Daughter of a Witch

Home for the Holidays

The winter wind bit at Y/n's cheeks as she stepped out of the car, her breath forming little clouds in the chilly air. She had been looking forward to this moment for weeks-coming home. College had been everything she expected and more, with new experiences, new friends, and the overwhelming rush of independence. But there was something about coming back to Westview, to the house she grew up in, that made her heart warm despite the freezing temperature.

She stood at the driveway, taking in the familiar sight of the old Victorian house. The snow dusted the roof and blanketed the yard, making everything look almost magical, as if time had slowed down just for the holidays. The house hadn't changed much, though there were little differences here and there. The porch light was new, and the window boxes that once held bright flowers in the summer now carried evergreen branches and fairy lights.

Y/n's eyes softened as she approached the front door, suitcase in hand, feeling a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. She was home.

Before she could knock, the door swung open, revealing Rio, her face beaming with excitement. "There she is!" Rio rushed forward, wrapping Y/n in a tight hug that nearly knocked her off her feet. "I've missed you so much, kid."

Y/n laughed into her mother's embrace, her heart swelling at the familiar comfort. "I missed you too, Mom. You're squeezing me to death, though."

Rio pulled back, eyes twinkling with happiness as she looked Y/n over. "Look at you-college girl. You look different but the same, you know? Like... more grown-up or something."

Y/n smiled, but before she could reply, Agatha appeared in the doorway, a small but warm smile on her lips. "Are you two just going to stand out there in the cold, or are you coming inside?"

"Coming!" Y/n called, grinning as she stepped past Rio and into the warmth of the house.

The interior of the house felt just as familiar, yet Y/n couldn't help but notice subtle changes as she looked around. The furniture had been rearranged slightly, with new throw blankets draped across the couch and a few new paintings on the walls. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air, mixing with the scent of pine from the Christmas tree in the corner. The tree was already decorated, sparkling with colorful ornaments and twinkling lights.

"Wow," Y/n said, her eyes lingering on the tree. "You guys really went all out this year."

"Of course we did," Agatha replied, stepping beside her. "It's your first time back since you left. We had to make it special."

Y/n felt a pang of guilt at that. She hadn't realized how much her absence had affected her parents or how much they had missed having her around. College had been a whirlwind of activity, but now that she was home, she could see the little ways in which things had shifted.

Rio grabbed her suitcase and started up the stairs. "I'll put your stuff in your room. We didn't change too much in there-just, you know, moved some things around. Don't freak out."

Y/n chuckled, watching her mother go. "I'll try not to."

She turned back to Agatha, who was still standing beside her, arms crossed, watching her closely. Y/n couldn't quite place the look in her mother's eyes-something like pride mixed with a hint of sadness.

"You've really grown up," Agatha said softly, almost to herself.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, her smile fading slightly. "You keep saying that. Have I really changed that much?"

Agatha gave her a knowing look. "Not in any bad way. It's just... you're not the same girl who left a few months ago. You've found your footing. It's in the way you carry yourself now."

Y/n looked down, suddenly feeling the weight of Agatha's words. She hadn't noticed the change in herself, but hearing it from her mother made it feel real. She had grown and matured in ways that were hard to quantify but easy to feel.

As the two of them moved into the living room, Y/n took a seat on the couch, letting out a sigh of relief. "It's weird, isn't it? How things change so fast. I feel like I was just here, but now... everything feels different."

Agatha sat beside her, resting a hand on Y/n's knee. "That's part of life. Things change, and people grow. It doesn't mean the things that matter disappear, though. Family, home, those are constants, even if everything else shifts."

Y/n swallowed, her chest tightening. "I guess I just didn't expect it to feel like this. I missed you guys so much, but it feels like I've missed... more than just time. The house looks different, and you both seem different. Even I'm different."

Agatha's hand squeezed Y/n's knee gently. "You're still you, Y/n. And we're still us. You're just stepping into a new chapter of your life, that's all. And we're here, no matter what changes."

Y/n nodded, trying to process her emotions. She wasn't sure why it was so hard to articulate what she was feeling-this sense of growing up and leaving things behind while still trying to hold on to everything that mattered. "It's scary, you know? Being away, trying to figure out who I am without everything I've always known."

Agatha's expression softened as she leaned back against the couch. "I get it. Growing up is terrifying sometimes. But that's what makes it worthwhile. You're learning who you are outside of this house, outside of us. And that's okay. It doesn't make you any less ours or any less connected to us."

Y/n leaned into Agatha, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "I don't know what I'd do without you and Mom. Sometimes I think about how different my life would've been if I didn't have you both."

Agatha smiled, resting her cheek on top of Y/n's head. "We're lucky to have you, too, Y/n. You've made us better in ways you probably don't even realize."

A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment before Rio's voice called down from upstairs. "Are we ordering pizza tonight, or are we cooking something fancy for her first night back?"

Y/n chuckled, pulling away from Agatha and calling out, "Pizza sounds perfect!"

"Pizza it is!" Rio's voice echoed down the stairs, full of excitement.

As Agatha and Y/n shared a look, Y/n felt a wave of warmth wash over her. No matter how much had changed or how different things felt, this was home. And she was still part of this family, even if her world had expanded beyond the walls of the house in Westview.

Later that evening, after the pizza had been devoured and laughter filled the house, Y/n found herself outside on the porch, bundled up in a thick coat, watching the snow fall softly in the quiet night. The air was crisp, and the sky was dotted with stars, the perfect winter scene.

Agatha joined her a few minutes later, handing her a steaming cup of hot cocoa. "Thought you could use something warm."

Y/n accepted it gratefully, cupping the mug in her hands. "Thanks, Mama."

They stood there in companionable silence for a moment, the snow falling around them, the warmth of the house behind them.

"You know," Y/n said softly, breaking the silence, "I think I'm starting to get it."

"Get what?" Agatha asked, her voice equally soft.

"Why growing up is so scary. It's not just about changing or leaving home. It's about learning how to hold onto the things that matter while still letting yourself grow. And I think... I think I'm learning how to do that."

Agatha smiled, her eyes full of pride. "You're doing just fine, Y/n. Better than fine."

Y/n smiled back, feeling a little more settled, a little more sure. She wasn't the same girl who had left for college a few months ago, and that was okay. She was growing and changing, and as scary as that was, she knew her family would always be there, rooting for her.

And that made all the difference.