Fiona comes home and heads directly into the kitchen, she knows that dinner will be ready soon. She notices her wife wearing something less casual, "You look lovely, what is the special occasion?"
Alaya turns around, "I just have one question, do we still have tomorrow off?"
"Yes we do."
"We have plans, go get changed into something formal."
Fiona face glows with a smile, turns and runs up to get changed.
Alaya finishes packing two sandwiches, places them in her small handbag and waits on the landing.
Moments later Fiona comes skipping down the stairs, missing he last step and falling into her wife's arms.
"You always catch me? I need you to come to the hospital, all those steps I run up and down. I swear my mind must figure a better way to communicate to my feet."
"You are fine. You rarely trip as you once did."
"Truly?"
"Yes, dear."
"Good night mothers!" Alaya yells into the kitchen.
"Good night!" Mother Jenny response back.
As they head out the front door Fiona dare to ask, "Am I to guess our plans?"
"We are to see Pygmalion tonight?"
"We already saw the play. Do you want to spend the money again?
"It is the film at Her Majesty's Theatre. We can compare the two mediums?"
"Wonderful." Fiona smiles. "I should have grabbed some food. I am hungry."
Alaya opens her bag and hands her wife a sandwich.
"Thank you, you thought of everything." Fiona take a healthy bite. "I was expecting a cucumber sandwich. Chicken?"
"Turkey. Mother Vastra said this a better sandwich which will help maintain your weight. Maintain not gain. What do you think?"
"It is really good." Fiona takes another healthy bite, "I want to catch up. How are you day to day? I know you told me not to worry, but when there is a quiet moment thoughts of you flood my mind. It takes me all my strength to stop myself from ringing my bicycle bell to have you running towards me."
"That would put me in a panic, please refrain my dear. We are not too far from each other, but if you need please call me any time."
"I know." Fiona becomes quiet, "I wish I could just hear your voice. By the time I say hello I would be off again."
"Let's focus on our time together."
"Yes, you are right." Fiona looks up and notices the new Fortnum & Mason window display. "They have new whiskeys, maybe tomorrow we can see if any from Tobermory?"
"Of course."
Fiona runs up and sees a whiskey bottle, "Look! Tobermory!"
Alaya pulls her wife away, "I am sorry dear. We don't want to miss curtain call."
"Can we walk this way back?"
Alaya smiles, "Such a simple request, we will return home the same way."
Before they turn right on Regent Alaya lets go of her wife's arm, touches the device to turn herself human. "We will be in the balcony, not in a private box."
Fiona understands, "My dear please keep close." She grabs Alaya's wrist, brings it up to her nose and takes a deep breath. "At least you smell the same." She kisses her wrist before locking arms again.
They get into their seats and settle down. The atmosphere is electric and the two can't help being excited.
The lights flicker off and on. The empty seats are quickly filled including those around Fiona and Alaya.
Alaya shuffles in here seat.
"What's wrong?" Fiona whispers to her wife.
Alaya looks to her wife with her mouth almost fused.
"I am sorry dear, shall we leave?" Fiona knows that someone is irritating her wife's mouth.
Shakes her head no and touches her wife's tenderly.
The curtain goes up and darkness falls onto the audience.
Fiona times it just right and pulls her wife into a kiss. She thrusts her tongue in trying to locate her wife's tongue and plays with the tip. Seconds later she settles back into her seat before the stage light illuminate the theatre.
She looks back at her wife with a fused mouth, but this time she is not as irritated.
For intermission Alaya and Fiona head outside. Fiona pulls her wife across the street and buys an orange from the fruit vendor. She peels it quickly, "The citrus should help with the taste. If not I will get a something stronger."
Alaya takes the orange and smiles. "This is much better." She pulls her wife to the side for a little more privacy. "I prefer your kiss solution. It made all the difference. I would love to kiss some more before we return to our seats."
Fiona looks around as she pulls another slice of orange for her wife, "I am sorry dear we are surrounded. Can you hold on till we reach home? May I suggest a taxi home?"
Alaya nods a she eats the orange. "My mother used to have a heavy South London accent. I am sure you noticed when she is tired or irritated."
"Yes, what happened? Was your Mother Vastra her Mr. Higgins?"
"No, I think she slowly lost the accent the more she immersed in their lives."
"My accent isn't as strong as it once was, but I am purposely trying to speak more like my mother."
"I do miss your Scottish way of words."
"Thank you. Maybe I will let my Scottish words fly if we get the Tobermory whiskey."
"Is that so?" Alaya looks to her wife and wonders how much of the bottle will it take to strip all the London out of her soul.
The lights flicker for the second half.
Fiona asks, "What are you thinking?"
"We better get to our seats."
Fiona holds back a second as the crowd goes through the doors. She quickly pulls her wife close and kisses her like she needs.
As they walk back into the theatre Alaya remains calm as her wife just pinched her ass again.
