Epilogue
Scylla was up early and looking out towards the ocean as she sipped her cup of tea. She still marveled at how tranquil life had been for them and how sheltered she felt in the home they had built.
"Good morning, Mrs. Collar," Raelle greeted her, embracing her from behind.
"Good morning, Mrs. Ramshorn," Scylla greeted back, turning to give the blonde a kiss. "Ready to meet the little one?"
"Absolutely," Raelle said happily, lowering her hands on Scylla's bump. "I can't wait to meet her."
"Have you heard from Abigail?" Scylla asked, hoping that everything would be ready for the baby's arrival. "Is she coming?"
"She better or I'll make the Atlantic coast very turbulent this year," Raelle said firmly. "Why did you pick her anyway?"
"She's still your sister-in-arms," Scylla explained. "Besides, how would it look if I invited Tally and not her? She'll probably make our coast very turbulent this year."
"I'm no longer in the Army," Raelle reminded her. "And we can tell her that you and Tally are balloon buddies."
"Even so, she hadn't replaced you after you left," Scylla pointed out. "That just means that she still counts you as part of her unit."
"Only because she couldn't find another fixer who she can push around," Raelle joked.
"You know that's not why," Scylla said. "We've made our picks and it's too late to change it."
"We?" Raelle wondered incredulously.
"Fine, I made the choice," Scylla acknowledged.
"We didn't have this whole thing when Willa was born," Raelle reminded her. "It was just you and me."
"That was before we settled down," Scylla reminded her. "We didn't have time to get everyone together back then. So, at the very least, I want Willa to witness the ritual even though she didn't go through one."
"Where is the little pumpkin?" Raelle wondered, looking for their first-born.
"She's with the ducklings," Scylla replied, nodding towards the direction where the little girl was.
"Why aren't you watching her?" Raelle asked, turning to Wilbur who was perched nearby.
"He's not a babysitter," Scylla said. "Besides, you've spoilt him and he expects pancakes."
"Well, he's a bodyguard so he should be guarding that little body," Raelle countered. "No pancakes until he does his job." She chuckled when the crow cawed his objection.
"Guess who found me," Tally said appearing with a young girl in tow.
"Tal," Raelle greeted, turning to hug her. "Glad you're here."
"Oh, she's ready to join us," Tally said, noting Scylla's bump before hugging her. "Question is are you ready?"
Scylla chuckled and hugged the redhead. "This is our second one so I guess I am. How are things with you and the guys?"
"I can't complain," Tally admitted. "The guys are quite supportive and make it easy on me." She appreciated Scylla's advice regarding them.
"So, they don't mind sharing you?" Raelle asked, starting to make some pancakes.
"Well, it helps that I spend half my time at Fort Salem with Gregorio and the other half at The Hague with Jin," Tally said. "By the way, I think Willa is showing signs of being a knower. She knew I was dropping in."
"Tal, she's too young for any of that," Raelle said, trying to dissuade her from labeling her daughter.
"Are you ready to have a baby sister?" Tally asked Willa, changing the subject. She could see the little girl was excited.
"Mommy and I decorated her room," Willa revealed, eager to show her. She was pulling the redhead when Raelle reminded her to wash her hands and get ready for breakfast. "Mama, aunties are at the door."
Tally gave Raelle a proud smile for being proven right about Willa's natural abilities.
.
Raelle answered the door even before Anacostia, Abigail and Khalida made it to the steps. "Welcome!"
"How did you know we were here?" Abigail wondered, having chosen to keep their arrival quiet hoping to surprise them.
Raelle shrugged not wanting to reveal her source. "Glad you all could come." She gave each of the three a hug as they entered.
"Wouldn't miss it," Anacostia said, giving Scylla a warm hug. "The Imperatrix is also eagerly awaiting news about your newborn."
"Let me guess, she didn't believe we had the first one?" Raelle asked sarcastically. "Maybe I should cut her fingers instead for each one just to prove our daughters are real."
Scylla put a hand on Raelle's back to calm her down. She didn't want anything or anyone to diminish what they had.
"She knows they're real," Abigail assured her. "She's probably just curious about how many fingers she gets to keep if you decide to stop having babies." She gave the couple a teasing smile.
"I guess she'll have to keep guessing," Scylla said, keeping their plans vague.
"Who does Willa take after?" Abigail asked curiously.
"She's more like Scylla," Raelle admitted proudly.
"Another necro then," Abigail concluded casually.
"Not really, I think she's a knower," Tally countered, watching the little girl run up to her other aunties to welcome them after a quick peek at the baby's room.
"I told you guys, no labeling," Raelle reminded everyone. "My daughters will decide what they want to be when they are ready."
