One Shots 'The nursery nurse'

What if...?

Marjorie stood in front of the mirror in the Knight Mansion dressing room, the white dress hanging heavily on her. She could hardly imagine that in a few minutes, the moment she had waited so long for would come. But now, right at this moment, she just wanted to be by herself. The thoughts raced through her head, wilder than ever before.

" You look beautiful.", she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.

Marjorie turned round, startled. It was Autumn, slowly entering the room. The woman crossed the room until she stood in front of Marjorie. She tilted her head slightly. " Even though white isn't exactly my favourite colour."

Marjorie had to smile. She turned back to the mirror and stroked the dress.
" Thank you, but I know you must have looked better at your wedding." In the reflection, she saw Autumn shake her head. " Don't say that. You look amazing. Are you ready?"

Marjorie nodded, but her mind went back to all the moments she had shared with Autumn. All the time they had spent together, all the experiences they had shared. But then everything had changed.

" Do you remember.", Marjorie began. " How we always said we'd never find someone who understood us as well as we understood each other?"

Autumn sighed and sat down on the black armchair in the corner. " I remember." She looked into Marjorie's eyes in the reflection, as if she was waiting for something that didn't need to be said. " It was nice, what we had. But you found your way. And I found mine."

" Was it the right choice?", Marjorie asked suddenly, feeling surprised herself by the gravity of the question.

Autumn looked at her for a long time, as if she was searching for the right answer. " It was. You and I... we tried to make it work. And it didn't, Marjorie. You know how we used to fight. We're too different." She spoke in a calm voice, but her eyes revealed more than words ever could. " We both need people in our lives to keep us grounded. That's what Reece does for you, and Winter does for me."

Marjorie lowered her eyes. The words echoed in her mind. What if things had worked out between Autumn and her? Would she perhaps be marrying her today instead of Reece? Would they have started their own families at some point?

They hadn't told anyone back then. The short but passionate relationship began in secret and ended in secret. Neither Autumn nor Marjorie had ever told a soul what had happened between them.

They would both take this secret to their graves.

" I'll always love you in a way, you know.", Marjorie said softly, almost in a whisper.

" I love you too.", Autumn replied softly. " But we were just too different to stay together. And yet... even though I'm married now, and you will be soon too... I'll never quite get over it. When I see you and my brother sometimes, I get the feeling of..." she stopped.

" Jealousy?", Marjorie said in a questioning tone.

" No... Murderous rage...Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we hadn't broken up back then. ", her gaze was fixed forwards. She played with the wedding ring on her finger.

It was quiet in the room. Marjorie felt as if time was standing still, as if she had to choose between two connections. But she also knew that there was no more room for these questions. Not today, not on this day. She had chosen her life with Reece, had chosen a future she wanted to share with him. And Autumn had chosen Winter.

Autumn stood up and stepped behind Marjorie. " It's fine the way it is. You're exactly where you belong."

Marjorie looked into her deputy's eyes, and in that moment, she knew she was doing the right thing. " Thank you.", she said, " You'll always be a part of me."

" You too.", Autumn whispered, smiling slightly. "And congratulations to you. You'll make a wonderful wife for him. But if my brother ever breaks your heart. I will find him and he will regret it."

Marjorie laughed out loud." I think Reece knows that!" There was another short silence. Marjorie turned round to stand face to face with Autumn.
" And you're going to be a great mum.", she said, smiling.

" Thank you, Marjorie.", Autumn replied.

One last look, one last moment of silence between the two of them, then Autumn opened the door and disappeared from the room. Marjorie breathed deeply. Her heart was a little lighter now. The question of what might have been no longer had a place. Today was the beginning of a new chapter. And she was ready.