"Hey Fluffy."
Abby dropped her schoolbag and crouched down to the mat where an eager Fleur was waving at her. "Come here." She scooped up her sister who immediately locked her tiny arms around her neck and held on tight. "Missed you.", she whispered before turning to her mothers. "Where are the crazies?"
"They're playing at Ellie and Sasha's house.", Imogen smiled. "And isn't Fleur a crazy?"
"Only when she's with the other two, when she's on her own with me she's my little Fluffy."
Constance gave a long sigh. "Why do I get the feeling that nickname is going to stick."
"Because it is.", Abby grinned as she stroked Fleur's thick hair. "And you like it don't you. Say, 'Yes Abby.'"
"Na, na na." Fleur giggled while cuddling closer to her big sister. She was very close to talking, and everyone was hopeful her first proper word would come soon.
Meanwhile, Imogen was boiling the kettle and getting out some cups. "Mama and I are going to have a cup of tea, do you want one honey?"
"Please." Abby decided this was as good a time as any to share something that was on her mind. "Is having a baby very hard?", she asked as her cup was placed on the table.
"I think you know the answer to that as well as we do.", Imogen answered as she watched Abby trying to stop Fleur going for her cup while at the same time dodging her affectionate head-butts. "Will I take her?"
"No, it's okay." After not seeing her all day, Abby didn't want to let Fleur go. Especially as when her other two sisters got home, they would be all over the baby.
Constance was curious about the question. "Why do you ask dear?"
Abby took a deep breath. "There's a girl in my class who's pregnant. I thought it was a rumour at first, but she told me herself today."
"One of your friends?", Imogen asked gently.
"Not quite, well we're lab partners in chemistry. I've probably mentioned her a few times, Nicole."
"You have.", Imogen nodded. "I think we met her at your parents evening too. How is she doing?"
Abby gave a long sigh. "Not too great, some of the others are being really mean, calling her nasty names and gossiping, even some of her friends, but she said she's going to ignore it. I told her they'll be talking about something else next week anyway. And Chloe and I invited her to have lunch with us today, and we've both told her that she can hang out with us and talk to us whenever she wants a friend."
"That's good advice." Imogen would have said the same things. "And it sounds like you and Chloe are very supportive. What about outside school?"
"She said her parents were really upset at the beginning, they still are, but they're helping her out and taking good care of her. And so is her boyfriend, they've been together for a year, and he's going to stand by her."
Constance spoke for the first time. "How old is she? Your age?"
"She's sixteen.", Abby told them. "So it's not too bad."
"Oh, honey.", Imogen sighed. "Sixteen is still so young. I wouldn't have been able for a baby when I was that age. I was twenty-five when you came into my life, and this is no reflection on you, but I wasn't ready then for what was ahead of me. Neither was Jamie. We figured it out, but it was hard."
"Sorry.", Abby cringed. "I know I was a bit of a crier."
"You had colic, And Jamie and I didn't have access to a magical potion that helped back then. Which meant that later on, when your sisters and your cousins had a bout of it, we were extremely grateful." Imogen squeezed Constance's hand before looking back to Abby. "Are the school being helpful?"
"Yeah, she said they've been good."m Abby nodded while taking a sip of her tea. "The baby is due in July so she'll still be able to do her exams. She's really determined to get good results, and she wants to come back, then go to university as she planned. I just hope she'll be able to do it."
"With the right support, she will be.", Imogen smiled kindly. "I remember a girl who got pregnant in her last year in Hevesham and she went on to become a doctor."
"Did it happen often? At different schools you taught in I mean?", Abby was curious now.
Imogen thought for a few seconds. "A couple of times."
"What about here?" Abby looked at Constance.
"Once.", Constance acknowledged. "That we know of, though we didn't know about that girl until a few years later. She didn't come back after the spring holidays; her parents told us they had decided that boarding school wasn't for her. Apparently, they were desperately ashamed and wanted her to give the child up for adoption."
"Wow. Did she?"
"No, she kept the baby, a little boy. Your Granny and I only found out a couple of years ago when we met her at a Cauldronite conference. She told us that eventually, her parents came around. And even though the child's father wasn't in his life, she finished her education, had a good job was engaged to someone else, and they were a happy little family." Constance refilled their cups before carrying on. " And I will say, we're lucky there weren't more cases. Until your Mum came, we never had a proper sex-education programme, and I know the students have benefited from it."
