Chapter 17

Winter sat at her desk, tapping at her PC in an effort to get her Vacuo desert shots just right. After paying through the nose for someone to do the post production work when Solstice Modeling first started, she had taught herself photo editing. Now she was just as good as or better than most professionals. Still, it could be tedious work, and her perfectionism only made it worse. Forget spending several hours on a single image, she could spend hours finding the ideal spot for the company watermark.

There was a knock at the office door. "Come in." Winter called.

Yang pushed through the door with Summer. "Blake and Velvs need my help." Yang explained. "Can you watch Summer for a bit?"

"Sure." Winter nodded. "Wait, why do they need your help? It's just a simple pregnancy shoot."

"It's Nora." Yang replied before rushing out.

"Hmm...fair enough." Winter said to no one in particular.

"Aunty Nora had her boobies out!" Summer giggled.

"Of course she did." Winter groaned, covering her face.

"Why does she have heart nipples?" Summer asked.

"Gah...because she has lots of love to give or something…" Winter grumbled.

"I want to be a sloth when I grow up!" Summer announced.

"Maybe you should spend less time with Nora." Winter thought aloud. She ducked down into one of the drawers of her desk. "I think I have some candy and something to draw with." She could hear the pitter-patter of Summer's feet as she rushed over. "Or do you want to watch a video or something?" Winter sat up, placing a pad and some crayons on the desk. Unfortunately Nora had discovered the candy stash - despite Winter's best efforts to hide it - and it was empty. Winter quickly flipped through the pad, ensuring Nora and Yang had not left any lewd drawings behind.

"Who's that?" Summer asked, pointing to the picture on Winter's desk.

"That's Weiss, my little sister." Winter replied.

"When will I get to meet her?" Summer asked.

"She...she's with Ruby and the Maidens." Winter sighed.

"Oh...what was she like?" Summer asked.

"She was...really nice, and really pretty, just like you." Winter replied. She patted the top of her leg and Summer hopped up to sit on her lap. "We had a lot of fun together."

"Doing what?" Summer inquired.

"Well, when she was your age, I remember this one time she tried on my high heels." Winter smiled. "When I found her she was all bruised and scraped from falling down, but after that she was a pro at walking in them. And then there was the time she tried on my makeup. She put on way too much and ended up looking like a clown!" Summer giggled. "Sometimes, if there was a storm, or she had a bad dream, she would sneak into my bed in the middle of the night. She even did it when she was older. It was a little annoying to be woken up, but it was nice."

"Did you play games or anything together?" Summer asked.

"Not really." Winter frowned. "Our family was...strange. We didn't get to see each other too much."

"That's sad." Summer observed.

"Yeah, it was." Winter confirmed. "We did have lots of snowball fights though. She always loved the snow."

"I've never seen snow." Summer sighed.

"Well, we'll just have to take a trip to Patch this winter." Winter suggested. "We could play in the snow, maybe go skiing or even-" Winter's phone rang, the business line. "Sorry Summer, I have to take this."

"It's okay." Summer hopped off Winter's lap. Winter handed her the pad and crayons and Summer laid down on the floor to draw.

"Solstice Modeling, Winter Schnee speaking." Winter answered the phone.

"Um...hello...I...uh…" A woman said.

"Who is this?" Winter asked, taking charge of the conversation when she noticed the woman's hesitance.

"K-Kali...Kali Belladonna." The woman replied.

"How can I help you Ms. Belladonna?" Winter asked.

"Um...does...does a Blake Belladonna work for your organization?" Kali asked.

"As a matter of fact she does." Winter answered. "Would you like her for a shoot-"

"No, no, that's not it." Kali cut her off. "She's...my daughter."

"Oh." Winter managed. She tried to remember anything Blake had said about her parents, but could remember nothing. Nothing bad, nothing good, nothing at all. "How can I help you?"

"Would it be possible for me to speak to her?" Kali asked. "I...I haven't talked to her in years."

"I'll tell her you're on the line, but I won't force her." Winter warned. She did not know why Blake had never mentioned her parents. It was possible that their relationship had been a bad one and that she did not want to reconnect with them.

"Of course." Kali said. "I understand."

"I'm putting you on hold." Winter noted. She tapped the phone and set it aside, picking up the receiver for the building's PA system. "Blake, please come to my office." Then Winter sat back and waited. She watched as Summer colored happily. Could there come a time when she would not speak to Summer for years?

"What's up Win?" Blake asked, striding into the room.

