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Lexa was staring at her wall. She was supposed to pick one of the two poster prototypes for her new movie. She didn't know why but she felt odd that morning. Something was odd. It was Sunday, nine in the morning and she was just sitting on her bed looking at two big photos of her. Her mind was blank. She wasn't thinking about anything at all. Ymir dragged her out of her thoughts with a husky meow.

"What ? You have something to tell me ? Go ahead I'm listening"

The cat sat on the floor in the exact middle of the door frame. Another meow. Accompanied by a piercing gaze.

"No need to look at me like that. I'm not going" the cat kept staring at her and they engaged in one of their now legendary "staring competition". And as usual, Ymir won "Fine ! I'll go if I have time ! Now I have to move. I'm supposed to meet Lincoln at ten and I'm not ready"

Lexa wasn't really what you could call a talkative person. But she always felt like Ymir could see right through her and she hated that. So she always ended up talking and justifying herself out loud to her cat. And Ymir seemed to like it. A lot. People were usually saying things like "This cat is scary" or "I think your cat is just a sadist" and it was probably true. But Lexa still loved her. Her, with her beautiful encircled with black hazelnut eyes, her sumptuous spotted fur, her delicate and elegant features and her really big but really cute ears. A real first generation savannah. As much as people were badmouthing Ymir, they usually ended up doing the same with Lexa : "You're spoiling her", "You're such a mommy" or "It's just a cat you know ?" But the woman didn't care. Ymir was the only one following her everywhere, accepting every hotel or apartment without trouble. She was the only one with enough time to love her even when she spent almost 100% of her time outside, working.

Ymir disappeared in the living room, proud. Lexa sighed and headed to her bathroom. She took a way too long shower before picking a classic dark jean and a tight black shirt. She put on some make up. Well "some" might not be the word. Between her eyeliner and mascara, according to her big sister, she looked like Zorro, according to Indra, a warrior (Indra had weird references), according to Lincoln, a raccoon and according to the rest of the world : a really intimidating and beautiful woman. She looked at herself in the mirror, slightly proud of herself. Then she put on her favorite heeled boots (she will never admit it but she's kinda small so she had a little height complex) and her insanely long and impressive favorite black coat. Closed tight on her waist and lose on her legs, so loose that it almost looked like a cloak. Black thin leather gloves, black beanie, white fluffy scarf and sunglasses and she's ready to go out. And she's running late.

Whatever.

She exited her apartment and jumped in her car, drove for twenty minutes, parked her car and entered "The Warrior Family", her favorite coffee shop.

"Hey if it isn't my late little sis' !"

"Please Anya not today"

"First day off in forever and you're in a bad mood ? Good for you" said Anya with a mischievous smile. Lexa answered with an exasperated sigh and a shake of her head. She noticed Lincoln in a corner.

"You're late" He said without even turning her head to look at her.

"Obviously"

"Right. Sit please"

"Thank you. Find your new band yet ?"

"No not yet. Beautiful voices and good musicians are easy to find but I need something more"

Lexa rested her elbows on the table and leaned her chin on her hands, thinking.

"Lexa ?"

"I may have a band for you"

"Really ?"

"Yes. Can I give them your address and phone number ?"

"Of course. You won't tell me who it is ?"

"You'll see"

Lincoln sighed. "You're in a bad mood. What happened ?"

"Nothing. Precisely nothing. Or maybe. I lost against Ymir again"

"This cat is impressive. Maybe your only weakness"

"I wish" Lexa sighed, a hand on her forehead in exhaustion and exasperation.

Lincoln hesitated a little before talking "How do you feel ? Coming back here ?"

"Nostalgic. Melancholic maybe. But most of all sick. I want to finish this movie as soon as possible and get the hell out of here"

"You used to love this town"

"I know too many people here"

"You're planning on avoiding every old acquaintances of yours for the rest of your life ? Watching from afar ?" She didn't answered. "You're a coward and a liar Lexa" he waited for his words to sink in her little cousin's thickhead when a well-known high pitched voice penetrated his ears.

"Auntie !"

Lexa's face lightened "Hey Miya ! Look at you ! You grew up again !" A cute 5 years old girl had just ran to Lexa's knees, extending her arms waiting for Lexa to lift her up. The smiling woman did and sat the little girl on her lap, taking her glasses off. "No school today ?" The little girl shook her head "Where's your brother ?"

"He's changing clothes. He was painting" The little girl made a sad face and asked in a timid voice "You here for my birthday next week ?"

"Yes. I'm coming ! Are you happy ?" asked Lexa, kissing Miya's nose.

"Yes !" answered the little girl in a chuckle, smiling and hugging her beloved "auntie".

"Auntie"

"If it isn't my grown up nephew ! Come here"

Miya was the exact replica of Lexa when she was young. Brown wild hair, delicate features and strong personality. On another hand Liyam looked like his father. Except his eyes. He had her mother's hazelnut eyes.

