Family Ties Chapter Fourteen
-G-
AN – Ok, here it is folks. It's been highly requested and I hope it lives up to your expectations. See you on the other side.
I do not own any characters or stories from the tv show Grimm. Some dialogue is lifted from various episodes in Season 3 and Season 4. No infringement or copyright is intended. It's all for fun, no profit being made here.
-G-
The two men greet each other cordially and then settle into the office space quickly. Paperwork is shared and discussed as they set up the laptop, waiting for the planned call to connect. When it does, they both lean forward to stare at the screen.
"Update from the hospital, sir," Rispoli's image and voice comes through. "Renard has been released and given a clean bill of health."
"Oh, that is news. I suppose the king will be happy. Do we know how the good captain survived being shot three times, in the chest no less?" Kenneth's voice is pleasant but there is a definite undercurrent to his words as he shoots a glare between his cousin and the image of Rispoli on the screen.
"Reports indicate his mother spent a significant amount of time with him in the hospital, at points against doctors wishes."
"Ah, what luck to have a Hexenbiest for a mother. Cheating as usual." The two royals share a look, both knowing exactly how they each feel about that situation.
"Still, the king does look favourably on his bastard son. We have to keep any indicators that we had any involvement in this-"
"What involvement? Nothing can tie us to this and if anyone looks, well they will find Danilov. And then they will find that he has gone on vacation, permanently."
"Rispoli, you can make this happen?" Victor checks and they watch as the other man nods.
"Of course, sir."
"Very well, as long as it goes no further. As you said, the king does still care and we cannot show our hand in this."
"The king will forget any and everything once he has his grandchild. That is our focus. And on that front, what news from across the pond?" Kenneth reminds them all.
"We have a potential landing site for the plane as well as a report of two women with a child sighted as a truck went missing. We are following every lead."
"Good."
"We have also become aware of possible resistance members in the area and will soon be in a position to obtain them for questioning."
"Even better. The resistance was key in Ms Schade's escape and that action must have consequences. Let us know immediately any information that is gained." Rispoli nods.
"We have also heard vague rumours of a Wesen talking about an encounter with an unusual child. A mother and child, seemingly in hiding, and exhibiting some unseen abilities. We are tracking that now and will leave nothing uncovered." At this both Princes pause and consider the new information. Victor speaks slowly as he thinks out the possible scenario.
"Unseen abilities? Well, if it is Ms Schade then she is a Hexenbiest, perhaps the child inherited something from their mother. I do not believe that it will matter, in this instance. The child is the continuation of the royal bloodline and that will trump most else."
"Besides, once they are home, they can be raised in a manner properly befitting a royal and most other traits can be, let's say, exercised out." Kenneth smiles.
"Follow any and all reports, sighting, rumours, leave nothing to chance. We will find that child."
-G-
He knocks quietly on the door, a bit unsure about what the reception to his appearance will be. What Adalind had done for him, in their dream, had been reassuring but he still needs his friends to be ok with him. They've all had the night to sleep on it and he doesn't know if, after what happened, it will look different to them, if *he* will look different to them in the morning light.
Monroe opens the door and smiles before gesturing him to come inside.
"I thought you might be here early today," he says, not unkindly.
"You ok with me coming in?" Nick has to ask and Monroe scoffs at him.
"Of course, man. After what you did for us? Everything you have done for us? You are always welcome in my home." He gestures again and Nick finally steps across the threshold.
"Thank you," he says as he moves. "That means, well it means more than I can say right now." Monroe nods and points further into the house and they both walk to the kitchen, where Rosalee is making coffee. She smiles and reaches for a mug before offering nim the freshly poured drink.
"How are you this morning?"
"I'm not really sure," he replies with a shrug.
"Understandable man," Monroe says and he turns to him.
"How are you?"
"A few aches and pains but mostly feeling grateful," Monroe says, moving to stand next to Rosalee. "Still a bit pissed off that it happened, but I'm here. We're here, together, and I'm not taking any of that for granted." Rosalee hugs him and he kisses the top of her hair.
"Good, good." He runs his hand through his hair and is aware of the gazes on him.
"Can I ask…" he trails off and both his friends wait for him before Rosalee offers a kind smile.
