One Shots 'The nursery nurse'

Our Partners

Hey, I'm back. Chapter 200 for the one shot collection is coming closer and closer. Crazy :D And another piece of information, I've started a new story where the reader can decide the course of the story. So if you are interested in that. Have a look at 'The Day After'. :)

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As Vivian entered the cafe, she knew that a very strange conversation was about to take place. The fact that she had to ask Siobhan's colleague for advice was unpleasant enough. But the nurse was at her wit's end. She loved Siobhan, very much. She was the woman she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. But the blonde had a bad past that gnawed at her. And even though Siobhan tried to hide it, it was more than obvious to Vivian. Roger had left his mark, and she knew that the man was a monster. But the extent of Roger's deeds was still hidden in the shadows.

Which brought Vivian to this meeting, because she wasn't the only person who had a partner who was in Roger's clutches. Marjorie gave a friendly wave when she spotted Vivian. Next to her sat Charlotte, who was taking a sip from her cup, and with her back to Vivian was Winter. The nurse quickly walked over to the group."I'm glad you all have time." she said as she sat down next to Winter. "And you haven't said anything to your partners?" Charlotte put her cup down. "Nope, Mia thinks I'm with Marjorie."

"I told Autumn that I went playing Just Dance with Reece. If she ever finds out the truth, you'll owe me one!" said Winter sternly. "I told Reece that I'm finally going to buy new glasses." Marjorie grinned sheepishly. "Which you should finally do anyway!" said Charlotte critically. But the manager waved her off. "Oh, rubbish." Winter sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Marjorie, you've got the menu upside down again!"

Marjorie immediately turned red in the face and quickly turned the menu over. Vivian had to grin, she didn't know these people that well yet. But their company was always pleasant. "So Vivian, why did you want to talk to us?" Marjorie said quickly to change the subject, Winter and Charlotte also looked at her eagerly. "I need your help. Actually, I don't want to talk about private things. But I'm at a point where I don't know what to do." Vivian began. "It's about Siobhan. She doesn't talk about her past, and I don't want to push her, but I realised that she's suffering in silence."

Charlotte leant back a little and crossed her arms. "Well she suffered through a lot." she said calmly. "Siobhan isn't the only one struggling with her past. Many of us have these shadows that keep gnawing at us. Sometimes we can't even explain why they're there."

Winter nodded in agreement and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But it's also hard to help someone if she's not willing to talk about what's bothering her. It has to be her own way, and sometimes it takes time."

"Yes, that's true," Marjorie said quietly, her eyes fixed on the card in front of her as if she was preoccupied with something else. But the gleam in her eyes revealed that she was very much considering the subject. "But you're right, Vivian, to be worried. If Siobhan is in a difficult situation, then she needs support."

"Exactly, that's why I wanted to talk to you. Because I don't think our partners are as different as we sometimes think. I mean, they've all had to deal with Roger, and I assume that this has more or less left its mark. So." Vivian spoke and leant back a little. "How did you help Reece, Autumn and Mia?"

There was silence at the table for a moment before Charlotte spoke up. "Mia tried to avoid the subject for a long time. She was always travelling to get away from everything. I realised that giving her freedom was the key. Because the more Mia realised that she wouldn't lose me, no matter how long she was away. The more she talked about her past."

Vivian listened carefully and nodded. She could well imagine how Mia must have felt during that time, and it reassured her a little that Charlotte had found a way to help her. "And what about you, Winter?" she asked, as Winter's quiet and often serious demeanour suggested a different approach.

Winter put his hands on the table and began to play with his wedding ring. "With Autumn, it was... more difficult. She never really spoke openly about her experiences, but I quickly realised that her anger was often an expression of fear. I just gave her the space to talk to me at her own pace. When she was ready, I listened, without pressure, without quick solutions. And that changed a lot. Sometimes it's not the conversation that helps, but simply being there when they need it."

Marjorie, who had been quiet until now, nodded. "Reece is... a bit like Autumn. Except he tends to get lost in the work when it gets too hard. At first I thought he'd explode at some point because he'd bottle it all up, but then I learnt that he works it out his own way. It wasn't the perfect way, but I never pushed him. Instead, I showed him that I loved him no matter how he dealt with his demons."

Vivian took a deep breath and tried to absorb the words of the others. She felt encouraged on the one hand, but even more unsettled on the other. What if Siobhan would never be willing to talk about her past? What if she would eventually lose it because she didn't have enough patience?

"So it's a balancing act, isn't it?" Vivian asked quietly. "On the one hand, you don't want to push your partner too hard, but on the other, you don't want them to get lost in their own darkness."

"Exactly," said Charlotte, "it's about finding the right balance between closeness and distance. You have to show Siobhan that you're there for her, but also that you respect her boundaries. Then eventually she'll be ready to talk."

Winter added. "But don't forget that it's not just her burden that you're carrying. It's yours too. In a relationship, you don't just share the nice things, but also the difficult ones. You have to look after yourself too, Vivian. You can't help Siobhan if you break yourself."

Vivian nodded thoughtfully. She had the feeling that she was on the right path, even if it was rocky and uncertain. But the words of her friends gave her a glimmer of hope.

"I know it won't be easy," she finally said. "But I don't want her to feel alone. I love her. And I'll be there, no matter what."

Marjorie put a hand on Vivian's arm. "That's the most important thing, Vivian. She needs your love and your patience, even though she may not see it right away. And you won't be alone. You have us."

Vivian smiled gratefully. It was comforting to know that she wasn't completely alone in this difficult struggle. Maybe the way forward wasn't easy, but she had support.

"But one more thing. Never try to wake Siobhan from a deep sleep," warned Marjorie. As soon as she said that, Charlotte and Winter nodded. "Why?" asked the nurse. The three said at the same time. "Elbow." Vivian understood immediately. "Oh. Ok, noted."