Intertwined

Chapter 51: To the Dreamers

A/N: I wasn't sure if I would get this chapter finished before Christmas, but here it is. Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for sticking with the story. 

Thank you to all of those who encourage me to keep this going, it really means the world to me that people enjoy my writing. 

The two women sat on the lounge, comfort between them softer and safer than cushions or throws, but they had an abundance of those that encased them in their own world. The fire crackling like it was part of the conversation, flickering with giggles at inside jokes and the warmth of knowing you can be completely yourself with someone.

'You two have a fun night,' the black-haired woman put her bag over her shoulder and raised brow at the blonde who reached for Vivian's hand and pulled her in for a kiss. 'See you in the morning,' the nurse stroked Siobhan's cheek.

'Love you, Bon,' it made the blonde blush whenever Viv said it, 'Love you too,' she whispered back, caught in the space the nurses love made for her, forgetting everything else momentarily.

Vivian stood, checked she had her keys, bag and lanyard, gave Siobhan a look that made the blonde want her to stay. 'Don't cause trouble, you two,' a challenge rather than a warning.

Lily smirked, 'You know we will,' the older woman winked, and the blonde laughed easy, relaxed and free. A sound that made Vivian want to cancel her shift, but she left, taking a deep breath once outside the door, as if that would brace her for a Friday night working in emergency.

The blonde turned back to her friend with a conspiratorial smile, moving in close, knees bent up and took a sip of her wine. Siobhan hadn't had these kinds of moments with friends before, well, not for a long time. Neither had Lily. They looked a bit like schoolgirls conspiring to host a party they would have never been allowed to attend in the past.

'So, show me what we're working with for this big surprise, Lils?' And the older woman opened the laptop Reece had given her; under the premise of her needing her own when she went to stay with Antonio.

As Siobhan went over the videos and photographs, they laughed and told stories. Lily filling the blonde in on the events from the pictures, and Siobhan told her the stories she knew, before Lily had returned, 'Sometimes I think that nursery has seen more romance, than a dating reality show,' the blonde shook her head with a smile thinking of her meetings in the family room last year with Vivian. The fires movement softer, red and orange glowing silk ribbons, like memories and warmth and the coming alive of feelings Siobhan never thought she would get to experience.

'I'm not sure the romance on those shows is ever real though,' Lily said with a tone of warning, the blonde laughed softly and nodded, 'But the nursery has brought a lot of you to the people you were waiting your whole life to find,' Lily mused, while refilling her glass and opening the file of photos Charlotte had given her that Bella and Mia had taken.

'I don't think I could have ever imagined Viv,' and Siobhan blushed as if the thought had escaped her involuntarily.

Lily squeezed her friend's hand, 'I'm so happy you have each other, love'.

'Me too, Lils. I can't even describe how much I love her,' Siobhan sunk back into the lounge.

The older woman giggled, 'Love, you don't have to describe it, it's written all over you,' the blonde rolled her eyes, but didn't move, just smiled thinking of the nurse, her touch, her kisses. Vivian's presence in Siobhan's life, was like floating without the fear of falling, because whatever happened now, the blonde knew she had Viv.