Warnings: none
Plot: Duncan has a confrontation with his mom, Francesca shares the story of her stalker.
"Sorry not sorry."
Well, it was out. In the paper, on the news. An article talking about Duncan and his star-crossed lovers and a day at pride. It was on the front page of a magazine as one of the cover stories, with a picture included of Duncan, Rose, and Francesca at pride, only mere days after the D.C. pride event. The article was even titled with the headline: "Does one of D.C.'s most eligible and finest bachelor's Duncan Shepherd have two girlfriends?" They could believe they had been seen but didn't see the point in why it mattered and couldn't believe just how hyped up it had been when they were just celebrating their love. What business was it anyway of the general public about who loved who. It was even speculated and rumored that Duncan actually did this as a publicity stunt. To try and make himself more relevant again and be seen in the public eye for attention. Why did the paparazzi have to be such scumbags? Reporters and journalists had nothing better to do than attack them instead of reporting on the real issues and news like catching criminals, the fight for gender equality, and LGBT rights. Hopefully, it would all blow over soon. Duncan and Rose were trying to stay out of the public eye for a bit. Annette Shepherd, Duncan's mom had left him a voicemail that she was on her way to talk to him. She wasn't happy.
"Looks like my mom is coming over. Just great. The last thing I need right now," Duncan said in between sips of his black coffee.
"Maybe I should leave then. I'll go see Francesca. I'll text her right now."
"If that's what you want to do. I don't expect you to stay."
"I understand. Your mom can't stand me anyway," she says rolling her eyes.
"I'm with you. Not my mom. I don't care what she thinks. I wanna be with you, that's what matters," he reassures her.
"I'll never be good enough for your family though and that's the point. I don't want to let you go but.."
"Listen to me. Just look at me ok?" he says tilting her chin up to meet her eyes. He continues... "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm not willing to give that up without a fight."
"I love you. I am in love with you and I care deeply about Francesca and I want this to work."
"I love you too. And Francesca is an important person in my life now too. These articles are bogus anyway and soon a new news story will pop up and people won't care anymore."
She gets a text back from Francesca telling her to come over.
"She texted back. Call me when your mom leaves, ok?" She asks as she kisses him on the cheek.
"Okay, babe. I'll miss you. Hopefully, this won't take long."
She finishes getting ready for the day and unfortunately on her way out she runs into Duncan's mom. Great. Just what she needed right now. Annette goes over to Rose looking all defensive with her hands on her hips.
"Well look who the cat dragged in.. After that stunt the three of you pulled the other day I can't believe you would show your face in public right now. My son deserves better than you," she angrily states.
"Listen, lady, your son can do whatever he wants, go wherever he wants, date whomever he wants and you can't stop him," she responds in a heated tone.
"You really think you are special, huh? Well, my son has been with a lot of girls before you. You aren't special. When he gets tired of you and that other girl, which he will once he comes to his senses, which he will, he will kick you to the curb. Just like all the others."
"I don't have time for this or your childish antics. You don't even deserve my attention. You won't break us up. You're just a poor excuse for a mother. It is Duncan who deserves better than you."
"Believe what you want little girl. But you and your little friend aren't going to last with him. He wants to settle down with a real woman and not some floozie. Ciao."
And with that, Annette storms away angrily. Rose decides to be the bigger person and let it go. She heads over to Francesca's in her black sports car convertible. Duncan's mom, Annette makes her way up to Duncan's condo. He lets her in and she does not look happy.
"Just had an interesting talk with your little girlfriend. What the hell is wrong with you, Duncan?! The little stunt you pulled is front-page news. It makes your family look trashy too. I mean really."
"What the hell, mom?! What did you say to her and why are you being like this? You never approve of any of my relationships."
"I'm just looking out for you. I want what's best for you. You can have any woman so why them? I know you've probably had threesomes but that's no real relationship. You need one woman. When playtime is over it is my hope that you will find a nice woman to settle down with."
"You don't know anything. Stay. Out. Of. My. Love. Life." He says through clenched teeth.
"It won't work. I'm being realistic. How do you know she won't leave you for this girl or that she isn't cheating with other people?" She asks concerned.
