Author's Note: Just a little something I've come up. Although it was probably for the best that Sister Mary Eunice was killed in 'The Name Game' I still would have liked to have seen a litte more interaction between she and the Monsignor. Here is my take on what may have happened had he performed an exorcism upon her instead of tossing her from the third storey.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and the FX network.
Sister Mary Eunice was still not cleared to work. It had been almost two months now since she had given birth to her daughter, Magdalene and Sister Jude had caught wind of Mother Claudia's intentions to take away Mary Eunice's child, but had prevented the young nun from losing the baby to the care of the state. As she sat in her quarters, cradling baby Magdalene, Mary Eunice glanced up when she heard the doorknob twisting, and finally the door swung open. It was Timothy.
"I told Sister Jude I would come speak with you..." he muttered, turning back to close the door over before glancing back to Sister Mary Eunice, peering over at the baby in her arms. Once he was certain that Carl had left them, he opened his arms to receive the child, like he had done so every other time he had paid visit to Mary Eunice and Magdalene. Smiling down to the infant, he glanced up to the young nun, "This child looks a lot like her mother..." he commented gently before he continued, "She truly is a gift, Sister."
"She really is, Father." Sister Mary Eunice blushed gently, before she smiled and nodded, hugging herself, "Does Sister Jude know you come here to...cradle her like that...?" she dared to ask, her tone was soft, almost child-like as she raised her brows and gazed at him.
"Speaking of...Sister Jude." Timothy cleared his throat and shifted slightly reaching toward the young nun to place the infant back into her arms, "Jude and I have been talking, of your future here, Sister."
"About what, Monsignor...?"
"We discussed what points Mother Claudia made when she first visited, regarding the State taking the child." Timothy smoothed over his trousers, "There may have been some truth in what the Reverend Mother said to you. That this asylum is no place to bring up a child. Now, I don't want you to worry, Sister...we're not proposing the State take your child."
Bowing her head, Mary Eunice focused on the baby, now drifting into slumber with Timothy's melodic voice, "Then what, Father?" she murmured.
"It was suggested that you leave Briarcliff."
"Leave Briarcliff?" Sister Mary Eunice looked to the Monsignor, open mouthed, and almost as wide eyed, "I can't leave Briarcliff. Briarcliff is my home..."
"We will find you a new home. For you and for Magdalene, both of you." Timothy assured her, as her reached now to place his hand on her knee, "I assure you Sister that no harm will come to you or to the baby." Timothy nodded, his smile genuine and caring, "It was also suggested that...you are to...leave the Church. You have a child now...you can still continue God's great work, as you said, in other means."
"But where would I live, Monsignor?" she raised her brows.
"You don't need to worry yourself about that, Sister. I have it all under control. A car will collect you tomorrow and take you to your new home. It's not too far from here, and within a reasonable distance from the town center." Timothy told her, "Everything will be in working order for you when you arrive. You don't need to get yourself worked up about anything."
"But leaving the Church...?" Sister Mary Eunice sighed, "I've grown up with the Church...I gave my years to God."
"And he is very grateful for them, and you can continue giving yourself to him, Sister. You must renounce your vows, however."
Dejectedly, she nodded. There was truth in what the Monsignor was suggesting. She had to renounce her vows, leave the Church and leave Briarcliff, after all, a mental institution was no place for a baby to be raised, no matter how sheltered she was from the patients. Glancing from the child to Timothy, she could see there was something else bothering him, "I understand, Father...but, is there something else?"
Clearing his throat, he turned his focus to Sister Mary Eunice, "I will be running for Cardinal, of New York...it seems to be in my favor."
"Your vision, your dreams, Monsignor. They're unfolding." Mary Eunice nodded and smiled to him, "It shan't be long until you're flying to Rome."
"Sister..." he lowered his tone, his hand moving from her knee to her hand now, wrapping his fingers around hers, "I would very much like to offer you support. Being a man of charity and goodwill, I know how hard this transition will be for you...I, uh-" he sighed, shaking his head, "Nobody must know I will offer you support for the child."
"Father, I couldn't possibly..."
"You must, Sister. It's the least I can do." Timothy nodded, and smiled as he saw the young blonde agree and nod also.
Smiling gently as she tied the strings into a bow at Magdalene's back, Mary Eunice lifted her daughter onto the step so the child could reach the counter. It was when Mary Eunice noted her daughter couldn't actually reach the bowl to mix the cake batter that she chortled to herself and scooped the girl up and onto the kitchen counter, smoothing the minute apron over her daughter's dress.
This was their monthly lazy Sunday, the last Sunday of each month. After Church, Mary Eunice and Magdalene would stop by the supermarket to pick up ingredients for the cake or cupcakes Magdalene had chosen the evening before for them to bake once home from Mass. They would purchase their eggs, flour, milk before driving to the Mom and Pop diner for a late breakfast; Magdalene always insisted on ordering the largest ice cream sundaes the diner would serve, then on home to begin their bake-a-thon.
The two had just measured out the ingredients and Magdalene was ready to begin mixing everything in the mixing bowl, Mary Eunice kept chuckling at her daughter; whenever she thought her mother wasn't looking, she would sneak a chocolate chip. It was when Magdalene was pouring the chips into the bowl, the doorbell chimed. Looking to her daughter, Mary Eunice smiled and leaned in, "Okay, don't touch anything yet, dear. Okay?" before she rounded the counter, as the doorbell chimed again, "Coming, coming!"
Glancing back at Magdalene as she turned the doorknob and swung open the door, Mary eunice chuckled before she turned back to the open door. The blonde allowed her mouth to drop open as she stared back into the face of the person she had least suspected to see again.
"Good afternoon, Mary."
"Timothy...wh-what are you doing here?" she questioned, pulling the door to behind her, as she stepped out a little, "I-I don't understand."
"I thought it was time. I've already missed a large portion of Magdalene's life."
"Yes, over a year now..." Mary Eunice frowned and shook her head slightly, "That still doesn't explain why you're here, on my porch. I thought you were appointed Cardinal, of New York...?"
"I was, and for a short time I...that's why I was unable to visit you and Magdalene." Timothy furrowed his brows slightly, "It was when I..." he trailed off, shaking his head, seemingly in shame and a spark of remorse.
"Timothy, what is it?" she questioned, running her hands over her apron.
"I found myself in the bath this morning. I had a blade poised over my wrist..." he swallowed, turning away and looking out over the front yard, "It was then I thought of Magdalene, and you. And, I couldn't bring myself to do it..."
Her eyes widened and she swallowed, leaning against the doorframe, she turned her face slightly to check Magdalene was behaving before she glanced back to Timothy, "Why were you going to...do it?" she questioned him lightly, afraid of what the answer might be.
"I didn't think I deserved to be Cardinal...I cast you out of Briarcliff, of the Church without even asking you first. And, I failed to bring you support when you needed it most..." he glanced back to her, his eyes narrowed painfully. He was truly sorry for what had happened, "And when Jude passed away...I couldn't bring myself to visit. To...pay my respects to a dear friend."
Frowning gently, Mary nodded and sighed. She took a moment before she reached for his hand, taking it in both of hers, she gazed at him, "You're here now...I know God will forgive you, Timothy. I know I do..." Mary smiled to him gently, "We're...about to bake muffins...I'm sure Magdalene would appreciate someone else to boss around..."
"I should see her..." Timothy nodded before he smiled to Mary and followed her inside.
