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Western Pacific Ocean: September 5, 2022
Tori doesn't see Olivia again until help comes onto the ship; there's blood caked onto her once pristine white clothes, and more still in her hair. She's dirty, and she looks as exhausted and overwhelmed as Tori feels.
She's still an absolute smokeshow, though. And she saved them all.
Tori's clothes are still damp—the boat went fast once it became capable and rescue from the USS Datlow came aboard—and she shivers as Olivia's eyes lock onto her own. The thought that this was all just some sort of trauma bond, something to get them through the horror show of a situation, and that things are going to be awkward between them now, settles across Tori's shoulders as she watches Olivia hesitate.
Shit. Fuck.
Tori really liked her.
A hand clamps down onto her shoulder, jolting her so badly that she springs away, trips, and falls down hard on her side, her breath going rabbit-fast. Death, death, death, run, swim, run—
"Oh, shit, sorry—"
Olivia is there before Tori can even blink up at Luis, blocking him and his apologies from view. "You're alright," she says, softly, soothing. Her hands are on Tori's arms, the back of her neck, grounding her. "You're alright," she repeats, and—deeply embarrassed by her reaction—Tori scrambles to get back up with Olivia's help.
"Sorry," she mumbles at them both. She catches the death glare that Olivia sends Luis's way, and feels… an odd combination of embarrassment and delight at the protective stance in Olivia's body.
"Sorry," Luis says, again. "I wasn't thinking."
"No," Olivia cuts in. "Clearly."
Tori grabs for her hand and squeezes once. A 'thank you' and—hopefully—a 'relax a bit' all in one. "It's fine. I'm fine," she assures them both. "You just startled me."
"I was just going to…" he looks around at all the people surrounding them. Injured, traumatized, all in a hurry. The people on the boat are desperate to get off, though that is still days away. The people spilling onto it—the naval equivalent of EMTs, police, and more scientists—all have dazed, shocked looks on their faces with each new horror that they encounter.
Join the fucking club, Tori thinks, perhaps unkindly. Beside her, someone bumps into Olivia, and she gasps out sharply in pain. Tori whips her head around and scans Olivia's body again. Hurried. "Is any of this blood yours?" she asks, suddenly frantic that Olivia has spent the last two days bleeding out inside the Captain's quarters without saying anything to anyone.
"No," she says, and she doesn't seem like she is lying. "I hurt my knee crawling up the vent, though. I've applied ice on and off but… it still hurts."
Tori whips around, looking for a doctor.
"Tori…" Olivia starts. "It's not an emergency. There are plenty of other people who are more hurt than—"
Tori grabs the arm of a doctor scurrying by. "I need you to check on my friend's knee," she insists. Beside her, Olivia stiffens. Tori internally curses herself for saying 'friend' but, in the circumstances, they've not really discussed labels or the future of anything, and it felt the safest and quickest to get help. The doctor, a scrawny looking man who could be anywhere in his early twenties to mid thirties and Tori would have no idea, glances down at Olivia. "Please," Tori says, trying to imbue Dr. Toth's easy confidence. "Just quickly."
"Alright," he says, sighing just a bit before motioning, "sit over here. Can you bend it?" He asks. Tori zones out once he begins examining Olivia.
Luis moves to stand into her line of sight before touching her again. "Hey," he whispers. "So. We're still alive." He sounds baffled.
"We are," Tori says, perhaps even more so. She really did think that she was going to die when she was in the water. It's a shock to be able to move, to talk. She's not with Anne in the bottom of the ocean. She has to keep reminding herself. "Mermaids aren't real. Sirens are. And she's still down there." Tori shudders at the reminder of that terrible light looming beneath. The thing that killed Anne. "They all are."
"Yeah," Luis says, sounding more amazed by these facts than Tori feels. Her voice sounds dead. She doesn't feel alive, yet. Her body shivers again and she coughs, catching both Olivia and the doctor's attention as they appear to finish up.
"Can you check on her, too?" Olivia asks. "She almost drowned."
The man sits her down beside Olivia, listening to her heartbeat, her lungs, takes her temperature, etc. Tori is not paying much attention, but she answers his questions as best she can. They are both deemed recoverable, and sent on their way to rest.
