Knight Terrors

chapter fifteen. (trail of destruction)

Siobhan had been told she still had a job at the nursery, Roger hadn't told her with compassion more in a way to try to keep peace around the nursery not that he really cared.
Siobhan was in the office one morning saying her goodbyes and love yous to her beautiful partner as she left to head off to work.

Siobhan was unaware she had company until she heard a voice coming from behind her "now you two make the cutest couple" she span around completely aware as to who had joined her in the room "Mia" Siobhan said calmly. The redhead responded quickly "Shibs, a little birdie told me that Roger isn't sacking you after all" the women made small talk for a while Mia focused mainly on the fact that the blonde was now playing happy families.

Mia looked at her with concern "you know, you don't have to mask around me" this earned a startled "excuse me" from Siobhan. The red haired woman looked at her before saying "you know, all the smiles" with more compassion than Shibs was aware she held in her body. The blonde stared back in shock "why wouldn't I be smiling? I'm happy"

Mia rolled her eyes "yeah for the rest of the world but you just got out of a relationship with what I can only describe as a monster. Nobody walks away from that unscathed" Siobhan's face lost all its colour as Mia kept talking "come on, your cheeks must be hurting for plastering on that smile all day"
Shib snapped back "what makes you think it's plastered on" Mia looked shocked
"I think you're forgetting that I too was once a recipient of Roger's" she stopped and thought "affections, so I in some part know what it's like to walk away from him"

Siobhan couldn't help but question Mia, she seemed to be doing well why wouldn't she be just fine as well. Mia turned her head "let's examine that shall we. I am in love with the most incredible woman I've ever met in my entire life yet I can only stay with her a week at a time before I have to leave the country because if I stay here too long my skin starts to crawl because of how close I am to him, does that sound like I'm doing okay to you?" The blonde looked back at her in disbelief before Mia continued "I know shock, I have feelings, such stupid feelings that are costing me a fortune in flights"

Siobhan was in shock "but you always look so confident"
"It's all an act. The only person I'm myself with is Char, however I saw you plastering on that same smile in front of Vivian. Shibs you can't bury these feelings, they'll eat you from the inside out. You have to get them out, talk to somebody" Mia said trying hard not to let her emotions get too much in the way. Siobhan couldn't help but feel angry? she didn't know what she was feeling yet became defensive, no one had ever called her out like this "that's rich coming from somebody who's just admitted her coping mechanism is to flee the country"

"Haven't you noticed i've been coming back longer and longer?" Mia asked, her eyes shooting daggers at the blonde "It's because i've been talking to Char, the more i open up to her the less weight I feel"
Siobhan stuttered "You were Rogers puppet for a long, long time. I was only with him for a year"
Mia snapped at that moment "there is no minimum time threshold that you have to meet in order for it to be considered traumatic okay? Once is enough and i'm guessing it was a lot more than one time with you" Siobhan's eyes filled with tears upon hearing this, she tried her best to fight them back as Mia kept talking "talk to Viv, she loves you and she left a man for a very similar situation. Who better to understand than her?"

"hm" was all Siobhan managed to say in response her eyes widened when Mia said something it seemed small small yet so very meaningful to the blonde "or me. Roger's a different kind of monster, so I know the effect he can have. Just look at the Knight siblings, he leaves a trail of destruction in his wake"
Siobhan couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude "I'll take your offer into consideration"
Mia smiled, "I'm only a phone call away if you ever need me" the redhead began to walk away.

"Mia" Siobhan said her voice louder than it had been for the entirety of their conversation "Thank you" was all she needed to say though Mia didn't feel like she should've had to thank her for that, as she said she knew what Roger was like. She smiled "no problem. Although while i've got you can I ask you a question" Siobhan looked at her slightly confused but replied with "I don't see why not"
Mia wasted no time and asked what was on her mind "What's it like being a stepmum" Siobhan's eyes lit up and she smiled in response "truthfully, taking care of Jamie is actually a hell of a lot easier than taking care of an oversized man baby"

Mia smiled "well I took care of one of those for 20 years so two girls should be a piece of cake"
Siobhan raised an eyebrow "is this you implying you want to become a stepmother?" Mia smirked and looked up "Well Chars divorce was just finalised so positions open." the woman then walked away quickly. Siobhan couldn't help but say out loud "good god mia the stepmother, never thought I'd see the day"