"You can ask us anything Nick."
"What was I like? When I was … that?"
"In zombie mode?" Monroe blurts out and Rosalee elbows him in the side. "Honestly, a bit terrifying."
"You looked different, like before. Your skin was a grey colour and your eyes redder, and you moved different, faster, almost like you were a blur. You didn't seem to be taking in much around you yet you were, seemingly, aware of what was happening and who was moving around you."
"Did I-"
"You made no move towards us," Monroe interrupts, seeming to understand where he was going with his question. "Not any of us. I don't think we were in danger from you at all." He sighs loudly and nods as he runs a hand through his hair again.
"That's good."
"Do you remember it?" Rosalee asks softly and he considers the question before answering.
"Bits and pieces. It's coming back stronger the more I focus on it."
"But just like remember right? Or do you feel like going zombie mode right now?" To his relief his friend doesn't look worried, more curious. Which is much more the standard course for his interactions with Monroe.
"No, nothing like that. I think the trigger was my extreme emotions. I was pretty angry at all of them."
"Oh, me too." The Blutbad agrees with gusto and they share a dark smile.
"How was Juliette?" Rosalee asks and the smile falls off his face.
"We didn't talk a lot last night and I didn't see her this morning," he admits.
"We were all pretty shocked at what happened Nick but Juliette, I think she was really stunned and upset by it." He nods and sighs heavily.
"We've been having, I don't know, some issues lately, like I mentioned before, and I think the Grimm part of life has been affecting her a lot. I know we need to talk about what happened yesterday but I'm honestly not sure I'm up for it."
"Nick, I told you that the two of you need to keep talking to each other," her voice is soft but stills holds a hint of reprimand and he nods.
"I know and we do, kind of. Have been trying to. We keep having small conversations but they don't really address much. I don't want to say anything wrong or hurt her."
"By not talking about this, you'll both end up hurt," Rosalee states and he knows she's right. The air between him and Juliette has been getting heavier and more tense and he knows they have to do something about it before it explodes.
He opens his mouth but is interrupted by the ring of his cell phone.
"Burkhardt," he greets and listens as Hank details the new case they have. "I can meet you there in about 20? Ok, thanks." He ends the call and gratefully accepts a wrapped-up pastry from his friend as he prepares to leave.
"We're here for you, Nick, and will help anyway we can. But I really think you and Juliette need some proper time together to talk and figure this out. You've come to us this morning, to check in, which is great and kind but I'm not sure was entirely the right thing to do."
"I know," he sighs. "I'm avoiding it, aren't I?" He looks up but is only met with kind eyes.
"We get it but the conversation is only going to get harder the longer you wait." Her tone is compassionate and he knows he's lucky to have a friend like her. She is also Juliette's friend and is looking out for both of them.
"And, hey, if you need to blow off some steam, well, if we head out to the forest again, I can return the favour. I'll catch you this time." Monroe raises his eyebrow in challenge even as he smiles at him.
He nods then thanks them for everything they've done before heading to his car. He takes an extra minute to check his phones, neither having any messages, before then sending one himself. Rosalee is right and even if he can't give her the time to talk right now, he can send a message to let her know where he is and that he's thinking of her.
He needs to sort this with Juliette and hiding isn't going to help. He's not being a great partner to her right now, and yes, he's got a lot going on but she also doesn't know the half of it. None of his friends do. Maybe he needs to address that and be aware of how having so many plates spinning is affecting him.
He gets the feeling one of them is about to slip and he's not sure who might be affected and how he or they will get through the resulting smash.
-G-
"Mama," the sweet little voice calls from a distance. "Mama up up!" Adalind stirs from her sleep and shifts in her seat; her head having been resting on the side of Diana's car seat. Her daughter laughs at her and gently tugs on her hair.
"I never used to fall asleep this much, especially not in cars," she grumbles and Kelly chuckles from the driver's seat.
"Well, your body is probably still adjusting to being a new mom, and you have also been using your powers almost daily with Diana. If you feel safe enough to sleep while I drive, I'll take that as a compliment."
"I do feel safe with you," she admits and gets a rare, true smile from the Grimm. "I believe both Diana and I are safe with you, and Nick."