They find themselves in Olivia's cabin, this time. Tori doesn't remember walking over here. That's a little concerning. It's been happening for the last two days, though. Hallie and Daniel spent it in hurried study with the captive siren. Tori tried to stay awake and mostly did not succeed. They both had to practically carry her out of the lab and up to the deck.
"I…" she starts, then doesn't know what she was about to say, and stops.
"Sleep," Olivia says. "We need to sleep. I don't want to be alone, and the doctor said that you shouldn't be."
"Did he?" Tori doesn't remember that. That's not good. Olivia stares at her for a long minute, then nods. Tugging her gently inside, they both peel their dirty clothes off without much ceremony.
Olivia limps, Tori coughs, and then they step into the shower together, washing away the red and watching it spill down the drain. Tori carefully scrubs the dried blood out of Olivia's beautiful silvery hair.
Her pajamas are also mostly comprised of the color white. Except for the ones that Olivia gives Tori to put on (too small in the pants length wise, too big in the chest, making her look so hilarious that they both burst into a fit of giggles that takes a full twenty minutes to recover from) has elves on them. Presumably, it's some character from the Lord of the Rings? Tori watched the movies at a sleepover once in seventh grade, but never had the desire to read the books.
They crawl into Olivia's bed, curled into each other, and sleep takes Tori away once again.
…
…
Kahului, Hawaii: September 15, 2022
Olivia can see the shoreline from her window.
They eat in silence for a few moments, and there is something almost dreamlike about it. The morning light coming in from the window, the gentle rocking of the boat on the waves, the clink of their silverware, and the smell of the bread, coffee, and eggs. It all feels like something from back home… but not quite.
The coppery undertone of blood lingers, still, over the entire ship.
Olivia's knee is already a bit better, but she's still limping as they make their way off the Melusine thirty minutes later—hopefully forever. Tori had caught a small fever from the frigid water, but she is equally on the mend. Ten days spent mostly in bed will do that. Though, after day four, a lot of those days had comprised of sex, so, their recoveries might be just a bit more stalled than they perhaps should have been.
Olivia is not sorry.
She's aware that some of her attachment to Victoria Stewart is due to the trauma of a life or death situation heightening their emotions. She is equally aware that she thought Tori was attractive from the jump, and as prickly as her initial nature was, there was something about her that Olivia wanted to crawl into. She still does.
"I see my parents," Tori says, her voice scratchy as she looks down the dock. Neither of them has spoken more than a handful of words since they woke up and saw land. Olivia looks over to where Tori's gaze is settling and after a moment, can see the resemblance to a pair from her familiarity with Tori, and the reports of Anne that she has watched over the years.
"Go ahead," she says, noting the rawness to her own tone, she clears her throat. "I'm sure they've been worried."
Tori turns back, and they both stare, blinking as though coming out of a daze. For a moment, Olivia thinks that this is the last time they will ever see each other, then she remembers the upcoming debriefs.
Tori opens her mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. Says, "Come with me?" hesitant, but brave. Olivia feels the smile crack onto her own face, and watches the one spill softly onto Victoria's.
"Okay," she agrees, and takes Tori's hand into her own.
She's somewhat shuffled to the side as Katherine and Brian—she is introduced a few minutes later—come barreling into their youngest daughter and swoop her up into their arms. Both of them are hysterically crying, and, when they manage to get themselves more under control a few minutes later, Katherine refuses to release her hold on Tori's hand. She awkwardly shakes Olivia's with her left hand, but tries to smile at her. Her smile deepens when Tori says, "She pretty much saved us all, actually." And then Olivia is swept up into an unexpected hug that is hard to hold for all three of them, because Katherine still will not release Tori. Olivia doesn't blame her—she wants to spend most of the rest of her life holding onto Tori, too. She entirely understands and appreciates the impulse.
"Are your parents here, too?" Brian asks, looking around for pale blonde heads.
"No, I don't think so," Olivia says. There is no world where her father would be here right now, and none where she would want him. Parts of her still longs for her mother, but, that longing is so complex that it's almost always more confusing when she is around. Plus, to see Olivia standing here, holding Tori's hand, would leave them both incensed for different reasons. "I'll call and let them know that I'm alright in a bit," she says.
