Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

☆°𓄿°☆

August 20th 1995

"The Abyss... It's gone", Kat whispered.

Swann held her head. What had happened in the last few hours felt surreal, as if it had only been a bad dream. But all of the friends knew it wasn't. No. The Abyss had been here.

Now it was just a green meadow again with a conspicuous mushroom circle.

"Omg... What did we do?" Nora whispered, wide-eyed.

"Fuck..." Autumn held her head, her gaze still not quite clear.

"You saved me," Kat said. "Corey was a monster... He deserved it." Kat looked around determinedly.

"But we—" Autumn murmured.

Swann knew how she felt. They had pushed Corey together. In that moment, they all agreed to it.

It didn't even take words between them to make the decision and get rid of him.

But, it was for Kat... Swann looked at the short-haired girl, she loved so much. She would do anything for her.

"Listen to me."

Kat rubbed her eyes, glancing quickly over her shoulder at her sister crouching in the grass, her head buried in her hands.

"No one will believe what happened here today. All of this has to remain a secret, otherwise Dylan and I are in great danger."

The three girls nodded in agreement.

"If everything goes well, they'll blame Corey for what happened at the ranch. Until then, you're not allowed to go near the ranch. No one should suspect you. The ranch will be in chaos for now."

Tears shimmered in Kat's eyes. "We might not see each other for a while—and I don't know how long I—" Kat coughed.

"Damn..."

"Kat..." Swann looked at the blonde girl sadly. Part of her had hoped that the Abyss might be able to save her life in exchange for Corey's. A trade...like they had wished for back then. But the reality was different. Kat was still sick, and the time she had left was short.

"We meet in secret. That would work, right?" Nora suggested.

Autumn nodded.

"Maybe..." Kat whispered. "I just want you to know... I love you guys. Please don't forget that. The summer you gave me... Everything. You're the best." The girls hugged each other, and for a few seconds, the world didn't seem so dark anymore.

Bloom and Rage said goodbye to each other. Tears streamed down each girl's face, but each of them also knew that Kat was right and that they had to try to keep this night a secret.

𓄿

"Kat! Wait." Swann stopped Kat and grabbed her hand.

"The move to Canada is soon. The moving truck is arriving five days late due to some problems.

By this time in a week, I'll already be in Vancouver."

Kat tensed. Slowly, she turned around. She gave her a sad, unreadable look.

"Swann—I…" she seemed to be searching for words. "Maybe it's better if we don't see each other again."

Swann's heart clenched painfully.

"But we still have a few days, and when I get to Vancouver, I'll find a way to get here. And like Nora said, we'll sneak out and—"

Kat shook her head slowly. "I mean you and me."

Silence.

"Why would you say that, Kat?"

"It's better—"

"Better?! I can't believe you're saying that. After everything we've been through together. After we kissed—" Swann bit her lip.

Both girls looked down to the ground.

After the kiss, they barely had time to process these new feelings. And now that the memory resurfaced, this moment felt like it hadn't happened just a few hours ago.

"Swann..." Kat's voice now sounded desperate. "You'll start your new life soon... I don't want you to suffer unnecessarily when we're no longer with you. When I—" Kat sighed.

"Don't say things like that."

"But it's the truth!" Kat pulled away from Swann's hand and turned away.

She ran to her sister and held out her hand. Dazed, Dylan took it.

Swann watched her despairingly. 

"Sorry", Kat whispered and disappeared into the night with Dylan.

Swann had never imagined what it would feel like when the killer in a horror movie rips out the victim's heart... But now, she had a rough idea of ​​what it felt like.

𓄿

Swann didn't hear from her friends for the next few days. Luckily, her family didn't realize that Swann had been part of the chaos at the Mikaelson ranch. The fire was in the newspapers, and the prime suspect, as Kat had hoped, was Corey.

Tomorrow was the day. She would move to Vancouver and start a new life without seeing Nora, Autumn, and Kat... ever again.

How was Kat? Her illness was already at its limit last time. What if... Swann grabbed her pillow and screamed into it.

The phone rang. Swann looked up.

She rolled over the bed and pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Um... This is Dylan."

Swann gasped in surprise.

"Dylan? Everything okay? Is Kat …alright?”

Swann heard Dylan breathe in and out.

"Listen. I know Kat doesn't want to see you. But I also know she'd love nothing more. So I'm finally going to be a good big sister and ask you to come here. Kat isn't feeling well. She'll probably be rushed to the hospital soon."

"WHAT?!" Swann yelled.

"Please come. My parents aren't here right now." With that, Dylan hung up.

Swann changed her clothes faster than ever, and ran down the stairs, past her mother, who was yelling something after her, and ran as fast as she could to Mikealson Ranch.

Dylan was already waiting for her at the door.

Her eyes were red and her skin looked much paler than usual.

"Hey. She's upstairs. I'll let you know when Mom and Dad get back."

Swann nodded and placed her hand on Dylan's shoulder for a brief moment, giving it a warm squeeze. Then Swann went upstairs and carefully pushed open the door to Kat's room. The last time she was here, she and Nora tried to get Kat out of here.

And there she lay. Surrounded by pills and get-well cards. Kat had closed her eyes.

Swann slowly approached the clerk and had to restrain herself from sobbing out loud. Kat looked so fragile. Thin and powerless. Swann swallowed. She took the chair by the table and pulled it toward the bed. Carefully, she took Kat's slender hand in hers and stroked it gently.

"S...Swann?"

"Hey, Kat."

Kat's eyes were open, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"I knew you'd come."

Swann nodded. "Your sister called me."

Kat coughed. "Traitor," she muttered, but her voice didn't sound angry.

"I dreamed I was flying." 

"Sounds beautiful." 

"But then I was on the ground. In a city I didn't know…” Kat coughed again.

“K…Kat.”

"Ah…I'm sorry, you have to see me like this. I didn't mean for you to remember me like a sick bird in a birdcage. "

Swann shook her head.

"When I think of Kat Mikaelson, I think of someone who was brave enough to protect me from the bullys.

Someone adventurous and always ready to do something reckless. Someone who always has my back, no matter what. A rebellious girl who was our unspoken leader...

A girl who inspired me in many ways and who showed me that the word love doesn't just exist in my novels.", Swann looked lovingly at the girl with short hair.

Kat watched her wordlessly for a moment. Her eyes shimmered. "You're really corny sometimes," she whispered soft.

Swann smiled.

"The... kiss." Kat scratched her head. "I was hoping we felt the same way. That I wasn't just imagining it these past weeks. Although,  I almost thought so with Truth or Dare. Your references were very obvious.

Swann laughed, playing with her own fingers.

"I've never had feelings like this for another person before. Especially for another girl, who's also is my best friend."

Kat grinned slightly. Kat's unique, cheeky grin is what has captivated her so much these past few weeks.

“He he, So I'm your gay awakening?”

“Yes, you are.” Swann nodded with a small grin

“I'm awesome."

"Yes, you are."

"Em…When are we going to Vancouver? I've completely lost track of time."

"Tomorrow..."

"O..oh… You'll definitely love it there. Making new films with your camcorder, and making new friends." Kat smiled but her eyes didn't.

"I don't need new friends. I just need—" Swann couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Swann…"

"How am I supposed to forget all this, Kat? Our summer, our memories. My first love."she sniffled.

"You're strong, Swann. Remember? That's what you wished for at the Abyss. But you don't need the Abyss for that. You already are.”

Swann looked at her in pain. "I can't save you..."

Kat shook her head . "Come here." She moved slightly to the side. Swann wiped away her tears and sat down, next to her friend on the bed.

Kat climbed over her, between her legs, and placed both arms on Swann's shoulders. She looked so exhausted. Her beautiful blue eyes no longer sparkled, and dark shadows appeared under her eyes.

Their eyes met. Swann recognized in Kat's eyes the same despair and sadness that she felt herself.

"These are our last minutes together, Swann. My body is getting weaker with every hour, and all the pills from this stupid doctors can't change that."

Pain. So much pain.

Kat coughed. "It... was the most beautiful gift, that I was able to meet my soulmate in this short lifetime." She held Swann's face in her hands, and looked deep into her green eyes.

Swann screamed inside. She wanted stop Kat say such things. To tell her that everything would gonna be okay. To tell her that she should have hope.

But that was a lie. Swann knew it. She felt it. Kat is dying. She dies! And there was nothing she could do to stop it. The only thing she could do was listen to her best friend - Keep her last words in her mind, and never to forget them...never.

"When I met you, for the first time in my life, I didn't feel so alone. And I don't feel scared anymore. Not of anything." Kat smiled. Her right hand gently rested on Swann's cheek, stroking her skin slowly.

Swann stayed still. Wanted to give Kat this moment. The scene in Nora's garage came to Swann's mind. The day when Kat had done her makeup, and like now, she seemed completely relaxed. Did she have that effect on Kat?

