Alexis hated grocery shopping.

Standing in the aisle with her basket around her arm, trying to find the best deal on potato chips was not her idea of an exciting time. The one thing she found she missed from drugs most of all was how exciting they made everything out to be. Even the most mundane task suddenly had an edge of thrill to it. Laundry became an olympic sport. Now everything was so dull, he senses so grounded, and she hated it. She picked up another bag and looked at them momentarily before tossing them into the bag and turning to head to another aisle, this time microwave ramen. As she rounded the corner into the aisle, she stopped dead in her tracks. Standing in the aisle, readjusting things on the shelf, was Rick. Her chest tightened, and a smile broke on her face. Whatever feelings drugs might've had on her, this was the same rush, and she loved it. She approached him, reaching up and fondling the pendent around her neck, before stopping and clearing her throat.

"You know," she said, "making something look nicer doesn't make it healthier. A beautiful alcohol display will still give you liver cancer."

Rick turned, standing up fully with his back to her, before turning to face her, the biggest, stupidest smile on his face.

"Hi," Alex said, and Rick throw his arms around her, making her blush.

"God I missed you," he whispered.

                                                                           ***

Lilian and Miranda both had parties to work that day, and since Maddie had no school she opted to stay home and invite Lux over to hang out. Their last conversation had left her feeling somewhat...concerned. So she got out lots of snacks and drinks and she pulled out board games, and tried to make the home, her room in particular, as warm and welcoming as she could. She wanted Lux to feel safe. As Maddie was neatly stacking board game boxes, she heard a knock on the door and excitedly went to answer, to find Lux standing outside. She let Lux in, who dumped her bookbag on the floor and then collapsed face down into the couch, moaning.

"Um..." Maddie said, "...are you okay?"

"no," Lux said, muffled, "i'm not."

"I have board games, and food," Maddie said, "I thought we could play games and-"

Lux rolled her head to face Maddie, who sat down on the coffee table in front of the couch, their eyes locked.

"What is it?" Maddie asked.

"i heard my parents talking," Lux said.

"And?" Maddie asked.

"...and they said they wished it'd been me," Lux finished, shrugging, her eyes completely cold, "so there's that."

                                                                            ***

Helena was in her office when John entered, shutting the door behind him. She smiled as he sat down across from her and she put her pen down, giving him her full attention. Since taking over, John had been the one real holdout, and they hadn't had much of a chance to speak, but not because she hadn't tried. He was just so resistant to her leadership. John sighed and crossed his legs.

"Sorry for not making an appointment," he said.

"You don't need an appointment, John," Helena said, "I appreciate you thinking you do though. What can I do for you?"

"What can you do for me, gee, that's the question," John said, chewing his lip, clearly being flighty, "uh, well...this is...this is gonna be...um...okay. I have a daughter. She's in her late twenties, but...but she's mentally disabled from an accident when she was a child, she's got the mentality of a very young child. Anyway, she loves to play dress up. When I go to visit her, it's one of her favorite things to do. I was thinking that maybe, ya know, under a diversity hiring initiative, we could bring her in and have her work - with me at her side, of course - for other mentally challenged kids."

Helena cocked her head, thinking for a second. She didn't know John had a daughter, but she did love how dedicated to her he appeared to be, it was very sweet. Helena looked around her office, picked up her mug of coffee and took a long drink before putting it back down and sighing.

"No," she said.

"...excuse me? Just...no, just like that? Not even a discussion?" John asked.

"Work isn't a democracy, John, we don't get together and have labor relations," Helena said.

"Actually, that's exactly what work is when there's a union involved, so I suppose maybe that's where I'll have to start," John said sternly.

"John," Helena said, "trust me, you don't want this."

His brow furrowed, both in confusion and annoyance. What the hell did that mean? Her tone made it sound like she had some previous experience with this sort of thing, whether it was personal or adjacent, and he wanted to pry, to ask questions, but instead he just balled his hands into fists and bit his lip.

"It would mean so much to her, please," John said, trying not to cry, "she's in that room so much, and sure there's other people like her where she lives, in this hospital, but...but it isn't the same. Nobody but me will play dress up with her. Aren't you familiar with the phrase 'think of the children'?"

"Aren't you familiar with the phrase 'don't shit where you eat'?" Helena asked, causing John to recoil in surprise; she was so brisk, so very stern, and he wasn't used to that in a boss. Course, he was also used to being his own boss most of the time, so. John leaned back in his chair again and tried to relax.

"Who fucking hurt you?" John asked, taking Helena by surprise.

"Excuse me?" she asked, half laughing out of shock.

"You heard me," John said, "because guess what, this is the kind of response that is only warranted by being hurt badly, so I would like to know who fucking hurt you. I'll tell you who hurt me, who did this to my daughter, if you wanna share equally, but I'm not leaving here until you give me a concrete answer as to why you can't let someone have something that would make them, and a child, happy."

Helena nodded slowly. She had to admit, she admired John for being so strong willed, but...did she really want to get into this with him? Did she really want to talk about Adam?

                                                                         ***

Alexis and Rick were sitting outside the grocery, in the back, where the loading trucks dropped things off and picked things up. They were seated on a stack of pallets, watching people load and unload the trucks as they shared a sandwich and drink Alexis had bought inside the grocery. As Rick finished his half, Alexis laid her head on his shoulder, and made him blush.

"I didn't know you were out," Alexis said.

"Why would you, it isn't like we kept in touch," Rick said.

"You seem to be doing well, you have a job and-"

"I'm still using," Rick said, "if that's what you're after knowing. I just decided to leave the hospital. Felt my efforts had run their course. Especially without you there, I mean, I just felt so alone. That...I'm sorry...that wasn't an attempt to guilt you, I'm just trying to explain my line of thinking. Uh...you look amazing, by the way, you're still..."

Rick and Alexis looked at one another, noticing nothing else around them. Alexis smiled warmly as Rick struggled.

"...you're perfect," he whispered, scratching his forehead, "fuck, I'm sorry, I'm not as smooth as I was before, I feel like, I don't know, maybe I'm more anxious or something. Then again, maybe you're just SO beautiful that I can't help but be nervous around you."

Alexis laughed, and for the first time in months, it felt genuine. So much of her emotions since release from rehab had felt so forced, so manufactured, but laughing with Rick...that felt real. Alexis gripped his other hand tightly and squeezed as they watched two young men drop an entire crate of glass soda bottles and start yelling at one another.

"I still have your cigarette," Alexis said, "I can't bring myself to smoke it."

"Waiting for the end of the world?" Rick asked, smirking, making Alexis chuckle.

"I just like having a part of you, since I..." Alexis started, before stopping, blushing and looking away, stammering, "uh...since I can't have all of you."

Rick blushed back. In all his years of dating, he'd dated some great women, and some of those girls had liked him a lot, but Alexis was different. She was enamored with him as much as he was with her. That was always the problem, it seemed, was more often than not Rick was the one more invested in the relationship than whoever he was interested in. But that clearly wasn't the case here, and it was nice to have that interest reciprocated for a change.

"You still doing parties?" Rick asked, and Alexis nodded.

"Mhm," she said, taking a bite from the sandwich and chewing before continuing, "yeah, I generally only get pool parties cause, ya know, pirate, but uh, but last week I was hired to actually attend a fully nautical themed party for a swim team at a middle school and that was actually pretty great. Lots of mermaids, sailors, they redecorated the whole gym in this, like, undersea motif and stuff. It was...it was spectacular. You know...you...you could come work with us."

Rick smiled but shook his head.

"Nah," he said, "I appreciate the gesture, don't get me wrong, but, uh...but I don't think it's good to entwine your life that way when you're with someone."

"Well there's this couple who works with me, these two women, and they seem happy working together and being together, I just thought, ya know, maybe if-"

"Alexis," Rick said and she shook her head.

"Don't," she said coldly.

"We're not a couple," Rick said, and she started breathing hard, trying not to cry; Rick sucked air through his teeth and rubbed the back of his neck, adding, "jesus, um...I didn't mean that in the sense that I don't want to be, you know? I would love nothing more than to be with you, you're everything I ever dreamed of. I still have that painting of you I did, and I hung it up in my apartment, and I look at it when I go home sometimes and I just..."

Rick started sniffling, his eyes filling with tears, Alexis turning her head to look back at him.

"...I miss you so fucking much," Rick said, "it's like there's this hole inside of me. This terrible, gaping chasm, like a sinkhole that opened up underneath a giant city and took everything with it, and there's no way to fill it back up because the only thing that might have been able to do that I can't have. The city planner wasn't prepared for this sort of disaster, sinkholes are rare in large metropolises after all. But I miss you. I miss you so much it physically hurts me. But I don't want to endanger you, or...or risk your sobriety. You deserve to be stable, and be with someone who can be stable with you, and I don't think I can do that."

Alexis turned on the pallet, crossing her legs and putting one arm over his shoulder, her other hand running up and wiping the tears from his face, making him smile as he closed his eyes and kept crying. Alexis leaned in and pressed her lips to his, and he happily kissed her back.

"Please," she whispered, resting her forehead against his, "please let me keep you. I can't walk away again."

"We can't do this," Rick whispered back, the both of them sobbing quietly together.

"...I don't know what hurts worse," Alexis said quietly, wiping her eyes on her shirtsleeve, "...the fact I can't have you, or the fact that you're the only person I've ever been with who cared enough about my sense of self to not risk it for your own selfish needs."

Alexis looked up at him again, their eyes meeting. Rick's golden eyes peered back at her, and she bit her lip. She felt his recently growing up in stubble on the palm of her hand and all she wanted was to take him home with her and keep him forever.

"I love you," she whispered, barely audible.

"I love you too," Rick said, "that's why I respect you enough to not ruin you with my addiction."

Alexis nodded and buried her head under his chin. He rested his head atop hers and rubbed down her back, comforting her. It was so nice. So so nice to feel his hands on her once again. To feel his warmth and his love. She just didn't want to leave, to let him go, to know that some other woman would likely end up having him. She wanted him. She wanted him all to herself.

"I just came to buy salsa," Alexis said, the both of them lauging.

                                                                            ***

Helena had gotten up and poured both herself and John a drink. She then leaned against the little bar she'd set up and sipped at her scotch while John just sniffed his, taking in the scent without drinking it. He was wary to go back to alcohol, even in a professional setting. After she finished, Helena exhaled and closed her eyes.

"John," she said, "when your daughter was in that accident, you felt that surge of fear shoot through you, didn't you? The belief that you'd lost the most important thing in your entire life. You know that fear well, don't you?"

"Absolutely," John said.

"But, you didn't lose her. She's hurt, but she's here. But imagine if she had died, just humor me, I know it's uncomfortable. Imagine she didn't survive. At least she died fast, and that doesn't mean the pain is any less intense, but it's all over so fast. Now, imagine if she hadn't gotten into an accident, but instead, she'd gotten sick. She'd gotten sick and you had to watch her die slowly over a prolonged period of time. Which do you think would genuinely be worse to deal with?"