Katherine looks appalled and then almost furious. Olivia winces. Well, there goes any hope for a good first impression on Tori's parents. It feels inevitable, but it's still depressing to acknowledge. "You'll come with us, then," Katherine says on a nod, and Olivia blinks at her in confusion.
"Um."
Tori squeezes her hand and gently tugs her along, mindful of Olivia's knee.
"What is happening?" Olivia whispers as the Stewarts walk slightly up ahead.
"We're getting on a plane and then getting the hell out of here and back home? You said that you live in Los Angeles, right?"
"Imagine's headquarters are there," Olivia says, which she realizes, is not really a full answer. "Yes, currently. Or… yes, I did."
Tori frowns at her. "What does that mean?"
"My lease was up around the time that this assignment came out. I was aware that it would be a longer contract, and that it would be a hassle for me to get a new apartment first. My things are in storage, and Imagine had promised to put me up in a sublet for when I get back until I find a place. I think it's in LA."
Tori bites down at her lip, thoughtful. Olivia wonders if she is counting the miles between Monterey and Los Angeles in the same way that Olivia currently cannot stop doing. "When do you have to be there?" she asks. "To get your things?"
"I was supposed to get my things on October 1st."
Tori looks back over at her parents. "Stay with us until then?" she asks, a hopeful, almost desperate look on her face. Olivia feels it, too, and grips at Tori's hand tightly.
"Your parents won't mind?" she asks, sounding doubtful. People usually mind.
Tori shakes her head.
"It's just, it looked like your mother was angry with me."
Tori blinks in confused surprise. "What? When? No, she's not."
"When I said that I would call my parents later, she looked angry that I didn't want to call them now."
Tori looks back over at her mother, then sighs, tugging Olivia closer to whisper. "No, Liv," she says. "She was mad on your behalf."
Olivia frowns. "That makes no sense."
"It makes perfect sense," Tori argues. "My mom is good at reading people. Scary good, actually. Like Anne was. She's smart enough to figure that if your parents aren't here after everything that just happened, and you don't want them here, then she has a very good reason to dislike them."
Olivia simply blinks at Tori. "Oh."
Tori smiles gently at her. "Please come stay. At least for now."
Olivia takes Tori's hand again. They're alive. They're alive, and Tori still wants her around. "Okay," she smiles.
…
…
Monterey, California: September 30, 2022
Tori looks outside and finds Olivia and her mom sitting on the front porch with their coffees. She grins to herself. They've been getting along really well. Olivia has told her a bit more about her own parents in the last few days—not a lot, but enough to get the picture that Tori dislikes them. Katherine got it well before Tori, and has taken to Olivia with such fierce delight that Tori almost doesn't know how to react.
Happy, mostly. Though, it feels almost wrong to be happy, after everything.
It feels insane to be anything but happy, after everything.
She knows that in three days, everything is going to change. The little bubble that they have been in is about to explode. Olivia is going back to LA, and Tori is going with her—at least temporarily. Imagine has called everyone in, no exceptions. (The only reason that they haven't both already been dragged over is a [semi] flimsy medical excuse to recover their injuries). The media frenzy has been a nightmare. Dr Toth has been on television almost every day. As has Mr Blackwell. The world is up in arms about the discovery of sirens and what to do about it. When they were watching the news last night, Tori had to leave the room when some random news anchor said, well what if we just drop nuclear bombs on the ocean? Blast them out of the water!
It's not an American crisis, it's international. Imagine is being ordered to give over all evidence to a new UN committee. (Though, Olivia has told her that from what little she knows of her employers at the top, they will be pulling every legal string they have not to hand it over). A lot of the people who were on the ship are going to be subpoenaed to testify. Tori and Olivia have both had to turn their phones off more than once to combat the amount of reporters calling and notifications they've received.
Luis has gone on talk shows. Tori hasn't admitted it to him, but a part of her is irritated that he's so caught up in it. Unaffected, in the way that she feels and has seen reflected in Olivia. Even Dr Toth isn't excited in the same way that he seems. Vindicated, sure. Adamant. Concise. Unwilling to back down, unwilling to ignore the scientific discoveries this brings. But excited, no. Not quite.
