Strong In Name

         ❝Are you telling me to go home? Because I don’t think I can,❞ John shrugged – whether he was talking about going upstairs or driving to his apartment. ❝At least not by myself,❞ he clarified, feeling proud of his honesty. 

“Lord knows you don’t. I thought I caught a glimpse of the merman earlier on my way over from the Sheep.” She said nonchalantly as she poured a drink for another customer. Her eyes settling on him for a moment of seriousness between bantering comments. “I got beds in the back, and I don’t mind driving you home if you ever need it.” 

          ❝Let it slide? I really don’t need your permission, mum,❞ he snorted at her words. Still, John agreed in the inside; he actually took after her.

“You’re drinking in my bar, and I got some pull at the Sheep.” She reminded him from behind her glass. “So unless you’re going to have a flask with the fishes, or traveling outside of Neverland. I’d quit sassin’ your mum.” Her smile was affectionate, warm despite herself. 

           ❝You’re being bossy,❞ John mumbled, squinting in irritation. It happened whenever he was drunk and someone suggested he’s had enough. It certainly wasn’t the first time he had this conversation. He reached out for his glass as if protecting it by covering it with his hand. ❝I’m fine. Don’t ruin the festive mood,❞ John was quick to point out, defensive.

“Normal cut off was two drinks ago.” She said glancing at her first born’s face. “But you take after your mom, so I’ll let it slide. But when you start slurring, you’re done.” 

“You mean the stare that doesn’t get our fifteen year old home before midnight on a Friday?” Leo asked, leaving that question hanging in the air when he went to fix two whiskeys. 

“Hey, we’re not regular parents. We’re cool parents.”  She brought the whiskey up to her lips, taking a drink as she pondered the question.  “Not sure if I’m giving up anything. I’m just focused on maintaining what got, and what I got is looking pretty good tonight.” 

“As truly terrifying as you can be, my wife moonlighting as security at my bar isn’t exactly how I want to ring in the New Year,” Leo laughed, an endeared smile on his face. 

“You sure? I can give them the old disapproving stare.” Mary shot a watered down almost mocking version of the look his way before mirroring his smile. “Works eight time out of ten, used to nine but my step-son’s messed with the quota.” 

“It’s a New Year, I know, but I want to have a bar for the rest of it so if you could not trash it, that would be spot on.”

“What me to escort them out? I’ve been told, I’m pretty intimidating.”

George glanced at his ex wife with a questioning glance. He hadn’t heard her get that dark in years. It was strange that it used to amuse him, now he didn’t know what was running through her mind behind the jokes. “So it’s still a we?” It was a cutting comment, one that violated the truce, there was fight behind it.

 The funny part was, she hadn’t even noticed until he pointed it out. That after all this time, the insist was still we. That we had grown, had twisted and broken itself over and over. We, the originals. We, the darlings. We, the ones who took broken pieces and built an empire out of the scraps they were served their whole life. She paused, a twisted reflection of his own grin taking up real estate on her features. “Have another drink George, we have another full year of those remarks ahead of us.” 

George didn’t smile much anymore, it was a bitter grimace that found it’s way onto his face now. “Sad that this is one of our best abilities.”

“It always was.” She glanced over to him. “We built an entire empire around it, remember?” Blood. sweat, and other questionable bodily liquids had been heavily involved in it’s construction, but not as much as tears. “We’re exceptional at it by now.”

George gently chinked his glass against Mary’s before turning away. “Think they’ll survive this year?”

“I think if they get anything from us George...” Mary glanced out at the crowd in her bar almost nostalgically. “It’s our misery, and our ability to survive it.” 

George smirked, a temporary truce in place for the new year. “I’ll take advantage of that.”

“And because it’s the New Year, George. I’ll let you.”

            ❝Puis-je boire un verre à sa santé aussi ?❞ John asked Mary. He had watched as the green liquid flowed into the sink. Why did his mother waste a glass of absinthe? His mouth twisted at the simple thought. However, he could tell her actions were sincere, considering Monique had been her only competition. ❝Don’t you think that’s a very –  Italian saying to use French?❞ Mary’s orders were clear and people seemed to approach the bar in that instant; attracted like bees to honey under the promise of free alcohol.

“It’s about half of the price of that Burberry on your shoulders.” Mary was quick to reply, her green eyes moving from the drink she was pouring back to her son. “It’ll be worth it though.” She assured him quietly waiting for the crowd to lessen before continuing. “Give them a little taste of freedom from.” She paused looking up to let her eyes follow one of her girls as she brought a gentleman into the back. “Whatever it is that weighs them down, and they’ll always be back for more.” It was a lesson she knew her son had probably heard before, just from another set of paternal lips.  “I’ll make it back in a couple hours, or less.” She added as another girl dipped into a back room. “Less time than you trying to find a good discount designer. Or worse, knock offs.”

She did try. Of all things Francesca attempted, she always put forth her best in the wisest of manners. But this was pushing her span of attention to new levels she didn’t care for.

“The point is,” Mary turned on her heel pulling the dress out of her shared closet. “I think you’d look great in purple.” 

“He is,” Leo told her once they’d parted, Liam’s hours raked up on whatever game it was holding his interest this week had just crossed the border into concerning. 

“Kids,” Mary remarked but where her mild-adult-annoyance should have been, affection too it’s place. “When he’s finished the game we should head over to park, see if I can get Peter to join us with Alfie.” Maybe Wendy will come along too, she thought. And though it wasn’t said out loud the indication was still there in her voice.