Hey, look! I'm not dead! I graduated from college and am doing some stuff. Crazy busy, but look! I'm alive! And no more excuses, because this is the last chapter of this story coming to a close! Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed this story! You all are the best! Thank you again! Onwards, there is fluff to be read!
Chapter 18:
"So, it's like a baby shower?" Mildred asks puzzled, tilting her head at the pair of witches before her to also glance down at the invitation they had just sent out to family and friends. The invitation had little bats and cauldrons fanned out on the invitation while there were two black cats at the bottom. One black cat was taller than the other to symbolism the adoption that was happening between her and Hecate. It was cute, definitely not Hecate's doing but Pippa's. Mildred's brow rose, "I'm a little old for that aren't I?"
Pippa sighed, "Really, Mildred? Not you too." Hecate smirked at Mildred, and Pippa continued on, "Honestly, you two a little party never hurt anyone!"
"On the contrary, the last one we attended we were attacked." Hecate dulled out, Mildred nodded at this her eyes growing wide thinking about that night.
Pippa glared at Hecate, "This one we can control. The only people who are getting these invitations are close friends and family." Mildred and Hecate both looked at each other at the word 'family' automatically thinking of Hermes. Pippa put her hands on her hips, "It's not like I plan on sending one to your brother, Hecate."
"I didn't think you would, Pipsqueak." Hecate said, squeezing her shoulders, "It's just I feel perhaps that Mildred and I would prefer to be only in the company of a few and not one hundred."
"Hiccup, I was going to only send out half of that!" Pippa whined.
"Fifty people?" Mildred looked to Hecate, "Do we know that many people?"
Hecate smirked, "No, but Pippa certainly does."
"If you both would be more sociable you would know all the witches I've come to know." Pippa turned up her nose at them.
Hecate shook her head, "Perhaps we will one day, but I don't think it'll be on Mildred's Adoption Ceremony."
"I only need you both." Mildred supplied, but Pippa didn't look pleased by this, "Maybe we should all make a compromise then?"
"What do you suggest, Millie?" Hecate asked, hearing her out.
"What about a small party after the ceremony has been completed? Hecate and I get to see the list of people you invite before they come?" Mildred provided.
"I think that's a brilliant idea." Hecate nodded, and turned to Pippa, "And what do you think Pippa?"
"I suppose that would be the witches brew!" Pippa cheered, excited that she was still going to have a party even if was tiny compared to her ideas of what it should be, "We still have much to plan! Leave it all to me!"
Pippa's giddiness caused her to disappear from their sights and to plan for something marvelous for her two favorite witches. Mildred looks to Hecate, "You don't think she's going to go too far, do you?"
"It wouldn't be Pippa if she didn't." Hecate supplied, she stuck out her hand for Mildred to hold, "Come on, I have a surprise to show you." Mildred smiled widely taking Hecate's hand, "Since you've been in the infirmary Pippa and I decided that your room could be more…personalized. Now close your eyes."
Mildred did as she was told as Hecate lead her to Hecate's guest room that she had stayed in ever since she popped in when her mother passed away. Mildred squeezed Hecate's hand tighter thinking of that night, but it led her to find Hecate. And for that, she was grateful her eyes remained closed until Hecate said, "Alright, Millie, you can look now."
Mildred opened her eyes and she let out a big gasp, "You did all this for me?"
"With Pippa's help of course." Hecate nodded.
Hecate really took the lead on while Pippa stepped back and added her input here and there. They were sure that she would absolutely love it. Pippa had made the walls a pastel yellow adding a nice brightness to Mildred's room. Mildred's wired bed now had more decorative sheets and covers on them. Pippa had chosen a nice quilt that had little cauldrons, witches' hats, potion bottles, and brooms on it. Around the bed, Hecate bought her a bookshelf to keep all her books and tinier knickknacks on. Hecate put an old desk she had found in the attic that fit perfectly against Mildred's wall next to the door. Hecate imagined Mildred would use the space to study better than her bed. Hecate spared no expense and bought her an easel for her art. Hecate knew she would be ecstatic for it more than the desk. Pippa had bought her many, many, many stuff animals that surrounded her bed along with her favorite stuff animal, Boomer the bunny. Pippa had also purchased a magical orb that when activated at night it displayed constellations, planets, and the stars.
Mildred threw her arms around Hecate, "Thank you! Thank you!" She continued to crush Hecate into a hug, "You didn't have to do all this! Thank you!"
