Chapter Text
Abigael Jameson-Caine had stopped pretending to expect normalcy, or at least her version of normalcy, at any given point since having The Charmed Ones barged into her life. For the first time in a long time she had developed some sort of real feelings for not one, but two people, even after having given up on her ability to produce true emotion long before. She had found some deeper sense of nobility she never thought herself capable of. Even some closure might have found its way into her heart through the sisters and their quest to redeem her, despite how she fought them on it, despite their own trepidations.
Thus far, no one had brought up her admission of caring for Mel during the trial. The confession had been against her will, so Abby had somewhat decided that the group had collectively decided to pretend it had never happened. She couldn’t bring herself to forget it though She had not begun to process those feelings, herself. Abby didn’t want to have feelings for anyone. She was content on her lonesome, or as content as she was capable of being. Abby had become the demon overlord and protected the peace between demonkind and witches. She was contributing more to society than anyone had ever expected of her, especially her ‘family’. She was looked to as a leader and even The Charmed Ones, most beloved amongst witches, semi-regularly looked to her for assistance in various matters.
She hadn’t heard from them in a while though. Maggie had FaceTimed her once while wearing Abby’s face to get something that the sisters needed, and only Abby would have been able to procure. Abby didn’t want to admit that it stung that they hadn’t come directly to her for help, but it had. She wondered if they wanted to give her space after the trial, if they had lost respect for her during it, or if they had just not thought she would agree. The train of thought was reasonable. She was infamous for not doing anything for anyone unless there was something in it for her. Maybe the siblings were temporarily deaf, but Abby knew that if Mel really needed something, she would be there. She had already said it, if there was any chance she could feel the same way, Abby would fight her worst instincts for a chance.
Maybe this was why, when Mel showed up at her door, carrying a box that seemed much too large in comparison to the short young woman, Abby had let her in without question. For possibly the first time since meeting her, Mel actually didn’t seem to be upset with her about anything. Just like every time she had run into her, Mel started talking on sight and didn’t stop for a breath or to let Abby get a word in edgewise.
“The only reason I’m here is that I wanted you to hear it from me before anyone else. It’s only fair and I really do believe in fairness, so I orbed here and then walked up the stairs which used to be a lot easier, let me tell you. Your elevator really does need to get fixed. Anyway, I was recently in a coma, don’t worry it was only for a little while, which didn’t actually make it any less scary, though you would really think it would have.
I don’t know if you remember when we time traveled together or if you remember that I used to have time witch powers, though I just found out that I apparently still do somewhere somehow. While I was in the coma I met my future self who time-traveled back to ask me for favor as though I have a choice, though when it’s me asking me, I don’t really have one. Anyway, all of this was to explain that I’m pregnant now. Really pregnant.
My girlfriend Ruby’s not exactly happy. I’m feeling pretty neutral about it. Maggie’s stoked and Macy’s still processing. So I just thought that I know you have feelings for me, I’m not sure how I feel about you anymore, but I thought that you should know… just out of fairness.”
Abby sat down hard on the couch after pouring herself a drink. Mel sat the box down about halfway through her rambling and the demon overlord simply stared at the large baby bump, unable to look at anything else, the rest of Mel’s words fading into a buzzing sound in the back of her mind to be filtered through at a later time when the world made a little more sense. She caught that this was Mel’s baby from the future. She caught that Mel had a girlfriend. She caught that Mel’s girlfriend wasn’t happy and was pretty sure that this was all of the information she needed to move forward at the moment. Abby sipped her drink to stall for time as she tried to figure out what the best thing to say would be.
“Did future Mel give you a name for the baby? Perhaps starting with an ‘M’?” Abby asked as though this were an everyday occurrence and her mind wasn’t reeling.
“No.” Mel replied shortly as though disappointed she hadn’t garnered a bigger response.
“Well, as wild as the lives you Veras lead may often be, I did not have this on my bingo card. I must say.” Abby sighed and took another sip, still staring. She paused for a long moment then realized Mel was still waiting for her to continue. She hadn’t realized that the other woman had learned to read her well enough to tell when she had more to say but was taking the time to carefully craft her words together.
Abby scooted forward to look Mel in the face instead of the stomach, feeling off-kilter with the witch still standing while she was seated. Without her permission, Abby’s expression turned more earnest, and maybe even a bit vulnerable.
“I am… I’m really quite glad that you came. Uhm, I know that you didn’t have to. Just, please remember that if you ever need a break from your sisters or to vent, my home is open to you and only you, even when there aren’t any emergencies. If you’d like to talk or… you know. Whatever normal people, friends, romantic interests, whatever you’d like to be, spend their spare moments doing.” Abby offered, despising every word that came out of her mouth as she said them. She finished her glass as soon as Mel turned away. Abby doubted that in the past days since her trial Melanie’s feelings towards her had changed in any way. Still, something inside of her would have died had she not at least put forward this effort. Her more casual advances had done nothing so far but earn her half-grins and eye-rolls.
“At the rate this is going, I might have to take you up on that.” Mel sighed and Abigael could tell that there was more of a story behind the words but decided not to test the luck she’d had thus far. If Mel wanted to share more, she would have. She turned and stood to pour herself another. “Good night, Abigael.”
“Good night, Mel.” Abby replied after the portal had long vanished and she pushed aside any thought of who the Mel of the future might have been planning to raise that baby with.