My Fair Ladies

The Ball: Part One

Marjorie sat at her vanity applying the last touches of her make up when she felt two arms snake around her shoulders. "Ready to go sunshine?" Autumn asked as she placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. Turning into the embrace and gently brushing her lips against the brunette's. "Nearly, beautiful, just need to put on my lipstick and I'm done." Autumn placed another kiss on her cheek. "Okay sunshine, I'll wait downstairs." Autumn headed out of the bedroom leaving Marjorie to finish getting ready. She grabbed her handbag and made her way downstairs. Autumn stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs with an amazed look on her face. "Sunshine, you look......" She swallowed in anticipation. "Stunning." Cupping her face Marjorie placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Thank you beautiful, so do you." Autumn took Marjorie by the hand and led her out of the house towards the jag.

The drive to her father's mansion was driven in silence. Autumns hand rested on Marjorie's thigh as comfort for both. Neither were sure how the day was going to turn out, but they both silently hoped it would all go to plan. Their plan. As Aut drove the jag up the long and winding driveway, her nerves began to kick in and her mind began to pool with doubt. What if I can not stop this? What if it's too late? Autumn parked the jag and turned to look at her love, finding strength and courage in those deep blue eyes. "Ready to face this sunshine?" Marjorie could sense that Autumn was feeling slightly vulnerable being back in her childhood home. A place she rarely visited if ever at all. She took Autumn's hand in her own. "I'm ready beautiful, are you?" Marjorie gently squeezed to reassure the brunette. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be." They exited the car hand in hand as they made their way inside. Marjorie who had never been inside the mansion stood in awe at its vast size and elegance. Autumn on the other hand was transformed back to her childhood. The memories swirled in her mind. A mix of both good and bad. The memories of her hero big brother, twisted with the images of the people who should have cared for and protected her, letting her down when she needed them the most. Autumn squeezed Marjorie's hand tighter drawing more comfort from her and silently letting her love know she didn't feel comfortable enough just yet for her to let go.

Autumn and Marjorie weaved their way in and out of guest, Autumn telling Marjorie who was who, as they approached the stairs. Feeling comfortable enough to separate from her love she said, "it's time sunshine. Go to Siobhan. She needs you now." Marjorie pulled her in by the waist into a lingering, passionate kiss allowing all of her love and affection to course through them. As they separated Marjorie rested her head on the brunettes. "Speak soon beautiful." Gently she pressed her lips to Autumn's forehead before turning and rushing up the stairs towards Siobhan's room.

Marjorie knocked on the door and stood waiting patiently for a response. After a few moments, she heard the all too familiar icy tone bellow from inside the room. "Come in." As she entered, Marjorie was met by the blonde stood in a black wedding dress and veil. "Marjorie?" The blonde was surprised to see her friend stood there, but she was pleased to have her company while she got ready. Marjorie sat on the bed while Siobhan sat at her vanity fixing her make up. She decided to break the silence.

"So, Autumn and Viv have been getting along really well recently and spending a lot of time together." Siobhan's eyes went wide. "Oh, have they? it's nice that Viv's making friends." She noticed how the blonde's body tensed at the mention of Viv.

Autumn was mingling amongst the guests engaging in as little conversation as she could. Anxiety beginning to take over, she pulled her phone from her bag to message her love. "Sunshine I'm heading off now to go for Viv. I'll be back soon. love you, A x" Once she had replaced her phone safely back in her bag, she quickly dashed to the door and out to the safety of her jag.

As Marjorie talked to Siobhan, her phone sounded from her bag. Ping. Siobhan instinctively picked up her own but breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn't hers. The brunette pulled her phone from her bag, and noticed it was a message from autumn. She quickly typed out a response. "Okay beautiful. Be as quick as you can. Siobhan's almost ready. Love you too, M x"

She hit send before locking her phone. "So, Siobhan did you know the older woman that's been dropping off and collecting Jamie? She is one of Viv's close work friends." Marjorie could see the pain in her eyes at the mention of Viv. "I've not seen Viv at the nursery recently. I seem to keep missing her." Marjorie's phone sounded again with another message. "Just pulled up now, sunshine. I'll be back with Viv soon."

