Rich people. She is once again surrounded by rich people at yet another fundraiser gala. She had thought that once she escaped from her father's grip, she would never have to attend one of these events again. But yet here she is standing in the middle of the venue champagne in one hand offering her most charming fake smile as she schmoozes with rich people.

She listens to them prattle on about themselves and how good of a person they are for offering a small donation to the Raccoon City Police Force. The amount of times she has heard the same story repeated in a thousand different ways should be a special kind of torture left for only the worst of humanity. Nonetheless, she endures the egos, small plates, and entitled rich men who try and chat her up. She has to live through this all once again for Jill.

Her girlfriend didn't have to beg her to come along to this. She could tell how nervous Jill was asking her to come along to this gala. Jill had sat and listened as Alice spilled everything that had happened to her during her childhood and teenage years. What her father had forced her into. Parties like this were the cherry on the cake of everything that had happened.

It was clear that Jill didn't want to ask her to come with her to this. That she knew the experience would bring back a lot of memories Alice is actively trying to escape from. But Jill had never been to something like this before. It's a whole different culture than what she is used to. Jill hadn't wanted to come either but being one of the only women in the special tactics and rescues squad her attendance was mandatory to show off female involvement in the team.

Fundraisers like this are all about showing off. The police force shows off their diversity and how inclusive they are to everyone to help build a better reputation with the community and press. Rich people show off how generous and well off they are. Donating a few grand here and there is pocket change to most of them. Alice should know she's done the exact same thing before.

It's the performance of the whole thing that Jill couldn't wrap her head around. Polite idle chatter in order to get in someone's good graces. The showboating and egos one has to encourage and play on in order to get someone to dive deeper into their pockets. How even the smallest slip up could have you blacklisted in the eyes of the wealthy. It's a game that can't be taught in a few days. It's something almost everyone in this room grew up on. Something Jill had never even thought about until now.

If she has to undergo something like this for the first time the very least Alice could do would be to go with her and offer her own support. Because unlike Jill this is the world, she grew up in. The one she tried so hard to run away from. But if she had to go through it again, she would do it for Jill. At this point, there isn't much she wouldn't do for the raven haired woman.

Hence why she is currently listening to this man gloat about his newest boat he purchased for his summer home in the Caribbean. Alice keeps her mask perfectly on as this thirty something man talks on and on about whatever fantastic adventure he has sailed on. Jill's on the other hand is starting to crack. The straining of her smile grows more visible, and her eyes start to flicker with annoyance.

Taking pity on her Alice expertly takes control of the conversation. One way to annoy people like him is to out show them. "My family traveled there once when we were younger." She intercepts before Jill fully loses control and offends this very profitable donator. The blonde haired man eyes her with interest. And not just in the wanting to hear the story way. Beside her, Jill stands up talker. Her mask slipping even more as she bristles at how the man is staring at Alice. "It wasn't our favorite place." The man's smile grows tighter. "We tend to visit the Maldives and Thailand more often than not. Indonesian is the newest of our holiday homes. More exciting than staying local. We prefer to try new places than always going to the same place. It grows a bit bland for our tastes. Have you ever been visited before." She knows he hasn't. if he had he would have talked about more than the one summer house he owns. She flashes him a dazzling smile to hide the insult she just issued towards him.

"I can't say that I have." He responds taking a large sip of his champagne. When one wishes to show off how travelled and rich, they are the best way to piss them off is to do the exact same but bigger and better. Their egos can't handle it.

"Pity. Maybe it's something you could into. I swear the food and experiences further away from where you live always seem to be better." She rubs it in a little more. His grip tightens on the glass which in turn only makes her smile grow brighter.

"I'll have to think about it." He downs the rest of his drink. His eyes flash with ire before disappearing as he meets her gaze again offering her a small fake smile. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get another drink."

Satisfaction washes over her. "By all means." She politely replies as he walks away.

Next to her Jill lets out a deep sigh of relief as they watch his retreating from. No doubt looking for another woman he can attempt to impress. "I don't think I have ever loved you more than I do right now." A quiet but true chuckle escapes from Alice at hearing this as a warmness she is slowly coming to grow used to makes her feel all light and giddy on the inside. It's not the first time Jill has told her she loves her. But each time has the exact same brightening and heart racing effect on her.

