Hey guys, I'm not dead :)

Chapter 39:


"Cheers" Winter said.

"To a wonderful evening" Dudley said as they clinked wine glasses before finishing their drinks.

"Want to order dessert? They have this amazing lava cake that's to die for"

"Heh, well when you put it like that, I have to try"

Winter smirked, "And perhaps when we're done, we can go back to your place and…watch a good movie~?"

Dudley glanced down to see her right foot peak out from under the tablecloth; her bare toes polished sky blue coming to rest on his crotch. "I like the sound of that"

*Vmm* *Vmm* *Vmm*

"Ugh, sorry" she said. Digging in her purse, she took out her scroll to see a number she didn't recognize. "Hello"

"…Hello Winter"

"… … …" at the sound of that voice, she was left speechless.

"…Winter? A-are you there-*click*" She hung up without a second thought.

"Who was it?" Dudley asked.

"No idea. They must've dialed the wrong number" she lied.


"Who will you seeee~? There in the darkness~, when no one is watching~, who will you~ beee~? When you're aaafraid~, every-thing changes~, will you see a stranger~? Feel proouud oooorrr betraaaayed~?" Weiss sang as she finished drying herself off. She sighed, this song had been stuck in her head for the past week, and she wondered why it had to be so catchy. Donning her pajamas, she wrapped her still damp hair in a towel, then wrapped the towel into a large bun. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw Blake and Yang both in their sleep wear as well; Blake was reading, as always, while Yang was playing Call of Duty.

"Ow, I'm getting hit! Ugh, is that pussy camping again?! In the same spot?! HA! Gotcha you little bitch!" She spoke into her headset.

Weiss rolled her eyes, deciding to go to her bedroom to isolate herself from Yang's obnoxiousness. When she entered her quarters she went to her desk to retrieve her scroll. As she did, she noticed she had a missed call from an unknown number.

*Vmm* *Vmm* *Vmm*

It was the same caller ID. Curiously, she answered, "Hello"

"…Hello Weiss"

"M…Mom?"

"Yes dear. Do you…have a moment to talk?"

She didn't know what to say. This was the first time in six years that she heard from her mother. "Hold on" she went to the door and opened it slightly. She saw that Blake had in her special earphones; with four buds for both sets of ears, there was no chance of her unintentionally eavesdropping. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk"

"Now? You had over five years to-"

"I know; I know just…please hear me out" She noticed her mother's voice shake, like she was on the verge of crying. "I know I don't have the right to say this. But for what it's worth…I'm sorry. I… …I-I was a horrible mother, probably the worst mother ever. I'm sorry for what I did to you; for how I treated you…how I treated Winter…and Whitley"

"It's kind of late for apologies"

"P-please don't hang up…I'm begging you" her mother pleaded. "I want you to know what I've been up to all these years. When your father claimed sole custody of you and your siblings…I hit rock bottom. I couldn't see, or even talk to any of you. I had to live alone with the guilt of what I done; giving you, my own daughter, a scar that will be with you for the rest of your life. I hated myself…hated what I had become, and I was on the verge into falling into a deep depression. But it was only then that I realized it. Alcohol had a strangle hold on my life; it was because of it that I treated you kids like you were worthless, why I'm not allowed to see my own son to this day, and why my eldest daughter won't even acknowledge me. I knew I had to change"

"So what? You're saying you're sober now?" Weiss asked skeptically.

"I have been for five years. It wasn't easy at first; every…single…day, I struggled not to reach for the bottle. Thanks to my rehab though, I was able to channel that negative energy into something positive. I've taken up drawing, painting, hiking, and several more hobbies that helped me appreciate life more. Once I started making significant progress, I decided to go back to school. I now have my nursing degree, and I got a job here in Vale working at a clinic"

"You're in Vale?"

"Yes. Using the alimony your father paid, I came here to re-invent myself… … so that hopefully, one day, I can rebuild the bridges that I most likely burned between us. I-I know I can't change what happened in the past but… …maybe we can start over?"

"…I… …*sigh* I'll have to think about it"

"I understand. Well, you have my number now so… …I guess this is good bye for now"

"Yeah…good bye" Weiss said as she hung up. She sat there on her bed dumbfounded, unable to believe what just happened.

:::: :::: :::: ::::

Winter and Dudley were snuggled up together on a leather couch, sharing a blanket as she leaned her head his shoulder. She was currently fighting back tears as they were watching the movie unfold. On screen, a warrior with cyan space armor walked into a room, where a man was watching a video.

"Hello Director"

"Hello Agent Carolina. Would you like to watch this file with me?"

"No"

"…Play it again Phillis"

"Director?"

"Again!"

"So…this is what you've become"

"I just need to watch this. I think I have a way… …a way to bring her back right this time"

"Oh my god…Agent Texas was his wife" Winter said in realization, wiping away a tear that fell.

"…Yeah"

"*sniff*…This story's incredible"

"It's why it's one of my favorites" Dudley said, his eyes watery as well.

*Vmm* *Vmm* *Vmm*

When Winter looked at her scroll on the coffee table, she reached to answer it. "Pause it for a second. *Ahem* Hey Weiss"

"Hey Winter"

"What's up?"

"I just got a call from mom"

"…What the hell does she want?" She asked as she sat up.

"Apparently to make amends with us. She told me she got sober and turned her life around"

"And you believe her?"

"I want to. She sounded sincere when we spoke. I'm gonna invite her to lunch so we can speak in person"

"…Okay"

"I want you to come"

"No"

"Please Winter?"

"I don't…want to see her, Weiss"

"… … …*sigh* Winter, I know it's hard. She wronged all of us in the past, but if what she says is true, we can be family again"

"*Tsk*…I still don't understand how you hold no ill will towards that woman, especially after what she did to you"

"I never said I forgave her. But once I started learning more and more about psychology, I realize it wasn't entirely her fault. Addiction is a disease, and if she was able to exclude alcohol from her life, I'm willing to give her a chance"

"Well good for you. I still think she needs to pay"

"… … …So you're saying you won't see her unless we get payback?"

Winter rose an eyebrow, "Are you serious?"

"I'm not saying we should hurt her, but there is… another way"

"What other way?"

"…We can tickle her"

"… …*sigh*… I swear these ideas you come up with" she said, taking a moment to think it over. "…Alright fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay. Good night"

"Good night" After hanging up, she rested her head back on Dudley's shoulder.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

"Peachy, now press play" she said. When the movie resumed, they snuggled closer together, watching as the scene began to toy with their emotions once more.

To Be Continued…