This chapter was very frightening to write for much the same reason as the last, but taken up by a hundred. You'll see what I mean once you've read the chapter. Honestly, I wanted to get this chapter out before the weekend since I'm watching Kenobi on Friday and going to Comic-Con in London on Saturday, so I'm glad I could get this done by now. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I'll see you at the end!

For the first time since Progress Day, Caitlyn woke up feeling calm and rested. There were no explosions or any of Silco's thugs chasing her down, nor were there any ties binding her to a chair, along with a painted muzzle over her mouth. It was just her, laying in the arms of the most resilient woman she'd ever met, the warm afterglow of a good night's rest hanging like fog in her mind.

Maybe it was the happiness or the feeling of contentment talking, but Caitlyn could honestly say this was one of the best mornings she'd had in a long time, if not the best in her entire life. No other could really compare to this, with Vi's naked chest pressed up against her back and her arms wrapped snug around her waist. And just below the area between her shoulder blades, Caitlyn could feel Vi's forehead pressing against her skin, a steady contact that grounded her. Even through the haze of sleep, she felt her comforting presence and smiled.

It was a nice enough morning even without all of that, tucked in a comfortable and warm bed with the rays of the sun shining through the window, bathing their bodies in gentle light. Caitlyn glanced through that same window and into the blue sky, nary a cloud in sight. They must've forgotten to shut the curtains after Vi tore them open in her panic last night, but Caitlyn wasn't about to complain.

I wonder how Vi feels, now that she can see the sun and the sky again? Caitlyn thought, gently resting her hands upon Vi's own, even though she was more than likely asleep. The gesture was more for Caitlyn than anything, reassuring herself of Vi's presence - that she was still here. Beyond the soft bed and the warm air, that was what made this so special.

Caitlyn was no stranger to sex and, while she wasn't exactly promiscuous per se, she's had a few partners in her time. She'd sneak them up to her bedroom and they'd spend the night learning each other's bodies, but, no matter who they were or how well she knew them, they'd always be gone by the time she woke up. Maybe it was the weight of the Kiramman name frightening her partners away, or maybe Caitlyn just wasn't worth sticking around for, but no matter what she'd wake up alone. She'd always see those people again, though, having mostly met them through shared circles and the like but it wasn't ever the same. It would always become evident that they didn't care about her as a person; they'd wanted her body and her name, a notch on a disgusting belt to be kept as a prize. The sting of those betrayals, if they could even be called that, stuck with her every time until she eventually stopped trying, dedicating herself to her work and her training.

It's hard to explain, which is why she'd never talked about it with her parents or Jayce, even though she was sure they knew and that they'd understand.

It's just… at the time she'd just become a young adult, desperate to find out who she was beyond the name of her family, and while she hadn't been looking for a relationship in that sense, she wasn't exactly the type for a quick fling, either.

Caitlyn had always cared too much and maybe she'd overcompensated for it, distancing herself from the world and the people in it, but she'd grown up a misfit; a few more years of it wouldn't hurt.

Then Vi came into her life, and the walls she'd built came crashing down around her. They'd bonded so much over the short time they'd known each other, much like the other people Caitlyn had shared her body with, but there was something deeper and more solid about their connection.

And last night, when Vi's entire world was shattered again and she was left broken in its wake, Caitlyn had done everything in her power to help because she cared about her. And when one thing led to another and Vi's head wound up between Caitlyn's thighs, she'd let it happen because she trusted that Vi was different from the other women she'd been with; the other women who'd hurt her.

For the first time in her life, Caitlyn didn't wake up alone.

That was enough to make it the perfect morning, and Caitlyn knew she'd made the right choice in her partner, whatever that word meant in this context.

I should probably ask Vi what this makes us now. Friends with benefits or something more, something real?

Caitlyn knew which one she wanted.

It can wait, though… I just want to stay like this for a little longer.

She shut her eyes, absently squeezing her lover's hands and basking in her presence. She knew she needed to get up and go see Jayce, but they had time. Right?

Then soft hands wrapped around her own, their fingers intertwining and Caitlyn's breath hitched. Then Vi whispered to her, the voice piercing through the pleasant mist pervading her thoughts. "Are you awake?" Her voice was husky but Caitlyn heard it as clear as day, causing her to shudder slightly. It caused memories of that night to surface, back when Vi brought her to the peak with her fingers and tongue all while telling her to let go, and Caitlyn felt heat rising in her core as exciting thoughts raced through her mind.

Caitlyn pictured herself rolling over and capturing Vi's lips with her own, pushing her over the edge again and again while whispering words of love and encouragement into her ear. She wanted to hold her down and make her come undone until she was a panting, sweaty mess, just like Vi had done to her hours ago. She needed to return the favour, to let her know that she was worth all her affection; that she was beautiful and brilliant and everything Caitlyn wanted…

"Cupcake?" Vi called to her, voice louder than before and she jerked a little, forcefully dragged out of her honestly scandalous imagination. She turned over and faced Vi, making sure to stay in her arms because she wanted to keep as close to her as she could.

"Sorry, yes, I'm awake." Caitlyn stuttered, feeling a little bit embarrassed. She was an adult now yet she was getting distracted by lewd thoughts, like she was nothing more than a horny teenager. "Did I wake you?" She asked, trying her best to ground herself before she did or said anything silly.

Vi's cheeks had turned a light red, highlighting her name inked onto her face before speaking. "No, I've, uh, I've actually been awake for a while."

