Chapter 1

Sabrina could feel the sun shining through her window. The warmth was willing her to begin her day. Her body, on the other hand, was comfortable right where she was in bed with Nicholas Scratch. She stretched her arms and realized suddenly that she was alone in bed. She opened one eye and quickly surveyed the room.

"Nick?" she called out.

"Hey," he said softly and he walked out of the bathroom. He was fully dressed as if he were leaving. "It's still pretty early," he said as he sat next to her on the edge of the bed. "Why don't you go back to sleep?"

"Well I would, but you're over here trying to sneak out like a one night stand. But one night stands usually involve sex so….couldn't be that."

Nick cleared his throat and shift uncomfortably. "I….uh…."

Sabrina sat up and sighed. "Sorry, bad attempt at humor."

He smiled and shook his head. "It's fine. It's my fault." Before she could say anything, he pressed his lips against hers. "It's been hard on both of us, no pun intended. But back to the real subject at hand, I thought it might be best if I took off before everyone got up."

"You do know that everyone knows you spend the night, right?"

"Yea, I know. I just don't want to upset anyone."

"Who would you upset?" Nick gave her a knowing look. "Not this again…."

"She hates me, Sabrina."

"Nicholas, Aunt Zelda does not hate you. She forgave you for everything that happened."

"She has to say she did. She's the High Priestess. If I hadn't followed my devotion and kept you on the Path of Night and right into the Dark Lord's hands…."

"You would be dead."

They both fell silent, staring at each other. This was a conversation they had often. Nick was partially right though. Zelda vigorously blamed Nick for all the pain and suffering his imprisonment afflicted on her. His sacrifice, in her eyes, was punishment for hurting Sabrina. Only it hurt Sabrina more to be with him. For weeks, Zelda would wake to the sound of her niece's pained cries. She held her as tears fell from her eyes like a waterfall. No words could comfort Sabrina. Only Nick.

"I don't want her to ha….give her reason to dislike me more than she already does. I'll be back later, Spellman. I promise."

Sabrina sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine," she pouted.

Nick laughed. "You're so cute when you're pouting. I love you, Sabrina Spellman. "

"I love you, too, Nicholas."

He brushed tucked her hair behind her ear before slowly leaning down to kiss her. He didn't want to pull away, but he knew if he didn't he would never leave. He stood and with his trademark smirk, he transported out of the room.

Sabrina sighed, suddenly realizing how much she hated being alone in her room. She threw back her covers and pulled herself out of her bad. She changed quickly and headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning, Aunt Hilda," she greeted. "Ambrose, Prudence, good morning."

"Good morning, cousin," Ambrose greeted with a grin. "Will Nicholas be joining us?"

"Unfortunately, he will not be joining us."

"A pity," Prudence said. "We heard screaming coming from your room last night. Not the fun kind, unfortunately. "

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Ha. Ha. Very funny. Nick had a rough night is all."

"I would too if I hadn't had sex in over two years."

"Oy, Prudence. Please, none of that talk at the table," Hilda scolded. "If Sabrina and Nicholas aren't ready yet, then they aren't ready. And there is no shame in it."

"Can we please not talk about my sex life?" Sabrina begged.

"We aren't," Ambrose pointed out. "We can't talk about something you don't have. Seriously, cousin. Why haven't you and Nick…"

"It's complicated."

"Not really. All you have to do is lay back, spread your legs, and he will insert his…."

"Ambrose!" Hilda interrupted. "I said that's enough. That poor boy has been through a lot. Getting back to normal will be hard for him."

"Oh something is definitely hard." Ambrose and Prudence chuckled, but stopped when Hilda shot them a glare.

"If they aren't ready, they aren't ready."

"That's the thing," Sabrina frowned. "I think we are. Nick's the one holding back."

"Really, now?" Prudence asked with a smirk and a raised brow. She leaned forward as if the conversation just became interesting to her. "Do tell, Sabrina. Hold nothing back."

She really didn't want to discuss this in front of Prudence, but she knew she may be the best person to go to for advice. "It's just been…." She sighed as she slipped into a chair. "It's been weird. Sometimes we are really hot and heavy and I think it's going to happen then he just….pulls away. I know he's into it. I mean there's somethings he definitely can't hide." Sabrina paused at the thought of Nick excited, bringing a blush to her cheeks. "It just makes me wonder if it's….well, me."

Hilda slammed her hands on the counter, causing everyone to jump. She turned around quickly, her face stern and a bit angry. "Oy! I said enough! It's like no one bloody hears me around here. Your Aunt Zelda will be back with the twins any moment and this," she motioned wildly at the three at the table, "is not appropriate table conversation. I won't have any more of this rubbish. Is that understood?" They just nodded, too shocked to say anything. "Good. Finish your breakfast before it gets cold."

She smiled before walking out of the room and it quickly faded.

