A/N: A long time ago, I came across a simple story request: Write a story with Juniper and Robin as a romantic couple. Today, I begin the final arc of this story, the end result of that request. Just six chapters remain, including this one. It's time for femslash!
Final arc: Always remain by my side
Chapter 28: To forgive is divine
December 22, 2030
Enroute to the Newman-Woods Household
5:12 p.m.
The sound of Robin humming along with the car radio lulled Juniper into a sleepy state, sitting as she was in the passenger seat. The car made its way through the streets of Los Angeles as it headed back home. Once they were there, the two women would spend some quiet time with each other before preparing for the dinner in about three hours.
Recalling Robin's first trial as a prosecutor had been naturally unpleasant, but it was something that had happened in their lives. Instead of denying it, Juniper let the memories continue wash over her. After the trial, the process of healing had to begin…
September 28, 2029
Quite understandably, the police department asked the prosecutor's office that a trial be held for Lisette Sullivan as soon as humanely and legally possible. Judge Courtney oversaw the trial, and Simon Blackquill prosecuted.
The public defender assigned to Lisette, to his credit, didn't try to erase her crimes, instead opting to paint her sympathetically. Depicting Lisette as a loyal, kind sister and daughter that was pushed too far. But as soon as the public defender finished his argument-
"SILENCE! Spin all the sob stories you want. This conniving snake of a defendant left an innocent in the hospital. Not only that, but she schemed to snuff the flames of two lives from this world. There is nothing that can change this fact."
Indeed, there was nothing more that could be said after that. The trial examined the events of the case, then Judge Courtney passed a verdict of guilty at the end of the trial, for a count of reckless endangerment and two counts of attempted premeditated murder. The sentence matched Lisette's crimes: life in prison with no chance of parole.
September 28, 2029
Palazzo Pelepepe, Cykes-Skye apartment
12:20 p.m.
Juniper sat at the kitchen table, playing with the bowl of porridge she had made for herself. Every so often she took a spoonful, but she wasn't that hungry. Not after what she had seen this morning.
"Watching Lisette's trial… it made this past week feel more real," Juniper said softly. "When before it was more like a really bad dream."
"You're telling me," Ema said, laying back on a couch in the living room. "But it's all over now. Lisette is behind bars, and she's never getting out. Good riddance, I say."
Juniper wasn't sure if she could share that sentiment. The night after Logan's trial Juniper found herself unable to sleep. She stayed another day with Ema and Lana, occasionally stepping outside to get some fresh air. But otherwise Juniper just let herself get lost in her own thoughts, processing the past week to the best of her ability.
At the very least, watching Lisette's trial had afforded her a sense of closure, as she hopefully imagined was the case for everyone else that had attended the trial. There was a notable absence at the trial, but maybe he had hidden himself from view.
Then, of course, there was the conversation she no longer had any reason to avoid. After looking over the events of the case in her mind, Juniper had finally arrived at a conclusion. Now there was just one last thing to do...
"Ema, Miss Woods," Lana Skye said as she entered the living room while holding a cell phone. "I just received word from the hospital. Miss Cykes is going to wake up soon, and the staff is allowing visits."
Ema instantly shot up from the couch, her expression a storm of emotions- before she disguised it with feigned indifference. "Oh. Thanks for letting me know, Lana."
If Lana noticed what her sister was doing, she didn't comment on it. Instead, Lana said, "Well, as good as it was seeing my baby sister again, I should probably leave back to my house."
"Do you really have to go, Lana?" Ema asked, getting off of the couch.
"I'll make sure to visit you and Miss Cykes again soon, Ema," Lana said, smiling. "But I imagine you'll want to be alone with Athena once she's released."
Ema proceeded to cover her eyes with her pink sunglasses, grumbling something under her breath. Lana started leaving the living room when Juniper called out to her.
"If you're going to leave, Ms Skye, could you help me with something?" Juniper asked.
"As long as it's not too out of the way, I suppose," Lana said. "Why do you ask, Miss Woods?"
"Because... I want to return home today."
September 28, 2029
Hotti Clinic, Athena's room
1:04 p.m.
The staff of the hospital couldn't help but frown at the large group of people currently crowding into Athena's hospital room. Juniper made sure to spread the news, which meant that just about everyone involved in the case was here: Juniper herself, Ema, Hugh, Apollo, Detective Marsh, and of course Robin.
