Cotton and Anne
She awakened in terror, a scream bursting from her lips. "Cotton, no!" she cried out, rising up in the bed.
He lay beside her, his eyes heavy from sleep as he heard her mournful sobs. "Anne, what is it? What troubles you so?" Cotton asked.
She turned to look at him in the near darkness, staring -_ as if she'd seen a ghost. "Ohhh, Cotton, it was so awful. I hurt you. I sent you through the door to hell and damnation and the baby... I stole the baby!"
"No... no, my love," he said as he took her hand, pressing it to the mound of her belly which contained their child. "The baby's right here. All is well."
"But I did terrible things!" Anne said in distress. "I was angry... and I hurt you."
"You had a nightmare... that's all it was. Anne, you'd never hurt me." He raised her hand up to his lips, kissing it. "And you'd never steal a child. I know you."
"But I am a witch!"
"Yes, you are, but you have vowed to be a good witch - to only use your magic to help others. Please do not let your heart be troubled."
"How can you love me... knowing what I am... what I have done?"
"Your parents hurt you, so you destroyed them. You have sinned, but then so have I," he stated. "When my father was out of control, I too had to end his life. I love you, Anne, every part of you. The good, the bad, and the ugly."
"I spelled you with my love."
A small smile came to his lips as moonlight showed through the window, glowing upon his face. A moment passed and he once again pressed a kiss to her fingertips. "Yes, but it was too late. I already loved you. I could not love you more."
Anne pressed her face against the the warmth of his chest. "Do you mean it, Cotton? Do you love me truly?"
"Yes, all of you... and I always will. Get some sleep. The baby will be here soon. We are about to become parents."
Anne felt hope bloom in her heart. A baby - Their baby was coming! "I can't wait to meet her."
"Sleep now, Mrs. Mather."
"Yes, my beloved Cotton," she said as she snuggled up to him.
Sweet Hope
Their daughter arrived on a bright spring day when all the flowers were in bloom. Cotton stared down at the infant in awe. "She's far more beautiful than I ever imagined with your hair and my eyes."
Anne smiled as she too gazed at their daughter in wonder. "She definitely has your eyes," she agreed. "But will she have my powers? Do you think she's a Cradle Witch? Does she share the same fate as me?"
"She's our angel, our sweet Hope. If she does possess magical abilities, you can teach her how to use them correctly. She'll learn from you. I trust you'll show her how to use her powers for good."
Anne cradled her little one close, kissing the top of her fuzzy little head. "I am so happy, Cotton. I have you... and I have this precious little girl, our sweet baby Hope."
"You said it would be a girl and we would name her Hope."
"From the moment that you first made love to me... I knew. I conceived our daughter on our wedding night."
A soft smirk came to his lips. "It WAS a memorable night."
A slight tinge of pink came to Anne's cheeks. Even after months of erotic lovemaking, he still had the power to make her blush. "I've never felt anything like that before... what I have with you. I don't want to lose it. Not ever."
"I love you, Anne... and I'd never leave you. No matter what happens, I'd move heaven and earth to keep us together."
"As would I," she stated. "I just can't believe that you love me... A reverend - in love with a witch."
"I could not love you more." He lovingly gazed into his eyes until his lips sunk down onto hers in a tender kiss.
Anne's heart was finally at peace. She had Cotton Mather's love and his baby in her arms. She had everything now... all that she had ever needed. It was far too precious to let it slip through her hands. She had to hang onto it tightly and cherish it with her every breath.
"I promise you, Cotton. I will always seek to be worthy of your love. I won't disappoint you."
"I do not doubt you, my love. You and I will spend the rest of our days together in happiness, sharing every joy with our precious Hope."
"Our baby girl is blessed."
"Because she has two parents who love her - who will not deceive or mistreat her. She'll have the best of everything. It is what she deserves."
She knew he was thinking of his father, Increase Mather and how cruel and brutal he had been to his son. Increase had failed as a father and as a minister. Many innocents had died because he had wrongly accused them of witchcraft. John Hale and his wife Elizabeth had lied to Anne for years, not telling her of her destiny as a witch. They too had failed as parents. Their betrayal had struck Anne so deeply that she recoiled violently, killing the ones who had caused her such agonizing pain.
Despite all the heartache, there was a chance for a better future. "There is always hope," Anne said softly. "Because of you, I carry it in my heart."
The End