DESPITE THE DISTANCE and infrequent communication, Kat cherished her mother deeply. Even with only postcards and letters to connect them, Kat couldn't help but love the woman who gave her life.

But during a summer break, Kat stumbled upon a shocking truth about her mother, and why she wasn't around. And it was she tried to kill her when she was just a toddler by leaving her in the woods to die.

Why, one may ask? Well, it was mainly due to her mother's undiagnosed postpartum depression and drug addiction.

Kat discovered this painful secret in her father's old journal, driven by her curiosity. She even later confronted her father about it, leading to her to find out that Kim knew about this as well.

The family was shattered that night, but they never spoke of it again. Yet, unresolved issues have a way of resurfacing, as they did in the present.

Katherine found herself staring at her mother's recent letter, containing a Polaroid of the Golden Gate Bridge. Kassandra, her mother and a travel blogger, talked about San Francisco's allure. Despite her excitement, Kassandra also grumbled about not receiving a letter from Kat, blaming the mailman solely for it.

But the truth was, Kat hadn't replied at all.

Her father, understanding the family's pain, allowed her to skip writing back this time, assuming she'd move on like her sister did.

However, Kat couldn't simply let go of the past so easily.

A soft knock on her door interrupts Kat's thoughts briefly as Kim peeks into her room. "Hey, you," she says softly, before sitting beside Kat on her bed. "Whatcha doing?"

Kat is honest. "Just still looking at Mom's recent letter to me," she replied, not breaking her gaze away from the letter.

A line appeared on Kim's lips. "You think you're gonna reply to her this time?"

The younger one shook her head. "I—I don't know."

Kim frowns. "Why?"

"Because..." Kat trails off, hesitant to honesty but pushes through, "Because I don't think I want to talk to Mom anymore."

Troubled by this, Kim scoots closer to her. "Kat, please. If you must know, Mom's told me many times that she's still mad at herself because of what she did to you."

It was true. Kassandra Ventura knew what she did to her daughter was horrible. Even to this day, she held an intense amount of regret because of it. It was something she knew she was going to carry for the rest of her life.

"But it happened years ago, and I think we should let her try to mend it. I mean, we've been doing it all our life."

"Yeah, I know," Kat replied with a venomous edge. "That's because I didn't even know mom did until a couple of months ago, since you and Dad never told me about it."

"Because you're still young, Kat. Dad didn't want your image of mother to be ruined because of it."

"Yeah? Well, it already has, Kim!" the younger sister's voice surged with an unexpected intensity. However, as soon as the words left her lips, a wave of regret crashed over her like a tidal wave, engulfing her in guilt.

Obviously, Katherine didn't mean to let her irritation spill with her words, but it did, and it sucked.

Kat sighs as her eyes trail to the floor. "Look, I really don't want to fight about this again." She really didn't. Fights always never ended well, anyway. "I think I just need some sleep, Kim. Just go, please."

The older sister's frown deepens, but with a nod, she complies and silently exits the room, leaving Kat alone once more.

With a heavy sigh, she looked back at the postcard, her gaze lingering on the image of the Golden Gate Bridge before her. And when Kat was done, she tucks the postcard into the box and puts it under the bed before heading to sleep, hoping she'll be better tomorrow.

Hopefully.

⤵︎

UNFORTUNATELY ON HER PART, Katherine still felt awful the next morning. Her vexed mood didn't leave with her sleep and it left a sour taste in her mouth as she got ready for school.

So when the family is having breakfast, Kat's barely talking, not wishing to project her mood onto them.

Maverick peered up from his plate to his daughters. "So—you guys done with writing your letters yet?"

Kim nodded and kept her eyes on her plate of bacon and eggs. "Yup," was all she replied.

He turns to the other. "How about you, Katherine?" She shook her head. "Why not?...You've always had your reply to mom by the next day."

She shrugs. "Things changed—I guess."

Pressing his brows together, Maverick questioned once more, "Okay—what this is about, Katherine?" He wasn't stupid. He knew something was up with her from the get-go.

Feeling this fire grow in her chest, she tries to keep herself intact. "I just—I just don't think I want to reply to mom anymore." She was going to be honest, even if she knew how her family would react.

Maverick shook his head. "Yeah right. You don't mean that."

