6.11 - You Can See The Stars
All good things must come to an end. Of some sort.
Oh, Jamie's fine. I told you she doesn't die.
"How's Jamie?" Holly didn't even wait for Vivian to speak.
Over the phone, her daughter sighed. "She's okay, got a lung full of crap and they want her to spend the night."
The sigh, Holly's mother's ear detected, was not a worried over an in-pain girlfriend. No, that was the sound of Vivian dealing with an emotional trauma. Holly closed her laptop. "Don't tell me you're breaking up," she said firmly.
"What?!" Vivian's voice jumped. "No! God, what's wrong with my family?"
That was anger. And frustration. "Sorry, you sounded... never mind. What's wrong, honey?"
Vivian was quiet for a moment. "Okay. Jamie rescued a baby."
"Oh?" Holly frowned. She was missing a clue here. "Okay. Is the baby alright?"
"I mean, he was in a fire, Mom. That's not the ... That isn't the point." Yep, Vivian was frustrated. "When Mom wanted to ... When you two were broken up and ..." She stopped.
Holly arched her eyebrows. Why was Vivian asking about that dark time? When she and Gail had broken up... and Gail wanted to ... She frowned. Vivian had said baby. "The really stupid way I tried to get her to move to San Francisco?"
Now, Holly did not at all believe that was the subject on hand. Vivian wasn't leaving Toronto, and neither was Jamie. And Vivian had mentioned a baby. Holly may not have been the detective in their family, but she wasn't a chump at the detection things. She was a medical examiner. She knew how to solve mysteries.
And this one was very clear.
"Why did you freak out when Mom wanted to adopt Sophie?"
Holly sighed and closed her eyes. Jamie saved a baby. And was bonding with the baby. And Vivian was now in Holly's situation.
Instead of trying to just answer the real question, which was probably more about how the hell did someone jump right into wanting to be a parent, Holly opted to give the asked for answer.
"Because I had a plan," she admitted. "See. I knew Gail was never going to leave Toronto. So I was going to ask her to move with me, she was going to say no, and we were going to have makeup slash breakup sex, and then I'd talk her into being friends with benefits." Holly paused. "And in six months, if she was still into me, I'd figure out a way to move back and we'd be together."
Vivian made a noise Holly knew too well. The strangled choke of someone holding back a laugh. "Mom. That's a terrible plan!"
"Well. I was stupid and in love," Holly muttered. "And I never told your mother this, so shut up."
"She would lose all respect for your intellect, Mom," said Vivian gravely.
Holly laughed, "Thanks."
"What's that have to do with Sophie?"
"Oh. Gail was so ... immature at the time. I thought the friends with benefits and the distance would get her to grow up, or feel jealous when I told her I was going out, and then she'd want to be a mature adult."
"Huh, that might have worked."
"Lisa didn't think so."
"Aunt Bitch Tits is a jerk, FYI."
"Yes, but she's our jerk." Holly grinned. "Anyway. Gail announcing she wanted to be a parent, when I very much did not at the time, was ... it threw everything off. And I couldn't see Gail being grown up enough, emotionally, to handle it."
"You were against it because of Mom being ... Mom?"
"Well that and I absolutely didn't want children."
The air felt heavy. Yeah. That's what was going on. Holly inhaled deeply. Her baby girl was looking at the world in a new way. The universe had handed her a chance, an opportunity with this mystery baby, and Vivian was seriously considering it.
Parenthood.
"Right," muttered Vivian.
As far as Holly knew, Vivian wasn't opposed to parenthood. She wasn't seeking it out at the moment, but she'd been generally open to the concept. It was a very different situation than Holly's had been. But. Vivian had called her mother, the one who'd been against having children, for a reason.
Holly bit the bullet. "Tell me about the baby?"
After a moment, Vivian exhaled and explained. "His name is Tyson, and he doesn't appear to have any family."
"Appear?"
"His parents, at least we presume they're the parents, died in the fire."
"Honey, you're talking like a cop."
That seemed to give Vivian pause. "All she wanted to know was how the kid was, Mom. And Shay said he only stopped crying if Jamie held him." She was worried. Scared.
Oh. Yes. They were gonners. "Who's working the case?"
"It's under Frankie, so Xander. Probably."
"He'll find any relatives, you know that. And the odds are this baby will have someone who wants him."
