Moira and Marie

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

Moira paused at the door to the kitchen and smiled. Marie looked like she had just crawled out of bed and...Moira snickered a little bit, it looked like she hadn't been the only one who stole clothes. "I'd say good mornin', but 'tis after 12..."

Marie startled, put the eggs in her hand down in the bowl in front of her, and turned around. "Moira," she said with a smile. "How are you?"

"Been better, been worse, ye know?" she offered, heading fully into the kitchen. Nathan had been all puppy dog eyes at her and she'd finally agreed to come get something for them to eat. With the promise of no oatmeal. "I think thank ye's are in order."

"Whatever for?" Marie grabbed some blueberries from the freezer and tossed the vacuum-packed fruit into the bowl as well, collecting ingredients for breakfast.

"Well, for jus' bein' there, fer one. The reminders from ye made sure I kept me 'ead on straight." She started poking around in the fridge and grinned over at the younger woman. "An' fer kickin' Nathan's ass. If ye hadnae started it, I doubt me own ass kickin' would nay 'ave made much o' a difference."

"Oh, that." Marie leaned on the counter, looking thoughtful. "I did promise him I would, you see. And as for being there... it's the least I can do. You were there for me."

"'Tis still...I'm nay used t' it," Moira explained, the words slightly muffled as she kept looking through the fridge. Red meat, there had to be some cooked red meat in this fridge somewhere. "Like I said in me post, I've never really been able ta bend, even when it was fer me own good.

"I guess I have a bit of an advantage," Marie said thoughtfully. "I think I got hit so hard and so fast, I never really had a choice. It takes practice, I think, to change. You have to try a little here and there. Baby steps."

"When I got 'it, it was bi' but always spread out." Moira straightened and frowned. "An' I was usually th' one who 'ad ta pick up everythin'. When Kevin--died, Charles 'elped, o' course but 'e 'ad ta return. Rory 'elped where 'e could but it wasnae enough." She chuckled a little. "Spent t' lon' buildin' up these walls, I guess."

"You didn't have a choice," Marie pointed out. "It doesn't sound like you'd have survived otherwise. And here you are, now, and the irony is that in order to survive it seems you have to undo all that. There's nothing wrong with walls, but it's easier to put down a shield."

"I'm old an' stubborn, Marie," she said, sounding tired. "I dinnae know *'ow* t' undo all tha' I've done."

"You're younger than you think. I don't know how to undo it all either, not at once. But I think you start like this," Marie said gently, opening her arms and offering Moira a hug.

She shuddered a little as she accepted the hug and put her head down, carefully, on Marie's shoulder. "'Tis 'ard admittin' I cannae do this on me own. 'Tis even worse knowin' tha's wha' I'm tellin' Nathan t' do an' 'tis as 'ard for me as it is for 'im."

"You can learn together." Marie held Moira gently, supporting, rubbing her back between the shoulder blades with one hand.

"We're tryin' but 'tis so damned 'ard," was the muffled reply. "This past week...knocked us clean on our arses."

"I know." Marie leaned her cheek on Moira's hair, imagining that the other woman's fear must be ten times worse, at least, than her own fears for Nathan. "I'm so sorry, Mo. I want so bad to make this easier and I don't know how, but anything I can do, I will, even if it's just this. Any time."

"This 'elps, really." Moira cursed her eyes and blinked back the tears. It really had been a good morning if she ignored that taste of fear in her mouth. "'Tis like nothin' makes it stop, nothin' I do, nothin' 'e does. All we 'ave left is ta ride it out an' 'ope fer th' best. An' we're nay th' most patient people in th' world."

"Me either," Marie said dryly. "I... have you talked to Charles about this, Mo? You know how he is about not interfering with people and not prying."

"Before, aye, but nay since this new stuff started." She sighed. "I probably should, ye think? I know 'e's worried 'bout...me bein' affected badly, bot' mentally an' physically in me 'ead..."

Marie took Moira by the shoulders and stepped back so she could look the woman in the eye. "Yes, I think you should," she said firmly. "And if he's worried, he's got reason. Let him help, Moira. It's what he does."

Moira smiled, a little weakly, but it was still there. "I dinnae really think I'll 'ave a choice," she offered. "Maddy'll 'unt me down soon enough, I suspect. I've jus' been so busy, t' many thin's..." She knew that was a weak excuse and she wasn't really trying to get out of it.

"Nothing's more important than your health, Moira. If we lose you, what's going to keep Nathan here?" Marie hated to be so blunt, but it felt like it was needed right now.

That was true enough, she admitted, sagging a little. "I know. Jus' been so focused on 'im I forgot I 'ad ta worry 'bout meself as well. I will be seein' Charles soon enough, I promise."

"You can't separate the two anymore, link or not. Soon isn't enough. Tomorrow." Marie frowned at Moira. "I mean it, Mo. Don't make me come get you. I get enough of that from some of the kids."

Moira remembered the conversation with Samson this morning, about hunting the kids down. She also took in Marie's slightly frazzled look. "Tomorrow, I promise. When me mornin' classes are done wit'."

"Thanks." Marie's expression was a blend of gratitude and affection. "You two are going to be okay, you know that, right? Kicking and screaming all the way, maybe, but it's going to work out."

"We're goin' ta give each other a 'eadache, an' several other people, but, aye, we'll pull through." She smiled. "We've done it before."

"I know it. Now, you need to eat and if I don't go make Logan his breakfast, he'll come down and decide to nibble me instead," Marie said with an impish smile that said she didn't particularly mind that option. "If you need anything, Mo, need me to make up some meals for you two so you can be sure to eat right, let me know."

Laughing, Moira nodded. "Thanks, I'll probably take ye up on tha' later. God only knows I cannae cook. Thankfully, there's some precooked meat in the fridge, so Nathan won't nibble on me." She grinned back. "I'll let ye know if there's anythin'."

"Sunday lunch at Mama and Daddy's is rarely less than twenty people," Marie said, gathering up her things. "I can whip up a week of meals for you any time you need it. I cook to relax sometimes, if I've got people to cook for. Just let me know. Give Nate a hug for me, will you?"

"I will. Thank ye, I'll stop bye later." Moira smiled as she reached into the fridge. She'd needed that, she realized as she found the meat she wanted. Badly. Thank God for friends.