And to hear that kind of response, it nearly sets Kat off. "But I do mean it, Dad."

"No, you don't, Katherine. And I'll be expecting a letter to your mom on my desk by tonight."

Not in the mood for this, Kat stood up and put her empty plate in the sink. "Well, don't be expecting one besides Kim." And without another word, she's snatching her bag from the couch and making her way to the door.

"Katherine!" Maverick roared. "Katherine, get back over-"

But it's too late. She opens the front door and slams it shut behind her, leaving their spirits diminished in the process.

"Here..."

Kim's sights sink back down at her plate, guilt coursing all around her body. As for Maverick, he's left to sigh in defeat, his eyes still glued to the door.

Looks like times are rough again in the Decker family household, and it was all for the same reason, again.

Only this time, Kimberly and Maverick didn't know how this was going to be resolved—or if it was ever going to be rightly resolved.

At-least, they sure hoped so in the end.

⤵︎

KAT WAS GRATEFUL that Riley and Maya didn't bombard her with questions about her morning like they always do today.

It was mainly them doing the talking, as she  spent the ride just cooling down. Or, attempting to.

But there they stood at school now, standing by their lockers.

Riley notices something beside them. "Look at that ninth-grade woman!" she points to her, "She's putting on makeup. We're going to be ninth-grade women someday!"

Maya's face goes blank. "This thing goes to ninth grade?"

Kat shook her head. "Yes, sweetie," she assured, flickering her eyes awake.

Riley's brows knit together, noticing Kat's subdued demeanor. "You okay, Kitty-Kat?"

She nods weakly, not wanting Riley to worry. "I'm fine, just a little tired and moody today, sorry."

The brunette nodded before her curiosity went back to the girl applying makeup. "Why that?" she questioned, as they watched her use a brush on her eyelid.

"Brings out your eyes," Maya answered.

"Why would I wanna take out my eyes?"

"She's not taking out her eyes."

But right as Maya says that, the girl brings out an eyelash curler from her bag.

"And I think she is," Riley worries out loud.

The girl halts her movements then, her gaze locking onto the trio. "It's an eyelash curler. It doesn't even hurt," she insists, giving the tool to Riley.

"Oh, dear..." Kat trailed off, already getting the sense of where this was going.

Riley shyly takes it from her. "I have eyelashes."

Maya smirks as she and Kat walk to the girl's side. "Watch this," she urged.

They watch her clamp the curler too much into her eye, leading her to wail and wobble around in pain.

Kat's face contorts as she watches this. "It's like those damn apples again, woman. Just stop!"

As Cory strolled by, he advised his daughter, "Open it."

Riley listens, leaving a grateful smile on her lips. "Thanks, Daddy."

"Yeah...okay," he trails off before walking to his classroom.

Returning to the older girl, Riley gave the eyelash curler back to her with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, okay..." she echoed, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

Farkle soon appears at their side. "Ladies."

"Farkle," the trio says in unison.

"School dance. I'm gonna put you both down for Dance Numbers one through all of them," he explains, as the trio share peculiar looks. "We will alternate. You and me, me and you, and you and me. When you're not dancing with me, you may not dance with anyone else. So you may sit and wait until you dance with me again."

Maya replied, "Yeah, none of this is happening."

"Well, may I have one dance with each of you?"

"Sure, buddy," Kat answered.

"Ha! That's all I wanted. You just got played by Farkle," he smirked, strolling away with pride on his shoulders.

A glimmer of shock forms in Kat's eyes. "I—actually can't believe that actually worked." Her lips pursed together. "I'm mildly impressed."

Suddenly, Lucas walks down the stairs to go by them as well. "Hey guys!"

Kat rolls her eyes. "Great, and look who's here to ruin my morning, as usual," she snarled, flicking her eyes awake as she strolls to him.

"Morning, red," he replied, flashing the same obnoxious smile he'd give her every morning.

Maya and Riley saunter to Kat's side. "Hey, yeehaw. You going to Tick-Tock Shake Your Body Time, cause, you know, it's not a square dance, so, not gonna be a whole lot of do-si-doing," the blondie snarls in a southern accent.

"Well then, I'm sure I'll have no idea what to do and you can make fun of me," he mused.

Maya points to him antagonistically. "You're not playing this right."