"I don't..." Vivian trailed off. "Mom, I'm pretty sure they were undocumented."
Well that put a twist on. "Oh. Okay." Holly wasn't sure at all where to go with that information.
"I'm scared," said Vivian in a small voice.
And just like that, she knew. Holly was a mom. She had to calm Vivian down. "Vivian, honey. You're not me. Or Gail, thank god." Her daughter laughed. "Where's Jamie now?"
"Sleeping in the hospital. They gave her some painkillers and she's out like a light."
"Where's the baby?"
"Uh. NICU still."
"And where are you?"
"Outside, trying to remember how to breathe."
Right. Time to do the right thing. "Go check on the baby. Make sure he's okay, that he's not alone."
"Mom..."
"No matter what happens next, think about what you want, honey. If Jamie's going to fight for this little guy, you need to decide if you are too."
"Mom, it's not the 1990s. They don't just hand lesbians random babies."
Holly smiled at the phone. "There's more to this than just this baby, honey. You know that."
This was going to be Vivian's moment when it all changed. When she had to take the next step of adulthood. A full time job, living on her own, love, living with someone, and now... now. Now Vivian had to figure out if she was going to do the next step. Be a parent.
As much as Gail would tease her, Holly didn't care if Vivian never had or adopted children. She just wanted her kid to be happy, to be loved, and for people to see her as the wonderful person Holly knew.
And right now, Vivian loved a crazy girl who ran into buildings that were on fire, who rescued a baby, and was now worried about that baby. A lot. And Vivian would know better than anyone else what Jamie wanted.
"I know, Mom," said Vivian, her voice small and young and quiet. "I wish I had some time to process it, or something."
"Like nine months?"
Vivian giggled. Then she snorted. Then she laughed. "Thank you, I needed that one."
"You'll make the right choice, honey. Just don't go cutting off all your hair. Promise."
"I promise. Thanks, Mom." Then. "I'm gonna go see Tyson. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, Viv."
Holly hung up the phone and pressed it to her chest. Okay. She could do this. She knew what came next. Call social services, call a lawyer, call their family lawyers. No. No, she needed to make a list and let Vivian decide who to call. Holly put her phone down and scribbled the list.
She then made one phone call. To Anne, from Social Services, and gave her old friend a heads up. That Vivian might call her, and need a favour. And Anne, who had known them forever, would do what she could.
Only then did Holly text her wife.
Call me as soon as you can. It's important.
And she waited.
Her phone rang, from her daughter, just as a text came from wife. Gail glanced at the text, which demanded a phone call, and tapped an answer. She'd call Holly in a moment.
"Go for Peck."
There was a pause and a sigh. "Jesus, Mom."
"Sorry," Gail laughed. "What's up? How's the hose monkey?"
There was another pause. "She's okay. Lungs are fine, but she has to stay another night. And so does the baby."
Gail stared at the wall. She must have misheard something. "Sorry... What? Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. But she saved a baby."
That was twice Vivian had said baby... "Viv. Honey. What baby?"
Vivian made a noise Gail associated with the time she dented the car. There was no way Vivian thought Gail would take this well. "She saved a baby from the apartment fire. And ... is really freaking out about him."
Freaking out. "Did she cry?"
"Yeah."
Oh. "Maybe it's just the adrenaline — "
Vivian cut her off. "I already called Mom. I asked her ... about you and Sophie."
That explained the text. Gail sighed and took off her glasses. "You could ask me."
"I'm asking now, Mom." Vivian's voice was tense. Well. That was to be expected. "Why did Sophie hit you so hard?"
God, that was a long time ago. "Sweetheart, you want to come to my office?"
"Can't. I'm at the NICU."
Of course she was. "Sophie was complicated. Your mom and I had that stupid fight, and I was being all of six years old emotionally. And ... she'd already told me goodbye. So I was just really in a shitty place. And then there's this kid. And I realized, I had everything. But she didn't."
Vivian sighed. "What made Mom want to adopt?"
"Oh. That's Alexianne. She's Chiac. Mom was an OD. Whole mess with Gerald's rookie, the kid latched on to Holly. We don't keep in touch a whole lot anymore, but she's fine." Gail smiled softly, remembering that day. "There's a thing, honey. A moment when it all just hits you. And you feel everything. Everything feels more, hurts more, and you can't stop feeling for them. And after this, sweetheart, everything is going to tear at you, just a little more."
