I am so sorry for the incredible four and a half year delay in completing this story! I had planned out this story all the way through, but had yet to write it all. In between, I have had a couple of new computers, moved house and found other fandoms to occupy my time. Fortunately I remembered how I wanted this story to progress and have spent the last six weeks trying desperately to write it. This will be 13 chapters long in the finish and I have completed the next four. I probably shouldn't be uploading this one now, but I simply cannot wait! Thanks to all the new WW fanfic writers out there (HB's Favourite and Scarlet Secret in particular) for inspiring me to continue with this story.

06 – The Morning After

Imogen smiled to herself. She was sated, but nervous as she became aware of her surroundings. She felt completely at one with the world, but was worried that Constance wouldn't be feeling the same. She must have involuntarily stiffened as a pair of arms wrapped themselves tighter around her body. She relaxed into the embrace; her back was nestled against the warmth of the naked body behind her and her neck was being gently kissed and caressed. Imogen slowly rolled over to look at the woman she had spent most of the previous afternoon and evening making love with. She met Constance's shy smile with a similar one of her own, neither knowing what to say or how to start. Imogen reached up and softly stroked Constance's cheek. She tenderly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her lover's ear. Both women leant closer and their lips met in a gentle kiss.

"Morning." Imogen kept her tone as neutral as possible, in between stifling a yawn.

"Yes, it is." Constance's tone was as flat as usual, which gave nothing away. Imogen sighed and gave up trying to second guess the situation.

"This is awkward." She had drummed up a bit of courage and made sure she was looking directly at Constance.

"Indeed."

"Please don't say you regret last night? I can't think of anything more perfect than waking up in your arms. I never believed this was possible." Constance smirked and placed a finger to Imogen's lips to stop her from speaking.

"Imogen, I've been watching you sleep for most of the night. If I'd have wanted to forget this happened don't you think I would have got dressed and left by now?" Imogen's face flushed.

"What do we do now?" Imogen still wasn't entirely convinced.

"I was thinking about a cup of tea?" Constance deadpanned. Imogen looked at her lover incredulously, before realising it was an attempt at humour. They both burst out into a fit of giggles. Constance took Imogen's face in her hands and gave her a sound kiss, finally convincing Imogen that everything was going to be alright.

***

They spent most of the day lazily searching for sustenance in between moments of sudden passion and its associated rest. The summer sun shone high in the sky, directly over the intimidating castle on top of the mountain. The usually dreary ancient building was lit up by the dazzling rays and became something altogether different. There was something wonderful in the air, an atmosphere so different from normal. A real sense of peace and happiness, and of change and hope, seeped from the decaying walls of the building and into the world around it.

Something wonderful had been unleashed in Constance, like everything she had ever held inside herself was flowing out through this thing with Imogen. She felt lighter because of it, like a weight had been lifted from her entire being. Her face ached from smiling and laughing so much, and she had never felt so relaxed before. She was at home at the academy, and although it was hard to tell, she really did enjoy teaching the girls here. She was a particularly accomplished broomstick flyer and could mix up several thousand potions from memory alone. Teaching these girls made good use of her talents. Although, having said that, Constance was particularly accomplished at pretty much everything.

This is what Imogen had been waiting all her life to find. Somewhere she belonged, where she could teach her subject to those who needed it, instead of to those who were already sport-minded. She felt as though she were making a real difference to these young witches, who had never considered PE anything to do with them before. Even though most pupils grudgingly participated in sports, Imogen knew she was getting through to them, and hopefully to the staff, on some level. And now she had found love and romance with someone quite wonderful. She had admired Constance from afar for some time, but had never dreamed she would reciprocate. Instead she diverted her affections to someone else, and look how that ended up! Speaking of that someone else, Constance couldn't help but be curious and tentatively brought up the subject over a late lunch.

Imogen had prepared a feast of salads and fruit and laid out a picnic outside in the afternoon sun. Both she and Constance lay on their sides, picking at the array of food as they spoke. Imogen sighed deeply.

"Serge...I don't know what it was. I suppose there was a chemistry of sorts. We had the same interests, the same love of outdoor activities..."

"The same libido?" Constance chimed in.

"Constance!"

"Well?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Yes...well...alright." Constance laid a hand on Imogen's arm to reassure her.

"Imogen, there's no reason to be embarrassed. I understand that you have a past and I'm not ignorant to think that all you did was hold hands."

"I know; I just find it strange to talk about these things with you."

"I rather think this will take some time for the both of us." Imogen took a sip of her tea and nodded.

"So...what about you? After yesterday you can't seriously expect me to believe that you've never..."

"Gertrude Ghoul. I was in my final year of college and I was in complete awe of her. She had the confidence that I didn't have back then and she was absolutely stunning. I couldn't understand why she gave me the time of day, let alone request that we pair up and study together. She spoke with such ease and inflection that I was mesmerised by just listening to her. As the weeks went by we seemed to have formed a more personal attachment. We were never caught, but as Heckity Broomhead was already watching me like a hawk, it didn't take long for her to get suspicious. She engineered our timetables so that we never got a chance to spend time together. Basic ally it fizzled out and Gertrude ended it. I was actually quite heartbroken by it all."

"I am so sorry Constance."

"It doesn't matter now does it?"

"Still, it was very unfair. So, there hasn't been anyone since?"

"No. I had my career and witchcraft to concentrate on. If I'm honest I didn't want to put myself in that vulnerable position again. And there was the fact that I never met anyone I wanted to become intimate with. Although, I suspect Mistress Broomhead would have been more than willing." Imogen's eyebrows shot up and she nearly choked on her tea.

"Woah! That was an image I really didn't need to have in my head." They both laughed. Imogen took hold of Constance's hands. "The moment I met you I felt something. I know it sounds like a cliché, but I did. The more you rebuffed my presence in the school, the more wound up I got, but I knew it went deeper than simple annoyance. I wanted you to get to know me, not just respect my subject. I couldn't understand where it was all suddenly coming from. Then we went away, and I considered speaking with you then, but Serge and the Rockies...." She was broken off by Constance.

"And that was that." Imogen got slightly defensive in response.

"I wasn't looking for it, it just happened. I needed a shoulder, someone who wasn't a witch. He understood certain things, for a time."

"Have you always enjoyed the company of men?" Constance said the word 'men' with her usual disdainful voice.

"What is this thing you have against men? On second thoughts, don't answer that." Imogen paused to take a breath. "I did have a couple of relationships with other women before, but no men until Serge. Does that bother you in any way?"

"Imogen, I was just curious. I'm not going to judge you for what you have or have not done in the past."

"Thank you." They sat in a comfortable silence, both contemplating these new snippets of history about the other.

end of part 06