SUMMARY: Ryder and Unique are married with two kids and living in a quiet suburban town; they're leading a happy life until his mother resurfaces and old wounds are opened.
RATING: Mature (mild cursing, sexual innuendos)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is an AU story and my first time writing for this pairing. Also, I don't follow Glee much anymore, so the character traits may be OOC. Thanks for reading!
PART ONE
Unique woke up to the sound of Ryder snoring softly in her ear, his arm wrapped around her waist. The house was quiet except for the meadow larks chirping outside of their bedroom window. She reached over and picked up her wedding band on the night stand, and slipped it onto her finger. Ryder snuggled closer to her, his hand roaming over her torso and then settling on her breasts, he squeezed them gently as he talked in his sleep.
"Lovebug…"
She smiled. That was his private nickname for her. Unique felt a heat rising within her, but she fought the urge to lie in bed all day making love. They had a busy day ahead of them. She held his hand and pressed it against her heart. For a few moments, she enjoyed the tranquil Saturday morning bliss, but then she heard a gentle knock on their bedroom door.
"Mommy, Daddy, are you awake?" It was their 5 year old daughter Jasmine.
Unique disengaged herself from Ryder's arms and sat up. Her green silk scarf slid off her head and she quickly adjusted it. Ryder always said she looked like a gypsy with her head scarf.
"Come on in, baby."
The door opened and Jasmine walked in carrying a tray with two bowls of cereal. Her wild, curly hair was all over her head in an untamed mane of glory. She wore a purple nightgown covered in glittery stars.
"I made you and Daddy breakfast," she said smiling at her mother, as she walked over to the bed.
Before Unique could tell her to be careful, Jasmine plopped the tray on her lap.
"I didn't put in any milk. Because it hurts your tummy."
Unique laughed and Ryder finally woke up. Rising in the bed, he smiled at his wife and daughter. He kissed Unique on the cheek. Jasmine climbed onto the bed and settled herself on his lap.
"Morning, Daddy, I made breakfast," she said and pointed to the overflowing bowls of dry Cheerios. Ryder took a small handful and put them in his mouth.
"Mmm," he said as he chewed, "This is the best breakfast ever."
Jasmine shook her head, her dark eyes laced with disapproval.
"You shouldn't chew with your mouth full."
"I think you mean you shouldn't talk with your mouth full, but that's close enough, baby doll," Unique said and took a handful of cereal too.
Ryder only chuckled and continued munching on the cereal. Suddenly, the loud wailing of their 6 month old son, Ryder Jr. or RJ as they called him, pierced through the peaceful stillness.
"You better go feed your son," Ryder said, "Sounds like he's starving."
"Oh, so now he's my son?"
"Yeah when he's crying like that, he is."
Unique playfully punched his arm.
"I don't know why I put up with you."
Ryder smiled and kissed her lips.
"Cause you love me, can't get enough of me, and I'm yours forever…."
As Jasmine thrust her small hand into the bowl of Cheerios, and put some in her mouth, she said, "You gave Mommy cooties."
"That's not all I give Mommy," Ryder said and grinned, raising his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
Unique got out of bed and slipped on her fluffy pink robe.
"Cool it boy, I'll be back in a minute."
ooo
RJ was sitting up in his crib with tears running down his pecan brown cheeks; his big hazel eyes gazed up at her. He wore a light blue onesie with a picture of Winnie the Pooh on the front. Unique reached down and picked him up.
"Sweetie pie, don't fret, Mommy's here."
She patted his back, and he calmed down, holding him close to her heart she began to sing:
Hush little baby don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring…
She looked up and saw Jasmine and Ryder standing in the doorway, holding the bowls of cereal. His plaid pajama bottoms hung low on his hips; he was shirtless and Unique took a moment to admire his well defined chest and abs. Her husband's eyes were filled with love for her.
"Have I told you that you're the most beautiful woman I know inside and out?"
"Of course you have, but as marvelous as Unique is, it always bears repeating," she said, smiling at him, "Come on, let's go downstairs and finish breakfast, while I feed RJ. We have to get a move on. Jasmine has dance class and karate today; we have a lunch date with your mother, and grocery shopping, and RJ's check up with the pediatrician."
Ryder held up his hand.
"Whoa, wait a minute."
"What's wrong?"
"Lunch with my mother? Since when?"
Unique had hoped she could slip in the lunch without his noticing it too much, among all the other things they had to do. Foolish thinking, yes, but she still hoped anyway. She shifted RJ to her other shoulder and continued patting his back.
