Be My Valentine!
Part XX: Baby Steps
Purpledolpin05: This chapter is going to be interesting, since I have been meaning to write for Bernice/The Great Defender. In The Mysteries of Auradon's Lost Prince, Bernice mentioned she used to briefly date The Incapacitator but was abused by him, resulting in Jamie's birth. But The Great Defender seems to show an interest in Bernice and has a father-daughter relationship with Jamie.
Songs that inspired the chapter: According to You by Orianthi (to parallel The Incapacitator/Arnold to The Great Defender/Greg), Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney, Take Your Sweet Time by Jesse McCartney, She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5.
I do not own any of the characters from Disney, or my friends' OCs, I only own this story and my OCs. Enjoy.
"And…we're live!" Jamie announced, before introducing herself, "I'm Jamie Kingsley, this is my bestie Jenny."
"Hello." Jenny gave a polite wave.
"Hello ladies, my name is Bob." Bob tried to flirt.
"Easy there, partner." Spin laughed, holding Bob back from flirting and scaring away everyone else. "I'm Spin."
"Today, we're subbing in for this time." Jenny explained.
"Well, Cece has midterms coming up, Lou is on a date, Jay is with Roman, I think they are hunting down every other guy she liked. And Jones is with Carvie on a video game day." Jamie stated.
"CAHWEE!" Doy and January squealed, before they cheered.
"I think we broke them." Bob raised a hand.
"So we're supposed to look at couples celebrating Valentines Day. Totally weird." Spin shrugged. "Like you, hyena."
"Zip it, Tree Branch." Jamie barked back.
"Shots fired." Bob whispered over to Jenny who giggled.
Spin is now so much taller than Jamie and Jenny were. And so was Bob, who's grown almost a whole foot over the past few months.
"Today we're going to spy on Jamie's mom and the Great De-Fan-Doy!" Doy grinned.
"What?!" Jamie paused for a moment.
"Jamie's gonna have a stepdad!" Jenny hummed.
"Well. I will not lie if I say Uncle Greg is not as shameless as most males, like Spinny." Jamie shrugged, before giving Spin a glare.
"Oh, you wanna argue now, Tarantula-Tallulah?" Spin sassed back.
"Well, fight me then!" Jamie hissed.
"No fighting! Fight Club meetings aren't until next Sunday!" Jenny exclaimed, before standing between them.
"Wait…Uncle Greg is in love with my mom?" Jamie asked, after realizing that her close uncle (and Godfather) is actually in love with HER MOM!
"Congratulations, you are officially the last one to know." Spin applaud, before Jamie kicked him in the shins.
"Ship!" January and Doy mouthed to each other.
"LET'S ROLL THE CLIPS!" Bob reminded them.
~ Couple: The Great Defender/Greg Damien x Bernice Kingsley ~
Once again, it was Valentines' Day.
"Ok, you got this. Just go and ask her out." Tecton patted The Great Defender's back.
"Dude, you have GOT to stop talking on and on about Berny without ever asking her out on dates." His friend/co-worker-in-crime Glenn Crushman (AKA The Crusher) pointed out.
"Yeah, man. You have had a crush on her since high school!" another one of their Super friends, Seth Sheldon (Silver Shield, a high school classmate) nodded.
"I dunno if I should, I mean Jamie doesn't like the idea of Bernice dating anybody." Greg hesitated.
"You're exaggerating, right?" Richard Kennedy (AKA Blue Tornado) asked.
"No, seriously. The last time a guy asked Bernice out on a date, Jamie and her friends plus Jones sabotaged the guy by wiring his car and then the guy was gone. He transferred himself to Germany within a month and changed his name." Greg stated.
Offscreen
"Is it true?" Jenny asked.
"Fine. Call me selfish, but it's always been me and my mom. I can't see anyone who's good enough for my mom!" Jamie admitted, throwing her arms into the air.
"Ahh, I remember that day. I never knew I was gifted at ruining cars." Bob nodded.
"Authoress, if Bob is following Adam's footsteps, make sure he doesn't end up in juvie." Jenny mouthed over to the authoress.
"Make sure Bob won't end up like Gio from Cruise either. But if Jenny straightens him out like my friend Sayaka did to Gio, then it's ok with me." Aries Nigel added.
"Who is Gio?" Bob asked.
Gio (from Cruise, it's an R18 movie with themes like hooking up, drugs, alcohol) is one of Aries's ex-boyfriends, but on the plus side, he ended up with Sayaka (an OC who is based off Sakura) so they are like the 80s version of Adura, except the boy was blind by some new rich cliché girl than the best female friend.
Back to the couple…
"Look, I admit. I have strong feelings for Bernice. But asking her out is…complicated." Greg admitted.