"Hiya, Juniper!" Robin greeted cheerfully as soon as she saw Juniper. "Have you been doing well?"
"I've been managing." Juniper answered. "Later today… I'm going to go home. Then we can talk."
Despite looking apprehensive, Robin nodded and didn't say anymore. Meanwhile, a doctor was checking over Athena's vitals. Once the doctor was done she smiled, satisfied.
"The patient has made a full recovery. She should be waking up any minute now," The doctor said. "I'll give you all some privacy."
Ema slowly approached the bed, while everyone else backed away a few steps to give Ema some room. Once at the bed, Ema looked down at Athena, her expression completely unreadable. A complete hush fell over the room.
Athena's eyes fluttered open, and the redhead looked around. As Athena lay eyes on Ema the defense attorney started grinning.
"I always knew seeing your face was the best thing about waking up in the morning," Athena said.
Ema gripped the sheets of the bed. "You! Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you?" Ema shouted angrily
"Okay, ow. No need to shout, Ema," Athena answered, sitting up a little. "And as a matter of fact, I do know. While I was asleep, I could still hear everything that was going on around me. I can remember hearing every person that visited this room."
This caused the forensic scientist to freeze, but it was clear she was still angry. "Well then you must of heard me almost have a heart attack," Ema ranted. "After an officer showed up at our apartment to tell me you had gotten shot!"
Athena frowned but let Ema keep going. Meanwhile, everyone else in the room kept watching but didn't say or do anything. None of them wanted to be the one to try and interrupt Ema first.
"-And everyday this past week I've had to report to work to try to catch the scum responsible. All I could do was think about you lying helpless here, and the real culprit was even in the same room as you at one point and I… and I….!"
Ema's shoulders started shuddering and her voice cracked.
"Oh, Ema. Come here." Athena managed to wrap her arms around Ema's head and hugged her. "I'm sorry this all happened the way it did."
"I… I was scared, Athena. I was so scared when you left the apartment that day that I would never see you again," Ema said, her voice muffled.
"Believe me, I had every intention of coming back to you, Ema." Athena said gently. "I told you, didn't I? As soon as I spotted anything I would call the police. So when I saw Lisette in that strawberry I was going to make a run for it, but Lisette has a really fast trigger finger."
"Is that how that happened?" Apollo asked out loud, which effectively killed the tender atmosphere that had developed. It also resulted in Ema throwing her carrier bag right in his face.
Everyone else, including Apollo, greeted Athena and celebrated her on her full recovery. Juniper, admittedly, was about as dignified talking to Thena as Ema had been, only without the anger. Athena was also caught up on most of what happened while she was in the hospital.
"So Lisette was behind everything," Athena said, playing with her earring. "I started suspecting that she was up to something after Logan called me. I had every intention of keeping my appointment with Logan that day. But after that, I started getting chills sometimes. As if someone were hanging around just out of view. It was probably Lisette watching us."
"Definitely not a thought I'd like to keep," Apollo said, shuddering.
"Then after that agency was broken into and while we couldn't find anything, I did notice someone take up residence in a hotel room across the street while no one was watching. The dumb hotel staff wouldn't tell me who it was, and Ema warned me accusing an officer without proof wouldn't end well for me."
"I stand by that much," Ema said, a little defiantly. "If you alerted Lisette you were on to her she might have gone after you."
"Oh, I am grateful for that, at least!" Athena said in a reassuring tone. "Anyways, on the day I was shot, I was investigating the office again when I picked up the agency phone and put it to my ear. That's when I heard what turned out to be the wiretap buzzing. Suddenly, I thought of how I just blabbed with Junie about what she was doing with Robin that day earlier that week."
"That's when you decided to go to Vitamin Square before your meeting with Logan," Juniper said, her voice trembling.
"Well, first I stopped by my apartment to let Ema know what I was doing," Athena clarified. "Don't think I don't hear the voice of your heart, Junie. I choose to do this of my own free will."
"But if we hadn't decided to go out that day this wouldn't have happened to you!" Robin exclaimed, unable to help herself.
"Well, what if Lisette hadn't spotted Athena that day?" Hugh said suddenly. "What if Athena hadn't picked up the agency phone that day? What if the Sullivan family happened to miss the news broadcast the other night? A million things could have gone differently. But Prosecutor Blackquill was definitely right when he said during the trial earlier today that all that mattered was that Lisette choose to go through with her scheme. All blame goes to her."
