How Soon Is Now

Part Two - Chapter Two: Charlotte's Wiccaning

Nicola smiled as she tried to settle Charlotte a little bit, they still had an hour before the little girl’s Wiccaning and she knew that it would be a busy week for the family; they had so much happening and so little time.

Nicola and Fernando wouldn’t just be having a Wiccaning for their little girl but also a christening to keep her grandparents happy; they didn’t want anyone getting upset or hurt by their decisions.

The last month had been crazy enough and Fernando was tense with the fact that demons were popping in every now and then to try and get at Charlotte.

“Do you want me to take her while you go and get ready?” Fernando asked approaching his wife, she was still in her pyjamas and he doubted that her grandmother would be pleased with that.

Joanna wanted everything to be perfect for her first great grandchild and there were things that needed to be done; she had spent the last hour bossing Adrian and Fernando around.

Nicola nodded her head and yawned, she had known having a baby was hard work but that didn’t mean that she had ever thought it would be this hard.

“Come to papa,” Fernando whispered lifting Charlotte out of Nicola’s arms, he cuddled the one month old knowing that it was going to take some getting used to; he adored both his daughters and wanted them both to have a good life.

Nicola smiled watching Fernando with Charlotte, she never got bored of watching them together; she knew that it was a sight that she wanted to see more of.

Fernando peeked at Nicola as she slowly walked away to head back upstairs to get a shower, he pressed a kiss to Charlotte’s cheek; he was happy that they’d had a month to get used to having her and now they would have to share her with all the family and close friends that would descend in the next week.

***

Joanna smiled watching Nicola with Fernando, she was so happy for her granddaughter and she prayed that the whispers that she had heard in the afterlife were just that; she couldn’t bear to see Nicola lose what she had right now.

Nicola kissed Fernando as she tried to settle a fussy Charlotte, the little girl was dressed in her pink dress; she looked so cute and it wouldn’t be for long.

Nicola herself was dressed in a yellow gypsy jersey top and bootcut jeans paired with white sandal wedges, she could care less what anyone else thought since the ceremony was being held in the coven house attic and she wished to be comfortable for this.

“Is everyone ready?” Joanna asked smiling at the current coven, she was so excited to be able to do this and she knew that it had been such a long time coming; she almost couldn’t believe that Nicola had been married for nearly a year now and she hoped it would last.

Nicola and Fernando nodded their heads, they smiled down at their daughter while Nora was fussing over her own dress; she peeked at Joanna who was ready to begin.

“Hear these words, hear my cry. Spirit from the other side, Come to me I summon thee. Cross now the Great Divide,” Joanna chanted calling forward the one person that wanted to be there more than anyone, she knew that there would be no putting this off for much longer.

Alexandria materialized and smiled realising that she had finally been called down, she didn’t want to arrive with everyone else when this was her grandchild that they were celebrating.

Alexandria completely ignored her own mother in favor of rushing forward and fussing over the adorable baby that Nicola was holding; she had been right, Nicola and Fernando would have such beautiful children and she knew that there would be many more.

“Is this her? Nicola, she’s beautiful,” Alexandria cooed moving to take Charlotte, she ignored her mother’s pointed look instead happy to fuss over her granddaughter; she wished that she could have spent more time with her.

Fernando wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her close, he felt relieved that things were going so well since he had been a little worried that a demon might show up and cause them some trouble.

“What is her name?” Alexandria asked looking to Nicola and Fernando, she had been watching over them as much as she could but there was only so much she could do since she was no longer part of this world.

“Charlotte,” Fernando said pleased with the name, he liked it and it suited their daughter so well; he had a feeling that they had picked a good one for their little girl.

Joanna and Alexandria stared at the couple for a moment, they had a few Charlotte’s in their family and where a little surprised at the name that the couple had chosen for their daughter.

“I hope you’re not like the last Charlotte we had,” Joanna muttered remembering all the trouble that they had with that Charlotte, she had been a nightmare and had run off with a butcher shaming the family.

Nicola rolled her eyes, she didn’t believe that a name would have any hold on what happened to her daughter; they liked it and that was what mattered.

Fernando raised an eyebrow at the two women wondering what they were talking about, he had a feeling the Charlotte in question had been a trouble maker and he doubted their Charlotte would be anything like that since she was his little girl.

***

“I call forth from space and time Matriarchs of the Matthews Line. Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends, Our family spirit without end. To gather now, in this sacred place and help us bring this child to grace,” Joanna chanted calling upon the Matthews family for the Wiccaning, she smiled as shadowy figures slowly appeared in the attic.

Nicola balanced Charlotte on her hip while Fernando made sure their little girl was okay and wasn’t going to start screaming; she was getting grumpy now and would be wanting a nap when this was finished.

Fernando was a little surprised at the women that appeared before them, some of them were wearing close from centuries ago and it made him wonder how far back Nicola’s family tree went.

Joanna moved forward and carefully took Charlotte from her mother before she returned to her place, she smiled at the little girl that was going to carry on their family lineage just as her mother had before her had done.

“The next generation had been born into our family, our legacy… We pledge to be with this child, this beautiful baby girl, always. Apart, but never separate. She is one of us, and because of that we will bless her with all the Goodness that we are. Welcome to our family, Charlotte Torres Matthews. Blessed Be.” Joanna announced smiling down at Charlotte who stared up at her with big blue baby eyes.

Joanna had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before they shifted in colour more towards that of her father, she already had a bit of a look of Nora about her and she was sure it would last.

Fernando wrap his arm around Nicola, no matter what happened in the future that this was all that mattered; their children and no matter what anyone did this was what mattered their family.

Charlotte was going to be safe and Fernando and Nicola would ensure that no matter what happened, their daughters were what mattered most.