Archive of Our Own

“Can’t you for once think about someone other then yourself?!”

Macy is tired and pissed to say a few,

and she desperately wants to save Jordan.

but she can’t do that because Abigael just won’t fucking cooperate!

She just has no idea why she’s being like this? Theirs no logical reason, who in their right minds would want to stay in the tomb of chaos????

She really hates the girl in front of her.

Macy scans her pale, permanently suave face, trying to gauge a reaction.

Though to her unpredicted horror, Abigael reacts with a look of terror. Eyebrows raising as she glances to the side. Her eyes welling with pooling tears.

Macy blinks rapidly, trying to divulge if this was actually happening. To this point, she hadn’t seen an ounce of vulnerability in the hybrid. Nevertheless to the point of crying?!

Damn. She wasn’t that harsh? Was she??

She nearly asks Abby to get a grip on herself, but how scared they girl looks stops her in her tracks. Macy doesn’t understand what is happening. But something just feels off.

“Abigael...” she starts but is cut off by the hybrid herself.

“I’m sorry Mummy.” She tearfully apologizes, “ Please , don’t put me back in their!”

Mummy?! What does Abigael think she is? Who does she think she’s talking to? Since when did Macy disappear and someone else take place?!

“Abigael, I’m not your mom?” Macy tries to explain, voice beyond confused, although softer then before.

But it’s like her words have completely disappeared as Abigael looks to her right in mortal fear.

She follows her gaze, seeing nothing but an empty space.

“Abby, wha-“

This time, she cuts herself off, continuing to watch with wide eyes as the hybrid sinks to the floor, as if controlled by a remote. And crawls her way to the still empty space.

Abby jolts, grasping her legs to her chest tightly, before resting her head on her knees. Stroking her arm with her thumb.

She looks catatonic. And Macy has grown rapidly concerned in the past five seconds.

“Abby?” She tries softly, trying to snap her out of whatever trance she’s in, “ Abby!”

The eldest stands up, preparing to do a variety of options to wake her up.

“Abby what just happened?”

It is then Abby moves, to her upmost relief, the infantile position was starting to really creep her out, considering how powerful and demanding the girl really was.

However, it was like pulling back the curtains, to something Macy never imagined could be true. And that stuck in her head more then she wanted it too.

Abigael glances at her fearfully, as the charmed one continues to move slowly, not wanted to spook her any farther.

Something just happened. Something big , something she somehow missed. And that means it was the tomb itself.

Abigael Jameson Caine was just a person who should never look scared.

And the fact she was, and it somehow related to her mom?

Their wasn’t many explanations besides an obvious one.

One that Macy didn’t want to accept right then.

Realization sets in Abigaels eyes. As she scrambles to her feet. Breath coming in shakily.

Macy’s tempted to as are you alright? But then remembers who exactly shes with.

“As I said, I can’t help you,” she voiced frailly, “Now leave before i do something we both regret.”

She barely spares Macy another glance, walking away to somewhere in the room.

But Macy’s angry now, how could she . How could she just walk away as if Jordan’s life meant nothing!

Theirs no more she can say, at least not right now.

So she grips the key in a rage, willing herself to stop shaking.

In all of this, The memory of Abigael looking at her with such fear, hit her like a pile of bricks.

Why ...?

She didn’t want to think about that. Didn’t want to accept that maybe their was a reason for her wickedness, didn’t want to try and empathize.

But damn it, something happened. Something to revert the most powerful of overlords to the most scared of children.

And Macy, against her better judgment, had empathized.

And nothing she did could take that back.

You saved Mels life.

Of course Mel saw Abigaels demeanor change.

If Abigael could kill with looks Maggie would be dead on the spot.

In seconds she had went from nonchalantly and completely done, to alert and tense.

That was concerning.

“A number of times,” Maggie continued, seemingly oblivious to the look, “You could have left her for dead, but you didn’t. Why?”

Why indeed . The ever so lucky question. Mel was curious now, not just because she had a burning desire to free Abigael that was supposedly misplaced, but because she wanted to know herself.

The seconds that followed further deepened her concern, it was obvious that she was trying to avoid the question. To keep the answer to herself.

Mel over time, had picked up to look into her eyes, when wanting to know her motives.

She wasn’t sure how no one else noticed this, but her eyes were so full of emotions, and one glance could immediately tell what she was thinking.

And currently, Abigael looked scared.

This both confused her, and fed her curiosity.

“Because I care deeply about her.”

Hmm?

Deeply? When did that happen? She couldn’t recall Abigael loving the charmed ones anytime recently?

Abby continued, voice thick with emotion, “And if theirs any chance she might ever feel the same about me, I have to fight my worst instincts, and try to be the person she thinks I could be.”

OH.

Mel could feel her eyebrows raise, as heat simultaneously rose to her cheeks.

Abby... Abby liked her.

Mel had prided herself on not being oblivious, but this, this was shocking.

Except... was it?

Thinking back, all those comments that boarded on sexual and flirty, might have actually just been just that.

And here Mel assumed that it was just her natural personality of getting under her skin.

But oh, was she so horribly wrong.

Her eyes flicked back to the overlord, Empathy welling deep inside.

No matter how confused and clueless she felt, Abigael must be feeling a hundred times worse.

Here she was, on trial; and was literally forced to confess her feelings to someone. Something she obviously would have never done in the first place. And on top of that she was literally in front of an audience, which were LITERALLY judging her morality.

Not to mention Mel was in that audience.

Somethings were meant to be private, and as a Lesbian herself, and the crush in person, this felt like a crossed line.

Macy gasped audibly, and she was tempted to give a quick kick to the shin, but then remembered the allergy, and refrained.

She instead choose to give her a piercing glare.

Macy just, she couldn’t understand.