Kat continued, seemingly completely lost in thought, and then gently touched Swann's lips.

She looked directly into Swann's eyes, which she had avoided until then.Tears shimmered in the blue eyes of the writer.

"Swann...?" Her voice was just a whisper. An echo that still captivated Swann's mind.

"Y...yes?"

Kat looked from her eyes to her mouth and back again.

"I love you - So fucking much! Fuck... I don't know why I didn't tell you much sooner. Maybe I was afraid... afraid that those three words would change everything. But it feels good to say it.”

Swann couldn't take it anymore. It was too much. It was too unfair! She placed her left hand on the back of Kat's head and her right hand on her chin, pulling the poet toward her in a desperate hug and crashes her lips on hers.

Unlike the kiss in Fawn's Curse, this one was wildly, emotional. Both girls could feel the other's grief and despair in that kiss. Kat, still sitting between Swann's legs, pressed her entire body against the red-haired girl, as if she wanted to be as close to Swann as possible.

That was when Swann realized it. Kat was really leaving her.

She's saying goodbye to me…Swann realized numbly. 

Everything in this kiss was a physical goodbye that expressed what Swann didn't want to admit.

Kat will die.

During the kiss, Swann's hand ran through Kat's soft, short hair, wishing this moment would never end.

Why had fate brought them together, only to separate them again?

Kat broke the kiss and coughed. Swann, worried, tried to pull away, but Kat stopped her. "No, please don't stop. Let me feel you," the poet whispered softly.

Swann put her hand on Kat's face.

She's so beautiful...

The red-haired nodded and pulled her sick friend back to her lips. The Poet clung to her, kissing Swann's lips, cheek, nose, and neck.

Swann moaned softly with desire, with desperation.

When Kat returned to her lips, she kissed Swann one last time before a knock tore the two girls apart.

Kat pulled back, panting heavily. Tears streamed down her face, and a sharp cough broke her eye contact with Swann.

"Kat!" Swann cried fearfully, getting up so she could lie down.

Dylan came in and rushed to her little sister.

"Kat!"

“You're not supposed to move around!”

Kat laughed, but her expression was stiff.

"We both know it won't make a difference anymore,sis…And, I don't think you can blame me for wanting to use my last bit of life force to say goodbye to my beloved."

Swann's stomach clenched.

Dylan opened her mouth to protest, but she knew Kat was right and looked sadly away.

"Swann?" 

"Yes?" 

"Would you-" Kat coughed. "...sing for me? Our song." 

Swann nodded. “Of course, Kat. Even I can't sing like Nora."

"Nah...I love ...your voice..."

Swann took a deep breath, trying not to cry instead of singing.

♫Should’ve put up the red flag

That you were gonna be a drag

Think you’re funny boy, I can tell

We’ll see who’s laughing when I see you in hell

I see you in hell♫

Kat hummed along quietly. Her eyes closed. A peaceful smile appeared on her lips. 

The pain was unbearable, but Swann pushed herself to keep singing.

♫See you in Hell

You'll fit in well

I'll be your queen

And you'll be under my spell

In Hell

Time to repent

For the fear, and the harassment

And the harm that you did.♫

…

Kat opened her eyes. “Thank you.”

Swann smiled at her with tears.

"Mom and Dad will be here soon." Dylan turned to Swann. "You'd better... go now.”

Kat coughed.

With red eyes, and a small smile, she looked at her big sister and nodded.

Than she. turned back to Swann. "Don't forget me.”

Swann shook her head.

"Never!", she cried. One last time, she approached Kat, took her hand, and kissed her palm and than her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dylan crying too. 

"I love you, Kathryn Mikealson. You mean everything to me."

"And...I love you, S…swann...My beautiful Iconoclast." 

Swann backed slowly toward the door, having to let go of Kat's slender hand. In that moment, all the memories of the summer flooded through Swann. How she had met Kat, how she had watched Swann when she wasn't looking, how they shared a wonderful moment together in the attic at Fawn's Rest, the concert, the kiss...

As Swann turned crying away, from her soulmate, her heart feld like, it turned to stone..Her legs start running.

And than she thought she heard Kat's weak voice one last time.

 "Don't...go.”

𓄿

Days later

Swann was unpacking the last boxes in her new room when she felt a deep ache in her heart.

She fell to her knees, panting, her breathing heavy, sweat running down her forehead.

“Kat?... No...” Swann crawled to the phone and plugged it in. With trembling hands, she dialed the number she had called so many times in the last few weeks.

But no one answered.

She tried Nora's number. After a few seconds, her father answered and told Swann that Nora was with her mother in LA.

Swann tried Autumn's number.

“Lockhart?” the skateboarder answered, to Swann's relief.

"Autumn!? It's Swann."

"Swann? OMG! We haven't seen or heard from each other since….you known."

“Yeah… I'm in Vancouver now, Autumn. Have you heard from Kat?"

There was a brief silence.

Autumn?”

"I...Nora and I, last saw Kat two days ago. She was in the hospital. She was so weak..." Autumn started to cry. "We said goodbye to her and...Nora was unresponsive after that. I don't know if you knew it, but Nora, she liked Kat. Very much...But she also knew that you and Kat..."

“I thought so...”

Swann swallowed. "I think, she...Kat...she...I don't feel her anymore. Kat and I...she...fuck!"

Autumn took a deep breath. "I knew the day would come...But somehow I also thought it would never happen. Kat... It seemed like nothing could stop her..."

"Fuck…! It hurts so much. I miss her!” 

Her pain couldn't capture in words, trickled as tears down her cheeks.

"I know," Autumn sobbed.

"I... I have to..." Autumn seemed to be searching for words.

"I know, Autumn.”

“I'm sorry.” Autumn hung up. Swann couldn't blame her. She didn't know what to do with this pain either.

Dazed, she went to the window and sat down next to Shadow, who was sleeping peacefully.

It's raining...

Just like in her old room, a large old tree stood in the garden in front of her window, where a raven was preening its wet feathers. When the bird noticed Swann, it looked at her for a long time. Then it croaked loudly and flew away.

Swann smiled. Tears fell like the rain from her eyelashes.

“Be free…”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

The new member

7 Years Later

July 1, 2002

“Swann?

“Sorry, what was that?”

“Haah... Swann. You're not listening to me at all”, her mother complained.

“No, Mom. I'm just driving right now and, I need to concentrate on the traffic.” Swann sighed, trying to keep her cell phone between her ear and shoulder as best she could.

“Do you really want to go back to Velvet Cove? I know you can stay at my sister's house while she's traveling, but...I mean...that thing with your - friend.. is still bothering you. It might not be wise to remember this—”

“I have to go to Mom. I'm going to visit her. I just have to. Besides, it's a job, in a way.”

“Hah...The music thing again?” Her mother didn't sound thrilled.

“Mom...”

“All right, all right.” Take care, honey. Get in touch as soon as you have time. Love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

Swann hung up with a sigh. She still had a good three-hour drive to go until she arrived in Velvet Cove. It's been already 7 years…

*

Swann swallowed. 

Velvet Cove Cemetery... She'd never been here before. She walked slowly forward, looking at all the names of the deceased. It wasn't long before she stopped at a manicured, white gravestone surrounded by fresh flowers.

-Kat Mikaelson 1979-1995-

Swann's heart broke. She'd spent the last seven years trying to come to terms with Kat's death. She'd finished high school and focused entirely on filmmaking. But deep down, her heart had remained in Velvet Cove the whole time. She missed Bloom and Rage and all their adventures.

In Canada, she had acquaintances, but they weren't friends. No one had tried to understand her the way Nora, Autumn, and Kat did.

Swann squatted down. Slowly stroked the cold stone.

“ ‘Sup, homeskiller?...Sorry not visiting you sooner. You can probably imagine that no one gave me permission to go to Velvet Cove alone to visit you and the others."

Swann smiled sadly. "I miss you... so fucking much. I dream about you. And when I wake up, my heart aches because you're not beside me. Sometimes I wonder if we couldn't have made better use of the time we had together.If I had confessed my love to you sooner. We could have gone on dates... I would have loved to invite you. Although, knowing you, you would have insisted on taking me out."

Swann wiped away a tear.

"Nora is coming from LA tomorrow and will be staying with Autumn for the next few weeks. We have a big Bloom and Rage project planned. I'm sure you would have loved it. 

I hope you do. Wherever you are, firecracker."

I'm looking forward to seeing our friends again. But, Bloom and Rage without our writer - It won't be the same."

Swann pulled an EMP3 player out of her bag. "I know you loved your CD player... Now there are these things. You can load music onto them without a CD. Crazy, right?" Swann laughed softly.

"You would have loved these things."

She carefully placed the blue EMP3 player next to the grave.

"I have to go now. I…I love you. Always."

*

"Autumn!" Swann happily hugged her old friend.