"Your mother wants to have lunch with us. I said yes."
"You mean the same mother that said if I wanted to marry a freak that I was no longer her son?"
Unique glanced at Jasmine.
"Baby doll, go downstairs. Daddy and Mommy will be there in a few minutes, ok?"
Jasmine nodded and left her parents alone. Unique walked over to Ryder and kissed his cheek.
"I didn't want to say this in front of Jasmine. But don't talk about your mother like that. Yes, what she said was hurtful, but people do change, and I think that she has. Anyway, she's always sending stuff for the kids."
"I don't care how much stuff she sends. Remember how she treated us? How can you forgive her?"
RJ started crying again.
"I got to feed the baby," Unique said as she brushed past him and went downstairs, "We'll talk some more later."
ooo
As Ryder sat at the kitchen table watching Unique feed RJ his bottle of formula, and listening to Jasmine chatter about how she would be playing a pink fairy named Rosy in her upcoming dance recital, he couldn't help but be grateful for his family. The sunlight poured in from the windows, shining down on them, and everything felt cozy and right. Well, everything except for the fact that Unique decided to accept an olive branch from his mother.
"And I get to wear bright pink wings and help fight the sour grapes pixies," Jasmine said, tugging on Ryder's arm, "Daddy, are you listening?"
He looked down at her and patted her curly head.
"Yes, Daddy's listening."
Jasmine pouted and took a sip of orange juice from her pink Rapunzel cup .
"No you're not. You keep staring at Mommy."
"Jasmine Alicia Lynn, watch your tone," Unique said, "Your father has a lot on his mind. Now it's time for you to get dressed and brush your teeth. Your dance class starts in an hour."
Jasmine finished her juice and hurried out of the kitchen. Unique looked at Ryder.
"Well?"
Ryder got up from the table and went to the counter to get a cup a coffee. He poured the hot, brown liquid into his favorite blue polka dot mug, the rich aroma of hazelnuts filled his nostrils. He opened the fridge and took out the French vanilla creamer, and when he closed the door, one of his student's pictures fell off the fridge.
"We need more magnets," he said somewhat absently as he placed the picture of purple trees and yellow unicorns back on the door. He taught special education at Braebrook Elementary School. For his birthday, each student drew him a picture. He loved his work since he understood what it was like to have a learning disability. He and Unique enjoyed living in Braebrook, a quiet suburban town about 30 minutes away from Cincinnati. She said she could get her "June Cleaver" mojo in a town like this.
He sat back down and sighed.
"Thanks for making hazelnut. I know you don't really like it."
Unique rubbed circles on RJ's back, and he let out a little belch.
"Good boy," she whispered, then she said to Ryder:
"I know you don't want to thank me for coffee. So say what's on your mind."
Ryder stirred cream and sugar into his coffee, and felt his wife's eyes on him. This woman knew him inside and out, so how could she think he would be ok with having lunch with his mother, after she caused them both so much pain?
"Unique, why'd you do it? Accept that invitation, trying to mend fences? She treated you like dirt. How can you forget that? I certainly can't. Besides, what is she in town for anyway?"
"She had some real estate business to tend to."
Ryder took a sip of coffee.
"She probably sold the apartment complex."
Unique shrugged.
"I don't know. I didn't ask her," she paused as she wiped the spit-up from RJ's mouth and said, "Your mother hurt me a lot. I don't deny that. Sometimes her voice reminded me of those girls who chased me afterschool and –"
Unique's eyes filled with tears. Ryder got up and sat next to her, putting his arm around her, he hugged her to his side.
"I wish I had been there to protect you from that."
"I know you do. I was so scared. But those girls were just acting out and when I look back at the incident, I know they were probably in just as much pain as I was. I can't hold anger in my heart. It doesn't help me grow, and baby, you know I'm all about growth and moving forward. Being fabulous means you can dust the dirt off your feet and keep going, and that's what I've been doing. Yes, I've been beaten, but look at me now, look at us, and what we got – two beautiful children, a nice house, and jobs we love, your mother was wrong for how she treated us, but let's at least give her a chance. It's been 10 years."
Ryder kissed her.
"I love you. But I can't forgive so easily. She wouldn't even shake your hand. She refused to come to the wedding. She said you weren't a real -."
Unique pressed her hand to his lips.
"Sweetheart, don't say it. I know what she said. It's not the first time somebody ignorant tried to come along and define me. I'm proud of who I am."