Juniper could definitely see what Hugh was driving at, but she privately disagreed. Maybe no one else was to blame besides Officer Sullivan, but that didn't mean there wasn't a need for some self reflection.
"Though speaking of my special hearing, I can tell that everyone in this room has been badly hurt by this case," Athena said, now more seriously. "So I'm instituting mandatory therapy sessions for everyone!"
"You've only just woken up and you're already planning to give people therapy?" Ema asked disbelieving, unable to help herself.
"Of course I am! All I need is Widget back and I can get going!" Athena exclaimed excitedly. "I refuse to let this case drag any of us down. Especially you, Logan. Get in here!"
Everyone jumped, then turned around. As it turned out, Logan had been hiding right behind the door to the room. Now caught, the young man shuffled his way inside the room.
"Why are you here, Mr. Sullivan?" Detective Marsh asked.
"Just wanted to ask Miss Cykes something real quick.," Logan said, looking down at his feet.
"Well, go right ahead. I'm not going anywhere just yet," Athena said lightly.
"I- I watched the trial. I know almost everything behind this case now. Except for one thing," Logan said, now facing Athena. "When I called you and asked to meet you, why did you agree?"
"Isn't it obvious? Even over the phone I could tell," Athena answered. "You weren't the same person you were before, and I never turn my back on people that need me! So if you want to stop by the office to do a more proper meeting, we can arrange something."
"I see. That's all I wanted to know," Logan started shuffling towards the door. "If it means anything, I am sorry for everything that Lissy did. Goodbye, Athena Cykes."
He exited the room, then there was the sounds of him running away.
"Goodbye…? Somebody stop him!" Athena shouted.
Detective Marsh chased after Logan, and while everyone waited they considered what Logan had been hoping to accomplish by arriving here. Would he take up revenge just like his sister? It was a disheartening thought, that the cycle of violence would continue.
Ten minutes later Detective Marsh came back. Logan wasn't with him. "I lost him," John explained. "I had him in my sights for a good while but then he turns a corner and just disappears. Sullivans seem to be really good at doing that, I've noticed."
The joke fell flat amongst the group. It only made everyone more worried. Athena immediately spotted this and called everyone's attention.
"I don't believe Logan's going to do anything drastic," Athena said. "Even still, I'd like to keep an eye on him, if possible. Maybe I should try and go meet the Sullivan family-"
"Absolutely not!" Ema reprimanded. Her expression shifted into one of exasperation and affection. "Look, I know you want to help Logan. I wouldn't have you any other way. But you are not going anywhere near them without at least some back up. So I'm going with you, after you're back in shape."
"Sounds like a plan! Los Gehts!" Athena exclaimed.
The hospital visit continued on for just a little longer before everyone decided to leave Ema alone with Athena. Juniper went back to where Lana was waiting in her car, then explained that Ema would be staying in the hospital. Lana simply nodded in response then drove the two of them back to the apartment.
When Juniper had gone back to her house to write down her testimony during the case, she had also grabbed some stuff to take to Ema and Athena's apartment. Now she was packing it back up, and loaded her belongings into the trunk of Lana's car. Now the Lana was driving towards the house, with Juniper giving directions.
All the anger and hurt that had been in Juniper's heart after her fight with Robin was gone now. The feelings that remained, Juniper clutched onto them tight. Before she knew it, her home was coming into view.
September 28, 2029
Newman-Woods Residence, living room
3:22 p.m.
Before knocking on the door, Juniper deliberately hid the bag with her belongings behind some vines she was growing. The first thing that she noticed was that her plants had all been watered and fertilized, albeit haphazardly. As she waited at the door, Juniper found she felt no fear or nervousness, and she knew why.
She could still remember it, of course. The moment when it felt as if all hope was gone, and she was all alone in the world. But right when she reached the bottom of the all consuming darkness, she had found it. A small kernel of strength, deep inside herself. Just by touching it she heard Judge Courtney's voice, advising her. From there it illuminated her entire being.
That same strength had been what compelled her to go back to Robin and ask to remain a witness. It was also what propelled her to stop the verdict on the first day, and see this case through to the very end.
Now, that strength she had found inside herself kept her firmly rooted at the door, waiting for Robin to answer.