"Oh, well, that's certainly not my intention," he taunted, putting her finger down. "I'll try harder next time."

A hummed chuckle flees from Riley's lips. "Oh, he's real good, Maya."

She shook her head. "I will break you," Maya threatens with her hand shaped into a claw.

"Well, if that's what makes you happy, then. I certainly can't wait for it-" Lucas tips his invisible hat, "Ma'am."

In response, Maya recoiled with an exaggerated shudder as she distanced herself away from him.

Riley takes the initiative to ask then, "So, you going to the school dance, Lucas?"

"Thought I would," he replied, turning to Kat after, "You goin', red?"

But what he didn't realize was that she had dozed off seconds ago while Maya and Lucas were talking, or more so fighting.

Kat blinks back to reality, veering her gaze to Lucas and trying to keep it steady. "Oh—uhm, I-I don't know if I will honestly."

His forehead puckered. "Why not?"

Then suddenly, her head starts to get woozy, and she can feel herself starting to get anxious for no reason. "I-I just don't know," Kat manages to mumble out, her breathing fluctuating. "I-I need to go to class, sorry."

And with that, she strides away from them after without a glance or word, her departure leaving Lucas the girls in bewilderment.

Especially Lucas.

Shes never said that word before; sorry. It might've just been such a simple word, but Lucas noticed it, and it dumbfounded Lucas in a way he'd never been before.

His gaze flickers between Riley and Maya, noticing the concern in their eyes. "Is she okay?" he inquired.

Maya twists her head to him, already raising a brow at his question. "Hold on there, Ranger Rick," she retorts, "You're starting to look like you care about Kitty-Kat."

Lucas doesn't even bother to deny the accusation however. "I just want to know," he insists with genuine concern.

Riley shrugs. "Well, she said she was fine, but tired and moody. So who knows?"

And though he didn't mean to, Lucas' face fell slightly as concern started to bloom in him.

In fact, he was too conflicted in thought about what was making her like this to even catch the smirks Riley and Maya had regarding his reaction.

Seems like their plan was working before their own eyes, without them even trying.

⤵︎

AFTER SCHOOL, KAT sought solace at the public library. Sitting by the bay window with her binder and a paper labeled "Dear mom," she struggled to put her thoughts into words.

Feeling frustrated and on edge, Kat grappled with her conflicting emotions. Despite her resentment towards her mother for past actions, she couldn't shake the fact that she was still her mom. She was someone she's always loved no matter what. It wasn't going to be that easy to hate her, even if she should.

Glancing around, Kat looked at the few others in the library with her. She wondered about their family situations and if they faced similar challenges. Did they have both parents in their lives, and were they happy? Did they forgive any wrongdoings, as she struggled to do?

Would she ever forgive her mom for what she did?

Probably not.

Would she be able to stop loving her?

Well, that was honestly up to her.

"I was hoping to find you here," a voice appears beside Kat, already spoiling her stomach.

She turns to find Lucas standing beside her, his unexpected presence catching her off guard. "Cowboy?" Kat spoke, a mix of surprise and apprehension coloring her tone, "W-what the hell are you doing here?"

He settles himself in front of her. "Well, you've been acting pretty weird all day today. More than usual if I'm being honest."

Kat glares at his choice of words. "Yeah, thanks for reminding me, hellhound. Now, is there a reason you decided to annoy me outside of school property?" she growled.

Lucas exhales heavily, his frustration evident as he attempts to navigate the conversation. "Look, although we're not that fond of each other—"

"That is already an understatement, rowdy."

He shoots her a pointed glance. "It doesn't mean I can't be concerned about you."

Her brows knit together in surprise, her expression a silent challenge to his sincerity.

Why the hell is concerned about me? Kat thought.

Her eyes drift down to her binder. "Look, Lucas, you don't need to be worried about little ole me, alright? I'm fine," Kat asserts, even if her words were mere lies.

"Well, I am anyway, Kat," he persists stubbornly. Then, with a note of realization, he adds, "And did you just call me Lucas just now? Because I could've sworn I heard you say that..."

She stares at him as coldly as she could. "Every time I think I've dealt with the most annoying parts of you, I'm proven horribly wrong," Kat seethed under her breath.

Eventually, she looks back at her paper, still perplexed about what to write.

