Hello, everyone! I'm not dead I promise! I just have a billion things to do since I'm back in school! I actually am stage managing a show for the first time and that is taking literally all my time! On top of classes as well...Sigh. So it might be a while before another chapter appears. We shall see! A BIG HUGE SHOUTOUT to my lovely beta, Sasha Snape, for taking the time to read over this chapter and fixing it up! You are awesome and I can't thank you enough! Please leave her some lovely comments ya'll, because she deserves it!
Also, thank you to ALL of you reading this story! I checked my stats from last month and over one thousand people had viewed this story in UK and in the US! THAT'S FREAKING AMAZING! Another huge thank you is to all that review this story! You guys are amazing and I send my love your way! And to all who favorite and follow this story you too are amazing!
Enjoy!
Chapter 9:
"Did I just hear the word sleepover?" Pippa asked incredulously, looking over to Hecate, who was currently massaging her temples with her fingers.
"You are correct. I've decided to let Mildred's mischievous friends come here, and stay the night," Hecate sighed, dreading whatever chaos the girls would bring, "I think I have a migraine coming in the shape of three wild little witches."
Pippa smiled sympathetically and came over to pull Hecate's head to her chest. "Aw, Hiccup, it'll be okay. How much trouble can three little girls be?"
Hecate's eyes snapped up at Pippa, "Oh, you have no idea. Those three always find a way into trouble."
"Who exactly are these girls?" Pippa asked, taking a seat on the armchair of Hecate's throne like chair. She sat like a queen would with her legs crossed at her ankles, and she looked as ravishing as one as well. Hecate, by contrast, looked less like a regal queen and more like a monarch whose kingdom was under imminent attack. Only instead of an army, the invaders were three naughty little princesses. Pippa had to stop herself from giggling at Hecate's miserable expression.
"Maud Spellbody and Enid Nightshade," Hecate replied, her lip curling slightly in the process. "With Mildred in the mix they bring chaos wherever they go."
"Well, as I recall, you caused plenty of mischief during our time at school," Pippa gently reminded, "If I remember correctly, you changed Lily Pittsfield's hair into an atrocious green mohawk because you got jealous of her for talking to me."
"I wasn't jealous," Hecate exclaimed, and Pippa raised an eyebrow knowingly at her. "Alright, maybe I was, but she did have it coming. She was telling everyone that I ate frog legs with milk for cereal in the mornings. I had to defend my honor."
"Of course, of course, instead of just taking it up with an actual teacher," Pippa teased her.
Hecate smirked deviously back at her, remembering something Pippa had done that was just as wicked, "And I remember that you turned Paisley Tombs's ears into donkey ears and gave her a tail to boot for calling me a freak."
"Well, she was a very mean little girl," Pippa defended, crossing her arms imperiously. "And she made you so sad by hurting your feelings, so I thought I'd get her back for you."
"You know, you didn't have to do that," Hecate said, reaching out her hands to place on her either side of her waist. "I can take care of myself."
Pippa smiled softly and slid herself into Hecate's lap with ease. "I know you can, but sometimes even the best witch needs help from time to time," Pippa said, letting her hands slide up to cup Hecate's chiseled face.
"What are you doing?" Hecate asked, looking at Pippa's hands as they caressed her cheeks.
"Kissing you," Pippa replied, pressing her lips to Hecate's. Hecate barely hesitated before allowing her arms to wrap around the other woman and pressing her into her body. After far too short a moment, Pippa pulled away, but kept her forehead on Hecate's cheek. "Hecate, do you want this?"
It was Hecate turn to pull back and take her face into her hands. "I've wanted everything about you for a very long time." Pippa squealed with delight and immediately began covering Hecate's face with small, sweet kisses. This was wonderful and she didn't want it to end. Hecate was such a sweetheart when you really took the time to know her. And Pipp couldn't help but be excited not just about her new relationship with Hecate, but the possibility of raising a child as well.
Pippa was, in many ways, a very lonely headmistress. She had an amazing faculty and good friends here and there. But she craved to be a part of something that would be forever: a family. She loved working with the children in her school and she knew one day she wanted a child of her own. She hadn't anticipated it happening this quickly; nevertheless, she was happy to be a part of Hecate and Mildred's life.
"Good, because I want this too. All of it. You. Mildred. Us." Pippa's heart pounded with joy as she looked into Hecate's eyes.
"Speaking of the little minx, she should be back by now," Hecate pondered out loud. "Maybe it might be best if you move out of my lap before she catches us again."
Pippa did as she asked, but did not tell her lover that her signature pink lipstick had gotten all over her face. Pippa considered it her mark that Hecate was hers. Just as she got up from her spot, Mildred bounded excitedly into the room.
"Maud and Enid said that they would love to spend the night here! They thought it would be even cooler than their own houses!" Mildred cried, displaying more joy than the two teachers had seen out of her in the past few days. "They said that they could come next week! Is that okay?"
Mildred looked at Pippa then at Hecate and promptly burst into a fit of giggles seeing Hecate's covered lipstick face. Hecate frowned as she watched her niece laugh at her with ease. "And just what is so funny?"
Mildred wheezed for air before answering. "You have Pippa's lipstick marks all over your face!"
Hecate's face blossomed into cherry red color, and she whirled towards Pippa immediately, like a snake approaching its prey, "Pippa, darling, I am going to get you back for this and it will be at an unexpected time."