The moment Robin answered she immediately invited Juniper inside. After Juniper entered Robin immediately bustled off to make something but Juniper stopped her. Instead, Juniper asked that they both move to the living room.
The two of them stood facing each other, and Juniper could see that all the cheer inside Robin earlier had fled, replaced by apprehension. Robin was touching her proof of friendship, and Juniper unconsciously touched her own band on her wrist.
"Juniper! I really, really need to say something!" Robin exclaimed.
"I'm listening," Juniper said simply.
"Listening…. That's what I didn't do," Robin said, now deeply anguished. "When you came to my office. Juniper, you mean so much to me! You're my best friend, my girlfriend. And yet, I took your words and threw them back in your face. I- I shouted at you! I must have really hurt you that day, and just knowing that kills me inside!"
Just as Juniper thought, Robin was punishing herself in ways far worse than anything Juniper could likely come up with. But then, as Juniper had learned Robin's capacity to self-punish was an issue all on its own.
"I'm sorry, Juniper! I'm so, so SOOOORRRRYYY!" Robin yelled out, her heart bursting forth along with her words. Robin lowered her head, but Juniper reached out and brought it back up.
"You were so proud when you got your badge, Robin," Juniper began. "Prouder than I'd ever seen you before. So when you were asked to prosecute Athena's shooting, I imagine you were really motivated to solve the case. "
Robin nodded, which just served to confirm something else for Juniper. In the meantime, she kept speaking.
"As I told you, I didn't believe Logan had committed the shooting because he said he didn't do it. But when I asked you to drop the case, I wasn't thinking about him," Juniper explained. "I was thinking about you, Robin. I didn't want your first case as a prosecutor to be a loss."
Comprehension dawned in Robin's eyes, and she smiled tenderly. "That's just like you, Juniper. Always thinking of me. And yet I repaid that with such horrible words. What I did was unforgivable!"
Juniper shook her head. "That's not true. If it was, I wouldn't be here."
This genuinely caught Robin off guard. It all fed into the conclusion that Juniper had arrived at while staying at Thena's apartment. She didn't need to go back home, but after sifting through the feelings of her heart, she found she wanted to return. She still loved Robin, from the bottom of her heart. By the looks of it, Robin felt the same way.
"It's true. When we had our fight, it really hurt me," Juniper continued. "That you didn't get what I was trying to tell you. But now you do understand. That's why I stayed over at Thena's for several days, so we could get all our thoughts in order."
"I get what you're saying," Robin said, thinking aloud. "Because I knew you would have gone to Athena and Ema's place. But after what I said to you, I didn't feel like I had the right to see you."
"...And in the end, there were a few things I failed to understand about you as well," Juniper said.
Of course, Robin immediately objected to this with, "No, don't say that! I'm the one who that-"
Juniper lay a hand on Robin's shoulder, effectively calming the prosecutor down. Maintaining the flow of the conversation was critical. Juniper absolutely had to get her point across.
"Tell me something, Robin. When I first asked you to drop the case, how did you feel?" Juniper asked. She had a feeling she already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it straight from Robin's mouth.
"Confused, at first," Robin said slowly. "And then I started feeling really angry. Because I swore to myself I would solve this case, for myself, for Athena, and for you. I really wanted to show you the fruits of my hard work, and suddenly you were telling me to abandon it."
"I knew it. I ended up hurting you, too." Juniper said sadly.
"But I'm the one that reacted poorly!" Robin said quickly. "You were only looking out for me, and I should have listened to you!"
"We both reacted poorly, and we both weren't listening to each other that day," Juniper said. "I'm training to be a judge, so I'm supposed to be impartial. Even if Logan did turn out to be innocent, you were right to ask me for evidence. I should have at least given it more thought before jumping to conclusions."
"Well like I said, I did want to believe you," Robin said. "It was the fact that it was Logan's word alone that made me so doubtful. Even so, I should have never taken it out on you. It will never happen again!"
"I believe you, Robin." Juniper said, now smiling gently. "Just like how you kept believing in me. That's why I'm here. Thinking about everything that happened these past few days, I realized we never stopped trusting each other."
In Robin's eyes, Juniper could see that very same trust, mingling about with a deep, sincere love. The same trust and love that Juniper had discovered in her own heart after banishing all the darkness.