"Really?" Caitlyn questioned her, vaguely surprised as she thought Vi would've slept just as long as her, if not longer. They'd both had long days but Vi had been out fighting most of hers; that was bound to tire someone out. "How long have you been up, then?"

Vi turned away, her steel-grey eyes falling shut as she pressed her face into the pillow. She mumbled something that Caitlyn couldn't quite hear even with how close they were, and she smiled at Vi's sudden bout of nervousness. "What was that, Darling?" She teased with a smirk.

The redhead let out a sigh as she faced Caitlyn, pressing forward and kissing her with a smile she was clearly failing to suppress. "Nearly an hour, I think." Vi admitted as she pulled away, absently tracing circles on Caitlyn's waist with her fingers.

Caitlyn leaned back in surprise, reaching up after a moment and brushing crimson locks of Vi's hair behind her ear. It was covering her face and Caitlyn couldn't have that. She wanted to see every inch of her, open in the light of day. The dark of night provided a cover for people, allowing them to act on desires they'd normally keep hidden, but Vi was with her after the sun touched the sky. It hadn't been some spur of the moment decision she'd come to regret, because she'd have left her if it was.

No. Vi was here because she wanted to be, because she saw something in Caitlyn just like she saw something in Vi.

"You should've gone back to sleep." Caitlyn said, finally. "Have you been laying here this whole time?"

"Nah, I really needed a piss so I went and took care of that", Vi began, making Caitlyn cringe. Vi laughed and tapped her on the nose, continuing with the familiar wide smirk that she'd never admit she loved. "I literally ate you out last night and that's what grosses you out? Wow, talk about being a prude…"

"Don't even start with that, Violet", Caitlyn chided with burning cheeks, rolling her eyes to hide how flustered she was. "You were the one who went down there. I allowed you to because you looked incredible below me." Caitlyn felt some confidence return with how Vi glowered at her, and she flicked Vi's nose in return, making her flinch with a playful snarl.

"I'm gonna have you on your knees, Kiramman. That's a promise." Vi growled with a low voice, and the way her chest heaved did things to Caitlyn, her heart beating faster than it should while laying in bed. Even on their sides, the covers hid their bodies well enough that Caitlyn felt the urge to throw it aside and take in Vi's nude form once more. Vi had looked divine in the dim moonlight, but she wanted to see her now, well and truly. Still, that would have to wait because Caitlyn told herself she'd speak to Vi once she woke up, and here they were, not talking.

Well, not talking about anything important, at the very least.

"You know what they say about actions and words, Vi." Caitlyn answered, deflecting Vi's words as she steered the conversation back on track. "Regardless, what did you do once you were done?"

Vi shrugged a shoulder, the one not resting on the mattress, before she replied. "I went and found a clock to make sure we hadn't overslept or anything, and it turned out we had hours before we needed to leave to meet with Jayce and Viktor." She looked down then, her eyes unashamedly trailing down the front of Caitlyn's neck, only stopping when she took her chin in hand, Vi meeting her eyes with a look that screamed for her to call her out, but she let the matter lie. "Then I came back to bed. Simple as that." Vi said, but Caitlyn could tell that she wasn't giving the whole story.

Vi was hiding something, and Caitlyn was pretty sure she understood what it was, though she'd admit she didn't know all the details. That was okay, though. She didn't need to know everything to help her.

Caitlyn nodded at Vi's words and thought carefully over her next words, dimly aware that she was still walking on eggshells around Vi even after sleeping with her. "I wanted to talk about last night, if that's alright with you." She began carefully, and Vi's eyes drifted shut with a quiet sigh.

A few seconds passed in silence before Vi responded. "Which part? Us sleeping together or the thing before that?" Her words sounded resigned and tired, with her not even looking Caitlyn in the eyes. The way her mood flipped like that made Caitlyn want to backpedal, quickly changing the subject and returning to the easy flirting and heated tension, because she never wanted to see Vi upset again.

But there were some things that needed to be done, no matter how much they hurt, and she'd be damned if she let Vi slip away because of her cowardice.

"Both, preferably", she said as diplomatically as she could. "Which would you rather talk about first?"

Vi didn't speak, drawing away from Caitlyn and rolling onto her back, and she missed the warmth of her touch immediately. She worried for a brief moment that Vi would try to leave, but she just lay there with her eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Can we not do this right now?" Vi pleaded in a mildly frustrated voice, though it didn't feel aimed at her.

"When would you like to do this, then?" Caitlyn tried, keeping her voice level even as her stomach twisted in growing fear. "Tomorrow? Next week? I hope you're not thinking that I'll pretend this never happened. I'm not that type of woman, Violet." There was steel in her words though she hadn't intended for there to be, and Vi turned back over to her with a panicked expression.

She took Caitlyn's hands in hers, fixing her gaze on the back of her wrists with narrowed eyes. "It's not that, I promise. Fuck, I…" Vi trailed off, her grip growing a little tighter. She was growing agitated, or at the very least annoyed by her inability to put her feelings into words. Caitlyn could sympathise somewhat, since being taught how to speak from a young age didn't always mean she was confident enough to do so. It was like how Caitlyn got flustered down in that brothel in the Undercity, stuttering and making a fool of herself in front of the masked boy. Yet, when she'd gotten ahold of herself and approached the young woman sitting in that hunting-themed room, she'd had her eating out the palm of her hand within minutes.

