Chapter Text
Her daughter had received a pardon. Her daughter was no longer a fugitive. Her daughter was back at Fort Salem. She was relieved, how could she not be. Her Tally, the sweet, wonderful girl she had raised to be a strong, willful woman was no longer hunted by the entirety of the United States Government. She itched to pick up the phone and call her daughter. She didn’t. Tally wouldn’t want to talk to her anyways. She hadn’t even gone to May for help. She wouldn’t answer, so May wouldn’t try.
At least not until four months later when it was publicly announced that General Sarah Alder was not only alive, but had been officially reinstated over three months prior. She called Glory’s mother, begging her to ask Glory for a way to contact Tally. Finally, two days later she had a phone number.
“I- I need to speak with Tally Craven.” She said to the woman who answered.
“May I ask who is calling?” Why did that matter? She had never been asked before, though she had only tried twice and both were before her daughter was in war college. Or a war hero.
“May Craven. I’m her mother.” There was a long silence
“Please hold, you will be redirected to the proper line.” So she did, for almost half an hour she waited on hold until finally her daughters voice sounded over the line.
“This is Private Craven.”
“Tally.” Her voice was little more than a desperate whisper.
“Mom? Oh goddess, mom. Hi. What- How…how are you?” Her daughter’s voice…she nearly sobbed upon hearing it.
“You need to accept your dispensation Tally.” Shit, she shouldn’t have started with that.
“Mom. No- why? Did you seriously call me, for the first time since I got back, to tell me to leave my home?”
“Tally that is not your home, please, understand. That that murderer, is back and they put her in charge again. Side by side with a Bellwether. It isn’t safe Tally, please. Come home, settle down and build a family here. The Impiratrix has already received so many offers for you, she informs me on every one. Please. Please. Leave and come home.”
She knew she was begging but she was desperate. Something made a noise on Tally’s end.
“I can’t- this isn’t a good time for this argument mom. Just- please mom, call back when you want to talk to me, and not manipulate me. This is my home, and I have- there is so much I want to tell you but not like this. Not until you are ready to accept that. I just- I love you mom…Bye.”
And with that she was met with the dial tone. Her daughter had hung up the phone. Tears sprang to her eyes. As she stared at the phone in her hand. Until the anger overtook her regret. She would do anything for her daughter. Anything for Tally to be safe, even if it meant Tally being angry for a while. She would make Tally see sense.
She redialed, letting her phone direct her automatically to the correct number rather than whatever poor witch was stuck working her day away on secretary duty. The phone her daughter was near would ring. Except that it wasn’t her daughter that answered.
“Hello?” The voice was vaguely familiar though, for the life of her she couldn’t place it.
“I- Is Tally Craven still there?”
“May I ask who’s calling?” Who did this woman think she was? That she could monitor the call, monitor Tally.
“Her mother.” Her daughter had to come home, had to come back to where she would be safe. Safe from Sarah Alder. Safe from all the pain that woman could inflict on her.
“Oh, I’m sorry she- she won’t speak with you.”
“I am her mother, please. Please I just want to talk to her.” Her pride versus her daughter. This once her daughter would win, she would beg. Tally had to come home. She was met with silence, the far away sound of voices coming through the other side. She could hear Tally, and the other woman. Maybe another voice she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“I’m so sorry, I tried Ms. Craven. Truly. But she won’t take the phone. I-I’m so sorry.” She sounded genuine, until the dial tone sounded again. May let herself sink slowly to the floor, clutching her phone as she sobbed. She didn’t even realize she had never told the woman her name.
May had never been a rash woman. So when she pulled out her duffle bag and began throwing clothes into it, it was because she had no other choice. She was going to bring her daughter home if she had to drag her home by the ear. Her daughter would be safe, would start carrying their line, starting a family of her own. Away from the army.
She made Michelle Moffat drive her to the airport, ignoring the questions. Before she even had time to second guess herself, she was on the plane her way to Boston Logan International Airport.
The man next to her slept from take of too landing, for the best. May’s foot was tapping nervous up and down. What had she been thinking? No, she had been thinking about her Tally. Her daughter. This was all for her daughter. She needed to get her daughter out of that hell hole and away from the army and the death. She could be hand fasted to a good boy, so many were offering after everything that had happened. She could start having children to carry on the Craven name. She could be safe and happy.
It was cold in Boston, the bus that drove her to Salem Town was cold. The walk to Fort Salem was freezing, even as she passed through the wards. It was beginning to snow. She approached the base, doing her best to go unnoticed. She hadn’t been here since her last sister had been killed, saving the Bellwether woman now in charge. She could see the Barracks building, the one she knew Tallulah would be. She didn’t notice the person behind her until too late.
“Can I help you?” The woman speaking was a young Captain, her eyebrow had a small scar and was raised up to her forehead.
“I- My name is May Craven. Please, I’m looking for my daughter. I need to talk to my daughter.” It seemed impossible, but the woman’s brow raised even higher.
“Well May Craven, you aren’t supposed to be on this base. Come with me please.” She had no choice. She followed the woman past the war college barracks, past the training center and into the Administration building of all places.
“Where are you taking me?” She asked as she was finally, blessedly led into the warm building.
“You are trespassing on Government property ma’am. Craven’s daughter or no.” Was all the woman said.
“You know my daughter?” The woman snorted, but said nothing. Rude. They continued through the long hallway before stepping through an entry way to what looked like a waiting room. Though the moose shaped baby rattle on the desk in front of a Sergeant was an odd site.
