a/n: third and final part. Very mild sexual references, nothing explicit.
11th July 2020
Time between the two of them had been fleeting. Vicky had deemed Sonny old enough to spend a few hours at the day care near the library, which allowed her to take on shifts in the very cafe that started it. Although what it had started, she'd no idea. She hadn't seen Michelle properly since their kiss. The summer months were here and the B&B was busy. They'd met once, for a walk, and had shared a tentative, fleeting kiss goodbye. But tonight, it was different. Vicky had specifically invited her over in the evening. Tyler worked late, she'd got Sonny down to bed for the night and she'd spent her day off preparing dinner in the kitchen. She glanced at the clock; Michelle was due any time. After a quick check of the oven to make sure nothing was burned, she made her way back into the bedroom and checked her appearance again. It made a change not to be stained with baby food or milk or worse. She wore a knee -length, deep red dress, sleeveless and fitted to her frame with a modest V-neck; the colour made her softly smoked eyes pop. Vicky straightened the locket she wore to the centre of her chest. Her hair spilled over her shoulders in smooth curls and she reached up to fuss with them once more, until she was satisfied with the way they framed her face.
Her phone vibrated then. Michelle had told her she'd message her rather than ring the buzzer, so as not to risk waking Sonny. She stamped down the sudden nerves as she left her room and opened the door.
"Hi— Wow, look at you," Michelle dragged her gaze along the length of her as her smile widened. The subtle blusher Vicky had applied across her cheeks was suddenly a lot pinker. Almost as pink as the flowers Michelle had her arm tucked around. She looked shy, as she stepped further into the apartment and held them out to Vicky.
"They're not... The one's you told me about. You can't get those in bunches but, I thought they'd look nice on the windowsill..."
Vicky's chest fluttered as she took them from her. She gazed at them for a moment, brushed her fingertips over the velvety petals. They were full, blush pink roses against leafy, green stems, wrapped in soft, brown paper and tied with a pale pink ribbon. There was a delicate, sweet scent coming from them and Vicky brought them closer to her face.
Michelle had her head tilted, lips pressed together in a pleased little smile. Vicky knew that Michelle already knew how much the gesture meant to her.
"They're gorgeous, thank you..."
"That's alright," Michelle said, softly, that smile still across her face. Vicky swallowed; she was at a loss for words for a moment, head completely blank. Her heart raced and there were butterflies in her stomach. The other woman chuckled, gently, like she knew the affect she had on her.
"I'll just... Put these in water. Hang your coat up," Vicky finally managed. She carried the flowers through to the kitchen and rummaged under the sink and found a simple, glass jar. It wasn't fancy, she wasn't even sure why she had it. She definitely hadn't been expecting to have a use for it. By the time she'd trimmed the stems and arranged them on the windowsill, Michelle had discarded her coat and sidled up behind her. She felt her fingers carefully comb a section of curls back, felt them against brush against her skin and slowly turned to face her.
"You look stunning," Vicky whispered. Michelle's dress was black lace and short sleeved, a gold belt clinched around the middle of it. The hem fell to her thighs and Vicky swallowed, pulling her eyes back up to her face. Michelle started to lean in. They kissed softly, like the first time and Vicky wrapped her arms around her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut and when her lips parted, Michelle's hands moved to her waist, pulling her flush against her. As soon as it deepened, it grew passionate and Michelle soon tugged gently on her hands, trying to pull her from the kitchen.
"Mm, hang on," Vicky whispered, turning to switch the oven off. She slipped her hand into Michelle's and lead her through to the bedroom. Their kiss resumed and the fell onto the bed together, though when Michelle pulled Vicky's body over hers once more, she gently broke the kiss and hovered over her.
"Hey, are you sure?" Vicky asked, gently stroking her hair back.
"I'm sure," Michelle nodded. She reached up and laced her fingers through Vicky's, coaxing her back down. Vicky kissed her again, softly, then started a path of them along her jaw. She closed her eyes and sank down against the pillow, letting out a quiet hum. When Vicky's lips were by her ear, she spoke again.
"We won't do anything you're not completely comfortable with, okay?"
Michelle looked up at her; Vicky's eyes were soft, full of care. She sat up and turned slightly, pulling her own hair to the side to reveal the zip at the back of her dress.
"Help me..." She whispered.
