A/N: Thank you to those who have posted reviews. It's amazing how much they make me want to keep writing so thank you.
Sophie groaned as she placed her head on the counter. She was working an afternoon shift at the shop and it was taking ages. Dev had left to go to the bank so she was all alone. There were only so many times that she could check her phone for a text or message. And Dev refused to allow for a laptop or computer at the counter. Having so much alone time, and no distractions, meant that she could dwell on her current dilemma. And thinking too much never did Sophie any good.
She jolted up her head at the sound of the bell that was connected to the door.
"Napping on the job?" Dev said jokingly as he walked in.
"Nowt!" Sophie insisted. She hadn't been really. "Just thinking in between the rush of customers at three in the afternoon" she smiled sarkily. Dev knew full well that this was the deadest shift customer-wise.
"Well I don't pay you to think aye?!" he bantered back.
"That's for sure" Sophie smiled. She had worked for Dev since she was teenager. She had been his most steady employee. Over the years the two of them had developed a friendship that had only deepened with the loss of Sunita. They had both loved her dearly and Sophie believed that she still watched over them.
Sophie had never believed that Sunita had anything to do with the burning down of the Rovers. Karl Munroe had always been suspect number one on her list. He had always been so shifty, even trying to intimidate Sophie once or twice. When he had been revealed to be a real villain, then her impressions were vindicated. However it didn't bring Sunita back. Sophie still missed her.
He took his coat off and headed into the office. Fortunately he soon returned with an inventory list to go over. Sophie practically grabbed it out of his hand. She was so grateful for something to do.
"Hey! Well someone's eager!" Dev exclaimed taken aback.
"Anything Dev! I will do anything rather than sit here with nothing other than my own" Sophie replied as she started working her way thru the list.
"What?! Don't tell me that there's trouble in paradise? You'll ruin my belief that true love conquers all" Dev laughed. He had been happy that the two girls had reunited after so much trouble. He was glad to see Sophie so settled after all her ups and downs. And Sian had always been his favorite of Sophie's girlfriends.
"No, No" Sophie said shaking her head unconvincingly.
"C'mon Sophie! I may not be an expert but I like to think that I know women a little" Dev offered.
Sophie guffawed so loud that they likely heard it at Audrey's.
"No really. If you need help I am happy to hear it" Dev said sincerely.
Sophie groaned. Dev was clearly not going to let this go.
"Well it's an impossible situation Dev" Sophie moaned. She went behind the counter and dramatically dropped her head into her hands.
"Explain" Dev said as if he were talking to Aadi or Asha.
"Well see we can't decide where to spend the holidays. Sian doesn't want to spend it here in Weatherfield, and I'm not going to Southport so there's no choice" Sophie tried to explain. This had been an ongoing discussion since Sophie had finished her last school final.
"Well why don't you two go somewhere different like Blackpool or summat?" Dev asked.
"No money. We're skint since we had to both pay tuition. The only reason we could go to Southport is because her mum will pay for the tickets," Sophie explained. Although both girls worked really hard all the time, skrimping here and there, it always seemed that money fell down an endless hole of bills.
"Oi! Wait is this just a set up to ask for another raise? Because I don't know if you've heard of this thing called austerity but it's still happening whether we like it or not" Dev warned.
"Nowt! Although I wouldn't turn it down" Sophie smiled cheekily. "Sian can't stay here in Weatherfield for the holidays, it's just too much for her so" Sophie finished up explaining their dilemma.
"Well then why not go to Southport? It's not like your family can't spare you one year" Dev answered.
"Dev, 1) Her mum hates me, and 2) I don't like her much either. So there it is" Sophie finished it simply.
"Why does Sian's mum hate you?" Dev asked. It didn't make sense to him. Sophie Webster was a perfectly respectable lass.
"Well obviously Dev-I turned her gay and I forced her back her to Weatherfield, the very site where I humiliated her by not marrying her in front of a large group of people" Sophie let out in one big jumble. Some of it was nonsense of course. Sophie could not turn people gay, she just wasn't that fit. However the latter half was more towards the heart of the matter. Sometimes they're summat tumultuous history worked against them. Such was the case at this time of year. Sophie curse herself inwardly for having insisting on getting married at the same time as Christmas, Sian's birthday and New Years. It was like the perfect storm of ruining what was supposed to be the happiest time of year.
