A/N: Hello and welcome back. Trigger warning in effect: there is some talk about Carmilla's past, but nothing graphic. Enjoy!

Carmilla and Laura followed Deidre down the stairs, the lights along the way lighting up as they descended, the aim of their guns never leaving the back of the woman in front of them as the continued down a long hall.

"Just how many hidden tunnels are there from the estate?" Laura asked, more out of curiosity and a desire to break the silence than actually wanting to know.

"This is the last that wasn't on Bill's blueprints," Deidre replied matter-of-factly.

"How, exactly, were all these tunnels built without the residents above finding out?" questioned Carmilla.

"Well," Deidre chuckled, "Once upon a time, the Karnstein's owned most of the land from here to Broadway. Until the estate was renovated and expanded at any rate," she clarified. "Using foreign workers, brought in and then, once the project was completed, given the houses along the tunnels to protect and maintain them as needed." She glanced over her shoulder. "They were, and continue to be, paid very well for their silence. This particular tunnel," she paused as they reached a dead end, "is a newer addition." She placed her hand on the wall, a bright blue light emanating from under it for a moment before a quiet grinding noise could be heard and the wall slid aside. "It connects to the tunnel that used to go to the clinic, with it burned and gone, I needed a new way in." They paused again as they reached another apparent dead end, Deidre again clearing their way via hidden handprint recognition, to enter a room neither of them had seen before or knew existed.

A few feet inside the room and in front of the door sat Lolita, her arms and legs tied to the chair, her head hung and her mouth gagged. As they come around in front of her, more details became apparent.

"What happened to her hands?" Carmilla asked as she raised Lolita's chin with her gun.

"Cut off and left in the prison transport," Deidre replied.

"To what end?" questioned Laura.

"Figured, once it stopped burning anyway, that the confusion might buy me a little more time," she answered.

"Doubt it would make a difference," differed Laura.

"Seeing as it was still burning, last we heard from Rick," added Carmilla.

"Perhaps," Deidre accepted, shook her head and turned to face them. "I suppose, should I fail here tonight, it'll be one less way she can harm people."

"It's not as though her hands are the only way she can inflict harm," Carmilla pointed out and took her gun from the unconscious woman's chin. "What's wrong with her?"

"Sedated." She glanced at her watch. "She should be waking any second now." She smiled and went to stand in front of Carmilla and took her arms in her hands, Carmilla's gun still pointed at her stomach. "I know I hardly have the right but, I'm proud of you." She smiled at her confusion. "Despite my sister's best efforts, you have become a brave, generous, kind, successful young businesswoman."

"You blame her," Laura scoffed as she gestured towards the bound woman, "for everything Carm has been through?"

Diedre gave Carmilla's arms a squeeze and then went to lean against the wall furthest from her sister and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I admit," she sighed, "I snapped the day we buried your father, not because you were being a little shit, you were, but because you were right. I knew it was just a matter of time before your mother found him." She shrugged. "He was, quite literally, back with the woman he loved."

"Wait!" Carmilla exclaimed. "You knew my mother was alive?"

"You've met your father, yes?" Carmilla nodded despite her confusion. "Spent time with him?" She nodded again. "Do you honestly believe he's capable of faking not only her death but his own as well?" She paused a moment. "Let alone keep them hidden all this time?"

"You helped him?" blurted Carmilla.

"More like; turned a blind eye," Diedre qualified. "Kept her from finding them." She tilted her head. "You haven't figured it out?"

"You cared for my father." Carmilla squinted at her. "Maybe you still do."

"I did," she replied simply. "And Steph's conception was a consensual one."

"Seriously?" blurted Carmilla.

"I find that hard to believe," added Laura at the same time.

"Bill didn't know that I knew Carmen was alive and had to play every part of the grieving widower," she explained. "One night, shortly after her "death", we were drinking and one thing led to another, and…"

"I don't need the details," interrupted Carmilla. "But why lie to Steph?"

"I was protecting her," she replied simply and then looked at her sister as she started to wake. "You can put those away," she said, indicating their still drawn guns, "I meant what I said: I mean you no harm." When they made no move to comply, she sighed; "Fine, but you should know the entire estate is wired to explode the second both our hearts stop beating." They raised their guns again. "Killing us both now would be suicide, you'd never make it out in time."