It was probably even worse that Abigael was forced to admit this in from of her, as they were kinda enemies. They took every chance they had to make fun of the other, even though Mel didn’t necessarily agree with that route of behavior.

It just. Mel couldn’t even imagine what Abby was going through.

And she wasn’t going to even think about the rush of happiness she felt when Abby confessed. No. Cause that would be selfish because she’s obviously in love with Ab-RUBY. She’s in love with Ruby.

At least. That’s what she thought.

“Oh-Kay....” Maggie drifted off, also apparently shocked. She glanced at the scales, and Mel was relieved when they tilted towards ‘Innocent’

She couldn’t stand the idea of Abigael being sent back to that tomb. And not just because it would condemn Jordan as well.

Their was something off about that place. Through the cookie cutter lifestyle Abby had apparently lived short time, and all the nearly robotic smiles, it was just too perfect.

Nothing was that perfect.

Seeing Abigael like that... submissive, ignorantly happy? It just. It messed with her mind.

She had no self confidence in her purity, and was convinced she was at peace in the tomb.

The Abby Mel knew would have fought to the death to regain her freedom

So the fact she didn’t meant their was something horrible about the tomb she didn’t know of.

Macy had mentioned something to them earlier, a bit offhandedly, saying that their was something weird about the tomb she couldn’t place her finger on.

They asked what she meant, and with visible confusion, the eldest said Abigael had cried.

If that wasn’t a shock Mel didn’t know what was.

Macy continued, “It was odd. Like she was seeing something that wasn’t their. She actually thought I was her mom? At least for a second. Then she crawled to the middle of the floor and just...”

She had paused after that. Not really sure how to continue.

Mel had prodded for more, had asked what she did.

“She was gone,” Macy had eventually answered, “She made herself small. Head on knees, arms wrapped around herself. Abigael looked catatonic. And it was just terrifying.”

Through the whole thing with the trial, Mels sisters had seemingly forgotten about that information.

But Mel didn’t.

And now, on top of the confession, that hung like a weight.

Because no matter what she couldn’t send Abby back to a place that would make her gone.

How dare you speak to me that way!

Macy nearly flinches from the harsh tone, still reeling from the fact the perfecti called in Abigaels mother of all things.

Just from spending minutes with the woman, Macy understands why Abigael hates her. She’s two faced, one being a mother that pretends to love an care for her, and the other, the cold hearted snake Abby knows to be real.

“What are you gonna do?” Abigael nearly sobs, “Put me back in the crate again?”

Macy goes rigid, those very words slamming into her full force. She is brought back to the moment a mere half and hour ago, where she saw Abigael exhibit some strange behavior, which right now, seemed to make sense.

Everything’s clicks into place, and it’s with a deep loathing, she understands what happened.

The tomb is a prison of the mind, bent on driving you mad, pushing you to submit.

And logically, the only thing on this world that could scare Abigael, was her (now obviously) Abusive mother.

It’s Francesca Abby saw when Macy had talked, and Francesca the one who pushed her to tears.

And Now, Macy can say, that it was a Crate Abby had hypothetically crawled into.

She must have seen it, must have been real for her, the mirage of her mom ordering her to get inside.

It would explain everything, the reluctance to speak, the fear, the scrunching into a ball.

It was completely logical, and yet Macy hated it with a burning passion.

No mother should have that control of their child, no mother should punish a toddler with Shock cuffs of all things.

No mother should lock their child in a god damn crate as punishment.

Macy never really got to meet her mother, Marisol, as the demon curse literally required that to be true.

Although, she was great full, in that moment. Greatfull her father never laid a hand on her, didn’t hurt or punish her in such vicious ways.

Macy had always assumed Abby was just naturally this way, so cold and merciless.

But that was wrong, it was trained and ingrained into her. Now more a front and instinct then anything.

That new light she had saw earlier was gaping wide, and blaringly obvious as Abby tearfully broke down. Confessing she just wanted Francesca to love her like she loved waverly.

Francesca offered no more words, just sat with that disgustingly calm smile, occasionally biting her lip.

It hurt, it really did, to see Abigael so emotionally distraught.

But what else could you expect from your abusive mother to appear out of nowhere and start bashing your already fragile mental psyche.

Macy had tried to fight it, the welling empathy and different view,

That maybe she was wrong to judge Abigael so harshly without knowing her story.

She had jolted, startled out of her moment of understanding by the Perfecti Harshly sending Abigael back to the tomb.

No doubt where her fake mom awaited to torment her

But this was unfair! The perfecti weren’t listening to context, to emotions and reality, only logic!

And that’s what really hit her.

Why?

Because before today,

She had been just like them.

I was wrong.

The words are practically foreign to Mel, for through all her kind nature, and giving of the benefit of the doubt, she’s stubborn.

Apparently very stubborn, and admitting she was wrong was actually something she didn’t do too often.

But at least she wasn’t too headstrong, lest she couldn’t take the time to admit her wrongdoing.

Abbys probably a little buzzed, sitting near her by the bar in a similar fashion to a while ago.

But Mel thinks Demons have a higher tolerance to alcohol, because 5 drinks would seemingly send any normal person into a drunken stupor.

She doesn’t comment on it, however. The hybrids been through literal hell and back.

So if she wants to drown some of her feelings in liquor, she couldn’t exactly argue against.

Not that she supports that decision, her father, Ray, had his own number of drinks in his time. And she can’t exactly blame him now either, knowing what she did. But she’d never forget that empty look in his eyes the few times she saw him drink.

She shakes her head, she doesn’t want to imagine Abigael with that expression, it hurts just as much as it did then, oddly enough, maybe even more.

“I was wrong,” she’d voiced, “To say your irredeemable.”

Abigael glances at her with big soulful eyes, which were pure reflections of her emotions.

Mel continues with earnest, “That is not my call to make. And you deserve a chance to atone for your past.”