"...the second, no question," John said, "having to watch her suffer, try to...to come to terms with what's happening t her, that would break me as a parent."

"Exactly," Helena said, taking another prolonged sip, smacking her lips, "...my son David, he wound up in the hospital because I took him to work. Trust me when I say you don't want to be the reason your child gets harmed. I recognize that your daughter is now an adult, but an adult with an asterisk, considering her prolonged mental issues and overall arrested development. Don't make things harder for her."

"I was trying to make things easier," John said.

"And you're a good father for that, game recognize game John, but...you're going to be taking a grown woman with the mentality of a child and putting her around actual children who, more often than not, are weirded out by that kind of behavior. There's a reason we built hospitals to keep these kinds of people in. It's because, societally, we can't accept them. It's disgusting, but it's a fact. I'm sure she's a wonderful little girl, I'm not at all passing judgment on her or anyone like her, I'm just saying that the adults at the party, and the kids at the party, will be confused."

John exhaled and nodded, knowing she was right. He turned the glass of scotch in his hand around and then shrugged, downing it in one fell swoop before wiping his mouth on his arm. A drink now and then didn't kill him. He stood up and headed for the door.

"John," Helena said, as he stopped, hand on the knob and turned towards her; she smiled warmly and added, "if you really want her to be somewhere, bring her here. Let her hang out with us. We'll be nothing if not accepting and understanding. And, hell, most of us are in costume all the time anyway. Might get her dress up wish after all."

John smiled weakly, nodded and then turned to exit when he stopped and looked back at Helena once more.

"How's your son now?" he asked.

"I visit him regularly," Helena replied, smiling. John nodded again, then finally exited. As soon as he left, however, the smile, the facade, dropped from her face and she sighed, scratching her forehead. Sure, she did visit him regularly. But that didn't make it any easier.

                                                                           ***

Lux and Maddie were laying on the floor of the living room, staring up at the ceiling.

They'd spent the afternoon snacking, playing games, watching some cartoons, just generally hanging out. Lilian and Miranda wouldn't be home until late and, from how Lux described it, she might not have to go home at all. Maddie thought she might ask Lilian if she could spend the night here. Lux slowly sighed and tossed her long perfect blonde hair from her face.

"...you know...I don't know that I ever loved my parents," Lux said, "I could always tell they loved my brother more than me, and I also knew that if I said anything about what he did to me most nights that they would never believe me. I'm so jealous when I see kids who love their parents and are having fun with them."

"Recently, my...moms, I guess...they took me to a museum to see dinosaurs, cause I think dinosaurs are cool," Maddie said, "and while we were there, I saw this mom there with a daughter a little younger than me and I got so sad. I have two amazing women raising me, and my dad is still alive, but...but learning that my own mom never even really wanted me...that hurts so bad that I can't help but dwell on it."

Lux reached over, arm outstretched, and held Maddie's hand. Maddie smiled a little. It was so nice to finally have a friend her age who understood.

"I am so glad he's dead," Lux whispered, "he's dead, and he can't hurt me anymore. I don't have to jump in fear every time my bedroom door opens now. I feel...safe."

Maddie nodded. She understood. She'd so grown to fear her mother during the time she had been poisoning her father that she knew full well what that feeling was like. The two girls lay there, each with their respective trauma, but each glad to have been bonded in spite of it. For the first time since she could remember, since the party really, Maddie felt like a kid again, and it was lovely. Sure, she and Lux were still mature for their age - anyone who went through what they did would have to be - but ultimately they were kids and it was nice to feel like a kid instead of a miniature adult.

"Thanks for getting my brother killed," Lux said, making Maddie laugh.

"Don't mention it," she replied, the both of them laughing now.

Maddie was waiting outside the gates of the school, across the street, near a tree, trying to stay out of sight of any adults. She was pacing back and forth anxiously, until she heard the sound of shoes running across the street breaking through her thoughts, and she glanced up, spotting Lux coming across to her. Lux stopped in front of Maddie and tugged the strap of her bookbag over her shoulder.

"I've never once skipped school," Maddie said, and Lux nodded as they both turned and began to walk.

"Neither have I," she replied, "but I think this is important."

"...I'm really sorry," Maddie said, "if it makes you feel any better, it wasn't...he shouldn't have...it was meant for my father. My mom was trying to kill my dad, and it just happened to get mixed in with everything else and your brother ate it. He shouldn't have died."

"I don't know what's worse, it being accidental, or him just being a victim of a crime meant for someone else," Lux said, sighing, tossing her hair from her face, "but I guess I appreciate the apology. Though, you don't have to apologize."

"Cause it wasn't my fault?" Maddie asked.

"No, cause it just isn't necessary," Lux said, and this confused Maddie, but she didn't push it.

                                                                            ***

Alexis was in Geena's car, in the passenger seat, eating the remainder of a meatball sub they'd gotten for lunch before heading out while Geena drove. Alexis was trying not to think about things, about the day ahead of her. She was already nervous enough without it. Geena turned the radio down - she only ever played an old jazz station in her car - and sighed as Alexis took another large bite into her sandwich.

"You know," Geena said, "this is just as uncomfortable for me as it is for you."

"Is that so?" Alexis asked.

"You think I wanna go do this?" Geena asked, "I don't, I really, really don't. But I also wanna prove them wrong. I wanna rub it in their smug, self-absorbed faces that their interaction, or really rather lack thereof, didn't have a negative impact on us and instead we've flourished in spite of it."

"But it did have a negative impact," Alexis said, chewing.

"Yeah but they don't need to know that," Geena replied, making Alexis laugh; Geena continued, "they don't have to know the history or anything. All they really need to know is that we're okay now. We're both okay. You're sober, on your way to being stable, and I'm happier than I've ever been."

"People who feel the need to exclaim they're happier than they've ever been often actually aren't and are instead simply trying to convince those around them they are," Alexis said, shrugging, "just an observation."

While Geena had had some interaction with their family over the years, Alexis had, more or less, gone completely cold turkey, opting instead to cut their folks out of her life entirely instead of attempting to placate them. And, for what it was worth, it'd been the right choice for her. Geena, on the other hand, had such a necessity within her to prove they had failed her and she was better than them that she'd kept the lines of communication open, albeit somewhat barely. A holiday card here and there, a long winded e-mail sometimes, the occasional phone call. Anything she could do to just drop the not so subtlelest of hints that she'd walked away from the terrible adolescence they'd thrust upon her to be a wonderful adult.

"...you think Ellen is gonna be there?" Alexis asked, and Genna shrugged, shaking her head.

"No idea, but I figure she would be," Geena said, "I think, honestly, she has the most communication with them out of the three of us."

Alexis nodded, thinking about that. She hadn't seen or spoken to Ellen in years, and she wondered what that might be like, what she might be like. As they came to a stop sign, reaching their neighborhood, only a few blocks from the house they grew up in, both women felt a sense of dread and unease in their gut. Geena tapped on the steering wheel with her fingers as she waited to continue, while Alexis kept thinking back to when they were children, and how each of them had been, amongst their folks and between eachother. Ellen had always been the one she couldn't place a finger on. Geena was the overachiever, Alexis herself the underachiever, but where did that leave Ellen?

Maybe, god forbid, she was just normal.

One could hope.

                                                                             ***

Lux and Maddie had set their respective bags down on the ground in the wood chips, leaning against the metal of the swingset they'd seated themselves upon. As they each pushed back and forth of their own momentum, Maddie couldn't help but feel how nice it was to have a friend her own age. She loved Lilian, Miranda, Alexis, everyone she knew, but they were adults. She spent all her waking time with adults. It was nice to actually be around her peers, or one of them anyway.

"How has it been for your parents?" Maddie asked, and Lux shrugged, or shrugged best one could while on a swing.

"They're definitely sad, but it's gotten less sad over time. Maybe having lots of time between then and now makes it easier? Mom used to be really upset," Lux said, "and dad used to be really quiet about it, but now they both talk about stuff in a calm voice so I guess it's getting easier to deal with?"

"Better than how my parents reacted to everything," Maddie said, making Lux grimace.

"Yeah...sorry your family fell apart," Lux remarked, "nobody's mom should be trying to kill their dads. I just remember, more than anything else, that first night it happened, my mom was laying on her bed crying and asking 'why' repeatedly. She sounded so sad and confused, like she really wanted to know the answer to something that had no answer."

"And now?" Maddie asked.

"Now she doesn't ask why," Lux said, "now she doesn't say much of anything about him."

A pause, as Maddie chewed her lipped and mulled her options.

"Does she say anything about you?" she asked, and Lux shook her head slowly, her eyes fixated on the wood chips below them. This was what Maddie was afraid of. That her brother had died, and her parents, so distraught by this horrific turn of events, then decided to neglect their other child indefinitely. Lux didn't look neglected. She had nice clothes, her hair was clean and shiny, she wasn't malnourished, but that's the thing about neglect that Maddie had learned...it doesn't have to create a physical form that others can witness. Neglect can be emotional, psychological. It doesn't have to take the shape of abuse that can be visible. It can just be being ignored.

"I'm sorry," Maddie finally said, and Lux nodded again in silence.

It wasn't her fault. But she sure fucking felt like it was.

                                                                             ***

Lilian and Rina had decided to have lunch this day, by Rina's request, so they were currently sitting in a BBQ joint each eating their respective meals. Rina had been working for the company for a while now, but she hadn't really been interacting with the group as a whole, and Lilian was somewhat concerned by this. She wanted Rina to integrate, much as she understood being introverted. Rina bit into her spare ribs while Lilian stabbed at the steak on her plate and started cutting.

"Are you happy with your costume? Sometimes I feel the need to fix mine up, add something new," Lilian said as she lifted a bite of steak to her lips and chewed.

"Everything's fine except that kids seem to be scared of a witch more often than they are excited to see me," Rina replied, shrugging, "so it is what it is. I just hope I get hired by the weird, spooky kids who like that kind of stuff and not the snobby uppity kids who would prefer something boring and traditional like a pri-"

Rina stopped herself mid chew and looked up at Lilian, who had one eyebrow raised.

"...like a principal of a school," Rina finished slowly, making Lilian smirk and nod.

"Nice save," she said, "no, I get what you mean, and yeah, I'm traditional and it is boring, you're not wrong. It's just that this character is safe for me, it's a comfort place, you know? In a way, being a princess willingly is sort a swift kick in the nads to having to forcefully be pretty all the time when I was doing beauty pageants growing up. Now I'm choosing to be beautiful and elegant."

"I understand, and I respect that," Rina said, leaning back in her chair as she let the clean bone drop from her hands back onto the silver plate in front of her on the table, adding, as she picked her teeth, "I guess I just maybe should've thought more about being a witch before deciding it was the character I actively would like to portray. Like, I'm almost certain I'll be busiest at Halloween if nothing else."

