On the day of Kirby's screening, the aspiring young filmmaker and her boyfriend, Dante, were first to arrive. Mark let the couple into his home and excused himself to tend to the grill on the patio.
In the aftermath of Jill and Charlie's murder spree, Kirby and Dante had become a part of the Kincaid family. Through her job as Jack Kincaid's part-time assistant, she was treated like the seasoned director's unofficial fifth grandchild and protégé. He mentored her about the crafts of directing and screenwriting and how to succeed in the entertainment industry. As her mentor, he also purposely guided her away from the more unsavory figures in the business.
At least once a month, she and Sidney would either exchange texts, phone calls or video chats. They were grateful to be able to speak to someone who survived the same harrowing experience. Despite their age difference, they would talk about their personal lives with Sidney giving the younger woman advice about school, life and love. In turn, Kirby shared of her breadth of film and pop culture knowledge. She also gave the more mature woman a glimpse of what college life is like since her time at Windsor College was cut short. In each other, they found support, comfort, guidance, strength, humor and genuine friendship.
Angie showed how thrilled she was to see her Aunt Kirby and Uncle Dante by giving them hugs and kisses the instant they stepped into the living room. The couple were also happy to see their "niece" and mirrored her actions. Kirby excused herself to bring her and Dante's appetizers to the kitchen where Sidney was checking on her roast leg of lamb.
"Hi Sid! A few things, thanks again for letting me have the screening here," she touched the brunette's shoulder then pointed at the oven, "that smells and looks so damn good! And I'm still a shitty cook, so we brought lumpia from the best Filipino restaurant in the city because I don't wanna flop twice tonight!" She grinned while showing her the tray of fried spring rolls.
With a little laugh, Sidney replied, "You're welcome, those look delicious and come on Kirby, this movie will be just as good as your first one if not better! At least this time you weren't forced to work with a pretentious prick."
Kirby began placing the spring rolls in a nearby stainless steel warmer and groaned, "You're right about that, Tyler was the worst! He was so controlling, had no sense of humor, no style and kept referring to himself as the next 'Christopher Nolan'. I didn't miss him one bit!"
Tipping her head, she asked, "So, what can you tease about it?"
"Well, it's a different genre and it was a whole lot more work but totally worth it! The story has twists and turns, it's also a bit violent. We didn't have to use terrible CGI for the visual effects because this film is more grounded in reality. And that's all you're getting out of me, Sid!" Her fingers reached into a nearby bowl of spicy ruffled chips.
"It sounds intriguing and I'm sure everyone's gonna love it." Angie's cute chuckle turned her attention to the living room where she and Dante were deciding on which board game to play. "How are things with Dante?"
Kirby stood across from Sidney before leaning back against the island, "He's his usual happy self. His job at the clinic is going well and the only thing that he can't figure out is where we should go for spring break, it's his turn to pick. This time around we're looking for something more laid-back and secluded."
"My other house is free this month. It's private with great views. The locals there are cool and respectful and there are plenty of things to do. Would you like something to drink?" She opened the refrigerator.
Canting her head, she answered, "Yes please, my usual. And are you sure? To quote your nice but also corny husband, it's your, 'Love shack in the mountains'." Kirby couldn't stop herself from chuckling.
She giggled and grabbed a bottle of a non-alcoholic elderberry cocktail and handed it to her, "Yeah but we rent it out short-term and we've had friends stay there before. Your stay will be on the house, you won't find a better deal! It's simply another option for you."
An appreciative grin came to her lips, "It does check off most of our boxes, I'll talk to Dante about it later." Her phone pinged and shook, a grimace appeared on her face when she looked at its screen.
"Something wrong?" Sidney took a sip from her glass of sparkling cider.
"Uh, yeah. Sid, have you ever had to…to breakup with a friend?" She set her phone down on the island and twisted the cap off her drink.
With a slow blink, she remarked, "Oh, not yet, thankfully. What happened?"
Releasing a long exhale, she revealed, "It's Ashley. We went out last weekend and for the third time she complained about me being with Dante. She thinks it's weird that I don't wanna be single and just hookup with every hot guy on campus! And honestly, I'm a bit surprised too! I remember with Olivia and Jill we'd talking about how we couldn't wait to date college guys and go to all the frat parties…but I love Dante and I don't feel the need to date around. He's my partner in crime and I love being with him. But I'm also young and in the prime of my life…does that make me weird?"
Sidney stood next to her gently grasped her forearm, "Not at all. Kirby, it's your life. You should make choices that feel right for you because at the end of day, only you have to live with yourself and the decisions you make. Dante is a great guy and you two are wonderful together. It sounds like Ashley is at a different place than you are and that's fine, you're both still figuring out who you are and what you want. But a real friend wouldn't try to make you feel guilty for not living your life exactly like hers."
With a grateful curl of her lips, Kirby wrapped her free arm around her surrogate sister, "Thanks Sid! I'll talk to Ashley about it. Ya know, it's crazy how life works sometimes. What Jill and Charlie did to us was…it was devastating. But look at us now! We survived and we're thriving. Sure, I got a nasty scar and PTSD…but I also came out of it with an amazing boyfriend and you as a friend. And because of your annoyingly perfect husband and his fantastic father, I'm living my dream."
