Present

Chapter 7

"I brought you a coffee from that place you liked" Caitlyn said as she approached the bench where Vi was already sat, waiting.

"Thanks" Vi said, as she took the drink, letting the smell of the freshly brewed coffee engulf her senses. "If I'm being honest, I wasn't sure you were going to come back"

"What makes you think I wouldn't want to see you again?"

Vi stared at the coffee, as she thought about her reason for questioning Caitlyn's return. "I guess I just wasn't sure if you would want to face me after learning about what was written on the document. Maybe I thought you might be angry at me for hiding it from you?"

"I'm not angry Vi, maybe a little hurt. I guess looking back I just wish you trusted me more. I can't promise I would have reacted well, but you kind of took away a chance for me to prove you wrong. And after all was said in done, we still ended up in the same place we would have been. Were not together and I now know what you were keeping from me. Only difference is, we haven't seen each other in months"

They both sat, thinking about the decision Vi had made for the both of them, wondering if there really could have been a different outcome.

"Can I ask you something", Caitlyn said as she turned to look at Vi. "What was your worse case scenario, when you thought about how I might react to learning this new information?"

"I guess maybe I thought you would try and defend your mothers' actions. Tell me she had good reason for what she did, causing a huge fight"

Caitlyn thought about this. How she wished beyond any reason that she could defend her mother, but in the end, she knew her mother let fear control her. "I wouldn't do that Vi, not when it came to killing innocent people. My mother may have had her reasons for doing what she did, but its not my responsibility to justify her actions"

"Thank you for saying that, Caitlyn, but that's not the reason I didn't tell you"

"Then what was?"

"I guess it came down to the fact that I didn't think it was fair for you to learn this about your mother. She's gone, and nothing can change that. I didn't want to ruin your memory of her by finding out something that could change the way people see her, the way you might see her"

Caitlyn felt a tightening in her chest as Vi said these words. She hadn't really thought about how learning that information had changed the way she saw her mother. How if others were to see it, how it could ruin her family's name. She instantly felt a rush of gratitude. Knowing Vi did what she did to protect her dead mothers name. it was more than Caitlyn had ever attempted to do with her and her sister who was still alive.

"I'm sorry Vi"

"For what?"

"For not being more understanding about your relationship with Jinx. I know it was complicated, but I never stepped back to see how my need for vengeance might be affecting you. I plastered her face all over the precinct, made capturing her my number one priority. That wasn't fair to do to you. I should have never just assumed you were on my side. I should never have expected you to hate her as I did"

"I did hate her though" Vi said, as she nervously played with her fingers. "I still do hate what she did, but I've realized now, that she wasn't in her right state of mind. I know that doesn't take away the seriousness of her crimes. I guess it just helps me better to understand what might have been going through her head when she pulled the trigger"

The two sat in silence for a brief moment, before Caitlyn broke through the tension. "We really might be oil and water" She said as she chuckled

"Ugh, please don't remind me that I said that. Those simple words still haunt me to this day, I was so dramatic."

Caitlyn only laughed harder, as she watched her old partner blush at the old memory.

"As awful as the topic might have been, I'm glad we are able to talk about it" Caitlyn said as she looked more deeply at Vi.

"Me too, as much as I hate that you had to find out, I'm glad we are finally able to clear the air"

"So, what's next for us?" Caitlyn said nervously.

"Next" Vi responded with confusion.

"Ya, now that the air has been cleared, can't we at least go back to being friends?"

"Cait", Vi said sympathetically "I don't think you and I could ever be just friends"

"Your probably right, but that doesn't mean we can't try"

Vi looked at the ground, trying to avoid Caitlyn's gaze. She wanted to respond, but didn't know what to say. Was she really about to break Caitlyn's heart again?

"Vi look at me please" Caitlyn urged "Why don't you want me in your life?"

Vi looked up, trying not to show to much emotion. "Its not that simple Cait"

"How could it not be that sim" Caitlyn stopped talking as she realized the answer had been in front of her this whole time. "It's her, isn't it? Jinx, you found her, and you have reconnected" Caitlyn wasn't sure if she should feel angry, hurt, or betrayed. Did she really have the right to feel anything at this point. She still held so much anger for the one who killed her mother, tore her family apart, but does that mean Vi shouldn't have the chance to reconnect. After all Jinx is the only family Vi had left. Did she really expect her to not go looking for her?

"I'm sorry" Vi said, as she watched the wave of emotions consume Caitlyn. "I didn't do this on purpose, it just kind of happened"

"I suppose you don't exactly owe me an explanation. Not like were even a part of each other's lives" Caitlyn said, sounding angrier than she meant to, but in that moment, she couldn't help but feel that Vi chose Jinx over her. 'No' She thought to herself. It wasn't even about Vi reconnecting with Jinx, it was about Vi once again choosing their paths for them. When was she finally going to let her in, let her dictate how she gets to react to something, instead of taking it away from her.

"Cait, it's not like that"

"It's exactly like that Vi. You have chosen exactly how our lives have been able to play out. From leaving me in the first place, taking away my choice to choose you. To now, you choosing to completely shut me out again. If you don't want to be a part of my life than say so. But don't tell me we can't be something because of how you think I might react. It's not fair, and I won't take it anymore"

Vi sat back, letting the realization of what Caitlyn was saying wash over her. "Your right" she finally said. "You should get a choice. So then what if I told you, I do want to be with you, but I also need Jinx in my life. I can't be with you, if you're still going to be pursuing her. I could sit here for hours trying to explain to you why I need my sister, but it wont change the outcome. I don't want to have to choose between either of you. You both mean a lot to me. Just seeing you again has made me realize how much I miss you, how empty my life is without you. So then here it is, your choice. Take me and all my baggage, crazy sister included, or walk away, knowing I won't judge you for your choice. I know how hard it would be for you to let the thing with Jinx go. I never wanted to ask that of you. But you deserve a choice in this relationship too.

Caitlyn let Vis words sink in. Could she really let go of her revenge? Could she move on? How much did Vi mean to her? "I don't know if I can ever forgive Jinx for what she did"

"I know" Vi said, as the hope she just felt began to slip away.

"But I can try, for you" Caitlyn said as she grabbed Vi's hand, and held it tight. "The day you left me, I vowed to myself, that if I ever had the opportunity to get you back, that I would do whatever it took. I can't promise you that Jinx wont still be a target for the police department. That's not something I have control over. But as long as your sister stays out of trouble, I promise she has nothing to fear from me"

Without hesitation Vi lunged forward wrapping Caitlyn into a tight embrace. "I don't deserve you Caitlyn Kiramman"

Tears poured down Caitlyn's face, as the hope for a better future was finally in her sights. "I love you Vi, I never stopped"

"I love you to Cupcake"

They both finally released the other, sitting down on the bench, hands held tight.

"Hey, don't you still have a girlfriend" Vi said with curiosity.

"Nah, she broke up with me, said I was too moody"

Vi chuckled, knowing just how Caitlyn can get, but loving every part of her.

"Hmmm, her loss" Vi said, as she pulled Caitlyn close.