It had made sense at the time.
"Well that's a tough one" Dev said rubbing his hands together. "It looks like someone's going to have to make a sacrifice aye?" he offered up with a shrug. He then escaped to the office.
"Thanks a lot Dev!" Sophie shouted sarcastically.
Sophie sat at the Webster's dinner table. Even though she had moved out, she still made a conscious effort to sit down at her parents at least once a week. Sometimes Sian joined them if she wasn't working. This week she had begged off, claiming to be knackered. Sophie believed that it was still due to uncertainty about their plans for the holidays.
It was getting ridiculous to Sophie how this whole discussion was getting blown out of proportion. Did it really matter where they spent the holidays as long as they were together? What seemed like a simple question was packed with a whole tram filled with emotional baggage that threatened to explode. The last thing Sophie needed was to open up the wound of their "not-marriage" since they had worked so hard to put it behind them. She just didn't know what to do.
"So Soph should we plan on having you over for Christmas dinner? You always know the best jokes," Sally asked as she was clearing up the dishes.
"Dunno mum" Sophie said sitting on the couch. Her dad was sitting next to her. He had put on some football, which Sophie could not care less about. At least it allowed her to zone out as she watched Man U beat City. Honestly she would rather be watching paint dry.
"Well let us know soon, we have to know how many to cook for" her mum said insistently. She clearly wanted an answer.
"Depends on what Sian wants Mum" Sophie shouted back. Her arms were crossed now. She didn't like being pressured by her mum. Sally would not get off her back about this stupid holiday dinner.
"Aye just like her old man, sounds like you don't own the pants in your relationship aye sweetheart?" her dad chuckled. Sophie was not amused.
"Whatever" she said running her hand thru her hair aggressively.
"Look I don't know about what it's like for two girls, but I do know that in the end I would do anything I could to make your mum happy, especially this time of year" Kevin said.
His voice was measured with subtext. This time of year was marked with so much history for the Websters. Sophie couldn't remember a holiday season in the last five years, or so, that didn't have some emotional pull for her family. Her mum's cancer, dad's infidelity and expulsion from the house had all been at this time of year. But also had been Sophie's baptism and her first sexual experience, both which had been amazing, had also been at this time.
God sure liked to make choices difficult.
"But dad, I'm so scared" Sophie said quietly leaning her head against his shoulder. He put his arm around her shoulder.
"Sweetheart. The daughter I know should realize by now the consequence of being led by fear. How has running away from what scares you ever paid off?" Her dad said sensibly.
Sophie knew what she had to do.
Sophie took a deep breath as she walked into the door of their flat.
Sian was sitting on the couch in front of the television. TOWIE was on but it was apparent that she wasn't really paying attention because she was reading a magazine. She turned toward Sophie as she came in.
"You're late" she said. Sophie took off her coat and hung it up.
She flopped down onto the couch naturally snuggling into her girlfriend's side without hesitation. "Yeah dad made me watch the football match with him" Sophie sighed. She really couldn't wait until Jack was older and her dad could have someone to share "boy things" with. He wouldn't let go of this idea that just because she was a lesbian that she should like sports.
"Oh god. I'm sorry, baby," Sian said sincerely. She knew that it was one of Sophie's crosses to bare being the closest to her dad and all.
"Yeah well, mum was also all about Christmas dinner and that" Sophie dropped in.
"Oh yeah, what'd you tell her?" Sian asked. Sophie could feel the blonde's body stiffen. This had been a cold war argument between them, neither willing to give up emotional ground.
"Well mum wasn't too happy sense I told her that we'd be going to Southport so…" Sophie tried to drop in casually.
"Whut?" Sian moved herself back a little away from Sophie on the couch.
In response Sophie lifted her head and looked Sian straight in the face.
"Look I'll be honest: Your mum terrifies me. But I know that she is the closest family that you 'ave left and you should be with them. I've been with my family loads. It's your turn babe" Sophie smiled thru her anxiety. She could see the giddy joy in her girlfriend's eyes.
Sian giggling, leaned in and nuzzled Sophie's lips. It was Sophie who finally pushed upon the other girl's lips.
As their lips broke apart, Sian let go a full throttled laugh.
"I knew you'd cave" Sian laughed again. Sophie loved that sound as she tried to settle the nervousness in her stomach.