That evening, Hecate mirrored Pippa.

"You should know there's been a potion causing quite the stir around Cackle's. I expect it will affect your school soon. It shows the name of someone who is romantically interested."

Pippa smiled. "Oh, I can see how that would cause a stir."

"In many ways. Though the main issue at the moment is that a few girls saw a witch's name. Some of our students are…less than accepting, which is perhaps to be expected but disappointing nonetheless. I have been told one of the names was one of your girls, so you may want to be prepared. I assume that your school does not tolerate bigotry of this sort?"

"With a gay headmistress, I should hope not." Pippa said calmly.

Hecate blinked. "A…"

"Surely you knew, Hecate?" Pippa cocked her head to one side. "I always thought…well, I thought maybe it was part of why you stopped talking to me. That you noticed, and did not approve."

"I…did not know. And I hope you know I do not feel that way. That…was not why. At…all." She got out.

"Very good to know. Well, thank you for alerting me. I'll let my staff know. I assume you have banned the potion?"

Hecate nodded. "I confiscated what was left, with heavy threats if they should make more. But what is now known, cannot be unknown. I do wish these girls would think before they act."

Pippa smiled. "Has it been so long that you don't recall being young and acting recklessly?"

Hecate sniffed. "I hardly recall doing anything like this. One poor girl didn't even know herself, yet. She's only a second-year. That's hardly how one should find out."

Pippa's face went serious. "No, it certainly is not."

That Friday night, Pippa joined Hecate in her room for their normal Friday chat, but the taller witch seemed nervous as she opened her door and let her in. She'd barely seen Hecate all day, but she'd been acting strangely. She hoped it wasn't because of her recent revelation about her sexuality.

"Is everything all right, Hiccup?"

Hecate took a deep breath. She had decided to do this. She was a formidable witch, she could do this.

"I considered taking some of that potion, you know. After we spoke last time."

Pippa's eyes widened. "The one the girls made? A potion to do with matters of the heart? That's not like you, Hecate."

She nodded. "I know. I didn't, of course. But it made me think…if I was willing to even consider it, I should be willing to do something braver."

Pippa just waited.

"All those years ago, Pippa, I had realized I was…gay." Even now, she'd only spoken that word out loud about herself a handful of times, and it was still difficult. "I realized…that I was in love with you. It's why I pushed you away. I couldn't possibly imagine someone like you liking me. I was sure you were going to go meet a handsome wizard, get married, and live happily ever after. But…you didn't. I heard whispers over the years. About you and other witches. I couldn't believe it, at first. But then we reconnected and…then you…well I started wondering if maybe I had been wrong, all those years ago."

"The whispers were probably true, for what it's worth. I tried dating a few wizards early on, it was very obvious that wasn't going to work. After that I only ever dated witches. None that lasted long, though." Pippa admitted. "None worth really coming out for, fully, given my ambitions. Though most everyone I am close to knows, including my staff and family."

Hecate looked at her.

"If I had drunk that potion…" she asked quietly.

"You would have seen my name, Hiccup. You would always have seen my name." Pippa stepped towards her.

Hecate could have sworn her heart stopped beating for a second, as ridiculous as that sounded. She took a step closer to Pippa.

"Even after…all this time? After everything I did?"

Pippa nodded. "I did try, you know. To stop loving you. There were periods where I thought of you less. But all of it came rushing back when I saw you again."

Hecate took another step, reached out her hand to Pippa's cheek. The other witch leaned slightly into the caress, and closed her eyes briefly. She reached out her own hands, resting them gently on Hecate's waist. She pulled her ever so slightly closer, and finally the taller witch dipped her head, stepped the last step to bring them together, and captured her lips in a kiss thirty years in the making.

Hecate's lips were warm and soft against her own, and Pippa almost moaned in pleasure. She opened her lips, inviting it to deepen. Hecate pushed her back slightly, and suddenly a sofa appeared behind her. She allowed herself to be pressed backwards onto it, Hecate following, their lips never separating. It was only when her hands crept up, sliding along Hecate's still clothed breasts, that the darker witch pulled back slightly.

"Pippa I…I do want…but I'm not as experienced as you, and I think I need to go slowly."

Pippa slid her hands along Hecate's hair, still in its bun but starting to escape. "Of course, darling. I've waited thirty years, I can go as slow as you need."

Hecate slowly sat up, and disentangled their bodies, but moved so they were still sitting quite close. She interlaced her fingers with Pippa's. "It won't be too long. I promise." She brought their linked hands to her lips and gently kissed Pippa's fingers. The blonde witch sighed. "I daresay we should find something else to occupy us, or else I'm going to have a hard time with you doing that, darling."

Pippa stayed later than normal that night, cuddled into Hecate's embrace as she read a book out loud. Hecate had suggested it as something to do, and it was far more enjoyable than she'd first imagined. But she struggled to conceal a yawn, and Hecate set the book down.

"I suppose you should be going."

"I should." She made no real move to do so.

"I would ask you to stay, but it might cause…questions I'm not sure we are ready for."

"It would also be very hard to keep my hands off you." Pippa pointed out. Hecate blushed. She sighed, and pushed herself up. She pulled the other witch up too, bringing their lips together in a gentle kiss. "I'll mirror you tomorrow, love."

"Goodnight, Pippa." Hecate said, before the blonde witch disappeared for the night.

She got herself ready for bed quickly, and slid under her covers. Had that evening really just happened? Pippa returned her feelings. Loved her. She had never quite given up hope, but had thought there was a better than average chance that confessing her feelings tonight was going to lead back to an estrangement. How glad she was that she had gotten up the courage.