Pippa didn't stop her laughter and neither did Mildred. Hecate huffed at them both, then a sudden devious plan came to her. She snapped her fingers to summon her own red lipstick and she applied it on heavily. She went to grab Mildred. "So you think it's funny, do you? Let's see how you like it then!"
She hugged her tight and pressed little kisses all over her face. Mildred squealed with delight, and struggled to get away, but Hecate was strong and just kissed her harder. After a few moments, Mildred was breathing heavily, tired from struggling and the laughter, "You win Hecate!" she panted, and her aunt gave her one last kiss on her forehead for good measure.
Hecate moved on to Pippa, who was much more willing for her to dole out the same punishment she had given Mildred. Pippa laughed as Hecate landed one on top of her eyelid. "Alright, alright, you've made your point!"
Mildred was exhausted and had many lipstick stains all over her face from her aunt. She slumped onto the floor looking at Pippa and Hecate with a giant smile on her face. She shines her eyes innocently at Hecate, "It was pretty funny."
Hecate gave her a slight smile. "And now it is equally as funny," she replied, conjuring a mirror large enough for Mildred and Pippa to see. Mildred giggled at her appearance, but her giggles soon faded as she tried to scrub one of the marks off her face
"They won't come off!" Mildred moaned, looking at Hecate accusingly. "How long did you spell them on?"
Hecate shrugged casually, much to Pippa's amusement. "Maybe tomorrow, the next day, or perhaps even when your friends arrive here for a sleepover?"
Mildred's face paled in horror. She would never live it down if Maud and Enid saw Hecate's trick. "I don't want them to see me like this!"
"What, you don't like Aunty's kisses?" Hecate teased Mildred, who had started scrubbing her face more vigorously.
Mildred stopped scrubbing and mumbled, "I like them, but I don't want Maud or Enid to see them…."
Pippa watched Hecate carefully-the taller witch seemed surprised by Mildred's admission that she liked being kissed. Pippa rolled her eyes at her lover. Was it that hard to believe a child craved affection? A child that was her niece who wanted a better relationship with her aunt? Pippa shook her head and decided to intervene, scooping Mildred up from the floor and began to tickle her. "Well, I think we look fabulous, Millie Bear. Maybe we should parade around to show everyone how much Hecate loves us both?"
Hecate blushed. "That won't be necessary."
Mildred squealed again in Pippa's arms and she reached for help to escape her tickle torture. "Hecate, h-help! P-Please!"
Hecate took pity of the child and maneuvered her from the tickling fingers of Pippa and onto her hip. Mildred sighed in relief, laying her head on Hecate's collarbone. She felt something strange underneath her forehead, and looked down at the watch necklace that Hecate always wore. She gently reached for it to examine it with the most careful of hands. "This is pretty. Who gave it to you?"
Hecate quickly tensed up with Mildred in her arms. "Let's not talk about, Mildred."
"It was from my dad, wasn't it?" Mildred questioned, admiring it still in her palm. "That's the only reason you wouldn't want to talk about it. It must mean a lot to you if you wear it so much."
Hecate took the pocket watch out of Millie's hand and placed her back onto the ground, "Mildred, I do not want to talk about my brother with you."
Pippa saw Mildred's brow furrow deeply and knew Mildred was not going to let it go so easily. "I want to talk about him though. He's still my dad no matter how much he hurt me and you!" she argued.
"Mildred, we are dropping this subject and that is final," Hecate said crisply, casting her eyes down at Mildred daring her to say something again.
"Come on, Millie-bear! How about you help make some dinner?" Pippa said brightly, going over and squeezing Mildred's shoulders, partly for comfort and partly in warning to stop her from saying something foolish.
"No!" Mildred wiggled out of Pippa's arms, and stands firmly in front of Hecate. "I want to know about him,even….even though he didn't want me. I want to know what happened with him and my mom, and if I'm like him, and…" her voice trailed off.
Hecate looks sadly at Mildred. "I hope you are nothing like him, and there is nothing to talk about with him. He left you and I both because he is nothing but a coward."
Mildred crossed her arms mutinously. "That's not telling me anything," she scowled.
"Pouting will not get you answers," Hecate snapped, "And it won't get your friends here for your sleepover. Is that what you want?"
Mildred's lips pressed together in an angry line. "That's not fair, Hecate!"
"It's fair if I say it is. Now, no more talking about this. I will tell you more if and when I choose to," Hecate said sternly. "I'm going to do a bit of work. Why don't you help Pippa with dinner?"
Pippa watches as her girlfriend stomped off to avoid the unavoidable. She then looked at Mildred, who looked sad but determined. Pippa sighed, and reached over to smooth back Mildred's hair. "Mildred, this is a very sensitive subject for Hecate. You need to give her the time and space she needs to open up. I know it may seem unfair now, but in the end, you will understand, alright?"
Mildred still looked upset, but she nodded slowly and allowed Pippa to lead her into the kitchen to cook. Pippa knew that the child wouldn't let it go and she knew Hecate well enough to know that she wasn't going to budge. Pippa didn't know what she was going to do with the two of them. They were so alike in so many ways, whether either of them would admit it or not.
I felt like there was too much fluff in this chapter, but I physically and mentally can not help that! I'll be back with a new chapter...Soon? Soon = Whenever I get some time to myself.
The next chapter should have a bit of our three mischievous witches. Whatever will Hecate do...? ;) Luckily she has Pippa.