"There is nothing complicated about asking someone out." Out comes Pim Diffy demonstrating her 'aggressive flirting' techniques, before walking off to torment others.
"Who is that?" Henry Tidwell (Titanio) asked.
"I have NO idea." Tecton shrugged.
Meanwhile…
Bernice was spending the day chatting with some of her friends, she was the older one amongst the younger generation of adult superheroines.
"So any plans for celebrating Valentines Day, ladies?" Celestia Nova-Sheldon (Princess Planet) asked around.
"Richard's taking me out to see a movie." Violet Flame II (Solar Flare) smiled.
"I'm going bowling with Mesmira, Titanio and Tecton later." Kate Ripley (Replicate) replied, before sipping on a cup of green tea.
"Are you planning on running Henry's feet with the bowling ball again?" Bernice giggled.
"Maybe." Mira (Mesmira) smirked.
"What about you, Bernice?" Celestia asked.
"Well, Jamie said she's going out with Spin today, they've got a skating contest coming up." Bernice replied.
"Spin, that Bionic boy, right?" Mira questioned.
"Yes. They are always arguing whenever they meet." Bernice smiled.
"What about you?" Pauline 'Polly' Crushman (The Crusher's wife) asked.
"What about me? I'm fine on my own." Bernice shrugged.
"C'mon, get yourself back in the dating game." Polly raised an eyebrow at Bernice.
"You know I haven't dated anyone since…Jamie's father left." Bernice spoke out in a quiet tone, before the ladies hushed.
Everyone knew Bernice met a man named Arnold Ronaldson (The Incapacitator) during her college graduation party at the local pub. After a few drinks and some slow dancing, she ended up being assaulted by the older man.
They dated for a short while, until he abandoned her. Bernice would describe that horrible man as abusive, manipulative and extremely hot-tempered. She meant nothing but a fling to him, which crushed her to bits, especially when she found out she was pregnant a few weeks after he left.
"He was horrible to you." Polly shook her head.
"I am so sorry you had to go through a lot of emotional trauma because of him." Celestia felt sympathetic towards the mother.
"Well, one good thing came out of that abusive relationship. I had Jamie. And she is just…beautiful and so expressive." Bernice smiled a bit. "After Arnold. I decided on focusing on my job and raising Jamie on my own."
"What about Greg, then? You know he's got a thing for you, right?" Violet asked.
"Oh, he's got a lot of feelings for you." Kate smirked.
"Look, I do admit, I like Greg too. But I am just not sure if I am ready to date." Bernice commented.
"You're not getting any younger, face it." Mira commented.
"Well, look what the tide dragged in." Celestia smirked.
"I cannot believe you guys pushed me into this!" Greg hissed as his friends pushed him over to the outside of the Kingsley residence (Jamie lives with her mom in a crammed rented house, it's not much but it's home)
"Hey, we're here to fetch our girlfriends/wives/female friends too!" Tecton commented.
"That reminds me, my daughter Nancy has a ballet reception tonight, and I promised to take Daria to play baseball later this evening." Seth remembered.
"Hey ladies." Tecton flashed a smile at Bernice and her friends.
"Go away, I'm married." Celestia barked.
"She can be scary." Tecton hid behind Henry and Richard.
"Exactly why I love and married her." Seth smiled, before offering an arm for his wife.
"It was great catching up with you girls again, same time next weekend?" Polly asked.
"Sure, why not?" Bernice nodded.
"Hey Bernice."
"Hello Greg."
"We just remembered, we're supposed to be ANYWHERE else but HERE!" Glenn commented as he and the others left.
"So happy Valentines' Day." Greg began.
"Happy Valentines' Day to you too." Bernice give him a smile.
"Is Jamie home?" Greg asked.
"No, she's with Spin, Bob and Jenny." Bernice shrugged.
"Shame, I got this new video game I think she might like about racecars. She did perform well on her last exams." Greg pointed out, holding a video game in a bag he took.
Behind the scenes
"YOU SHALL NOT BRIBE ME WITH VIDEO GAMES TO DATE MY MOM!" Jamie yelled from behind the screen, before crossing her arms pouting.
Back to Grenice
"That's sweet of you, but you really shouldn't have. She flunked her Algebra and Greek Literature last semester after she got into that Zombie Wrestler video game. Remember?" Bernice frowned at him.
"I'm sorry, I like Jamie. She's like a daughter to me." Greg apologized.
"Well, you are technically her godfather, and you have been around when I was pregnant up until she was born." Bernice stated.
"I was there when she took her first steps too. Remember when she fell on her face after taking 3 steps towards you?" Greg asked, before Bernice broke into a smile.
Offscreen…
"IT'S NOT FUNNY, MOM!" Jamie was extremely embarrassed right now. Listening to couples flirting was bad, but listening to her mom talking about her childhood memories is worse!
