"The One" – Part 14
Summary and additional notes in part 1.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews!
This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's Profile for details!)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!
-oOo-
Her mind wouldn't budge from Adam the whole cab ride. He was in one word… perfect! She was so deep in love with him that it scared her sometimes. She still wasn't sure how one day she could be happy with Beth and the next her old life looked so empty in comparison. She felt guilty because she knew Beth was still hurting, but she couldn't regret being with Adam. He was everything to her. She couldn't explain it but she knew they were meant to be together.
Fiona sighed happily as she walked into the office. She had been checking emails every since she woke up so she knew they had a busy day ahead of them, but she was looking forward to digging into it and making it happen!
"Morning Fiona!" Kai told her. He sat near the door so he almost always spotted her first.
"Good Morning!" she responded in a chipper tone.
Kai smirked once he got a good look at her shirt. She was wearing a blue plaid button down with a thin navy belt around the middle. Paired with a light jacket and her dark skinny jeans, she pulled it off well.
"Nice accessories," he said, giving her a knowing look.
She sent him a warning one in response. "Thanks."
The day moved quickly and before she knew it, it was almost time for lunch.
"Where are we ordering from?" Laura asked, taking the temperature of the room.
"Anything other than Chinese food!" George called out.
"Why would that be?" Jessica questioned annoyed. She had been looking forward to ordering takeout from the new place a few blocks down.
He shrugged. "I had it last night. Went on a date with this smoking hot chick," he grinned. Jessica frowned at him, finding his explanation obnoxious. He looked over at Fiona and smirked. "Speaking of dates, how's it going with that guy?" he asked her.
Fiona turned to him. It never ceased to amaze her how much straight guys loved gossip! Despite their claims otherwise, Drew and Eli had been prime examples of this 'phenomenon'.
"It's going well," she answered diplomatically.
Laura's ears perked up. "Just well?"
Fiona sighed. "It's going fantastic," she amended.
"Nice shirt," Hanna teased her, jumping into the conversation.
She rolled her eyes as everyone laughed.
"Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to avoid the walk of shame," Kai grinned. He had been holding that one in all morning!
"You all suck," Fiona grumbled in jest.
They laughed again.
"They're all too chicken shit to ask, so I'm going for the million dollar question. How does current Adam stack up to pre-transition Adam?" Hanna asked curiously. When they dated his body was completely female but from what Hanna gathered that was no longer the case.
Fiona shrugged. "I wouldn't know." Hanna threw her a questioning look. "We haven't been together yet. We're taking things slow."
Hanna let out a short laugh. "Oh, you're serious?" she added quickly when she noticed the expression on Fiona's face. Her friend and business partner nodded.
"From the declarations of love on FaceRange it's hard to tell," Laura bluntly stated.
Fiona sighed. They were starting to sound like her mother and Holly J. She understood their concern but it was annoying. She wasn't stupid! If she didn't know she could trust Adam they wouldn't have gotten together so quickly.
"Well, we do love each other. But we're also getting reacquainted after many years apart. It's complicated, but we're navigating that path the best we can," Fiona asserted.
They all nodded.
"Very complicated," Lynn agreed.
Fiona smiled at her. "Indeed, but I wouldn't change a thing."
"So… How slow are you taking things?" Laura grinned mischievously.
Fiona sent her a knowing look. "That depends on what you're asking. He's coming to family dinner this weekend, so yes, that's a step forward," she admitted. "As for the other thing, we agreed to wait a month."
"Wow, a month! How will you ever survive?" Hanna deadpanned.
"Hey, a month is a long time!" Kai defended her. The other guys in the office nodded in agreement, as did Laura.
Fiona waved them off. "I've been through longer dry patches in past relationships."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "That wouldn't be a thinly veiled reference to Beth, would it?" she questioned astutely.
Fiona paused. Actually it was. Before the break up, she and Beth hadn't had sex in over two months. They had been working through issues.
"Very funny. I'm just saying, I can handle a month. I won't spontaneously combust or anything. Besides, we need to approach this time together with a clear head anyway," Fiona insisted.
"Good answer," Laura complimented her.
-oOo-
"Fiona. It's nice to see you again," her mother greeted her with a knowing look as she entered the kitchen.
Fiona sighed. All the sarcastic remarks were trying her patience. "It's good to see you too, mother," she said dryly as she walked over to the fridge.
"I'm assuming you already had dinner? It's almost ten," Mrs. Coyne inquired.
Fiona nodded as she looked through the fridge. "I had dinner at Adam's. I'm just thirsty." She found some lemonade and decided to pour herself a cup.
"You guys have been spending quite a lot of time together," Mrs. Coyne said delicately.
"We have. It's what couples do," she stated as she reached for a glass.
Her mother sighed. "I don't like to get involved, you know that sweetie. But, I have some concerns."
Fiona shook her head. "Then don't get involved." She poured the juice into her cup and then closed the container. She moved back to the refrigerator and put it away. When she turned around she was hoping her mom had retired for the night, but she was still there at the table. She held in a sigh and decided to take a seat.
"What are your concerns?" Fiona asked quietly. She didn't want another lecture, but she didn't want to fight about this with her mom. Maybe if she let her say her piece, she would let it go.
"Honey, I know you think you know what you want. But from an objective point of view this is moving really fast. It's Tuesday. Friday you were still with Beth and living together. Now you moved home, although I don't see you for long stretches of time. I'm just afraid after the 'newness' wears off you may have regrets that you left a solid situation for something much more unstable," her mother confessed.
Fiona took in her words. "I hear you. I really do… I can't explain it but I know he's the one for me. We're in love. We're spending the rest of our lives together. I know it sounds crazy to say this with so much certainty in such a short time, but we're on the same page about this."
Mrs. Coyne frowned. "Fiona, you sound like a love-sick teenager, not an adult. You need to approach this with more maturity," she bluntly told her.
Fiona looked away. "Tell me how you really feel," she said sarcastically.
"Fiona–"
"No. I am an adult. I'm 27 years old, mom. I know who I am and where I'm going in life. I'm not confused or conflicted. I know who I love and who I don't. I don't need your approval or anyone else's to make decisions about my life," Fiona asserted.
The two of them looked at each other for a long moment.
"I have work in the morning, so I'm heading to bed," Fiona declared. She stood up. "By the way, Adam is coming with me to family dinner this weekend."
Her mother sighed. "I think it's too soon."
Fiona shrugged. "You're entitled to your opinion," she said coolly. She then walked over to the dishwasher and placed her empty glass inside.
.
tbc
A/N: Well now, Fiona is being put through the wringer! But despite being fourteen chapters in, Fadam's relationship is still very sudden. Mama Coyne has a point, but so does Fiona. It's her life after all…
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