Author's note: And here we are! The events of Pyramid Song finally happened, but does that mean V. has learned to deal with her emotions or has become amazing at showing and actually letting them shine overnight? Now that would be too easy, but such is a merc's life. Shooting is easier than emotions, most of the time...

I'd like to really thank for everyone who left a comment/review! You are awesome! Honestly, the feedback keeps me going, and seeing people take time out of their day to read my fanfiction makes me smile. A lot. So yes, thank you. Now on with the show.

Life is a noodle

When I woke up, it took me a while to realize where I was and why. Of course, the old cliché about it all being a dream came to mind, but I shook my head, rejecting it. I sat up and smiled at my wet suit, discarded on the floor. I looked around the room, Judy obviously wasn't there, perhaps she was just in another part of the cottage, maybe freshening up or something. At least that was what I hoped she was doing.

What if she had her regrets? What if this was just... a one-off thing? I wasn't sure what it felt, we didn't exactly discuss any terms and conditions... I hoped that what we shared didn't scare her off. After all, I wasn't sure if I was output material. Especially after what Jude had been through.

I found my underwear and put it on. I'd have to change later, circumstances allowing. Judy didn't actually mention staying overnight in her mysterious 'briefing' for our underwater trip. Maybe I should have prepared better. I left the bedroom, Jude was nowhere to be seen so I headed outside. I couldn't help but sigh in relief as I saw her on the pier, enjoying a morning smoke as she gazed at the skyline of Night City.

"Hey, will you sit with me a while?" she greeted me with a smile, "Here's your coffee. Finally got to making it," the cups were placed between us, strategically, so I didn't sit too close to her. Well, perhaps that would have been too forward.

"Mornin'," I said with a bit of a hoarse tone to my voice. I was just waking up, "Thanks," I took my cup and cradled it, not drinking just yet.

"So... yesterday... What was that, exactly," she gave me this careful, uncertain look, with her chin slightly lowered, watching me closely. As I took a breath to respond, she looked away, suddenly skittish to take a drag of her cigarette.

"Don't remember, or you want me to remind you?" I smirked, giving her my first answer. A moment later I realized that she wasn't exactly in the mood for joking.

"Come on... You know exactly what I'm tryna say. What did it mean, like, to you?" she rephrased, putting more emphasis on the meaning of the night we had shared.

I took a sip of my coffee, taking a moment to pick my words carefully. Milk and sugar. She remembered... It was still nice and warm, so Jude can't have been up for that long. Maybe her stirring brought me out of my deep sleep and closer to the waking world. There was no way I wasn't going to fumble with however I wanted to say it, "Think it... I mean... I hope it was the beginning of something nice. Unless... you see things differently?" why were these things so damn difficult? I liked her, and I said it in way too many words. And then doubted myself, on top of that. Way to reassure the woman, V.

"Ugh... Can be such a gonk sometimes," Judy shook her head, amused for some reason. I looked up at her, "Ruined my plans, you know that? Was gonna leave NC in the dust, for good. But now, I think... I think I gotta stay," she smiled at me, and I could feel my lips curl up in response.

"Oh well, guess I'll have to make it up to you, won't I?" I couldn't stop myself from grinning even if I wanted to.

"Hm... Yeah, that would be appropriate," she nodded, and we were back to the flirty tone from the night before. So there it was... it wasn't a one-off thing for her either. But to make me her reason to stay in the city...? I wasn't sure if that was a good idea.

"Gimme your hand, V," she said, pulling me away from my musings. I held out my hand and our wrists touched while her eyes lit up electric blue. I could see her uploading some biometric data for me.

"All set, congrats. Just gave you unlimited access to my pad," she announced, still smiling at me.

"Whoa... asking me to move in?" I raised my brows, keeping my hand close to hers, idly tracing her skin with my finger.

"I-If that's what you want," Judy hesitated, it was her turn to be unsure, "Or just drop by when the urge grabs you," she added with a shrug.

I was surprised by this gesture. But I didn't want to seem ungrateful, not like she could read my thoughts, "Dunno what to say..." I was being truthful, no doubt there, "Nobody's ever done anything like this for me. Really shows trust," I explained my perspective on receiving the key. It wasn't anything I was even remotely used to.

