InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "BEEP BEEP JUPHMOBILE"

Rena Summers (seekingserenity) wrote in fairthreads,
@ 2009-11-01 16:21:00

Entry tags:

!complete, !incomplete, character: abigail (hall) madison, character: serenity somerset, location: madison's pub, player: carrah, player: lisa

Who: Abby and Rena
Where: Madison's Pub
When: late afternoon
What: it's about time that they spoke to each other again

It was the usual time that Rena came into work at the pub but she was slightly distracted as she walked in. She had spent the morning collecting what writing supplies she had left to prepare for writing lessons with Molly and having a sense of purpose suited her. Not the type to sit idle, Rena thrived when she had things to accomplish.

Thus, she didn't notice Abby at first when she walked in, intent on getting her things put away and taking out her apron to begin working. It was then, once she was tying the apron on that she truly noticed Abby. She was busy, which was what gave Rena a chance to watch her unnoticed, and Rena realized that something was different about the woman.

Rena hadn't seen much of the innkeeper's wife since Thomas and Bridget had returned and she wasn't certain if it was because she was so wrapped up in her family or because she was actually avoiding Rena. Either way, Rena had tried not to think much of it, uncomfortable as she was with the many things that stood between them.

Abby didn't look upset, though, Rena noted. In fact, she looked happier than she remembered seeing her since she had married Thomas, if not more so. It hit Rena all at once when she saw the other woman's hand unconsciously gravitate toward a swell at her belly. She was pregnant. Rena had seen many a pregnant woman at the pub and, at this point, there was no hiding it.

Rena wasn't quite sure what to do. Obviously, no one had seen fit to inform her of this development, which was stinging, but then, she had made it a point to mind her own business since the terrifying experience of the kidnapping.

Well, there wasn't much to do at this point other than acknowledge the obvious. Rena took purposeful strides in Abby's direction and, not wanting to interrupt, she waited until the other woman acknowledged her presence.

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thedreamer
2009-11-01 10:12 pm UTC (link)

It had been a strange sort of morning. Abby had awoken much later than usual, and she and Bridget had gone out for a walk, before she sat with Bridget to work with her on a few of her lessons. Her daughter had protested, but she had tried to made it fun, and Abby hadn't kept her any longer than it took for Bridget to finish, letting her daughter run off to play once it was done. From there she'd taken lunch with Thomas and then gone outside to visit with Gabby for a few minutes before the younger girl left; Abby had wished her well and made sure that she had enough food to take with her.

She'd hugged Gabby before she'd left, then Abigail made her way back inside. Her stomach was grumbling a little- it hadn't been that long since lunch, but she'd been eating a lot more lately. Zachary had been kind enough to humor her, fixing her extra plates and saving some of the leftovers that she particularly enjoyed. Abby made her way into the kitchen, fixing herself a plate and starting some tea. There was nobody else there for the moment, and Abby was content to let her mind wander. She didn't even notice when Rena entered the room, and it was some time before she even realized that she wasn't alone.

"I- hello, Rena," she said when she finally recognized the other woman's presence. "Er- would you like some tea?"

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seekingserenity
2009-11-02 01:58 am UTC (link)

Rena didn't truly mean to startle Abby but she was glad to see that the other woman regained her composure quite quickly. She was surprised at the polite offer for tea though and she offered the other woman a smile. "Thank you," she replied simply, nodding her head.

The kind words had thrown her off, though, and it took a moment for Rena to get back her train of thought. "I just..." she began, realizing that though she was a bit hurt that she didn't have it in her to even verbally attack the other woman, not after all she had been through, not seeing her so happy. "I just wanted to congratulate you," she offered softly. It was a bit of a concession, at least for the moment, but at least it would give her the opportunity to acknowledge the pregnancy and perhaps open the communication waves. After all, Rena might not be a part of the family but the family had been the focal point of her life for the past ten years and she didn't want to just aside. At the same time, she also wanted Abby to know that she wasn't out to get her, either.

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thedreamer
2009-11-02 02:13 am UTC (link)

"It's no trouble at all," she replied, finding another cup and saucer to add to her tray. "You're welcome to join me, if you have a few minutes to spare."

Abby was still a little unsure, still felt a little out of place next to Rena, and she felt as though she never quite knew what to expect from Rena. Yes, things had been- however tentatively- better between them, and with everything that had happened with Thomas and Bridget's kidnapping, Abby found that she again didn't quite know how to behave around the other woman at all.

Rena's words were a bit of a surprise, and Abby stilled where she was placing her things onto a tray so she could take them out to the dining room, hoping for a seat not too far from the fire. "Thank you," she said, her cheeks heating up in a rosy blush. "I- please don't think we were intentionally keeping it from you. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret, it's only that so much has happened and I was hesitant to say anything to anybody, until I was certain."