"Yeah, that's how I felt-still feel after Roman's spree. It's life Kirby, you gotta take the bitter with the sweet." She returned her hug as they wore the same content smiles.
In the living room, Dante, Kirby and Angie were playing Let's Go Fishin' when Dewey and Gale arrived. They appeared at the front door with a bottle of white wine and a large tray filled with lobster and macaroni cheese bites. Mark warmly welcomed them inside. Gale immediately received a call on her phone and excused herself to answer it in the home office. After he entered the living room, Dewey greeted Kirby, Dante and a jovial Angie with big hugs. Sidney cupped her heart at how joyful Angie and Dewey were together. He kissed the toddler's cheek and promised to play a new game with her.
Once he stepped into the kitchen, Dewey gave Sidney a big smile and bear hug. "Hey Sid! How are you?" He patted her back before releasing her.
"Really good! Work is going well for Mark and me. Angie has really gotten into books lately. And luckily for me, this little girl," she placed her hand on her stomach, "only kicks me during the day. Angie was a total night owl." She said with a small scoff. "How have you been? I imagine things in the sheriff's business have kept you busy?"
With a boyish grin, he told her, "Yeah, just some house parties that got too loud and rowdy. Yesterday, The Inside Scoop's Eddie called me to give his car's battery a jump since Dennis was busy fixing a school bus that broke down on Whispering Lane. He's a good guy, just like his dad. He was so grateful that he promised to give me free ice cream for life!"
"I see," she gripped her hip and arched her brow, "and when will your reporter wife expose your corruption?"
Beneath his dark mustache, his lips broke into an enormous smile then turned into a full-on laugh. "Eddie said that our deal also extends to Gale."
Her lips pulled into a teasing smirk, "Ah, so you also have media in your pocket too!"
They both chuckled before she offered him a drink and he politely asked for a beer. As she opened the refrigerator he spoke again.
"It's been great having Gale back home. She's so excited and since she's working in Los Angeles, there's no jet lag or late-night calls." The fondness in his voice and eyes was obvious.
She handed him the beer and grinned, "That's really good, Dewey and I can speak from personal experience, being away from your spouse always makes the reunions much sweeter."
"It sure does!" He took a sip from the bottle until Angie pulled at his free hand.
She looked up at him with her big blue eyes, "Uncle Dewey, play Hide and Seek?"
From the living room, Dante shared, "Just a heads up, I'm an expert when it comes to hiding!"
Kirby rolled her eyes before pecking his cheek, "It's cute how you genuinely believe that, Babe. But don't forget, I was so good at hiding that my parents actually called the police one time!"
Dewey held Angie's hand, "Yeah, and luckily for me Kirby's favorite hiding spot was the same as Tatum's, the laundry hamper!"
Sidney could see the affection and melancholy in his eyes; gripping his shoulder, she added, "Tatum was good at almost everything she did."
Nodding, he stated, "Yeah, it made her great and annoying." With a small laugh, he picked up Angie, "Come on, we'll see who the best hider is!"
The toddler clapped her hands, "Yay, play now!" She held Dewey's face and kissed his cheek.
With a cute curl of his lips, he gazed at his "niece" and pecked her forehead as he walked toward the living room.
"Sid, thanks for letting me use your office. And, that call went a little longer than I expected, sorry." Gale said as she walked into the kitchen.
She got up from the table and padded over to the cabinets, "Don't mention it. Would you like something to drink?"
"I wouldn't mind a glass of the Pinot Gris we brought." The seasoned reporter sat down at the island and grinned at her old friend.
"It's coming right up!" Removing a wine glass from the cabinet, she asked, "So, what's it like being back home?"
"Really good. Don't get me wrong, I love work! I'm being proactive again by talking to people, following leads and reporting on relevant stories. I still get to do what I love and I see Dewey almost every night thanks to Skype. But it also feels good to be back with Dewey and to sleep in my own bed. Thanks!" Her perfectly manicured fingers and thumb wrapped around the wine glass's stem.
"That seems really exciting and now you're exposing powerful people who deserve to be held accountable. Can I get a tease about any future stories?" She sat down next to her and took a sip from her sparkling cider.
Her dark pink lips formed into a smug smile, "All I can tell you is that my assistant is gathering and vetting sources about another famous public figure. He works in New York and if even half of the allegations about him are true…he's gonna be royally fucked! We're still early in the process but so far, it looks promising."
Sidney couldn't help but be intrigued and proud, "Sounds fascinating. And I will definitely be the first person to watch your coverage!"
"Sid, you're going to be the first person I send it to!" She briefly gripped her arm and stated, "On my way out of your office, I saw Dante and Dewey trying hide from Angie. She was really quick and was very meticulous when searching for them. How the fuck do you and Mark keep up with her?"
With a dry laugh, she answered, "Navi calls it 'mommy superpowers' but whatever it is, I know that it doesn't fix pregnancy brain. The other day I forgot my phone in the refrigerator, my laptop was in the guest bathroom and I accidentally put our dirty laundry and Poppy into the laundry hamper!"
