Sitting in front of the cupboard under the sink wasn't their usual meeting place but it was good as any to find items that were meant to be stored in a garage. Who knew that the toolkit was stashed in the kitchen? A nose rub turned into a brief kiss and a smile for afters. They were so wrapped up in each other they barely heard Elinor's roaring as she stomped down the stairs. Bernie got up and locked horns with her the second they saw each other. Elinor was a little bitch where Bernie was concerned. Bernie privately thought she took after her grandmother in her self-centred, critical way she treated Serena but wouldn't have voiced it out loud.

'What is this?' Elinor brandished an object in disgust. An object Bernie knew well. She raised her eyebrows at the sight of it outside of the bedroom. Elinor was looking at her like she was perverted. Bernie did not enjoy Serena's task of explaining it to her. She had her hands full with Jason and Elinor, both difficult in their own ways and Bernie tried to back her up but she had no leeway with the daughter.

Serena got up and looked at the vibrator in her daughter's hand. She looked puzzled as to why she had been snooping in her private box.

'What does it look like?'

Elinor was outraged that her mother would be so casual about a sex toy. Not once did she entertain the idea that her mother even knew what one was.

'Is this what happens when you hook up with a lesbian?' She shot a withering look at the offending person. Bernie felt fury heat up in her veins but she kept it to herself. She had to be calm and collected at all time.

'Don't be stupid darling, I've had it for years.'

Elinor looked at her mother incredulously.

'What?'

'It's got nothing to do with Bernie. You don't think I've been a nun while your father was off shagging every woman in a mini skirt he saw, do you? I don't think they even make that model anymore.'

Bernie smiled at the conversational tone. Serena was learning to not let her daughter anger her. She exploded over everything and Bernie knew it came from a place of love, care and concern but she was really making an effort to be less controlling and less affected by her daughter's moods. Elinor had a way of hurting Serena that made Bernie's hand itch to slap her.

'That is disgusting.'

'It's not any different from what you've been using for the past year. Don't think I don't know what you get up to at uni.' Serena was showing signs of losing her temper. Bernie knew she was struggling not to give into the default of feeling ashamed that her sexuality was out in the open, vulnerable to attack and humiliation from people around her. Bernie knew that feeling all too well. She touched fingers under the counter and was gratified to feel a response. Serena wasn't backing down.

'That's different.'

'No it isn't. What you mean is, I'm too old.'

Elinor said nothing, her face giving the answer.

'Stop rooting around in my private space Elinor' her mother warned her. 'Go and put it back and stop being so rude.'

Elinor stomped off to fling it back in the shoebox under the bed. Bernie kissed her cheek, wordlessly thrilled that Serena had stood up to her. The answering smile secured her trust.