"I'll drive you in, sweetheart, I at least want to know if you made it there safe," Vivian tells Siobhan as they're getting ready the following morning. "I've got to drop Jamie off, speaking of, he'll be awake soon. Is that okay?" Vivian was cautious that maybe the blonde wasn't ready to meet Jamie yet. The 3-year-old was feisty and full of life. Much like his mother, he had a lot of love to give.
Much to Vivian's surprise, Siobhan's face lit up at the mention of Jamie. She had heard so much about him through Vivian, and she was so ready to meet him. She assured Vivian that she was ready to meet her child. Siobhan ended up having to borrow some of Vivian's clothes. Despite the woman's relaxed manner and demeanour, she had quite the array of professional clothes, resulting in Siobhan wearing a black suit with a white shirt. She thought this was funny; she was wearing what was deemed attire for a funeral. She knew that's where she would end up if this went wrong.
Vivian had taken her time doing Siobhan's hair, pulling back stray hairs, and creating a half up hairstyle on the blonde. She thought this made Siobhan look more confident. She was utterly transfixed by Siobhan's appearance, but her professional attire made it hard for Vivian to take her eyes from Siobhan. She captured the blonde's lips with her own in a gentle and loving manner. Siobhan needed this kiss; it was safe and comforting and provided her with a solemn sense of hope for the day coming.
Just then, Jamie came pottering into the bedroom in his fuzzy onesie with his stuffed animal in hand.
"Mama?" He asked Vivian. Vivian scooped up the toddler, hoisting him on her hip. "Who's that?" he asked curiously.
"This is Mama's friend Siobhan; can you say 'hi Siobhan' little man?" Vivian asked the toddler.
"Hi Bon-bon," the child managed. This warmed Siobhan's heart immensely. He was wrangling out of his mother's hold, trying to get closer to the blonde in front of him. Siobhan surprised herself and Vivian as she opened her arms to accept the child.
She didn't feel nervous or scared in this moment. She just saw Jamie, the child of the woman she loved. She knew she could love him as well. The little boy started blabbering away to his "Bon-bon." Vivian felt her heart warm at the scene, she would be lying if she said she wasn't concerned that the two wouldn't bond. But their connection was instant.
Vivian set the boy up with a little snack in their kitchen. He always had breakfast at nursery, but he was a growing boy who needed a lot of fuel. She turned to Siobhan as she gathered the boys clothes together.
"The name bon-bon suits you, you know," she started. "You have a harder shell on the outside, like a bon-bon, but when you take a bite, and make it past the outer dusty layer, you are so sweet. I like that. Bon bon," Vivian explains, letting her train of thought run.
Siobhan smiled at the woman's words. She'd never been described as sweet before Vivian. Siobhan was sweet when you got to know her. You just need to take the time to get to know her.
"Can I also just say you look utterly breathtaking in that suit?" Vivian said awkwardly, blushing. She was trying hard to maintain her composure despite feeling like a teenager.
Siobhan kissed Vivian's cheek appreciatively. Vivian was always so composed in day-to-day life, but Siobhan loved seeing her more awkward and dorky side, she loved it when she was unapologetically herself. The awkward flirting was endearing.
The domestic nature of their morning was unusual, but not in a bad way. Siobhan loved seeing the more family-orientated side of Vivian. It was clear that she loved Vivian with every ounce of herself. Siobhan had a feeling it wouldn't take her long before she had an unimaginable amount of love for Jamie. He was basically a smaller version of his mother, with brunette hair that was nearly black, and his green eyes mirrored his mother exactly. Even down to how much love this child had, he had so much love that he was so willing to share. Vivian had previously expressed that she hopes Jamie will always have immense amounts of love to give.
Vivian dressed Jamie; she told Siobhan just to relax before they needed to leave. Instead, Siobhan had a small tidy-up, folding the blankets from the previous night and cleaning away any small messes from the morning. She felt a compelling need to make herself useful; she hoped it would mean that Vivian would be more willing to have her around. Her brain was wired at this point to "earn" people's love and time.
"Oh, you absolute angel," Vivian said, carrying the toddler down the stairs. Seeing what Siobhan had done for her, Siobhan smiled at Vivian. "You really didn't have to, but thank you," she said, pecking Siobhan's lips. The three of them loaded into the car. The simple morning meant everything to Siobhan; she hadn't seen this film before, but she knew she would like the ending.
The weight of the situation weighed heavily on Siobhan during the car ride. She was pulled down from cloud nine as she saw a black Tesla in the car park. She wanted to hide, be unseen. She was nervously pulling at her hair in some kind of attempt to hide herself from everyone around her.
"It's okay, baby," Vivian said, noticing her nervousness. "I know you're a bit scared, let me get that for you." Vivian leaned over and undid her lover's hair, letting it fall loosely on her shoulders. She could sense that Siobhan felt safer with her hair down.
"It's going to be okay, baby, I'll be here for you later, okay?" Vivian said, lightly touching her hand.
"I will see you later," Siobhan stated as a fact. It was if she was trying to convince herself that the situation at hand wasn't all that bad. She was going to be okay, she had to be.
"You will," Vivian assured. "Because you're going to be okay."
