Worrying too much
Vastra had been out for too long. Jenny was sitting in her armchair by the fire, scared and alone and picking at her nails. The fire slowly dying, the embers lurking in the burning coals. Her mind has wondered to why Vastra has been out for so long; she had often worried sick for Vastra's return before but that was much earlier than this. She couldn't bring herself to go to bed, the fear was keeping her up.
The conversation over allowing them to work together had been dismissed again this morning. It was another pity lying in Jenny's aching stomach. She was trying to knit a scarf for Vastra for Christmas and was almost finished. But she kept stitching it wrong, her trembling hands can't keep still. She weeps a little, she knows it is pointless but she can't help the tears flooding her face. She doesn't even know why.
The door crashes open and Vastra stumbles in laughing, Jenny gets up and rushes into the hallway. Vastra can see the tear stains around her eyes and reaches for her face.
"What's the matter sweet pea?" Jenny can't quite speak, her words jumble and her throat is tight and stuck.
"You weren't here." Her voice is breaking as she sobs into Vastra's hands. As it's four in the morning she sees a vulnerable girl and her heart melts. She kisses her wife, soft to shatter her worries and warm to remind Jenny she is here. Jenny pulls her arms tight around Vastra and leans into her shoulder, her tears soak into the soft material of Vastra's overcoat.
"Are you okay now honey?" Jenny makes for the stairs wiping her sore eyes. " And where are you going missus? " Vastra calls, Jenny turns around, her hair is coming loose and falls in front of her face.
"Come here." Jenny calls out calmly, Vastra walks over to her and runs her hair through her scaly fingers.
"I missed you." Jenny makes a half-tired smile. Her outfit is old and scraggy, she had only put it on as it smelt like Vastra. She looks like she could fall apart with a single touch, she looks so small and so young. Her smile breaks as she takes Vastra's hand and leads her upstairs to bed.
Their room is small but cosy, white curtains and white bed sheets, four posters and a blue rug by the door. Jenny has a dressing table where she dumps her dress and gets into bed. It is freezing cold as the fire had burned out hours ago. Vastra looked towards the bed and went to get in before noticing the already asleep Jenny laying peacefully underneath the covers.