Breath hitched, muscles in his chest tightened at the sight of her. It had been ten years since he had seen her last and even with her back to him, Jackie would recognize her anywhere. Cera turned and smiled, locking eyes with him. ¡Señor y cielo arriba! She could melt ice caps with those honeyed amber eyes. Her smile was small, shy hidden behind perfectly posed full lips. Square jaw with high cheek bones that accentuated the deep point of her heart shaped face. Cyberware embedded on her throat was glowing blue and purple. As it should be. Her dark brown curly hair was partially pinned up; her typical wear and tear. On the left side of her face, intricate blue and purple electrical veins were placed just under her left eye. Her nose was slender and made her face symmetrical to the rest of her. Brushing along the metallic floor of the clinic was the hooded black duster she always wore. Now in the light, Jackie got to see the full view of her.

Underneath the black leather duster she wore raggedy brown tank top that stopped just shy of her black cargo pants. Exposing a middriff of tan skin. Around her waist was a total of six knife sheaths, three on each hip. No doubt that there was two attached at each ankle hidden just beneath where her pants leg met black and white sneakers. Jackie knew Cera all too well, that against the small of her back was two empty holsters that held both of her M221 Saragotas. Pleasantly named destino. A play on words that she would take both in her own hands. To be honest, Jackie didn't expect her to be awake much less standing.

Cera's smile faded as she looked at Vik realizing she had no way to pay him for saving her life. "I can't thank you enough for doing what you did." Her voice was soft, as she glanced at Jackie.

"No need to thank me. Jack's the real reason you're alive." Jackie turned to Vik to pay him, who only shook his head pushing the eddies back into Jackie's hand. "This one is on the house."

Cera stepped outside of the clinic and into the warm rainy air. She missed this. This weightless feeling. Warmth enveloped her shoulder, gently turning her around. Taking a deep breath, Cera looked up into his green eyes. How he captivated her with those selfless, kind eyes so many times before. How cold and heartless she was for turning such a gentle soul away... "I owe you some answers don't I?"

Jackie didn't move at first, he didn't budge. He didn't leave or walk away. He wasn't her. He was better than that... "Where are you gonna stay?"

That was what he wanted to know? Where she was gonna stay? Cera hadn't really thought of it. One minute she was heading to lock up to visit her brother, the next she was grab bagged by scavs. Only five hours ago she thought she was done for. Now she was face to face with the only man she's ever loved. The man who's heart she broke... "Nowhere." she chuckled. Trying to make light of the tension that grew between them.

"Vamos, you can stay with me. I got a spot outside of the Coyote. You can stay there as long as you need." Jackie offered, his heart hitched in his throat awaiting her answer.

"Misty won't mind?"

"Misty and I don't live together. A mi mamá no le gusta ella." He scoffed but paused as Cera wrapped her arms around him. Hugging him..she was hugging him.

"Eso no es sorprendente. Ella tampoco me quería". Cera said, sighing she took in the scent of Jackie's cologne. Sandalwood, amber and leather. The kind of scent that ushered one into absolute blissful slumber. A comforting calm that chased all of your demons away. A home she longed for. A home she abandoned.

Wrapping his strong arms around her, Jackie without thinking instinctively kissed her forehead. "She never had the chance to really know you." But Cera knew that Mama Welles knew all that she wanted to know about Cera. If she ever knew the truth about why Jackie got shot, if she ever knew that Cera was his wife... There would be hell to pay. And not just for Cera but for Jackie as well.

She followed Jackie back to V's car only to find Misty standing next to it. She didn't look upset or hurt by the sight of Cera standing next to Jackie. In fact, Misty's face was rather peaceful. "Hey, Jack. Good to see you're okay, Cera." She looked at Jackie and entered the Esoterica without another word.

"Let me handle this." Jackie said, turning he followed Misty. "I'm guessing V called you?" Jackie leaned up against the counter meanwhile Misty reached for her tarot deck hidden behind the counter.

"No, Viktor did." Misty shuffled the deck as Jackie shook his head.

"I don't know what to do, Misty. I never thought I'd see her again. I moved on." Misty reached out, and put her hand over Jackie's to keep it from shaking.

"But you always hoped you would. I'm not blind or stupid. I love you, Jack. And I know you love me. But you need to figure out if things with Cera are really dead and gone." She gave him a warm smile glancing up to Cera who stood in the doorway. Misty's smile stayed though she could tell Cera looked guilty. As if she were about to cry.

"I'm gonna decline your offer." She said to Jackie, her voice small and depleted. She knew better.. "I don't want to ruin what you have."

"You're not." Misty said, gesturing for Cera to sit next to Jackie. "It's not a break up. It's a hiatus." Misty knew. She knew what Cera meant to Jackie. What Cera still meant to Jackie. And Misty wanted Jackie to find peace in what happened, regardless of what that meant for her. She knew that there was no comparison. She had seen the photos from their wedding. She had seen where he kept them hidden. She had followed Jackie many nights where he sat out in front of the Coyote, waiting for Cera to come home. Misty smiled at both of them as she proceeded to shuffle her tarot.

Jackie's green eyes bled concern as Misty leaned forward. Kissing both his and Cera's forehead before continuing, "Go and get some rest. I'll be here waiting." She watched as Jackie and Cera walked out together before she played out their tarot.

Misty turned over the first card and smiled, "Wheel of Fortune. Fate." She flipped over the next card and smiled once more. She wanted both of them happy. Jackie and Cera deserved that much. "Lovers. Fitting." The energy that clung to the last card felt heavy. It was stagnant and still. As she laid it on the counter, Misty's smile faded. "Death.." she whispered it out while tears fell down her face. Jackie had mentioned a legend making gig he was working on, which resulted in the death card behind delt. She had tried to stay optimistic. But this was different. The air around the card shifted. It shifted the moment Cera Welles reentered Night City and Misty wasn't sure who it was for. Jackie or Cera?

Spanish to English Translations:

Senor y Cielo arriba - Lord and Heaven above

Destino - Destiny and Fate

Vamos - Come on

A mi mama no le gusta Ella - my mom doesn't like her

Eso noes sorprendente. Ella tampoco me queria - That's not surprising. She didn't like me either