Chapter Text
The last thing that Raelle wants to do is leave Scylla. They’ve been separated too many times to count, and both come close to losing each other on numerous occasions.
Everything is still a blur. The pain of losing Anacostia is still raw, and she wants to focus on getting through that instead. Scylla took the news hard too, considering how close they had become.
Instead of comforting her wife like she wanted to, Raelle finds herself clambering into a helicopter against her wishes, packed tight with her unit and sitting across from Sarah Alder.
She didn’t want to. Aside from the sad news about Anacostoa, the fight had taken its physical toll. Scylla and Adil were most affected, still groggy and not themselves, even after being healed.
Raelle also pressed aside her own feelings of guilt at how the witch bomb was the thing that caused harm to her family.
When Alder ushered the trio to a helicopter, it was the last thing on her mind. Abigail too, she wanted to stay with Advil. But Alder was insistent, demanding.
Everything had changed, they all knew that much. Things were far from over too. She didn’t know how the world was going to be, but it was unlikely that all of the Camarilla were defeated. They would be back.
Selfishly, Raelle didn’t want to fight anymore. She didn’t want to hear whatever Alder was going to announce. It was exhausting, and she wanted to just stay with her wife.
It was Scylla who shot her a small smile, promising that she was fine. Though she admittedly didn’t look great, she also looked a lot better than her brush from death only minutes earlier.
Despite the healing, she wasn’t well enough to start travelling in the air either, so staying on the ground was the best choice as much as Raelle didn’t like it.
They wouldn’t be long, Alder added. She didn’t like the plan at all but Rae reluctantly agreed. Petra had rejoined the group and slipped a cautionary arm around both Scylla and Adil, promising to keep an eye on them until the unit returned.
It felt almost like a betrayal. Their unit had expanded beyond the initial trio. Her sisters viewed Scylla as one of them, Abigail had told her that much. She was no longer an outsider, an integrated part of the Bellweather unit.
Leaving her injured and upset, went against every instinct Raelle had. The helicopter ascent was tense, and she could barely focus on Alder’s worlds through her exhaustion and concern.
This was not the end of the journey, she had explained. Their actions had destroyed the group of soldiers nearby, effectively buying the group more time.
Then, speaking directly through Alder - the mycelium mother proposed the unit as goddesses. The thought left a soured taste in Raelle’s mouth.
She had spent the last few months immortal, linked to the mycelium and technically dying several times. Granted, it would not bring her back again.
But the mother was promising immortality. A life dedicated to protecting the world, protecting witches. Living forever, or hundreds of years at least - was presented as a prize. Something that they should be grateful for.
She thought it couldn’t be further from the truth. It was a curse, to live for so long. To watch everyone age and pass. If they accepted, then they could never have families.
Having a child, to watch them age and grow, ultimately dying first - sounded terrifying. They hadn’t decided, or when really broached the topic of starting a family. There were far more pressing matters at hand, never having the time to converse about their future beyond fleeting hopes.
But Raelle sometimes imagined a ‘normal’ life with Scylla, living somewhere near the cession. Visiting her father and making trips to their lighthouse.
She didn’t want to be some martyr, an immortal figure. A life of grocery shopping and beach visits, was much more appealing. Especially with Scylla at her side. Regardless of how their family would look, it would be nice to make the decision themselves, instead of having the choice taken away,
By accepting the offer, they would also devote everything to protecting witchcraft and push their own personal lives to the side.
Really thought of her wife and swallowed hard, a lump in her throat. There was no mention of the necro, and that was a deal breaker. She had no desire to live in a world where Scylla aged, and eventually died - when she would stay a goddess.
She shared a wordless look with her sisters, and saw the same expression in Abigail’s eyes. Tally looked less resolute, less convinced but she shone with a similar determination.
”We appreciate it, so much” Abigail, taking on her typical role of leader - spoke first. “But we can’t accept” Tally and Raelle nodded in unison.
“We will still continue our fight against the Camarilla, to protect witches at all cost” Raelle took over. “But I have too much to lose. I can’t”
Alder nodded slowly, she didn’t look totally surprised and for a moment - it seemed as though the mother mycelium was finished talking to the unit completely.
