Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Almost four weeks, 26 days precisely. That’s how long they had been on the run. Running from the Camarilla, running from the place half of them had called home for over a year. Running from where she had left the sharpest pieces of her broken heart buried deep within the mycelium. Tally had never felt more lost. She was constantly sick, constantly exhausted, and constantly feeling utterly and completely empty. Losing Penelope, losing the biddies-her friends- losing Sarah and losing her home in the course of a single day was almost to much to bear. If Tally were being honest with herself, the only reason she was still alive was because she wasn’t about to leave her sisters as broken as she was. Not when they were able to have some joy in their shit situation. Abi had Adil, and Raelle had Scylla back. She didn’t want to be what tarnished her sisters joy, she could wait. Sarah was with the goddess, and Tally knew someday she would be too. It was just a matter of time, probably a short amount of time with their given situation.

Overall the past two weeks had gone as smoothly as they could in the given situation, though the first two had most definitely not. When Abi had picked one too many fights with Scylla and Nicte during that second week after escaping, Tally had had enough. For the first time since Sarah died, she raised her voice. Up till then she had only given short one word answers to questions, but Abigail had crossed a line. She had brought up Sarah, she had brought up Liberia. That broke something in her. Tally forced the whole group to sit down after that fight. Forced them all around the small fire, Nicte and Quinn included, to air out all grievances. They wouldn’t be able to hide from the camarilla, to fight this war if they continued to fight incessantly and she told them as much. Tally kept her own issues silent though, and she knew that made her a hypocrite. But her sisters didn’t need to know the truth about General Alder. This group didn’t need to know how consuming her pain and loss were, that it left her feeling like nothing else remained. They didn’t need to know that she was a liar, that she had lied to them. All of them, even her sisters. For a woman she had lost.
Tensions were still high at times, after all they were traveling on a small bus and making camp in tiny clearings. Small fights were inevitable, but Tally did everything she could to keep the peace within the group. She just assumed that her own issues, her own pain would simply stay shoved deep down into the shatters of her broken soul.

They had made camp in the middle of a woods north of SoCal, near the matrifocal compound Tally grew up in. The thought had crossed her mind, that she was so close to her childhood, so close to her mother. She almost cried, would have actually…until the nausea struck yet again. She quickly excused herself from the camp, before running a safe distance into the trees before leaning against one and throwing up what meager contents her stomach held. Her body shook, her breathing was ragged. She was just about to plop on the ground and cry when a hand clasped her shoulder, a bottle of water hovered just out of her line of sight.

“Easy there kid, you’ve been getting sick a lot." She knew that, once a day at the least. Usually more. "When was the last time you bled Red?” Nicte asked, hesitant. Tally took the offered water, and leaned against the tree her hand had been on. She drank until the bottle was almost empty, as her companion flicked that damned lighter before handing the bottle back. The question had caught her off guard, but she tried to think back. And then back farther. 

“Ya know I…I don’t actually remember. I’ve been so stressed, even before-all of this”

“Any chance you’re pregnant?”

She couldn’t help but snort at that, despite all the work they had put in she and Sarah had lacked certain things. Though not for lack of trying, they certainly put plenty of effort into trying.

“No, probably just stressed. That is unless the woman I was screwing had some special skill I didn’t know about.” if the past tense phased Nicte, she didn’t show it.
What did show when Tally met her gaze however, was genuine worry that her joke was going to end up truth, “Hey ya never know kid, maybe the goddess blessed your Union. It wouldn’t be the first time ya know.”

Tally froze, both her mind and her body stilling like a wild animal preparing to bolt.

“No, that’s not-what…what the fuck are you talking about Nic? That isn't possible.” she whispered after a moment.

“Tally there have been a few cases of two female born witches, granted they have to be damn strong witches and the feelings and emotions have to be just as powerful...but they can conceive a child between them regardless of being women or otherwise…not many but it has happened enough to not be that shocking.”
Tally couldn’t see straight, her ears were ringing, she couldn’t breathe anymore. Was the world sideways? The world felt sideways. She fell on her knees and dry heaved as tears stung her eyes, Nicte took pity and grabbed her hair before pulling it back and rubbing her hand up Tally’s back,
“I’m sorry Red I just assumed ya knew”

“NO NICTE, NO I CLEARLY DID NOT FUCKING KNOW!” She was starting to hyperventilate, not that it mattered at this point. “I- That’s not pos-I don’t-I can't be-" She took a gulp of air, it wasn't enough she still felt like she was drowning. "You are standing here telling me I could be pregnant, pregnant with fucking Sarah goddess damned Alders child and no one even knew we were-“ her sentence was cut off as she dry heaved into the ground again. But this time no hand was holding her hair, no one was rubbing her back, no shockingly comforting presence by her side. Nicte wasn't at her side anymore, she had sat back in shock. Nicte just stared at the broken red head in front of her before saying the only thing she could think in that moment, the words that echoed through her brain.

“What the fuck?”

Chapter Text

“What the fuck?”

Nicte’s words barley even registered in Tally’s mind. She was trying to catch her breath between heaves, and even then it still took nearly three minutes for her to come out of it, 'panic attack?' was the fleeting thought. She straightened up, moving so her back was up against the tree. She took a deep breath, one that filled her fully and she reached for her gift. It was the first time she had truly used her knowing in the 26 days since the Camarilla attack. She was worried it wouldn’t respond the way it used to, but it reacted to her request like an overeager puppy wanting to please. Nicte’s magic came into focus first, her nervous energy causing the slate grey of her magic to  ripple and bounce like a caged and panicky animal. A problem for later, she decided.

Tally reigned in her gift and, closing her eyes in concentration, reached deeper into herself. Praying it wouldn’t give her the answer she was both dreading and shockingly, she thought, possibly selfishly hoping for. But there it was. A strain of magic, so very small she had to truly look for it, deep gold magic invading her own forest green. A field of wheat at golden hour surrounded by protective evergreens. It was so small, but so very alive. The gold humming and vibrating with every beat of their, her, heart.

Her eyes shot open as she sat back across from a still staring Nicte and met her gaze. “Nicte I- I think I’m pregnant. Oh Goddess I’m having a baby. What…oh goddess what am I supposed to do? How-what the hell do I tell my sisters?” She whispered. Till that point her sisters were the only thing she lived for anymore, they were the reason she bothered surviving at all. Now she had another, but her fear for her sisters safety and the pain of losing Sarah- none of it mattered anymore because this new panic was becoming all encompassing. She couldn’t stop, she couldn’t breath, she couldnt-

“What do you mean when you say it’s...it's her kid, Tally?”  Nicte’s question brought Tally out of her spiral, saving her from the unending hysteria.

“I-Nic, She and I, we were” Tally ducked her head, the tears that she had been holding back for so long began falling down her cheeks. This wasn’t something she had ever thought she would have to talk about. Not ever. It was a secret, a dream even, one that died with Sarah. But here was Nicte, putting two and two together and not getting to four. ‘She didn’t have the whole story, how could she understand?’  Thought Tally, before she opened her mouth and spoke.

“I just-I loved her so so much ya know? So much, and I know she loved me too. I know because even when she didn’t say it she would show it. She once snuck me my favorite dessert because the biddies had had it with their dinner that night, and she always had apple cider next to her whiskey and fudge in the bottom drawer of her desk. That made the biddies happy too, they kept stealing it. She came to watch scourge training sometimes. When people asked her why she decided to start that, she said she wanted to raise moral but I hoped it was because she just wanted to see me. I knew it was actually…she would always smile at me no matter how badly I would lose. She would meet me after and teach me how to be better, saying that she just needed me safe. She taught me things that aren’t even in military rotation anymore. For my last birthday she made me a scourge, infused with so much of her work that when I look at it, I can’t even see what color the leather is without looking through her magic. Even with her gone it is all I see. And-and there were times, when we woke up early, before I had to sneak back to my room, she would braid my hair in courtship braids that her mother had taught her when she was 13 and had her first crush on the stonemasons middle daughter. She told me about her parents and about Hannah and how she used to imagine her children playing in her rain. And I” She broke off with a gasp, tears falling freely down her face like spring rain, “oh goddess I loved her so much Nicte, and she loved me. She… she would hold me in bed even though she didn’t necessarily need to sleep and it would feel like the safest place in the world. Like home. She was home. And now she-”

Tally sniffled, trying to get the control over the words that were still pouring out despite her tears as Nicte continued to simply stare. Had she even blinked? It seemed she was too shocked to do anything else, so Tally just let the words continue. It felt so good to just talk about Sarah, to truly remember what it was exactly she had lost, to remember the good that came before the tragedy of it all.

“The first night I kissed her I thought she was going to kill me, I had just stormed in yelling and demanding answers, about you actually.” Tally chuckled wetly at the irony, because of course. Of course it was Nicte Batan who would manage to pull this from her. “But she just kissed me back. We talked for hours after, about everything. And I kept going back, she kept asking me to come back. We didn’t tell anyone, I mean the biddies knew of course. And they were amazing, and funny and kind and accepting and supportive…but they were the only ones and now-” her sentence broke as she drew a sharp breath.

She felt like she was breathing through the pain of a mortal wound but she kept talking, no longer in control of her own tongue. “Now they are all gone, the biddies and Sarah are just gone and I am still stuck here, alone. Except apparently I’m not actually alone, because of course over three hundred years of being barren would end at the same time as her life. Only she would get that fucked over by fate.”

Even her rambling couldn’t keep going through this pain, it felt never ending. She was being flung around in a hurricane of grief, and there was nothing she could do to settle the storm as all of the emotions she had thought buried reemerged and added to the howling storm inside her.

Tally leaned foreword, resting her head on her knees and pulling her legs tight against her chest “What the hell am I gonna do?!” she screamed into her legs, her voice gravelly and rough as she truly sobbed for the first time in over a month. Since Penelope’s funeral. She felt a hand slide over her back, and suddenly she was pulled into deceptively strong arms. Nicte was hugging her. Tally buried her head into the Spree leaders shoulder and sobbed. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay kid. You’re both going to be okay.” Nicte said as she awkwardly comforted the girl , her own brain still trying to process the word vomit that had preceded the meltdown. “It’s going to be okay.”

Chapter Text

Tally wept. She cried for her many losses into Nicte’s shoulder for almost ten minutes and for the first time in 26 days. Goddess, she felt painfully alive again. It was thrilling, even if alive meant feeling utterly and completely stripped raw, she was relieved to feel almost human again. She pulled out of the hug as her tears waned, and slowly pushed herself off the ground.

“Thank you.” She whispered, hoping the woman could understand how deeply she meant it. Nicte simply nodded. “Yeah, that’s…fuck that’s a whole lot to unpack there Red.” Tally opened her mouth to respond before a sharp shout interrupted.

“TALLY?!” Raelle shouted, worry seeping into her voice as it echoed through the woods. Tally froze.

Oh Goddess, this wasn’t something she could do yet. She couldn't tell them, couldn't destroy their trust, she needed time. Nicte seemed to read the panic in eyes, and as if she understood she shouted back- “I got her Collar! She’s fine, just gross and carsick. That’s what happens when your girlfriend drives.” Nicte lowered her voice, never pulling her brown eyes from Tally's own. “Tally you have to tell them eventually, this isn’t something you can hide forever.” That was all she managed to say on the subject, before the red heads sisters came barreling out of the woods towards them. 

“Tally, what the hell? You just stood up and bolted after we tried to hand you your food.” Bellwether said, covering her own worry with a blanket anger.

Tally forced a smile, watching out of the corner of her eye as Nicte slunk back in the direction of camp. “I’m sorry, I swear I didn’t mean to worry you. I just…I got sick again that’s all. All this time on the bus, and the questionable meals are really messing with me. I’m okay. I promise.” Raelle squinted, and she squirmed under the look.

“Liar, you were crying. Did Batan do something?” Raelle asked. “Because if she did-” 

“She didn’t, promise. I just- the puking made my eyes water…and made me dizzy. That’s why we hadn’t started back toward camp.” Tally lied. She was becoming good at this, hiding the giant truth behind small lies, the simmering rage lingered in Abigail's eyes. “Really Abi, she was perfectly polite. Even brought me some water and held my hair while I puked so...I mean I guess that’s an improvement on like, murder?” 

Abigail snorted “Yeah okay, maybe she is turning out to not suck as bad as we thought.” Abi sighed then, the anger fading from her eyes. “We were just worried about you Tally. Hell, we’ve been worried about you. All of us. You are hardly eating anything, barely drinking. You haven’t been yourself since before…all of this.”

Raelle nodded, “Yeah, what Bells said. We just want you to be okay, we love you Tal's.”

Tally could feel the familiar prickle of tears, this was getting ridiculous. She didn’t know if she were genuinely sad or if, Goddess forbid, she was hormonal. Because she was pregnant. “I know, I know and I’m sorry. I promise I’m okay, and I’m going to get better. I will be better. And I can start now because I am actually hungry.”

Her sisters both smiled at her, so brightly she was able to ignore the guilt lying to them was causing her.

“Lets just...can we go back to camp? I promise I will eat and drink and actually sleep tonight.” Abi and Rae nodded, sandwiching the red head between them they walked quickly and silently back to the makeshift campground. 

The rest of the group, Nicte included, were sitting around the small fire. They looked up as the unit approached, and with small smiles scooted to make room. It was obvious that Tally wouldn’t be left alone tonight. Her sisters weren’t going to leave her alone after that scare. 

As the three settled onto the cool ground, Khalida handed Tally her previously abandoned plate. “Eat. It was kept warm and should keep you full.” Tally smiled at the smallest (second smallest now) member of their group and took a bite. The nausea was still there, but with small bites and sips of water she was able to finish the entire plate. The relief from her new coven was palpable. Even Nicte…maybe especially Nicte. She hadn’t realized how much her own pain had been hurting the group. How she had managed to hurt them despite trying her best not to.

“I’m sorry, for worrying all of you.” She direct look up as she spoke, keeping her eyes fixed on her plate. “But I’m going to be better, I promise.” It was barely a whisper, but still loud enough for the group to hear. Small smiles echoed back, and a quick clasp on her shoulder from Adil as well. “Its good to have you back Tally.” He said, before moving back next to Abigail as Scylla echoed the sentiment. Khalida merely stared at her, in the unnerving way Tally had become used to.

The group continued sitting in comfortable silence before Tally began to doze off on Raelle’s shoulder. “Tals, let’s at least lay down somewhere comfortable. Batan has first watch.” Abi said, dragging the red head to her feet and forcing her to one of the small tents Quinn had managed to obtain before their prison break. 

Tally collapsed onto the mess of small blankets and quilts, her sisters bookending her on either side. She had no more tears left but if she did she knew they would be spilling freely. She felt so loved. Her sisters loved her, and they would love her child. It was with that thought she finally drifted off into the first real sleep she had had in 26 days.

Nicte

What the hell have I gotten myself into? Nicte thought, standing guard just outside the campsite. That stupid girl, the one who had single handedly stopped her execution was also the one who had managed to get Sarah Alder to actually love again. And now she was paying the price for that love, and fuck her it was a heavy one. This isn’t the world any child should be brought into, especially not Sarah fuckin Alders. Dammit what am I thinking, its her damned kid. It is not my problem-

The snap of a twig from behind her had her whirling around to face any potential threats, scourge at the ready. But it was just the Tarim child, Khalida? She wasn’t sure, kid was weird.

“She is with child isn’t she.” The girl said, not even bothering to phrase it like a question. It still caught Nicte off guard. Was there something to describe beyond weird? Cause this kid was that.

“It's not my place to say.” As if that sentence wasn't confirmation enough.

“She will need protecting, a witch brought into the world as it is right now will suffer much.” Khalida said as she sat primly on the ground. “Tally is important to us, all of us. She is good and she is kind. The best of us. But she is hurting. I wasn’t sure why, but if the person she chose to love were to have perished, I suppose that could explain it. Her love gone leaving behind responsibility the likes of which she has never known. We will look out for her, yes? For both of them?” Nicte stared at her, so weird she thought. Aloud she simply said “Yes, both of them.” The girl simply raised her eyebrow, “Swear it.”

Nictes eyes widened as she realized what the girl was asking her to do. She hesitated, wanting to say no. Then she remembered the broken kid she held in her arms not five hours prior, and knew what she had to do. She opened her mouth, and forced her very magic into the words that came out in Méníshè. “On my voice I promise to you, oh goddess, Tally and the child will be protected. May my penance be their safety.” 

She could feel the ripple of power that shot through her and into the earth. She nearly collapsed, this was unlike anything she had never attempted even in her own off canon. It felt alive, like the promise was a living being in and of itself.

The girl was unfazed though, and simply nodded. “Good, thank you Nicte.” With that the child stood, and walked back towards the tent she shared with her brother. Leaving Nicte alone with thoughts of what she had just done.

Chapter Text

It was six days later that Nicte finally realized exactly what it was she had done by swearing that damn oath.

Tally had still been so quiet, but more herself too. Now that she knew what was actually causing the nausea, she took more precautions. Her appetite grew, and with it so did the number of times she spoke outside of answering questions. And with every word that left her mouth, the whole group seemed to loosen as if a sigh of relief had washed over them. 

They were no longer in SoCal, no longer so close to her mom that she yearned to see her. Rather they were slowly heading towards Montana. Apparently there was a Spree safe house there that hadn’t been compromised yet, at least according to Nicte's and Scylla’s contacts. She gave herself until they got there in a few days, until they were in the safe house. Then she would tell her sisters, about what was growing inside of her.  

Nicte was driving as they made their way to the Northern California Border. The mid afternoon sun was blotted out by gloomy clouds, and the chill the clouds brought nipped at them even inside the bus. Abi and Adil sat huddled close together sleeping, while Khalida sat behind them watching the landscape change out the window. Rae and Scylla were also cuddled close together, though they were awake and whispering in hushed tones. Quinn simply sat in the back, possibly meditating, though Tally wasn’t sure. 

As for Tally, she was sitting alone. Well...technically not alone. She sat on her bus bench deep in thought, mainly at how to approach her upcoming conversation with her sisters, when Scylla sat up, ramrod straight. Her orchid magic rippled in the way all work did when faced with- oh goddess, with fear. And Nicte's was steel was the same. 

“Scyl, hey- what’s wrong?” Raelle said, sitting up beside her girlfriend. “There is a problem…a spree member infiltrated a Camarilla camp near here. He ran off, but they have kids, are going to kill them tomorrow, he says- he thinks the youngest is barley 1.” She said, monotone as she reiterated the far speech only she and Nicte could hear. 

The sudden tension was almost visible, even to the non knowers. It was blinding to Tally, the colors of her covens work clashing and spilling around the small bus. They all had come to the same conclusion as Scylla spoke, their plans had just changed. They had something they needed to do before they could keep going. The bus turned sharply down a small backroad, changing back to the direction the had just come from.

“Welp, looks like we are going on a side trip.” Nicte spoke up, before anyone else could even have a say. Not that anyone was going to say differently. Tally could see how the steel grey magic unique to the older woman was rippling in a similar way to Scylla’s. In fear, and apprehension at what was coming. She didn't want to think about why that grey moved sharper when Nicte's eyes met hers in the rear view mirror.

It only took about 17 minutes to get the bus as close as they were willing to get to the Camarilla’s base. It unnerved all of them to think about how close they had been to their enemies, to their hunters. Tally especially, as her hovered hand briefly over her stomach as if the limb had a mind of its own. Tally and her unit stood, grabbing their weapons while Quinn offered to stay behind with Khalida.

The rest of the group were beginning to exit the bus as Tally clipped her scourge to her thigh, she began to join the rest outside when Nicte cornered her. 

“Red, maybe you should stay too.” 

Tally just looked at her, “No. No way in hell. Not while my sisters go to fight. I’m going. You can’t stop me. They need me.” There was a fire in her eyes, one that had been so rare the past month that even Nicte Batan knew there would be no arguing with her, not this time.

“Ya know what kid? Fine, just-" The woman actually sighed. "Just be careful. They aren't the only ones that need you anymore, that one does too. Don't forget about them." Nicte made a small gesture towards Tally abdomen, before she walked out of the bus and joined the rest of the group. Tally hesitated, just a moment...then joined them as well.

As they crept silently towards the small base, a mile away from the road and somewhat deep into the woods. It wasn’t the largest, and it didn’t look to be crawling with agents but no one was sure. “Okay, Tals I need you to get a head count out there okay?” Abi spoke, stepping into the role she had been raised for, the role as leader. Tally nodded, and reached for her gift which responded with the same eager energy it had for the past week when she had stopped neglecting it.  

It wasn’t as dire as she expected, and she thanked the goddess for the fact. There were 4 children, held within the center of the base and if she wasn't wrong, all of them were under 5. Tally almost lost control at that, it struck so close to home especially now. But she persevered. “31. There’s 31 Camarilla spread throughout the building, not including your agent Nic, the only signatures I am getting are the kids and the voice boxes so it looks like they must have gotten away. 4 children. 6 guards are on guard rotation outside their holding. I’m not sure what exactly the rest are doing but they are all near the kids.” She said. Abi simply nodded, a small smile gracing her features at her sisters display of power.

“Raelle, you and Nicte are in charge of the guards Silence them before they get a warning off.” The two slinked off, but not before Nic whispered “Be careful Red”. The group waited with bated breath.

Two minutes passed, and Tally was starting to get antsy. She would give them one more...thirty seconds...ten...five. four. three. Far-speech suddenly crackled and Nicte’s voice echoed in her ear. “All clear, be quick, we still have 25 to go.” The Group scurried toward the entrance of the base and reconvened with their two companions before pushing through to the small army that waited beyond the small metal door.

The fight that followed was quick, messy, and all a blur. The blood and screams were almost overwhelming, especially now that her senses were heightened with both her knowing and the baby. Tally had her scourge (the one Gerit made) buried deep in a mans leg while the others were taking out the remaining enemies. White flecks of mushroom dust floated around as Raelle wiped the last man from existence.

Scylla rushed around Rae, pushing into the last room. The kids were spread apart in cages. Metal gags tight around their small faces. The group quickly began freeing them, Tally taking the closest. It was a small boy, black hair, skin pale from his time in captivity and deep auburn magic crashing like tsunami waves around him.

She was so preoccupied removing the gag from the terrified boy that she didn’t hear the door behind her open. She didn’t hear the shouts of her sisters from where they were heading out the door. All she heard was the scared whimper of the boy before strong hands were shoving her to the ground. She turned to look at her attacker, ready to fight.

Instead she saw Nicte hovering above her, a knife buried deep in her forearm and her scourge tightly wound around the mans neck.

“Nicte, Nicte you-your bleeding a lot“ Tally started, still in shock over the rapid turn the day had taken.

“Just get the kid Red, we gotta get out of here.” Nicte hissed through clenched teeth, yanking her scourge cleanly through the mans neck and pulled it to her. 

Tally rushed forward, grabbing the boy before following the rest of the blood covered group from the room. Nicte behind her, her arm leaving a trail of blood to mix with the ocean already on the floor. 

The boy clung to Tally, head buried in her shoulder as she carried him throughout the building and out into the sunshine. His magic had calmed into small waves. Raelle and Abigail both carried small girls, and Adil held the youngest. A baby no more than a year old. It broke something inside Tally. These poor babies, hopefully their trauma would not effect their lives. Hopefully they could learn to forget.

The minute they were out of range, Adil's earthy colored work flooded the air. And within minutes the building, and the camarilla within it, were gone.

They made it to the bus in less than 20 minutes, getting the kids settled in the large back bench in another five. By that point Nicte had paled enough to become a priority in her mind, and when she saw the woman collapse into the front bus bench, Tally decided that was enough.

“Rae, Nicte’s arm…She really needs fixed.” Was all Tally could bring herself to say. This woman, who she and Sarah had fought so much over, that she had given so much up for. Had saved her.

She may not be a fixer but she wasn’t a fool, she saw exactly where the knife hit Nicte. Saw where it would have hit her. She wouldn’t have died, physically she would have recovered somewhat quickly with Rae’s help. But the knife would have killed her baby and she knew that. It would have taken everything and would have left her alive with nothing but the unbearable pain of yet another immeasurable loss. And it would be the kind she wouldn’t survive. 

Yet she could do nothing but stare as the aquamarine of Raelle’s magic embraced Nicte’s bleeding arm. “Tally, I really need you to get this knife out of her okay?” Her sister said. She nodded, stepping forward. “Okay Tal’s, on three, One, Two, Three-” Tally yanked the knife, flinching when Nicte let out a hoarse shout.

“Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find.” Over and over, Raelle’s repetitive muttering lulled Tally’s panic down to something near manageable worry. She looked at Nicte and asked the question that was on everyones mind, “Nicte, why would you do that? I would have lived. You knew I would have lived.” I would have, but my baby wouldn’t have she thought.

The older woman just smirked, her color returning somewhat with the healing of her wound. It would take time for her blood to replenish but at least she could use her arm again. 

“You know why Red. Don’t be daft, besides I can’t have the General rising from the dead and actually finishing the job because I let her favorite knower get hurt.” I made an oath she felt on her tongue, even if it was left unsaid. A new secret between the Goddess, Nicte, and Khalida alone.

Chapter Text

It took less than 24 hours for Quinn and Scylla to get the children to Dodgers, and it sounded as though they would all be returned safely to their families. The kids actually slept on the back bus benches for most of that time, waking only to eat what food they could stomach. The emotional and physical toll of what they had been through had utterly exhausted them, worn their bodies beyond anything they should have been. 

While the children slept, the group and the dodgers planned in the barn where they had met. The dodgers would help the families leave their homes, too move their entire lives somewhere over the US Canadian border that would be at least somewhat safe. As far North as they could get them, deep in the mountain ranges of Alaska at the farthest, at the least somewhere they were not known in Canada. Hugging each of the kids goodbye was bittersweet for Tally. Especially that little boy who had clung to her like she was his everything not even a day earlier. 

Tally meanwhile had no escape from her torment. Her sisters were badgering her for answers as to why Nicte had bothered to take a knife for her. Especially one that wouldn’t have resulted in a deadly wound. Their theories were honestly ridiculous Tally would admit, though not lacking in imagination. I am not fucking Nicte thank you for that image Scylla. Nor am I going to take over the spree when Nicte dies, the hell Abigail?

As for the Spree leader in question, she was badgering Tally to finally come clean about the secret she bore within her. “I can’t protect you both from everything. I only have two eyes.” The older woman insisted.

Tally wasn’t ready though, she was supposed to have at least until the safe house for that and even that seemed far too soon. She wasn’t ready to lose her sisters faith yet. 

They had gotten back on the road to Montana quick enough, driving through the night and the entirety of the next day in an attempt to get away from the bloodbath left in the buried Camarilla base. They were halfway through the Salmon-Challis National Park, nearly through Idaho when they finally pulled over to make camp in the large woods.

Once the small camping tents were erected, Tally took a moment in the one she was sharing with Nicte that night to strip herself of her dirty clothes. And for the first time ini a while, she looked at herself. She hadn’t even noticed how much her body had already changed, or maybe she just hadn't wanted to see.

It had been so long since she had taken the time to actually look at herself, and its not like mirrors were common place in the middle of the woods. And it wasn't like she had even cared, not after her Sarah had been sent into the Mycelium. Her stomach...goddess her stomach was slightly bulging where hard earned abs had once sat, faint stretch marks starting to appear where before there were none.

It was so obvious now that she knew, hell it would probably be obvious to anyone now as she truly saw the change. Especially since her appetite had returned and she felt like she had grown double in the week alone. Even her breasts were bigger and much more sensitive in a very much not fun way.

She had assumed the physical anomalies were just the stress messing with her cycle and her body, especially since she never actually bothered to look at herself these days. She assumed that she was bloating or maybe her body rejecting the odd diet, or storing fat because of the puking. But no, there was another life inside of her and her body was being forced to change in order to accommodate it. She ran a hand along the small bump, without even fully realizing what she was doing. 

“Hi baby” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. She quickly pulled on a sports bra, an old pair of joggers that had been Abi's, and a too large hooded sweatshirt the same shade that her Sarah's blue eyes had been that she had stolen from a lost and found at a rest stop just outside of California. And once dressed in the semi-clean clothes, she pulled her messy hair into a loose plaited braid and joined her coven for whatever dinner she could stomach. 

Adil had set a small fire to go with their dinner of PB&J’s made from ingredients Quinn had purchased from a quick stop at a KJ’s station. The conversation was lacking to say the least when, from out of no where, Abigail pulled out a bottle of the finest whiskey 12 dollars could buy at a gas station. “The past day has sucked ass, so tonight we drink!” 

And drink they did, everyone except Tally and Khalida. Even Quinn took a swig or two of the cheap liquor. The bottle was passed around the group, from person to person over and over again. Tally passed it from Raelle to Abi, not even bothering to smell it as she passed it to and from her sisters. That would not go well with the nausea, she thought, and besides she had been spoiled with Sarah’s whiskey anyways. Woman had taste.

But her actions didn't go unnoticed, both of her sisters noting her avoidance of the beverage she previously would have partaken in, and as their sobriety dwindled their curiosity and their pushiness grew. She should have known that eventually, they were going to snap. And snap they did.

“Tals come on, you are wound tighter than Fuckin Alder right now. Drink with us!” Raelle begged, tipsy but not drunk as she sent puppy dog eyes her way. Only Nicte seemed to noticed the flinch that overcame the red head. And yet again Nicte Batan felt the need to defend the red head, even if it wasn’t from a physical attack. “Collar she doesn’t want to, just leave her be. She doesn’t have to drink.” 

“Ya know what? Fuck right off Batan. Tally is our sister and besides this doesn’t involve you and whatever weird ass relationship you’ve got. Sides you were the one who made her cry.” Hissed a buzzed Bellwether from her spot next to Tally-on Adil’s lap. She too was just on the cusp of being drunk, but not over the edge yet. 

Nicte rolled her eyes, but said nothing. What was there to say anyways, not without giving away a secret she had promised to keep.

Abi turned her ire back to Tally who suddenly wished she had just stayed in her tent and skipped dinner, “Tally seriously. It’s not exactly strong and you don’t need to get shit faced but you haven’t been you in a while. We are safe enough for now you might as well just let loose while you can.”

Goddess Tally was beginning to tear up, Stupid hormones she thought as the salty drops threatened to spill. She ducked her head so her family couldn’t see.

“Guys I really don’t want to…please just-please.” She begged, truly utterly begged them. And even if her sisters didn't notice or maybe just didn't care, the others were beginning to get a clue.

The knower had been off, they all knew this. She hadn't been the sunshine she once was, her dimples rarely finding their common place in her cheeks...but at that moment she sounded as though she were bearing the weight of the world on her exhausted shoulders. “Abigail, maybe you should leave it alo-" started Adil, unable to finish his thought as Raelle interrupted him.

“Tals please, this isn’t like you. You know that right? Can’t we just talk? Please- we just wanna know what’s going on, and I’m sorry for pushing you. We figured a drink might help you loosen up, but you don't have to. We aren’t trying to pressure you, that’s the last thing we want to do and I’m sorry we made you feel like that. We are just so worried, all of us are. I know you said you were doing better, but you still aren’t you. And that’s okay, you don't...you're allowed to not be okay but we just want to help. We just want to know how to help.”

With every word Raelle spoke, she and Abigail moved closer and closer to their sister on the felled log. Neither noticed the tears, but they did notice the unmistakable tension in her body as they hugged her from either side. The tension that seemed to be a permanent part of their sister these days, that didn't loose even as they held her.

The others slowly began to stand and mill around the makeshift campsite, leaving the trio with some semblance of privacy by the campfire. The bottle of whiskey lay forgotten, spilling slowly into the grass.

“Talk to us Tally, please. You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to. I’m sorry. I promise we won’t ask again. No pressure, no drinking, please just talk.” Whispered Abigail.

Tally took a shuddering breath and looked up from her hands. And as her face moved from its hiding, her sisters saw the tears that stained her flushed cheeks, even as fresh ones followed the trail and scooted impossibly closer to her. Abigail lifted a hand and gently wiped the fresh tracks from her cheeks.

Tally huffed a laugh through those tears as she finally said-

“Trust me, I wanna drink...I want to drink so fucking badly right now. after this week, fuck this month…I really really want to drink. But I just- I can’t. And I’ve been trying to figure out how to explain what’s going on with me because I know I’m worrying you and I promise I'm not doing it on purpose but no matter how many times I rehearse this in my head or try to put the right words together it is just never enough and I need it to be enough because I need you to still-”

Raelle interrupted her, as her words shifted into that spiraling rant Sarah had been so fond of, “Tally Craven, we love you. We know that whatever is happening with you is hurting you, and we just want to help you. You are enough, okay? It doesn’t matter what this is because even if we can’t it, we can at least support you right? You’ve been getting sick so often, and you and Batan are always whispering when you think we can’t see, and- Tally you’ve stopped talking. You used to talk about everything and now you are so quiet… and you are always so sad. We are just worried that’s all, we know you aren’t worrying us on purpose. We only want to know where your smile went. We need some sunshine Tals. Whatever is hurting you, just tell us what it is. Plain simple words. Short and sweet and over.” Her sisters moved as Raelle spoke, and her tears stood no chance as Raelle kneeling in front of her, clasping one hand tightly while Abigail shifted closer and held the other. 

“Talking can help Tally, just short and sweet and get it over with. You’ll feel better, letting it out. Just like you helped me with losing Charvel and how you helped Rae with her mom? Let us help you, you don’t have to do anything alone. That’s what sisters are for.” Abi whispered softly.

Tally nodded as she took a deep breath that shook through her body. She was out of time, she realized. She didn't want to keep this weight, no more secrets.

“Okay." Their eyes widened, their grips tightened.

"Short sweet then over. There is something going on with me, you're right. And I am scared and hurting and I just- Goddess okay." It was time. No more secrets.

"Ican’tdrinkbecauseI’mpregnantandyouarentsupposedtodrinklikeatall.”

Chapter Text

"Ican’tdrinkbecauseI’mpregnantandyouarentsupposedtodrinklikeatall.” She somehow managed to spit it out, her heart racing as the words spilled around the cotton in her mouth. She didn't look up from her hands, terrified to see the faces of her sisters in that moment.

“I’m so sorry Tals, but I didn’t catch a word of that.” Abigail said, sitting up a little straighter from her place next to Tally. Tally couldn't stop the huffed laugh that spilled out of her lips. Of course I finally manage to spit it out and she doesn’t even get it, she thought. She opened her mouth to repeat those hard to say words at a slower speed. Except Raelle beat her to it.

“Tally…you-you’re pregnant?” Tally met Raelle’s eyes, the beautiful grey blue eyes of her sister now stared at her not in worry but in shock, maybe denial. But the pleading in Tally’s own was likely obvious, even if words failed her.

Words didn't fail Abi though, as she said “No, that’s not-that can’t be what she said shitbird. That’s not what you said, not possible right Tally? I need you to tell her it isnt possible, you said something else. Tell her." Her sister was pleading, oh Goddess this was awful. Why would I ever think this would be okay? she briefly pondered. Oh Goddess this was all her fault.

“I’m so so sorry. I’m so sorry.” It was all she could seem to say as she ducked her head back down and reclaimed her hands from her sisters to cover her face. All she could feel was panic and shame, but she couldn’t work out why. Was it the guilt of the lies? The fact that a baby makes things so much harder? Honestly who could say at this point, because she sure as hell couldn’t. It was probably both.

“I am so sorry. I didn’t even know I could get pregnant! I swear I didn't mean to and I didn’t even know and then Nicte figured it out last week and thats why I was crying and its all I’ve been able to think about. Its why she and I have been talking so much and it's why she took that knife for me and it's why I’ve been so weird and I-“ Goddess she was rambling again. What kind of weird skill was she cursed with? She almost felt lucky that Abigail interrupted her.

“Tally you can’t be…you wouldn’t keep something like this from us. I know you wouldn’t. Who would the father even be? Did you screw Gregorio or Gerit or someone and just not tell us?” Tally stiffened, both at the accusation and the insinuation. Painful, hurtful even. It didn't help that the tears seemed endless these days, honestly it was so irritating. 

“Abi, I promise you that I’m not lying. I wouldn't, not about this. And I swear I didn’t do anything with Gregorio, and I certainly didn’t go back for seconds with Gerit. I haven’t even been with a man since I was with Gerit and that was almost a year ago.”

“Then who Tally?” Abi was begging again, somehow sounding even more desperate than before and oh goddess she wasn't ready. Shit this is hard.

“It doesn’t matter because they’re dead Abi, gone.” It was the truth, she was gone. They didn't need to know how much she had kept from them. Her sister froze, shock and horror passing over her features.

The rest of the group were quickly making their way to their tents, and it was obvious they heard what was happening. That they knew what she had told her sisters, the truth of what burden she carried. Nicte stayed, Tally knew. Just out of sight, watching this absolute train wreck of a conversation happen. Why she was staying Tally had no idea, and why she felt grateful...she didn't know that either.

Oddly it was Raelle, who had been frozen in her disbelief till that point that spoke next. “It was Penelope, wasn’t it?" Abigail's eyes widened, her hand grabbing Tally's again.

"Shit Tals, were you with Penny? It's her isn't it. Why wouldn’t you tell us? Why- Oh goddess we killed her, no wonder you haven’t been you-”

“Oh Goddess Rae no. No it- I promise it wasn’t like that with Penny. It wasn't her.” That was not a burden she would let her sisters bear. 

“Then who Tals, who are you bothering to protect?” 

That was it, the final straw that caused her to snap. Because it was the truth wasn't it? She had just wanted to protect her and she had failed.

We had just wanted to protect each other.  That is what got us into this mess, isn't it she thought. And for some reason that caused her ached. 

Tally released a whimper, a single name landing gently within the sound-“Sarah”.