"Keep going, auntie Bernice. I wanna hear more!" Spin grinned at the screen, holding a camera recorder.
Back to Grenice
"So I was wondering…since it's Valentines' Day and we don't have any plans for the rest of the day…would you like to go out…for a cup of coffee?"
"and since we're going to the same café, why not we go on the same car? To save the environment!" Greg motioned to his car.
"Yes, while we're at it, we can split the bill and talk with each other while listening to the same music. To save the environment." Bernice added, before blushing.
Offscreen…
"WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE TO GO ON A DATE IS THAT?!" Jamie yelled.
"I thought you were against your Uncle Greg and your mom hanging out?" Jenny asked.
"Not if you are flirting TERRIBLY!" Jamie pointed out.
"For once, you have a point." Spin agreed.
Back to Grenice…
So Greg and Bernice decided to carpool to go out for some coffee.
"You know, I am still not ready to date yet, right?" Bernice spoke out.
"Is this about him?" Greg asked.
"A bit, he broke me in so many ways." Bernice started to tear up, bad memories flooded her mind.
"I have always had feelings for you, Berny, and I know you need time." Greg confessed his feelings for her.
"I'm sorry if I brought him up, but I actually like you as well. It's just back then, you were dating someone else, and it was never the right time." Bernice shook her head.
"Back in high school, it wasn't the right time because we were too immature to know about love. In college, it wasn't the right time, because of our separate roads. It wasn't the right time either when we graduated, because I was seeing someone else when you got pregnant with Jamie. And it wasn't the right time, when you wanted to stop dating and focus on raising Jamie on your own while I was already starting my superhero duties..." Greg confessed.
"It never feels like the moment is right." Bernice sighed, looking at her hands.
"I think I have dated many women, but the only constant women in my life are 3." Greg admitted.
"Who?" Bernice asked, forcing a weak smile.
"My mother, Jamie, and you." Greg listed, before it caught Bernice's (and Jamie's) attention.
"I know, you want your time for your self-focus and on Jamie. But I always thought of Jamie as my own daughter. She is not my daughter, but she is as good as." Greg commented, before reaching a hand out to hold Bernice's hand. "I love her like a parent, as much as the romantic feelings I have for you."
"And I know, you probably don't think now is the right time yet, but I just want you to know that I will always be there for you and for Jamie." Greg smiled.
"Thanks Greg, for being so understanding." Bernice started to smile, before she leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"I'm not really interested in dating yet, but…" Bernice began, as she held onto Greg's hand gently, "baby steps."
"Baby steps." Greg blushed a bit, squeezing her hand in his softly.
~ Clips Ended ~
"Jamie?" Spin noticed Jamie was quiet, before realizing she was crying.
"Uncle Greg is always there for me. He's the dad I always wanted. I admit it. Growing up, I always wondered why I don't have a dad like everyone else does in my class. And when I found out that monster abandoned my mom after a short relationship, I lost faith that love can last." Jamie admitted, while Jenny offered her a tissue.
"Well, Mr. Greg has been around in your life more than that horrible man." Spin commented, before Jamie hugged him.
"Ship." January whispered.
"I like that Greg still loves Bernice no matter what." Bob commented.
"He's right. It is hard to forget about someone who hurt you, but the people who loved you is more than those who hurt you." Jenny added. Bob gave Jenny a small glance, before he smiled.
"My kids are growing up so fast." Queen Belle sobbed hysterically behind the Rec Room. "Spin is so mature now…"
"MOM!" Spin blushed, embarrassed.
"This one's going to the album." Former King Beast took a picture of Spin and Jamie hugging.
"DAD!" Spin groaned.
"I guess this is all for this year?" Doy asked.
"I guess so." Bob shrugged.
"What couple will be spy on next time?" Jenny asked.
"Let's see…Jay and Tracy." The authoress checked her schedule.
"WHAT?!" Tracy blushed red.
"YES!" Jay cheered.
"NO!" Roman yelled.
"HANDS OFF OUR BIG SIS!" Jamie yelled at Jay, before Spin handed her a bat.
"Here's a bat for your back-up plan." Spin smirked.
"You know me so well." Jamie grinned, before pecking his cheek and proceeding to whamming the guts out of Jay.
"You go, Jamie!" Jenny and Bob cheered.
"HEY! NO VIOLENCE ALLOWED! TAKE IT TO THE DOG PARK ACROSS THE STREET!" The authoress shouted.
Spin blushed before he fell over.
"Ship!" Jenny, Bob, January and Doy hummed.
"Ok, that is all for now. Thank you for reading." Doy turned to the camera.
"Feel free to fave, follow or leave a review down below and tell us what you think of this chapter and the pairing!" Jenny grinned.
"Have a nice day." Bob cheered, as the hosts waved.