A/N We're nearly at the end of this one, just one more chapter to come. I decided to take some inspiration from the episode "The Witchy Hour" plus a conversation AndDreamOfSage and I had quite some time ago. As you will see I have had to change some things to suit the storyline I have created but I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

"I cannot believe those girls. At this stage I expected more from them, even Mildred. And now we are to be involved in this ridiculous sham of a radio show. It is going to be completely humiliating."

Amelia looked over the table at Constance, "Calm down dear. Remember that article about Pentangles? One of the 'Top Ten Centres for Sorcery'. We can't let them prove that's the case can we? And I am not allowing that woman to get away with calling us a second rate outfit. Who does she think she is?"

Truthfully the principal was rather annoyed at Mildred as well. She had enough going on right now with Shep and Wendy to deal with, although Tom was currently doing the bulk of that work. And of course the baby was due very soon so everyone was focused on making sure Imogen was well looked after.

"We could create a brochure like that if we really wanted." Constance huffed as she sat down on the chair.

"We could but we've agreed to keep our policy simple. Our numbers have gone up and we have better things to spend money on. If you ask me Phyllis Pentangle is rather jealous of us at the moment and I'd like to see it stay that way. We are going ahead with the radio show and what's more, we are going to win."

"Well Amelia, as I said earlier, I will cheer for the Academy on the day but right now I have far more important things on my mind. Imogen and the children are my main priorities so I will leave this to you to organise. No doubt Davina will want to get involved, this type of nonsense is right up her street. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to collect Abby from school."

Thirty minutes later mother and daughter were walking through the village. To Constance's surprise Abby was in complete agreement about what she deemed the "cringe-factor" of what Mildred had arranged.

"Ugh, I don't see why they love that Icy Stevens so much. He's really slimy sounding. I mean Mildred and the girls are my friends but sometimes I really question their taste in music and other cool things. But I suppose Granny is right, we need to go ahead with it."

Constance wrapped an arm around her daughter, it felt good not to be the only person who was not under Mr Steven's spell. And apparently they had another ally.

"Oh God no. I cannot stand him, I have to turn the radio off when I hear his voice. He just sounds like a total cheeseball. Do I really have to go?"

Imogen had been having a lovely day of maternity leave until this news had broken. She and Ava had spent the afternoon with Tom and of course Wendy and Shep who were already thriving under the care they were receiving from their new family.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to Darling, especially not now." Constance reached under the table and clasped her wife's hand. She knew at this stage Imogen had become rather nervous about labour, she had felt the same and offered as much reassurance as she could.

"Of course you don't my dear but I do think if you feel up to it the girls would love to see you cheering them on. It's going to be next Thursday so Jamie will be there too, he's agreed to start P.E a bit earlier that day so the students will be free to attend in the afternoon."

Imogen brightened up at the thought of her best friend being with her. He would hate someone like Icy Stevens and the idea of passing comments to each other throughout the live show was very appealing.

"What do you say poppet? Will we go?"

Ava looked up from her potato slices and did an almost shrug. "Okay so."

Constance grinned into her glass of water. She too could see the mocking potential of this event. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Soon it was the following Thursday morning and Imogen was lying in bed on her right hand side staring at the clock. Just before seven she felt a pair of warm lips nuzzling her neck and shoulders while a hand caressed her bump.

"Mmmm, good morning my Darling." Constance breathed into her ear.

"Morning." Normally Imogen loved those morning caresses, she had often likened her wife to a big cat when she did this. Right now though the touches were irritating her skin and she just needed to get up.

"Darling, what's the matter?", Constance looked up as she was abruptly left alone in their bed.

"Nothing, I just don't want to have sex right now."

"Who said anything about having sex? No, I just wanted the three of us to have a cuddle before I get up for work."

Imogen kept moving towards the bathroom after picking up some clothes she had left on the chair. "Well, I'm up now. I'm going to have a shower."

Constance lay back against the pillows as she heard the click indicating that the bathroom lock had been engaged. She could have unlocked it using magic but decided to respect her wife's privacy. She understood a lot of these feelings as the pregnancy was coming to an end. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself it was just hormones and worry talking there was no denying how she felt right now. Hurt.

At the other side of the door Imogen sat on the ledge of the bath feeling awful. She knew she had been abrupt but in all honesty she couldn't help it. For the past two hours she had been lying awake worrying. The baby was due in just two days and she hadn't even had any Braxton Hicks contractions yet. Dr Ravenscroft had advised that she was having them but just couldn't feel them. It sounded a bit far fetched to her and really didn't offer any reassurance.

