Chapter Text
Shauntal should've known that the invitation to have an afternoon to catch up with her former co-worker and ex was a bad idea. She brought along with her Marie, her and Lucian's daughter, and she met with Grimsley, Will and Karen. As much as she wanted to attend with Lucian, he had business to deal with in the League. She wasn't going to force him away from work, so she went alone with her daughter.
Everything appeared to be happy and fine. They were to meet at a cafe in Sinnoh and Shauntal made sure she had a bag with necessities for Marie. She was asked various question about how her daughter was doing and how her and Lucian were adjusting to having a little one in their home. Shauntal couldn't help but smile and gush about her little one, despite feeling a little tired from her lack of sleep from the night before. Marie was a blessing to their home. She knew that some of the questions were asked due to Karen being at least five months pregnant and she was curious how her experience went.
When Shauntal noticed that her daughter needed to be cleaned up from having a snack she gave Marie, Shauntal excused herself from their table. She hummed softly, singing to her daughter as she distracted her child while taking care of her.
Upon coming out of the rest room, she held her daughter close as she heard a conversation between Grimsley and Karen..and briefly with Will.
Karen glared at Grimsley, "Are fucking kidding me?! You didn't seem to think that telling me that you were half vampire was something important to tell me? Did you expect me to have three kids with, "she waves an annoyed hand over Grimsley, "..whatever the fuck you have, and be okay with it? Were you ever going to tell me?"
Grimsley turned his gaze to the side, a guilty look washing over his features, "...It was difficult to bring it up.." he muttered, "But hey..at least you know now. Nothing bad is going to happen to them or you, I promise. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I. . .was afraid to say anything. After things with Shauntal fell through, I wasn't sure if I could trust to tell anyone."
Karen crossed her arms for a moment, sniffling a little, "Do you not trust your own wife? Do you not..l-love me?"
Grimsley immediately pulled Karen into his arms, giving a side glance to Will as if he were to have a private mental conversation Shauntal couldn't hear.
She didn't dare step towards the table just yet. They seemed like they needed a moment to collect themselves. It would be rude of her to walk in on them right now. Thankfully her little one was slowly falling asleep in her arms as she waited for a proper time to walk in.
"Of course, I love you, Karen.." he uttered softly.
Karen clung to Grimsley, "I fucking hate her. She ruined everything for our relationship." her tone was soft, but there was a venomous bite to her words.
Will, placed a hand on her lower back, hoping to calm her down, "Shh..take a breath, my diva. No need to have hostile thoughts."
Grimsley held her a little tighter, "...So do I. Meeting you was the best moment of my entire life. If I could go back and just… stop myself, I would. I’d visit Johto earlier… She’s nothing compared to you. She could never bear one of my children, let alone three." There was a brief pause, "She’s better off with a boring, pathetic, lifeless worm like Lucian. I want someone with life in them."
Shauntal's heart sank to her stomach as she heard what Grimsley said about her and her beloved. She was aware that Grimsley wasn't a fan of Lucian but to drag her name into the dirt? Shauntal was heartbroken. So..that's how he truly felt about her? Then why did he invite her to meet with him today?
Karen's voice sounded once more, adding yet another nail to the coffin of the insults, "She..ruined everything for us. I..I swear I'm going to make her pay for destroying everything..."
Will gave a thoughtful hum, "Karen, it's not completely her fault..but aside from that, at least you know. That's the important part."
Karen rolled her eyes, "Whatever..."
Grimsley's voice came about, nearly matching the venom in his voice as Karen, “It wasn’t her… nothings ruined, she can't ruin anything. We’re still going to be a family of six. We’re still gonna be happy, and she’s still going to be sad with a husband who barely touches or notices her.”
It was around then that Shauntal realized that she wasn't exactly welcomed in their company. Rushing to the table as she avoided looking at anyone, she gathered her things, "I need to head home and place Marie down for a nap. Thanks for inviting me out. I'll..see you guys around." She didn't even wait for either of them to say anything as she left the cafe with her daughter and things.
Once she was home, she placed her daughter down for a nap, looking down at her little bundle of joy. It took everything in her to not cry at the words she heard. Was her marriage truly that boring?
She felt content in her marriage. Lucian always greeted her every morning and ended every evening with a kiss, embracing her while they slept. He was a wonderful father, never passing an opportunity to read to their daughter and he would even usher her back to bed so she could sleep and take care of Marie in her stead. He was everything she could possibly desire from a partner and father..yet, here she was..being berated for having a boring marriage with assumed notions that her love life was dead due to having a child.
Just because she didn't kiss and tell, it didn't mean that romance was dead between her and Lucian.
Maybe she should talk to her beloved about this. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she wasn't sure what to make of everything.