Sunday Family Dinner
Vi finds herself once again back at the Kiramman mansion. This time, however, it wasn’t for a party or to demand audience with the councilor, it was for Sunday family dinner. Every nerve inside her body shook with anxiety and dread. Cassandra Kiramman was about to be informed VI had proposed to Caitlyn.
The four of them sit in the family room, waiting for word that dinner is being served. Caityn and her father chat about her rehabilitation plans for the next two weeks while she was out. Eventually they switch to the family business, discussing projects he plans on having her oversee once she joined the company. At that point, Vi loses focus and begins to drift into another thought dimension.
Cassandra, on the other hand, quietly analyzes the woman her daughter had brought home to “meet the family”. The councilor can’t help but notice the nervous energy rolling off the catcher in waves. She knows why they are there. She’s been waiting for Caitlyn to bring Vi to the house to Pinform her they have every intention of being wed. Part of her still questions whether or not Vi is the correct choice, but she knows she has no other option than to trust her daughter’s judgement.
Dinner itself is uneventful at first. Most of the meal is spent with Tobias quizzing Vi on various stats and opinions regarding her current and previous seasons of playing ball. Caitlyn can see how impressed her father is at Vi’s memory. It warms Cait’s heart to see how much he seems to enjoy talking to her future bride. She can’t help but smile at the thought her father and Vi will get to enjoy these types of conversations for years to come.
When Vi finishes rattling off pitching stats in a comparison of the Piltover staff vs the Noxus staff, Tobias chuckles and says, “If you’d ever be interested in doing something in trade, I could use a statistically analytical mind like yours you know.”
Nervously rubbing the back of her neck, Vi says through an uncomfortable giggle, “Thanks, Mr. Kiramman, but sports stats are my thing not product numbers and money lines. I’m just a jock at heart.”
“Please, call me Tobias.” He corrects her because he can see, this girl is different than the others that have come and gone through the years. Even when compared to Maddie, Vi is the one that will hold his daughter’s heart for the rest of Caitlyn’s life.
Cassandra hums as she takes a drink of water, making eye contact with her daughter over the glass. Caitlyn feels like an animal being stalked by a hunter with the way her mother watches her every move. She desperately tries to figure out what the Councilor’s next move is but can’t. The ace can do nothing but wait for her to strike.
“So, Vi, how soon after graduation do you plan on moving to Ionia?” Caitlyn was partially right. Cassandra was aiming a kill shot, but instead of it being directed towards her, she has aimed her rifle of words toward Vi.
To Caitlyn’s surprise, Vi appears ready for the shot. “I actually spoke with Grayson while in Noxus and informed her while I appreciated her considering me for future prospective positions, I didn’t feel it was the right fit.”
Cassandra smirks. It’s not the reaction the ace expects. She grips hard onto her knife and fork, looking away, concerned with where this conversation might go. “May I ask what made you change your mind?”
Vi pauses, looking up from her plate toward Cassandra. “I told her I felt that the program wasn’t a good fit for my style.”
Caitlyn knows if she’d have answered right away, there was a possibility Vi may have gotten away with her answer. Because she paused initially, Cassandra saw a weakness she could attack to gain the high ground.
“And what is the actual reason?” The words are calculated and ooze with a sense of suspicion. Years of government meetings and planning have taught the woman to take nothing at face value. While Vi may be providing her a sliver of her reasoning, it was not the full truth.
Vi turns to Caitlyn and gently places the pitcher’s hand in her grasp. Glancing at Tobias first, her eyes finally settle on Cassandra. “I knew Cait would never be able to stay in Ionia. No matter how much both of us wanted it, she’d always be haunted by her past there and I’m not going to put her through that.”
“I suppose by the ring I see on my daughter’s finger that played some part in your decision making also.”
Caitlyn nearly chokes on her water. Vi, on the other hand, grins. “I told you that night I came here I was serious about her. Councilor, I’m not Maddie. She won’t walk in and find me with someone else. I had a barista trying to flirt with me for a while before I met Cait, and I’d never give her my number because I felt l was cheating on my dead fiancé. The only reason I gave Cait a chance was because my dad said Lex would be disappointed knowing I was keeping myself miserable because she was gone.”