"That's not necessarily true," countered Laura, "I could kill one of you and wound the other, let you bleed out." She shrugged. "Could take hours."

"True," Diedre accepted, "but do really want another two deaths on your conscious?" She raised an eyebrow. "Besides, there's another way."

"Go on," prodded Carmilla.

"You came here for answers, yes?" They nodded. "Once you have them, you're free to go." She pointed to a glass-fronted box on the table facing Lolita. "I will record my confession and then end this, once and for all. The estate and any evidence you were here will be obliterated, except for the camera and the USB inside that box."

"I don't…" muttered Carmilla.

"I'm dying," Diedre cut her off. "I have six months, maybe a year," she explained, "and it won't be pretty. I have no desire to subject myself, or my daughter," Lolita struggled slightly at the mention of Steph, "to that." She walked forward and placed a hand on Carmilla's gun. "We all know that this doesn't end as long as she's alive and while you, who have suffered so much at her hands and my inability to stop her, deserve to take our lives, I beg you to hear my story before taking on that burden."

"Fine," Carmilla sighed as she finally holstered her gun and looked at Laura to see her following suit.

"Miss Hollis," she smiled and then corrected herself, "Detective before I start: I am so very sorry about your mother. We only meant to scare your father off, who, by the way, will be home by the time you get there."

"Thank you, for protecting him." Laura tilted her head. "The question is; why?"

"Because," Diedre sighed, "I've already taken too much from you. From both of you. I can't apologize for it enough, not really." She shook her head. "I can only try to help make your futures a little brighter and maybe a little less complicated, Your mother wasn't supposed to die but…"

"You didn't expect us to fight back?" postulated Laura.

"No, I didn't," she chuckled lowly. "Still, there was no reason for it, and for that, I am sorry." She ran her hands through her hair. "You were right, about Lena." They shared a glance. "But it wasn't her death that started all this, but her conception." She went and placed a hand on Lilita's shoulder. "My sister and I were born so identical that our parents had trouble telling us apart." She shook her head and went to lean against the wall again. "We were already reading at a fourth-grade level by the time we started school. The school pushed us through the grades, and when we started high school at the age of ten, our parents were approached by a very prestigious private school and offered a scholarship. One scholarship." She began to pace. "I suppose the school believed my parents would pay the second tuition however to say our parents were struggling lower-middle-class might be generous. They, however, couldn't stand the idea of one of our educations suffering so, at the age of ten, we started a charade that only ended the night you ran away. We took turns, every other week, attending each other's schools. We stayed to ourselves, it was easier, and every night, we briefed each other on our days so no one would figure it out. As we got older and realized exactly what we were doing, we learned to 'game the system' and made sure we took the tests, at both schools, for the subjects we were best in. By the age of fourteen, we were both set to graduate with honors."

"This is all very interesting, but…"

"I'm getting to the point," Diedre interrupted Carmilla's interruption. "While my sister and I were of equal intelligence, she was never content with the little we had, materially. The private school kids never let us forget we were there on scholarship and my parents couldn't keep up with the latest styles for the public school kids," She regarded Carmilla a moment. "I believe you remember the feeling?" She shook her head. "My sister found out about an internship with Karnstein Industries, past recipients of which had received large scholarships to the universities of their choice. We, however, being only fourteen at the time, were ineligible." She sighed. "My sister somehow managed to convince the frontrunner to let her take her place." She held up a hand to forestall their questions. "Don't ask me how, she never told me. In fact, I had no idea what was going on until it was too late." She shook her head. "I've often wondered how our lives would have been different if she'd just trusted me." She sighed. "We, given our high school experience, were adept at fading into the background and it wasn't long before Lil found out just how her predecessors had earned their 'scholarships'. It seems your grandfather had a penchant for young women. What my sister didn't know was that those that had received the largest payouts were less than willing participants. Not that it would've mattered; she knew she could use her age against him and proceeded to seduce him." They shared a look of disgust. "They carried on a consensual affair until my sister got pregnant. Which, incidentally, is when she finally told me what was going on. Not that she had a choice; terrible morning sickness." She sighed. "She refused to involve my parents, so I went to confront him as her, of course."

"He didn't take the news well, I assume?" asked Carmilla.

"At first he seemed to be agreeing to all of my demands and set me up with a driver to take me home." She ran her hands through her hair. "The last thing I remember before waking up in the hospital ten days later is getting in the car."