She was met with silence. “It was Sarah.” Holy hell, I said it...it’s out in the open she realized, and an odd sense of relief filled her. Her biggest secret was out, and it was like a dam had broken as the words continued to spill from her lips. “Sarah Alder. She is who I am protecting. Who I have been protecting. Because I loved her, I love her. But she is gone and I’m pregnant and I am terrified and I need my sisters and I-”

“No. Nope that isn’t possible. You wouldn't do that, and you definitely wouldn't lie. Its not-NO!” Abigail was shouting now, the wind was picking up slightly in time with her sister pale thistle magic rippled throughout their camp radiating with Abigails anger, with her distress. 

Raelle was still however, the waves of her magic disappearing into herself as she closed off completely from Tally. “I- Tals I love you but I really need to not be near you right now.” And that was all she said before she simply stood up and left. She didn't even spare the redhead a second glance as she disappeared into her tent. 

That was what truly broke Tally, one of her sisters had left. She knew why, she understood how much she had hurt them. That didn't mean she didn't feel absolutely gutted as one of her sisters walked away and the other was glaring at her with so much hate and anger that even Tally had no words.

Unfortunately it seemed Abigail still did in fact have the words.

“You are not my sister. You can’t be her because she isn’t a liar. She wouldn’t-“ Whatever the Bellwether was about to say, whatever words she was about to use to utterly destroy Tally, were cut off by a hand tightly grabbing her wrist and pulling her slightly backwards.

“Alright that's enough of that. You and I are going to go and have a little chat Baby Bells.” Nicte hissed at the girl she was holding back. The anger fell into something...worry maybe when her gaze turned from Abigail to Tally.

“Red you need to calm the hell down. Now. If not for your own sanity than at least do it for the baby.” She tipping her head towards Tally’s stomach, and she dragged the younger girl still glaring past the west side of camp and into the woods where the rippling purple work clashed against the steel.

It was in their wake that Tally remained, still seated on that damned log. She was utterly and completely alone, horror painting every part of her tear stained face. She had thought she had imagined every awful scenario, yet somehow this had ended up so much worse. Though she didn’t know what she had really been expecting, in what world would her unit would be accepting of all of this.

Was she hyperventilating? It had been a while since she had done that.

Last time she had felt this raw, horrid panic was...well it was when she had just found out she was pregnant. And before that, she had just found out she had lost her Sarah.

Nicte's right, I need to calm down. For the baby, I need to calm down for my baby. How the fuck am I supposed to calm down?

Chapter Text

Tally sat there, on that felled log, utterly and completely alone.

Calm for the baby, Calm for the baby echoed on an endless loop, and did nothing to even her breathing or slow her racing heart.

Calm for the baby- Goddess what would Sarah do?

Her left hand had moved underneath the hoodie and was resting on the bump of her stomach, as her right gripped the bark hard enough to draw blood. Calm for the baby, Calm for the baby, calm for the…

Even her knowing was going wild like an untamed animal, informing her of things she didn't really care to know. She knew that the others had heard every word- muttered, said, and yelled-between her and her sisters. She knew that Scylla and Rae were in their tent talking, “She lied about that, who knows what-” “Rae c'mon, its Tally, she probably thought it was the right thing to do and...”

She knew that Quinn, Khalida and Adil were muttering in the tent Khalida and Quinn were sharing, “You knew, and didn’t tell any-“

She knew Abigail and Nicte were about 1/4 a mile west, she could hear the rush of the Salmon River. She could hear Abigail yelling, though the shouts weren’t forming actual words anymore. Abi was simply yelling, Nicte encouraging her “yell it out Bells, you aren’t going back to her till you do”

Fuck this, she wanted to yell to. She should get to yell too. And it was that thought that brought an idea to the front of her mind, an echo of words spoken to her in the soothing dark of night before everything had gone to shit. ‘Calm doesn’t mean still you ridiculously wonderful girl, you have to find something that makes you feel at peace. So, let's go hit some shit.’ 

And it was then she knew.

"I know what she would do. I know exactly what she would do to calm me down, to calm herself down. Sarah, my love I remember all your tricks, even if I’ve buried some away." She whispered the words to the crispy night air.

And with that, she stood up on her sore legs and walked back to her tent. She flung open the curtained entrance and kneeled by the small bag of belongings Anacostia had been able to bring to her from Fort Salem. Their unit-mother had grabbed each of her girls a bag, and had thrown everything she deemed important into them. Her and Raelle’s battle charms, Abigail’s picture of Charvel, and perhaps most importantly she grabbed each of their weapons. 

Tally rummaged through the small bag before she finally found what she searched for. She grabbed her tightly wound scourge, not the red one Gerit had given her, the one that she normally used around people. Not that one, that sat at the top of her bag.

Instead she grabbed the one of deep green leather that was bound with thin gold thread, that rested in the bottom of the bag untouched since Ana had tossed it in the satchel. The bright golden magic shimmering around it like lightning on a summer night made her want to cry again. The feeling of...of home that pushed over her succeeded.

This was the scourge Sarah had given her on her birthday, the one that the biddies had said she slaved on for over a month, the one she had spent full nights etching a hundred tiny runes into the leather and singing her seeds throughout the leather. They told her how hours were spent, stitching every golden detail by hand. The scourge she herself hadn’t touched since the morning before her Sarah had left her for the last time.

It took everything in her to shake the thought of her Sarah, of that loss she could barely breath through, from her head as she stood. 

Nicte and Abigail are West, she thought, so East it is. With purpose she didn’t know she had in her anymore, she marched out of her tent, flinging the flaps open as she reentered the night air. She walked quickly and surely towards the Eastern end of their small camp. A passing thought that someone, Khalida her gift implied, was watching her. It was a thought that came and went with her next breath. 

She made it through camp and when she reached the tree-line, she broke out into a sprint. She ran through the trees with her gift as her guide, deeper and deeper into the woods until she found what she was looking for. A small clearing her knowing had brought her too, just large enough for what she was about to do.

She had come barely a mile away from camp, but goddess she was feeling the extra weight. This is definitely far enough she decided, catching her breath for a moment as she leaned against a tree. The baby, her baby, wasn’t about to let her comfortably run much farther. Or maybe it was just the emotional toll the last month had taken on her, she wasn’t sure.

She waited for her racing heart to settle, and when she could breath again she walked slowly to the middle of that small clearing. Each step was surer than the one before it. And when she reached the middle, she knelt to the wet ground and placed her right hand, palm open, atop the grass.

She opened her mouth and she sang. It was a seed of concealment, one that Sarah had taught her when they first started to train together...after they had started doing everything else. It was meant to keep the sounds of their scourges and shouts soft, the damage to the surrounding nature minimal and their workings hidden. It was temporary though, the ward. Thus making it utterly pointless for the group to know about it. They had their own wards, curtesy of Nicte anyways. 

The work itself was a truly beautiful example off-canon designed by Magda Verger herself. ‘A gift’, Sarah had said ‘Little can soothe my storm the way this kind of physical training does. And, other physical activities...Magda knew though, and she wished to make training something that I could do more often. I think she had selfish motives, I am much less prickly after a night of screaming and swinging dangerous shit around.’ Goddess above how that casual swearing and joking had delighted Tally endlessly. It was something she would never have grown tired of. The memory made her heart ache.

As she finished the seed, a ward rose in a half sphere around her, infused with her translucent dark green work that matched the scourge tied to her hip. It was a temporary ward, though one similar to those around fort Salem. Tally noticed the similarity the first time Sarah had put them up for her, the magic had been so beautiful, the soft gold of Sarah’s magic within the ward themselves was almost translucent. She remembered the soft smile she had received upon pointing out that it was one of the most stunning things she had ever seen. ‘It is naught when compared to you Tally Craven.’ Sarah had whispered back before kissing her in a way that had been so new at the time but became so familiar. 

Tally shuddered at the memory, shuddered in a way she hadn’t in so long. One that wasn’t only pain and sorrow. That first night they didn’t get much training done, though her magic the next morning had a distinctly strong and sexual energy to it. Even Abigail had pointed it out, and Tally had been somewhat shocked she hadn’t put it together then. It probably would have made all of this easier if she had.

Standing from her place on the ground, she pulled herself from the bittersweet memories as she yanked the hoodie over her head. She knew it left her in only the grey joggers and her sports bra. She knew it left the swell of her child exposed. But, well it felt good to not have to hide her body, it wasn’t a secret anymore anyways. Let them see, if they even bothered to come looking. She wasn’t ashamed, not of this. Not anymore.

With that thought and a quick, practiced flick of her wrist, she unfurled the beautiful weapon that felt like her home. And with a yell, fierce and loud and powerful and thrumming with pain she didn't even realize she had, she whipped the scourge above her and struck out at a tree with a strength she didn’t know she still possessed. 

Chapter Text

Abigail and Raelle did come looking as it turned out. And they found her over an hour after she had begun letting her emotions out through her quick movements. The ward Tally had erected had begun to fade away, her screams echoing through the forest like a beacon. for her sisters.

They were both beyond drained, from this night and from everything that had happened over the past month. They had emotionally exhausted themselves and yet despite the insistence of both their partners to rest, they were still not willing to. Not without finding their third sister, without at least starting to fix what had been shattered.

When Raelle and Scylla came out of their tent, and Abigail returned from where Nicte had dragged her off too, both were ready to talk to Tally. Only for panic to overtake them the moment they realized that Tally was just gone. It was Khalida that pointed them eastward, the direction Tally had left apparently. And she sent them in search with a soft “She needs you, not your anger. Just you, they both do.” 

That had stung for some reason. They had every right to be angry and both of them knew that- hell everyone in the damn camp probably knew that. Tally had lied, their sister had lied over and over again to protect someone who had ended up hurting her. And Abigail and Raelle both knew that they had every right to go find her and let her know exactly how much her lies and deception had hurt them.

But Khalida was also right, they both do the girl had said. Both, because Tally wasn't just Tally anymore. Goddess it was true wasn't it? Their sister had lied, but she was also the one growing another living being inside of her. Tally had a much bigger problem than the anger they had, she was the one now fully responsible for an utterly helpless life.

And maybe, just maybe she was the one who had lost the most. Raelle had Scylla and Abigail had Adil. And the thought of losing them only to find out that you carried a living piece of them? It...it was impossible to comprehend for either of them.

And so they went looking for their sister. They walked together in silence, heading in the direction the young girl had pointed and the angered screams of their sister echoed louder and louder.

When they finally found her in that clearing, Tally was still swinging her dark green scourge in yet another of the many violently stunning dances Sarah had taught her in the dead of night. She looked as though she had run a marathon…or maybe two. 

From where the two girls stood, they could see the sweat clinging to Tally’s forehead, the tears dried to her cheeks, the messy hair falling from her loose braid, and perhaps most shocking was the swell that took the place of a previously flat stomach. And suddenly, despite having known, it all became so damn real.

“Fuck. How did we not notice that?” Whispered Abigail. Raelle merely shrugged, not sure herself. She was a fixer and somehow she had missed it. It had all seemed so unreal when Tally had first said. Even as she had sat in the tent with Scylla it had seemed so impossible, ridiculous, a prank or something.

But in front of them was the physical proof. The utterly undeniable. Their sister was pregnant. Were we really so caught up in our own shit that we didn’t notice the biggest possible changes in our sister? The most obvious ones? The physical changes alone... Raelle pondered as they watched Tally move. 

They stood in silence for a moment longer, unsure how to proceed. How to get her attention without making her run. Would she run? They watched as she struck another tree, a sharp twirl preceding the would-be fatal strike. 

“I don’t think that is something we are taught in scourge training.” Abigail said aloud, her voice bringing Tally’s attention to them.

“No. It isn’t.” And that was all Tally said before striking out at another smaller tree, cleaving it cleanly in two. The strike alone was shocking, the tree was short but it was thick and had split like butter under the force of Tally's swing. The power behind the movement alone was more than they had thought Tally was capable of. Maybe more than either of them were capable of.

The dismissal had only added to the shock. And at the dismissal, Abigail had felt her shoulders drop. Her previous words echoing in the forefront of her mind as regret spilled from her ‘You are not my sister’. 

Raelle spoke next, trying where Abigail had failed to start the conversation they so badly needed, “Tally…we are sorry, we reacted poorly and-“ she stuttered, something pulling her attention away from her words “-and that is definitely not your scourge” she finished, eyeing the weapon Tally held as Abigail's eyes darted towards it.

Tally huffed, in annoyance or amusement or something else or maybe both, her sisters weren’t sure.They weren't really sure of anything.

 “Yes, it is actually. It just isn’t the one that Gerit gave me.” She said, as she straightened. She began rolling the scourge back up before crossing her arms over her chest, the green scourge resting on her swelling stomach.

“She gave it to me, for my birthday about a month after we started-Goddess I don’t even know what to call it…our relationship?”

For some reason the words didn’t seem enough to cover what she and Sarah had had. They were bound in the deepest most intimate sense through to their very souls, the link that tied them when she was a biddy never truly fading, only evolving...at least until Sarah was gone. Even now she could feel echoes of it, her soul rubbed raw like skin under sandpaper. 

“Can...Tally can I see it?” Asked Abigail, as the two slowly moved towards her, walking through the fading ward, causing it to finally dissipate. Tally nodded slowly, and handed it over to her before returning her arms to the same crossed position. 

Abigail and Raelle stared at it in awe, taking turns running their fingers over the many tiny runes covering it, along the deceptively soft leather and brilliant golden thread.

“Tally, this is- shit this is beautiful. The time it must have taken her to stitch alone. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I have seen the best scourges high Atlantic money can buy.” Abi said, before handing the scourge to Raelle, and crossing her arms in a way similar to Tally’s.

Tally just nodded, tears welling in her eyes as she thought about Sarah. Stupid hormones, how the hell do I still have tears? she thought. I am so sick of crying. She swiped the one that escaped away.

“Yeah it- Morgan, one of the younger biddies, she told me it took her an entire month. That she started it the night that I-I kissed her for the first time. Blasted Romantic woman, who the hell starts something like this after a first kiss?…Mo said that she worked on it every single night while the biddies slept. Hours and hours every night. It’s infused with so much of her work that all I can see when I look at it is her magic. Even now. It's the same shade as the thread, her work...and it consumes every bit of it. All I feel is her.”

“Tally that’s-I-when you said that you and-it’s just…It is so hard for me to wrap my head around all of this but I need you to know I really really didn’t mean what I said. I swear to you I didn’t mean it. I could never mean anything like that, I love you. I know I can’t take it back, but I will do everything to make you believe that.” Abigail said quietly, wrapping her arms tighter around herself as words finally failed her.

Tally laughed a little, wiping more stray tears from her cheeks, “Yeah me too, sorry that is. I am so sorry. You don’t need to apologize, your reactions…sure they hurt, but I- guys I deserved so much worse. I know that." She had lied to them, to everyone. She deserved their anger, not their apologies. She couldn't do this, the heavy stuff. Not tonight.

"As for it being a lot, I kinda get it. I mean, I’m carrying another person inside of me. It’s absolutely wild…like I didn’t even know women could get each other pregnant in the first place and now the famously infertile, absolute love of my life somehow managed to knock me up-and then she proceeded to very promptly die. Which, Rude.”

It was the closest thing to a joke she had made in so long that even with the dark humor, Raelle laughed. And the she pulled the red head tightly against her. Raelle hugged Tally from the front, and pulled Abigail promptly against Tally’s back so they were sandwiching their sister in a way similar to the night she had found out she was pregnant.

“I’m so sorry Tals, for your loss and our reaction and all of it.” Tally sniffled as she burrowed her head into the crook of the blonds neck. Raelle could probably feel her tears seeping through her t-shirt but she couldn't seem to stop.

“Me too, I’m sorry too. That we-that I kept things from you. And I am so sorry that my choices have hurt you. That wasn’t ever what I wanted I swear. I just wanted-I just wanted her. I loved her so, so much. I just wanted her to be safe and happy, and I know that she wanted the same for me. Not that it mattered in the end anyways, because now she’s dead and we are running from the very thing that killed her and I’m pregnant and I’m terrified because I don’t want my baby, our baby to be brought into this world. This broken terrible world, where she will be hunted for who she is. Even more so because of who her parents are.” She said, knowing both sisters could hear the muffled rambling. Sarah had always claimed to love her rambles, Tally was never sure if she was lying. Now she would never know.

“You are both going to be okay or so help me goddess I will destroy this whole fucking universe.” Abi whispered into the crook of Tally’s shoulder. Raelle hummed her agreement. Tally sniffed, holding back yet another wave of fresh tears. “I love you both. And I couldn’t do this without you.” She said. “I will tell you everything I swear. I will answer every question you have.” She burrowed deeper into Raelle.

"Ask me, anything."

Chapter Text

As it turned out, her sisters were too exhausted to think of any questions that night. Which was good becasue Tally was damn sure she was too exhausted to answer any questions. Between the fight, and the making up...it had taken a toll on all of them. Especially on an already hormonal and exhausted Tally. When they made it back to camp they all three piled into Tally’s tent. Nicte merely huffed and faked annoyance as she went to Raelle and Scylla’s. But Tally saw the relieved grin shot toward the puppy pile she had found herself the middle of.

The three sisters cuddled closely together, Abigail on the left and Raelle on the right, and Tally safely in the middle. That night, no one woke them for watch. Nicte, Adil and Scylla all content to take doubles 

As it turned out though, the lack of questions didn't stick. In the morning they came with a vengeance, though not from Abigail and even more shockingly not about Sarah. 

“When was your last menstrual cycle? How many months do you think you are? What symptoms do you have? When did they start?” On and on. It felt never ending as they came from both Quinn and Raelle. She answered, wide eyed to the best of her ability, slightly overwhelmed at both the acceptance and especially the absolute lack of knowledge she had on the subject. On her own condition. One that she hadn’t even thought would be possible ever, one she wasn’t sure she had even wanted before she suddenly had it.

After almost an hour of questions, a fair amount of grumpy stripping, poking, and prodding they had the answers they deemed necessary. They eventually decided that Tally was likely almost through her fifth month. How the hell they knew that, from her confused answers and the uncomfortably thorough physical exam Tally had no idea.

More importantly she had no idea how she had somehow gone over 3 months pregnant while at Fort Salem with her Sarah. She had absolutely zero clue how both of them had missed it considering how often they had spent time together, and how much of that time was spent naked. If she had only known before...maybe then things would have been different...No, no she wasn't allowed to contemplate what would never be.

She would start to gain weight more rapidly now Quinn had said, especially since they could properly feed her now that they all knew. Blessedly they also told her that hopefully the nausea would lessen, good she was tired of puking. Both of the fixers were concerned about her eating. They had claimed she needed far more food than she had been eating, which yeah okay that was probably true but it was true for all of them. By the time the two fixers had finished their interrogation/physical, the entire campsite outside of the tent they were in, had already been cleaned up and everything packed back into the bus.

Quinn took over driving that morning. They didn’t have far left according to Nicte. The older woman hoped to make the rest of the drive that day, 11 hours with a few short stops she had insisted. It was only once the bus was moving safely along a back road, with the off canon disguise secured around it, that Nicte moved into the empty space across the aisle from the bench Tally had claimed as her own. She refused to look at Nicte, who was staring so smugly at her even her knowing could see it. 

“So, ya did it. It feels better to have them know, doesn’t it Red? To not have that weighing on your shoulders.” 

Tally simply nodded, her hand finding its way back to her stomach of its own accord just as it had begun to do over the past week.

9 days.

She had now known for 9 days, and she was still not used to the idea. She would likely never get used to it, the idea that she was going to be a mother. That she already technically was one. But Goddess above she loved this baby so much even after just 9 days, loved this tiny part of her and Sarah. She would do anything for the tiny dark gold dancing within her womb.

Nicte smirked at her again, and Tally couldn't help but role her eyes even if she grinned back.

"Get some sleep kid." Was all Nicte said before standing and walking back to her original seat at the front of the bus by Quinn and before long the two were engrossed in conversation about who knows what. The others were talking amongst themselves as well, leaving her to her own thoughts for a while likely at Nicte's behest.

And so, with time alone and a hand idly tracing protection sigils atop her swollen stomach, Tally drifted into much needed sleep.

The bus jolted as it ran over a bump on the road, and Tally jolted with it. She blinked blearily as her racing heart settled, letting the sudden wake up set in before she realized that the seat next to her was taken yet again. This time by Khalida of all people. Odd thought Tally. Sure she liked the girl, even if she wasn’t sure the feeling was reciprocated. Granted she wasn't sure if Khalida liked anyone outside of Adil and even then...it was then that she remembered the mutterings she heard the night before, when her gift was running as wild as her pained heart had. 

“You already knew didn’t you?” She asked. 

Khalida simply smiled softly at her and nodded. “Yes, I knew. It was fairly obvious. I’m surprised Nicte Batan and I were the only ones to figure it out on our own. You are not very subtle Tally Craven. Though, for what it is worth, I am sorry for your loss.” She handed Tally a small bag of salted popcorn, where she had gotten that she had no idea. Why she was giving it to her she also couldn't fathom.

“Eat this.” Khalida said, and then she was standing and going back to sit in her own window seat in the last row of the bus leaving a confused red head in her wake. 

She had no idea what that had been about. But regardless of that she was kind of starving. So she opened the bag and began munching on the snack, unaware of the relieved glances shot her way from those around her.

Shit, this is delicious. Who knew popcorn could be so damn good. The salted snack was gone far too quickly, but she found herself content to simply fall back to sleep.

Apparently fate had other ideas, good ones though. It wasn't even a few minutes after she had tucked the garbage away to toss out when they stopped that Abigail and Raelle were sliding in next to her, cramming all three of them into the seat. 

“Is it just me or does this seat feel very similar to a revolving door?” Joked Tally, even as she cuddled into her Abigails side and Raelle moved to her other side. 

“Hardy har har, a real fuckin comedian aren't you?” said Abi, handing Tally a bottle of water. “Drink up momma, can’t have my niece or nephew dehydrated.” 

Tally couldn’t even bring herself to roll her eyes, because her sister had just called this baby hers like it was the most natural thing in the world. For the first time in so long she felt like she could smile forever. So she opened the bottle and she drank. As she sipped the water, Abigail asked slyly. “So Tally…we were both wondering-”

“By both you mean you Abs, you were wondering. Only you, I plead the fifth.” Tally grinned, her sisters banter somehow bringing back amusement she had thought gone with her Sarah, back in to her soul as she lifted the bottle back to her tilted lips.

“Shut up shitbird. Tally, we were wondering…how was the sex?”

And Tally promptly choked. Water snorted through her nose as she started coughing so hard that Raelle shot up from her spot to thump her on the back. Tears stung at her eyes, as she tried to force more water down. 

“Goddess Abigail what the hell? You did that on purpose!” Tally finally managed to spit out between gasps, laughter starting to bubble up within her. Her sister merely looked smug.

“Hey you were the one that said you would answer all of our questions. And I don’t think I’m emotionally ready for the deep shit. So, morbid curiosity it is. The sex, how was it? Terrible? Above Average? Dare I wish it, was the great General Alder disappointingly unremarkable in bed?”

Tally rolled her eyes, very deeply. But she still answered, she had promised.

“Shit guys, it was actually amazing. Like always, never a bad experience. 100% would eat there again. I swear her fingers and tongue had a working all on their own. There was one night that I came 6 times in like 2 hours. 6. Times. She made me count. And we still went twice more when we woke up the next morning. I almost died. Like literally almost died, that was the day I took M’s fist to my face in training and got that concussion? The day she randomly decided to check in with the fixers? And there was this one specific time I used a strap-on on her…in her? I don’t know, but we literally went all night. No sleep. She came 4 times I think, we both did actually. OOOH and there was this one time I hid under her desk and I-” Raelle raised a hand, likely to stop her from reciting her sexual history top 10 which was surprisingly kind of a bummer. 

“Hold on, rewind just a sec okay- 6 times? Like back to back 6 times?” She seemed an odd mix of curious, impressed, and horrified. Tally nodded, a sly grin of her own spreading across her face.

“Fuckin hell of course General Sarah Alder would be fantastic in bed. Why would I even suspect otherwise, Of course she would…" She could see the moment that her words had processed in Abigails brain.

"Wait-did, did you just say you hid under her desk?” Her sister practically shouted, the last part loud enough that Nicte and Quinn looked at the trio, eyebrows raised in a creepily identical manner and that is what had Tally's blush burning bright across her cheeks.

“Um…yeah I-it was her birthday? So I surprised her when the biddies went to lunch to ya know, make it a birthday to remember or whatever. We almost got caught that day, by your mom actually Abs. She barged in while I was three knuckles deep insi-”

“Holy shit you- ya know what I changed my mind I really don’t need to know any of this. How did I not know you were shameless? Like you aren’t even blushing. You blush at everything, what the hell?” Abigail said, regret written across every inch of her face and when she glanced at Raelle she looked like the mirror image. And that, that is what did Tally in.

She laughed.

Tally truly laughed, for the first time since before her Sarah had been taken, full bellied and loud. It was as if her sisters couldn’t resist the beautiful sound, their own giggles joined hers quickly, leaving them howling like insane hyenas in the middle row of the prison bus as the others simply watched bemused. She could see it, the way their magics danced together. The way the pale purple, the seafood and her own deep green wrapped and spun around them.

After the laughter faded, her sisters were content to sit with her in silence as they huddled closely together. Just like they had through the night before.

“It’s a girl.” She whispered, this was only for her sisters. For now at least, it was only for them. “You said niece or nephew? But I know it’s a girl.” Her sisters looked at her, their faces unreadable.

“Tally, how can you be sure?” Whispered Raelle. Tally just smiled, one that started out small but grew until her dimples were on full deep display. 

“I just...know.”  And that was enough for her sisters, as they tightened the already small space between them and their magics did the same.

Her daughter, Sarah’s daughter, their daughter.

Contentment washed over her, drowning the constant sorrow in its gentle wake.

This was their daughter, and goddess above she would be loved. 

Chapter Text

They made it to East Glacier, Montana about 6 hours after Tally’s little revelation and right on the 11 hour mark Nicte had given them.

The cabin was bigger than she had been imagining, than any of them had actually, but it was still small. They were 3 rooms, enough to split into groups. So just like the in the tents Nicte and Tally shared a room, one with two tiny twin mattress. They were closest to the bathroom, a precaution more forced upon Tally by the others than a personal preference. Their tiny room was identical to the one that Quinn and Khalida were sharing, at least when Khalida wasn’t crashing with Adil and Abigail in their room with the single queen mattress. Scylla And Raelle simply took the surprisingly comfy pullout couch in the living room.

It worked, the arrangement. Sure arguments still happened but they were in an actual house and Tally was nearly...happy.

Two weeks passed so very quickly, when it was decided they weren’t going to stay in the area much longer. A few days at most Quinn had said, before getting back on the bus and heading to a different safe house on the other side of the Cession. That one provided by the dodgers, rather than the spree like this one had been.

It wasn’t safe for them to stay in one place to long and they were already stretching it there she knew. Besides, they needed to find a way to get a hold of Petra and let her know that plans needed to change even if they didn't tell her why. That they were no longer going to be active participants in this war, and maybe learn if there was a bigger plan. That would be easier if they were closer to Salem.

If Tally had to choose one thing from these two weeks to put above all else, she would say the kitchen. Goddess above she loved the kitchen because the kitchen meant real food and fuck could Quinn cook. Tally would miss that during the long drive to their next safe house. It helped that Quinn, Scylla, and Nicte armed with their off canon disguises, were able to make grocery runs every few days. They were close enough to the National Park that any new people would be written off as tourists, but far enough away from the center that no one would notice them otherwise.

Tally, though loving the consistent eating, felt like she had blown up like a balloon. Especially now that Quinn and Raelle had full control of her portion sizes. She knew she would only get bigger but still, it was wild. It didn't exactly help that her sisters were weirdly obsessed with touching her stomach, trying to feel the baby and talking to her. That was also very weird. 

Khalida ending every day with a different sigil that was older than Sarah drawn atop where her baby grew was almost sweet.

Raelle spending an entire hour talking to her stomach less so. One night it had been in mothertounge, Tally had assumed it was something sweet or maybe even important given to them from the Mycelium they had sent Sarah into. She was wrong. Her sister spent an hour repeating ‘Who’s the bestest baby in the belly, you are that’s who.’ It was as ridiculous as it was amusing. 

They hadn’t asked her about Sarah again, not since the sex incident. She wasn’t sure why, maybe it had something to do with them not wanting to upset her. Sure they asked little things like what her favorite color was-green, but it used to be blue.

They avoided the heavy topics though, and Tally almost wished they wouldn’t. She wanted to talk about Sarah, talk about her and help her sisters understand it all. Help them understand why she made the choices she had. She knew they didn’t get it, they couldn’t get it without understanding the bond that was left behind after being unbiddied, without understanding how much love Sarah Alder carried in her heart. She didn’t push though, trusting that they would ask when they were ready to listen.

For the most part though, their conversations focused on what they were going to do about the Camarilla and about Raelle’s witch bomb abilities. Her sister’s powers had grown so much since they had escaped, especially since they found themselves with free time to practice.

Whispers and gossip of Fort Salem were rare here, nothing more than what could be found in the newspapers Nic picked up every time she went into town...but the scenery, goddess it was to die for. Tally had spent most of the 14 days they had been here arm in arm with her sisters, wandering through the mountain woods around every hiking trail she could with the addition of a child inside of her. The water was the bluest blue she had ever seen, second only to one shade. 

She had even seen a moose, an actual real life moose. It was the most exciting thing she had seen in all of the time they had spent on the run, hell probably since the last time she had seen Sarah naked. After getting up early due to her back aching under the extra weight, she had gone for a short walk and it was just there standing in one of the offlet rivers. She had rushed back and pulled the only other one awake into the cool morning air.

Khalida had been thoroughly unamused.

It was the early morning of the 15th day in the cabin, and Tally woke with a loud groan as she stretched out her sore muscles. The sunlight streamed through the tiny window, and she glanced towards the bed beside her. Empty, so Nicte was awake.

As she stood, she quickly stripped out of her tight pajama shirt. She wriggled into the loosest sports bra she had, it fit though it wasn't exactly comfortably...and she ditched it within thirty seconds. She pulled on the only thing that fit over her growing bump, the Alder blue hoodie she had worn for at least three days in a row now, she had resorted to borrowing one of Quinns loose flannel shirts when the hoodie needed washed. 

Fuck I need new clothes she thought, as she tried to pull a pair of loose sweat pants over the bottom of her stomach. I'm growing a damn kid, getting dressed shouldn't be the hardest thing I do every day.

She finally succeeded and left her room. She followed the smell of cooking butter toward small kitchen, she was surprised to see everyone already awake. It was early, and goddess knew Abigail and Scylla did not do early.

“Did-did I miss something? We weren’t meeting about something right?” She asked worried, she couldn’t remember them mentioning an early meeting but who knows. Pregnancy brain was real damnit, she had already lost her left boot three times this week alone.

Raelle just grinned, “Nope, you didn’t miss a thing. We were just getting ready. You need new clothes, and Nicte wants to teach us the off-canon disguise thingy. So, in honor of that we are going shopping.”

“Um…what?” It was too early for this, she had to have misheard. Goddess I miss coffee. Sarah if you were still alive I would whip you for taking away my caffeine. No wait you probably would have liked that. Her own train of thought brought a sly grin to her face.

“Okay whatever you are thinking that has that look on your face I am begging you to please stop." Nicte snorted at Abigail's words.

"We need to run to the village to restock food and shit anyways so we are going to get you some better clothes. Maternity clothes may be hard to find but we can find something that will at least fit over the baby.” Nic said, as Abigail reached over Tally to pat the swell.

Tally swatted her hand away, even as Abigail spoke. “Besides, there will probably be some touristy baby shit you can coo over. It feels wrong that you don’t even own a onesie yet.” 

Tally rolled her eyes, “This baby won’t even be here for like, over two months. What happens when we have to leave? We can’t be dragging a ton of baby shit with us…” Just the idea of carrying a diaper bag made her back hurt. She moved her hands to the small of her back to support herself, leaning into them. “But yeah, that actually sounds amazing. Goddess knows I need new clothes.” 

Not to mention the fact that she hadn’t seen anyone outside of her coven and the occasional spree agent in the past two weeks. She was a people person, it was almost torture.

“Yay! Okay so Quinn and Adil have agreed to stay here in case anything happens here. The rest of us are going. Yes even you Khalida.” Abigail said, causing the girl to pout. "Don't look at me like that, what if something were to happen to Tally because you and your dirty work aren't there to stop it hm?" Tally almost snorted, way to go Abigail, guilt tripping the literal child. It worked though. 

And that was how, an hour and a half later, she found herself staring at Nicte's lighter. They were all outside practicing, though only Tally and Khalida successfully wearing strangers faces while Raelle and Abigail were still struggling. 

“This is so much harder than it looks Scyl.” Raelle said when she finally finished, a strangers brown eyes locked on Scylla where grey blue ones had been moments earlier. “Like you guys make it look so easy but shit is complicated.”

“It gets easier the more you do it don’t you worry. Just needs some time.” Was Scylla’s response, voice shifting to a deep baritone as she lit her own face aflame.

“Okay I hate that.” Was all Raelle said at the sight of her girlfriend donning the guise a balding, middle aged man. Her gag audible as Scylla planted a horribly wet kiss on her cheek, to the amusement of the others. Even Khalida giggled, her own new face smiling delighted at the display.

“Alright enough fooling around and get onto the bus, we’ve got groceries to buy and a pregnant woman to dress.” Nicte said, her newly blond hair pulled back as she headed into the automobile. The rest of the group scrambled after her. 

The ride into the town was short, 15 minutes at the most. But damn the road was winding, thankfully Tally’s nausea had calmed immensely as she likely began the third trimester.

They did groceries first, grabbing everything on Quinn's list as well as a few extra non perishable items in case they didn’t make it back before they left. Then they went to the only place in the village that sold clothes and Tally groaned as she realized where they were going. The tourist shop.

Tally had thought this would be fast, and then she would get to go back to that perfect little cabin and take a nap. After all, with the limited options they should be in and out. But nope, she had never been more wrong in her life if you don't count that time she thought she was straight because nearly two hours later they were still there. Her feet were killing her, but every time she tried to sit down some tourist was stealing the one bench. She was done with this, and she was about to say as much when a delighted Abigail shoved a neon orange shirt into her arms that said ‘Glacier National Park: Home of Bigfoot’ on it with the most hideous rendition of the monster Tally had ever seen. She met Abi’s disguised eyes with her own disgusted ones.

“Abi what the hell? Ya know what, do you know who I miss? M. That’s who. How the hell they managed to control you guys, I will never know. Not even Ana could do that.” She said, handing the utterly hideous shirt back to her sister with a grin. She grabbed another hoodie, this time in Navy with the store logo in small writing and a few semi plain “Glacier National park” shirts in mens XL from out of the sale section. They were loose enough that she would have room for baby to grow without drowning her completely, and they were cheap enough that she didn’t feel as guilty spending the money on clothes that would only last two months.

“Okay, I am done. Like beyond done Nic. My ankles are swollen, and my back is killing me. Can I just have some cash so I can go pay for this?” She asked, turning to look at the tall blonde behind her. Nicte said nothing as she took the handful of items from Tally's arms and looked her up and down. If Tally looked half as shit as she felt then there was no way Nicte wouldn't gather everyone up for her and take them home.

“Alright, why don't you go back to the bus." Oh thank the goddess. "Take your sisters while you're at it, and I will find Kali and she and I can pay.” 

Tally nodded in relief, grabbing Abi from the wrack she had been shifting through and walking in the direction she had seen Raelle and Scylla go. She deliberately ignored the baby section, she was not ready to think about that, not quite yet. She grabbed Rae’s hand and pulled her sisters back to the bus where she very promptly collapsed with a groan onto her bench seat.

“I feel like this shouldn’t hurt so much, Raelle fix me.” She moaned dramatically as she slouched deeper. It did hurt, everything- her back hurt and her stomach hurt and her ankles hurt and her tits hurt. And still Raelle didn’t fix her, the traitor, and instead just grinned and burned off her disguise. 

“Sorry Tals, no can do. You are experiencing some of the joys of motherhood.” She said, reaching the lighter toward the red heads fake face and burning hers off as well. When the flames cleared, the true faces of her sisters surrounded her. 

“Oh thank goodness, I don’t think I could handle you looking like the creepy pervert from some dateline episode anymore.” Raelle said as she took in Scylla’s face, pulling her in for a kiss. Abi rolled her eyes and plopped down across the aisle from Tally.

They didn’t have to wait long for the last two members of their party to join them. Khalida and Nicte did not take their time and were on the bus in less than four minutes, burning their faces as soon as they were safely within the warded bus. Nicte carried two large bags and there was definitely more than just the stuff Tally had grabbed she realized as she eyed the two newcomers suspiciously. Even Khalida carried a small bag, one she cbut she was to tired to care. Maybe later. 

By the time they reached the Cabin again it was technically almost dinner time. How they had wasted almost an entire day in a damned tourist trap Tally would never understand. She was exhausted, and she knew it showed in the way she collapsed onto Scylla and Rae’s pull-out couch bed.

“Leave me here to die." She groaned as she sunk into the mattress, ignoring the chuckles from Raelle as a hand gently brushed her red hair from her face. "Let the sweet embrace of endless sleep take me. I am dead. But wake me for dinner.” Dramatic as hell sure, but damnit she was tired. It didn't really matter though, not as she fell into the sweet embrace of sleep.

Chapter Text

Tally rarely dreamed anymore, and if she did she didn’t remember what her dreams were about...But this- this was different, somehow something had changed and she knew, in her very soul that this one was different.

