inner_wolf (inner_wolf) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-02-13 09:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elizabeth weir, nina pickering |
Who: Elizabeth and Nina
What: Nina checking up on Elizabeth since Leonard left
Where: Baxter’s Bakery
When: Early February
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Elizabeth was sat in Baxter’s Bakery waiting for Nina and nursing a cup of strong black coffee. Staring at the swirling brown liquid in a daze, she didn’t see the young blonde enter the cafe. Since Leonard left, she had been trying to keep things together and stay strong. Focus on her work as she normally did when things got hard but she missed him and Joanna dreadfully. She hoped her broken heart would mend soon, she didn’t like dwelling on things that upset her, but she’d never felt so deeply about someone before.
Nina grabbed herself a drink, because she was a sucker for the sparkling latte, and made her way over to Elizabeth. She had felt really sorry for the other woman when Leonard had left, it hadn’t been fair to her at all. And Nina got along rather well with Elizabeth, she found her interesting and nice. “Hey” she said as she sat down, “How are you holding up?”
Elizabeth looked up at the sound of her friend’s voice and gave a little smile as the other woman sat down. “Hey you, I’m doing ok thanks, yourself?” she asked, her automatic response with her automatic polite face face on. She knew they’d probably end up talking about Leonard but she could try and put that conversation off for as long as possible.
“I’m good thanks” Nina said, “Even better because I have two days off in a row. That hardly ever happens” she smiled. “How about you? Work going well?”
Elizabeth laughed at that and started to reply,” I remember Leonard saying…” she stopped and shook her head. “Never mind. Work is busy, preparing for mid-terms and lesson plans, not to mention the UN keep calling at un-godly hours of the night to ask about situations on the other side of the world,” she sighed. She was used to interrupted sleep because of the work she did, but the timing could have been better. “It’s what I need right now,” she gave a little smile at that.
“Busy is good right?” Nina said, with a little smile. “I am sorry Elizabeth, about everything that happened. If you need anybody to talk to or even keep you distracted then I’m always here” she offered.
"Busy is how I cope," Elizabeth replied with a small sad smile. "That's ok, it's not your fault," she reached out and gently patted Nina's arm. "Leonard was only thinking about what was best for Joanna," she sighed, her heart breaking a little more as she said it. She swallowed thickly and brought her coffee up for and sip with both hands. "How are things at the hospital now the head surgeon's gone?"
“I know but it just seems wrong. He should be thinking about you as well” Nina said, patting Elizabeth’s arm when she heard the sigh. “Well we managed to get a locum for a lot of the operations which were pre-scheduled but we’re looking for a more permanent replacement”
Elizabeth nodded as Nina explained what they were doing with Leonard’s job. “I’m a big girl who’s had her heart broken before,” she took a big breath. “As the song says, I will survive. As much as I want Leonard back here, I can only hope that the move makes a difference for Joanna. She’s been through a lot and I hope that being near her mom can be of some help to her growing up,” she dropped her gaze to her coffee again. “I know there’s no replacement for her real mom, but...it hurts more than I thought it would that I wasn’t enough of a mom for her, do you know what I mean?” she admitted quietly. “Makes me wonder if I’d ever be make a good mom.”
“That’s not it you know” Nina said, “She thought the world of you but she has a mum. It might have been different if she wasn’t in the picture but you can’t replace someone who’s still around. It doesn’t reflect on your own ability to be a mother, please don’t think that Elizabeth”
“I know, I know, and don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she’s going to have a closer relationship with her mom, I just...miss them,” Elizabeth replied quietly and shook her head. “Anyway, enough of me and my wallowing. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?” she asked, sitting more upright and taking a sip of her coffee.
“I can understand that” Nina said, because in all of this Elizabeth was really the one who had come off worst and that didn’t seem fair. Blushing at the question she nodded as she looked at her drink for a moment, “I am actually. His name is Gabe and he’s a bouncer with an interest in botany”
"A bouncer with a green thumb, eh? Definitely unusual," Elizabeth smiled at her friend. "How long have you two been going out? Is it serious?"
“Since January” Nina smiled, “We met when that strange tethering incident happened, I woke up in his house. It’s new but it could become serious I think”
“Oh yeah, I remember that! Caused a lot of trouble at the time if I remember,” Elizabeth smiled. “Tell me more a bit more about Gabe then, you say he has an interest in botany but he’s a bouncer. How did that happen?”
“Well botanical jobs aren’t all that common, it’s a hard area to get into especially since it’s so seasonal” Nina explained, “So he found a temporary solution with the bouncer job. He’s a tall intimidating guy so it works for him” There was also his illegal sideline of medicinal marijuana but Nina wouldn’t be mentioning that just yet.
“Well there’s no harm in having a job not related to your discipline, I used to be croupier while I was in college,” Elizabeth shrugged. “He’s sounds very nice, if a little intimidating,” she smiled. “I’m glad something good came from one of the crazy happenings of the OC, you’ll have to introduce us if it gets me more serious,” she told her friend.
“Really? You know I would not have guessed that” Nina said, “Oh he’s a teddy bear really. The sweetest person with a kind heart. Of course, I promise” she nodded taking another sip of her coffee.
“It paid the bills and while I may not have thought it was linked to my future career there are a remarkable amount of high-profile gamblers in Washington DC,” Elizabeth winked at her over the brim of her cup.
Nina laughed, “Well at least you know a backup career if you ever want to leave teaching and the UN” she joked.