"Hey, Swann!" said Autumn and hugged the redhaired women back.

Autumn had hardly changed. Except that her hair was shorter and she wore light purple makeup.

The two young women had a lot to talk about.

Nora arrived the next day, and unlike Autumn, Nora had changed a lot more. She had shoulder-length black hair with blue highlights. Her skin was flawless, and her eyes were discreetly made up in black.

The old friends met in Nora's old garage, which her dad had left untouched except for a few minor details.

"So, you visit her?" Nora asked, lighting a cigarette.

Swann nodded slowly. "Yes, I did."

"I haven't had the heart to do it until now... Even when still I lived here..." the singer confessed. "I hope you told her what we're up to.”

“A little. She would have been very happy that we all together again. But Nor, you really found someone who's going to write our songs?” Swann changed the subject. Talking about Kat hurt as much as it did 7 years ago.

Nora grinned now. “Yep, I've never met her in person, but I read her songs on a music forum and loved them.”

“Wait a minute…” Autumn joined the conversation, picked up her old guitar.

“You've never met this writer in person?”

“Hmm, nope,” Nora replied, shrugging.

“Saw a picture or talked on the phone?” Autumn asked skeptically.

“Boring. It's exciting to meet our new writer blind,” Nora said.

Autumn rolled her eyes. “Maybe your writer is some weird guy just messing with you, Nor!” the former skateboarder grumbled.

“I can tell when a women is texting me, and flirting, by the way.”

“Omg! You gave in because she or he flirted with you?!”

“Shh. I'm single... I'm young.” Nora grinned.

“What about you, Autumn? Are you in a relationship right now?

Autumn sighed.

“Well, I was with this guy for a few months. Kai…” Autumn rolled her eyes.

“Was the sex bad? Oh, or did he cheat?” Nora asked, a bit more seriously.

Autumn nodded. “Actually, both,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I'm just not lucky in love.”

“He didn't deserve you then.” Nora approached Autumn, and patted her best friend on the shoulder. “Cheer up. Someday, he or she came and give you that love you deserve.” Nora winked at her. Autumn just laughed.

“What about you, Swann?” Nora asked. 

Swann swallowed. "No... Since... It feeld still wrong to…"

Nora and Autumn looked at each other silently. Then they moved on to everyday topics.

Swann watched her old friends, who of disagreed with each other while talking about they lifes, as they often did in the past, but still felt so close. As if no time had passed. Swann knew that Nora and Autumn had barely had any contact since Kat's death. Each of them had needed years to process what had happened at the Abyss.

But their friendship was strong.

Smiling, Swann pulled out her new digital camera and pressed the start button. Nora's garage had changed, but it was still interesting to film something it. When Swann came across an old, dusty video games, long-forgotten memories flooded back to her.

•°•°

Flashback

-Saturday, September 15, 1995-

Today was an exciting day: Game Night at Autumn's place!

After packing everything for the night, Swann made her way to Autumn's house. Since she and Kat didn't know the way, they met up with Nora at the old playground and walked together from there to Autumn's.

Autumn's room was awesome. Her room was full of posters of video games and bands.

"Autumn! I love your room," Swann said, fascinated.

"Aw, thanks!" said the skateboarder, flopping down on the floor littered with pillows next to the girls.

"Dude, awesome is an understatement. Can I move in here?" grinned Kat, who was nibbling on a chocolate bar.

Autumn laughed. "You guys are exaggerating."

"So, what do we play first?" Nora asked excitedly.

Swann had an idea. "Oh! Before we get to the video games, we can play hide-and-seek! I loved hide-and-seek as a kid."

Nora raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're up for that?"

Swann nodded eagerly.

‘'My parents aren't coming home for a few hours - so we'd have the whole house to hide,' said Autumn.

Nora didn't look very motivated for it.

"Well, I'm for video games now."

"So it's up to Kat what we do first," said the Autumn, looking at the blonde girl.

Kat looked around and then settled on Swann's eyes. With wide, round eyes, Swann looked slightly downward. 

"Um... I'm for hide-and-seek," she said.

"Really, dude?" said Nora.

Kat nodded,which brought a smile to Swann's face. Even though she had only known Kat for a few days, she had often noticed that she couldn't refuse Swann a request. Swann found that kind of sweet.

"Then it's decided," said Autumn, clapping her hands once.

"Now it's just a matter of who will be the seeker."

Autumn took four uneven pencils from her desk and held them out to the girls. "Tall is the seeker."

The girls nodded and each drew a pencil.

Swann looked at her short pencil. So, the seeker.

Kat tilted her head. Apparently, she didn't like the result.

"Well, guys, I guess I'm the big bad wolf and you're the helpless little sheep," grinned Nora, triumphantly holding up the long pen.

"Who do you call sheep?" said Kat, angrily but laughingly punching the singer on the shoulder.

"You, shorty," laughed Nora, tapping Kat gently on the nose. Swann had often noticed that Nora suddenly showed a soft side in Kat's presence.

Kat wrinkled her nose. "Then start counting."

Nora obediently turned around and put her head in her hands. "1...2-"

Autumn, Kat, and Swann took off running. Autumn's house had many hidden possibilities. Swann spotted a small broom closet, well hidden under the door, and cautiously entered. Luckily, it was just big enough for her to hide.

From a distance, she could hear Nora's voice.

"40, 41, 42-"

"Damn!" It came from outside. Then the broom closet opened, and two surprise blue eyes looked at the red-haired girl.

"Fuck..." she hissed.

"49...50! I hope you're hidden, my little sheep," cried Nora.

Kat looked around in panic, and at the same time Swann grabbed the writer by the arm and pulled her into the tiny room.

For a moment, it was quiet. The two girls listened for any noise outside. But right now, it was quiet.

Swann breathed a sigh of relief.

Only now did she realize how tightly she had pressed herself against the blonde. Both arms were around Kat waist, her head only a few centimeters from Swann's apart. But, Swann couldn't really tell, as she could only see outlines of the poet's face in the darkness. But a slight breeze close to her ear confirmed this suspicion.

Swann's heart suddenly began to beat loudly. She had never been this close to Kat before. Was Kat uncomfortable? When Swann moved, a low hum came from the blonde. "Don't... move... breathe..." she murmured.

"Don't breathe?" Swann whispered, raising an eyebrow. At that moment, she realized that with every breath, their upper bodies pressed a little more against each other, making Swann blush. Swann took Kat's unique scent. A mixture of fresh wood and lavender.

"Where are you?!" Nora called from outside. She was very close now.

Kat moved a little closer to Swann, so that one might think they were deliberately hugging. And that's exactly what they were doing, Swann noticed. Kat snuggled up to her like a cat. It was a loving, warm embrace that made Swann forget for a moment where they actually were.

Kat was only slightly taller than Swann, which meant they fit perfectly in each other's arms.

Like two puzzle pieces. Swann thought and smiled.

Then the moment was over, and a bright light made the two girls gather together.

"Aha! I've got you!" Nora exclaimed.

"Geez-o!"

"Fuuuuck"

"Oh oh oh, is there some kissing going on in here?" Nora asked amused.

Kat immediately let go of Swann, and stuck her tongue out at the singer.

Swann immediately missed the other girl's warmth.

"Dork!" Kat muttered. Swann noticed that her ears were slightly red.

"I already found Autumn. You just can't escape Super-Nora," she grinned, turning around, and disappearing into Autumn's room.

Kat looked at Swann and rolled her eyes. "She's really annoying sometimes," she grinned.

Swann grin too.

"Thank you - You saved me. Even if not for long," Kat said.

"No problem. I'm glad if I can save you too from time to time, you know. Even if it's just during a game of hide-and-seek", Swann laughed.

Kat watched her smiling, and briefly took Swann's hand in hers, squeezing it.

"You already do. Every day I get to be with you. You are my freedom," she whispered. "You are what I can't be. My-"

Swann remained silent. Hundreds of questions raced through her mind, but none left her lips.

"Hey, slowpokes!" Nora called impatiently. “Hurry up! We're finally going to play the new video game!”

“We're coming!” Kat shouted, pulling Swann with her and walking with her to the other two girls.

•°•°

“You are my freedom…”

Game Night at Autumn's place... How could Swann have forgotten that day?

At the time, she didn't know exactly what Kat had meant by those words... But now... “Oh... Kat.”

Swann quickly wiped away a tear so Nora and Autumn wouldn't notice her emotional chaos. She cleared her throat.

“Welcome to the first band recording of Bloom and Rage - 2003.”

Swann held her hand in front of the camera.

“I, Swann Holloway, will take you on a journey full of adventure and music.” She zoomed in on Nora and Autumn, who were now looking at Swann amusedly and making funny faces.

A knock interrupted the friends' banter, and all six eyes looked attentively at the closed garage door.