Ryder kissed her fingertips as she removed her hand.
"I'm proud of you too and I'm proud that you're my wife and mother of my children. I just don't have it in me to forgive. I'm sorry."
"Don't you think Jasmine and RJ should know their grandmother?"
"Not when she's a close-minded, judgmental witch, who turned her back on her son and looked down on the choices he made."
"Ryder -"
"It's true and you know it."
"Do I have to remind you of our high school days?"
Ryder took RJ from her arms and held him close, kissing the top of his head. Unique rarely brought up McKinley and for good reason, he had been a jerk in the beginning, refusing to acknowledge who she really was.
"I thought we were past that."
She leaned over and kissed him.
"We are. But what if we closed ourselves off to each other because of those mistakes? We wouldn't have what we have now."
Ryder blew raspberry kisses onto RJ's chubby cheeks, causing the baby to laugh.
"That was different."
"How?"
"We were dumb kids who didn't know any better. My mother knew better she just wanted to control me. And she's always scoffed at what she didn't understand. She didn't understand you or our relationship, so she chose to be hurtful. Those expensive gifts don't get her off the hook for her behavior."
Unique reached for his hand and squeezed it.
"I think this lunch will be a fresh start for all of us. She's not getting any younger, and I think she has regrets. Please Ryder, after all is said and done, she's still your mother. And now that you're father has passed on, she's alone."
Ryder looked down at her dark brown hand holding onto to his pale one; it had been an interesting journey with Unique, and all of the hell they went through was worth it because they got each other in the end; he couldn't imagine being with anyone else. She never steered him wrong, so how could this be any different?
"So what time is our lunch date?" he asked.
Unique smiled and hugged him, and Ryder melted into her embrace.
ooo
After going to RJ's pediatrician appointment, and picking up Jasmine from her dance class, then stopping off at the bank and gas station, the family rushed to make it to their 2:00 lunch date with Ryder's mother at Clyde's Restaurant downtown. Unique made sure the kids looked photo-shoot ready. In the dance studio bathroom, she tamed Jasmine's curls with moisturizing curl cream, and put a lacy headband on her hair. Then she put on her frilly pink Easter dress and black patent leather shoes. She debated on whether or not she should wear the white gloves that came with the dress, but Jasmine said that the gloves made her hands itch, so they had to forgo that accessory. Unique rubbed extra aloe vera lotion onto Jasmine's copper brown skin to make sure she wasn't ashy. As a finishing touch, she sprayed Tinkerbelle perfume onto her daughter's wrists.
RJ looked adorable in his little navy blue sailor suit. Unique tried to get Ryder to change into a suit, but he flat-out refused, however she was able to persuade him to wear khaki slacks and a freshly ironed white Oxford shirt. As they pulled into Clyde's parking lot, Unique touched up her make-up and reapplied her red lipstick. Her shoulder length hair was in soft curls, and she wore a blue pastel Chanel suit that she got on sale at an outlet store. Ryder turned off the engine and looked at her.
"I feel like we're going to either a wedding or a funeral."
Unique laughed.
"Oh be quiet, there's nothing wrong with looking nice."
"I feel pretty!" Jasmine said from the back seat.
"Don't you think we're overdoing it a little?"
"No, Ryder, I don't. I want her to see that we're a beautiful family and that she's missing out. I want to prove –" Unique clutched the tube of lipstick and closed her eyes, trying hard not to cry. Ryder unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her into his arms.
"Unique, there's nothing you have to prove to my mom. You're a wonderful wife and mother. Don't ever feel like you're not enough. You're more than enough. And by the way you look gorgeous."
Ryder always knew exactly what to say to calm her down.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
They hugged for a few minutes until she regained her composure. She took a final glance in the mirror, and when she was pleased with her reflection, they all got out of the minivan and made their way into the restaurant.
ooo
Ryder's mother was waiting for them at a table reserved in the upstairs section. Clyde's was a fancy restaurant, and the clientele was usually upper class people born with silver spoons in their mouths. Socialites and trust fund babies were regular patrons. The décor was old money, with heavy Persian rugs, crystal chandeliers and paintings of lacrosse and cricket games adorning the dark wooden walls. It reminded Unique of something out of The Great Gatsby minus the flappers and Charleston dancers. Jasmine's eyes grew wide as she looked around. She tugged on her father's sleeve.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Does this place have a playground?"
"No, baby."
Jasmine sighed and looked down at the carpet. Without a playground, Clyde's became dull. Unique smoothed down her hair.
