A/N: This fic contains potentially triggering subject matter including but not limited to: suicidal references, gun violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, and cancer. It may contain inaccuracies. No copyright infringement intended. Thanks for reading!

BOOK TWO - PART ONE - CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

I'll be right back, you guys!" Cat called from the end of the hallway. She made her way to Sam's room and knocked on the door. "Sam, are you awake?"

"You can come in, Cat," Sam responded. "Just you, though."

Cat entered the room to find Sam sprawled out on the couch, watching TV. Dice had finished his work and gone home earlier, leaving Sam to spend the rest of the afternoon resting. It was now nearing nine o'clock, and Cat had finally returned. "Hey," she greeted happily, approaching the couch. Sam was taking up the whole thing, so she very carefully laid herself on top of her and curled up comfortably against her good side.

Sam was smiling. Having Cat in her arms was by far the best thing that had happened today. "Hey. Who's here?" It sounded like a lot of people.

"Well, there's Jade, Beck, Tori, Luke, Robbie and Bryson," Cat listed off. "We're having some drinks—it's been a crazy stressful day. They all just wanted to hang out." Sam looked uncomfortable, to which Cat immediately explained, "I already told them you're not up for visits right now. They all promised not to come back here."

"Oh, cool. Thanks. What have you been doing all day?" Sam asked. She had her good arm wrapped around Cat and was slowly stroking her back.

Cat forced a smile. "A lot of stuff. It's been pretty nonstop. We officially cut ties with Shawn Quincy, and then we found another music studio. And since then, we've been hurrying to produce tracks because we only have access to the studio for three days. We're making good progress, but we really have to work hard if we want to make this happen, you know? Like, we might not make it."

"What are you making happen, exactly?" Sam asked. "An EP?"

"Yes. We're calling it Puckentine," Cat explained, "It's our couple name. For Valentine and Puckell. Get it?"

Sam looked amused. She said, "First of all, my last name is Puckett—"

Cat kissed her lips, preventing her from speaking, then pulled back and said, "Do you like the name or not? I really had to push for this to happen—everyone else wanted to call it something else."

"You're naming your album after our 'ship name?" Sam asked, intrigued, but not opposed. "What's even on this thing, anyways? Like, what are the songs about?"

"Well, it's… complicated. Basically, it's a way to promote JTC's music while we search for a new label, and to clarify my situation with Robbie to the public. And also to come out of the closet and admit how I feel about you," Cat answered.

It sounded like a pretty hefty task. "Mmmm? And how's that?" Sam asked with a smile.

"You'll see," Cat giggled. "We're almost done with the lyrics for the songs. We just need one more track and nobody's had any ideas yet, so… that's been stressful. But we're making good progress, other than that."

"You need another song?" Sam jokingly said, "You can use the garbage I wrote earlier for inspiration, if it helps. Here." She picked up a notepad of paper and handed it to Cat. She had been bored earlier today, and with all the talk of songs being written, she had decided to take a crack at it. It wasn't great—she'd never been the best poet. But the lines she'd come up with were at least enough to keep her from hiding them out of embarrassment. For her, they weren't bad.

Cat skimmed through the sloppy, handwritten lines. After a minute, she looked at Sam. "You wrote this?"

"Yeah, why?" Sam asked, unsure. "I mean, I know it's not great. I was totally just messing around." She looked at Cat, trying to decipher her expression. "Is it really that bad?"

Cat didn't answer with words. Instead, she cupped Sam's chin, pulled her in, and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. When they parted, there were tears in her eyes. The words on the paper were reminiscent of the letter Sam had left her all those years ago. "Sam, this is the most romantic thing anyone's ever written me. It's like a love poem. You don't have music to go with it, do you?"

"Not really." Sam wiped Cat's tears away with her thumbs before they could fall. "I'm glad you like it. I was just being honest."

Cat kissed her again. "Can we use it on the EP?"

Sam raised her eyebrows. "Wait, seriously? It's not that great, Cat."

"It's perfect. Can we please use it? Please? Wait." Cat's eyes widened with excitement, "Will you sing it with me?"

"Me? Sing an actual song on an actual album?" Sam looked skeptical and amused. "You know singing's not my thing."

"That's a lie. You have a really pretty singing voice when you actually try," Cat argued.

"I'm nowhere close to how good you are. Why does it have to be me?"

"Because you wrote the song," Cat explained. "It'll mean the most if it's coming from you directly. I would sing backup with you, so you wouldn't be singing alone." She paused. "Just think about it, okay?"

Sam considered that. Then she playfully arched an eyebrow at her and said, "Would there be any kind of, um… compensation?"

"Oh, we can talk about the money once we—"

"I wasn't talking about the money."

Cat looked confused. Then she saw the way Sam was looking at her. "…Oh." Smiling sexily, she skimmed her fingertips along Sam's shoulder and murmured, "I'll do whatever you want, Sam. I think I proved that the other night." She nipped at her earlobe with her teeth, then kissed the side of her neck. "Why? Is there something else you wanted to try?"

