Chapter Text
“Good." Vivian said briskly. "Because I really don't want to move out after you said...all that to me." Vivian flushed. "Okay, so clue number one…” Vivian turned her card over. “I have Cs, Ds, and Fs, but I make you smile.” She tapped her chin. “Piano?” she checked, looking at Lucy.
Lucy nodded. “Let’s go see.” The two women went over to the piano, but after opening the top and peeking inside, and looking under the chair, they saw nothing.
“What?” Lucy commented. “Why that's the weirdest thing. I really agreed with your hunch, Viv.”
Vivian sat on the stool. Glancing at Lucy, she asked. “Since we’re over here, do you want to sing something with me? The kids are out so they can’t tell us to be quiet,” she laughed a little at the end, perching her hands lightly on the keys.
“Oh! Can we sing, Bumblebee?” Lucy asked immediately, feeling the need to be impressive. It was such a good song for her!
“Do we have to?” Viv countered. “I know you like it, but I want to sing with you, not just be your sidekick.”
“Okay,” Lucy agreed quickly. Her ego could wait tonight. “What’s your favorite duet?”
Lucy realized she hadn’t really ever asked Viv before, and looked forward to the answer. “I really do like Silvery Moon, I know it’s sappy but it’s nice to sing in harmony.” Vivian replied.
“Can we try it?” Lucy nodded, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t make fun of me, Viv. Give me my note.”
“Your voice isn’t actually bad,” Vivian confessed, “I just like being better than you at something sometimes because you’re who everyone admires all the time. Here’s your note.”
But as she hit the key the piano made a terrible sound. “Oh!” Viv hopped up and opened the top. “Lucy, turn the lamp on and hit that key again, please.”
Lucy pressed the same key Viv had hit. This time she saw Viv peer keenly inside, reach into the piano, and pull out a slip of paper. As soon as it was removed, Lucy hit the key again: this time the note sounded clear and true, no problem. Vivian crossed to stand beside her and read the note aloud.
“Dear Aunt Viv and Mom,
I’m glad you tried to sing something together…and even gladder than I wasn’t there to hear it! (Just kidding!) You two are pretty silly- you both sing just fine and sound even nice together- but I love you anyway. Here's your next clue: you need me to be clear.”
Lucy glanced at Viv. “Aw, that was sweet. What could it mean, be clear?”
Vivian pouted a little. “I think the little darling means my reading glasses,” she sighed, reaching into the drawer. But there was nothing there. Vivian looked surprised.
“Gee, what could it be but glasses? I hate wearing them, I know I look like a fuddy-duddy.”
“You do not,” Lucy argued. “You look smart and classy. And I guess she does mean reading glasses.” Lucy motioned for Viv to step aside, and reached into the drawer directly below the one Viv had opened. Reaching her hand all the way back, she pulled out a glasses case. Her own reading glasses, which she had successfully hidden from Viv for the past three years. With some great effort and several moments where she had nearly decapitated Chris in her leaps over the sofa to hide them as Viv came home unexpectedly.
“Lucille! You told me you didn’t need glasses! I kept nagging you!” Viv sounded slightly outraged.
“And you win! The nagging worked! I got them! I just didn’t let you know so you wouldn’t be smug about it,” Lucy admitted, pursuing her lips and reaching into the case. She found another slip of paper. Before opening it, she rolled her eyes at Viv. “And yes, I actually really like them.”
She saw Viv smile just as she dropped her eyes down to the note. She read aloud:
“Dear Mom and Aunt Viv,
Way to go! You both are grown women entitled to have your secrets, but it’s silly to hide some things and these reading glasses were one of them. If I had to watch mom leap over the sofa to hide them one more time, I was worried I’d get a headless horseman for a date next time I brought a boy over! Your final clue is, I am where you rescued me.”
Lucy and Viv looked at one another. “Oh boy, this could take some trail and error, girl. I've saved your neck a lot.”
Lucy nodded. “You sure have. So…” she reflected. “When have I rescued you?”
Lucy though about it hard. But Vivian didn’t hesitate and reached under the telephone, where there was a white slip of paper.