Autumn and Swann looked at Nora. The singer grinned and cast a knowing glance at her friends.

"Yes?"

"Um... Nora? It's me... your new writer?" came a muffled female voice from outside.

"See? Not a creepy guy," Nora said proudly.

"Come in! The door's open."

Nervously, Bloom and Rage watched the garage door slowly slide upward.

Black Chucks appeared, followed by blue jeans and a white shirt with a short black jacket over it. And a thin tie around her neck. And—

Swann's heart almost stopped. Time seemed to stand still. All she could see were those big, familiar blue eyes.

Was she dreaming? Uncertainly, she looked at Nora and Autumn, who looked just as shocked as Swann herself.

"Hey, guys. Bloom and Rage, right? My name is Katarina Taylor. Nice to meet you.”

To be continued 

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

(Kat)arina

Swann's head went blank the moment she looked at her.

Is it possible that ghosts exist?

Is it possible that they live among us without us knowing they've already died?

Swann must have fallen on her head, otherwise she wouldn't know how to explain this bizarr situation.

Kat just stood there, alive as if nothing had ever happened. Her hair was no longer short, but tied back in a short braid, and her sides were shaved short.

"K...at?" said Swann, taking a step toward the poet. "Kat!"

"Huh—whoa!"

Swann hugged her, released from the depths of despair.

"Um... My name is Katarina," said the blonde. Her voice sounded confused.

Swann's body stiffened and let go of the young woman.

Kat looked at her, bewildered, regarding Swann as if she were a stranger.

Swann's heart sank. Something was wrong.

Nora also approached the new member. Pure confusion was also visible in her eyes.

"You're... Katarina Taylor?"

"I am. Are you still waiting for someone else?" she asked skeptically.

Nora looked at Swann, who no longer knew what was happening.

Autumn sat down in the background with a quiet "Fuck."

Nora shook her head. "No... No... It's nice to meet you. I'm Nora Malakian. We've been texting."

Kat—or Katarina—was smiling now.

It's nice to finally see a face to the name. To be honest, I was a little nervous. But you guys look like an interesting group.” She looked around, her eyes lingering on Swann's for a second longer. Then she turned back to Nora.

"Oh... um... You already know my name. The redhead next to me is, Swann, and the curly-haired one here is Autumn," Nora said.

Autumn walked over to Katarina, looked to the blonde up and down, and then hugged her. "Nice to... meet you," she said, her voice shaky.

"Nice to meet you, too," Katarina said, returning the hug lightly.

"I'll just quickly get my things from my car, then I'll be ready for whatever you've planned," she said, turning around with a smile and walked away.

The three friends looked at each other.

"What the hell is going on?" said Autumn, holding her head.

"Fuck... She looks exactly like her!" muttered Nora.

"Looks like? It's Kat!" said Autumn.

"Like how, Autumn? Kat died of leukemia seven years ago..."

“And this person... She calls herself Katarina Taylor? Really?" Autumn shook her head in despair.

"Maybe she's some kind of doppelganger. There are such things. People who look so much like us, like they could be our twins."

"And her voice, Nor?" Did you hear it? It doesn't just sound like Kat... It's-"

"Stop!"

Nora and Autumn looked at Swann, who had remained silent the whole time, until now.

She took a deep breath. "Something is wrong... I don't feel Kat. Whoever this person is... She's not Kat."

Nora nibbled on her lower lip.

"What about Dylan?" Since Kat's father died a few years ago, and her mother no longer lives here, she's our only hope of getting some information."

Autumn sighed. "I'll talk to her. This conversation requires sensitivity, which you don't have, Nor.”

"Hey!"

"Are you okay with this, Swann?"

Swann nodded.

"Here I am again." Katarina stood smiling at the garage door, holding a blue backpack.

Nora cleared her throat. "Well, Katarina. You're from Seattle, right?"

The young woman nodded. "Yes, this is the first time I've driven somewhere new. To be honest, I was really nervous about coming here. But I thought your description of your band might fit me, and well, you were really nice too," smiled the new writer.

Nora visibly blushed a little.

"Tell me about yourselves." Katarina sat down on the couch, smiling, and looked around happily.

Autumn began to tell their story. She left out the part about the Abyss and the fact that her fourth band member had died.

Katarina listened attentively. A gentle smile played on her lips. Nora and Autumn seemed to have quickly taken a liking to the writer.

Swann just sat there.

Everything about this person irritated her.

She really looked so much like Kat, and her personality was similar, but she lacked the furious fire that Kat possessed.

"We thought we'd visit places like in 95 and gather ideas for our music video. And film it, of course," said Nora. "I hope you'll get some ideas for our new song along the way."

Katarina nodded and looked at Swann. "Oh yeah. Nora said you're an excellent camerawoman, Swann."

Swann swallowed. "N...Nora's exaggerating."

"Not true! She's great," Nora said emphatically.

"Well... I'm certainly curious to see the result," Kat whispered gently, her eyes fixed on Swann.

Swann looked briefly into the familiar blue eyes. Then she quickly turned away and saw Autumn smiling encouragingly at her.

*

The next day, Autumn called Swann and told her she had spoken to Dylan. There was no doubt that Kat had died. Dylan was there when it happened and at her funeral. Autumn hadn't mentioned that they had met someone who looked uncannily like her deceased sister, without having any further information.

Deep down, Swann had hoped it really was Kat, and that she beat the illness... But that wasn't the case. Kat is dead. But then who was Katarina?

*

The band spent the next three days in Nora's old garage, planet, their first filming location. Katarina quickly gained trust in the group and, motivated, kept writing down ideas in her notebook.

It was like a déjà vu. Katarina sat on the sofa and cheered on Nora and Autumn, playing a few old songs for her. The only difference was that this time, Swann wasn't filming them, but was just watching silently. Every now and then, Katarina gave her a questioning look and smiled shyly. But Swann quickly looked away each time she did that.

Swann also noticed that Katarina and Nora had become much more intimate in the last few days. They exchanged ambiguous glances and joked about things Swann had no experience at all.

The two women giggled together.

Get a room

Nora asked Katarina to play the guitar herself, but Katarina just shook her head and explained to the singer that she had no talent for instruments.

But Nora didn't let up, pulling the singer to her feet and pressing the guitar into her hand.

Then she stood behind the blonde and guided Katarina's hands with her own.

They were lost in their own little world.

Swann sighed, feeling somehow out of place.

Autumn came to her and rolled her eyes. "Two of them found each other."

Swann smiled slightly. "Seems so."

"Everything okay?”

“Everything's fine.”

“Swann…”

“Hm?”

“I see the way you look at them both.”

Swann looked questioningly at Autumn. “How am I looking at them?”

Autumn sighed. “I mean, Kat—Katarina, she's so much like our Kat… It's still a little creepy. And believe me… I've spent the last few nights trying to figure this whole thing out.”

“Any results?”

“Not a bit. I'm starting to think Nora's doppelganger theory is correct,” grinned Autumn. Then the dark-haired woman became serious again.

“I'm just saying… If your feelings—”

“Autumn…” Swann interrupted her friend. “I'm really touched that you care about me, but I'm fine. Katarina isn't Kat… And that's why I have no right to stand in Nora and Katarina's way… whatever they're have going on.

Autumn nodded, but Swann could see that she wasn't convinced by Swann's words.

Katarina wasn't her soulmate. She might look similar to Kat,but that didn't make Katarina her Kat. 

The memory of summer of '95 will always be their tressure, and so it was perfectly fine for her, if Nora and Katarina got along very well.

Or so Swann told herself. Her heart clearly wasn't on the same page as her head.

*

July 12, 2002

Swann and the others were planning to meet in the Velvet Cove woods at noon. Swann remembered the day Bloom and Rage had first come out here to film their music video.

Swann had come here earlier to have a little bit time for herself.

She took out her camera and started filming. Filming nature is still one of her favorite things. Nothing was more relaxing than capturing nature's tranquility.

She sat down by the water and thought about how often she had secretly tried to film Kat. She just couldn’t stop filming her…She was sure that Kat was exactly

knew Swann was filming her. A mischievous grin appeared on the Poet lips every time Swann looked at the footage.

"Oh,hey! I thought I was the only one early."

"Ahhh!" Swann cried in surprise, when she heard the familiar voice next to her.

"Wohaa!" Katarina cried, also startled.

"Geez-o!"

"Fuck... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

"But you did..."

"Sorry..." Katarina repeated. She hung her head down and played with her fingers.

Just like she did...

Swann sighed. "I'm not early, but I like being alone sometimes and enjoying the peace and quiet."

"Oh... um... Maybe I should-"

"It's all right... Sit down, Kat."

Katarina looked at Swann uncertainly for a moment, but then sat down next to her.

"You and the others often call me, Kat."

Swann glanced over at Katarina.

"Does no one else call you that?"

Katarina looked at the water.