Autumn weaved her jag in and out of traffic. Relieved to be out of her childhood home and on her way to potentially stop a tragedy from happening. Autumn pulled up hastily on the driveway when she remembered a notification had come through while she was driving. She pulled her phone from her bag and quickly tapped out a response before throwing the device back in her bag and dashing to the door. Autumn knocked rather urgently, when Viv opened the door, she was surprised to see the brunette stood on her doorstep. "Autumn what are you doing here? Why aren't you at the wedding?" "Vi I'm here for you. We can't let this wedding go ahead; you love her I know you do." Viv looked at autumn shocked "Yes, I love her. But I can't lay my heart on the line like that if she's not in love with me. I have more than me to think about. It's not that simple."

" Vi listen to me you can't let her marry my father. He is a monster." Vivian stood shocked at what Autumn had said. As the words sunk in, she could only get out one. "Okay."

Siobhan and Marjorie were sat on the bed trying to calm Siobhan's nerves. "Does she still think about me?" As the last words fell from Siobhan's lips her gaze lowered. Her vulnerability beginning to show. Her heart breaking for how she had hurt Viv, but she did miss her and wondered if Viv missed her too. Marjorie gently placed a finger under the blonde's chin and lifted so her eyes met her own. "Yes, she does my love." Siobhan placed her hand over Marjorie's for comfort. "Marjorie what should I do? How can I fix this?" Marjorie gently stroked Siobhan's chin. "My love there's still time. You can fix this." She was starting to believe the brunette but there was one thing standing in her way. "Do you think Roger will let me go?"

"We don't give him a choice my love. You can be free from him." Siobhan stood and began pacing the room. "How do you know? You saw what he did to Reece, Autumn, and Mia. will I ever be truly free from him, Marjorie? Nobody will ever be able to answer that. He's always going to be in my head." Siobhan paced back and forth across the room the questions coming faster. "How can I leave? How do I get away from this? From him?"

"Siobhan, my love, take a breath and yes that one is called for. My love you're gonna hyperventilate in that dress if you keep going at that pace. Please sit back down and we will come up with something together." Marjorie's phone sounded. Ping. Another message from autumn. "Sunshine we are on our way. Stall her at all costs. Be there soon A x" Siobhan sat back down beside Marjorie and sighed. "Marjorie what if she doesn't want me?" Marjorie took Siobhan's hand in her own. "My love she wants to be with you."

Autumn was weaving in and out of cars trying to get back to the mansion as fast as she could. Viv was gripping the edge of her seat "Babe I would like to get there in one piece." "Vi I promise I will get you there in one piece." She shifted gears as she sped around another slow-moving car. "Vi are you ready for this?" Viv looked over at Autumn "Babe I'm more than ready. This is what I've been waiting for from the moment I met her, but what if this isn't what she wants? Oh god! I hope this is what she wants." Autumn turned the jag into the long driveway. "Vi we're here. It's now or never." As autumn parked the car, Viv hastily exited the car and dashed into the house. Autumn pulled her phone from her bag to message Marjorie.

Marjorie was still trying to calm Siobhan when her phone sounded. Ping. Flipping her phone over, Marjorie saw the message she had been waiting for. "Sunshine she's here. Heading up the stairs now. A x" Marjorie decided to try a final time. "Siobhan my love it's time."

"No, No I can't do this. I can't marry him. I need to go to Viv." Siobhan stood taking her engagement ring from her finger and placing it on the vanity as she passed it. Just as Siobhan turned the door handle, the door begins to open. "Not now no..." Siobhan was stunned into silence. "You alright Bon Bon?" Overcome with emotion, she hastily pulled at Viv's waist pulling her into a lingering, passionate kiss. As they separated, Viv rested her head against Siobhan's. "I've missed you bon."

"Viv, I love you." Viv took Siobhan's hand in her own. "Bon, I love you too." Autumn appeared from behind them. "Vi, Siobhan it's time to go." Viv led Siobhan down the stairs and out to the drive quickly finding the blonde's Mercedes. "Come on Bon let's get out of here."

Autumn and Marjorie watched from the foyer as Vivian and Siobhan sped down the driveway and out of sight in the champagne Mercedes.