"Blake...is your mother's name Kali?" Winter asked.

"I...yes." Blake struggled. "How do you know?"

"She's on the phone." Winter replied. She picked up the phone and held it out toward Blake. "She wants to speak to you."

Blake hesitated and gulped. Then with a quick motion she snatched the phone, tapped the screen and pressed it to her ear. "H-hello?"

"Blake...is that really you?" Kali asked.

"Y-yes." Blake stammered. "I-it's me. How did you...how did you…"

"I saw your billboard, the one downtown." Kali answered. "Can I...can I see you?"

"I...where are you?" Blake asked.

"Vale University Hospital." Kali replied.

"The hospital?!" Blake gasped. "Why?"

"I kind of crashed my car when I saw the billboard." Kali admitted. "I'm a little beat up. Your father should be here soon. Will you...join us?"

"I...I...I'll be right there." Blake declared. She pulled the phone away from her ear and tapped it to end the call.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Winter asked. "Glynda perhaps?"

"No, I'll take Velvet and go." Blake shook her head. "She crashed her car when she saw my billboard. No wonder, she probably thought I was dead."

"What...happened with you and your parents?" Winter asked.

Blake waved her off, heading for the door. "I'll explain later."

Blake had practically dragged Velvet out of Solstice HQ and into their car with barely any details. "Parents think I'm dead, mom saw my billboard and crashed, in hospital, gotta' go, come on!" Now Blake drove like a madwoman, speeding and weaving through traffic.

Velvet held on for dear life. "Blake, please slow down!" She begged. "We don't want to join her this way."

"I'm sorry!" Blake groaned. "I'm just nervous, and...scared."

"Blake, what happened?" Velvet asked. "You only ever told me you lost contact with your parents and didn't wanna' talk about it."

"I did!" Blake exclaimed. "I didn't...look I just...I really fucked up okay. They sent me to college, they paid for everything, and I ended blowing it all on drugs, and then all that shit happened with Adam. I figured it was better for all of us if things stayed the way they were."

"What?" Velvet demanded. "You dropping off the face of the planet and staying away?"

"Yes!" Blake shouted. "I may as well have been dead, or at least dead to them. At best they'd given up, at worst they thought I was dead, mourned and moved on. When Adam died...it had been years. What good would have come from me appearing out of nowhere? Hey mom, dad, I didn't die, just turned into a pathetic drugged out whore for a gang member, all on your dime! I was better off dead than that kind of disappointment. At least this way they could think they were good parents, because they were. I was just fucked up, stupid, depressed and isolated, and it was my fault, not theirs, and I...fuck Velvs, fuck…"

Blake stopped at a red light. Her hands clenched the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She attempted to gain control of her breathing, wiping the tears from her eyes. She heard a click and Velvet opened the door.

"Move over, I'm driving." Velvet ordered. Blake put the car in park, undid her seatbelt and jumped over the center console into the passenger's seat. By the time Velvet had taken her place and shifted into gear, the light was green. "It would be fucked up if you missed this because we got booked. Now, you need to think about what your mother and father will ask, and exactly what you're ready to tell them. If you're not sure, wait until you can talk to Glynda. If you're feeling overwhelmed, I'll step in, okay?" Blake took a deep breath, laying against the headrest with her eyes closed. She felt Velvet's hand squeeze her leg. "Blake, everything is going to be okay. Okay?"

Blake nodded. "Okay."

Blake and Velvet made it to the hospital at a much safer pace. After talking with a receptionist, they found themselves just outside Kali Belladonna's room. Blake took a quick peek to confirm it was indeed her mother. It was. Kali seemed engrossed in her phone. Blake stood stock still, staring at the light streaming from the room into the slightly darker hallway.

Velvet wrapped her arm around Blake's waist. "It'll be okay, you can do this." She whispered in Blake's ear. "She's probably more scared than you are."

Blake silently chuckled. "I know she'll be more scared." She sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of. She was already jumpy when I was young. Then I disappeared, and she was just in a car crash."

"Blake, just take it slow, let her set the pace." Velvet suggested. "I'll hang out here. If you need me, call." She pecked Blake's cheek and withdrew, giving her a light push, just enough so she would start moving forward, into the light, and into the view of her mother.

Kali noticed the movement and looked up. Her eyes bulged, her jaw dropped, and so did her phone. "Blake?" She gasped.

Blake swallowed, stepping into the room. It was empty, but for Kali in the corner. Kali reached toward her with a shaking hand, the other covering her mouth. "H-hey mum." Blake managed.