"What's that?" Lucas's voice interrupts her thoughts, his finger pointing to the empty page.

Darting up at him, Kat glared again. "My attempt at trying to write a letter to my mom," she confessed. "I've spent the past fifteen minutes going back and forth, erasing every word I've written on this damn paper besides 'Dear Mom,' and...it's frustrating me."

Lucas furrows his brow. "Why?"

"Because I don't know what to say to her. Usually, the words come to me easily, but this time, I just—can't."

His curiosity piqued, Lucas presses further. "What do you mean, this time? Do you always write letters to your mom?"

"It's been our main way of communication all my life."

"Why?"

"You're asking too many questions, you know that?" she barked at him suddenly.

Part of her was conflicted, though. She rarely lets anyone know anything about her mother. Usually, if anyone asks about her, she lies; saying she died, or that she left her family when she was young.

Unless it was Riley and Maya. They were the first outside of her family she let in about this and the only ones she's been vulnerable with. They were her best friends in this life. Nothing could ever change that.

But this was Lucas Friar. He was her enemy, and as he said, they weren't very fond of one another at all. However, something in Kat was insisting she tell him the truth, or at least not fully lie to him.

It made her think back to the night at the library. About how she told him about her dream of being a teacher, something personal to her, yet Kat still said it.

Because even though they were enemies, there was this level of trust between them that they established that night, whether they meant to or not. Which again, was something she knew enemies didn't have, but she hardly cared at this point.

Kat lets out a rough sigh, her shoulders slumping with her breath. "Because—when I was younger, she did something really bad," she begins slowly, "and it caused my dad to have full parental rights over me and my sister. We've still kept in contact with her though, because he wants us to always have our mother in our lives, no matter what. But I didn't find out all this until this summer."

Suddenly, he asks the burning question, "What exactly did she do?"

Drop. That was what her heart did, hearing the question leave his mauvelous lips.

Her chest constricts with unease. "That isn't something I'm comfortable talking about, cowboy. Especially to you, of all people."

Lucas nods understandingly. "It's alright. You don't need to tell me about it," he assured, "But I mean—do you still love your mom?"

Kat's shoulders tense, but she continues to answer his questions. "I've loved her all my life," she confesses, her voice tinged with a bittersweet longing. "I don't think I could ever stop loving her. It's just hard to still do with everything I know."

She turns to him, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "But since you've been asking me all these questions, what do you suppose I should do, cowboy?"

Lucas takes a moment to consider her query, his brows furrowing in thought. "Well—I think you should just do whatever feels right to you," he advises, his words simple yet understanding.

He knew he couldn't offer much guidance as he'd never been through anything like this, but he still tried to help anyway.

"But if it makes you feel better, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here, I guess," he added, his tone a blend of awkwardness and genuine concern.

Kat couldn't help but scoff at his sentiment. "Me, seeking advice from my enemy? Now that's just asking for trouble, cowboy."

Lucas simply shrugged in response. "Yeah...sure. It maybe not the wisest move, but it's an option."

Her lips formed a tight line. He wasn't entirely wrong. "You're right...It is an option."

"And if I ever cross any  line with you, just say the word, please," he implored softly.

She gave him a once-over. "Why?"

"Because—although I do take joy in watching your face spoil at my words sometimes," he says teasingly, leaving Kat to roll her eyes, "I don't think I mean to hurt you that much."

"You're hurting me just by being here," she retorted sharply.

Lucas stares at her keenly. "Am I?" he challenges.

Her eyes narrow into slits. "Yes, cowboy, you are."

A chuckle slips past his lips. "You're bluffing," he smirked.

"And I will punch your perfect face right now, Huckleberry, if you don't be quiet."

His head tilts at a challenging degree. "I'd like to see you try."

And he really shouldn't have said that, because in the next second, she did. Or, at least, attempted to, as he caught her fist mid-punch, effortlessly.

Their eyes locked in a tense standoff, before Kat withdrew her hand, her jaw clenched in frustration as Lucas smirked to himself, irritating her further.

She huffed out a breath before she calmed herself down. "You underestimated me," Kat declared, mirroring his earlier posture. "I suggest you don't do that."

"Oh, don't tempt me, red," he grinned.

And although she tried not to, Kat couldn't suppress the faint curl of her lips at his banter.

