Cookies (Charmed)

Sapphire Deveraux and her best friend, danced around in Melinda’s bedroom. The Mamma Mia soundtrack played loudly from the CD player. Giggles erupted if one or both performed a ridiculous move. Happily the teen sang along at the chorus of the songs. Sometimes in a goofy accent just to hear Mel’s bouts of laughter. Once the CD came to an end, the pair collapsed onto Melinda Halliwell’s bed.

“Thanks, Saph, I needed this,” Melinda gratefully told her best friend.

The purple haired teen sent her friend a warm smile. “You needed it. Besides, no one likes to see you all mopey.” she added with a laugh. “You hungry?”

“Yeah, mom just finished a batch of cookies. Come on,” Melinda said as she hopped off her bed.

Sapphire sighed softly before she got off the bed and followed behind. She studied the pictures on the walls. There were lots of photos of the Charmed Ones and their children. Sapphire giggled at a picture of her Whitelighter covered in cake. She knew it was an old picture from Wyatt’s first birthday, she believed.

“He was a bit of a handful that day,” a familiar voice commented from behind the teenage witch.

Sapphire sent Piper a smile as she moved over to let the oldest of the Charmed Ones, stand beside her. “I’d believe that,” Sapphire replied as she looked back at the picture with a tilt to her head.

Piper laughed as they studied the picture. “He was worse in his terrible twos,” Piper recalled with a fond smile on her face.

Before Sapphire could comment, blue white lights appeared out of her peripheral. The glowing embers merged together to reveal the forms of Wyatt and Chris Halliwell.

“Hey, Ma,” Wyatt greeted as he stepped forward to give his mom a kiss on the cheek.

“Wyatt, Chris,” Piper sighed as she welcomed her eldest two children with hugs.

“Hello, Saph,” Wyatt said, his gaze on his charge.

An irritated smile crossed her lips, “Wyatt,” she greeted as she walked past him to head downstairs.

Footsteps followed behind Sapphire, she joined Mel in the kitchen. “Your brothers are here,” she warned the brunette.

Mel scoffed, “Typical, bet it was because they ran out of food, again,” the youngest Halliwell commented with disdain in her voice.

Saph hummed in agreement as she turned her attention to the plants in the window. Piper had taken good care of them since Sapphire had first helped them grow. A few new plants, made there way into the sill. It was nice to know that people other than her family desired to encourage her magical abilities. With a casual wave of her hand over the newest plants, they bloomed and grew to their full potential.

With a satisfied grin, she joined Melinda at the island. She grabbed an oatmeal cookie, that had been set aside for her. Saph hated her peanut allergy, she would have loved a chocolate peanut butter cookie.

“These are amazing,” Saph commented as she enjoyed the chocolate chips in her cookie.

“Thank you, Saph,” Piper said as she entered the kitchen.

“You’re not eating a peanut butter cookie, are you?” Wyatt asked as he stepped into the room, behind Chris and Piper.

Sapphire rolled her eyes, “Honestly, you eat a cookie with peanuts once. You have your Whitelighter heal you, but do they ever let it go? No, said Whitelighter keeps nagging and panics over anything you’re about to eat,” she ranted with hand gestures. A glare sent over her shoulder to her Whitelighter.

Wyatt crossed his arms as he looked at his charge. “Honestly, finding you on the floor in antipathetic shock, is not something I want to see ever again,” he said with an eye roll and frown.

Sapphire wore an incredulous look on her face, “You are such a worry wart. I am eating an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Stop worrying. Honestly, you are worse than my mother,” she mumbled the last remark under her breath.

Wyatt sighed but wrapped an arm around Sapphire’s shoulder. He rested his head on top of hers for a few moments. With the petite witch distracted, he grabbed an oatmeal cookie. Sapphire swatted at his hand.

“Those are mine. Eat your chocolate peanut butter cookies,” she griped as he ate a mouthful.

Melinda and Chris laughed at the pair. It was clear to everyone but the seventeen year old witch, that Wyatt enjoyed spending time with her. She was his only charge who lived in San Francisco, and he enjoyed seeing her. Sapphire lived in two homes between her divorced parents, but Wyatt knew she was at the manor more often than not.

“Why? Mom’s oatmeal cookies are amazing,” he mumbled around a mouthful.

-fin

x

Recollections and Returns (TAG)

Ella diligently took notes from her lessons. She knew the sooner she finished, the sooner she could get away for a time. The brunette with honey-gold eyes studied the screen as she tried to work out the math problem in front of her.

Once she finished the problem, she entered the answer in, only for the screen to tell her she was wrong. With a frown, Ella re-read the problem, she tried another method to solve the problem. With a grin she entered the second answer.

The screen gave a burst of green, before it moved to the next problem. With quick eyes, she read the problem twice as she down various notes. This problem was easier than the previous one. Eleanor quickly entered her solution.