"I trust her. I know I could get my heart broken but she's worth it. She isn't cheating on me. I would know. Not that I expect you to understand."
"Look, I just want you to be happy. This girl though isn't the one. You need to start thinking more with your head and less with your dick."
"It's not just about the sex. I have a connection with both Rose and Francesca. It's time for you to let me go and make my own decisions."
"Fine. I can't control your life but I hope that you come to your senses. I care about you so much," she says sounding defeated.
She goes to leave. He doesn't stop her. Everything that needed to be said was said and there was nothing left to say. Shortly after he texts Rose to come back over when she can and that Francesca was more than welcome to come. She receives the text and tells Francesca. She tells Duncan they are on their way.
"I can't believe Duncan's mom told me off it was ridiculous. She's crazy!" Rose remarks.
"She needs to mind her own business. We make Duncan happy so who cares what Annette Shepherd or the world thinks."
"I know. I can't believe people care so much about who I love."
"Or who I love," Francesca adds.
"The papers and that story about us I thought it would scare you off. Not that I would blame you if you left."
"I'm not leaving and it will take more than some scum news reporters writing a story about us for me to leave," she says trying to reassure her.
"Good I hope you stick around."
And with that, they share a hug. They arrive at Duncan's place less than ten minutes later. He's working on some paperwork when they come in and sit next to him on the couch.
"So I had a talk with your mom. She doesn't like me at all. She thinks I'm wrong for you," Rose tells him with dismay.
"I set her straight. She won't be bothering either of you anymore. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"You don't have to apologize for her," Rose says.
"You are both in my life by choice. My crazy mother won't change that. I promise," he reassures them.
"I think I should be honest with you both about someone from my past. I owe an explanation to you too Rose for leaving and losing contact with you years ago."
"Ok, I'll listen. And shit happens, life goes on. I get it," Rose reassures her.
Francesca takes a deep breath before she begins.
"I dated this guy he was a friend of a friend. We had a good solid relationship or so I thought. It wasn't before long I found out he was cheating on me. I left him and he started stalking me and obsessing over me. He would send me love letters but I told him to stop and he started sending me death threats."
"I'm so sorry. That's awful," Rose tells her.
"It got so bad I had to get a restraining order against him. I moved, he found me and left more threatening calls and sent me packages of dead roses and dead animals. I reported him to the police and after showing them all of this I put an end to it."
"What happened to him?" Duncan asks.
"He got 3 years in prison and after he gets out probation and community service. I moved to Maryland for a bit because he said he would have people come after me and get me."
"I can't believe that happened to you. It's so fucked up," Rose says consoling her.
"When he gets out he won't get to you and he won't find you. You're safe with me," Duncan promises her as they embrace in a hug.
"That means a lot to me. If I could go back in time I would have told you Rose instead of abandoning our friendship. I care about you a lot."
Rose and Francesca hug and kiss each other.
"It's okay now. You don't have to explain I get it. The important thing is that your back."
"I know it's not an excuse to lose contact when we had each other's numbers and everything but I had to find myself and I didn't talk to mainly anyone when I left," she says apologizing.
"Fate brought you both back together," Duncan suggests.
"I want you in my life but when times get tough you can't always leave. I hope you stick around this time," Rose says.
"I won't leave again I promise. And I don't want either of you to think that I am trying to come in between your relationship and steal one of you away from the other. You both have a good thing going I hope I can add to that."
"You do add to our relationship it's even more beautiful now. I trust Duncan and he trusts me. Healthy poly relationships exist and I think that we can be proof of that."
"These news articles we have to ignore them and be the best people we can be. I'm willing to try and make things work between us I care about you both," Duncan replies.
Francesca knew this was what she wanted, to be accepted, to love and be loved, to find her place in a relationship with two people whon she loved. Not only could she have her heart broken by one person but she could end up being heartbroken by two. Rose felt the same way and she didn't want to lose her man to another woman but there was always a chance for that to happen. She wanted to love them both but people had always promised her they wouldn't leave when they left and left again. That could happen again except hopefully it wouldn't. Duncan was glad that he stood up to his mom. He would do everything in his power to keep his girlfriends safe and loved. They would have everything in the world that they wanted.