Lilian and Rina laughed. It was nice to catch up, get Rina's views on her time spent working. Lilian herself, actually had been talking with her therapist a lot lately about the necessity to continue to portray beauty, elegance and grace when she generally felt none of those things herself most of the time. Should she change characters, pick something that made more sense to her actual personality? Nah. It was fun playing pretend. Adulthood was so boring, but make believe and escapism were a treat. She didn't really like herself, so not being herself for a bit of time was a nice reprieve.

"I guess, more than anything," Rina said, "I should just count my lucky stars to even be able to have a job like this. To know the kinds of people who could allow me the chance to do this kind of work. I can't stand office jobs, I hate the service industry, like food prep, and I really don't like answering to others. Not everyone gets so lucky as to wind up with something this independent."

Lilian nodded, smiling. Rina was right. They all should be grateful for the opportunity this job had afforded them. Honestly, if she didn't have this job, she didn't even know what else she might do. Course, she was branching out into the beauty pageant judge world, but that was more a hobby than a career to her. Lilian shut her eyes, exhaled and grinned.

"Well," she said, "here's to getting the chance to just be ourselves, and not letting the world define us."

                                                                             ***

Geena parked in the driveway and exited the car, Alexis doing the same. Geena waited for Alexis to be by her side, and then together they headed up to the front door. The house didn't look like it'd changed much, honestly. It was still in various states of run down, the paint peeling, the shutters falling off one by one, the house weather worn and exhausted looking. Alexis looked it up and down while Geena knocked on the door and patiently waited.

"Why was I so scared of this place as a kid?" Alexis asked, causing Geena to glance at her; Alexis went on, "you stand back, look at it now as an adult...what was I so afraid of? It's just a house. The people, not the place, are what's actually scary. I guess one could claim that the place is an extension of the person, but...you never know I guess. I just don't know why I let fear rule me for so long."

"That's deep," Geena said, "very insightful, and not inaccurate."

The door opened and standing there, half hidden by the door, was a meek looking woman with shoulder length curly black hair and big chestnut colored eyes. She was wearing a white v-neck with a faded pink windbreaker pulled over it, her jeans tight but clearly worn. Ellen. Jesus. She looked terrible.

"Can we come in? We're not selling anything," Alexis said, and Ellen nodded, not saying a word, stepping aside to allow them to enter. Alexis and Geena walked into the house, as Ellen shut the door behind them. The house was completely dark, the lights all out. As Geena headed towards the living room, looking for their folks, Alexis stayed in the foyer hall while Ellen stopped beside her, folding her arms and looking at her shoes.

"Did they not pay the electricity bill?" Alexis asked.

"They like it dark," Ellen said quietly, her voice a wavery feminine whisper.

"Are you okay?" Alexis asked, sounding genuine.

Ellen didn't answer, and instead headed into the kitchen, Alexis following closely behind. They could hear the quiet rumblings of muffled conversation between Geena and their parents in the living room, the sunds wafting through the paper thin walls. Ellen sat down at the table while Alexis went to the cabinet to get a glass for some tap water. After she got it into the glass and stood there, drinking, she couldn't help but notice Ellen was simply sitting at the table and eating slices of bread straight from the packaging. Alexis, having been to rehab and witnessing many different kinds of people, recognized trauma when she saw it. She cautiously approached the table and sat down as well.

"Ellen?" Alexis asked, but again to no response; Alexis sighed and sipped her water, then added, "I went to rehab."

"You did?" Ellen asked, still not looking up at her.

"Yeah, I needed to, I kinda didn't have a choice," Alexis said, "but it was good for me. I really needed it. I haven't drank or taken any kind of drug since then. It's been really good for me. It's helped me."

Alexis then felt Ellen's other hand grabbing hers and squeezing tight, her eyes still cast down at the bread on the table as she whispered, "help me." Alexis didn't know how to respond. She leaned in, setting her water down and lowering her voice.

"Are you okay?" Alexis asked. Now Ellen looked at her, tears running down her face as she collapsed into Alexis, crying as quietly as she could. Alexis, rarely ever the consoler, didn't know how to respond, but she did her best. She held her little sister and patted her on the back, telling her it would all be okay now. She hated platitudes like that, with no proof to back her words up, but sometimes that's just what someone needs to hear in the moment. So she held her sister and let her cry. So many had helped her.

Now was her chance to help someone she loved.

                                                                             ***

Maddie and Lux were walking back towards the school, Lux gently stepping on fallen leaves, crunching them satisfyingly underfoot, while Maddie skipped, almost playing hopscotch with general sidewalk squares. Lux had to get back to school for her parents to come get her, and Maddie had to do the same, otherwise Lilian would get suspicious. They'd only snuck out for lunch period anyway.

"If you ever wanna come over," Maddie said, "you can. If you don't wanna be at your home. I know how uncomfortable it can be to be around parents who don't really want you there."

"Thanks," Lux said, "that's nice of you. Honestly though, being home isn't so bad now. I mean, it's sad that my parents are so quiet and sad all the time, but it's better now that he's gone."

Maddie stopped in her tracks, confused. Lux stopped a bit in front of her, and sighed.

"...what do you mean? How is it better?" Maddie asked, and Lux sniffled, looking around at the changing trees overhead.

"It's better because he can't hurt me anymore," Lux said, "he was the one our parents loved, so they never thought he did anything wrong, and they never believed me if I told on him about anything. So of course I didn't say anything when he started touching me in ways I didn't like or want. You're kind of my hero, Maddie. You helped make my life safer."

Maddie couldn't believe what she was hearing, her jaw slightly ajar. Lux smiled and looked at the ground, kicking some leaves, chuckling.

"I'm so glad he's dead," she said softly.

Lilian panted heavily, laying on top of Miranda in bed, still grinding herself against Miranda's thigh as Miranda's fingertips gently slid up and down her spine. After a few minutes of coming down from the sensation of her orgasm, Lilian stopped moving and just lay there, exhaling, her breathing softening now. She thought about the day ahead of her, and bit her lip, grinning.

"This is a good way to start a Valentine's Day, don't you think?" Lilian asked, and Miranda giggled, nodding in response; Lilian continued, kissing Miranda's neck softly between certain words, "we could do something tonight too, when I'm back from the job, if you're interested. God you're so pretty."

"What would you want to do?" Miranda asked, blushing.

"No idea, I'm just throwing the option out there," Lilian said, pulling up and grabbing Miranda's face in her hands and kissing her on the lips longingly, whispering, "but whatever we do will be fine, because we'll do it together. That's all I want to do, is do things with you."

Miranda blushed deep red. Her whole life all she'd wanted was exactly what she had right now, right here. This...this was heaven for her. Not many people get to have their dreams come true. Lilian rolled off Miranda and lay beside her, still breathing hard, her hair a tussled mess. As she stared at the ceiling, despite the fantastic sex she'd just had with the woman she loved more than anything else in this world, all she could think of was Alexis. This would be Alexis's first time back at work in months, and she was worried she wouldn't be able to handle it. She'd stayed sober, sure, but what would happen when she was at parties again, specifically adult parties where booze was often a heavy feature? Lilian chewed her lip nervously, until Miranda leaned over her and kissed her, surprising her, making her laugh.

"What was that for?" Lilian asked.

"I need a reason now?" Miranda asked, continuing the kiss.

It was only 9am. They had time.

                                                                               ***

"Who has a Valentine's Day party?" Alexis asked as she and Tyler stood at a nearby table in a dorm room; her eyes scanned the room at all the people her age or younger engaging in socially acceptable levels of public copulation, making out and necking, as the kids say. Alexis fidgeted nervously and touched the cigarette in her coat pocket to calm her down as she asked, "and why would they want themed characters for it?"

"Well," Tyler said, "pirates are known for being lushes, and the west was known for having saloons. I can kind of see where they're coming from. Plus, with everyone our age eternally stuck in a perpetual state of arrested development, it makes sense to have fun parties with costumed characters."

"Yeah, but, like...why not get drunk with Batman? I'm just sayin'," Alexis said, making Tyler laugh as they turned to face the nearby table and look at the various snack spread laid out; Alexis continued, "after all, it isn't like I'm going to be participating."

"So you're stone cold Steve Austin sober then?" Tyler asked, making Alexis chuckle.

"I can't be trusted with alcohol, because I know that if I give into one vice, and it doesn't go poorly, it'll make me believe I can successfully navigate all the others without issue, and I know that isn't the case. I'm not going to go back down that road cause everyone hated me while I was on it, so better to avoid the detour altogether."

Tyler frowned a little. He hated how Alexis thought everyone else thought of her, but after the way Vera had treated her because of her habits, how could she see it any other way, really? Still, he wished she knew just how much the group, as a whole, liked her. The two stepped aside as some of the college kids walked to the table for drinks and snacks. Alexis bit into one of the heart shaped frosted sugar cookies she'd snatched from the table and chewed, watching. The guy this girl was with...he looked so much like Rick. She couldn't get him out of her head, and she hated it. She'd never been like this with someone before, and she wanted to go back to being that detached.

"What's everyone elses assignments today?" Alexis asked, and Tyler cleared his throat, sipping on his drink.

"Well," he said, leaning against the wall, one hand on his belt, "Lily's going to an elementary school, and I think she's stowing Maddie away with her for help. Vera's trying to come up with a character and a costume, and John....I couldn't tell ya. I think he took the day off."

Alexis nodded. She didn't pry about John's motives, because she didn't have to. Sure, she didn't have certainty, but she figured she knew why he'd take the day off, and as it turned out, she was half right.

                                                                              ***

"Didn't realize schools made such a big deal out of Valentine's Day," Lilian said as she and Maddie walked down the hall together, both in matching princess costumes, each one holding a basket filled with candy and cards to be passed out amongst various kids. This was Maddie's first time doing the job at a school, a neighboring school but a school nonetheless, and thankfully with Lilian by her side she didn't feel any fear or doubt, even when kids snickered at her costume. As they walked down the hall, though, Maddie - despite loving working with Lilian - couldn't help but feel a smidge jealous at not simply being a student receiving Valentine's cards and gifts.

"You know it's just a corporate holiday, right?" Lilian asked as they stopped at a bench in the hall so Lilian could adjust the straps on her heels; Maddie looked at her confused and she smiled, continuing as she put her foot up on the bench, "any day is a good day to tell someone you love them. You don't need a federally mandated holiday to do that. If anything, it cheapens it, because your partner will simply think 'oh, they had to be REMINDED to do this for me' instead of it being a naturally occurring thing as it should be."

"I know, but..." Maddie said, sitting on the bench now, plopping the basket in her lap, "but it still seems like something I should participate in. I feel like I'm missing out on all the things adults called cherished childhood memories."