"I like you. Wanna see you lots. Way I see it, there isn't anything else to consider," Judy's logic was simple and to the point. And I liked its efficacy, so I nodded in full agreement.

We sat together in silence for a few moments, drinking coffee and holding hands. It felt kinda dreamy, and maybe Johnny was right and I was all mushy inside because of Judy... But I wanted it. And enjoyed it.

"It's almost like that joke. You know the one?" I piped up, shooting a coy smile at her.

"Ummm no?" Judy raised her brow and tilted her head to the side.

I cleared my throat, "What do lesbians bring to their second date? Moving vans. Both." I nodded. What a punchline, right?

"Ah- oh, that one?" she chuckled and shook her head, pursing her lips for a moment, "Vintage as groaners go," she said and looked back at the skyline. Night City made it incredibly easy for people to both love it and hate it. And in that moment, a bit further away from it, I hated it for what it did to me. For the situation it had put me in. At the same time, I loved it for letting me meet Judy. And for bringing us together. Maybe it wasn't all that bad.

"It's a nice place to start the day. Serene, almost," I hummed and shimmied a bit closer to Judy, so we could hold hands more comfortably but still have the other arm each to drink coffee or smoke, "So quiet... no one here. I guess that's why you like it?" I wondered, though I wasn't entirely sure if I should disturb this morning silence.

"That, and you can just sit around in your underwear," Judy joked and I could feel her eye me up and down with a smile. She must have approved of my choice of attire, which was quite similar to hers, at least in how much it covered. Her blue and purple shorts were much cuter than my undies, for sure.

I put my cup down and took Judy's hand in mine to share my key with her in return, "It might not be much... and my pad's probably not the most glamorous place... But whenever you feel like it, it's open to you," I uploaded a key for her, smiling.

"And it's not just to feed that cat of yours when you're out for two days after a few shots, right?" Judy teased me, referring to our last adventure at Lizzie's. It reminded me that I would love to dance with her again. This time without worrying that much.

"No, not just for that. But you make a good point," I smirked, "And about that time when I had shots... They're not gonna let it go now, I can feel it in my bones," I looked at the skyline.

"Yup, I know. Eddies are gonna change hands, I'm pretty sure," Judy nodded slowly.

"What? Why?" I raised my brow at her.

"Come on... Rita, Mateo, probably even Suzie have been wondering. Some if, some just when. About you and me. I took a few days off so I could prepare the diving trip in peace because the high school vibe at work was just too much," Judy confessed, taking the last gulp of her coffee. I finished mine as well, "So, are you free tonight as well? Or is it back to work?"

"I wasn't really planning on going back just yet, no. Why?" she looked at me, raising her brows. There was a hopeful smile playing on her lips, "Do you have places to be?"

"Well..." I moved a bit, so I could sit a bit behind Judy, propping myself on my arms so she could lean against me, seeing as I was a bit taller than her. Which in itself, made her even cuter, "Just here, if you don't mind," I was so smooth, I was surprised she didn't slip into the water because of me.

At first she chuckled, but after a moment she settled against me with a soft sigh and guided one of my arms around her waist as we both found a comfortable position, looking out at the skyline of Night City, "Here is fine. Just great," she said quietly.

"Yup, fantastic," I agreed, closing my eyes for a moment to press a kiss to her hair. Somehow, my Magician managed to carve out a slice of pure peace and bliss from the crazy, violent reality of my life. I felt I could stop and just sit on the pier with her, watch the skies, think without haste, breathe without fear. I didn't even think about how much time we spent like that together, since the morning was nice and warm.

It wasn't even Johnny that stirred us from that reverie, it was my stupid stomach, demanding food. The growling sound it emitted almost startled Judy, "Shit, I'm sorry Jude, I should go make us breakfast. You got any food back there?"