"But in order to be ready, you'll have to mold them," Abigail insisted.
"I don't tell you how to raise your triplets; so, I expect you not to tell me how to raise our girls," Raelle reminded her.
"Guys, this day is about Scylla and the new baby," Tally reminded them all. "Let's just enjoy what's to come."
Raelle didn't have to wait long before Scylla went into labor. Unlike the first time, she had other witches helping to make it easy and comfortable for her. But even so, it was still largely up to them. As soon as the baby crowned, the rest was easy.
"She's so beautiful," Tally cooed after Raelle passed the newborn to her. "And this one is going to be blonde."
"How do you know that?" Abigail asked, looking over her shoulder and saw a wisp of blonde hair. "Hopefully that's all she inherited." She dodged the pillow hurled at her by Raelle who had just helped Willa up to the day bed where Scylla was resting on.
Scylla held the newborn after she had been passed around her aunties and smiled as Raelle kissed them both in turn. She introduced the baby to her big sister who likewise kissed them both.
"What are you going to name her?" Anacostia asked.
"Sarah," Willa revealed before her mothers could reply.
Anacostia was the most surprised among the four aunties present. "After Alder?"
"Why not?" Scylla confirmed. "In the end she helped us all."
"Oompa!" Willa said excitedly as she jumped off then ran towards the front door. She impatiently waited for Raelle to open the door.
"Hey there," Edwin greeted his granddaughter and picked her off the ground. "Did I miss it?" He had made the journey as quick as he could to meet his second granddaughter.
"Just in time, dad," Raelle said, taking him to see the new addition to their family.
"If we knew you were coming, we could've picked you up on the way," Anacostia said.
"Oh, it's not necessary," he informed her. "Besides, I brought some things for the girls."
"Do you want to hold her?" Scylla offered, watching Raelle take Willa from him to free his arms.
"She looks just like you when you were born," he said with tears in his eyes. He turned and gave both Raelle and Scylla a kiss on their foreheads.
"What about me oompa?" Willa asked, feeling left out. She got a quick kiss from him as well.
"What did you bring, dad?" Raelle asked, looking out at the parked truck.
"Oh, yeah, a crib for this one and a rocking horse for Willa," he revealed, handing the baby back to Scylla. "Help me unload them?"
Raelle along with Tally and Anacostia helped Edwin unload what he brought with him while Abigail and Khalida stayed with Scylla.
"She is ahead of her time," Khalida noted in a whisper, observing Willa as she played. "Have you noticed that?"
Scylla looked if Abigail was within earshot and thankfully the latter was checking on what Raelle was up to. "Her powers have been slowly manifesting."
"What are you going to do about it?" Khalida asked, realizing the girl's potential and the importance of molding her.
"We're working on it," Scylla admitted. "With a bit of luck, our girls will grow up free from any pressures."
Khalida noticed Abigail's attention was turned back to them so she gave Scylla a quick nod to affirm her silence.
Oblivious to what just transpired, Abigail went to help get Willa on the rocking horse which the little one absolutely adored by the way she started rocking on it. "Do you need help with the crib?"
"We've got this," Raelle insisted. "Just keep an eye on Willa before she and her horse run away." She saw Willa already pulling the thing away from where they placed it.
"She's strong," Abigail marveled. "What are you feeding her?"
"I told you, she takes after Scylla," Raelle said proudly.
.
Scylla was putting Sarah in the crib when Raelle came back from putting Willa to bed. "How did it go?"
"She's out like a light," Raelle said happily. "And you thought she'd make a fuss about going to sleep."
"Please tell me you didn't use work on her," Scylla asked, knowing how Willa loved to prolong her bedtime routine.
"Nope, I just promised I'd take her fishing tomorrow if she went right to sleep," Raelle revealed, jumping into bed.
"You probably shouldn't have done that," Scylla said, getting in bed beside the blonde. "Abigail wants you to make an appearance during the Hague Accord commemoration at Fort Salem."
Raelle frowned having definitively told Abigail that she wasn't going when she first brought it up. She didn't like that Scylla was roped into trying to change her mind about it.
"It could be fun," Scylla pointed out, ignoring Raelle's displeased look. "Besides, don't you want to have an excuse to get out of changing diapers?"
"I like changing diapers," Raelle countered. "And I really don't like leaving you alone right after you've given birth."
"I won't be alone," Scylla reminded her. "Edwin offered to stay with us while you're away. It'll give him time with the girls."
"Why do I feel like you're trying to get rid of me?" Raelle complained.
