2021
Valèrie had just gotten out of work, driving home, no kids to deal with tonight, just peace.
She got out of her car, coming back from her office, her knee brace wobbling a bit. Fuck she’d need to get it fixed again, sometimes injuries don’t recover even after 25 years.
She sighed and opened the front door to her house, dropping stuff down and heading to the living room, she sensed someone was there and turned on the light, leaning against the doorframe, holding her gun.
“Hi Nat. You insane bitch.” She said sweetly, smiling but her eyes clearly showed distancing, if you looked close though there was some relief, it was just her. Her Nat- stop Val stop thinking like that.
“Hi Doe, did you miss me?” Nat asked, shotgun in hand, leaning against Val’s dining table. “We have to talk.”
Valèrie raised an eyebrow. “Gun down first, I have some expensive shit here I don’t need broken.” She says, dropping her own gun and crossing her arms. She looked to the photo of her with her kids and her heart ached, she was glad they weren’t here but sometimes she wondered.. it’s not important.
“Fine.” Natalie dropped her gun and walked over to Val. “There Doe, better?” She smiled in a bitter way, looking the other woman up and down. “You look good, the suit works, How’s being a lawyer going for you?”
Valèrie walked away to her liquor cabinet and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. “I’m too sober for this. What do you need me to keep you out of jail again?”
She asks, staring at her sobriety necklace Milo had given her, she took it off and sighed, she couldn’t deal with this. Not now. “My job’s good. No debt.”
Nat’s gaze softened a bit, realizing she was causing Val to spiral, again. She didn’t want to care but she did. She grabbed the bottle from Val and put it away. “Not tonight, just got a letter, was wondering if you knew anything about it, how’s the knee by the way?” She asked.
Val didn’t object and just sat down, sighing and running a hand through her long hair. “Umm, what letter?” She ruffled through her own mail and stopped at a postcard. “Not tonight. Fuck fuck fuck- no. Nat this better be a fucking joke no.” She says, her voice getting higher and more choked, getting mad. “This isn’t fucking funny this is cruel, was it Misty? That psycho bitch-”
Natalie interrupted her. “Woah, it’s not Misty alright? I already.. talked to her about it, we got the same one as you. She’s doing her weird detective thing and I don’t trust it because y’know, it’s Misty Quigley. Somethings gonna happen, so I needed to ask you, make sure you’re ok, and y’know. Gotta check on my wife.” She jokes sarcastically.
Val rolls her eyes. “We’re not married, and you do remember I married Milo right? I have two kids.” She reminds Nat with a grin, amused, not wanting to be but it’s hilarious.
Natalie laughs. “What? I have two step kids?” She gasps overdramatically. “Gosh Doe, didn’t even tell me I’m a mom now. You and Milo got at it huh?”
Val scoffs. “You’re not. We had one of those fake weddings Nat we’re not- ugh just stop calling me Doe and what are we going to do- I- I’m not letting you look into this by yourself. You can’t do it by yourself.” *”Because I’m afraid I’m going to lose you and find you dead and that will kill me”* she thinks but doesn’t say out loud.
Nat grins and ruffles her hair. “That’s my smart girl. So, we leaving tomorrow or tonight?” She asks Doe, looking at her the same way she always had, with a look that was all consuming, that knew Val better than anyone.
“Tomorrow, my kids have school so I’ll drive them and then they can spend the night at their grandmas.” Valèrie says, huffing and fixing her hair, grabbing her lighter and a blunt. “You still smoke?”
“Of course I do, I’m the one who got you to start aren’t I?” Natalie snorts, pulling out a lighter, they’d gotten matching customs ones in Vegas years before, Nat’s was Silver Val’s was gold, it had N.S + V.L on the side with a doe and a willow tree on it. It was a stupid decision they made , the first purchase they made once getting back home, but it was theirs and they both kept them. “How’s the knee though?” Nat asked Valèrie.
Val rolls her eyes and is frustrated. “It’s shitty as always, but then again when you’re held down and a 17 year old girl cuts open your knee and takes out your patella and you don’t get proper medical attention it’s bound to be bad. I can’t run though so that’s good for you.” She says, taking a drag, her Knee was a sensitive topic, it was a sign of what happened out there, the first big betrayal.
“What do they not give you a free new one?” Nat jokes to her. “I mean it was hacked off you should just use the “I was in the wilderness for 19 months” excuse. Isn’t that what you did for your diploma and getting into Cambridge again? So you’re gonna leave your kids with Milo’s mom?” She asked Val.
“No, I’m gonna leave them with Sabrina.” Val responds, Natalie looks surprised at that.
“Sabrina? Like your dad’s wife?” She asked, the last time she’d talked to Val she still wasn’t talking to Sabrina after her father had died and Sabrina only told her a few weeks after.
