ciɳɗy (ciɳɗɛʀɛʆʆɑ) ѵɑkɑʀiɑɳ (silvershoes) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-10-14 18:39:00 |
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Cindy wasn’t sure how Veronica felt about Mexican food today, but the blonde warped version of a fairytale princess was really craving it. It was actually a combo of ‘French-Mexican,’ at this particular cafe, with nice patio seating and things like crepes, with all sorts of fragrant sauces that weren’t too heavy on the spice. Even if Veronica wasn’t into Mexican, there were other things available and they overall could have a pleasant lunch outdoors enjoying the weather - it was always better than being cooped up in the office, noshing on yogurt or a prepackaged salad. Treating themselves. Never anything wrong with that, right? Maybe they could even get away with a cold beer at lunch too. She knew how much her friend enjoyed the cerveza as much as Cindy did - it was originally how they bonded, while nearly destroying a kitchen during a disastrous bout of baking ‘cookies.’ Heading to Veronica’s office, she swished her bangs from her face and, in her smart ladies pantsuit (she couldn’t want to swap out the heels for sneakers during lunch), knocked on the doorframe to announce her presence. “Hey! Feeling hungry yet?” Work was the perfect distraction. She could just bury herself in paperwork and research. Focus all of her attention on that, and not on the fact that she was currently growing another person. Unfortunately, her stomach liked to remind her. Veronica had no idea why it was called morning sickness when it lasted all day long. She wasn’t getting sick much, but she was sure as hell nauseous all the freakin’ time. She was just in the middle of taking a few deep breaths to try and quell her queasiness when Cindy knocked on the door. Right. They were going to make an effort to have lunch together and not spend every meal at their desks. Even though Veronica was actually quite hungry and she was eating for two now, the nausea suppressed her appetite. Still she could use a change of scenery and some company. “Yeah,” she said. “One sec,” she finished up what she had been typing quickly and put her laptop to sleep. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand.” Blowing this popsicle stand sounded like a plan. Cindy waited patiently for Veronica to finish up, leaning against the doorframe. “It’s nice enough to walk, I think?” she said. “The cafe I wanted to try is just around the block - I think it’s kind of new too, got good reviews.” So why not give it a shot, yeah? You only lived once. And life was definitely too short to eat at your desk five days a week - blah. “Oh, and before we get going - is Mexican okay? Or do you want something else?” That type of cuisine tended to be on the heavier side, but Cindy was sure they could find something that wouldn’t put them to sleep during the afternoon stretch on the job. She hoped. “No objection here,” Veronica didn’t mind a bit of a walk. Good for her and all that. It was best to stay in shape in Orange County. Never knew when you’d suddenly need to break out into a run. As for the Mexican food. Veronica wasn’t completely sure how much she could stomach that. But hey, at least Cindy hadn’t mentioned sushi. Besides, she could get like tacos or a quesadilla or something. That she could probably handle. “I’m good with Mexican,” Veronica said as the pair began to head out of the office. “Anything is better than a desk salad.” A desk salad, gross. Yeah, Cindy was pretty sick of those. She tried to eat healthy - and sometimes it was difficult as a vegetarian, believe it or not, because her addiction to cheese was very real - but occasionally, she just had to slip. Like one day a week or so. It was also beneficial to break up the monotony of only being in one spot during the day. “It’s been a long morning already, not sure I’m going to make it through the afternoon,” she groaned, tipping her head back to stretch her neck muscles. Something popped, and ah, that was better. Pressure released. “Might even have a margarita at lunch.” She asked for a table for two when they got there, something on the patio. Cindy left her sunglasses on, relaxing in her seat once they were settled. With the menu in hand, now she could decide what exactly to go for. “So, you think with Peggy pregnant, things are going to get shaken up a little?” she asked, bluebell eyes scanning the menu. “I thought I heard something about on-site childcare though, so who knows. I can’t imagine she’d take a ton of leave.” The big boss seemed like a real go-getter in that regard. Veronica didn’t comment on the margarita thing. Obviously she wouldn’t be having one but she wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. And announcing ahead of time would definitely being making a big deal. However, the pop from Cindy’s neck? “And I thought I worked hard.” Soon enough they were at the restaurant, seated and ready for lunch. Veronica was in the middle of scanning her own menu. Apparently she couldn’t get away from the whole baby conversation. Not when their boss and friend was pregnant. “Yeah, maybe just the week the kiddo is born off,” Veronica quipped, that’s what she’d want to do probably. Though she was pretty sure Peggy would take more time off and just work from home for a bit. “But yeah I heard about the daycare center. It will be good… For Sharon and Lina. You think it will be done by the time Peggy has her baby?” Given that Sharon already had a baby, and now her cousin was also due to pop out a football - having something on the work site was best and most convenient, in Cindy’s view. It seemed like the Agency family was expanding, so. “I mean, life happens, babies happen,” she shrugged. “It’s a good investment. I do think it’ll be done in time - just have to do all the inspections and get all the right licenses and stuff. Hopefully that won’t take forever and a day.” When their waitress came by the table, she asked if they wanted a refreshing pitcher of margaritas to share - it was a special going on and, well, that just sounded delicious to Cindy. “Yeah, sure,” she looked over at Veronica. “What flavor are you in the mood for?” She didn’t think her blonde friend would turn this down. Wasn’t like they were getting drunk at lunch - but hey, a couple wouldn’t hurt. You had