"No... No one."

"Sorry. If you don't like it, then—"

"No, no... Call me, Kat. I kinda like that name." She looked at Swann and smiled.

Swann swallowed. "Yeah, I like it too."

"Do you like cats?"

Swann smiled. "Not like, love them. I have a Fluffbutt at home.”

“Shadow, right?"

Swann looked at her in surprise. "Did Autumn and Nora tell you about him?"

Katarina looked at her strangely for a moment. Then she shook her head. "No... I don't think so. I guessed."

Swann raised an eyebrow. There were millions of possible names...

"Let me guess. He's black?"

"Yeah..."

"Cool."

They stared at the water in silence for a while. Swann used the moment to discreetly observe Katarina from the side.

How could she look so much like Kat? The delicate nose, the big blue eyes, the fine blonde hair that, Swann knew, felt silky soft.

Without thinking, Swann reached out and touched the short hair on the blonde's side.

So soft...

Katarina stayed still. At least for a few seconds, until the writer cleared her throat in embarrassment, and Swann, startled, withdrew her hand and moved a good bit away from her.

She felt herself blushing.

What was she doing?!

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I mean..." she stammered in panic.

"Oh... No, it's okay. You really don't need to apologize for that," Kat said quickly, smiling.

"It just surprised me, that's all."

Swann breathed a sigh of relief.

"Was it at least worth it?"

"What?”

Katarina pointed at her hair with her fingers, a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Oh, yes... It's very soft. I like your hair. Looks really good."

Katarina's eyes reflected joy.

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes... I just said that."

Katarina scratched her head. "Yes, it's only coming from you that surprises me."

Swann raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

"Well... I thought you didn't like me very much," she whispered.

"Who said that? Was it Nora?"

"No, no!" Kat said quickly.

"It was just a feeling... You're avoiding eye contact with me."

Swann bit her lower lip. So she'd noticed...

"No, is not..that..."

Katarina looked at her intently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Swann laughed inwardly.Katarina would think she was crazy if she told her she looked like a copy of her beloved dead girlfriend.

When Swann didn't respond, she felt a feather-light touch on her hand.

Swann stiffened. The strange feeling she'd felt the whole time she was around Katarina intensified. She wanted to run away from this feeling as far as possible, but at the same time, she wanted to surrender to it.

Kat's eyes held Swann captive for a moment.

Swann looked from her eyes to her mouth.

When Katarina leaned forward slightly, a wave of panic shot through Swann's body.

"Don't!" she cried, pushing the blonde away, causing Katarina to land on her back.

"Dude..." Kat whispered, getting up and brushing the grass off her clothes.

"Shit... Sorry!" Swann said, looking worriedly at her

Katarina sighed. "So it's not me?" she said, shaking her head.

"No... really-"

"It's okay, Swann. Let's go to meet Nora and Autumn..They should should be here soon."

Kaf smiled encouragingly at her, but Swann also recognized the bitterness in her expression, and Swann felt like she'd just made a huge mistake.

*

The filming of the new music video went well. In contrast to 7 years before, everyone behaved much more professionally, and Swann was more than satisfied with the results. Kat had meanwhile started writing her first song for Bloom and Rage, and kept explaining to them which scenes would be perfect for reenacting.

"Deep in the Water...so that's the name of the song?" Nora asked, lighting a cigarette as the four members took a break.

Katarina was leaning against a tree and nodded thoughtfully.

Swann hadn't missed the fact that Katarina had been avoiding getting too close to Swann since the little incident by the water.

Was this what Swann wanted?

She didn't know. Part of her felt she wanted to get to know this mysterious young woman better, the other part thought she would betray her Kat if she did so...

"What do you mean, Swann?"

"Hmm?"

"Dude, are you dreaming again?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Guilty…What was that?"

"Deep in the Water definitely needs a water location," Nora said.

Autumn sighed next to her. "We thought we were going to where Fawn's Curse was."

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

For a brief moment, a somber mood hung in the air.

Katarina hadn't missed it. "Is there something wrong with this place - other than the obvious fact that it's called Fawn's Curse?" said the blonde.

"Just a memory..." whispered Swann. "Let's go. The place was always beautiful. I think it would be the perfect location."

*

The next morning, all four women were at the meeting point on time and went to Fawn's Curse as planned.

Swann hadn't thought about Corey and the Abyss in a long time, but seeing Fawn's Curse destroyed now brought back some memories.

"Wooah!" said Katarina, walking around the destroyed Cabin.

"What happened here?"

Autumn, Nora, and Swann glanced at each other briefly.

"An asshole named, Corey burned down our beautiful Fawn's Curse back then. That guy was crazy," Nora hissed. "He really bullied us back then."

"Bastard.I hope he burns in hell," Katarina grumbled.

Swann couldn't help but smile. "Oh, he certainly does," she whispered.

Katarina picked up a few pieces of wood, but they immediately turned to dust.

"Okay...urge...I don't think we can salvage much here," she coughed.

Nora came up to her with a grin, picked up a dusty piece of wood, and deliberately blew it in Kat's direction.

"Heeey!" Kat shouted, laughing as she tried to escape Nora. The singer ran after her, laughing.

"Well... I guess they both need to let off some steam before we can begin," said Autumn, who had also looked at the destroyed house.

"I'll go to the lake," she looked at Swann. "What about you?”

“I’ll be right there.”

Autumn nodded and left Swann alone for the moment.

-Vote Blue Swann - I knew you would agree-

Swann had always tried to impress Kat. Even if it was just with the color of the Bloom and Rage banners. Swann simply loved it when Kat was happy.

Swann stretched her body, and looked around. She walked a little further and discovered the toilet house, where she had played Bloody marry. So it was still there.

Swann opened the door and almost had a heart attack when she saw two people jump apart in shock.

Kat and Nora.

"Whoa, um," the two looked at Swann with wide eyes.

"Sorry..." Swann mumbled and walked, or rather, ran, away.

She knew that Nora and Katarina had gotten closer...

She knew it…

So, why did her heart hurt so much?

to be continued 

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Swimming & Desire

Swann sat by the lake, lost in thought. This place hadn't changed a bit.

She heard Autumn and Nora talking about something in the background.

“Oh, crap!”

“What?” Autumn asked.

“Fuck, me… I forgot my bikini.”

“Nor…”

“I'll get it quickly… Unless you want to go skinny-dipping with your Nor?” she waggled her eyebrows.

“Uh oh!” Katarina cheered.

“Out of the question… You'll go get your bikini and put it on like everyone else,” Autumn scolded her.

“We're not filming a porno here.”

“Boo! You not fun.”

“I'm coming with you so you don't lose your head on the way.”

With that, the two disappeared, leaving Swann and Katarina alone.

"Hmm... Are you okay, Swann?"

Swann turned to Katarina.

"I mean, about… Me anr Nora."

"You like her. And she likes you. Why should I care?"

It bothered her.

Kat shrugged.

"Yeah, Nora's funny. And she's really sweet—”

"But?”

“N…nothing but…”

“Kay”

“Um… We’re not together.”

“But you’d like to be?”

“I…don’t know,” Katarina whispered.

Aha… So she doesn’t know.

Maybe Swann should go home for today before she said something she’d later regret.

However, the lake was so beautiful at that hour.

When the blonde didn’t seem to say anything else, Swann turned back to the water. After a while, she noticed that Kat was still staring at her.

“Do I have something on my face?” Swann asked.

The blonde shook her head and then walked toward the water and started undressing.

She quickly got rid of her clothes and was now standing in her dark blue bikini with her back to Swann.

Swann took a deep breath. Her heart began to beat loudly.

Kat's pale skin shimmered in the water.

Damn... She's so beautiful.

As if Kat had read her mind, she turned around and smiled at Swann.

"Come on, weirdo! Don't leave me standing here alone in the water. Or do you just want to stare at my ass?"

"I didn't—"

Swann cleared his throat. "We should wait for the others and—"

"No way! It might be a good hour before they both return. I don't want to wait that long. And neither do you. It's way too hot. Come on! The water is refreshingly cold." Kat splashed a little water in Swann's direction, causing the redhead to stand up with a squeal.

"All right, all right… I'm coming… Geez-o…Turn around.”

Katarina raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I haven't put it on yet”

“Oh…okay,” Kat nodded, and obediently turned around. Swann thought she saw the blonde blush a little. But maybe that was just her imagination.

Swann quickly put on her black bikini and kept glancing briefly in Katarina's direction, but the blonde still didn't look in her direction. It looked as if she was looking at her own reflection on the surface of the water.

Swann, on the other hand, hung on her neck for a second too long.

Swann swallowed. She couldn't lose her composure now.

She looked down at herself uncertainly. She hadn't really changed anything about her figure since she was a teenager. But sje was happy the way she was now. Still, for some reason, she didn't want Katarina to find her repulsive.