She turned around and shot me a warm smile, "Yeah, just check the cupboards, V. I like the idea. Go make us some breakfast," she emphasized the word and leaned in to kiss me on one cheek while cupping the other. I smiled and kissed her on that cute little nose, then captured her lips for just a moment, "Be ready soon. It won't top the breakfast you left me that one time I crashed at your place, but Chef V will do her best," I nodded and moved to stand up. Quite reluctantly at that, because why would I go cook if I could sit on the pier and kiss Judy instead? My stomach reminded me why.

"Wanna eat here, outside?" I offered, seeing as the pier was kinda a nice spot. If you ignored all the garbage bags lining the coast.

Judy nodded, "It's nicer here, the cottage is kinda dark," she added then smiled at me, "Curious what you're gonna mash up."

"So am I. Wouldn't expect any preem high-end stuff if I were you," I gave her a fair warning.

"You're making it. Sure it's gonna be nice," she encouraged me and I shot her a smile before making it back to the cottage. There was still power, so I turned on the stove and found a pan before I began scanning through the cupboards. Some noodles... syn-meat... vacuum packed sugars snaps and corn... With some condiments, I could make this into a decent stir-fry, and that was exactly what I proceeded to do. I was generous with the sauce, but trying to not over do it, since I wasn't quite sure how spicy Judy liked her food. She could always add more herself.

I managed to put it all together without burning down anything or hurting myself, but cooking in my underwear wasn't the best of ideas. Something I should maybe remember for next time. And maybe it wasn't the most breakfasty of breakfasts... but it's what I made and I was kinda proud of it.

I took two decently sized bowls filled with my masterful dish to the pier, together with some cutlery, "Stir-fry, merc style. Take it or leave it," I set down the food, smiling at Judy.

"Oh I'll take it. I'm actually really hungry," Judy admitted, "Plus we're more in brunch territory, so I'll have whatever you made," she took her bowl and gave the food a sniff, "This is actually not bad... I'm impressed, V!"

"Try it, then gimme your opinion," I chuckled and dug in, eager to get some kibble in me. And she was right, this wasn't half bad.

We ate, idly chatting about the joints in NC we enjoyed going to, the snacks we liked to get, favorite take-outs and such. All that time I was hoping that I had enough time to discover these things with her. Share them. Experience stuff before... the time came. And I didn't want to give up, of course not, but in the same way I was the reason for Judy staying in Night City... she was my reason to keep on fighting and defy fate with even more stubbornness than before.

"Ugh, look at this. So much sweetness I'd puke if I could really make myself feel sick. Two lovebirds and their dreams, looking at that fucking city while they could be burning it. At least there's a chance for your hormones to steady now, I guess..." Johnny sat down in my field of view, a bit further away from Judy. I was glad I still had some of the food left and I could reply to him in my thoughts while chewing.

"You wanted me to... seal the deal, it kinda happened, now I have a slice of my own happiness. What else do you want?"

"Now I need you to act, V. Mikoshi isn't going to destroy itself. Arasaka isn't going to magically implode while you're slurping noodles and other things."

I wanted to slap the living shit out of him.

"V, you okay?" Judy wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked at me with concern, "You've gone into this kinda... murder-eyes mode," she said, frowning.

"It's just Johnny..." I sighed and shook my head, "He's being himself. As long as I'm not him, I suppose it's okay," I shrugged. Johnny smirked and lit up a cigarette.

"V...?" Judy tilted her head to the side, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Finally," Johnny called out triumphantly, raising his arms to the sky in a gesture of gratitude, "Some fucking anarchy."

Oh fuck. I told her about Johnny, sure. About the biochip. But we never really talked about... that. Shit. My appetite faded away and I sighed. How would I even go about telling her? We've just shared keys and now I was gonna drop this on her? She didn't deserve this kind of pressure. At the same time, I owed her this. I owed her the truth.

Judy's hand felt soft in mine when I gently laced our fingers together and looked up at her, trying to find words that were true but not too hurtful, "With enough time... It's likely, more than probable, that the construct will overwrite me. He'll take over," I began, closing my eyes as I gave her hand a squeeze, more to reassure myself at this point, "I've got blockers from my ripperdoc. They work, but... You've seen me. The fainting, the nosebleeds. I'm not getting any better."

