~Sarah's called Princess because in Hebrew the name Sarah means princess. Melissa, Jennifer, and Hope will use the nickname sarcastically because Sarah was the spoiled youngest daughter/granddaughter.~
"Hello, my love," Maggie said as she walked in.
"Hi. How are you?" Victor asked softly.
"I feel like I've been neglecting you," Maggie said.
"I miss you and I wish the timing was better but I feel loved," Victor said.
"All right. I'm thinking we can go upstairs and…." Maggie kissed Victor.
"Mmmm, I want to talk but let's go and get comfortable and I'll hold you," Victor said.
"Sounds good."
"There's my cute redhead," Victor smiled as Maggie walked out in his t-shirt and boxers.
Maggie climbed into bed. Victor opened his arms and Maggie snuggled in.
"This hasn't been the best week, hasn't it?" Victor said.
"Well, I enjoyed marrying you," Maggie smiled.
"What are you thinking?" Victor asked.
Sarah paused outside of the door, ready to knock. She stopped when she heard her mother's voice.
"The Hortons are going to need to be more open. We are the Hortons and there has always been this special clout that goes with it. And now we are falling apart and I can't stop it. . I keep wondering what Mickey would've done. And then I feel guilty for thinking about Mickey when I just married you. I'm furious at Alice and Marie and Tommy for making me deal with this now! And then I miss Alice so much" Maggie cried.
"Sweetheart, the Hortons are going to get through this. And don't you dare feel guilty about Mickey. It's completely natural to think about him. I think about him when I don't know what to do with that Irish temper of yours," Victor teased.
"Oh, you!" Maggie hit Victor with a pillow. Victor pulled Maggie close.
"And Alice couldn't stop this. You're going to make yourself sick and I'm worried about you relapsing," Victor said quietly.
"Oh, honey. I'm watching myself carefully…"
"Maggie. Everything's going be o.k. and I promise I'll take care of anything you need. And the Hortons will survive. The Horton women are too strong not to survive," Victor comforted her.
Sarah suddenly felt uncomfortable listening in. She turned and silently walked away.
"I don't know what's going to happen and I'm scared…"
"I love you. I want to take care of you," Victor said, kissing his wife.
"I know. And please be patient with me and my family," Maggie said.
"Sweetheart, after all the things my family puts you through, I can deal with postponing Paris until New Year's. Just so you ended up in my bed every night," Victor said, kissing Maggie.
"Oh, Mr. K…." Maggie laughed as Victor tugged at the hem of the t-shirt Maggie wore.
"Do you want to try out this newlywed thing out?" Victor asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Mmmm, we should practice so we get really good at it," Maggie said.
"Oh, Horton…."
"It was so intimate. I never thought…" Sarah paused.
"Your mom would confide to Victor? Sarah, they're married. Not telling anyone but married. I imagine Maggie would find it comforting to talk to Victor about what's going on," Julie said.
"No, I know they are married. Of course I do, I was there. But Julie, when Mom talked about Daddy, Victor just let her talk. She was talking about the man she was married to for over half her life and Victor just held her. I mean, his new wife…." Sarah looked conflicted.
"Princess, Victor knows your mom was married to your dad. He knows how much they loved each other. Maggie wouldn't be Maggie without loving Mickey. Victor thanks your Dad everyday for making Maggie able to love him," Julie said.
"But how can he? People still feel like Mom's married to Daddy," Sarah said.
"They know that, Princess. It doesn't matter to them. They're happy," Julie said.
"But…."
"Princess, in a relationship, people accepted things. Maggie always will be a Horton. Getting married to Victor didn't change that. She's still Aunt Maggie to your cousins. She's still Melissa's and your mom. Victor accepted that. Maggie doesn't love having to deal with Victor's ex-wives but she deals. With the Marie and Tommy thing, Maggie needs someone to scream at, to hold her. Victor does that," Julie said.
"I guess I didn't realize…oh Julie, Daddy's really gone," Sarah cried.
"Oh, Princess. This just made you realized Mickey's gone, didn't it?" Julie soothed.
"I could pretend when I was out of town, I just blocked Mom's mentions of Victor. But being asked to be part of the wedding…Mom wouldn't marry Victor if Daddy was alive," Sarah said.
"No, she wouldn't. Mickey was her soul mate. But she loves Victor," Julie said.
"But how can she go from her soul mate to just Victor?"
"First, it's not just Victor. Maggie wouldn't marry just Victor. She has standards," Julie smirked, "Second; it's a totally different relationship. Maggie was so young when she married Mickey. They grew up together, made mistakes together, and had a family together. Victor's…its more adult, more equal. Maggie says things to Victor, she wouldn't have thought to say to your dad. I think she calls him an idiot once a week. But they love each other."
"Julie?"
"Yes?" Julie asked.
"I'm sorry that Douglas got brought up. That must've been painful," Sarah murmured.
"Princess, it's o.k. apparently the Gods decided this month all the Horton family skeletons were coming out of the closet. But we're Hortons. We'll survive."
"Good," Sarah said.
"So, what about a honeymoon?" Victor asked. Maggie laughed.
"I don't think we need one. We seem to do fine here."
"Seriously…"
"Paris at New Year's…"
"Yeah?" Victor asked looking at Maggie.
"I started the arrangements last week. Of course, I didn't know we would be married now or the Horton family would imploded this week. But Paris…" Maggie traced Victor's wedding ring.
"I'll finally get to take you to Paris," Victor smiled.
"Yes, you do," Maggie yawned.
"I love you."
"I love you too."