This was utter, complete darkness, as if she had been thrown deep within a cave with no lights to brighten her steps. Yet somehow, she wasn’t scared, she wasn't even uncomfortable. She could feel something solid beneath her feet as she stood steady, and there was a warm breeze that gently ruffled her hair. She could hear...something, but she wasn’t sure what. The sound got louder, and as she stepped forward, she realized that is was a whisper so soft it was nearly impossible to make out. She took anther step, and then another and suddenly the words were clear.  

‘Tally, my Tally.’ A voice echoed in hushed tones deep within Tally’s mind. That voice that had sung her to sleep, had made her laugh, had made her cry and made her feel everything in between. “Sarah?” She whispered, reaching in the direction of the voice. She knew she just had to reach a little farther, she was so close she could almost-

There was a hand was gently pushing on her shoulder, in real life. Not her Sarah, not her dream. “C’mon Red, wake up. You gotta eat, dinner is ready. Then we are going to have to start packing everything we need to take with us when we leave in the morning.” Nicte said. Tally groaned as she opened an eye to see the older woman leaning over the edge of the couch. 

“Leave? I thought we weren’t leaving for a couple more days?” She asked, finally opening her other eye and looking up at the older woman. She knew she was pouting. But she couldn't help it, she loved it here. It was beautiful in a way she couldn’t describe, and even all she could think was how much Sarah would love it the beauty of it calmed the hurt.

Her pout didn't seem to have any effect, considering Nicte just grinned. 

“Yeah well, plans change Red. A couple of Quinn's people need the cabin tomorrow night, smuggling another family over the border. It's kind of a large group, So we are heading out a little earlier than planned.”

Well I can’t argue with saving people, she supposed. Besides they would be back to camping in the woods, and she enjoyed that. Sorta. Granted that was before she had begun resembling a damned pufferfish. But she still nodded, reaching a hand toward Nicte as the pout returned.

“Help me up.” Tally ordered, not even bothering to ask as she made grabby hands for the woman. She was still exhausted from shopping. Never again, she swore to herself. 

Dinner was unsurprisingly delicious, chicken noodle soup that both Tally and baby had loved. This time though it didn't come from a can. Quinn had made soup with one of the rotisserie chickens Nicte had grabbed at the store while Tally had dozed on Rae and Scylla's couch bed. It was amazing, both the soup and her nap. Though no matter how much Quinn pushed she couldn't eat more that three servings of the soup.

“I really am full Quinn, I promise. It was delicious but I can’t eat another bite.” Tally insisted as she put her bowl in the sink and starting to wash the dishes. It was one of the few tasks her friends let her do these days. Raelle moved to join her at the sink, grabbing a dish towel to dry the clean bowls Tally began handing her.

“You okay Tals? You were kinda quiet over dinner.” Raelle asked as she placed the first bowl in the cabinet and picked up the second. Tally smiled at her, a small reassuring thing that indented her dimples just a tad.

“I’m good, promise. Just had a weird dream.” The answer didn’t seem to soothe her sister, it seemed to do the opposite actually.

“Tally I just- well, last time you were having weird dreams you were waking up with wounds. Like actual bleeding painful wounds. This-this isn’t like that right?”  Goddess that’s why she’s so worried Tally realized and she very nearly stumbled over her words in her hurry to reassure her sister.

“Shit Raelle no, I'm sorry I worried you. Seriously, it was just a weird dream. Probably from the demon possessing my stomach.” She said, wincing at the sharp pain that spread from the side of her stomach. It was one she had started to become accustomed to these days. The words may have reassured Rae about her dream, but that wince didn’t go unnoticed. 

“Tally, you sure you're okay?” She asked, drying and putting away the last bowl. Tally just nodded again.

“Yeah I am, Kid just has a mean kick, that’s all, really…Do you want to try to feel her?” Tally asked. And that worked, Raelle’s face shifted from worry into excitement faster than she had thought possible.

They had tried the first time Tally felt the babe quickening within her. It had been...amazing, that first feeling. And Tally had rushed for her sisters, after remembering that Sarah was not in fact there to share the moment with her. They hadn't felt anything, but still shared in her excitement with so much joyous enthusiasm she had cried. Her sisters had tried again when the movements became more uncomfortable for her, over and over but her sisters had yet to feel her baby move, to feel their niece's hard kicks against their palms. 

“Yes, absolutely. Just let me go get Abi, she shouldn’t miss this.” Raelle said, quickly tossing the towel onto the counter and rushing to get Abi from wherever she had ended up. Tally just grinned and watched her go, putting the towel back on the small hook by the sink before moving back to the table and sitting with a groan in her previously vacated chair.

“That baby must take after her other mother, if she is kicking you so hard you flinch.” Nicte said from her chair at the other end of the table. Tally had forgotten she was even there, just sitting and sipping a small cup of hot decaf coffee. She smiled at the older woman, once again letting her dimples show just a bit. 

“Nah Sarah was all core strength. Chicken legs, through and through. Woman could hardly squat me, and believe me when I say she definitely tried with varying results.” Tally said, relishing in the way Nicte choked slightly at the insinuation. Nicte didn't need to know that plenty of those tries actually ended with her successfully riding Sarah's...shoulders.

“Jeeze dimples, warn a woman next time would ya?” She said, wiping the coffee that had spilled down her chin. “You get all packed?” Tally nodded, she had never technically unpacked. None of her clothes fit her and when she took her scourge to train alone in the mornings she always made sure it was put safely away. 

“Yeah, all I really have is the new clothes and they are still in the bag. I am ready to go.” She said, wincing as the baby moved again. “What the hell was in that soup, she is going absolutely insane in here.” She muttered, rubbing her stomach right as Abi and Raelle stormed in. 

“Okay we are ready now.” Raelle said, the excitement still visible on her face. Abi was a slightly different matter, she was obviously excited to feel her niece but Tally knew the idea of pregnancy was more than a little terrifying to her sister. Tally pulled up her hoodie until she revealed the growing bump underneath it. She rested her right hand just off center, searching until- There you are, sneaky little one. 

“Okay, c’mon. Gimme your hands.” She said, reaching both of her own towards each of her sisters. Tally took Abi’s wrist in her right, Raelle’s in her left and then she yanked them forward, giggling when they yelped and stumbled slightly. She watched, from the corner of her eye, as Nicte put her now empty cup in the sink and left her and her sisters alone. She stayed within earshot though, Tally’s gift murmured as she laid her sisters hands atop her stomach.

“Right there. Just give it a second.” Tally said softly. Yeah, there you go she thought, say hi to your aunties my love. The kick wasn’t the hardest, it didn't pain her like some of the others...but it was clear from the absolute wonder on her sisters faces that they had felt it. Had felt her.

“Holy shit Tally, you are making a person. Like an actual person, a little you.” Raelle said, awe lacing her every word.

“Well, a little you and a little Alder rolled up into a tiny person…god that is still so weird.” Said Abigail, she paused a moment and Tally watched as she gnawed on her lip before asking- “Do you think that the General would be happy? About her? Do you think she would...ya know, love her?” 

Tally hadn't been expecting that. She froze, smile slipping from her face. Her sisters hadn’t brought up Sarah at all really, a few little things here and there, but nothing like this. They hadn’t asked about anything big, not about their relationship, or about their love. Not about her advanced scourge abilities, hard as it was with the added weight. Would she be happy? Would she love her?

She forgot sometimes, that they didn't know her Sarah. She forgot that the answer to their question, an answer that was obvious to Tally, was so...unreal to them.

“Goddess Yeah, yeah she-she would be really happy. And so so scared. She would be absolutely terrified, and it would probably overwhelm her for a while. That fear that she would love another person, just to lose them. Fear that she wouldn’t be enough, be good enough. Fuck, guys once she got over that fear, she would be so happy. She always wanted to be a mom before-“ Before her own was hung, right next to her older sister. Before she called upon a storm that we all thought took the choice from her. Before she lost everything.

"She would love this baby more than anything else in the world...except Anacostia. I bet they would be pretty much equal, her two daughters. She...Guys, the way Sarah loves is…it is so uniquely her. Her innumerable losses, they make her seem so hard. Inhuman even, to some at least, with the choices she's forced to make. But she was more human than anyone I have ever met. Her love was all consuming, and completely inevitable. Like a never ending hurricane that would sweep you up and never let you go. So yeah, she would love her. More than that, I am pretty damn sure she would have saved the world for her.” Tally said, and there were tears spilling down her face and they seemed as if they would never end. She looked up to the ceiling, embracing the grief for once instead of shoving it away.

Her sisters carefully moved their hands from her stomach, reaching around either side to hug her instead as she gave into the return of that bittersweet grief and sobbed.

Chapter Text

The trio slept on the pullout couch together that night. Abigail and Raelle were simply not ready to let Tally out of their embrace for anything longer than five minutes to pee, not after watching her grieve as she had. Scylla joined them, letting Tally force her into the puppy pile with a laugh. That sound had been cut off quickly though, when Raelle yanked her hand onto Tally stomach and she too felt the flutters of the youngest members kicks under her palm. 

Tally dreamed again that night, her body safe in her sisters arms as her mind drifted away. That different dream, of what she missed the most haunting her in sleep.

This time when she reached for that echo, for her echo reached back and a hand clasped hers. She would have shouted but that hand was so achingly familiar that all she could do was gasp. “Tally. My Tally. Where are you?”

Goddess she could have cried, “Montana, I-My Sarah, I miss you so much. Ever since we went on the run I-”  

Confusion echoed in the soft voice, mingling with worry “On the run? Montana? Tally are- Are you not at Fort Salem?”

Her ghost, this dreamscape, caused her very being to ache. The worry in her echos voice. “No, no we- Penelope Silvers death was ruled murder and even though Petra and Ana helped us escape we…we’ve been on the run. But we are okay…you’re a dream. An echo of what I miss most. You should know this shouldn’t you? Since you are my dream?” She wondered aloud, beginning to ramble as the invisible hand found her face. Goddess, she could stay here forever. 

That was her last thought, forever, before she found herself blinking blearily at the bright light. She was woken, she realized, by the warm rays of sun that came through the circular windows of the living room reflecting onto her face. The pullout couch was empty, her sisters and everyone else was already up and moving, content to load the bus and let the girl rest. 

Even her own bags had already been stowed carefully away under her usual seat, and she let her sisters gently push her toward the loaded bus. They were heading to another safe house, this time one owned by Nicte personally. Not the Spree, Nicte. It was deep into the south east end of the cession, right along the southern Mississippi border. Nicte and Quinn were hoping to make the trip in 3 days, 4 at the most if Tally’s evil bladder continued shrinking. 

She watched, out the bus window, as the small cabin faded into forests and the road twisted and wound down the mountain. "We will come back, baby I promise. Me and you." She murmured when it was finally gone from sight, her hand tracing idle shapes onto the bump. Someday, when it was safe and they were free she would bring her back. Someday.

As it turned out they made it through not only Montana, but through Wyoming and over a third of the way through Colorado stopping only for gas and the restroom...often thanks to Tally. It was nearly 20:00 hours before Nicte finally decided they had gone far enough and pulled the bus over to make camp. The Pike-San Isabel National forest, Tally had read the sign as they pulled past, quickly going off onto a dirt side road. They set camp deep within those dense evergreens, the trees towering tall and proud above them.

Much to Tally’s dismay, they wouldn’t let her help with the wards despite the fact that she was the most experienced after Nicte. And if she thought their protests at that offer had been dramatic...well, she should never have offered to help set up the small tents. She had no idea that Adil could look so utterly aghast. 

“You aren’t supposed to be lifting heavy things Tally, pregnancy 101.” Raelle had said, when Tally had found her duffle bag yanked from her grasp. She couldn't even protest, before Raelle was lightly shoving her toward Khalida, who was putting some small sticks in a hole she had sung into the earth for their fire that night. 

The two worked in companionable silence, before sitting and watching the others finish setting up camp. She pulled Khalida's small hand against her stomach when her baby began line dancing against it. She had never seen a smile like the one that graced Khalida's face at the feeling, the softness of it made her all the fonder of the girl especially as that palm began to move and another intricate sigil was traced atop her child.

"Shielding" Khalida whispered, before she stood to help Adil finish the last tent. By the time they finished and all the tents were securely set upon the cool earth, the sky had fallen dark and the air had become biting. Nicte had joined her, tossing a jacket her way and lighting the fire as she sat next to Tally. 

The two of them had watched as Abi, Adil and Khalida began walking back toward the bus, parked 1/4 mile away and safely hidden under multiple heavy glamours, to grab extra food for dinner. Tally knew that Quinn went to the tent she would share with Khalida to nap and was snoring gently, and Raelle and Scylla went to their tent for some…alone time. She was very much not letting her gift near that tent. So she was content to sit in silence with Nicte. At least until the food was finally there.

As it happened, Nicte was not apparently content to sit in silence. Which was odd for the older woman, even Tally would admit.

“I heard what you said at the cabin last night. About...her.” Nicte whispered as she pulled her knees against her chest and held them loosely. Her steel grey work rippled and shrank with...shame. Tally just nodded slowly, she had known. Nicte had been her shadow for the past month and a half, of course she had known. It didn’t surprise her that she had listened, and it didn't offend her either. It wasn't like her words were a secret anyways, the fact that Nicte was bringing it up though? That was somewhat surprising.

“I guess I didn’t actually believe that she could- that you both loved the other. I still don't really. But- You know I let my hate and anger, rightful anger mind you, I let it excuse my actions for a long time. And I thought I was doing the right thing you know, making even the debts of witch lives I blamed her for loosing, with civilian lives I blamed her for saving. And then I lost control of my own organization. I-I'm not a good person and I know that but...”

Nicte paused, as if the words she were trying to spit out had gotten stuck somehow. Tally was more than willing to give her time, time to put what she needed to say into words. And eventually Nicte succeeded. She took a deep breath that shuddered ever so slightly, and said- “I…you know I loved her back then, don’t you.” It wasn't a question, but Tally still nodded and Nicte continued. 

“Yeah, somehow I figured. I told her as much once, and she was kind, when she turned me down. Spewed some bullshit about sisterhood. I thought she had sworn off relationships outside of Beltane. And I was okay with that ya know? I trusted her back then. Goddess I was so young and stupid…And then Liberia, and the farce of the martyrdom...And after that I just hated her. I hated who and what she was. And Red, I don’t understand how you could still love her. Not after knowing everything she has done. But do you know what is even worse? I don’t understand why I am still alive. She was supposed to kill me, there in front of everyone and I was terrified. Yet you who claimed to love her so fucking much, still offered to take my place. You were willing to make the woman you love kill you in front of everyone...For me. And don’t get me wrong Red, I’m grateful I just don't-Oh fuck, you were pregnant then too. I hadn’t even thought of that.” 

Tally looked at her then, turned bodily to rest a heavy gaze on Nicte, not laden with pity but rather with sorrow. She knew, of course she knew. Sarah had told her everything, the truth behind the martyrdom. That confession of a young, happy Nicte Batan...hell she knew Jem Bellwethers favorite food, she knew everything. 

“The martyrdom…was poorly handled. Truly terribly handled even by ‘Sarah standards’ which lemme tell you were already kinda low. But Nicte, she had her reasons. The president at the time wanted to take their voices, no witch should ever loose their song. He had wanted to make an example out of them. To show the world what happens to witches who disobey. So she made yet another impossibly hard choice, and she saved them all so much suffering. She shouldn’t have hid that from you, it was wrong. She was trying to protect you, she just handled it very badly. Even she admitted that."

Sarah had admitted it, as they had laid in Sarah's bed that first night. Hours after Tally had barged into the large office, demanding answers she didn't deserve but was granted anyways. They hadn't gone beyond rest and tales of choices long since made that night but...oh goddess she missed her so much.

"It was kind of her thing ya know, making choices to protect people…only to realize that actual communication might have been the better route. As for your execution-” Tally paused, gnawing on her bottom lip. Not because she wasn't willing to say it, she just knew that this conversation was going to be rough for them both to say the least...but she knew it needed said. She had known it would be brought up eventually, and likely would be brought again. It was one of those things that was just inevitable. Like her and Sarah had been.

“It was her idea, Nicte. To have me perform the rite of proxy at your execution. We had it all worked out- It was a public setting, no one would dare argue with the results. A reason for you to live, and to still be an ally in this war with the Camarilla. An ally she knew we would need. She said that she could claim the debt she and her biddies all owed me for my sacrifice to her service, a life for a life. She could spare my life, the one I offered for you, because I had saved hers and 6 of the biddies. Witch laws so old the book we found it in wasn't even in English, have the debt paid or some shit. Honestly it was a loophole that took us and the biddies hours to find. But see, we forgot something. We forgot that the only ones who knew that we actually had a plan were the biddies. And that damned protection versus communication issue came into play again...Rae and Abi panicked, and Petra and the president took advantage of the situation…and before we could even talk again, before I got to see any of the biddies or her, the Camarilla came and she was just gone.”

Tally turned away from where she was sat looking into the flames, turned until she fully faced Nicte and pulled her knees under her body. The older woman looked almost small, maybe even frail under the weight of that truth. Knees still pulled up to her chest, it was oddly reminiscent of the way Tally had sat, when she had screamed that night she had first found out about her impending motherhood. The steel grey magic rippled off of Nicte in waves like a roaring sea, the shame from earlier replaced by unnamable turmoil.

"Look at me?" Tally whispered softly, waiting until Nicte's own brown eyes turned to hers. There was a suspicious sheen over that earthy shade, one that had a sad tiny smile spreading on Tally's face. 

“Sarah Alder was human, and that is something so many people managed to forget. I think even she did for a while. She made so many mistakes Nicte, but she knew that. She accepted it as a fact as true as the stars. And too many of them were ones that caused you harm, and for that she was so very sorry. And you made mistakes too, I get that...But I need you to know she loved you, even if it was in a different way from what you had originally wished for. You were one of her chosen sisters, once. And for what its worth, she would be proud of you now. She would never admit it in a million years, but she would be proud. Hell she would be beyond proud, she would be grateful because you have saved me, and you have saved our child. Despite all of the bad, believe me when I say that counts for something.” 

She had no idea what else to say, so she said nothing at all. Instead she reached out and pulled Nicte’s hand gently across the small space between them before she softly rested Nicte's open palm on her stomach. Right where Khalida had traced an ancient symbol. Right where her daughter danced. She watched as her older companion felt the flutter of those tiny kicks for the first time. She didn’t cry but Tally knew it was a very close thing. That glossy sheen in Nicte's eyes only thickened and she knew in her bones, that what she said next would cause the woman in front of her to break, for the first time in who knows how long. 

“You saved her Nicte Batan, you saved us."

Chapter Text

Mourning, for her own loss, and for Nicte’s. That was the only way to describe what the moment was. Well, that and way to brief. Footsteps echoed closer, Abigail, Adil, and Khalida returning, and the sound had Nicte pulling her hand from Tally’s stomach.

She watched as Nicte hurriedly wiped the stray tears before the rest of the group approached them and the fire for dinner.

The conversation that accompanied dinner was stilted, yet somehow it wasn’t awkward and for that Tally was grateful. They were all tired she knew, in the way only a long car, or prison bus, ride could ever make someone. A unique restlessness despite their desperate need for actual rest.

Nicte didn’t say a single word after the others joined them, but that was alright. Tally was happy to sit next to her, to sit with her in that mournful silence while the others talked amongst themselves and ignored the red rims around Nicte’s tired eyes.

She understood, somewhat at least, the weight she had both put on, and lifted from Nicte Batan’s shoulders. She knew all too well how much the true Sarah Alder could mess with a person. The mental and emotional toll her Sarah’s truth could take on a person. After all it had done a number on her too, in the beginning of it all those months ago. 

When the others said their goodnights and began to disperse back to their tents for some much needed rest, Nicte turned and wordlessly helped Tally off the ground. But once Tally was straightened and standing for the first time in well over two hours, Nicte walked quickly to their shared tent, leaving Tally to stretch the sore muscles in her back and legs alone. It was almost nice, she hadn’t truly been alone in…well a while.

The fire was beginning to fade into embers, so Tally sang a quick seed that cooled the fire and ground around it. Smokey the bear would be so proud, she snickered to herself as the final light of the flames went out. She reached out with her knowing, following the path it gave that would lead her to her tent. But as she turned to follow after a likely already sleeping Nicte, she heard something that caused her blood to run cold. It was a sound that echoed just outside the wards. A loud snapping of a twig.

She stilled, reaching with her gift in the direction of the sound. An animal, it had to be. There were elk in the woods, bears too. It was an animal, she tried to assure herself.

She pushed her knowing carefully through Nicte’s iron wards, and into the deep forest surrounding their camp. There, the faint translucence she had first seen on the dry grass of the Tarim…the waves of tainted magic. The camarilla are here she realized with a start. Her heart raced as her she yanked her gift back into herself tightly wrapping it around that dark gold within her. She stood utterly frozen to the spot, unable to lift her feet- unable to move. Somehow though, she managed that faint warble that reached with farspeech for her sisters, for Nicte, for anyone awake to hear her.

“They found us. The Camarilla are here. They found us.” She whispered, hoping- praying that someone would hear here, that someone was awake and would respond. A faint whisper cackled in the back of her mind, and she nearly collapsed with the relief that washed over her.

“The wards are holding, they can’t see us yet. But with their damned voice boxes that might not last. How many are there kid?” Nicte’s voice sounded in her head, and she had never been more relieved to hear that voice. She sighed in that relief, and forced her skittish gift back out into the woods even as it clung to the deep gold of her baby. Oh Goddess-

“13, there are 13.” Something black and inky caught her gifts attention, caused it to roar in trepidation as it soared back into her and shielded the gold to the point it was drowning in her green. 

No, she thought desperately, nonononono

“Guys they have witch plague. Like…a lot. The wards won’t protect against that if they release it.” Silence.

Suddenly a hand covered her mouth and she was yanked around, she opened her mouth to scream, to beg or shout or-

But it wasn’t an enemy that held her gently. It wasn’t translucent work of death that filled her senses but instead it was the rich honeysuckle of Adil’s magic echoing around an invisible silhouette that held her gently as the hand was removed from her lips. She nearly collapsed with relief as it again washed over her.

A low hum caught her attention, and she felt as though she had suddenly been doused with cold water. He had pulled her into his own invisibility working she realized, she hadn’t known that was possible let alone that Khalida would allow it. His features rippled with his work and suddenly she could see her brothers worried face as clear as day.

Goddess she hadn’t realized just how much being alone had terrified her, not until she wasn’t. He caught her as her legs finally gave out to that relief, and he pulled her into a shielding hug that made her want to cry.

“It’s all going to be alright Tally. It’ll be fine, let them handle this one. For her okay.” He said, his tone borderline pleading and his own relief shone in his eyes when she nodded.

Then she heard the screaming, so much screaming. She buried her head into his shoulder the best she could when it was clear he wasn’t going to let her go. So she pulled her gift from where it shielded her daughter, and she pushed it away toward the yells. 

Abigail and Nicte were out there, she could see the grey and thistle workings dancing violently together against the common enemy. Just passed the wards the women themselves were moving, their scourges whirling in a deadly dance. Their magic rippled with fear and anger and was quickly joined by the violent indigo of Scylla. Scylla, who was merely grinning a grin utterly wicked and using a small blade to slit the throat of those she was able to sneak up on as she hummed the seed Tally had found to neutralize the voice boxes so many months ago.

Even though Tally couldn’t see Khalida on the battlefield, the cornsilk of her magic filled every orifice of the earth. Where- oh. She was still in bed, Tally realized. Khalida was staying safely in her tent with Quinn, likely under the same Tarim seed she and Adil were. That brilliant, powerful girl. She was yanking the camarilla into the earth, even as far from the violence as she was. Only pulling them ankle deep, enough to not be the root of their death or pain but rather still them so the older women could kill them. 

As for Raelle, her Sea Foam work melded seamlessly with the brilliant bright mycelium white as it burst out and surrounded the small sample of witch plague trying so hard to suffocate it. 

That inky death looked so small, but that amount was enough to wipe out every one of them and tenfold. Raelle was struggling. Tally could feel her sister struggling, and she could do nothing. She felt so useless, trapped in Adil’s arms. So…helpless. Her sisters were fighting while she was here, hiding her face in her brothers shoulder. She could only watch as Raelle faltered, as her beloved sister fell to her knees and that sea colored and white magic undulated back towards her.

She could only sob her sisters name, as Adil held her squirming form in place. She hadn’t expected to feel a sharp kick in her abdomen pulling her gift back in suddenly and herself from her place in Adil’s arms. The hardest yet, followed by another and another- and she couldn’t help the pained shout that escaped her lips so loudly it echoed as she fell to her knees.

She couldn’t see the streak of black lightning that danced across the sky, the dark gold moving with it. She didn’t see it hit right where she knew the fight was taking place, where Raelle was faltering. She knew nothing except the residual pain of her daughters violent movements that even her harsh rubbing barely soothed away as Adil fell to his own knees beside her.

Silence followed her shout. No sound reached her ears other than Adil’s and her own panicked breaths filling the air for who knows how long. Until, “TALLY?! ADIL, TALLY?!” Abigails voice sounded out, just inside Nicte’s wards. The girl came running from the woods limping slightly, just as Adil dropped the invisibility working.

“Thank the Goddess” he muttered, standing quickly and yanking Abigail to him tightly. Scylla and Raelle both quickly fell to their knees and embraced Tally, pulling her gaze of her other siblings as she grabbed them held them both back.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Raelle muttered, before pulling away and Tally found the fixers hands roaming quickly over her. “You are okay right? I thought I heard you screaming! When you far-speeched us I-”  Tally was so close to bursting into tears she just nodded and yanked them both back against her. She didn’t care about the blood that was transferring from their clothes to her own. A problem for future Tally.

“I’m okay I promise, I-” She said, as she was pulled out of Raelle and Scylla’s arms and standing and into Abigails.  “Really, Adil got to me before any of the fighting even started and we stayed well within the wards. But you guys…are you all okay? Abs, I saw you limping.” Raelle straightened at those word, forcing Abi to sit down where they were standing so she could look at her sisters ankle. Ever the fixer, even after Tally had watched her drain herself.

“I’m good, just twisted it. I think when Khalida grabbed one coming up behind me, she accidentally caught me.” Abi said, as she lifted the pant leg to show the light bruising. She let Raelle fix her, and as the bruising faded Nicte approached the group. She didn’t hug Tally…at least not until Tally wrapped her arms around the woman and hugged her first.

“Quinn and Khalida are fine.” She said gruffly, and Tally knew Nicte would deny the kiss that  she placed on Tally’s brow as she released her. “They’re packing up as we speak. More importantly though Tally, what the fuck was that? Because I’m gonna be honest, there is only one person I know capable of lightning like that, and she is dead.” 

“What- Nicte what are you talking about?” Everyone was staring at her now, even Adil had an eyebrow raised.

“You didn’t see the lightening.” She shook her head.

“Dimples, how the hell did you miss that?”

Tally froze, “I…I actually have no idea. She…the baby kicked, like a lot. And really hard and my knowing kind of just abandoned ship…that’s why I screamed. Because she kicked. What-what happened?” She asked, unsure if she were actually ready for the answer.

It was Scylla who spoke up, from her spot behind Raelle. “It was amazing Tally.” The raven on her shoulder crooned softly before flying back into the trees. “Rae was trying to kill the witch plague, but she was struggling. You were right, there was a decent amount there. Suddenly out of no where, lightning just struck the canister and the guys holding it and between that and Rae’s mushroom magic it just disappeared. Poof, gone in a flash.” Her pun made her snicker. 

Not Tally, nope Tally didn’t laugh. Tally was too busy having a crisis.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy fuckin shit there is no way. No fucking way. Nope. You baby, you are a fetus. you can’t be summoning lightning while you are still inside me. Nope, not allowed. She thought on the verge of spiraling yet again, so close to falling into that endless circle of panic when a snort to her left brought her out of it…mostly. 

That snort turned into a gasp. That gasp into a laugh and before they knew it Nicte Batan was cackling like a damned hyena. Tally stared. They had heard Nicte chuckle before sure, usually at her own crudeness but none of them had ever actually heard her laugh. It was a weirdly contagious giggling sound, even Tally found herself smiling as the rest of them fell into snickers. 

“Of fucking course Sarah-“ Nicte managed through her giggles. “Of course your goddess damned child summons lightning before even being born. Fuck me,” Nicte had to lean against a tree as another bout of cackling took her. “Dimples you are going to have your hands so fucking full when that baby starts to scream. So full.”

Chapter Text

Five minutes. Nicte howled like a maniac for five minutes. By the time she finally stopped, Raelle and Scylla’s tent was already down, the two had started on Tally and Nicte’s and the others were well over halfway.

When Nicte’s cackling did finally quiet, she looked at Tally, who simply cocked an eyebrow from where she had sat back on the damp earth and asked “Ya done?” The sarcasm was heavy, even to her own ears- Sarah would have been so proud.  Cover the panic with passive aggression, her Sarah was good at that. The brunette snickered, but she nodded none the less.

“Yeah Red, I’m done.”

“Good, than maybe you can tell me if they knew that we were here? Is that why they were in these woods? Hunting us?” Tally asked, the conversation turning serious as the others wandered over with full arms for the small trek back to the bus. With Nicte’s help she stood again, her guard dogs arms hovering as she steadied herself. 

Tally reached to take her own small bag from Scylla’s arms when she was close enough, only a little surprised when Nic intercepted and grabbed it herself as she answered. Any amusement from before had fled Nicte at the question. 

“Yeah, I think they might have been looking for us. They brought enough witch plague to wipe out ten Fort Salems. No way they transport it in such large…doses on the regular. Unless they were going to try to take out the witch bomb. So yeah, they must have known, which means someone probably told them.” 

Tally was confused, “But who did-”

“The creepy dude” Scylla whispered as the others approached. Tally watched as Scylla’s eyes shot towards Khalida of all people.

“When we stopped for gas, right before we pulled off the main road and headed here. There was a guy smoking something putrid as hell and he just stared at Khalida and me the whole time we were inside. I just figured he had something against women or was just a creep…but if he recognized one of us? She was the only other one who got out of the bus, and even though I didn’t recognize him from my wee undercover stint…we were still the only ones who got off the bus.”

Fuck, they had been so carful to remain low while in public spaces. Only Quinn, Scylla, and Khalida were allowed out of the bus without disguises. Their faces were far more unrecognizable, unknown. Apparently that was going to need to change as well, meaning everything was getting more complicated.

Fuck, okay. We just have to change how we do things. Be more careful. What would Sarah say? Goddess it was so easy to imagine her Sarah there, whispering in her ears, through that broken and rubbed raw bond. And it still hurt just as badly when she remembered her Sarah was gone.  She took a breath, as her hands came to support her back.

“We need to change course, we head straight into the cession from here instead of continuing south. We can get lost a little easier there than we can in within the state lines.” Tally said. “And Abi, we need to get a hold of your mom. Not- not about the baby, not yet. I’m…I’m not ready for that.” Goddess would she ever be ready for that? Abigail just hummed her agreement.

“But we need to get a hold of them, we haven’t heard anything at all outside of political mumbo jumbo. We need to make sure that they actually have a plan. That they are capable of winning the war, if they can do it without us in play.” She would give it up, her little coven. She would send them back to Fort Salem and continue hiding alone if they were needed to win this war, since it was her fault that had taken them out in the first place. All of it was her fault, that communication issue.

The trek through the woods and back to the bus was somber despite the brief lightheartedness of Nicte’s laughter, the past hour replaying in all of their heads. Death had been so close, it would have taken them in their sleep if Tally had been faster in going to bed. For once she was grateful for the discomforts of pregnancy.

They piled past the wards and into the bus. Nicte was at the wheel again, and as they began to move, Tally hugged her midriff protectively, her knowing drifting and wrapping back around that gold, and she drifted off into a restless sleep full of echos. 

“Tally, my Tally.”

Someone was touching her oh so gently, and there were fingers lightly tugging at her messy braids. No, wait, not tugging. Those fingers were carefully untangling the mess that sleep and the nights drama had turned them into.

Oh this was very nice, having her head safely in dream Sarah’s lap and her hair played with by those familiar fingers.

“This rats nest of yours needs an actual brush darling, I don’t even need to see it to know that…How I wish I could truly see you, not just feel you. I miss your face, those dimples” Tally smiled, leaning towards the ghostly touch that caressed her cheek in a way it had done a hundred times before. “You need to wake up lovely, it’s late morning already and you’ve been asleep for hours.” She opened her mouth to protest, she didn’t want to leave. Not ever.

“I can also feel your hunger. Wake up my love, I will wait here for when you sleep again.” The feeling of warm, chapped lips caressed her forehead and-

Tally opened her eyes, smiling as she turned her head to see that blue and- nothing. Her Sarah wasn’t there, it had been another damned dream, the echo of her voice, of her touch, even of her love through that broken bond.

My love why are you haunting me she thought, as she blinked away the tears that welled in her eyes. She stretched out her sore muscles, flinching at the throb in her back. Quinn suspected she was barely past month 7, and she was so done with this. Her back ached, her feet ached, everything ached. 

Her mood had turned from content to melancholy when she had woken alone on the bus bench seat. Though Raelle, who had plopped down beside her a few moments later, made that melancholy ache flee just a little.

“We were thinking you were never going to wake up” she teased as she handed her something wrapped in a paper towel. Two sandwiches, the insides of the bread were absolutely filled to the brim with the huckleberry jam she craved. Tally felt the grin grow across her face, widening until her dimples indented just slightly. 

“You know if she has your dimples, we are all fucked right? Lightning is cool and all, but it has absolutely nothing on those.” Raelle teased as she poked Tally’s cheeks.

Tally laughed as she swatted the blondes hand away and took a bite of the sandwich.

“Shit this is so good.” She muttered, stuffing another bite into her mouth. Raelle just grinned, before leaning back against the bench seat.

“Abigail and Adil are back asleep too, but Nicte said she wants to have the bus moving as long as we can so we probably will only be making short stops from here to the safe house in the cession.” She paused, gnawing on her lip. She was nervous. 

“Scylla sent Morrigan…she sent him to Fort Salem. She and Nicte wove some kind of work around him this morning while Quinn drove. Scyl said it’s kind of like far speech…It might take a few days for him to fly all the way there, which means it’ll be longer before we hear back from them, but she sent Morrigan to Anacostia with a message about the situation. And I…I made her say we shouldn’t be fighting anymore. That we need somewhere truly safe for a while. We left out your situation though. Just…they know that there is a situation is all.”

Raelle was rambling, and fuck it actually was kind of endearing. Maybe Sarah hadn’t been lying when she claimed to love Tally’s own rambles. The words hit her then and- Oh, that’s why Raelle was so nervous, because of the message that had been sent. Tally just smiled again, watching as the faint relief showed in her sisters posture.

“Good, thats good. Thank you Rae, for letting this be something for me to say. As soon as we see them all in person I will tell them. I promise.” Raelle snickered at that, which hadn’t been the reaction Tally had expected.

“Tals listen, you are my sister and I love you, please never doubt that. But if you think that you showing up looking like the human incubator you currently are isn’t a dead giveaway than you are sorely mistaken.” Tally gasped as she swat at Rae’s arm, though the blonde just laughed as she slid out of the way.

“Okay first, rude. Second, you tell me which was harder to accept- the baby or the baby daddy? momma? Ya know what I mean.” Tally asked smugly as she jammed the last bite of jellied bread into her mouth. 

The silence that came in response made her smirk.

“Oh shut up” Muttered Raelle, pulling Tally down so the red heads legs were hanging off the side of the bench into the middle aisle, and her head secured in the blondes lap. She sighed, almost as content as she had been in her dream, as Raelle combed her hair. First with her fingers, and then with the brush that she pulled from Tally’s small bag. 

Tally didn’t even notice that last nights braids were already gone as she drifted into that wonderful place between awake and asleep.

The blissful nothingness.

Chapter Text

They made few stops, Tally’s shrinking bladder being the main delay on their drive to the Cession. Other than the bathroom breaks, it was an uneventful and incredibly long drive. Jokes were told, games played between the younger of the group, and naps were taken. So many naps.

Halfway through the second full day of driving, when they were midway through the cession and the tensions were continuing to rise. To the point that Abigail, and her Bellwether patience, finally snapped.

“Tally isn’t the only one with a fucking bladder Batan!” Abigail had yelled, when Nicte refused to stop twice in the same hour. The argument that ensued was long, exhausting for Tally who had barely slept because of the movement inside of her. And the fight lasted all of three minutes before Quinn interrupted the two hot heads.

“Nicte, when we stop for gas let me drive for a bit.” The fuming women paused and turned to her.

“I know someone who lives near here, someone that I trust. They can feed us some hot meals, put us up in actual beds for the night. Possibly even a few nights, longer if we need. They are barely two hours from here if my estimations aren’t wrong. I can make a call next stop, and we can be somewhere safe by dinnertime tonight.” 

The hope was palpable, oh goddess an actual bed. She could sleep in an actually bed. Tally’s whole body ached, in a way she hadn’t know was even possible. Not even being old had made her hurt like this. Even after the most intense physical training Ana had put them through she had still felt better. A bed sounded absolutely amazing, and so did an actual hot meal.

Nicte looked like she desperately wanted to argue, like she wanted to drive 8 more hours only to cram into her tiny cabin in the middle of no where.

“Quinn we-“

“Nicte, please.” Tally interrupted, before Nicte could finish her sentence. “Please.” That seemed to do the older woman in, her begging…and the pout Tally had plastered desperately upon her face. 

Oh the girl knew exactly what she was doing. How Nicte had ended up practically adopting this red headed little shit with goddess damned Bambi eyes, she would never know. 

“Fine, ya know what? Fine. bBut Quinn if this ends poorly it is on you.” She huffed, glaring ahead until she pulled the bus into a gas station five minutes later. After yet another masked bathroom break, fill up, and snack run the group settled back into their spots. Happy to almost be done driving, even if it was just for a little while. 

