Chapter Text
"So, I was thinking that tomorrow we could watch a movie together as a family. We haven't done that in a while." Jen suggested at dinner, earning a deadly stare from Charlie, who seemed to be out every friday night nowadays. Henry however seemed excited as usual, when it came to their family bonding time.
"That sounds awesome! What are we going to watch?" He was practically jumping in his seat bursting with joy, undoubtedly hoping for a 2 hour sing-along to one of his favourite musicals. There's nothing that he loved more than performing for his mom and Judy who were always ready to cheer him on, no matter how out of his range the song being performed was. At home he was a star.
" Well I'm pretty sure it's Judy's time to pick the movie. But I'm sure you guys can decide together. " Jen looked over at the woman, who seemed unusually silent on the subject. Usually she loved spending time with Jen and the boys.
" I'm sorry but I can't join you guys this time... I have a date." Judy explained apologetically, avoiding Jen's gaze. Judy could feel Jen’s eyes on her.
"A date? With who?" Jen immediately jumped in, trying to avoid sounding accusatory but failing miserably.
"Well, I've told you about Michelle right?" Judy turned to Jen. She was nervously waiting for Jen's reaction and she didn't quite know the reason for her stress. I mean surely Jen wasn't homophobic, and she would want Judy to be happy, so what was the big problem?
"Her? You're going out on a date with Michelle?" Jen was in disbelief to put it lightly. "I didn't know you swung that way."
"Who's Michelle?" Henry interrupted, confused by the conversation.
" She's a friend I met at work." Judy told him, eyes still fixed on Jen, trying desperately to read her without much success. Jen was stone faced. Judy turned to face Henry. " She has her own restaurant, and we are going for dinner tonight. She's pretty cool." Judy winked at Henry, who seemed very supportive and excited about the idea of Judy having a chef friend.
"Since Judy isn't coming, can I skip too? I was gonna meet my- " Charlie started but was interrupted by his extremely irritated mother.
"No you can't fucking skip it. You'll meet your friends some other night. Judy can go on her..." Jen looked over to Judy, " ..date but me and you guys will still have a good time right? Judy can join us next time."
" I wouldn't skip it for the world! I mean I am skipping it now, but it's only because Michelle and I already agreed on tomorrow and I wouldn't want to cancel when she made time out of her busy schedule just for me." Judy stammered, feeling guilty about not joining them.
"Judy don't worry about it. It's ok." Jen assured, but didn't convince Judy.
The next day went swimmingly, but Judy was, as Jen pointed out several times throughout the day, way in her head. Judy just shook it off to Jen as stress about you know the whole mess they had made with Steve (which earned her a soft “oh honey” and an assuring hand on her back) but really she was going over the dinner discussion they had had the night before.
Judy couldnt help but feel that she had done something wrong by agreeing to go on a date with Michelle. She and Jen weren’t together of course, but they also had not discussed the possibility of having company over in the future. It goes without saying that hypothetically this would happen only if the boys were at Lorna’s of course. Jen surely didn’t want to bring men (or women) over unless the relationship seemed to have some serious roots. But Jen didn’t date at all. She didn’t even socialize with anyone other than Judy and perhaps Christopher, Lorna when she had no choice. Jen was clearly happy in the bubble Judy and their boys lived in, and didn’t feel the need to bring other people into their space. They were both aware of the fact that at some point they would probably want to date and find love again but it hadn’t really felt relevant with everything going on. At least not until Michelle asked Judy out.
Judy liked Michelle a lot. But she had also started to wonder about her relationship with Jen, after Michelle had brought up the possibility of them being together. Judy of course shrugged it off, they weren’t together after all, just friends, living together, raising kids together, sometimes sleeping in the same bed if Jen was in a good mood and willing to subject herself to the horror of being spooned by Judy, which Judy knew she secretly enjoyed.
Judy felt like cancelling her date, just to calm down the thoughts in her head.
Jen however went out of her way to assure Judy that the date was a good idea and Judy should absolutely go and have some fun.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Of course you’re going!”
“I don’t want to go at the expense of our family time.” Judy explained whilst pacing around the kitchen. “You know I love spending time with you. And the boys of course!” She stopped in front of Jen who was sitting at the kitchen counter following Judy with her gaze.
“We know you do. But we also want you to be happy and if Michelle makes you happy then that’s that. There’s no but’ s or what if’s. We wouldnt want your life to be unfullfilled at the expense of us.” Jen said earnestly, emphasizing on “we” as if the boys gave much thought to Judy’s dating life.
“I guess that’s that.” Judy said quietly giving Jen a small smile.
Jen’s face was filled with warmth at the sight of the younger woman smiling again, after a particularly frustrating and stressful day. She ended the moment quickly as she started to rush Judy out of the kitchen to get ready for her date.