Vicky pulled it down; her knuckles grazed along her spine and she heard her breath hitch, but Vicky felt as though she'd lost her own ability to breathe once more. Michelle took her hands and brought them to the hem of the lace material and raised her own arms as the other woman pulled it from her. Her hair spilled around her face, but before she could push it back, Vicky smoothed it down for her. Then she swallowed, hard.
"I thought you didn't like pink?" She said, her voice low. Michelle laughed, gently. It was more of a dusky pink, satin, with a delicate white lace trim. Vicky pressed her lips together. The colour looked good on her.
"I bought them, for tonight, for now..." She confessed, trailing her fingertips over Vicky's arm. Goosebumps had erupted over her skin. "I know what I want, Vic." Michelle slid her hand back down and linked her fingers with Vicky's. "I had a lot of time to think about it, you know, after you ran out on me on my birthday."
Vicky shot her a sheepish grin and Michelle gently pulled her closer once more.
"And what are you thinking, now?" Vicky whispered, as she hovered over her and grazed a finger along her collarbone.
"That you need to kiss me, again."
12th July 2020
Vicky sang along to the radio as she hovered over the stove and pushed mushrooms around in the frying pan with a wooden spoon. She had a dressing gown synched around her waist and she could hear Sonny chatting to himself in the room, where she'd placed him safely in his play pen. Vicky didn't hear the bedroom door open, she was too caught up in the song and her cooking.
"Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world..."
Michelle grinned to herself and walked up behind her, sliding her arms around her waist. Vicky jumped.
"Oh, hello. I was going to bring you breakfast, I had to get up with the wee'un," she laughed, turning her head to face Michelle, who'd nuzzled her nose against the side of her next. Vicky smiled, stretched towards her and met her halfway in a soft kiss. She felt Michelle's curve in response against her own.
"I didn't know you could sing," Michelle whispered; she continued to dot kisses against the side of her neck even as Vicky turned back to the stove. Her cheeks flushed at her affectionate actions, her stomach flipped each time other woman's lips pressed against her skin.
"There's a lot you don't know about me," Vicky teased, allowing her eyes to flutter shut for a moment; Michelle had pressed herself flush against her back and cuddled into her.
"Maybe I'd like to get to know..." She murmured; the words warm in her ear.
Vicky took the pan from the heat and turned around to face her properly. She wrapped her arms loosely around Michelle's neck and gazed up at her, wondering if she was in fact living some sort of dream that she might be jerked awake from and launched back into reality.
"Last night was okay, then?" Vicky asked, stroking over her hair.
Michelle kinked her brow and bit down on her lower lip as a smirk pulled at them.
"Do you really need to ask that?"
Vicky laughed and tilted her head, kissing her again.
"Mm... It's a good job Mrs Murphy's partially deaf," she teased, which caused Michelle's cheeks to heat up.
"She is, but I'm not," came a disgruntled voice from behind them. Tyler had left his bedroom and was walking towards the fridge. He pulled it open and took out a carton of orange juice; he'd been about to raise it to his lips when Vicky cleared her throat, sternly, to which he responded with a scowl and reached up into the cupboard for a glass.
"Oh, we're sorry—" Michelle started, but Vicky shook her head.
"He's winding us up, that's all."
Tyler smirked over the rim of his glass.
"You've done well, mam," he continued to torment, while Vicky shook her head.
"Are you okay... With this?" Michelle asked, as he started to make his way back towards his bedroom. He turned back to them and shrugged.
"Yeah, go for it," he said, before turning his gaze back to his mum, "Just...try not to mess this up?"
"Oi, I never do!" Vicky started to protest. Tyler flicked his eyes back across to Michelle.
"You're the fittest one she's had."
"Tyler!" Vicky scolded, but he'd already called out asking her to shout him when breakfast was ready and closed his door again.
Michelle had a bemused expression across her face and when Vicky turned back to her, a sheepish smile spread across her own.
"I mean, he's sort of got a point," Vicky said, as she dragged her eyes over the length of her. She'd stolen one of Vicky's night shirts, it was slightly fitted to her figure and she had the first three buttons unfastened.
Michelle's tried not to look too pleased at the compliment, she slid her hand into unruly curls and gently pulled Vicky towards her.
"So, breakfast," Vicky murmured between kisses, "Do you want the full Irish experience?"
Michelle giggled against her lips and pulled back slightly, resting her head against Vicky's.
"Didn't I already get that?"
