As she watched the countryside roll by out the train window Sophie Webster tried to calm her nerves. At least unlike last time she had made this train trip she wasn't alone. It was just Sophie's luck that her girlfriend can sleep anywhere. Sophie couldn't blame Sian for needing a nap though. They had caught the early morning train to Southport even after Sian had worked Christmas Eve late at the Rovers.
Sophie had spent Christmas Eve with her family, which included her sister Rosie, who was back in town. Of course Sophie hated missing her sister's birthday, not to mention Christmas dinner with her family. It was Rosie's birthday after all, as she loved to let everyone know. But being in a couple was about sacrifices, and Sophie kept her promises. Either way they would be coming back to Weatherfield for New Years since Liz needed Sian back for work.
Sophie just hoped that they could have a good time together, since this was the last time that they would have a holiday for a while. School for both of them would be starting in the new year and gobble up much of their time.
As she listened to Sian's soft snores, Sophie tried not to think about all the worse case scenarios. Waiting for them in Southport was Sian's mum, whom Sophie had not seen since the spring. Even their brief meeting over tea at that time had been pretty awkward. It was clear that Sian's mum did not like Sophie then. Now that her and Sian had gotten back together Sophie was sure it hadn't gotten any better.
On the other side Sophie didn't like Miss Powers either. She just never understood the woman at all. Sally often did Sophie's head in, but at least she knew that her mother cared about her. Sian had always seemed like a ping-pong ball, being bounced between multiple homes. Ironically it was The Webster's who had provided the most stable home, even when things were falling apart. Her mum and dad just always seemed to not want to bother most of the time. It made no sense to Sophie at all.
Still Sophie knew that a daughter needed her mum, especially when she had very little family left. Hopefully it could all be civil, and they could play "happy family" together. At least this is what Sophie told herself. She pushed her hand thru her hair and sighed.
The women had unpacked their stuff and were taking a lie down together. Knackered from the train trip they had not even bothered to remove their clothes. Unlike the last time they had stayed in Southport, they didn't bother with separate rooms. As teens they had kept up the charade that they weren't going to be sleeping together, but as grownups it seemed silly. Not that Sophie wanted to flaunt it either. Even as an adult she still felt uncomfortable dealing with sex and her own parents, much less her girlfriends. And she really didn't need one more reason for Sian's mum to dislike her.
Facing each other they were only connected by one hand between them across the bed. Sophie sighed contentedly interlinking their fingers.
"I'm so tired, I don't know whether to laugh or cry" Sophie said softly letting her eyes drift close.
Sian looked at her with sympathy. It was plain to see that Sophie was wearier from winding herself up then anything else. She took her hand from Sophie's causing her to open her eyes.
"Come 'ere" Sian said opening up her arms caringly.
Sophie shuffled over across the bed. She laid her head on Sian's chest as the blonde's arms wrapped themselves around her securely.
"Comfortable babe?" Sian whispered.
"You're better than anything" Sophie murmured her eyes closed. This was heaven for the brunette as Sian softly kissed the top of her head.
"Just give me an hour and we can do what you want," Sophie said sleepily.
"This is what I want" Sian said giving her a squeeze "As long as we're together, nothing else is important."
"Uh-Uh" Sophie agreed softly but couldn't help sighing wearily. Her body tensed up for a brief moment.
"Babe, what's wrong?" Sian asked feeling the change in the girl's body language.
"What about your mum?" Sophie asked.
"What about her?" Sian replied.
Sophie let out a breath. "Is she okay with me staying here? In your room?" she asked worriedly.
Sian let out a laugh. Sophie huffed and pulled out of Sian's arms. She hated feeling as if she was being made to be silly for her nervousness.
Sian took Sophie's face in her hands. "Soph! Even if she did, I wouldn't care!" Sian said kissing Sophie softly. Sophie pulled away shaking her head.
"You can't just kiss your way out of this" Sophie laughed looking at her hands. "It's just…" Sophie spoke haltingly "What if…" Sophie stopped when she felt a finger pulling her chin up. As her face lifted she saw the most beautiful smile. God her girl was gorgeous.
"You're the one that I love, no one else, not ever. You better believe me," Sian said as she pulled back onto the bed.
It turned out that Sophie had wound herself up for nothing. Upon her arrival at the house Sophie had expected the worst, but Miss Powers hadn't thrown her out yet. While Sian's mum was about as warm as the winter weather outside she at least seemed happy to see her daughter. To Sophie she was civil and polite, much like when they were teens.
As she watched mother and daughter sip their tea, Sophie was reminded how different it was to her own. The Webster household was usually buzzing with energy. At any time of day there was always someone stomping about demanding attention. Southport was deadly quiet. Especially in the wintertime since there were no beach-goers out on the cold windy shore. Miss Powers had put out the Christmas decorations at least and an evening around the fire was planned.
As different as Sian was from her mum, Sophie understood that she still needed her. Especially now that her father was gone. She remembered when her mum had been diagnosed with cancer at this time a few years ago. It had blown her world apart. As much as she had fought with her mum over the years she found it difficult to imagine life without her.
Sophie was roused out of her revelry by an elbow to the stomach. She quickly turned her head towards her girlfriend who was desperately trying to hold in the giggles.
"Sorry, whut?" Sophie said embarrassed.
"Well looks like we're just not as exciting as the wallpaper aye?" Miss Powers said loftily.
"Mum was just asking about your sister Rosie. She saw her ad on telly" Sian helped her out.