The later nods slowly, a wry, but genuine smile peeking through.

“That means a lot to me, Mel. ”

The Latina notices how she says her real name, and not one of her annoyingly endearing nicknames. And just hearing that makes the phrase that much more real, more emotional .

She wasn’t sure if she wanted emotional, Abigaels feelings had been outed to the world, and the last thing Mel wanted was to make her feel even worse about it.

But she continued, deciding to not acknowledge it yet.

“So,” she purses her lips slightly, “What are you gonna do now?”

Abby looks befuddled, “Figure out how to make things right?” She bites her lip slightly, “But I haven’t the foggiest notion how to go on about it.”

Mel is fond of her British dialect, if not outright finding it adorable.

Which of course immediately sends her into a speedy spiral of confusion and feelings.

Once again she decides to shove it all to the side, knowing how to answer the unasked question.

“I think you do.”

And it’s true. They both know Abigael could fix things up with Macy.

Yet none of them say it out loud. Abbys relationship with Macy is rough at best, and not physically saying it might just give her the small mercy of inner thoughts.

Once again, Mel wonders if she should say something. About their current situation.

About the feelings she’s been aware too.

It’s right their, on the tip of her tongue.

“Did she,” she hesitantly voices instead, “Did she ever not punish you?”

Her question is a whisper, the real one implicit.

Did she ever love you?

Abigael tenses, head freezing and tilting to the side, “Their were moments.” She answers slowly.

“But they were fake. And till this day I know that. Know that they were just fleeting moments in her consciousness where she choose to pretend I was normal, possibly for her own sake. But I still held on to them my whole life.”

She chortles wetly, “That’s stupid inn’it?”

“No,” Mel rushes to assure, “It’s common actually, to hold onto the good memories. It’s a way of coping.”

“Coping.” Abigael states numbly, “Right.”

The Latina then wonders, that maybe after all this time, that the hybrid is still processing the fact that what happened to her wasn’t ok. That she had been abused, and no one deserved it.

“You didn’t deserve it.” She states softly.

Abigael nods. But doesn’t reply.

“You didn’t,” Mel says a bit more forcefully, “I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier. I should have. But your mother is wicked and cruel, and you shouldn’t have gone through anything she did.”

Another head tilt, but still nothing.

“Not the crate. Not the shock cuffs. Nothing.”

Abby does wince at this, a loud, sharp purr rolling from her throat.

Mel notes this noise, it’s once she heard rarely before, when Abigael had forgotten she wasn’t alone.

She thinks it’s a kind of Tic, a stim perhaps.

But that’s a whole other conversation, one she isn’t sure the later would be open to hearing,

At least, not right now.

Their left in a comfortable silence, Abigael lost in her own head, and Mel just pondering curiously.

Their was something, something she felt for the hybrid. Something she didn’t know if she should ignore, or explore.

But she continued to stay silent.

Why?

Because that wasn’t for now. Right now Abby just needed someone to sit in silence with her.

And that, she would gladly do.

Six months later

Wait, no, don’t do that!

*BOOOM*

Macy was hurtled a few feet back, landing on her back with a painful thud.

She coughed, then wheezed right after. A few tendrils of smoke emitting from her mouth.

No doubt her face was covered in ash, which would seemingly match her greyed fingers.

“ God.” She wheezed yet again, “ crap! Abby I told you not to-“

Macy cut herself off, vision clearing a bit. The room looked, to be frank, like a bomb just went off.

Books lay astray, shelves turned over, and a huge explosion mark printed the ground around the cauldron.

Yeah, she knows, a bit cliche of them. But Macy wanted to try a new potion, and Abby was mildly interested in its after effects.

“Abby?” She questioned, pulse quickening when the girl was not in her direct sight lines.

“Abigael?!”

Macy quickly pushed herself onto her knees, wincing slightly from slight tingling she felt in her body.

“Abby?!” Looking around, she was finally able to locate the hybrid, who lay in a crumpled heap a few feet away.

“Shit!” She cursed, “MEL! MAGGIE! HARRY! GET UP HERE NOW!”

The eldest speedily ran to the britts side, first and foremost, checking for a pulse.

Macy let out a sigh of relief once she felt the steady thump in her wrist.

The telltale signs of footsteps signaled her sisters were running upstairs. Bursting through the door a mere seconds Later, Mel let out a choked sob once she saw Abigaels limp form.

“Oh CARIÑO!” She cried, falling to her knees, placing her head on Abigaels chest.

“Don’t worry Mel,” Macy was quick to assure, “She’s alive. I already checked her pulse.”

“Thank the Latina Lesbian GODDESSES!”

Mel quickly shifted Abby so she was cradled in her arms, eyes pained, “Your ok Cariño, your gonna be ok. Everything’s gonna be ok mi amor.”

The sight of her sister so distraught over her loved one really punched Macy in the gut.

Yes, you did hear correctly, Abigael and Mel were dating!

Following Abigeals Unconventional confession at the trial, Mel had found she reciprocated those feelings. Breaking up with Ruby the next day, who was surprisingly not mad.

She had seen it coming, she said, with the way Mel unknowingly looked at Abby, it had only been a matter of time before she realized why.

They had ended on bittersweet, but good terms, which was a huge relief for Mel. Who could pursue who she truly loved with nothing holding her back.

And so, as much as Macy disapproved at first, Mel and Abigael had fallen very much in love, and had been happily together for the past 5 1/2 months!

“What the hell happened here?!” Maggie exclaimed from where she was standing nearby, “Why does it look like something exploded?!”

The eldest grimaced sheepishly, “Well, cause it sorta kinda, did explode?”

“How does something sorta kinda EXPLODE?!”

“Maggie chill,” Macy stated, “Freaking out will get us nowhere!”