Right now she was convinced she was going to go well over her due date. She remembered the advice she had given Constance when they thought that Ava would have to be induced and although she had meant it, taking the same advice herself was proving difficult. With a sigh she got up and turned the shower on. As with the gentle kisses that had been dotted along her skin earlier the water was causing extreme irritation. She showered as quickly as possible then dressed before going through to Ava's room where she found Constance lifting their daughter out of her cot.

"The shower's free. You go get ready for work, I'll look after Ava and make sure Abby's up."

"Are you sure?" Constance was relieved that Imogen seemed a bit more level headed than she had fifteen minutes previously.

"Yes. Go on. Hello poppet. Let's get you dressed." Even the feel of Ava's arms around her neck was an uncomfortable sensation but Imogen ignored the feeling and kissed the little nose before finishing dressing their little girl.

Forty minutes later Constance entered the staffroom and smiled at Imogen who was sitting at the table with Amelia, Gabrielle, Elizabeth, Davina and Jamie who had just arrived.

"Where are the girls?"

"Oh, Abby was ready so Dad dropped her to school. He's gone to pick up some puppy beds so he took Ava with him."

"What?", Constance glared across the table.

"What?", Imogen echoed the question.

"You didn't even allow them to say goodbye to me? What on earth is wrong with you today? You woke up in a bad mood and you're taking it out on me by not even letting me kiss my own children goodbye."

Everyone else at the table cringed at the words. They had all assumed that Constance had said goodbye to the children upstairs. She had only missed them by two minutes or so but nobody was going to point that out to her.

Imogen shifted uncomfortably in her seat. On reflection she should have made sure Constance got a goodbye kiss from the girls but her father had been ready to leave so she had taken the opportunity of a lift for Abby. And she knew Ava would enjoy the trip.

"Look I'm sorry Sweetheart but it's only this one morning, you'll see them later."

"That is not the point. I always kiss them goodbye and today you did not allow me to do that. I have done nothing to warrant the way you acted this morning but by all means carry on alienating me if you want to." With that she vanished into thin air.

"Im, what's going on? Are you okay?" Jamie went to touch his friend's arm but was brushed off immediately.

"Oh just let her sulk. Anyone would think I'd sent them off to a foreign country, not to school and to the next town for a few hours. I'm going back upstairs, see you all later." And with a lot less grace than normal Imogen got up from her chair and stormed out of the room.

"I wonder what she did this morning?" Davina pondered over her cup of nettle tea.

"I think we're best not knowing." Elizabeth whispered, afraid Constance would still be hovering and overhear them.

Constance was in fact in the potions lab trying to calm her temper. They hadn't rowed in quite some time but Imogen was getting on her last nerve this morning. The main reason was the fact that her wife was seemingly incapable of taking her own advice. Constance knew she was worried about an induction as well as the actual labour, just as she had been. But over the last few days when she had offered her own advice based on her experience, including reminding Imogen of the words that had helped her twenty months before, she was dismissed.

As the fourth years filtered in she pushed her anger to the back of her mind. "Hopefully by this sham of a radio show this afternoon she'll be back to normal."

Three hours later Imogen was sat in their oversized armchair trying to concentrate on her book. Tom had called an hour before to say that he was going to visit a friend so he and Ava would be late back. It was probably for the best as Imogen knew in the mood she was in she was better off on her own for a while. When she heard the knock on the door she expected it to be her Dad returning with her little girl. It wasn't.

"Hey, have you calmed down yet?", Jamie knew it was best to proceed with caution.

"Honestly, no. I just feel so out of sorts and I don't know why. And please don't say it's hormones. That really won't help. Have you seen Constance, is she still mad at me?"

Jamie signed as he sat on the arm of the chair. "I haven't seen her but from what I hear the fourth years had a pretty tough Potions class before they came to P.E.

"I was afraid of that. I was such a bitch to her this morning, I shook her off me when she was only being affectionate and then stormed off to the bathroom. And she was right, I should have told her the kids were leaving."

"Shh, I know you don't want to hear the 'H' word but a lot of it is down to them. Why don't you come down and have lunch. The superstar DJ is on his way, Maria has been busy in the kitchen, apparently he has a rider. Something about prawn sandwiches. His agent needed to order it for him What a prat. Anyway, come down, talk to Constance. I'm sure that after a kiss and a cuddle all will be well again."

"Alright so." Imogen gasped a bit as she got up.

"You okay?"

"Just backache, she seems to be pressing on a nerve or something."