to make it through the workday somehow. That was a bit of relief for Veronica. If it’d be done for Peggy’s kid it sure as hell would be done for hers. Because no way in hell was Veronica spending too much time away from work. And Logan well, he maybe could. He was more excited about this whole thing than she was. Still it was good to know the option would be there. “Have you and Garrus thought about having a kid?” Adopting or whatever. Veronica wasn’t sure how it worked now that he was all alien. But then it came time to order drinks. Veronica’s original plan had been to just order a coke while Cindy drank what she pleased. But with Cindy wanting to order a whole pitcher? “Whatever you want,” Veronica commented. “I’m not planning on having any,” she told Cind before turning her attention to the waitress. “I’ll have a coke.” Well, now Cindy wasn’t going to have a whole pitcher by herself - that would surely get her a little tipsy, and she’d go back to work all pink-cheeked and swaying. Probably would get reprimanded too - it was one thing to sneakily indulge, but another to make it obvious. “Pass too,” she said, with a smile at the waitress. All casual-like. She’d grill Veronica when the woman left. “I’ll just have a sweet tea.” One of those southern things - she tended to get kind of weird looks in California, land of kale smoothies, but whatever. Now her keen attention was back on Veronica. “So about those sore boobs,” she continued, and she knew where this was going. Not like she was some super sleuth or anything, but she had been meaning to catch up with Veronica after that brunch date. Sore tits, late period, no alcohol. “You took a pregnancy test, didn’t you?” Okay, she’d wait for confirmation before getting all excited. Cindy didn’t have to order a whole pitcher, but she could still get a drink. No need to forgo just because Veronica had to. Which she should have known Cindy would catch on. She was the one that put the idea in Veronica’s head that she might be pregnant. Thankfully Cindy waited for the waitress to take off, before addressing Veronica. Veronica could already tell just how excited she was. Maybe Cindy and Logan could start a club. Now that she had the ultrasound and knew this was really Veronica was slowly warming to the idea. It wasn’t planned and it wasn’t something Veronica ever thought she wanted. Nor would she ever go after it or try to have a baby. But here she was and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. “I took five,” she finally confirmed. “Oh, hon,” Cindy sighed, reaching across the table to take Veronica’s hands and give them a squeeze. She didn’t automatically jump for joy, but she was excited for her friend - new life was always exciting, and come on, Veronica and Logan’s baby would be so adorable. A little mini-surfer. Cindy would get him or her a cute Hawaiian shirt or something, it’d be too much. But she knew that Veronica was probably terrified. That she hadn’t expected this, and she also probably wasn’t sure how to feel - that, combined with raging hormones anyway made for quite the combo. “You’re going to be a good mom, you know. It’s kind of overwhelming now though, huh?” She’d wait at least five minutes before asking Veronica if she could throw her a baby shower later. Hey, she already knew Cindy was great at them because she’d done Sharon’s! A baby shower was the farthest thing from Veronica’s mind at the moment. She was still in Oh shit, I’m having a baby mode. Preparations hadn’t even begun yet. Other than her ultrasound, prenatal care, and other doctor visits lined up. “Thanks,” Veronica replied honestly with a half smile. She had no idea how the hell she would be as a mother. It wasn’t something she ever planned on being. But she knew she wasn’t going to be anything like good ol’ Lianne. And she didn’t think Logan would be anything like Aaron either. “And you know, thanks for jinxing me too,” she quipped getting back to her usual self even with everything going on in her mind. “Just a little on the overwhelming side,” Veronica admitted. “Nothing I can’t handle though.” Possibly a lie, well more like Veronica wasn’t positive she could handle it at the moment. But fake it till you make it, don’t let ‘em see you sweat, and all those other cliches. “If I can handle demons invading Orange County, I’m sure I can handle a baby.” “You were already knocked up before you talked to me, you just didn’t know it,” Cindy grinned. She decided on a taco salad, something with loads of fresh veggies that wasn’t starchy and a glorified burrito bowl - it’d be good here, and her stomach was pretty much rumbling by this point. Of course Veronica could handle this huge life change - but she didn’t have to do it alone, was the point. “Hey, you ask me if you need anything - like if you’re not feeling well, need me to book pedicures when you can’t see your feet anymore, or even need help putting a crib together or something. I’ll do it. I make a really great Aunt Cinderella.” A fairy godmother, maybe? One who had impeccable taste in shoes, mind you. She’d take it upon herself to get Veronica and Logan’s offspring their first pair of fancy footwear. “But you promise you won’t try to handle it all on your own?” “Still all your fault.” Funny she had said the same exact thing to Logan. Which it was definitely way more his fault. But still. “I’ll definitely call you when Logan is sick of giving me foot rubs.” Not that she was expecting Cindy to rub her feet, more like the pedicurist because Cindy had mentioned that. But she did plan on making Logan rub her feet.. a lot. This was all his fault after all. “I promise,” Veronica confirmed. That was what Logan was for. To handle it with her. But she knew she had friends she could count on too. Not something Veronica was all that used to for most of her life, but she was getting used to it now. “But enough talk about my unborn child. Let’s enjoy our lunch.” As if on cue the waitress returned with their drinks ready to take their food order. “And you’llletmethrowyouababyshowertoo!” That was sort of just sneaked in there, on Cindy’s end, but she was certain that she could convince Veronica over lunch. Maybe the idea of stealthy margaritas to make it through the workday had fallen through, but no matter - she could still be persuasive without the assistance and pliance of booze. |