Violet kicks off her shoes and heads for the stairs, thudding up them on heavy legs. It's not a long flight, but it's been a long trip and she's glad to be home. She's eager to fall into her own bed and just be in her own space.
"She's been quiet…er than usual," James murmurs, watching her ascend the stairs.
"She's exhausted," Emily sighs, just as grateful as Violet to be back home.
Ireland was amazing, but she loves being home.
"Aye," James agrees, rolling their luggage past the atrium. "I think we all are."
Emily laughs lightly in agreement.
Upstairs, she hears the slightly high-pitched sound of Violet talking to Sergio, and smiles to herself.
In her bedroom, Violet had found her pet curled up on her bed, fast asleep. She'd fallen onto the bed to cuddle him.
"Hello, sir," she coos, as he wakes up, a little startled, and finds her.
He rolls onto his back, meowing at her.
"I know," she tells him. "It was a long trip."
He's most vocal after they've been gone for longer than a few days. Kaya had been coming to feed him and hang out with him, but he's clearly glad to see Violet.
Downstairs, James glances up towards the landing to see if she's coming back down.
"She okay?" he asks quietly, a furrow in his brow.
He knows Violet. She hasn't quite been herself the last couple of days.
Emily smiles, palming his cheek for a second as she kisses him.
"She's okay," she promises.
He respects Vi's privacy, knowing she, or Emily, will tell him if something is wrong.
Violet will tell James when she's ready; Emily knows it's not her place to share that information.
Emily eyes their luggage.
"Worry about it tomorrow," James says with a knowing grin.
"There's so much," she mutters, rubbing her forehead tiredly.
They hear Violet coming down, and see her long legs appear before revealing all of her; cradling Sergio.
Emily coos, coming over to pet him, and James laughs softly, amused.
Sergio's purring contentedly as his owners pet him and talk to him.
"Look at this pudge," Emily teases, scratching at his stomach.
He just blinks at them slowly, clearly pleased to have them home.
"Been sitting here for weeks, eating treats and watching Planet Earth," Violet jokes, scratching his ears. "Pretending he's a ferocious wildcat."
"A big, fat wildcat," Emily adds.
"Don't body-shame him," Violet scolds.
Emily and James laugh.
Violet shifts Sergio into her mother's arms, with a kiss on his head.
"I'm starting laundry," she announces, going to the pile of luggage.
"Oh, I love you," Emily breathes gratefully, holding Sergio.
Violet gives her a dry smile.
"You get groceries, I get laundry," she replies.
"That's fine with me," Emily shrugs. "James, my love. Can you go to the store?"
They all laugh and James grins.
"Ye know I would," he flicks his brow, starting to make coffee. "And already did."
Emily and Violet look at him, confused.
"While you two were passed out on the plane, I sat on the Trader Joe's website for about an hour," he explains. "Should be delivered in a couple hours."
The two women stare, surprised but clearly impressed.
"God, I love you," Emily exhales, closing her eyes briefly before leaning over and kissing him.
James grins, pleased with himself, as Violet pecks his cheek as she passes him.
"Bless you, Seamus," she says, using his Irish name.
He chuckles, running a hand over her smooth hair.
She grabs two pieces of luggage and starts to wheel them towards the stairs.
"I'll get it, love," James says, coming to help.
"Thanks," she murmurs, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Why don't you lie down for a bit, honey?" Emily suggests, still holding Sergio.
Typically, he'd jump down and go about his day, but after them being away he's feeling needy. He won't leave Emily's arms until she puts him down.
"Nah," Violet waves dismissively, before a yawn makes her cover her face and groan. "Then I'll be awake at 8 and won't fall asleep until…tomorrow."
Emily smiles.
She goes back to cuddling Sergio for a few minutes, as James hauls the luggage upstairs.
Violet's on the second load of laundry by the time the groceries are delivered. She can hear her parents downstairs, debating what to make to eat. It's the middle of the day, and they haven't eaten since that morning on the plane.
She sits on her bed, organizing and folding clothes.
"Hey."
She startles slightly, looking up to find her mother at the door.
"Hey," she murmurs, as Emily comes in.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Emily says softly, touching her head and kissing her forehead as she approaches.
She sits on an empty spot amid the clothes.
"You and your love of laundry," she mutters, shaking her head.
Violet scoffs a light laugh and Emily grins.
She wants to talk to her about this huge thing that she revealed to her, only days before, but she doesn't want to push.
"James wants to order from Vesuvio," she says instead.
Violet laughs, focused on folding a pair of jeans.
"After ordering a kitchen-full of groceries," she grins. "Of course he does."
Emily smiles.
"Sound good to you?" she asks.
Violet nods, setting the jeans on a stack of several others.
"Sure."
Emily picks up a sock and finds its mate.
Violet eyes her. Her mother detests doing laundry.
"I'm fine," she tells her, knowingly.
Emily meets her eye, setting aside the folded socks.
"And I'm here, whenever you want to talk," she shrugs, adopting Violet's blasé demeanour.