But deep down, confusion stirred within her.

The last time they had a sentimental conversation like this, it was coincidentally, here, in this library, more than a month ago.

But this time around, there wasn't an assignment forcing them to talk like this. Lucas didn't need to look for Kat and ask about what was up with her. He didn't need to do this, but he did, and it troubled the hell out of her because it was clear that he was concerned about her, like he—cared.

It left Kat grappling with unsettlement as she questioned if he actually did care about her, or if this was some part of some scheme he was planning against her.

Kat didn't know, and honestly, she knew in her mind that she didn't want to.

Sign #1. He doesn't mean to hurt me that much—or so he says...

⤵︎

RILEY AND TOPANGA were currently talking on the couch right now about makeup. A certain conversation which was bound to happen between the two, but the mother just didn't expect it to be so soon.

"You had to know this was going to happen," Riley spoke at first.

"I know a lot of things are going to happen," Topanga replied, a little uneasy at what her daughter meant. "Which one is this?"

"Makeup."

"Oh, good," Topanga smoothly sighs at the topic at hand.

"I can have some?"

"No," the mother responded in an instant.

Riley pursed her lips at her quick reply. "Why not?"

"Well, because makeup leads to other things that-"

"We have our first school dance on Friday night," Riley cuts in between her mother's words.

Topanga doesn't react negatively, however. Instead, she just nods. "And we're there."

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

"Ah, let's see who's gonna save me from this conversation," Topanga smiles before forcing herself to the door. When she opens it, there stood Kitty-Kat Decker at the other side. "Oh, goodie—just the person I needed."

Kat pushed her brows together. "Uh—hi to you too?" she greeted, then noticed Riley sitting on the couch inside. "Oh! Was I just interrupting something important or-"

"No, no, no," Topanga shook her head, and brought Kat to the couch. "You are just the person I need to help me talk Riley out of something."

Next thing Kat knew, she was sitting down in front of Riley, still visible confused.

Riley asks, "Why are you here in the first place, Kat?"

The apple-haired girl sighs at the question. "Oh, I just needed to go somewhere to take my mind off of something, but I didn't expect to be dragged into a girl talk at all...But, I guess that's my reality now." She twists herself to her godmother. "Anyway, tell me, what am I talking Riley out of?"

She seizes a glance at her daughter as she says, "Makeup."

Parting her lips, Kat trails off again, "Ohhh..." her face contorting slightly. "See, I can't talk someone out of something I don't even know either, so..."

Topanga's eyes dramatically rolled as Riley inquired, "So Mom, what's the difference between daytime makeup and nighttime makeup?"

"No difference, because you're not wearing any," the mother replied with a shake of her head.

"What about when I do?"

"Yeah, I'm curious too about the what and the when as well," Kat expressed, using her thumb to gesture to Riley beside her.

Topanga shoots them a look. "When we decide that you're at the right age to start wearing makeup-"

"Friday?"

"No," she affirmed. "You might find that you prefer a more natural look during the day. Some women prefer to go a bit bolder at night...Neither of you are allowed to hang out with those women."

Riley's eyes light up as she confesses, "I wanna paint my face!"

"I wanna not gouge my eyes out with that eyelash curler," Kat declares with a grimace, her expression twisting from recalling the incident from earlier this morning.

A light bulb of realization flickers to life in Topanga's mind. "Wait, the dance is Friday?"

Kat's eyebrows shoot up in alarm. "Uh oh—you're doin' that thing with your voice, Aunt Topanga."

"But Friday is the last night for the Coney Island cyclone," she reminds the two.

"But it's our first dance!" Riley urged, shaking Kat's shoulders aggressively.

"Which I don't even know if I'm going to," the Decker noted.

"Why not?!"

"I-I don't know. Don't pressure me!" Kat grumbled.

Riley sways from her words then. "And besides, Dad takes me to ride the roller coaster a bunch of times, right?"

"Your father thinks of it as a tradition," Topanga advised.

The daughter's features contort into a grimace. "How bad is this?"

"Your father thinks of it as the reason he wakes up in the morning."

Riley shrugged, however. "Maybe he won't remember it this year."

Suddenly, the front door bursts open to Cory Matthews himself. "Three days till cyclone day!" he proclaimed.