The empath scoffed, “Yeah well it beats your emotionless route! I mean look at her?! What were you two doing?”

She winced, while not completely right, it still stung to hear.

She looked to Mel, wondering if she’d say anything, but her sister was far to involved with her unconscious girlfriend, probably shutting out the world currently.

“What was she hit with?” The words were slow, as if Mel was in a trance.

“Oh! Uh, um,” Macy wracked her brain, trying to remember what they had been doing, “It was umm, a memory spell! With the power to take away or give back memories!”

“Why would Abigael want to-“

Maggie was cut off by a shrill wail from Mel, who looked even more upset now, then originally.

“Oh Cariño! Sweet sweet angel. Memory wiping is not the way! It’s risky! And unpredictable!”

“Actually, we were attempting to make it less risky with-“

Mel gave her a death glare, “And look how that ended up Macy.”

Macy swallowed thickly,

she deserved that.

“I’m sorry,” her voice was small, “It shouldn’t have exploded , Abby just added the wrong ingredient in and-“

“Wait,” her sister interrupted, “What ingredient?”

“Um, I think it was Mercury?”

“MERCURY?!” Maggie’s shouting didnt help the situation, Mel only wailing even louder.

She held her hands out, “Before you yell at me, a small bit of mercury would have balanced out the riskiness of the powdered demons horn, Abby didn’t know the exact amount, and she added more then was required before I could stop her.”

“Always so impulsive!” Mel continued to cry, “Oh ‘Rus why!”

Maggie raised an eyebrow, mouthing “Rus?” To Macy.

She shrugged, “Tartarus.”

“Oh.”

—“Mmmmmh.”

Everyone jolted, glancing down at the unconscious girl.

Mels eyes were wide, “Abby?! Cariño it’s Mel! Come back to me my love!”

Abigaels eyebrows furrowed, she mumbled something unintelligible, seconds later, her eyes cracked open. Blinking slowly.

“Mmmel?”

Mel moaned in joy, bringing her girlfriend in a tight embrace, “Oh my girl, oh your ok. Your ok thank whatever’s out their oh my gosh.”

“Hmm, Mel, I need to breath.” Abby murmured from the death grasp.

Her sister immediately pulled away, “Oh of course! My gosh, how are you feeling?!”

Abigael frowned, “Like I’ve been hit by a particularly huge Auto?”

“Auto?”

“In your terms, Car. Honestly Legally brunette, you’d think you’d know some of this- WAVERLY?”

They all jumped once again, staring at Abigael, who was staring at Maggie as if she’d grown a second head.

“W-waverly?” Her voice was confused, “H-how did you get here?”

Maggie turned around, expecting to find someone behind her, only to realize Abby was definitely looking at herself.

“Abby I’m not sure exactly what you mean...” she trailed off, face sparking in some sort of realization, “Abby who do you think your currently talking too?”

“Whatever do you mean? Your my sister, Waverly? Waverly is something wrong with your memory? Is that why you came here?”

Mel gripped Abbys hand tightly, “Abigael, sweetie, that’s not your sister.”

“Mel?” She questioned confusedly, “She’s standing right their?”

“No she’s not,” Macy continued, slowly understanding as well, “We were making a memory potion, you added to much mercury, which a hallucinogène, and a normal dose would have made its powers null, but you added more. And then it exploded in your face. You inhaled it. So logically, combining with the other ingredients, it’s making you see people who aren’t their.”

Abigails face drained slightly, “Then who am I looking at?”

Maggie chuckled awkwardly, “Just ol’ Legally brunette over here.”

“Bloody hell, Maggie?!” The Britt struggled to comprehend, “But, you-you don’t look like Maggie?”

Mel pondered this, “Macy, would this fall under more of a permanent brain tweak, or a illusion?”

“It’s not permanent,” she answered quickly, “If that’s what your asking. It wears off eventually. Since these types of spells usually fade as soon as you reach your objective goal, which is the memory.”

“Objective goal.” Her sister murmured, “So what your saying, is that since Abigael already identified Maggie as ‘Waverly’ it should go away soon?”

“Now that I’m not sure of.”

Macy walked over to the book they were using, which was ironically Francescas old spell book.

“It doesn’t mention anything about how long it takes to wear off, but in the fine print they mention to not add more then enough mercury, as it could have disastrous results.”

“Yeah, we bloody got that.” Abby laminated, “Anything actually helpful?”

“Well it’s your fault we’re in this mess so you shouldn’t be snapping at me!” Macy bit back.

Abby twitched slightly, which was odd in itself, but her eyes had stayed on Maggie’s face so she couldn’t tell the meaning behind it.

“Hey!” Mel of course defended, “You should just be glad she’s not DEAD right now!”

“Oh because the gods couldn’t have been merciful today.”

Her sister growled, “Why you-“

-“Melanie, it’s ok.” Abby soothed, placating her girlfriend with a hand on her arm, “Were all in a bit of a tizzy right now. And honestly we’re in no shape to get into any Hissy fits.”

The Latina relented, giving a nod to Macy, who nodded back. And returned to analyzing the text.

“Wait? What’s this writing in the corner?”

She pointed to the blurb in question; even though Abby couldn’t see it from where she was sitting below.

“Oh,” she groaned, “Prolly just one of Mums many inquiries about life and liberty.”

“Damn it, I need a microscope for this.”

Macy quickly scoured the room in search for a spare tool, she usually had multiple microscopes laying around. Even if it was a tad odd, you never knew when something would need a microscopic point of view. And This was a prime example.

“AhA!” She found one hidden back in the closet, holding it out with a sense of triumph.

The eldest returned, placing the microscope down and grabbing Francescas spell book.

“Careful!” Abigael scolded, her voice dropping to a waver, “Please Macy, just be careful with that.”

