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fandomweekly2019-07-11 05:39 pm
iluvroadrunner6) wrote in fandomweekly2019-07-11 05:39 pm
Entry tags:
[#20] Here's Where I End and Begin (Original)
Theme Prompt: #020 - Hindsight
Title: Here’s Where I End and Begin
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 927
Summary: The house is so quiet now.
The house is so quiet now.
It seems like something she should have considered, when she agreed to take on her sisters kids while she was out doing God knows what. She should have known, in the beginning, that it was always going to break her heart, but even with each tear that slides down her cheeks, she knows that she would make the same decision again.
Still, the house is quiet, the kids are gone, back with their mother where they theoretically belong. Her home is her own again, her life is her own again. No more play dates or school teams. No more helping with homework or making dinners with enough food for everyone. In the end, it’s just her. She can theoretically do whatever she wants.
All she’s going to do is worry, she knows this. All she’s going to do is wait for the day that her sister turns around, decides she “needs a break” from her responsibilities and brings them back for another six months. And worry about the day when it’s going to break her heart all over again. So until then, Veronica basks in the silence, soaks in the stillness, and tries not to consider how wrong it all feels.
That is, up until there’s a knock on her door and she finds herself jumping ten feet into the air.
She’s just barely composed herself, before the door swings open, and a rough looking, soaking wet man pokes his head around the door.
“Justin?”
“Hey, Ronnie. I know, I know, I’m not supposed to just invite myself over but I heard about the kids and I wanted to check in on you.”
“You … what?”
“And I know, I probably shouldn’t just come barging in but I still had my key, and it’s really raining cats and dogs out there, and while hanging out on the porch probably is what I deserve, I swear I come in peace.”
Veronica stares. She blinks. And then, almost as though on autopilot: “Would you like me to take your coat?”
Surprise colors his features, before he shrugs out of the coat. “Yeah. That would be great.”
She takes the coat from him, hangs it up in the bathroom where it won’t get water all over her hardwood floors, and then comes back to him with a smile. “Cup of coffee?”
“Love one.” A beat. “Ronnie, you alright?”
It’s a valid question for him to ask. Ever since they had separated over a year ago, Veronica had clearly defined her boundaries in terms of the house. He was to stay out of it. But for some reason, right now she doesn’t really feel like enforcing it. She’s simply glad not to be alone, even if it is her almost-ex-husband. The smile that crosses her face is a fragile one, not entirely matching the sadness in her eyes, but she nods all the same.
“I’m fine.” And with that she fixes the coffee.
As she does, there’s silence again. Justin hangs back across the counter from her, watching each measured and precise movement. Once the coffee is made, and a cup passes to him, the silence continues to stretch out, more and more, until she’s had enough and asks.
“Why are you really here, Justin?”
“I told you. I heard about the kids.”
“And that’s all?”
“That’s all.” He slowly makes his way around the counter, before shifting so that he’s leaning with his back pressed against it. “I know you didn’t always consider yourself the most maternal.”
“I think cold, repressed bitch were the words you used last time.”
“Those words were in the heat of the moment and not true,” he points out, before continuing. “But when I saw you guys, I saw how much you loved them. Losing them out of the blue like this has to be hard.”
“I’m just worried,” she admits softly. “Julia can’t just keep yo-yoing around with their lives like this, it’s not healthy.”
“I know. I agree.”
“I don’t know how to get them back.”
“I don’t know if you can.”
“But maybe I can get that feeling back?” She turns to look at him, almost as though she’s appraising him, and something in that makes him panic just a little.
“ … Can you?”
She looks back at him firmly. “Do you still want to have a family with me?”
“ … Ronnie, we separated for good reasons.”
“We did, but when it comes to adoption, we’ll look better if we’re still married versus me doing this all on my own.”
“Yes, but …”
“I’m not saying we have to stay married forever. But … I think as coparents, we might do pretty well?”
Justin takes a deep breath, before turning her to face him more. “You are upset. You are grieving. And right now, it doesn’t feel like you’re wanting this for the right reasons – it feels like you’re wanting this to be less sad.” She looks like she’s about to protest and he holds up a hand to let him finish. “But if you still feel this way … two months from now? If it’s not just something you’re trying to lean on to help you do this? I’ll fill out the paperwork with you myself.”
Veronica smiles, before nodding. “I think I can make that work.”
“Good.”