22nd August 2020
"Ah, he's grown another half a foot every time I see the lad!" Barry chuckled, holding his arms out to accept Sonny from Michelle, while Vicky parked the pram in the hallway and hung her coat up. She came through into the living room and gave Michelle a reassuring smile.
"Where's mum got to?" Michelle asked Barry, who was busy fawning over Sonny.
"I'm here, I'm here," Helen's voice came from the bottom of the stairs, she'd evidently rushed down them at Vicky's arrival, eager to play host. "I was putting your dad's socks away, oh let's have a look at him!" She gushed, instantly making her way over to Barry and Sonny. They let her fuss over him for a few minutes and when Sonny had expressed a desire to be placed down on the floor so he could crawl towards the toys Vicky had brought with her to keep him occupied, Michelle took a breath and addressed them both.
"Uh, Vicky isn't just here for a social call," she confessed, causing Helen to pause; she'd just offered to make drinks and had been about to go through to the kitchen. "I've got something to tell you both."
"What's up, love? You look worried..." Barry said, his brow creased in concern. Helen sat herself in the chair next to her husband as Michelle shuffled slightly.
"Well... You know, me and Vic spend a lot of time together..."
"Yeah, it's lovely that you get on. It makes a change from two women being at one another because of a cheating—" Helen started, only to be cut off by her daughter.
"Right the thing is, we're not just friends," Michelle said, quickly. Her hand had clenched into a fist and Vicky placed her own on her shoulder.
"What? Don't tell us she's another one of Johnny's long lost—"
"No," Michelle sighed in exasperation, pushing her hair back. "Look, she's not some long lost, distant Connor and she's more than my friend..."
Vicky reached down and brushed her fingers over Michelle's knuckles; her fist unclenched and she took her hand, squeezing it gently. Barry was the first to catch on.
"Ah, I see," He nodded, glancing up at Michelle. She looked scared. "Well, are you happy my love?"
Michelle's eyes softened and she nodded, her lips curving into a relieved smile.
"I'm really happy..."
Vicky continued to stroke over the back of her hand, she could feel Michelle's grip tighten as she turned to Helen, her breath held as she waited for her reaction. Helen got up from the sofa and held her arms out. Michelle accepted the hug, feeling tears of relief prick at the corners of her eyes. She moved to hug Vicky next and Michelle knew the news had been helped by the fact that both of her parents had taken an immense liking to the Irish woman.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with it," Helen said, happily. "I can't see any issue; I mean you can even get married now—"
"Mum!" Michelle hissed, shaking her head. Her cheeks reddened and Vicky had the urge to laugh. "It's early days..."
"Yes, dear, but at your age, it's not as though you're casual—"
"Mum!"
Helen suddenly turned to Vicky and gave her hand a gentle pat.
"Sorry, Victoria, I wasn't being rude. I know you're a wee bit younger than our 'Chelle."
Vicky bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from bursting into laughter at the mortified expression across Michelle's face.
"I'll make us all a drink and you can tell us how it came about," Helen said, making her way into the kitchen, where she continued to call back at them, "Ooh, we should get the whole family together next week, have a bit of a do—"
Michelle tried and failed to contain her groan; Vicky caught Barry's eye and they both had to dip their heads to hide their laughter. She sat down onto the sofa next to Michelle, who'd flopped down the way Tyler did when Vicky reminded him he needed to wash up after himself. She slipped her arm around Michelle and kissed the side of her head.
"Do you want to stay at mine, tonight?" She offered. Michelle usually stayed at least once a week, though Vicky had hinted that she'd like her to be there on a more permanent basis. Michelle turned to face her and nodded gratefully.
"Definitely."
14th September 2020
Michelle rushed down the corridor, eyes scanning the empty cubicles until she finally glimpsed Vicky through a gap in the curtain. She wrenched them open and Vicky jumped to her feet.
"Tyler called me..." Her eyes instantly fell on Sonny. He was sat in his pushchair with tears in his eyes and reddened cheeks. There was a small lump just above his brow, surrounded by light purple bruising with a small red graze in the middle of it.
"Aw, darlin', are you okay?" She crouched down and his lips pushed into a pout. He pointed to his head and started babbling to Michelle and she had no doubt in his mind he was telling her all about his little stumble. She took one of his hands and pressed multiple kisses against the back of it. "Oh, dear... We're going to have to get you a treat, aren't we? For being a brave boy..." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the plush, blue puppy they'd forgotten at her parent's the last time they visited. It had crinkly ears and a bell around its neck. It was one of his favourites. He stretched his hands out for it and after Michelle had given it to him, she straightened up and turned to face Vicky.