That broke Lilian's heart. She did her best to give Maddie a normal childhood, but, truthfully, her childhood had been anything but normal thusfar. After all, her mother had tried to kill her father, killed a child instead, then tried to kill him again. Maddie didn't exactly live the ideal adolescent life, even if the life she currently had was better than before.

"I'm sorry," Lilian said, sitting beside her, "...you can open one of these if you want."

"You don't have to be sorry, you're amazing, you and Miranda are the best moms," Maddie said, warming Lilian's heart; she added, "it's just...I feel like everyone got to be a kid except me. And now I'm scared that because I didn't get to be a kid, I won't know how to be an adult. Would you still love me if I was an adult who couldn't do anything?"

Lilian felt her eyes tear up and she reached over, rubbing Maddie's back.

"You can be as messy an adult as you want. Alexis was an outright trainwreck, and she's my best friend, so yeah, I'll always love you. Far as I'm concerned, even if not biologically, you're the closest thing I may ever have to a daughter, and you never turn your back on your children, no matter what your family might have taught you."

Maddie smiled and hugged Lilian and, for a brief moment, the snickering and pointing from the other kids didn't matter anymore. She had something far better than their acceptance. She had stability. And that was more than most kids had.

                                                                             ***

Helen was eating cereal on her couch when someone knocked at her door. She groaned, stood up and went to answer it, only to find Vera there standing on her porch. The two women looked at one another for a minute before Helen stepped inside reluctantly and allowed Vera entrance.

"What are you doing at my home?" Helena asked.

"I can't do this," Vera said, "I...I can't..I just...I can't come up with a character design."

"It's a costume for chldrens parties, Vera, not a big budget fantasy film," Helena replied, spooning more cereal in her mouth, "anything from any kind of costume shop will suffice."

Helena headed into her kitchen, Vera hot on her heels. Helen put her empty cereal bowl on the counter and started up her coffee maker, as Vera took in the sight of her new boss in her black silk pajamas with white trim and her suspiciously perfect hair in the morning. Helena came off so...well put together. Even at this time of day. It just didn't seem normal. Then again, who was she to question what was normal? Nothing about her life had been normal for so long now.

"A birthday is supposed to be a childs happiest day of the year," Vera said, sitting at the kitchen counter, "sure, they have other days; Halloween is fun, or whatever winter holiday they celebrate is always nice, but a birthday is the one day, the one singular day, that is ALL about them. I want to be a part of what makes that special, but I can't do that unless I really have this character down pat."

A moment passed, and Helena sighed. She turned to face Vera, leaning against her fancy moss green kitchen tiled counter and crossing her arms.

"When I was a little girl," Helena said, "I loved fairy tales. I used to have this big book of fairy tales that my dad would read to me every single night. The creatures, the monsters, the brave knights and the magic and the fantastical world...I loved all of it, but my very favorite part was the fairies. I loved the fairies. These small, ethereal little things that could be just as strong as anyone else. I identified with that greatly."

Vera looked at Helena, confused as to where this was going, but she didn't interrupt, she just let her keep talking.

"...but eventually you learn that no matter how strong you are, there is a greater evil out there that will vanquish your seemingly resiliant spirit. Eventually you get worn down by the awfulness of the world. Because real life isn't a fairy tale, and more often than not, the monsters win. You picked a fairy as a costume, Vera, for your own personal reasons that I do respect and agree with, but that means you need to imbue it with a sense of identity, not just for yourself, but for the other little black girls you'll be presenting for. The little girls who can still believe in magic."

Vera nodded slowly as Helena turned back to her coffee machine to adjust a setting and add something. Vera looked down at the floor, then back up towards Helena.

"What happened to your book?" Vera asked.

"The same thing that eventually happens to everything you love," Helena said, "it went away."

                                                                               ***

Star was sitting on the floor of her room when John entered. They smiled at one another and, as was routine, she leapt up quickly and rushed to hug him. John hugged his daughter back, and then the two of them seated themselves on the floor once more. Star went back to doing her large piece puzzle as John watched happily. They didn't need conversation, simply being together was good enough, primarly because each one didn't think they would ever again the night of the accident, so it was a little quiet miracle they shared. After a bit, John handed Star a gift, wrapped up, and she happily took it, excitedly opening it to reveal a series of her favorite story books.

After they completed the puzzle, they cuddled up on the bed and he read to her until she fell asleep in his arms. John stayed there and held her, still flipping through the books, taking in the pictures. He'd never openly admit this, because it sounded kind of selfish and weird, but...he was kind of happy to have things the way they were with Star. First off, he was just thrilled she was alive. But secondly, he liked having her always mentally be a child, because, in a way, it was as though they were stuck in time forever the way they were when the accident happened, when John was at his happiest. When she was at her happiest. He loved what they had now.

Sure, it was sad not getting to see her grow up, become an adult, do something with her life, but if John had learned anything over the course of his own, it was that doing something with ones life was vastly overrated and there was nothing wrong with simply existing. Societal expectation and pressures to conform and be successful were bullshit. He was glad she'd never have to endure those hardships. But this whole thing came with an unspoken fear...the fact that, inevitably, he would die long before she did, and what would happen to her then? He hated this, and he didn't like thinking about it. So he didn't, and instead he kissed the top of her head and held her close.

John always brought her gifts. She was his little girl, after all. But today was different. Today was the anniversary of the accident. And he figured what better way to escape that reality than to participate in a world of fantasy literature. She didn't understand it. She didn't know it was today. And he was happy for that.

At least, since he had no romance in his life, Valentine's Day had some kind of meaning, and he got to spend it with the person that he loved most.

                                                                             ***

Tyler didn't know where Alexis had gotten off to, and that worried him.

While he'd been talking to some guys about their college baseball team, she had seemingly slunk off to parts unknown, and he'd spent the last fifteen minutes trying to find her. He stopped and asked various girls and guys if they'd seen a girl dressed as a pirate, but to no avail. Tyler, now growing increasingly frustrated and worried, a concerning mixture of emotions to say the least, didn't know what to do. He then heard a soft banging against a nearby door that immediately caught his attention, so he headed on over towards it and pulled it open, only to find Alex on the opposite side, inside a bathroom, with a beer bottle in her hands and trying to uncap it against the doorknob. Tyler entered and shut the door behind him before looking at her.

"Say it," she said, "go ahead, call me a disappointment."

"Where did you ever get the idea I'd do that?" he asked, confused.

"I know how everyone thinks of me. They aren't happy I'm sober for my benefit, they're happy because it means they don't have to worry anymore. I'm no longer a 'problem' to them. That's what it's really about. So don't pretend like you actually care about my sobriety for the benefit of my wellbeing so much as you care for it for the benefit of your comfort level."

Tyler stood and stared, uncertain how to react. Alexis finally stopped trying to open the bottle, and Tyler look it from her, got the cap off against the edge of the sink and then handed it back to her. Alexis, her eyebrows raised in surprise, took it back from him and looked at it, before setting it down on the floor beside her as she sat on the toilet.

"It's about choice," Tyler said, "it's a choice you have to make every day. That's why I opened it and gave it back to you. Because see, you don't really wanna go back there. But I was willing to let you, if you wanted. You're not getting sober out of guilt. You're getting sober for you."

Alexis started fingering the silver necklace with the emerald broach around her neck, chewing on her lip as she did. Tyler sat on the side of the tub beside her and waited.

"I met this guy in rehab," Alexis said, her voice shaky and quivering, "and he was...he was amazing. He was so funny, and so talented. He painted a picture of me. He gave me this necklace. And he liked me. Genuinely liked me. But by the end of it all, I had to end things, not because I was leaving but because he wasn't ready to get sober and...and I knew myself well enough to know that if he didn't, and we did try, that I'd be pulled right back in with him. I put myself first. I've never done that. I've always been a people pleaser."

"Well you should feel proud of that then," Tyler said, smiling.

"I don't," Alexis whispered, about to cry, "I mean...it was the right choice, yeah, but...as nice as having sobriety is...I think I'd rather have him."

And she started to cry. Tyler stood up and pulled her head against him, hugging her as she sobbed. Tyler didn't know what to say or do, so instead he simply was there for her. And Alexis wept loudly, not caring who heard. Even now, all these months later, she missed Rick so bad. She would lay in bed at night and think about how it'd be to have him there with her, to hold her, to fuck her, to keep her safe. Sure, her sobriety was nice, but it came at the price of loneliness from the only man who ever genuinely loved her, and that hurt.

"If he really cared the way you say he did," Tyler said softly, "then there's a good chance that one day, if you two meet up again, he'll still care. Until then, we're here for you. I'm here for you."

Alexis smiled weakly and nodded. She'd incorporated the necklace as part of her costume, despite really just wearing it because she missed him, because what kind of pirate doesn't show off their treasure?

                                                                              ***

Maddie was sitting outside under a large tree during lunch while Lilian continued to pass things out to the nearby kids. Maddie was eating lunch - Lilian had run downtown and gotten them something while the kids were in class earlier - and couldn't help but feel bad for not helping, but Lilian had insisted. She was still a kid, after all, and eating was important. Maddie looked down at the sandwich in her lap as she sipped her soda, and then felt the bench creak. When she looked to her right, she expected to find Lilian, but instead found a girl her age. A girl in a white collar, long sleeved button down shirt and a black skirt, with a black blazer, the school uniform. She had very long, very light blonde hair and she was clutching her backpack to her chest tightly.

"Um...hello?" Maddie asked.

"...you don't know me, do you?" the girl asked, and Maddie shook her head; the girl reached into her pocket and took out a piece of candy that Maddie had given out today, then said, "you gave this to me in the hall earlier."

"...do you not like nouget?" Maddie asked, making her laugh a little.

"No, no, um...my brother...he died a while back," the girl said, "and...and it was because of this. This candy. He had an allergic reaction to it, and he died. He was my twin, so I shouldn't have it either."

"Do you want a replacement? I'm sorry," Maddie said, feeling bad.

"No, I don't," the girl, Lux said, "because..."

The girl looked at Maddie and they locked eyes, and that's when she realized. She gasped and the girl nodded.

"He died at your party," she said.

Allie was standing in Jenny's kitchen, having coffee at her counter, while Jenny sat at the kitchen table and sipped her own cup. Allie was staring nervously ahead at the fridge, taking in all the magnets and various snapshots of Jenny's life that she had posted up there for the world to see. All of this, of course, wasn't exactly a decision spurred by her curiosity to know Jenny any better, as much as it was a way to distract herself from the day ahead of her. After a bit of quiet, she looked towards Jenny, who just smiled at her.

"Are you doing okay? You seem...particularly zoned out this morning," Jenny said.

"I'm alright," Allie replied, "yeah, I'm just...thinking about what I've got to do today."