Her daughter made a noise. "Shit. That's Oliver."
"It is, sweetheart. But it's what Jamie's going through right now."
The next noise was a groan.
"Okay, kid. Tell me about this baby."
"Mom, he's a baby," said Vivian, a little exasperated. That meant Holly had asked as well.
"Parents?"
"Dead. We think."
Gail tapped up the report and frowned. "Wow. Undocumented anchor baby."
"Oh? Is that official now?"
"Xander's prelim work. Is he cute?"
"Assuming you mean Tyson and not Xander," drawled Vivian. "I mean ... he's crosseyed as a bat and not at all pleased about the oxygen. Hang on."
A moment passed and Gail's phone pinged again. The baby was average sized, possibly Asian or Latinx. Gail couldn't tell from the photo except that he was annoyed. "Tyson, huh. Well you're fucked now, my French failure."
Vivian laughed. "What?"
"Tyson, from tison which is French for firebrand?"
The girl was quiet. "Aw shit."
"How's Jamie's French?"
"Fuck you, Mom." But Vivian was sounding a great deal less tense. "You don't believe in shit like that anyway."
"No, I don't." Gail smiled and leaned back. "It's hard, you know. We had a couple other kids before you."
Now Vivian fell silent. "I know."
"You may have to say goodbye."
"I know," she repeated. And then. "Is it worth it?"
"Oh. For me, us, yes. All of it. But it's also okay to say no, remember."
Vivian exhaled loudly. "I need to think about this."
"Want me to come over?"
"No. I think ... I think I need to find the answer for me."
Gail nodded and sighed. "Okay. You're not alone, kiddo."
"I know, Mom. Thanks." She paused. "I love you."
"Love you too, Viv." And she hung up.
Well. Shit. Was anyone ever ready for that? Probably not.
Gail stared at her phone and, instead of calling Holly, tapped the third number on her frequent contacts. "Mom, do you still have my crib or did you burn that after the divorce?"
Her mother made a strangled noise. "What has Vivian done?"
"At least you're not asking me what I did."
Elaine snorted. "You're too old to be pregnant, and I doubt you're adopting another at this point."
"Touché. She fell in love with Jamie."
"I know that," said Elaine, acerbically. "What does that have to do with cribs?"
"Jamie's fallen for a baby she saved from a fire."
"Heavens. What's the name?"
"Tyson. He's not even a month old. I haven't looked up all the details, but he's apparently an orphan." And she wouldn't. That wasn't her way.
"Hm. Well. I actually have it in storage, along with your baby books. Hope sprung eternal, I suppose. I don't ... Oh, I take that back, I do have most of Steven's clothes. We gave yours to Shay's mother."
"And we both turned out gay."
Her mother deadpanned a reply. "It was the overalls."
Gail smiled. "I knew that."
"It was rather obvious. I'll get the crib. Shall I bring it to Vivian's?"
"No, Holly will need a project to get her lesbian grandmother ya-yas out."
"Oh dear god..."
"Just sorted out what that makes you?"
"I'm old, Gail!" Elaine actually sounded mortified. "A great grandmother? This is horrible."
Gail laughed. "I suddenly feel much better now. Thanks, Mom."
"I hate you, Gail Antonia Peck! How could you do this to me?"
"You're the one who wanted me married," she retorted.
"I thought you and Nick would have broken up before we got to Las Vegas." Elaine sounded annoyed. "Well. Shit."
Again, Gail laughed. "That's about right. I'll cancel my hair appointment."
Elaine made a noise Gail had never heard before. "You are serious... She is serious. Oh my god."
"Mom... Mom, are you having a heart attack?"
"You're going to be a grandmother."
Gail bubbled a laugh from a place she was unfamiliar with, and yet felt like she'd known forever. She laughed with all of her heart, realizing her life had taken yet another turn she'd never expected.
Except she had. From the moment Gail had wanted to adopt Sophie, this moment was inevitable. This was someone she'd wanted to be for longer than she'd wanted to be married to Holly. A parent. A grandparent. Someone who saw her family and memory go on forever.
"Yes, Mom. I'm going to be a grandmother. And I'm happy."
"You're insane, sweetheart," said Elaine, flatly. "I'll have the crib pulled out of storage. You can pick it up tonight or tomorrow."
"Thanks, Mom. I owe you."
