Chapter Text
Dietrich crawls over to the sofa when he spots his mother sleeping, taking a moment to investigate, babbling his baby talk before pulling up to stand, using the couch cushions. He beams, happy to see his mother that he’s grown used to seeing in the mornings before she would leave for work. Not seeing her, but instead seeing his Eomma there to get him up this morning, it wasn’t his usual morning routine. He wears his one-piece, zippered pajamas still, but Jinx will usually change his clothes after breakfast.
Leaning forward, Dietrich smushes his face against Charlotte’s in a show of affection. His best effort at a kiss.
Charlie opens her eyes a little at the sudden feeling and the sunlight from the large wall of windows. “Hey, you.” She blinks, doing her best to come to her senses as she brings a hand up to cover her eyes, hearing the soft belly laugh of her son. Charlie glances around, seeing her wife standing at the end of the sofa with her hands on her hips, not angry, just curious and concerned.
“Had a drink when you came home?” Jinx asks, being met with a look of confusion from her wife, she motions to the short glass on the coffee table.
“No, that’s Mum’s from last night.” Charlie slowly pushes herself to sit up, folding her legs underneath herself before pulling her son into her lap, who simply just holds onto her. Obviously missing her from her general absence the day before. “I’ll wash it in a minute.” Charlie cuddles Dietrich as she speaks, “I’m sorry about yesterday. It just...didn’t even dawn on me that it was my birthday or...that anyone would try to contact me. I don’t know, I just didn’t think much of anything.”
Jinx takes a few steps over to her wife, lowering herself onto the sofa next to her, “what’s going on?”
Shaking her head a little, Charlotte bites the corner of her mouth, “I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
“Why do you think you’ve disappointed me?” Jinx furrows her brow. “It’s not a big deal. I just wish you’d have said where you were going or...something. Anything.” She exhales slowly, “we were worried about you and Morven.”
“I know.” Charlie mutters, “I...I know.” She shrugs, her voice is small, as if she feels guilty in a way, “I was trying to be proactive to help Mum...and it backfired.”
“Backfired on who?” Jinx asks gently, “because if it was on you, trying to help someone when they need it, even though it isn’t appreciated, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing.” She smiles softly, “you should know that.” Jinx exhales softly, still watching her wife, “what’s really going on here, Charlie?”
Charlotte shakes her head a little, clearing her throat as she masks her expression with a smile, mostly doing her best to reassure her wife, “I think I just need some coffee and...maybe a walk in the sand?” She words the plan like a question, even unsure of it herself.
“I can make your coffee if you’d like to get changed.” Jinx offers a soft, understanding smile, able to see that something else is bothering her, “you look a tad overdressed.” She glances at Dietrich, then back up to her wife, “I didn’t know you brought business attire for the trip.”
“I didn’t. I threw this on at home before going to the VA.” Charlie sighs, shaking her head, “couldn’t meet with various colleagues in my swim costume. Who would listen to me then?” She huffs with a half-smile, “if I worked there, it might be a different story and I didn’t go to my hospital even once.”
“Quite the achievement, darling.” Jinx leans in, pressing a soft kiss to her wife’s lips, looking into her deep brown eyes after, “I’m glad you’re okay...and home safe.”
Charlie flashes a half-smile, pressing another kiss to the top of Dietrich’s head before handing him off to Jinx, getting up from the sofa. She makes her way to the stairs, putting her mentioned plan into motion. Charlie comes face-to-face with Serena once she makes it to the hall, knowing the woman was going to follow behind her, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Too bad,” Serena exhales following behind her into the bedroom Charlie was sharing with her own wife. “You don’t just drive for hours simply to obtain medication on a whim, Charlotte.” She takes a seat at the edge of the bed.
“Just because you wouldn’t do it, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it.” Charlotte exhales, “besides, you were pissed for most of the day. That’s not for nothing.” She begins to unbutton her blouse, turning her back to Serena and facing the dresser drawers. Charlie is keenly aware that the door is open, she wouldn’t want any accusations while on their holiday now that everyone was on the same page. “I heard her scream the night before last just like you did...and I know what that means.”
“Yes, she’s...presenting with nightmares again.” Serena nods, “but that isn’t for us to worry about.” She can’t help except look at Charlotte’s nude back, free of scars, unlike Bernie’s. Same shape and curvature though. “She and I discussed things.”