”Stay strong in your fight against the enemy. Everything must have an end” then as quickly as she appeared, Alder blinked heavily and a different, more familiar expression sunk into her features.
She turned her head slowly, examining the sisters. The mother was gone, Raelle knew that much. Alder was back, wearing a bittersweet solemn expression.
”My daughters” she begun, voice rough from emotion. Tally blinked back tears, and the former General leaned forward. “Continue to make me proud” she pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, touch lingering with a fondness that grew from time.
She kept the words short and sweet, and Raelle knew it must be one of the last times she would ever see the woman. Alder pulled back to smile one last time at the unit, then exited the helicopter in what seemed like an overly dramatic act.
Tally reached for her sister’s hands, interlocking their fingers. “We made the right decision” it was a statement that no one could disagree with.
“What now?” Abigail mused in response, staring out of the window. “We carry on the battle. But we live too” Raelle responded. Their fight wasn’t over but they needed to find happiness too.
Abigail barked out a laugh. “That was deep, shitbird”. They laughed, growing eventually silent and pressing closer together in the small helicopter as it begun to swoop back down to Fort Salem.
Raelle nearly fell headfirst from her seat as she scrambled to dismount almost immediately after the helicopter touched the ground Abigail snorted, receiving an elbow to the ribs and a tired laugh for her troubles.
She had been running on a mix of pure adrenaline and stress but was beginning to crash from the exertion of releasing the witch bomb and the effects of healing Scylla and Adil from near death.
They climbed from the helicopter and begun the small walk back to where Petra had left them. It had been the right decision, the unit wanted to help but not at the expense of dedicating their mortality to protecting witches.
It wasn't long before they made it, and Petra approached the trio, pulling Abigail in for a tight hug. Adil was at her side, looking significantly better than he had an hour ago. Raelle frowned when she realised the pair were alone, no sign of Scylla.
Before she could panic, her eyes drifted further back and she breathed out a sigh of relief at the familiar flash of dark hair, bent down into a crouch and wrapped up with a smaller figure.
She said a small greeting to Adil and Petra before refocusing her attention. Scylla straightened out, standing back up, and a smile broke out on Raelle’s face when she realised it was in fact Tiffany curled up against her wife’s shoulder.
”Hey” Scylla smiled when their eyes met, releasing the smaller witch, placing a hand to her shoulder as she pulled Raelle in for a tight hug.
They embrace for a long time, relieved at each other’s presence and how they both made it alive through everything.
“Hi. You okay? Feeling better?” She checked, giving the brunette a once over just to make sure. Scylla laughed, and the sound was a jovial distraction from everything that had just happened.
Her skin wasn’t as pale, but she still looked off. Raelle, feeling guilty, tried to avoid looking at the beginning of bruising across her cheek from landing on the ground, at the force of the mycelium lashing out.
”Better. A lot better. Especially since I’ve got this one back to take care of me” she teased, nudging a giggling Tiffany, hand dropping from her shoulder to wrap around her waist protectively.
Their relationship was heart warming to see. Raelle remembers telling the pair to have pancakes at her father’s, as though it were yesterday.
She had always felt safe in the cession, comfortable and at ease in her own home. Scylla never had that luxury. She didn’t like to talk about her past, but Raelle knew that she never had a place to call home.
They weren’t properly reunited at the time, but it was second nature to send Scylla to her house at the cession. She knew her dad would accept the pair, no questions asked - and make them feel welcome and safe.
Scylla needed somewhere to call home, and from what little she knew about Tiffany, the girl needed that security too.
So much had happened since then. One of the only happy moments from the past few weeks though, was returning to the cession whilst on the run from the army.
Having the most experience with dodging, Scylla had led the group to a safe house where they spent a night before joining a dodging community in the cession.
The moment they stepped into the building, a small figure came bounding across the room - tacking Scylla and nearly knocking her to the ground.
Raelle hadn’t met Tiffany. She knew from what her dad told her, that the small witch had become extremely close to the necro after saving her life during a Camarilla attack.
Seeing their bond firsthand made her fall even more impossibly in love with Scylla. She had seen many sides to the witch, but the love and fierce protectiveness she exhibited only around Tiffany - was unlike anything else.
She crouched down to the child’s level, flashing her a genuine, wide grin. “Hey Tiffany. Have you been watching out for this trouble maker?”