"How is my son? Any news from your way of communicating with him?" Adalind pauses and something must flicker across her face because Kelly's gaze sharpens. "What? What's happened?"
"I don't know all the details," she starts. "But something happened with Nick, or something happened to him a while ago and it's still having side effects or something similar on him now. He was upset but I think I helped show him he's still himself."
"That doesn't make a lot of sense," Kelly comments and Adalind hums her agreement.
"I know, I'm sorry I can't tell you more and I don't want you to worry. I don't fully understand myself. There was a Wesen attack, it happened months ago but Nick is just discovering some lingering effects. He's ok, or at least, he will be." She shrugs, unsure of herself and her words, and holds Kelly's gaze before she has to return it to the road. "Where are we heading now?"
"Another safe house I had lined up," she replies. "It's a bit closer to Portland than I originally wanted but if there's something going on with Nicky, well maybe it'll be helpful if we're nearer, just in case."
"I would tell you if I thought or found out Nick was in trouble," Adalind states. "This connection we have is strange and intimate and intense and … I've come to … care for him, I really don't want anything to happen to him." She stutters as she speaks, even though she knows her words are true. Feeling the weight of Kelly's gaze on her, she in turn focuses on Diana who grins up at her whilst gripping her favourite toy keys.
"Still in the dark about how these dreams started?" She nods but doesn't look up.
"Yeah, not that I can do much investigating at the moment. Nick was looking into it."
"Mama dream Nick," Diana says suddenly and Adalind jerks.
"What?" Kelly barks out.
"Diana, honey, what did you say?" The little girl just smiles.
"Mama dream Nick," she repeats. "All good."
"All good? What does that mean?" she tries to press for more answers but Diana just repeats the same over and over. She shares a look with Kelly before shrugging in defeat.
"Diana? How do you Nick?" Kelly asks and the toddler giggles.
"Diana is mama's," she says sweetly, "Nick is Kelly's." Her eyes glow purple and Kelly jerks slightly as the locket around her neck floats into view and pops open, showing the picture of a young Nick inside. It hovers in the air for a moment before closing and returning to where it usually rests and Diana giggles again. "Kelly's."
"Nana Kelly," Adalind jumps in before turning to the older woman. "If you're alright with that?"
"I'd be honoured," the older woman smiles before shifting her gaze. "And yes, Nick is mine just like you are your mothers."
"Nick good," Diana nods, her blonde hair falling in her eyes.
"He tries to be," Adalind says, thinking of their past encounters. "That's all any of us can do."
"What does good mean, Diana? Can you tell us?"
"Good," comes the reply. "Good, good." She kicks her feet with a laugh. "Good, good, good." Her eyes glow briefly again before it fades.
"I guess we have to hope that good means … something good." Adalind says slowly. "But if she means something else, something more then we might need to ask for help."
"Help? From Nick or someone else?"
"Someone else, a Hexenbiest someone else."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that," Kelly replies.
"Neither am I but if we want answers, she would be one of the people who would have them."
"You sound as if you have a specific person in mind," Kelly comments and she nods.
"Yeah, I do. She helped hide Sean and his mother when they first ran from the royals, or rather the queen. She doesn't hold the royal families in high regard so I think she'd be willing to help us if it thwarted them."
"Where do we find them?"
"Ironically enough, back in Portland. It's the reason Sean is even there, Henrietta helped protect them and so as he grew up, he stayed local."
"Henrietta?"
"Yes, she's a very powerful, and also very old, Hexenbiest. She knows a lot and if she doesn't know something then she probably has that information in her library. Nick found some of my mother's books, which is great as they are pretty rare, but that's nothing compared to the amount and breadth Henrietta has."
"How do we contact her?" Adalind sighs.
"That's where we might have a problem. She doesn't trust easily so would be insistent on a face-to-face meeting. And she rarely leaves Portland. I'm not confident with remembering her phone number but her address I do know." Kelly hums as she thinks over what she's just said.
"Can we give her information to Nick? Then ask him to look her up and we'll go from there? I'm not sure about this but we do need answers."
