The following morning, my eyelashes flickered, eyes opening as I slowly lifted my head from Tom's chest and looked out of the window. Enjoyed mornings like this, I did, when I could watch the landscape as the sun rose. Amber rays of the early morning sun, golden, glided across the pastel blue sky and soft grey clouds. It blessed the land with a kiss of its serene aura. The far bit of land in the distance was covered by a light sunlight dust, a white low-lying morning mist sprawled across it. However, a silken yellow ribbon of the sunlight stretched across the land close to the house and seeped through the window, specs of dust sparkling as they floated in the rays of the rising sun.

Deciding it was time to get up, I, careful not to wake Tom, slipped out of my lover's arms, slid off the bed and slipped my silk green dress on over my head. Sliding my feet into my pointy shoes, I opened the door and left the room, closing the door as softly as I'd opened it.

Down in the kitchen, deciding I wanted to try and make Irene more tolerant of all of us, I saw that she was already up and helped her make the breakfast. Worked, my plan, and soon we were talking and laughing away like friends.

Not a second after we'd put the breakfast on the plates, everybody filed into the kitchen. Even got to meet Christopher's and Irene's children: their young boy, Jake, and their little girl, Lisa. They were beautiful and well-mannered children.

Christopher and Irene sat at opposite ends of the table, Lisa next to her mother and Jake on the same side as his little sister, but next to his father. I sat opposite Tom, next to Jenny while she sat opposite Lisa, also next to Irene. Judd sat next to Tom, opposite Daniel who was sitting next to me. Judd was also sat next to Jake.

Before we ate, Irene said, winking at me, "Everyone, I think Tom and Alice have something they wish to tell you..."
Catching on with what she meant by that, I nodded.
"Known for some days now, I have, and only managed to tell Tom last night. It's...well..." Never good at speaking when everyone was staring at me, was I?
Tom held my hand across the table and helped me.
"Alice told me last night that she's pregnant. We're having a baby together."
There were congratulations all around after a single, loud gasp. Well, except from Jenny. She seemed a little too quiet over breakfast but other than that, it was a pleasant and rather animated meal with Christopher and his family.

Afterwards, also after I'd gone to be sick outside (felt a bit rude rushing out just before everyone was finished but it couldn't be helped), Tom and I sat on the settee, talking, sneaking in passionate kisses here and there while I sat on his lap. Judd and Daniel were going to walk with us back to Chipenden, then would continue on for Caster. According to Jenny, her sister wanted her out so she had nowhere else to go. Tom offered her back her old room in our house. Odd how that came out of her mouth after Tom and I announced that we were going to be parents.
Made my blood boil when she replied to Tom's offer over-sweetly, "If you insist..."
Unlike Tom, I wasn't blinded in the slightest. The snake! When I asked about Daniel, she shrugged and told me that she realised she actually didn't feel for him that way. Couldn't get over Tom, more like! Really, worse than Mab, she was.

All the while I sat on his lap, Tom had his hand on my stomach. Realised then how stupid I was to keep it from him. Of course he'd be pleased to know he was going to be a father! Why did it have to take nearly losing him for me to tell him the news?

Around Tom, Jenny acted happy for us but when it was just me, she'd shoot a short glare at me. That girl...
Speaking of which, Jenny headed down the hallway for the door.
When Tom caught sight of her and quickly asked where she was going, interrupted our kiss to do so, she told him she was going out for 'some fresh air'.
Knew she was upset that she'd lost all hope of winning Tom over, I did, and she carried a suspicious air about her. Only when I told Tom, he simply rolled his eyes and told me I was being melodramatic, telling me not to worry. Told me that she used to have moments like that during her apprenticeship, so there was no need to concern myself. But I knew better. Saw that look in her eyes before she turned away, I did, and knew that look anywhere. The look of a broken heart, that, and broken hearts almost always lead you astray to make regretful decisions.
"Really, Alice, try and be a little bit better towards her. What's so suspicious about going out for some fresh air?" he asked. "She's fine, trust me."
"That look in her eyes, Tom...Look, I promise, all I'll do is see what she's doing and if it's nothing, then I'll leave her be," I said.
Receiving a reluctant nod, I got off Tom's lap and left him on the settee while I walked out of the house.

I followed Jenny, keeping a fair distance between us so she wouldn't notice, also not too great a distance for fear of losing sight of her.

Finally, she halted in front of a tree. What was she up to?