"Well try and walk around a bit and if that doesn't help I'll rub your back, unless Constance wants to do it of course."

They walked downstairs just as Icy Stevens was being shown in by Amelia.

"Ah, I'd like you to meet Imogen Drill and Jamie Healy. They're, well, they're both our P.E teachers I suppose. Although Imogen is on maternity leave right now."

Their guest looked at the woman in front of him and shuddered slightly. Pregnancy and children really creeped him out. Still, ever the professional he plastered on his work smile.

"Pleasure to meet you both. I'll be happy to sign autographs and do pictures later."

"No thanks. Come on Im, let's eat." Jamie in an uncharartastic move had completely taken against this guy. He could tell Imogen felt the same so he reached back and took her hand to guide her past him.

"Jesus, what a knobhead. And what's with the jacket? It's February in gloomy England for goodness sake, not summer in Sicily. Wear your coat properly, not slung over your shoulders like a a Mafia don."

Imogen forgot her backache for a moment and sniggered. There was only one other adult who could cheer her up as much as Jamie did and she was hoping to find her soon and apologise for her earlier behaviour.

"Owww."

"What is it?", Jamie was immediately on the alert.

"I think it's a trapped nerve. Any chance of that back rub?"

They entered the room off the staffroom where as directed Imogen leaned against the back of a chair. Jamie lifted up the back of her top slightly and concentrated on the area just above her tailbone where the pain was strongest.

"Yes, that's helping a bit. It feels like she's sat right there."

"Should we call the doctor? Do you think it's a contraction?"

Imogen shook her head. "No, it's ongoing- just backache. Keep doing that and it will ease up in a bit. Oh, that feels so good."

Just as she uttered that final sentence the door opened and Constance entered the room. She knew there was absolutely nothing to worry about when it came to the relationship between the friends but she couldn't deny the twinge of jealousy she felt on hearing her love say those words to someone else while being touched. She swallowed it down along with her anger from earlier.

"Are you alright?"

Jamie answered. "She has a bit of backache. I've just been helping out but you can take over now."

Before he could move his hand away Imogen grabbed it.

"No, I want you to do it." She looked up and saw the devastated expression flooding across the face in front of her. "Oh Sweetheart, no. That's not what I meant, it's just that this is a more medical massage. I…"

"Fine. I'll tell you what. Why don't you arrange for Jamie to be there when you're in labour? That's medical as well isn't it? I'll help by looking after the children, if I'm allowed that is. Or maybe there's someone who is better at that too."

"Constance, please don't…"

She was already gone before Jamie had finished the sentence. In fact they could still see the slight sparkles as the door opened and Icy Stevens walked in on his tour along with the other Cackle's staff.

"Oh, we seem to be interrupting a rather intimate moment. You do seem to have quite the free attitude here Miss Cackle, I like it."

Imogen immediately went to pull her top back down. Now she didn't just have a backache. She also had a headache which this clown wasn't helping and a heartache when she thought of what had happened with Constance.

Amelia bustled through the room. Whatever had just happened it didn't look good but she needed to concentrate on other things for now.

"Let's have lunch shall we? Then it will be time to get ready for the radio show."

Imogen wanted to run after Constance but she was too sore. Besides, she knew that right now her partner would not be very receptive to her words. Best leave it for now and then apologise. Actually if she waited until Ava was back, that would be a good time. Constance was never angry for long when their daughters were around. Happy with some sort of plan she followed the others.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth whispered

"Not yet, but I will be."

It turned out Constance had not gone far. She was in the staffroom furiously writing at the desk in the corner while everyone else sat down. She could feel Imogen looking at her but kept working. She wanted to get up and leave but was hoping that by staying almost hidden their guest wouldn't see her. It also meant that she could hear every word that was being said behind her.

"Ah prawn sandwiches. Would you like one, Miss Drill wasn't it?"

"No thank you. And it's actually Mrs Drill." Imogen tended to use Mrs when she wasn't teaching. She knew Constance was listening and hoped the word would help a little

"You kept your own name so. How modern. Glass of wine?"

"No thank you, it's not good for the baby."

The woman across from him was very attractive although from what he had seen earlier along with the rings on her left hand she was clearly married to the man next to her. That wouldn't normally stop him from making a move but what did was the condition he had temporarily forgotten about as she was sitting down. He dismissed her from his mind as a possible opportunity and decided to focus his attention elsewhere.

"Well, perhaps we should ask your colleague to join us?"

Constance knew she had been spotted but kept writing. She could hear Amelia trying to make excuses but as soon as she heard "Miss Hardbroom" she also became aware of someone standing behind her almost instantly.