Topanga whirled around to her husband. "When's my birthday?"

"A hundred forty-eight days from cyclone day!"

Kat shook her head at his reply. "Even though my birthday is a beloved holiday, I'm not even gonna risk it." She turns to Riley, giving her a supportive pat on the shoulder. "Good luck, sista."

Auggie comes rushing down the hallway. "Daddy!" he exclaims.

"Auggie!" Cory shouts, dashing up to his son, and bringing him to the kitchen table. "Hey! Tell me stuff!"

"Riley wants to wear makeup," Auggie spilled.

"Hey, ya little spy!" the sister exclaims.

Cory argued in his son's defense, "Don't call him a spy. He is not a spy."

"I am a spy. You made me a card," Auggie countered, snatching a card from his pocket that said Auggie Spy on it.

Kat squints her eyes at her godfather. "Has anyone told you yet that you're a horrible liar?" she queried.

He sighs, defeatedly. "All right, he is a spy. And guess what? He's working for me. And he just got promoted." He grabs a new card from his pocket, revealing that it says Auggie Super Spy.

Auggie snags the card from him and reads it to himself. "Superspy!" he cheers, raising his hands excitedly.

Riley seizes the courage to speak up then. "Dad?"

He turns to her. "Yeah?"

"Daaaad," she repeats as she gets off the couch to give him a side hug.

Suspicious of her behavior, Cory ordered again, "Hey, Superspy, tell me stuff."

As Riley breaks from the hug, Auggie reveals, "Riley wants to go to the school dance on...dun dun dun...Cyclone Night."

Seeking back at her, Cory becomes surprised. "Oh, wow. It's the same night?" Riley nods. "I understand. I understand completely," he says, drifting to the couch.

"Wait for it," Kat whispers to her aunt.

"I'm sorry you'll have to miss the dance."

His response leaves Kat's lips to curl into a knowing grin. "Yup, that's the man we know," she remarks with a hint of amusement.

Topanga shook her head. "Try again," she advised.

Cory steals a glance at his wife before veering back to Riley. He clears his throat and tries again. "I'm sorry you'll have to miss the dance," he repeated, sitting down next to Kat.

Having too much fun with this, Kat jokes around more, "Yeah, how about you try that with more feeling this time, Uncle Cory?" her suggestion ensuring a scowl from Riley.

The daughter argues then, "But it's my first dance, Dad," sitting next to him on the couch.

"Oh!" Cory yelped out, his hand darting his chest, acting like he had just gotten shot. Which, if he was honest, was exactly how he was feeling right now.

"Oh, boy..." Topanga trails off.

"No, no, I'm down with this," Cory assured, leaning to Kat afterward, "Yeah, I said that."

Little did he know, Riley's next words would leave him in shambles. "Dad, when it comes to this stuff, I don't think there's anything you can teach me."

"Oh dear lord," the Decker snarls under her breath, already knowing what's gonna happen next.

And true to her expectations, her godfather coughs out another exaggerated groan, his hand dramatically clutching at his chest in mock agony.

"I'm growing up, Dad."

"Oh, boy!" Topanga exclaims.

"Goodbye!" Cory exaggeratingly shouted, letting his body fall behind onto the couch.

"You're breaking him!" Auggie scolded his sister.

Kat breaks out of her joking mood to comment on the matter, "You know she's got a point, Uncle Cory. I mean, I don't think there's much you can teach me either when it comes to stuff like this."

"Ahhh!" Cory wailed out in more pain, prompting Kat to scoff at his dramatic self.

"Dad, Kat's right. You were a great father to me when I was a kid." Riley began, as Cory brought himself up again. "Don't take this the wrong way, Dad, but there's just some things that mom can naturally teach me. Like, what do you know about makeup?"

Cory lingers for a fleeting moment before he finally speaks. "I know it's what you two are going to have to do with me." And with a heavy heart, he rose from the couch and walked away, leaving behind a lingering sense of melancholy in the air.

Riley scoots herself by Kat and them. "Mom?"

"That went better than I thought," Topanga assured.

On the other hand, Kat didn't expect herself to become sullen from this, but there she was, disheartened by what her Uncle said and the fact that she and Riley made him sad as well.

Not only that, but what happened also left her to realize one thing: that she disappointed him, just like she disappointed her father too.