"I'll have to be the one who tells him. Henrietta has this enchantment on her that means you can't write down information about her without it getting muddled. It's very impressive and just one of the many ways she can use her power." Kelly arches her eyebrow up before focusing back on the road.
"Ok, let's get to the next safe house then make a plan as to what you'll say to Nick and what we want to happen."
-G-
Nick finished his day with a stall to their new investigation, a robbery that seems to be Wesen related. He thinks he remembers seeing something similar to the described stolen item in one of Rosalee's books so tells Hank he'll check it out on the way home and fill him in, if he finds anything related to their case, in the morning.
Rosalee greets him with a smile as he enters the shop. Quickly explaining what he's after she offers to help but he declines, insisting she continues on with closing up so he doesn't take up too much of her evening. The phone rings as they talk and she moves to answer as he starts to look for what he's after.
"Will you hold for a call from the Council?" Nick hears as he moves through the Spice Shop.
"I will hold," Rosalee replies and a minute later he hears a deep, recognisable voice on the other end of the phoneline.
"The council wishes to express their horror and sadness to hear you have been affected by the Secundum Naturae Ordinem Wesen. We trust both you and your husband are well?"
"As we can be," comes her terse response.
"May I enquire as to how the situation was resolved?"
"From the help of our friends."
"Ah, a certain friend I would hazard a guess. I am glad to hear that there has been no lasting harm done, the Council does appreciate all that you do."
"Thank you." Nick sees the eye roll and agrees with that feeling. Frankly this is too little too late in his opinion. The Wesen council should be doing more to stop groups like this and innocent, loving people being hurt.
"As such, the council would like to make an enquiry of you and your friend. Word has reached us of a Wesen child, particularly gifted and capable of breaking the code of honour. We entrust that should any information about said child crosses your path you will fulfil your role as emissary and report such findings to us." Now the phone call has Nick's full attention. How did the Wesen council hear about Diana? It had to be her, the timing of the call and what he knew she could do through Adalind left very little to chance. And from his previous experiences with the council, he dreaded to think how they would view her and what they might do in response to her abilities.
"I can say we have not heard of any such child," Rosalee states but catches his eye and frowns at the attention he's giving her.
"Well, now you know what to do if such knowledge comes your way. Good day." She looks at the phone being putting it down, the line already disconnected.
"How strange," she murmurs,
"Yeah, strange," Nick agrees and turns to head down to the basement but feels her eyes on his back as he goes.
-G-
Getting home he is greeted by a full house and an even more full, of take-out containers, dining table.
"We wanted to give you a thank you dinner before we leave in the morning," Josh explains.
"And we care enough about you not to even try to cook," Trubel adds in and Nick laughs. He checks in with Juliette and she smiles softly at him.
"Thank you for the message, this morning," she says as they take their seats at the table.
"I'm sorry I wasn't ready to talk," he replies and she shakes her head.
"Nick, it's ok." She gives his hand a squeeze before turning to the younger people at the table. "Are you all set then?"
"Yeah, we'll be leaving first thing," Josh replies and Nick feels sad but also acceptance. He'll miss them both yet understands this is something they need to do. "I think I'm still in a bit of shock about all of this. It's just so unbelievable. And then it's unbelievable that it is now believable." They all laugh at that.
"It has been a crazy journey, at least my one has been." Trubel adds in.
"I wouldn't say mine has been smooth sailing either," Nick comments. "And trying to include others, tell them what I was going through, well that definitely didn't go smoothly." He shoots a look at Juliette and she grimaces.
"Every one has problems. Some of them are worse than others and some of them are monsters – not all of them but a lot of them. And those are the ones that Nick has to deal with, as well as bringing them into our lives."
"Well, it's all relative, isn't it?" Trubel adds in and Nick can tell she's going to go into more detail so tries to move them away from Wesen topics. The Grimm part of life might be what ties them all together but it's not the only thing and he's keen to give them all, Juliette included, a nice final evening together.
Watching Trubel and Josh good naturedly bicker, listening to Juliette laugh and feeling the smile on his face, he can almost lull himself into a sense of normalcy. He's going to take tonight, make some good memories and deal with everything else in the morning.