“Yeah, I needed help with the Kids after Milo died.” Val says, looking down at her hand. “Being a lawyer, making sure 6 other people don’t go to jail, taking care of two kids and dealing with my best friends death.” She sighs.
“Well you’re doing good, plus more time for yourself.” Nat says, rubbing the other girls hand. “I got you a gift by the way.” She passes Val a bottle of red wine, Val gladly takes it, they both get drunk quickly. It got late, and like always, when they were drunk they clung to each other, Val not being able to be mad and logical, letting herself still love Nat, they both loved each other deeply still. Of course they did. And in the golden hours in the morning they allowed themselves to, the next morning when Val woke up to her kids knocking on her door loudly and her laying tangled up with Nat, hungover and had a migraine, she groaned and got up and peaked out the door to see her daughter Vienna and her son Ben standing there.
“Hi my loves what are you doing?” Val asked her kids quietly.
“Hi Maman, are you ok we just got home and heard my cousin Vinny playing on the television.” Vienna asked her mother, ready for school.
Oh shit. Val thought and tried not to panic. “Oh don’t worry darling, maman was just watching an old movie for fun, I had a late night last night for the case.” She said, Ben needed to get something and being a little kid he pushed into the room. Damnit. He and Vienna saw Nat, he looked to Val and asked her “Mom someone broke in , there’s a lady in your bed.” He said to his mother who looked mortified.
“Oh baby it’s just mommy’s friend, she spent the night, a sleepover y’know?” Valèrie lied to her poor, naive son, managing to get him out of the room , almost gone until she heard Nat wake up and rub her eyes and say “Am I high or is that a mini Doe?” Val sighs and looks at Natalie annoyed.
“Yes Nat, thats my son Ben.” Val tells her, running a hand through her hair. “Ben remember how Auntie Van told you stories about me her and Nat? Well this is Nat buddy.” Val says, introducing her son to her…ex? Wife? Complicated relationship? Friend? Whatever, Natalie quickly sat up and smiled. “Hi kiddo , your mom and I were just hanging out watching a movie, don’t worry she’ll get you to school.”
Natalie noticed the little boy’s soccer shirt and she pulled a smile. “Aw you play soccer like your mama huh? Go for the left leg kiddo, always weaker as they depend more on the right side.” She tells the little boy who looks happy and runs off down to get ready for school, Valèrie sighs and looks to her daughter Vienna, “Lovey grandma’s gonna get you and your brother from school today as I have a case, I booked off the weekend though baby so we’ll have some one on one time alright?” She tells her daughter who looks hesitant about Natalie but calms down and lightly smiles. “Ok maman, love you, see you later…bye mom’s “friend”.” Vienna walked away, very confused as to why the fuck her mom’s old girlfriend was in her bed.
Valèrie sighs and shuts the door, sinking down to the floor to sit and groans as Natalie laughs, “Well that was a great way to meet my step kids.” Natalie joked.
“They’re not your kids- ok what do we have to do?” Val says frustrated, tired and hungover. She wraps her robe tighter around herself, Nat looks amused and grabs the tie of the robe and pulls Val closer.
“Well first my Doe, you’re gonna take this off, then we’re gonna get changed, get coffee and figure this shit out.” Natalie says, wrapping an arm around Valèrie’s waist.
Val scoffs and is about to tell her off but gets an idea and smiles. “Ok then Darling.” She says to Nat who looks bewildered.
“Ok? What the fuck do you mean ok? In 30 years of knowing you, there’s not been one day you listen to me or anyone for that matter except if something was terribly wrong, so did someone die or was the sex that good?” Natalie asked Val, very confused and concerned.
Val scoffs. “Fuck no I was messing with you, get your shit together and let’s get coffee and figure this out, no one knows about last night though.” She starts to get changed, not caring about changing infront of Natalie, it wasn’t unusual at all to her.
“Ugh, really thought I finally fucked you thoroughly enough, next time. New thing to think of when I think of My cousin Vinny.” Natalie says, getting dressed herself, Val slaps her arm.
“C’mon. We’re both mature adults here. I mean I have two kids now-” Val chastises Natalie. Trying to be responsible and level headed. “Now , first stop let’s go to the therapist office, he owes me a favour and you terrify people enough so.” 20 Minutes later Natalie is sat next to Val in her car, driving to the therapist, both dressed and less hungover, Valèrie no longer had the necklace Mill gave her on, she didn’t notice or know where it was. They parked and walked into the office. Val put in a devastated expression.
“Hello this is Dr. Manwheiler?” Val asked in a meek tone. “I’m awfully sorry, my friend Donna recommended you and I’m just worried sick, see I’m here with my-” Natalie interrupted Val. “I’m her wife, my love here is having some problems with our kids and marriage, see we got married young then divorced, then she married her husband who she had two kids with and he died some years ago, and we got remarried and the kids are great but she’s just worried with the baby on the way they might forget about their father, see he wasn’t a very present man unfortunately but my wife wants them to remember the good things.” Nat lies, coming up with the story as she spoke, grabbing Val’s hand.