Macy nodded assuringly, “Of course. It’s handled with the up most précision.”

Carefully, she zoomed in on the tiny blurb, words now becoming clear enough to read.

“Shit.” She cursed audibly, “Abigael this warns that if you use extra mercury, your mind confuses past with present. People you know now will be mixed with similar people in your mind.”

“But that doesn’t explain why I’m Waverly?” Maggie questioned.

“Or how to undo it?” Mel added.

“Actually,” Macy countered, “It does explains Maggie’s question. Basically Abbys mind is confusing you with something similar from her past. Ergo in this case, Waverly.”

Maggie looked at Abigael, “Do I act like waverly?”

Abby blushed, ducking her head into Mels embrace to hide it.

“Maggie acts kinda sisterly,” she mumbled bashfully, “So idk. That’s why.”

“Awww!” The empath cooed, “Abby! That’s so sweet! I didn’t know you cared so much!”

“I do not!” She immediately denied. But considering she was currently seeing Waverly instead of a Vera, it pretty much spoke for herself.

“Why is it just Maggie affected?” Mel questioned, “Why aren’t we affected?”

“I don’t know.” She answered honestly, “Theirs not enough context to go on.”

“But I do think we can reverse it.”

This certainly perked up the dull morale in the room.

“How???”

“Well you see,” Macy slipped into her ‘science talk’, “The natural potion effects memory, the mercury causes you to hallucinate. But it’s an illusion. The hallucination isn’t really their, and eventually theirs something the brain should catch, or notice, that proves the image wrong.”

“Kinda like the Tomb!” Mel excitedly stated.

“Exactly!” The eldest grinned, “So in this case. Something needs to be made clear to Abbys deep cortal brain, that what she’s seeing is a fluke. Because even though on the top layer, she knows now that Maggie’s not really Waverly, looks are in fact, deceiving. She needs to have a inner waking up, of sorts, to see it for what it really is.”

“So I just have to say something Waverly wouldn’t say?” Maggie questions.

She nods, “Hypothetically, Yes. Although Francesca hasn’t really specified.”

“Ok then um,” the Latina blindly turns to Abigael, “What’s something Waverly wouldn’t say?”

“Oh that’s easy.” Abby says nonchalantly, “I love you.”

“Pardon?”

Maggie is confused. Macy is too. Is Abby now seeing Mel everywhere as well? Why else would she -

That’s when she sees Real Mels expression, and she knows, deep down. That what Abby said was no mistake.

“It’s quite simple, Waverly would never openly admit she loves me.” The Britt states as if it was the easiest thing.

Though Macy suspects heavily, that it’s all just a front to mask the real pain that the phrase invokes.

Mel intwines her hands with Abigaels, leaning in and whispering something no one else can hear. When she pulls away, Abby nods with a straight face.

But Macy notices the way her hands shake ever so slightly.

“Oh...” Maggie’s on the verge of saying something, probably an apology, but thankfully she holds back. An apology would probably just make Abby feel worse.

“Ok then. Um, Abby, my sister. I love you.”

It’s stiff, and definitely forced, but it seems to do the trick.

Abby pulls back, shaking her head from side to side.

“Bloody Hell,” she gasps, “Bouncy it was really you all along?”

Maggie smiles sadly, “Yeah Abs, it’s me.”

“Oh.” Abby makes a small noise in the back of her throat, a cross between a whimper and a choked gasp.

Seconds later, smoke fills the room as Abigael phases downstairs.

Mel glances at her sisters with a desperate look, before quickly following.

Macy sighs afterwards, laying her forehead on the desktop.

“God Mags, what the hell did we do?”

“I don’t know,” her sister replies from behind, “But she will be ok. She’s got Mel.”

“It’s kinda nice to know you care as well.”

“Huh?” She turns around, shooting a confused stare.

“Well,” the brunette explains simply, “Not to long ago you would have laughed in the face of Abbys weakness.”

“And I still would!” She argues, pausing afterwards, “Well.... maybe not.”

Maggie didn’t reply, instead leaving the room.

Leaving Macy to question everything all by her lonesome.

....

Honestly, she couldn’t understand what was Abigaels point by now!

It seemed the rest of the day had been spent arguing about the most trivial things!

And for some reason, Abby was ten times more annoying today then she’s been in months.

Mel couldn’t explain it fully, just told her to be patient.

Yeah, yeah. Patience and whatever. Sure, she’s technically been through an ordeal, but she had been desensitized to Abbys former behavior. And having old insults pop out of nowhere was more grating then she’d like to admit.

“Ugh! Just focus! Maggie for some reason REALLY wants this painting hung up, and I can’t tell for the live of me if it’s straight or not.”

“Hmmm,” Abby pondered coyly, “Straight I see? What a so precariously chosen word to be used in my specific presence.”

“Oh come on!” Macy groaned, “I get it! Your gay for my sister! We’ve already established that she loves you!”

Abigael laughed, “Oh tell me more about how your sisters in love with me.”

That was it!

For no other reason then patience just wearing thin, Macy snapped.

“You annoying bane of my existence! If you can’t help me hang a freaking painting without mocking me, then why don’t you just GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

Her face was screwed up in anger, finger pointed to the door.

She expected Abby to make a huffy joke and walk away like she normally did, or even grunt out an apology if she was feeling generous.

What she DID NOT expect to happen was for the Later to start crying.

“I’m-im sorry!” She cried, “Mum please don’t kick me out again. Not again!”

Oh SHIT.

This had only happened once before to Macy, and it was only cause of then did she understand what exactly was happening.

“Wait, no, Abby,” she took a step forward, trying to take back her outburst, “I didn’t mean to!”

Moving seemed to be a bad move, for Abigael flinched, rapidly backing away from Macy. Who had conquered that she was not exactly who Abby was seeing right now.