"Thanks Sweetheart." Imogen hoped that was the case. "But education is one thing, it still happens as we've seen. Honey, I know we say this all the time, but we want to make sure you feel you can come to us about anything to do with sex or pregnancy or anything else you're curious about. And I speak for both of us when I say we're very pleased that you've told us about Nicole."
"Of course I was going to tell you." Abby looked at them both. "And I know I can ask questions and tell you things and I will, I promise. It's just, well I can't quite believe that somebody I know, whose just a little older than me has been having sex and is now pregnant. Does that make me sound very babyish?"
"No." Imogen walked to the other side of the table and wrapped her arms around Abby. "I felt like that when I was your age, and honestly, that's how you should be feeling. I know other people are doing things, or say they are, but it's okay to take your time and wait until you're ready."
"That's what I'm going to do.", Abby promised while returning the hug. "And I'm also going to be there for Nicole if she needs me. You know, she's never even held a baby before."
"Well, if you want to invite her over some evening or weekend I'm sure we can give her some practice. And when the time comes, if she needs any baby clothes or supplies, we can help out."
"Thanks Mum; I'll definitely make those offers. Right, well I have some homework to do, I suppose I'd better crack on with it if I want to spend a bit of time with the crazies when they get home." She handed Fleur over to her Mum. "See you in a little bit Fluffster."
As soon as Abby was gone Imogen turned to her wife "For some reason, I wasn't expecting that revelation today."
"Neither was I." Constance let out a long breath. "Darling, I think it's time for me to tell Abby about my past."
"Are you sure?" Imogen sat down with Fleur on her lap and reached for Constance's hand again.
"Yes, unless you think I shouldn't?"
"No. I understand why you want to and support you completely. She's old enough to hear it. I just don't want this to rake up bad memories for you."
"It won't.", Constance was definite in her response. "There was a time when it would have, but I've worked through those issues with your support. And if what I did in my youth can help our girls to learn from my mistakes, to respect themselves and their bodies, I have to do it."
"Do you want me to be with you?", Imogen asked with a kiss.
"No, but I'll need to know you're nearby." Constance returned the kiss to her wife, then gave her smiling baby one too. "In case we need you."
It was the following Saturday when Constance seized the opportunity to talk to Abby. Ava, Zara and Fleur had gone for a drive with Tom and Amelia. Lily was spending the weekend with her mother and Imogen had discreetly declared that she was going to the shops but, as she whispered to Constance, was only a phone call away.
"Are you busy?"
Abby beamed at her Mama who was standing in the doorway to her bedroom. "No, well I'm meant to be doing this essay but I've been working on it for a while, and I need a distraction. Do you want to come in?"
"Thank you." Constance walked into the room and sat on Abby's bed. "There's something I want to talk to you about. It's been on my mind for some time but when you told us about your friend Nicole, I realised now was the time to tell you."
"What?" Abby joined her Mama on the blue duvet. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes." Constance nodded. "It is now; though it wasn't before. Abby, you know I've shared bits about my life before your Mum, then you came along. And once you said you guessed there was something else, something that when I was ready to share with you, you wanted to hear."
"I did." Abby inched closer. "I am."
"Well then, I'm ready to tell you. Before I start though, I want you to know a couple of things. Your mother knows everything I am going to tell you, and she also knows that I am having this conversation with you today. She is also ready to join us if we need her This is about sex, primarily my sexual history and if you are uncomfortable at any point, please tell me, and I will stop. Is that okay?"
"Yes.", Abby whispered, a strange mix of nerves and fear building in her stomach. "Tell me Mama, please."
"Very well." Constance took a moment to gather herself. "When I was around your age I had a girlfriend named Nancy Nightingale. Looking back on it, it wasn't a very healthy relationship, we were competitive and didn't always encourage each other, but she was also the first person I remembered showing me affection. We would kiss and hold hands and then out of nowhere one night we slept together."
"Oh." Abby flushed. "Did you regret it?"