It's strange to think that three months ago they were broken up. But they had managed to get past all of that and move on. Alice will be forever grateful that Jill was willing to take a chance on them. That Jill found it to look past her past and instead look to their future. A future they could have together.

"I can't thank you enough for doing this," Jill says more softly as the two of them make their way towards the bar hoping to avoid being dragged into any more conversations.

Alice sends Jill a small smile. "You've already thanked me like a hundred times." She hopes her smile looked true. And to some extent it was. She is happy to help with navigating things like this. She's always happy to spend time with her girlfriend. Between their two high demanding jobs, it feels like they hardly get to see each other. Which is why she was so insistent on doing this with Jill.

Even when it brings back painful memories.

Jill as observant as ever must see the underlining emotions Alice has tried so hard to push back ever since Jill asked her to come as her secret plus one. "And it'll never be enough." Alice can hear the regret in her girlfriend's voice. The sadness and anger that hovers over both of them.

But this isn't a time for sadness or anger. What happened, happened and they can't change that. No matter how much they may want to. Tonight is supposed to be about them having fun, mocking other people, and raising money for the police fund. She would rather focus on that. "Jill"

Alice tries to explain all that, but it seems Jill is being stubborn on the issue. "No Alice. Don't think I don't know how badly this whole thing is affecting you." Unable to stop herself Alice twitches slightly at Jill's words. She knows they were said out of love and concern, but this isn't something she really wants to talk about.

Especially not here in front of hundreds of people.

The last time the two of them had a conversation like this was about a week after she was shot and was home on bed rest. It was during this time that she had just broken down and spilled everything about her past to Jill who took all of Alices off loading in silence but refused to let go of her hand acting as her anchor while she opened herself up for probably the first time.

"It's fine." She tries to brush it off. Shoving her emotions down is easy. It's keeping them down that is the harder part. Because she can push down as much as she likes but eventually it with overflow and break every dam wall, she has constructed to protect herself from others.

Besides this night is about Jill and all the good work she does for the city. This isn't about her.

Again, despite their uncanny ability to read each other Jill isn't seeing the giant neon sign screaming leave this subject alone. No Jill decides to push the conversation on. Pushing on her walls. Little cracks start to form under her pressure.

Jill's eyes narrow at her brush off. Her hand grips on to Alice's wrists pulling her so they are facing each other. "Having to hold on to the sink hunched over trying to get your breathing under control isn't fine." Jill snaps at her.

Alice almost stumbles back at that. Jill wasn't supposed to see that. Alice thought Jill was in the bedroom still changing into a dress. She had heard Jill complaining about having to wear a dress. She thought she had managed to deal with it before Jill entered the bathroom looking for her.

She didn't want to see that. To see the absolute mess, she really is. She didn't want Jill to feel any guilt about asking her to come tonight. She just wanted tonight to go off without a hitch. "Jill." She needs Jill to know this. To understand this.

A hand came up to stroke gently against her cheek. The hand guides her back to face Jill. She wasn't even aware she had looked away from the other woman. The anger Jill previously had evaporates in front of her leaving the real course of her snapping in full view. Worry. Jill looks so worried about her. "Ever since I asked you to join me, I've noticed Alice. You're not eating your barely sleeping and when you do you have nightmares." Alice wonders why she ever thought Jill wouldn't pick up on these things. No one else ever did but somehow Jill always seems to notice. It's one of the best and worst parts of their relationship. Jill sees her. Sees through her mask. She's the real version of her and still wants to stick around. That is both pure exulting and utterly terrifying. "I never should have asked this of you."

"You can ask me anything, Jill." Alice quickly and earnestly replies. This level of trust Jill has fought for has allowed Alice to let down her walls with the raven haired woman. Sometimes it feels like Jill is the only person who can trust. Who she can be herself around without fear. Since she can't hide from Jill and the darker haired woman seems determined to have this conversation Alice decides to be as honest as she can be. "I won't lie and say that any of this has been easy for me. But I wanted to do this. I wanted to be here with you. "

She hopes that her words help to alleviate some of the guilt Jill is feeling about this. Not that she should feel guilty for anything. Like Alice said it was her decision to come here. To expose herself to all this again. Is it nerve wrecking and makes her want to run as far away as possible.