"We can go to the park later this afternoon, besides, you can't play in your best dress."
They spotted Ryder's mother at the far end of the restaurant; she stood up and waved them over. She was a tall, regal, silver-haired woman wearing a sleeveless green silk dress and a string of pearls. Her skin was tanned, and Unique figured it was probably from lying on the beach in the Florida Keys where she currently lived. She had the same chin and dark eyes as Ryder. When they got to the table, she hugged them.
"Oh, it's so good to see you, thank you for coming."
She took RJ out of his baby carrier.
"Now aren't you scrumptious!"
RJ smiled and laughed.
"I think he likes me," Eleanor said.
Jasmine didn't want to go unnoticed so she said:
"He likes everybody."
Eleanor smiled down at her, lifting her chin, to look into her eyes.
"You must be Jasmine."
"Yes, that's me. And you're my Grandma?"
"Yes but, call me Eleanor, ok?"
Jasmine grinned.
"Ok."
Ryder and Unique stood there with frozen smiles on their faces. Eleanor urged them to take a seat.
"Go on, take a load off and order anything on the menu, it's my treat. I must say that you all look so lovely, did you come from church?"
Unique shifted in her chair.
"No, we just felt like dressing up."
"Well, that's nice."
The conversation was stilted and formal. They discussed safe topics like Eleanor's life in Florida, the latest Seven-Up series documentary, and the best time of year to plant tulips. Eleanor brought gifts for the kids. Jasmine got a pretty gold bracelet encrusted with tiny diamonds, and RJ got a blue Carebear, which he fell in love with immediately, and he clung to the stuffed toy for dear life. Jasmine was in awe of her gift. She held up her wrist so that the sunlight reflected off the diamonds making them sparkle.
"Look, Mommy, this is what a princess should wear."
Unique thought the gift was a bit much for a little girl, but even she had to admit that it was a lovely bracelet.
"You're right Jasmine. And being the princess that you are, it suits you," she then touched Eleanor's arm, "You didn't have to bring anything. You've given them so much already."
"It's a grandmother's job to spoil her grand kids."
Unique couldn't argue with that. She sipped her water and smiled a lot as did Ryder. They wanted this lunch date to be as drama-free as possible, especially for the children's sake. RJ basked in the attention that Eleanor gave him and Jasmine was enchanted by her too. Lunch was excellent. They had grilled salmon, steamed vegetables, and wild rice pilaf. The menu was too sophisticated for Jasmine's limited palate, so they ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a side garden salad for her. Unique was so nervous that she barely ate anything.
"Are you dieting dear?" Eleanor asked her as the waiter cleared away the dishes and handed out the dessert menus.
"No I just had a really big breakfast. I don't diet." Unique said, "That salmon was delicious."
Jasmine scooted closer to Eleanor as if to share a secret.
"We had Cheerios. I made Mommy and Daddy breakfast."
"What a thoughtful thing to do," Eleanor said and then she turned to Unique, "There's nothing wrong with watching your figure."
Ryder took a sip of his iced tea.
"Her figure is fine."
Unique changed the subject.
"Are you getting dessert?" She asked his mother.
Eleanor bounced RJ on her knee, he laughed out loud while clutching his Carebear.
"No, I'll probably just have coffee or green tea. You know green tea is good for weight loss."
Ryder reached over and held Unique's hand squeezing it; that was his way of saying that he'll handle things.
"Mom, Unique is beautiful just as she is. Don't start."
Eleanor ran her hand through her silver hair, giving a nervous laugh.
"No need to get testy. All women watch their weight. It's something we're born with."
Unique cleared her throat.
"Well, this woman is fine with her weight. So there's nothing to watch," she looked over and saw the waiter coming toward them, when he arrived at their table she said, "I'd like a strawberry tart with whipped cream on the side."
"As you wish, Madam, " he said with a slight bow of his head.
"Do you have chocolate ice cream?" Jasmine asked the waiter.
"Of course."
"Good, cause that's what I want."
Ryder got crème brulee. Eleanor ordered black coffee. Once the waiter was gone, she looked at Ryder and said:
"These children are just adorable. They almost look like they could be yours."
Ryder frowned.
"They are mine."
Eleanor smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Son, you know what I mean. Biologically. Since Unique can't –"
"That's enough, Mom."
Unique counted to ten because she didn't want to cause a scene or upset the kids. She put on a dazzling smile and said to Eleanor:
"Please don't talk about me as if I'm not here. I know what I am capable of and what I'm not. And I assure you, it doesn't make me any more or less than a woman."