She gives his arm a squeeze. “You’re the best almost-ex-husband a girl could ask for, you know that?”
He grins back at her, before draping an arm around her shoulders in return. “I do try.”
Title: Here’s Where I End and Begin
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 927
Summary: The house is so quiet now.
The house is so quiet now.
It seems like something she should have considered, when she agreed to take on her sisters kids while she was out doing God knows what. She should have known, in the beginning, that it was always going to break her heart, but even with each tear that slides down her cheeks, she knows that she would make the same decision again.
Still, the house is quiet, the kids are gone, back with their mother where they theoretically belong. Her home is her own again, her life is her own again. No more play dates or school teams. No more helping with homework or making dinners with enough food for everyone. In the end, it’s just her. She can theoretically do whatever she wants.
All she’s going to do is worry, she knows this. All she’s going to do is wait for the day that her sister turns around, decides she “needs a break” from her responsibilities and brings them back for another six months. And worry about the day when it’s going to break her heart all over again. So until then, Veronica basks in the silence, soaks in the stillness, and tries not to consider how wrong it all feels.
That is, up until there’s a knock on her door and she finds herself jumping ten feet into the air.
She’s just barely composed herself, before the door swings open, and a rough looking, soaking wet man pokes his head around the door.
“Justin?”
“Hey, Ronnie. I know, I know, I’m not supposed to just invite myself over but I heard about the kids and I wanted to check in on you.”
“You … what?”
“And I know, I probably shouldn’t just come barging in but I still had my key, and it’s really raining cats and dogs out there, and while hanging out on the porch probably is what I deserve, I swear I come in peace.”
Veronica stares. She blinks. And then, almost as though on autopilot: “Would you like me to take your coat?”
Surprise colors his features, before he shrugs out of the coat. “Yeah. That would be great.”
She takes the coat from him, hangs it up in the bathroom where it won’t get water all over her hardwood floors, and then comes back to him with a smile. “Cup of coffee?”
“Love one.” A beat. “Ronnie, you alright?”
It’s a valid question for him to ask. Ever since they had separated over a year ago, Veronica had clearly defined her boundaries in terms of the house. He was to stay out of it. But for some reason, right now she doesn’t really feel like enforcing it. She’s simply glad not to be alone, even if it is her almost-ex-husband. The smile that crosses her face is a fragile one, not entirely matching the sadness in her eyes, but she nods all the same.
“I’m fine.” And with that she fixes the coffee.
As she does, there’s silence again. Justin hangs back across the counter from her, watching each measured and precise movement. Once the coffee is made, and a cup passes to him, the silence continues to stretch out, more and more, until she’s had enough and asks.
“Why are you really here, Justin?”
“I told you. I heard about the kids.”
“And that’s all?”
“That’s all.” He slowly makes his way around the counter, before shifting so that he’s leaning with his back pressed against it. “I know you didn’t always consider yourself the most maternal.”
“I think cold, repressed bitch were the words you used last time.”
“Those words were in the heat of the moment and not true,” he points out, before continuing. “But when I saw you guys, I saw how much you loved them. Losing them out of the blue like this has to be hard.”
“I’m just worried,” she admits softly. “Julia can’t just keep yo-yoing around with their lives like this, it’s not healthy.”
“I know. I agree.”
“I don’t know how to get them back.”
“I don’t know if you can.”
“But maybe I can get that feeling back?” She turns to look at him, almost as though she’s appraising him, and something in that makes him panic just a little.
“ … Can you?”
She looks back at him firmly. “Do you still want to have a family with me?”
“ … Ronnie, we separated for good reasons.”
“We did, but when it comes to adoption, we’ll look better if we’re still married versus me doing this all on my own.”
“Yes, but …”
“I’m not saying we have to stay married forever. But … I think as coparents, we might do pretty well?”
Justin takes a deep breath, before turning her to face him more. “You are upset. You are grieving. And right now, it doesn’t feel like you’re wanting this for the right reasons – it feels like you’re wanting this to be less sad.” She looks like she’s about to protest and he holds up a hand to let him finish. “But if you still feel this way … two months from now? If it’s not just something you’re trying to lean on to help you do this? I’ll fill out the paperwork with you myself.”
Veronica smiles, before nodding. “I think I can make that work.”
“Good.”
She gives his arm a squeeze. “You’re the best almost-ex-husband a girl could ask for, you know that?”
He grins back at her, before draping an arm around her shoulders in return. “I do try.”
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