“May Craven was found wandering the base. She busy?” The captain asked the woman behind the desk, who’s brow raised in a way identical to the captains as she hit the intercom.
“Ma’am, Captain Quartermaine is here to see you. She has someone with her if the room is clear.” There was a long moment of silence, the sound of shuffling on the other side of the large oak door. A woman May recognized from the news, Nicte Batan, slid out from the door as a voice behind called out
“Send them in.”
She wasn’t expecting to have been dragged to Sarah Alders office. In fact that was the last thing she had been expecting.
“Captain Quartermaine, what’s going on?” The murderer asked, as she looked at the captain, those blue eyes briefly glancing over May with some flicker of recognition.
“This is May Craven General, she was found wandering base. Looking for her daughter.” The murderers eyes widened as she turned to May, looking her over once.
“Ms. Craven, you look freezing. I am afraid Salem winters are vastly different from Sacramento ones. Can I get you a glass of whiskey? Some coffee?” She had…not been expecting that. Something that apparently showed on her face given yet another snort from the Captain beside her.
“No. No, I just want my daughter.” The murderer stared at her for a moment, something akin to pity on her face though why May couldn’t fathom. It was unfair such a terrible woman have such kind, beautiful eyes.
“Ms. Craven, please have a seat. Anacostia, go and let Private Craven know she has a visitor. If needed, offer your services as sister?” An odd phrase, but one that seemed to make sense as the woman grinned and nodded before leaving the room.
“Are you sure I can’t get you that drink?” The woman behind the desk offered again. She nodded before she could stop herself. She was cold and nervous and exhausted and wanted a drink. Even from the murderer. The woman in question stood, pulling a bottle of scotch out of her drink cart and pouring them both a few fingers worth in two glasses. Neither said a word as the glasses passed hands and the General sat back in her seat.
Though a single sip had May’s tongue moving of it’s own accord. “Damn, that is delicious.” She nearly bit her own tongue as she quickly slammed her mouth shut. Yet the woman across from her only laughed. It was a shame someone so terrible would have such a kind laugh.
“Yes, I hoped you would like it. It is your daughters favorite after all.” May froze.
“Why would you know that?” She hissed, slamming the glass down on the desk in front of her as she clutched her duffle a little closer. She had almost forgotten who she was with. The murderer. Who’s eyes widened like she had said too much.
“Ms. Craven…your daughter is very- She is- Ta- Private Craven was one of my biddies for a brief time. I would have thought she had informed you.” No. No Tally had not. Why in the world would her daughter do that? Sacrifice everything for this- this demon.
“No. She didn’t. She wouldn’t have done that. How did you convince her to do that? Did you puppet her? Compel her? Just straight up lie to her?” She noticed the flinch, reveled in it. She opened her mouth to yell some more.
“I volunteered actually. You would have known if you had answered the phone at any point over the last year and a half.” Oh. Maybe the flinch hadn’t been from her words after all. She hadn’t even noticed the door opening. Hadn’t noticed her beautiful daughter joining them. Her daughter looked so different. It had been over two years since May had seen her daughter. She had filled out in some ways, yet was more beautiful than ever. If only she was smiling, May would die to see her daughters dimpled grin. But no, it wasn't a grin pointed at her.
Tally was glaring at her, in anger. General Alder was moving, handing the glass she had been drinking out of to Tally who smiled slightly at the murderer even though she wouldn't at her own mother, and nodded before accepting it. And draining it in one go. The General leaned towards her daughter in a way that looked far too familiar for May’s liking. The two whispered quietly, too soft for her to hear, for a few long moments before her daughter simply said “Petra’s office. Anacostia and Nicte are there too.” The general nodded, whispering again though not soft enough this time.
“She’s your mother.” And with that the General of the Army left May and her daughter alone. In her office. General Alder left a very angry Private and a dispensated witch who shamelessly showed her disdain alone in her office. May was confused.
“Why are you here Mother?” Her daughter sounded so angry, she didn’t understand why. She thought that by coming here…by showing her daughter how loved she was, that she would come home.
“I came- You wouldn’t talk to me Tally, so I came to you. I came to bring you home. I came for you.” Her daughter rolled her eyes, walking until she was at General Sarah Alders chair and then her daughter sat down. In General Sarah Alders chair.
“No. See thats the thing Mom. I don’t think you did. I think you came for yourself. I think you came because you cannot stand the thought that your daughter could be happy without you. That your daughter could find a home and be in control of her own life. I think you came because you can’t stand the thought of Sarah Alder being alive. Or near me at all. And not because of me, but because of you.” Her daughter slammed the empty glass that had held the generals scotch down on a coaster covered in tiny Moose. It seemed an odd thing to be on the woman’s desk, a gift maybe.
“Mom, I love you. Truly I do. But until you are ready to let me make my own choices and live my life separate from your control, I will not allow you to be a part of it.” And with that her daughter stood out of the Generals chair.
“Finish your scotch. Sa- General Alder will be back in a few minutes.” Her daughter gritted her teeth as she said the next words. “She has graciously offered to give you a room in the guest wing here if you wish to stay, or cover expenses for a plane ticket back if you chose to return to your home…think about staying Mom. Staying, and not trying to control. Because if you do I will not say another word to you.” With that her daughter walked away as though it were her office, not even glancing back as she exited the large room. The door didn’t even slam as she shut it, leaving May alone with a glass of half drunk, overly expensive scotch.