"No, you don't," Elaine said sincerely. "This is you paying me back, Gail."
True. "Fine. I'll call you about the crib tonight or tomorrow. Bye, Mom."
"Bye, dear."
She called Holly next, after having another giggle fit. Her wife answered right away.
"Gail. This is serious," said Holly in her most adult voice ever. It was wonderful.
"Yeah, she called me. Mom's got my old crib in storage, and some of Steven's old baby clothes. I figure we can get them started."
"Yes to the crib, I'll pick it up tonight. No to the clothes, they're going to be recycled."
"Well, that's fair. Steve was dressed up like a sailor once or twice."
Holly sucked in a breath. "Find me those pictures, Gail."
"Deal."
They sat in silence for a little while. "Jesus," muttered Holly. "This is happening."
"It might just be transient, Holly. You know that."
"And it might not. Vivian was supposed to be a few weeks. Maybe months."
Gail sighed. "I'm canceling my cut and colour."
A heartbeat passed and Holly burst out laughing. "You do that. I'm going to finish work and go get the crib. Love you."
Gail hung up and threw her life into a frenzy of phone calls. That included one to Jamie's father to make sure he knew what their idiot children were up. Following the calls, she ran errands to get Vivian baby supplies for a one month old. Thankfully Gail knew a lot of people who had kids, and would donate without asking why.
And then she had to talk to Christian. That included a bit of coordination, since Gail didn't want to step on Vivian's toes. At the same time, she needed to get things in the right motion. Gail ended up getting to the apartment at the same time as her daughter, and they descended on poor Christian with a situation.
By the time Vivian left again, with some clothes for Jamie in tow, Christian immediately jumped in to doing laundry and cleaning the condo. Before Gail could offer to help, he kicked her out and let in the rest of Vivian's rookie class, along with some of Jamie's coworkers.
Gail finally made it home, only to find Holly had the crib stripped down to bare wood and was painting it in something meant to ensure its safety for kids who might chew it. So Gail joined her, in sloppy jeans and an old shirt, sanding and cleaning all the small parts while they laughed about how strange life was.
The sun set, leaving them with a pretty smelly, but primed, crib, takeout, and beer.
"Life, huh?"
"Who needs it?"
"You plan and plan and plan, and then it just does what it wants."
"Kinda like your cowlick."
Gail grinned and reached up to smooth her hair. "I'm sitting on the back porch of my house, covered in dust and paint, drinking beer with the most awesome wife ever. And I'm about to stop dying my hair."
"Yeah, that sounds pretty fairytale to me, honey," noted Holly, leaning in and bumping Gail's shoulder with her own.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And you're still kinda beautiful."
"Oh really?"
Holly smiled and leaned over, kissing Gail softly. "Really." They kissed again. "Let's go inside and wash this mess down the drain."
Some time later, Gail lay in bed, feeling incredibly calm and at peace. With her cheek resting on Gail's thigh, Holly snickered a laugh.
"Way to ruin the moment."
"I was thinking about all the times we snuck in sex when Vivian was little."
Gail blinked and then had to laugh as well. "Get up here," she ordered, and swatted Holly's shoulder.
Her wife kissed the available skin and then made her way to lie along side Gail. "We always end up on the diagonal when we have sex."
"Beds are too short," muttered Gail.
"And yet you're the one who wanted our first time to be on the couch."
"Liar. I wanted it in the shower, and someone said no and turned on cold water."
Holly giggled. "I meant the first time I went down on you, asshole."
Oh. Gail huffed. "I was horny as hell and would've been fine with it in the car, Holly."
"Ew, not your car," declared Holly, and Gail burst out in laughter. Holly joined her a moment later.
The laughter felt good. It wasn't funny ha-ha, it was just the absurdity of everything. "Oh my god, Holly. Grandparents."
"Yep," replied Holly, popping the P loudly, just like Gail did. Just like Elaine did. And she smiled broadly at Gail. "Probably good that I'll be retired soon, huh?"
"They're smart. They'll figure it out."
Holly kissed Gail's shoulder and rolled onto her back, stretching out. "And we'll be right here for them."
"We will." Gail took a deep breath and exhaled, relaxing.
They lay like that for a while, the sweat cooling, muscles chilling, breathing back to normal. Gail turned her head to look at Holly.