"You were willing to let me take the stand, even after I told you I didn't believe Logan was the culprit," Juniper said to get the conversation started.
"W-e-l-l, that's how I'd always planned it," Robin said, her natural warmth and cheer slowly returning to her. "The way I saw it, if the bullet with Logan's fingerprints wasn't enough to seal a verdict, I would need your perspective on the crime to solve the riddle. When I saw you believed in your convictions so much that you were willing to stop the verdict, I knew the case needed you. Eh heh heh… even if I wound up reacting badly, again."
Juniper called up the next memory. "You were willing to let me wander about, even work with the defense. You had every right to keep me confined to the prosecutor's office as a witness, but you didn't."
"A part of me wants to say I just wanted to solve the case on my own," Robin said, thinking on it carefully. "But that would be a contradiction, I didn't want to keep you cooped up like that, Juniper. I really did want to see what you would learn and bring to the case. I think I knew, deep down, that you wanted to find Athena's shooter your own way."
Now that Juniper was saying all this, Robin found she could think of similar events that proved beyond a doubt that Juniper trusted in Robin.
"Juniper, you could have just refused to be a witness in court to protect Logan," Robin said, smiling. "But you didn't. In fact, in your testimony you didn't once say Logan was innocent."
"I don't really approve of how you acted during the first trial day," Juniper said, wanting to at least make that clear. "But when I took the stand, I knew it was because you would truly never corrupt your case. I knew that by giving my testimony, we could all find the truth hidden in there together."
"Ahhh! Even so, I acted pretty disgracefully," Robin said, now angry with herself.
"Yet you never called my testimony into doubt."
"I remember something else, actually. You told me that you never broke my gag order because you believed in me," Robin said.
"I did, and I still do. From the moment you placed the gag order, I knew why it was there," Juniper said. "I knew you weren't trying to suppress information, but instead making sure the truth wouldn't get lost. And watching you and Apollo trap Lisette by using the gag order, I knew I was right to trust you."
Tears started to well up in Robin's eyes, and she wrapped Juniper in a hug.
"Juniper! I love you so much!" Robin declared. "Thank you. For always believing in me."
"I love you too, Robin," Juniper said contently, returning the gesture. "And I forgive you. Because you've always believed in me too."
The two girlfriends separated briefly to look in each other's eyes, watching the mutual trust and love burn brightly. In her heart, Juniper could feel her strength grow greatly. She had her own strength inside, as did Robin. That's what allowed them to carry on through the horrid nightmare that was Athena's shooting on their own. Bringing the two strengths together, they melded to become something truly beautiful.
Slowly, the two of them drew into a kiss. Light at first, but soon heavy with want and affection, newly renewed. In that moment, the world was just the two of them.
After breaking apart from the kiss, Juniper first retrieved her belongings then joined up with Robin, who was sitting on the couch. The two girlfriends held hands, soaking in each other for the first time that entire week.
"So what happened after the verdict was passed?" Juniper asked Robin. "Was the Chief Prosecutor angry with you?"
"He wasn't too angry," Robin answered, looking a little embarrassed. "He wasn't happy with the stunts I pulled during the first trial day either, but after reviewing the case as a whole, he decided I still had the makings of a good prosecutor."
"That's a relief to hear," Juniper said, indeed deeply relieved. "Do you know how you want to approach the next trial."
"I do, actually!" Robin said, already excited. "I still owe Hugh a fair trial against him. And… I want to work with you, Juniper. Whatever way possible, I want us to find the truth together."
No too long ago, this issue had hung over their lives together. Then, they had been plunged into the nightmare that was Athena's shooting. Yet, from that incident, Juniper found they could finally face this issue together. And together they would always remain.
December 22, 2030
Outside the Newman-Woods Household
5:50 p.m.
As they drew near their house, Juniper considered the circumstances. Back then, she had Lana drop her off so she could save her relationship with Robin. Now here she was, coming back home with Robin as she did every day. Only this time, it was to celebrate their enduring love.
That day, they had begun to heal together. So it was that they continued on each day together, living and growing. It was something Juniper cherished, and something she wanted to remain the same for the rest of their lives.
A/N: Truthfully, I'm starting to feel a little sad. It's starting to sink in that very soon, I will finally say goodbye to TSOMS. Everyone, please say goodbye with me. Until then, this has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my Corner of Romance.