Chapter Text
Lucy sat on the floor of Mina’s bedroom, pamphlets with modern wedding dresses scattered around the room. She squinted in the candlelight as she gave her opinions on the gaudy dresses modern fashion was promoting. The words of Lady Weatherby had been looping in Lucy’s head since their tea time earlier that day, pulling focus away from her current task.
“It’s just a natural part of a woman’s maturation.”
Lucy clung to the hope this was true. She continued flipping through her current pamphlet, half interested. Lucy wanted Mina to look simply radiant, if she chose to marry Harker, but she had more important issues on her mind.
“I think I’m being deceived,” Mina said suddenly. Lucy’s attention snapped away from the pamphlet.
“The next time she gives you a hint, assume the burden.”
“By whom?” Lucy asked cautiously.
“Professor Van Helsing.” Lucy’s gaze fell back to the pamphlet.
“What would he gain from lying to you?” she asked, trying her best to not sound short.
“I don’t know. But I suppose I haven’t been a beacon of honesty myself.” Lucy’s heart stopped dead in its tracks. She struggled to keep her face neutral. Was this the sign Lady Weatherby was referencing?
Lucy turned to face Mina. She began discussing her latest work in university. While Lucy didn’t understand a word Mina was saying, she could appreciate how Mina’s face lit with interest. Mina loved her work, and Lucy knew she was damn good at it.
“Why would anybody conceal such an incredible discovery?” Mina asked. Lucy knew she was referencing the professor, but she couldn’t help but hear a ring of personal truth in Mina’s statement.
“Perhaps he doesn’t want to, but he feels that he should,” Lucy said. She was not talking about the professor. She laid next to Mina, turning to face her as she had done so many times before. This time felt different. There was a charge between them that had never been there before.
“Speaking of such notions is,” Lucy paused before speaking the final word, “taboo.”
“I’m sorry,” Mina laughed. Lucy felt her stomach rise into her chest. “All this talk of science and research and cures—” Mina reached to brush a strand of hair out of Lucy’s face. Lucy felt as if her whole world stopped with the soft touch of Mina’s hand. “—you must find it all so intolerably dull.”
Lucy did find the topic of science dull. It was her weakest subject in her tutoring days for this very reason. To her, the subject was stiff and lacking creativity. She struggled to find interest.
That being said, if she had the choice, she would never stop listening to Mina talk about science. She doesn’t understand most of Mina’s research or the subjects of her exams, but she understands the passion that ignites behind her eyes when she discusses the lecture from that day. She understands Mina’s love for her work when she visits with Lucy after a shift at the hospital. She could listen to Mina talk about science forever. She would never understand how Jonathan could expect her to give up everything she cared so much about.
“Not when you’re speaking of it,” Lucy answers honestly.
“You’re kind to humor me,” Mina mumbled.
Lucy shook her head ever so slightly. “It’s not kindness Mina, but love.” Mina quietly chuckled. Lucy’s heart was threatening to breach her chest. Stealing her resolve, she reached out to cup Mina’s cheek. She moved over, closing the gap between them, and placed a kiss on Mina’s lips.
Mina tensed, and for a brief moment Lucy thought she was pulling away. She faltered slightly, waiting for Mina’s swift rejection. Before her mind could spiral, Mina kissed her back.
Lucy wasn’t afraid to admit she had imagined kissing Mina on many occasions. They had always been intimate friends. In public, Lucy was constantly latched onto Mina’s arm while Mina’s hand was around Lucy’s waist. In private, they frequently slept in the same bed, more often than not, falling asleep in each other’s arms. On nights when the pair was particularly drunk, Lucy would sit behind Mina, her arms draped over her friend’s chest. With such a relationship, Lucy believed it would have been surprising if she hadn’t imagined their first kiss.
This was nothing like what Lucy had imagined. First kisses weren’t supposed to be perfect, and this one certainly wasn’t. They were clumsy, and Lucy kept accidentally knocking Mina’s teeth, but there was something perfect in the imperfect. Lucy didn’t care how awful their kiss was. She just cared that it was with Mina.
Mina broke away, taking gasping breaths. “Well, shit.”
“Mina!” Lucy gasped.
“Hey, I think my choice of vocabulary is warranted in this situation!” Mina defended. She grabbed Lucy’s hand. “I was hoping you didn’t feel this way.”
Lucy’s heart completely sank. She felt a tightness building in her throat. “Mina, what do you mean?”