"Not in that moment. But I soon did. Mistress Broomhead, our tutor, found out and she held it against me for a long time." She had decided not to tell Abby just how bad that situation had become, what she was sharing was enough. "I still don't know exactly how she found out. She told me Nancy came to her which was a strong possibility; I often wondered if she never really had feelings for me, just wanted to get me into trouble. Then again, Mistress Broomhead wasn't the most truthful of women, but regardless I was allowed to stay on at school as long as I stayed away from Nancy.
"What happened to Nancy?"
"We had no contact after that night, Even now I have no idea what became of her, but I have since learned that what I felt for her wasn't true love. I was simply craving affection, which leads to the other part of my story. Are you alright with me continuing?"
Abby swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes."
"In my mind, I mixed up sex and love. I finished school, and as soon as I went to college, I embraced my freedom by going out and trying to meet girls. I thought that sleeping with someone was the best way to get them to notice me."
"Is that… is that what you did?", Abby whispered.
"I did." Constance blinked back a tear. "Even though it didn't work I slept with anyone who paid me the slightest bit of attention. I had a series of one night stands with my fellow students, and that's all it ever was, a one-time event. I would even go further afield only for the same thing to happen. People wanted me for my body, or because they had heard things about me, that was it. But I was so desperate for affection that I carried on."
"Oh Mama." Abby slipped her hand into her mothers folded ones. "H..how many?"
"I don't know.", Constance answered honestly. "I could try and calculate, I offered to for your Mum, but she said she didn't need to know."
"Neither do I.", Abby told her quickly. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I asked that."
"It's alright. What I will say is that the behaviour carried on from when I was nineteen until twenty-one. It wasn't every weekend, I didn't have enough money to go out very often, and I also had a lot of studying to do, but when I did go out, well, things happened." Constance took a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes. "You know, for years I thought I was the only one and that made me so ashamed of myself. It was only when your mother pointed out that the other girls were probably doing the same thing that I realised she was right. I wasn't the only one making the most of my freedom, and while that's no excuse, it helped me to get some perspective."
"Can I ask what made you stop?"
"You may." Even in the emotional moment, Constance couldn't help correcting Abby's grammar, a small move that broke the tension a little bit, but not for long. "I got myself into a frightening situation with a girl and her boyfriend." Again she wasn't going to go into details but shared what she could. "By frightening I mean a potentially non-consensual."
"Did he…..?" Abby's blue eyes were filled with tears now.
"No, but I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been able to get myself out of the situation with magic." Constance handed her daughter a tissue. "Luckily for me I could, not everyone is that fortunate."
"I'm so glad you could." Abby gave her a tight squeeze. "But I hate that that happened to you."
"So do I.", Constance murmured. "The only good thing was it was the catalyst for me making some changes in my life. I worked with that girl, and because I couldn't face her again, I applied for the job here. At the time I thought it was temporary, I had planned to go back to University and do another course, but I ended up staying. Granny took me under her wing, and although it took a number of years, I met the one who I was meant to be with. Then, a few months after we became a couple, I met the second love of my life." She pressed her lips against Abby's forehead.
"So something good came from everything that happened?"
Abby remembered the early days of her parent's relationship. The first time she had met her Mama was etched on her memory forever. She recalled the initial curiosity upon opening her Christmas gift, the jealousy when she realised this was someone who was going to take a significant place in her Mummy's life. And then, as they sat on a park bench together on a cold February morning, the feeling that this could be someone who was very special to her too.
"In a way yes. But having said that, if I could go back and change things, I would. I'd tell myself to wait to lose my virginity to someone who I loved and who truly loved me in return. And if that meant waiting until I was forty-one, it would be absolutely worth it. For years I hated myself Abby. I thought I was worthless, that I had been a whore, that my body was ugly, that I had nothing to offer anyone, that nobody could ever love me."
"That's not true." Abby was sobbing again. "Please tell me you know that now."
"I do.", Constance promised. "Even though I didn't let her in for a long time, Granny was the first person since my Mother who really loved me, and I know that without that quiet support I would never have been ready to accept the good things that came into my life. And I know your Mum loves me, and you girls of course, just as I adore you. And your Granddad, Stephen, Gabrielle, Jamie, Sarah and all my other friends. If you'd told me ten years ago that not only would all these people be in my life, but that I would have opened up to them, I would have dismissed you as being ridiculous."
"Have you told them about this?"
