joanie

Ok I've been thinking about Spy and Scout's Ma SOOOO much. Woe, headcanons be upon ye:

To start with, their names are François Donadieu and Rose Cusack. They never married, but have been in a committed relationship for 23 years as of 1968

François is four years younger than Rose, they met in 1944 when he was 22 and she was 26, while she was working as a waitress.

Spy had been sent to speak with an informant who, unbeknownst to Spy, was going to doublecross him. After giving him bad information, the informant poisoned his coffee when he was distracted, which Rose noticed. Unable to think of anything else, she spilled his coffee on him to prevent François from being killed. When she brought him another mug, she also gave him a note to explain. He took her to dinner afterwards to show his appreciation.

She didn't tell him about her children until their 3rd date, terrified that her being a widow and single mother, with the majority of her children born out of wedlock, would be a major deal breaker. It was, in fact, a bonus, as Spy had always wanted a large family

Spy immediately stepped into a doting father role to her sons, and remained so until Jeremy was around 4. He will freely admit to his beloved that these were the best years of his life

His leaving the family came after a hit was issued on them that he only barely managed to thwart. He and Rose mutually agreed that it would be safest if he kept a distance from his family. François' only contact with them was to send money home, watch from afar in disguise, and occasionally rendezvous with Rose

Bonus Scout related headcanons that are still relevant:

Scout gets his buck teeth and green eyes from Spy (who has had work done on his teeth ((thats even canonical)) and has partial green/hazel heterochromia in both eyes). Rose misses her beau's natural charming smile, and is secretly happy that Jeremy inherited it.

Meetings with Spy leave a very distinct cigarette smell on Rose, which Jeremy recognizes and hates. The idea that some asshole is putting the moves on his ma pisses him off. As such, he hates that scent and Spy by extension (pre-spydad reveal)

i also can't tell if spy's head is too big..? so here's a smaller head version </3