-You don't need to be skinny. You're just fine as you are-

Kat...

“It goes pretty deep,” Katarina said as Swann slid into the lake next to her.

Swann also looked at her reflection.

"Do you sometimes think like reality is shaking?" Katarina whispered, her gaze fixed on the water.

"What do you mean?"

...

"Kat?"

Katarina blinked, and her blue eyes wandered to Swann's reflection.

A smile appeared on her lips.

"Hey."

"Hi..." Swann replied, smiling slightly.

Katrina turned to her. Swann looked into her beautiful eyes, and an impulse to grab her hand and hold it tightly shot through her head.

But Katarina had something else on her mind.

"Let's go swimming."

*

Katarina was like an otter in the water. She swam and dived as if she'd never done anything else.

Swann, on the other hand, felt her way forward slowly. She still hadn't reached the deep end.

"Come on! Move your butt!" the blonde called, swimming toward her.

Swann began to swim cautiously and immediately felt her warm body slowly relax in gratitude.

Katarina swam beside her, smiling, until they both reached the opposite island.

But it wasn't time to leave the water yet, as a suspicious grin appeared on the blonde's lips. Before Swann could react, Katarina grabbed Swann's hands and pulled her into the deep, cold water without a warning.

"Kaaaat!" Swann shrieked. Laughing, the blonde splashed her face.

The redhead didn't take this lightly and gave Kat a hard shove. She lost her footing and fell backward into the water.

A spiteful laugh escaped Swann's throat. "Haah!"

Unfortunately, the victory was short-lived, as Katarina swam quickly behind her and clung to her so tightly that she pulled Swann along with her.

Swann managed to hold her nose at the last second before the cold and darkness surrounded her.

-And...I love you, S...swann...My beautiful Iconoclast-

Swann pushed herself back up to the surface. As she surfaced, she snorted loudly. Luckily, she could feel solid ground beneath her feet, even though the water was still up to her chest.

"Katarina?" Confused, Swann looked around. Katarina was nowhere to be seen.

"Very funny... I'll go back to the shore," Swann said with a smile, but fear was spreading in her chest.

"Kat?”

Had something happened to her?

“KATARINA?!”

“Boo!”

“Ahhhh!”

Katarina suddenly appeared behind her and wrapped her arms tightly around Swann's body.

“You dork!” Swann murmured, trying unsuccessfully to free herself from Katarina's grip.

“Are you giving up?” she laughed, close to Swann's ear.

“Since when is this a competition?”

“Since you pushed me into the water. For the record, I hold a lot of grudges,” came the amused voice from the blonde.

Swann could feel herself blushing as she felt Katarina's chest against her back.

“I…noticed,” she cleared her throat.

“Since you're my prisoner now, answer me one question honestly.”

Swann sighed. "Do I have a choice?"

A harsher laugh came from the blonde.

"No."

"Then go ahead."

"Why do you always look so sad when you look at me?"

Swann placed a hand on Katarina's arm, which was wrapped tightly around her body.

Katarina noticed her hesitation.

"Please."

Swann took a deep breath. "Seven years ago, just before I moved to Canada, Bloom and Rage's fourth member died of leukemia... She was my first love.Her name was Kat… I miss her everyday."

Swann could feel Katarina's grip loosen slightly. For a moment, no one said anything.

"I see...That explains a lot. Nora told me you had a fourth member... But she didn't want to talk about her," Katarina whispered. “I'm sorry about your... your loss. It must not have been easy for you and the others." Katarina's voice was so gentle that Swann was on the verge of tears.

"What about you?"

"Aren't I the one asking questions?" came the amused reply.

"Fine... Then I'll just get no reward for my honesty and die sad."

Katarina's mouth twitched. "Oh oh oh! You play dirty, Swann Holloway. Do you think a beautiful woman's request can melt my heart?"

Beautiful woman

Swann's heart leaped and pounded exaggeratedly loudly against her chest.

Katarina relented. "Haah…Very well. What do you want to know?"

"What are you afraid of?"

“Hmmm, of many things.”

“Of what?”

“Snakes are pretty creepy.”

“Kat…”

“I’m most afraid of myself.” Her voice trailed off.

“What do you mean?”

Swann felt her laugh. “That I’ll turn into a vampire and have to sleep in a coffin.”

“Very funny,” Swann murmured, laughing. But she hadn’t missed the fact that Katharina’s words before sounded deadly serious.

“Hah… I think fair is fair. You are free.”

Swann felt Katarina slowly withdraw her arms, and a strange emptiness spread through Swann, now that she no longer felt the warmth of the other woman against her back.

It was silent.

"Kat?"

"I'm here."

Swann felt a feather-light touch on her neck.

She slowly turned around and looked into the shimmering, crystal-clear eyes of the blonde beauty.

Katarina's eyes blinked and lightly moved over Swann's body from bottom to top until they landed back on Swann's eyes.

In slow motion, she raised her hand and let her fingertips wander over Swann's cheek.

Swann remained still. It was only a harmless touch, nothing unusual between friends. Nevertheless, Swann's entire body tingled. It was an incredibly overwhelming feeling, and precisely for that reason, frightening.

Katrina's eyes searched Swann's again. Uncertainty was evident in the blue eyes. It was obviously really important to her that Swann really wanted this.

And she wanted this, whatever it might become. Swann no longer had the strength to lie to herself, saying she felt nothing for this mysterious person.

Swann gently pressed herself against Katarina's palm, letting her know that everything was fine.

Katarina smiled, her fingertips gently caressing Swann's forhead.

Her mouth was slightly open, and water slowly dripped from her hair.

Swann gazed at her lips, hypnotized.

Katarina inhaled audibly. A brief eternity passed, then she leaned toward Swann and her lips brushed her cheek.

Time stood still. Swann turned her face slightly, so that Katarina's lips automatically touched hers.

The kiss was tender and cautious. The two band members' lips separated after a short while, and for a moment the two women simply stared at each other. Katarina's pupils were slightly dilated.

An unknown, exciting feeling coursed through Swann's body. She wanted more.

But there was another feeling.

Kat?

But before Swann could give this feeling the full attention, Katarina reached for the redhaired woman, placed her hands on either side of Swann's cheek, and pressed her lips to hers.

•♡•

Swann felt the blonde's warm, almost naked body against her own. A pleasant shiver spread through her body.

Her pulse was racing. She stood motionless. Her breathing was labored. What was Katarina doing to her? Every little touch seemed to tear Swann's brain apart, bit by bit, from the here and now.

Swann moaned softly as Katarina kissed her neck. It was a dream.

Fuck… Please don't let it be a dream.

Katarina still held her tightly, tenderly kissing her shoulder, her collarbone.

Swann laid her head against Katarina's shoulder to give her more opportunity to kiss her neck. Katarina loosened her grip. A husky giggle escaped her throat.

Her hands slid to Swann's hips before she gave Swann a light kiss on the nose.

"You're beautiful," she breathed.

Swann blushed. Compliments were something she didn't receive often. After Kat's death, she had tried as hard as she could to avoid anything romantic.

"You're crazy," Swann said, shaking her head.

"I'm just telling the truth." Katarina whispered softly.

Swann smiled and pulled the writer towards her and kissed her. Her hands wandered over her narrow, wet back, her hips, and pulled her tightly against her.

Then Katarina gently pushed Swann toward the shore.

Swann swayed and hold up herself with both hands on Katarina's shoulders. She carefully pushed Swann into the soft sand, and was now half lying on top of her. She had pushed her legs between Swann's legs.

"Kata..r..wait," Swann whispered.

Katarian stopped immediately, an uncertain expression on her face.

"Did I hurt you?"

Swann shook her head. "No...I just—" Swann blushed. "I've never done anything like this before." Swann looked away, trying to escape the writer's intense gaze.

"Swann." Katarina lightly placed her palm against Swann's face, forcing the redhead to look at her.

Swann thought he saw a purple spark flash in Katarina's blue eyes.

"You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this moment."

Something about the way Katarina said those words irritated her. As if—

But before she could respond, Katarina's mouth pressed against hers, taking her breath away.

Swann was far from truly understanding what was going on, but none of that mattered at the moment.

This kiss was so urgent, so incredibly fiery, and yet it also contained an incredible range of sensations, a feverish, almost desperate sensuality.

The blonde woman's tongue played around Swann's, sending small shockwaves of pleasure through her entire body.

It was the same tingling sensation as when she had kissed Kat back then.

But that wasn't possible

The redhead felt something change inside Katarina. Her lips now moved incredibly excitingly against Swann's mouth. It was as if something had been awakened with this kiss.

Katarina's hand slid over Swann's stomach, over her thighs, moved up again and with a skillful grip, freed Swann from the bikini top, which briefly made Swann wonder if the blonde had much experience with this.

But these stubborn thoughts immediately vanished when Katarina gently lowered her mouth to the sensitive skin.