There was a first time for everything. The first kiss with Holly had tossed Gail's mental apple cart into complete and total disarray. She'd thought she was straight. She totally wasn't. Except as soon as she put any serious thought to it, of course being a lesbian made sense for her.
And then there was Holly. Beautiful, smart, safe Holly. Holly who steered her around the curves of lesbianism. Who didn't make Gail feel awkward or incompetent when it came to sex. Well that was hard anyway. Sex was bodies, and bodies were easy.
There was one moment where Holly had found it funny. Gail had no problem sorting out lesbian sex, and Holly explained that a lot of people wondered what constituted sex. Gail remembered shrugging and saying that it was sex. Much like porn, you knew it when you did it.
Her eyes drifted down Holly's body.
Over twenty-five years of kissing the same woman. Touching the same body. Listening to the same voice. Rediscovering, over and over and over, how goddamned brilliant Holly was. For years.
If Gail believed in a god, she'd say she was blessed. Or maybe ask what sins she'd been absolved from. Possibly she'd wonder what good she'd done in her last life to be rewarded with someone who got her. Understood her.
Someone who loved her.
"Gail," said Holly, her tone a prelude to a deep thought.
No doubt, Holly was thinking about all the work that went into being a parent. Or maybe she was thinking about how hard a baby was.
Gail didn't want to think about that just yet. She wanted another night, the last night, to think about her wife and her love and god, yes, sex.
She reached over and tapped a finger to Holly's lips. "Shhh," said Gail, and she kissed Holly's collarbone. The valley between her breasts. And on and on and on as she made sure the only word Holly was capable of saying was the one.
"Gail."
The last 36 hours had been a bit of a rush, realized Vivian. Her own head was spinning.
It was no shock that it all bewildered Jamie. "We have baby clothes and a crib?"
"Well the crib isn't done," admitted Vivian. "Holly said there was lead paint and sanded it down, and now she's replacing the hardware. But she'll have it by the end of the week."
Naturally, Holly had also made rude comments about how the paint explained a lot about Gail and Steve, but that was for later. The crib priming was done already, and all it needed was a good coat and some replacement screws. Holly had called it a code violation, and technically unsafe for little fingers.
And yet Jamie stared at her. "You're ... okay. You're okay with all this?"
Vivian exhaled. "No. I'm scared shitless, Jamie. But I'm not an idiot."
Jamie sat on the other side of the hospital couch and sighed. "It was an accident. His parents didn't make it out."
There was no reason for Jamie to tell her. Vivian had been there, and she knew what it was. It was a call. Jamie had to make the call to save a child or the parents. It had been a horrible, painful call. It had been the kind of call that ripped heart and soul apart. It flayed a person with barbed wire.
Oh yeah, Vivian had been there before. She'd been the survivor before. She was now on the other end. So her job was to show Jamie the way out.
"You told me." She took Jamie's hand. "Look. You get out of here today. The doctors want you to stay at home and use a nebulizer though. And this baby..." Vivian turned to the door.
The nurse shook her head as she wheeled the carrier in, filled with one crying baby. Full on wailing. "This is not how things are done, Ms. Peck."
"She's an officer," said Jamie, sitting up and coughing.
"And a very persistent one," said Anne, following the nurse. The social worker shook her head. "Honestly. The last twenty-four hours have been very exciting. You are aware there are a whole series of classes and tests you're supposed to take."
The home survey was supposed to take a few months, and the classes were nine days. Oh yes, Vivian knew. "I really appreciate this."
"Well." Anne picked up the baby and brought him over to Jamie.
Reflexively, Jamie took the boy. "Wait. I know I haven't taken any classes."
"Emergency bonding," said Anne, simply and she watched. "Well I'll be damned."
The baby quieted to a more simple sound of disgruntled annoyance. "Shay said the kid only stopped crying when Jamie held him," Vivian reminded. It was the damnedest thing.
"His name is Tyson. Tyson Burke." Jamie carefully settled the baby in one arm. "He's hungry. I think..."
The nurse shook her head again and handed over a bottle. "He's been fussing all night. You sure he's not related?"
"Pretty sure, yeah." Jamie looked pained and then absorbed in the moment of feeding the infant. Who was similarly absorbed.
She was probably thinking of the fire that had burnt Tyson's parents alive. According to Jesús, Jamie had put her mask on the baby and ran for it. That was her job. Save the helpless first. It was the right call. The only call. But she'd left the parents to die, knowing she couldn't get all three. Her team hadn't been able to get them either.