Tori has nightmares about drowning. She wakes up gasping and sweaty, picturing Anne being devoured beside her as she swims back up to the boat. Those awful lights linger in the dark whenever she wakes to use the bathroom or get some water.
Olivia has them too. She woke at the same time a few days ago, and whispered that she keeps dreaming of being stuck in the vents, sirens pouring down on her while others crawled up to meet her in the dark, her knee screaming as she died alone. Sex is a good distraction for them sometimes, but they both know that it isn't actually a fix to the problem.
It helps, though. Tori isn't alone in all this, not even close.
She opens the screen door with her foot, her coffee in one hand and a tray of breakfast snacks in the other. Olivia and Katherine both turn their heads towards her at the same time and smile. "Morning," Tori says, voice still a little scratchy from sleep.
"Hi honey," Katherine says, and scoots over to make room.
Olivia's thigh presses up against Tori's own, and she marvels once again that she not only found out what happened to Anne, was part of a major scientific discovery, survived, and got the girl. Nightmares and upcoming legal bullshit aside, Tori is luckier than she can really conceptualize, sometimes.
Olivia loops their arms together and looks out at the water before them. There's both fear and awe in her gaze, and Tori understands it completely. She has loved the ocean since birth, even when it took her sister, and she doesn't fully know how to release that love. She isn't sure that she even wants to, despite it all.
"You'll both only speak with the lawyer present, right?" Katherine clarifies, yet again.
"Yes, Mom," Tori says, sipping her coffee to stop herself from sighing. She understands her mother's worry, even if it's becoming a little grating.
"Because Imagine is going to have lawyers for themselves, and they will be working for the company, not either of you. Not even you, Olivia. They will throw you under the bus if they need to."
"Mom," Tori cuts in, gently. "We know. We promise."
"We do," Olivia assures her, smiling at Katherine with such ease that Tori wishes Anne were here. It's probably a little insane how fast they've moved towards casual domestication in such a short span of time, but, all things considered, maybe it's not. She wishes that Anne got to meet Olivia, though. She thinks that they would have gotten along. Their careers, for one, but also… they both have this light about them. (Not a frightening kind, Tori reminds herself). It draws people in. Anne was more outwardly confident and charismatic where Olivia has to work hard at it, but they've both got it.
Her mother meets her eye over Olivia's head, and must intuit somehow what she's thinking. Her smile is tender and sad, and she reaches behind Olivia's back to scratch at the back of Tori's neck, rub her back, and then sip her coffee again. They've all been dealing with Anne's loss for years, so it's nothing new, but this certainly has brought everything back up all over again.
"Where is everyone?" her dad calls out.
"Out here," Tori answers back.
And then her dad appears in the doorway, hands on his hips, grinning at the three of them. "Well, am I not invited to this party?" he asks. Tori's throat closes up. He's doing the cool dad thing. Trying to get her to smile.
"You're invited," she manages to get out, though everyone can tell it sounds like she might cry, no one mentions it. Olivia squeezes her grip on Tori just a little tighter as her father starts telling awful marine themed jokes and her mother chides him while trying not to laugh. Olivia indulges him, or, genuinely thinks he is funny, Tori can't tell.
She loves them so fucking much.
…
…
Manhattan, NYC, United Nations Headquarters: December 9, 2022
Olivia grips Tori's hand underneath the table. She has come to hate this building over the last week, and she cannot wait to kiss this entire year goodbye. Her parents want her home for Christmas—Olivia adamantly does not want to go, not after the few conversations she's had with them over the phone. Tori has invited her back to Monterey for the holidays, and though it feels too soon on some levels, they have known each other for five months now.
Four months since the attack. Four months of nightmares, being hounded by the media, the government, and international law.
Olivia was essentially the face of the whole operation, so she's been getting a decent brunt of the attention.
(Because of the connection to Anne, Tori hasn't been able to entirely escape the spotlight, either, despite putting up a valiant effort).