"What did the Doctor's say?"
"He's fine, it's just a bump. I'm just waiting for them to bring him some medicine to take home," she said. Her face was pale, her features creased with guilt. "It happened so quick. I turned my back for a second to heat his dinner up and—" Vicky's voice cracked, her blue eyes glistened with tears and she had her hands clutching either side of her head.
"Hey, hey..." Michelle reached out and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her against her chest. "It was an accident, sweetheart, they happen," she soothed, rocking her gently.
"I just heard him scream," she sobbed, clutching onto Michelle tightly, "he'd pulled himself up using the fireplace and then... He must have stumbled, hit his head on the corner."
Michelle could feel her trembling.
"The nurse said he's okay but she's had to inform social services because it's protocol but what if— What if they think I'm not capable? I shouldn't have let this happen—"
"Shh, calm down, darlin', they won't think that..." Michelle pulled back slightly and cupped Vicky's cheeks. Her mascara had smeared beneath her eyes and she gently wiped her thumbs beneath them. "It's just procedure, that's all."
"He could have been so hurt, I feel awful," Vicky sobbed, and Michelle wrapped her arms around her once more. She kissed the top of her head and rubbed soothing circles against her back.
"We'll buy a safety-guard for the fire place and a load of those foam thingy's that go on the corners of the furniture, okay? Sonny's alright... Come on, don't beat yourself up, baby..."
Michelle tugged a couple of the blue, paper towel sheets from the dispenser and folded them up. She tipped the other woman's chin and gently dabbed at her cheeks, drying her tears.
"Once, when our Ry was just learning to walk, he pulled himself up onto the first step," Michelle said, scrunching the towel up and dropping it into the bin, "he fell off and we had to take him to the hospital for an X-ray," she continued, as she tucked Vicky's hair behind her ear. "He had a bruised wrist, but I think I cried more than he did," Michelle confessed, with a gentle laugh. "They scare the hell out of you, don't they?"
Vicky sniffed and nodded, letting out a heavy sigh. She looked faint with stress. Michelle tipped her chin and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips.
"Oh, hello."
The curtain had opened again and Sonny's nurse walked in. She greeted him warmly once more and complimented the plush toy in his hand, which he seemed happy enough to show off to her.
"This is my girlfriend, Michelle," Vicky informed the nurse, who reached out and shook her hand. She was holding an information sheet and a paper pharmacy bag.
"This'll help with any pain and swelling and the leaflet will tell you anything to watch out for. It's all precautionary, his scans were fine and he seems in good spirits now," she said, happily. Vicky took them from her gratefully and stowed them in her bag. "Any sickness or loss of appetite, fetch him straight back, okay?"
"Thank you," Vicky said, hooking her bag back over Sonny's pram. Michelle slipped her arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head.
"Right, come on, I'm taking you both home," she smiled, keeping her arm around Vicky as the exited the cubicle. "Dad let me lend his car when Tyler rang. I better text them and let them know Sonny's alright."
22nd October 2020
The weather was bitter, again. Michelle and Vicky were bundled once more in winter coats and scarves. They'd dragged Sonny's pram further down towards the shore, where the sand was hard and the wheels could glide smoothly. He was tucked up in another padded winter suit and one of Helen's thickly knitted baby blankets; it was pastel yellow and she'd embroidered his name with a sun next to it in orange. Michelle slipped her arm into Vicky's and gestured to the cluster of rocks they were coming towards. Vicky steered Sonny's pushchair over and they sat down together. The cold seeped through her jeans, and she cuddled closer to Vicky.
"He'd have been forty-nine, today..." Michelle sighed, biting her lip. She'd been quiet all day, her mood had dwindled over the past week and Vicky had been at a loss of how to cheer her up.
"It's not your fault he isn't here anymore, 'Chelle," she whispered, slipping her hand into the other woman's. Her skin was cold, so Vicky took her other hand and encased them both between her own, rubbing gently to try and generate some warmth.
"What do you think would have happened if he was still here?"
Vicky was silent for a moment and Michelle wondered if she was mad at her for bringing him up.
"I don't think we'd have forgiven him, not properly," Vicky said, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "But I'd have calmed down, eventually, and let him see Sonny..."
They both smiled fondly into the pram. He'd been awake at the start of their walk, but the salty, sea air had soon knocked him out.
