have to tell you. That's why I'm going to Pendle," Alice told him, finding herself unable to meet his green eyes with her big brown ones.
"But, Alice, I…why now? Why now when you're leaving in a week, when you could be gone for a long time?" Tom asked her, full of sadness. He loved Alice and the very thought of being parted for so long put sorrow on his heart.
"Anything's good if it's to keep you safe. My sixteenth birthday's just a month away, Tom, don't want to hurt you, do I? Need to learn how to keep my powers under control," she replied, also finding the news hard.
"Now you see why I didn't want your cousin living under this roof, ever since she came we haven't been as close."
Rather than answering to that, Alice locked her arms around her lover, closing her eyes as she indulged the warmth and security of his arms.
"Going to miss you, Tom, I am but we both know it's for the best. Soon as I can, I will come back to you," she promised.
Tom nodded reluctantly as they loosened their arms from around each other.
"I'm just going to miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too, Tom, more than I can tell."
They both looked dejected and said nothing. Tom just continued to hold Alice on his lap, he wanted to hold her to him for as long as he could, up until the very last second. He nuzzled her long black hair as she laid her weight on his chest. Secretly, Alice wanted to stay with him and he wanted her to stay, but he only ever wanted what was best for her and she knew what was best for her so if this concealing of her power was what was good for her, then Tom was going to let her leave with a smile.
However, without knowing it, he was doing whatever he could to make her stay.
Tom would pull Alice closer at night, spend more time with her after spook's business and whisper to her how much he loved her. She'd kiss him in gratitude but could see what he was doing – even if he couldn't – and wouldn't submit.
Finally, the day came when it was time for her to leave. Her cousin, Gianna Malkin, seemed relatively happy and hugged her briefly at the door and gave a nod of farewell before forcefully (though it looked purposefully) skipping back up to her room. Tom on the other hand left the house with Alice and walked with her up to the gate.
He then turned her round to face him and, still holding her shoulders, whispered into her ear, "Come home safely, Alice, be careful."
She nodded before wrapping her arms around his neck, her hand in his brown hair, and kissed him fiercely on the lips.
They stood there in bliss, like they had all the time in the world and more, when suddenly, Alice interrupted their kiss and whispered a final goodbye before leaving through the gate and disappearing into the trees.
Tom walked back to the house despairingly, remembering the last time they were separated.
Nevertheless, Alice returned home within two days and Tom was both surprised and elated to see her pretty face as she came up the path when he saw her through the kitchen window. But, when he opened the door to let her in, she hugged him before falling against him wearily.
He carried her under her arms and knees over to the settee by the kitchen fire. Alice looked exhausted, paler and thinner than usual.
"Are you all right, Alice?" asked Tom softly.
"Powerless now, Tom, I am, that's why I've come home early," Alice replied quietly, ashamed.
"Alice?"
"Soon as I set foot in Pendle, the Deane witch clan's assassin came and drained me of my power, told me I was too much of a threat now…I feel so useless!" Alice cried.
Tom instantly started caressing her cheek lightly with his thumb.
"Sssh, you're not useless, Alice, not to me. At least now we can still be together and now there's no threat of you turning to the dark," Tom rightfully pointed out.
Alice smiled, "I guess so. Something else, Tom."
"What is it?"
"Gianna contacted me with a mirror. You know when I was sick last week?"
"Yes…"
"There's a reason I was…it's…well…I'm pregnant, you're going to be a father."
Tom was shocked and didn't know how to react. He liked the idea of having a family with the person he loved most but didn't know if he was ready to be a father.
Alice wasn't sure if she was ready to be a mother but they would learn together, that was the beauty of it.
"Know you don't feel ready, Tom, know you all too well, I do, but we'll learn together, won't we?"
Rather than saying anything, Tom just hugged her, kissing her wherever he could.
"Knew you'd act like this," Alice grinned.
Tom moved his hand onto the tiny swell of her belly and she placed her hand on his.
Suddenly, Gianna came down with such a grin.
"You never listened to what else I was going to say, cousin, about your baby."
Tom and Alice turned their heads towards Gianna in curiosity.
"Go on," Alice urged.
"The baby's going to be a girl and what's known as a spook witch."
The young couple tilted their heads, confused.
Gianna sighed in frustration.
"A spook witch is a female being that can conjure a silver chain at her fingertips, send it spiralling through the air towards a denizen. She can adjust the amount of the silver than harms the denizens too as all denizens have a specific amount to which they can be harmed at. With the gesture of her hands and at her will, a spook witch can part the ground into a pit before using her hands to conjure several iron bars, however many she wants at will. With the swirl of her index finger, a spook witch can fill a boggart's bait dish with blood and snap her fingers to conjure the bait dish. A spook witch can also bestow an accuracy charm on a weapon used against a denizen, increasing its chances of meeting tis target," Gianna explained.
"Would the dark be able to turn her into their weapon?" asked a now worried Alice.
Gianna nodded sympathetically.
"If the child is born in the dark with no light outside, then yes. She must either be born under the rays of the sun or the beams of the moon to be a gift to the light."
Just as Gianna turned to descend the stairs, Tom stopped her.
"Gianna, maybe I was wrong about you. Thank you."
It was the nicest thing he'd said to her and Gianna nodded, smiling with gratitude before she continued.
"Well, wasn't this nice for an early birthday present?" Tom joked.
Alice laughed with him before they snuggled.
"Tom," Alice began gently.
"Yes?"
"This was something Gianna didn't scry but I had to know, to see if it was for me what aunt Agnes scryed when I was younger. She'd scryed and I saw two cradles. When I scryed, the same occurred," Alice said excitedly.
"Twins…twin girls!" Tom exclaimed.
Alice nodded and Tom squeezed her with love. She squeezed him back.
"Two spook witches," Alice chuckled, "Who would've thought?"
"I love you, Alice," Tom spoke into her ear quietly.
"Love you too, Tom," Alice replied, looking him in the eyes before catching his lips in hers.
That one tender kiss spoke for them, all that they wanted to say. It was the start of a new beginning.
That's the end of the additional chapter.
I promise that Family Night 7 will be on Tom's family.