Swann gasped. The feeling made her dizzy. A soft laugh came from the blonde, and with the flat of her hand, she gently stroked Swanns breast. Over and over again.

This feeling was incredible

"Kat," Swann whispered as Katarina kissed her belly button.

Her hands wandered along Swann's side, pulling the underlying body even closer to hers, Katarina's hands gliding ever deeper over the redhead's body.

Her hands wandered along Swann's side, pulling the underlying body even closer to her, Katarina's hands slid ever deeper over the redhead's body.

When Swann felt Katarina gently push her own legs apart, she stopped the blonde for a moment. "Kat... Wait."

She looked at her. 

"Let me—" Swann placed a hand over Katarina's top. "Let me feel you better."

Katarina understood. A grin appeared on her lips. She raised her hand and let Swann remove the bikini top.

Swann swallowed. She was beautiful. Her pale skin shimmered in the sun, and Swann could see a few moles here and there.

Kat remained completely still as Swann shook off her hand and placed it again on Katarina's chest, where her heart beats regularly. Tears suddenly welled up in Swann's eyes.

Katarina gently placed her hand on Swann's chin and just looked at her. No words were necessary.

She carefully placed her mouth on Swann's and kissed her slowly. Then her lips moved along her cheeks, kissing away every single tear and gently pushing the redhead back to the ground.

Katarina's hands now moved south again and freed Swann, and herself from the last bit of fabric.

Swann's entire body was ablaze. Time no longer mattered.

She closed her eyes in lust as she felt the warmth of Katarina's own on hers. Skin against skin. There was nothing between them.

The two pressed closer and closer together. Katarina caressed her for what seemed like hours. But Swann, too, couldn't stop caressing the skin of the woman who seemed so familiar to her.

"Swann..." Katarina breathed every now and then.

The redhead couldn't get enough of looking, couldn't get enough of feeling.

Swann had expected to be more nervous, more anxious when that moment came. But it wasn't like that as Katarina's fingers began their journey to explore her body.

Gasping loudly for air, Swann's eyes widened as Katarina finger gently entered her. At the same time, her mouth pressed against Swann's, stifling her moans.

The slight pain in her abdomen was over as quickly as it had come, and all Swann felt now was Katarina's warmth. Swann opened her lips and Katarina kissed her passionately, letting her tongue explore the redhead's mouth for seconds.

Swann clutched Katarina's back tightly as she reached her climax.

Covered in sweat, the two women held each other tightly for a few seconds before

Swann felt Kat's legs push her own apart and, like a magnet, found the perfect position for their lower bodies to meet. They both moaned, holding on to each other so as not to drown in what was being unleashed. Swann felt like she was burning up. She pressed her body more and more against Katarina's.

Her desire grew ever greater. She wanted nothing more than to merge with this woman. They embraced Katarina's body gently but firmly and together they found a rhythm. Nothing else seemed to exist in this world except them.

•♡•

Swann opened her eyes and saw Katarina looking at her lovingly.

Swann smiled as well and gently ran her fingers over the blonde's sidecut. There was so much affection in those blue eyes that it took Swann's breath away. However, there were also unspoken things between them that the friends would have to face sooner or later.

*

After they returned to the shores of Fawn's Curse, Swann looked around for Nora and Autumn, but the two still didn't seem to be back.

Swann sit down by her backpack and took out her cell phone.

A message from Autumn.

》Hey, Nora and I have something else to do, so expect us later. Maybe you and Katarina can talk in the meantime... ;-) -Autumn《

Swann sighed. She just couldn't hide anything from the bassist.

Does what she and Katarina did in the last hour count as talking? Swann glanced furtively at Katarina, who was drying herself off.

Swann had no idea what their relationship was now. Swann's feelings were even more confused than they already were. What she felt for Katarina was exciting but also frightening. Was her heart trying to replace Kat? No... She wasn't Kat. No one could replace her, Kat. But whenever she looked at Katarina, she saw Kat in front of her.

Why do you look just like her...

And then there was Nora... Katarina said they not a couple, but Nora clearly had feelings for her, and Kat for. So how could she betray Nora like that?

She had to ask Katarina what she was thinking. Swann took a few steps toward the blonde who stand with her back to her. By now, she had dried herself off and was looking out at the water.

Swann cleared her throat.

"Katrarina? Listen—"

The blonde turned her head abruptly, making Swann recoil in shock.

"Geez-o..."

Katarina's features seemed strangely rigid, as if she were looking right through Swann.

But then her gaze changed as a smile curled the corners of her mouth.

"It's really you."

Swann frowned.

"Kata...rina... what's wrong?"

"My iconoclast."

A deep pain shot through Swann's heart.

Katarina was still smiling.

"What the hell... I don't know how you know Kat called me that... But stop! It's not funny anymore."

Katarina tilted her head.

"Swann... What's wrong? It's me—" Katarina flinched, reaching out for Swann, but the redhead backed away.

"Damn it! Stop! I don't know what came over you, but stop imitating Kat. I told you about her death because I trust you!"

Katarina dropped her arms and looked at Swann without saying a word.

"It's really you" she repeat.

"Enough!" Swann turned around, grabbed her things, and ran away.

“Swann, what's going on?! she heard Katarina voice.

No! Run! Just away from this strange person. She realizes how little she actually knew this person... How could she have been so naive.

Images of the past few hours flooded her mind, leaving a dark hole in her heart.

How could she possibly try to be her... Swann had to get out of here. Just get away.

What is going on?!

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

Two Souls

Swann didn't want to feel anything anymore. Not the longing in her heart that felt like a big hole.

Images of that day on the island kept appearing before her inner eyes. Damn, she saw Katarina smiling at her, and then Kat was there.

Her Kat. Swann rolled out of bed and slowly walked down the stairs and opened the door.

"Fuck, Swann." Nora looked at her with worried eyes.

"Good morning, Nor.” Swann murmured.

Nora walked past her into the house, shaking her head. " Its already evening."

"Oh."

Nora went into the living room and sat down.

"I'd say make yourself comfortable... But you already have," Swann laughed sarcastically.

“Swann... We haven't seen or heard from you in five days.”

“I wanted to be alone.”

“Obviously,” Nora sighed.

“What happened that day at the lake? When we got to the lake, you were gone, and Katarina seemed completely distraught.”

“Why don't you ask her?” Swann groaned.

Nora sighed. “Because you're my best friend. And I care about you. So does Autumn.”

“Hmm.”

“It's obvious it has something to do with Katarina... She... was with me last night. She was emotionally exhausted and just wanted to fall asleep in my arms.”

Swann felt a small pang in her heart.

“Swann… Please.”

“Katarina and I… We went to the lake and- It just happend” Swann took a deep breath.

Nora sighed. “Actually, I already thought so… And in any other situation, I'd probably be mad at you right now…” Nora stood up.

“But this whole Katarina thing is a special situation.” And it's understandable that you have feelings for her.”

“I didn't—”

Nora put her hand on Swann's shoulder. “I'm sorry I was so tactless… She's just look too much like our Kat. It must be even harder for you to process all of this than it was for Autumn and me… However, I must admit that I like Katarina too. A lot…”

Swann looked at the singer sympathetically.

“I'm sorry, too, Nora. It seems we're all overwhelmed by the whole situation.”

Swann slumped her shoulders. "Why is everything always so complicated in Velvet Cove, huh?"

Nora laughed. "I always said this place was cursed."

"Or we are."

"Swann?"

"Yes?"

"Do me a favor and talk to Katarina."

Swann nodded. "I promise, Nora."

Nora smiled slightly and hugged her old friend. "Thanks. Now that that's cleared up... Where's Shadow? That cat never liked me, and I'm going to sort that out today."

Swann laughed and showed the singer where her fluffbutt was hiding.

*

The next morning

Katarina waits for Swann in the Velvet Woods.

It had only been a few days since they'd seen each other, but strangely, it felt much longer.

When Katarina spotted Swann, her eyes lit up and a small smile appeared on her face.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hi..."

For a moment, they stood in front of each other, undecided.

"Are you finally going to tell me who you really are?" Swann whispered seriously.

Katarina looked up at the sky. "To be honest, I don't know. I have a lot of gaps in my memory about my life. I always lived in Seattle. But without family... Without friends. Sometimes it feels like something inside me wants to burst out... I dream of things that feel so real they're dreams and indistinguishable from reality." Katarina looked back at Swann.

"When I look at you, I feel this warmth and calm.Yet, it feels like I'm losing myself. I know you're mad at me, but I don't know why. My memory is fading.

And I'm scared."

"Scared?" whispered Swann.

Katarina nodded. "Of disappearing."

Swann reached for the blonde's hand and squeezed it gently.

"You're not disappearing."