“Abby?” Mela voice pondered from above, footsteps rapidly approaching,” Carino are you -MACY! WHAT HAPPENED?!”

She gestured wildly to the now hyperventilating Overlord, who could barely choke out apologies through raspy breaths.

“It’s not totally my fault!” She immediately defended, “It’s not me she’s seeing!”

“Damn You Francesca.” Her sister cursed loudly, immediately walking over to her girlfriend trying to console her manic breathing.

“I-I’m sorry!” Macy backed away with shaking hands, “I shouldn’t have snapped. I shouldnt have...”

Mel looked at her with such pain in her eyes, “I thought by now you’d understand Abigael a bit more. That you’d know that she masks her pain by a little extra teasing. You should at least know that she never means anything with cruel intent. It’s all just a front. And it doesn’t excuse it. I know that. But especially today of all days, you couldn’t cut her some slack?”

Macy was rendered speechless as Mel whisked away the unconsolable Overlord.

Why ?

Because now she understood what happened this morning just that much more.

Abby saw Maggie as Waverly. Because that was currently the closest she had to a sister.

She didn’t see Mel as anyone, because she’s never had anyone to love as much as she does for her.

And finally, Abigael saw Francesca in Macy.

Because deep down, words did hurt her. And Macy was just the witch stupid enough to say the exact words that caused her so much trauma as a kid.

“Why,” she questioned, sitting down and resting her head in her hands, “Oh god why ?”

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you, Ok?”

It was these words, and many others like them, that Mel cooed to her distraught girlfriend.

“She wasn’t actually their. That was just Macy.”

Even though Abigael probably couldn’t listen rationally at the moment, it was best to still try and explain things.

“N-no!” The Britt cried, hyperventilating rapidly, “It was Mum! And she wanted to kick me out! Oh god Mel do you want me out? Please don’t I’ll be better I swear I’ll-“

-“Hey, hey Carino?” Mel quickly got her attention, heart squeezing at the mere thought of Abigael thinking she’s so easily expendable, “Look at me. You need to slow your breathing. Come on lovely, in, and out. Their you go. That’s my girl.”

“Abigael, lll be very honest with you.

I love you. It’s only been six months but I do. Very very much. With every bone in my body. And I promise to you, even if we fight, or something happens, I will never kick you out onto the streets.” The Latina promised.

The later sniffled, “Even if I’m a too cold hearted demon who will inevitably cause you to break up with me?”

Mel swept her girlfriend Into a tight comforting hug, the girls back to her front. hand immediately raising to stroke the laters forehead, just as she liked.

“Oh lovely, in my eyes, your a too warm hearted hybrid who only surprises me every day because I find new ways to love you.”

She feels a sudden pressure as Abby semi head bumps her, hugging her with a ferocity unprecedented.

“Gosh,” the Britt chuckled wetly, “Melanie. I really really love you.”

Warmth spread through her cheeks as she smiled, hand raising to cradle the back of the brunettes head.

“As I do you, Cariño.”

A few moments went by, tears occasionally falling lopsidedly from the hybrid.

“A-are you sure that wasn’t Mum?”

Oh gosh why did Abbys voice have to sound so terrified right then.

“No,” she assured sternly, “The dose of potion you inhaled must still be in you. It’s causing you to see Macy as your mom.”

Abigael shifted, silence following.

“But are you sure Mel?” She whispered, “She was just so scary.”

Mel wished she could wrap her girlfriend in her arms and protect her from every scary thing in this world.

But sadly even that would not save her from what she’s already been through.

“It might have been scary in the moment,” the Latina reasons, trying to take a more logical view on this, “And I once again am so sorry about the abuse Ratcesca put you through.-“

-“ Mel.”

“ Ugh , whatever. That’s the least she deserves to be called my love. And it’s either that or me cursing her out in a long angry tirade. And I’m keen on giving snuggles right after I finish. So what do you decide?”

A few sheepish seconds go by as Abigael blushes.

“ Ratcesca it is.”

Mel smiled adoringly, “Ok my Love. That’ll do. As I was saying. Ratcesca was a monster. No-not was, is , she is a monster. She did unspeakable things to you. And I know your scared right now, I would be too. And that’s ok. It’s ok to be scared. But I need you to know that from now on, every time your scared, I’ll be their with you to help you through it. And I need you to listen to me Abigael. That apparition you saw down their is not your mother.  And even if it was, you don’t have to be scared of being alone. Cause I’ll be right their. Helping you through it.”

She stares at Abigael, stares into her glassy eyes.

“Ok Cariño? Do you understand?”

Abby blinks, more tears falling, “Promise?”

Mel surges forward pressing her lips against Abbys, slow and trusting. Before switching to pepper small kisses all over her face, kissing away all traces of tears.

Finally, she pressed a kiss to her forehead. Lingering for a while, because that’s where she was most sensitive.

She pulled back after a while, looking Abby straight into her hazel orbs, “I promise Cariño.”

For the first time that hour, Abigael smiled.

“Ok.” She whispered breathily, “Ok.”

“Mel?”

The Latina looked up, “Yes Cariño?”

Abby looked Insecure, hands stimming to herself.

The very movement took her back in time.

Over the past six months, Mel had noticed repetitive movements and Behaviors, and over multiple conversations, and patient waiting, they had come to the conclusion that Abigael was indeed autistic.

It was hard for her to understand, but Mel was their to guide her through it. And slowly Abby had accepted it as something she was, though it didn’t stop her from hiding it from times.

At least she could understand it more.

“Mel?”

The Latina jolted, shaking her head from whatever thoughts she was stuck in.

“Yes, my love?”

More nervous stimming shook from Abbys hands, “Do we have to go down yet?”

“No, of course not,” she assured, “Whenever your ready.”

“Mel?”

She smiled, “Yes, my love?”