Jasmine looked at her family, her eyes taking everything in. She grabbed Eleanor's hand, her little brown fingers intertwining with her grandmother's larger ones.
"Mommy and Daddy chose me and RJ. That makes us extra special."
Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise, and she glared at Ryder and Unique.
"I can't believe you told her."
Ryder stood up.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to not only insult my wife, but my family too. I don't know what you were planning on accomplishing today, if anything you should be apologizing for how you treated us. Do you even know why I agreed to come?"
Eleanor shook her head.
"No, I don't."
"Because my wife is an amazing woman who believes in forgiveness. She felt sorry for you; she wanted to welcome you into our family so you wouldn't be alone. And she believed that you changed, but you haven't. As for your little remarks about being a woman and what it means, well, the way I see it, Unique is more of a woman than you'll ever be."
RJ started crying. The tension in the air was getting to him. Unique took him from Eleanor's arms.
"I think we should go."
Jasmine gave her grandmother a hug.
"Good-bye, Eleanor. Thank you for my present."
"Your welcome, dear, now take good care of it."
"I will."
Unique calmed RJ down and put him in his carrier. Ryder took Jasmine by the hand, and as they all were about to leave, the waiter came with their dessert and coffee. Eleanor straightened up in her chair, maintaining her regal demeanor.
"Could you please box all of this up? My guests have to be going."
The waiter nodded.
"Certainly, Madam." And then he was gone.
Unique handed the carrier to Ryder and reached down and gave Eleanor a brief hug.
"Thank you for inviting us to lunch. When you're ready to be a part of our lives without judgment, you know where to find us."
Eleanor grabbed her arm.
"Wait, please…"
"Mom, we have to go," Ryder said, "You had your chance."
"I want to talk to Unique alone."
"Eleanor, whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of my husband. We don't keep secrets."
Eleanor sighed.
"I have to fly back to Florida tonight and I have some business to take care of this afternoon, would it be alright if I stopped by your house on the way to the airport? It's important."
Ryder and Unique looked at each other. They had to be in agreement. Jasmine was busy entertaining RJ with her new bracelet, so she missed the exchange between her parents and grandmother. Ryder pulled Unique off to the side.
"I've had all I could stomach for one day. I don't know if I want her coming to the house. She hasn't changed."
"I know."
"Well?"
"I'm curious about what she has to say. It won't be for long since she has a flight to catch."
"True… alright, we can let her come by, but after that I'm done."
Unique kissed his cheek.
"Ok."
They approached the table again. Ryder wrapped his arm around Unique's waist.
"Mom, you can come by, but I'm warning you, we won't tolerate any bullshit."
Eleanor raised her eyebrows.
"Watch your language. This isn't a pool hall. I'll see you both around 8:30 is that alright?"
"Yes, that's fine."
With the children in tow, they finally left the restaurant.
ooo
The rest of the day went by in a blur for the Lynn family. After lunch at Clyde's, they went home, changed into sweats and t-shirts and spent a few hours at the park. Jasmine was disappointed that she couldn't wear her bracelet, but Ryder explained to her that she might lose it while she's swinging on the monkey bars. She was still upset, but she knew better than to make a fuss, and when they got to the park, the bracelet was all but forgotten once she saw her friends from dance class on the merry go round. When the kids were finished playing, they went to Super Fresh and got groceries for the upcoming week. RJ fussed in the cart until Unique had to go feed him in the minivan, while Ryder and Jasmine finished the grocery shopping. By the time they got home, they had just enough time to eat a quick dinner of pasta salad and grilled chicken breasts and then Unique took Jasmine to karate class while Ryder stayed home with RJ.
After he gave his son a bath using lavender body wash for infants, he put on his pajamas and rocked him to sleep as he sang This Old Man. When RJ's little body grew still, Ryder pressed a goodnight kiss to his cheek and then laid him in the crib. He switched on the Winnie the Pooh night light, and the room was flooded with a cheerful, orange glow. For a few minutes, Ryder stood over RJ's crib, watching him sleep. His son had issues with his lungs when he was a newborn, and even though his condition was taken care of with surgery and medication, Ryder always made sure he was breathing before leaving his room.
After he was certain that RJ was ok, he turned on the baby monitor, and went downstairs to have a beer and unwind. When he checked the clock on the microwave, he saw that it was 7:00. The day's events replayed themselves in his mind: his mother's rude remarks, the sparkling bracelet, Unique applying red lipstick in Clyde's parking lot… what a day it had been for all of them, and it wasn't even over.