Footsteps echoed into the dining area of Tracy Island caught the teenagers attention. Ella glanced away from the screen, but not before pausing the timer on her lesson.

“Hi, Dad,” she called out as she watched him make his way around the kitchen.

“Ella,” Jeff Tracy greeted his sixteen year old daughter. “What are you doing?”

“Homework,” she answered as she turned back to the screen to finish the problem in front of her.

Ella heard her father’s familiar chuckle at her answer. “Where are the boys?”

The teenager shrugged, “Avoiding their homework like always.”

“Well, I’m not surprised about that. But we both know, you’re already ahead on your school work,” Jeff noted as he pulled out different ingredients from the fridge.

“I blame John, he was always ahead on everything involving school. Especially math,” Ella answered as she glared at the screen.

“Math isn’t always easy to learn kiddo,” Jeff reminded her. “I’ve seen you do more advanced math with your work on Thunderbird One, Two, and Three, than what you’ve covered in your lessons. Besides, your dad was the same way, when we were younger.”

Ella perked up at that piece of information. It wasn’t often that Jeff Tracy spoke of his deceased friend. Ella knew her biological parents’ passing had been difficult for her dad. She didn’t remember Christian Rosewood or Elizabeth Creighton-Warrd. The car accident that killed them happened when she was only a few months old. She had been in the care of Jeff and Lucy Tracy not long after their death. As the couple were her godparents and her parents had deemed in their last will and testament.

Ella had grown up in a good home with Jeff, Lucy, and their three boys. Never treated any differently than her siblings, despite being adopted. Her brothers had adored and spoiled her rotten, but she loved all five of them.

“Really?” she asked with a hint of interest in her voice.

“Yup, I remember your dad was worried that he wouldn’t be able to be an astronaut. But your mom was a great tutor, she was able to break it down for him. That’s the first time they met, actually. He was a smitten by the end of their first session,” Jeff told her.

Ella could see the blue eyes, her dad shared with her oldest and youngest brothers, drift off, as he was reliving the moment again. She knew her dad missed her parents, her grandmother Sylvia Creighton-Warrd was the same. Ella was a beautiful mix of her parents, she could easily tell from the pictures she had received over the years.

A familiar sound caught Ella and her dad’s attention. She moved from her seat, and stood closer to the window. With keen eyes, she spotted the familiar plane that was preparing for a water landing. The aqua-plane was a blue color that only one Tracy boy was obsessed with.

Ella gasped, before she looked over her shoulder at her dad. A gleeful smile on her face.

“Go see, Scott. You know he’ll try to find you first,” Jeff ordered his daughter with a laugh.

“Thank you,” she threw over her shoulder as she took off. Her mahogany hair trailed after her, as she ran outside toward the dock.

As she reached the dock, Ella recognized the figure getting off the plane. With a burst of energy, Ella sprinted toward Scott, his name on her lips as she jumped him. Scott stumbled back a few feet as his arms were full of one Eleanor Creighton-Warrd, the duo ended up in the ocean.

Ella and Scott both surfaced not far from the dock. “Oops,” the sixteen year old said, after she got her breath back.

A laugh that Ella had missed since Christmas came from the dock. Ella turned to see the strawberry-blonde head of John Tracy.

“John,” Ella cried in elation.

“Hey little sis,” John greeted as he looked from Ella to Scott. “Told you, you’d end up in the ocean again,” he smugly told the oldest Tracy.

“Yeah, yeah,” Scott grumbled as he sent a splash of water in John’s direction. “Ella,” he sighed as he moved forward, through the water. The eldest Tracy boy wrapped her into a one armed hug, before he pulled away to climb onto the dock.

Once back on his feet, he and John both lifted Ella onto the dock. She wore a sheepish expression as she peeked at Scott through her eyelashes. “Sorry,” she mumbled with a small smile.

Scott’s laughter signaled to Ella that she wasn’t in trouble. “Come on, let’s get to the house before someone else tries to throw me off the dock,” he suggested.

Ella grinned before she climbed onto Scott’s back. The eldest Tracy chuckled but he held the adopted Tracy sister tightly as he and John walked of the dock to head back to their home.

“You would think, you hadn’t seen us in years,” Scott said as they made their way up the trail, that led back to the large house.

“Six months is a long time, and it’s not like either you call or pick up when we try,” Ella remarked, the slight hint of sarcasm was easily heard by both Scott and John.

“Alright we get the hint, Ella. What’s for dinner? It’s not Grandma’s turn to cook tonight is it?” John asked, fear in his eyes at the thought of anything Grandma Tracy cooked.

Ella’s giggles allowed both males to relax. “Nope it’s dad’s turn, and it looked like he was going to fire up the grill when you got here. Of course, that means I’ll making a side salad for dinner.”