Pippa also lay in bed thinking of the other witch. She wanted to take her on a proper date, now that feelings were out in the open. But Hecate was so private. She started running through possibilities in her mind.

The next afternoon, after checking via maglet that Hecate was free (she had been grading papers, but that could absolutely wait), she mirrored her. She left her hair free around her face and smiled at the look on Hecate's face upon seeing her. How could she have not been sure before? The woman could not conceal her feelings.

"Hello darling. How are the papers?"

Hecate screwed her face up. "You don't teach anymore, so you may have forgotten, but twelve-year-olds are horrific writers."

"I'm sure they're much better by the time you are done with them." Pippa assured her. It was in fact true, Hecate had to admit that their graduates could write a passable essay.

"How is your day going?"

"Better now." Pippa said cheekily, loving the blush that rose on Hecate's face. "Oh, nothing too exciting. A few meetings with parents, dealing with some troublemakers, the usual." She took a breath. "I was wondering if tomorrow, you would be free to go on a date with me."

Hecate stiffened a bit. "A…date? Out? With…people?"

Pippa smiled. "I was thinking more like a walk in the botanical gardens. Minimal people. We could even go to an Ordinary one and keep ourselves cloaked, if you'd like. But somewhere outside our schools, we do so rarely get to do that."

Hecate considered. She wasn't ready to see someone she knew, yet. Not with this so new. "There are some lovely Ordinary gardens in the next town over, I've heard."

Pippa's face lit up, and Hecate knew she would soon be doing anything this woman wanted, to get that reaction.

"Lovely. Can I come pick you up? Say, three?"

"That would be acceptable."

Hecate began mildly freaking out at approximately 1 pm. She wasn't exactly sure what to wear. Her normal dress seemed too formal, but she didn't have much else. She finally found a long flowing skirt and a separate top, that she didn't remember why she had. Both were dark, of course, but there was some color in the top at least. She agonized over her hair, trying out various hairdos with flicks of her wrist, before settling on one with most of it down. Pippa always did like her hair down. At exactly three, there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find the other witch in what could best be described as a sundress, holding a broom. Her legs and arms were bare, her hair was down, making her appear far younger than Hecate knew her to be.

"You look beautiful." She breathed out.

Pippa's eyes were traveling up and down her body too, and she felt self-conscious until she realized it was appreciative. "So do you." Pippa took her hand and indicated the broom. "Shall we?"

They transported up to the roof to take off, to avoid distractions with any students. Hecate had mentioned to Ada that she would be off campus for the afternoon. The older witch had agreed at once, as Hecate almost never asked for time off.

Pippa climbed onto the broom first. "It's been so long since we rode together, Hec."

Hecate sat down behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist. "I've missed it."

It was a short ride to the gardens she'd suggested, and Pippa left the broom by a tree. She slid her hand into Hecate's. "This is beautiful."

They walked for a time, talking about everything and nothing, before more serious subjects came up. Hecate saw a bench and walked them over to sit down.

"I should explain…last night." She started.

"You don't have to explain. It's okay. I'm not in a rush." She paused, not wanting Hecate to think she wasn't attracted to her. "I mean, to be clear, I would love to ravish you right here on this grass, but I love you, and I can wait." She clarified.

Hecate blushed. The things this woman said and what that did to her.

"It's only…I haven't. Ever." She looked down, embarrassed.

"Haven't… had sex?" Pippa pushed slightly. Hecate nodded. "How about other things?" she asked curiously.

"I have been kissed, yes. Dated, I supposed. For a brief time." She looked off into the distance, finding it easier to talk about this without looking Pippa in the eye. "I threw myself into my studies after…well after you, after us, and I didn't have time for things I saw as frivolous. Nearing the end of college, though, I did meet someone. She was a little like you, I supposed. Pushy." She smiled wryly, and glanced a look at Pippa, who wasn't looking upset, so she continued. "She pursued me, and I let her. A little. She got irritated with my priorities, and with the fact that I wasn't ready to come out, or do more than kiss. She broke up with me after only a few weeks, and then I got the job at Cackle's, and I suppose I just don't go out of my way to meet adults. I didn't really purposefully not date, I just…"

"Didn't try to." Pippa said softly. Hecate nodded.

"And now…Pippa, we're middle aged. I don't know how to begin."

Pippa's thumb stroked the back of her hand.

"If it makes you feel better – I'm not as experienced as you seem to think. Especially not recently. Like you, working in a school has put a damper on things. I did date more in college and shortly after. I did have sex, but only with two witches. They were the only ones I dated long enough to feel comfortable with. I know people think of me as this silly, frivolous witch – don't disagree, you know they do – and sometimes I think they assume that means I will fall into bed with anyone who asks. Certainly many wizards have tried." She scrunched her nose. "Just to be clear, they've always failed."

She gazed off into the distance too. "I think…the first time was hard. This sounds silly, but I think I felt like I was cheating on you, though we'd never been together. I wished it had been you. We broke up shortly after that, I think she could tell my heart wasn't in it. I'm sorry that you didn't get to experience it sooner, but a small part of me is rather happy that it can still be me. Is that horrid?"

Hecate's eyes watered a little. "I do so want it to be you. I always have." She leaned in and kissed Pippa gently. "Always have."

They sat in companionable silence for a long while. Pippa slid closer, put her head on Hecate's shoulder, and played with the strands of dark hair falling down to her waist.

"I love your hair down, darling."

Hecate smiled. "I know you do."