He wandered into the living room, and turned on the TV, lowering the volume, so as to not wake up RJ. He stared at their wedding picture, which hung above the fireplace; Unique had been heavier then, though it didn't matter to him one way or the other, he loved how the ivory wedding dress clung to every dip and curve of her voluptuous body. He could wrap himself up in her curves forever. In the picture they held each other tight, cheesing for the photographer. Those weren't phony smiles they wore; they were truly in love and overjoyed to spend the rest of their lives together. It was a shame that some people couldn't see that or found it repulsive.
A few of their old high school chums attended the wedding: Jake and Marley were there with their twin boys; Finn and some woman whose name he couldn't recall, Sam and Mercedes… the story of how those two got back together amazed Ryder, and he was happy for them; they were married with three kids and lived in Nashville. He kept in touch with all of them, sending Christmas cards and exchanging Facebook messages, but that was his former life, and now he was more focused on his home and family. The front door opened and Unique walked in carrying Jasmine, who was fast asleep in her arms. Ryder jumped up and took their sleeping daughter from Unique.
"You go sit down and relax. I'll put her to bed."
Unique kissed him, leaving red lipstick on his mouth.
"Bless you. I'm beat. What time is it anyway?"
"It should be around 7:30."
"Hmm, do you think we should chill some wine for Eleanor?"
"No, she has to drive, and besides, I think she quit drinking."
"Oh, that's right. Well, make sure Jasmine brushes her teeth."
"I will."
Ryder trudged upstairs with Jasmine in his arms. After he coaxed her awake, and dealt with her crankiness, he was able to get her to bed all bathed with brushed teeth, and snuggled beneath her Strawberry Shortcake comforter. When he got downstairs, Unique was sprawled out on the couch, sipping a cup of tea, her eyes closed. The gray yoga pants she wore hugged her thick thighs, and her red T-shirt left little to the imagination regarding her generous breasts; Ryder wished his mother wasn't coming over, so he could go upstairs and make love to his wife. He pushed the thought aside when he heard the doorbell ring. Unique's eyes flew open, and she set the tea cup on the coffee table.
"Ryder, I need to change! Eleanor doesn't need to see me looking a hot mess."
Ryder chuckled and sat down beside her on the couch, gathering her in his arms, he said:
"You look fine, better than fine, pretty damn sexy I would say, and forget about impressing my mother, she showed her true colors already."
The doorbell rang again.
"I guess you better get that," Unique said as her husband kissed her, "She can't stay long."
Ryder stole another kiss from his wife and answered the door.
Eleanor stood on the doorstep holding a white box from Carvel's Bakery. She wore a peach trench coat and a white silk scarf tied around her neck. Handing the box to Ryder, she said, "I got these cupcakes for Jasmine, you said she had a sweet tooth," her voice trailed off, and she suddenly looked nervous, "May I come in?"
"Of course, Mom, and thanks for the cupcakes," Ryder said and stepped aside so she could come into the house.
"Did you want me to take your coat?"
"No, I'll keep it on."
Unique rose from the couch.
"Hi Eleanor, can I get you anything?"
"No, but thanks for asking," she said as she sat down on the couch, her eyes roaming about the room, "Nice place you have here."
"Thank you."
"Good neighborhood. I really love the rose bush out front in fact –"
"Mom, please," Ryder said as he shut the door and sat down across from them on the love seat, "You didn't come here to talk about the neighborhood or my wife's gardening skills now what do you have to tell us?"
Eleanor clasped her hands in front of her and took a deep breath.
"I've been researching transgender women on the internet."
"I'm glad you're educating yourself, but what does that have to do with anything?" Unique asked, trying hard to keep her voice neutral, "Your research must not have helped much judging from what you said this afternoon. If you had questions, you could've come to me instead of treating me like the antichrist."
Eleanor fiddled with the buttons on her trench coat, avoiding eye contact with Unique.
"I always believed that you weren't good enough for my son. I tried to wrap my head around what you were or how you were; I don't know. Ryder always struggled, and being with you added to that struggle. Especially all you went through in high school and even college. The beatings you endured after you two announced to God and everybody that you were in a relationship; Ryder got two cracked ribs…"
Unique held up her perfect French-manicured hand.