I dove behind a nearby bush as I saw someone emerge from the shadows. The woman drew back her hood to reveal bright green eyes and long blonde hair.
Mab!
"Well, Mab, I came, so what was it you wanted to discuss?" Jenny demanded impatiently.
Interesting, that...why had Mab asked to meet with Jenny? About to find out, I was.
"Don't have to be so sharp, Jenny. Want to make a deal, I do," Mab said, smiling grimly.
"What sort of deal?" Jenny asked curiously.
Was she kidding? Practically making herself vulnerable to Mab's manipulation, she was by showing any interest at all in the deal.
"I can help you, Jenny Calder. Help you win Tom over, I could, and get Alice out of the way," Mab offered.
This was definitely a trick. Used to have feelings for Tom herself, so why would she help someone else win his affections? I decided it had to be a deal that would only benefit Mab. There was no way she'd help Jenny win him over, she'd just help her get rid of me.
"It's too late. Tom and Alice are already having a baby together."
"Ah, but what if we could change that?"
Reacting on impulse, my hand flew to my stomach. Surely she wouldn't...How low could one woman get?
"I don't know what you mean..." Clearly, Jenny did understand, she just didn't want to know. At least she was loyal to Tom, but then why didn't she just walk away ad forget the deal? Surely she knew how tricky Pendle witches could be...
"It was thanks to that battle up on Ward Peak years ago, which Tom started with the Fiend, that I lost my sister Jennet, Beth's twin. Ain't the only one in my clan who died 'cos of his antics. All had something to lose, we did. So, this is an 'eye for an eye' as it was. If we work together and get rid of Alice, Tom will be free for you to have and I will have my thirst for revenge quenched."
"How?"
"Tom would've lost his lover and unborn babe, wouldn't he? Lose a family before he could even raise it, he would, and would need the comfort," Mab explained.
This conversation was going too far. Jenny was getting herself in too deep with the deal already, before it was even struck. Wanted to stop the conversation before it was too late, I did, but found myself too shocked to move so much as a muscle.
"So you want me to help you get rid of Alice and her baby?"
"What do you say?" Mab asked fervently.
"I don't want to betray Tom..."
"Wouldn't be, 'cos he wouldn't know. Think it was just me involved, he would."
"I need to think."
"Think faster!" Mab snapped impatiently.
"Well..."

My ears pricked up as I heard Tom calling me and Jenny. Finally able to move, I darted away from the bush and ran towards the sound of Tom's voice.

When I reached him, I put my hands behind his neck, panting.
"What's wrong, Alice?" he asked.
"Mab...met up with Jenny and manipulated her...th-they struck a deal to tear us apart, Tom!" I cried.
"What? Jenny isn't capable of betraying me like that. She may have met up with Mab to find out what she wanted, but she's our friend, she would never..."
"Your friend," I corrected him. "Know what I heard, Tom, I do," I insisted, exasperated.
"Did you hear Jenny agree to the deal?" he asked logically.
I shook my head. "No..."
"Then forget about it, there's no need to worry. Jenny would never try to hurt me like that," he assured me, kissing my forehead.
He held me close and I whispered against his shoulder, "Been separated too many times now, we have. Couldn't bear it if we separated again, could I? I'd fall apart!"
"We won't be...never, forever," he whispered back. "Now, I don't know about you, but when we get back home, a bath would be good," he said seductively.
I lifted my chin from his shoulder as he lowered his hands.
"I'm sure it would," I chuckled softly, pulling his head down towards mine for a passionate kiss.

When we broke apart, we heard an awkward cough behind us. Turning around, I saw Jenny standing there.
"It's time for us to go," Tom told her.
"All right," Jenny agreed with a nod.

We walked back to the house and Jenny thanked Tom for letting her stay with us. Tom said she was very welcome.
My lips thinned as I kept 'em sealed tight. I daren't have voiced what I thought about it. Still had my doubts about her, I did, but Tom had made a fair point. After all, I never exactly heard Jenny agree to Mab's proposal.

By the time we reached the house, Judd and Daniel were standing by the door, Christopher waiting, almost eagerly, to see us off.

Finally heading for home, Christopher waved the five of us off.

No one said a word on the way back. It seemed we were all lost in our own thoughts.

Finally, after a couple of days, we reached Chipenden, Judd and Daniel continued on their way for Caster after we said our goodbyes to 'em. Then, we walked through the village and up the hill. Walking through the dense wood of sycamore and ash, the house gradually came into sight.

Once we got inside, the boggart welcomed us with a rather appetising meal. Jenny then retired to her old room early, claiming she had a headache. Shrugging it off, Tomt thanked the boggart with the usual phrase: "Our compliments to the cook!"

When it looked like those compliments were well-received, Tom and I eagerly hurried up the stairs, ready for a hot steamy bath.

Jenny seemed glad to be back. As for me, I was content to be back home with the man I loved most, a bright, happy future lying in wait for us.