Of course, it might not be so simple in Vi's case. She doubted conflicts in Stillwater were resolved with conversation and debate, so it made sense that Vi would be uncomfortable when she needed to rely on her words over her fists.

Caitlyn decided to make things easier for her, after her silence stretched along for nearly half a minute. "Would you like me to start?" She asked, giving her a proverbial hand.

Vi nodded vehemently, her jaw tense with her lips pressed shut. She just kept staring at their hands, and Caitlyn made no move to pull away.

"I really care about you, more than I ever expected I would", she began, keeping her voice just loud enough for Vi to hear, and her gaze shifted up, meeting her eyes. "It feels like I've known you for so long even though it hasn't even been a week, and I… I want you to be happy. And I know you've been through so much in your life, and that you've got so much more to do with your sister and as Deputy so you might not have much time outside of that, but I want to be with you." Caitlyn confessed, hearing Vi's sharp intake of breath and waiting a moment to see if she'd speak. She kept listening, however, enraptured by Caitlyn's words. "You're right that oil and water don't mix, but we're people, Vi, not fucking liquids or anything else like that. I want to try and make something work between us because I see how incredible you are." Vi's lips began to tremble, and she dragged Caitlyn's hand and arm towards her chest, hugging her limb close and holding their hands up to her chin. "A-And it's okay if you don't feel the same, and we can just move on from this as friends and collea-"

Vi shot forward and wrapped her arms around Caitlyn's shoulders in a tight embrace, their chests pressing together as her head came to rest next to hers. Caitlyn's words caught in her throat as she placed her hands on the small of Vi's back, her lover speaking after a moment. "I want you too. I want you so much it hurts, but I was so scared, Caitlyn."

Caitlyn turned her head and laid a gentle kiss on her cheek, hugging her tighter as she did. "What were you scared of?" She asked as softly as she could.

Vi pulled back a bit, locking gazes with Caitlyn though she kept her arms around her. "I was scared you'd see me how I see myself…" She said and Caitlyn was about to speak, to tell her just how amazing she was and that was all she needed to see, but Vi pushed on. "I'm not a good person; all I've ever done is fight. It's all I've ever known, Caitlyn. I hurt people and I enjoy it, and I don't think I'll ever stop enjoying it." She paused and took back a hand, wiping the tears from her eyes before they could fall. "You deserve so much better than me…"

Vi let go of Caitlyn and held her arms across her chest, looking down and refusing to meet her eyes. In contrast Caitlyn lay perfectly still, continuing to hold onto Vi all while processing her words. All things considered Vi's reasoning, wrong as it was, it wasn't all that shocking. The most surprising thing about it for Caitlyn was that she wasn't surprised at all. She knew Vi well enough to know she couldn't recognise her own worth, and it broke her heart hearing how little she thought of herself.

But Caitlyn had told Vi how much she respected and cared for her; how brilliant she knew she was. She'd done enough to see that simply telling her wouldn't be sufficient.

She'd have to try something else.

"Do you hate me, then?" Caitlyn inquired in a firm voice. Vi looked up at her with wide and affronted eyes, mouth falling open slightly.

"No! Why would you even ask that?" She exclaimed, looking somewhat alarmed.

"Because you act like enjoying a fight makes you some sort of monster." She surmised, moving her hands up from Vi's waist to the space just below her shoulders. "But I enjoy using guns; I have since I was a teenager." Caitlyn admitted, feeling no shame in the fact though she smiled at the perplexed look Vi sent her. "I'd spend hours every day out at firing ranges and the like, learning the ins and outs of any weapon I could find, all because I liked the thrill. And you know what, Vi? I'm the best fucking shot in Piltover. Literally. I have the highest accuracy rating in the history of the Enforcers, and it isn't even close."

"That's different-" Vi interrupted her, a pained scowl etched across her face, but Caitlyn didn't let her speak. If she did, the walls would come back up and Caitlyn would never get through to her.

"Give me a pistol and I can end half a dozen lives before you've even raised your fists", Caitlyn pressed on and Vi's mouth snapped shut. "Give me a rifle and I can do the same from hundreds of meters away. I learned to do this for fun. Does that make me a bad person?" She challenged, but Vi remained silent. "What about the fact that my goal ever since I was sixteen was to become an Enforcer?"

"What does this have to do with anything?" Vi demanded, her jaw visibly tensing.

"Guns are deadly weapons, and the Enforcers have been systemically corrupt ever since Marcus was made Sheriff. I was made the Sheriff yesterday", Caitlyn proclaimed, "and I'm probably the best marksman in the city, so I must be terrible, right?"

"No!" Vi shouted, causing Caitlyn to wince at the volume. She pressed on with her eyes clenched, either not noticing or not caring at how loud she was being. "You're not! You saved me! You got me out of that fucking nightmare and you've done nothing but help me since!"

"But I'm an Enforcer and a Kiramman, with my mother holding a seat on the Council that you clearly despise."

"I don't care!" Vi denied, her hands forming into fists across her chest and she tried to create space between them. Caitlyn held on firm, however, locking her arms around Vi's body. "It doesn't matter, because I see you! You're not an Enforcer, you're…" She trailed off, clearly struggling for the words.

"I'm me?" Caitlyn tried, and Vi nodded, finally meeting her gaze again. "People are more than the sum of their parts, Violet, you just have to be willing to look beneath the surface to see it. Do you know what I saw when I first met you?"