"Certainly not," Scylla assured her. "But I think it would be nice to remind everyone that you are still very much around. Besides, aren't you a bit curious about the mural they installed in the museum? At least they should have you front and center."
"It's not just me," Raelle reminded her. "You should be part of it, too."
"But I'm not the one they need to unveil the exhibit," Scylla said. "And in case you've forgotten, I've just given birth."
Raelle chuckled reaching for her belly and looking over towards the crib. "I haven't forgotten and can't thank you enough for making us a family."
Scylla ran her fingers down Raelle's braided hair. "You know, some things are worth doing."
Raelle turned to look at Scylla and knew the brunette wasn't going to drop the subject and the smile she flashed said it all.
.
Raelle brought breakfast in for Scylla and Willa before she had to leave. She listened as the little girl excitedly tell Scylla what they had planned for the day. She reluctantly broke the news that made the little girl pout as expected.
"Pumpkin, you can go with oompa instead," Scylla suggested. "Think of all the fun the two of you will have while he's here." She could tell Willa wasn't easily appeased so she continued to whisper something to the little girl.
Raelle appreciated Scylla's redirect and finished packing to meet up with the rest of the group. "I'm going to miss you terribly. This is going to be the first time we've been apart for this far and this long …"
"Since we've been married," Scylla finished for her, turning then pulling her in for a kiss. "We'll be right here when you return."
"You better or there will be consequences," Raelle teased, picking up Sarah and cradled her for a bit before handing the baby over to Scylla. "I'll miss the first few days of her life."
"You can make up for it by taking on more diaper duties," Scylla teased, chuckling when the blonde willingly accepted.
Raelle heard her dad speaking with the group and knew it was time for them to leave. "I'll see you soon." She kissed the three in turn and even got a tight hug from Willa that made her feel better for leaving them.
"Ready?" Abigail asked, giving a grateful nod to Scylla for convincing Raelle to go. "I'll get her back to you as soon as possible; in time for your anniversary."
"And not a scratch on her," Scylla added sternly, smiling when she got the expected reaction from Abigail.
"Your wife is still weird," Abigail said as they got into their vehicle.
"One of the many things I love about her," Raelle replied. "Sexy weird keeps things very interesting. Want to learn more?" She enjoyed Abigail's reaction more than actually revealing her private life.
"Will you be staying here for a while?" Tally asked, wondering if they'd start traveling again once Sarah was a little older to do so.
"We do like the place," Raelle admitted. "And Willa will be starting school soon so maybe we will consider settling down."
"Far enough away from Fort Salem," Anacostia noted. "You should seriously consider it."
Raelle didn't respond, not wanting to make a decision without Scylla. Instead, she turned her attention to her hand which was starting to itch and noticed the symbol fade. "Turn around!"
Anacostia slammed the brakes and looked at Raelle through the windshield mirror to determine why.
"Scylla is in trouble," Raelle said and Anacostia sped back the way they came from without hesitation.
Raelle jumped out of the vehicle and ran through the door calling for Scylla only to find Edwin knocked out on the living room floor. She gently roused him and checked for any injuries.
"The girls," Edwin said, regaining consciousness. "Where are they?"
Raelle turned to her friends who went checking around. "Any sign of Scylla and the girls?"
"No," Abigail replied, feeling guilty for being complacent that led to Scylla and the girls' obvious abduction. She was about to apologize and promise to find them when Raelle shushed her.
Raelle moved towards the faint sound of singing and realized it was Willa so called out to her. She found her and Sarah safely hidden in a cupboard in the kitchen
"Mama!" Willa happily greeted and ran to her arms. "A bad man took mommy."
Raelle calmed the little girl and linked with her to visualize the attack. "It was Ben!"
.
Scylla was unable to escape from Ben because she was still weak but was comforted by the fact that she managed to hide the girls and they were safe. The further Ben took her away from home, the safer they were but she hoped that she was able to signal Raelle before it was too late.
.
Raelle paced across the floor as she waited for Tally and Khalida to work something out to locate Scylla while Abigail and Anacostia tried to work with Petra and the intelligence group. She tried to remain calm so as not to alarm Willa and also soothe Sarah.
"Mommy," Willa announced and ran towards the door.
"Yes, pumpkin, we're trying to find mommy," Raelle agreed, misunderstanding the little girl's meaning.
Willa returned beside Raelle and tugged at her pants. "Mommy is outside."
Raelle rushed to the door and was relieved to see Scylla coming out of the sheriff's vehicle safe but visibly weak. She handed Sarah over to Abigail who was the closest to her and quickly went to help Scylla. "Thanks, Flo. How did you find her?"
"She decided to go through every stop sign in town," Flo explained with an amused look. "And when my deputy caught up with her, he realized she was in danger from the man in the passenger seat."