As Alaya and Fiona queue for a taxi they listen to everyone either rave or complain about the film. It was most entertaining. Fiona quickly left the queue to buy another orange for her wife just in time to get into the taxi.
"What did you think?" Fiona asks as she peels the orange.
"I personally like the play." She take a slice of the orange.
The taxi is going fast, knocking the two women inside back and forth.
Fiona smiles almost laughing at their speed, "I am not against the cinema. I find it quite interesting. But it lacks something."
Alaya steadies herself next to Fiona. "Pygmalion or cinema in general."
"Films based on literature or performing arts. It is as if the personal has been taken away, created for the masses. I just sat and watched being entertained. I wasn't moved."
"Do you think it is because we saw the performance?"
"Maybe, the next film we see it must not be literary or performed beforehand. It is only fair."
The taxi stops off in front of their home. Fiona fixes her hat and makes sure both her and her wife are in one piece. Alaya pays the fare and tip. The taxi bolts away. Fiona laughs, "He is heading back to the theatre for another fare. If he is that quick he might be able to eat well for the next few weeks."
The two head into their home and up to the residence floors. "Fiona, lets be in the drawing room with the fire before we head to bed."
Fiona looks curiously at her wife, "Do you mind if I change into my nightgown?"
"That would be lovely, would you mind bringing my nightgown and housecoat when you return?"
"Of course."
Alaya watches as her wife closes their bedroom door and runs around gathering items from the kitchen and placing them in the drawing room. She goes back to the kitchen and comes back with small drinking glasses.
Mother Vastra and Mother Jenny look up from their books and watch their daughter go in and out.
Alaya comes back into the room and evaluate the contents on the table. She points to each one and nods with a deep breath.
Mother Vastra leans up to say something, Mother Jenny gently keeps her wife from making any noise. They both sit back, watch and wait.
Alaya exits and returns with a small bucket of ice and water, "Done." She then proceeds to put more wood on the fire.
Fiona opens the drawing-room door. She sees the mothers, "Good Evening Mothers. Did you have a pleasant evening?"
Mother Vastra, "It was quiet, peaceful and with little excitement."
Mother Jenny, "That is until our girls came home."
Alaya jumps up and comes to her wife. "Thank you." Alaya quickly gets undressed, puts on her nightgown and finally her housecoat.
"My goodness. I should give you more oranges."
"What about oranges?" Mother Jenny is trying decipher Alaya's actions.
"Oh, there was a scent in the theatre. At intermission and at the end of the film we had an orange to take the taste away."
"That's it?" Mother Vastra asked, with a disappointed look on her face.
"Yes, that is it." Fiona looks curiously at Mother Vastra and Jenny.
Alaya smiles brightly, "No, I was just running around back and forth from the kitchen. They want answers, to which they will have to be patient."
Alaya grabs her wife's hands and leads her to the table and steps aside.
Fiona looks down at first it was subtle, but soon she was fully animated. "What did you do?"
"Does my wee lass need an education of Scottish food?"
"No! Explain yourself. There is a reason, what makes today special?"
"Actually it is not today, it is in a few weeks. You will not have that day off. Celebrating before has much more meaning."
"Do I get a hint?"
Alaya moves closer, "Together."
Fiona thinks, "My love will I disappoint you if my brain won't answer correctly. May I have another hint?"
Alaya picks off the table an envelope with the words "Mothers" written on top.
Fiona goes to hand it to Alaya's mothers Alaya gently grabs her wrists. "No this is for you to read."
Fiona opens the letter with a smile but it quickly turns sad and she finds a seat.
Dear Mothers,
Since I have started to be a fly on the wall for my dearest Fiona's therapy I found out a few things about myself.
First, I am terribly in love. There are no words I can express as to how much I love Fiona. It is like even whispering her name my heart beats faster.
Second, I owe you so much. My life has been amazing and you have been unquestionably the influence of my life. Now your generosity extends to to Fiona. There is not an ocean full of pearls that could repay your love and support.
Third, I am stronger. I know that I have looked to you for guidance for most of my life. How could I not. You are strong, independent and self-sufficient women. You make politicians and powerful men look like nothing more than ants moving in a line on an ant hill. You have been more that mothers you are inspirational leaders. I can do anything, go anywhere … and I chose my life to be with both of you.
But ...
My Fiona wants to leave. She is scared and troubled … I have left with her. She will lead to where she will find peace. My heart must go with her.
My life, no our lives have been forever changed. You two will have each other and please look after April, help her understand.
I suspect our Fiona will go north to the Highlands.
I shall telegram as soon as possible.
Your Daughter
Alaya Flint
"W...what is this?" Fiona asks with tearing eyes.
"Together."
"Together!" Fiona looks up with a half smile.
"You woke up, put on your cricket outfit, studied on the floor and we stayed"
"We stayed."