"I can make a pretty good guess", the redhead quipped, and Caitlyn smiled gently.

"I saw a violent and abrasive young woman who beat up an inmate, my suspect, on his first day in Stillwater. I thought you were selfish and rude and that you didn't care about anything. I'm willing to bet your first impression of me was just as poor." Caitlyn said with a wink, drawing a small smile from Vi.

"I thought you had a stick up your ass", Vi told her and Caitlyn chuckled.

"Maybe I did", she allowed, "But I hope I proved you wrong, because you proved me wrong." Caitlyn removed her arms from around Vi's back, bringing them in front of her chest and taking Vi's hands once more. "You showed me how kind and strong you are, and how much you care for the people around you. Your devotion and your resilience, it's inspiring. So what if you like fighting? You fight to protect the people and things you care about, just like me." She saw the way Vi's features softened, closing the distance between them ever so slightly, fondly running her thumbs over the back of Caitlyn's hands. "Someone I looked up to once told me that why you do something is just as important as actually doing it - in a roundabout way, at least."

Caitlyn thought back to the shooting competition she'd taken part in when she was sixteen. It was part of some high-class party celebrating substantial donations to the Councils, or whatever it may have been. Since shooting was a relatively common hobby among PIltover's "elite", it had been quite the turnout, but Caitlyn's skill and practice had allowed her to take home the trophy.

Except she hadn't really earned it, had she?

That victory belonged to the late Sheriff Grayson. She'd let Caitlyn take the final shot, winning her the tournament and, when Caitlyn questioned her about it, she claimed it was because knowing how to handle a weapon in service of her people and city was trophy enough. Then she'd asked Caitlyn a question that stuck with her to this day.

What are you shooting for?

"They sound wise", Vi commented, drawing Caitlyn from her memories.

"She was", Caitlyn agreed, noticing Vi's eyes widening in sympathy at the word 'was'. After all, Grayson was dead. "And I like to think I learned a lot from her, even though she's no longer with us. So I'll ask you again, am I a bad person for knowing how to use guns, or for being an Enforcer?"

"Of course not." Vi answered with clear confidence.

"Then why do you think you're a bad person?"

"I…" Vi began, looking away in shame. "I hurt my sister, and I got my brothers and father killed. I was hotheaded and stupid and it cost them their lives, and it cost Powder her childhood and her sanity."

Caitlyn reached up and gently cupped Vi's cheek, just like she'd done when they'd laid together before their audience with the Council. Vi leaned into the contact, her eyes drifting shut as Caitlyn spoke. "I'm so sorry for everything you've been through, but you can't blame yourself for everything. I think… I think you've trapped yourself in the past, Violet." She assessed, watching as the thin grimace on the redhead's face twisted into a deep frown. "You see all the mistakes you made, but you need to remember that you did everything you could to help - to fix things."

Vi kept hold of Caitlyn's hands but the grip turned tight. "You don't know what I did."

"I don't need to", she denied, "because I know you, and I know you did everything you could to fix things. Am I wrong?" Vi remained silent and Caitlyn took that as a no, carrying on. "Sometimes we try our hardest and things still go wrong." She said, thinking back on the attack on Progress Day, along with how she was the only survivor. Then there was the encounter with Marcus on the bridge, along with her confrontation with Jinx at her little tea party. And when she'd had to watch Vi walk away…

She'd done everything she could to convince the Council, and to convince Vi when that failed, but she hadn't been good enough. She'd put her all into that night and she'd still come up short.

"That's not a failure - that's life."

Vi leaned forward and pressed her forehead against Caitlyn's chest, hiding her face from view. "It sure as fuck feels like failure."

"But you can't keep letting that failure define you. You need to move on. It's the only way you'll be able to heal." Caitlyn wrapped Vi in a gentle hug, one hand on her shoulder and the other running softly through her crimson hair.

The woman in Cailtyn's arms snorted loudly. "It's not that easy. All I had in prison were the memories of the things I'd lost. They were what kept me strong when everything else was set against me." There was a vulnerability in Vi's voice then, softer and less confident than usual, and Caitlyn hung on her every word. "I let them define me because, without them, I wasn't Vi anymore; I was inmate 516. They were my drive, Caitlyn, and I don't know who I'd be without them."

"Do you want to find out?" Caitlyn asked, throwing caution to the wind.

"I don't know", Vi said after a long moment. "I mean, I've thrown my lot in with you, Jayce and Viktor." Then she laughed, and the sound was bitter and frustrated. "Vi, the Piltover Enforcer. Can you believe it?"

"I believe you'll do fantastic in the position."

"That's not what I mean and you know it", she admonished her, and Caitlyn shut her mouth. Vi's head tilted slightly against her body and Caitlyn caught a glimpse of her face, looking a little distressed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. Maybe it's all getting to me, you know; all this change. Eight years in a prison where every day is the same. Same food, same fights, and I end the day in the same cell. But looking back at it, for all that Stillwater was a horrible place to be, there was something comforting in the routine. I had food and a place to sleep. All I had to do was fight to keep it and, well, I'm a very good fighter."

"Vi…" Caitlyn breathed, empathetic to her plight, wishing upon all the stars in the sky that she could take away her pain.

