𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

not leaving | rachel weisz

stepmother rachel content

warnings: kinda abandonment, attachment issues, also not proofread

this was a request :)

—

you understood that your dad had finally found someone he was happy with.

your mother left the picture when you were around ten. to you it seemed as like she had just left one day and decided she didn't want to come home, but apparently, it was a 'long time coming' - that's what a text message you received from her said before she blocked you.

however, she was your mother for over half of your life and even though that relationship was far from healthy, you still found it hard to see the latest addition of rachel into your life as a positive.

she was lovely, it was obvious to everyone that she had a kind heart, and she really did care about the people around her.

of course, you knew who she was before she entered you and your dad's life. you were obsessed with 'the mummy' franchise when you were younger and loved her character of evelyn.

rachel tried so hard to get through the many walls that you put up. she tried setting up film nights with popcorn and the fluffiest blankets she could get a hold of. she tried taking you out shopping, and even tried to teach you how to cook a little, but nothing seemed to get through to you

it wasn't that you hated the woman. if anything, all the affection she was giving was absolute bliss. you spent seven years alone with your dad and to suddenly receive this much attention, you didn't want it to end.

that was the exact reason why you refused to lower those walls. you didn't want it to end. you could argue it was the cliché of not wanting to be left behind twice, but you honestly just didn't want rachel to just get up and leave one day like your mother did

you came to the juvenile idea of keeping an emotional distance. if you don't get attached, then when the inevitable happens, it won't hurt as much.

"honey, i need to nip to the shop" as the brunette called to you from the kitchen.

'i'm going to the shop' is what she said before she left

when you didn't reply is when rachel made her way to the living room, popping her head past the door frame to look at you, "y/n?"

you jumped slightly at how much closer her voice sounded

"i'll only be a few minutes, and then we can make lunch together?"

"you'll come back, right?" you internally scolded yourself at the shake in your voice. you aren't ten years old any more. you shouldn't be so scared of someone leaving the house

the older woman knew something was wrong with the way that your unbothered visage broke, the shake in your voice and the way you were pulling at your fingers made her heart break a little. she had heard the story of how your mother abandoned you, and she struggled to understand how she could leave you.

she slowly made her way over to you on the sofa and took a seat next to you, careful not to invade your personal space.

"i don't plan on leaving you.. do you want to come with me?" there was an obvious hopefulness in rachel's voice as she reached over to take one of your hands in hers. she was grateful that he made no move to stop her, but instead held on tighter.

"if you want, i could just order the shopping to the house and..." she paused, thinking about whether you would turn her down or not. "we could watch the mummy, i know how much you like those movies?"

a staggered silence filled the room as you thought it all over - she was willing to make compromises for you, willing to change her plans to make you feel safe.

~~

it didn't take long for her to put the dvd on the xbox and for the film to start, rachel had ordered lunch and the groceries, claiming that it was her treat.

both of you sat wrapped in blankets on either side of the sofa. a part of you wanted to shorten the gap between you, but another part of you didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

your eyes kept flickering between the tv screen and rachel, which finally obtained the attention of the latter.

"c'mere" the brunette opened her arms, opening the blanket for her to crawl into her embrace.

it took you no time at all to finally get comfortable, thinking about all the times that you had the opportunity to be like this, but instead decided to compare her to your birth mother and distance yourself

it was like she read your thoughts, as she ran her fingers through your hair she held you just that bit closer, so your head was securely snuggled into the crook of her neck

"i'm planning to stay with you for the long run, my love, i'd miss these snuggles too much"