"Granny knows most of it." Constance had a feeling Amelia had known before she had ever told her but knew that regardless, her mother figure did not judge her in the slightest. "And Jamie and Sarah know some of it."
"I get why." Abby nodded. "They're your best friends, beside Mum."
"They are." Constance cuddled Abby close to her. "But it's important to me that you know. Your coming to an age where sex is going to become a bigger deal to you. Your friends have already become sexually active in some cases, and while I was pleased to hear you say you aren't anywhere near ready yet, that may not always be the case."
Abby blushed again and thought back to when she had been ten years old and walked in on her mothers making love. At the time the idea had filled her with disgust and fear, now even though she wasn't ready she was no longer horrified by the idea. In the past few years, she had started exploring her own body, not that she intended to tell her parents, even though her Mum had reassured her on several embarrassing occasions that it was entirely normal. "I suppose it won't."
"Abby, sometimes I want to wrap you in my arms and never let you go, so I know that you are safe and protected, but I can't do that. What I can do is ask you to learn from the mistakes I made, to respect yourself and your body and to know that when you love someone, sex is so much better."
"I will.", Abby muttered into her neck. "I promise I will."
The snuggled together for a few moments before Abby spoke again. "Mama, could you have gotten pregnant when you, well you know?"
"No.", Constance reassured her. "The conception spell has to be created for a couple by a Wizard. And honestly, for someone who prides herself on her magical knowledge, I was ignorant about the spell. I thought it was a legend. It was only when Granny told me about it once your Mum and I decided we wanted children that I began to look into it. And only when I got pregnant did I realise how many other couples had conceived that way.
"Well, it's good that you couldn't have gotten pregnant. " Abby wrinkled up her nose. "But it kind of sucks that a Wizard has to give two women the spell that gives them a baby. That's so sexist."
"I agree." Constance was already doing research in the background to see if that archaic rule could change, but that wasn't the focus of this conversation. "But it gave us your sisters, and that's all that matters.
"True" The mention of the younger girls prompted another question. "Will you tell the crazies someday?"
"Yes.", Constance nodded. "When they're older. I don't know yet if I'll tell Ava and Zara separately or together, I'll ask you and your Mum for your advice on that when the times comes. But I will tell them, and Fleur. How do you think they'll react?
"I think they'll cry a little, or a lot.", Abby sniffed. "But they'll love you just as much as they already do, maybe even more, just like I do."
And just like Imogen did, as she told Abby when she joined the cuddle a short time later. "I love every part of your Mama, and I am so proud of her for telling her story. And I am proud of you for listening and for being so understanding."
"I'm just happy you felt you could tell me." Abby rested her head on Constance's shoulder. "That you trust me."
"I'd trust you with my life." Constance kissed her again. "You are growing up into an incredible young woman, and we both love you very, very much."
On the subject of love, that night Constance found herself smothered with kisses and hugs from her girls. Ava, who never needed an excuse to be affectionate, was in the thick of it, but even Zara got in on the action by giving her Mama lots of tiny kisses and whispering little secrets and jokes in her ear.
Meanwhile, Abby stayed close by, getting in hugs when she could but mainly radiating love and support all through the evening. Her sisters may not have known the reason for the cuddle, it wasn't like affection was unusual in the Drill house, but she knew it was what she and her parents needed after such an emotional morning.
As for Fleur, she stayed snuggled against her Mama's breast and enjoyed the closeness. For a while, she was so quiet that they all assumed she had fallen asleep. That was until a tiny sound made everyone pay attention to her.
"Love 'oo."
"Kitten?" Imogen was immediately kneeling next to the couch and beaming at their baby. "Did you just say 'Love you'?"
"She did." Ava was leaping around with excitement. "Fleur said she loves us. We love you too Fleur, loads and loads. Don't we?"
"Yeah." Zara joined in the jumping. "Now say you love Minnie."
"I think one word, well two really is enough for today." Constance was nuzzling Fleur's red hair, and while there were tears again, these were ones of total happiness. "We love you too.", she whispered.
"Perfect timing Fluffy., Abby beamed. "I couldn't have planned it any better."