"Where is he now?" Raelle asked, trying to decide if Ben was still a threat to her family.
"He's locked up," Flo assured her. "He'll be there for a while especially if you decide to press charges against him. And just so you know, the judge is out of town."
"Can we question him?" Anacostia asked directly, wanting to know if the Camarilla was active again.
Raelle made the introductions and the sheriff agreed to let them chat with Ben. "I'll catch up with you guys," she said, letting Anacostia and Abigail know that she was staying behind to attend to her family.
"Tally and Khalida can stay with you," Anacostia suggested. "To keep you safe."
"Do you want me to send some deputies over?" Flo offered. "In case he has accomplices."
Raelle appreciated it but declined the offer. "I think we can manage."
.
Scylla was drained such that as soon as Raelle helped her into bed, she drifted to sleep. She didn't know for how long but when she opened her eyes, she saw Willa watching over her. "Hey pumpkin."
"Hello mommy," Willa whispered before getting up and shouting for her mama.
Raelle soon appeared at the door and frowned at the excited little girl. "Did you wake mommy? Didn't I tell you not to?"
"She didn't," Scylla said, sitting up slowly. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Khalida's tea must've been stronger than she claimed," Raelle teased. "It knocked you out; you slept through Sarah's wailing."
Scylla looked around for the baby and felt guilty for not taking care of her as she should.
"Don't worry," Raelle assured her, realizing how that sounded and regretted it. "We've got it covered. Sarah's fine and well cared for."
"Look who's awake," Tally cooed as she carried Sarah into the room. She gently handed the bundle over to Scylla then decided to take Willa out to give the pair some private time.
Raelle looked attentively at the brunette while she cared for the baby. She had questions but all that could wait until Scylla was ready.
Scylla could sense Raelle's anxiety and reached for her hand to share what happened. She scooted a little when the blonde climbed into bed and held her close. She locked her hand with Scylla's free one while the latter leaned against her chest for support.
Raelle got glimpses into Scylla's memories of the attack and how the brunette's first instinct was to hide the girls where she eventually found them. Scylla had covered up the cupboard to blend with the wall before diverting Ben's attention by charging at him only to be subdued to the point of being compelled to find Hearst as he wanted. "You didn't tell Ben he was dead?"
Scylla pulled away to turn and look at Raelle. "I just wanted to get him out of the house even if it meant lying to him. I didn't know how long before he would realize there were kids in the house."
"I should've been here," Raelle said with regret, clenching her jaw.
"If you were, he probably wouldn't have revealed himself," Scylla pointed out. "And we wouldn't know that the Camarilla is still around."
"How did you escape?" Raelle asked, delving into her memories again. She saw how a murmuration of starlings presumably initiated by Wilbur steered Scylla to drive through town and from there, Scylla did as Flo had briefly described earlier until they were stopped.
Scylla took off running especially after the deputy was knocked out by Ben. She was close to the center of town where a few men noticed the disturbance and came towards her. She at first worried they were coming for her until an elderly lady pulled her aside and told her to let the boys handle her abductor. After a short exchange, the men captured and turned Ben over to the sheriff.
"How did he even find you?" Raelle wondered, worrying Ben's obsession requires a more drastic measure to keep him away.
"He saw the mural," Abigail revealed, walking in through the open door. "He was one of the workers who installed it then figured out how to get here."
"Are the Camarilla back?" Scylla asked, watching Anacostia join them. She was relieved to hear it was just a one-off. "Where had he been all this time?"
"In a coma," Anacostia explained, having looked into his memories. "He's struggling to grasp what has happened and trying to cling to what he knows before things changed."
"So, what are we going to do with him?" Raelle asked, hoping to solve it once and for all.
.
Raelle faced the man who tried to harm her family and it took effort to not just bash his head in especially since he was smirking at her.
"Who are you supposed to be?" he asked after having endured both Abigail and Anacostia before her.
"I'm the one who'll show you the truth about your parents," she said plainly. "You might not like what you learn."
"I already know about them; how your kind killed them," he insisted with hatred in his eyes.
"Your hatred is misplaced," she told him. "You'll see better if you let go of the hate." She waited but seeing that he was unwilling, she drew out the last remnants of witch plague from him.
.
Scylla was nursing when Raelle returned from town. "How did it go?"
"He's never going to bother you again," Raelle assured her, moving close to kiss her. "Is Willa asleep?"
"Well, Edwin tried to put her to sleep," Scylla admitted. "But I think he fell asleep before she did. I was about to sing her a lullaby but Sarah needed me."