By the time they had pulled onto yet another seemingly endless dirt road, the two hours Quinn had estimated were coming to an end. And Tally had to pee. Again.

Fortunately it seemed she wouldn’t have to wait long to leave the bus again, because Quinn pulled onto a well-hidden driveway. One that wound through a small woods before ending at an old but well-kept farmhouse…no not hidden, warded. 

Every inch of the property they had pulled into was surrounded, Tally could see the rippling pale pink wards that embraced them. They were powerful, really fucking powerful, at least a decade old. Driving through the wards made her feel like she was being drowned in silk, just for a split second. And for the first time in weeks she felt like she could actually breath, she hadn’t realized how badly she had yearned for safety.

Tally was both relieved and surprised by the pink that fluttered and rippled behind them as they continued forward. There were few people that had the knowledge for wards like these. Ones that stole minuscule amounts of power over time, until the grew to a substantial amount. 

Sarah had known the seeds to build them, they were just a few of the hundreds of wardings her Sarah had placed around Fort Salem. The ones like those pale pink ones had been siphoning from Sarah’s excess power for close to 300 years. And since Sarah knew, so did the biddies, and Ana. But few others, simply because the work was so old and out of common practice because of the sheer time it took to build them to power. She knew the ones around them now had to be at least three decades old maybe even older, and goddess above she felt so safe. She was safe, her sisters and brother and friends were safe…her daughter was safe. Here within these wards so much like her Sarah’s, they were safe.

The house itself was surrounded by half grown cornfields on three sides, the forest stretched out in the front. And there, standing on a beautiful wrap around porch, was a woman about Quinn’s age beside and a man who looked just slightly older. 

As she pulled the bus to a stop in front of the old, but beautiful, farmhouse, Quinn turned in the chair to look at the rest of the group. Her eyes fell on Tally…no not on Tally but on her swollen stomach. 

“Now I know that General Alder is a sensitive topic considering, but while we are here let’s try not to make her a topic at all?”

Tally was confused, but said nothing as she and the others nodded slowly. It seemed they were all as confused as she, though Nicte just seemed utterly wary. Quinn scurried out of the bus, and Tally watched as the older fixer hurried up the steps to the porch to the couple upon it. The three of them talked quickly, and Tally was tempted to use her gift to listen in. She didn’t have the chance though, as Quinn turned back to the bus and waved them out. 

One by one the group exited the bus that had been their home for well over 24 hours, their small bags were slung over their shoulders. Raelle and Scylla went first down the metal steps, followed by a very sleepy Khalida carried by Adil, and Abigail with both her own and Khalida’s bags. Nicte turned to Tally, and nodded once toward the bus door before leading the way. Nicte turned when she reached the bottom, and lifted a hand to help Tally down the steps before taking her bags. 

“Red, if I say get back to the bus you run back to the bus. If I say run to the woods you run to the woods. If I say anything, you do it. Got it?” Whispered the older woman as she leaned to lift the duffle away from Tally’s arms.

Tally just nodded, and grinned softly. Worrywart, she thought to herself.

They approached the porch slowly, everything seemed slow for her these days with the extra weight in front of her. The others were already waiting for the introductions to begin at the top of the white wooden stairs. Raelle reached a hand down when Tally got close enough, and she helped Tally’s sore body up the porch steps.

“Well, now that we are all here let me introduce you. The blonde one there is Raelle Collar, Willa’s daughter. This young lady is her girlfriend Scylla and that-“ 

“Quinn, you failed to mention that you are on the run with a pregnant girl?” Hissed the new woman, seeming utterly indifferent to the introductions being made. 

“And skipping ahead, that is Tally.” Quinn said with fond exasperation lacing her voice. A hand landed on Tally’s arm…apparently introductions were paused. 

“My poor dear, you look exhausted. Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.” The stranger said kindly. Her face was thin but beautiful, grey-blonde hair braided in a comfortable looking crown atop her head and crows feet at the corners of her hazel eyes.

“All of you come in, we have plenty of beds and three bathrooms. Tally, would you like a bath? I’m afraid we only have one actual tub but you look like you could use the soak most.” The woman just continued walking inside, pulling Tally gently by the elbow beside her. The group turned to look at Quinn, who just smiled and shrugged before following her…friend, the others hesitantly following behind them as Nicte glared at the silent man who followed.

The house was as simply beautiful on the inside as it was the outside, much to Tally’s delight. Plain pale yellow walls lined the comfortable living room and the mismatched furniture. There was a cushioned chair near the door that the stranger motioned to the minute they were in the door. 

“Sit dear, everyone else have a seat as well. Ellis, my love, go run the bath. Make sure to put some of the epsom salts under the sink in.” The man simply smiled and nodded, and then he walked around the group of strangers milling in his living room until he disappeared down a hallway.

“Now, I am sorry about the interruption, but you all looked dead on your feet. Why make you stand when we could chat in here hm?” Man, Tally might actually love this woman. And this chair, definitely the chair. Her gift seemed alright with the new presence, briefly alerting her to the pale pink magic rolling off her that matched the wards before returning back to its rest. 

“Yes, now where was I…Raelle, Scylla, that one is Abigail and beside her are Adil and his sister Khalida. This here is Nicte, and of course Tally.” The kindly woman smiled back at the strangers.

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you all. My name Chloe, Chloe Burroughs.”

Oh…oh no. No way. There was absolutely no fucking way, Tally thought as her mind furled back to a conversation she had had with Sarah not long before she had gone after Nicte. A night spent in each others company with no other motive than being near the other. 

“Sarah, I can still feel you. Can- can you feel me?” She had whispered they lay in bed, both staring at the ceiling content to let their hands clasp and their bodies rest. That night had been hard on them both, tensions rising until words that shouldn’t have been said were out in the open where they couldn’t be taken back. 

Making up that night hadn’t been physical. It had actually been a rather a very long conversation about priorities, and after that it was all emotional healing. And it was also so very exhausting, that healing. She could feel Sarah sigh beside her, weighted and ragged.

“I…Yes. Yes Tally, I can still feel you. It’s like my very soul has a second heartbeat. Your heartbeat. What you are feeling, but not what you are thinking. It’s only emotions…that and pain. Your pain is mine my love.” She said at last. 

Tally rolled over, moving until she was half upon the taller woman as she gently caressed that gorgeous face with her palm. “And yours is mine my Sarah. I can feel you all the time you know. When you’re stressed or happy or sad or anything…Has this ever happened with a biddy you released before?” Or is this just us? She wondered silently, hoped actually.

“Actually no, though you were only the fourth one released. I released one in 1855ish, another in the early 1920’s. Both were battlefield biddies, like you. And both went on to live happily in early retirement with no side effects whatsoever, at least nothing like this…As for the other, I have only released one trained biddy, though unlike you it wasn’t a kindness rather a necessity. But to answer your question no, it didn’t happened then either.” 

Tally felt an ache echo deep within her being where that bond still lived, Sarah’s ache. 

“Tell me about her?” She whispered against Sarah’s skin, wanting to soothe the pain they were both feeling. She felt Sarah bury her face in her loose red braid the same way Tally did the crook of Sarah’s neck.

“She was kind, young, beautiful, and full of passion. She was funny and always telling the worst jokes, her favorite color was pink. The other biddies and I gave her a pink blanket when she first joined us. She was the second youngest of 6 daughters and I swear her mother must have been a saint because the other five were hooligans…for the time that they lived.” Tally felt a sinking feeling in her gut. She didn’t know if it were her own, or Sarah’s. Or both.

“Her sisters all died in the year and a half she was in my service. One by one, three died in service. Carmen, Lucy, and Miriam. She didn’t blame me, not at first, being privy to my thoughts at that point. Then one of the last became ill, in a way not even our best fixers could heal. Cancer so fast and unnoticeable that it was too late to heal her when we realized what was happening. Luna, she was an identical twin. The other twin took her own life not even a month later, Finna was her name.” Sarah burrowed deeper into Tally’s hair, and the red head felt a wetness on her neck. 

“She was so…broken after that. Her will just gone, her parents lived and I-I thought it a mercy to offer to send her home. Give her the chance I thought I would have wanted in her shoes. She didn’t agreed, and was so so angry with me for even suggesting it. I think that the anger grew, and with it the pain of her loses because a week later, she too tried to-”

Tally didn’t need her to finish. She understood. She knew what that kind of pain could cause a person to do, what she would have done if not for her sisters. For her daughter.

“Anyways” Sarah continued after a moment, even quieter than before, “I couldn’t have a biddy willing to do that. Not at the risk of the others and myself. So we were unbound, despite her protests and I…I sent her somewhere to get help. She never forgave me for any of it. I checked up on her when I could, and I know the other biddies at the time did as well. She was our sister, and I had hurt her so terribly…as soon as she was deemed well enough to live, she chose to take her dispensation and disappear. Her last words to me were telling me she hated me. So when she vanished I chose to let her go without a fight, I had already taken so much I wasn’t going to take her freedom of choice. She was 29 again, had a new life that was wholly and completely hers.” 

Sarah Alder didn’t breakdown often, but she had more in Tally’s arms than she thought possible. This night was no different

“What was her name?” Whispered Tally, when the tears between them both had ended and the sorrow pounding through their bond calmed like the rain outside the window had. 

“Chloe, Chloe Grace Burroughs.” 

Chapter Text

Oh Goddess, Chloe Burroughs. Sarah’s Chloe Burroughs.

“Tally dear, are you alright?” 

The question shook Tally from that seemingly inevitable spiral at the realization of who it was standing in front of her. She stared for a moment at the woman, pink her gift whispered and it was the only thought she had over the disbelief. 

She shook her head, plastering what she hoped was a tired smile on her face.

“Sorry, yes I-I got lost in my own thoughts for a moment. That’s all, I’m alright.” There was a look in Chloe’s eyes that made Tally think she didn’t exactly believe her.

“Alright, if you’re sure. My husband is probably nearly finished up filling the tub. Why don’t I show you all where you will be sleeping?” The group nodded, following Chloe. 

“There are two rooms with twins, one queen, and one king.” She said as they came to the end of a hallway, stairs starting where the hall ended. Oh, oh goddess this was probably her house as a child, Tally realized. That’s why there are so many beds. Why the wards are so strong, this is where she must have come when she left Salem.

“The bedrooms on the left side of the hall are the twins, 1st on the right is a king, third door a queen. The middle door on each side has a bathroom, with a small shower in each. Feel free to use whatever is in there you might need. Don’t be too long mind, we get our water from a well and there are a fair few of you, towels are in the closet in the upstairs hall. Tally, you go on up with your things and come down in a few minutes and I can show you the bath.” 

Tally nodded, staring at this woman for a moment. This woman who Sarah had loved as a sister until her last breath, who had been bound to Sarah’s soul even if it was a brief time. The woman who had run from Sarah, had left her. 

“Thank you.” Was all she could seem to say around the cotton in her mouth.

Tally followed her sisters toward the steps. With Nicte spotting her from behind, Tally made her way up. She was ready to head into one of the twin rooms with Nic, but Raelle and Abigail dragged her into the first room on the right with Nicte a step behind. 

“Nicte and Scylla are sharing tonight. Same with Adil and Khalida.” Abi said. “We are having some sister time, just like the good old days yeah?”

Tally smiled and nodded before turning to Nicte to take her bags. 

“You apparently have a bath to get to Red, shout if you need me. And don’t lock the door, ward it instead so your sisters or I can get in if you need us too.” Tally smiled and nodded at her. 

And with that nod, Nicte headed to the room directly across the hall. The showers were already running, it was the first time they had had running water in almost a week. It had been even longer since that water was warm, months actually. Since before they had been forced into bridles and cells, after Sarah had been taken from her.

“Tals, you good?” Tally turned to look at her sister, her brow raised as she met the grey blue eyes staring at her.

“It just…it isn’t really like you to zone out when someone is talking to you.” Raelle asked, the same worried look she had had nights ago at the cabin. Tally glanced at the open door and towards the staircase down the hall where Chloe Burroughs waited for her somewhere on the main floor of the house.

“Tonight, I will tell you tonight.” She had promised them honesty. “I don’t-I don’t think its anything bad. My gift is being quiet so thats good. It was just surprising, thats all.” She said as she reached for one of the newer shirts and sweatpants that would fit over her and baby both. She turned and saw her sisters looking at her, but they nodded as she met their curious gazes.

Good, this was good. It wasn’t something she thought she could keep to herself. Not when she could still feel that phantom pain echoing through the broken remnants of the bond when she thought about that night in her Sarah’s bed. About Sarah’s pain, about Chloe’s pain.

She shook the thought from her head, the memory of that hurt.

“Alright, I am going to go sit in a bathtub apparently. Will…will one of you help me down the stairs? They are so damn narrow.” That got the reaction she had wanted, and she watched their worried looks shift into unbridled amusement. They both got up from where they sat on the bed, and with Abigail in front and Raelle behind they walked her carefully down the narrow staircase.

Once at the bottom, Abigail led the way back down the hall and toward the living room where Quinn, Chloe and Ellis were talking. Actually, Quinn seemed to be doing most of the talking. 

“She’s near 7 months I think, maybe even a tad farther than that. She didn’t even know until she was in her fifth month. The other parent isn’t in the picture I’m afraid. She’s a good girl, good head on her shoulders. But stuck in this shit situation isn’t easy, and alone through it.” They were talking about her which, rude, but also understandable. She was well into a pregnancy that would have been common knowledge had she learned at a more normal time. It should have been part of the warrant out for her. Instead only about 10 people were privy to the information. 

Tally cleared her throat, “Hi, sorry. Um…you asked me to come down here?” 

Abi and Raelle stayed behind her as she stepped forward into the light of the living room. a faint blush finding its home across her cheeks even as a soft smile grew on Chloe’s.

“Yes, yes of course. Ellis has gotten it all ready for you, come along let me show you the way.” 

“Is there any chance I could get some water?” She could hear Raelle ask Ellis, and the mans kind voice responded though Tally couldn’t make out what he said. Chloe led her down a second hallway, and pushed open a door to reveal a small but beautiful bathroom. There was even a towel warmer with the largest, fluffiest towels Tally had ever seen resting upon it. 

And the bath, the clawfoot tub looked so inviting and it smelled like lavender. Shit, is that a fucking bathtub pillow? She was going to die happily in that tub.

“Feel free to take your time.” Oh she was gonna.

“I can’t imagine going through all of this, and in your condition at that.” The woman tutted, “Oh well, you are safe here for now. This old place is well warded” Tally knew that, she could feel it even when she couldn’t see that wall of pink “And when you are done in here, get dressed and I will have some food whipped up for the lot of ya.” Tally nodded, so beyond grateful for the woman.

“How can I ever ever thank you, you are doing so much…risking so much for-”

Chloes gaze hardened, “None of you deserve what is happening to you, except maybe that Nicte Batan. Don’t think I don’t know that history…But if Quinn vouches for her she can be under my roof. And you are making an entire life within you while trying not to be killed yourself. You deserve some rest, in safety. Safety I am happy to provide. Now, enough chatter. Get in that tub before the water gets cold. Feel free to wash off in the shower when you’re finished. Shampoo and Conditioner are in there.” And with that the woman walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

Tally quickly stripped when the click of the door sounded, humming a small ward into place over the door just as Nicte had requested her to do. She paused, flinching as she took in her reflection within the vanity mirror.

She really was a mess. Her hair was greasy, and there was soot and dirt smudged all over her face. That was just the visible appearance. Her ankles were swollen, and her back ached. She felt huge. And she really had to pee. Again.

She did pee before climbing into the tub, careful not to slosh the water around too much. She laid her neck and head carefully on the pillow as the smell of the lavender salts filled her nose, and she felt truly weightless as the water helped ease the added pressure pregnancy had given her body.

Such peace, such comfort…If only you could be here my Sarah, for all of the highs and lows of this she thought, as the baby inside her kicked hard enough to cause tiny ripples in the water. You would have cherished every minute of this. 

It was her last thought as she faded into sleep.

Chapter Text

She was back. Thank the goddess she was back. 

“Your hair is soaking wet my love, and you feel…content. Melancholy, but content. Where in the world are you?” That echo, Sarah’s echo whispered as the ghostly hand caressed her head, fingers gently running over the wet hair.

“Bath” Tally mumbled sleepily, curling up into the touch wishing for more. She was granted that wish, the hand returning over and over as it ran through her hair.

Sarah’s echo snorted, “You shouldn’t be sleeping in the bath my love.” At least she sounded amused.

“Baby summon lightning- Save me.” She mumbled again, turning into the hand that stilled at her words.

“Tally Craven, I am pretty damn sure I’m dead. I cannot save you if you accidentally drown yourself in a bath, and I will not have you joining me one second earlier than you should.” 

Tally opened her mouth, to explain that it wasn’t echo-Sarah baby, but in-the-belly baby when-

Someone was knocking on the door to the bathroom, softly and without urgency but still it was enough to wake her.

“Tally, you good in there? Everyone else is all showered, there's no hurry but dinner will be ready soon.” Raelle’s voice sounded through the shut door. “Do you need me to come in?” Tally opened her mouth to say no, and promptly slammed it shut when she realized her newest problem.

“Rae…promise not to laugh?” There was a moment of silence, one Tally spent the entirety staring at the ceiling for.

“Cross my heart Tals.” Liar. She was absolutely going to laugh as soon as she heard what Tally was about to ask and they both knew it. But alas, it couldn’t be helped. Unless she wanted to move into this bathroom until her daughter finally made an appearance. 

“I…Okay so I fell asleep in the tub, and still need to wash my hair in the shower but-“ She cut off, face turning red with embarrassment. “I need help getting out of the tub. Stupid gravity and a huge fucking baby makes it really hard.”

She could hear her sister snort, before the door opened and Raelle slid in. Abigail slid in behind her, shamelessly giggling at Tally’s expense. Tally glared at them both, with venom in her gaze that Sarah would have been proud of.

“What, I promised. She didn’t.” Was all the fixer said as Abigail sat on the closed toilet lid still cackling. Raelle reached a hand down towards Tally and with a little struggling, Tally was standing up in the tub. Abi stood too quickly take her free hand, and together they got her safely out of the tall porcelain jail cell. She turned her glare from her sisters, to the tub.

“Thank you...shit I still have to wash my hair.” Tally groaned, and with another chuckle her sisters quickly left the bathroom.

It only took a few minutes to get her hair clean, and herself feeling more human than she had in months. She dried herself with the warm fluffy towel and quickly pulled on the clean clothes she had brought down with her. She gathered up her dirty ones to take back up to her room, but when she opened the door and headed for the stairs she was intercepted by Ellis. He had a kind smile, she realized. And no magic, he was a civilian. 

“Chloe already has everyone else’s dirty laundry going in the washer. I can throw this in with it.” He said, shooting her a wink before disappearing back into the same room he had come out of- A laundry room she realized when the humming of the washer sounded behind the door. 

“Thank you!” She called quietly after him before padding barefoot into the living room. Nicte sat on a tall, comfy looking chair. Hell everything in the room looked comfy, this house…it made sense why Chloe had come here after everything she supposed. The house was her comfort, and thanks to the knowledge she gained as Sarah’s biddy she had managed to keep it not only safe, but hidden. Even from Sarah herself.

“Hope shepherds pie sounds good Dimples.” Nicte said, standing. She led Tally to the dining room where there was a large wooden table set with dishes and silverware, her coven already sitting around it. They all looked freshly showered and as relaxed as she felt. Even Nicte seemed to have let some of her guard down. She slid into the empty seat next to Abigail, and Nicte sat down on her left. The smells wafting from the next room over were mouth watering, and before she knew it Quinn, Ellis, and Chloe were bringing in three large trays.

Oh. My. Gosh. 

The food didn't just smell amazing, it was easily the best thing she had eaten since leaving...well leaving her mom's home on the commune in California. It was quiet around the large table, everyone too busy stuffing the delectable meal into their faces to really start a conversation before Chloe spoke.

“Raelle, Quinn mentioned before that you are Willa’s daughter?” Rae was caught off guard, Tally could tell from her seat across the table and quickly nudged her ankle.

“Um…Yeah. Yes. She was my mom.”

“Willa was a powerful fixer. When I was younger-” Tally noticed the stumble over that word, she knew the reason for it. “One of my sisters was very ill. Quinn and your mother, they tried their best to save her. Got closer than anyone else and made her comfortable, even at the end. For that I owe them both much. I was saddened when I heard of her passing, and I am so very sorry for your loss.” 

Raelle could do nothing but nod, tears welling in her eyes. Tally couldn’t have that. Nope, no sad sisters allowed. But lunging across the table to hug her wasn’t exactly an option these days, so abrupt subject change it was. Scylla was already holding Rae's hand under the table anyways, so it would have to do.

“Thank you again, so much for everything Chloe, Ellis. Chloe, this shepherds pie is…it's amazing. Honestly the best I’ve ever had. Where did you learn to cook?” She asked quickly. Chloe turned to her and nodded, “Oh, it was my pleasure dear. I learned the basics fairly young, a skill I went without using for a while but eventually it came back to me. And Ellis, well he is the real artist. He can season anything to perfection.” That small smile graced her face again.

Ellis took over the conversation after that, asking Adil if he had ever heard the story about the witch father, the priest, and the rabbi. It had everyone guffawing into their plates, and Raelle snorting gravy through her nose. He entertained them with jokes and anecdotes long past dinner. Chloe refused help from Tally when it came time to clean up, instead having her sit at the table with a cup of truly delicious herbal tea. 

The night ended quickly, early even. They were still tired from their trip and sudden change of plans, that knowing they were safe? It was like the physical part of being unbiddied again, like feeling 50 years of physical stress just disappeared leaving only exhaustion in its wake. 

The three sisters went up to their room about half an hour after dinner had ended. Tally was beyond weary, despite the short nap in the bath. She quickly crawled into the bed, feeling her sisters climb in on either side. She laid on her back, wishing more than anything she could sleep on her stomach like she used to before she had grown too large. Raelle was cuddling up to her left side when the blond whispered, “What’s the deal with earlier?”
Oh, she had forgotten already…no more secrets though, she had promised.

“Chloe Grace Burroughs was one of the only other biddies released from Sarah’s service. It wasn’t as…nice for her. I don't think she wanted it at the time, either of them. She…her life was hard, and being forced out of the bond took a toll on her. She-Sarah just figured Chloe hated her. I think...I think maybe she just got lost.” She was pretty sure it was impossible to hate Sarah, no matter how much one might dislike the general.

“Shit, that…I'm assuming there’s more to that story?” Whispered Abigail. 

“Mmhmm. But the rest, the rest isn’t a me and Sarah secret guys. It is Chloe’s though, and I just- it feels wrong to talk about her sorrows when we are here in her house, and we are safe because of her own kindness.” 

There was a long moment of silence, as her sisters shifted on either side of her.

“Okay, yeah. You’re right. Yeah, let's just sleep. I’ll even rub your feet in the morning.” Raelle said, voice already heavy with it. 

Tally’s feet hurt, her back ached, her daughter kicking like she was a professional soccer player wasn't helping anything, yet sleep found her nonetheless. Dragging her back into that warm, solid darkness that was haunted by the ghost of her Sarah.

“You’ve been sleeping so much Tally, not that I am necessarily complaining. Are you alright?” Tally smiled, she knew her echo couldn’t see it but the hand caressing her face would feel the dimples. She felt a familiar solid warmth underneath her, like her her head was cradled in Sarah’s legs. A place it had been so many times before, one of her favorite places in the world.

“Yeah, I’m just tired. Exhausted. Everything is just so exhausting right now.” Her echo hummed softly, the sound reverberating deep in Tally’s mind, the worry sounding down to her soul . “Alright my love, if you are sure you are alright...How was the rest of your bath?” Her smile deepened.

“So good. I wish you were here Sarah. So badly.” The phantom lips touched to her forehead.

“As do I. You still feel content, even more so now. I take it you are safe, at least for the time being?” 

Tally nodded, then remembered that her echo wouldn’t be able to see. “For now…Sarah I-Quinn took us to a friend’s farm. And its…the friend that is- well it's Chloe Burroughs. Your Chloe. I’m safe, at Chloe Burroughs house. It’s warded almost as well as Fort Salem. So yes, I am safe. Probably for a while. And you were right, she is so so kind.” The hand had frozen on her face. Stayed frozen for a long moment, before Tally felt a splash of water on her cheek.

“Oh, oh no Sarah. I’m sorry my love, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” she said, reaching until she felt the solid sharpness of that familiar cheekbone. 

“I thought-I was worried perhaps she had gone off and succeeded where she had once failed.” Her echo whispered as Tally found the tear trail and carefully wiped them away. She could feel the flutter of eyelashes upon her thumb.

“Nope, alive and well. Married too, a man named Ellis. He’s nice too, and hilarious. And a civilian. He even took her last name, and he offered to give me a foot rub, which honestly would have been amazing but we were all too tired to stay awake any longer.” She felt her echo freeze under the gentle ministrations Tally was giving her tear damp cheeks.

“Tally what in the- why in the world would a stranger offer you a foot rub?” There was an odd mix of shock and amusement coloring her echo’s voice, filling that space where the bond was rubbed raw. Why was that so shocking, or amusing? Pregnant women had sore feet, and Tally was experiencing it first hand.  

“Pity probably, 'specially when Raelle said she wouldn’t. At least at first, but after we got in bed she said she would when we get up in the morning, so yay me!" She said, hoping it would clarify matters. It seemed too, as Sarah’s hands went back to her tangled hair again. “Mmmhmm, the sacrifices we make for our sisters I suppose.” Was the last thing she heard before her own sisters were shaking her awake. 

“I’m up” She muttered, wiping her face. Her hand came back damp…she must have been crying in her sleep. Damn it Sarah’s echo. I cry enough as it is she thought as she felt her sisters help her sit up.

“Chloe made pancakes, and I happen to know that a certain Nicte Batan has huckleberry jam for you.” Abi said as she reached a hand to help Tally up. And with that hand and the promise of huckleberry jam, Tally was up faster than she even knew possible anymore.

Chapter Text

The next days went by quickly. Much to her sorrow, Tally didn’t dream of her echo again. Sarah was gone from her dreams once again, she thought perhaps she had found some sort of closure. She didn't know what it would have been though.

Raelle kept her promise, and had contiued to give Tally’s sore feet morning foot rubs after breakfast, and everyone found ways to be helpful around the small farm. Even Tally was allowed to do small things, like wash dishes or help feed the only animals on the farm- chickens. The others found work in Chloe’s large garden and around the rest of the house. Adil and Nicte going so far as to help Ellis repair the barn roof. They had hidden the bus inside the large building immediately after the repairs were finished.

Quinn and Raelle had taken advantage of their new situation and forced Tally to sit through her second disturbingly thorough physical exam. This one was somehow worse than the first in that tent all those months ago. She could hardly look her sister in the eye for the rest of that day, not after knowing what she had seen...and touched. Quinn had said she was likely almost 32 weeks. Farther than they had realized, but would explain the sudden and rapid growth of the baby. It was daunting, knowing how much sooner her daughter would be there, it made everything seem...so much more real. 

“You went far too long in an unhealthy situation. It makes sense that once a little more consistency was added the baby would catch up.” Quinn had said, as Tally had sat in her silent panic. Only the gentle movements inside of her managed to soothe her that day, that reminder of who it was she would get to meet. Her daughter, hers and Sarah's.

It was the last day of July, and Tally and her makeshift coven's fourth day on the farm, when Morrigan found them again. Scylla was so happy she almost cried as she caressed the ravens dark feathers and kissed his head softly. 

Tally had collapsed onto the couch at the news he had brought, so much better than anything they had hoped for.

Petra and Anacostia had found out about Vice President Silver’s betrayal, his alliance with Hearst and the Camarilla. They had somehow, with the help of some soon to be pardoned spree members courtesy of Nicte, found actual physical evidence of his role in all of it that they had taken to Wade. Physical evidence tying him to the group that murdered his daughter. Proud that he helped murder his own daughter, before framing the truth of her death on the Bellwether unit. Tally felt her heart breaking once again for sweet, kind, joyful, Penny. But at least they knew now, she supposed, at least her friends soul could rest knowing that those responsible would pay.

Petra had even discovered the name of the doctor who had tortured Raelle- Doctor Alban Hearst. With the presidents permission, they had attempted to arrest Vice President Silver alive for the murder of his own daughter, before he killed six witches with a small dose of the witch plague. Three of them were spree members aiding the takedown, Nicte froze at that information. It was only because of her quick thinking, a man named Sterling, and likely General Alder’s training that Anacostia had made it out alive. Though she had been injured much to Tally's horror, a knife deep into her shoulder. Vice President Silver was dead at her hands. And the doctor, Hearst, they just needed to find him and the worst of this would be over.

Once they did, Raelle could witch bomb the remaining witch plague. The rest of the Camarilla soldiers would be gathered up to the best of their abilities, spree cells all over were already working with the army to take them out one base at a time. They were working as fast as they could to get the fugitives records cleared. But with General Alder gone, and with her the binding on the accords, everything seemed to go so much slower. Without the person who had made the decisions for the past 300 years, things were a kind of a mess. Besides, with Hearst loose they were all in danger. If they could send Morrigan back with a location, somewhere to meet, Anacostia would come to them as fast as she could while still remaining unfollowed. After all, an extended leave of absence was offered to Sergeant Quartermaine in response to her heroic actions against Silver, and the wounds she had received. She planned to take it and join them. The last of her chosen family, her baby sisters. 

The Bellwether unit huddled closer together at those words, tears falling shamelessly from Tally's eyes. They looked at Chloe, who had been listening. She must have read the pleading in their eyes because she simply nodded and said “We can decide a place a few hours outside the wards. Somewhere safe. Then if it’s truly her we can bring her in.” Tally nearly sobbed as her hand found her growing stomach. You are gonna get to meet your sister my love she thought.

A location was chosen to meet Ana, and once Morrigan was fed and rested he went off again. Likely to return faster given the fact they were closer and had no plans to change location on him again. Possibly to return within the next day or so, with Anacostia hopefully not far behind.

Tally could tell that Petra was exhausted just from the message alone, she knew that Abi could tell as well from the way her sisters shoulders were slumped and her thistle magic swirled with worry. She had pulled Abigail to her, gently kissing her sisters brow. Tally knew, better than anyone, the toll that leading the army could take on a person. She had seen it first hand, there was a reason Sarah persevered even after everything. She did it so no one else would have to suffer her station. So no one would have to make the choices she did. To bear the weight of those choices. And now Petra was having to take on that weight, and it was a heavy one.

But the news was good, and her coven was thrilled, even Khalida, at the thought of returning to Fort Salem. Returning home. So soon, maybe even in time for her daughter to be born there in the safety of Sarah's still dancing wards.

The day went by quickly as they all rode on the high of actual news. Good News damnit. Dinner was a happy affair, Ellis more than happy to entertain the crowd with his jokes again. That night, the rooms rotated. Abigail and Adil took the king, while Scylla and Raelle took the queen. It was Tally’s idea, she knew her sisters needed a break from her constant inability to lie comfortably still. And she knew they missed their partners. So Tally took a Twin room with Nicte, leaving Quinn and Khalida in the other. 

Sleep overtook her quickly, and for the first time in days she found herself back in the welcoming dark.

“I thought these dreams were over…it’s probably a sign of poor mental health that I’m so happy they aren’t.” Tally said, feeling the echo’s cares on her cheek. She wondered if the relief was truly so obvious in her voice as it was her soul. 

“Well, you can never say you were mentally stable if you chose to be in a relationship with me in the first place.” Her echo said, poking her cheek with a long finger.  Tally didn't need to see her to know she was grinning, she could hear it in her tone. That beautiful lilt it took with the curve of Sarah's lips.

“Anacostia is going to come to us.” Tally said, her smile so wide it hurt. “She is coming to us, and I finally get to tell her everything. About you, us. About all of it.” She reached her own hand to find her echo’s face. Her echo was smiling too, though no tears yet.

“Good. That…That is good news my love. I take it you will be able to return home soon?” Her echo asked, and Tally nodded. “Maybe even in time for the-“ Her words were cut off as pain radiated through her. Both her and her echo gasped with it. She groaned, as the pain persisted and both of her Sarah's hands moved to clutching her face, holding it tightly in place.

And all she knew was pain that was her own, and frantic worry that wasn't.

“Tally, what…what was that? What’s going on? Fuck you're being hurt, Tal-“ 

Tally sat up in bed as another flash of pain radiated up from the small her back, pulling her from the dream and causing her to flinch. Fuck fuck okay. Must be Braxton hicks contractions. Quinn said they might start soon. Oh fuck, this hurts. 

Goddess above, this wasn’t even real labor…but as quick as it had come the worst of the pain was gone, leaving Tally’s gift riled and her body aching. She sat up and pushed herself from the bed. She yanked her hoodie over the loose Glacier National Park top she was sleeping in, and she grabbed the small flashlight the Burroughs’ kept under the bedside table before heading slowly and carefully down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Everyone was asleep now, she realized as she tiptoed through the house. She flicked on the kitchen light and helped herself to a glass of water. It was cloudy outside, she realized. Not the first cloudy night but it looked like it could rain, not a single star was visible. That was good, Chloe’s garden could use the rain. 

She put her glass in the sink, content to get up and wash it in the morning lest she need another drink, when another flash of that aching pain hit. 

She whimpered, doing her best to stay quiet as she gripped the sink edge like her life depended on it, not even noticing the way the wind picked up out the window. All she could focus on was breathing through that ridiculous pain.

Once that awful false labor had passed its course again, Tally slowly straightened. With a sigh, she released her white knuckled grip on the sink and walked slowly into the living room where she sat on the couch. She flicked on the side table lamp and picked up the book left beside it, titled ‘1001 ways to live off your garden.’ She curled in as best she could given the size of her stomach and began reading.

It wasn’t the most exciting book, but it was informative. She was on the 12th page when it happened again, causing her to drop the book to the ground. She breathed through it just as Quinn had told her too, and when it ended yet again she simply reached down and picked it up before starting again. 

The false contractions didn’t return. Instead all that seemed left was what felt like a strong pressure on her back, nothing terrible just an ache that was just slightly more obvious than it had been when she had gone to bed.

Braxton hicks, it was too early for you to be here anyways, she thought, as she drifted off to sleep hoping to hear her echo's voice again.

Chapter Text

Tally awoke to the sounds of thunder rumbling in the distance, and movement in the kitchen. No more dreams of her echo had come with her sleep, much to her disappointment. She sat up slowly, noticing the worn pink blanket that had been laid over her at some point. It was well loved, and infused with some working to make it resistant to the damages of time. ‘The biddies and I gave her a blanket’ 

This was the same blanket, Tally realized as she took in the magic throughout it. Mostly Chloe’s pale pink, but there were hints of other colors as well. Even a tiny strand of that familiar bright gold, one she wanted to cling too. One that brought tears stinging to her eyes.

She gingerly pushed herself upright, and folded the blanket. She walked slowly into the kitchen, rubbing both hands over the dull ache her back had gotten even worse at some point during night.

From sleeping on the couch probably, she figured.

Ellis was awake, sipping a cup of black coffee at the kitchen table. He smiled at her as she walked into the room, one so contagious she couldn't help but grin back. Chloe and Quinn were bustling around the room working on breakfast, and Nicte was up as well. She was sitting by Ellis, drinking what looked to be more cream than coffee as the two talked.

“Oh good dear, you’re awake. I hope everything’s alright? I woke up this morning and you were out like a light on the couch.” So it had been Chloe to put the blanket on her, that pink blanket with the work of bright gold threaded within. 

Tally turned toward the older woman as she let her dimples show, indenting in her cheeks just a little.

“I’m alright, really. Just had some trouble sleeping that’s all. Baby decided she wanted to go for an olympic gold in kickboxing.” They were just Braxton hicks anyway, no need to worry anyone. Besides, Quinn had said there was nothing that could be done for them. There was no point in bringing it up. Chloe just nodded once, before turning back to the stove.

Tally walked over to the sink and saw her cup from the night before still sitting within. Grabbing it, she filled it up. It was nearly against her lips when her body once again filled with that sudden pain radiating from her already aching lower back. She winced, nearly dropping the glass. Fortunately only Nicte seemed to notice, everyone else was too busy staring at the lightning that flashed brightly out the kitchen window. 

“I think I better go make sure the chickens are fed and shut in the coop before that storm gets here, and check the barn. It looks like it might be a nasty one” Ellis stated, setting down his empty cup. 

Nicte didn’t take her eyes off Tally. She looked suspicious but of what Tally had no idea.

“Tally and I can get the chickens for ya Mr. Burroughs. No problem at all, it would be good to get some fresh air. Just make sure they’re in the coop and have food?” Nicte said, already moving to stand. 

Ellis nodded slowly, with an eyebrow raised but he didn’t argue, “Well if you're sure. Thank you. I really appreciate it.” 

Tally smiled, waving slightly as she followed an already moving Nicte out the house's back door. They slid the muddy farm boots Ellis had provided when they first started helping with chores onto their feet and walked towards the coop in silence. Tally quickly threw some feed into the coop, while Nicte gathered the two loose hens before securing the coop. When the birds were finally safe within the confines of their little home with enough food to last the next two days, Nicte turned to Tally with a still-suspicious glare on her face.

“The fuck was that in there Red?” Nicte asked. Tally just rolled her eyes, overprotective mother-hen. 

“It's fine Nic, Braxton Hicks contractions. False Labor, it happened a little last night too but I am fine. We both are Seriously A O-“ She winced as the dull pain roared back to life. “K. Great. Fine. Fuckin dandy.” She groaned through her clenched teeth. Nicte looked at her, and Tally could only watch as that suspicion turned to worry turned to panic.