Her head swivels to Tobias, “I love your daughter. I know you both have reservations because you’ve seen her hurt before. I know you have reservations because I don’t hail from some high society family from around here. I’m from Zaun.” She looks back at Cassandra. “I know you have a history with my dad, though not as direct as I initially thought but it’s still there.”
Caitlyn’s ears perk up at the last sentence. She notices Cassandra’s eyes flicker to her, attempting to gauge her daughter’s reaction at the sentiment. The pitcher can’t help but lose focus and transfix on the admission. “She is my future. I have plans for a job that I’m not sharing with anyone yet so it’s not like I’m just after her for the money because honestly the wealth makes me uncomfortable. What I can tell you is when the time comes for her to take over your duties, Councilor, I will support her in any way I can.”
“I know what you told me before, but does that actually include an heir or shall I wait for you to change your mind and inform her you don’t want children like you did Alexis?”
“Mother,” Caitlyn offered a warning in honor of Vi, but the catcher didn’t flinch
“I’ve told her if kids are in the package than they’re in the package. Whether she wants one or four, I’m there.” They continue to stare at one another, calculating moves and reactions. Caitlyn and Tobias look toward one another, trying to figure out if or when to intervene.
“Go ahead and ask all the questions you want, councilor. I’m sure you’ve got a file on me already.”
Cassandra’s brows furrow, causing her eyes to close slightly, further indicating her suspicions of the woman in front of her. “Is there anything in my report that my daughter doesn’t know about.”
Caitlyn, confident the answer is no, looks to Vi for confirmation. “No. She knows everything,”
Nodding, Cassandra responds, “We’ll announce when you two are ready. I want you to speak on certain matters first. Caitlyn can inform me when she’s ready.” Just when Caitlyn breaths a semi-sigh of relief, her mother adds, “and when you sign a pre-nuptial agreement.”
“Are you serious?” It’s Caitlyn that responds in utter shock. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. Vi knew she was wealthy but had never seemed interesting in her wealth. What did her mother think would happen? They’d marry, spend just enough years together for Caitlyn to pop out an heir, and then Vi would just…leave?
“Am I to assume she hasn’t thought about how this sets you up for the remainder of your life to live comfortably?”
“I really haven’t.” Vi was being completely honest. She truly hadn’t thought about it. “I don’t abandon people, especially family. I’m not going to get just deep enough that I feel I deserve a share in whatever wealth you all have. I’m standing by her, especially if we have a child.” It’s the first time in their conversation Vi sounds truly offended.
“I think we’re done,” Caitlyn announces, standing from the table.
“Is this a problem for you, Violet?” Cassandra’s question leaves no room for bartering. It’s either her way or the highway and they both know it.
“Draft it and I’ll sign it tomorrow evening.”
- - - - - -
Caitlyn is irate and Vi has no intentions to push her into talking about dinner. There are things Vi wants to explain, or at least share, but the ace just stares straight ahead, driving them back toward their apartment. The silence begins to wear on Vi, causing her to fidget with her hands or repetitively look at her phone even though she knows she’d not received any messages since her last glance.
The ace, on the other hand, marinates in her thoughts, reflecting on the events of dinner. She’d expected there to be fireworks or for her mother to make some grand showing of herself. What she hadn’t expected was for Vi to buckle to her wishes.
What did Vi mean by her mother not being directly involved with Vander?
Her eyes focus on the road, afraid if she spoke before coming to terms with everything internally she was feeling it would lead to an argument. That was the last thing she wanted. She and Vi were finally on what she considered near perfect terms after their extended debate regarding Ionia. At one point she was convinced she was going to lose Vi and now, well, they’d just informed her parents they were getting married.
Once they arrive home, Caitlyn retreats to shower, feeling the need to wash away the chaos that she just witnessed at her family home. Vi, on the other hand, nestles it to watch whatever softball game she can find being broadcast on television. She can feel it in her bones that another argument is brewing between the two of them, but she just wants to enjoy the peace and quiet a little bit longer.