*** 3 months ago ***

Hilda hummed to herself as she wiped the flour from the counter. For some reason, she found it relieved a lot of her stress to bake and clean. Two traits most men loved in a with and mother for their children. She always thought she would have been a good mother. She raised and loved Ambrose and Sabrina as if they were her own children. Unfortunately, the Dark Lord did not see it fit she bear her own children. When Ambrose left to hunt down Faustus Blackwood and Sabrina said she was going to risk her life to retrieve Nicholas Scratch, she felt lost and powerless. If it hadn't been for Dr. Cerberus, she probably would have gone insane.

She looked up when she thought she saw something passing by. "Nicholas? Is that you?" she called.

Nick poked his head into the room from around the corner. "Hello Ms. Spellman," he smiled.

"If you're looking for Sabrina, love, unfortunately you just missed her. She and Roz went shopping for dresses."

"Actually, I was looking for Ambrose. I needed to ask him about….something."

Hilda laughed softly, "Sorry dear. You're o for two today. He and Prudence are out doing Lilith knows what."

Nick chuckled. "I'll just come back later…."

"Maybe I can help you. I am a terrific listener and advice giver."

Nick cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not so sure you can help me with this."

"Nonsense," Hilda insisted as she made her way around the counter. She grabbed Nick's hand and lead him over to the table to sit. "Alright now, Nicholas," she said with a smile as she put her hands over his and patted them. "You tell Auntie Hildie what is on your mind."

He contemplated answering, but he knew there was no getting out of it. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Sabrina wants to have sex."

Hilda immediately pulled her hands back. She wasn't sure if her expression was shocked or uncomfortable, but it made Nick laugh out loud. "Oh I'm so sorry dear. I….I wasn't expecting that. Nearly gave me a heart attack," she laughed uneasily.

"I should just wait for Ambrose," Nick said as he stood to leave.

"Oh, no, no. I'm fine. Really. Sit, sit." She waited for him to take his seat again. "So, um, how….how do you know she's ready to….have….sex."

"We've come close. She doesn't stop. She even initiates it sometimes, purposely grazing or rubbing…."

"Ah….la la la la. Ok, ok. I mean more like….has she said she was ready?"

He nodded. "We talked about it two years ago when we were matched for Lupercalia. We have some opportunities but always got interrupted."

"And since you've been back?"

He looked down at his hands and shrugged. "She's expressed wanting to after my recovery and working on our relationship. I want to. I just….can't."

"Oh. Do you mean…." Hilda motioned downward with her head.

"Oh no! No. I can no problem there at all." He sighed and faced Hilda. "I can still hear him sometimes. The Dark Lord. Before everything happened, the Dark Lord whispered in our ears asking for our devotion. When I was in Hell, there was no getting away. He was inside of me. In my head. There was no escaping. Saying things. Terrible things. Terrible things he was going to do to Sabrina."

"You poor dear. The things you must have endured down there. It's natural you would be haunted by what he said. He was trapped in your body for over a year. But he's not in you anymore. Not even a little. We made sure of it."

"I know. But I'm….afraid. Afraid of the things he said he would do. Afraid of losing her. I have a 12 inch scar where he tried to carve a binding symbol into my chest to keep Sabrina and I apart." Nick paused, angry at the memory. "I was weak, Hilda. There were nights all I wanted to do was die but if I did he would come for her. He would hurt her. And I couldn't…." He stopped, unable to continue.

Hilda let out a sigh, placing her hand on his again. "You weren't weak, Nicholas. What you did couldn't have been done by a weak person. It was the most noble and honorable thing anyone has ever done for her. You saved us all, you know."

A silence fell over them. Nick may have been a few decades old, but he was still just a child in Hilda's eyes. He lost his parents young, but unlike Sabrina, he had no one to take care of him. He couldn't show any sign of weakness or he would have never survived.

"Nick, have you talked to Sabrina about this?" Hilda asked. "About your time….down there?"

"No," he said softly.

"Well, my advice to you is you should. Especially to Sabrina. Don't hold this all in, love. If you do, the Dark Lord will have won."


Hilda couldn't help but worry about Nick. It was obvious he still hasn't talked to Sabrina about his concerns. "Lilith, please help that boy," she prayed quietly. "He's a good boy. He doesn't deserve this."

"Aunt Hilda." Sabrina touched her aunt's arm, causing her to jump.

"Oh my. You gave me a fright darling," Hilda laughed. "Everything ok love?"

"Everything's fine. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I know that….type of talk makes you uncomfortable."

"Oh don't you worry your pretty little head. You're a young woman now. It's a part. Sex."

Sabrina laughed. "It is. Not my life, but in general. I'm headed to meet up with Roz at Dr. Cee's. I'll see you later ok?"

Hilda wrapped her niece up in a tight hug. "Have fun and be safe. Tell Nick he's welcome for dinner."

"I will." She waved at her aunt and headed out the front door.

Hilda let out a long sigh. "Those poor dears. When will it be their turn to be truly happy?"