Marjoreece - Written In The Stars

Marjorie and Siobhans Past

"Reece, while this is very cute, just a quick reminder... I'm here as well, my love." Marjorie said laughing.

"Sorry, gorgeous." He said, standing back up quickly. "Got a little side tracked." He blushed slightly as he said the last sentence. Marjorie couldn't help but smile. He was so cute when it came to her or the twins.

He pulled her back into a hug. "Gorgeous, can I ask you something a bit personal? You can refuse to answer."

"Darling, you can ask me anything. What's up?"

"So I've seen the photo on your desk. I know who you're with in it.... What happened between you and Siobhan? It looks like you used to be really close."

Marjorie looked sad at the mention of her former friends name. She should have known this question would come up eventually. She had thought it would come from Autumn first, though, as she sat in the office every day and could regularly see the picture of the two young women.

Reece saw her uncertainty. "You really don't have to tell me, Marjorie." He said, placing one hand on her cheek. "I was just curious."

Marjorie placed her hand on his. "No, I want to tell you." She said as she pulled his hand away from her cheek and led him into the lounge.

Reece sat on the sofa, and Marjorie sat on his lap. She knew talking about this, she would need to be close to him and need him to hold her, but she also knew that she wanted to be able to look at him as well, which if she led back into him to get the contact she wouldn't be able to do. She took a deep breath in before starting.

"We started as apprentices together. We just instantly became friends, you know? She had a harsh upbringing. Her parents were strict and religious and put a lot of pressure on her. They thought working in childcare was beneath her. I could relate to that. Mum always put me down and told me I wasn't good enough, but as soon as I said I wanted to do this, she said I was too good for it. As soon as we both turned 18, we rented a flat together. We both left and cut off our families at the same time, agreeing we didn't need them as we had our chosen family in each other and the friends we made at the nursery." She started relaxing more into the conversation.

"We did all our coursework together, helped each other get ready for dates, got each other out of horrendous dates." She laughed. "We were best friends. Then I got deputy when I was almost 20. She was happy for me, but it did create a bit of a barrier between us, with me being her boss. After a little over a year, I got the managers role, and that was it. She just stopped talking to me. She moved out of the flat and went to work at the sister nursery instead. She soon got manager over there, but it didn't make any difference in how she was towards me. I never really knew what happened , she just got really cold towards me. I know that Roger and the manager of the sister nursery at that time had both started sniffing round her before she moved over there. I tried to warn her that they didn't have good intentions, but she didn't care if it would progress her career. I don't know whether she told them what I'd said, but they both seemed to start avoiding me unless they had to. I know they told her I was beneath her. I was common and ugly and fat, not someone she should be associating with if she wanted to get ahead. I don't know if that was because she'd told them what I'd said about them or if there was another reason. Soon, she started saying it, too. She also used insults my mum used to use because I'd told her about it in confidence, and when we fell out, she would use them against me. All her staff would make comments behind my back, all things they'd heard from Siobhan. She called me all sorts to other people."

Reece pulled her in closer as her eyes started to fill up with tears. "I really thought when we were both managers, we'd make a really good team and get back on track, but she just got colder and colder towards me. I suppose that's when my 'villain era' started. I was determined not to let anyone else want to get close to me like that, so I didn't have to go thorough that again. I guess the reason I pushed so hard against Siobhan was that I wanted to prove all of them wrong, which resulted in when my staff had problems over there my name would get dropped the same way they do Autumn's with the parents now."

Reece was rocking her gently as the tears fell while she spoke. "You know, you're really hot when you're angry. I bet you were sexy as fuck in your villain era." He said smirking. Marjorie glared at him. "OK, OK, I'm sorry, gorgeous. Not the time... I mean, I still bet I'm right, but not the time."

She smiled slightly at his inappropriate attempt to cheer her up.

"You know over the last few months I keep thinking I see bits of the old Siobhan in there still. Maybe if we can get her away from your dad, I can find out what happened. Maybe we can even become friends again. Probably not as close as we were, but maybe something."

"You could forgive her for the things she said about you and how she behaved?" He asked, marvelling at his fiancé's compassion after everything Siobhan had put her through.

"I don't know. I suppose it depends on why she did it. If it was under pressure from Roger or to impress people to get further, maybe. She might not have realised the damage it could do. If she did it because she hated that I got promoted over her initially, then probably not. I can't help but wonder if it's my fault she ended up with Roger in the first place. If I hadn't been promoted, she wouldn't have felt she needed to compete or beat me, and that would've kept her away from him more. She might not have fallen for his promises of promotion and board membership to try and get one up on me."

"No, Marjorie. You can't blame yourself for her actions. Besides, if my dad really wanted to get Siobhan onside, there'd be very little either of you could have done to stop him."

"But maybe if she hadn't been alone. Maybe if she'd still had a friend, she'd have stood up to him. I don't know. I can't help but think what if."

"It's not over yet gorgeous. We can still get her away from him. I know we can't fix anything he may have already put her through, but we can stop it from continuing." He held her face and kissed her. "And if she meant or means that much to you, then she's just another reason for me to push through all the discomfort and carry on with this act to save her as well as you three."

"You'd do that for Siobhan?"

"The Siobhan that I know? No. But the Shiobhan that you knew? Absolutely."

Marjories eyes welled up again. "I love you so much, Reece. I can't believe that you're willing to go through so much for me. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

Reece looked at her. "I do. Existed. Come on, you look exhausted. Let's get you to bed."

She wouldn't let go of his hand as they walked upstairs to their bedroom. She eventually let go so they could get undressed, but as soon as they got into bed, Marjorie instantly sought contact with Reece. Pulling his arm around her and cuddling in as close as she could.

Reece kissed the side of her head. "Marjorie? I don't care what anyone's said in the past. You are, without a doubt, the sexiest most beautiful woman I've even seen in my life. At least in my eyes, OK? Add to that you have a heart of gold. You'd do anything to help anyone and your fierce as hell,  God help anyone that crosses someone you love. I know I am so lucky that you chose me to spend your life with, and I will spend every day of that life making sure you never have to feel the hurt or insecurity from people like Roger, your mum and the messed up stuff she taught you, the old staff at the sister nursery or Siobhan at her worst made you feel ever again. I love everything about you, OK? Please never forget that. Whenever the thought of what they've said in the past, or if anyone says anything like it now. Just think of me ok and how there isn't one single thing I'd change about you."

She rolled over to face him and pulled him in for a passionate and desperate kiss. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You always know just how to make everything better. I love you so much." She said as she cuddled down into his arms. Her head nestled into his neck.

He kissed her on the head and replied. "I love you too... Just in case you weren't sure."