Olivia tries to focus on Dr Toth's testimony. The world now knows that Mr Blackwell and Imagine captured a live siren, though, they somehow managed to keep it a secret until just after Thanksgiving. That reveal has made the vitriol pick up steam, and now everyone's testimonies are twice is combative as they might have otherwise been. It's far too loud. Olivia shifts, trying to focus all of her attention to ground herself. Tori's hand is warm in her own. Her dress, sweater, and leggins are all soft and comfortable. The noise doesn't matter and the lawyer currently raising his voice is being told to settle down.
She sighs in relief and Tori rubs her thumb on the back of Olivia's hand. "Want to slip out to the restroom?" Tori whispers. "We're not up yet, we can take a break."
"No," she sighs, subtly shaking her head. "I'm good."
Tori studies her a moment longer, as if assessing if Olivia is telling her the truth. She is. She's uncomfortable, and she absolutely wants to go home. There are way too many people here and she isn't even a goddamn scientist, but, she's alright for now. "Okay," Tori whispers. "But tell me if that changes and we'll go."
Olivia smiles at her. She misses Ray all the time. Less, lately, but only by a little. Tori has taken up the mantle of 'fight the crowds' for Olivia with surprising ferocity for a slender scientist who does not look like she could win much in a fight. She's spent enough time with Dr Toth now that she can mimic her glare, and cut a person down pretty well without saying much.
It's exceptionally attractive. Made all the more so that Olivia knows that between the two of them, she's almost certainly the one far more likely to throw a punch or cut someone down to size. Tori is doing it for her.
God, Olivia loves her.
It's maybe too soon, but also, Olivia doesn't care. They could be literally eaten by the lovely ladies of the fucking sea at any time. A bus could hit them when they walk outside. Crazed gunmen are not in anyway becoming less of a problem as time goes on. She loves Tori. She's all in. She is not going to pretend otherwise anymore. Olivia was completely done for this girl pretty much within a week of meeting her. If Ray were here, he would approve.
"That is an absurd conclusion—" Dr Toth's voice cuts through Olivia's thoughts and she tries harder to pay more attention.
It doesn't work.
Thankfully, her testimony is quick (not a scientist!) though not exactly painless. She is called before Tori (saving some of the heavy hitters for last, except for Dr Toth, who is called up endlessly, over and over again alongside her husband). She takes Tori's advice and slips out when she is done, practically sprinting to the restroom for some peace and quiet. She pees quickly, washes her hands and holds the cold, wet palms up to her face, fuck her makeup. Olivia breathes slowly, in and out, again, again, and then one more time until she feels calmer. The door opens and she jolts, but relaxes when she sees that it's Dr Toth.
"You did well," she says, and slips into a stall without ceremony.
"Thank you," Olivia manages to respond. Slapping the hand dryer, she holds her palms underneath, rubbing to try and evaporate the water faster.
Dr Toth emerges and catches her eye in the mirror. She looks exhausted, but she's holding it together exceptionally well. Olivia says as much and Dr Toth laughs. "I forgot how much I enjoyed your blunt honesty."
Olivia almost cringes, but Dr Toth is not her mother. (Is in fact, nothing like her mother) and she means it sincerely. "I enjoy yours as well. You gave it to that asshole prosecutor. The one with all the hair gel."
Dr Toth barks out a bright laugh as Olivia steps aside to let her use the hand dryer. "He is a smarmy little fuck, is he not?"
Olivia chuckles. "Very much so." She pauses, then starts, "Dr Toth—"
"Jillian," she cuts in.
"Pardon?"
"Olivia, my dear, you have earned the right to call me Jillian. Though, I ask you not to do so in any future testimony or professional capacity." The tired smile on her face goes warmer than Olivia expects it to. Perhaps a touch similar to the one that Mr Blackwell and their daughter might sometimes receive. Olivia, horribly, feels herself almost begin to cry. Probably more due to the fraught phone conversation she had with her mother this morning than anything else. Still. She covers it well enough that Dr—Jillian doesn't mention it.
"I only wanted to ask…" she hesitates.
"Go on," Jillian says, waiting patiently as only those who have spent a lifetime teaching are wont to do.
"Do you think we're all going to be in trouble? Legally?"
"I don't see how that could possibly be true. Even everything with Imagine is airtight. We all signed waivers. We never promised anything to the powers that be that did not believe us before we showed back up bloodied with evidence as to why. You, certainly, aren't culpable for anything beyond likely the only reason that we are both standing here alive today."