-G-
The colours settle in his vision and he can't help but smile when Adalind comes into view. She smiles back at him and steps closer.
"Nick, how are you?" He doesn't reach for her but they stand close enough to touch, close enough that he can feel her heat and the hum of magic.
"I'm ok," he replies and she tilts her head.
"Are you sure? No other, uh, incidents or the like?"
"No, I mean, no other incidents and yes, I'm feeling ok. I talked it through with Rosalee and Monroe and that helped."
"Good, I'm glad. It's good to be able to talk to friends."
"How are you? How's Diana and my mom?"
"We've had some changes," she comments dryly and catches him up with all the small details of the events he knows has been happening.
"Sounds like you guys have been through a lot, again." He replies and she huffs a laugh with little humour.
"Yes, again. If only I had-"
"Don't go there," he cuts her off, reaching to take her hand. "You may have done something that you regret but it happened and thinking that way doesn't help. We have to focus on what we can do now." She lets out a real laugh this time and he quirks an eyebrow at her in question.
"Sorry," she hums out. "Just for a moment there, you sounded a lot like your mother."
"Huh," he says and then shrugs. "Alright then." He gives her fingers a squeeze before releasing her hand.
"Talking about your mother, we've been discussing our situation and I think I've convinced her that we need to contact someone for information."
"You convinced her?" He parrots and she laughs at his tone.
"Yes, I can be persuasive when I need to be," she implies with a slight eyebrow raise and head tilt towards him before she sighs. "With everything that has been happening with Diana, her powers, her fast aging, this last growth spurt … I really think we need to talk to another Hexenbiest. There's so much we don't know and I'm worried something else will come along and I'll lose my daughter." A sudden sob catches in her throat and Nick is stepping forward and embracing her before the sound fully finishes.
"I'm ok," she snuffles and he scoffs at her. "No, mostly I am. I know we have Kelly, and you, and we're safe with you both but every now and then it just hits me and all these worries and I can't let Diana see, or Kelly. I have to be strong for them."
"I understand," he murmurs into her hair. "But you don't have to worry about that with me. And not here. This is our space and we can be whatever the other needs." She nods against him and they stand, just hugging each other as she calms.
"Thank you," she breathes out and he nods.
"Anytime," he replies as they both step back but remain close to each other.
"Now, what do you need me to do about this Hexenbiest?"
"She's local to Portland and I can give you her information but you'll have to memorise it. Not just because I'm telling you here but you can't record anything about her, like her phone number or her address. She has a powerful protection enchantment over that information."
"Sounds like something I should look into," Nick mumbles and she smiles and nods.
"It is very handy, but also an indication of how powerful she is. She'll test you as soon as you approach her."
"Alright, tell me everything you know." And she does, spending the rest of the dream giving him information as well as how a Hexenbiest would expect to be treated when being asked for, what is essentially, a favour. The colours start to shift around them and Adalind steps closer to him, body pressing against his and creating that familiar, delicious hum.
"Be careful," she pleads and he nods and holds her closer before it all fades away.
-G-
"You're up awfully early," Nick says in greeting to Trubel the next morning. She's dressed with her jacket on and bag at the front door.
"We wanted to get an early start," she replies with a shrug. "I don't know how this is going to go but I know I have to try and I know Josh needs me. We've told everyone what's going on but I, uh, I'm not good with, can't say, you know, goodbye to everyone. Monroe, Rosalee and Hank. Juliette." She sniffles slightly and Nick steps forward.
"I get it. I'm glad the two of you will be together. But look, we're not going anywhere. You do whatever you want to do but you can always come back." She sniffles again and then steps into him for hug. He wraps his arms around her and tries not to squeeze too tight but then gives in and feels her give just as good back at him. She steps back and swipes at her face as a quiet knock comes at the front door.
They step out onto the porch to greet Josh and Trubel shoulders her bag.
"I wish there was something more I could do," Nick says as they walk towards Josh's car. Trubel pauses, reaching out to grab his arm.
"Nick, you gave me my life," she says seriously and he nods, feeling his own emotions rise.
"And you helped my dad end his peacefully," Josh adds in. "You didn't have to and I'll never forgot that."