"He had you attacked?" questioned Laura.

"And assaulted," Diedre added, her voice quiet and leaving little doubt as to what she meant. "He did, or had done, everything he could to scare me off and/or make me miscarry." She looked at her sister. "I was missing for a few days before she finally told our parents the truth. We waited until I was healed enough to join them for a visit to your grandfather." She smiled. "As soon as he saw us, he knew he was done. If we went to the police?"

"It wouldn't have just been him that was ruined," provided Carmilla.

"My parents agreed to raise his child as their own, leave the city and never reveal his identity. In turn, his child would receive one million dollars in support per year and a substantial trust fund when they turned twenty-one."

"So long as she never tried to claim her rightful inheritance," Carmilla deduced.

"Exactly, pleased to see you're keeping up," Diedre smiled. "We left Vancouver shortly after, moved to Montreal. For a long time, life was sort of normal. We attended separate universities with Lil taking a semester off to have Lena." She sniffed. "She loved her little girl." She chuckled ruefully. "Only person she's ever loved, other than herself." She sniffed and wiped away a tear. "She made sure Lena had everything we didn't growing up, all while excelling in University but when Lena died? Something in her broke."

"Which explains why she targeted both the Karnstein's and my mother," Carmilla tilted her head, "but why continue to make my life a living hell after they died?"

"Well," she chuckled, "as you proved in Vegas, you're a dead ringer for your mother."

"You can't…" hissed Carmilla as she started to pace and ran her hands through her hair. "Can I have a minute alone with her?"

Laura regarded her a moment; "Are you sure that's wise?"

"What's she going to do?" Carmilla pointed out. "Tell me more lies? Demean me?" She shook her head. "No, I want to hear it from the evil hag herself."

"If you're sure?" Laura asked again.

"I am."

"All right." Laura took her gun from her holster and motioned towards the door. "After you?" She waited until Diedre had exited before adding; "I'm just outside if you need me, okay?"

Once they were alone Carmilla approached her stepmother and pulled the gag from her mouth.

"Is she right?" she asked. "Did you make my life hell because I was unfortunate enough to look like my mother?"

"That's not…" Lilita croaked out.

"Water?" Carmilla offered and then retrieved an unopened bottle from the table when she nodded. She let her have a third of the bottle before replacing the cap and setting it back on the table. "So, is she right?"

"It wasn't just that," she admitted.

"No, of course, it wasn't, you were hoping I'd kill myself so you could take my money."

"Well, yes, but…" she sighed deeply. "You reminded me too much of Lena."

"Because you thought her love of women, specifically my mother, was what got her killed?" She tilted her head. "Did you really love her? Or were you more upset at the loss of her trust fund?"

"Don't," she growled.

They stared at each other for a few moments before Lilita took a deep breath and then sighed.

"It wasn't just your shared degenerate behavior," she hissed. "Had your fighting thing been popular then, I'm sure she would have been a fan, if not a participant."

"I should thank you, actually," Carmilla chuckled, "I wouldn't be half the fighter I am today if it weren't for you." She smiled; Lilita's rage was palatable. "I won my last fight of the season, despite your best efforts." She went to lean against the table. "I'd woken that morning after a horrible nightmare, felt off all day but even then the fight was going exactly the way I wanted." She raised an eyebrow. "Until the end of the second round when she broke my nose; that's when the flashbacks started. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw another horrible memory." She walked back up to her and squatted in front of her. "There are three main things all the great fighters share; heart, instinct, and talent. You can learn technique. You can even develop heart, but instinct?" She shook her head. "That? You either have it or you don't." She smiled. "Laura thinks I have it, but she's wrong. What I have is experience." She stood and leaned to within inches of her face. " Years of taking your abuse taught me how to see the next hit coming and how to absorb it so it didn't hurt as much." She straightened. "Despite fighting sheer terror as the flood of images wouldn't stop, I saw her dip for a takedown and I took her down with a flying knee." She shook her head. "Running out there I had no idea what I was going to do, I only knew I had to end it fast before I lost the little control I had left." She took her gun and studied it a moment before looking up and meeting her eyes. "As much as I hate to give you credit for anything," she shrugged, "credit where credit is due."

"What do you want from me?" she spat. "You want me to beg for mercy?"

