Archive of Our Own ^beta

“What are you watching?” Jemma takes a quick glance at Bobbi’s computer while checking her vitals.

Bobbi’s blonde hair is splayed on the pillow behind her like a halo. “ Notting Hill .”

“ Notting Hill ?” Jemma parrots back.

“Rom-Com. 1999. The one and only Julia Roberts. Hugh Grant.” At Jemma’s blank stare, Bobbi continues, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

Jemma shakes her head a bit, laughing softly, “Sorry, surprisingly enough, I was never really a rom-com girl.”

“Please, tell me you know who Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant are.”

“They’re actors.”

Bobbi scoffs, “Julia Roberts is not just an actor, or well actress. She is a movie star, a queen of the big screen.”

Sitting on the chair by Bobbi’s bedside, Jemma crosses her ankles and rests the tablet on her lap. On the computer, two people are lying in a bed head to foot.

“What’s so amazing about Julia Roberts?”

“She’s won an oscar. And is in some of the best movies after Star Wars of course.”

“Like what.”

Bobbi hits the space bar on her computer pausing the movie, turning to look at Jemma who knows that the pain medication still running through her system is the only reason Bobbi is being so open. “ Mystic Pizza , Steel Magnolias , Pretty Woman , Runaway Bride , and this one, and well others.”

“What inspired this Julia love?” Despite everything that’s happened, Jemma still wants to know more about Bobbi. She and Mack have both proved to truly have only had the best intentions in this whole mess. Jemma can’t help but still look up to the older woman.

“1988, I was five years old--”

“Wait, you’re only four years older than me.”

“ Yes -Wait, you have my medical records, how are you just now realizing this? How old did you think I was ?”

“I’ve been looking at other things. Lots going on…None of this is the point. Anyway, 1988…”

For a second, Bobbi glares at Jemma, thinking about the age thing before deciding it’s not worth it. “Right, so, I have a couple older brothers. I was a bit of a mistake, surprise, whatever, so there’s a decent age gap. Twelve and nine years. Well, the younger of the two was on a Boy Scout campout and Mom and Dad had something, so Alex, my eldest brother, was supposed to watch me. Alex, however, had his heart set on taking his girlfriend to see Mystic Pizza , a R rated movie.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh, yes. It was ‘88, a teenager at the ticket counter, and Alex was 17. All technically above board. And so, I watched Mystic Pizza . Obviously, my brother mostly just made out with his girlfriend while most of the movie went over my head. The next year my mom and I went and saw the PG Steel Magnolias . I don’t know, it’s Julia Roberts.”

“Yes, things from our childhood have had an immense impact on us throughout our lives.”

“So, what left an impact on baby Jemma, aside from science?”

“Hmmm, I’m not sure…”

“There has to be something. You were a nineties kid. You had to have some show or movie that you attached to.”

“My mum liked Doctor Who, and we would watch reruns together.”

“Right, drugged brain. I should have known that wasn’t something that began with NewWho. Hunter and I watched all of Matt Smith’s run together when we were married like you know live and stuff. Or well not always live because missions, but you know what I mean.”

“Really?” Jemma leans forward resting her elbows on the hospital bed.

“Yeah. We actually-Our papers were supposed to go through in early December 2013, but we delayed them to watch the 11th Doctor’s regeneration together, married.”

“Wow, you never stop loving him did you?” She would never be this...direct normally, yet Jemma found her inhibitions down like Bobbi’s.

“No, course not. We’re just...We’re just Bobbi and Hunter.”

“Speaking of which, where is himself”

“I sent him away. Shower, some sleep in an actual bed, probably mine now that I think about it a little.”

“He’s barely left your side.”

“I know. Don’t know if I should kiss him or smack him… You know he called me his Anna Scott.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Anna Scott is Julia Roberts’s character in Notting HIll . The movie is about an American actress and a divorced British travel bookshop owner.”

“I see.”

“Well, we actually broke up before we got married. When I came to get him back, I used the line from this movie. I stood right in front of him and said, ‘I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.’ Like the movie he originally told me he wasn’t going to let me play with his heart again, but then realized how hopelessly in love he was with me and that I was worth it… Spoilers, I guess.”

“That’s actually really sweet.”

“Later, he said that I was just like Anna Scott, American and brilliant at acting. Only I used it to steal state secrets instead of entertaining the masses.”

“Not that big of a difference in the grand scheme.”

Bobbi gave her a small smile. “Then, of course instead of the happily ever after montage with the closing shot being, spoilers, her pregnant, our lives got a bit more timey wimey.”

“Your lives got timey wimey?”

“I thought you liked--”

“Yes, I realize the reference--”

Bobbi huffs, “We ended up being like Amy and Rory. Except, we actually went through with the divorce. There was no Doctor to save us and make us talk rationally in a Dalek Asylum.”

“Oh.”

“We found out after trying for eighteen months to get pregnant. I’d left the field for lab work, but turned out it didn’t matter. It would take a real miracle for me to ever have my own kids.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Despite actively trying for a baby, I never realized how much I really wanted one, a perfect mix of me and Hunter, until I was told how statistically unlikely it was for me to have one.”

Silence falls in the little make-shift hospital room. Jemma obviously unsure of how to react moves to leave. 

Once she’s stood up from the chair, she’s stopped by Bobbi’s voice. “Communicate.”

Jemma’s head snaps up and she meets Bobbi’s eyes. “What?”

“Don’t be like me. What I told you about the rollercoaster ride, it’s worth it, Jemma, but the only way to keep it moving is to communicate. Don’t be a rom-com.”

“Okay. Communication is good, understood.”

Bobbi rolls her eyes, “I meant you need to communicate with Fitz.”

“Oh, Bobbi, I don’t think--”

“Don’t lose time. Learn from me. I refused to actually talk to Hunter, instead choosing to pull away; now, I’ve lost time with the man I love and blurred that thin line between love and hate.”

“I tried. I tried to talk to Fitz before he left for the Iliad. Timing wasn’t the best.”

“So, do it now.” Jemma looks away. “Jemma, don’t regret things you don’t do.”

“Well, I was going to do it to make sure it was said…”

“Then, do it now when it could really mean something. Boys aren’t the only ones who can ask people out.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“You know I think he’s going to be looking in on that monolith in a few.”

“Corner him,” Bobbi says grinning.

Biting her lip, Jemma nods her head, “You’re right. I’ll do that. Thank you, Matchmaker.”

“Just call me Emma.”

“Why would I do that?”

“You’re kidding right?”

Jemma smiles teasingly, “Of course I am. Although, I’ve never actually read the book mind you.”

“Hmmm, I should start a book club, get Skye in on it too.”

“I’d like that,” Jemma laughs as she turns and walks out of the room tablet tightly gripped in her hand.

Bobbi watches the younger woman walk out of her room before pressing the spacebar again. She watches as William Thacker compliments the beauty of Anna Scott.