The old friends shared a lighthearted laugh and continued their pleasant conversation.
After the arrivals of Jack and Elizabeth Kincaid, Melanie and Trip, Angie became even more enthusiastic. Her loving grandparents tended to the hungry child during dinner. Mark saw Sidney observing his parents doting over Angie. A hint of sadness passed through her dark eyes. He knew that he was thinking of her late parents; he gripped her hand and received a small kiss on the cheek.
It took a bath and three stories read by Sidney and Mark to finally wear out Angie. They took a moment to gaze at their sleeping angel. She held his face giving him a kind grin until she pressed a slow and gentle kiss on his perfect mouth.
When they returned downstairs, everyone was seated in the living room with their snacks and drinks. Kirby operated the projector and was full of anticipation. When Sidney and Mark sat on the loveseat, the ambitious artist began playing her short film.
The action-thriller revenge story was surprising and thoughtfully subverted expectations. The female protagonist had been betrayed and almost killed by her sister. Every aspect from the engaging plot, solid acting, thrilling action and strong writing were vast improvements over her last film. Sidney noticed how the actress portraying the villain resembled Jill.
During an establishing shot, she peered to her left where saw how satisfied Kirby looked. She was delighted for her young friend and remembered how great she felt after performing in one of her school plays. When the end credits began rolling everyone clapped and praised Kirby. The pride on Jack's face was evident as he gave his protégé a warm hug.
One of the benefits of being pregnant was that everyone around her became more helpful. The only cleaning that needed to be done was Mark taking out two full kitchen trash bags. As he placed a new bag in kitchen's slide-out waste bin, Sidney sat down on the sofa and turned on the television with the remote control.
Mark joined her and could see her mind elsewhere despite her eyes being on the television's screen. Her fingers were fiddling with necklace that she wore, it was a birthday gift from her mother. It was given to her on her sixteenth birthday and was the last present she ever received from her mother. His mouth opened but he closed it once she started talking.
"I was ten when I told my mom that I wanted to be in my school's play, The Wizard of Oz. She paused then shifted in her seat before hunching over, it was the first time I saw her be so uncomfortable." Sidney let go of the necklace's pendant, a silver lotus flower. "After clearing her throat, she said that she'd have to talk to my dad about it first. I knew that her reaction was strange but I didn't think about it. Now that I know why…she handled it as best she could."
Tilting his head, he asked, "Did she say anything else or did she shut down the conversation?"
With a small shake of her head, she told him, "She asked me why I wanted to be in the play, I love The Wizard of Oz and I always wanted to be Dorothy. A little smile came to her lips, Oz was one of the first movies we watched together as a family. But looking back, she seemed so relieved…I think she was afraid that I wanted to be a famous movie star. And that I'd unknowingly follow in her footsteps only to be exploited.
But after that, she came to every single rehearsal and play I did. She was always so happy and proud of me….Even though it must have been filled with her anxiety and brought up feelings she tried to avoid. She had her weaknesses but she also had her strengths, supporting me in whatever I did, was definitely one of them."
It didn't surprise him to see the empathy she had for her mom. Finding out about her mother's traumatic past and working regularly with survivors of abuse, it gave her a new perspective. Maureen Prescott had her private struggles and flaws but it didn't change the fact that she was also a wonderful mother. Seeing his wife be more forgiving of her late mother and appreciating her, it made Mark love Sidney even more.
Grasping his hand, he replied, "You learned that from her. I see how encouraging you are with Angie. Sid, we were lucky; our parents didn't try to force us into a path and life that wasn't right for us. That's how it was for Dan, he was the captain of my high school's baseball team. He was by far the best player but he really loved cooking. But his father was forcing him to be on the team. I caught him in the parking lot furiously yelling at Dan for not being able to tag a guy out even though we still won the game!"
"God, I remember some stage moms at my plays, it was so awful. What happened to Dan?"
A sigh passed through his lips, "During the middle of our junior year, his dad died of a heart attack. Dan was sad but he was also so relieved. After the season wrapped, he quit the team. After graduation, he went to one of the best culinary schools in France. He now has a restaurant in New York."
Blinking, she slightly pulled her head back clearly not expecting that answer, "Oh, that's tragic. They never got to work things out…but I'm glad that Dan is living his dream instead of his father's." Her free hand cupped her belly and felt the soft fabric of her burgundy max dress, "Whatever this sweet pea wants to be, she'll have all of our love and support."
With a big smile on his face, "She definitely will. And we're gonna be at every play, recital, game, tournament and science fair, cheering her on so much that she'll deny knowing who we are."
She giggled and placed her chin on his shoulder; he leaned his forehead against hers, "Of course! As parents it's also our job to lovingly embarrass our kids in public!"
"We'd be horrible parents if we didn't!" He chuckled and sweetly claimed her mouth with his.
Note: If you want to read more Mark and Sidney stories there are a few posted on archiveofourown and please leave kudos and comments on them! You do not need an account on there in order to leave kudos. Authors control whether or not guests can leave comments. We really need to support each other! There are plenty of Mark/Sidney shippers but we need to make our presence known! Thanks to everyone who is reading this story.