"We both know you don't deserve it," she taunted. "All these years, I've dreamt of what I would do to you if I have ever had you in this position." She chuckled. "Well, maybe not this position," she smiled, "because I had no clue all this was going on. But, I guess, that was the point." She shook her head. "I don't know that I could do to you what you did to me, or for the matter if it would ever be enough." She faced her again. "As for the psychological torture you put me through? I highly doubt anything I could conceive of could ever come close, or that it would have any effect."

"You think it was me? All of it? You think she had nothing to do with it?"

"I know she did," she replied calmly. "Either directly or indirectly by not stopping it." She smirked. "Just like I don't have to kill you to see that you die." She tilted her head. "Did you care for Will or was he just another pawn?"

"I don't understand how you can continue to lay with the women who killed him," she taunted.

"He got himself killed," she spat. "The second he stole my gun." She held her gun up for her to see. "This gun." She got within reach of her stepmother. "And I thank my lucky stars, every single day that he did." She raised an eyebrow and leveled her gun at her face. "The explosives don't detonate until you're both dead."

She pulled the trigger.

"Carm!" shouted Laura as she rushed back into the room.

"You see," she explained calmly over the last of the echoing gunshot, "my gun has a special safety." She pulled the trigger to demonstrate, Lilita wincing as the gun jammed. "Disengage it incorrectly and it jams on the second shot." She smiled. "And the first is a blank." She shook her head as she holstered her gun. "Dying by gunshot is too good for you."

"I agree," said Deidre as she returned with a large gas can. "Which is why I won't shoot her until the screaming ends," she added as she replaced Lilita's gag.

"Which one of you created the superbug?" asked Carmilla.

"I regret that was mine," Deidre admitted. "I needed a way for your father to fake his death, unfortunately, it took him far too long to figure it out."

Carmilla walked away and sighed.

"Of all the times I imagined this moment," she turned back to them, "I never expected the relief." She shook her head. "I never imagined facing you without fear." She leveled her gaze at Deidre. "What happened that night? The night I ran away?"

"I heard the noise from the attic," she explained quietly. "Found you in the kitchen." She went to open a new bottle of water and took a sip. "She was straddling you, beating your head into the floor as she strangled you. I took the closest heavy object I could find, a cast iron pan, and knocked her out with it." She met Carmilla's eyes. "I made sure you were breathing and then restrained her, sedated her and locked her in another room. You were only just started to stir when I returned."

"Why stab yourself?" questioned Laura.

"She was in bad shape," she replied matter of factly, "I needed to end it quickly."

"You didn't expect me to fight back," stated Carmilla.

"Well, no," she admitted.

"Why do this? Why now?"

"Well, when you spared my life that night," she began, "you saved it."

"I don't know that I would have stopped had Jan not stopped me," confessed Carmilla.

"Jan?" Deidre questioned as Lilita struggled in her restraints.

"Ah," Carmilla laughed, "something you didn't know." She ran her hands through her hair. "Dr. Jan Cochrane." She tilted her head. "Also known as Dr. Mary Winchester," she revealed. "The doctor who helped my mother recover and then, later, when they found my father, helped him." She smiled. "She risked her life making sure you didn't take mine."

"I owe her my life as well," Deidre said quietly. "I begged her to let me die, but she wouldn't."

"She didn't know you weren't alone," deduced Laura.

"She spirited me away to our clinic and the ambulance you called found Lil stumbling, drugged, in the foyer," she provided.

"Saved your life? How?" asked Carmilla.

"Months of recovery and I was still wasn't regaining my strength," she confided. "Dozens of blood tests later and they found it; breast cancer. My only hope? A double mastectomy." She looked at her sister. "Her response?" She gestured at her sister. "Well, at least we won't look alike anymore." She shook her head. "For the first time in more than thirty years, I could walk freely in the world." She smiled. "You gave me that." She walked over and placed a hand on Carmilla's shoulder. "You gave me back my life, and so, I give you back yours."

"How many times?" Carmilla questioned softly as she shrugged off Deidre's hand. "How many times did you nurse me back to health?" When she didn't answer, she pressed; "Why?"

"For your father," Laura guessed.

"I admire you, Carmilla," Deidre said softly. "Despite all you've been through…" she shook her head. "I can't change what's happened, but let me do this. Let me die on my terms." She tilted her head. "Wait, how did you know?"