It seemed like today was not Katherine Decker's day at all, and it surely, truly, sucked.

⤵︎

ELEVEN O'CLOCK ROLLED around, as it was the time Maverick Decker came home from work

Despite his eleven years as a detective, Maverick had yet to grow accustomed to the late nights and endless paperwork that came with the job. Each day seemed to blend into the next, a relentless cycle of chasing leads and filing reports that left him feeling drained and weary.

He walks past his daughter's rooms and goes into his. The first thing he checks is the little table he had by his door, a place he mostly puts stuff like keys, envelopes, or postcards. And sitting on top of it was just one folded piece of paper, marked with Kim on it.

Maverick sighs before receding to the hallway to walk to Katherine's room. But before he could get even a foot to near it, he's pulled back.

"Dad, don't," Kim's voice rings out, her tone laced with urgency and concern, drawing Maverick's attention away to her.

"Kim, she has to write one."

"Why?" the eldest daughter questioned, dragging him away from her sister's door. "Why does this have to be such a big deal?"

"Because I know your mother, Kimberly."

Of course he did. Hell, the man loved her once upon a time, too. Despite the painful rift that had formed between them due to past actions, Maverick couldn't simply erase the memories of their shared history.

"She regrets it. I know she does," he murmurs, his voice heavy with emotion as he tries to navigate the tangled web of his thoughts. "Look, I just—I just want Kat to always have her mother in her life."

Kim's expression softens. "I know that, but do I have to remind you that she just found out a couple of months ago? She's not me, dad. She's not just gonna forget what mom did to her in a snap of a finger."

"But you didn't take this long to talk to her again," Maverick countered.

"That's because I didn't want my sister to see me be anything but weak," Kim replied. "You know I hated Mom when it happened. I was five! A five-year-old shouldn't have to experience what happened to us."

Even though her memory was hazy, all Kimberly could remember from that day was that she hadn't looked at her mother the same since. Something that ultimately confused her growing up, but now that she was at this point in her life, she knew why.

"But like I said, I had to be strong for Kat, so of course I forgave her."

The father's gaze drops to the ground, feeling guilty knowing he made her have to remember such a traumatizing day. He didn't like remembering it either for many reasons, but that was just them.

He asks then, "Did you really forgive her?"

Kim swallows hard at the question. "No," she shook her head. "I didn't—but I know that mom regrets it, and I like to think that if one has regret about something, then it means they have the ability to change from it."

Taking his daughter's words into mind, Mav plants an arm on her shoulder. "You're an amazing sister to Kat, you know? She's lucky to have you."

A weak grin appears on Kimberly's lips. "I know...I know she is." Her eyes trail to her sister's room down the hall. "And I'm lucky to have her." She urged to her father thereafter, "I think you should get some sleep, Dad."

He nods. "You two, kid."

"I know," she affirmed, before bringing him into a needed hug, especially on his part.

And as they part ways, Maverick presses a kiss on her head before going back to his room.

She watches him for a bit, as he closes his door behind him, her gaze lingering even after that.

Deep down, Kimberly knew why he was so adamant about keeping their mother in their lives. Which was patently because their grandfather was hardly in his.

She asked about him when she was fourteen, but all Grandma Gemma told her was that he was an alcoholic, and left them when her father was six. With no goodbye note—or just any decent goodbye. Just leaving like the wind, and never once wanted to come back.

Now, Maverick was resolute in preventing history from repeating itself, desperate to anchor their family in a way his own had never been. Little did he realize that, in his efforts to mend the past, he might be unwittingly sowing the seeds of a different kind of rupture.

But change was inevitable, and as with any change, it carried the promise of both redemption and ruin.

Kimberly could only hope that this change would bring more good than harm.

lani's talking!

^^ kat this chapter :(

also i know there's gonna be some divided opinions on maverick this chapter, and honestly, that's good. im interested to see how you guys think of this situation.

as well, we finally found out why kat and kims mom isn't really around! it's a sad and gruesome reason, and trust me, im gonna dive more into this storyline throughout the trilogy so don't think it's just gonna be a plot hole 😭

but with that in mind, i just wanna say thank you all for the votes, comments and general support you've been giving this story. it means the world to me. and with that, I'll see you all later!

byeeee <3