Abigael blushed lightly, “C-can we, um, can you, maybeholdme?”

The last part was both rushed and whispered, so it took her a second to decipher the words. But once she did their was nothing but love and warmth in her eyes.

“Of course Cariño.”

She swept Abby up in her arms, the later folding her lanky limbs inwards so she was a small as possible. Mel finished it off by placing one hand on Abbys forehead. Stroking it just how she liked it.

Abigael hums in content, as if on instinct.

They stay that way for awhile, Mel at peace with listening to the sound of her girlfriends breathing, all warm and snug in her arms.

It honestly one of the most relaxing things in her love, if not the most enjoyable

But alas, she could not let Abby stay like that forever, she need to fix the girls perception of Macy before the toxin wore out, for fear of Ratcescas face being permanent lingering in her mind.

“Hello my love,” she whispered, “I’d love to stay here. But we should go see Macy soon.”

Abigael immediately tensed gripping onto the front of Mels shirt, “No! No don’t make me see her again. Please don’t make me.”

The Latina frowned, pressing a kiss to her girlfriends crown, “I’d never force you to do anything sweetness. I’m just worried it might be permanent if we don’t fix it before it wears off.”

She glanced at the hybrid in her lap, “It’s entirely up to you, however.”

“S-so your saying theirs a chance I might see mum permanently?” Abby whimpered

“We’ll only on Macy.” She reasoned, “Besides the fact, that’s not actually your mum.”

“Oh… right,” the hybrid mumbled, blushing and looking down, “You must think I’m stupid.”

“Hey, hey, no,” Mel rushed to deny, hooking a finger under the laters chin and lifting, “Their is nothing shameful about being afraid. Especially about Ratcesca.”

Abigael nodded. Head tilting to the side slightly, her classic purr stim whirring from the back of her throat. Symbolizing being deep in her thoughts.

“Ok,” she eventually stated, “I’ll do it. But you have to be their with me”.

The Latina smiled warmly, “Theirs no place I’d rather be.”

Why?

Their was no extra reason, or outside worldly event. Mel would honestly want to be no other place then by Abigaels side.

And that was because she loved her more then anything in this world.

————-

* bonus

“Come on Lovely,” Mel coaxes from the Hallway, her hand is outreached to the hybrid, who’s semi clinging to the bedroom doorstep, “I promise I’ll be their with you the entire time.”

Abigael nods tentatively, grasping Mels hand like a lifeline. Breath shakey and anxious.

It was slow, but they eventually made their way downstairs, and into the living room where she saw Macy last.

Abby was trembling at this point, but Mel remained firm and gentle in her prodding. Providing a soothing comfort by her appearance.

To Mels confusion, she hadn’t seen Macy in the house, the thought she might have left alarming her.

They didn’t know how much longer it would be till the toxin wore off, they didn’t know if it would be permanent. They had to do this now.

“Macy?” She calls out, “You still here?”

“DONT come any closer!” Macy’s voice cuts out. The warning was panicked, and from the direction, Mel was able to deduce she was hiding beside the couch, away from their sight lines.

“Macy, we need you to come out?”

“No!” Macy yelled again, “She’ll still see her.”

Mel finally understand, a smile of appreciation breaking its way across her face.

Macy was hiding to protect Abigael.

To try and save her the trauma of seeing her mom.

It was the nicest thing she’s ever done for her girlfriend, and she couldn’t help but feel deeply touched by the action.

She turned to Abby, who was attempting to look impassive. Although the tremors in her hands, and the scrunched eyebrows gave her away.

“Lovely,” the Latina soothed, “I’m just gonna go over their and explain to Macy what’s happening ok? You stay right here”.

“No!” Abby squeaked, grabbing onto Mels wrist, the look of desperation in her eyes cutting her to the core, “ please don’t leave me alone with her.”

“I’m not leaving you alone,” she assured with a kiss to the forehead, “I promise.”

The Britt nodded, hands rushing to stim as soon as Mel let go. Self soothing the only way she could.

Assured that Abby would not be running, or getting worse, the Latina slowly turned the corner. Eyebrows scrunching slightly when she saw Macy curled into a ball. Hands clasped over her face.

“Macy,” she whispered, kneeling in front of her, “Macy it’s just me.”

The eldest shook her head no, refusing to remove her hands. It was both endearing and concerning.

“Mace i promise it’s ok,” Mel continue, gently reaching out, cupping the back of her sisters hands, “Abby can’t see you.”

Eventually, she was able to slowly lower the laters hands, revealing a frightened and tear stained face.

“Mace?”

Macy herself quickly glanced around for Abigael, checking just to be sure.

“I’m sorry.”

The words were barely audible, so Mel gingerly asked her to repeat them.

“I’m sorry,” Macy’s voice was hoarse, “I messed up. Oh god Mel. I messed up so bad.”

“Hey, hey,” the witch rushed, “None of that ok? You couldn’t have known Abby would see you as Ratcesca.”

“Except I did.” The eldest winced.

The lesbian narrowed her eyes, “Okayyyy, now what do you mean by that?”

Macy took a long shuttering breath, “It happened before. Back at the tomb. It happened before, I should have known. Gosh Mel, I should have seen the signs-“

-“no!” Mel interrupted softly, “Macy don’t blame yourself. Their was no logical reasoning to have known that scenario would repeat itself. The tomb is one of its own. Theirs nothing like it.”

“Yeah,” she scoffed, “Except a mercury spell gone wrong.”

The Latina frowned. She didn’t know how to convince Macy she was wrong.

“Besides,” her sister added quietly, “I prompted her. Yelled at her actually. Told her to get the hell out. ‘Get out of my house’ were my exact words. Heck, I even called her the bane of my existence.”

Mel winced, that definitely could have been a stressor.