“I’m calling bullshit. You know why? Because every single time you wince, every time you so much as flinch-“ Another wave overtook her, nearly knocking her to her knees as Nicte grabbed her. “That happens.” Nicte finished, holding her forearms tightly, supporting her. Nicte pointed a finger to the sky, as they watched as the same bright lightning soar through the sky. The thunder rumbled even louder, almost cracking the sky.

She dragged the red head inside, kicking of her own boots and shoving Tally through the kitchen amid confused protests from the others at the table. She hadn't even let Tally take of her own boots as she trailed dirt through the hall.

“What in the world are you doing?” Quinn asked, wiping her greasy hands on the apron she wore as she observed the two, following them through the house.

Nicte practically shoved Tally back onto the couch. She kneeled in front of her, and yanked off her muddy boots and threw them to the living room floor without a care of muddying the tidy room. There were more important things happening anyways. 

“Tally here has something she wants to say.” Nicte said, as Ellis gathered the boots with a raised brow.

Tally just glared at her.

“No I don’t.”

“Yes you do.”

“No I don’t!”

“Yes you do!”

“NO I DO-” 

Her words turned into a yelp as another streak of pain, one that matched the streak of lightning visible through the window, flashed through her whole body. The thunder that followed was so loud it shook the whole house, evident by the sound of footsteps thundering quickly down the stairs. When had it gotten so dark?

“What the fuck-”

“Is everyone-“

“When did-“

Everyone was speaking at once. 

But not Tally, Tally was panting where she had curled into herself on the couch. Gasping and waiting for the pain to work its way back to that bearable dull ache. 

“EVERYONE ENOUGH!” 

All eyes, including Tally’s turned to the raised voice in surprise. But Ellis simply raised a work worn hand and said, “That is more than enough from all of you. Everyone is fine, but it seems the youngest member of your group is going to be making an early appearance.”

All eyes immediately turned to Tally, who was clutching a couch pillow tightly to herself. She was going to cry again, oh fuck it’s too early. It’s so early. 

The tears began to pour down her cheeks. She was supposed to have time, she was supposed to be home. 

“It…it’s early. It’s too early. False labor, it’s too early.” She whimpered, the pain in her body returning to that dull pounding ache while the spiral of her emotions spun faster and faster. I can’t believe I actually thought this would be okay, I can’t do this I can’t-I want- I need-

“I need Sarah.”

Chapter Text

“I need Sarah.”

That whimper, nearly a sob, spilled from her lips as the tears did her eyes. And it was enough to snap her sisters out of whatever funk the news had put them in.

“Oh Shit Tally. Okay, it's going to be Okay. This is good, your daughter Tals. You are going get to meet her.” Abigail said, falling to her knees in front of her sister and peeling a shaking hand off the pillow before grasping it tightly with her own. "That little person, you get to meet her."

“Yeah Tal’s, it's gonna be okay, seriously. Plenty of babies are born at 32 weeks. Especially girls, not even considered full preemie babies. Right Quinn?” Raelle said, mirroring Abigails new position on the floor as her voice filled with false positivity that did nothing to mask the worry. They all turned to look at the older woman who nodded with a tight smile. 

“Sarah?” The question came from Chloe, a quiet, tentative whisper that Tally didn't even hear at first.

Nicte was done with the stupid questions, or questions in general. “Sarah, other parent. Dead. Deceased. Not available.” She said harshly. She was starting to panic as she began pacing across the living room. Protecting the girl was one thing, especially when she and the baby were literally the same thing. Childbirth though-nope that is where Nicte would be no help whatsoever. She had never felt so fucking useless in her damned life.

“A story for later I think Chloe, we should get Tally upstairs. The king bed is comfortable, and we have enough spare bedding that we can throw out what’s on it now, afterwards. Why don’t you girls help your friend upstairs.” Ellis, sweet wonderful Ellis said. 

Raelle nodded, Abigail mirroring the movement and injecting a quick “She’s our sister.”

Together they helped the sobbing redhead stand up, and another flash of pain had Tally yelping and leaning into them. Thunder and lightning filled the sky yet again as the gentle patter of rain began to sound. Only when the pain retreated again did she heave another sob, Raelle's hands were gently as the pushed her forward.

“Alright, Come on Tally. You can do this. It’s just once up the stairs, and then we will figure out what’s next.” Raelle said, worry seeping into her falsely happy voice. Quinn had already gone up the stairs, Tally could hear her readying the room for the suddenly long day they all had ahead of them. Especially Tally. 

It didn’t take long to get her up the stairs once she started moving. The pain had returned to the dull ache at the base of her spine as she walked. 

She settled on the edge of the king bed, watching as Quinn and Raelle bustled about the room. Abigail crawled onto the bed behind her and hugged her, arms wrapping from behind and tightly around her front before resting atop her stomach. She could feel her bottom lip tremble as she leaned into the comfort Abi somehow knew she would be craving. 

It was another few minutes before the next contraction started and this one, while not the worst, was the longest yet. 

She moaned and whimpered through it, falling fully into Abigail and letting her sister support her. The thunder rolled, and Quinn quickly pulled shut the blackout curtains on the window as white light filled the sky. 

“Won’t do for that storm to give any of us a headache right now, bright as that lightning is.” She said before walking out of the room, leaving the sisters alone.

Raelle and Abi helped Tally move, with muttered reassurances she suspected were just as much for themselves as her. Soon she was sitting somewhat comfortably at the head of the large bed, her twinging back supported by pillows and her head supported by Abi’s shoulder. It was one of her favorite places on a normal day and an absolute sanctuary on this one. The lightning and thunder continued, giving those still downstairs a hint of how long this might take...A while apparently. 

Raelle quickly took the task Tally was dreading the most. Raelle stripped her sister out of most of her clothes. She was reassuring, after all they had helped her out of the tub not even a week ago. This was no different Raelle promised as she kissed her red brow, “We love you. You need help Tally, please just let us help you.” Begging, fuck her sister was begging. Tally stopped protesting after that. Once undressed, except for the too large t shirt she had slept in, Rae tucked her under one of large blankets and crawled on top of the fuzzy comforter, next to her sister running fingers through her messy hair.

Tally’s gift was quiet, her magic overwhelmed by the waves of pain rippling through her body to do anything other than fall into her. But her child was very much not reacting that way, based on the rain starting to pound loudly against the window. The storm, her storm- just like her mama Tally realized.

When Quinn returned she brought a towel with her, “Tally dear, I know it’s uncomfortable but we need to see how far you’re dilated. Alright?” Quinn spoke, carefully pulling up the blankets and laying the towel underneath Tally before she began touching.

Tally was whimpering, everything was hurting and Quinn’s fingers there weren’t helping. Even the remains of the bond with Sarah was aching like a phantom limb, painful and raw. Abi and Rae held her hands as the older woman worked. They took turn wiping her face clean from her tears and kissing her brow that was dampening with sweat with every passing second. 

“Do you want to talk about her? Would that distract you?” Asked Raelle. Tally nodded quickly again and again, yeah, Sarah. Best distraction. Sarah.

“Okay, how about you tell us about the first time you kissed yeah?” Abigail suggested, shrugging when Raelle met her eyes. None of them noticed the woman standing in the hallway listening as tears off her own glistened in her eyes, none but Tally who's gift wailed pink in its distress.

“Oh fuck okay. Yeah, first kiss. Liked kissing her. Remember-remember the night I got all pissy over the dreams, and you getting hurt Abs, and I stormed to her office? Yea, that was-that was the same night. I just barged in and said some bullshit like ‘no more lies who is Nicte Batan’ and she got pissy right back and I got my stupid feelings hurt-” She let out a hiss as Quinn finished and finally withdrew her fingers, leaving with a small smile and without another word. Tally was suitably distracted, and she wasn't the only one if the curiosity on Raelle and Abigails faces was any indication.

“She-she said the bond should have been broken and told me to see Izadora but I could feel her and I… Fuck I was so desperate to keep feeling her, having her be a part of me. I thought it was an unbiddying issue,” None of them cared enough to note the gasp, or the older woman who hurried down the stairs. They were too focused on this, this truth.

“But then I was clinging to nothing but her fear at that moment. Fear that I would leave her and wouldn’t come back-that she would stop feeling me…They were the same fears as mine ya know? And I couldn’t help myself I just kissed her. She didn’t kiss back, she pulled away so fast and- and I thought she was going to murder me. Send me to the front lines, obliterate me, I don’t even know. But then I felt her and then she kissed me again and again and then Devon decided the moment her hands went for my belt was the time to remind Sarah there were 7 other women there just staring at us. Hilarious later, humiliating then. Tried to run, She wouldn’t let me though, made me sit and talk through the dreams. Talk through some of her past. It’s why I dropped the Nicte issue so fast after that night. She was just so…so her. I love her stupid and wonderful and-” Tally whimpered again as pain wracked through her body.

“I just want her, I just really want Sarah. I need my Sarah.” She sobbed again, a harsh biting thing that stung her throat. She was too overwhelmed by her own pain, her own fear to notice the -pain-confusion-fear-worry-pain- that echoed back through the shredded bond in her soul. 

Quinn returned half an hour later, a grim smile on her face.

“How is it going dear? Think you could drink some water? Maybe chew some ice?” Tally nodded as she reached for the glass, and watched as Quinn put a bowl of ice on the bedside table. She figured she had a few more minutes before the worst of her next contraction caused her to wake up her sleeping sisters.

“Thank you so much Quinn." She said before taking a long sip of the cool water. She hesitated, looking at the hand full glass before meeting Quinn's soft eyes.

"Chloe…She heard me say Sarah’s name. Does she know that its, ya know, Sarah-” Tally paused, unable to put into words the question gnawing at her. Quinn understood though, and nodded once. 

“She does, is taking...well she could be worse I think. Could also be better. She heard your little story, and I...I think it helped some. Ellis is doing his best, he can get through to her. Understand, Chloe, well she has had a hard life. But she is a good person, she won’t hurt you or your baby because of her past. I wouldn’t have brought you here otherwise. She can accept this and move on.” 

Tally let a small grin take over her exhausted face. Her gift mumbled that Chloe was on the steps, coming upstairs again. Good to know it still works at least she thought, saying just a little louder:

“I know. Sarah…Sarah told me about her. Everything. About Chloe’s jokes, the pink blanket, her kindness. She told me about all of them; Carmen, Lucy, Mirabel…even Luna and Finna. About what she asked of Chloe, and what happened after. The choices she made, they were hard on her too. Sarah, she…she just really struggled with showing her love sometimes, even when she was trying she would struggle. And …and she thought she had failed Chloe, and her sisters, and all the biddies at the time too. Sarah just wanted to protect witchkind Quinn, protect Chloe but fuck she was a terrible communicator at the best of times…She missed her though, she contemplated checking in on her ya know. But she didn't want to disturb whatever peace Chloe might have found.” She heard the soft footsteps freeze, listening. “She thought about it almost every day, just finding her and checking. Making sure she made it. You know? Making sure that she got the life Sarah wanted her to have, prayed she would have. Sarah just didn’t realize Chloe probably just needed her to say it. She also didn’t want to invade the privacy Chloe had clearly wanted, didn’t want to hurt her anymore.”

Quinn stayed silent for a moment, her eyes locked on Tally's. It looked as if she was processing, but then she simply nodded.

“I am sure you guessed that I didn’t have a high opinion of the general...but the way you claim she fought for us? Loved witchkind? Loved you? Maybe I could do with some rethinking of my own.” She could feel the return of tears at Quinns words, and even then Tally couldn’t tell if the words were meant for her or Chloe or both. It didn’t matter though, because as Chloe’s footsteps turned and faded away, another contraction washed over her.

She groaned, glass of water slipping out of her hand and spilling on Abigail who yelped in response to the cold wake up but still grabbed Tally’s empty hands with one of her own while the other moved the now empty cup. 

“Breath, just breath through it. You’re almost there Tal’s.”

If Tally had thought that the first 10 or so hours of labor were bad, she had no words to describe the rest of it. The storm continued to rage, lightning and thunder echoing her pain.

The pain reached a point she didn't know existed before. It wasn’t even unbearable, it was so far beyond that. She was barely aware of anything anymore, nothing beyond the deep rattling breaths, her sisters voices and the pain. Raelle and Abigail dragged her into the shower at some point, cleaning some of the sweat off of her as Quinn and Chloe quickly laid towels out over the bed and tossed out the comforter. Her sisters braided her hair in a single plait and soothed her as she braced against the cold stone wall of the shower and let the warm water pound against the ache on her back.

Tally didn’t even have it in her to be embarrassed by her own nudity, or the fact that more people had now seen her vagina than had technically been in her vagina. She was at the point that she was unresponsive when the pain returned, a point she hadn't even known she could reach until she was well over the line. 

Nicte eventually reached a breaking point as well, when she had finally had enough of just listening to the screaming echoing through the house even beyond the wards placed around the room she knew he redhead was suffering in. She had made her way to the bedroom another hour or so after the shower had turned off. Tally had grinned ever so slightly at seeing the woman who had become something of a pseudo mom to her. A very rough, crude, angry one that had once been in love with her baby’s mom- but she would take what she could get.

Nicte let Tally grasp her hands with her left, as Abi took her right and Quinn said the magic words that Tally had been dreading and yearning for.

“Tally, you're there sweetheart. It’s just a little worse and then it's over okay? Just get her head out and we can do the rest. Raelle is going to heal you up as soon as she’s out alright. When the next wave hits you really need to push. Hard.” Tally nodded once, then shook her head.

“I can’t do it, I can’t, I need-I need Sarah. I need Sarah!” She was screaming again, over and over through the pain stopping only to breath and begin again. Nicte couldn’t take it anymore. She cursed Sarah in her mind, for leaving this poor girl to do this alone. Not for anything else, only this. Everything Sarah had done to her, everything Nicte blamed her for, it all paled when compared to this one thing that Sarah couldn't have prevented anyways. She dropped Tally’s hand and crawled behind her shoving aside the pillows. She pulled Tally between her legs, held Tally's back tightly to her chest and said as softly as she could manage into the sweaty red braid.

“I know Red, I know you need Sarah. But Sarah can’t be here, she would if she could. She would give anything to be here, we all know that. Anything to be here with you. She just can’t. But your sisters are here and I’m here. We’ve got you kid, so when you feel the pain again you really gotta push.” Tally clutched the arm across her chest with the hand Nicte had abandoned, falling into the new support holding her form behind, and squeezed Abigail’s hand with her other. And as she felt the return of that overwhelming pain, she pushed. Screaming in time with the endless storm of white light and thunder outside.

Chapter Text

She pushed, and she screamed.

She pushed for what felt like hours, years, and eternity. Nothing she could say would ever describe the feeling of pushing a child out of herself. She couldn’t describe the feeling as the baby, her baby, was taken out of her body, or what it felt like when Raelle cut the umbilical cord and finally separated her daughter from her, or the feeling of the sea foam work of her sister stitching her most sensitive parts back together. She couldn’t describe the way it felt when Raelle forced that sea colored work inside her, and scraped the afterbirth out so that Tally wouldn’t have to deliver it. She couldn't describe the feeling of her sisters magic filling the place her baby had been mere minutes before, healing everything it could find. None of it.

It was all forgettable when the single whimper reached her ears. That cry that wasn’t her own. A cry that echoed with the thunder outside as if it bore the storms weight within it.

Because it did. 

Raelle finished healing Tally from the inside out, standing up from between her legs and clambered quickly onto the bed. Clutching Tally’s limp hand in one of her own from where it had fallen from Nicte’s arm at that cry, and caressed her sisters tear stained face. Raelle was crying too, Tally realized as if in a daze.

“Tal’s, hey hey you did it Tally you did it. Quinn is just making sure she’s okay but shit Tally she is beautiful and its over and she’s here and you did it and she is perfect.” Her sister whispered, as tears began to fall yet again down Tally’s face. Abi was crying too, nuzzling her sister's shaking arm.

“You did it kid.” Whispered Nicte, as she carefully stood up, replacing the pillow she had thrown behind Tally's back. She stepped out of the room, content to be excluded for now. Desperate for a moment to collect herself.

Quinn had wiped away the worst remnants of birth from the whimpering newborn, stimulating the baby and making sure that everything was as it should be. She was a little on the small side, this tiny perfect child, but thank the Goddess she seemed the model of health otherwise. Despite this Quinn used every midwife seed she could think just to be sure, before wrapping her up in a small blanket Khalida had handed her downstairs. One that was covered in little moose, and matched the stuffed animal Quinn knew the 12 year old likely had clutched tightly in her nervous hands even now.

Tally watched dazedly as Quinn moved away from the small dresser they had turned into a temporary table, the mewling bundle that Tally yearned so desperately for in that moment safe in the fixers arms. She reached her own arms forward, abandoning her sisters for a much more important prize.

“Came at exactly midnight, a Lughnasadh baby. Here you go fussy one, mom’s here. Skin on skin, learn each other.” Quinn said as she handed the moose covered bundle to the waiting girl. She gently maneuvered the newborn so its bare skin was flush against Tally, but its back warmed by the blanket.

And oh. Oh, this…this moment was worth every bit of pain and suffering. You were worth all of it. Tally thought. Looking down at the perfect baby snug against her bare chest. At the thick head of slightly bloody Auburn hair that blurred as her eyes filled with more tears. Feeling their hearts beat against each other.

She could hear her sisters sniffling, they were probably crying still too, but she wasn’t quite ready to look away. She moved her daughter, goddess her daughter, ever so slightly, shifting her so that her face was visible. A perfect, scrunched up tiny face on a perfect tiny body. She couldn’t help but be entranced. This was her baby. Hers and Sarah’s. A little miracle all their own. 

It could have been hours, though was likely less than 10 minutes, that she stared at, and gently caressed her daughter in utter silence. Even the fussing of the baby had settled upon her return to her mother, as if she knew where it was she had been laid.

Nicte entered again, leaning against the door frame. Her hands were fiddling with something when Tally finally glanced up. A digital camera, where she had gotten that Tally had no idea. Likely Ellis. It didn't matter, Tally's eyes had already returned to the baby upon her chest. Nicte raised the camera, and took a quick picture. Tally didn’t bother looking up, and neither did her sisters.

 “So Red, you gotta think about a name.” Nicte said, mostly as a way to stop her own tears as she lowered the camera.

Tally just smiled at the second redhead, she had a name. She had chosen it nearly a month ago, when walking along one of the small rivers in Montana. Had whispered it aloud, when only she could hear.

“Aella. Her name is Aella. Aella Elizabeth-” She paused, the smile fading slightly. “Craven…This world has been so cruel to Alder’s, but maybe someday we can put the name where it belongs...” She let her words fade off, entranced again at the soft coo’s coming from the baby. From Aella. Her little whirlwind.

Tally huddled deeper into Abigail’s open arms as Raelle moved to huddle in close on the other side.

“Look at what you did” cooed Abigail, voice still thick with tears.

“You-you made that Tals holy shit, and she is so so perfect, I bet she’s going to have dimples for days” Raelle added, her own face buried in Tally’s shoulder, eyes locked on the baby in her arms. 

Tally smiled, her own dimples on full display as more whines sounded from the moose covered bundle. She blinked away the blur of fresh tears, happy ones this time, just in time to see her daughter open her eyes for the first time, however briefly. There were those perfect icy blue eyes she had never thought she would see again, searching around wholly unfocused.

“Oh shit. I’m gonna cry again.” Muttered Abi. Tally’s smile grew impossibly wider, even as those happy tears did finally find their way down her cheeks and through the rivets hours of crying had stained her with. 

“My love, you have your mama’s eyes.” Tally whispered, not noticing as Nicte turned to take news of the name downstairs. And also perhaps to hide from the eyes that haunted her. Tally reached tentatively for her gift, sighing with relief as it sprang tiredly to her command. She looked at her daughter with that gift. And felt a sharp sting in her heart as deep gold light filled her vision. So similar yet so different, just as it had been when Aella had been within her.

“Your mama’s eyes” Tally said again, voice hoarse from her screams, and hoarser still from the emotions overwhelming her, “Your mama’s magic.” She added with a sob that shuddered through her body, as those beautiful eyes shut in newborn sleep. Tally rested her forehead softly against the wrinkled skin of Aella’s forehead.

‘Goddess if you can hear me, let Sarah know. Just let her know we are okay. That she is so beautiful and she will be so so loved.’

Chapter Text

Most of the group waiting downstairs gave them time, Tally and her sisters. Scylla being the one welcome exception, she had scurried up the steps and into the bed half an hour after Aella had been laid on Tally's chest. None of them had moved, none of them did when Scylla joined them either, too utterly entranced. She laid next to Raelle on the large bed, and planted a wet kiss on Tally’s cheek before looking down at what had captured everyones attention so thoroughly.

“Congratulations Tally. Look at her hair! Are babies supposed to have so much hair? Or wrinkles?” She said in a weird coo as she looked at the baby, before she too settled back to watch like the rest of Tally’s sisters had. The silence didn’t last a minute though, before Scylla spoke again. The coo was gone, hesitance in it's place that was enough to draw Abi and Raelle's gaze to Scylla. Not Tally's though, hers stayed locked on Aella.

“I wanted you to know as soon as possible...Morrigan came back, a few hours after you came up here too so, yeah. Anacostia agreed to Chloe’s terms and meet up point. She left late last night, and will be here tomorrow if all goes according to plan, a little over 3o hours hopefully. She has to take her time to shake anyone that tries to tail her. I- I'm sorry I know you thought that there would be more time before...well I wanted to be the one to tell you.” Something akin to panic shot through Tally, before a whine the vibrated upon her own chest brought her back down.

“Good that-okay. A problem for later. A good problem though.” She said, entranced again by the baby. Her baby, she pressed her lips to the thick auburn hair and murmured gently against the fine strands, "You are going to meet your sister, my darling."

The four sisters stayed huddled in the bed for another 20 minutes, comfortable silence resting between them as the storm outside seemed to fade away with every tiny breath Aella drew, when Chloe came in with Quinn. 

“You three need to go get some food. There’s plenty of it in the kitchen.” Chloe said, before her kind eyes turned to Tally and what lay in Tally's arms. “And that dear one should probably eat too.” Oh shit. Tally had already forgotten about that part. It occurred to her, at the same time that she was still completely and utterly naked. Her sisters had covered her body back up with the blanket at some point, though her upper half remained bare if it weren't for the moose blanket and red headed baby.

“I-I don’t know what-” she stumbled over the words, her hoarse voice doing nothing to hide the sudden worry, worry that she was already failing her daughter. Worry she could almost feel echoed down the bond she once had with Sarah. It made her heart ache. Fuck my emotions are everywhere she thought.

Quinn smiled softly at her, “That’s alright Tally girl, we can help you. Better now anyways, within the hour. She will likely start fussing soon, so let’s get the main points talked out.”

And they did, between Quinn and Chloe the process was explained. Tally was truly beginning to grasp the idea, when Aella truly started fussing. It was different somehow, then when she had been pulled from Tally what seemed like moments and an eternity ago. And with that fussing, came rain that Tally hadn't even realize had stopped. 

All three of the women looked towards the small window as the rain pittered off the glass, before glancing in tandem back at the baby. Who was red faced, and still fussing. Oh goddess-

Tally moved first, adjusting her daughter while Quinn and Chloe gently talked and guided her through each step as she struggled. Finally, she succeeded in getting Aella latched to her breast and the hungry cries fell into suckling as Aella realized and Holy shit that kind of hurts Tally thought. She still managed a smile though, as she looked up to the women watching with some semblance of relief.

"Well, I believe that you and she deserve some time alone yes?" Quinn said, before turning and walking out of the room. Chloe was a few steps behind the fixer, when Tally whispered-

“Chloe…" The woman paused in the door, turning back to Tally in worry.

"Don’t think she didn’t love you. Please. Because I know she did.” 

Chloe didn't look away for a long moment, not even when her eyes began sparkling with tears. She nodded once, and then she too headed back down the stairs, leaving Tally and Aella alone in the room.

She fed Aella until her baby slept again, it was unlike anything she had ever experienced, feeding her daughter. Her's and Sarah's. She settled Aella in her arms so that she could see the entirety of that faultless face...and then let out a groan as she realized she very much needed to get clothes on. And food of her own, holy hell she was starving. When was the last time she had eaten something?

Scylla, as much as she loved her was a no...Quinn and Chloe too. Abigail and Raelle needed to eat, and they needed rest....Nicte it was, Tally huffed a little as she sent a whisper of far speech down the hall and towards the steel grey idly resting in the living room. 'Nic…I- I kinda need some help.’ 

It was less than 15 seconds had passed before she heard the footsteps running up the stairs, before Nicte barreled into the room like her ass was on fire.

“Whats wrong? Baby okay? Are you okay? Any pain?” 

Tally could feel a grin slowly growing on her face as she stared at Nicte, “Oh we are fine, were ya worried there Nic?”

The older woman rolled her eyes, but Tally could see the way the tension seeped from her shoulders. It made her smile grow even more.

“I am fine, seriously. But I…I need to get dressed and- well I didn’t want to put her down yet." And there the smile fell, because sure she might need help but it was still humiliating. "Plus I'm a little sore. Could you…help me get dressed? Please?” Tally finally asked, watching as a teasing grin spread across Nicte’s face. The older woman didn't say anything though, which was a blessing because Tally had her arms full and wouldn't be able to throw things in response.

Together they managed to get Tally out of the bed and into a pair of sweats and a zip up hoodie without her having to put the baby down. When she was finally fully dressed she turned to Nicte and smiled. 

“Okay, now help me get downstairs because I am starving.” 

Nicte’s brow shot up at that, “You sure? You gave birth like an hour ago and you’re ready to walk? I can bring something up, or your sisters can.”

“Yes I’m sure, seriously Raelle healed pretty much all of it. All good, and starving. I need breakfast. And honestly out of this room.” Nicte snorted, briefly eyeing the mess on the bed.

“Tally its barely 2 a.m., a little early for breakfast.” 

Huh, she hadn’t realized it had been so long. If the contraction that had woken her had been the start then it had been well over 24 hours...she felt her eyes widen as she met Nicte's.

“The storm…did it last the whole time?” She wondered aloud, as she adjusted Aella within the absolutely adorable moose blanket. Nicte grinned, “Told you she would give ya grief dimples. Turns out the lightning wasn’t a one ’n done kinda thing.”

That wasn’t reassuring thank you Nic. But there were more important things. Like-

“Food, food first. Then I can worry about my kid being too much like her mama for my sanity...I should probably find something for her to wear. Also this blanket. Where in the world did this come from? I love it. Look at all the little moose!” She loved moose.

Another grin, “A certain 12 year old picked that out for you when we went clothes shopping back in Montana. Somethin about being dragged outta the house at 5 am? Been in her bag since, along with something else for the baby.”

Okay well that was just adorable. It was official Tally didn’t just like Khalida, she loved her. 

That was a thought even more solidified when the girl, who was obviously exhausted from staying up so long, met her at the bottom of the stairs. Khalida blushed as she jammed a small stuffed moose into Tally’s free hand with a softly muttered, “Congratulations Tally Craven” Before she scooted around the new mother, and bolted up the stairs and into her own room. What the actual fuck just happened? Tally thought, before looking at the stuffed animal in her hand. Khalida had tied a small green bow around its neck. It was adorable. 

“I love her.” She said with a small smile as she looked at the moose. Nicte snickered, as Tally tucked the soft animal into the bundle resting in her arms, taking the moment to run a finger through the dark red curls. 

The kitchen was bustling, everyone seemed to have migrated into the room at some point, and it was Raelle who noticed her first. She bounced over, and made puppy dog eyes that could melt the coldest heart as she reached her arms out. Tally grinned, and she carefully handed her baby to her sister. A shutter click sounded somewhere, but Tally ignored it.

“Okay Auntie Rae first, Auntie Abi next. Then Nicte.” Was all she said as she moved to the food. So much food. She was so overwhelmed by the options, hell so overwhelmed by the day that she once again missed the pounding -relief-confusion-worry-fear- echoing through her soul.

Tally hadn’t realized how hungry she was, not until she was nearly finished with her second helping of lasagna. On either side of her sat Raelle and Abigail, and in Abigail’s arms sat Aella who Tally reached a hand to run over the red hair ever few seconds as if to reassure herself that her daughter was real, and that she was there. Raelle had held the baby for three minutes tops before the Bellwether began badgering for her turn, granted Tally was eating so quickly Abi would barely have a chance to hold her that long either. Raelle gave in after five minutes.

It seemed everyone else had gone to bed after seeing and cooing over Aella, even Scylla. Not Nicte though, she sat quietly across the table, looking at the trio.

“Alright Aunt Abi, give Nicte a turn okay? Because in five more minutes I am taking her back.” 

“Ugh fine Mom," Tally refused to admit the word made her preen. "Here Nicte, hold the baby.” Abi said, moving so swiftly the older woman didn’t have a chance to protest before her arms were filled with the quiet little Aella. 

“Oh man, I wish I had the camera right now. Where is the camera?  She looks terrified.” Raelle said, the smile evident in her voice. Nicte didn’t even look up at the tease, she was too busy staring at the youngest member of the group the same way all of them had been. She didn’t notice the click a few seconds later either.

As she watched the small baby, Aella blinked awake. She watched as the baby blearily blinked open her eyes, her mama’s eyes. Tally had been right. Oh...oh no, she had never thought she would have to see those eyes again. The same in some ways, but so different at the same time. So...innocent. It almost made her cry, almost. Instead she simply whispered for only herself, the Goddess, and Aella Elizabeth to hear,

“Goddess protect you little one, and when she can’t I will.”

Chapter Text

It was 3:30 am, and Tally was so tired. Tired in a way she didn’t know she could be. Scourge training while pregnant couldn’t exhaust her this way, not even the utter broken grief that losing Sarah had left hadn't exhausted her like this.

But she wasn’t sure she would ever be able sleep again, not when she had her daughter safe in her arms. She didn't want to miss a moment with her. That dark red hair curling at the ends, those blue eyes squeezed shut. She and her sisters and her daughter had headed back upstairs once Nicte had decided she had had enough emotions, and handed Aella back to her mother who took her with a soft eager smile. Nicte had darted out of the room, out of the house her gift had whispered. She would be okay though, Tally knew.  

They had made the trek so very slowly, all of them hesitant on the stairs. It was only when they were in the bedroom that they realized the bedding had been changed. Clean sheets that smelled like the sweetest summer air, and a comforter that smelled the same. 

“Oh thank the Goddess, I was not ready to deal with bloody bedding.” Abi said, collapsing on the bed. Raelle crawled in as well before reaching her arms to Tally and helping her crawl under the covers without having to put down the baby sleeping quietly in her arms.

“Alright we have just about an hour before she wakes screaming up a storm for some food.” Raelle, ever the fixer, said as she leaned her head on Tally’s shoulder and watched the baby's sleep induced movements.

“Is it time to talk about the…Anacostia of it all? Like…saying you are gonna have a baby is one thing but like, now you have to explain that you’ve already had a baby. We have definitely not been gone that long. And it’s not just anyones baby, you literally birthed her moms baby.” Raelle's tired muttering silenced, before giggles filled the air.

“Holy fuck, you- you’re like her stepmom. Anacostia is your stepdaughter.”

While Tally may have been grateful for the slightly delirious humor Raelle had managed to find about the situation Tally was finding herself in, she still rolled her eyes. 

“Shut up Rae, you’ll wake the baby.” Abi said, though the humor dancing in her own eyes betrayed any other emotion. She had her head resting on Tally’s other shoulder. 

“Besides Tal’s, you have a while still. If all else fails just like- throw Aella at her and watch her panic. With that head of hair its obvious she’s yours, and then when this little one opens her eyes you wont even have to say anything to let Anacostia know you were fucking her mother every night, in apparently every position.” 

Tally snorted as Rae quickly covered Aella’s tiny ears. “Language Ab’s.” The aghast tone didn't last, and soon they were all giggling, trying hard not to disturb the baby they could hardly take their eyes off. 

“Anacostia and Sarah…at the end the relationship…they fixed it before Sarah was taken but it- it struggled for a while. She had this thing, Sarah did. Communication versus protection ya know? But fuck, it…she-it-this has to go well. Ana finding out. It has to go well. Sarah loved Ana more than anything. She would need Ana to know Aella.” Tally whispered. Ana had been Sarah's everything, for so long. The only person she truly had outside of her biddies, until Tally had offered herself in the Tarim. 

“She’s my daughter, in every way that counts. It hurts that she has lost so much trust in me. That she’s lost her faith, in me.” Sarah had whispered into Tally’s hair as Tally leaned into her chest. It wasn’t even late, maybe 2200 at the latest but they were alone in Sarah’s office. The biddies had gone to sleep not even half an hour ago. The fire was warm, and the whiskey had made Tally tired. She had needed this, they both had, hell even the biddies seemed more relaxed after dinner with Tally. They had needed to just be together, all of them.

“I never meant to make her believe I felt anything but trust and love and pride for her. For the person she has become. Yet I have failed to do so over and over again.” Tally could hear the faint echo of Sarah’s pain through the bond, and she didn’t need to use her gift to know that Sarah was near tears.

She pulled out of her arms and turned on the couch so they were facing each other, carefully cupping the side of Sarah’s face not turned away from her. “Anacostia is strong willed, determined and fucking stubborn. All things I am damn sure that you taught her my love, but she will come around. After all, I did didn’t I?” Tally kissed Sarah softly, “She just needs your honesty, and some time. But she loves you, I don’t even need my gift to know that.” 

Sarah had chuckled then, and it had been a soft wet sound, laden with emotion that she had tried to hide, “Tally Jane Craven, you are a balm for the aches I give myself. How did I find myself so lucky, hm?” She said leaned forward and kissed Tally lightly on the lips before pulling her tightly against her. “Sleep my Love, the Sun will be up much too soon and we will have to sneak you out before my wayward daughter comes stomping into her morning meeting.” Sarah had said, but Tally was already too close to sleep to respond.

She could feel tears stinging her eyes at the memory, that conversation. Ana had indeed come stomping in the next morning. And Tally did indeed need Morgan and Florence to sneak her out.

“More than anything Sarah would want them to be able to love and know each other with the same freedom and openness she and Elizabeth had before the hangings. To just simply be. And she would give anything to be here and see it.” 

Fort Salem, Necro Lab

17 hours earlier

Izadora stared at the giant living wall in front of her with something akin to awe...and no small amount of confusion. She knew her companions were likely wearing similar expressions as they too stared. The mycelium had been acting strangely for well over a week, rippling and reaching and hissing and honestly at this point she was out of ideas on how to handle it without sneaking Raelle Collar back onto the base and she wasn’t that desperate…yet.

But nothing in that weeks time could compare to what was going on now. Iza thought she knew all the faces of the mother, but this was something completely new. The whole wall was filled with golden veins, and seemed to be thrumming as though it had a heart beat of its own. It had been doing so since late in the night, just before midnight. Almost 7 hours. She had called for Petra and Magda as soon as she saw the gold crawling across it for the first time, Anacostia had left not even 6 hours earlier or else she would have summoned her as well.

The three of them watched, silently as the gold pulsing through the mycelium finally stilled. Then, in time with the heartbeat pulse it seemed to have developed a bright gold light began to pour into the room as if the veins had been sliced open. It blinded the three women, so much so they had to turn away.

“Izadora, what the hell is going on?” Petra hissed as she shielded her eyes, it was like every sense was going haywire. They could even hear the thunder outside, all the way down in the depths of the earth...it had been sunny when they came down here.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was likely only seconds that painfully bright light faded, drawing back into the wall. Leaving the mycelium in the state it had been two weeks ago, the way it had been for centuries. And in its wake, a naked Sarah Alder remained on her knees. Her frantic, painful screaming echoing through Izadora’s lab as the thunder outside continued its roll. The whole of Fort Salem shook as Sarah Alder screamed-

“Where the fuck is Tally?!”

Chapter Text

Like clockwork, Aella Elizabeth Craven woke for feeding every 3 hours. Tally was more than happy to oblige those needs, even though having someone gnawing on her breast was uncomfortable at the best,and painful at the norm. Her baby was here with her though, so it was worth it. In her arms, alive and breathing and beautiful and strong.

The three girls took turns sleeping, passing the baby from aunt to mom to aunt and then back again, and changing her when she needed. They were all simply happy to enjoy the bonding, reveling in the fact that she was real and there. Even if they were worn from the day before. It was so odd, knowing that her daughter had come into the world not even a day before. Mind blowing might actually be a better word for it, the amazement never leaving Tally.

It was well past 2 pm when Tally's own stomach growled loud enough that Abigail guffawed, Raelle started, and Aella awoke with a pouting lip that had Tally swooning just a tad. 

When they finally did make their way downstairs and into the kitchen, Aella was holding her eyes open for slightly longer periods of time. Aella cooed happily as Adil held her for the first time, he seemed comfortable as he walked the blue eyed babe around the kitchen with a smile so soft that Tally was pretty sure Abigail's own womb was aching at the sight, before he carefully situated her in Khalida’s arms. Tally nearly cooed herself, at the sight of the seated, terrified 12 year old and content newborn at the kitchen table. She trusted that there would be plenty of pictures to remember this moment, and all the rest, based on the game of catch going on with the small camera.

Eventually Quinn carefully pulled Aella from Khalida, and then Nicte from Quinn.

Tally was surprised to find herself content to let them pass Aella around the room as often as they were the camera. They loved her, she realized. She had known it on some level, but to see it so clearly in the way her covens workings filled the small kitchen in an ocean of content waves...it was as if any doubt drowned in those waves. They loved Aella, and because of that love Tally knew she was safe. Besides, Tally was still absolutely starving and eating with a kid in hand was hard.