"Well," Sam began, her eyes flicking over to the black plastic bag by the bed, "I'd actually like to ask you the same question."

Cat was caught off guard. "Oh. Well, um… there's the thing I mentioned before—the armpit thing."

"That's all?" Sam challenged her.

"I don't think there's really anything else," Cat admitted. She knew she lacked experience. "Sorry. I don't think I'm really… kinky, or whatever."

Sam smiled to herself. "Oh, yeah? So… mind explaining the stuff in that bag over there?"

"Bag? What bag—" Cat's eyes went wide when she realized. She blushed and mumbled, "Oh. You saw what I bought?"

Sam chuckled. "I did. I had no idea you wanted that. Did you plan on telling me at some point, or..?"

The truth was that Jade had suggested it, but Cat wasn't going to tell Sam that. "I wanted to surprise you. And I wasn't sure if you were even into that."

"…I'd be the wearer, right?" Sam checked, unsure.

Cat giggled. "That's what I'd planned, yes. That's what you'd prefer too, right?"

"Uh-huh. But, um… it still hurts to move around too much," Sam admitted. "I'm not sure if I'd be able to handle all the thrusting and—"

Cat kissed her neck, feeling very grateful to Jade for the help. "What if you just lay down, and I ride you? It's a better view to watch me from."

Sam was turned on from just talking about it. "Really? You'd do that?"

"I'll do that. If…"

Sam groaned. "Cat…"

"If you sing your song for my EP," Cat finished, smirking. "We'll help you put music to it and everything, and I'll sing backup. Deal?"

Sam was desperate, and she'd always had trouble saying no to Cat. "Okay. Fine. I guess we can try. But once you guys hear how awful it is, I'll say I told you so."

"Yay!" Cat did a little wiggle of excitement. "Okay, great. You can come to the studio with us tomorrow and we can get it recorded. Does it have a name?"

Sam hadn't really thought about it, admittedly. She said the first thing that popped into her head. "Vindicated."

"That's… actually kind of perfect," Cat told her, grinning. It fit the theme of the EP very well. "Everyone's gonna be so excited I found our last song."

That reminded Sam that they weren't alone. Out in the kitchen, she could hear talking and laughter. "So, um… how late is everyone staying tonight?"

"Oh, they usually hang out until well after midnight when they come over like this," Cat replied. "Sometimes some of them don't even go home. Why?"

"Oh." Sam tried not to look so disappointed. "I was kind of hoping you and me could just spend some time together. You were gone all day, and…"

"…You missed me?" Cat finished teasingly, and Sam didn't deny it. "I can stay here with you. They don't need me for anything out there."

Just then, there was a loud knock on the door. "Hey, Cat! We're playing charades; you should come hang out with us!" Robbie said from outside.

Cat hesitated and looked at Sam.

Sam forced a smile. "Go on. I'll be fine in here."

"You don't want to come play with us?"

"I don't have that much energy right now. Just go on; everyone's waiting for you." Sam pecked her on the cheek. "I'll be okay. I promise."

"Okay." Cat reluctantly climbed off of Sam and stood up. "I'll be back soon to check on you."

"Go have fun, Cat. I'll be here when you come back." Sam gave her hand a little squeeze.

Cat lifted Sam's hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. "See you soon, Sam." Then she let go of her and headed for the door.

Sam was asleep before she even left the room.

A little later, Cat tapped on the door before opening it and peeking inside. "Sam?" The light was off, and Sam was asleep, snoring lightly. Cat closed herself inside the bedroom, then went over to the side of the bed. She quickly stripped down to her panties, then crawled into bed next to Sam. While getting comfortable, she bumped into something hard under the covers. It was Sam's vibrator. Cat giggled quietly to herself and reached over to tuck it away into the bedside table. She wished she'd been here to help her with that. Settling down comfortably, she scooted up against Sam and snuggled against the side of her body.

The motion woke Sam with a start. She shoved Cat away by her shoulders hard enough to send her flailing off the bed and onto the floor. "Ow!" Cat yelped—she had whacked her arm on the bedside table when she fell. It would definitely bruise by tomorrow.

Sam, fully awake now, leaned over the edge of the bed with worry in her eyes. "Fuck; I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Cat pushed herself to her feet, rubbing the spot near her elbow. "I'm fine." She crawled back into bed. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm good. You just caught me off guard," Sam mumbled, glad she wasn't making a bigger deal of it. She wrapped Cat up in her arms as they laid down together. "Time is it?" Sam asked sleepily.

"Around one-thirty. Robbie's upstairs with Bryson—everyone else went home," Cat explained. "I didn't mean to wake you up. Let's try to get some sleep, okay? Busy day tomorrow."

"'Kay." Sam didn't need much convincing—she was already falling back asleep. "'Night, Cat. Love you."

Cat grinned to herself in the dark. "I love you too, Sam." They both exhaustedly closed their eyes, and within less than a minute, they were asleep.