"What do you think would have happened to me and you?"
"We'd have stayed in touch, wouldn't we? Grown closer because of what he'd done..." Vicky trailed off. She didn't want to imagine a world where Michelle wasn't part of her life like this. She got scared, sometimes, that she was waiting, waiting for the other woman to 'snap out of it' and realise that this wasn't what she wanted.
"So, you think we'd have ended up together anyway?" Michelle asked, curiously.
"Why, do you wish we hadn't?"
Michelle saw it, then, that flash of insecurity in her eyes. She knew Vicky's fear sometimes caused doubts, but she'd never voiced them. She knew Vicky didn't like to dwell on ifs and maybes, she lived in the moment. That was something Michelle liked most about being with her; Vicky truly appreciated every day she spent with her and Michelle felt it.
"Of course not," Michelle was quick to reassure her. She reached up and held her cheek, her nose was pink with cold. "Being with you makes me so happy. I really like you."
Vicky smiled and they leaned in towards one another, kissing softly.
"I think he'd be okay with this," Vicky said, lightly tugging at the pom-pom on the top of Michelle's knitted hat. "He'd want us happy, after everything..."
Michelle nodded, looking thoughtful. Vicky thought she'd got something serious on her mind until—
"You like us older, don't you?"
Vicky laughed and slipped her hand into Michelle's.
"You could pass for my age, you're a looker, you."
17th November 2020
"Ah, this is like old times," Michelle smiled, taking a seat across from Vicky. There was already a latte in front of her and a shortbread biscuit in the shape of a heart. Michelle chuckled fondly and reached across the table, wrapping her hand around Vicky's.
"Well, I'm only on a twenty-minute break. Are you still okay to pick Sonny up?"
Michelle nodded and picked up the mug, taking a sip of the warming drink. It was soothing after the harshness of the winter air outside.
"Yeah, I'll get tea on as well. Is there anything in particular you fancy?"
Vicky allowed her gaze to drop and slowly scan the other woman, her brow kinked.
"You, always."
Michelle rolled her eyes, but she laughed too and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She'd come in to pick up the key to Vicky's apartment on the way to collect Sonny from the nursery he went to, having agreed to have him while she took on a full shift.
"Well, your options are chicken stir-fry or Thai curry," Michelle listed, though leant in further and lowered her voice to add, "you can have me for afters."
Vicky chuckled huskily, stroking her fingertip over the back of her hand.
"Go with the first option, sounds like less hassle, it'll leave you with more energy," she winked, a satisfied smirk on her face at the pink tinge that heated Michelle's face.
Vicky dug her hand into her apron pocket and pulled out a small box. She pushed it across the table and Michelle eyed it, suspiciously.
"Open that."
Michelle reached out and pried off the lid. There was a silver key inside, attached to one of those photo keyrings. The picture was protected by a black, leather pouch and when she slid it out, she was looking a herself, with Sonny on her lap and Vicky's arm around her shoulders. They were on her parents' sofa.
"I'm not trying to push you," Vicky promised, squeezing her hand. Michelle had wanted things to progress slowly, and Vicky couldn't blame her. She'd been burned once too often and this time, she'd had an entirely different relationship aspect to get used to. Michelle being comfortable had been important to Vicky, too.
"I just thought, it was about time you stopped having to ring the buzzer..."
Michelle looked straight across at her. There was an adoring smile across her face. She stretched out her finger and beckoned Vicky closer. Her hand rested gently against her cheek and she pressed her lips softly to Vicky's.
"Don't work too hard," she whispered, a mischievous glint in her eye, "I want your energy levels reserved for tonight, too."
31st December 2020
"You could have gone to the party, you know? You didn't have to stay here with me and Mr moody, in bed by eleven," Vicky laughed. New year or not, Sonny hadn't deemed it a cause worth celebrating. Vicky blamed it on his sprouting back teeth. They'd managed to get him down between them, with a dose of medicine, a lot of attention and the teething mitt Michelle had bought him in the early stages.
Michelle just curled further into her; her warm cheek pressed against Vicky's heated chest. She could feel her heartbeat thumping just as fast as her own and when she glanced up at her, her face was still pink from exertion. They both breathed a little too fast.
"You think I'd rather have been at another one of Tom's parties than here with you?" Michelle questioned; her brow raised. As far as she was concerned, there'd been no competition. A small smirk pushed at the corners of her lips. "Besides, it's not like we came to bed with our slippers and a brew, ready for an early night," she grinned, her eyes bright. Vicky chuckled and reached down to stroke her hair back, her roots were slightly dampened, her skin hot.