“Lucy, when my ex-husband called me here, you picked up the phone and drove him off and had the sheriff patrol our block for a month. Yes, I knew about all that. The sherif told me.” She looked at Lucy gratefully. “You did rescue me, sweetheart. Thank you. I felt safe when you did that.” She then read the slip aloud, her eyes a little teary. Lucy took her hand. The tears were okay, since Lucy’s were also a little wet.
“Aunt Viv and Mom,
I hope you both feel more like yourselves now. You’re both strong women who are good for each other and who make silly mistakes. So the box is in the oven: I figured it was safe since it’s way too hot to bake anything! You’re neither of you that dumb! I love you both. - Chris.”
“She’s the sweetest girl,” Viv commented dryly, “But she does have our sass! Oh, Lucy: I’m sorry we keep secrets from time to time and I’m sorry I didn't communicate better. I guess I’m a little insecure and it gets the best of me.”
Vivian looked sincere.
“Oh Viv, honey, I was going to say the same thing. I’m sorry that I’m vain and get into trouble and can be bossy. Still friends?” She held out her hand. Viv took it gladly.
“Friends. Ready for the box?”
Lucy paused. Did she really need a box, or was she going to finally be a good communicator and just spit it out?
“Look, Viv, I already pretty much told you what I wrote. Just let me say it again. And if you don’t feel the same, we’ll be fine?” she checked with Viv, who nodded seriously. She drew her over to the couch.
“I wanted you to know that I was sorry. That you are an excellent kisser. That I want your forgiveness. And that I want you to kiss me again, because I’m pretty sure I’m going to fall in love with you when you do.”
Vivian squeezed her hand. Smiling, she held a finger to her lips, went into the kitchen, and took out the box. She handed it to Lucy, who saw two slip insides. She picked out one and read it.
I want Lucy to know how sorry I am. I want Lucy to know that I am in love with her- who knows when it happened but that kiss brought it all tumbling out. I want Lucy to be my friend again and kiss me all the time and love me back.
Lucy grinned. She met Viv’s eyes. Viv nodded. “Lucy, I am so sorry if I hurt you by my actions and I apologize for what I did. It was just as selfish as what you did. And I love you. And I will be in love you with if you let me, too.”
“Get over here,” Lucy answered, drawing Viv in close. She breathed deeply, the scent of the new perfume again driving her a little crazy, and feeling absolutely dizzy by the soft gaze in Viv’s eyes.
“May I kiss you,” she asked roughly, mindful of not messing things up again.
“Put your moves on me, lover” Viv joked, batting her eyes. But she looked just as eager as Lucy felt.
“Don’t rush me,” Lucy chastised, slowly drawing Vivian’s face towards her own. She slid a hand down Viv’s bare shoulder and played with the strap. Bending Viv at the neck slightly, she took a light kiss, brushing her lips from her neck up towards her mouth. Before putting any pressure, she turned and straddled Viv, pushing her friend back gently against the sofa and rocking her hips down. Viv groaned and broke the kiss.
“Kiss me, baby,” Lucy intoned in a poor Cary Grant imitation, which made Viv break out of the kiss, the two of them meeting one another’s eyes with a laugh.
Viv drew Lucy back towards her gently. Her hands on Lucy’s back were a secure presence that sent Lucy’s eyes shut as she felt Viv’s lips on her again. She sank into the kiss, going limp, allowing Viv to show off her talents as the world’s best kisser. She felt Viv slide her hands underneath her shirt, caressing her skin, and she shivered happily at the progression as the kiss ended.
“Kiss me again,” she pleased immediately, her voice a little broken. Gazing into Viv’s eyes, she raised a hand and fussed a little with the errant bang, brining her lips over to nibble at Viv’s ear lightly. “I mean it, Viv.” Flames were rolling across her body.
“Whatever you want,” Viv answered huskily. And she pushed Lucy back firmly against the sofa, now straddling her and making each touch of her tongue long and languid. “You know I’d do anything for you,” she breathed out some time later. Lucy gave into the flames and simply sank back into the sofa, feeling herself just on the verge of faint. What a great movie to be living!
And so she let herself be kissed without any cameras at all.