Visitor

It was very routine now for Courtney to find herself at Duncan's house in the late afternoon. It was routine for her to be knocking on his front door and expecting him to answer with some snarky comment, but it wasn't so routine for the front door to be opened by a woman.

She was middle aged with blonde hair. Her warm smile creased the wrinkles near her blue eyes. Despite the smile lines, Courtney thought she was very pretty and must have been even more beautiful when she was younger.

"You must be Courtney!" She was a picturesque mom that gave off a warm and loving air. Courtney held out her hand to shake the older woman's. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise, although I didn't catch your name..." Courtney replied which a genuine smile.

"Oh goodness! I'm so sorry! I'm Sarah, Duncan's mom!" After all this time she had never met his parents. "Your daughter is absolutely adorable!"

"She is most of the time." Courtney replied in jest. Sarah held the door open for her as she crossed the threshold.

"Where's Duncan?" The brunette questioned when she didn't hear or see him right away, or the girls for that matter. Sarah grinned and motioned for Courtney to follower her.

"He's going to be so mad that I let you see this." Courtney raised an eyebrow as she followed Sarah to Vanessa's room. The door was ajar enough so that she could peak inside.

Seated around a kid size table were Addison, Vanessa, Duncan, and an assortment of stuffed animals and dolls. A plastic tea set sat in the middle of the table. The girls were dressed up with boas and tiaras, but the funniest part was that Duncan was wearing a tiara too, a bright pink one.

"Oh my god." Courtney snickered behind her hand.

"He acts like such a tough guy but he's a softie on the inside."

Courtney couldn't help herself, she started giggling uncontrollably. So much so that the attendants of the tea party followed the noise. As soon as Duncan laid eyes on her he froze, then turned the brightest shade of red. He looked like a deer in headlights and Courtney found his embarrassment completely hysterical. He was frozen as the other two at the table ran up to greet Courtney.

"Well, aren't you two the prettiest princesses I have ever seen!" Courtney greeted them while holding down her laughs.

"Mommy, come play with us!" Addison tugged on Courtney's skirt, while Vanessa took one of her hands.

"We need a real princess at our tea party!"

"A real princess?" Sarah asked her granddaughter.

"Yeah Nana! Courtney is Daddy's princess!" Now Duncan looked even redder if at all possible. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something to back peddle what Vanessa said but couldn't form words.

"Oh, is that so?" Sarah replied and Vanessa nodded her head. Courtney butted in even though she was having a good time watching Duncan flounder.

"Duncan calls me princess to annoy me, they've overheard, that's all."

"I see." She shot her son a look that Duncan knew meant she was going to interrogate him later.

"Mommy!" Addison said in a drawn out singsong voice, "come play with us!"

"It's time to go home honey, we'll play another time."

"But I want to stay! Pretty please?" Courtney was about to tell her daughter that no they had to leave but Duncan's mother interjected.

"You guys should stay for dinner!"

"Oh no ,I don't want to impose." She didn't want to be impolite but also didn't want to overstay her welcome.

"I won't take no for answer! C'mon girls I made spaghetti!" She held out her hands as each little girl took one and headed in the direction of the kitchen. Now that the room was mostly clear, Duncan finally acknowledged Courtney.

"Not. A. Word." He warned as he tossed the tiara aside.

"I don't have to, I'm going to remember this forever." She taunted him and smiled even when he passed her without being able to make eye contact.

Later that night after the guests left, Duncan was washing the dishes when his mom entered the kitchen.

"The little one is asleep."

"Thanks." He kept his words short to dissuade her from steering the conversation in the direction he knew she wanted to.

"Duncan-"

"Don't say it." She sighed, he had always been her most difficult son.

"I was just going to say that it was nice to meet her." Duncan didn't respond. After a length of time of Sarah decided to prod more.

"She's stunning..."

"I know."

"And incredibly smart..."

"I know."

"And you still love her." He dropped the plate he was cleaning in the sink.

"A mother knows these things Duncan."

"I don't want to talk about this." That didn't surprise her in the least, but it didn't stop her questioning.

"Why not?"

"Just Because. Besides, we're not getting back together."

"That would be a shame."

"She made it abundantly clear that it was off the table."

"So you do want her back?"

"I didn't say that. Look I screwed things up with Courtney before, there's no changing that."

"That was a long time ago sweetheart. When you find someone that you care about, you don't just give up. Duncan, you're not the same reckless teenager anymore, so what I'm trying to say is, just because it didn't work out then doesn't mean it won't work out now."

"You don't know Courtney like I do, if she's made up her mind, then she's not budging."

"I think if anyone can change her mind, you can." All of this serious talk was starting to give him a headache. He wasn't someone who liked to talk about things, most guys weren't. He didn't always think things through before he did something. If it felt right, he did it. So, did being with Courtney feel right?

Of course it did. He didn't have to think about it. If anything, having Courtney back in his life let him realize how much was lacking in it, and with them both being at the same place in their lives right now, maybe it was perfect timing. Even if he didn't like it, his mother did have good intentions, she always did.

Duncan crossed the kitchen to where Sarah stood, then he did something that shocked his mom. He gave her a hug.

"Thanks Ma, I know I've always been a pain in the ass, but you're still there for me." Her arms came around him and he heard her sniffle.

"You better not be crying." She sniffled even harder.

"Shhh just let me have this moment."

"Fine." Duncan has always been her most difficult son, but she knew, deep down, that her sweet little boy was still in there, even if he didn't like to show it.


Motorcycle

Courtney's heart raced in her chest. She sucked a deep breath as air rushed around her. Her arms were wrapped tightly around Duncan's waist as he raced down the street. She loved the feeling of exhilaration that was coursing through her. It was dangerous, she knew it was, but the excitement of it all outweighed any fear.

Duncan slowed the bike down and came to a full stop.

"So?" He questioned while inclining his head to look back at her.

"Let's go again," She pressed her body against his even closer "faster this time." He flashed a devilish grin and revved the engine.

"Whatever you say Princess." And they took off on the motorcycle again.


Happy Mother's Day

Courtney was cooking dinner for the girls when she felt a tap on her arm. She looked down to see Vanessa was standing next to her with her hands behind her back. She looked shy which wasn't a trait she normally displayed. Between her and Addison, she was the more outgoing one. She was the kind of child that said hello to everyone and spoke her thoughts aloud often not always thinking before.

Whereas Addison was more reserved and less trusting of people right away. It took her daughter longer to warm up to people. It was perfect that they had each other to balance the other out. So it was strange to see Vanessa looking so hesitant. She was even going as far to looking down at her feet instead of up at Courtney.

"What's wrong?" Vanessa tentatively held out what was behind her back. Courtney almost expected her to hold up something that she had broken accidentally, with how she looked so nervous. She handed her a small card made out of red construction paper that was in the shape of a heart.

"We made cards at school today."

"It's for me?" Vanessa nodded and Courtney gently took it from her. Vanessa waited as Courtney opened it and read the words inside. The spelling and penmanship was fitting for someone her age, but Courtney could still tell what she meant.

"I know you're not my mommy but..." Courtney was speechless. She bent down to wrap Vanessa in her arms and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you, did you know that?" Vanessa shook her head no, which made Courtney hold her even tighter, also so that Vanessa wouldn't see the tears falling down her face.


I've always had this head cannon that Duncan is the youngest of three boys, or the middle child. Anyways, next chapter will start Part 3 and go back to the format of Part 1. For those of you who have been eager, the next chapter is pretty steamy ;)