"Jan had cameras set up," Carmilla replied. "It wasn't until the clinic that I understood them." She turned to Deidre. "You sat with me for hours, why?"

"I hoped, should someday she need it, you would do the same for my daughter," she replied simply and glanced at her watch. "It's getting late, you should be going."

Laura and Carmilla glanced at their watches, surprised it was almost midnight.

"How do we know you'll go through with it?" Laura asked.

"The door will lock after you," Deidre explained as she walked over to the wall. "A small vault containing my gun will open here." She turned back to them. "I will record a short video, kill her and then myself. When both our hearts have stopped the explosives will detonate, the door will open, and the video will be sent when the camera's connection is severed." She smiled. "You have the phone I sent you with you?" Carmilla nodded. "Then I will start when you get home."

"You're tracking it?" questioned Laura.

"The same as the one you found in your father's car." She chuckled lowly. "You were never in any danger," she smiled and added; "Sorry about the leg."

"It's going to be fine," dismissed Laura. "I'm still fighting in January."

"Good for you." She regarded them a moment. "Is there anything else?" They shared a look and then shook their heads. "Discard the phone when you get home, it will self destruct."

"Of course it will," scoffed Carmilla.

"I have left nothing to chance," she advised them. "There will be nothing linking you to this." She smiled. "You're free."

Carmilla regarded her a moment then when to kneel in front of Lilita again.

"As much as I would enjoy ending your life, in terms of suffering caused and retribution earned, I think I take a distant second." She stood and faced Deidre. "She's all yours. I'm done."

"Enjoy your life, my dear, you've earned it."

Carmilla hesitated a moment and then, to everyone's surprise including her own, she went to give Deidre a hug, the older woman hesitating a moment before returning the embrace and laying her head atop hers.

"I'm sorry," Deidre said softly, her voice catching. "I should have done more."

"You did what you could," Carmilla replied kindly. "You betrayed your own sister to do it." She shook her head and stepped back. "You saved my family, how could I ask for anything more?"

"And this?" she cupped her cheek. "This is why I admire you." She smiled. "Now go."

Carmilla nodded and reached for Laura's hand.

"Thank you," Laura said before they left, "for keeping my father safe."

"You're welcome."

They regarded each other a moment longer, nodded and then turned and left, the door closing and locking behind them.

"Race you back?" suggested Carmilla.

"Considering how sore my ass is, that's hardly fair," Laura pointed out.

"Besides," Carmilla replied, "probably not the best time to test out your leg."

"Quick walk then?" Carmilla nodded and they picked up the pace.

They didn't speak again until they reached the car, the garage door opening on its own as they got inside. The silence was heavy, but not uncomfortable, as they made their way back to the storage unit.

"I've got the MG here too, if you're not up to the ride," Carmilla offered as the gate closed behind them.

"No," Laura smiled, "I'm looking forward to the ride. Though I suppose I should warn you, I've never ridden with a passenger before." She shrugged. "Though it's mostly residential until we get out of downtown, so it shouldn't be too bad."

"I trust you," she assured as she pulled up in front of the storage locker.

"It helps you've done some riding," said Laura as she got out of the car to unlock and open the overhead door so Carmilla could pull the car inside.

"What difference does that make?" she asked as she got out of the car and joined Laura outside.

"You already know how to move with the bike."

Carmilla closed and locked the overhead door and then went to open the one next door. They quickly pulled on their riding leathers and rolled Laura's Ducati outside. Carmilla closed the door, locked it and then got on the bike. Laura started the bike and revved the engine a few times before turning to her.

"Ready?" Carmilla nodded. "Helmets on and let's go."

"Let's go to the gym," Carmilla suggested.

"Put off Steven and my dad?" guessed Laura. Carmilla smiled and nodded. "We can let Steven know where we are when we get there?" Carmilla nodded again and slipped on her helmet. "Good plan," she winked and slipped on her own.

Carmilla was grateful Laura had chosen to ride back, she wasn't ready to talk about all they'd learned. She wrapped her arms around Laura's middle as they pulled out of the parking lot and, as the gate closed behind them, she laid her head on her back and closed her eyes; it was well, and truly over.

"Well, almost," she thought. There would still be questions to be answered. Hopefully, they wouldn't look too closely into their alibi. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter, they'll be dead. "Provided it's not just a smokescreen for her to run," she thought and looked up to see where they were. She lost herself for a while, watching the city as it sped by and marveled at Laura's skill. There was still so much she didn't know about the woman in her arms. She smiled. "At least now we have time."