"I mean," Olivia blushes hard as she has every time someone has hinted towards her saving them all. "That's not… Tori was the one who figured out about the matriarch. And you were the one who—"
"Olivia, we all had our parts, that's true." Jillian waits until Olivia makes eye contact. "Just don't discredit your own. I, for one, am exceptionally grateful to be alive and thankful to you for being brave enough to close the shields. There is truly no universe where we would be here, had you not done that."
"I… well," she wants to waive it off. Desperately. Instead, she forces herself to hold eye contact just a moment longer and smiles on a nod. "I appreciate that."
Jillian smiles back at her, then they make their way out of the restroom together. "Once more onto the breach," she sighs.
"Surely they have to be done calling you up by now?"
"No. I don't expect that I will be done for years to come, frankly."
"Years?" Olivia gulps. The prospect is horrifying. A part of her simply wants to forget that any of this ever happened. She can't; she knows that. She misses Ray all the time. Tori's nightmares and renewed grief for her sister only reminds her of her own, and since they've been sequestered together, Hallie and Holly Wilson have become closer friends in the last few weeks. Most of her connections and relationships right now are due to the Melusine. She can't escape it even if she wanted to. She might as well make her peace with it all as best she can.
She has gotten better at occasionally curbing the instinct over the years, but her mind and mouth still hardly have a pause between them. "Would it be absolutely insane to ask Tori to marry me?" she just blurts out. In the hallway of the United fucking Nations Headquarters, to a woman who, all things life and death considered, she doesn't even know all that well.
Jillian pauses, the sound of her heel clicking on the linoleum almost painfully, record scratch loud. "That… is not what I thought you were going to say," Jillian says, giving her a thoughtful look.
"I'm sorry," Olivia instantly panics, feeling too hot and a little dizzy. "Never mind. Forget that I said anything. That was entirely inappropriate and—"
Jillian places a gentle touch to Olivia's forearm to stop her rambling, then removes her hand. She smiles again, laughing a little. "Olivia, we survived an unprecedented massacre together. You witnessed quite a lot of my marital drama. You're fine."
"Oh, sure. Right," Olivia nods to herself. "Um, how's that going?"
"My marriage?" Jillian clarifies. She doesn't sound… angry at the subject, but certainly a bit surprised to be asked. Olivia just nods. Jillian pauses and thinks about it for a moment before answering. "Better. Nearly dying together will do that to you," she rolls her eyes at herself and then meets Olivia's eye. "As I'm sure you can understand, yourself."
"Right." Olivia fidgets with her sweater.
"Do you love her?" Jillian asks.
"Yes," Olivia whispers. "So much."
"There you go, then," Jillian shrugs.
"That simple?" Olivia asks. But… she doesn't have anyone else to ask this of. Her mother would—will—lose her mind and not in the good way. She'll reiterate all of the bullshit that she's been spewing about Tori taking advantage of a delicate situation and manipulating Olivia's emotions. No matter how many articles Olivia sends her about the eugenic bullshit that Autism Speaks spouts, or, asks her mother to just listen to her, she still thinks that Olivia is this delicate little baby who can't deal with life. Olivia certainly can't ask Katherine for advice on this, though, she has been asking her for these types of things more and more as the months go on. Ray is… well, Olivia still hasn't made many other new friends. Maybe, eventually Hallie and Holly could be those people, but they're not quite. Not yet.
Jillian feels like someone who will give Olivia an honest and objective answer.
"Olivia, we've recently learned just how very fucking short life can be," Jillian says. "Yes. It is really that simple." Behind the doors, people erupt in commotion. Mr Blackwell is testifying, maybe. Or Tori. Both of them were up soon. Jillian and Olivia lock eyes and then push into the room together.
Olivia finds Tori off to the side with Mr Blackwell, Luis, Hallie, and Holly. She and Jillian make a beeline for them as lawyers and senators, and various bodies of government representatives all shout around at each other. "What happened?" Olivia asks, quickly reaching out to tug Tori closer to her.
"Mr Blackwell basically told everyone on the planet to fuck off," Tori says, sounding both dazed, impressed, and irritated. It's often how Olivia feels about the man, too.