"Miss Hardbroom, my goodness it is you."

Imogen reacted instantly. What was this creep up to? And what was he thanking Constance for? Something about a speech apparently. Then she remembered. Two years ago, before she had changed her name, Constance had delivered her "Standards, Standards, Standards" speech at the Witch Education Conference. Imogen had wanted to attend but Abby had a scouting event that night which her wife had insisted was more important. Apparently DJ Creep, as he was now known in her head, had been there and was now fan-boying over her Constance. Calling her his inspiration, who did he think he was? And what was worse was that her wife was loving the attention and accepting the glass of wine that he offered her.

"She'd better watch herself. We don't want a repeat of the last time, not today." Davina winced as Elizabeth kicked her under the table.

By the time Phyllis Pentangle showed up Constance and their guest looked very friendly indeed. Imogen was just about to say something when Sybil came to tell them about the fight outside. The witches all ran out leaving her sat alone with Jamie who had decided that a magical scrap was really not his area of expertise.

"Did you see that? He was fawning all over her and she let him?"

Jamie shook his head. "Not in the way you think. Constance loves when people talk to her about her papers but Im, despite your argument today, she loves you so much more. That guy is a creep but she has no interest in him, not in a romantic sense. Firstly, he's a man and we're not exactly her thing. Secondly, she has you. Once this silly scrap outside is over I think you should talk to her and make up. This isn't good for either of you. Or the baby. Plus the girls will be home soon and they don't want to see you fighting. Actually, wait, here they come."

Sure enough Tom had pulled up outside and was lifting Ava from the car while Abby hopped out of the backseat and ran past the madness.

"Honey, why are you home so early?"

Abby sighed and looked at her Granddad. "See, I told you she'd forget, its a good job I reminded you this morning. The teachers have a meeting so we finished an hour early. It's cool though, even though the Witchy Hour is really cringey I still want to watch it. What's going on outside? I saw a chicken and Mama looked really mad."

Imogen hugged both her daughters close. "I don't even want to imagine. Come on, let's go get seats for this spectacle."

They chose to sit near the back of the hall. It was only fair that the students who actually wanted to be there got to sit close to their idol and in all honesty Imogen still wasn't feeling great. She watched as Constance and the other teachers filed past. Her wife clearly didn't see them as she was too busy talking to DJ Slimebag.

"His hair looks like a hedgehog." Abby whispered the comment to her Mummy who tried to stifle her chuckle. Normally Imogen would tell her not to pass comments on others but in this case she was perfectly correct.

Neither Imogen nor Jamie were sure how Mildred had ended up playing for the other team but she seemed to be doing surprisingly well. Much to the clear horror of Constance, Amelia and the rest of the Cackle's population of course.

Everything seemed to be going okay until Mildred and Ethel started rowing and casting spells. As usual the magic did not go as planned and a certain DJ lived up to his slimy nickname by ending up as a frog.

"How ironic", Jamie whispered to a giggling Abby. They fully expected the event to be called off until Amelia pointed out that they were still on air.

"WHAT is Mama doing?" Abby's giggles had stopped as she saw her mother rush up to the stage.

"Hotstuff Haired Hardbroom?" Jamie and Tom were practically hysterical while Imogen and Abby cringed into their seats. Even Ava looked aghast at whatever was happening and covered her face with her hands as she saw her sister do.

"How does she even know how to use the equipment?"

"I don't know Dad but I just wish this was over." Imogen whispered. She really was not feeling well. She wanted this to finish, to make up with Constance and to go upstairs and lie down with her girls.

"She's stretched the rules a bit there but at least it's done." Jamie commented after Constance declared the draw and changed Icy back from being a frog. "Im are you okay?"

Truthfully he was worried about Imogen, he could see she was bothered about the arguments and if he was very honest he was using every bit of self control to stop himself from punching Icy Scumbag in the face for the way he was looking at Constance.

"Hmmm. Yes. I just need a minute alone with Constance. Honey, can you go up and ask Mama to please come down. I need to talk to her."

Abby nodded and walked towards where her mother was smiling at this creepy man. She didn't like the look of this one little bit. As she got closer she could hear Ava giggling in the background and turned around to see her sister being swept up into the air by Granny. The happy feeling was short lived though as she made out what some of the girls around were saying.

"Do you think Miss Hardbroom fancies him? Maybe she got him to come here deliberately."

"No, she loves Miss Drill too much." Maud had had just about enough of the gossipy third years. "And I don't want to hear anyone speculate about them. We all remember what happened the last time someone did that don't we?"