Their ride across the city and back to the gym passed without incident and soon they were parking the bike alongside Carmilla's Jeep. She took off her helmet and stretched as she watched Laura do the same.

"So," Laura said as she walked up to her and placed her hands on Carmilla's hips. "What now?"

"Well, first," she slipped Deidre's phone from her pocket and tossed it aside as started to vibrate, burst into a shower of sparks and then disintegrated before hitting the ground. "She's thorough, I'll give her that." She took Laura's hand and began walking. "What do you say we get into something more comfortable and head up to the roof?"

"The roof?"

"Well, if she's true to her word," Carmilla smiled, "I might just have one last surprise for you tonight."

"I don't…"

"Just go with it, Cupcake," she teased.

"Well, you haven't led me wrong tonight yet," joked Laura as they entered the elevator. "Suppose I can trust you a little longer."

"Well, that's good," she growled as she pushed Laura up against the wall and kissed her neck. "I hope I made your birthday memorable."

Laura took her face in her hands so she could meet her eyes.

"Aside from the couple hour detour?" Carmilla grinned. "Best." She kissed her. "Birthday." She kissed her again. "Ever."

"Really?"

"Definitely," she kissed her one last time as the doors opened and pushed her away. "C'mon," she urged.

After switching into sweat pants and shirts and making a couple of cups of heavily spiked hot chocolate, they made their way to the roof. Carmilla retrieved a thick blanket from the storage cabinet while Laura started a fire in the fire pit. They'd just settled into the blanket when a loud explosion echoed across the city followed by countless smaller ones.

"I was wondering if she knew," chuckled Carmilla. She turned to Laura. "The fireworks were supposed to go off during the demolition…"

"That's why you got special permission to do it after dark?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "I was wondering if Deidre knew they were there but it seems she added some more."

She looked at Laura in surprise as her phone vibrated.

"Mine's going too."

They took them from their pockets to find identical text messages with a link. Carmilla put her phone down while Laura clicked the link.

"Good evening, Vancouver," the video began. "My name is Deidre Morgan. For more than three decades, however, my sister Lilita," she motioned to the bound woman behind her, "and I have hidden behind the identity of Deanna Karnstein." She sighed deeply. "I had planned to leave a full confession here but frankly, I am tired and it would be redundant. Along with the camera recording this is a USB containing all the proof the Vancouver Police Department will need to untangle the web we've woven. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the department for the swiftness with which they detained the people whose names I provided. I regret to inform you that all but a handful of them are completely innocent." They shared a look. "Some of them I needed kept safe, others I needed safe from her influence. The guilty are yours to punish as you see fit." She closed her eyes a moment before continuing. "Contained within the USB are the locations of assets that even Detective Hollis' forensic accountants missed. Most were obtained legally and I have left instructions for how I would like the funds distributed. Of course, I have no way to see that it is done, but I hope that once you see have they've been earmarked, you will honor my wishes. Should I have miscalculated and the USB is destroyed, a second will be delivered to the Vancouver Police Department before week's end." She glanced at her sister. "I would like to make crystal clear; I am solely responsible for my actions tonight and no one knows where we are or what is about to happen." She smiled. "Lastly, my darling brave stepdaughter; this life is yours now, live it to its fullest."

She stood, her back to the camera, bent and then stood in front of Lilita.

"No last words for you," she said, the camera barely picking it up. "No last chance for lies."

She opened the gas can and poured it over her head before turning back to the camera.

"My sister tortured a child whose only crime was being born to parents who had wronged us." She glanced at her and then back to the camera. "Twisted and manipulated a boy who didn't know any better." She took a lighter from her pocket and lit it. "Not to mention how she ruined my life." She shook her head. "I don't know if there's a hell." She sighed as she stared at the flame in her hand. "If there is, we're both surely bound for it." She looked back at the camera. "I can't guarantee that you'll burn for eternity." She threw the lighter into her sister's lap and watched as it caught. "But at least I can ensure you die in fear and pain."

Lilita's screams were muffled by her gag, for which Carmilla was silently grateful, and her head soon dropped to her chest as the flames engulfed her.

