What is Needed But Unexpected

is this time different?

"Mary?" 

The older teen groaned as she turned to face Elizabeth, who had curled against her again that evening.

"If this is one of those weird conspiracy theories again I'm going to stuff a pillow in your face." Mary retorted, smiling slightly as she heard the younger teen laugh.

"Its not, I just wanted to say thanks for coming with us today. I had fun, even if you did trip me up once." 

Mary just chuckled and put an arm around her, to her eyes although she knew the redhead couldn't see it.

"I apologized didn't I? I didn't mean to make you fall and besides you pulled me down with you!" Mary retorted playfully before adding "not that I'm complaining, but why are you in my bed again? You're usually cuddled up with Anne." 

Elizabeth just curled closer and retorted with a chuckle

"She went out with Maggie tonight and Parr's computer has her hypnotic again." 

Mary snorted at that and shook her head.

"Of course it has. Has she ever even let anyone read any of her writing besides the script she made for the show?"

She felt Elizabeth shrug at that.

"Maybe Jane or Kat since she has helped them? I mean they are taking online classes."

A silence passed over them for a while  and Mary began to think that her sister had finally fallen asleep, at least until she spoke again.

"Can I ask something without getting a fight started?" 

" 'course." 

She could feel Elizabeth sigh as if she was suddenly nervous.

"I'm not being a bother am I? I mean, I heard what that one girl said to you the other day at school and…" 

Mary sat up then, switching on the light.

"Screw her and what she said. Bessie. You're my sister, she's not and if she has issues with that then she can go to hell for all I care. You and I may fight and heaven knows I wish you would ask before borrowing my stuff but you're no bother." 

She knew that wasn't what anyone besides her mother would have expected her to say and from the look on Elizabeth's face, neither had she.

"I figured you'd still be mad about what I said this morning….I really am sorry about that."

Mary responded to that by whacking her with a pillow.

"There, now we're even. Now we'd better try to get some sleep because you have that club thing tomorrow after school and I am supposed to help Maria paint their living room and we're both going to be useless if we're half asleep." 

________★________

"The house is quiet for once." Anna commented, earning a chuckle from Catherine who shrugged.

"Kat and Jane fell asleep watching a movie together and when I went to check on the kids Edward is asleep with that dragon Kat gave him and Mary and Elizabeth are curled up together but I don't think they're sleeping since I heard whispering... I'm just glad that they're not shouting at each other twenty-four seven."

Anna chuckled at that and shook her head.

"Probably helps a bit that they're closer in age this time and they both have their actual mothers to tell them to knock it off when they go too far. What was their argument about this morning anyway?" 

Catherine groaned before 

"Hell if I know. They're teenage girls and sisters, do they need a major reason to bicker?" 

________★________

Kathrine awoke with a start, her heart racing as images from the nightmare playing over and over in her head. 

"Kitty? Are you alright?" 

Katherine nodded, mentally reminding herself that it was just a dream and forced herself to lay back down, curling closer to the woman in the process.

"I'm fine Mum, just a nightmare." She muttered, although it wasn't just a nightmare although as realization dawned on her at what she had just said, the fear she felt grew tenfold and nearly instantly her mind began to race through worst case scenarios.

However besides becoming angry or making her leave the bed, Jane just responded with

"You think of me as your mum?" 

There was no accusation or disgust like Katherine expected and she risked a glance up, only to be met with a gentle smile. 

"Not if you don't want me to... I mean ...You have Edward and I…." She stammered, only to be cut off by an arm pulling her closer.

"Katherine, if that is what you see me as then I'm honored. But I have to ask, why did you think I wouldn't want you to just because I have Eddie back? Is that why you've been acting so out of sorts? You thought I would get angry with you?"

Katherine just cuddled closer as she replied 

"Wouldn't be the first time a question like that got me yelled at."  

She felt Jane sigh at that.

"Well, I for one will never get angry just because of a question but I know it's hard so I hope I can earn your trust, eventually." 

Katherine couldn't keep from tearing up slightly at that response. 

"Thank you...I promise I won't make you regret it." 

She muttered, earning a light nudge.

"No matter what, I promise you...I would never regret it."