Raelle chuckled knowing how Willa could be a challenge when she wants to be. "Should I go check on them?"
"I'll go; it's your turn with this one and since you like changing diapers so much," Scylla teased, handing Sarah to her.
"I guess it's just you and me then," Raelle said to her newborn.
Scylla took one look back before heading out. She decided to stop by the kitchen to get something to drink on her way back after putting Willa to sleep. "Do you need something stronger?" she asked Abigail, noticing she was taking her time to choose a beverage from the fridge.
Abigail welcomed the offer and sat by the island counter. "I should've been more careful; I shouldn't have put you in danger."
Scylla was taken aback by what sounded like the start of an apology from the taller witch while she poured a glass of wine for her. "You couldn't have possibly anticipated what happened. But I don't think I can talk Raelle into going to the base now."
"We won't make it in time anyway," Abigail said, downing her drink. "The ceremony is first thing tomorrow; I already told my mom we're missing it until things are secure here."
Scylla was surprised that Abigail chose to stay rather than return to base. She poured her another glass in gratitude. "Thanks."
"You're part of my unit," Abigail justified, realizing she said too much. "At least for as long as you're with Raelle."
Scylla smiled as she filled a glass with water for herself. She knew Abigail had overshared and gave her an alternative. "I meant thanks for not leaving me out of the painting."
Abigail wondered what Scylla meant until she remembered it was how Ben tracked her down. She grinned and raised her glass to clink against the brunette's glass recognizing what just happened.
"What are we toasting?" Tally asked joining the two. "Are we celebrating early?"
"Why not?" Abigail agreed, moving to get more glasses.
"Did the girls put Raelle to sleep?" Anacostia joked, noting her absence.
"She may have had some of Khalida's tea; it was really potent," Tally teased, having seen its effect on Scylla.
"I didn't make her any," Khalida said defensively. "I figured she needed to be sharp with a newborn to care for."
"Who needs to be sharp?" Raelle asked, joining the group.
"You, since we have a newborn," Scylla explained, silently giving her the choice of water or wine.
Raelle opted for water and gave Scylla a quick hug. "What are you drinking to?"
"To your good choice then and now," Abigail said, raising her glass towards her.
"There's only ever one choice," Raelle declared, kissing Scylla on the cheek.
"Do you think there are any more Camarilla out there?" Khalida wondered.
"Ben is probably the last; he was the only unaccounted one," Anacostia inferred.
"Even if there are others, I think we've learned today that the civilians are capable of standing up against hate," Raelle noted, putting her arm around Scylla. "Anyone can leave hate behind if they choose to."
.
Raelle waved goodbye to her friends with Willa the following morning. She turned to head back inside when they were out of sight.
"Everything alright?" Scylla asked, clearing the table while Edwin held Sarah for her.
"Maybe we should've waited until they helped clean, eh?" Raelle asked, running her hand over the back of her head after setting Willa down.
"We?" Scylla asked, reminding Raelle it was her idea to send them off early. "But they were our guests so I guess we can't obligate them to do the dishes."
"I can help," Edwin offered, handing Sarah back to Scylla.
"But oompa, we're going fishing," Willa objected, reminding everyone she hadn't forgotten the promised outing.
"I got this," Raelle said. "Can't wait to see what you two catch for lunch." She watched as Willa excitedly drag Edwin to get going.
"We probably should ask Edwin to stay longer," Scylla suggested, putting Sarah down in a nearby bassinet so she could help Raelle.
"I can probably find an excuse for him to stay," Raelle supposed. "Perhaps an extension to the house now that we have a new member?"
"Why don't you start by building a playset for Willa?" Scylla proposed instead, thinking of something easier.
Raelle chuckled. "Always the practical one."
Scylla grinned at the blonde. "Isn't that why you bonded with me?"
"No," Raelle replied quickly. "It's because you're sexy weird; and I love everything about you." She moved closer and kissed the brunette.
Scylla was quite enjoying their intimacy that she groaned when Raelle pulled away.
"How about you? Why did you bond with me?"
"You know why," Scylla said, avoiding answering the question.
"Tell me anyway," Raelle whispered.
Scylla looked deep into Raelle's blue eyes before replying. "I chose you because you're just that irresistible."
"Really?" Raelle prompted wanting to know more.
"Really," Scylla confirmed, wrapping her arms around the blonde's neck. "You being you just made leaving hate behind so easy."
Raelle pulled Scylla closer and whispered something in her ear that made the brunette giggle.
"Too soon," Scylla protested weakly. "But I like how you think Mrs. Ramshorn."
"Glad you approve Mrs. Collar," Raelle said happily and kissed her. "Life with you is really going to be sexy weird."