"Theo," Jillian hisses, leaning just a bit into the irritation part.
"Including Imagine," Hallie adds.
Olivia and Jillian both gape over at him. "Theo," Jillian repeats, though, this time, it sounds a little bit like she wants to rip his clothes off and have her way with him right here.
"I've effectively resigned," he says on an almost bored sigh.
Jillian absolutely looks ready to fuck the man senseless, and Olivia almost bursts out laughing. Jillian meets her eye. "Olivia, congratulations. Send me an invitation in the mail," she demands and then drags her husband out of the room.
Thankfully, they are clearly done for the day. For the weekend. Thank god it's a Friday.
Hallie and Holly watch them go. "What was that about?" Hallie asks, signing quickly for her sister. Olivia has started to pick up the most basic of signs, and only catches a little.
"Um," Olivia looks shyly over at Tori, who appears just as baffled. "I'll tell you later," she says. "I'll send you an invitation, too."
Hallie only shrugs and then she and her sister walk out after hugging them goodbye.
As they don their coats, hats, and scarves to make their way outside Tori keeps shooting her looks. "Soooo," she says, once they've stepped out into the night. It's only 5:26pm, but it's pitch black. The lights for the upcoming holidays sparking and lighting everything up.
"Soooo," Olivia sing-songs back. "Should we go see a Broadway musical?" she asks. "I've only been like, once I think."
"I mean… sure," Tori says as Olivia links their gloved hands together. They make their way down the sidewalk, towards the subway entrance. "But, um, what invitations? And what congratulations?"
Olivia smiles up at Tori. "I don't have it yet," she says. "If and when I do, I'll tell you."
"Wait… what?!" Tori laughs. "Liv! You told Dr Toth about—"
"She actually said that I can call her Jillian," Olivia cuts in, delighting at the way that Tori's face scrunches up just a little in jealousy.
"If you call Mr Blackwell Theo, I will break up with you right here on this sidewalk days before Christmas," Tori warns, with not an ounce of seriousness to her tone.
Olivia bursts out laughing and spins Tori before they step down into the subway. Tori grumbles, but Olivia can see the blush pinking her cheeks. "I will not be doing that," Olivia reassures her. "What I will be doing, is taking you ice skating before we have to go back to California."
"Oh…" Tori looks momentarily appalled. "I, um, can't ice skate? I'm a California girl. I can surf?"
"I'll teach you," Olivia assures her.
"I'm going to fall," Tori warns her, slightly grumbly as a man knocks into Olivia. "Hey, watch out," she glares. Olivia rubs at her back and tugs her further in to find a seat.
"I'll catch you," Olivia promises.
Tori looks down at her dubiously before sliding into the seat beside her. "I'm bigger than you."
"You're taller," Olivia nods. "But, I am deceptively very strong," she meets Tori's eye and grins at her coyly. "As you have learned very intimately by now."
On cue, Tori blushes. And god, Olivia loves her. Olivia is going to marry her. Jillian was right. Life is too fucking short. Sirens could come out from the water and eat them at any time. She is going to take her girlfriend ice skating, and to a musical, and to get hot chocolate, and ask Tori to marry her, and then she is going to spend Christmas in California with Tori's lovely parents.
The nightmares might still linger, but they're coming along less and less for both of them. Olivia's knee is basically fine now, and she will prove it when she spins circles around Tori on the ice.
Tori slumps down, her blush deepening. "You are not fair," she whispers.
"I'm very fair," Olivia argues.
Tori laughs and slump down even further to rest her head on Olivia's shoulder. "You're irritating," she teases, with no bite to it, "but I suppose I love you."
"I love you, too," Olivia whispers back, her tone going more serious. Tori picks up on it. "I was proud of you today. They came at you pretty hard, and you stayed really calm." She bites at her lip a little in frustration. "I didn't."
"I was proud of you," Tori insists, starting to move to sit back up. Olivia instantly pushes her back; she wants her right there. "I know that they told us to stay calm, but, so much of what they were saying was bullshit, and I loved that you called them out on it. Also, you were calm," she insists. "You were very Jillian about it, actually."
Olivia perks up a little. "You think?"