Especially with Abigael being kicked out by Francesca at a young age of 16.

“The fear Mel,” Macy monologued to no one, a haunted tinge in her words, “The fear in her eyes. I’d only seen it once before, and even then it was equally terrifying. I caused that Mel. Both times. ”

“I appreciate that you care.”

Her sister gave her a confused looked, to which she shrugged.

“It speaks volumes,” she answered honestly, “Before, you could care less about what she felt.”

Macy hummed to herself, “I’m different then.”

“If it means anything,” Mel reached forward, placing a hand on Macy’s knee, “Abby knows. She knows you’ve changed. And I bet you, she knows deep down, that you didn’t want this to happen.”

The eldest looked at her with glassy eyes, “Really?”

She smiled, “Really. She might have tried to get a rile out of you today. But that’s only cause she was shaken up about Maggie. She half expected you to blow up. She didn’t expect you to turn into Francesca.”

The witch nodded, “I’m still sorry I blew up.”

“I appreciate that. You can tell her too. Once we beat this toxin.”

Macy gasped, “You really wanna try?”

“We’ll I’m worried that if we don’t, it might become permanent.” The lesbian confessed.

“That’s…logical.”

“But your worried you’ll traumatize Abigael even more?” Mel guessed.

Macy nodded.

“That’s also logical, but right now, Abby kinda needs a bit of logic. Just so she can convince herself your not her mom.”

That seemed to get through to Macy, who made sure to cover her face before standing up.

“Just tell me when I can uncover it.”

The it needed no explanation. So Mel just squeezed her sisters shoulder, before returning to her wonderful girlfriend.

Abby looked frazzled, nervously knocking against her forehead. Something she had started to do more in the presence of others.

Mel was fine with it, as long as she did it at a moderate severity. It was when the knocks would bruise would she interfere.

“Hey Cariño,” she whispered tenderly, quickly wrapping her in a hug, “Macy’s informed now. Are you ready to try this?”

Abby shook her head, “Not in the slightest, but what’s done must be done.”

The Latina smiled pressing a kiss to the laters crown, “Your so brave. Your my brave girl. And I love you so much.”

Abigael preened at the praise, nearly shuddering from it all.

She was still not used to getting so much Constant assurance and admiration, but deeply loved every word of it.

“Ok,” Mel spoke softly, turning back to her sister, “Macy you can uncover your face now.”

Before the eldest did anything, Mel wrapped one arm around Abigaels waist, and entwined her free hand with the laters. Bracing her for what was too come.

“Ok…” Macy agreed hesitantly, “Ok I’m removing my hands now.”

She did so slowly, expression a mix of worry and anxiety.

Abby jolted, rapidly turning to bring as much distance between her and her mom look alike.

“HeY! No, no, hey you can’t run,” Mel strengthened her grip around her girlfriends waist in the nick of time, tugging her forward slowly, “We got this! Your gonna be ok Mi Amor.”

“No-no, Mel it’s too real. She’s too real.” The hybrid gasped trying to break from the witches grasp, “I can’t!”

“Yes, you can !” She assured, “I am right here Cariño. Right here. I am not leaving you!”

Eventually, Abigael stopped resisting. To the relief of both sisters. Macy honestly looking like she was about to throw up.

“Come on,” Mel coaxed gently, “Just look at Macy.”

Abby apprehensively tried, hissing immediately and hiding her face into the crook of Mels neck.

“Hey, your ok girl, I’m right here,” she soothed, stroking the laters back comfortingly, “You can do this. She won’t hurt you. That is not your mom.”

Nodding rapidly, the demon witch struggled at another attempt. Instead staring at Macy’s shoes.

“Abby it’s just me,” she tried, “It’s Macy.”

The later winced, “You s-sound like her.”

Mel briefly cursed our Mercury for being so effect in this scenario, continuously trying to bring comfort to her scared girlfriend.

“Ok, we just gotta think of something Macy can say. So you’ll only have to look at her for a few seconds.”

Abigael let out a choked sob, “Tell me im perfect.”

“Excuse me?” Macy looked befuddled.

“My mum,” Abby started sadly, “My mum would never say I’m perfect. That I’m good enough. That she loves me as I am. So say something like that.”

Macy looked like she was about to cry, lips trembling, she nodded.

Mel felt her heart ache, for the love Abigael should have received.

“I’m going to look up now.” The hybrids voice was frail.

With one final breath, she followed through. Bravely staring Macy in her Ratcesca looking eyes.

Her sister balked momentarily, but thankfully regrouped just as fast.

“Um, ok. Abigael. My daughter, your perfect just the way you are and I love you and your demon side.”

Abby gasped, tearing her gaze away, heaving slightly.

“Cariño did it work?” Mel questioned gently.

“Yes.” She concluded tearfully, letting out a weak laugh, “Yes it worked. Thank you both.”

“Of course,” She replied, wrapping her in another hug, “Of course my love.”

“I’m glad it worked.” Macy supplied earnestly from in front of them, “I’m so sorry I caused it in the first place.”

“Oh it wasn’t you Mace,” the hybrid chuckled wetly, “I know you didn’t want this, it’s just the words y’a know. The words were so similar.”

The eldest nodded humbly, “I’m still sorry I said them.”

Abby smiled ruefully, “Well apology accepted.”

Mel then gingerly dragged her away from the living room, tugging her all the way upstairs.

“Mel? What is it?” Her girlfriend gazed at her with wide eyes.

The Latina grinned warmly, “Well I did say their was a promise of snuggles.”

The Britt gasped joyfully, eyes widening in a childlike manner, “Oh my! Can we? Can we right now?”

Mel laughed, light and airily, “Of course Cariño. Of course.”

And then they had a super gay snuggle fest.

WHY????

BECAUSE IM THE DAMN AUTHOR AND I SAID SO 😤 .