Just When You Thought The World Was Coming To An End, A Miracle Happens.

Chapter 11

A little while later Abby had woken again, still in Constance's arms, feeling near enough well again, thanks to the potion the witch had given her, and had eaten enough toast to last her a few days. The sun had already set and the room felt really cosy with the fire blazing. Constance brushed the crumbs off of them and looked at Abby. The girl had been chatting animatedly for the past half an hour and had then fallen silent, with a sombre, distant look on her face.

"Abby?"

Abby looked up and Constance could see sadness in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"My parents."

Constance wasn't surprised at this; she knew Abby had been thinking about them often, but she was surprised when Abby hopped off her lap and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a photo album in her hands. She settled herself again and stared at the cover, not wanting to open it.

"What is it sweetheart?"

"I have to let them go." Abby sniffed, obviously trying to keep the tears back. She took a deep breath and opened the album, briefly pausing at each photo as she turned the pages. Constance also looked, and was surprised to see that not one of the photos showed a loving and caring family. They were all very formal, and she could see what Abby had meant when she said her parents had never really known her; they hadn't treated their daughter as a child, but as another business contact. Abby stopped at what must have been the last picture of her family before her parents died. It was a picture of them at Christmas, and in this one, Abby looked happy, probably the happiest of them all. Abby took this picture out of the album, and placed it on the table next to the chair. She stood in front of the fire, preparing to throw the album in. Constance practically flew from her chair and kneeled down beside Abby.

"Abby, do you really want to do this?" she said, looking up at the girl. Abby nodded, wiping away a few tears that had fallen. She took another deep breath and threw the book in the fire, causing sparks to fly up the chimney. Both Constance and Abby watched as the flames licked around the album until it had been destroyed. It was then that Abby fell into the witches waiting arms, and cried.

"Shh," Constance soothed, rubbing the girls back and rocking her backwards and forwards. "Shh sweetheart, it's ok, I'm here now." She could feel Abigail's breathing slow into a steady rhythm as she calmed down. Constance pulled back and brushed the hair out of the girl's face before kissing her forehead. Abigail smiled weakly and then all of a sudden sneezed violently. The older witch stifled a giggle.

"I think it's time for you to get some more sleep." Abigail wiped her eyes and shook her head, but Constance guided her quickly over to the bed. She tucked the girl in and kissed her forehead.

"Sleep tight Abby."

Abby wasn't asleep for long, as she hadn't eaten all day and the hunger woke her up. She stretched and yawned, and then giggled as her stomach rumbled.

"Thought you might be hungry," Constance raised an eyebrow as she beckoned Abby over to her bed, where she was currently lounging in her pyjamas with a large pile of toast next to her. Abby crawled onto the bed next to the older witch, taking a piece of toast as she settled into Constance's arms.

"How are you feeling?"

"Ok I suppose," Abby replied, taking another piece of toast from the pile. Constance didn't press the topic any further. Abby needed time to heal and there was nothing she could do for now.

"I shouldn't have let you sleep all day."

"Why not?" Abby snuggled into the witch more, drawing warmth from her.

"Because you won't sleep tonight, that's why."

Abby was quick to disagree, telling Constance that she was still tired, and then took yet another slice of toast from the pile.

"I'm hungry," she said when Constance raised an eyebrow at her. Abby giggled and buried her head in the pillow she was lying on. Constance cleared away the remains of the toast and watched Abby as she fell into a peaceful slumber.

A/N: sorry its been so long, but I am trying to get back into my normal rhythm of things. Perhaps when I have my jaw op I'll have more time to write :D