"But there's still hope, right? You can... fix it, somehow?" Judy replied, her hazel eyes fixated on mine, holding my gaze.

"Of course, Jude. There's always hope," I replied without even thinking too much, "I just... I hope I can do this in time. I hope I can still be me by the time I find the right option."

"I'm... not distracting you, right? You could be out there right now," she nodded towards Night City, "Hunting answers, finding a way to not... die on me. I want you, not some guy in your head," she said, and the determination in her voice felt like a boost of energy. I would not fail her.

"Ouch," Johnny shook his head, "If I didn't know better, I'd almost be a bit jealous of your temperamental new output,"

"Johnny please, not now. Fuck off," I warned him and he decided to let me have that moment with Judy. I could always thank him later, not that he was really going anywhere.

"And I want you, Judy. I... with everything that happened, I didn't want to add to it with my... condition," I confessed. I was hoping she would understand, "Fuck, I'm still making sense of it all. One day I'm a merc on a job, the next day I wake up in my own grave at a landfill..."

Judy looked at me with a confused squint, "Your own grave? You bein' serious right now?" it seemed the more I was trying to explain my predicament, the more I was actually making the whole situation worse.

"Yes. The fixer who hired me and Jackie... He decided to go back on his word. Shot me in the head. But the biochip... it brought me back to life. It's designed to take over people who are no longer alive. Makes the transition easier..." I frowned.

"Whoah. Imma stop you for a moment, V... You were dead?" she asked me, with that accusatory squint that I knew all too well.

"From what I know... yes. I even got a necklace made out of the bullet that Vik, my ripperdoc, pulled out of my head," I said.

"Fuck, V... Are you a cat?" she asked, either we were both going crazy, or Judy had the weirdest way of processing such shit.

"I don't know. I wouldn't mind a few more lives... But I'm on borrowed time. Listen, if you prefer to think about this whole thing..." I started, but instead she leaned in to hug me.

"Shut up. I don't want to think about it. I want to live it. With you. Alive. And you're going to keep fighting, you hear me?" she demanded, I could hear and feel her tearing up against my shoulder, so quickly wrapped my arms around her.

"Jude..." I said softly. I closed my eyes, I didn't want to see her like that.

"Do you hear me, V? Are you gonna keep on fighting? For yourself... for me? For us? Whatever happens, don't give up. Whatever happens... each and every day we have, I'll take, and I want to make the most of, you hear me?"

This was almost overwhelming. In the best way possible. Judy's fire... No, fire wasn't her element. Judy was like a mountain spring, well, maybe more like a tsunami, one to quench all my doubts and uncertainties, one to reassure me, while it was me trying to reassure her. She was so determined, reminding me... who I was, before that fucking heist happened. I was hungry for more, I wanted to live life to the fullest, and I wasn't afraid. And now she reminded me, that I wouldn't be a slave to that fear. Not with a woman like her to remind me I was still there.

"I hear you, Judy," I replied, loud and with a very welcome surge of confidence in my tone, "And I won't give up. I will keep on fighting."

She let herself hide in my arms for a few more moments as her breathing settled and she sniffled away the last of her tears. I hated the reason for her tight embrace, but I was glad she found comfort in me and felt she could do it for as long as she needed. We were there for each other and now that we both knew what we wanted, it felt much less awkward to just initiate a touch.

"Okay... okay... And if there's anything I can do to help, you will tell me, right?" she looked up at me, her hazel eyes were a bit red. I leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.

"I will. Just knowing you want me in your life helps a lot, Jude. I'll find a way. And then we can leave Night City together, you'll see," I promised.

"I'm not leaving without you... so you better work on that solution... because I don't want to have to leave without you."

"You won't. If anything, now I have no excuse but to work twice as hard on finding a way out of this mess," I smiled at her, glad that she was no longer crying, at least.

"Alright. Now that this is settled... I'm gonna pack up, and you're going back to work. I'll call you later, V," she kissed me on the cheek and moved to stand up, "Come on, daylight's burning."

I gave herself an idle moment just to look at her. The spring in her step, the glint in her eye, the smile that was directed at me, and only me. I was in love. And dying was the last thing on my agenda.