“Because now it’s become complicated,” Mina said plainly. “I was going to marry Jonathan, like I’m supposed to, and I was going to do everything in my power to keep you close so you would always be in my life.”
“Mina, darling, when have you ever done anything the way you’re supposed to?” Lucy felt her breath hitch slightly at the word “darling.” She said it out of habit, but it came out with a different meaning this time.
Mina chuckled slightly, reaching out to stroke Lucy’s cheek. “This is different Lucy. Going to medical school isn’t impossible, but this—” Mina dropped off, unable to verbalize what they both understood.
Lady Weatherby had told Lucy that these urges were a normal part of becoming a woman, but she implied it wouldn’t be forever. Lucy knew better.
“We could run away Mina,” Lucy said. Her voice grew sturdier and more hopeful as she spoke. “You can finish medical school and become a doctor. Mother inherited a cottage in Courtsend. It is positively massive; you could run a practice inside the parlor. We could be happy, Mina.”
Mina smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s a pretty picture Lucy, but it can’t happen. I have to marry Jonathan.”
“But why Mina? Jonathan is a prick!” Lucy exclaimed, sitting up slightly. “He tried to make you give up everything you have been working for because he wanted another mummy to make his sandwiches and raise his children!”
Mina stared, jaw agape, before suddenly bursting out in laughter. Lucy stared in shock. “Lucy, don’t be so prude!” Mina finally choked out. “He came around! He said he was okay with my career!”
“Because Mr. Grayson told him he was being a downright idiot! He would have never come to that conclusion on his own!”
Mina sighed. “You might be right.” She started twirling a strand of Lucy’s hair around her finger. “So what do you propose I do? Suddenly break up with him for seemingly no reason? After we just got back together?”
“I’m not sure,” Lucy admitted. Despite this, her heart started doing backflips. “But does that mean you want to try?”
A small smile creeped onto Mina’s face. “Perhaps, but I think we need to have some more discussion.”
Lucy’s face was overtaken by the widest smile she had worn in a long time. “I’d have to agree.”
SIX YEARS LATER
Lucy sat on the porch of a large stone cottage, a cup of steaming tea sitting on the nearby table. She was wearing a simple cotton dress, her long, blonde hair flowing freely in the wind. Lucy could feel the salt water that the wind held as it flew past. She heard no noise outside of her pen scratching her notebook and light clattering from inside. This had been Lucy’s favorite writing spot as of late. The sea put her at peace in a way few other things could.
The porch door slowly creaked open. Mina appeared in the corner of Lucy’s eye, holding her own cup of tea. Her hair was still held back by her do-rag, but she had changed from her medical gown to a simple blouse and skirt.
“How’s it coming, my love?” Mina asked, sitting in her chair. She put her teacup down on the table separating their chairs.
“Well,” Lucy said, scratching words out with her pen. “I’m revising at the moment. Do you want to read what I’ve done today?”
“Of course I do,” Mina said, reaching for Lucy’s paper. Lucy finished scribbling notes in the margins before obliging. Mina held the paper carefully with one hand, trying not to smudge the ink. She used her free hand to hold Lucy’s while she read aloud from the page.
“After much suspicion, Alexander Grayson was finally proven to be the Fell One, also referred to as Dracula, when he failed to turn or kill his chosen victim for the first time. His attack against myself was a miscalculation of draconian proportions, fueled by emotion over logic. He failed to consider any form of strategy, and his fatal mistake was the subject of his adoration, Dr. Mina Murray, was in the room where Grayson launched his attack.”
Mina pursed her lips before adding a few notes to the side of the page. “I will say, I appreciate you removing the detail of us being in the bath at the time.”
“Regretfully. I thought it made the story entertaining,” Lucy chuckled. “All these years later I still don’t understand how he was in such a rage he didn’t see you in the basin with me.”
“I don’t either,” Mina admitted. “It was honestly ridiculous.”
Mina continued reading as the sun began to dip under the ocean. Lucy watched as she mumbled, writing notes and occasionally scratching words.
“It’s coming alone very nicely,” Mina finally said as the sun fully sank below the horizon. “You could probably have it published by the year’s end.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Lucy said. “Now are you ready for dinner? I am famished.”
“Absolutely. I had the staff prepare salmon and potatoes tonight.”
“You know me so well,” Lucy said through a smile. They stood, hands still clasped together. Lucy placed a kiss on Mina’s cheek before leading her into their home.