Over the weeks that followed, Abby thought a lot about what her Mama had told her, she knew she would never forget it. But there were other things to think of as well. Fleur had definitely found her voice and was now saying, 'Hi', 'Bye-bye', and after extensive coaching from Zara, and to the surprise of everyone else, Minnie. Or rather Mimi, but it was close enough.
And true to her word, Abby had made herself available for Nicole who had become a good friend and already visited the Drill home on two occasions.
She was just a baby herself five minutes ago.", Mrs Richards who accompanied Nicole on her first visit, sighed as she drank coffee with Imogen and Amelia. "And now she's going to have one herself. She's so brave, so determined that she'll stick to her goals, get a good job and give her child a good life."
Amelia had never been pregnant, nor had children of her own so was loath to offer advice. However, from what had happened in her own family with Agatha and Gabrielle, she was sure of one thing. Being older did not necessarily make someone a good mother. "As long as she loves her child and takes the support you and your husband are offering her, she has every chance of having the life she wants, for both of them."
Glenda Richards looked over to where Nicole was learning how to change a nappy. "You may well be right."
At the other side of the room, Nicole was getting some lessons from a baby expert. "You can't say you've never held a baby now can you?", Abby grinned.
"No." Nicole agreed as she adjusted Fleur in her arms. "She's lovely."
"She is, she's probably the best one to practice with too.". Abby confided. "Ava and Zara moved a lot more, Fleur is very chilled and just loves being held don't you Fluffy?"
"Yap."
"I think she agrees with you." Nicole murmured. Holding the baby was a strange sensation, but she figured she'd get used to it very quickly. "You said it's her birthday soon?"
"Yes, she's one whole-year-old next week."
"And you were really in the room when your Mum had her?"
Abby grinned. "Yeah, me and Mama and honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to hold her first and hand her to Mum. Then Mama and I bathed and dressed her together. It was so special. Wow, I can't believe it's been a year already.
But it had been, and on March 16th it was time to celebrate a whole year with Fleur Amelia Drill.
Ever since Ava's first birthday, Abby had presented the mother who had given birth a bunch of flowers to say thank you for her sister. This year, wanting to make sure it was equal and having realised how involved pregnancy was, even if you weren't the one carrying, she had a bouquet for each of her parents.
"Thank you honey." Imogen was thrilled with her tulips as she knew Constance was with her Hydrangea and gardenia mix.
"You're welcome, you both deserve them." Abby grinned before taking Fleur from her Mama. "And you deserve a massive party which is exactly what you are going to get today, more than one in fact."
Fleur's first party was celebrated with the students of Cackle's. There was a special lunch with sandwiches, cakes and numerous other treats with plenty left over for teatime. And as a gift to all of them, a half day which Amelia insisted on in honour of the special occasion.
"You didn't have to give them a half day on my behalf.", Tom teased his wife.
"Let's call it a joint celebration." Amelia leaned over and kissed him. "Happy birthday again my love."
"I was joking." Tom returned the kiss. "This is all about Fleur, just as it should be."
"Oh, I think a few people would disagree with that, don't you?" Amelia knew how thrilled Tom had been at the cards and gifts his grandchildren, children and their partners had showered him with that morning. "And I'm sure that once she's a bit more aware, Fleur is going to think her birthday is extra special because she gets to share it with you."
"She'll grow up fast, won't she? Just like her sisters and her mother before them. "
"She will, they all will.", Amelia agreed. Hearing the story of Abby's school friend had reminded everyone how quickly children grew up, too quickly in some cases. She had seen girls turn into young women before her eyes during decades of teaching and the same with her beloved nieces. But it was only now, with her grandchildren nearby that she realised how precious those innocent years were.
She thought back to Abby the cheeky, affectionate eight-year-old who had brought such joy and life to the castle from her very first visit. The same girl who was now on the edge between childhood and adulthood but who, while still cheeky, was even more affectionate as had been proven during a conversation between them after Glenda and Nicole's visit.
"What's that for?" Amelia happily returned the hug Abby had bestowed on her. "Not that I mind of course."
"I hope Nicole's baby ends up with a Granny like we have. And a Granddad of course. Abby thought for a minute, she didn't want to go into too much detail about the conversation she had with her Mama but felt she had to say something. "Remember when I first came to the castle and I said you were Mama's person, the way Mum was for me?"
