"It's not the end of the world
It's not even over but it will be soon
I never learn my lessons, I just change my tune" - 'I Will' by Brandi Carlile

1978 - part 1

Myrtle shook her head as she watched Fiona sneak yet another cigarette outside of the house in the last of the crisp winter air. Aside from looking ridiculous in her black dress with no coat to keep the chill at bay, she was also rather pregnant; her rounded belly protruded from her small frame. It was useless for Myrtle to constantly harp on the blonde about smoking since she always had another pack hidden, no matter how many Myrtle demanded from her to throw away.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about Fiona was different aside from the obvious physical attributes. The possibilities of what it could be swam in Myrtle's head like sharks searching for prey, feeding off of smaller theories. It could be Jackson's undying affection and his relentless pursuit of her. Quite a few times he whisked her to California on his family's private jet to help decorate her baby's room at his mansion, and to help plan their upcoming wedding. It may very well be the hormones surging through her body or perhaps she was finally maturing now that she would soon have a baby to look after. Whatever it was it caused her to be more docile toward Myrtle to the point where it was unnerving. She even seemed to be nicer to Spalding, her usual ordering barks replaced with polite requests and smiles. Even still, Myrtle accepted the welcome change with caution, hanging onto the delusion that everything was just fine in her strange little world. After all, it was perfectly normal to share a very attractive, very pregnant blonde with her equally attractive and very rich husband-to-be. It still made Myrtle's stomach turn when she realized that the house would soon lack Fiona's presence. She couldn't risk either of their reputations for her own feelings, and it nearly dragged her into a dark depression of helplessness when she would think about Fiona leaving once her baby was born.

But there was Isobel, her saving grace. The older woman was still locked away, deemed too eccentric to be amongst the general populace, but her health was improving, at least. Myrtle found herself growing more attached to Isobel, more for companionship than anything. She could discuss the academy's future with Isobel and receive sincere guidance and wisdom, as long as they did not settle on the topic of Fiona. Part of her felt guilty for sneaking out to visit Isobel when she could, and for not sharing this routine with Fiona, but she knew it was better this way. After all, did Fiona expect her to remain at home, desolate while she lived her life? Myrtle still had a fierce attraction to Fiona and it never waned, even when she started to feel closer to Isobel. The older woman was attractive in her own way with bold blue eyes and frosty hair shorn in spiky tufts, and yet Myrtle always envisioned Fiona when her mind wandered, focusing on the way her golden hair softly touched her shoulders and how her eyes darkened with excitement before stealing a kiss from Myrtle when they were alone. And her lips, Myrtle couldn't stand thinking about how they were perfectly shaped, almost as if they were always upturned and waiting to be kissed.

"Staring out the window like that makes you look like a creepy psycho, Myr." The unmistakable voice lilted in Myrtle's ear as Fiona approached her from behind with careful steps.

Startled, Myrtle turned from the window, clearing her throat and adjusting her glasses as she watched Fiona make waddling toward the sofa in the sitting room look like an effortless dance. "I was just making sure you didn't freeze to death out there. Someone has to watch out for you."

"Yes, someone does need to keep an eye on me, don't they?" Fiona smiled as she eased her body onto the sofa, letting Myrtle prop a pillow behind her to lean against. "Wouldn't want me to go around setting things on fire or worse." Shifting into a bearable position, Fiona clasped her hands on her round belly, and fixed her gaze on Myrtle. "Where were you this morning?"

Myrtle froze. She didn't realize that Fiona noticed she was absent for the short visit she paid to Isobel that morning. Silence was lingering too long, and Myrtle knew she was stuck. "I went to see a friend. You looked tired and I didn't want to wake you." As Spalding entered to set a tray with tea on the table in front of the sofa, Myrtle took the opportunity to change the subject. "Are the contractions any closer together?" Sitting beside Fiona on the sofa, she leaned forward to pour tea into the two glass cups.

Watching Myrtle with curiosity that bordered on suspicion, Fiona didn't answer immediately. She tilted her head to the side, trying to read her but Myrtle had kept her mind closed from intrusion, something she had practiced on a regular basis after finding out Fiona possessed telepathy as one of her powers. Letting the silence grow between them, Fiona watched for signs of discomfort from Myrtle. Finding none but seeing that Myrtle still would not look at her, Fiona finally spoke. "They're a little closer. I called the doctor and he said I should go to the hospital tonight. Jackson said he would pick me up in a few hours."