"Well, I'm here, for both of you. Don't be strangers, ok, and stay in touch." They both agree and he watches as they get into the car, giving him waves before driving away.
He heads back inside, thinking he'll also get an early start to his day and maybe then get home at a reasonable time tonight.
-G-
The plan works, his day is spent in the precinct, checking records and chasing insurance claims so he is able to get home at a decent hour, for the first time in a long while. The house is quiet as he and Juliette settle into their evening routine. With Trubel gone they take the time to make dinner together, talking as they cook and catching up on the small everyday things. Sitting at the dining table next to each other and eating as they continue. What patient's Juliette has seen at the veterinary clinic, who he's seen at the precinct, newbies as well as any repeat offenders known to the officers. It's comfortable and easy and Nick thinks it hasn't been like this for a while. Which, admittedly, might be mostly his fault.
After dinner they take wine glasses through and settle on the sofa before lapsing into silence. It's not uncomfortable but it is heavy and all the things they're not saying come to mind.
"I think we need to talk," Juliette starts with a sigh and he nods his agreement.
"Me too. And first, I just want to say thank you. I know I've asked a lot of you recently, letting Trubel stay here and the increase in phone calls and odd hours and I really appreciate all your support. I know I'm not the easiest boyfriend to have, so thank you, for everything." She nods before looking right at him.
"I love you. That won't change and thank you for acknowledging all that but I'm not sure it's enough."
"What do you mean?" He frowns and she takes a deep breath.
"Can you just listen to me? Just for the next little while because if I don't just talk and say it, I might never say it and we really need to address this."
"Ok," he agrees and leans back a little on the sofa. Worry settles in his gut but also, something akin to relief. They have needed to talk for a while now and getting this sorted between them will hopefully solve the uneasy tension that has been in the air.
"Your life has changed so much and you really have tried to bring me along, keep me as your partner in all this and it has been amazing and challenging and scary and eye opening and so many other things. But I don't think I'm quite right as your partner. Not in this way, this world. I think we want and need different things. What happened in the park? It was terrifying and uncomfortable to watch and I'm not ok with that. I don't think I ever will be." She looks away from him then but he stays quiet, feeling like she's not yet finished.
"When we first met, we suited each other so well and maybe if certain things hadn't happened, we still would. But they did happen and you have pivoted as you needed to rise to that. But I can't deny the interruptions, the violence, isn't starting to pull on me, not in a good way. And I don't want this to build inside me, I don't want to hate you Nick, that is the last thing I want to do. But I can feel it happening and that terrifies me." She looks so vulnerable and part of him wants to go to her, wrap her in his arms and promise it'll all be ok. But she's being honest here and he has to be too, and he knows he can't make a promise like that.
"And yes, I want a normal life. I want to just live my life, I guess, do all the ordinary things and not have to worry about anything else. You take on the role of protector so well, you're able to think about so many different things and angles and that's great for you. But not for me. I want to have quiet nights in or a night out with friends that doesn't become something else. Go see a movie or spend hours wondering around the mall. I'm trying not to sound selfish here and I've thought about this so much and I … I don't think I can have those things with you anymore." She falls quiet and it takes him a minute to realise she's done and it's his turn to talk.
He can't deny anything she has said, not really. He's adjusted to this new world, this new version of life and she has tried to, as well. Thinking about it, it's like he's thrived while she has just survived. He can't really judge her for being honest about struggling with it. And maybe he should be fighting for them more, trying to find ways that they could solve these issues between them. But he's not sure they wouldn't just crop up again at some point down the road.
And he won't bring it up but he thinks of what she said about children. His children. If they were to stay together and have that family they'd talked about, well it would potentially be giving her a life sentence of all the things she's saying she doesn't want. And involve innocent beings who didn't ask for their parents to be at odds. Especially when one of them was very clear about their wants. Nick thinks it really comes down to that.
"I think you said it right when you said we need and want different things," he says slowly and he can see her blow out a breath in relief.
"Are you mad at me?"
"You? No. This whole situation, maybe." He sighs himself at this point before making sure to hold her gaze. "I pictured everything with you, marriage and building a family, and I do still love you but I think you're right in that we're not the same people anymore so what we once wanted and what might have suited us isn't going to any longer."