Charlotte shakes her head a little, removing her bra before obtaining another 2-piece swim costume from one of the drawers, “Unless that discussion was that she was making an appointment with behavioral health-”
“We watched telly...and she fell asleep while leaning against me.” Serena explains, “it wasn’t-”
“You didn’t want Guinevere to see her in that state not because you were thinking of Mum’s privacy, but because you were afraid of what Mum might do when you tended to her.” Charlie glances to the side, looking at Serena via her peripheral vision, “go ahead, lie to me.” She pulls on a magenta bikini halter top, leaning down to adjust her breasts within the soft foam cups after. Charlie turns when they’re situated, needing to look at the other woman fully.
Serena looks away from Charlotte, “I didn’t want whatever I was walking into, to cloud Guinevere’s vision of Bernie.” She admits, her voice soft and nervous.
“Right,” Charlie continues to watch Serena, “and I did what I did because of the same reasons...” She swallows, “Combat-PTSD is unpredictable on the best of days...and they’re more likely to grow agitated and violent, whether it be towards others or themselves.” Charlie licks her lips, a subtle shake of her head, “not always, of course, but...I’d prefer to be safe rather than sorry.”
Exhaling slowly, Serena looks at the young woman for a moment before speaking, “are you sure this isn’t a trauma response from you?”
“I know it is,” Charlie tilts her head to the side, taking a moment to consciously inhale and exhales deeply. Her voice remaining near a whisper, her chest tightening as she continues to look at the woman, “I can’t risk her hurting you.”
Serena shakes her head, sighing, “Charlie-”
“She can be angry with me all she wants and we can frame this however you want, but...I won’t risk anyone’s safety.” Charlotte shakes her head, licking her lips as she pulls out the pair of short swim trunks that match the bikini top, “avert your eyes for a moment.” When Serena does as requested, Charlie quickly removes her trousers and underwear, pulling on the shorts. “Okay,” She exhales, placing her hands on her hips when Serena returns her attention to her, “she’s angry, I get that. She can be angry. I don’t care.” Charlie continues, eyes warm and damp, “it wouldn’t be the first time my mother didn’t talk to me.”
“She doesn’t seem angry with you,” Serena exhales, leaning an arm back to watch Charlotte more comfortably, “at all. If anything, she seems confused as to why you took the steps you did...and why you didn’t answer your mobile in all that time.”
“Because I didn’t want to. I didn’t want Mum to reach out to anyone if she knew where I was going.” Charlotte answers simply, “Morven had a few drinks with you before we left. She slept in the car for the majority, but it was nice when she was awake. We chatted. She said she and Cam had their locations available to one another so he knew where we were. That’s all.”
“Well, it seems that bit of information may have slipped Cameron’s mind.” Serena continues, “and it seems that might be the main focus of this whole thing.”
“Of course he did.” Charlie mutters.
“She’s concerned about you.” Serena recognizes the nervous anxiety filling Charlotte’s form, causing her to stand, “and, frankly, so am I.”
Charlie scoffs, shaking her head, “well, you, of all people, don’t-”
Serena takes a few steps closer as Charlotte speaks, “stop.” The word causes Charlotte to do just that, Serena gently taking hold of the young woman’s upper arms to gain her full attention, “you, understandably, have a traumatic history with someone who suffers from the same illness, but their symptoms and behaviors are different. They are not the same people.”
“I know there was a moment in Spain. You told me about that.” Charlie shakes her head, “and that was even before everything with Jihyo...and that’s all I...” She takes a step out of Serena’s grasp, her breath shaky, “that’s all I kept thinking about when I heard her scream that night.” Charlie swallows, “and I’m almost certain I heard her talking to herself in the hallway last night while I slept on the sofa.”
Giving a subtle shrug, Serena shakes her head, “I’m unaware of that.”
Charlotte falls quiet, standing there as she collects herself, “her therapist said they haven’t spoken to her in roughly three to four months.” She shakes her head, “and the meds are exactly what she was taking previously. She’s less likely to have any negative reactions since her body is familiar with them.” Charlie pauses, lifting her gaze to look at Serena, “she will listen to you if you tell her to take them, Serena.”
“It needs to be her decision,” Serena mutters quietly, “I can...suggest, but-”
Beginning to shake her head, Charlie sighs, “Serena-”
“I won’t, Charlie.” Serena takes another moment before starting to walk towards the doorway, leading to the hall.
