For only having three letters and one syllable, Mom is a big word. It's why kids usually say "dada" first; their little minds and little mouths can' t quite stretch to accommodate the awesome wonder that is that word.
Rusty has a mom. Well, he has a mother, a biological half, but if Sharon were asked, she's his mom. Like the difference between fathering a child and being a dad, so Sharon Raydor is Rusty's mom. She has added him to her children – emotionally long before it was legally binding – and knows he thinks of her… lovingly. They're close.
But she's never been his mom. He uses "mom" like an unwitting weapon sometimes, throwing the reality of the other Sharon in her face. And he keeps "mom" for that woman, for himself.
She's dreamed about hearing that name come out of his mouth, applicable to her for a change. (And hopefully, a change for the better.) The countless scenarios that have played out in her mind about when that moment might arrive have ranged from one of them wounded and in the hospital and it just slips out as they hold hands, to his college graduation, to a call in the middle of the night making sure he can always come home. Of course he can.
But she nearly misses the moment when it actually comes, because when she hears the word "mom" being called out in her squad room, it doesn't occur to her that she might be its target.
It takes 3 repetitions before a member of her team indicates Rusty and his guest standing behind her. It atkes actually watching his mouth form the words, "Hey, Mom" while looking at her to realize he's talking about her.
She can't quite keep her eyebrows from fleeing towards the border of her hairline, but by a tight grip of the arms she has crossed in front of her, she manages to keep the words "are you talking to me?" from spilling out.
In a flash, she's put the pieces together and stepped into polite welcome mode and schooled her face to match. And if her heart does a painful little twist, she doesn't let it show.
It's not the way she imagined it might happen. It's not the circumstances. Hell, it's not even the right sentiment.
But he called her "mom." Today is the day Rusty called her "mom." And for having only three letters and one syllable, it's still a very big word.
A/N: my heart just about broke during that scene in the squad room.
hope you liked it. whether you did or not, comments can be my Christmas present!