"Is it really you?" Kali asked. Blake slowly made the journey to Kali's bedside, reaching out and taking her mother's hand. Kali sobbed at the touch. "Blake, honey, it is you!"

"Yeah mum, it's me." Blake nodded. "I'm really here."

Kali continued to dissolve into tears, pulling Blake into a shuddering embrace. "I-I thought I'd lost you forever." She wept. "I thought you hated me. I thought...a-are you okay? You seem to be doing well for yourself. I did see your billboard before I crashed. Well, it's because of it I crashed, but it's not your fault. I was just a little shocked, and almost hit a car, so I swerved a-and well...hit a...parked car. At least I didn't hurt anyone!"

Kali pulled back, keeping a grip on Blake's hands. She tried to smile reassuringly, but red ringed eyes and trembling lips betrayed her frailty. Blake took in the image of her mother properly. Kali had aged surprisingly well, considering the years since Blake last saw her, and the stresses she must have endured. Laugh lines and crow's feet had deepened, grey was seeping into the deep ebony locks of her hair, and her voice was a little less sure, though it had never been the strongest. Kali was always a shaky woman, like a stiff wind could blow her voice away, not to mention her body.

"You hurt yourself though." Blake noted. "How bad was it?"

"Oh, it wasn't too bad." Kali shook her head. "Just a broken ankle...and cracked rib...and slight concussion, and I swear I'm forgetting something, but it's probably not important. What is important is you. Where have you been? What happened? You just stopped talking to us, and when I tried to find you...you just...we thought something terrible had happened!"

Blake sighed. She noticed a chair, pulled it over, and sat down. "A lot happened...and yes, some of it was terrible." Blake cast her gaze down at the floor. "But it wasn't your fault. It was mine, so don't think for a second that any of this happened because of you, okay?" Kali bit her lip, but nodded. "I...got addicted to drugs. There's no excuse for it. I was stupid, stressed and depressed, and a...friend took me to a party and I tried some. Then I tried some more and it spiraled from there. I met this guy, this dealer, Adam, and we...we were a thing. He was very controlling, a gang member, and basically took me off the grid.

"I quit the drugs after a while, but I couldn't leave. The only reason I got away was because he died, shot in some deal gone wrong. I got free, went through some therapy, and met some very, very good people. One of them, Winter, you spoke to her on the phone, started a modeling company. I mostly do makeup, but sometimes I do the modeling myself too. We don't really have any business in Menagerie, so I guess we don't advertise there. I just never really gave it much thought."

"But you got better, you're doing okay." Kali said. "Why didn't you try to reach out?"

"I was scared." Blake sighed.

"Of what?" Kali asked.

Blake felt her eyes sting, the lump in her throat threatening to burst forth. "I...I didn't want you to be upset." Blake explained. "I didn't wanna' hurt you anymore. I didn't wanna' be a fuck up, recovering addict of a daughter. I should have been better than that mum. I should have made you proud. Going away to college, it was supposed to be a good thing, but I fucked it up. I fucked everything up, and I was better off dead than such a fuck up…" Blake broke down, clutching her mother's hand.

Kali pulled Blake into another embrace, and Blake did not resist, sobbing into her blanket as Kali ran fingers soothingly through her hair. "It's okay Little Kitten." Kali soothed. "You're past that, you're safe, you're back in my arms. It's all I ever wanted for you. I love you. I will always love you-"

A yelp, grunt, thud and some loud thumping sounds snapped them out of their emotional breakdowns. They turned toward the door to see a large man pushing himself to his feet, bending over a foot sticking past the doorway. "I am very sorry." The man apologized. "I was in a hurry a-and...are you okay?"

"I'll live...uh…" Velvet replied.

"Ghira." The man introduced himself.

"Dad?" Blake called.

Ghira straightened, pulling Velvet to her feet and snapping to look at Blake. His jaw dropped. "Blake?" He gasped. "Blake!" Blake smiled and stood. She crossed the room and jumped into her father's waiting arms. Ghira hugged her tightly, lifting her off her feet and spinning around as they laughed. "When Kali called me I thought she was seeing things. I can...I can hardly believe it...still. You've grown so much. God, look at you. You've got my height for sure, and your mother's...Kali!"

"Hey honey." Kali waved.

"What...are...I...Blake…" Ghira struggled.

