Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Not Anymore •|| SHIVIAN ||•

Prompt: Vivian's ex decides to visit.

It was a quiet Saturday morning at Vivian’s house. She sat on the couch with Jamie, helping him with a particularly tricky puzzle. Across the room, Shibhon was flipping through a book, occasionally offering a suggestion when Jamie got stuck. The weekend peace was something Vivian cherished, especially after the chaos her life used to be.

That

peace

shattered with a knock on the door.

Vivian froze, her smile fading. It wasn’t often she got visitors, and something about the knock sent a shiver down her spine. “I’ll get it,” she said, standing up.

When she opened the door, her heart dropped.

There he was. Her ex-husband, the man she had spent years trying to escape. His posture was tense, his face set in an angry scowl.

“I’m here to see my son,” he demanded, his voice sharp and full of entitlement.

Vivian’s fingers tightened around the edge of the door. “You’re not supposed to be here,” she said, keeping her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine. “You know the court order.”

“I don’t care about your stupid court order,” he snapped. “Jamie is my son, and I have a right to see him.”

Shibhon, from the living room, caught the raised voices and immediately put her book down. Her sharp ears picked up the name “Jamie,” and the tension in Vivian’s tone told her everything she needed to know.

Turning to Jamie, Shibhon whispered, “Stay here and be quiet, okay?” The boy nodded, his eyes wide with worry.

Shibhon crept toward the door and peeked around the corner. The man standing there matched the description Vivian had given once during a rare, vulnerable moment—her ex-husband, the man who had hurt her emotionally and physically.

Without hesitation, Shibhon pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Reece.

---

Vivian’s ex was growing more aggressive. “You can’t keep him from me forever, Vivian. He’s my son!”

“You gave up that right the day you hurt him,” Vivian said, her voice calm but firm. Her grip on the door tightened as she tried to mask the fear coursing through her.

“Don’t pretend you’re some perfect mother—”

Before he could finish, a voice rang out from behind him.

“I’d suggest you leave. Now.”

Reece’s towering frame filled the doorway, his blue eyes blazing with fury. He had arrived faster than Vivian could have hoped, and one glance at his expression was enough to silence her ex-husband.

“And who the hell are you?” her ex spat.

Reece stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m the person who’s about to make sure you never come near Vivian or Jamie again.”

Before her ex could react, Reece grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away from the doorway. Vivian stepped back, her breath catching in her throat as the two men disappeared out of sight.

From inside, Shibhon watched carefully, ready to shield Jamie if needed. She didn’t flinch as the sound of fists meeting flesh echoed through the quiet neighborhood.

---

A few minutes later, Reece returned, his knuckles bruised but his expression calm. “He won’t bother you again,” he said simply, stepping inside and closing the door.

Vivian stared at him, her hands trembling. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Reece gave her a small smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re family, Viv. No one messes with my family.”

Jamie peeked out from behind the couch, his eyes wide. “Is... is he gone?”

Reece knelt down to the boy’s level, his voice softening. “He’s gone, buddy. And he’s not coming back.”

Jamie nodded slowly, then ran to his mother, throwing his arms around her waist. Vivian held him tightly, her tears finally spilling over as she kissed the top of his head.

Shibhon crossed her arms, smirking. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Reece.”

Reece shrugged, flexing his sore hand. “Fair warning: my bad side only shows up for scumbags.”

The tension in the room eased slightly, and Vivian managed a shaky laugh. For the first time in years, she felt safe—truly safe—with the people who had her back.