"I'm not sure, they look very friendly. Oh, Abby."

Abby had heard Maud defend her Mama to some of the other students and although that pleased her she was annoyed with the other girls. "No she does not. The only person she fancies is my Mummy and if you don't stop talking about them I'll tell Mama and she'll put you in detention until you're twenty."

With that she stormed towards the stage where she could hear a little of what Icy Stevens was saying to her mother.

He was leaning very close to Constance, "You were wonderful, even as a frog I could see that. We'll be working together. We need to be closer." He put his hand on her arm. He had been vaguely surprised to see the wedding bands earlier but this was certainly a challenge that was worth pursuing. Moving in he made a more direct offer "We could jet to the South of France."

Before Abby could say anything Ava left out a rather loud laugh from the end of the hall.

Icy looked around quickly, seeing for the first time the toddler in the room as well as her older sister who was walking close to them with an annoyed look on her face. "The sooner we go the better hey? Get away from these awful children. I take it they belong to that P.E teacher, she should keep a better eye on her offspring. I cannot stand children, I'm sure you feel the same. Annoying, loud, whiney little shi…"

He never finished his sentence. He was stopped by some words and a steely look.

"Your hand is on my arm."

He blinked with surprise. Women were normally begging him to touch them. "Surely you wouldn't want to let slip an offer like this one?"

By the time Abby got there he was already sprawled on the floor, sent flying by the spell Constance had cast.

"Mama, Mummy wants you." Abby hopped over the man on the ground and took her mother's hand.

"Just a moment dear. Mr Stevens, those children do in fact belong to 'that P.E.'teacher' They also happen to belong to me as she is my wife and she is the only person I would ever 'jet off" anywhere with besides our girls. And our children are not annoying or whiney, I believe those are words that could be used to describe you. I suggest you leave before I turn you back into a frog. Permanently. Come along Abby."

"Ouch."

"Whoops, I tripped. Sorry Icky"

"It's Icy," the DJ retorted as he squirmed in pain on the floor.

"Whatever."

"Was that deliberate?" Constance gave her daughter a sideways glance as they walked across the hall.

"No." Abby wasn't lying. She had meant to kick him in the shins only he'd moved and her aim had landed higher than anticipated.

"Hmm, well, you go over to Ava and Granny. I need to talk to Mummy."

Constance approached the row where Imogen was sitting alone waiting for her.

"I'm so sorry. I was horrible today. Forgive me?"

"I wasn't the nicest as the day went on Darling. Do you forgive me?"

Imogen smiled as she received a gentle kiss to the forehead. "Only if you promise me you didn't have your head turned by that moron?"

"No, of course not. It was nice to have someone recognise my work but I could see he was a creep. What did Abby call him? Icky. Rather apt don't you think? There was about as much chance of me falling for him as there was of you enjoying more than just some pain relief from Jamie earlier."

"Hey, well at last Jamie's nice. You give better back rubs though, he's too clinical about it. Icky, that's perfect, I was struggling to come up with one. Trust Abby to manage it. But Sweetheart, Hotstuff Hardbroom? That's not even your surname anymore."

Constance, blushing slightly, smiled up from where she was kneeling on the floor. "Alliteration. And you call me hotstuff sometimes."

"In bed. And you are but you're mine. Nobody else's and I told you after Art Week, I will fight anyone who takes even a shine to you if I have to."

"I think Abby did the fighting this time Darling."

"We've taught her well." Imogen took a deep breath and leaned in for a proper kiss, not caring who might be around. And if a certain DJ happened to be limping out of the hall at that exact moment then that was just a happy coincidence. "I love you baby and I'm glad we've made up."

"Of course we were going to make up. And I love you too, so much, and I promise I'll do everything I can to help you through these final days or weeks until the baby comes."

There was a chuckle from the chair. "Oh, I don't think you'll have that long to wait. Sweetheart, I'm pretty sure I'm in labour."

The entire population of the Great Hall turned around at the loud "What?" that came out of Constance's mouth.

Imogen laughed. Despite her previous worry as soon as she had realised what was happening she immediately felt calmer and ready for what was coming. More than anything else she was excited that they would both soon get to meet their baby girl.

"Yes, I've been having contractions and as of now I am sitting in a bit of a puddle. Ironic isn't it, her journey to being here seems to have started and ended with someone having the hots for you. But that doesn't matter, you belong to me and our girls. Now, close your mouth and help me up will you? We'd better go get ready. Baby Drill is on her way."