"I do," Tori loops their arms together as well, practically leaning halfway onto Olivia's lap. It's exceptionally nice.
"I had a really great conversation with her in the restroom," Olivia tells her a moment later.
Tori laughs lightly. "Really?"
"Yeah," Olivia smiles. "She helped me realize a few things."
"Do I get to know any of these things?" Tori fishes.
Olivia thinks of a jewelry store that she remembers passing by near their hotel. Imagine has been handing out settlements preemptively. Despite the waivers, the international attention on them has caused them to act in 'good faith' a bit more than they probably ever wanted to. She doesn't really believe in the diamond industry, and all the bullshit about expensive rings, and she knows that Tori wouldn't, either. But, she can buy her something lovely. She's going to. Maybe she'll make Tori get them tickets to a show and she'll sneak off to buy a ring. Or get Hallie and Holly in on it. They would help her. Luis certainly would, though Olivia is skeptical about his ability to keep a secret from Tori for long.
"Yes," she answers Tori as they rise for their upcoming stop. "Soon," she promises.
…
…
Monterey, California: December 25, 2022
Tori pushes open the door to her childhood home. (Current home, technically, though, probably not for much longer?) "Hello!?" she calls out. "We made it!"
Three delays, a snowstorm, and spending a good portion of one night in an airport later. Tori isn't complaining, though. She feels incapable of it every time she sees the ring on her finger or Olivia grinning at her. When the final delay was announced, they sneaked off and had sex in the airport bathroom for Christmas Eve. Olivia had to shove her scarf into Tori's mouth so people didn't hear her.
"Mom!? Dad!?" Tori calls out. Behind her, Olivia sets some of the bags down on a sigh, then stretches her back.
Tori grins at her and Olivia laughs. "You're insatiable," she whispers, swatting at Tori's arm. "We are at your parents' house."
"We recently established that I can be quiet," Tori argues.
Olivia rolls her eyes. "You cannot without help," she counters. "I, on the other hand—"
"You're here!!" Katherine exclaims, running down the hallway and sweeping them both up into a tight hug. Brian is only a few steps behind her. "Oh my god, I was so worried that—" her mother stops talking. She noticed the ring and she is just… staring at it. "Oh my god," she whispers.
"What?" Brian asks, his arm still slung around Olivia's shoulders. "Who's hurt?!"
"No one is hurt," Tori assures him quickly. "I'm just — well, we're —" Tori holds up her hand, the beautiful simple, yet elegant ring gleaming in the light.
"Ohhhhh my god," her father squeals and then jumps up and down with excitement. He squeezes Olivia tightly, then smacks a kiss to her cheek. "Oh my god!"
"Mom?" Tori prompts. Suddenly, she's panicking that she called this all wrong, and her mother was only indulging Olivia for her sake. She will be devastated if that is the case. Devastated further for Olivia, who, Tori knows, was coming to really value her relationship with Katherine.
"When did this happen?" Katherine asks, her voice not giving anything away.
"Um, three days ago. Olivia took me ice skating and asked after."
"Ice skating?" Brian asks, laughing. "God, how many times did she fall?"
"Only once," Olivia supplies. Tori can hear the wobble in her voice. Katherine's lack of reaction is getting to her. "I caught her the rest of the times. I tried, the time that she fell, but I was—"
"Olivia," Katherine cuts in and Olivia's mouth clamps shut. Tori watches her mother tear her eyes away from the ring and meet Olivia's. They all wait, but her mom says nothing, just moves past Tori, gently pushes her dad to the side, and wraps Olivia up in a tight hug. "Merry Christmas," Tori hears her whisper. "Another daughter is possibly the best present I could have ever asked for."
Olivia immediately starts to cry. Tori beams back at her. "Anne would be thrilled," she says, and instead of it making everyone sad, her parents laugh and tease Olivia the way that they assure her Anne would for the rest of the evening. Tori looks down at her finger and closes her eyes. It's not over—it never will be, that is how scientific discoveries work. They change the world.
But, she survived. Anne would hate her for wallowing, grieving, for so long and stuck in survival mode. It's time to start actually living. Tori follows the sound of her parents and fiancée's happy voices into the living room, and walks in to meet them, smiling.