"Last year we celebrated, but only I knew the reason. When we had our honeymoon I didn't tell you why I was overjoyed when we produced our scent. I keep certain moments to myself. We will celebrate together."
"Lovely. Show me what you have for us to partake?" Fiona stands and looks at the goods on the table again.
Alaya points to various cheeses from Edinburgh, chocolate from the Isle of Mull and Tobermory Whiskey. "Do you want to the honors?" as she hands the bottle to Fiona.
"I doont mind if I doo" Fiona pulls the cork and pours four shot glasses. She looks to the Alaya with a tilt with her head point to the patient Mother Vastra and Jenny. "Are ye mothers join' to join us? Or do they need a special notice sent?"
Mother Vastra and Mother Jenny come to the table and take a small glass.
Alaya holds her glass up to her wife, "We Stayed."
Fiona holds her glass up to her wife, "We Stayed."
Alaya sips her small glass and winces as the whiskey immediately touches her tongue.
"Aye, my wee wife and her sensitive Silurian tongue. I shall kiss and make it better." Fiona then takes her glass, takes it one gulp and slams it on the table. "Did yoo feel that vibration?" Looking at her wife as she pours herself another shot.
Mother Vastra follows Fiona's lead and with one gulp down the glass of whiskey. Mother Jenny watched closely as just one eye twitched as the Whiskey burned down her throat.
Mother Jenny sniffs first then bravely takes it one gulp. She grabs Vastra's arm to steady herself as she catches her breath. "Now that the theatrics have been completed, Alaya please tell us what is going on."
Fiona smiles as she downs her glass of whiskey, pours herself another and sits while holding on a hunk of cheese. "Yes, Alaya please tell us what is going on, Eliza Doolittle has asked a question."
"Oi! What's goin' on?"
Alaya and Fiona burst out laughing.
"Alaya please tell your mothers what we are celebrating. Let them enjoy our happiness; they have witnesses more pain than anyone deserves." Fiona stands up, pours herself another shot of whiskey, picks up a piece of chocolate and plops back down on the chair.
Alaya is smiling at her Scottish wife and back to her mothers. She tenderly asks them to sit and proceeds to tell them of Fiona's desire to leave. Alaya explains to her mothers how it shocked her in therapy and decided to do what is best for herself. She hands them the letter she wrote years ago.
Fiona comes over and sits on her wife's lap and whispers, "I am scared of their reaction."
Alaya gives tender kisses and whispers back, "We can handle anything, together."
Fiona smiles.
Now they watch and wait.
Mother Jenny takes the bottle of whiskey and pours herself a glass. She looks to Fiona and Alaya, "You stayed." In one gulp she downs the whiskey and her body shutters like a cat coming out of water.
Mother Vastra sits quietly. Mother Jenny pours her wife a glass of whiskey. Mother Vastra grabs the glass and looks to her daughter and her daughter's wife, "You stayed," and swallows the liquid whole.
Mother Vastra leans forward and looks directly into Fiona's eyes, "Why did you stay?"
"Everyone depended on me. I could not walk away."
"Why do you stay?"
"My life is with Alaya."
Mother Vastra shakes her head, "No. Why do you stay?"
"I don't understand."
"Why do you stay? You are an American girl conceived one-hundred years ago and born in Scotland. You do not belong to 'Our London'. You are out of time. You mother April is no longer with us. You have the world to live … peaceful without a Silurian in sight. You could be Edinburgh right now instead of tasting your Scottish Whiskey on special occasion. Why do you stay?"
"I love my life with my family. I cherish every moment and I ache when I am gone. Throughout the day I wonder if Mother Jenny will have new photographs to show me, what is my Alaya doing at that very moment and what interesting book you are reading. These thoughts consume my mind in moments of peace. I want nothing more to come home and hear about your days. Even though you might think it is trivial … love, family, our lives are not trivial. Besides, the only person here that belongs to 'Our London' is Alaya. She is the reason we stay."
Mother Jenny pours everyone another glass of whiskey, "They stayed."
Everyone but Alaya swallows in one gulp.
Mother Vastra looks to Fiona, "If you would have not stayed … our peaceful moments would be consumed with with thoughts of your daily lives. Even the books you read ... I might not say it, but you are very much a part of our lives. You are correct, Alaya is the only one who actually belongs to 'Our London' but only because I stayed, because Jenny stayed. We are utterly dependent. If you leave, we all leave. We go together. If I had known … Jenny, April and I would have followed you anywhere."
"To protect me?"
"Because, Fiona, you are loved. If the only person, who actually belongs to this time-line is Alaya and she follows you ... what is holding us, your mother here in 'Our London' ... it is nothing. We remained for our daughters."
Mother Jenny adds, "Besides, Vastra would have tracked you down within twelve hours."
Mother Vastra nods, "I would have found you girls in four hours."