This information caused Myrtle to grin broadly as she handed Fiona a cup of tea. "This is so exciting! I'd like to be there, too, if you'll let me?" Relieved the subject was changed, Myrtle placed a hand on Fiona's stomach. She finally brought her gaze upward. "I won't be in the way, I promise."

Holding the tea in one hand, Fiona placed her hand over Myrtle's. "Don't be silly, you're definitely going to be there with me. Jackson might faint so I need all the help I can get." Squeezing Myrtle's fingers firmly, she gave another small smile. "You won't be in the way, not at all."

Sometime between the moon bowing out for the night and the sun lazily coming onto the stage, the point where it is so dark one cannot even see their hand in front of their face, a tiny baby girl entered the world. Healthy, judging by the hearty shriek she gave when making her appearance, the baby was removed from the delivery room to be inspected and cleaned before being given back to her mother in a swaddling cocoon of blankets.

Resting on the hospital bed, Fiona cradled the baby against her with a sense of strange familiarity. Jackson was sleeping in a vinyl reclining chair in the corner, snoring quietly. He had his driver take them to the hospital the prior evening, and had stayed with her the entire time, not questioning Fiona when Myrtle showed up just before the baby was born. He knew the two were good friends, almost like sisters from his point of view. Myrtle had left briefly, though, murmuring an excuse that she needed to get some food so that the two of them could spend time with the new arrival.

Fiona glanced upward from the sleeping baby when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Myrtle greeted her with a slight smile and a nod of her head as she walked into the room to sit in the chair next to Fiona's bed. She leaned over to peer at the baby with adoration. "What did you name her?" She whispered so as not to wake the baby or Jackson.

"Cordelia," Fiona whispered back. "She's so small. I feel like I might break her." Touching the baby's forehead with her fingertips, Fiona let out a soft sigh. "I love her, Myr. I really do." Looking to the redhead, she reached to grasp the woman's fingers in her free hand. "Thank you." It was simple, but it held so much more in meaning to Myrtle.

"She's beautiful," Myrtle paused, and whispered even more quietly. "Just like her mother."

Fiona smiled warmly at Myrtle, then linked their hands. Glancing to the baby, she pressed a kiss to her small cheek. "Say hello to your Auntie Myrtle, baby girl."

Myrtle's breath caught in her chest at the introduction and she felt tears pool in her eyes. They sat in silence, watching Cordelia sleep in her mother's arms, fingers entwined together but hidden against the side of Fiona's body.

Fiona's departure from the house was not as quick as Myrtle had anticipated. Jackson still had to finalize selling his house in New Orleans before they could travel home to California, so Myrtle had a few days with Fiona and Cordelia to herself. While Fiona slept quite a bit to rest, Myrtle would tend to Cordelia, having shortened class time with the students. They were all too happy to oblige, preferring to work on their research alone and not restricted to sitting in a classroom setting.

"I'm going to miss you, ma petit," Myrtle whispered to the sleeping baby as she placed her in her bassinet.

"We'll come back to visit," Fiona said quietly as she exited the bathroom. Wrapped in one of Myrtle's gaudy robes, she rubbed a towel over her hair to dry it from her shower. "Who else will teach her French?" The smile she gave was tight-lipped and brief.

Myrtle placed both hands on the edge of the bassinet, rocking it gently. Her attention rested on Cordelia's sleeping form. In just a few days she had fallen in love with the baby, almost wishing she had one of her own, and in just as many days the small bright spot in her life would be several states away. Sighing quietly, she glanced up to watch Fiona as she let the robe drop to the floor so she could get dressed. "I'll miss you both, Fiona," she said bravely as the blonde stepped into the closet to find something to wear. For having given birth just a few days ago Fiona seemed to be back to normal, her skin was radiant and she still had a little extra weight on her, but she was gorgeous in Myrtle's eyes.

"I know." There was no assurance that she would miss her, too, or any sadness in her tone. Fiona simply pulled on her clothes, and then busied herself at the dressing table with her makeup.

Realizing that Fiona was distancing herself, Myrtle halted the conversation. It was the same as last time; Fiona set up a hasty retreat so her feelings couldn't be hurt. Myrtle decided to do the same as sadness enveloped her heart. If the cold bitch wouldn't share her feelings, then she may as well try to distract herself from the pain. "Delia should sleep for a few hours. I need to run an errand, but I'll be back." As she walked past Fiona, Myrtle brushed her palm across the back of the woman's shoulders.

"You certainly will be, sooner rather than later," Fiona murmured darkly once Myrtle was out of hearing distance. She smirked at her reflection in the mirror, turning her head from side to side to admire her visage.