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If anyone were to ask Naomi – and indeed people have on occasion – about how it is to have Tammy as a stepmom, she would answer natural.
She just kind of fits into their little family, making it weirder and bigger with the plethora of uncles she brings.
In truth, having divorced parent’s sucks.
But they make it as painless as possible on her, the rules about who’s house she’s staying at getting more and more relaxed the older she gets – especially now she has a room at Uncle Sebby’s house too – and they never make her be a go-between for them.
And it’s worth it, it’s always been worth it, to see her mom happy.
Her dad had got remarried pretty quickly after the divorce, even though she knows now it had really been years after her parents had separated, and Veronica is great… but she’s just a stepmom.
Tammy is her ma, as much as her mom is. She spends as much time with them apart as she does together and when they are together? They’re so in love it’s nauseating.
That being said, they’re a pair of dumbasses. Fucking idiots in love. Useless queers. And for all that she loves them, she despairs at them sometimes.
“But I don’t want anything too flashy-“ her mom taps her hands agitatedly against the steering wheel- “or feminine. Or a diamond. It needs to be Tammy.”
“Mom,” Naomi placates, waving a hand in the direction of the jewellery store, “that’s why we’re here. They’re alternative.”
“Alternative,” her mom repeats, looking a little alarmed by the word.
“Yes. Hopefully they’ll have different metals, slightly more unusual designs and they definitely have other stone options,” she coaxes soothingly, “we’re just looking, you don’t have to buy anything, we can look online instead. But Mom, I promise, this is the perfect shop.”
Her mom smiles shakily, “I trust you, I just… this needs to be perfect, you know?”
“It will be!” Naomi promises, hugging her quickly before all but dragging her out of the car and towards the door.
She finds herself smiling at the feel of the shop, slightly more moodily lit than most typical jewellery stores but with much more character too, with little pockets of crystals on the walls and vines decorating the ceiling.
The person behinds the counter beams at them as they enter, their short spikey hair looking like actual flames in the light.
“Welcome to Epsilon Lyrae, what can I help you with today?”
Seeing how overwhelmed her mom looks, Naomi pulls her forward and greets, “Hi, we’re looking for an engagement ring.”
“Of course,” they smile easily, “any particular ideas on design, metal or stone?”
Her mom is staring around the store rather than listening, her face a picture of anxiety and wonder, so she shakes her gently into focus.
“Uh,” she startles, pulling out her phone, “there’s this very specific green. I have no clue on designs though, nothing too feminine?”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Naomi pats her arm and grins at the assistant who winks cheerily back.
It’s only a week later that Naomi finds herself back in the exact same shop, hoping it won’t be the same person working there so her cover doesn’t get blown.
Unfortunately, it is – but thankfully her ma doesn’t notice the double take because she’s immediately wandered off to look at the selection.
They collect themselves quickly and greet, “Hi, I’m Ember, what can I help you with today?”
Noticing that her ma is showing absolutely no signs of coming back to offer some input, she rolls her eyes and turns to them instead.
“Hi, we’re looking for an engagement ring for my mom-“ she just about holds back her laughter at the amused and knowing look in their eyes- “not too sure what we’re looking for but-“
“This one.”
She’s interrupted by her ma and turns to find her pointing decisively into one of the display cases.
Huffing, she walks over, “Ma, you can’t just buy the first one you…” she trails off as she catches sight of the ring, “okay, yeah, I take it back, that one is kinda perfect.”
This in direct contrast to the two hours it took her mom to find the right one.
Her ma grins cockily at her, winking when she laughs in disbelief, “I guess you didn’t need me anyway!”
“Oh no, sweetie,” she counters, pulling her into her side, “I’ll always need you.”
It’s the very next day that she goes back for a third time, waving a little sheepishly to Ember, who makes their way around the counter at the sight of her and peers exaggeratedly through the door.
“You don’t have another parent lurking around here, do you?” they ask playfully and she chuckles.
“Nope,” she confirms, then shrugs, “well, yes, but they’re already married. Just those two disasters-” rolling her eyes, she bites back another laugh- “they think they’re being subtle.”
Face alight with amusement, they lean back on the counter and question, “Did they both separately ask you to go ring shopping with them?”
“Yes. Yes, they did!” she huffs dramatically, “and now I’m back to request something.”
At Ember’s inviting motion, she hops up to sit on the counter and takes a breath, gesturing as she explains, “You have the designs they both bought, would you be able to combine the two styles to create two wedding bands that have a similar vibe to each other but still go with their respective engagement rings?”
Their face lights up in delight at getting to create something new, “Oh, of course!”
“Amazing!”
As they talk about a few more of the details, she idly wonders how two federal agents could be so oblivious to each other.
It reminds her of when they’d first started dating – she’d known about it long before they’d told her because it’s always been obvious how they feel about each other.
And even if she doesn’t quite understand it, she definitely believes what’s right in front of her face.
Despite the fact they’re idiots in love.