Valèrie stops and shoots Nat a look that says they’ll talk about it later but she goes with it. “Yes, I just don’t want them to forget their daddy. Plus I’m just worried about me and my wife’s relationship, she’s always been the more outgoing seen person and I just feel like I’m taking up space, but when she’s with me I know I’m loved, it suckd because I have my own Interests and everyone is only interested in her, but me and my wife are doing better, it’s always been just us two together.” Val lies, continuing. “Plus in my late teens I was told I was infertile anf I mean I obviously have to kids from my former husband but just, I always wanted to be- I can be a good mother, and I’m glad to be her wife.” Bits and pieces of her story were true things from once in Val’s life.
That therapy session they snuck the guys documents and argued about fake shit for fun, as soon as they got out though back to the car Valèrie sighed and spoke. “I’m calling Tai.”
“Fuck- no we can’t get Taissa involved Doe!” Nat says, groaning.
“We are-” Val says , blunt and final, seeing the time she quickly takes her meds, she’d had these hallucinations since returning home, she took her meds for it, sometimes she could still hear its voice whispering to her demanding that this wasn’t where she was meant to be, thats not her purpose , thats not how it had designed her, that she needed to be reminded that who she pretends to be is not her no matter how much she wished she’s still messed up, Val brushed it off as hallucinations, thats all it is anyways right? She got a call from Vienna’s school. Fucking damnit.
“Ugh, I have to go get Vienna she’s in trouble apparently, you stay in the car.” She says to Natalie who looks amused
“And miss out on such a great time to see you parent Bambi? Hell no I’m going.” Natalie says, pulling lightly at a stray hair on Val’s head. Valèrie swatted her hand away and just sighed, she parked the car and tightened her grip on her purse. She fucking hated being at this high school, knowing and dreading walking past that mural. She walked in nontheless, Natalie close behind who made a snide remark, Val walks into the principals office, seeing Shauna, her daughter Callie, two other girls and their parents there, plus Vienn, she sighed and walked over.
“Goodmorning, to what do I owe the pleasure and what had my child done?” Valèrie asks. The principal clears his throat.
“Well Ms. Leblanc- sorry it’s Mrs. Dears now isn’t it? Oh wait no your husband, Nevermind, Ms. Leblanc, your daughter helped Callie here prank these two girls, now they will be facing consequences for making fun of Vienna and Callie but Vienna knew Callie planned to do something and helped her by recording, so she’s suspended for a week.” The principal said to an annoyed looking Valèrie who grinned and turned to her daughter, yelling at her in French so it sounds like she was angry but wasn’t.
“Est-ce vrai que Vienne ? Est-ce que tu l'as fait ? Je suis si fière de toi bébé, la fille de ta maman.” She says to her daughter, speaking in an angry tone and looking mad, her daughter tried to suppress a grin.
“Do not worry I will take care of her immediately, Shauna I trust you with Callie, Mr and Mrs Davies and Mr and Mrs James I’m sure you’re lovely people and will make sure to take care of your daughters and teach them dignity and respect, good day to you all I have work and a murder to solve not some bullshit.” Val says bluntly and sweet, grabbing Vienna’s hand and leaving. As she walked out and Natalie who was waiting outside of the office followed her back to her car.
“Damn that was interesting, she really is a mini you huh Doe?” Nat said, moving to the passenger seat of the car when they made it out.
“We’re just dropping her off at my house don’t get any ideas Natalie.” Val says, turning on the car before looking at her daughter. “Vienna what happened?”
Vienna looks to her mother and sighs. “Mom me and Callie were hanging out in study block, Kelly and Jill were talking shit about you and your whole Yellowjackets, saying stuff like you probably killed dad or one of your friends did because you were cheating on him- and I know you weren’t and they said all this vile stuff about you and Aunt Shauna, Aunt’s Van and Taissa, even Aunt Lottie and they said that me and Callie were probably just as fucked up because you got so messed up you probably did some weird cult shit while pregnant with me-”
Valèrie looked at her daughter and her heart ached. “Oh baby, you didn’t have to defend me, I’m an adult I’m supposed to protect you, those bitches deserved it though I’m proud.” She says, Natalie looks amused.
“So you’re a mama’s girl huh Bambi?” Natalie asked Vienna who still didn’t know who she was and was confused.
“Yes? Sorry are you one of my mom’s friends? An aunt I don’t know?” Vienna asked Natalie confused.
“Ew, no see your mommy and I-” Natalie began before Valèrie interrupted her.