"Oh yeah, that butter ad with the sheep" Sophie chuckled. Rosie did some really mad local commercials sometimes. It was usually embarrassing to see your sister dressed like a slapper to sell useless crap. Sophie tried to ignore the fact that these things exist.
"She's good, y'know it's her birthday today" Sophie replied.
"Oh! Well you could have stayed home with your family. I'm sure they are missing you" Sian's mum said with a note of fake consideration.
"It's no trouble, I saw her yesterday. And there's no place I'd rather be than with her" Sophie took Sian's hand intertwining their fingers. "And she didn't want to be in Weatherfield so…" Sophie tried to finish up feeling unnerved by the glare of cool blue eyes.
"Well that makes sense considering" Miss Powers said as she took another sip of her tea.
A silence ensued as Sophie decided to become intensely interested in her cuppa. Having finished it she set it down on the table and started to stand up.
"I think I'm gunna get a lie down aye so I'll leave you two to it" Sophie said as she headed out of the room. Both Powers women nodded as Sophie backed her way out.
As she got out of the stifling room as quickly as she could, she took a quick look over her shoulder. She noticed how both women shared similar looks but gave off completely different energies. Sometimes Sian could be all over the place, whereas her mum seemed very controlled in what she let show. It confounded Sophie in many ways but then again when had adults ever made any sense anyway.
She did finally hear some laughter between mother and daughter as she lingered in the hallway.
"Where did you get that ring?" Sian asked in a frantic tone. She was looking at a particular ring that was on her mum's fingers. It had a gold band with a blue stone at the center. It was old but elegant, and really stood out.
They had sat down to dinner that evening. Sophie had pledged to herself that afternoon that she would work her charm on Miss Powers. She was going to win her girlfriend's mum over if it killed her. Unfortunately all her resolve had dried up as they sat down. Sophie just got more interested in pushing the food around on her plate.
"Well it was mine after all. Jay was kind enough to mail it back" Sian's mum replied.
Sophie turned to her girlfriend who was glaring at her mum across the table.
"Why'd you have to wear it? Y'knew Sophie'd be here" Sian asked angrily.
"Wait whut? I'm lost" Sophie looked at both women.
"My mum just wants to stir it" Sian replied casting a look across the table that could melt a glacier.
"Actually I was happy to get it back from him considering. It was my mum's after all, but he had been so convincing when he asked for your hand here last December that I'd given it to him. It's too bad really," Sian's mum said regretfully.
Sophie slowly was putting it all together in her head. She didn't like what she was hearing.
"So wait…You'se two were here in Southport last December? Why didn't you tell me?" Sophie asked.
"We weren't together then and I don't think it would have been appropriate Soph" Sian argued.
Sophie chuckled to herself. That was pretty rich.
"Soph" Sian whinged looking at her mum who looked to be enjoying the little scene she'd created.
"Uh yeah, how about I show you the texts Sian? It's not like we weren't involved summat" Sophie pointed out. "No I get it. Wouldn't want the boyfriend to know about the secret girlfriend right? Remember my parents are cheating experts, so I know how this goes" Sophie got up taking her wine glass with her. She headed into the kitchen to refill it with a new bottle. Apparently the liquor was still in the same place as the last time they'd been here in the spring.
Sian walked in as she was popping a new cork.
"Your mum won't mind aye?" Sophie asked as she filled her glass.
"Sophie" Sian repeated herself standing on the opposite side of the counter.
"But then again, it's just one more thing that she can add to the list" Sophie said drinking down her glass.
"Babe, a year ago…my head was mashed aye…Jay was just easier because I didn't care…" Sian struggled to explain.
"It's not that Sian, I get that. It's just…Why didn't you just tell me that you were here?" Sophie demanded. "Because you were making me the girl on the side and that's what hurt" Sophie took another gulp from her glass.
Sian moved around the counter never taking her eyes off Sophie's. Maybe it was all that wine going right to her head, but Sophie couldn't move. Those gorgeous blue eyes that were full of remorse as Sian took her glass out of hand and placed it on the counter entranced her. Sian stepped closer, placing her hands on Sophie's hips.
"I'm sorry" Sian said softly. She leaned in and covered Sophie's lips. Sophie tried to resist but eventually she gave in. When Sian's tongue pushed for entrance into her mouth Sophie let her as the kiss deepened.
"Uh-hem" the women heard breaking their spell. They looked to see Sian's mum in the door way as they broke apart quickly.
Sian handed her the opened bottle and an additional glass.
"Sophie why don't you take this upstairs, I'll be up in a minute," Sian said to her.
"Are you sure?" Sophie asked still catching her breath.
"Myeh, I've got to talk to my mum" Sian said turning towards her mum in the kitchen with her arms crossed.
Sophie made it out of there quick. She didn't want to be around for those fireworks.
They both sat on the bed the wine bottle between them.
"Can we please just stay up here in this room for the next two days?" Sophie asked.
"It might start to smell" Sian guffawed. "Too right" Sophie joined in as the room filled with exhausted giggles.
"Sian, do you think it's all worth it? All this trouble?" Sophie asked.
"Sophie, we just have to remember that it's just you and me" Sian put her arms around Sophie's neck. "No one else matters" Sian said closing the space between them.
She looked into the blonde's eyes. For once Sophie allowed herself to completely relax. The wine probably helped with that as well. She had been winding herself up all day worrying about everything. It had really exhausted her.
"Come on" Sophie said as she cleared away the wine bottle and laid back on the bed, enveloped in the arms of her best girl.
If this day was anything to go by then Sophie would need her rest.