"Dad, slow down, take a deep breath, sit." Blake advised. "I'm not going anywhere. Just give me a sec, okay?" Ghira nodded, trying to take deep breaths as he made his way to Kali's bedside, holding her as tenderly as possible. Blake turned to Velvet, who was peeking around the edge of the doorway. "You okay?"

"Yeah, he just kinda' stumbled into me." Velvet replied. "My ankle hurts a little but I'll be fine! How are you?"

"Getting better." Blake answered. "Can you come in? I think I'm gonna' need to change the subject in a bit."

"Of course." Velvet agreed.

Blake, with Velvet at her back, briefly explained herself to Ghira. It was less detailed than her explanation to Kali, but there would be time for elaboration later. Blake had something else she would much rather talk about. "...I was in a bad place after that, a really, really bad place...but my therapist Glynda found me, invited me to her support group, and things got better. I made new friends, I met Velvet…" Blake turned and held her hand out for Velvet, who took it, moving to stand beside her. "Mum, Dad, meet Velvet Belladonna, my wife."

"Hey." Velvet smiled and waved, blushing.

Ghira and Kali both looked surprised, though Kali's expression was one of confusion more than shock. "Hello!" Kali greeted. "I uh...didn't know Blake swung that way...and...I didn't know it was legal."

"Same sex marriage is legal in Menagerie, not to mention Mistral, Vale, Patch and most of Atlas." Ghira noted.

"Oh...uh...cool!" Kali struggled. "It's very nice to meet you Velvet."

Ghira looked lost in thought, and Kali slapped him on the arm. "Oh!" He gasped. "Right, sorry. Velvet, it is nice to meet you, and again, sorry for knocking you over. I forget my own weight sometimes."

"It's okay sir." Velvet smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you."

"So, you met through therapy?" Kali asked.

"Yeah...uh...my prior partner, Coco, passed away." Velvet explained. "I took things pretty badly, but Glynda found me too. I met Blake and we hit it off. We moved in together because it was easier on our wallets, and we just kinda' fell in love. We got married a few months ago."

"Were there...any issues?" Ghira asked.

"Uh, no?" Velvet replied, not really understanding the question. "Not really. Though...Glynda got drunk and made out with everyone. That was...interesting."

"And Sage and Scarlet spiked Sun's drink." Blake added.

"Oh, and Nora almost ate the cake!" Velvet exclaimed.

"She did eat the cake." Blake noted. "The decoy cake, which went missing…"

"And everyone is okay with you?" Ghira asked. "I don't know how attitudes towards...uh...your...kind...are here. Menagerie can be surprisingly harsh at times."

"There's not really any discrimination here." Blake shrugged. "If anyone has any issues with us, they've not voiced them."

"Thank goodness." Kali breathed a sigh of relief. "You've gone through enough as is."

"Yes...are you truly doing well?" Ghira asked. "Not anything against you Velvet, just...this is all a very big shock to us, a lot to take in."

"It's okay, I understand." Velvet waved him off. "I guess it's not everyday two daughters pop out of the blue and all…"

"Two beautiful daughters." Kali smiled. "Do you model too?"

"Sometimes." Velvet answered. "I'm mainly the photographer though. I'm a little camera shy."

"I'd love to see more of your work, both of you." Kali declared. "Maybe even this Solstice place?"

"After you heal Kali." Ghira advised. "You really should be resting."

"I'm fine Ghira, just a little bumped up." Kali assured him. "Besides, I don't wanna' sleep yet. I have two daughters to connect with. And I'm starving. And I have to pee."

"Blake?" Ghira asked.

"Mum, you were just in a car accident." Blake observed. "It would make me feel much better if you try and get a little more rest, and we can go get you some food, okay?"

"I don't want you to go yet." Kali protested. "You only just got here."

Blake sighed, smiling guiltily before walking forward to embrace Kali. "I'm not leaving, I promise." She declared. "I'm only stepping out for a little while. Gotta' make some calls to work. I'll be back. Velvet can keep you company, okay?"

"Okay, I love you." Kali relented.

"I love you too mum." Blake smiled. "Velv, can you keep mum company?"

"Sure." Velvet replied. "Can you bring back something from the vending machine?"

"Yeah." Blake nodded. "Dad?"

"Coming." Ghira confirmed. "I won't be long honey."

"Try not to knock anyone else down sweetie." Kali smirked.

"I'll try to keep him out of trouble." Blake joked. She hugged Velvet, then left the room with Ghira.

"So...uh...I hope you don't mind me asking…" Kali struggled. "I'm just a little curious about...maybe...grandchildren?" Velvet chuckled.