the darkest night | hicsqueak | the worst witch 2017

chapter forty-four

Pippa was trying to make sure that everything was in place for the baby shower. It was going to be happening in less than an hour and Hecate was going to be walking down to the staff room soon. Ada had already dropped off all of the gifts that Hecate was receiving and Pippa had no clue what half of the gifts were. Some of the gifts were not wrapped and instead were assembled so all Hecate had to do was transport them to what would become their daughter's nursery.

The flowers still needed to be arranged in their vases and the cake put out. "Do you want any help, Pippa?" Dimity asked. Dimity had been helping Pippa put together the baby shower once Miss Cackle had delegated tasks for all of the staff to complete.

"Could you get the cake from the kitchen?" Pippa asked. A wave of her hand and the flowers were arranged in the proper vases. Pippa glanced at the time again. Only fifteen minutes until the party and she still hadn't yet changed.

"You go get ready. I've got the little that needs to be done here," Dimity reassured. Pippa transferred to Hecate's quarters. Hecate was already dressed and putting the finishing touches on her outfit.

She was finally wearing a tight-fitting dress, blue instead of her customary black or green hues that she was used to wearing. Pippa grinned.

"You look amazing, Hiccup," she said. She hugged Hecate from behind. "You're a beautiful mother to be."

Hecate blushed. "Thank you, Pipsqueak," she replied. "You should be getting ready, however. I'll wait for you in the living room."

"I promise I'll be quick getting ready this time. I just need to change," Pippa promised. Hecate left the bedroom and Pippa changed her dress magically to the one she had picked out the night before, a cream dress with bell sleeves. Once Pippa was ready, the two witches went down to the staff room for Hecate's baby shower.

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Hecate had been told that she was going to be opening her gifts first and although she hadn't thought anyone would get her anything, each staff member that was attending the baby shower had bought her something, whether it was a piece of furniture for the nursery or a smaller gift.

The first gift was placed on Hecate's lap. It was in a gift bag and it was from Miss Bat.

"I do hope you'll like it," Gwen said. Hecate opened the bag and pulled out a green, knitted shawl that Gwen had been working on earlier in the week. Hecate hadn't realized that she had been making the shawl for her. "It's for when you breastfeed so you don't need to buy something to cover yourself with this winter."

"Thank you, Gwen," Hecate spoke. "I am sure it will see much use." She gently folded the shawl back up and place it back into the bag. She moved on to the next gift, this one from Ada.

Ada had made a gift basket for Hecate filled with all sorts of things the witch would need when her daughter had arrived. Hecate opened the basket. The wicker basket was lined with a soft cushion around the entire basket. This had to be what a Moses basket looked like.

"It is a Moses basket for the baby to sleep in," Ada explained. "I haven't yet finished the bedding I was making you. Pendle stole the batting I need to make another mattress for it and he was playing with it all evening."

Hecate chuckled. "It will be very useful. The baby shall be sleeping in my bedroom," Hecate responded. She looked through the items that were in the basket. There were many cloth diapers with the inserts already put in them and bottles for Hecate to use with the baby as well as a couple of blankets.

Hecate placed her hand on her belly. The baby was kicking again. Pippa got the next gift bag. They were going to be trading off who opened every couple of gifts. Hecate watched as Pippa opened up a bag that held clothing for the baby and a small teddy bear.

"Who is the crib and rocking chair from?" Hecate asked curiously. She had inspected them when she had gotten to the baby shower but had found no tags on either item. They were made beautifully out of pinewood and the rocking chair already had a soft yellow cushion on it.

"They're from me," Miss Tapioca responded. "They're my daughter's old crib and rocking chair. I figured they would be put to good use instead of collecting dust up in my attic at home. There should be another gift from me as well."

Hecate and Pippa opened the rest of the gifts. They had amassed a large number of tiny baby clothes, including the tiniest socks that Hecate had ever seen, an adorable little dress, and had amassed plenty of blankets and crib bedding. Pippa and Hecate would have to buy very little due to the generosity of the staff of Cackle's Academy.

Algernon had given them a gift certificate for a decent sum of money because he had no idea what to get for a baby girl when he wasn't sure what either Hecate or Pippa liked. They would be able to go shopping when Hecate felt up to it to buy what was needed for their daughter.

"There is one more thing but I wasn't able to bring it with me," Pippa admitted. "My parents are giving us my old dresser for our baby."

Hecate smiled. "Please thank them for me," she said. "We'll have to set up the nursery soon then."

Hecate cuddled up to Pippa, not caring who was there as she was becoming exhausted. "I think we shall take our leave," Pippa said. "Thank you to everyone who came to support Hecate."

They said their goodbyes to each of the guests and Pippa walked Hecate upstairs. "I feel exhausted," Hecate admitted softly. "I was trying not to have another flashback. I don't know what triggered it while I was opening gifts."

"It's alright, Hiccup. The therapist did say that flashbacks can come out of nowhere," Pippa soothed. "Let's get you in bed, love."

Hecate nodded.