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[givingback]

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[nineteenfortyfive]

[The hug is surprising, but welcomed. She can't remember them hugging so much before--not since she was a little girl.]

Sweetheart, there's nothing you have to be sorry about.

[She smiles and shifts, trying to plant a kiss on Bree's cheek despite the awkward positioning. She might just end up with a nose full of her mother's curls.]

I spent far too long not being honest with you. I want you to ask questions.

[It's easier on her that way. She's not the most forthcoming when it comes to talking about herself.]

[givingback]

[ Bree is so curious about so much, and she sits down again once she can pull herself away. ]

After you left, Roger and I spent a lot of time talking. And it turned into all the things I wished I knew, like when you knew you were really in love with Jamie, and what he does that makes you laugh - how he makes you laugh. So many different things, and I missed my chance. I wrote you a bunch of letters, he said it would help. It didn't. But now we're here, and if you really don't mind, I really want to ask them. Not all right now, but any time.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Oh, Roger. There might never be a young man so sweet. She owes him more than she can ever say. She's glad to hear he was there for Bree. But of of course he would.]

Well. I promise that you can ask me anything, whenever you'd like. I've spent enough time not telling you things.

[givingback]

[ Good thing her mom doesn't know it was a conversation had while naked in bed with Roger. (Presumably.) ]

I will. I'll ask you everything that comes to mind.

[ Bree smiles because it's refreshing to know she has the option now, that there won't be any walls keeping the truth out. ]

You're a pretty good cook, you know. At least when it comes to pancakes.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Why, thank you. [She says with a roll of her eyes. Twenty years, and she compliments her on this! Children.]

We'll keep that our little secret.

[Fergus and Theon don't need to know about any late night treats.]

[givingback]

[ She smiles around her fork; she likes having something that's just theirs. When she's done, warm and full, she looks at Claire and realizes she has a chance to make right one of the regrets she first told Roger about. Not saying things often enough. ]

I love you, mama. Thank you for the pancakes.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[They could both do with saying it a bit more. Claire, in the midst of standing to clear their plates, stops.]

I love you too, Bree. [She sets her plate back down so it can be her turn to hug Bree from behind as she's sitting, cheek resting against her red hair.]

More than anything. I was worried when you first woke up here, but now I can't imagine not having you around. I don't know how I did it as long as I did.

[givingback]

That's how I felt the moment I saw you. I don't know how so much time had already passed between seeing you off in a cab, and now. I don't know how I ever thought I could go through the rest of my life without you.

[ She doesn't regret telling Claire to go, but having no regrets isn't the same as getting used to the idea. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

And now there's no escaping your mother. Even if you do have a few more brothers than you bargained for.

[She sounds like she's teasing, but... it's the truth, isn't it?]

[givingback]

I guess somehow I'll have to find a way to survive. And just for the record, I liked Fergus right away.

[ And that's the truth. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

That's because he's Fergus. Everyone should like him right away.

[... except for Theon, apparently, but she expected that.]

[givingback]

[ Now that they're both standing, Bree reaches out to give her mom a proper hug, arms around her, face slightly buried against her neck before she murmurs. ]

Goodnight. Thank you for the pancakes.