"I know, I know - it's a shitty place to miss, even in an abstract way like that. But being here now, where everything is uncertain with the Chembarons and Noxus, I don't know what the next day will bring and it's scary." Vi brushed some of the bangs from out of her face before resting her palms on Caitlyn's chest, just below the front of her shoulders. "

"But think about what you've gained." Caitlyn said. "You have a job and a place to stay here, for as long as you need or until you find a place to live. You have a friend in Ekko, and with time I'm sure you'll become close with Jayce and Viktor."

"They seem like good people." Vi admitted.

"They're the best. You won't find more dependable friends than those two. And, most importantly, you can finally help your sister." Caitlyn finished, hoping she didn't upset Vi by mentioning Jinx. "We'll find her and we'll get her the help she deserves, and hopefully stop her from hurting anyone else."

Vi nodded frantically, accepting her words easily before falling quiet. Caitlyn wasn't sure what to say, then, before Vi spoke up once more, shattering the silence that had fallen upon the room. "I have you, too", she whispered, gazing up and placing a hand on the back of her head, mirroring Caitlyn, and her throat felt very dry all of a sudden.

Caitlyn leaned forward and planted two tender kisses on Vi's cheeks, letting the touches linger as she took solace in Vi's warmth. "You have me if you want me." She mumbled against her skin, her voice a breathy and carnal promise.

Her Violet just stared at her with rosy cheeks, taking shallow breaths through lips that Caitlyn wished to worship with her own.

"I don't want this to be a one time thing", Vi began, and Caitlyn smiled brightly. "Gods above, I want to be with you in every way I can. And I know we haven't known each other long", she said, bringing her hands to Caitlyn's cheeks, "I just don't care. If tomorrow's uncertain, then I want to spend today and every day I have left with you. Is that… is that okay?"

Caitlyn kissed her instead of answering, closing her eyes and letting her hand roam from her shoulder to her waist, the other loosely gripping short strands of her hair. Vi responded in kind, her tongue probing at her lips and Caitlyn let her in, taking the opportunity to roll on top of her. Pinned beneath her weight, Caitlyn had enough leverage to push her leg in between Vi's, pressing her lower thigh up into Vi's core as she savoured the heat of her body. She felt as well as heard the appreciative moan Vi let out, the sound of it a low and muffled rumble that had her heart beating madly in her chest.

She leaned back, however, just as Vi's hand reached up to cup her breast, breathing quickly as she blushed. "Sorry, sorry, just one last thing", she requested, grabbing Vi's wrists and pinning them above her head to prevent any… distractions. "Did you want to talk about last night? I asked earlier but we kind of moved past it."

Vi looked at her with an adorably confused expression, like she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing before her head fell back into the pillow. "Are you really asking me that right now?"

Yes, Caitlyn couldn't believe it either, since the last thing she'd been planning to do with Vi beneath her was begin questioning her. She finished what she started, though, and she didn't want the thought eating away at her when she should've been focusing on her partner. "Yes or no, that's all I'm asking."

Vi took a deep breath, the motion doing interesting things to her chest and Caitlyn's gaze slipped down briefly, though she tried to hide it. The redhead's quick smile said she'd failed, speaking after a moment. "That's very personal stuff and… I'm not ready to talk about it. I think I will be soon, but just… wait for me?" Her voice was mildly desperate, though Caitlyn wasn't sure if that was part of her request or a plea for them to stop talking and get back to where they left off.

"Of course", Caitlyn allowed, "you take as much time as you need. I think it's best if we don't rush things between us", she said, drawing a raised brow from Vi.

"What else can we really rush to?" She laughed. "In fact, aren't we doing this whole thing backwards? I'm no expert but the romantic confession normally comes before jumping into bed together."

Caitlyn shrugged her shoulders, the motion feeling a bit odd while she was draped over Vi's body. "Then let's just do what comes naturally, from here on out. Take things at our own pace."

Vi gave her a sly smile, her tongue darting out to wet her lips in a way that drove Caitlyn mad. "Is this natural enough for you?" She asked, her voice hungry and heavy.

She dove down and pressed her mouth to the side of Vi's neck, biting down just hard enough for her to feel it, and her partner let out a shaky breath. Caitlyn then trailed her tongue up past Vi's jaw until she reached her ear, relishing in how she trembled in clear anticipation. "You are more than enough for me. But this time, I'll set the pace." She whispered.

She held Vi's wrists together with one hand, letting the other ghost down her arm and shoulder before palming her breast. Caitlyn ran her thumb over her soft peak, electing a quiet moan which she silenced with a kiss, feeling Vi press her sex against her leg. Her hips began to grind against Caitlyn's thigh before she leaned up, deepening the heated embrace. Caitlyn then let Vi's arms go, taking her other breast in hand before gently biting Vi's bottom lip, releasing her after a moment. They then stared at each other, standing on the precipice of this new facet of their relationship. Last night had been a spur of the moment decision, born of mutual feelings, attraction and a desire to not spend the night alone.

This was different. This was to solidify the promise they'd just made to each other, whatever that may bring.

Caitlyn moved her leg out from between Vi's after a tense moment, coming to kneel either side of her toned thighs before letting her palms slide down her chest, coming to rest just below her hips. She then leaned down and left a trail of kisses down her body, moving slowly from her collar to her stomach and stopping just above the patch of crimson hair on her crotch, looking up with lidded eyes. Vi watched her with an intensity that took her breath away, reaching down and gently placing her soft hands atop Caitlyn's head. The motion didn't feel rough or controlling, more like a way of anchoring herself, and Caitlyn let her.

