Epilogue: Our New Beginning

The sun shone down on Cat. She could feel its warmth on her face, but she couldn't see anything. She didn't mind, though. She enjoyed the wind on her face as she held Sam tightly from behind. It reminded her of when they first met, and Sam took her to Inside-Out Burger. Only that had been in Los Angeles and Cat hadn't been blindfolded.

"Why did you put this thing on my face, anyway?" Cat asked. "I probably wouldn't remember where we were going."

"Good point," Sam said over her shoulder. "But it doesn't matter now, because we're here."

Cat felt the motorcycle slow to a stop. She pulled off her helmet, then removed her blindfold. They were parked on the curb just across from Central Park. It was, for once, a temperate and beautiful day out, much more like home than it had been for the past few months.

"Oh, are we having lunch in the park again?" Cat asked.

"No, this time we're on this side of the street."

Cat turned to find that they were standing outside of an apartment complex.

"Oh. Are we visiting someone?"

"Um…sure? Come on."

Sam led Cat through a set of golden-framed doors, into a beautiful lobby. There were trees everywhere inside, probably fake, but they still smelled outdoorsy. The elevators were big and there were eight of them. It didn't seem like you'd have to wait very long for a ride up or down.

They entered a car and Sam hit the button for the 20th floor.

"Who lives up there?"

"You'll see."

"You do remember my show premieres tonight, right?"

Sam smiled fondly at Cat. "No, I forgot that the entire reason we moved out here finally starts tonight," she said. "Relax, we're only a few blocks from the theater here. You'll have plenty of time to make your 5:00 call time."

"Kay, kay." Sam always remembered Cat's schedule, and always planned things around it so that she was never late. It was one of the many, many reasons Cat loved her so much.

The ride up to the 20th floor took a long time as people got on and off the elevator. One confused older woman thought it was going down and had to get off five floors later. Cat felt bad for her. She understood what it was like to do something stupid and embarrassing.

Sam led Cat off the elevator and down a hallway with a beautiful lavender-colored carpet. Golden sconces were set into the wall, providing moody illumination. It was the fanciest apartment building Cat had ever been in. She could barely wait to see who they were visiting.

They arrived at apartment 209. Sam swiftly opened the door without knocking.

"Sam, you know it's rude to enter someone's home without knocking."

"Have you forgotten about all the times people just barged in on us?" Sam asked. "Besides, it's not rude when it's your own home."

She had a valid point. "Well, that's true. If it's your own home, it—" Cat stopped short as she stepped inside of the apartment. The floor plan was wide open, and the apartment was full of familiar things: a blue couch, a trendy red and silver fridge, and dozens of knick-knacks from Cat's favorite television show, That's a Drag . In fact, it was all of her things from home. "Shut the fridge! What is this!?"

"This is home," Sam said. "No more living in a hotel."

Cat was trembling with excitement as she ran around the apartment, reacquainting herself with her decor and her props. As much as she loved living in New York with Sam, she had often missed their small apartment in Los Angeles. But Sam had managed to make that better, too. Even though it was smaller than their place in LA, it was home. Their first real home. Not a hotel, not an apartment she inherited from Nona.

Home.

The best part was the view of Central Park from their living room window. The trees and buildings and stone architecture all blended together seamlessly outside, creating a beautiful vista that Cat couldn't get enough of.

She looked to Sam and was nearly overcome with gratitude and love. She ran to her and kissed her on the cheek, then on the lips. She had intended to pull away, but Sam's lips tasted so good, she had to have more. "I love you," she muttered as she slipped her tongue into Sam's mouth.

Sam stumbled back into the half-wall that separated the living area from the kitchen. She groaned into Cat's mouth as the redhead slipped her hand down the front of Sam's body, over her breasts, down to her shorts. She pressed against Sam's slit through her clothes, then started to slide her hand inside of her shorts.

Sam grabbed her wrist and pulled it away.

"As much as I want you to do that right now, it's not the best time," she said, breathlessly.

"Why? We've got four hours." Cat kissed her again, trying to draw out Sam's tongue.

"I know, but it might be awkward for them."

Cat stopped kissing Sam and followed her gaze. Standing in the doorway to the bedroom, as if in hiding, were Andre, Robbie, Beck, Carly, Freddie, Goomer, and Dice, their mouths agape. Dice covered Goomer's eyes.