Allie walked across the kitchen and seated herself opposite Jenny at the table, taking another few minutes to drink coffee, let it warm her up. She rarely drank coffee, but today she felt like she was going to need the extra energy. As they sat in momentary silence, Allie thought back to the photos hung on the fridge, and wondered if Jenny even still knew any of those people. Allie certainly didn't recognize them, and they were all photos taken before the accident, years before, when Jenny was much younger. Did Jenny still have these people in her life and if not, when did they leave? Would it happen to Allie too? Would she one day simply be nothing more than a photographic memento on somebody's fridge without actively being in their life anymore? The thought scared her. She finally looked up from her mug at Jenny, who smiled at her.

"Busy day ahead of you?" Jenny asked.

"You have no idea," Allie mumbled.

                                                                             ***

"What does one wear to a heist?" Benny asked, "is it a formal occasion?"

"You ask like I do this on a regular occasion, this is my first one," Molly responded.

She and Benny were in the bedroom getting dressed as Olivia was in the attached bathroom doing her makeup. A knock rang out from the front door and Olivia went to answer as she started putting in her earrings. As she passed by and into the living room, Molly turned and watched, then glanced at Benny.

"Is it normal to be scared right now?" she asked.

"I'd say it'd be weird if you weren't," Benny replied, "but hey, we designed this thing together, we know the ins and outs, we have a distraction set up, everything will go smoothly okay? Trust me. Do you trust me?"

Benny took her hands in his and pulled them to his face, kissing them softly, making her blush. She nodded quietly, acknowledging that, yeah, she did. In fact, she probably trusted him more than anyone else in the world these days. Nobody had ever been so respectful, understanding, compassionate. Allie - and by some extension Zoe - had lied to her, and they were friends, sure, but that came with a big asterisk attached to it now after the shitshow they'd dragged her into. Otherwise Benny and Olivia were it. Olivia came back into the room and headed back to the bathroom.

"She's here," she said as she passed by and shut the bathroom door behind her.

"Good morning," Allie said, standing in the doorway of the bedroom, "...are we ready?"

"How ready is ready, exactly?" Benny asked, "where's everyone else, is anybody else even here yet?"

"Claire's on her way, Salem and Rufus are meeting us at the casino, and as for Zoe, I couldn't tell ya where she is but she isn't coming in with us, so. She's already done so much for us anyway in regards to this that I wouldn't ask her to do more, as it is. She can happily sit this one out," Allie said.

"...Claire is coming in with us?" Molly asked, sounding nervous.

"Yeah, she...kinda demanded it," Allie said, sighing, shrugging, "Molly, don't worry, she isn't a threat to us. If anything, she needs us, desperately. Our exclusion of her would make her a threat to us. As it stands right now, everything's at an agreeable stalemate, and frankly I'm fine with that. Besides, I'll be there, and I won't let her hurt anyone even if she tried, which she won't, okay?"

Molly nodded hesitantly, then went back to getting dressed. Olivia came back out from the bathroom and stopped looking at everyone, hands on her hips, now fully dressed in her uniform. For a moment nobody said a word, and then Olivia exhaled.

"Welp," she said, "I'm going to work. I'll be clear across town. Please be careful, both of you."

"We're just breaking into a casino vault, what's the worst that could happen?" Molly asked, pulling her shoes on while standing. Olivia and Benny laughed as Olivia leaned in, kissed Benny on the cheek, then leaned the opposite direction and planted a kiss on Molly's head, making her blush. With that, she walked towards Allie, still in the doorframe, and stopped again.

"...don't lose them," Olivia said sternly, and Allie smiled, nodding.

"I won't, don't worry," Allie said. Olivia nodded in responded, then headed past her. Once they heard the front door shut, knowing she was out of earshot, Allie turned back to the others and continued watching them get ready before checking her watch. They were supposed to meet Rufus and Salem at the casino anytime now, but...where the hell was Claire?

                                                                          ***

"Are you nervous?" Claire asked, standing outside a deli across the street from Jackson's performance space, the two of them each eating their own sandwiches. Jackson chewed, swallowed and nodded. He waited a moment to reply, thinking about how exactly to put it, and finally sighed before speaking as Claire lifted her sandwich up to her face and took another bite while he did so.

"I'm always nervous before stuff like this but not...not really for the reasons you might expect," he said, "uh...not because I don't think I can't do it, because I know I can, I'm well aware of my skill level and I designed the damn thing, but moreso because I don't want to disappoint people, you know? It's a tightrope of being a performer; escape too fast and they're upset, stay in too long and they get bored. People want excitement. They want drama. I just want to give them a good, safe show."

Claire grinned as she chewed, listening. Jackson leaned against the brick building and took a sip of his soda, licking his lips afterwards.

"Either way," he said, "I know I'll be good, and I know it'll be good. I just hope everyone else thinks the same."

"I'm sure it'll be a day they don't forget," Claire said, patting him on the arm, making her chuckle. Jackson was never nervous around women, but something about Claire...something about her really got to him. He couldn't help but be a little nervous around her. She was so headstrong, so forward, but so soft and comforting. A deadly combination for a man of his ego, honestly, and she knew this, which made her deadly as well, not that that was news to anyone. Claire looked back towards the box, being lifted into the air now, testing it's ability to hang just once before the event. She smiled to herself, taking another bite of her sandwich.

When all is said and done, she thought, she knew two things would be true. The first was that what they were about to do today would be the talk of the town, and the second...well, the second was that nobody would ever forget who Jackson Strange was.

"I have to get going," Claire said, checking her watch, "I have an appointment."

"Are you coming back for the show?" Jackson asked, and Claire nodded.

"Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world," she said, "break a leg."

As he watched her walk off, Jackson felt this gnawing in the pit of his stomach. He'd long since avoided getting involved with women on any sort of romantic level, but this woman...this woman he just couldn't get out of his head. Claire, of course, was just using him. She didn't care about him one way or the other, which only made what was about to happen that much easier on her conscience. But Jackson had fallen hard in just the short time they'd known one another, and he was excited to see her at the event that night. Little did he knew she'd be deep down in a casino vault...holding a gun.

                                                                           ***

Raindrop was sitting at the bar in the casino.

She was thinking about her night out with Zoe, about how she hadn't drank that much in ages, and how it'd really gotten her thinking again about her life, her choices, her anger at the people who felt she was below them - more often than not the very clients she sought to represent - and how sick of it all she was. She was drinking again now, and it was only 1pm in the afternoon. She needed to get herself back in check, because this simply couldn't continue. A stool scooted out from beside her and she turned her head to see Zoe sitting on it.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Zoe said.

"You have? That's...weirdly sweet," Raindrop replied, "for what reason?"

"Well, there's two magicians showing up today to do an impromptu flash performance in the main hall," Zoe said, "figured, as the insurance lawyer, you might be inclined to check it out. You know, safety and all that. Are you okay? You're drinking kinda early in the day."

"Why not," Raindrop said sullenly, shrugging, "I mean, really, why not. What fucking difference could it make, honestly. These people will never face consequences for their actions, they're all criminals on one level or another, and I'm the one who has to cover it all up, defend their despicable beliefs to a justice system that's so flawed that it wouldn't convict them even with the right amount of evidence."

"You're not, like, a regular lawyer though," Zoe said, "how often do you actually go to court?"

"Often enough, and besides, I'm still hiding things for them, doctoring information. Just once, just one goddamn time, I want things to be about ME, I want people to remember ME. I'm sick of being everyones fall guy," Raindrop said, finshing her drink and plopping the mug down onto the bartop, adding, "I want what's coming to me after a lifetime of essentially indentured servitude."

Zoe nodded. She actually understood how Raindrop felt. Between being controlled then abandoned by her parents, protected yet used by Allie, she really did see where Raindrop was coming from and how she could feel so extremely frustrated. Zoe sighed.

"Well," Zoe said, "maybe one day that chance will come, and maybe one day the universe will course correct itself and they'll get what they deserve, but until that time, you have a job to do, right? Those guys will be starting their performance anytime now. You should probably get out there."

"I guess so," Raindrop said, standing up from the stool and wobbling a bit, clearly somewhat drunk. As Zoe watched her toddle off to the main hall, where the car on the pedastal was displayed, she couldn't help but feel remorse. Here was, much like Molly and Benny and so many others, yet another innocent - well, in this instance somewhat innocent - bystander they'd duped into being remotely involved in their dark dealings, and look how it had affected her now. Zoe understood the need for the deceit...but that didn't mean she liked it.

After a few minutes, Zoe herself climbed off her stool and went to join the others in the back lot where they'd gathered. There she found Allie, Molly, Benny, Rufus and Salem, but surprisingly, still no Claire, much to Allie's chagrin at this point. As she stumbled into the group, she could hear them loudly chattering about something, somewhat heatedly, but wasn't sure what. Zoe stood a bit aways, to keep her sanity for the moment, as she watched. After a minute, a car pulled into a space beside her and parked, Claire climbing out of it and walking up beside her, stopping.

"Quite the little ragtag team we've assembled here, isn't it?" she asked.

"How is this possibly going to work?" Zoe mumbled.

"Well that's the allure of magic, isn't it?" Claire asked, grinning, putting a hand on her shoulder, "you get to wait and find out."

                                                                            ***

The thing is...it wasn't even a break in. Molly had the keys. She had designed the thing, after all.

All they really had to do was stay somewhat incognito, black out cameras where they saw them along the way - Claire's doing - and get in and get out. Allie, being a prominant part of the casino, also wouldn't be bothered for being down here either, if they were stopped, because who was going to argue with Tony's top draw entertainer? Really, this group was in the clear from the get go. The issue was getting back out, which, thankfully, wasn't going to be difficult. Between the tricks Molly and Benny had learned from Strange's glass box design and Benny's overall knowledge of sleight of hand, they had a clear cut way out through a hollow section of wall, which came as inspiraton from Claire's crimes. Everyone had, whether they knew it or not, come together to make this as simple and viable a thing as possible.

The ones who had it somewhat rough...were Rufus and Salem.

Up in the main hall, watching the car spin around on the pedastal from a distance, Salem himself couldn't understand how he'd come this far. Just a few months ago he'd been approached by these people for information, and now here he was, attempting to help them steal a car? From a casino, no less? Wild. Rufus adjusted his tie and his cape, as Salem nervously twitched at his beard, stroking it casually with his fingertips. He knew the plan. They'd gotten it all set up. A curtain would come up around the car, fully engulfing it away from the audience, and then the pedastal would detract down into the floor, taking the car with it, where it would be moved by Salem's wife before the pedastal raised back up, and they drove the damn thing out of the back of the building from the underground. Plain and simple. Didn't make him any less nervous though, honestly.

"You doin' okay, kid?" Rufus asked, and Salem shrugged, shaking his head.

"That's a real loaded question," he replied.