"This is your home now." Hecate said, grasping onto Mildred's shoulder, "I want you to feel welcome here."
"I've felt welcomed here for a while now." Mildred quirked a knowing smile.
"I know." Hecate places her hand on her soon to be daughter's cheek, "But even when school starts back I want you to know that you can always come home. I may be your teacher, but I will be your mother first and foremost."
Home. Mother. Mildred never thought she would have a new one of each. She had only known the one with her mother and her friends here at Cackle's. She never expected this home, but it made her happy nonetheless. Extremely happy, the type of happy that could only be with Hecate. Like when she called Mildred her brave girl or even cuddlebug. Or when she cooked Mildred her favorite meals, praising her on her progress on magic, or when she would smile proudly at her. Even the small things like when Hecate surprises her with a hug or even her bedtime forehead kisses. It was the way Hecate became her mum it made Mildred a very happy witch.
Mildred's heart swelled, and she crushed Hecate into another hug. Smashing her face into Hecate's midriff and breathing in her scent. Mildred had come to know the smell of lavender, sage, and a hint of wood burning as Hecate. From her hold she looked up to older witch, "Mum?"
Hecate heart quivered with fear and eagerness. Mildred was addressing her with a new title she never thought she would have. She wouldn't let her down, "Yes, brave girl?"
Mildred's sweet smile lighten Hecate's heart, "I love you, mum."
Hecate choked back the tears, "I love you too, Mildred." She was ready for this.
Both Hecate and Mildred stood in front of a silver cauldron together. The cauldron at the moment was empty, but surrounding it was many ingredients for the ceremony they were about to perform in front of everyone. Well, all of Cackle's staff including all of Mildred's professors, and even Miss Tapioca. The others included Pippa and her parents, as well as Maud and Enid's families. It was a small group that both Hecate and Mildred approved of. And it all was happening at Cackle's too. It seemed like a rite of passage for it all to take place in the potion's lab where Hecate spent most of her time in, but also most of her time teaching Mildred.
Hecate smiled down at her, "Are you ready?"
Mildred nodded, "I think so. Are you?"
"Yes, then let's not waste anymore time." Hecate nodded back, and turned to the crowd, "Mildred and I would like to thank all of you for coming today to celebrate a bond that I never thought I would have with the best little witch I could ever ask for." Mildred beamed at Hecate, "Let's begin."
Mildred took her place right in front of the silver cauldron and Hecate settled behind her. For once, Mildred didn't have to worry about making the potion right, because Hecate would be leading her with it. Mildred tilted her head back to look up at Hecate as she spoke, "Mother and child we wish to be." Hecate placed her hands over top of Mildred's, "To create a bond that shall last of all eternity." Hecate guided their hands to the first ingredient, a large bottle of what looked to Mildred to be white milk, "In this bottle is the canvas of our bond to start." They both uncorked it and dumped it into the cauldron, their hands went to the next which was one big robin feather and a tiny one as well, "A feather of a mother bird and her child for a hope that I will make sure she is able to leave the nest when she is ready."
Hecate looked down at Mildred for her cue. Mildred made sure she had this down pat before today happened, "For my hope, I wish that I am able to fly just like my mother." Mildred could swear that she could feel Hecate's heart swell as they tossed in the feathers into the mix. The 'canvas' or as Mildred liked to call it milk started to change as soon as the feathers touched the surface and dissolved the mixture became a rosy color.
Hecate spoke once more, "It is time for our well wishes. I will go first, then Mildred you will follow after."
Mildred had learned over the week before the ceremony happened about well wishes. As it turns out well wishes were flowers or herbs that you put into the mix of what you hoped for in whatever bonding ceremony you are doing. Each person gets to pick three flowers to throw into, but before they throw them in, they have to explain why they chose it or else the 'wish' doesn't come true. Mildred was the most excited for this part because Hecate and Mildred also had to keep it a secret of what they picked for each other or else the 'wish' won't come true. Mildred tried pleading with Hecate to know what she was picking, but it was no surprise that Hecate could keep a surprisingly good and well from Mildred.
