From the other side

Chapter 3

The reporter opened her mouth, but was cut off by Kamala, who decided to step in.

She took a step forward, her arm tightening possessively on her daughter's waist and moved so she was standing right in front of her.

"You should watch the way you speak to my daughter" her voice was icy, clearly irritated by the whole discussion.

"Mamma" Liz whispered, she didn't want her mother to lose control it would be bad for her career.

"No one can talk like that to my child" her voice still held that hard edge, but she was still not yet close to losing control.

Her expression did soften slightly, when she heard Liz whisper.

"It's okay sweetheart" she murmured, running her hand gently over the younger woman's back.

Then she turned back to the reporter, her look turning cold again.

"You can ask your professional questions" she stated "But do not mention my daughter's private life again, unless you want your press card taken away"

"Mamma let's get inside" Liz took Kamala by her waist leading her into the building. When they were inside she spoke again "I was handling that you didn't have to step in."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't just stay there and not say anything" she sighed, her expression a mixture of frustration and worry.

"She had no right to say that" she added, her hand coming to rest on Liz's lower back again.

"Mommy, it didn't offend me. It was out of line yes, but I am an adoptive daughter. The only mother I need and want is you, and no amount of journalists are going to change it."

Kamala took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"I know that" her hand rubbed Liz's back soothingly, a small action that was clearly meant to be calming for herself, more than the younger girl.

"I'm just... protective I guess" she said quietly

"I know mamma. It offended you more than it did me, didn't it?" Liz cuped her mother's face. "You're what's important to me, not some woman that wanted to say that I am not your daughter, or the one who left me 20 years ago. There isn't any real mother, or not real. You are the only mother i have."

A fond sigh escaped the vice president, as her hand rose up to cover Elizabeth's.

"I always worry I might fail you" she confessed quietly "Sometimes I can't help, but think... what if you will wake up one day and want to have your actual parents"

"Mamala..." Lizzy smiled cuping her mother's face with the other hand. "You and those damn reporters have to understand, that I have a real parent. And my real parent is you."

"I know you say that and you probably truly believe it right now" she muttered softly, leaning into Liz's touch "But one day... you will wake up and realize that you need a real parent, who is related to you. That I'm just a stand in" Her eyes were sad, pained by the possibility that the girl she raised, treated as her own, loved as her own, would one day realize that she was nothing more than a stand-in. A replacement for parents, who were out there somewhere and for some reason did not want her.

"You've spend 20 years being my mother and you will be my mother for the rest of our lives. 20 years, day after day you showed me what it meant to be your family, you are my only family. The people that gave birth to me were drug addicts, I would never have any future with them and look at me i have a degree and a suit. It's all thanks to you."

Her hands moved from Liz's face, to wrap around her in a tight, almost desperate hug.

"I'm sorry" she finally managed to push out of her throat, before she buried her face into the younger woman's shoulder. All the vulnerability from earlier had returned, her insecurities resurfacing. "I know you think that now" her voice was shaky, a mix of sadness and vulnerability in it "But I'm always worried...I'm...I'm afraid of losing you" For a moment she fell silent, as if lost in her own head and thoughts, before she finally spoke again "I've never been enough for anyone"