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BITTERSWEET
:: xvii. | self discovery

So many things happened over the course of only a few weeks. One, Vanessa broke things off with Morgan, thinking there's still something or maybe giving Miguel another chance. Two, Mia finally decided to apologize to Cole. She wasn't sure how her best friend would react to having feelings for her so just like every other time, she pushed them back down until she knew for sure.

While Cole was finishing up at school, Vanessa got the idea to leave work early and to visit Miguel. She punched out like she always does, made it to her car eventually. Then began to drive to the men's correctional facility. An hour later, she finally arrived and parked in one of the empty parking spaces. She went in, signed in and then waited like everyone else who was visiting their loved ones.

Soon enough, her name was called and she went in, walking through the door. As she walked, she looked in between the slots and then finally saw his face. She walked to the chair and sat down in it. She picked up the phone as did he and they placed it to their ears.

"How are you? You been alright in there?" Vanessa began small talk.

"I just want to get out." He continued, "I didn't get a chance to thank you for coming to my court hearing."

Vanessa nodded, "You needed me and I was there."

He licked his lips, "Yeah, I needed you. Why was that agent there?"

Vanessa admitted, "Moral support. I wasn't comfortable going in alone. Going to court so many times does something to a person."

He scoffed, "Yeah, no shit."

"I just came to see how you were, ok? I don't want to fight." Vanessa bit her lower lip, "You remember this?" She lifted up her arm as a right angle and put it up against the glass that was between her and Miguel.

Miguel picked his arm up and pressed it against the glass, "That was a good day. We got matching tats and you said yes. . . I knew you would."

She smiled, "How?"

He looked into her eyes, "I knew you were the one since day one. We may have been teenagers, but I knew you were it for me. I knew I wanted to marry you when I first met you." He continued, "Shaking your hand and hearing your voice — music to my ears. Even now." He sighed and chocked up a bit on this last part, "I love you, V. I just want to know if I'll have something to come back to after all this?"

Vanessa didn't know what to say. She was speechless. She wanted him to have a support system. She just didn't know if that was her anymore. After all this time, her opened up more and she's been experiencing new things. She didn't know what to say or how. For the first time in her life, she couldn't utter out one word.

• • •

The bell had finally rang and the last class of the day was now over. Cole zoomed out the classroom, quickly heading to her locker with Mia distantly following behind.

She's been wanting to apologize and she thought then was her chance. She took a deep breath as she approached Cole who had just made it to her locker. She tapped Cole on the shoulder, then slightly stepped back as Cole turned to face her.

"What do you want?"

"I'm sorry." Mia mumbled, "I was out of line. I wasn't having a good day."

"Clearly." Cole hummed as she grabbed some books out her locker and put them in her bag. After she zipped her bag closed, she shut her locker. Mia hadn't said anything else so Cole took that as her cue to walk away. Just as she began, Mia gripped her arm. "Yes?"

"What can i do to fix this?" Mia was at a lost.

"Give it time. You're my best friend and I don't plan on losing you anytime soon." Cole lastly said before continuing to head over to Daniel.

Mia watched as he put his arm over Cole's shoulders. She wasn't sure of what to think between the two. But if they were dating, she wouldn't be that surprised. The way Cole talked about him . . . you could just tell she really liked him and that's what Mia was most afraid of.

• • •

After visiting Miguel, Vanessa went straight home. According to jj, she had news that she wanted to share with Cole and Vanessa so that's why there was no pick stops. That also gave Vanessa some time to think about things with Miguel. Not that there was anything to think about but it's nice having options.

Cole got home an hour after her mom then after a couple hours going by, Jennifer left the BAU to Vanessa's house. Tonight was the night that jj was going to come clean and tell them the source of her happiness. Because she's just so private as a person, she was very particular in who she chose to disclose too. Also because Vanessa and Cole are like family to her, she knew they would have to be the first to know.

Soon after she arrived, she parked the car in the driveway then got out. Cole heard a truck pulling up, so she headed to the door and opened it way before jj even approached to knock. Yes, the walls are that thin.

Jj walked into the house, closing the door behind her. Jj hugged Cole, greeting her and did the same with Vanessa once she got to the living room. Vanessa decided she didn't feel like cooking so she ordered Thai food.

As they waited for the food, they caught up on a few things. Cole mentioned that she got asked out earlier that day, which Vanessa was surprised by but supported. Then that brought jj up to why she was there.

"My team basically knows everything about each other and I just wanted something to keep to myself, you know?" Jennifer began, "I've been in a relationship for the last couple of months which is why I've been so happy and why I haven't been over in past couple of weeks."

"What's his name?" Vanessa spoke softly.

"Will and soon my two favorite people will meet him." Jennifer spoke with a smile. She was happy to finally get this off her chest.

Cole was happy for her and for herself.

Vanessa was happy too . . or was she? It was always so difficult to tell with her.

a/n:
will has now kinda made
his introduction lol