She had three helpings of the thick vegetable beef stew Ellis had made, it was delicious and seasoned to perfection and almost familiar. It tasted like her moms...the thought didn’t hurt as much as she had worried it would when the taste first hit her senses, but rather it filled her with pensivity. Would her daughter ever get to meet May Craven? Would her mom want to know her granddaughter? Know Sarah’s daughter? Tally truly wasn't sure. 

The thought was fleeting enough though, and it disappeared entirely when Chloe quietly entered the kitchen. Mainly because Chloe didn't have a chance to say anything before Nicte had forced the baby into her arms with a hidden smirk before walking out of the kitchen.

She knew exactly what she was doing, Tally realized with a start. Somehow Nicte had known. Known that Chloe hadn't wanted to hold Sarah Alder's baby. Known and done something about it. Chloe looked confused as she found her arms full of the warm baby. The baby who’s Alder blue eyes were opened wide for the world to see. For Chloe to see.

The woman stilled, staring down at the red headed, moose covered bundle in her arms. Her eyes were glistening as she moved to the table, and the kitchen cleared out leaving just Tally, Chloe and little Aella to sit in the silence. 

“I…I never hated her." Chloe still couldn't seem to look up, and there was a tear sliding down her cheek."I think I was lost for so long, and after that I was just…ashamed. And maybe angry.” Chloe whispered to Tally, though her eyes were still locked on that uniquely flawless shade of blue.

“I didn’t believe Quinn when she told me that you were carrying Sarah Alder’s baby. I mean, who would? The power that this kind of pregnancy takes, that she had. She had power unlike anything I have ever known. But the emotions? I knew she could feel somewhat, the bond provided that, but after what happened I suppose didn’t think she was capable of such deep feeling. Such...well, love.” Another tear rolled down the older woman’s face as she paused, and then another as she carefully readjusting the newborn in her arms to wipe them away.

“Thank you. Thank you for trusting me enough to let me hold her. And for letting me hear what you said last night.” Tally nodded, she hadn’t realized Chloe was aware she knew about the eavesdropping, but it wasn’t so shocking. Quinn had likely mentioned Tally was a knower when she had talked with Chloe about Sarah.

“You mentioned you were a biddy, that you were released. Did…were you forced out? How did you even…how did you and she…” The stumbling, the hesitancy made Tally inwardly cringe. The question did too if she were honest, something so raw and painful even after all these months, even after Aella.

“No, no I…I was a battlefield biddy. The only one in history not trained at least a little in the art. It was before she and I ever...I thought my sisters were dead, and it was an easy choice decision to stay by Sarah Alder’s side. To serve her. Until they came back, and she offered me to be unbound again. Of course I took it, my family was home. And for the most part I was happy. But it was like something was left behind after our biddy bond broke. A different bond, one that grew when the biddy bond was gone. One that tied us together so tightly nothing would ever unravel it." Not even death seemed capable of fully severing that tie still paining her soul.

"Eventually neither of us wanted to break it, or wanted to resist the pull of it, and we just were. We were happy, even with the secrets we were so fucking happy…then she was gone. And I was alone, until I found out I wasn’t.” That explanation would have to be enough for her, because Tally wasn’t going to cry again. She wasn't sure she had it in her. Silence returned like the night, calm and inevitable. 

“Thank you.” The older woman whispered, and it seemed she understood Tally’s need to stop. Or maybe she needed to stop too, Tally wasn't sure. “Thank you Tally Craven. You were right, she has her eyes. It was...I think I needed to see them again to-" Chloe couldn’t get the words out. Tally didn’t need her too.

Chloe handed the baby back, Aella was starting to fuss anyways so it was for the best. She wasn’t about to risk Aella’s storm again, doubted any of them wanted that. So Tally took her daughter in her arms, kissed the red brow, and stood up from her chair. 

“No, please Chloe...thank you. For letting us be here, for keeping us safe. For keeping her safe.” The woman simply nodded, watching from her seat as Tally left the room and headed back to the large bed where her sisters were likely already napping.

She was right, and she grinned at the sight of them. Her sisters, her family. Aella's family.

Raelle’s light snores echoed in the small room as Tally climbed into the bed with her and Abigail. Aella was fussing louder now, though she hadn’t summoned a storm since being pulled from her mothers womb. 

“Feed baby. Then gimme my niece.” Whispered a half-awake Abi. Tally hummed lightly as she carefully attached Aella to her breast and let her eat her fill. And once she had passed Aella over, she curled into Abi and stared at the face of her daughter. Goddess I will never tire of your face, she thought, as she ran a finger over the dark auburn hair a few shades darker than her own.

“Sleep mama, you’ve got a few hours. If we need you we’ll wake you.” And sleep she did. Dreamlessly, to her disappointment-Not an echo in sight nor sound. When she awoke 3 hours later, the process was repeated, though at some point during her nap Scylla had joined them, and she hesitantly took a turn holding the baby.

“This is so weird. We can all agree this is weird right? Having General Alder’s eyes staring at us? I-I feel like I should feel guilty over something. Like last time these eyes were on me I was not in a good place. A cell, to clarify I was in a cell-” The girl rambled. The three sisters just grinned.

“Scyl, have you never held a baby before?” Raelle teased her girlfriend. The blush was tell enough, and the giggles that followed were loving enough that Scylla couldn’t help but join in. But when the laughter stopped and Scylla glanced back down at the searching innocent gaze, her smile fell. With a suddenly soft voice she asked,

“Tally, please don’t take this wrong but why-why her? What did you see in her that made you love her? After everything she’s done? Not that I’m complaining because look what that love gave you but…well I’m curious.” Tally knew that, knew that her sisters were too.But until now, they had never thought to ask. She reached for Aella, pulling her carefully away from Scylla and into her own grasp again.

“I…it-the biddy bond broke. Cleanly.” She said as she watched her daughters eyes slowly begin drooping. She felt her sisters stiffen beside her, another truth she had hidden under lies coming out.

“The dreams, that feeling needing to be near her that we thought was from the unbinding? It was a different kind of bond that somehow started to grow when the biddy bond snapped into place, one that couldn’t be broken. And we did try but...It was like our souls had tied themselves together and just refused to let go no matter what we did. I could feel her in every moment. Her joys and sorrows and everything between them. Her pain was mine, and mine was hers. And her pain was…it was a lot. Especially at the beginning. She made choices, good and bad. She accepted the fact that most could have been better. She was just so human, I couldn’t not love her after knowing that. But her love, it was all encompassing. Wonderful, once she began feeling it it was louder than everything else.”

Raelle asked the next question, as if by Scylla asking the first the damn of unease had broken. “The martyrdom? And Nicte? Tally we all saw what went down at the execution…that wasn’t something two people in love would do. I-I thought she was going to kill you, in front of all of us. Make us watch you die. Yet here you are claiming she loved you and I guess I don’t get it.”

Oh, so it’s this kinda 20 questions. She thought to herself, before answering the same way she did for Nicte. There was nothing kept from her sisters, except for a young Nicte Batan’s confession.

“It's ironic really, that it was our secrets that ended up being her downfall. She loved playing that protection card to keep from communicating. But if we had just told you, none of this would have happened. And she would be here holding her daughter. Loving her daughter.” She had said when her tale was done, noticing how her sisters were clinging to her now. Her eyes were wet, but no tears had fallen much to her surprise. The bond felt less like an open wound the more she talked about Sarah, every word that left her mouth was like a balm to the relentless pain that had haunted her soul.

“Ask me something else about her, anything.” She begged in a tone so soft they might have missed it had they not been listening so intently. “Ask about her, let me talk about her. Please.”

They did as she had requested, and they asked her questions, and they let her talk, and they sat with her and listened for almost three hours. They let her heal, more than she thought she would ever be able to explain. Stories that made them laugh, like the time Devon had dumped an entire pot of coffee in Sarah’s lap during a meeting so that she would have an excuse to meet Tally for lunch. And there were stories that made them cry too, like how Sarah had buried every single member of her original coven without the use of work because ‘They deserved that at the very least.’ 

It wasn’t until Quinn came upstairs to tell them dinner was ready that they paused their conversation. Granted Scylla had just asked the craziest place they had had sex, so Raelle and Abigail were more than happy to end it right then and there. Which was likely for the best because Tally was torn between a cleaning closet on the third floor of the training facility purely because of the thing Sarah did in there…and Abi’s bed.

Yeah, it was definitely for the best.

Dinner was held in the dining room again, not the kitchen. The chicken pot pie smelled almost as fantastic as it tasted. Aella wiggled slightly in Tally’s arms, happy as she could be at nearly 1 day old. 1 day, it felt like both a blink and an eternity of peace. 

“She will need much more than just cloth diapers you know. Chloe needs to make a quick stop in town tonight, grab some spare chicken feed until hers dries out from the rain. I can ride in with her and stop at a general store in town after dinner. Grab at least the necessities, some real diapers and wipes. Maybe some clothes.” Quinn said as she spooned a serving onto her plate. She was right, Tally realized. Up until now Aella had been naked except for cloth diapers made from cotton fabric scraps Chloe had- ones that they were throwing away or having to wash far too often- And her moose blanket and plushie. Tally had already put so much work throughout them that even Raelle who, bless her heart was one of the worst knowers Tally had ever met, had commented on the feeling of work throughout the fabric. Good. Nothing was going to happen to her baby’s first gifts or so help her.

“That would be great, thank you so so much.” Tally said, she turned hesitant at the question settling uncomfortably at the tip of her tongue.

“Do…do you know when Anacostia will be here tomorrow? I know Scylla mentioned it but um…its kinda been a crazy day.” Understatement of the century. Tally glanced down, at the baby in her arms. Her baby.

Holy shit, she was a mom.

And she had to tell one of the her favorite people, someone she looked up to, that she was now a very young very new single mom.

To that person's mom’s baby.

Fuck- She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for this conversation. Was there even a way to prepare for it? She doubted they made books on dealing with this situation. 

“We are hoping to have her back here by lunch time tomorrow if all goes well. Hopefully she’s shaken any tails if there were any to lose.” Scylla replied first.

“Thanks Scyl. Chloe, Ellis…thank you. For letting her come here too. For taking another person into your home.” Tally said. The older couple just smiled at her from their spots at the head of the table. 

“It’s our pleasure dear. I’m just glad you made it here safely, all of you.”

Quinn and Chloe left soon after that, but for everyone else dinner ended late. Ellis had taken over the conversation like he had the first night though this time Aella started in his arms. To no ones surprise, he had them all chuckling as Aella was passed around the large table, from aunt to uncle to aunt and so on until she started fussing for her own meal. Soon after that the group migrated to the living room, sitting in the comfortable chairs as they waited for the two women to return.

Barely an hour had passed since the migration from the dining room before Quinn and Chloe returned, the lights from the Burroughs’ truck flashing through the living room window. Tally’s sisters and Nicte got up and went to help unload, and were back quickly with arms laden with plastic bags. 

“Goddess, that…that’s a lot of stuff.” Tally said, as she gently detached Aella from her breast and began to gently pat her back. That was...fuck, traveling had just gotten so much more difficult.

Her sisters settled on the living room floor, in from of the lounge chair Tally was curled up in with Aella. And very prompt dumped 5 of the large bags onto the floor. 

“Oh. My. Gosh. Look at this little outfit. Tally, look at the little booties and the matching skirt. Oh shit diapers-Give me baby, now.” Raelle said. 

Before Tally had a chance to do anything, her daughter was laid on the floor, laid out on a fluffy diaper mat and was halfway through receiving a clean, disposable diaper.

“Tally get down here and pick one out, only fair mom chooses first pajamas.” The sisters went through all of the new things, laughing at some and cooing over others while everyone else joined in from their spots scattered throughout the room. In the end, Chloe pulled a large sturdy bag from behind the couch. A diaper bag, that Raelle promptly filled with an assortment of items as Tally picked up what she assumed was a pajama onsie. It was a newborn size, but still looked like it would be loose on her daughters tiny body. But it was the same deep emerald as Tally's own work, and was adorned with bright gold embroidered flowers. Like her Sarah's work, or the closest she had seen to it. This one, this would be the first outfit their daughter would wear, one with a little bit of both her parents on it. She carefully dressed her baby, zipping it up before lifting Aella off the ground and pressing gentle kisses all over her sleep scrunched face. 

“You would choose the one that matches your scourge.” Abi huffed, amusement echoing in her voice. Tally just grinned as she pressed her nose into the baby soft auburn curls.

It took over an hour to sort through all of the baby things, to unwrap everything and toss out tags, and to simply look at the large variety of outfits the two older women had chosen...it was honestly the most true fun Tally had had in so long.

Everyone headed to bed when the new items were put away (and the chickens given fresh food). The new items, the many gifts she would never be able to truly repay Chloe for, took up not only the diaper bag but Tally's own spare duffle.

She and her sisters found that the night went much the same as the rest of the day had. Aella woke to feed, and for clean diapers which Tally’s sisters were happy to help with, thank the Goddess. Meanwhile Tally’s own nerves felt like live wires over a river whenever she thought about the conversation she would be having the next day. Which was a lot, it felt like it was all she could think about.

By the time the early morning sun began to rise, the girls were still exhausted. They had slept when they could but the newborn had been fussy through the night. At 6:30 am Nicte came into the bedroom, and simply took a freshly fed and changed Aella out of Tally’s arms. 

“Go to sleep Red. Quartermaine will be here in the next 6 hours, you might as well actually rest before that.” Somehow, even with the looming conversation and the fact her daughter was out of sight for the very first time, Tally and her sisters managed to do as Nicte had ordered. Tally slept dreamlessly, like she had since two nights earlier- the last time she had heard her echo. 

When she woke again, it was almost 9:30 and her sisters were still dozing beside her. Nicte had one hand on her shoulder and the other cradling her daughter. Who was crying.

“Alright kid, your up. Still some food left in the kitchen for you three when you are done.” Was all the older woman said before thrusting Aella at Tally. Tally noticed the comfortably tight blue swaddle wrapped around her. It was the color of her eyes, she had no doubt Chloe had chosen this one. The fussing grew louder, in the midst of Tally’s observation, and she moved to quickly latch her daughter to her breast. Once Aella was content and feeding, Tally began pushing at her sleeping sisters.

“Food downstairs guys. Ana comes today.” Her sisters shot up at that reminder, hurrying to change out of their own pajamas. The ones they hadn’t been out of in well over 24 hours. She couldn't blame them for being excited, she was too...if it weren't for the conversation she would be having that afternoon. Both Abigail and Raelle quickly smacked wet kisses on mom and daughter when they were finished changing, before hurrying downstairs with a ‘see you when your ready!’ Shouted behind them. Tally just grinned in their wake. 

“You meet someone important today my darling. She’s gonna love you so much.” Even if she hates me. They were words she kept to herself.

After Aella had eaten her fill and gotten the burp she needed out of her tiny body, Tally changed both her own clothes and Aella’s. Sweats and a plain t shirt for her. Aella on the other hand was going to look adorable when she met Ana. Even if Tally had to sew an outfit herself. She could do it, she grew up in a matrifocal compound DIY was her thing.

Okay maybe not, but the sentiment was there, damnit. 

Thankfully Quinn and Chloe had it covered because amidst the mess of perfectly adorable outfits was the perfect little white and olive set. 

A long white sleeved onesie, and over that was a tiny little olive green overall with ruffled shoulders. It felt like the softest sweater she had ever owned. Even the olive buttons were shaped like little flowers. Tally practically melted looking at it. She quickly put Aella in the slightly large clothes and grabbed the swaddle, the moose plush, a few diapers, and a thing of wipes before slowly heading down the stairs and towards the bustling kitchen.

It was gonna be fine. Totally. What could go wrong?

Chapter Text

The next four hours moved far too quickly, and so slowly at the same time. Aella was not only more awake, but also fussier than she had been the day before. When she wasn’t feeding or being changed, Tally, her sisters, or Nicte took to bouncing her in their arms as they walked somewhat nervously through the house. Tally especially felt the anxiety of what was coming, and it showed as she wandered around the kitchen with her fussy daughter as she gently bounced her.

"Aella, please sweetheart, I don't know what's wrong. I don't know how to hep you." Tally pleaded, even more stressed when the whines didn't stop. She could feel herself nearing that familiar breaking point, could feel the stinging of tears in her eyes.

“She is the daughter of the most powerful knower in generations. She can likely tell the most important person in her life is feeling anxious.” Came a voice from the doorway, she hadn't realized she wasn't alone anymore. Khalida.

“You…” Her sisters were busy watching out the window for Chloe’s truck to appear, too excited. She didn't want to impede on that, not after they had already given her so much...but Tally wasn’t sure she could calm down both herself and the baby alone, she needed help and she wasn't too proud to admit it. A good distraction would be nice too...

“Khalida, would you like to come hang out upstairs for a while? With us? I don’t…I could use some company. We both could.” 

The young girl actually smiled as she walked from the kitchen and headed upstairs, with Tally close behind. Khalida’s grin only widened, though it was accompanied by a blush when she saw the stuffed moose sitting safely on the king bed. Tally made Khalida sit on the edge of the bed before handing Aella over to the excited child. It was so easy to forget how young Khalida was…how young they all were sometimes.

She had found a colorful baby sling the older women bought the night before. The one that she had no idea how to use, that she had tucked into the back of her duffle. It was the perfect time figure out how the hell it worked. A good distraction and a way to put Aella safely against her chest while also freeing her own arms. Hopefully the closeness would soothe them both.

Much to her relief it did, the fussing quieted to tiny whimpers and then to silence and blessedly sleep as Khalida and Tally carefully secured Aella (and her moose) on Tally's chest. It was chilly enough that Tally took a moment to pull on a loose zip up hoodie she had stolen from Nicte. She was so distracted adjusting her sleeping daughter that she didn’t notice Chloe's truck as it pulled through the wards and to the front of the house. She didn’t notice the front door open, or the steps below her.

But she did notice the twin screams of her sisters echoing through the house.

“ANA!!!!”

Fuck. 

2.5 hours earlier

Anacostia Quartermaine liked to think she was pretty unshakable, just like her mother had raised her to be. But when two complete strangers and Scylla Ramshorn forced her into a rickety old truck, and the younger girl forced a new face on her she was beginning to question all of her life choices that had brought her to this point. The strangers introduced themselves, Quinn and Chloe who were both friends of Willa Collar apparently.

The drive was silent, except for a soft “I missed you.” from Scylla, one she returned with a gentle smile. The drive itself was much longer than she had been expecting, she had thought she would get to see the Bellwether unit as soon as she arrived but alas.

She spent the entirety of the two hours confused as to where her girls were, to where she was going. She kept quiet though, and when they passed through a ward that felt like ones her mother had built up around Fort Salem, she realized that Raelle hadn't been lying when they said that they were actually safe.

Now she just had to find out why they weren’t able to join them in fights. Not that she was complaining, but them pulling out of the war...it was a shock. A worrying one. 

“Sorry, where are we?" the voice that wasn't her own rasped with the disuse of the last two hours. "The wards here are…they are very similar to ones my mother taught me.” She finally managed to spit out, just as they breached the tree line. The house that came into view just looked was...well it looked comfortable. Like despite it not being the fanciest place in the world, it was one full of good feelings that she could sense all the way on the edge of the land.

“This is my home.” One of the women, Chloe, said. “And your mother must have been a smart woman to know this working. Smarter to teach you. I learned during my time in the army, brief though it was, from a very dear friend. Your girl, Tally pointed the same thing out actually.”

Ana grinned at that. It made sense, Tally was the most powerful knower Anacostia had ever met. She would notice the similarities that Sarah had drilled into a young Ana’s brain.

The truck pulled up to the house, and was put into park right outside the front door. They climbed out as gracefully as they could, and Ana felt herself getting antsier with every step, and she didn’t think she was the only one. Scylla was bouncing around with an odd nervous energy that didn't fit the girl Ana knew, and the two women kept glancing at each other. Hiding something, they were all hiding something from her, something big.

“Here.” Scylla tossed her the lighter, and Ana lifted it and burned the false face off the same way she had watched Scylla do. She sighed in relief as she felt her own features return. “Thanks Ramshorn.” A smile was sent her way, nervousness showing there too.

The group headed to the door, and Scylla had barely opened it before Anacostia found her arms full of Raelle and Abigail. And her ears deafened by the same. 

She hugged them back, tightly. She had missed them, she wouldn’t hesitate to admit that the troublemaking unit had grown on her. That she loved them. That them being on the run was the most terrifying experience of her life. At least...she would admit it to herself, saying it out loud where they could hear was a different thing entirely.

“Hi." Was all she ended up saying. She clung to her girls for a moment longer, before letting them go and asking the question burning in her brain since the two of them had rammed into her.

“Where is Tally, is she alright?” The sisters shared a glance, one that had Ana's heart dropping. Nonono, not Tally. Tell me nothing happened, that they are all oka-.

“Tally is-“

“Here! I’m right here. And I’m good Ana, promise.” Tally beamed at her from a hallway entrance, dimples on full display and Ana felt relief rush through her. “Hi.” Tally said. The Tarim girl slid past the red head and headed towards another room off the living area with a small wave she sent in Ana’s direction.

“Alright why don’t we all go get lunch ready?” That voice…she had forgotten honestly that Nicte Batan would be there. 

She watched as everyone but Tally quickly sprang from their spots and hurried to the same door Khalida had just walked through, one Ana assumed led to the kitchen. Even Raelle and Abi went, after a quick second hug that left her confused. They also shot odd looks back at Tally.

Ana turned to look at Tally, as everyone cleared the room. She didn’t miss Batan whisper in the red heads ear. Didn’t miss the way she touched her shoulder. Or the way the older woman glanced down at the weird, lumpy jacket Tally was wearing.

She also was aware that Tally wasn’t moving in for a hug. Tally. She tried not to be hurt but Tally hugged everyone. She had hugged the people in mess that washed her tray, on a multiple occasions had an armful of biddies and Ana could swear she saw her mother and Tally hug once. But she wasn’t hugging Ana.

“Are…” Goddess, this was awkward. “Are you alright?” Another beam, this time accompanied by a nod and a faltering step towards her. The smile fell fast though, the dimples gone as fast as they had come, and Tally began gnawing her lower lip. She’s nervous. Why is she nervous? Why am I nervous?

“Ana I…I really missed you. Goddess it is so good to see you. I need you to know that...But there’s something I need to tell you And I-there isn’t a good way and I've been trying to figure out how for months but then things changed really quick and everything I had planned went to shit and I…” The girl was unzipping her hoodie with shaking hands, why the hell she was doing that now Ana had no idea. 

She watched as Tally paused, took a deep breath and said “Okay short and sweet and over." Anacostia had no idea what that meant.

"Anacostia would…would you like to meet your sister?”

Chapter Text

Tally had quickly finished unzipping her hoodie, the words slipping from her lips as the hoodie slipped from her arms. She let it fall onto one of the chairs forgotten, and she stepped towards Ana again. Her arms were already reaching around her back to loosen the scarf that carried her daughter so close to her heart. 

Anacostia on the other hand was utterly frozen, this had to be some kind of weird trick being played on her. It had to be, and she honestly wouldn’t put it past the Bellwether unit. It was a doll or a pet or something else- 

But she watched as her red head carefully removed a second red head, tiny and sleeping, from the scarf that was apparently tied around the both of them. An actually baby. One that was settled in Tally’s arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. Except it wasn't, it couldn't be. 

“Craven what in the actual hell is going on, you weren’t even…there is no-this can’t be your kid” she whispered, this was what it was like to be completely and utterly at a loss. She hated it. The red heads original words hadn’t even registered, pushed to the side in lieu of watching whatever the fuck this was she was seeing.

Tally just smiled a small, a somewhat sad smile, before asking “I want you to meet someone…would you hold her for a minute? She won’t cry much if she wakes content…at least she hasn’t yet. She wakes up so good if she isn’t hungry and she doesn’t need changed.” 

It didn’t seem Ana had much choice since Tally was already carefully situating the child into her arms. A baby. In her arms. This had to be an elaborate prank, what the hell was going on? 

“literally only days old, and already sleeping better than me.” Tally said with more than a little mirth. Ana was still so confused, had it even been three months since she had last seen Tally? There was no way she was pregnant then….was there? She would have said something, wouldn't have risked her life that night. Who would the father have even been? Shellbark maybe, they had flirted a bit? Or maybe some random fling?

“Tally, what- what in the world is-“ her halting question was cut off by a small whine coming from her arms, she looked down and saw a set of painfully familiar blue eyes staring at her.

Tally could see the exact moment Anacostia knew. Tally was a knower, she had known she was pregnant the minute she knew to look. She knew it was a daughter she carried. She knew the soft lilac of Ana’s magic was pulsing like a tsunami with her utter confusion. And she knew exactly what those beautiful blue eyes told Anacostia when they finally blinked open. Tally reached for Ana quickly as her knees seemed to buckle, grabbing her arms carefully. She didn’t take Aella from her, she couldn’t do that. Not yet. But this, holding Anacostia steady she could do. She could support both of Sarah’s daughters. 

Slowly Tally lowered them all onto the couch behind them, Anacostia shaking like a leaf under her touch even as Aella's form was still. It was unsettling to see, to feel, to know the distress Anacostia was feeling but Tally took a deep steadying breath before carefully supporting the arms that held her world. 

Ana didn’t know how long Tally held her arms steady for, wasn’t sure how long they sat collapsed on the couch for. All she knew was that this wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. Minutes passed, and Ana still felt like she was drowning. Drowning in a n ocean of familiar blue. She barely noticed when Tally started speaking again.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I just-I didn’t know how else to tell you and I knew if you just saw her…it was Abi’s idea in my defense. Show you the most obvious proof of it all.” whispered Tally. Anacostia could feel her eyes welling with tears that she didn't understand, because there was no way that what she was thinking could be true. There was no way that her mother had-a noise distracted her, before that thought could cause the dam holding back the flooding teats to break. The sound that came from the bundle her arms were far from tearful screams she had often heard from fosterling newborns, it was a soft quiet coo of complete...satisfaction. As if the baby she held could think of no better place than Anacostia's arms. Your sister. That is what Tally had said to her. Except-

“Tally-this…it isn’t possible. This can’t be real…it just can't.” Anacostia whispered as she stared at the baby in her arms, which were still held steady in Tally’s. “Her eyes are…” my mothers. She couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t voice what she couldn’t believe.

Tally just sighed, and began talking in the same soft whisper from before. “Did you know that if there is enough power and emotion shared between two female bodied witches, they can conceive? Even accidentally, no seeds necessary the Goddess just up and blesses them… Because I didn’t, and let me tell you it was a huge fucking surprise when Nicte finally told me it had happened before. That it could happen at all. And realizing that it had happened to me?” 

Tally bit her lip as she slowly lowered her hands, bringing them away from Ana’s forearms and into her own lap. Trusting that Ana was aware enough now to not drop the precious cargo she carried.

“I loved her so much, I need you to know that. So much Ana, and she loved me too. But I also know that she loved you, and above anything she would want you to know your sister.”

Her sister. 

Ana sobbed, the dam finally cracking as she fell into the back of the comfy couch, leaning heavily on it for support as she carefully clutched the baby closer to her chest. She hugged the baby, her sister against her as she cried. The seconds turned to minutes as Tally sat with her, before she took a deep, shaking breath and said-

“She didn’t tell me-I didn’t know you two were even…”

Tally moved to turn fully towards Ana, sitting sideways on the couch and pulling her legs up under her. She reached a pale hand over, and caressed the tiny red coils on her daughters head. 

“No one did, not even Abi and Rae knew. Just me and her, and the seven other ladies that sometimes butted into the relationship.” Tally chuckled wetly, tears of her own begging for release.

“But we were…in a relationship I mean. It was never just about the physical stuff. Even though that was good too, but… She loved me, and oh Goddess Ana I loved her, I love her so so much. She was everything to me, and when she left me I thought I wouldn’t survive it. She left you too though, and I know that you love her too. I know I wasn't the only one who lost her. She didn’t leave us alone though, she left us with more than she ever even knew she could.” 

Ana finally looked away from the baby as those words started to fully process, the hurt that that truth carried. “You mean she didn’t even get to know about-” 

Tally cut her off with a shake of her head. “No, no she didn’t. We think I was maybe a tad under 5 months along when- when we lost her. And when I finally figured out that the nausea, bloating, weight gain, exhaustion and lack of a period were for an actual reason…well, it was 26 days too late. She came early though, 32 ish weeks in give or take. Healthy, just kind of small. Even the newborn clothes are loose..." She noted the fact with another grin as she adjusted the strap falling from Aella's shoulder.

"Midnight on August 2nd, a Lughnasadh baby. She has Sarah's magic too...she nearly tore apart the entire farm with the storm that came into the world with her.”

Ana thought back to what Tally had said earlier, to the date “Wait…you’re telling me that that storm was you? I had to travel on a bus through that shit, I thought I was going to die.” 

Tally snorted at the dramatics, “That storm was that little shit right there…just like her Mama. Dramatic as hell, in a way so completely unsubtle that people don’t even realize it for the ridiculousness it actually is. Also I had to travel on a prison bus for days at a time while pregnant so I think I win worse bus ride.” Tally paused, her grin falling again. One more thing, and then Ana would know everything.

“Ana, her name...her name is Aella, Aella Elizabeth.” 

Ana’s breath caught in her throat, for a moment Tally worried she had stopped breathing completely before-

“After…” Oh fuck she couldn’t finish the sentence, the tears blinding her again. She was trying not to let them fall, to not get the baby (Holy fuck an actual baby) wet with them. To keep some shred of pretend dignity. She heard Tally start to whisper again, and felt the red heads arms wrap around her in the hug they both needed.

“After the sister Sarah lost...and after the stories Sarah told you when she first took you in. Hercules’ attack on Themyscira, She told me it was your favorite, so by default it was hers. She told me that that Aella the Amazon was your favorite part of the story. She said that at four years old you described her double bladed axe as ‘the most badass thing ever Mama’ and broke into a meeting to do so. No doubt with the help of one of the biddies...ya know she told me it was the first time you claimed her as your mother. The happiest moment of her life I think…"

Tally paused, taking a deep breath through her tears before she said

"She was named for Sarah, Ana. And she was named for you. Because Sarah loved you, and I love you.”

Anacostia wept.

Chapter Text

The duo sat on the couch for almost five minutes in silence. Anacostia wrapped in Tally’s arms, and Aella wrapped in hers. Until Aella started to scream.
“Goddess Tals, she has a mean set of lungs.” Ana said as she quickly thrust the crying baby into her mothers arms, taking the moment to wipe her eyes.

Tally just smirked, before pulling up her t-shirt, shoving the sling to the side, and latching the baby to her breast like it was the most natural thing in the world. Which it kind of was.

“Yeah, got that from her mama though so don’t blame me. When I say Sarah could scream I-“

“Nope. No, you gotta stop that right now Tally Craven or so help me. I have had enough shocks today that hearing about you and my mother? It would kill me. This child was immaculately conceived are we understood.” The red head just cackled slightly.

“Come on, I bet the eavesdroppers are waiting for us to eat.” That was when Ana realized the sounds from the kitchen had faded to nothingness. Though the smells of homemade chili wafted through the house.

Ana nodded with a smile on her face. She stood up and reached down for the breastfeeding mom and helped her to her feet as well. The three of them headed towards the kitchen.

Raelle walked towards them first, eyes quickly looking up and down both of the woman. When she saw Aella tucked against Tally and covered by the moose blanket, her baby voice came out.

“Ohhhh no, is poor baby so hungry?” She cooed.

“I’m fucking starved Rae, thank you for asking.” Snarked Tally.

Ana couldn’t help it, her emotions weren’t under her control anymore. She giggled, much to the delight of the Bellwether unit.

“Food. All of you, especially you dimples.” Nicte broke in, though her own voice had amusement running throughout it.

Lunch was wonderful, the chili as delicious as everything else Chloe and Ellis had made. Even Ana ate multiple bowls. 

After they all had eaten and the kitchen cleaned, the group moved to the living room. Anacostia settled on the couch before making grabby hands for the baby who had migrated to the sling again mid lunch. For her sister. She wasn’t ever going to get used to that, but those eyes staring at her were all the proof she needed. 

The conversation stayed light, before Nicte caused the it to take a turn. 

“Quartermaine, we should probably talk about the war. And when these people get to return home.” These people thought Tally with something akin to horror. Nicte wasn’t including herself in that. She didn’t think she would be able to return with them. She opened her mouth to argue as much when Anacostia beat her to it.

“They…we lost the doctor again. We think he is the one behind all of it, especially the plague. But we can’t seem to find him anywhere. As for the pardons, Petra has high hopes that they’ll be cleared through the proper Chanels by the end of the month, yours included Batan. The president has been surprisingly helpful since her VP attempted to slit her throat.” And oh…that was news to all of them.

“He did what?!” Shrieked Abigail from her usual spot. Adil’s lap. He was sat in one of the comfortable lounge chairs.

Ana just nodded, smile turning grim as she adjusted her hold on Aella’s sleeping frame.

“Yeah it…she almost died, he took out 6 witches trying to make that happen.” Almost including yourself  Tally refrained from saying.

“Is there…is there a chance we could go back to Fort Salem as soon as it’s done?” Asked Scylla.

Ana nodded again. “You better be planning on it. I need my sisters. All of you, including this little one. Especially this little one. And you Batan. Petra is grateful for everything you’ve done, helping your people come to an agreement with ours. Apparently she and Verger have plans for you.” She said, not looking up from the wiggly bundle in her arms.

They stayed in the house for most of the day, listening to the light gossip Ana brought with her and only breaking to do chores for Chloe and Ellis outside around 5, while the older couple fixed food with Quinn’s help. Tally fed the chickens, leaving Ana and her freshly fed and changed daughter still on the couch. Dinner went much like lunch, and by the time they were ready to sleep the day felt as if it had sped by. Ana chose to sleep in the twin room with Nicte, though the offer of sharing a room with her favorite unit was tempting. Scylla slept with them again and the women slept well, though it was certainly a snug fit.

Tally managed to keep Aella from waking anyone else up when she needed fed or changed and by the time morning rolled around she was starving. Breakfast was a slow, quiet affair and once again the entirety of the house found themselves scattered comfortably around the Burroughs’ living room. Tally and Ana once again close together on the couch.

“There must be one hell of a story here Tal’s. I mean, I wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t for the fact that her eyes are exactly like Sarahs. Her hair is even the same texture as Sarah’s, even if it got your color…same lips too.” Anacostia faded off, staring at Aella’s adorable pudgy face again. She didn’t notice how Scylla’s lit up from her spot on the floor in front of Raelle on the other side of Ana, head secure in her lap.

“Oh you have no idea, speaking of stories Tally why don’t you answer the question that was so rudely interrupted last time we all talked.”

Abigail and Raelle groaned loudly, but Tally just grinned. This grin wasn’t one that Anacostia was used to on the girls face. No, this grin was all Sarah Alder. It was absolutely wicked. She felt like she should get an umbrella, like by some miracle one of her mothers storms was about to soak the outdoor training course right before practice.

“I think I would have to say for craziest, Abi’s bed.” Nope, Anacostia didn’t want to know. Nicte looked like she wanted to ask, and it was clear from the way Abi paled and slumped backwards that she very very much so wished she did not already know. Scylla just cackled like a maniac.

“Tally. Tally please tell me you didn’t. Not to me, you wouldn’t do that to me. Your sister. You couldn’t.” The Bellwether begged. Tally’s wicked grin only grew, but as she opened her mouth to speak Adil of all people interrupted.

“If this is going in the direction I am really hoping it isn’t, remember there are some young ears here.” Khalida huffed, before grinning at Abigail’s obvious discomfort.

“Brother, understand this is a sacrifice I am very willing to make.” Was all she said before she bolted up and grabbed Aella from Anacostia’s arms giggling as she quickly ran to the kitchen leaving a very confused group of adults still in the living room.

“Well, on that note I have chickens to tend and a meal to start.” Said Ellis, excusing himself as well. 

Tally’s wicked grin grew even wider as she turned back to her sisters and brother.

“Oh my dear sister, the question was the craziest place. And loathe as I am to admit it, storage closets don’t have the same crazy levels as in your unit mates bed. Even if we were fully clothed the whole time. If Scylla had asked for most thrilling I probably would have said your mothers office.”

Okay, now they all wished they didn’t know. 

“I’m so sorry but the Sarah Alder I knew would never sink so low as to have sex in a war college dorm. I’m fairly certain she didn’t have sex outside of Beltane the entire time I knew her.” Chloe said, face contorted in an odd mix of humor and horror.

“See that’s what I said!” Nicte said, in shockingly good spirits as a surprising smile spread across her face. “That is exactly what I said. Thought she had sworn of all relationships. I knew the woman for over ten years, never once outside of the holiday and even then she missed at least twice.” 

“She had her own fingers, and when that wasn't enough she had good looks and she knew the best bars in Salem. With the roomiest bathrooms. And alleyways. Made sure to show me too. Even before I came along she was getting laid at least every now and then. The trick was make sure the biddies were sleeping, and to block the memories reeeaaaalllllyyy well before they woke up. It was honestly shocking how subtle she could be when it came to literally only her sex life. No other part of her was subtle.” Retorted Tally. 

Nicte and Scylla were cackling, and Quinns right eyebrow looked like it was about to disappear into her hairline: Raelle, Adil, and Abi looked sick: and Anacostia needed a subject change. Badly. Thank the goddess Chloe had provided that.

“So you knew the general?” She asked quickly, seeing Tally also opening her mouth likely to delve even more into detail about Anacostia’s mothers sex life than she needed to know. It was already too much.

Chloe nodded quickly though her amused expression fell just as fast, “Yes. A very long time ago, she and I were…something of friends for a while.” Ana raised an eyebrow.

“What happened when that while ended?” 

Chloe just smiled, a sad thing that made Tally want to hug her. So she did. She stood quickly, wrapping her arms tightly around the older woman waist before quickly sitting right back down.