Rufus laughed, slapped him on the back, and together they walked towards the car, ready to make the casino goes gasp. Watching a bit from afar was Raindrop, keeping a keen eye on what was happening. She knew impromptu flash performances such as these took place all the time, that wasn't out of the ordinary, but still...something about this made her anxious in her gut. Course, that could also be all the alcohol. A sizeable crowd soon gathered to witness the act, as Tony himself stopped beside Raindrop, watching, eating a burrito in a foil wrap.

"What's this all about?" he asked. Raindrop glanced up at him, confused.

"Wait, you...you didn't authorize this?" she asked, and he shook his head, chewing, watching. Now that awful feeling made sense. Something was wrong with this. As the act came to a close and the car pedastal raised back up, the car gone, both Tony and Raindrop stood there aghast...what had just happened? Tony turned, storming off in a different direction, looking for answers, while Raindrop started to approach Salem and Rufus when she was stopped by Zoe.

"What the hell did they do with the car?!" she shouted, and Zoe held her by the shoulders.

"...you wanna get back at these people? The people you claim to hate? Now is your chance," Zoe said.

A pause, as they locked eyes.

"I'm listening," Raindrop said.

Meanwhile, the group had reached the vault door. While Molly fumbled with the keys, Claire and Allie watched down the hall together in a sort of daze. Honestly, despite their rather sturdious dispositions, neither one really could believe they were currently doing what they were doing. They were completely phased. Claire looked at Allie and cleared her throat.

"I visited Raymond Sykes," Claire said, and Allie looked at her, her eyes wide; Claire nodded and continued, "I went to him, disguised as the unknown and abandoned daughter of one of his business associates, and we spoke. He gave me information. Told me about my 'dad', if you will. I can continue gathering more, and you can take it all and hand it right on over to the agents. I just want one thing. My freedom. I want a cut of whatever is in this vault, and I want to leave town, for good. Are we understood, is that clear? I'll be out of your life forever."

Allie shook her head slowly, mouth slightly agape.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked, whispering, making Claire smirk.

"I'm the answer to all your prayers, sweetheart," Claire replied.

"It's a good thing Tony opted for old time lock and key instead of those identifying key cards," Benny said from behind, "probably because he doesn't want his own activity traced back to it if it's discovered, but it's certainly working in our benefit, that's for sure."

The door swung open and the group headed inside and...well...what they saw...

...it definitely wasn't what they expected.

                                                                              ***

Jackson couldn't see her.

He was scanning the crowd for her face, but he couldn't see her. Why was he so hung up on this girl that he'd met a few times? How had she so successfully wormed her way into his psyche? He was crazy about her. He sighed and shook his head as he approached the box, putting a hand on it. Showtime was in scant minutes, maybe she was just running late. He stepped inside the box, looked at one of the assistants, and whistled, an audible indicator for them to begin raising it into the sky overhead the crowd, crammed between these two buildings. As he was lifted up, the crowd below cheered, clapped, whistled, and he smiled. Even in spite of her absence, nothing would ruin this day for him. He'd spent months preparing for this.

And then the box shifted, and he stumbled, catching himself, breathing hard. Had they hit the side of a building? The creaking, the sound of metallic grating on something. Jackson looked around, unsure where the noise was originating from. Until he saw it.

One of the chains holding the box to the lift in the air was breaking. It was loose. His heart caught in his chest, and he thought back to the woman. She'd been so interested, come about so suddenly, wanted to appreciate the box with him. She'd gotten him right from the start. She'd done this. And indeed Claire had. Claire had sneakily damaged the chain so that it would snap while Jackson was high in the air, and there was nothing he could do about it because the people down below, the people working for him, didn't even know it. For all they knew, everything was going fine. And that's when the reality really sunk in. Jackson looked down at the crowd again. Children. The elderly. Young couples. All within striking distance of shattering glass. His heart began to race. No. The one thing he didn't want, his audience being harmed, that was the worst part.

He'd trusted her. He'd always been so trusting of women because he'd always been so charming, so easily able to get their attention, that he never once thought a woman might have it out for him. The chain snapped more, and Jackson steeled him for the inevitable. The glass box was going to fall, people were going to be hurt, and he could very well die. He scanned his brain for anything she might've said, anything she might've done that would stick out to him, but she'd been nothing but encouraging and supportive and interested. Were those crimes, really? Jackson started breathing hard and fast, and then he realized the biggest thing of all, she hadn't been interested in him...she'd been interested in the box.

The chain snapped.

Jackson could feel himself falling through the air freestyle inside the box as it plummeted to the ground, the crowd below screaming in sheer panic, shoving one another, trampling eachother to try to escape the hit zone. But it didn't matter. The thing shattered hard, taking other innocent people down with it. Jackson, however, was alive. Shockingly, he was alive. He laid admist the broken glass and the chains and the metal rigging, but he was alive. His back hurt, and he couldn't move much, but he'd survived the fall. Jackson looked around, then glanced down at his legs, which were not only bent in awful directions, but had glass shards sticking out of them. He started to cry. What had he done to deserve this?

The truth?

Nothing. He was a jerk, sure, but he was a pawn, and nothing more. Something to simply buy time to distract in case the heist went wrong. Something else for the police to be bothered by, busy with. To buy them some time. It was a failsafe, there was no guarantee it would be necessary. Except...well...Claire's intuition was spot on. Because things in the vault...were about to end violently.

                                                                         ***

"A car?" Allie asked.

The group circled around it like vultures admiring a fresh kill.

"A car? That's what he needed the space for?" Allie asked again, "I'm...I'm flummoxed."

"Baffled?" Benny asked.

"Bamboozled even," Allie said, the both of them laughing nervously at the exchange as she added, "why would he need to store a car? Unless...what did Zoe say about chips? About stealing chips?"

Allie approached the car and tried to open the trunk, but to no avail. Benny and Molly got to work, looking for the handle inside to do the job, while Allie stepped back and stood beside Claire. Allie folded her arms, confused. She simply couldn't fathom why he'd need a car, except to perhaps move chips without being detected. Claire coughed anxiously and Allie looked towards her.

"Well, looks like you might have your ride out of town," Allie said, and Claire laughed.

"Stop," a voice said, and Allie and Claire turned to see Raindrop entering behind them. She looked ragged, worn out, like she'd run all the way down here. What the hell was she doing here? Zoe was supposed to keep her occupied. Nobody said a thing while Molly and Benny continued to look for the handle to open the trunk, as Raindrop slowly, and cautiously, approached the gang.

"What's this?" Claire asked, putting a hand into her leather jacket pocket.

"I work for Raymond Sykes," Raindrop said, "he's been looking for proof that Tony's been cheating him, planning on pulling support. I fucking hate Raymond Sykes, but I can use this as leverage. I can take this to him, get Tony shut down, and Raymond will let me quit. He won't let me quit. I've tried."

"Yeah, that sounds like Raymond," Allie scoffed, remembering the things others had said about him, "but we can't...we can't let you do that, we need to give this information to the agents we're working with. Come with us. Join us. You can get out with us, Raindrop."

Raindrop bit her lip, her eyes scanning to Molly and Benny digging around in the car, their backs to everyone. Benny whistled to them that they think they found the handle, and Allie and Claire turned back to see. Raindrop shook her head, reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small, snub nosed pistol. She walked past Allie and Claire, shoving them aside, as Allie screamed. Molly turned to see what was happening when the shot went out and she stumbled back against the car, feeling the heat of the bullet in her gut. Benny screamed and looked towards Raindrop before she plugged him as well, the both of them sliding down against the car and to the floor. Allie screamed and stood up, but Raindrop shoved her away and aimed at Allie, tears running down her face. Allie felt her heart drop. No. This...this wasn't...her eyes looked towards Molly. She'd promised Olivia they'd come back safe. Allie started crying and squeezed her eyes shut tight, preparing for the shot, when she heard the sound of a gun go off. Allie opened her eyes and saw Raindrop dead on the floor, a hole between her eyes. Claire was standing there, holding a pistol, before looking down at Allie. Claire reached down and held her hand out, but Allie wouldn't take it. Claire knelt beside her, taking her face in her hands.

"It's all gone to shit," Claire whispered, "You need to get these guys out of here, and I need to get ghost."

"...you could've let her kill me," Allie whimpered.

"And you could've shot me instead of Kristin," Claire replied, "but that's not what we do. You and me, Meers, we're in this to the end. Now we're even. Get Salem down here, get these guys out, they don't deserve to die for this."

Allie nodded, in awe of what had just transpired, reeling in the aftermath. Claire looked at her watch and shook her head.

"I say you got about a half hour before anyone comes down here to see what's going on, and even less time for them for the shock to set in, which will make saving them harder. Get them out, Meers. I'll contact you."

Claire pulled Allie up to her feet and Allie stared at Claire. She didn't know how to react. Claire held Allie's face in her hands and kissed her, surprising her, before turning and briskly exiting the vault. Allie turned and looked at Molly and Benny, quickly rushing over to them. She pulled out of her phone and texted Salem to get down here immediately. She crawled up beside Molly and took her hands in her own, not realizing the amount of blood covering her now as she wiped one across her face to rid it of the sweat that had formed. Molly's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Allie.

"I'm so sorry," Allie sobbed, her lip quivering, "I didn't...I didn't know that...Molly I'm so sorry."

"...you always are," Molly whispered, before looking towards Benny. Allie stood back up and opened her phone, calling Salem now. As she shouted at him about what was going on, Molly reached over and took Benny's hand. He wasn't moving, but his hand was still warm. Molly leaned herself back against the tire, shut her eyes, and slipped into the darkness she'd so long been afraid of.

Sirens.

Sirens across the city. Multiple ambulances parked at Jackson Strange's performance, a few more - along with a dozen police cars - parked at the second Card Shark, mayhem and grief spreading rapidly. Allie was stood outside the casino, Salem beside her, holding her hand tightly, her hands and face smeared with blood. 3 people loaded into various ambulances. Allie didn't understand how this happened. How did this happen? Everything had gone exactly as planned. How could this happen? Salem squeezed her hand tighter, and she grimaced, tears running down her face. This wasn't how it was going to end. She was going to fix this. She was going to make this right.

"You couldn't have known that-" Salem started, but Allie just shook her head.

"I took them down there," she said quietly, "this is all my fault. I did this."

"You did not do this, Allie," Salem said, "Allie, seriously, you had no idea that that would happen."

"Everything has been my fault, and I deserve to go down for it," Allie whispered, "but if I'm going down, so is Raymond Sykes. He will face fucking consequences for what happened here today, what he's done to everyone...he will not get away with this."

Allie exhaled.

"I need rest," she whispered, and Salem nodded.

"Go on home," Salem said, "I'll go see Olivia. You shouldn't have to-"

"No, I'll do that too, but I need a break first," Allie said, "...thank you Salem."

Allie turned and walked away, heading to the back lot to her car. As she approached, pulling her keys from her pocket, she spotted a note left on the windshield. Allie leaned over and grasped it in her fist, then smoothed it out and read it.

