It's Code For You (Parallel NurseryVerse Series)

Chapter 11- Pancakes for Dinner

Siobhan's eyes fluttered open to the sound of cartoons playing in the living room of Vivian's flat. She blinked a few times in disbelief that she was actually here, actually laying on her own side of Vivian's bed. The smell of bacon and eggs filled Siobhan's nose, making her legs seem to move on their own in a hunger induced trance. She couldn't remember the last time she ate 3 full meals a day, and Vivian had been feeding her well the nights that she stayed over. Her stomach was now on a schedule that was about 15 minutes past its most recent appointment. Siobhan peeked around the corner of the bedroom door to see Jamie sitting in front of the TV surrounded by his trucks and trains. He was absentmindedly running the wheels across his playmat but his eyes were stuck on the screen. It only took Siobhan a moment to realize that Jamie was mimicking the train on the screen of his show. He was a brilliant little boy, smarter than most kids his age.

Vivian was shuffling around the kitchen making 3 dishes at once, she made it look easy. Siobhan could cook, sure, but she was nothing like Vivian when it came to kitchen etiquette. For one thing, she had none. But that was exactly why Siobhan loved to watch her work. Vivian made messes and apologized for none of it. She somehow made beautiful masterpieces out of piles of eggshells and wrappers from layers of bacon. This was nothing like what Siobhan was used to, the chaos mixed into the minimalism was what Roger had always called 'poor trash'- but this was nothing like that. This was a life Siobhan could get used to, that she wanted to be involved in.

"Can I help?" Siobhan interrupted Vivian's rhythm, resulting in a spoonful of eggs landing on the counter.

"You enter the firing zone at your own risk!" Vivian wiped the counter down with a smirk. Siobhan chuckled softly, rounding the counter and into the kitchen.

"I was hoping you'd have some bacon done." Siobhan sneakily reached across the counter towards the plate of bacon. Vivian playfully swatted her hand away.

"Ah ah! The beast can wait for 5 more minutes while you crack a few eggs." Vivian grabbed a handful of eggs and turned around to face Siobhan again. "Scrambled or over-easy?" Siobhan grabbed an egg from Vivian's armful and held it up.

"What type of egg style do I give off?"

"You give hard broiled." Vivian pressed her lips together after she spoke, knowing full well she had poked the bear. But she was hoping it was a poke with a feather and not a sharp stick.

"Cute, Viv." Siobhan stepped across the floor to the stove with a grin. She cracked the egg into the frying pan with a flick of her wrist.

"Okay chef, I did not see that coming." Vivian turned back to the counter to butter Jamie's toast.

"My mother wasn't a fan of the kitchen, so I had to pick up where she slacked." Siobhan leaned back against the counter. She thought for a moment, her mouth twitching in desire to open and ask every question she ever had. She had so many.

"You can ask, you know." How did she do that? Siobhan's jaw was practically hanging open, she had no idea how she could have come up with exactly the thought in Siobhan's head.

"How did you-"

"I'm a single mom with a preference for women- typically that doesn't make babies, Siobhan. I know you have questions." Vivian paused for a moment to face Siobhan. "It's okay, Bon-Bon. Ask away." Siobhan cleared her throat and turned back to the skillet.

"When did you-...How did you-..." Siobhan groaned and rolled her eyes. "Oh for God's sake, what made you know you liked women? I'm assuming it came post Jamie." Vivian laughed a bit.

"Well, I know you're new to this world, Siobhan. But there are more things than just one end or the other." Vivian loaded up Jamie's plate and took it out to the living room to her son. Siobhan slid her egg out onto her plate before turning to watch the interaction. Jamie peeled his eyes away from the TV to face his mother, a smile so big it almost overtook his little body appearing when he saw the food in her hands. Vivian whispered something to him before ruffling his hair and kissing his head. Siobhan felt a warmth in her chest, a growing emotional attachment to the little family in front of her. He was all she needed, and she was all he needed. There was nothing more beautiful than that. "At the time, I was sure I was about smack in the middle. It took meeting Jamie's dad to realize I really never did like men." Vivian slid the plate of bacon over to Siobhan for her to finish setting her plate.