Who: Amy Chen, Nana Kimigawa What: Catching up and seeing the new place When: Monday afternoon Where: Hugh's apartment Rating: PG Status: Complete
Nana was admittedly kind of surprised by Amy's invitation. She wasn't sure where they had stood following some of the things that had happened before... And even though she was still slightly hurt over the situation with Gil, she was happy to hear that her old friend wanted to see her and spend time to her, and she was happy to hear that her friend was happy... Despite the strange situation she'd ended up in.
She knocked on the door nervously, hoping that Amy would answer. She wouldn't be sure how to act if her husband had answered, or the other wife.
It was so weird to think of it, and she hoped that Amy really was happy, and that she could continue to be down the road. Didn't it bother her? Didn't it upset her? She didn't seem like it at all, but time would tell whether or not she really was happy. Nana made up her mind - No matter what, she would be there for Amy, even if things had been a little rocky for a while. She was her friend, no matter what.
It was strange to be living in a new place so soon, but it was even stranger playing hostess now that Amy was there. Of course, it wouldn't be a role she hadn't amply prepared for - being Hugh's assistant had taught her enough about, well, assisting him in his daily life - but however minimal the chance, the transition felt a little bit like walking over shifting sands. Connecting with a past she'd kicked aside was one way to remind herself of who she was.
By the time Nana knocked - and of course it would be Nana, no one else would come over in the middle of the day when Hugh obviously wouldn't be home - there was hot water simmering on the electric stove and a set of pretty pink and white china cups in the living room. In case Nana felt like coffee, she had the machine set and a bar fully stocked with alcoholic beverages should there be need to spice things up a little.
She flitted like a perfect Stepford Wife, heels sinkin softly into the carpet as she opened the front door with a beaming smile. "Hey, you! I haven't seen you in such a long time--you look so good--"
She hugged her briefly, drawing back to beam some more. "Married life obviously agrees with you."
She looked so... Nana gave her a warm smile. "I'd say the same for you," she said, returning the hug. To be honest, not a lot had changed in her life, except that now someone else lived with her and she was sleeping with him. It wasn't what she'd always hoped for, but she probably should have expected it. She was married to her job first and foremost, and they'd been super busy, so she spent most of her time at the hospital.
"I'm really glad you're doing well," she said, glancing around the room. It was so nice...! This man would be able to take care of her, then, at least. Amy was strong, and maybe it was an old-fashioned notion, but she deserved to have someone who could look after her if she needed or wanted it that way. "I was a little worried... But that was silly, o-obviously."
"Worried? About little old me?" Amy took her arm and pulled her deepr into the apartment. "You shouldn't have. I love it here and Hugh is a wonderful man." She wouldn't be mentioning Sarah, not now, not ever, not unless she was forced to. Hugh's business was his own, but she had a right to live a life independently of the 'other one'. He didn't need to know that until she had his child, then things could change.
"Come see the view. I know we're quite high up--I hope you don't have a fear of heights--but it really is gorgeous. You can see the whole city! I feel like I'm on the top of the Space Needle night and day. Well. Day, mostly. At night you can't see much outside if you have the lights on. Obviously."
"I'm really glad," Nana said, and she meant it wholeheartedly. She took in everything around her. It really was nice... This must've been the life Amy always wanted, huh? She deserved to be happy.
"I'm glad you like it here, too." She peered out the window as instructed, and gasped. "It's gorgeous! Very beautiful..." What a change! Neither of them were exactly poor, but a view like that would have cost a bundle. Nana couldn't help but be a little bit envious, but she felt awful for it. Andrew was a good man, and she wasn't unhappy with her life or their apartment... And she was glad that Amy was happy. Really.
"Isn't it?" Amy beamed like this was her work, her achievement - and in a way it was. She could've kicked good fortune in the ass and claimed she could do better than a polygamist, when in truth she couldn't. At least she was first wife. Leaning into Nana's shoulder, she sighed. "I'll show you the rest later, if you want. There's not much to see. Hugh's got a very austere style.... How about a drink first? Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?"
Nana nodded slowly. "Tea's fine," she said, turning to look at her friend. She gave her a big smile, then. "I'd like to meet Hugh some day. Did you guys just have a quick courthouse wedding, or did you have a ceremony?" She was curious - There wasn't much time to plan anything when you got picked, so she and Andrew had been hoping to have a small ceremony after the legal wedding, but still hadn't gotten around to it.
Amy smiled, a little sad, a little happy. Big weddings did not mix well with timidity and clumsiness. "No, I went and signed in my own time and then he did the same. Like we did with the serum. The ceremony came after and it was very private. Very low key. I would've invited you but Hugh said he didn't want a big crowd..." And whether he had been the one to say it or Amy herself, it didn't matter. She'd organized it. She'd had the veto power. "Have a seat and I'll come out with the tea. How do you like those cups? I just bought them."
