One Hundred And One Sleepless Nights

I faced the door in front of me and bit down on my lip. Should I even be here? We don't even really talk. The last time I spoke to Jack was probably when he awkwardly came to my apartment. Does him accidentally texting me count? But here I am. I just need to talk to someone that isn't super close to anyone involved.
I knocked the door and sighed. It'll be okay. Jack answered and frowned when he saw me. But then he started smiling. "Hi Zandra." Jack said.
"Call me Zee." I urged.
"So, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Can I come inside? I just really need to talk to someone."
"Sure, I have some wine in the fridge." he smiled. Jack let me come inside and went ahead to the kitchen. He poured me a glass of wine and handed it to me before we went through to the sitting room. I sat down and Jack sat next to me. "So what's up?" Jack asked.
"It's Vic."
"What about him?" Jack asked easily.
"His fiancée Polly came to my place last week. She wanted to do real custody for Alex."
"Do you?" Jack raised his eyebrows at me.
"No," I sighed. "We've gone five years without custody. Why would we need it now? She just wants Alex. She's trying to take her away from me."
"Why do you think that?" he asked quietly.
"She's making sure she has Alex more and more. When she marries Vic she'll be a legal part of her life. She's going to be her step-mom. I don't want her to be that big a part in her life. It's not because she's marrying Vic and I was with Vic. It's because I'm her mother. She's taking that away from me. I hate her, Jack." I ranted. "I don't know what to do about her."
"Feel like a hug?" he offered. I nodded and he opened his arms for me. I hugged him and his arms tightened around me.
"What should I do?" I asked against his chest.
"I think you should play it cool. Don't mention it and just wait it out. Is she being sweet to you?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"So don't be mean to her. Be sweet back. That way people can't call you a bitch." he explained.
"Okay," I breathed. I stayed in his arms for a while before I eventually pulled away. "You give good hugs."
"So I've been told." he grinned.
"You're a good listener."
"I haven't been told that before."
"I'm telling you now." I smiled lightly. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone completely out of the drama.

When I was at home I decided that I would take Jack's advice. I called Debbie who then called Laurie to talk. But I don't I should either become best friends with Polly - Laurie's advice - or kill Polly - Debbie's advice. I could be sweet to her, I'm sure. It can't be that hard. I mean Jemma makes it look effortless.
When Vic came to pick Alex up she ran to him. He went to leave after he got her things but I stopped him. Vic looked at me questioningly and I sighed. "Alex, go play for a second." I urged.
"You want to talk to me now?" Vic mocked.
"Shut up. This is important." I said.
"Go on?" Vic urged.
"Our situation, Vic. Is it okay? Like how we do things with Alex. I thought it was fine."
"It is."
"So you don't want to change it?"
"No, do you?" he frowned.
"Nope." I mumbled.
"Then what's wrong?"
"I thought you weren't happy with it..." I trailed away.
"What made you think that?" he asked.
"Just..." I could tell him now. He can't know what Polly said to me. He's not acting like he wants legal custody. "I just thought you did." I shrugged.
"Okay...?"
"Polly made me think you did. I... I don't know about her."
"What about her?" Vic snapped.
"Nothing, she's just not . . . great." I sighed.
"Just admit you're jealous." Vic laughed humourlessly.
"I'm not." I muttered.
"You are." he countered.
"Are."
"Not."
"Are!"
"Why are you with her?!" I exclaimed.
"Because she helped me forget you! She helped me deal with you not wanting me and to move on!" Vic yelled back.
"R-really?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah. She helped me with a lot of things... Like you."
"Vic," I started carefully. "Your mom doesn't even like her. How can you look past that?"
"My mom doesn't like a lot of people," he countered. "It doesn't matter."
"It mattered when she didn't like me. When we weren't getting on."
"Just stop," he breathed. "Stop this now. I'm going to take Alex and we're not going to talk about this again."
"We need to talk."
"Stop." he repeated. I didn't say anything, just nodded silently. "Alex!" Vic called. She came running and looked between us.
"Were you mad? You were shouting." Alex said.
"We're not mad. We never shouted." I told her.
"I heard it."
"It was just a game, Princess," Vic said easily. "Mommy got mad because I'm winning." he said and kissed her head. Alex took his hand and threw her bag over his shoulder. They started for the door and left me alone. Daddy's winning.

Notes

Hey! Some Vic and Zee tension and also a little bit of Jandra for all of you who have been yelling at me for it! What did you think? What will Zee do? Do you think anything will happen with Jack? :)