Liyam approached and Lexa slid a hand on the nape of his neck, making him bow low enough for her to gently kiss his forehead. The boy offered her one of his most beautiful smiles.

"You're twelve now right ? Tell me about you. How's school ?"

Liyam sat at the table and started talking. From the corner of her eye, the owner of the coffee shop was looking at her happy family in delight, a gentle smile on her face.

Lexa left the coffee shop around noon. She had a meeting with Indra and she didn't want to piss her off by being late. Reuniting with her family calmed her but she was still feeling weird. She was definitely not in the mood for a fight with her manager. She was supposed to join Indra in a restaurant but, because it was, undoubtedly, a really bad day, the parking in front of it was full. She had to turn around for ten minutes before finally finding a lot three streets away from her initial goal.

"You're late" At that Lexa clenched her fists.

It's going to be a very long lunch…

"Obviously. I had some trouble parking my car"

"Sunglasses and beanie ?"

"Indra, nobody's going to attack me and you know I can defend myself"

"What if somebody recognizes you ?"

Lexa sighed "Then I'll sign some autographs. The worst that could happen is a poor paper cut"

"You always do whatever you want anyway. Don't even know why I'm still trying to give you advice"

"Please Indra not today. You know I need you. Now can we start talking business ? Because I'm nervously exhausted and want to go home as soon as I can"

The waitress came to take their orders and then, her mission accomplished, returned to the kitchen.

"So. My schedule for the next week ?"

"I emailed it this morning"

"You know I don't like technology" Indra seemed desperate. Working for Lexa was exhausting. A great honor but exhausting.

"I know. That's why I printed it just in case"

"You should've started with that"

"Monday you have two interviews. One in the morning for the local newspaper and one in the afternoon for the regional channel. Tuesday afternoon you have a photoshoot for next month Shumway magazine. You're starting shooting Wednesday and then every day until Sunday"

"I'm free next Sunday too then ?"

"Yes. It's Miya's birthday right ?"

"Yes. She's turning six"

"You met them earlier right ? How were they ?"

"They seemed happy. Miya is as sparkling as ever. Liyam is talkative but calm and mature. But I think he misses his father"

Silence fell between the two women.

"For whom was the carbonara ?" Lexa left her right hand. The waitress put down Lexa and Indra's plates before starring at Lexa.

"A problem miss ?" asked Lexa with a smile.

The girl, visibly startled, blushed "No ! Nothing ! Enjoy your meal !" and she disappeared in the kitchen again.

"She knows who you are"

"Whatever. Not important"

"Carbonara again ?"

"Because I love it. And this restaurant's carbonara used to be the best on earth. I came here a lot as a teenager. And you, why always eating meat ? You know it's bad for your health ?"

"Who cares what I eat. You're the star"

"I care"

Indra huffed with a small smile. "Wednesday in two weeks. I cleared your schedule"

"Thank you"

"Offer Anya and the kids my condolences"

"Why not coming with me ?"

"No. I have work to do"

"As you wish"

They spent the rest of their meal talking about work. Then the waitress came back.

"Would you like some dessert ?"

"No thank you, just two black coffee please" said Lexa, smiling again, a trick she had learnt long ago.

"I'll be right back"

Indeed the girl came back five minutes later with their coffee.

"Um… Miss ? Are you by any chance… Lexa Wilde ?"

Lexa smiled "Yes I am. What's your name ?"

The waitress's face turned red and her voice started trembling "E-Emily"

"That's a beautiful name" said Lexa with a charming smile. Indra rolled her eyes. "Can you give me the bill please ?"

"Y-yes ! Of course ! Wait a minute !" Emily gave the bill to Lexa. The actress paid and smiled to the girl again.

"I-I love your work. I think you're very talented and I'm a big fan of yours !"

"Thank you" said Lexa with a nod.

"I wish you a good afternoon then and we'd be happy to see you in our restaurant again !"

"Maybe if I have time. Good afternoon to you too" Emily bowed and literally ran to the kitchen.

Lexa took a sip of her coffee "She was nice"

Indra sighed "That's why I don't like these small restaurants. You can't be alone"

"Don't be mean" Lexa pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and a pencil from one of her pockets. She wrote "From Lexa Wilde to Emily" and signed the towel.

"You're too kind"

"She was nice with us so I'm thanking her"

"Whatever" Indra drank her coffee and stood "I'm going. See you Monday"

"See you"

Lexa took five more minutes to finish her coffee. She was on the pavement when Emily got out of the restaurant, the towel in her hands.

"Thank you ! Thank you very much !"

"It was a pleasure"

Maybe it's not such a bad day after all.