John looked at his sister with a smile. “Well, that is one thing I missed most. Your cooking,” he told his sister.

A flush covered the teen’s cheeks, she looked away and stared at the trees. After the loss of Lucy, Ella had started to learn how to cook. She learnt from Jeff, it was a way for the pair to bond and grieve. The little girl, who had lost her second mother, had needed a distraction. Learning to cook with her dad had been the distraction she needed, it was something she excelled at.

“All the guys in my regime enjoyed your cookies, Ella. So, don’t say you’re horrible at cooking because you’re not,” Scott remarked as the large house came into view.

-fin

Libraries and Lessons (YGO)

Zara stood with Seht in the library, the pair were looking over a few of the scrolls for various spells and court ceremonies. While, Zara did not possess one of the Millennium Items, she was given the title of Court Sorceress. A title she shared with Mahad but his word held more weight as he held the Millennium Ring.

"What about this one?" Seht asked as he pointed at the line of script he had been reading.

Zara looked at the scroll on the table, she read the lines with intense scrutiny. "This could work, as the ceremony only requires lotus flowers. I can easily grow or conjure them prior to court," she answered as she met Seht's sapphire stare.

"You truly are magnificent," the young Priest softly commented.

Zara's cheeks flushed at the compliment given to her. "Seht," she whimpered before a set of lips were pressed against her own.

A gasp escaped the female spell-caster's mouth, Seht took the chance to deepen the kiss. Zara willingly gave in, her arms wrapped themselves around Seht's back. One of her hands played with a few stray pieces of soft brown hair.

Before, the pair could continue any further a crash resounded in the library walls. The pair jumped apart, Zara and Seht looked at one another wide eyes on both their faces. Together they moved along the shelves to reach the end of the aisle. Seht reached for his Millennium Rod, should he need to use it. Silently, the duo glanced around the room in search of the noise.

Zara spotted the top a familiar head, hiding away in a large pot in the corner of the library. She placed a finger to her lips, before giving a pointed gesture to Mana's location with her head. The female watched as Seht’s shoulders sagged in relief. He quickly put his Millennium item away, before he followed behind his betrothed.

The priest stopped a few feet away to allow Zara a moment to speak softly the apprentice magician. He knew better than to interfere with Zara’s scoldings, lest he desired to receive one as well. Seht, held no true power over the palace’s spellcasters, just they had no power over the priests and priestesses. He respected the difficult tasks placed upon them. His beloved helped open his eyes to their tasks, long ago a short time after his arrival at the palace.

“Mana are you skipping lessons? Again,” Zara exasperatedly inquired as she looked at Mahad’s apprentice with a raised eyebrow.

Man’s brown hair popped out of the jar as she looked at Zara with large cartoonish eyes. The young student giggled awkwardly at the situation. “Um, my teleportation spells need some work. I wanted to arrive in the gardens, not the library. Haha oops,” she sheepishly explained as she looked at Zara.

“Oh, Mana,” Zara sighed before she closed her eyes and shook her head. Her dark waves trailed after the movements. A pink orb appeared in front of the female magician. “Mahad, she is safe in the library,” she commented.

In a blink, the orb disappeared from view.

Seht stepped forward until he was only just behind Zara. “You weren’t too far off, Mana,” he remarked as he looked at the training spell caster.

“Seht’s right, Mana, you were only a few yards from the garden. You are greatly improving,” Zara added a nod and soft smile.

Mana perked up at the compliments from Seht and Zara. She knew that Zara was just as strong as Mahad with magical abilities, despite being six years younger. Mana remembered as a child, Zara and Mahad quickly advancing in their magical studies. She hoped to one day be as strong as the pair.

“Thank you,” she accepted the compliments with a blush on her face.

Zara sent her friend a smile. “Let’s get you out of the pot. I imagine Mahad will be here soon,” she suggested. “But teleport out of the pot, instead of climbing.” She added in hopes of helping Mana. Zara wanted to asses the control her friend had in short distance teleportation.

Mana nodded, she closed her eyes. Both Seht and Zara could see the concentration grow in her features as she quietly spoke the words in the spell. With sharp eyes, Zara watched as Mana slowly faded out of the pot, she looked around and saw a cloud form near one of the tables.

Soon after, Mana was in full appearance. She happily cheered at her accomplishment.

“Well done, Mana,” Mahad’s voice echoed through the large room.

The trio looked around to see Mahad, he appeared before the group as magic rippled up and down his form to make him visible. He approached Seht and Zara, with a proud expression on his face.

Mana flushed at the praise, her eyes wide at Mahad’s presence. “Um, how long have you been there?” she asked.