“Understand, I had lost my birth family, my sisters. Suddenly I was the only child left when before I had had 6 wonderful sisters. And I needed someone to blame for that, Sarah Alder was a willing scapegoat. Too willing I’m afraid. She had a bad habit of letting people she cared for hurt her. Thinking she deserved it, the moronic woman. I lost a friend when I left her, a recent revelation but nonetheless true. Excuse me, I should check on Ellis.” Was all Chloe said, before moving to the door. Everyone else content to let her, and willing to pretend they didn’t see the tears streaming down her cheeks. There was a long silence left in her wake

“So Tally. Bells office huh? What was that like?” A voice spoke after a few awkwardly silent moments. Ana, Abi, Rae and Adil turned to glare at Nicte. Nicte who looked oddly intrigued at the thought of Petra’s office. Scylla just laughed again, as that torturous grin spread like wildfire. 

“Well Nicte, I am sure you will be pleased to know that her desk is incredibly sturdy. Same with her door. And her bookshelf.”

Chapter Text

The sadistic streak Tally had let show faded quickly, though not fast enough in Ana’s opinion, when Khalida returned with a fussy and freshly dressed Aella. After feeding, the conversation turned to what the fugitives had been doing for the past months of no contact.

They talked with Ana for hours, catching her up to speed while she continued to do the same. The spree members and army were being surprisingly cordial thanks to Nicte and Petra’s influence. Aella was content in her sisters arms when she wasn’t being fed.

Dinner came quickly, and before they knew it sleep was upon them. The day had been better than anything she had hoped for, ending curled with her sisters (including Scylla) and daughter. She quickly changed Aella’s diaper and put her into a blue flowery zip up footed pajama onesie. Adorable, truly and she should feel so content. She did feel content, and happy. But something inside her also felt off.

Tally felt…itchy. Like a wound beginning to heal, She thought as she faded into sleep. 

What the hell…she thought as she woke two hours later, the itching inside of her not growing yet staying consistent despite her having gone to sleep. Her sisters were still asleep, her daughter fussing slightly. She quickly attached the girl to her breast and shuffled carefully out of bed. 

Making her way downstairs took time with a baby literally gnawing her body but she made it down. She grabbed the pink blanket off the pile in the corner and walked out to the porch before settling into the small porch swing on the side of the house and covering her and Aella. It occurred to her this was the first time she and her daughter had been alone. It was nice, would have been perfect if Sarah were here and the damned itchy feeling would go away. 

Tally quickly patted a small burp from her daughter before settling more comfortably into the swing. It wasn’t cold, just chilly. The pink and moose blankets working together to keep her and Aella perfectly warm.

“How lucky I am, my sweet girl.” Tally whispered, caressing the hair that was shades darker than her own. The perfect mix.

“Your mama would love you so so much, she would tell you stories every single night. So since she isn’t here I might as well.” Tall sighed and pulled Aella closer, and met that blue gaze she adored so very much.

“Lets see, when your mama and I said I love you? That’s a nice one. Your mama snuck me out of my dorm for the first time, well past midnight. Troublemaker that she was. She nearly woke up your Auntie Rae on accident thinking she was me. But she wanted to teach me how to dance.” Granted the dance was with a scourge and could be used to kill people but hey, semantics. “Well, your Mama was showing me how to twirl like she did. She was so beautiful, so graceful your mama. Never faltered in a dance, but I must have been distracting to her because next thing I know she tripped on her own feet and took me down right on top of her. She laughed so hard she snorted, and I couldn’t stop myself from saying those three little words. I don’t think she had any control over herself when she said them back.” They had finished the ‘dance lesson’ with a very lively tango on the forest floor Tally remembered with amusement. Sarah had been insatiable, and she herself wasn’t much better honestly.

The itching suddenly intensified, and Tally realized what was causing it. The bond. She began to panic slightly, was it healing? This piece of Sarah leaving her behind forever? 

No, that couldn’t be it. Because, she realized, the constant echo of confusion-panic-worry she had been feeling for the last few days was still there. Still bubbling under all of her own emotions. And was coming from their bond. It wasn’t her at all, it was Sarah. 

No…no she’s dead. I can’t be feeling her, it’s all in my mind. Those dreams are fucking with me. She’s dead. Gone. She thought to herself. Suddenly a shrieking scream cut through the air, Tally’s gift going haywire with it and thunder echoed softly in the distance but audibly grew closer. Quickly.

Someone…or something had just forced its way through Chloe’s wards. Tally had felt the ripple of the wards like nails on a chalkboard. Aella apparently had too which would explain why she was screaming in way she hadn’t before, almost like she was in pain. Tally ran into the house, dropping the pink blanket on the swing and screamed.

“UP! Someones here, get up!” Aella screamed again, she had fussed but since being pulled out of Tally hadn’t screamed. Aella’s thunder was growing louder, lightning flashing in every window, and her gift going more insane yet wouldn’t still to her command.

The footsteps thundered through the house, and within the minute the group was downstairs and Chloe and Ellis were there as well. She ran towards Nicte and Anacostia

“I can’t see who, whoever they are I can’t reach far enough. My gift won’t settle I can’t see who it is just that they are coming from the Northwest-“ She was spiraling again.

Nicte just nodded grimly, and thrust the diaper bag she had brought down into Adil’s arms. “Khalida, Adil. Take Tally, Chloe, Ellis and Quinn. And run. Fast to the truck and drive south. Through the corn fields. Make it to a road and drive normal, but stay low. Head towards Fort Salem if we don’t call you back in an hour. As soon as we are safe we will far speech you. Adil, invisibility working on everyone except Ellis and Chloe til then?” She spoke quickly, and Adil nodded. 

“No. No, take…take Aella and go okay? but I’m staying. Take her and run alright, Keep her safe.” Tally said, turning the last words to Khalida as she handed her daughter and the moose to the young girl. Khalida met Tally’s gaze for a moment, but nodded, before motioning for the others. The group hurried through the kitchen door despite the protests from Tally’s sisters-All of them, and Nicte. 

“I’m staying, I was trained by Sarah Alder herself. Aella will be safe with Khalida, she and Adil won’t let anything happen to her. I know my daughter is safe. I need to know my sisters will be safe too. Grant me this, please.” The thunder boomed louder, more frantic as the truck started and moved its cramped passengers farther from the house. Moved Aella from her mother. Lightning filled the sky again, a mix of gold and black. Her daughters magic.

The women-her family, didn’t have a chance to argue, instead Abi just handed Tally her green scourge. She sent her sister a grateful smile, doing her best to reign in her unruly gift.

It finally came to her side, like a kicked puppy. Tally quickly thrust her gift towards the Northwest, feeling Nicte push her body flush against a wall and away from any windows.

But her gift didn’t show her anything, it was too busy dancing in gold. Lighter gold than Aella’s, but the same power. Beautiful, familiar gold drowning every one of her senses.

Tally ran. She shoved past Nicte, and ran. Ignoring Nicte and Anacostia’s shouts, her sisters desperate screams. Ignored all of it and ran. 

Tally ran through the front door, out onto the porch and into that endless hurricane of bright gold. She ignored her daughters raging storm. She couldn’t see anything but the gold, gold that was blurring with her tears as the bond sprang to life and she was filled with relief-joy-love that positively echoed through her very being. She dropped her scourge to the ground and leapt into the eye of the golden storm.

Straight into sturdy warmth, familiar strong arms grasping her tightly as her legs wrapped around that familiar waist, as she buried her tear streaked face in that familiar shoulder and sobbed. That voice, her voice soft, relieved, and reverent in Tally’s ear.

“Tally.”

Chapter Text

“Tally.” Over and over again in her ear. Tally could feel her tears soaking into the fabric of the cotton shirt Sarah was wearing. Could feel Sarah, sturdy around her. She was sobbing too hard to get a single word out, would have stayed there for as long as she could. Except for the fact that a scourge blade was slinging towards them. 

“Stop!” Tally yelled quickly through her tears, feeling Sarah twist sharply with Tally still clinging to her, dodging the blade that missed them by mere inches. “Stop!” They couldn’t see her, Aella’s storm made it too dark, but they could hear her as she blasted her words in far speech across the lawn.

“Tally Craven I swear to the goddess. Are you alright?” Nicte’s voice cackled into her head. Sarah’s grip on her thighs tightened as she shifted away, and Tally wanted to bury herself back into her arms.

“I…I’m fine Nic. I’m good, great. Just give me a few minutes and I will be back. Go inside and wait for me. Just a few minutes I promise. You can call everyone else back too, it’s safe. We are safe I swear.” She sent back the far speech order. The hands gripping her thighs tightened slightly.

“60 seconds. You have exactly 60 seconds Dimples, and if you aren’t back in here I am coming to get you myself, so help me goddess.” Shit shit shit she will do it too.

And yet Tally couldn’t move, not yet, She pulled Sarah’s head against her own, noting the soaking wet hair. The tears that mirrored her own. Those eyes that were staring at her like she was the answer to every question in the universe.

“My Sarah…my heart. You’re here-How are you-we need to get out of this rain before my sisters and your wayward daughter come stomping.” Sarah chuckled wetly through her own tears.

“Tally, my Tally. Where you go I go.”

That was enough. She yanked Sarahs mouth to her own, grinning against those lips. The feel of them under her own was like every single piece of her work tripled in power. She gasped at the feeling, the gasp turning to moans when their tongues clashed like the thunder above. She thought she would never do this again, feel Sarah’s emotions raging through the bond the way she knew Sarah could feel hers.

“10 seconds.” Nicte’s voice cackled.

“We’re coming.” Tally yelled annoyed, both aloud and through far speech as she pulled herself away, grinning slightly as Sarah chased her lips.

“Inside.” She whispered, not even risking a peck lest it turn into more than that and Nicte come barging to retrieve them.

She let Sarah set her down slowly, feeling those hands slide up her body in a way that was both familiar and utterly sensual. She was still reveling in the warmth, the aliveness of her as Sarah’s hands moved to clutch her face. An echo brought to life. She turned and pulled Sarah by the hand towards the house. Not noticing as Sarah saw the abandoned blanket still on the swing. Tally opened the front door and stepped through.

“Tally thank godde-“ 

“What the fuck were you thinking Red?”

“Tally!”

The relieved cries silenced quickly as they saw exactly what it was that had triggered the knower into running.

“Mother?” 

“Ana-“

Nicte stepped forward while Sarah was distracted, yanking Tally behind her out of Sarah’s grasp, and moved between Sarah and the rest of the group.

“You can’t be here, she’s dead. So who are you?” Nicte hissed, herding the women behind her.

Tally couldn’t have that, she could feel the sudden burning of shock-anger-confusion-fear through the bond.

“Stop, Nic stop. I promise its her. I know it is.” She said, putting a hand on Nicte’s arms. She turned to her sisters, all of them. 

“It’s her. It is actually her. I can see her. I know her.”

That was enough for Anacostia, who pushed past Nicte and marched straight into her mothers arms, tears falling when they wrapped around her.

“Mother?” Was the only thing Ana managed to say before she was truly sobbing into Sarah’s arms.

“Ana, my sweet daughter I’m here. It’s me I swear. It’s me.”

“How are you here?” Ana gasped through her tears.

“The mycelium healed me, you sent me in alive daughter. It gave me back the same. Better.” Her eyes met Tally over Anacostia’s head. 

“It sent me back to you.”

Anacostia clung to Sarah for almost 2 minutes, the other women silently watching. Nicte’s hand never leaving her scourge, eyes never leaving Sarah, and her body never leaving its sentry in front of Tally and her sisters. When Anacostia finally stepped away, wiping her eyes, Sarah carefully asked

“Are…Are you all alright? I-I was worried about you, all of you. Tally’s dreams gave little information.” Oh, oh my echo was Sarah. My Sarah, this whole time Sarah was actually there. Tally thought.

“General we-“ Abigail started.

“Tell me something. Something only General Sarah Alder would know.” Nicte interrupted, her voice harsh. But Tally could see it in the steel magic, that wavering resolve and panic. “Tell me something only she would know.”

Sarah raised a brow, managing to look as much like the general as she had a year ago. Despite the tears.

“You kissed Minerva Bellwether on a dare once. You just didn’t tell her I was the one that dared you. Or that the reward was a bottle of 700 dollar whiskey. And Abigail call me Sarah, I’m not a general anymore.”

Abigail positively wheezed. Nicte paled, and whispered “Sarah…”

Tally pushed back around her guardian, heading right back for those wonderful, perfect arms. Except that was the moment they all heard the kitchen door swing open. The moment they heard footsteps entering the house. Oh fuck. 

Tally froze and whirled around, just inches from Sarah. She turned her stare to her sisters, she knew what she had said. But she had forgotten.

“I…I called them back. You said to call them back.” Raelle frantically whispered, sounding borderline horrified as Scylla grabbed her hand. Then they heard it. The screeching wails of a newborn taken from her mother, thunder and lightning echoing in its wake. Aella

Aella was her priority. Aella would always be her priority, from the moment she found out she was pregnant. She didn’t even spare Sarah a glance as she rushed into the kitchen. If she had she would have seen the confusion as she bolted. Would have seen the woman following her.

“Tally Craven, she won’t stop screaming.” Khalida said, the girl was soaking wet and more panicked than Tally had ever seen her. She quickly grabbed her daughter-moose, blanket, and all- bouncing the distraught baby. Her baby was her priority, to the point she stopped caring what was going on around her. Focusing solely on those heart wrenching wails. 

She didn’t notice the other people rushing into the room. Or the gasps at the sight of the newest house occupant. Or Raelle ushering everyone into the living room. Or the sound of the thunder fading away. All she knew was Aella. Aella and those awful terrible screams.

Just those horrid screams as if a limb had been ripped from her tiny body. Tally held her, bouncing her, listening to those wails as they quieted into loud sobs into weeping into little hiccups in her arms. Aella’s face was as red as her hair from the exertion of the cries or the magic use Tally wasn’t sure, her eyes squeezed shut and her magic…Tally wasn’t sure if she even needed her knowing to see the dark gold wafting through the house, out into the fields and the forest. Clashing with the bright gold of Sarah Alder. 

“My love, Mom has you alright? Your okay. Settle your storm little one.” She whispered relieved as the baby soothed even more at her voice. “I’ve got you, we are safe my little whirlwind. I’ve got you now. Moms got you.”

That was when she heard it, the choked breath from the doorway. Her head shot up, and oh, her sweet wonderful Sarah was staring at her in surprise, maybe shock. Then she felt it, the awful string of emotions pulsing through her confusion-hurt-pain-confusion-love-confusion. 

“You…that night-your pain that night while you dreamed. The pain you felt for hours after…I thought that someone was torturing you but…No one was hurting you like I had thought, you were-you were in labor. Giving birth. That’s why I was feeling so much pain from you. Tally…” Tally could do nothing but nod as she continued swaying their daughter. She had prayed to the goddess for this moment, but it wasn’t going the way she had dreamed.

“Sarah-“ 

“Who…who is the father?” Sarah asked, though not unkindly. Masking the hurt Tally knew she was feeling under false understanding. Tally could feel it through their bond. 

Oh, oh god she doesn’t know. Tally realized, OH FUCK SARAH THINKS THAT I- She couldn’t help it, she laughed. And then had to watch as Sarah’s already shocked face fell. Then closed off completely. 

“I’m sorry. I will-I can go, Petra can make use of me now anyways. She was remiss to let me leave in the first place, only wanted to know Abigail was safe and-I just needed to know you were alright after feeling you in so much pain I-” Oh, she’s rambling. At least it’s not me this time I suppose. 

“You idiot. It’s you.” Tally interrupted, her laughter gone but the smiles in place. She had moved quickly, her hand reached out and grabbed Sarah’s wrist stopping what would have been an extremely hasty retreat. 

Sarah had come home, to them. To both of them. And Tally wasn’t about to let her leave because they both sucked at communicating. That had caused enough problems already. But no more. She would get to hold her daughter the way Tally had dreamed if it was the last thing Tally ever did.

“Please just, Sarah just hold on and listen…she is yours. That storm outside isn’t your storm, but it feels like one. I know you feel that. That’s because it’s hers. Her storm, the one she inherited from you. Because she is yours.”

The smile left her face slowly as she watched Sarah freeze. Tally suddenly felt like she was under water as she watched her collapse to her knees to the kitchen floor.  A puppet who’s strings had been cut. Nothing but pure shock echoed through the bond now. 

“Oh, oh Sarah. I would never do that to you my love.”

“I…” Sarah couldn’t get any other sounds out, even as Tally watched her eyes fill with tears. Felt her own fill with tears. Tally knelt down slowly in front of Sarah, her Sarah, mindful of Aella in her arms and raised a hand to cup that sharp jaw that was clenching and releasing the way it did when Sarah was overwhelmed. And Tally didn’t need the bond to know she was overwhelmed.

“My love, this is your daughter. Yours. Ours, and ours alone. Would you like to hold your daughter?” Tally whispered.

The sob that tore through Sarah caused Tally to ache, the emotions coursing through the bond changing so fast it was overwhelming them both. But Sarah still reached out her shaking arms. 

Tally used the hand cupping Sarahs face to drag their foreheads together and carefully moved to settle Aella in her mama’s arms.

“Sweet girl, meet your mama.”

Sarah sobbed again, gasping air. 

“Tally I-” Sarah hadn’t even opened her eyes since Tally’s hands began touching her. Hadn’t even looked at the baby yet.

Her baby, she thought. She opened her eyes and met Tally’s soft honey gaze. Then finally she looked down. Looked for the first time at that red faced, Auburn haired baby still so upset from the hard night. It seemed as though just being in her mama’s arms had calmed her down, because she quieted, and opened those perfect Alder eyes. 

Tally didn’t think this wave of emotions could hit her any harder, but when Sarah saw her own eyes reflected back at her on that tiny face Tally felt her own arms begin shaking. She was sobbing too, she realized belatedly.

“Her name is Aella.” Tally whispered quietly through her own gasping sobs, forehead still against Sarah. She couldn’t resist kissing Sarahs lips lightly before returning back to the same position. Forehead to forehead, their daughter safe between them, kneeling on the floor of the farmhouse kitchen.

“Aella Elizabeth Alder.”

Chapter Text

Hours could have passed, months, years even. There on that kitchen floor time no longer mattered. Her Sarah sobbing but blissfully alive in her arms. Their daughter fading into sleep in hers. Tally could have lived in this moment forever, drowning in the thrum of Sarah’s endless emotions down the bond.

“Dimples.” The gruff whisper cackled in her ear softly, reminding Tally they couldn’t stay here forever. Sarah had come back from the dead, that was going to need explained. To her, and to the group Raelle and Abi were likely still corralling in the living room.

“Sarah…My love…we need to go back into the other room. They’ll be confused. I’m confused. We…” She felt like she was talking to a cornered animal, could feel the shift in the air as Aella’s storm faded yet Sarah’s grew. She felt Sarah’s overwhelming panic above all the rest, above the joy-love-happiness-relief. 

She used the hand on Sarah’s cheek to tilt her face towards her. She could still feel the thunderous emotions pounding, refusing to settle in her Sarah. Tally moved her hand to once again softly cup Sarah’s cheek as blue met brown.

“Listen to me Sarah Alder. You are panicking alright. You need to breath. In and out.” She watched, repeating and feeling as Sarah’s breaths calmed the storm raging inside them both slightly.

“Oh…oh my love I am so so sorry. I didn’t realize that you would…You don’t have to hold her if you don’t want to though alright?” That was the wrong thing to say apparently. Sarah’s grip on their daughter tightened as she pulled Aella closer against her and looked back at Tally in pleading fear, panic returning to the thrumming down the bond.

“Oh shit no. No, I am not going to take her from you Sarah. I promise. She is yours my love, and you can keep holding her for as long as you want. I just…you were-are panicking. I don’t know how to help you, and just wanted to offer that. You can hold her as long as you want, I am not going to let anyone take her from you. But you need to breath.” Tally whispered. Minutes passed, silent except for Sarah’s gasping sobs and attempts at deep breathing. Her gaze had returned to Aella at some point.

“We need to get up Sarah.” Tally finally said, more firmly this time as she saw Abigail’s head peak through the door. 

“No one will take her from you. We are yours, nothing is going to change that but we need to go talk to everyone alright? Not for long and then we can go to bed okay? Just the three of us.” 

A nod. Sarah nodded. Tally forced herself up off the ground before reaching down to steady Sarah as she too stood. Her eyes never left the smallest red head.

The group in the living room looked like they had gone to hell and come back in time to see the end of the world. 

“Mother…” Sarah finally looked up to meet Anacostia’s gaze. She looked like hell, Tally thought, realizing she probably looked no better. Her eyes were bloodshot and still glossy, her face was paler than normal and even her hair looked a mess. Tally couldn’t do this to Sarah, couldn’t force her through this right now. Not after just getting her back. Not when she looked so utterly broken.

“Tomorrow. Breakfast, we talk then. It isn’t even 3 am. We go to bed. Abi, Adil and Khalida can take the king just move the diaper bag to the queen room. Scylla and Rae can share. Nicte and Ana share. Quinn can take the couch.” She said. Firmly. An obvious order. Half of them nodded, the other half too in shock to do anything but stare at the resurrected ghost carrying the smallest member of their group. Raelle and Abigail bolted upstairs to move their stuff around.

Raelle barreled downstairs barely a minute later, and began ushering everyone to their respective beds. Fuck I have the best sisters Tally thought, knowing pure gratitude was thrumming down the bond mingling with her worry.

She gently took Sarah’s elbow in her hand and whispered “Come with me alright? Just the three of us until morning.”

Sarah followed her direction without complaint. The panic had mellowed, leaving shock-joy-love-disbelief roiling in its stead. The made it to the queen room, it was the first time Tally had been in here she thought as she carefully moved the diaper bag off the bed where one of her wonderful sisters had left it and into a corner. Sarah simply stood where Tally had left her, eyes not once leaving Aella. Tally slowly pushed Sarah onto the bed and worked at removing her army issue boots. This wasn’t the first time she had taken boots off Sarah, yet it felt different now. 

Once Sarah was left sock footed, Tally crawled onto the bed and pulled down the covers.

“Feet up. On the bed and under the covers.”

Sarah obeyed, tucking her feet carefully under the covers, leaning against the stack of pillows not quite laying down.

“She…she’s mine?” Sarah whispered and oh Sarah hadn’t spoken since trying to run off Tally realized. She crawled under the blankets and huddled closely against Sarah, leaning on the arm that was barely supporting Aella, just holding her feet as if they were more precious than gold. She stared at their daughters sleeping as she answered

“Yes. She is yours, and she is mine. Our baby Sarah. We made that.”

“You-you were pregnant and didn’t say anything?” Again Sarah sounded just plain confused to Tally, the words could have hurt someone else as blunt as they were. Communication would never be Sarah’s strong suit. Yet Tally? She could only feel the confusion. 

“In my defense, I didn’t know till you were…gone. 26 days after. And when I was dreaming I genuinely thought that you were just a figment of my imagination. I-Sarah I am so so sorry.” 

A wet chuckle passed Sarah’s lips.

“I died and left you alone and pregnant. I feel like I should be the one apologizing.” Tally hummed softly.

“Maybe neither of us needs too. Look at her, an apology for that seems ridiculous.” She felt Sarah turn more into her, like she was coming out of shock and finally able to control her own body again. Cuddling closer to the mother of her child, pulling up her knees to rest that child in them.

“You had a baby. Our baby. I…I am a mother” Awe filled her voice, reverence. Like nothing that had ever happened to her could compare to this. Tally understood, she had felt the same way. Her cheeks dimpled as she grinned and hummed her affirmation.

“Yep…Sarah…how-how are you here? How was I able to dream of you? How did-you were barely recognizable when we sent you to the mother.”

“I…I think it wasn’t my time. That I was healing…then you started appearing and even though I wasn’t able to see you I could feel you. And then you were in pain and-“ Sarah cut off, her breath starting to stagger. She’s crying again Tally realized with a pang.

“You were in so much pain and I wasn’t there. So I…I forced myself out I think. To come to you. To come to both of you.” Fuck it, that was one of the most romantic things Tally had her heard.

“You came back to life because I was hurting?”

A nod. And a blush.

“Damn you, how the hell am I supposed to keep up with your romantic gestures. First the scourge and now literal resurrection.” Sarah laughed lightly.

“You birthed my child, you made her inside of you. Let’s call it even.

They both joined Aella in sleep soon after that, choosing comfortable, joyful silence. The rest was brief however, as Aella decided to wake up an hour later screaming as though starved. Sarah startled at the sound, and Tally could feel the panic through the bond. She smiled as she carefully took Aella into her arms. 

“Let me, she’s just hungry. And probably needs changed…would you mind grabbing a diaper and some wipes from the bag in the corner?” She asked as she latched Aella to herself. Sarah dragged her gaze away and moved quickly. Nearly falling out of bed as she rushed to the bag and grabbed what Tally had asked for.

“She will only nurse about 20 minutes, then we can change her and you can have her back alright?” Tally smiled as she felt the gentle relief thrum through them both. What caught her off guard was the deep regret that quickly took its place.

“I…I’m so sorry. For leaving you. To suffer through all of this alone, to leave you when you needed me the most. I’m so sorry about the execution and that I didn’t think and after-” Sarah was crying again. Tally was pretty sure she had seen Sarah cry more in the past two and a half hours than she had ever before.

“My love, Sarah you don’t have to apologize. For any of that. None of it was within your control. And I wasn’t alone. I had my sisters, and Quinn, and Adil, and Khalida…and Nicte.” Sarah’s body seemed to quiver, overwhelmed by the day as she was.

“Come here.” Tally said, using her free hand to pull Sarah against her. “My Sarah you are here now. Be here now, not stuck in the past. With us, here.”

Chapter Text

The rest of the night, little though there was remaining, went much smoother. Aella woke up fussy every 2 or so hours, feeding and getting changed as needed. The only times Sarah would put her down. It was around 6 am that Sarah finally changed her first diaper, and put Aella in fresh clothes. And very promptly said

“Tally, love...I know I am shit at communication, just in general. I always have been, and you made that abundantly clear multiple times. And worse at reading certain social cues. But how the hell did I not realize when you said a stranger offered you a foot-rub? That Raelle was going to start giving you morning ones? You even said baby at one point. You straight up told me, in actual words that baby can call lightening. And I thought you meant me?! You have never called me that ever I mean for fucks sake-” Tally had laughed so hard she almost woke the others, dragging self deprecating chuckles out of Sarah as she dragged her forward and kissed her softly. And then again, and again.

“I wouldn’t have you any other way you clueless wonderful woman.”

They slept again, Aella fading into sleep in her mama’s arms, Tally cuddling close. It seemed that Sarah’s arms were both of their favorite places. Like mom like daughter, Tally thought as she faded back to sleep.

A sharp knock woke them two hours later, accompanied by their door opening and Abigail’s head peaking in. And a click of the camera that was ignored.

“Okay as sweet and incredibly weird as seeing this puppy pile is…You should probably come downstairs before Nicte decides to come drag you down.”

Tally groaned, but said “Yeah…we will be right down.”

Abigail hurried back downstairs, leaving the family alone.

She felt Sarah tense next to her,

“Come on, at least so I can grab some food. They need to know that you are you. And how you came to be here okay?”

A nod, one that Tally mirrored before standing up and walking over to help Sarah up as well. The three of them made their way downstairs.

The kitchen was bustling with movement when they finally entered. Movement that froze when they crossed the threshold. The silence seemed to stretch for hours, and Tally was about to break it as Sarah’s emotions began rising again. 

“Gimme my sister. You had her all night.” Oh thank goddess for Anacostia. Because those words had turned Sarah’s worry-panic into pure joy-love-adoration as she watched her oldest daughter pluck her youngest from her arms with a quick kiss on the cheek, and settled in a chair with a large smile.

“So…breakfast?” Tally asked, pulling Sarah carefully to the buffet style food set on the counter. Bacon and eggs. She grabbed a plate, faltering slightly as she saw Sarah do the same. 

“Back from the dead, and an appetite?” Nicte asked, seeing the same thing. Bless her, Sarah didn’t react badly. Even though Tally could tell she considered it. Instead she simply nodded and said 

“Resurrection has it's perks Nicte, though I am not sure if this is one of them yet.” She eyed the food warily, Tally taking the opportunity to recover from her own surprise and put some potatoes and eggs on both plates. Nicte looked...confused. Like she hadn't expected her name to come from Sarah's lips with anything but malice behind it. 

“Ellis is an amazing cook.” She said, only then realizing that Khalida, Adil, and the Burroughs’ were no where to be seen. She reached for them, her gift quickly finding Chloe’s pale pink magic outside on the swing. Khalida was in the living room with her brother, reading the book Tally had started.

“He really is, but ma’am…Sarah? Am I supposed to call you Sarah? That’s so weird…How are you here?” Raelle said, stumbling adorably through her question.

Tally led Sarah to a chair next to Ana and Aella and forced her to sit, plopping next to her.

“Sarah is fine Collar and honestly, I am not exactly sure. When I was sent into the Mycelium I was not alive…or exactly human as I am sure you remember.” The discomfort Sarah was feeling was obvious to everyone in the way she shifted. It settled slightly though as Sarah looked at her daughters. “I think that because I went in alive, she simply healed me and sent me back. Mortal as I was 300 years ago.” 

“Could it be because you created it? Could that be why it sent you back?” Sarah choked on the sip of coffee she had just taken.

“I beg your pardon?” She said coughing slightly. Everyone turned to her is surprise, even Quinn. Oh no, there is no way she doesn’t know thought Tally. Everyone here knew, there was no way Sarah didn’t when it was her seed that planted the Mycelium in the first place.

“Ma’am-Sarah, you, you made her…when you lost your first coven, the song you sang…your grief all of it combined into a seed…it created her. The mycelium, a safe place for the souls of witches to rest in peace. It was created by your song of grief.” 

Sarah had tears in her eyes now, the bond filled with grief-awe-disbelief  “Sarah…”

“I-I had no idea. Thank you Raelle. For telling me.” The woman whispered. Silence stretched again. Even Nicte looked like she wanted to comfort the woman. So Tally did the best thing she could think of, distraction and humor. 

“So Nic, what is this I heard about you kissing Minerva Bellwether? Was there tongue? Tell me there was tongue”

Based on the dual chokes form Abi and Nicte as well as the howls from Scylla, Ana and Raelle it worked well enough. And based off of the hand that found hers and pulled her tightly against Sarah, it worked perfect.

“A truly memorable moment, and worth every cent of that bottle of whiskey. And watching little Cadet Petra nearly faint at the sight of her crush’s tongue down her mothers throat is blackmail I revel in.”

Abigail gagged.

Chapter Text

Breakfast continued though conversation was minimal. Sarah retrieved Aella back from Anacostia as soon as she had eaten her fill. Bouncing the baby with a look of pure delight on her face, none of the terror or panic from the night before was left. 

“Abigail, before I forget your mother wanted me to tell you that your pardons will be pushed through. As of tomorrow morning, you are all to be allowed back on base. Including you Nicte, should you wish to accept it. Though there are apparently stipulations that I didn’t stay long enough to hear. Major Verger is in dire need of an assistant.” The final words weren’t nearly as begrudging as the group had expected, though they were still watching in wide eyed confusion as Sarah smiled widely at the newborn. She hadn’t even looked up since retrieving her from Ana. 

“You didn’t tell me that?” Tally was pouting and she knew it.

“Oh I am so sorry my love. How could I forget? Definitely takes precedence over finding out I am suddenly parent to a newborn.” Sarah teased, finally tearing her eyes from Aella.

Tally just rolled her own. “Shuddup”

“Okay. This is weird. Like you talked about it…still weird. Like General I didn’t know you could smile-” Raelle’s confused ramble cut off, face turning red at that. Fortunately Sarah just chuckled. 

“We should pack up, get the bus loaded if we are going to be back by tomorrow.” Nicte said, still refusing to truly meet Sarah’s gaze. Not that Tally could blame her, not after the conversation in Colorado.

“You are coming with us?” Tally knew she sounded far more hopeful than anyone had expected. Nicte met her gaze and nodded.

“Yeah, might as well give it a shot.” Tally’s grin widened slightly, and she leaned more into Sarah.

“Good. We would miss our guard dog.” 

Oh that got her, the older woman rolled her eyes and with a flick to Tally’s ear went to join Khalida in the living room. 

“I take it whatever happened with that has a backstory that you have neglected to tell me as well?” Sarah asked her, tone still teasing.

“Oh, you have no idea.” Abigail was the one that answered. Raelle and Scylla nodding in agreement.

The story didn’t have a chance to be told, as Aella chose that moment to start screaming. Sarah quickly handed her to Tally, who simply attached Aella to herself before starting to move to the sink. Sarah wouldn’t let her, taking her plate and washing the dishes herself.

Raelle and Abigail stood up to help dry, but Sarah waved them out with a soft 

“You took care of her, of both of them when I couldn’t. The least I can do now is wash a few plates.” They smiled and rushed to their rooms to gather their things as well as tell Adil and Khalida the good news. Scylla followed after with an awkward wave. The small family sat in silence for a few moments as Sarah washed and put away the dishes, Anacostia sipped her coffee, and Tally fed the youngest member.

“Tally…when we return, there will be questions. ” Sarah finally said, as she found the home of the last pan. Ana looked up at that, 

“You aren’t wrong, is there a plan here or-”

“As much as I would love to delve deep into this conversation, I have a baby literally gnawing on my tit. And limited time left here. Can we maybe talk details a little later? My Love, people will talk but people always talk. Who cares anymore, because I don’t. I just got you back. I am not about to lose you again.” Tally said, though not unkindly. A raised eyebrow, but a nod followed. Best she was going to get she supposed.

“Also Sarah, you may want to go out to the front porch. There is someone there you need to talk to before we leave. And I mean actually talk dear, no deflecting. Have an actual conversation with the woman who has been so kind to keep your daughters and me safe.” Sarah nodded before walking out, kissing Tally’s head and leaving an awestruck Anacostia still in her chair.

“How in the world did you do that? She just did exactly what you told her to? Without any arguing?”

Tally shrugged, a dimpled smile already spreading on her face. “I’ve gotten her to do way worse, need I remind you of Petra’s office? That wasn’t her idea, I’m just sayin.”

Anacostia’s audible gag made it all worth while.

Chloe Burroughs sat on her front porch swing, pink blanket in hand. Her mind was reeling, and hadn’t stopped since Sarah Alder had shown up alive in her house.

“You warded the house beautifully.” The voice was soft as it spoke, and she felt the swing move as another person settled next to her.

“I learned from the best didn’t I?” She couldn’t help but say. Alder just hummed in response. The silence stretched for a moment, then

“I am surprised you kept that. I know that I-” it was clear that Sarah Alder was at a rare loss of words.

“It was a gift, from people who were very important to me. Who are very important to me.”

“Chloe, I am so sorry for what I-”

“No.” Chloe was firm in her speaking, this wasn’t an apology situation.

“No. I made a choice. One that at the time I felt was right, I was consumed by my grief. And after…after you were gone from me I felt nothing but shame. Sarah” She turned to the woman, she looked so different yet still the same. 

“Sarah you saved me. Truly. You got me the help I needed, and prevented me from killing myself and by default you and the other biddies. Stopped me from killing my second family after already losing my first. Then, even after I was no longer a risk to you you chose to make sure I was taken care of. If anyone should be sorry it should be-”

“No. No. You shouldn’t apologize either. Perhaps Tally was right. She has told me before that there are no apology situations. Is this one of them?”

It was Chloes turn to hum in affirmation. The two sat in silence on the swing, letting the relief fill them both. Letting the peace fill them. Before Chloe had to ask

“Did you really have sex with a war college cadet in a supply closet Sarah? Lord woman, what happened to your class? Or common sense?!”

Sarah’s answering laugh could be heard throughout the house.

The rest of the day sped by far too quickly. Before they realized it, the bus was packed. Lunch was an odd affair, everyone feeling a mix of sadness and elation. They were thrilled to be returning home, yet heartbroken to be leaving this place. This home where so much had happened, especially for Tally. 

The goodbyes were hard for all of them, Quinn having elected to stay behind and make her own way home. Tears and hugs were endless. Chloe whispered words to Sarah, bringing their foreheads together and Aella was passed to the three people being left behind.

Promises were made to visit as soon as it was safe, as soon as the camarilla were well and truly gone. Aella especially would be expected as soon as possible. 

The start of the ride was somber, though Aella broke the sad silence with wipers after about 15 minutes. She was changed and passed carefully around the bus until she was hungry again. Having the baby awake seemed to perk up the mellow feelings in the bus. When Sarah wasn’t keeping her to herself, she was passed around from uncle to aunts, leaving her mothers alone on Tally’s bus bench.

“So mother, I was wondering…How the hell are you going to explain all of this to Petra.” Anacostia eventually asked, causing every head with eyes not on the road to swivel to the oldest witch.

Sarah cringed inwardly, only Tally aware of the fact before saying

“Very carefully. It’s not like she can exactly punish me, but she does care for Tally like her own.”

“Plus you gotta avoid the fact you and Dimples had sex on every surface of her office.” Sarah choked on air, Tally turned redder than her hair though she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling, and Nicte just looked smug from her place behind the wheel.

“How-you-TALLY!” 

“I am so sorry, but in my defense you were dead! I was just trying to relive some good memories!”

“You told them all?!”

“Well I mean-“ Sarah glared at her.

“Okay Yes. I did. But can you blame me? Scylla asked the craziest place we ever had sex and I said Abi’s bed” A groan sounded from the Bellwether junior.

“And then We talked about most thrilling which for me was either Petra’s office or the warding circle or the-”

“Goddess stop talking.” Sarah bemoaned, hearing the mixed groans and giggles from around the bus. Everyones spirits seemed to rise slightly after that. They stopped a few times, the drive itself being just under 23 hours. It was different, being able to just drive without Tally having to pee every hour. 