"Uh...surprise," Carly said.

Cat was rooted to the floor, her face flush with embarrassment.

"Sam?"

"Yes, Kitten?"

"Is this kinda how you felt when my mic got left on twice?"

"Probably."

Cat straightened her clothes, smoothed her hair, and smiled. "Let's try that again from the start of the scene," she said. She turned back around and faced Sam.

"They were kinda part of the surprise," Sam whispered as she, too, smoothed her clothes and tried to compose herself.

"Oh, I was very surprised. Okay, take two." Cat turned around to face her friends. "Ohmygosh you guys! What a surprise that you're here!"

Beck picked up on what she was doing. "Uh, right! Here we are, to surprise you! Right?"

One by one, the others caught on and joined in. The tension dissolved rapidly after that, and Cat found herself swept up in hug after hug: Beck, Andre, Dice, Gomer, Robbie, even Carly.

"I'm so happy to see you all! Are you all coming to my show?"

"Of course," Robbie said.

"Sam set it all up for us," Beck added. "Tori and Jade will be here in a minute, they're finding somewhere to park." In a softer tone, he added, "It's been a long drive."

"I can't believe you're all here. I've missed you guys so much. I want to hear about everything you've been doing." Cat glanced over at Sam and found she had wandered into the kitchen. "In just a sec."

Cat hurried into the kitchen, where Sam had just opened a can of Wahoo Punch. She pulled her into a tight embrace, her eyes barely holding back the tears of happiness. "You're amazing," she whispered.

"Accurate."

"You just keep finding ways to surprise me."

"To be fair, it's not a high bar," Sam said with a smile.

"I'm so lucky to have you." Cat leaned up and kissed Sam slowly. She let a single finger wander down the blond's body. "I can't wait to show you how thankful I am tonight."

Sam's tongue wrapped around Cat's. Cat lost all sense of balance as their urgency grew...until the doorbell rang.

"Ding-dong," Cat said, mid-kiss. Sam laughed as she pulled away. "Sorry. Old habits. I'll get it."

Tori and Jade were waiting in the hallway. Cat greeted them with a smile, but for a moment neither seemed to notice.

"I can't help it if you don't know how to follow directions," Tori said. "I told you 'turn left here.' That meant 'here' not at the next intersection."

"I'm pretty sure you could have been just a little more specific," Jade snapped. "Waving your arms at me wasn't exactly helpful, either. You were supposed to be my navigator, not a freakin ballet dancer."

"Well excuse me for trying to help—"

"Will you please stop arguing like an old married couple!?" Cat shouted.

Tori and Jade both stopped at once and turned. A heavy silence hung in the air for a few moments, mostly in surprise at Cat's outburst. The shock wore off for Tori first, and she smiled warmly at Cat. "Hey! Congratulations on your opening night!" The leggy brunette embraced Cat and left her with a huge bouquet of flowers.

"Aw, thank you! They're so pretty! Come in!"

Tori hurried inside, happily greeting Carly and Sam. Cat sniffed the flowers. She left them up between her and Jade, almost as a defensive mechanism. Jade was her sister, sure, but sisters still punched each other.

"Sorry about yelling at you."

Jade raised an indifferent eyebrow, but it didn't last. Her normally cold demeanor came crumbling down. She reached for Cat's shoulders and shook her as she spoke. "Okay, I seriously need your help. Something is seriously, seriously wrong with me."

"What do you mean? What's wro—"

Jade pulled Cat into the hallway. She almost dropped her flowers. Once they were out there, Jade took her by the shoulders again. "If you repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone, I will have to drown you in the nearest body of water. Clear?"

"Yikes. Harsh, but clear."

Jade looked back into the apartment as everyone talked and laughed. "I don't know what witchcraft you used to figure this out so long ago, but you were right, okay? You were right."

"Oh, okay," Cat said, not sure exactly what she was right about. "Can you maybe refresh my memory on what I figured out?"

Jade cast another look into the room. Tori seemed to be staring out into the hallway. Jade pulled the door closed. "I'm in love with Vega."

Cat smiled. "Shut the fridge!"

THE END

AND A NEW BEGINNING...