Daughter of a Witch

A Simple Evening

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the living room in soft hues of orange and pink. Agatha and Rio had claimed their usual spots on the couch, a cozy tangle of limbs and blankets. Rio sat in the corner of the couch, her legs stretched out, with Agatha curled between them. Agatha's head rested on Rio's chest, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on Rio's arm. Meanwhile, Rio's free hand played gently with Agatha's hair, their movements an effortless affection rhythm. The TV was tuned to a rerun of Friends, laughter punctuating the room as Rio chuckled at one of Joey's antics. Agatha's lips curled into an occasional smile as she basked in the comfort of Rio's embrace.

"Do you ever get tired of watching this?" Agatha murmured, tilting her head slightly to glance up at Rio.

"Never," Rio replied with a soft laugh, brushing a strand of Agatha's hair away from her face. "It's a classic. Besides, I think you secretly love it, too."

Agatha huffed, though her smile betrayed her. "Maybe. Or maybe I just love watching you laugh at the same jokes over and over."

Rio smirked, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of Agatha's head. "Guilty as charged. But you're the one who insists we skip ahead to the Thanksgiving episodes every year."

"They're the best ones," Agatha countered, her fingers stilling momentarily on Rio's arm before resuming their lazy tracing. "And don't pretend you don't agree."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Rio said, her voice warm. "You've got good taste."

Agatha's smile deepened as she shifted slightly, her body molding closer to Rio's. "And you've got good arms. Perfect for cuddling."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Rio teased, brushing another kiss onto Agatha's hairline. "You know, moments like this make me think we're the luckiest people alive."

Agatha tilted her head back, her eyes meeting Rio's. "We are. And not just because of this," she gestured to the TV. "It's everything."

Their quiet exchange was interrupted by the faint sound of a pen tapping on paper. At the dining table, Y/n sat hunched over her notebook, pen in hand and a slight furrow in her brow. Homework had been her priority for the evening, though the quiet hum of her mother's laughter made it hard not to feel the pull of distraction. She tapped her pen against her notebook, glancing toward the couch where Rio and Agatha seemed perfectly content.

Y/n finally pushed her notebook aside with a sigh. She had finished most of her assignments anyway, and the growing idea in her mind refused to be ignored. Cookies. The thought of surprising her moms with freshly baked cookies lit a spark of excitement. They'd love it, and maybe it would make the evening even cozier.

Slipping away from the table, Y/n moved quietly toward the kitchen. She opened the pantry and began gathering ingredients, her movements deliberate but soft to avoid drawing attention. Flour, sugar, chocolate chips-everything came together on the counter. Before she started measuring, she glanced over her shoulder to ensure her mothers were still engrossed in their show.

The faint clink of a measuring cup caught Rio's ear. Her gaze drifted toward the kitchen, eyebrows raising slightly in curiosity. "Is she sneaking snacks again?" Rio murmured, her voice low and teasing.

Agatha glanced up from her comfortable position, following Rio's gaze. "Not this time," she replied, her tone amused. "Looks like she's up to something more involved."

Curiosity piqued, they shared a look before Agatha untangled herself from Rio's arms. "I'll investigate."

By the time Agatha entered the kitchen, Y/n had already combined the dry ingredients and stirred them into the wet mix. Y/n's back was to her mother, her movements hurried yet careful. Agatha leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a knowing smile on her face.

"And what exactly are you doing, young lady?"

Y/n froze, the wooden spoon hovering above the mixing bowl. Slowly, she turned to face Agatha, her cheeks tinged pink. "It's... a surprise," she admitted sheepishly. "For you and Mami."

Agatha's expression softened. "A surprise, huh? Well, you're off to a good start."

Rio's voice carried from the living room. "Agatha, what's going on in there?"

"Your daughter's baking," Agatha called back, a playful edge to her tone. "Apparently, we're in for a surprise."

Moments later, Rio joined them in the kitchen, her arms crossed and an eyebrow quirked. "Well, if we're all in here, we might as well make it a family effort."

"No!" Y/n exclaimed, holding up her hands, still dusted with flour. "It's my surprise. You can... sit and watch, though."

Agatha chuckled, grabbing a book from the counter and settling onto one of the stools at the kitchen counter. "Fine by me. I'll supervise."

Rio picked up the newspaper from the counter and flipped to the crossword section, taking a seat beside Agatha. "And I'll provide moral support," she said with a wink.

Y/n rolled her eyes fondly but returned to her work, her heart warm from their presence. She preheated the oven and began scooping dough onto a baking sheet, her mother's chatter filling the room as they alternated between reading and bantering.

"What's a six-letter word for 'overcome with emotion'?" Rio asked, pencil poised above the crossword.

"Affected?" Agatha suggested without looking up from her book.

"That's eight letters," Rio countered, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Try again."

Y/n chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. "Try 'beside.' Like 'beside yourself.'"

Rio scribbled it in, grinning. "Look at that. Our kid's a genius."

Agatha smiled softly. "Like you."

Rio rolled her eyes with a grin. "I think she's more like you."

Y/n groaned, turning to face them. "I think I'm just smart because you're both smart, and I've learned from the best."

The cookies went into the oven, and the timer was set. Y/n took a seat across from Agatha, resting her chin in her hands as the room settled into a comfortable rhythm. They talked about everything and nothing-school, work, plans for the weekend. It felt effortless, the kind of evening where time seemed to stretch just so they could savor it.

When the timer dinged, Y/n jumped up, pulling on oven mitts to retrieve the cookies. The warm, sugary aroma filled the kitchen, earning a satisfied hum from Rio.

"Smells amazing," Rio remarked, sitting up straight.

Y/n placed the tray on the counter to cool, grabbing a spatula to transfer the cookies to a plate. She brought the plate to the counter with a flourish, setting it down in the center. "Okay, now it's a surprise."

Agatha reached for a cookie, took a bite, and closed her eyes in exaggerated bliss. "Perfect," she declared. "You might have a future as a pastry chef."

"Or at least as our personal baker," Rio added her tone light.

They spent the rest of the evening nibbling on cookies and talking, their laughter mingling with the occasional soft strains of the TV in the background. The warmth of the cookies seemed to mirror the atmosphere of their home: comforting and full of love.

"What's your secret ingredient?" Rio asked as she reached for a second cookie.

Y/n hesitated, her lips quirking into a mischievous smile. "Love," she replied, earning a groan from Rio and a chuckle from Agatha.

"Cheesy," Rio teased, but she couldn't hide her grin.

Agatha leaned over, brushing a stray crumb from Y/n's cheek. "It's the best kind of ingredient," she said softly, her eyes warm with affection.

As the night wore on and the plate of cookies dwindled, Y/n rested her head on Agatha's shoulder, her eyelids growing heavy. Agatha stroked her hair gently, exchanging a soft smile with Rio.

"Let's call it a night," Rio said, her voice low.

They lingered for a moment longer, savoring the stillness and the feeling of togetherness. Eventually, they gathered their things, leaving the kitchen as it was, a testament to their quiet evening together. It was simple but perfect in its own way, a memory they'd carry with them long after the last crumb was gone.