"Well..."
Michelle shook her head.
"You're actually dying for a brew, aren't you?"
When Vicky nodded, she let out a gentle laugh and stretched up to kiss her.
"I'll get up and make you one when I've got real feeling back in my legs."
Vicky didn't answer, but there was a definite air of smugness about her.
"It's a good job that teething medication knocks him out."
Michelle tapped her shoulder gently. She looked down at her, her hand was still tangled lightly in her hair. She pushed it back once more and trailed her fingertips down her cheek, settling them under her chin before she coaxed her forward again. When they broke apart, Vicky kept her hand at the back of her head, preventing her from moving too far back.
"I can't believe I got you, sometimes," she confessed, quietly, "I'm so lucky..."
Michelle softened against her, her eyes shining. Vicky looked so sincere.
"I'd have to argue that I'm the lucky one," Michelle said, and she realised she meant it with every last bit of her. She couldn't remember a time she'd felt as cared for and valued in a relationship the way she was with Vicky. Even the way she looked at her now, like she was seeing her for the first time made her chest physically ache with something that she'd been so sure she'd never feel again. Michelle dipped forward and left her lips against her forehead, then trailed them down the bridge of her nose; she scattered kisses all over her face until Vicky laughed out loud and playfully fended her off. But then she nudged her own nose lightly against Michelle's, tilted her head and kissed her softly. She studied her face and bit down gently on her lip, like she had something to say.
"What?" Michelle whispered, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment as Vicky trailed the backs of her fingers down the side of her face. She had one arm wrapped around her back and Michelle felt herself pulled more firmly against her.
"I, um..." Vicky trailed off, seemed to battle with herself for a moment and finished with a hum of laughter. "Nothing..."
"No, tell me."
Vicky opened her mouth again, but her face split into a grin once more and another cackle or nervous laughter escaped. She tilted her head back and ended with a frustrated groan at herself.
"Why don't you send me another message? But don't wuss out this time." Michelle teased. Vicky brought her head back up, her brow raised. Her gaze flickered to the bedside table, where both of their phones sat and she picked her own up.
Michelle had a bemused expression across her face and when Vicky unlocked it and started to type, she laughed.
"Ah, it's not sending," Vicky winced, "It must be the fireworks, phone lines are always dodgy at New Year."
"Has it saved as a draft?"
Vicky nodded.
"Mm, it has."
Michelle held out her hand. Vicky looked scared as she passed the phone over, her heart had only just calmed down but now it was thudding against her chest again as the other woman took the phone from her and glanced down at the screen.
Michelle lips were parted and her eyes became glassy. She blinked quickly, so the three words didn't become blurred. She read them over and over, until finally, her gaze met Vicky's.
"Do you mean it?"
Vicky let out a quiet scoff of laughter. She reached out, held the other woman's face between her hands and brushed her thumb lightly against her skin. She leaned in even closer, so her words were warm against her lips.
"Of course I mean it," Vicky whispered, and Michelle's hopeful expression seemed to quell any fear she'd had before. "The moment you handed me my son, I knew you were special. I love you, Michelle. I've loved you for a while... I just didn't want to scare you away. I know this is a lot newer for you and I—"
Michelle stopped her rambling with a firm kiss. Tears spilled from her eyes and she could feel Vicky smiling against her lips. She kissed her again, then once more and although she hadn't had nearly enough of her, she couldn't keep it in any longer and pulled back.
"I love you too, Vicky."
Michelle had seen Vicky cry in emotional pain, but she'd only ever seen her cry like this once before. The relief on her face, the love, the happy longing in her eyes. Michelle held out her arms and Vicky leaned into her, letting out a quiet sob. Beside them, both of the phones suddenly lit up and they could just make out the all-caps message from Tom, wishing the family group chat a HAPPT NEW YERA. The party must be thumping. Although Michelle suspected it was nothing compared to the way her heart danced in her chest. Vicky wiped beneath her eyes and Michelle gently tilted her chin, bringing her towards her.
"Happy new year, baby," she whispered, eyes fluttering shut when Vicky's lips met hers again.
Vicky didn't think the old one had been so bad, either.
"Happy new year, 'Chelle."
a/n: That was 2020 in Ireland! Thank you for the positive feedback on this, it's been so nice to write.
