Chapter Text
It was Abigael’s first real Christmas in her life.
Having grown up the demon-hybrid daughter of Francesca Jameson and Alistair Caine, Abby hadn’t had many happy Christmases. Now, she had developed a solid relationship with her sister, Waverly, and her niece, Lydia, had her romantic feelings reciprocated by Melanie Vera, and been accepted as a valued member of not one but two loving families. Abby had experienced a particularly good year so far.
After successfully shuffling Daxton Blake to the throne of Demon Overlord, thereby ensuring the safety of the truce between witches and demons, things seemed to settled down significantly. The Charmed Ones even experienced, for the first time in their years as witches, something of a period of peace. Through nothing short of a miracle, Harry was able to find a way to repair the witchboard. Macy was offered a lucrative position as a scientist at a local Seattle laboratory and Harry, after all his years mediating ("And micromanaging," Mel had added upon Harry's announcement) his charges, took over as the overseer of SafeSpace Seattle with Swan by his side as his right-hand and Jordan as his legal counsel. Maggie continued student life and even managed to pick up a sought-after internship along the way. Mel went about teaching her Women's Studies students by day and studying ancient grimoires by night (much to Abby's playful teasing about there being many other and more exciting ways to spend her nights, now that they were officially together and Abby was healed).
Maintaining a transatlantic long-distance relationship with a Charmed One was no easy feat. Despite phase-shifting abilities and witchboard marbles being readily available, there was also a sizable time difference between their two locations, not to mention the responsibilities of Mel being one-third of The Charmed Ones, as well as both of them being career women and making time for their own families. Still, for nearly a year now they had made it work through the sheer force of their combined iron wills and their absolute adoration and devotion for one another.
Now they were even toying with the idea of Abigael moving back to Seattle and what that would look like for Abigael, Waverly and Lydia. Abby knew if she moved back to The States, it would be inevitable that she would miss out on parts of Lydia’s life and growth. And, though she knew Waverly would continue to love and support her no matter her decision, Abby also knew that Waverly would miss her as well, especially since it would mean going back to raising Lydia entirely on her own.
More than once, Abigael had even joked to Waverly that she and Lydia should move to Seattle with her.
“What witchy child wouldn’t want to grow up the spoiled apple of The Charmed Ones’ eyes? Not to mention her own aunt?” Abby had teased sister. “You would never want for a babysitter again, sis.”
“Just keep talking, Abby,” Waverly had warned in response each time.
So when it had come time to begin making plans for the holiday, Abby had been torn between remaining in England with her sister and niece, or spending Christmas with her girlfriend and other family.
“Just invite Waverly and Lydia to come here,” Mel had suggested one night when Abby broke down and confessed her confliction as the pair laid in bed.
Abigael picked her head up off of Mel’s shoulder and looked at her with her brow furrowed. “Are you being serious?”
Obviously set off-kilter by Abby’s response, Mel’s voice was full of uncertainty as she answered, “Yes?”. At Abby’s imploring look, she continued, “Yes. I mean,... you’re always telling Waverly she should move here with you. Let her come see what it might be like. It’s not like we don’t have a room for them, now that you’re not using the attic room anymore.”
Abby stared back at her. “You’ve thought about this,” she stated knowingly.
“You miss them , Abby. You still technically live with them but I know you spend so much more time here,” Mel said back, gazing into Abigael’s hazel eyes lovingly. “They should come for Christmas. Invite them.”
So Abby had.
“You’re serious?” Waverly had asked when they saw each other the next day.
“That’s what I said as well, but yes.,” Abigael had told her. “So… would you? I’ll pay for the airfare.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Jameson-Caine, but alright, if we must.”
That was how Abby’s first real Christmas began.