Getting Answers

"Get away from me!" Holly demanded fearfully as she took a step back.

"Holly, calm down. I'm still Amy. I've been Amy longer than you've been alive"

"You're Rosalind!"

"I was" the witch replied "Okay, I am. But I prefer Rosa. Look, I totally get why you're freaking out but please just sit down and let me explain. I can promise you that you are in no danger. If I wanted to harm you how many opportunities have I had by now?"

Holly paused for a moment, horribly confused by all of this. For all the terrible things she knew Rosalind was capable of, and had done to her family over the years, this was still Amy. She couldn't just switch off the feelings she had for her. Somewhat reluctantly, she sat back on the couch. Amy placed herself at the opposite end, keeping enough distance not to spook the already frightened girl any further.

"How do I know you won't harm me now I know your secret?" Holly asked nervously.

"Lots of reasons" Rosa answered "Firstly, nobody would give a shit about my secret anymore, secondly my magic is fucked now, thirdly I've changed quite a bit in over four hundred years and am not at all malevolent these days and fourthly, and most importantly, because you are the only single thing in this world that I love"

Holly's body language and tone started to soften a little, but she was still on the defensive.

"Why should I ever believe a word you say?"

"When have I ever actually lied to you?" Rosa challenged.

"You lied about who you were!"

"No, I'm Amy. I've been Amy for the past 31 years. I can show you my passport or my drivers licence if you don't believe me. You told me you were called Laney when we first met"

"So was it me you came here looking for?" Holly asked.

"Yes, but I had no idea who you were at the start. You approached me, remember? And because I thought you were beautiful and enchanting and felt a connection, I did something I almost never do these days and slept with you before I really knew you. It was only the next morning I found out who you were and, by that point, I knew I wanted to date you. I've been so happy since then I kind of put aside what I originally came here for"

"And what was that?" Holly was talking a little less guardedly and more curiously now.

"To help you. And maybe you don't need it, as it transpires, but I think your sister does"

"Maisie? How?"

"That girl has so much magical charge coming off her it's untrue. I'm guessing you have maybe four permanent commands on you, including the one that got added a few hours ago. Maisie has dozens of commands on her at any given time. Some of which are disguised from us"

"Really?"

Rosa nodded "I can help with that"

"It's your fault in the first place!"

"I know. I have done horrific things to your family and I have to live with that every day, especially having now met them and seen how nice they all are. But it was one horrible, fucked up thing I did more than four hundred years ago and I can't be defined by that forever. Also, I came here to put things from the past right, which I believe I told you the first time we met, before I even knew who you were or whether we would ever speak again. Look, it's really late. Shall we just head back to bed?"

---

"So you were around during the American Revolution?"

After all that had happened that night, neither Holly nor Rosa could sleep. They were naked and wrapped in each others arms in bed as the birds started chirping outside.

"Sure, and for the civil war, the great depressions, two world wars, a moon landing, The Beatles playing Shea Stadium..."

"You were there when the Beatles played Shea Stadium?" Holly lifted her head up looking impressed.

"Well no, but I was alive and in the country"

"I'm pretty sure my grandparents could say that too. For a centuries old sorceress you can be pretty lame sometimes" Holly joked.

"Careful Hols, I have both the magical charge and desire to turn you into the most adorable bunny girl ever" Rosa laughed back.

"Shit, how am I going to explain this to my family? That out of every available human being on the planet I've fallen in love with Rosalind the fucking witch" Holly sighed.

"I think for now it's probably best you don't" the woman in question smiled as she stroked Holly's hair "And like I said, I prefer Rosa"