Tiffany beamed, releasing her tight grip of Scylla to barrel into Raelle’s open arms for a tight hug. “Hi Raelle” she murmured against her neck. “I have”
She was a shy kid, not a huge talker - typically keeping to herself, making only small talk aside from Scylla. But Raelle liked to think they had become close too, and the smile Tiffany was sporting, seemed to show this.
Much to Scylla’s disappointment, there wasn’t any time to find the dodgers and bring the girl in for the wedding either. Raelle too, wanted the girl to be part of the celebrations, perhaps a flower girl of sorts - but time was a big constraint.
Their wedding had been rushed. Raelle ideally wanted to wear a suit, but she knew it was more important to be happy with what she had.
She was grateful to get the chance to marry the woman she loved, and was beyond happy that Edwin had made it to the venue in time. She missed her mom too, being back with her was one of the only benefits from her time in the mycelium.
But having her father by her side, was enough and she was happy to have their wedding. Calling Scylla her wife meant more than words could explain. They were together, finally - and wouldn’t let anything tear them apart.
In hindsight, she was glad that Tiffany wasn’t right near Fort Salem either. Her safety was paramount and she looked safe and fine.
“How did you get here?” She asked the girl, hoping she wasn’t anywhere near Fort Salem when the attacks happened.
Scylla answered for her. “Mack and the dodgers brought her around, things weren’t exactly safe in their area of the cession. Thought I’d say hi for a bit, they’ve just gone to make sure everyone is doing fine”
Raelle breathes out a relieved sigh. “Good, good. And you’re okay Tiffany?” The girl nods, reassuring Rae that she’s fine.
”Did it all go alright?” Scylla’s voice drew her away from wandering thoughts and Raelle forced a smile at remembering what they had been discussing in the helicopter.
She didn’t want to ruin the moment with talks about immortality and goddesses, mouthing a quick ‘later’ and taking one of Tiffany’s small hands in hers.
Scylla took the other and let the fixer lead them away from the immediate impact of the war zone. The small witch finding her voice as she begun to start blabbering on about how she could really enjoy one of Edwin’s pancakes right about now.
She didn’t know what would be next. If they would have time for some respite before the Camarilla would strike again. Scylla was still wary of the army, and Raelle respected that.
Her feelings of loathing had changed, but she was still sceptical. Keeping the witches safe and retaining the peace was important though. Their work would not be finished, but they had time.
Later, she would find Tally and Abigail, then the unit as a four - would work out what to do next. It would only be a matter of time before the Camarilla recuperated and attacked again.
Working with the army, they would need to be ready and anticipate an attack. However, their numbers would be reduced and together as a unit - they held strength. So they had time to rest, because currently - she didn’t think they would be much help in the state that they were in.
Scylla and Adil were not 100% and Raelle needed to let the affects of releasing the witch bomb wear off before she felt fit enough to fight.
The situation was exhausting, and her sisters must be tired too from all of the fighting they had to do whilst the others were incapacitated due to the poisoned mycelium collapsing.
This gave them a short period of time to rest before making the next move, Petra had reassured this when the trio disembarked from the helicopter. And although she didn’t entirely trust the army, she trusted Petra - as a leader but as family too.
But now, Raelle wanted to find her father, make sure he was safe. Most of her immediate family was counted for. The unit were reuniting with their respective loved ones, Scylla was healing and Tiffany was safe. All she needed as to see her father, and then maybe things would start to feel okay again.
Or maybe they wouldn’t. And life would never be the same. Raelle wasn’t sure. All she knew, is that her next step was to reunite her family back together, and maybe have something to eat.
She looked at Tiffany, rambling on about something to Scylla who was nodding, with rapt attention and replying as enthusiastically. She was effortlessly good with the girl, caring and soft. Unbelievably soft with the little witch who she protected as if she was her own,
Pancakes, Raelle decided, tearing her eyes away from the pair. They would make pancakes. The Collar speciality. Though maybe the name would need tweaking now.
Besides, she hadn’t exactly celebrated her wedding, due to a lack of time, and judging by the looks Scylla kept sending that direction - her wife felt the same.
“Ready, Mrs Ramshorn-Collar?”
“Always, Mrs Ramshorn-Collar”.