fragile // heathers au

three // morning

Veronica and JD were sitting in the kitchen when Mackenzie came downstairs. She walked into the kitchen and rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Morning Sunshine." Veronica smiled as Mackenzie plopped into a kitchen chair. JD smiled at her.

"Will you tell me who this guy is?" Mackenzie asked after saying good morning.

"You can do it." Veronica told JD.

"I'm your dad, Kenzie." JD said and Mackenzie laughed. She just laughed and laughed.

"You can't be my dad." Mackenzie said. "My dad died."

"I was wrong about that. I thought he was dead but he wasn't." Veronica explained.

"Oh," Mackenzie said. "When are we going to grandma and grandpa's house?" She asked.

"Shit. It's Saturday." Veronica groaned, running a hand through her hair as she silently wondered how to explain JD to her parents. "Go take a bath and get dressed." Veronica said, knowing she had no choice but to go to her parents' house. 

"Okay," Mackenzie said, beginning to walk away before turning around to say something. "Is my dad coming?" She asked innocently, looking at her parents with big blue eyes.

"Let us figure it out, okay?" JD said and Mackenzie nodded, continuing to walk away.

"Don't forget to brush your teeth!" Veronica called after her and Mackenzie made an okaying noise. Veronica sighed and went upstairs, JD following her.

"How am I going there?" JD asked as Veronica closed her bedroom door and walked in, sitting on her bed. "I mean I can't just show up there." 

"I'm trying to think." Veronica said, getting up from the bed and going to her dresser. She pulled out fresh clothes and sat them on the top. Not thinking, she took off her pajama shirt and heard JD's breath hitch in his throat. 

"Veronica?" He asked, looking at her pale back.

"What?" Veronica asked, turning around to face him after she put on a tank top. 

"Um," He said and Veronica walked up to him. She wrapped her arms around him and just stood there for a second. When she let go, he asked "What was that for?" 

"For you being here." Veronica said, going back to the dresser and taking off her pants before putting on new ones. She put on a t-shirt, then her socks. She sat down on her bed and JD sat beside her.

"Veronica?" JD asked.

"Yeah?" She asked in response.

"I didn't get the chance to tell you but I felt like I finally slept well for the first time in years being next to you again." He told her.

"Me too," She replied. "JD?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Did you mean what you said? About still loving me?" She asked.

"Of course." He chuckled, thinking it was so silly and kind of cute that she didn't really believe him. 

"Why?" Veronica asked.

"Because you're you." JD said.

"So?" She snorted.

"Well to put it simply, I was with other people before you. But after you? No one even interested me. I spent the past eight and a half years bettering myself for you. And I'm not where I planned on being before seeing you again. But I'm better than I used to be." JD explained. "And you know what?" He asked.

"What?" Veronica questioned.

"I still want to be with you, Veronica. I want to be together again." JD said.

"But with what happened last time, is that a good idea?" She asked.

"I'm not the same person I was eight years ago, and I'd bet money you've matured as well. Especially with you raising Mackenzie. We're different people now. But I knew, just from spending this short time with you again that I need you in my life." He told her. "I love you." He said, cupping her cheek with his hand. He took his other hand and tucked a strand of hair, loose from her bun, behind her ear. He leaned in and kissed her gently. Veronica instinctively kissed back, her arms draping around his neck and shoulders. They stayed like that for a few moments before they both pulled away breathless.

"That was amazing." Veronica giggled.

"I know." JD replied. "We have to stop at my place before we go to your parents' house." He told her.

"Why?" Veronica asked.

"Well I'd like to change my clothes, I've worn this since yesterday. And two, I want to get a bag of my stuff. So I can stay here, I mean if that's okay." He explained.

"Of course." She replied as Mackenzie walked in. 

"Can we go now?" She asked her parents.

"Yeah," Veronica said.

"Are you coming?" Mackenzie asked her dad.

"I am." He said, smiling at her. "Let's go." He added as him and Veronica stood up. The three left the room and got in Veronica's car.

I just want to say, Mackenzie is based off how I might have been as a child. I was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder level one in April, right before I turned 17. I know I don't do author's notes often but I felt like I should really make this clear and let you all know that I am putting a big portion of who I am into this character. So please no hate comments, even though I've only ever gotten one or two. You can say like 'Oh Kenzie's dumb in this chapter.' or 'She's being a brat here.' because normally I can agree on that but please don't say you hate her because she is based off me.