"That's fine," she said. "I don't want a big ceremony either..." Nana blushed, then tilted her head down sheepishly. "I don't like big parties." She could at least understand timidity and sympathized with Amy in that regard. She kind of hated being the center of attention, and a wedding was nothing but paying attention to the bride and groom, wasn't it? "They're lovely cups," she said, smoothing the back of her skirt before settling down on a plush chair.
Amy poured the water from the kettle to a nice pink and white affair that matched the cups and returned with steaming green tea to the living room. "I know. Big parties are just... extravagant. And all they really do is just say 'look at me, I'm getting married'. I hate that kind of self-importance." She sat down opposite Nana and offered her a smile of pure relief. "I'm so glad you could come. I haven't seen you at all since you got married."
Nana gave her a shy grin. "Right?" she said. "My mother's still mildly upset, but it's my wedding..." She took a teacup and blew on it gently. "I know... I'm sorry. I've been busy. We've been swamped at work - Not just in maternity or gyn, but they've been floating me other places as well. I was just in emergency for a twelve hour shift the other day." That wasn't entirely the reason why she hadn't seen Amy, but it was a part of it. "It makes me glad there's not usually gunshot wounds or seventy-year-olds with cardiac arrest in my usual wing."
Amy's eyebrows shot up behind her glasses. "That busy? God, the things you must see every day... It makes me worry. How you avoid nightmares and depression, I'll never known." Probably pills, she thought slyly, taking a sip of her own cup. Or alcohol. Everyone had a way to cope and ways to cope so easily became addictions. She didn't ask because she didn't really want to know. Some things were best kept secret.
"I see a lot of good things, too," Nana pointed out. "Twins, a week ago, for example." She smiled, taking a sip of her tea. "This tea is really good, Amy, thank you very much." She set the cup down. No, she didn't drink or take pills. It was hard work sometimes, but she always tried to remind herself how much she enjoyed it and that she was helping people. It usually helped... Other times she went home and cuddled up with a teddy bear and Dr. Who, but nobody had to know that.
"Green tea. I'm trying to ease off coffee. It's supposed to be healthier, although it's still rich in caffeine... anyway. Twins sounds wonderful." She took another sip and grinned at her friend. "Well, what about it? Is motherhood beckoning you yet or not so much?"
"It is better." Nana folded her hands in her lap, and suddenly found herself blushing. "I-I don't know. We've been trying, but... I've been so focused on work I haven't thought about it a lot lately. I suppose it'll be nice, but it's..." She frowned. "I'm sort of afraid. I might be already, and not even know it. There's a lot of things that could happen, or what if I can't at all, even in spite of the serum?" She balled her hands into fists in her lap. "It's... daunting."
"Nana," soothed Amy, moving to sit closer by her on the couch. "It's our duty to society and to our husbands. And damn it, to ourselves too. Don't you want a child? Just think, you could have a baby and I could have a baby and we'd be best friends and our children could have playdates together... It would be so much fun."
Nana looked up at her, not sure what to say to that. "Yes, but... What if I'm a bad mother? What if I can't carry to term?" She winced, looking down. "I'm really scared, Amy." She wasn't sure how she felt about confiding in her like this, not after the last time, but... She couldn't confide in her mother, or Andrew, or much of anyone else, and she felt strange confiding in Gil after the abrupt end to their relationship.
"Why would you be a bad mother?" Amy asked archly, leaning her chin in her hand. "There's no reason. No reason at all. You're so nice and kind... and you'll have help. You'll have Andrew. He's a nice enough man. He'll be there. And I will, of course." She didn't talk about carrying the pregnancy to term. That wasn't a possibility she liked to reflect on. It was certainity. It had to be.
"I-I don't know," Nana admitted. There wasn't any reason to think all these things. Chances were good things would turn out well. She'd never missed a baby crying at work, never dropped one. She couldn't remember ever saying a cruel word to anyone in a long time. Still, she couldn't help but worry. "Y-you're right. You're right."
"Of course I am," Amy laughed. "I'm always right. And I'm right about this." She refilled their cups without asking and sat back again, cup in hand. "This wouldn't be about the doctor, would it?"
"What?" Nana looked at her, confused. How could this be about Gil? But suddenly she was doubting herself. Was she still so upset over it? Did she want it to turn out badly so she could divorce Andrew? No... At least, she didn't think she did. She liked Andrew. She was... Happy. Wasn't she? "N-no..."
"Good." Amy flashed her a smile, took a deep sip of her tea and burned her tongue. "I'm glad. That had 'doomed to fail' written all over it." Another sip, another smile. "So. How about you and me go shopping this weekend? Or dinner! I could cook, you could meet Hugh... I haven't seen Andrew in ages."
Nana tensed at that, frowning. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she kept her head bowed as she tried to will them away. This was not the time to confront her about it. She was right. It was doomed to fail. They shouldn't have. She shouldn't have allowed herself to get attached. She... She nodded silently, not trusting her voice.
If Amy noticed the tears, she didn't let on. Instead, she set the cup back down on the table and patted her knees. "Alright. I'll get my agenda and we can decide on a time." And by the same token, she'd give Nana a moment to compose herself. Pretending she hadn't noticed her minor breakdown was doing them both a favor.