Sweet Girl

Wild White Roses

Karen is standing in the kitchen brewing coffee, her usual mid afternoon routine, when Stevie finally surfaces with her hair still tangled and her pajamas on.

"Morning," she grumbles as Karen nods at her silently, waiting for her to get a cup before she starts in on the day.

They go about their business in the quiet until Stevie speaks. "I need an hour today to prep for Fallon."

"You were supposed to do that yesterday," Karen sighs as she sips her black coffee, leaning against the counter, "why wasn't it done?"

Stevie gives her a challenging glare - sometimes Karen needs to be reminded that she's an employee and not her mother. "I was busy with Vivian. She's more important."

"You barely know her," Karen argues, "don't let this girl come in and fuck everything up, Stevie. You know how this goes. By the way, I picked her underwear up off the living room floor. I took the liberty of disposing of it."

"Shame," Stevie smirks, "I really liked those underwear a lot last night." She's being crude on purpose, making Karen uncomfortable just because she can. "I know that you feel cautious about this, and I understand, but I'm a big girl, Karen. You need to understand and accept that this is happening whether or not you like it. She isn't going anywhere, and I will be adjusting my schedule to spend as much time as I want with her. Got it?"

Karen nods, but doesn't say another word. Stevie isn't only stupid when she's in love, she's stubborn. "Talking points are on your desk. I have errands. I'll be back at three."

"I need a car at five," Stevie quips, "and do not grill me on it. I am spending the night with Vivian and Ella, and I won't hear any arguments against it."

___________________

Stevie appears in the middle of Vivian's kitchen like a magic trick, holding a bottle of wine and a black weekender bag and looking sheepish as Vivian stands against the stove, stirring something. She takes in the scenery; it's a large space, but Vivian has managed to make it feel cozy with black countertops and dark wood, depression glass on open shelves and an entire wall of herbs and spices that makes Stevie wonder why she didn't do that in her own kitchen. She knows why; she doesn't cook. That's beside the point. Vivian is clad in a pair of ankle length skinny jeans and a loose, tan sweater, her long auburn curls falling down her back in a wild mess.

"Hi," Stevie grins as she presses her front into Vivian's back, wrapping her free arm around her. Vivian's hand covers hers automatically as she relaxes into the embrace and sets the wooden spoon down in the rest on the range.

"Hi yourself," she turns in her arms and kisses her once, smiling when she spots the bag in her hand. "Mom is letting you spend the night?"

"Snuck out my window; she won't notice I'm missing til tomorrow," Stevie laughs, then leans in to kiss her again. She has Vivian's bottom lip between her teeth and her hand in the back pocket of her jeans when Ella toddles around the corner in a princess dress and a purple witches hat and groans her displeasure at the sight. Stevie breaks away immediately, nearly dropping the wine and her bag, and Vivian laughs at her before she taps the brim of Ella's hat and turns back to the stove.

"Say hi, El. You remember miss Stevie."

"Hi," Ella beams, knocking into Stevie's thigh with the brim of her hat as she scrambles for her to pick her up.

"Well look at you, pretty girl!" Stevie sets her bag and the wine down safely on the counter, then scoops Ella into her arms. She ignores the twinge in her knee and the shot of pain through her hip as she goes from crouching back to standing, but makes a mental note for Karen to call her doctor. It's too early for all that to go downhill, especially now. "What a fabulous hat, Ella."