Hecate led their hands over to an old potion book that was sitting on the table she opened it and there were three pressed flowers. Hecate started with the pink pressed flower, "Mildred, this is hollyhock it symbolizes ambition because as your mother I am already proud to call you my daughter, but I have a lot of expectations for you…Because I want you to be the best witch you can possibly be and I know you can be." She dropped it in and moved onto the pressed purple flower, "This is Hyssop, which means sacrifice. I am not good when it comes to saying things of affection, especially in front of our peers, but I chose this one because I would do anything for you, Millie. Anything. As long as it isn't a hair brain scheme of yours. I will protect you always, even if it is a hair brain scheme of yours or an enemy we both find ourselves facing. I will always put you first in my mind in order to love and protect you." She dropped it in and the last one was a star-shaped flower, "This is borage. It means courage, which I know you already have, but I want to make sure that I have some as well. There was a time before this that I wasn't sure I could do this or be this for you, but you've shown me what bravery is. You are my brave girl after all." Hecate kisses Mildred on the forehead as she throws it in to say, "Cauldron may you bubble and stew for the rest of the night. As I am on my way to wish my child well where there will be light."
The cauldron bubbles up and a golden fog erupts from the pot. Mildred wipes her tears away and uncovers her flowers on the table. Mildred didn't press hers because she finally came to the decision today about what she wanted her well wishes to be. She lifts up the first flower to Hecate, "This is chamomile it's for having patience." That earns a little laugh from their audience, "Oh, it's not what you think, Hecate, has been very patient with me more than I probably deserve sometimes. From what she is teaching me I need to learn to be patient too, so-" Mildred ends it with throwing it into the bubbling mixture, "The next flower or herb is sage because you smell like it a lot, but also I found out that it means wisdom. So, it's like you smell like wisdom." She earned a round of giggles and she blushed, "I want to be a wise as you and Pippa and Miss Cackle, but I know that we will learn from each other too." She pitches it in and then grabs the last one, "I wanted the last one to have a bit of my other mum so I chose her favorite flower which is a pink carnation I'm not sure what it means I'm pretty sure mum always said, love."
"Carnations are very special, Millie and each color means a different thing. Pink though means a mother's undying love for her child." Hecate explains, wiping at a tear that had slipped its way down her cheek, "Take that as you will."
"Oh." Mildred looked at the flower then to Hecate, "I didn't know."
"That's what makes it so much more special." Hecate declared and watched as Mildred gently held it out to Hecate.
"Can we throw this one in together?" Mildred asked, and Hecate nodded because the words couldn't form she was too emotional by this point. They both tossed it in together, then Mildred took Hecate's hand and spoke with confidence, "Cauldron may you bubble and stew for the rest of the night. As I am on my way to wish my mother well where there will be light."
The concoction exploded more foaming upward and over the rim. The golden fog that was there before was now swirling above the mixture. Mildred got back to her spot as did Hecate their hands entwined, they led each other in stirring counter clockwise the mixture died back down no longer foaming to the brim of the pot and the fog that surrounded it disappeared. What was left was pastel lavender color that had the texture of liquid gold, but truly it was the smell that Mildred thought won over everything. It smelled like the sweets Hecate wouldn't let her have, but Pippa would. It wasn't an overbearing sweetness there were hints of flowery fragrance from the flowers they both had thrown in together, but there was a smell that Mildred couldn't place. It smelled like home. Like a memory that hadn't happened yet.
Hecate spoke, "It is time to seal the bond." Hecate looked over at Pippa, "Pippa, will you help us in this part?"
"Of course." Pippa made her way in front of the table across from them.
"Pippa will officiate the rest of the ceremony," Hecate announced, then she broke away from Mildred to grab a chalice that sat on the table and a ladle. She used the ladle to scoop up the potion and handed it to Pippa. This was the part that Mildred wasn't looking forward to.
Pippa smiled at her to reassure her, "To officiate the bond there must be blood to seal it completely. Mildred, please give Hecate your hand." Mildred offered her right hand to Hecate.
Hecate took it gently, "It's only a pinch, I promise." Hecate pulled a small knife from the table and Mildred turned away as Hecate made a small prick at her index finger. Hecate put the knife down and took Mildred's bleeding finger to the chalice and a small drop fell into the cup. Hecate handed Mildred the knife, "Be careful." Mildred took the knife into her shaky hands and prick Hecate's index finger and her blood was in the mix as well.
"Hecate, you may say your oath now and drink." Pippa offered the chalice to Hecate, and Hecate took it into her hands.
"I, Hecate Joy Hardbroom, swear upon my life to love unconditionally a one Mildred Hubble and to protect you on your journey as a witch and my daughter." Mildred watches as Hecate drinks from the cup.