The girl bowed again and Lexa turned on her heels, already trying to remember where her car was parked. Lexa didn't feel like going back home yet. She stopped to a park, sat on what used to be her favorite bench and watched. She looked at the birds, the people with kids and dogs and lovers. She looked at the lake. She remembered a lot more things that she wanted to. She suddenly felt sick.

I know too many people and places here…

She stood and looked at her watch. Already four pm.

Time to go home.

On the way home she bought what she needed for dinner and some expensive fresh salmon for Ymir in a fish shop oddly named Morgan.

I'm not spoiling her. I happened to pass by a fish shop and thought about her and remembered she liked it so I bought it. That's all.

It was a lie of course but like Anya would say : "What makes you sleep at night"

When she came back home it was five pm.

"Ymir, guess who bought you salmon for dinner ?" Ymir jumped on the counter to sniff the bag with the salmon. "No. Not so fast young lady. It's not dinner yet so wait" The cat returned to the ground without a look for Lexa. She jumped on the couch and curled up, letting just enough space for her mistress to sit next to her. Lexa rolled her eyes, put the fish in the refrigerator, sat on the couch next to Ymir and turned on the TV. Spending time with Lexa was Ymir's way to say "thank you". Lexa started petting her gently, making the cat purr in delight. The woman smiled and turned her attention back on the TV. And she saw Lexa Wilde, in an interview. And she didn't recognized herself. Acting had always been her dream but she was forced to act all the time. She hated Lexa Wilde. If interviews and public appearances weren't an obligation she'd avoid it as much as she could. She loved her fans of course. And she was always honest with them. But she didn't like being treated like a merchandize in the commercial system of cinema. She changed the channel and watched a documentary about African felines.

"See Ymir ? Your ancestor !" The cat nonchalantly looked at the screen, yawned and closed her eyes again. "Don't brag. I know you're pretty too"

She watched TV until eight. She cooked some pastas, and the salmon she shared with Ymir. Her plate finished she put some water to boil and prepared her cup and her last tea bag on the counter. She washed her dishes and noticed Ymir on the counter behind her, piercing her with her intense gaze.

"I'm not going" Lexa finished her task and turned to look her cat in the eyes. They stayed like that for five long minutes when Lexa started to waver "I'm not going" In an instant Ymir grabbed the tea bag in her mouth and rushed to Lexa's room. "Hey ! Give it back it's the last one !"

She followed Ymir into the room just to find her calmly sitting on a cardboard box. "I know what you're trying to say but no" they entered a new staring contest and as usual "FINE ! I'm going ! Happy now !?" she finally agreed, raising her arms in defeat. She dressed the same way she did in the morning and exited her room. Ymir still sitting on the box was smiling one of her well known devilish cat smiles.

She was finally here. In front of The Den. She had just spent twenty minutes sitting in her car, trying to find the courage she needed to enter the bar. Ten other minutes passed and then "Fuck it !" she jumped out of her car, and crossed the street almost eagerly. But in front of the door she stopped. She heard music. Rock. And a voice she used to know. Husky, warm, comforting. The voice of her ghost.

I can't !

She turned around, ready to leave when she recognized a bunch of old classmates. Without giving it a second thought, she entered the bar. The first thing she noticed was of course the young singer. Then she saw someone else and tried to compose herself. She sat next to Bellamy and ordered a Dirty Martini. Her heart was beating unbearably fast.

Bellamy waited for the next song to start to finally talk "Why are you here ? "

Lexa barely trusted her voice but she answered anyway "Like any customer, I wanted a drink"

"Bullshit. I know you're following her. But it's usually one of your minions. Why is it you today ?"

She swallowed. It was true. She usually asked her assistants or friends to come to the Arker's concerts. She asked them to record their concerts being as discreet as possible. "You're well informed" she paused, searching for her words "I came because I wanted to and I had time for once"

"Are you gonna talk to her ? "

"I'm here to watch"

"Coward" Lincoln's words echoed in her head, sending a shiver down her spine.

"It's been ten years. She forgot"

"Huh" Bellamy answered in an annoyed, exasperated sigh, a smirk never leaving his face "I shouldn't tell you that but… In two weeks, here. They have an audition. If they win they'll be able to release their first album"

Lexa smiled gently, truly happy "It's wonderful"

"Come"

"What ?" she turned fully to face Bellamy, frowning. One reunion in ten years was nearly killing her so a second one in the same month ? Impossible.

"The audition. If you don't I won't let you or your minions approach her ever again"

"I have a really precise schedule, I don't know if-"

"Just come Lexa" His tone was cold.

The woman turned to her glass again, staring at it. A minute later she finished her drink, wrote something on a napkin : If you want help, call this guy : Manager Lincoln Wilde. She hesitated a little before adding a phone number and mail address under Lincoln's. A note specified "mine".

She exited the bar, letting Bellamy alone, a smirk on his face.