"Allie, please let me know you're okay. I heard there was an incident at the casino, Jenny."

Allie smiled weakly. She then climbed into her car and headed back to the previous Card Shark, where her suite...and someone else awaited her.

                                                                           ***

The door swung open, and the place was dark. Allie flipped on the lights, which had been set to dim mode, when she spotted someone sitting at her kitchen counter on a barstool. Allie slowly approached them, relieved to discover it was only Zoe. Zoe looked up at her as she entered the room, but neither one said anything. After a minute or two, Zoe stumbled off the stool and walked to Allie, who just opened her arms. Zoe collapsed into her chest and sobbed as Allie hugged her tight, stroking her hair.

"I've got you," Allie whispered.

"I did this," Zoe whispered, "this happened because of me. I felt bad for Raindrop. I sent her down there."

"You did what you thought was best, just like I did," Allie said softly, "we all screw up. But it can be fixed."

"Are they okay?" Zoe asked, and Allie shrugged.

"I...I really don't know," Allie said, trying not to think about Molly or Benny, as it hurt her heart far too much; Allie sighed and added, "but right now, I've got you. We're safe."

"We're never going to be safe," Zoe cried, and Allie scoffed.

"That isn't true," Allie said, "I'm going to make sure of it. We will be. Because Raymond Sykes isn't going to be arrested."

"What?" Zoe asked, looking up at her, confused.

"He can't be," Allie said, "he's wealthy, he's the governor for god sakes. He'll face no consequences. Which is why I'm going to kill him."

Rachel St. Sebastian was sitting on her bed. She had pulled the blankets up and around her, cocooning herself within them as she took slow but steady breaths, attempting to process what had occurred the night before. She had consented, that much was true, but if so...why did it feel so...wrong? Why did she feel taken advantage of? She thought she'd wanted it. She thought she'd liked the intimacy. She thought...she thought she'd loved Claire, but really...did she? Or was she simply a victim who had become too attached to her owner. She didn't know. After a minute, the door to the bedroom opened and Claire entered, carrying a bag of breakfast sandwiches and two cups of coffee in takeaway cups. Rachel looked up as Claire sat on the bed and opened the bag, reaching inside and pulling out a bear claw, handing it to Rachel, making her smile weakly. Claire really did know her, she couldn't deny.

"You," Claire said, sitting behind Rachel, arms around her shoulders, her lips on her neck, "sure put on a show last night, and I for one appreciate theatrics. I'm a patron of the arts, what can I say?"

Rachel chuckled as she continued nibbling on the bear claw, sipping at her coffee. Claire got up and started to get dressed, torn jeans and a crop top with a tight leather jacket. She did her earrings, then stood in front of the vanity to apply her makeup, all while Rachel watched, one eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Where are you going all dolled up again? You're not...are you seeing someone else?" Rachel asked, causing Claire to laugh as she applied her eyeliner.

"What, jealous?" Claire replied.

"I don't...no...I don't know. It was just a question. I was just wondering why you're getting dressed up all nice and pretty. Seems like something someone would only do if they're expecting to spend some time with someone," Rachel said, and Claire turned, finished with her thin layer of makeup, reaching out and putting a hand on Rachel's face. Rachel shivered at the warmth of her skin.

"I do have a luncheon to attend, Allie asked me to meet someone for her" Claire said, "but don't worry, it isn't like that. It's business. Not pleasure. You're all the pleasure I need, my pet."

She leaned in and kissed Rachel, then told her she'd be back in a few hours before leaving quickly. Rachel sat there and ate the entire bag of breakfast sandwiches and pastries, trying to make sense of her life. When it'd been just them...when it'd been the cult, it was one thing. She wanted so badly to protect Claire at all costs, she'd never loved another woman as deeply as she'd loved her. Rachel St. Sebastian had spent a good portion of her formative years denying her sexuality to herself simply for the sake of keeping the peace amongst her family and friends. But Claire...Claire had shaken all that loose within her, and she was so very dedicated to her. Dedicated enough to help her hide bodies in walls. But, she wondered...if she spent all her time protecting others...

...who was going to protect her?

                                                                         ***

Multiple knocks on the door only to find, after the 5th, that Jenny finally answered, discovering an annoyed looking Allie standing in her apartment hallway. Jenny sighed and stepped aside, allowing Allie entrance, after which Jenny shut the door behind them.

"What gives?" Allie asked, "You come to my place, you comfort me, you say that I need someone looking out for me, and then you don't answer my calls, you don't show up at the thing I invited you to, did I do something wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, I just felt awkward," Jenny said, shrugging, walking by Allie and back towards the kitchen in her tank top and sleep shorts, where she was currently making steak and eggs for breakfast. Allie followed her and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Then what the fuck is it?" Allie asked, "Cause it's...it's bothering me."

"It isn't anything," Jenny said, "really, it isn't...it isn't anything, I have a job, I'm busy, I'm bad at communication."

"Didn't seem so bad communicating with Nick," Allie said, putting her legs up on Jenny's table and folding her arms.

"Hey, that isn't fair, I told you, everything we ever talked about was about you, alright?" Jenny replied, "let's at least try to keep this civil."

"Jenny, I am about to do something terrifying that might change my entire life, and I guess I just need to know I've got security in someone outside of those I'm involved with, someone who will give me a sense of-"

"Are we not involved?" Jenny asked, turning her stovetop off, finishing cooking and looking towards Allie, one hand on her hip.

"...I mean, we are, we're friends now, I guess? I don't know, you know I didn't mean it that way, come on," Allie said.

"We can be more involved, if that's what you'd like," Jenny said, taking Allie by surprise. Jenny set her utensils on the counter and approached, looking down at Allie. Allie looked up at her, and it was...so weirdly...comforting? Looking into her own face, like a mirror without any glass. Allie felt like now, finally, there was a good version of herself in the world who she could converse with. Jenny sat in Allie's lap and put her arms over her shoulders, causing Allie to tense up.

"Why don't you tell me what's bothering you, and I'll help best I can?" Jenny asked, and Allie nodded slowly.

She wasn't gay. She'd found women attractive before, sure, but she had no interest in sleeping with them? So what was this feeling exactly?

                                                                           ***

"I'm surprised you'd want to have anything to do with someone such as myself," Raindrop said, "I know I've been kind of...stuck up and snobby, but it isn't anything personal, I hope you know. I'm just hyperfocused on work when I'm at the casino. I know I don't come off exactly...friendly."

"Eh, nobody in a casino is friendly, to be fair," Zoe sad, shrugging as she watched Raindrop finish her second drink and put the glass back on the table; Zoe reached for a buffalo wing from the basket and started eating it as Raindrop sighed.

"Of course, but when you have to be extra professional all the time, it's...it's hard. It makes people never want to socialize with me, so this was a nice surprise, thank you," Raindrop said, unclipping her dark oak brown hair and letting it fall over her shoulders as she ran her fingers through it; she continued, "I want to have friends, go on dates, but all I do is work, and work for the worst kinds of people."

"Then why keep doing it?" Zoe asked.

"Cause they pay the best," Raindrop said, laughing, which made Zoe chuckle.

"Guess I can't exactly argue with that," Zoe said.

"For example, and I shouldn't even be telling you this, but, Tony? He's paying me exceptionally well," Raindrop said, "and I feel guilty accepting payment cause I'm barely even doing anything for him. I'm hoping, maybe, if he pays me enough, I can gamble enough of those earnings off to win that stupid car he's got parked in the casino. Lord knows I could use it."

"If you're paid so well, why not just buy a new car?" Zoe asked.

"Living in Vegas ain't cheap," Raindrop said, taking a wing for herself now, biting into it and chewing as she continued, adding, "rent, food, other expenses. A fancy car, despite being a crooked lawyer, is surprisingly low on my list of priorities. At this point my reputation speaks enough for itself that outside visuals aren't going to help much anyway."

"Once again, guess I can't exactly argue with that," Zoe said.

As Raindrop chowed down, Zoe motioned to the waitress to bring them more drinks and food. She was in this for the long haul, and boy...would it be long.

                                                                           ***

Jackson Strange was standing outside by the glass box, planted firmly on the ground, as he inspected it with two other men, both of whom he'd hired as help for the event. Really, though, what they were inspecting weren't even the box itself, to be fair, but moreso that surrounding area that the event would be taking place in. Jackson was concerned that the space was too tight, too cramped, could be claustrophobic - not for him, he'd already be in a glass box - but for anyone who wanted to witness the spectacle.

"I just don't want people to be afraid is all," Jackson said, "it's very important to me that my audience feels safe and comfortable."

"Well, then they probably shouldn't be attending a magic show," a voice from behind said, "after all, it's such a dangerous profession, but you know that don't you?"

Jackson turned and saw a woman standing there in torn jeans, a crop top and a leather jacket. Jackson raised an eyebrow in interest, as she approached them. Jackson told the other men to take a break as he turned his full attention to the woman now.

"And what would you know about that?" Jackson asked.

"Nothing much," Claire said, shrugging, "just that I'm a fan."

Claire walked past him a bit and looked up at the box, then looked back at him and grinned.

"Can I touch it?" she asked somewhat seductively, and Jackson nodded slowly, completely entranced by her. Claire pulled a hand free from the pocket on her jacket and reached out, placing her palm firmly on the glass wall, letting the coolness of it overwhelm her and make her shiver. Jackson walked up beside her and folded his arms as he stood there.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, mostly cause nobody else is here," Jackson said, "but I'm a little scared. This is easily the most extreme public escape stunt I've ever performed. I know I can do it, that's the thing, but it's that little gnawing doubt that is in the back of your head, you know? Can't logically convince my brain of the truth, regardless of its veracity. I know it'll be fine, but I always get nervous before a show."

"Not unsurprising," Claire said, shrugging, "I think if you didn't get nervous, well, that would be...strange, though perhaps that would suit you."

Jackson grinned as Claire pulled her hand off the box and stuffed it back into the jacket pocket. Jackson laughed a little and looked around. For some reason - despite being extremely successful with women - he was having a hard time acting cool in front of this woman, and he wasn't used to that.

"Listen," he said, scratching the back of his head, "if you'd like to know more about how it's done, we could have dinner tonight, if you're free."

"I would love that, actually," Claire said, smiling at him sweetly, biting her lip. Jackson was about to say something else when his attention was pulled away by one of the workers, and he excused himself momentarily. After he was a bit aways, Claire pulled a small camera from her jacket pocket and started taking snapshots of the box, the apparatus, the whole setup, and that's when she noticed the fault in the design. The chains weren't exactly secured in the way they should be. Whether this oversight was Jackson or the workers faults she couldn't know, but she knew exactly where to hit it now. She glanced over towards him and for a brief moment, she felt a twinge of regret. He was such a good conman, and she had some modicum of respect for him on that level, but...well...Allie had been mauled, so it wouldn't be that far fetched for Jackson to have some kind of accident doing his own work.