"Let's get this out of the way before I say anything else. First of all, I am a wonderful woman, questioning what I am is rude, secondly, Ryder and I have been happily married for a long time now, so I would hardly say we were struggling. And lastly, all that stuff happened a long time ago, ignorance comes and goes but awesomeness is a life time, which is why we're so good together. Those wounds have healed. Every night we kiss each other's scars because it shows us how far we've come."
Ryder got up from the loveseat and sat beside Unique, putting his arm around her.
"Mom, I've got a great life and a loving, caring woman. What part of that don't you see?"
Eleanor looked down at her hands.
"I just don't understand it, not completely, I wanted you with someone like Marley not someone born like this."
Ryder was about to let his mother have it, but Unique intervened.
"You mean someone born human? she said, "Someone with a heart, mind and soul, just like everybody else? I always knew my true self. My body betrayed me, but not my spirit, and everyday I kept going, and I'm still going, blessed to know that I found a man who loves me just as I am and accepted me. It's sad that you can't see beyond what you think is right."
Unique leaned into her husband and he held her close. They had fought through many battles together and gained strength from each other's love and support. Once they joked that the old Bill Withers song Lean on Me should be their personal anthem. She didn't have to always be strong with Ryder; she could be vulnerable, so as they held each other, she let the tears fall, and he whispered how much he loved her as he wiped the tears away and kissed her damp cheeks. Ryder vowed he would never leave her hanging, and he never broke that promise.
"You're amazing, Unique."
She smiled and kissed him, and for a brief moment they were the only ones in the room, until Eleanor's genteel voice broke the spell.
"I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you both. I hope you can forgive me."
Ryder looked over at his mother.
"I don't know if I can. I think it's best that you keep your distance. You're my mother and I love you, but that doesn't mean we need to be a part of each other's lives. My family comes first."
"I'm not suggesting that it happen overnight. I just want… well I want to have a relationship with RJ and Jasmine. Their wonderful children."
Unique sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
"I see how you love our kids, but I don't want you around them if you give them reason to wonder if they belong to me and Ryder. Those are our children – biological or not. If you give them any cause for doubt, I don't think having a relationship with them will work."
Eleanor nodded.
"I know and I'm sorry for what I said at lunch. I thought I had come to terms with the decisions that Ryder made. When I can't control something, I want to destroy it. While I don't know if I will ever be able to accept or understand everything, I see that you love each other and built a good life together."
"Without your money," Ryder said, "Don't think I've forgotten that either."
Unique looked at him, her face scrunched up in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"When I told her I wasn't breaking up with you in college, she disinherited me and cut off my tuition payments, as if that would stop me from being with you. It didn't."
"I thought you wanted to prove to your parents that you could make it on your own, and that's why you took those extra jobs and paid your way through school," Unique said.
Ryder picked up her hand and kissed it.
"I only said that because I didn't want you to break up with me. If you knew what really happened, you would've ended it because for some crazy reason, you used to believe that you held me back, when that was the furthest thing from the truth."
"Sweetheart, you mean you worked all those crappy jobs like cleaning toilets and frying burgers, just so we could stay together? I used to worry sick about how hard you worked."
Unique's mind drifted back to all those times she found Ryder slumped over his desk, drooling on his textbook because he was too tired to even go to bed. Then on top of that, he had to nurse her back to health, after she was attacked late one night when she was walking home from a gig. For awhile she could barely walk, and she depended on Ryder for everything, and no matter how tired he was or how late he worked, he always managed to be there to help her bathe and get dressed so she could make it to her classes.
"I had no idea. So much crap was going on then. I'm sorry that I put you –"
Ryder kissed her before she could say another word.
"Look at what we have now. I don't regret anything."
Eleanor looked at them, her eyes shiny with tears.
"I have something else to tell you."
"What is it, Mom?"
Eleanor hesitated and looked down at the floor; she raised her head and her dark eyes met their gaze, a few tears slipped down her bronzed cheeks.
"I'm dying."
ooo
Ryder wasn't sure he heard her correctly.
"What?"
"I'm dying. I have a rare form of bone cancer."
"I'm so sorry, Eleanor," Unique said.
"You know how you just said you have no regrets?" Eleanor asked Ryder, who sat there staring at his mother in disbelief, "Well I have so many regrets that I can't even count them all. I regret not being there for you when you needed me most, and not seeing you get married and become the man you are. I regret not telling you sooner about your father's health until it was too late. I regret trying to control your life instead of building one of my own, and for hurting Unique when all she ever did was love you. I'm sorry for it all, and that pain is worse than any cancer."