Vivian sat on the edge of the couch. "You know we've got references, Anne. And there's precedent. Jamie's EMT certified, a second rank firefighter, and she clearly bonded."
"What are your qualifications, Peck?" Jamie was smirking.
The room got a little quiet and Anne turned to Jamie. "I was Vivian's case worker," she said, a little quietly. "Anne LeShay. It's nice to meet you."
Jamie sighed. "I'm just gonna shove my feet in my mouth, if that's okay."
"It's fine," Vivian promised. "Anne..."
"Oh I'll sign the provisional papers, provided your name is on this too, Vivian."
Vivian looked at Jamie. "So... we didn't get to talk about this. Not really."
"No. No we didn't." Jamie chewed her lower lip. "Surprise. It's a boy?"
Smiling, Vivian glanced at Anne who nodded and took the nurse out. This needed a bit of privacy. "I'm not gonna lie, Jamie. I really, really care about you. And I think ... on a lot of levels, this is crazy. But I'm not moving to California."
"What?"
"Long story," smiled Vivian. "My point. My point is I'm still in this."
Jamie held her breath. "This?"
"Us," said Vivian quietly. "You. Me. And apparently Tyson."
"Even though... I just decided that I have to do this?"
Vivian nodded. "I know. I mean, I figured it out. Pecks have each other's backs, because no one else will."
"That is horrible." Jamie looked a little appalled.
"One day I will tell you the story. It's long..." Vivian sighed.
Jamie shook her head, as if that would clear it. "So ... What now?"
"I won't let the best thing that's happened to me, besides my moms, go without a fight."
"No. It's not..." Jamie reached over to touch Vivian's cheek. "You're serious." Vivian nodded a little. "This is a little crazy."
"Oh it's a lot crazy, baby."
"But... Jesus, Viv, I'm talking about being a mom and I have no idea what I'm doing. God, do you? There are laws about this."
Vivian smiled and Jamie stopped babbling. This part was easy. "No one does, Jamie. No one has a clue. But I care about you. And you care about Tyson. And... I love you. I know I'm not exactly the best at recognizing what I'm feeling, Jamie. My god, how long did it take for me to realize you were flirting?"
The self-deprecating humour made Jamie smile. "Shut up for a minute, Viv." And she leaned in to kiss her. "You are totally insane. You know that, right?"
"Well, Gail thinks that you're awesome and Holly thinks you're a little insane, but yes." Vivian leaned in to kiss Jamie this time. "Now let me hold this guy."
Jamie hesitated and then handed over the infant. "Careful..."
"I know." Little Tyson looked up at Vivian with big, baby blue eyes. He couldn't focus yet, he was too young, but he could and did yawn and smack his lips. He didn't cry or fuss. He just seemed content.
Then Jamie blurted, "Wait. You told your moms?"
"Hmm. I did. I needed advice." Vivian shrugged. "Don't worry about Holly. She thinks 40 is the right age to adopt."
Wincing, Jamie pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be fucking crazy."
"Probably," agreed Vivian brightly. "But you won't be alone."
Later that autumn ...
"And that is where your moms got caught making out."
Vivian blinked and looked over. "Mom, what the hell are you telling him?"
With a look of innocence Gail had cultivated all her life, her mother smiled. "I am telling my grandson all about how I caught his moms making out on the dock the first time they came up to the cottage."
Rolling her eyes, Vivian opened the grill and checked the ribs. "You're such a shit, Mom. Also it was the couch and we haven't signed the papers yet."
"Please. It was both." Gail hefted Tyson to her shoulder. "Jamie, you're both signing the papers, right?"
Jamie eyed the two as she walked on to the back deck. "The adoption papers? Yes."
"I'm just saying, calling us his moms is premature."
Rolling her eyes, the firefighter handed Vivian the tray of vegetables to grill. "Not really. We're signing the last papers when we finish the prenup which your lawyer said would be ready when we got home. Why do I have to sign one anyway?"
"It's is not worth hearing from the Armstrongs for the rest of your life. Trust me." Holly put the drinks down and went over to Gail. "Gimme. My turn."
Vivian sighed as her mothers cheerfully sat with their son. That was still weird. "They are never giving him back."
"That's okay. I really appreciate the break." Jamie sat by the grill and closed her eyes.