A small smile lights her face and Emily feels a wave of relief.
"I know," Violet mumbles, folding a shirt.
Emily picks up another sock, searching for the other.
"You can tell James," Violet says suddenly, in a soft tone.
Surprised, Emily pauses and stares.
Violet glances at her and shrugs.
"He's…basically my dad," she murmurs, busying her hands. "Or does he already know, too?"
Emily smiles, small.
"Might have an inkling," she admits. "After everything with Noah, he was impressed with how well you dealt with it."
Violet makes a face.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Emily adds the socks to the pile. "You were upset, but I think we both noticed that you were actually bothered by the betrayal, not the breakup."
Violet's movements slow, as realization dawns on her.
"You weren't exactly overly attached," Emily finishes.
Violet lets out a light, breathy scoff.
"I don't know why I'm ever surprised when you weirdos decipher a behaviour before the person even realizes what they've done."
Emily laughs, leaning on one arm.
"You may be hard to read to other people," Emily raises an eyebrow. "But you're a bit of an open book to me. And not too hard for the people who know you to try and read."
Violet shakes her head, an amused half-smile on her face.
"I guess," she shrugs.
"My loves?"
James' voice calls loudly from downstairs. It's a familiar, mock-desperate tone he uses with them that always makes Violet laugh.
Emily smiles. "Yes?"
"La nourriture. Plaire!"
Violet and Emily laugh.
"Vesuvio's good," Violet tells her mother, with a little roll of her eyes. "La reine du drame."
Emily laughs, standing up.
She kisses Violet's forehead, palming her cheek.
"I love you," she smiles, stroking her cheek before heading for the door.
Violet smiles, glancing at her.
"Alright, honey. Order away," Emily calls to James.
His response is a drawn-out, grateful groan.
Violet just laughs, finishing the laundry.
"She okay?" James asks, when Emily appears back downstairs.
He pauses ordering dinner on his phone.
Emily smiles, touched by his love for Violet.
"Yes," she promises, touching his cheek as she passes him.
She goes to the coffee pot, to refill her cup.
"Did she…did something happen?" James asks carefully, following her and standing beside her.
Emily pours her coffee, setting the pot back before meeting his eye.
"Our…suspicions, after Noah, were spot on," she confides, sipping her coffee.
James' lips part, a little taken aback.
"She told you," he says, rather than asks.
Emily raises her brow at him, just a little.
A look of relief covers James' face.
"She must…feel like a bit of a weight's been lifted off her shoulders," he says thoughtfully.
Emily nods slowly, running her hand down his well-formed chest.
"I think so," she agrees. "Still a lot of fear, there. But relief, for sure."
James nods, his mind whirring.
"She said you could tell me?" he asks.
Emily nods, and feels her chest warm at the look that comes over James.
It's like he's been given the highest compliment.
He takes a slow, deep breath, lost for a moment in thought, and Emily cups his cheek.
"I can't imagine how scary it must be for her, realizing it all, but…" James says, glancing at the stairs. "Should we…do anything specific? That we haven't thought of?"
His concern is sweet and Emily smiles at him.
"She's loved. She knows she's loved. And she knows we're here. I think we just…play it by ear."
James nods, considering this.
"I was reading about it," he says after a moment, his brow furrowed slightly. "After she saw that little shite at the party."
Emily bites into an amused but touched smile.
"Y'know, how to help and what to do, when yer kid comes out," he explains. "I just want to do right by her."
Emily leans in and kisses him, soft and slow.
His large hand comes to press against the small of her back and she wraps one arm around him, still holding her coffee with the other hand.
"You're an incredible man," she murmurs.
His ocean eyes crinkle at the corners, and he glances at her lips.
"I'm a very lucky man," he replies, and pulls her in to kiss him again.
"Caprese," James says, pushing a container towards Violet.
"I love you," she tells him, straight-faced.
He grins, winking at her.
"And I love you," he replies, handing her a fork.
She smiles, small. She feels a little shy now, but she doesn't really understand why. James already knew – or sort of knew. And now she doesn't have to hide this part of herself. But she feels a new kind of vulnerability and exposure.
Before she walks away from the island he wraps an arm around her and kisses her forehead, holding snugly for a moment.
She's grateful, always feeling safe in his embrace, and loves him for his unconditional love.
She goes to the couch and settles into the cushions, prepared for a lazy, tired night in.
"What are we watching?" James asks, coming to sit on the other side of Emily.
"I dunno," Emily holds the remote out to Violet. "You pick, baby."
"Mm," Violet shrugs, shaking her head; her mouth full of water. "You."
Emily starts to scroll through movies.
"Oh," Violet says then.
Emily glances at her.
"What? Ocean's 8?"
"I mean," Violet's eyes focus on spearing a tomato with a bit of mozzarella. "I'd watch Cate Blanchett read a phonebook, but you choose."
Emily and James laugh; Emily starts to movie, setting aside the remote.
"Sold," she smiles, winking at Violet, who blushes just a little as she slips her fork into her mouth.