Ryder wasn't sure how it happened, but the three of them ended up crying and hugging on the couch; it was as if their emotional walls came crashing down and all that was left was their pain and anguish, flowing through their tears, released from their bodies for good. He clung to Unique, her love and warmth spreading through him, making it easier to let go and forgive. Despite his anger and resentment toward his mother, his heart broke, knowing her life was ending. Eleanor missed her flight and she had to stay in their guest room. Once she was settled in for the night, Unique and Ryder retired to their bedroom.
They got ready for bed in silence, changing into their pajamas and brushing their teeth. Unique carefully tied her green silk scarf on her head, becoming the "night gypsy" Ryder often joked about. He watched her as she stood in front the bathroom mirror and removed all traces of her make-up, washed her face, and applied her night cream. When she was finished, he pulled his woman into his arms and hugged her.
"You're so beautiful."
"You mean bare-faced like a before picture for a makeover?"
"Lovebug, you know what I mean. I love you without make up."
Unique laid her head on his shoulder.
"Would you rather I not wear any?"
"No, baby, I know it makes you happy. I just feel like I can really see you without any on, like, the world gets Unique when she's all made up and looking fabulous, but I get my Lovebug, when she's wearing a scarf and smelling like cold cream."
She kissed his bare shoulder.
"Coming from anyone else that would sound strange, but from you, Ryder Lynn, it makes perfect sense."
They stood there holding each other until both of them were too tired to stand, and stumbled into their bedroom, collapsing onto the huge brass bed.
"Lie on your stomach," Unique said.
He did as she asked, knowing what was coming next. He felt her soft hands running up and down his back, and then kneading the tension between his shoulder blades.
"Go on, Ryder, tell me."
Tears fell from his eyes and onto his pillow.
"I'm so scared. How are we going to deal with this?"
She worked magic on his muscles; he needed this release, her loving touch…"
The way we deal with everything else. With a lot of love. Jasmine and RJ are her chance to get something right. Let's give her that."
Her hands went deeper into the stress-tightened muscles in the middle of his back.
"Do you think she should move in with us?"
Ryder hadn't thought of that. His mother wasn't the type to let anybody take care of her.
"I don't know. You know my mom, she's trying to change, but she likes having her way. I think you two would clash."
"Maybe. But I'm willing to compromise. I mean who does she have in Florida?"
"Her bridge club," Ryder said.
"That's my point."
Ryder nodded and closed his eyes.
"We'll talk about it with her and decide what to do."
"Ok. You know it might not be so bad with her living here. She loves Jasmine and RJ and they're quite taken with her."
"You don't think it's the gifts that won them over?"
"Well… it could be a little bit, but I don't think so. Jasmine doesn't just hug anybody."
Ryder laughed.
"True."
Unique worked her way downward and removed his boxer shorts, kneading his firm buttocks and continuing onto to his thighs and calves. Ryder bit his lip, enjoying the intensity of the massage. Then he heard her whisper:
"Ryder?"
"Yes?"
"I have to ask you something, and I need you to tell me the truth."
"What is it, Lovebug?"
She kissed his back, and gently turned him over. Looking into his eyes she said:
"Do you ever wish I could have babies? Or wonder what it would be like to be with a woman who could?"
Ryder sat up and pulled her into a hug.
"Where's this coming from?"
"I was thinking about what happened this afternoon and, well, I started to wonder. You knew I couldn't bear your children and you chose me anyway. I love myself, I really do, and I don't think that it makes me less, but …" her voice trailed off into the darkness. Ryder held her close.
"The only reason I ever wished that you could have kids was because I knew it was something you wanted so badly, and with all your other changes, that's the one thing you weren't able to get, and it hurt you. Sure, I wonder what it would be like for you to be pregnant, but I don't long for it, or have fantasies of other women who can. I love you. I believe that you were created just for me. I'm happy with the two munchkins we have, I love them and you with everything that I am. So, no, baby, this is the life I wanted all along."
Unique kissed him.
"I love you so much. And each day it grows more."
He smiled into the kiss.
"Ditto."
Unique pulled away and laughed.
"Don't get all Ghost on me, boy, you better say it back."
Ryder rolled his eyes and tickled her stomach, causing her to giggle.
"I love you, Unique Lynn."
"I love you too. Now let's get some rest."
Ryder reached inside her nightgown, his fingers lightly touching her nipples.
"I was thinking maybe we could…"
Before he could finish his thought, her lips were on his.
End Notes: Thanks for reading. The epilogue will be the next chapter.