"Hecate you will now help Mildred take her drink, but Mildred say your oath first," Pippa instructed.
Mildred wasted no time saying, "I, Mildred Grace Hubble, swear upon my life to love unconditionally my new mum, Hecate Hardbroom and to learn from her as her new daughter and to protect her as she does me."
Hecate raised the chalice to her lips and Mildred drank the potion down. It tasted like honey and warmed Mildred's body from head to toe. Suddenly the golden fog from before appeared circling around them. Mildred gasped and got closer to her mother. She wasn't sure what was happening, but Hecate wrapped her arm around Mildred's shoulder whispering in her ear, "The potion connects us, and our magic. This is our magic together."
"Whoa." Was all about Mildred could say, as she reached out and touched it, "Whoa, we are really strong, huh?"
"I wouldn't have expected any less from the two of us." Hecate smiled at her, "I love you."
Mildred wrapped her arms around her mum replying back, "I love you too." The fog exploded out shaking the room like a powerful gust of wind had come by.
Pippa took the chalice from Hecate's hands and rose her hands, "Oh, this is the witches brew! Congratulations, the ceremony is complete!" Their small audience cheered, cried, and wooed at them.
The rest of the party was spent congratulating the new adopted Mildred and the new mother, Hecate. Though, throughout the night Mildred and Hecate stayed close to each other. They could barely leave each other's sights, perhaps it was the potion they had taken, but from everyone's else eyes, it seemed that they were proud to be a new family. The night slowly came about as did goodbyes to the new family. What was left was Pippa, Hecate, and Mildred heading back to their home. Each hand in hand. It was a new day tomorrow with her new family and Mildred couldn't wait.
Hecate found herself awake a night, watching Mildred sleep in between her and Pippa. Pippa wasn't asleep herself, but was watching Hecate watch Mildred, "She not going to disappear if you fall asleep, you know?"
"I know." Hecate whispered, "But it's-It's like something maternal clicked on."
"Hecate, it's always been on. You've done everything a mother would do for her child." Pippa said, reaching her hand to take Hecate's, "It's different now because you have the title."
Hecate hummed in agreement, and took her eyes away from Mildred, "Thank you."
"For what?" Pippa rubbed her thumb across Hecate's knuckles.
"For being a part of this…For wanting to be a part of this." Hecate said, "I can't thank you enough-"
"Will you marry me?" Pippa pondered out loud.
"What?" Hecate asked she wasn't sure if she heard right.
"Will you marry me?" Pippa asked again it was quiet for a moment, "You aren't saying anything and that's scaring me."
"I-Of course. Yes. Yes, I will." Hecate responded, she thought she had said it out loud already, "I'm sorry, Pipsqueak, I just thought I would be the one asking you."
"Well, ask me," Pippa said.
"Really?" Hecate asked.
"Yeah, go on, ask."
"Will you marry-"
"Yes!" Pippa squealed, going over a kissing her on the lips.
"Shush, you are going to wake Millie." Hecate hushed, now brushing the hair off Mildred's face.
"I'm awake." Mildred said with a yawn, "Congratulations."
"You are supposed to be sleeping." Hecate brushed her hair more and tucked it behind her ear.
"How can I when Pippa just asked you to marry her?" Mildred yawned again, "I'm sorry I would be more excited, but I'm half asleep."
"I can see that." Hecate mused.
"Oh, sweet girl, close your eyes you can properly congratulate us tomorrow morning." Pippa whispered, kissing the back of her head, "Good night, Millie."
Mildred scooted closer to her mum and reached out her hand for Pippa to take, "Goodnight-" She was about to say her name, but then looked to both of them, "If I'm going to have two mums what am I supposed to call you?"
"One of us could be mummy?" Pippa offered.
"Or you could go to sleep now, and we can figure this out in the morning." Hecate droned out giving the two a look.
"Alright, goodnight mummy." Mildred pecked her 'mummy' on the cheek and did the same to Pippa, "Goodnight mum." Then she fell against the pillow and fell right back to sleep.
"She's so precious." Pippa cooed.
"She has her moments I suppose." Hecate smiled, but then frowned, "She is not calling me mummy though."
"Hiccup, I don't think you get to be in control of that she does," Pippa said and Hecate groaned. Pippa kissed her new fiancé's cheek, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Hecate said, closing her eyes.
She could rest now. She had a daughter now and a fiancé. A family.
Fin.