“For one time, please...” Charlie watches her, noticing Serena pause in the doorway, “please, do this for me.”
Serena listens to the pleading tone coming from Charlie’s mouth before returning to her own bedroom. Smiling when she spots Bernie snuggling against Guinevere, who is showing her something on her tablet computer. Something she built in some application.
“And what is that pink thing?” Bernie asks, her arms comfortably wrapped around Guinevere, her lead comfortably on the pillows behind her.
“A pig.” Guinevere explains, “I have a little farm.” She moves the camera around, “here’s the cows, and the sheep, armadillo, camel...” Gwen explains, moving the camera around again, “there are a lot. Too many to go through them all.” She sighs, “I collect them.”
Bernie smiles softly, “you collect the animals?” She notices Gwen’s nod, “do you name them all as well?”
“Some of them,” Gwen moves around to the house she made, “and I have a pet wolf.”
“Well, that’s impressive.” Even if Bernie has no interest in anything the girl is explaining, she’s certainly doing a good job pretending to be, “what’s the wolf’s name?”
“Auntie Bernie.” Guinevere begins to giggle, “and they follow me around, look.” She shows Bernie the digital animal, still giggling, “I think it’s a boy wolf though, but his name is still Auntie Bernie.”
Bernie gives a soft laugh, touched that the girl would think of her, even if it was something so silly, “is he a good wolf, at least?”
“The best wolf,” Gwen nods, “that’s why I named him Auntie Bernie.”
Serena, watching the exchange from the doorway, notices the way Bernie’s face softens further, a subtle tightening of her jaw as she adjusts her head, leaning against Guinevere. Serena notices the slight sheen of her wife’s eyes, but decides not to call attention to it. “Good morning,” she purrs, watching the pair, “could I interest either of you in some breakfast?”
Bernie glances over at her wife, smiling softly. She doesn’t move though, appreciating the closeness with the girl. “Do we have options?”
Guinevere lifts her head from her tablet, “are you making it?”
That wasn’t a question Serena was expecting. She gives a nod, “as long as it’s in the fridge.”
“I had cereal and milk yesterday, so I don’t really want that again today.” Gwen continues, “maybe tomorrow.”
“Who doesn’t like a bit of variety?” Bernie continues, smiling at her wife, “I smell coffee going already.”
“Pretty sure you’d let it go twenty-four seven if you could.” Serena teases, “how about the three of us head downstairs and get it figured out?” She pauses, “we, for the first time this week, aren’t the first ones awake in the house.”
“Go us!” Guinevere beams, closing the front flap of her tablet computer case before carefully crawling out of the bed, “do you think little Dee is up?”
“Positive,” Serena nods, watching as Gwen runs from the room. She looks at her wife, “the two of you looked quite comfortable. I’m a tad jealous.”
“You should be. I have a wolf in a video game named after me.” Bernie pushes herself to sit up in the bed, groaning softly as she does so, “if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get one too.” She watches her wife as Serena moves closer, “did you sleep well?”
Serena hums her approval, taking a seat on the side of the mattress, close to Bernie, “I found a glass of water on my bedside table in the middle of the night. Any idea where that might have come from?” She leans in, stealing a kiss from her wife.
Bernie hums softly, blinking slowly when their lips part, “everything okay?” She pauses, “you usually aren’t awake before me.”
“You came to bed late, and I was sleeping most of the day away anyway.” Serena sneaks another little peck, “I’m not the one groaning. Back hurt?”
“Nothing a good soak in the hot tub can’t fix.” Bernie hums, keeping a soft half-smile in the corner of her mouth, “I wouldn’t mind a day in bed, if I’m being honest.”
“Then we have a day in bed.” Serena starts to grin, “I’ll inform the others that we’re going to have some time to ourselves today.”
“No, you don’t need to.” Bernie shakes her head a little, “the whole point of this trip was to make family memories.” She swallows, “and that might be true of Guinevere and possibly Dietrich, though he won’t remember without the proof of photographs, there hasn’t really been any good memories for the others.”
Serena nods slowly, “then let’s call a family meeting of sorts.”
“And demand everyone be happy?” Bernie jests, earning a light chortle from her wife, “what will the meeting be about?”
Giving the idea a moment to form a bit more, Serena finally says, “making memories.”