"I do." Amelia felt tears gather in the corner of her eyes.
"I'm happy you were. I'm glad you were there, loving and caring for her until we could come along and help you."
Amelia could no longer hold back the tears. "So am I."
"And I hope you know how grateful we are to have you in our lives."
Amelia did know, and she was also grateful, as was Tom. They had a lovely life filled with family, friends and fun. The school was thriving under Constance's direction, and she had a feeling things would only improve when Imogen became Deputy in September. And best of all, they had the pleasure of their lively granddaughters' company every day.
"Granny, Granddad." Ava ran towards them with Zara not far behind. "Are you having a good time for Fleur and Grandad's birthday?"
"We're having a wonderful time, Princesses." Tom lifted Zara up while Ava wrapped her arms around Amelia. "And we're going to have even more fun this evening aren't we?"
"Yes." Zara squeezed him before sharing a secret, "Stevie made a curry, just like he did last year."
"Oh, my favourite.", Tom pretended to be surprised.
"Mmm hmm," Zara remembered something she'd heard her parents say this morning that she didn't understand. "What did Mama mean when she said that it was probably Stevie's fault Fleur came early?"
Tom shared an amused glance with Amelia. "That's a great question; I think you should ask your Mama that one."
By the time the evening event came around, Zara was still to receive a satisfactory answer from her Mama but decided to keep her questions on hold while she took care of her baby sister and sampled all the tempting food that was available.
"So, we've been mentors for a whole year. How are we doing?", Fenny asked the birthday girl who laughed in her face.
"You've been brilliant mentors.", Ava reassured them on her sister's behalf. "And you'll be good Mummies when you have babies. When will that be?"
"Not for a few years yet lovely." Grissy kissed Ava before sharing a secret look with her wife. "But until then we have you and your sisters to look after and spoil, don't we?"
"You do.", Ava was all smiles. "Can we have another sleepover soon?"
"We can", Abby promised, seeing Fenny and Grissy looking very excited at the prospect. "In fact, I think we should make it a regular thing."
"Definitely.", Fenny agreed. "It will give us a chance to see Millie more often too, maybe even Ruby and Jadu."
"Oh, that would be great." Ada, a massive sleepover fan was was hugely excited. "When?"
"Let's get through this party first Noodle." Abby wrapped her arms around her sister. "But we'll do it really soon. And we can have a practice sleepover tonight can't we? You, me, Zee and Lily?"
"And Fleur?" Ava kept her fingers crossed that the answer would be yes.
"If we can pry her away from Mum and Mama, yes."
At the same time, over in the corner, there was another conversation happening. "Our baby is one." Imogen wrapped her arms around Constance's waist. "I feel like I blinked after giving birth and she's already a year old. Tell me how that can be?"
"I wish I knew Darling." Constance smiled "But I will say we couldn't have wished for a better little girl than our beautiful flower."
"She certainly has fit in very well." Imogen watched as Fleur was kissed and hugged by her sisters while her grandparents watched from the opposite side of the room. "I somehow don't think we'll get a look in with her after the party is over."
"I'll suppose I'll just have to cuddle you instead.", Constance gave a weary sigh.
"What a hardship for you.", Imogen sniggered, though her eyes never left their children. "Look at how much Abby, Ava and Zara have grown since Fleur came along. Abby's so mature, how she's stepped up to be a friend for Nicole has shown that. Ava is getting smarter by the day, and as for Zara, our active toddler has turned into an even more energetic little girl in the space of a year. They're incredible aren't they?"
"They are." Constance kissed her wife before noticing their children were frantically beckoning them. "I think it's time for another family picture to mark the occasion."
Several Years Later
"Aww, look at this picture, it's Fluffy's first birthday, look how cute we were."
"Super cute."
"But I'm the cutest."
"Am I cute?"
"You're a total cutie. We all are. Now, before we get stuck into the lasagne Mum and Mama are making, I call this meeting of the Drill Sister Club to order. What's been happening?"
A/N: And so we come to the end. Thank you to everyone who has kept reading and especially for your comments and encouragement.
The Drills will be back, though probably a few years older than they are now. (In the meantime watch out for short stories in my "Drill Bits & Pieces series on AO3) I have some ideas but nothing very concrete laid out so if you have suggestions please let me know.