Absolutely.

Will she do that. No. She won't because, for the first time, she isn't alone in dealing with all this. Jill is with her. And that alone outweighs all the negative emotions she has about things like this. Jill makes her stronger. Strong enough to face this aspect of her past. Something she thought she could never do again. Jill may not see it but tonight has been good for her. It's been hard but it's shown she can overcome the past. That she doesn't have to be afraid anymore. It's a step forward in her life. A step she has taken with Jill.

This time it's Jill who looks away missing what Alice was trying to show her. "I hate that you're suffering because of me," Jill mutters. The sound is barely audible over the sounds of the party. But even with the quietness of the words Alice still hears them loud and clear. They ram into her with the same impact as getting caught in that bomb explosion a year back.

"Not you." Alice quickly says hating the idea of Jill holding her past against herself. "The only time I've suffered because of you was when you broke up with me." She jokes achieving a little grin and scoff from her girlfriend. Jill looks up to re-meet her gaze. Alice hopes her positive feelings of love happiness, and everything in between are reflected as she continues. "Everything to do with this has nothing to do with you. That's me and my families fault. Not yours. If anything, being here with you makes things like this more bearable. You make everything that happened feel less significant. You make me better Jill. I've never been more happier, comforted, or as free as when I'm with you."

Neither woman could tell you what was happening around them. Everything could have been on fire, and they still wouldn't have noticed. Their focus was trained solely on each other following Alice's words. As the time slowly passes by them Alice feels a sense of panic growing in her gut. Had she said too much. Had she done something wrong here.

That building worry fades as Alice watches a smile grow on Jill's face. A slight blush paints her cheeks which Jill tries to fight back training her eyes on the ground to avoid Alice's knowing smirk. "Wow, that was sappy." Jill jokes smiling brightly at the floor.

Her smirk growing Alice leans forward pushing more into Jill's personal space. Still far enough away to look innocent to outsiders but close enough that Jill could feel the warmth radiating from Alice's body. "Again, I'm only like that because of you."

Jill scoffs looking back up at Alice desire tinting her dark eyes. "You really have to stop saying things like that."

This time it's Jill who leans closer. The two of them looking a lot less innocent now. "Oh." Alice's smirk turns devilish. She lowers her voice knowing full well the effect it will have on her girlfriend. "And why is that."

Jill never being one to back down from a challenge matches Alice's flirting. "I can't leave just yet. And when you talk like that all I want to do is take you home and show you how much you mean to me."

Suddenly feeling her mouth dry at Jill's words Alice quickly looks around the room making sure no one is paying them any attention. Especially Captain Henderson. Jill would never live it down if he found out what they were about to do. "I'll tell you a little insider secret." Alice makes sure that Jill is the only one to hear what she has to say. Her lips brush against Jill's ear and the other woman shudders at their proximity. "There is always a space designed for couples to sneak off to have some fun."

"Where." Comes Jill's breathless reply.

"The staircase to our right leads to the upper level. Two doors down is a hallway leading to where everyone's coats are stored. One person works up there and out of the five rooms used for storage only two of them actually are." It was something she learned when she was a teenager after numerous people had offered to take her away for some fun. Offers she was quick to turn down. Whenever she did use one of the rooms it was to get away from everyone for a while. A place to decompress before facing the crowds again.

Jill chuckles at hearing this. "I love the fact you know that." Alice shrugs in response. A little thankful that Jill isn't digging more into her knowledge of this.

"I may have also scouted it to make sure." You never know when you may need to sneak away for a while.

Jill shakes her head in amusement. "I'm sure you did."

She can see Jill is very tempted to do just that but needs that little extra incentive. "You know I've never done it at the actual event. It would be a first for me as well."

The thought of Jill being the one to turn what is usually a horrible memory into something that will alter the past into something good. Something they can both share has Jill latching at her hand and all but dragging her up the stairs. Naturally, Alice takes over and makes it look less like they are sneaking out to have sex. That wouldn't go down with Jill's bosses. Alice heads up first making sure no one is paying attention. Jill follows not long after.

No one would notice if the two of them disappeared for half an hour. Or an hour. As long as they are back in time for the closing speech everything will be fine.