Silence falls between them but it no longer holds any discomfort or tension. They both might be hurting right now but there is also something freeing about being so truthful. She tries to smile at him but it wobbles and he gives in to the sensation from before and shifts over to hug her. It's comforting and familiar and he realises just right. He wants to do nothing more.
"What happens now?" She mumbles into his shoulder. "This is your house and I can-" He pulls back here so he can see her face.
"You can stay here as long as you want, as long as you need. I'll take the guestroom and I guess we figure out a new normal."
"So, friends then?" They both pull back from the hug but stay close to each other. He shrugs a little.
"I don't know. There's going to be some adjustment for both of us. I think a part of me will always love you, you have been a major part of my life and helped me in so many ways and that's not going to go away. Even if we both move on and find new people and build new lives."
"We have been through some pretty unique situations," she chuckles slightly and he grins.
"Yeah. Maybe we can say family?" He says slowly and she really smiles at him then.
"Family, I like that. You will always be part of my family. I might not be in love with you anymore but I will love you, always."
"Me too. And if you ever need anything, I will be there for you. That's not going anywhere either and I will always care that you're ok and safe."
"Same here, Nick. We have, at times, made a pretty good team and I will always care and want to help you, if I can."
He thinks of the hurdles they have faced in their relationship as well as the times she has helped with his cases that involved Wesen. The time when they helped the young boy suspected of being a Grausen but was actually infected with a protozoa, in particular stands out. Without Juliette his life may not have been saved and they had worked well together to solve the problems the case presented.
"I think this might be one of the best break ups ever, if that even makes sense." She laughs at him.
"It does. And I've been thinking about this a lot. I won't deny that there was a point where this could have gone very differently. When all I could focus on was the emotions, of being tired and worried and annoyed and angry. But talking to some friends helped and it made me see what we had and what I didn't want to lose. And I didn't want any more hurt between us."
"I have never wanted to hurt you," he replies quickly and she holds up her hand as she nods.
"I know, and I know a lot of it wasn't deliberate. I talked it out and when I described it, you're being a Grimm, like an infection it really hit me. That all I was seeing and feeling was the negative and our relationship has been so much more than that."
"It has. And I have been having some of those feelings too. I can't apologise for becoming a Grimm, it wasn't my choice but now having lived it, I can't lie and say I wouldn't make that choice if it were up to me. But it has impacted you in so many ways, and our relationship and that was something I never intended."
"Hey, no regrets, alright? We were right for each other at that time and place in our lives."
"No regrets," he repeats and leans over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I hope you find someone who can put you first, in all the ways you want and deserve."
"And I want you to find someone who can handle this better than me, who can truly support you in all aspects of your life." They share a smile before settling back into the sofa, Nick feeling more comfortable in her presence than he has in a while. He's sure they're in a moment right now and his feelings might catch up with him later but everything they've been through recently has led to this. And why shouldn't they handle this like adults? In a positive way? Their romantic relationship might be ending but that doesn't mean they have to become enemies. That they can't build a new version of a relationship between them.
Sipping wine and starting a new conversation, talking about their friends he feels the shift between them and accepts it. Feels all the better for it. He's not losing anything, rather he might be gaining something better. Only time will tell how they go on but right now he feels like this was the best move for them both. He might be losing a girlfriend but he's gaining more family and to someone who has always wanted that feeling, that family connection, that's not a bad thing. He's building a new version of family, just for himself, and it only makes him stronger with every member he adds to it.
-G-
AN – Thoughts? Happy/sad? Do I need to run and hide?
P.S – One of the episodes referenced in this chapter is Stories We Tell Our Young and is the basis of my break up scene for Nick and Juliette. In that we saw them working together to solve the Grausen case and, apart from one little kiss, there was no romantic moves between the two of them. And I thought their relationship was all the better for it. I have never hated the character of Juliette, I just never really gelled with her either, and in that episode I thought the dynamic between the two of them was friendly partners and it was so much better to me. I did rewrite that scene several times and hope it makes sense to you as it does to me. Now, Juliette might not be completely gone, I have plans for her, but Nick is single so …