Generations: The Long Game

Not Yet

TW: insinuation of illness or potentially fatal disease

Reece sat on the sofa idly tracing patterns on Marjorie's back as she slept in his arms. His other hand dialing Charlotte while randomly humming to himself.

"Reece?"

"Yeah, sorry I was lost in thought. Marj really wants me to go see Carly this afternoon, and I know Mia is busy. Any chance you are available to sit with her and the children?"

"Oh. Well actually we are both needed for this meeting. I am sorry Reece I know Amelia is your support right now."

"Char we have been friends a long time. I saw the way you cried at the hospital. If her being here is causing trouble between you two..."

She cut him off. "Reece it's not that. It's not us. Can we talk about it later?"

"Of course, Char I hope you know we are always here. Even now."

"We will talk about it soon. Promise. Have you tried Sorscha? I think she and Quinn are alone today. She said something about Clodagh visiting a cousin with Aidan."

After they hung up, he tried to process everything that wasn't said in their conversation. If it wasn't them, it was one of the children. If it was the children, he definitely needed to get more support.

He picked up the phone and sent Sorscha a quick text message. When it pinged, he looked to Marjorie to make sure it hadn't woken her. He looked at the screen and then checked the time. Forty-five minutes.

As she roused, he looked down and smile. "Hey, Gorgeous. You feel any better?" She smiled up at him as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Sorscha will be here soon with Quinn and then I will head over to Carly's with all the stuff you bought. I am sure they will love it." He couldn't even imagine the days it must have taken her to order it all. While she was in the hospital, they had kept her fairly sedated most of the time. Still, she managed to amass everything they would likely need or want for the first year.

When Sorscha arrived, he extracted himself from her embrace and left her arm's aching for his comfort. She smiled up at the younger woman as she righted herself. "Sorscha, you alright? They watched as Quinn reacquainted herself with Emery and the available toys. "I am sorry I missed her birthday. She really is getting so big. How are Clodagh and Aidan?" The younger woman looked from the children back to Marjorie.

"They are grand. She has taken him to see her cousin. I told her he could stay with me and Quinn, but she is struggling to let go." Marjorie looked confused. "She is still breastfeeding the little bugger. I suppose him being the last has made her sentimental. You would think she would want him off as fast as possible."

Sorscha looked down at Marjorie. The brunette had turned her gaze down. The sorrow in her eyes as she stared at Rory was palpable. As the redhead smacked her hand to her forehead, Marjorie looked up. "Marjorie, I am so sorry. I am such an eejit!" The brunette padded the sofa beside her urging her to sit.

"Sorscha it is okay. Everything is okay. These were just the cards I was dealt. I am happy that Clodagh has that option. I am not sure I wouldn't have done the same if I had." The redhead reached out and took her hand in her own.

"Marjorie, I have seen you go through a lot over the years. It would be hard for me to believe even this could take you out. I ... I don't know what any of us would do without you. You're not just the glue that binds us together. You're the heart of this strange little family." The brunette pulled her into a hug. "I am not going anywhere, Sorscha, not yet."