“Since, Zara ordered that you teleport out of the pot. Of course, invisibility spells are helpful. You weren’t able to see me, but you did a wonderful job Mana. You are excused from the rest of today’s lessons,” the male spell-caster said with a warm smile on his face.

Mana happily yelled before she ran out of the library. Her voice echoed as she called for Atem. Zara laughed at her friend’s enthusiam, but she happy to see Mana enjoy herself. She suspected Atem would soon be hearing the story of Mana’s adventure.

Zara smiled at Mahad, “That was very generous of you.”

“She did a wonderful job. Thank you for helping her, Zara,” Mahad told his friend and fellow spell-castress.

Zara rolled her eyes at Mahad’s compliment, “I didn’t want her feel defeated. Besides, she has improved greatly these last few months. Seht was not wrong when he told her she wasn’t far from the garden. She’ll be ready soon, I imagine you’ll have your hands full in the coming weeks.”

Mahad shook his head. “Did you find a spell or enchantment for the closing of the court ceremonies?” Mahad inquired with a change of subject.

“We found a spell that could work, it seems simple enough,” Seht answered his friend as he led them back to the table where he and Zara had been.

-fin

Birthday Plans

The bell rang, dismissing class students rushed from their seats to get to their next class in the five minute passing period. Luckily for Avis, her next class was just across the main hallway. She stopped by her locker to change her science binder for her English binder and textbook. As she closed the locker door, a hand landed on her shoulder. The teenager jumped in fright, but the familiar tinkle sound of laughter made Avis grin as she realized who it was that had sneaked up behind her.

"Celia," she gasped as she placed a hand over her heart. "You scared me to death!"

Celia grinned, her soft blonde hair fell straight over her shoulders, as brushed it away from her face. "Sorry, couldn't resist. It was too much fun to not," she admitted with another laugh.

Avis grinned and shook her head, her fire-orange waves followed. "Were's Abi? She's usually with you."

"She ran to her locker, since it's in D-wing. We'll meet her in class," Celia reassured her friend with a smile on her face.

Together the duo navigated their way from the science wing. They crossed the main hallway with a few bumps as they made it to the other side. The door was open and the pair slipped inside. Avis placed her binder and text book in her seat, before she followed Celia. Celia sat in her seat and Avis sat on the desk, her legs swung out.

"I can't wait for tomorrow," Celia commented as she looked up to meet her friend's eyes.

"Me either, it's going to be an awesome night. You and Abi both celebrate your eighteenth's before I do. You tomorrow, and Abi in March. I hate you both but I love you at the same time," Avis sighed as she rolled her eyes.

"Well, we can't help when we're born, can we Celia?" Abi asked as she approached her two friends. Together the pair smiled as they looked at Avis with teasing grins on their face.

Before Avis could reply the bell rang. Avis hopped off the desk and made her way to her seat.

-fin

Dedicated to Cora Nave, one of my closest friends, who didn't make it to her eighteenth birthday. Happy early Birthday Cora, love you. Give Grandpa a hug for me and wish him a happy birthday from me.

Fate's Meeting

The purple haired woman stood in the window and gazed at the sky, her silver dress sparkled and glowed from the soft light of the fireplace. She stood out in contrast to the dark gray sky outside and the warmth of the room. Her golden eyes captivated by the white crystals that fell from the sky, but never made it to ground in the structure. The falling flakes didn't stop one Avery Grace from enjoying the view, it reminded her of raining glitter. The snow had always captivated since she could read the black words on her left arm.

Her left hand pressed against the glass pane, thoughts dwelling on snow and the desire to be outside.

"What has you so awestruck from snow?" a voice asked from behind the violet haired woman.

Avery's shoulders tensed as those familiar words registered into her thoughts. A glance over her shoulder, allowed her to see the person fate had determined belonged to her.

TBC

2018 (Blog) Resolutions

Hey everyone, it's a new year. Time for a new beginning or more motivation. With the arrival of 2018, I have some things that I plan to do for the blog and my writing.

• Daily Writing, this was a habit I started last year and I wish to continue.
• Quality vs. Quantity, I'll be posting twice a week on Mondays and Fridays to give you longer pieces. Some pieces might be pre-written but some won't be.
• NaNo, I will try to do both Camp NaNo in April and July at the same time as the blog. They'll be separate projects but I want to do more writing.
• NaNoWriMo, typically, I shut the blog down. This year I want to provide snippets or even just update you about what I've done for my project. These posts will be once weekly, I'm sure.
• Updates/Favorites, these will be once a month or every two months. I want to share some things that I'm liking for you to get to know me more.
• Tumblr, I want to use this more. I wanted to last year but inevitably failed. I would like to post once a month with just random sneak peeks or interesting facts. I'll link it at a later date.

So, these are my blog resolutions for 2018. If I think of anymore, I'll add it to a post script. See you all on Friday in our first piece of the new year. 

-ADF