Jamie needed the break. She'd been exhausted for months. Seeing as she'd started with saving Ty from a fire and having to take a break for her own lungs to heal, and Jamie had fallen from that right into her half-year maternity to take care of the boy, she'd been the more full-time mom.
As soon as Tyson settled in, Gail and Holly started to pop by to babysit. Jamie's parents had been exhausted as well, and were more than happy to share the load. They weren't really comfortable dealing with babies in general, and not with their daughter as a surprise parent either. But apparently Vivian as ... Well, Vivian as a co-parent was okay.
And while it had taken a lot of work getting schedules sorted out, since Vivian wasn't able to take all of her maternity leave at once. In the end, she'd worked out half days. Mostly. And somewhere in there they managed taking care of Tyson, taking care of each other, and still having a sex life.
Remembering the drama of her mothers, Vivian made sure to carve out time for them. Sometimes it was just a couple hours while Tyson napped. Other times they got a whole day when their parents stepped in to baby sit. But they did make sure to be a couple and not just co-parents. It was not an easy balance, but they seemed to make it work.
The engagement was Anne's fault. A routine check on the living situation, which was just fine, ended with them being asked when they were getting married. Not if. When. Naturally they had to talk about it. And talk, and talk. And, after asking Vivian's parents if they were being stupid, they started the paperwork, which was complicated only by being mid-adoption.
And he was as much Vivian's son as Jamie's. Vivian had been the one to sit up with him when he and Jamie caught the same fever. When Jamie had finally been able to move around, she'd found Vivian asleep on the couch with Tyson nestled on her chest. The photo of them was framed next to the one of Vivian, Holly, and Gail at the cottage. It seemed fitting.
But she did love Tyson too. It was unexpected. Vivian knew she loved Jamie. She'd been prepared to like the boy. In general Vivian liked children. She just didn't think Tyson would break her heart when he smiled at her and grabbed her nose.
He wasn't very coordinated yet. He didn't even crawl or scoot. Soon, too soon he would be mobile. Then he'd stand, and walk... And teeth.
But right now Tyson was lying on his stomach on the grass while Holly lay down at his level and laughed. The grandmother was taking his fingers and talking, the baby was wriggling and babbling. Words. There were going to be real words soon. He'd managed a few that sounded like concepts but it was hard to tell.
"He likes the cottage," Vivian said quietly, watching Gail laugh as Holly helped Tyson sit up.
"The cottage is magical. Promise me we can come here forever."
"As the one true heir of Slytherin, I think I can make that promise."
Jamie smiled and opened her eyes. "Hey. Who are the Armstrongs?"
"My idiot family. You met them at the party."
"I know that, Viv, but who are they? You make them sound important."
"Oh. Diamonds." When Jamie looked blank, Vivian explained. "Armstrong Industrial Diamonds. Elaine's family. They're loaded and apparently, when Moms eloped, it was a nightmare."
Jamie stared at her. "Make it strong. Make it Armstrong. Those Armstrongs?"
"Yeah. Hence the prenup. Tyson'll get a nifty trust fund."
"Jesus. You left that part out, you shit! We're getting married in a month and this is how you let on that you're rich?"
From the comfy seats, Gail called over. "They are rich. We are upper middle class, with a little extra. Don't get too excited."
Vivian shrugged. "I don't think about it much at all."
"You are very weird," said Jamie, confused. "Holly, are they always this weird?"
"Mostly." Holly had Tyson in her lap now and was playing with his feet, getting delighted giggles. "Please don't change your mind, though. I'm falling in love with your son."
Jamie sighed. "That is still weird too," she muttered. "How did I end up engaged to you again?"
"I myself am often amazed at life's little quirks," drawled Vivian. Jamie kicked the back of her leg lightly. "You want the real story? It's pretty long."
"I like a long story," grinned Jamie.
"This one starts with a dead body in the forest." Vivian glanced over to see her mothers paying attention. "It's not exactly a fairytale."
Holly leaned against Gail and smiled. "Those are the best kinds."
"Well. Once upon a time, a very petulant Peck found a dead body in the woods, and a pathologist with a lunchbox had to teach her about medical jurisprudence."
Almost The End.
But if you want nothing but happy endings, stop here. The next chapters are a deeply personal story for me, two are very long, two are not. But that brings you to the end of this saga, and a future where you can see how Vivian's journey will conclude.