Scylla took a turn at the wheel about 8 hours into the long drive. Nicte looked exhausted as she went to the back of the bus to sit. By that point only Tally, Aella, Sarah, Scylla and Nicte were awake. Aella back in Sarahs arms, who was smiling at her and running a long finger over her nose.

Tally pushed against Sarah, nodding her head towards the woman in the back.

“Are you telling me to go talk to the woman that tried to burn me from the inside out or are you wanting to get out?” Sarah whispered.

“Take Aella and go. Talk. To. Her. She is a permanent part of our daughters life whether you like it or not. She is important to me. Plus I highly doubt Minerva is going to be the last Bellwether to have Nicte’s tongue down her throat. Make up best you can, or else family dinners at Abi's are going to very awkward.” She paused, "Okay more awkward. Go." 

With a groan Sarah stood, taking the baby back from Tally’s arms and walked slowly towards the back of the bus. Offering her daughter to the other woman like a peace offering. Tally watched as Nicte eyed Sarah warily, before taking the offering. Cuddling the baby to her. Sarah plopped ungracefully in the seat next to her ex enemy. She looked back at Tally, and upon seeing her staring stuck out her tongue. Tally took that as a cue to look away, raising a hand to flip her off. Nicte’s sharp, surprised laugh followed the antics. 

She didn’t listen in, didn’t care to interrupt the healing that was so necessary for Sarah…and Nicte. She couldn’t hear anything other than faint whispers, but she could feel Sarah, for regret-contentment-sorrow-happiness. Then she heard her favorite sound, Sarah’s laugh. That sharp one, like she had been taken by surprise and couldn’t help the sound bursting forth. 

She wasn’t the only one to turn and look at the source of the sound. Both women were smiling and looking in Tally’s direction, Sarah was the only one laughing. And Nicte’s smile looked far too sly to have been anything kind. Tally glared at the duo, before leaning back in her seat. Only 14 more hours to go. She thought.

Chapter Text

14 hours apparently goes very quickly once you realize that you are about to announce to most of the people in your life you haven’t seen in three months that you are now a mother. And that you were fucking the worlds most powerful woman. Regularly. To the point she impregnated you. Tally wasn’t freaking out at all. The pacing wasn’t from nerves, shut up Nicte. 

They were just through the wards and she still had no solid game plan. Aella was freshly fed and changed. Sarah was ridiculously calm. Rude. 

“Alright sit down you ridiculous girl, before you wear a hole in the damn bus floor.” Sarah finally said, yanking Tally onto her lap, letting the girl wrap around her like an octopus.

“Tally. It isn’t even 3 am. The only one who is going to be there when we get there is Petra. And maybe Verger and Izadora. Just put on the damn sling so you don’t accidentally drop my sister. Get the birth mother part over with, worry about the…other mom part later. And the rest of the world won’t find out till you are ready okay?” Ana spoke from where she sat with Aella. 

Tally nodded, yeah that…that would be fine. 

“I-Thank you. I’m sorry I’m freaking out.” She muttered as she burrowed deeper into Sarah’s arms.

“Tally love, your life changed drastically. And you are about to feel the ripple effect of that change. It’s alright to be freaking out.” Sarah whispered, dropping a soft kiss to the red hair.

“Now, get the sling Ana mentioned.” Tally sat up, reaching for the overly full black bag tucked under the seat, and pulled the colorful scarf out of it. She slowly stood from her place on Sarah and began tying it around herself, only stopping when her hands started to shake. Sarah gently moved her hands away, using her own long fingers to quickly finish tying it. She kissed Tally lightly, resting their foreheads together. 

“It will be fine my love.” Tally nodded, ignoring the looks the others were shooting them and instead pulled away to take her daughter. 

“Let me.” Sarah’s hands took Aella from Ana, kissing the second red brow. 

“There you go my littlest one, your mama’s got you.” She whispered so soft that Tally thought she had imagined it as she carefully situated Aella in the sling (moose blanket and stuffed animal safely tucked with her) against Tally’s chest. Tally watched as Sarah sat back down, let herself be pulled down again as the passed through the wards of Fort Salem. Goddess it felt like home. Even after Sarah…left, the wards had stayed hers. Even know the brilliant gold flooded her senses from where it rippled around the base. They were home. Sarah’s hand clasped hers tightly.

“Five minutes then we will be there.” Nicte’s voice sounded from the front of the bus. Per Ana and srahThey were going to the administrative building. The building where Sarah once lived, where Petra would be waiting. Tally’s nerves spiked again, Sarah’s hand quick to move. Her thumb rubbed gently across Tally’s face as she forced love-calm-joy down the bond. Tally sighed, letting Sarah’s emotions fill her. 

Abigail was the first one off the bus, running straight to Petra, who stood waiting at the bottom of the steps into the building. Hugging her mom, the sight was enough to make Tally tear up slightly.

“You go first.” She whispered to Sarah, who nodded and kissed her one last time before following, the others quick behind her. Adil stayed, squeezing Tally’s shoulder and grabbing the black bag. Tally shot him a tight smile, letting her brother go first and help her down the steps. Raelle was in Petra’s arms by the time they made it.

“Tally.” Oh that was nice. Petra sounded so happy too see her. Happy enough to reach for her, likely to pull her into a hug until she noticed the scarf. And what it had inside of it. 

“Tally I-is that a baby?” Well at least she didn’t sound pissed. Baffled, absolutely.

“Um…yes. Yeah.” Great start. She could feel Nicte’s eyes roll behind her.

“I thought Ramshorn said all the children were sent with dodgers? To safety? Why didn’t this one go with? And why wasn’t I informed?” There was silence that followed, Tally beginning to panic. She 

Abigail was the one who answered, “They were mom, all the ones that didn’t come out of Tally were sent to their families.”

Oh goddess, this was revenge. She knew it, in the very core of her work, she knew. This was revenge. Revenge for letting Sarah screw her on Abi’s bed. Well deserved, but oh goddess it was horrible. 

Petra had frozen halfway to Tally, before looking too and from the shocked redhead who’s face suddenly matched her hair, and her ridiculously smug looking daughter.

“I’m sorry. Let me make sure I heard that correctly. That child, the one Tally is currently strapped too-”

“Is her kid Bells, through and through. The red hair alone is proof but I swear she is gonna have matching dimples too.” Nicte said, sounding far too amused for Tally’s liking. And showing off her own dimples. 

“Okay all of you shut up. Please and thank you. Her hair is darker than mine and she-” Tally shut her mouth, she wasn’t going to ramble her way through this.

Raelle snickered.

“Tally, you left here in chains barely three months ago. I am pretty damn sure you were not pregnant.” Well, still no anger. Dismay was starting to mix with the bafflement though. Yet before she could respond, Aella made a noise of discomfort against her chest, drawing Tally’s attention the way it always would. A singular focus. 

“Oh hey no, shhhh. You’re alright.” She ran a finger over the fussing baby's hair as she swayed lightly. Missing the looks from everyone; the fondness from her family, confusion from Petra, the reverence from Sarah.

“Maybe this is a conversation for inside Bells? We don’t want her getting sick. A week old immune system isn’t exactly a strong one. And it’s kind of chilly out here.” Nicte said, uncharacteristically gentle. A sharp nod, and then Petra was leading them to the senior officers lounge.

The silence stretched on, even as the short walk ended and they found themselves in a large room. There were couches and chairs, enough that everyone could sit comfortably. The group scattered, plopping ungracefully about. Petra slowly lowered herself to the couch, even without looking Tally knew that her eyes never left the bundle on Tallys chest. The silence was beginning to get uncomfortable, Tally didn't do uncomfortable. She opened her mouth. 

“So…how many surfaces did she fuck you on in here Tally?” Tally whipped around, looking at the brunette sitting on Raelle's lap. 

“OH MY GODDESS SCYLLA!” Came the identical shouts from Abigail, Raelle and Tally. Sarah turned almost as red as Tally’s hair and lifted her eyes heavenward, Anacostia groaned, Nicte laughed as she plopped down next to Petra, and Petra choked on air.

“I am sorry what the actual hell is going on right now.” She wheezed, collapsing farther into the couch. Aella had stopped fussing as soon as they made it into the warmth of the building, moose’s antler in her mouth.Tally took a breath, letting Sarah shove calm down the bond until she finally lifted her eyes to meet Petra’s gaze. Petra who hadn’t hugged her, and instead was staring at her like she was a hallucination.

“I’m sorry…”

Tally looked over at Sarah, who just shrugged. Helpful. 

“But…in my defense I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what Craven? Just-what?”

“That I was pregnant. I’m going to be honest, my mom didn’t really give me a good birds and bees talk…and I didn’t even know that female witches could well-knock up other female withes? And up till we left I had been…ya know…with a woman. And I didn’t tell you that because you’re like a mom to me and plus I don’t know if you know this but I was a little stressed at the time and then that person died and I was even more stressed and-” Understatement of the year, fuck she was rambling again. Goddess did her blood never rest? Tally wasn’t sure she had ever blushed so hard.

Petra laughed, hysterically. It was oddly terrifying though Nicte still just looked horrifyingly turned on.

“You just went months not knowing you had a person inside you.”

“I mean…Yes.”

“Goddess, I need a drink.” Ana was way ahead of her, passing both her and Sarah glasses of whiskey from the cart in the corner.

“Well I…would you like to hold her?” Petra stared at her, the crazed look in her eye softening. Her smile turning natural, maybe even hopeful. She nodded slightly, making Tally’s own thrilled smile spread across her face.

Tally carefully maneuvered the baby from where she was once again sleeping safely on her chest and lifted her away. Handing her to Petra who had passed her now empty glass to Nicte.

“Petra, meet my daughter. Aella.” 

Petra stared at the bundle in her arms in silence for a moment. Taking in Aella, the way it seemed everyone did once they got their hands on her.

“Aella. Hello little one. You have your mama’s hair.” Petra’s voice was shockingly fond under the obvious dismay, melting Tally’s heart just a bit.

A soft noise sounded from Petra’s arms, one that had Sarah and Tally stiffening in their chairs. Aella’s eyes blinked blearily open as she fussed slightly.

Petra stared at the baby in her arms. Then looked at Tally standing in front of her. Then back at Aella. Then back to Tally. And then finally turning on Sarah who sat to the side of the couch in an armchair next to Ana. And who looked ridiculously smug all of a sudden.

“No.” Petra was shaking her head, though her hold on Aella was sturdy as could be. Possibly even tighter, like the woman was ready to protect her at whatever cost.

“Petra-“ Sarah started.

“No, no. You Sarah Alder were not screwing a cadet. Please tell me you weren’t that stupid.”

“Oh Bells, from what dimples has said that is not all they were doing.” Nicte muttered, still not having moved from the couch, though she leaned towards Petra to gently pull moose out of Aella’s mouth. Tally was frozen. 

“Petra, it wasn’t some…Tally and I were in a relationship-”

“She ruined you!” Tally flinched.

“BECAUSE I ASKED HER TOO.” The room seemed to freeze, Petra sinking deeper into her seat as she stared at Sarah.

“What?”

“I asked her too. I asked her to do all of it. To step in. To talk to you, to bring Nicte back alive, to perform the Rite of Proxy. I didn’t realize how much you and her sisters loved her. Or how ambitious you were. Or how badly things could go. But what happened wasn’t her fault. None of this is her fault.”

“Sarah…” Tally whispered. 

“How long?” Petra asked at the same time.

“What?” 

“How long were you and Tally…doing whatever this was.”

Tally was the one who answered, looking at Petra with eyes that she was sure were pleading. Begging for her to understand.

“15 days after the unbinding. We…we didn’t tell anyone though, not even my sisters knew. Only us, and the biddies.”

“So for months. You were fucking my daughter for months.”

“I was in love with her long before that.” Oh goddess, Sarah had never said that in front of anyone. Not even the biddies. And Petra…oh Tally was going to cry.

“You yelled for her when you came out of the mycelium.”

“Yes. I love her Petra. And you currently hold proof of that love in your arms.”

Petra looked down again, staring at the tiny child in her arms. The silence seemed to stretch before she said

“I need to…We will talk more about this tomorrow. Sarah, your personal rooms are the same as the day this all went to shit. I am assuming you and…and Tally will be comfortable there for now. Everyone else can stay in the family and guest wing of this building. Abigail will show you where. People are expecting you here in the late morning but your pardons came through officially a few hours before you arrived. Sarah, we will be having a press conference in two days. Announcing your return. And reinstatement should you choose to accept. Try to stay hidden until then. We will meet back here tomorrow morning, around 0900.” Petra had closed off, expressionless.

She handed Aella back to Tally and quickly walked out of the room. Abigail made to follow, but Nicte held up a hand.

“I got this baby Bells, you get everyone to a bed.” And walked after Petra.

“Well, that could have gone better.”

“No way Abs, really?” 

“Shuttup Rae.” 

The voices of her sisters, the footsteps of the small posse faded as Sarah, Tally, Aella, and Anacostia were left alone in the room.

“That was painful.” Anacostia said, staring into her whiskey as she collapsed in Petra’s vacated seat. 

“Tally…Love are you alright.” Tally nodded, quickly handing Sarah their daughter. She wiped her own eyes before taking Sarah’s cup and draining it of the remaining whiskey. She knew Sarah could feel her, feel all the things she couldn’t make sense of yet.

“I-yeah. Good practice I guess for if I ever tell my birth mom.” She chuckled wetly. “Can…I want to go to bed. Take me to bed. Please.” Sarah nodded, kissing Ana’s brow and grabbed the diaper bag Adil had abandoned by the door before letting Tally lead the way back to the familiar room. 

It really was untouched just as Petra had promised. It made Tally want to cry even more. The bed hadn’t even been made from the night they planned…everything. The book that had detailed the life for a life loophole still open on the desk in the corner. The night before shit hit the fan. 

She watched as Sarah put the diaper bag on the small desk, and couldn’t help but smile as she pulled the green and gold onesie Chloe had washed from it. She leaned against the door frame, watching as Sarah changed their daughter. Blowing raspberries on her bare belly, kissing her toes and brow and finally picking her slowly back up. All Tally could feel was Love. 

“This was worth everything. I need you to know that.” Tally said finally, as she moved away from the door and joined her family on the bed. She kissed Sarah lightly, reveling in the feeling. She pulled away and rested her head against Sarah’s. She could feel both sets of blue eyes on her.

“I don’t care what happens tomorrow, with Petra or anyone else because this moment. Seeing you with her. Having you both. It’s worth all of it.”

Chapter Text

Petra had missed them, especially her daughter. She nearly cried as Abigail hugged her tighter than she had since she was a little girl. Almost cried when she felt Abigail sob slightly into her shoulder. She did cry when her beautiful, brave daughter whispered “I love you mom.” Into her ear.

“Petra.” She slowly lowered her daughter, turning to look at the small crowd. Sarah was standing near her, looking…different. She kept glancing at the bus, not that it mattered. Raelle smiled at Petra, squeaking as she was pulled in Petra’s tight embrace. Petra had missed this girl, both of her extra daughters. Speaking of where was Tally?

She let go of Raelle, cupping her face with one hand and readying to ask the location of her third daughter when she saw her being helped out of the bus by Adil. Petra moved quickly, reaching for the red head when she noticed something strapped to Tally’s chest.

No…not something. There was someone. A baby, barely visible in the horridly bright scarf wrapped around the girl.

Apparently Tally’s baby, if what her daughter said was true. She couldn’t wrap her head around it, the girl left not even 4 months ago and returned with a baby. It wasn’t impossible but it was highly unlikely. Who would the father be? She wracked her brain for some mention the girl had made of a special someone but nothing. Not since the Buttonwood boy. She slowly lowered into the couch, barely listening to the conversation around her when the Ramshorn girl suddenly asked a question that had her gasping for air. Petra couldn’t keep it in anymore.

“I am sorry what the actual hell is going on right now.” She finally got out, brain reeling at the sudden turn of events. She was supposed to be having a reunion with her daughters. Not meeting a grandchild. Plus Tally was rambling, which while endearing usually it simply wasn’t the time. She needed a refill. Except right as she went to get one, Tally asked her a question that had Petra short circuiting even more. Holding this baby. Her sudo Childs daughter. Of course the answer was yes. Confused as she was, worried as she was, this…this girl being placed in her arms was a part of Tally. An absolutely precious part, with red hair and soft cheeks and making adorable little mumbles and- those eyes. There wasn’t…she was mistaken. They were just regular eyes. Piercing, familiar blue eyes. Petra couldn’t help the suspicion growing in her as she looked to Tally. Tally who was looking incredibly nervous. Who’s brown eyes were darting to and from a place to Petra’s left. She had to be wrong, she thought as she glanced back at the bundle. At some point the antler of a little stuffed moose had made its way into her mouth, but those blue eyes stayed the same. The same as the woman Petra turned to look at. Who was looking at with something akin to pride…no not pride, Petra realized. She was smug.

Petra had betrayed Sarah. She knew this, but what Tally had done had destroyed the woman. Yet Sarah claimed it was planned, that Tally and her were in love. It was all too much. She handed the baby (beautiful perfect child) to Tally, and walked away. If she stayed it was possible she would ruin her relationship with all of her daughters.

The footsteps of someone behind her grew louder as they caught up.

“What do you want Batan?” She glanced sideways at the woman. 

“To tell you that you made her cry, and to ask if you wanted to grab a drink.”

Petra felt herself tense. She had made Tally cry. She absolutely wanted to drink. She took a left, heading for her office. She pushed open the door, ignoring the weird looks the woman with her was giving the room, and walked to her desk.

She pulled the bottle of gin out of her bottom drawer and grabbed two glasses as Nicte plopped down across from her.

“She loves Sarah…and Sarah loves her too. As impossible as that seems.” Nicte saids as she took the glass. Petra looked at her. She had changed since being on Sarah’s private strike team. Changed since Petra was a cadet with a stupid crush. Changed since she disappeared and was erased from history.

“I’m surprised you of all people are defending this.” She finally sighed, the dimples hadn’t changed.

“Oh believe me, I wasn’t. But Tally…if someone like Tally can love her maybe there’s a redeeming quality somewhere. Besides you saw Aella. I refuse to believe anything bad could making something so pure.”

Petra sighed, perhaps her…friend was right.

“Plus Sarah apologized. More of a miracle than rising from the dead if im being honest.”  Petra choked, the burn of the acohol suddenly filling her sinuses as she coughed.

“I’m sorry she what?” 

“See I didn’t believe it myself, but she handed me that kid and sat next to me without a care, and she apologized.”

Sarah Alder had apologized. Sarah Alder who never apologized for anything. Who seemed to thrive in others discomfort. She poured them both another drink, not caring that the two of them would likely drink the rest of the night away in her office.

“Sarah Alder doesn’t apologize.” Nicte smirked. Shit.

“She does when Dimples tells her too. Because she loves her. Trust me when I say she does everything that girl wants her too. In places you don’t want to know.” Petra choked again.

"Fuck Nic." She said laughing despite the choking burn. Nicte just smiled wider, her own dimples sinking into her cheeks in a way Petra didn't know they still could.

Chapter Text

Waking up in Sarah’s bed for the first time in…well, too long, it was amazing. Waking up because Aella needed fed-also pretty great. She was a mom, she and Sarah had a daughter. One that was currently latched to her breast while Sarah slept soundly next to her. She took the time to just watch, Sarah had so rarely slept before. Yet here she was, back from the dead and shockingly mortal again. She could barely tear her gaze away, even when she moved Aella to her shoulder. Soon they were both asleep again, Tally’s eyes on Sarah until the closed.

“My love, it’s almost 9. We need to go meet Petra.” Tally groaned, vaguely registering her Sarahs voice. Definitely registering her empty arms. She blinked open her eyes, smiling as she looked at Sarah. In clean clothes, military issued black pants and a plain grey t-shirt, her hair loosely braided. Aella was already dressed too, happily blowing spit bubbles all over her own grey shirt. And black pants. Sarah had put them in matching outfits. The giggle that left her lips as she moved out of bed was out of her control.

“Sarah my love, you are adorable. Did you do it on purpose?” 

“Do what?” Sarah’s Confusion joined her own amusement-joy through the bond.

“Nothing, never mind.” Tally pulled a pair of her own sweats from Sarah’s closet, changing out of her dirty clothes and pulling an old US Army t shirt of Sarah’s on. She couldn’t resist kissing her sweetly, pulling away only to lean and kiss her daughters brow.

“Lets go see your grandma little one.” Sarah’s chuckle echoed as the three of them heading down the hall.

Her sisters and Scylla was already there, Adil and Khalida having chosen to stay in their room, and Nicte and Petra were both late. A fact that Abigail seemed happy to ignore and Scylla seemed thrilled to not ignore. Until they noticed the trio that had entered. Tally and Sarah moving for empty chairs., Tally moved by Abigail, placing a wet kiss in her sisters dark hair while Sarah sat carefully on the couch with Aella.

“Um…Tally did you dress the General and your daughter in matching outfits?” Raelle asked, sounding like she was trying so hard not to laugh. Tally watched as the words registered to Sarah, embarrassment wafting through the bond.

“I will have you know Sarah did that all on her own.” Ana snorted, reaching over to kiss the baby’s red hair. Hair that was the shade of her mama’s cheeks.

“I think its adorable mother.” Ana said, sitting on the empty spot next to Sarah.

“What’s adorable?” Nicte’s gruff voice said from the doorway as she lightly shoved Petra through the door.

“Nothing.” Sarah said far too fast, her red face a dead giveaway. 

“Matching outfits. That is whats adorable, mom I mean just look at them.”

Petra’s eyes bulged slightly at Abi’s words as she sat across from a blushing Sarah, next to Abigail and Nicte. Nicte who was cackling as she took in the outfits Sarah and Aella were wearing. And the fact that Sarah Alder was blushing. And holding a baby. A baby that was quickly, though carefully, dropped in Petra’s shocked arms.

Honestly all of it seemed to trigger the endless giggles from the former spree leader.

Petra didn’t say a word, taking in the tiny person in her arms. This adorable, red headed baby. This perfect baby. Who was wearing the same basic outfit as Petra’s ex-boss.

“You know what? I am not even going to touch that right now. Or at all” She straightened up, adjusting to bring Aella closer to her. 

"Moving forward. I- It is somewhat common knowledge on base that your pardons came through. It will be announced on civilian news at noon. It is up to you if you would like to go to Sekhmet lounge after their lunch, I am sure they have missed you. As for you Sarah, we need to have a discussion about what you are hoping to come from your new life. And inform the rest of the upper brass that you are in fact alive, not to mention President Wade. And decide how to proceed in regards too…Well, that one. You will likely…goddess you probably need baby things.” She said, smiling slightly at the warm bundle in her arms for a moment before standing and returning her to Sarah. She needed coffee, Nicte could still drink her under the table it seemed. A soft smile was sent her way, though coming from Sarah it seemed to catch her off guard even more.

Abigail was fastest to process Petra’s word vomit.

“So…I would love to go personally, and if I know my sisters- which I do-they want to as well…but are we supposed to just show up out of uniform? With a baby strapped to Tally’s chest?”

“Not if she doesn’t want too, Aella can stay with me, if that is what Tally wants. Tally deserves to tell this to your friends on her own terms. Something that this situation has taken from her too many times already. I am content to remain a secret for a while longer.” Tally turned to stare at Sarah, ready to protest the idea simply because she was needed to feed their daughter. No matter how wonderful seeing her friends would be. Besides, she wanted them to know this beautiful thing she made.

“Sarah, I will always want her to come with me, but if you aren’t okay with that, which I understand, I-“

“No, love. If you wish to take her I have no complaints, your happiness is all that matters. Yours and hers.” Oh Tally was going to melt at the earnestness in Sarah’s voice, the rest of the world fading. The glances being shot behind their backs fading.

“Yours does too.”

“I am not going to lie, I have many many questions.” Said a voice from the door. 

Tally whipped around in her seat, staring at the two newest occupants.

“You are not the only one Izadora, tell me are my eyes deceiving me?”

“Well Magda, that is a baby. You are seeing a baby. If there is something else than yes we will worry. But if you are seeing a baby in General Alders arms than you are fine.” The gruff woman turned to look at Sarah, who simply raised an eyebrow as she readjusted Aella in her arms. Only Tally could tell how truly awkward her poor love was feeling.

“And why, might I ask is there a baby?” Tally wasn’t sure who the question was directed at though, Verger’s eyes never wavered from their hold on Sarah, but decided to answer anyways.

“Um, she- she’s mine. My daughter.” Tally spoke up, ready to protect Sarah at the smallest sign of being needed. Even if it was at the cost of her own pride. Even from her favorite mentor. Yet, other than a general sense of awkward, Sarah was doing fine.

“You know how the general is with the fosterlings Magda. Can you blame her for not wanting to let go of Craven’s child. I mean she is the literal perfect baby. Look at her red hair.” Oh thank goddess for Anacostia. And curse Aella’s perfect eyes because they were a dead giveaway to who exactly the other half of her genes came from at least based on past experience. As soon as she opened them they were fucked. Maybe she would just sleep till they left. 

“Craven wasn’t pregnant.” 

“Apparently she was.” Petra replied, two coffees in her hands as she made her way back to her vacated seat, “Believe me, I am still struggling to process it.”

Nicte snorted, “You just don’t like being a grandma, Petra. Don’t deny it, you aren’t a liar.” Nicte took the second coffee from Petra's hand. Tally really wanted to know what had happened there. 

Izadora had moved silently to Sarah as Anacostia had spoke, looking at Aella sleeping soundly in her mama’s arms from behind the couch.

“Alright so its Cravens baby. Why does Cravens baby have Sarah’s ears. And mouth.”

“Not to mention Sarah’s magic.” Verger said, leaning against the doorway looking far too amused. At least she had pulled the door shut. “Tell me, why in the world would Craven’s baby have Sarah’s magic?” How could someone so small and angry house so much sarcasm? Tally thought.

Whatever that woman and Nicte ended up doing together was going to be terrifying. And if this is how fast everyone was going to figure out that Aella was theirs, they were absolutely fucked. 

Sarah rolled her eyes, the perfect picture of a general if not for the ridiculous amount of embarrassment Tally could feel coming off of her. Again. And the faint blush returning to her cheeks. Tally’s own felt as though she were on fire. 

“Stop teasing, it isn’t a good look on either of you. Cadet Craven and I were-are in a relationship. This is my daughter. Our daughter. And her name is Aella, not ‘Cravens baby’ ” She said bluntly. Why ease into it when they already know was Sarah’s preferred method apparently. Tally groaned aloud, feeling Abigails hand patting her on the back in a way she just knew was meant to both comfort and mock.

“The fact that you didn’t know Magda is a shock, you almost caught us at O’Niels on more than one occasion. You’re choice in bars is questionable at best my young friend.” The woman’s eyebrows shot into her red hair. Scylla turned towards Tally, and raised her own eyes to Tally’s eyes with a raised eyebrow. She blushed slightly, but still mouthed ‘roomy bathrooms’ at the brunette.

Chapter Text

“My love, if you want or need her to stay with you she can.” Tally said, for the fifth time in an hour. Sarah hummed lightly, the smile on her face widening as she watched Tally tie off the colorful carrier. They were back in Sarahs room, their room, waiting for 1 pm when Tally would join her sisters and Adil in reuniting with their peers. At Sarah’s insistence, Aella was to go with Tally. Something Tally was happy about, yet even feeling Sarahs contentment she was still worried. Worried about the faint nervousness from Sarah, the faint nervousness she herself was feeling. About the fact that since Sarah had found out she hadn’t been apart from either. All of it was…overwhelming.

“Tally Marie Craven I am fine…besides I am apparently being forced into a meeting with 5 majors, 3 generals and a soon to be very pissed president and that is not the way I want to introduce Aella to anyone. Meanwhile you are going to go see friends who love you. And are hopefully not so used to my eyes that one glance will giveaway our secret.” Sarah teased.

“Well it’s not my fault you both have the most perfect eyes in existence.” Tally huffed. Sarah kissed her lightly, pulling the scarf open and sliding their daughter back into the carrier. She settled in quickly, her soft noises fading as she and her moose rested against Tally’s warm chest.

“Go, enjoy the reunion. Brag about our daughter, and the fact that you made her. And when you get back I will happily hold her until she needs you again. Now go my love, your sisters wait.” Sarah shoved her lightly toward the door, steeling a last kiss from both her beautiful redheads.

“I’m a thought away alright?” Tally said, turning as she reached the door. The smile she received was so…warm.

“As am I my Tally. Now go, introduce our daughter to your friends.”

Gregorio Shellbark was excited and he wasn’t the only one. Even M was excited, though they showed it through…okay they didn’t really show it all but he knew they were. Today was the day that their favorite unit were returning to the base, to their coven. The pardoned group would hopefully be joining the coven after lunch, though it was unclear when they would, or maybe they already had, come home. Lunch, which was dragging on despite the fact that he had eaten and taken his tray in less than five minutes. 

“M. M. M. M. M.-”

“Gregorio I swear to the goddess I won’t let you into the lounge until they have come back and left again if you don’t shut up and let me eat” They hissed.

“Come on, they’re coming after lunch sso be done with lunch and I will stop bothering you.” They huffed, and continued eating at a snails pace. Maybe even slowing down. Definitely slowing down, they were looking right at him as they slowly raised the fork.

“Okay rude. Come on M., they will be here in like ten minutes.” M smiled and shook their head, 

“Fine, let me take my tray up and we can meet the rest of the coven in the lounge.”

The walk back to their barracks lounge took less than three minutes. Gregorio would swear it took an hour. They still beat the Bellwether unit, it was only 12:55 after all. Others were milling about the room, whether they were there to catch a glimpse of the fugitives or what he wasn't sure. He plopped down on the couch, his leg bouncing up and down while M glared at him.

“Stop it. They will get here when they get here and until then you need to chill the fuck out. Your crush on Craven may be obvious from space, but we’ve all missed them.” Okay rude, he did not have a crush on Tally he just adored her the same way he would a sister. Not that anyone seemed to believe him. He opened his mouth to reiterate the fact, when he heard the footsteps in the hall.

Abigail was through the door first, flinging herself into Gregorio’s arms while Raelle rushed to M. Gregorio hugged his old friend tightly, muttering ‘I missed you.’ Over and over, even as he and M switched partners and he was saying the same words into Raelle’s shoulder. It lasted almost a minute straight, before the two girls pulled away and smiled at them. He could hear Adil talking in the hall, though the words weren’t clear.

“Why isn’t Craven in here yet?” M asked. Raelle ad Abigail exchanged a look. A weird look.

“She and Adil are arguing over who gets to carry the bag. Adil thinks he should, but Tally is a strong independent woman who needs no man…They’ll be done soon considering the argument started before we started our walk here.” Gregorio had so many questions, ones that were almost all answered when Adil walked through the door with a large black bag over his shoulder that he dropped on the couch. Gregorio was quick to pull his friend into a hug, the same utterances said into the Tarims shoulder. He released his friend with a hard pat on the back that was returned in kind. It was then he noticed Tally Craven standing awkwardly in the doorway. Wearing the strangest outfit he had ever seen. Until he realized her weird, bulky, colorful shirt wasn’t a shirt. It was a scarf, one that had something in it.

“I'm confused. Did you guys adopt a puppy?” He asked, not noticing the exasperated look Abi shot him, or the amused one from the others. Tally just laughed, hard. Hard enough to jostle whatever she was carrying enough that it started crying. Which made it weirder.

“Um, no. Sorry no dog.” She was moving back and forth, bouncing as she swayed. “But I mean, she is more exciting than a puppy anyways…This is my daughter, Aella.. Wanna say hi?” The red head said, sounding awkward as hell. Even Raelle was smothering her laughs near a strange brunette Gregorio didn’t recognize. "Subtle as ever." He could hear the strange girl mutter. Then the words registered.

“I am sorry, your what?” He heard M say the words he was thinking.

“My daughter.” And holy shit Tally was actually taking a baby out of the scarf. A baby. A fussing baby. A fussing, red headed baby. A fussing red headed baby with a tiny stuffed moose clenched in her tiny fists.

“Jesus Tal’s give her to me. You scared her with your psycho laugh.” Abigail said as she walked to the doorway and carefully snatched the tiny fussing red headed baby with a tiny stuffed moose clenched in her tiny fists from Tally with practiced ease. Abi started moving, bouncing the baby and making kind of disturbing coos. That was it, this was a dream. He ate something weird and was having odd dreams. 

“Wait, so you adopted a kid while on the run? Why would you do that? I…do the camarilla take them this young? Thats horrific.” So his mouth did work that was nice. Tally blushed, but shook her head as she eyed something on the ceiling.

“Um, nope. I uh…Made her myself.” M was looking between Tally and himself. Gregorio could almost see them putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5. Because he was not that kids dad, thank you M.

“If you sit down I bet Abs will give her up. But only if you want too I don’t want to force you to…and I can answer questions if you need…” Tally said with a shy smile.

“She's a liar I won’t give you up, your mama is a baby hog. This is the first time Auntie Abi has gotten you in too long my little one.” 

“Yeah Tal’s. Mama needs to learn to share better.” He was pretty sure Raelle had said that, even though both he and M seemed to collapse onto the couch like puppets who’s strings had been cut. M’s mouth wasn’t working. Gregorio’s wouldn’t stop.

“You had a kid.” Tally nodded.

“You were pregnant.” Another nod. 

"We didn't know you were pregnant."

"Well in her defense neither did she." The girl Gregorio didn't know piped up, Tally nodded in agreement. "I really didn't, not until we had already been gone a month."

“Who’s the other parent?” That was apparently the wrong thing to ask, because when Tally met his eyes all he saw was panic. Just a flash but definitely panic. And not just in Tally’s face, but he was pretty sure it went through all of the others as well. That settled it, unimportant. Something he definitely did not want or need to know. Who needs to know? Not him. He needed zero information. But he did need something.

“Ya know what, never mind. Give me the damn kid Abigail.”

Chapter Text

Sarah Alder was, for lack of a better word, bored. Out of her damn mind. The people who were unaware of her recent return to life were an amusing mix of shocked and pissed when she appeared with Petra.. Three hours ago. She could feel Tally’s happiness-worry through the bond, and assumed Tally could feel her own readiness to leave.

“So, you will agree to be reinstated to General and share the work load with General Bellwether. What is it you are asking for in return?” Finally, the end was in sight. 

“A home, of my own design built within the wards. For myself and whoever else I may choose to have there. And I want to be able to live my life again. Oh and a few months before we announce it to the public. To the soldiers, now is fine. But to the public I want you to wait.” She could feel Petra stiffen beside her, surprised at the request…and the vagueness of her words. She still agreed, as did the others in the room. Though the president seemed angry at the fact Sarah refused to resign the accords that apparently dissolved with her…death. Sarah signed the papers towards her, and finally left the room. Petra hot on her heels.

“Thank you, Sarah. For agreeing to return. I- this job, I don’t know how you managed alone for so very long.” Sarah hummed in acknowledgment. 

“I…I suppose I was able to stop feeling in a way. Stop loving individuals, start fighting for the whole without regard for the one. Until Tally. She changed everything you know, loving her changed everything.”

Petra was staring at her, her expression unreadable.

“I also might have had 7 other women helping me with the paper work.” She said with a smile, watching the disbelief fall across Petra’s face.

“Oh my goddess, of course you did. No wonder you managed so damn much you had the worlds most dedicated assistants.”

Sarah’s laugh echoed down the empty hallway.

Tally had snuck back to the administrative building, returning to Sarah’s room after two hours. Aella had started fussing, and as comfortable as she was feeding her daughter she didn’t think M and Gregorio were ready for her to whip her boob out in the middle of the lounge. Baby or no that might break them.

She had just finished burping Aella when the door creaked open and Sarah joined her on the bed. She tapped her lip and grinned when Sarah pressed her own against hers.

“Hi, how was your meeting?” 

“Boring, how was your reunion?” Tally raised a brow. She had known it was boring, could feel it. But the lack of explanation was strange. 

“The reunion was fine, got a few odd looks because of the carrier but I think only M and Gregorio actually saw her. Honestly, I kind of am okay with that. Not telling anyone, letting them just find out?” Plus it would be hilarious to show up in the mess with a baby and zero explanation. The gossip alone would feed Tally for months.

“They…I am having a house built. For us. And I am being reinstated.” Sarah spoke, taking Aella into her arms as Tally’s went somewhat slack. 

“Huh, I wasn’t sure if you would accept or not.” Sarah kept her eyes trained on Aella, her nervousness echoing into Tally

“Are you upset? I- we didnt talk about it but-” Tally straightened, her hand reached for Sarah’s face.

“Oh no love, I’m not upset. I am happy for you, that you get to continue doing something you love. Saving witches…I am just curious what this means for us.” Sarah hummed, the relief she felt strumming through to Tally.

“I actually had a thought. I don’t care who knows. Not about us, and in a way not about Aella…but what if we just keep it to us and only answer questions? Not come right out and say it.” Tally could feel the smirk spreading across her face. The one that had Sarah eyeing her suspiciously.

“Like just, not hide it but not tell anyone.” Sarah nodded.

“Shit I am so in. Can we deny it? If someone asks? Just for a while? Like if someone says hey your kid has Alder eyes I can say nah they’re green. This could be AMAZING Sarah.” Sarah’s smile was the most amused it had been in a long time, and still growing as Tally kept talking.

“And-and what if we can get my sisters and Izadora and everyone else in on it? Think about how long we could fuck with everyone! Babe the possibilities! This is going to be so much fun. I have so many plans. I am making so many plans. Wait did you say a house?” Sarah laughed out loud, Aella flapping her hands on moose and squealing along with the joyful sound.