And just as Caitlyn was about to take the plunge, returning the favour for what Vi had done last night, the door to the guest bedroom opened with a rather irate voice calling out.

"Of course they're not in here - oh my stars!" Caitlyn heard her mother cry out.

Caitlyn tore herself away from Vi, throwing the covers over their bodies as she turned and sat facing the door. Her parents, Cassandra and Tobias Kiramman stood in the doorway, her father peering over her mother's shoulder, frozen in shock. They were dressed in their usual formal attire, having probably come back from the Council building since her mother went early most days, bringing her father with her for emotional support or whatever it was he did while there.

Why Caitlyn was thinking about this, staring at her parent's gobsmacked faces, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was the shock setting in, or the abject terror. She could see Vi at the edge of her vision, looking mortified with wide and horrified eyes as she held the blanket up to cover her chest, mirroring Caitlyn near perfectly.

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…

The longest, most awkward moment in her life passed by torturously, and Caitlyn prayed someone would speak up. Vi and her father were both stock still however, so she had no help there. Nervous, she then turned to her mother for something, anything to break this terrible silence. For the first time Caitlyn could remember, though, Cassandra Kiramman was lost for words.

Her mother's mouth opened and closed multiple times, looking rapidly between her and Vi, but no sound came out.

This carried on for the worst ten seconds of Cailtyn's entire existence, before she found the reckless courage to speak. "Good morning, Mum, Dad", she began rather uselessly, her voice shaky, "you remember Vi, right? From the Council meeting about Silco?"

Her eyes widened as the weight of her question's stupidity hit her, looking down at the pale covers of her bed, hoping that the mattress might open up and swallow her whole - anything to get out of this nightmare.

I should not have said that. I should not have said that! She thought hysterically.

Vi turned to her with an expression that said 'are you fucking kidding me' before looking back at her parents, raising her hand in a feeble wave. "Hello", she tried, giving the weakest greeting Caitlyn had ever heard.

Her father gave them an ill smile in return, raising his hand in greeting, his words seemingly having failed him. Caitlyn's mother looked like she was going through the five stages of grief at record speed, her face morphing as the different emotions took hold faster than she thought possible, though she was clearly having trouble reaching the acceptance stage.

Then without warning her mother shook her head, her expression turning to ice and stone before Caitlyn's very eyes. She interlaced her fingers with her hands over her stomach in a way that promised trouble, and Caitlyn glanced at Vi worriedly.

This could be a problem. Caitlyn had been hoping to speak to her parents before introducing them to Vi as her partner, in every sense of the word. Except life was being a real bitch recently, so she'd have to improvise.

"Hello, Vi", her mother said slowly, with Caitlyn internally cheering when her mother didn't start screaming at her to leave. There had been a small, irrational part of her that worried she was going to call the Enforcers and arrest the 'intruder', but Caitlyn was their boss now; she could put a stop to it. Well, only if Jayce had made it official, otherwise she'd be in for even more embarrassment than she was already feeling. Cassandra then turned to her father, fixing him with a dry look. "It seems like today is going to be one of those days, isn't it, dear?"

Feeling a little bit of her courage returning to her now that the silence had been broken, Caitlyn spoke up. "I thought you'd be working today? Outside the house", she added, in case her meaning wasn't clear enough.

"Yes, well", her mother started in that faux-polite tone of voice she used occasionally, mostly when she was angry at her colleagues and, sometimes, Caitlyn, "I received a letter little over half an hour ago while I was dealing with other important matters. Your father opened it for me since I was busy and I'll tell you, daughter of mine, I've never seen him so shocked."

Vi, the utter scoundrel, chose that moment to join the discussion. "Other than now, you mean." She said, the smallest of smirks etched onto her features, and Caitlyn wanted to throttle her and not in the way she'd probably enjoy.

"Of course, how could I forget…" Her mother trailed off, giving Vi an unreadable look before turning to Caitlyn. "Can we speak, or are you too busy right now?" She asked, waving a hand at Vi and the bed they were in.

"No, no, of course. Vi?" Caitlyn stuttered, turning to Vi with an expectant look, glancing rapidly between her and the door. Vi, not one to miss the obvious, got the message and leaned over the side of the bed, reaching down and retrieving her clothes while keeping herself covered.

She then threw on her underwear and tank top, using the covers to hide her body from her parents. On one hand, her father had turned away respectfully, giving Vi some much needed privacy even though she wasn't actually showing anything. On the other hand her mother's eye twitched once before she schooled her expression, and that was bad. Very bad.

Before anything else could happen Vi got out of the bed and stood, turning towards the window while stretching her arms above her head. Caitlyn wanted to shout at her, wanted to tell her to hurry up before her mother started shouting, but she didn't have the nerve in the moment. Thankfully, Vi didn't do anything else regrettable, turning to her parents with what looked like a forced smile. Whether that was nerves or a desire to impress her parents was anyone's guess.

"I'm gonna go take a shower." Vi declared, and Caitlyn's father stepped fully into the room and out of the doorway, giving her room to get past.

Her mother stepped to the side as well, though not without getting the last word. "I'd offer to show you there", she added, her tone dangerously level, "but it seems you already know the layout of my home, seeing how easily you found your way into my daughter's bed."