Forty-five minutes later, Caitlyn walks out of the bedroom, t-shirt and sleep shorts on with her hair wrapped in a towel still. Before Vi can protest, she picks up the remote and turns the television off.
“Ready to talk I see.”
“You’re not signing a pre-nup.”
“I am. If it’s what she wants them I’m going to do it. She’s just protecting you.”
Caitlyn scoffs at the sentiment. “Are you of all people defending her right now?”
The catcher can’t help but laugh uncomfortably. “If she’s afraid I’m going to wait until you pop out a kid or two and then take your money and the heir with me, then may be this is the best way to ease her mind.”
“You won’t sign it.”
“I can’t blame her for looking out for her daughter after everything you’ve been through.”
“And what about you? She mistrusts you when her sins speak for themselves.”
Cait still doesn’t know the truth. That’s why she’s so angry. She still believes Cassandra is responsible for the death of Vi’s parents and the release of Baxter. How had she not just told Caitlyn herself? A part of Vi believed that Cassandra would break down and do. They’d seen one another since the night the councilor admitted the truth to Vi, why would she not want her own daughter to know the sins she was accused of were not hers to carry?
“What are you hiding from me, Vi?” The catcher can hear the hurt and suspicion in Cait’s voice. It’s gut wrenching.
“Your mom didn’t have my parents killed. It was Ambessa Medarda who made the call as Piltover’s war advisor. When they found out I was originally going to be with them, to punish your mom for being the only dissenting vote on the matter she took the fall.”
She sees Caitlyn’s face shift from hurt to anger. It only makes the knot in Vi’s stomach larger. “I wasn’t hiding it from you, I just expected her to tell you first.”
Caitlyn clenches her jaw, not wanting to react until she hears everything. “And Thaddeus Baxter’s release?”
“Haskell, not Kiramman.”
An annoyed sounding puff of air releases from Caitlyn. Vi sees her eyes begin to darken as realization sets in. The pitcher’s mind is struggling to comprehend everything Vi has told her. Months of believing her mother was a monster. Months of believing her mother had destroyed Vi’s childhood. Months of believing her mother was retaliating against Vi for dating Caitlyn. It was all proven to be a lie.
Stunned is the only word Caitlyn can come up with.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I really thought your mom would tell you the truth about my parents. She told me the night I went there while you were at Tutler’s after Demacia. I wasn’t exactly in a talking mood after I came back and found you at the party.”
They sit in silence, not looking at one another. Caitlyn hurt, but determined to get her way said, “You’re still not signing that pre-nup.”
“Why are you so against it?” Vi can feel her voice rising in volume and tension.
“Because it’s what she wants! She is so convinced I’m making the wrong choice, and this is how she’s showing it. She truly believes you’ll leave me barefoot and pregnant, running away with all of our family assets”
“And as I told her and I’ve told you, I don’t give a shit about that. I want to marry you and coach ball. I know that’s not going to bring me money and I don’t care. I know this is the only way to keep her off your ass so I’m signing the damn thing and that’s final.”
“You’re betraying yourself for me.”
“No, I’m showing I’m willing to sacrifice things for you. There’s a difference.”
Silence encapsulates them once more as they retreat from the living room to the bedroom. They lay in silence, both staring up at the ceiling exhausted from the day and exhausted from the discussion. There are plenty of things that could still be said but sleep was more important to them.
Just as Cait is about to let her body and mind drift off, she hears Vi whisper, “I need you to know I’d never do what you said”
Half asleep, Caitlyn rasps out, “What’s that, love?”
Rolling on her side so she can pull Caitlyn in tightly, “I’d never leave you, let alone leave you pregnant. That’s what I’m trying to prove.”
Slowly smiling, Caitlyn wraps her arm around Vi’s, “I know. Besides, I’d just call Amik and she’d come kill you in a heartbeat.” They both let out a good hearty laugh before settling into each other’s embrace and allowing sleep to finally come for them.