“Don’t listen to her, she’s weird ok Vienna? Shit- I’m gonna drop you off at home ok honey?” Val says to Vienna, grabbing more meds from her bag and running her eyes, trying desperately to make it go away. Not wanting her daughter to know she’s plagued by it always. Valèries leg is bouncing up and down, she hears it voice in her ear, “Valèrie~ Doe why are you hiding her? Hiding yourself, you owe me. You hid her. You won’t be able to for long, I will take her. And then I’ll take your little boy too, just like I was supposed to, I’m disappointed in you Little Doe, I gave you a gift and you threw it away, for some man who you never even loved, now his death while not caused by you was a lovely sacrifice, but it’s not enough. It stops the shame of you choosing him and having his kids, but those children shouldn’t exist. You know you had a chance but you gave it up.” Valèrie shudders at the weirds the voice said in her ear she replied quietly. “What with her? I couldn’t, it wouldnt have been a healthy environment to raise a child, I wouldn’t have been a good mother to that baby. And don’t fucking talk about my kids or husband that way. They were and are too good for me and this, I would never hurt them. And I won’t live like that.” It laughed mockingly at her and said, “Wow. This what you’ve come to? Someone so afraid to bluntly say what you think, your personal hell is different now isn’t it? I can see it in your eyes. What is your personal hell now Doe?”
Valèrie doesnt answer that question and it continues to mock her, “Where’s your little Fawn Doe? I gifted you so much, you were so ungrateful, your girl has built your coffin and it will come for you too. I can only keep you safe if you listen, you’re my favourite, I don’t want to have to but I will. You could have been a queen, you were one, sat leisurely at your loves side, helping her. I gave you that. I DID. Your fall from grace was not my fault, they were punished accordingly and I got my blood. I’ve let you play around and tell yourself it wasn’t real. But playtimes over. Stop playing house and go. Go to her, you’ll only be safe with her you know.”
“Il perfectly fine on my own, and gift? This was no gift, it was a fucking curse, I’m cursed to hear and see you , and no matter the meds they don’t fucking work!” Val curses under her breath.
It laughs. “You and your Fawns will never get me out again. I’ll be there forever haunting you, your children. They won’t be free for long Doe, I’ll get them, I’m sure you can still cook, if not Shauna will. I mean why is Michael dead? Did he just hit his head on your knife?”
That Caused Valèrie to snap. “He had it coming all along. After he used me, and abused me? How can you tell me that I’m wrong?”
It laughs at her. “You’re not. I’m glad to see you admit it. You killed him, how and why did you? Tell me everything, I mean I have all the time, your little kids don’t.”
Val bites her tongue and turns the music stereo up. “I’d started dating him after the breakdown, and he was..nice at first, he began to get angry though, I could put up with it, I’m strong, I’m Valèrie Leblanc you knock me down I get the fuck back up again… it was when he tried to hurt Emmy I got out Nat’s shotgun and killed him…I could say it was a fight but I shot him three more times after, bit too much for self defence huh?” She laughs bitterly. “I buried the gun, did the standard cover up and called Shauna.”
It speaks. “You feel guilty because you don’t feel guilt. You were relieved. You took care of it, yet you know that if you’d just stuck with her you wouldn’t have that extra blood on your hands, I was surprised your wedding dress was white. You drink late at night, plagued by the thoughts of how one day your daughter will find your body in the basement of the very house you were raised in. She’ll feel your pain, just like you did when you found your own mother, you can’t keep her safe, she’ll see you die and be afraid. My Doe where have you hid your daughter?”
Valèrie tightened her grip on the wheel. “You’ve found her now, you can’t catch her or me now though. So fuck off.” It scoffed and left as it always did.
“VAL, VALÈRIE LEBLANC WAKE THE FUCK UP.” Natalie yelled, snapping Valèrie out of it.
“Huh?- WHAT?” Val shouted back, a bit shaken.
“Finally, what were you talking to Satan?” Natalie huffed and asked sarcastically. “How’s he doing done there, having fun torturing Daphne?”
“Oh shut up!” Val retorts. “I was not, I was just thinking, now what do you want Natalie? Money, my soul?” She snarks.
“Oh baby you don’t have one.” Natalie taunts. “Good thing you came back now, I think I broke your daughter with the things I called you.”
“What did you call me?” Valèrie groans, tired.
“Oh y’know, Val, Valèrie, baby, Doe, Deer, my girl, love, princess, wife, my Angel of trauma and unresolved religious issues.” Natalie replies nonchalantly. “Anything you’d hate really.”
Val groans and sighs. “Ughhhh. Vienna, hunny she’s not well just ignore her ok?” She says to her daughter as Natalie protests indignantly.
“Yeah I thought so.” Vienna replies before putting her headphones on. Val drops her off at the house and then they’re off, to figure out what’s going on.