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seekingserenity
2009-11-02 02:38 am UTC (link)

"I am sure I could be spared a few moments," Rena assured Abby, knowing that she was, as she generally was, a bit earlier than she needed to be out of habit. The pub had been her entire life for so long that she spent the most of her time there, even when she wasn't working. As such, she could certainly spare a few moments for tea, particularly because she thought the small gesture was a big step in making things less awkward for her and Abby both. "I appreciate it."

Rena bit her lip when Abby blushed, seeming so uncertain. "I hope I didn't upset you, it wasn't my intention. I just..." she paused, trying to form her thought. "It's just I've seen many pregnant women here and it was plain that you were. I didn't want it there unsaid and awkward. I'm happy for you, really I am and I want you to know that."

With a soft sigh, Rena let her eyes fall to the floor. "Do you want me to help you with that?" she asked, indicating toward the tray. It seemed second nature, to be carrying around the trays, so she figured she might as well offer.

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thedreamer
2009-11-02 03:01 am UTC (link)

"No, you haven't upset me at all. And- thank you, truly. I'm excited for the baby. And a bit scared, to be honest, but everything will work out as it should." Abby smoothed down her dress before reaching for the tray, picking it up and taking a moment to balance its contents.

"I think I have it, thank you. It isn't so very much. Besides-" her smile turned almost playful as she started toward the dining room- "it won't be long before I'll need help simply moving about the inn."

Abby carefully set the tray down on the table before sliding into a seat, sighing happily to be off her feet for a few minutes. "I only recently found out- the day Thomas and Bridget went missing. And I didn't want to say anything until they returned and I was far enough along that the risk of losing the baby was significantly lessened."

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seekingserenity
2009-11-02 03:27 am UTC (link)

"I am so glad," Rena replied with a surprising sincerity. It was true that in some ways she envied Abby finding happiness but she also understood a lot of what she had gone through and recognized that it had been a long road. Seeing her during the long days that Thomas and Bridget were gone had been reminder enough of that.

Rena followed Abby with a soft laugh. "True enough," she replied, resisting the urge to make a joke that Abby might find offensive. After all, she didn't know her all that well and she did seem sensitive at times. Instead, she would focus on the other woman's obvious joy.

Even the mention of the kidnapping made Rena's stomach turn at the memory. She was grateful for the moment to take a seat and refocus herself. "That must have been difficult," she finally commented, glancing up at Abby. "I can't say how relieved I am at their safe return. I suppose I should thank you." It had been so hard to stay behind, to let others search those long days and she had been certain that Abby had been upset with her for always staying behind, for not joining the search.

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thedreamer
2009-11-02 03:45 am UTC (link)

Abby didn't like to bring it up either, but she didn't know how else to say how long she had known about the pregnancy. She began to fix the tea, pouring them each a cup and passing one to Rena so she could fix it as she preferred it. That done, she added milk and sugar to her own, then reached for a slice of bread so she could butter it.

"There is no need to thank me," she insisted, her voice quiet. "I only did what I had to. And once I learned of where they were- it wasn't anybody else's place to get them. The Madame wanted me, not anybody else." She set the bread down on her plate and picked up her tea for a sip. "I couldn't not get them back. I don't have a place here without them."

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seekingserenity
2009-11-02 04:56 am UTC (link)

"Thank you," Rena murmured as she accepted the tea and began to prepare it to her tastes, adding a bit of sugar and milk as well as she always did. Having the simple thing to focus on helped prevent her from feeling entirely awkward, at least.

Rena nodded at Abby's words, respecting the quiet resolution. Whatever had happened, it had certainly brought out the grit in Abby. Rena was impressed; it was a welcome change to see her showing tougher stuff. "I'm not sure I have a place here without them either," Rena admitted quietly, reflecting on her place at the pub through the years. "I couldn't even think of the possibility that they weren't coming back, it was too awful to even think. So I didn't. I just did."

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thedreamer
2009-11-02 03:26 pm UTC (link)

"You're welcome," Abby replied, setting her teacup back down and breaking off a piece of bread. She looked up at Rena's words, blinking in surprise.

"Of course you do. You've been here for years, and the other employees and guests know you as a fixture here. Nothing in your place here changed while they were gone, except for you taking on more responsibilities." While Abby, on the other hand, wasn't needed for anything. She could disappear without Thomas and Bridget around and nobody would even notice. She took a bite of her bread, falling quiet for a moment as she chewed. "They were going to come back, even if I had to trade myself for them. There was no doubt of that."