If she'd learned one thing since being here, it was that Vegas wasn't exactly safe.

                                                                          ***

Jenny was gathering up clothes in her bedroom, tossing them into a hamper that Allie was carrying around for her. After their brief moment in the kitchen, Jenny had asked for help with her chores around the apartment, and, considering Jenny had previously done her chores for her, Allie felt somewhat obligated to return the favor. Jenny picked up a few shorts, a pair of shorts and some underwear and threw them all into the hamper as Allie leaned against the wall and watched.

"I guess I just don't know what to make of it," Allie said.

"Why make anything of it?" Jenny asked, shrugging, "I mean, not everything has to be assigned some kind of meaning. Some things can just BE, you know? Why drive yourself crazy trying to make something out of nothing? I mean, shit, you of all people should know the power that comes with not knowing every little detail about something, considering you perform magic for a living. Those audiences know nothing, and they are thrilled at the experience."

Allie laughed a little and nodded as Jenny grabbed a robe and a pair of sweatpants, some tank tops and tossed them into the hamper as well. Standing in front of Allie, Jenny stopped and looked at her, causing Allie to stop breathing momentarily as their eyes locked.

"If I don't make anything of anything, then does anything mean anything?" Allie asked.

"What are you, a community college philosophy student?" Jenny asked, causing Allie to laugh nervously as Jenny reached out and put her hands on Allie's face, holding it so gently, leaning in, "just let things be. Not everything has to mean something. Some things just are."

Allie couldn't take it anymore. She dropped the hamper, took Jenny by the waist and kissed her...or rather...kissed...herself? The thing was, it wasn't Jenny she was interested in. It was this pastiche of herself that she was after. Sure, Jenny was very sweet, very soft, but her face looked exactly like Allie's and that was what made Allie want to do this. She wanted someone to love her in a way that only she could love herself. Jenny pushed forward, pinning Allie to the wall and kissed down her neck, causing Allie to pant heavily as Jenny held her wrists over her head.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this," Jenny whispered.

"I have some idea," Allie replied quietly. Jenny kissed downwards, kneeling, tugging at Allie's pants. There wasn't much Allie could've wanted, but to be with herself...that had long been the dream. Was it narcissism? Maybe. Or maybe it was the fact that everyone she'd ever been with romantically, sans Nick on occasion, had had so much trouble loving her unconditionally that perhaps she had finally bought into the concept of loving herself instead. Afterwards, laying on the bed, a single sheet half covering them as Jenny sifted her fingers through her tussled hair, Allie couldn't believe what she'd just done. Staring up at the ceiling, she thought about it. Jenny probably thought it was personal, about her, and Allie hated that that wasn't the case at all. She'd already taken her face from her, now she was going to break her heart too? How callous could she be? Allie rolled onto her side and sighed as Jenny did the same, rolling towards her, facing Allie's back and kissing her shoulders as she put a hand on her hip.

"You're so beautiful," Jenny whispered, and Allie blushed.

"So are you," Allie replied, and she meant it, just not in the way Jenny probably hoped.

                                                                             ***

"People with money, they make me sick," Raindrop said.

Both she and Zoe, at this point, were pretty sloshed, and still sitting in the booth. A dozen baskets of varying appetizers now scattered on the table amongst them, Zoe was starting to get a pounding headache. She rarely drank as it was, and it was not something she ever wanted to do again, not after tonight, not after this. Raindrop was sat in the booth, her head completely craned back, as Zoe slid down the side and laid flat on the booth, out of sight as Raindrop continued to complain.

"Yeah people with money suck," Zoe mumbled.

"I don't want to be like them, but it's so nice to be comfortable, so I continue doing what I do and I feel like an enormous hypocrite. I'm on retainer for so many wealthy fucks, and they all act like their lives are soooo hard. Raindrop, hide this money for me! Raindrop, sue this already marginalized business owner for me! Raindrop, hide my assets in a secret vault! Disgusting."

Zoe sat up a bit, glancing over the table.

"Secret vault?" she asked, and Raindrop laughed.

"I shouldn't say anything," she said, "but god, Tony is so scared of his business partner that he wants to hide his best earnings in a vault under the casino. He even had a contractor special build it for him, because he wants it totally hidden so he can eventually take it and leave town. He's sick of the city. He wants out. And actually, I don't blame him, of all the people I work for, he's the most down to earth. My other boss, his business partner, is a straight out psycho when it comes to money. I don't blame Tony for being scared. Oh my god, you can't tell anyone I said any of this, okay?"

"I'm a magician," Zoe stuttered, slurring her words, "what benefit would this information really gain me?"

"You wouldn't believe what's down there," Raindrop said.

"Really?" Zoe asked, sitting upright more now, pushing her curly bangs from her face.

"Mhhhm," Raindrop said, crawling over the booth towards her and lowering her voice as she leaned in, "I'll give you a hint, you think that car in the casino is a prize? It isn't. It's a coverup. He's using a car as a cover up! Nobody is ever gonna win that thing! The odds of winning a car in a casino are so low, and even then, even then..."

Raindrop started laughing, causing Zoe to furrow her brow in confusion.

"...and even then," she continued, still half whispering, half laughing, "it isn't worth what you think it is!"

                                                                              ***

Rachel was sitting at the dinner table, having eaten. A lot of food was on another plate across the table from her, now completely stone cold. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, the front door opened and Claire entered, pulling her leather jacket off and tossing it onto the armchair in the living room before entering the kitchen, not bothering to turn the lights on as Rachel had lit candles going on the table. Seeing Claire in her tight low rise jeans and her sleeveless crop top, Rachel had to bite her lip to control her attraction as Claire retrieved a beer from the fridge and uncapped it, standing by the table and drinking for a moment before her eyes widened.

"Did you...did you make dinner for both of us?" she asked.

"Does it matter?" Rachel asked, sounding totally defeated.

"...I'm so sorry," Claire said, sounding genuine - but of course, that's part of being a good liar and Rachel knew damn well that's what she was now - and very appreciative as she added, "my meeting ran longer than I intended, but it was very important. Not...not that having dinner with you isn't. That didn't come out right."

"I stay here and I hope every day that you love me," Rachel said, on the verge of tears, "and I'm so stupid cause I know you never will, not in the way I need you to, the way I hope you will. I'm such a goddamn idiot."

Rachel scooted her chair out from the table and gathered her plates, taking them over to the sink. Claire set her drink down on the counter and approached her from behind, putting her hands on her hips, nuzzling her neck.

"Please don't be upset," Claire whispered, as Rachel fought the urge to give in, but she didn't.

"I'm sorry but I am," Rachel said, "I do things for you all the time and you can't even give me a single evening. What even ARE we? You call me your 'pet' as if I'm supposed to be honored by that title. That's...that's not honorable. That's insulting. Dehumanizing. I'm a person, not a German Shepard. You're not going to change. And...and I wouldn't want you to, because I love you for who you are, but at the same time who you are isn't healthy for me."

Claire felt her heart break. Rachel pulled away and took some tupperware from an upper cabinet before walking back to the table to put the rest of the food away. Claire leaned against the counter and sniffled.

"One morning," Claire said, "when I was 13 years old, I made my bed. Getting me to do anything related to cleaning my room as a child was always a problem for my parents, so this was completely out of the blue for me. But I was tired of fighting about it, and I figured, ya know, I'd do the right thing and just make the bed. So I made the bed. And when I got home from school, what do I find? I find a note pinned to my headboard. They couldn't even talk to me in person about it, I wasn't even worthy enough of an audible explanation, no, I got pen and paper. It said they couldn't believe I'd done it, and that I must be doing it to mess with them and they didn't trust my intentions. I do the wrong thing and it gets a bad reaction, I do the right thing and it gets a bad reaction. That was the moment I realized that it didn't matter what I did, because who I was was inherently distrustful, so I may as well be anyone else. So I started applying new personalities."

Rachel stopped and turned to look at Claire, knowing she was finally telling her the truth about something. Rachel was, perhaps, the only person capable of hearing the change in her tone when Claire told the truth.

"I eventually ran away, came up with a persona people seemed to like, and you know the rest. But here, now, with you...it feels like it was with my parents. No matter what I do, I can't please you. If I'm controlling, which you seemed to find attractive, then I'm bad, and if I'm apologetic then it doesn't make a difference either. You're the only person I ever wanted to actually trust me, past my parents I mean. To hear you don't...it hurts so much."

Rachel set the tupperware down and approached Claire, putting her hands on her face and lifting it so she could look in her eyes.

"I was a little girl, and I made my bed," Claire cried quietly, as Rachel kissed her, then pulled her in for a hug. And the thing was, Claire wasn't lying. Everything she said was the truth. But she wasn't telling Rachel these things because she had any intention of changing, she was doing it to emotionally manipulate her into continue helping her, trusting her. Yes, Claire loved her, but what Claire loved more...

...was loyalty.

                                                                            ***

It was almost 2am, and Allie was finally getting back to the suite, unlocking her door and entering. As she turned the lights on, she saw Zoe laying on the couch, and sighed. Allie walked over to the couch and sat down on the arm, reaching down and gently touching Zoe's head, causing her to wake up a bit.

"Are you drunk again?" Allie asked.

"Yes, but not for the reasons you may think," Zoe said, hiccuping, "and believe me, I'm never drinking again."

"What are you doing here?" Allie asked.

"We need to talk," Zoe said, sitting upright with Allie's help; she continued, "I took Tony's lawyer out tonight, at the Agents suggestion. Was told to get information out of her. Allie...the vault...what's in it...it's not what we think. She wouldn't tell me exactly what it was, but she did tell me about the car in the casino."

"The one on the spinning pedestal?" Allie asked, and Zoe nodded; Allie added, "what does that have to do with anything?"

"Because my math was wrong," Zoe said, "remember when I brought up all that math before? Well I was wrong."

"Wrong? You?" Allie asked, smirking, making Zoe chuckle.

"I mean, I wasn't wrong in the math, but I was wrong in how to deal with it. If Tony hires someone to win the prize, as I said, he's covered. But theft? Theft isn't protected in the same sense as someone winning it properly and having to pay the earnings on it. So I went back to the casino and I took pictures of it. I then went home, went to the website for the manufacturer and looked it up. I figured, okay, I’ll find the same model car, and get an idea of the features such a car model might typically offer. But here's the thing...here's what we didn't take into consideration...a car loses value as soon as it's driven off the lot, so the car is already worth less because he's bought it to put it in the casino. Therefore whatever value whoever wins it would get for reselling it would be so much less."

"...okay?" Allie asked, "Zoe, what are you telling me?"

"Allie, and I hate that I have to say this, but..." Zoe said, looking at her feet before looking up at Allie and grimacing, "...we have to steal that car."