Caitlyn rocked back like she'd been struck, and her father was no better, looking at his wife with a shocked expression. Vi appeared surprised though with the faintest curl to her lips, and Caitlyn wasn't sure what she was thinking, only that it couldn't have been good. "Mother!" She cried out, glaring harshly at her.

She kept her eyes on Vi as she responded. "You're right", she apologised, "that was incorrect of me to say. After all, this is the guest bedroom."

"Cassandra!" Her father cried out, breaking his long silence. He turned a nasty eye towards her, one which her mother met without failure. "Please. She is our guest here."

Caitlyn watched out of the corner of her eye as Vi broke out laughing, watching her parents with an amused expression. "You're alright, Mrs Kiramman." She said, moving towards the door with confident steps. "Thanks for letting me stay." Vi added as she passed Caitlyn's mother.

"You're welcome." The matriarch of the Kiramman house said with a thankfully neutral look. "The bathroom is down the hall and to the left. I'll be having a late breakfast prepared for us, and I expect it will be done within the hour."

Vi looked taken aback for a moment and Caitlyn felt the same, truth be told. There was no missing the invitation in her mother's words, and Vi gave an honest and heartfelt smile. "I'll be there."

Her mother nodded, looking down at the floor ever so briefly before meeting Vi's gaze. "You were with Caitlyn in the Undercity, correct?"

"I showed her around." Vi confirmed.

"Then thank you for looking after my daughter." She said with as much emotion as Caitlyn had ever heard from her. Whether Vi was put off by her mother's display of gratitude or not, Caitlyn couldn't tell.

"We looked after each other down there, but for what it's worth: your welcome." Caitlyn's partner told her mother, and it honestly felt like she was blushing. "Cailtyn's incredible, you should be very proud." Vi finished, walking away to find the shower while Caitlyn's jaw dropped at her rather honest admission.

Caitlyn's mother watched her go with a satisfied look in her eyes, one she could scarcely understand before turning back to her. Her father saw the cue to leave for what it was. "I'll go see about breakfast", he said, closing the door behind him as he left.

Then it was just Caitlyn and her mother, who was now walking towards the bed with an unreadable expression. Caitlyn scrambled to grab her clothes from where she'd left them on the floor last night, throwing them on quickly under the covers while her mother took a seat at the edge of the bed. "So, daughter of mine, would you care to explain this?" She requested in a way that left no room for argument. She then reached inside her pocket and retrieved a neatly folded letter, handing it to Caitlyn.

She inspected the paper before opening it, her Enforcer training kicking in, but the letter was out of its envelope so there wasn't anything there. After a few seconds she unfolded the letter, her eyes immediately falling to the bottom of neatly written text, clearly for official eyes only.

What she found wasn't a signature, but a stamp.

The Talis stamp.

Caitlyn didn't even bother reading the letter, having already figured out where this conversation was heading.

"How much do you know?" She asked, putting on as brave a face as she could.

Her mother stared at her for a moment before shaking her head, looking down at her lap for a moment. "I know that Jayce has appointed you Sheriff", she answered, turning back to her, "because you're the only Enforcer he can be certain isn't corrupt. That, and how you went above and beyond to bring Silco's crimes to light. I also know Silco is dead." She added before Caitlyn could interrupt.

That… complicated things somewhat. She'd planned to tell her mother everything as soon as her position as Sheriff was made official, but she seemed to have the gist already. And, considering how she wasn't ranting and raving about having her fired from office before her first day on the job, Caitlyn felt like she wasn't as opposed to her promotion as she thought she'd be.

In the end, Caitlyn told her the truth.

She was her mother; she was allowed.

She told her about everything after the attack on Progress Day, how her investigation led her to Stillwater where she met Vi. She explained how she had her released, though she kept quiet about how she did that, where they went searching for leads down in the Undercity. Caitlyn told her about Vi's fight with Sevika, how she had to trade her rifle for a potion to save Vi's life and the confrontation with Silco that followed. She talked about Ekko and the Firelights and everything that led up to the attack on the bridge, answering her mother's questions as they came, until she got to the part about their failed meeting with the Council.

Caitlyn didn't tell her about her argument with Vi. She didn't tell her about the heartbreak and the regret, or the all-encompassing feeling of failure. Instead she told her about how she returned home, only to be kidnapped by Jinx as she was showering, and her mother promised to hire increased security for their home. She finished the story with the meeting with Jayce and Viktor, telling her about their plan and what they would need to do for it to work. Her mother seemed somewhat angry that Caitlyn had made it back into the Enforcer's without her knowledge, along with showing some discomfort with an entire position in the Enforcer's being made solely for Vi, but she never made an issue of it which Caitlyn was thankful for.

By the end of the story, her mother had fallen silent and contemplative, before speaking up. "It sounds like you've had a long week", she said finally, seriously, and Caitlyn laughed.

"That does not even begin to cover it." She chuckled, absently brushing her hair behind her ears. She let the silence linger before she steeled her nerves, voicing the question she'd been dying to ask: "Do we have your support on this? We need it if this is to work." She finished, trying her best to mask the plea in her words, though her mother was sure to see through her.

"I don't see why you do." She answered, drawing a surprised 'huh?' out of Caitlyn. "Officially, this is Jayce's plan, and he'll almost certainly have the support of Councillor Medarda. And since nearly everyone else on the Council follows her like sheep, the majority will undoubtedly be in your favour."