Deidre walked to the side of her and put in bullet in her head before going to face the camera one last time.

"Goodbye."

She placed the barrel to the side of her head and pulled the trigger. For a few seconds, all that could be heard was the crackle of flames before the door clicked open followed by an explosion, the screen going black as it was consumed by the flames.

"She really did it," said Carmilla quietly.

"It's really over," Laura said and then frowned as her phone vibrated. "Fuck."

"Rick?"

"Steven," she answered as she texted him, her phone vibrating again before she could hit send. "That's Rick." She sighed. "Might as well get it over with." She answered the call and put him on speaker. "Hey, Rick."

"Don't 'hey, Rick,' me," he spat. "Where the fuck are you?"

"We're sitting on the roof of the gym enjoying the last of the fireworks," she replied lightly.

"Yeah?" he scoffed. "And where the fuck have you been for the last few hours?"

"Out riding my bike," she stated.

"Out riding…" he trailed off. "You saw the video?"

"We did."

"I need you both…"

"No," Laura interrupted.

"No?!" he hissed. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean; it's still my birthday and there's nothing you can ask me now that can't be answered tomorrow, is there?" she asked as she met Carmilla's eyes and showed her her crossed fingers.

"No," he sighed, clearly defeated. "Your father is at Carmilla's, Betty just called." He paused a moment. "Did you know he was safe?"

"I knew there was a chance," she deflected.

"Steven is livid you gave him the slip," he informed her.

"I know," she accepted. "I'll talk to him tomorrow as well."

"Laura, you can't…"

"Is there anything else?" she interrupted.

"Did you know this was going to happen?"

"No," she lied and held her breath.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll come to see you in the morning," he added and ended the call.

"That went better than expected," commented Carmilla.

"He knows." Laura shook her head. "But he doesn't want me to have to lie so he's not asking." She looked to the sky. "Is it over? I mean, really over?"

"Seems so," Carmilla replied and waited for her to meet her eyes. "The video was pretty conclusive."

"True." She tilted her head. "Why do you think she did it? Deidre, I mean?"

"For all her pretty words, she wasn't protecting us."

"Steph?" Carmilla nodded. "Maybe," she conceded.

"Maybe?"

"If it was just about protecting Steph, why take care of you in the meantime?"

"She needed to wait until Steph could fend for herself?" posited Carmilla.

"I don't know," Laura shook her head. "I can't believe I'm going to say this but, aside from the guilt, I think, in her own way…"

"She cared about us?" Carmilla said skeptically. "Maybe." She sighed. "Or maybe, unlike her sister, she had a conscience."

"Do you really think it's that simple?"

"No," she admitted. "I think Deidre has spent her life protecting the lives of others. Protecting her sister from the consequences of her own actions."

"I'm surprised you didn't ask about Nancy," Laura remarked.

"Didn't seem important anymore," she shrugged. "I'm guessing it'll all be detailed in the USB."

"Probably," Laura sighed as she curled into Carmilla's side and her arm came around her shoulders to pull her close. "So, Kitten…" she looked up to her, "how does tonight end?"

"It's your birthday." She kissed her softly. "It's up to you, but…"

"But?"

"I'd really like to take a quick shower." She smiled as Laura kissed her. "Or maybe a long bath?"

"How about," she pulled herself from Carmilla's arm, "a quick shower." She kissed her. "And then I show you just how much I've enjoyed my birthday?" She raised an eyebrow. "If you're in the mood, that is?"

"For you?" She chuckled lowly and closed the distance. "I'm always in the mood."

Laura cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes.

"I love you," she said softly.

"I love you, too," Carmilla replied and leaned her forehead against Laura's. "For the first time in my life," she smiled as she leaned back, "my life is truly mine to do with what I want." She kissed her. "I'm so happy I get to share it with you."

"Me too."

"Happy birthday, Pup," she said as she stood and held her hand out to her, "Maybe next year, less drama?"

"Hopefully," Laura laughed and shook her head. "It's a good thing I have a few months to plan yours," she joked.

"Yeah?"

"Hell, yeah," she laughed. "How am I ever going to top tonight?"

"You can top me any time," she growled as she pulled her to her feet and into her arms. "Starting tonight."

"As good as that sounds," Laura whispered into her ear, "it isn't what I had in mind." She stepped back and closed the lid to the fire pit. "Trust me?"

"Always."