That took Caitlyn back a bit. As far as she was aware, Jayce and Mel Medarda had very little to do with each other, both politically and personally. Of course, he'd been working closely with the Council ever since Hextech took off, but her mother had worked with him the most.

Hadn't she?

"You'll have my full support, regardless." Caitlyn's mother continued on, unaware of her daughter's confusion. "This plan of yours has merit and, frankly, it is the only option we have that doesn't involve sending armed Enforcer's into the Undercity en masse." She said, the mere mention of the alternative should Jayce and her fail sending shivers up her spine. She didn't really want to consider that option right then, however, so she changed the subject.

"Thank you, Mum, but can we go back to Jayce and Councillor Medarda for a moment?" She backtracked. "Since when did those two even talk to each other, let alone support each other like that?"

Her mother considered her carefully for a moment before responding. "How about this: answer my next question honestly and I'll tell you what I suspect." Caitlyn nodded, though the irrational part of her said she was getting the short end of the stick here. "Are you looking to pursue a relationship with Vi?" She asked, giving Caitlyn a long moment's pause while she considered what to tell her.

"I… I am." Caitlyn admitted. "We've not known each other for long so we'll take things slowly from here, but we care deeply for each other; that much I know." She searched her mother's expression for any signs of disappointment or disgust, but she only found the accepting eyes of the woman who'd raised her.

"Then I will support you in this endeavour", she declared proudly, and the weight on Caitlyn's shoulders vanished, turning to air around her, "like I wish my own mother had supported me when I started seeing Tobias." Her words held the slightest tinge of sadness and regret, then, and Caitlyn could tell there was a story there, but it wasn't her place to ask. Her parents loved each other, and that was all that mattered. "I must ask this, however; have you given any thought to the consequences should your relationship with Vi be made public?"

"What consequences?" Caitlyn cried out, offended on Vi's behalf. "Her being from the Undercity is no one's concern!"

"I am well aware, Caitlyn, but that is not what I am talking about." She elaborated, ending Caitlyn's outburst as quickly as it started. "Consider how this may look from an outside perspective. You rise to the rank of Sheriff faster than anyone in Piltover's history, thanks to the influence of a Councillor whom your friendship with is well known. And then an unknown woman from the Undercity is immediately given a high rank in the department; something previously unheard of. If people find out that you're partners in more ways than one, they may come up with some unfortunate ideas as to how Vi earned her position as an Enforcer in the first place."

That…

Caitlyn hadn't considered that. If word was to spread about their relationship, true or not, her own status as an honest law enforcement official would be called into question. Considering how she only got the job because Jayce had vouched for her, using her standing as the only proven uncorrupt Enforcer as his reasoning, claims of nepotism could damage their plan without much hope for recovery.

"Judging by your expression, you see the problem." Her mother interrupted, drawing her out of her thoughts. "Do you want my advice?" Caitlyn nodded desperately. "Become a convincing liar. That, and don't get too close to Vi in public until she's proven herself, both to the Council and the Enforcers as a whole."

With that her mother rose from her seat, walking over to Caitlyn's side of the bed before leaning down and wrapping her in a warm hug. Caitlyn returned the embrace, pouring as much love into the gesture as she could. "Vi said I should be proud of you", she spoke quietly into her ear, "but there is not a day that goes by where I am not proud to be your mother. I know I do not show it as much as I should, and for that I am truly sorry, but I love you, Caitlyn."

"I love you too, Mum…" Caitlyn mumbled into her shoulder, fighting back happy tears.

She gave Caitlyn one last squeeze before letting go, stepping back and towards the door. "Go have a wash, dear, breakfast will be ready soon." She said before leaving, closing the door quietly behind her.

A moment passed before Caitlyn realised her mistake.

I forgot to ask her about Jayce and Councillor Medarda…

Eh. She could always ask later.

Caitlyn then made her way to her bedroom, intent on having a quick shower in her en-suite before meeting her parents downstairs, but her eyes trailed down the hall to the main bathroom where Vi undoubtedly was. She smirked when she walked over to the door, hearing the sound of the shower running before trying the handle, finding that Vi had left it unlocked. Whether that was intentional or a happy accident, Caitlyn didn't care, stepping into the steamy bathroom where she found Vi waiting for her under the warm spray of water.

She said she'd shower.

It didn't have to be in her shower.

Okay… so that was the smuttiest thing I've ever written, and while I'm pleased with how it turned out, I won't really know how much I need to improve on that area of my writing until I see how you all feel about it. Other than that we've got more romance, with Caitlyn's parents popping in the last bit of the chapter. Writing Cassandra was really sketchy since I have my plans for where I'm taking that character, but keeping it in line with her personality in canon was pretty tough. Hopefully her reasoning and motivation came across clearly enough, and if it didn't feel free to shout at me in the comments.

In other news, I was talking to my mate who I run ideas for this story by and he suggested writing out the scene between Caitlyn and Vi in between this chapter and the last, since putting that and any other smutty scenes into its own separate story might be a good idea. I can see the merit in it because, while this is a mature story, I'm not looking to be writing full on sex scenes or anything in the main fic. Considering the amount of romance I have planned, however, a side story with those scenes might be a good idea. Eh, comment if you like the sound of that and I might just do it. There's no real harm in it, considering half the romance fics on Arcane's AO3 are smut one shots.

Anyways, thank you all so much for reading my attempt at a romantic chapter between Caitlyn and Vi. Next time we'll pick up with my man Jayce. See you all then!