Katarina looked at her, tears streaming down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Swann said. "I've been so caught up in my head that I haven't noticed how you're feeling about everything. It's hard for me to understand all of this, and I've let myself get carried away with blaming you."

"Swann, I just want you to know—”

Her face went rigid. Swann noticed this behaviour many times now since she met Katarina.

Katrina's eyes flickered, seemingly trying to focus until they caught Swann's eye.

Swann swallowed nervously. Whatever was going on here... It frightened her.

Katrina gently freed herself from Swann's hand and held her head for a moment. She rubbed her face with both hands and suddenly seemed terribly tired.

"Does anything hurt? Talk to me." Swann approached her in a panic.

Katrina looked up. Her gaze was clear again. A smile appeared on her thin lips.

"Swann."

Swann took a deep breath. She felt her again. No doubt about it.

"K...at?"

The blonde nodded.

“I know you still have doubts... So, ask me something only the Kat you know can answer. Something that Autumn and Nora don't know.”

Swann thought for a moment. Something only she knew...

“That day we played hide-and-seek at Autumn's. What did you say to me?”

The writer hesitated for a moment, just looking at her. A grin appeared on her lips.

“Every day I get to be with you. You are my freedom,” she whispered. “You are what I can't be. My iconoclast.”

Swann's heart seemed to stop instantly. Swann focused on the blue eyes in front of her, the pounding feeling in her chest growing stronger.

She blinked hard to hold back the tears.

“It really is you.” Swann's lips suddenly went completely dry.

Memories of the day she said goodbye to Kat flooded through her. The incredibly painful feeling of losing Kat. A part of her soul herself was dying that day. But now, she was back. Her soulmate. Her Kat. She was here and alive.

Slowly, Kat approached her and pulled the redhead into a tender hug.

Swann couldn't hold back her tears and snuggled close to her old friend and true love. It really was her.

"Shhhh." Her lips gently pressed against Swann's.

After a moment, Swann pulled back and looked at Kat questioningly.

"Wh...how?"

Kat lowered her head.

"The Abyss?"

Kat nodded slightly.

"Let's walk for a bit and I talk."

*

They walked side by side for a while. Until Kat started talking.

"Do you remember my wish? The day we found the Abyss?"

Swann nodded.

“My exact words were, 'I bring a trade... I deserve justice. Get me out. Get us out.'” Kat smiled slightly.

“I thought it didn't work... But it did. The Abyss got me out. My body was copied in some way, and after my death, it took me quite a while to awaken in that body.”

Swann looked at the blonde in confusion. This all sounded incredibly crazy.

“So Katarina is...?”

“She's me. At least, that's how it should be.

I was in the Abyss for quite a while, but I didn't really find my way out. You have to understand, the place is beyond words.

Nothing there has a beginning or an end.”

“Sounds creepy,” Swann murmured.

“To be honest, I found it exciting.”

Kat has always had a strange fascination with Abyss.

“When I awoke in my new body, I quickly realized that another me had formed in the meantime.”

Swann stopped. Her words struck her chest like a hammer. She couldn't respond, but just stared into the pair of blue eyes.

“Does that mean you share... a body?”

“Hmm... It's more like a soul swap. Katarina is the part of me that was molded by the Abyss so that my new self could return.”

“So it really was Katarina who was with us all along. But sometimes also you?”

Kat tilted her head. "Yes. There were moments when I almost woke up.

Like from a dream. But since Katarina had started to form her own personality, the awakening was still shaky.

Swann thought about the moments when Katarina had behaved strangely. Like the day one at the lake.

So it was Kat in those moments.

Wait...

"Kat?"

"Mhm?"

"The day at the lake..." Swann bit her lower lip. Geez, it was all so confusing.

"I felt you...That day. Then you were-"

A knowing smile appeared on the poet's lips.

"Yes, that was me."

Swann's heart pounded. She had indeed felt it. A part of her had felt her, her Kat... But were her feelings for Katarina different then?

Kat thought she was one and the same person...But Katarina had formed her own self.

"Hey.”

“Geez-o, fuck…Kat!” Swann recoiled in shock as Kat's face suddenly came so close to hers.

“Sorry…you were just so lost in thought.”

“This is all a bit much at once. I need to sort out my thoughts.”

Kat tilted her head. “About our first time?”

Swann felt herself turn as red as a tomato. Kat's sharp eyes, of course, didn't miss it.

“This isn't about …well, that…” Swann began, stammering.

“You're blushing! How sweet.”

“Let me go!” Swann playfully punched Kat's shoulder, who, chuckles, tried to escape the smaller woman.

After a brief tussle, Swann became serious again. “Does that mean you're not leaving anymore? You're staying with me?”

Kat nodded. “If you still want me.”

Swann shook her head, grinning. “I never wanted more.”

The two young women looked at each other lovingly for a moment. Then Swann cleared her throat.

“What about Katarina?”

Kat closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them again.

“She's gone.”

Swann lowered her head sadly. Even though Kat and Katarina were originally supposed to be one and the same person, it was Katarina who had been enthusiastically participating by Bloom and Rage for weeks.

Katarina was scared. Afraid that she would disappear. Deep down, she must have known it.

And what about Nora? Now that Swann knew the truth, it was obviously Katarina who truly liked Nora, maybe even loved her...

And Swann liked her too. She didn't love her, that was clear now... But she saw Katarina as a important friend. A part of the group.

"Are you okay? You seem sad." Kat looked at Swann, her voice grows quiet and soft. There was concern in her blue eyes.

Swann nodded slightly and wiped away a tear.

"Let's go to Nora and Autumn. They'll be so happy to see you."

*

Bloom and Rage met at the old playground for the sake of the old pages. After Swann and Kat told them the whole story, the two were initially completely overwhelmed.

Crying, they hugged Kat and touched her face repeatedly to reassure themselves that it was really her.

Swann also told them about Katarina and that she wouldn't be coming back. Nora looked sadly at the ground. Swann knew it wasn't easy for the singer to process this.

"She's really gone forever?"

"I'm sorry, Nor," Kat said quietly, placing a hand on the singer's.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to her."

“Shit,Nor! I couldn't control it… Otherwise I would have—” Kat broke off and looked desperately in Swann and Autumn's direction.

They both quickly came to her. “We know that, Kat,” said Autumn.

“The main thing is that you're back with us and healthy.”

Nora wiped away her tears. Then she smiled a bit.

“Yes. Welcome back, Kat.”

Kat smiled slightly. “It's nice to be back.”

“That the Abyss granted us one more wish,” said Nora.

“Hard to believe,” replied Autumn.

“The Abyss…” Kat mumbled, frowning.

“Kat?” asked Swann. “Is something wrong?”

“Hmm… No, I'm fine. I'm just knocked out.”

Swann nodded in agreement. "That was a very...unusual day. We should call it a night."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After Autumn and Nora left, Kat and Swann stood uncertainly.

"Um... You'll probably want to go to Dylan's now. She'll be so happy to see you...and maybe faint from the shock."

Kat laughed softly. "She was there when Corey was swallowed by the abyss. She'll understand."

Kat tilted her head and smiled.

Geez-o, how much Swann missed that cheeky grin.

"I'd actually rather not go to the ranch tonight." Her hand lightly touched Swann's.

The redhead gulped. "Where else would you want to go?"

Kat's eyes began to sparkle. "Hmm, do you have any idea where I could sleep tonight?" With a mischievous grin, Kat leaned forward.

Swann laughed softly. She took Kat's face in her hands and tenderly stroked the blonde's cheekbones.

"I miss you."

Kat snuggled into her palm. "I'm sorry you've had to suffer so much these past few years... But I'm here now. I'll never leave you again, Swann."

Swann nodded and pulled the poet closer for a kiss.

"Fuck, there will never be anything more exciting than kissing you," Kat whispered as she pulled away.

"I know something better," Swann flirted, enjoying the chance to briefly leave the poet speechless.

"Kat Mikaelson, your ears are glowing red."

Kat laughed awkwardly. "Shut up."

Swann took a few steps forward and then looked over his shoulder. "Let's go."

Kat took her hand, smiling. "Fuck, yes.”

The next morning

Swann was waking up. She immediately felt that she wasn't alone. The blonde angel she loved so much was sleeping peacefully next to her. For a brief moment, Swann had been afraid it was all just a dream. But the poet's soft snoring next to her proved that she was really there.

Kat was laying on her stomach, the blanket pulled just up to her shoulders, beneath the pale, bare skin that Swann had caressed every inch of last night.

She smiled at the thought of the last few hours. Swann sighed softly and stroked Kat's cheek tenderly. Kat moved closer to her. She sought her closeness even in her sleep. Swann knew that Kat sensed her. Their bond was special. Even when she met Kat for the very first time, she felt this incredible attraction between them.

"I'm here," she whispered softly, searching for Kat's hand under the covers. A small smile appeared on the blonde's lips. Contentedly, she slept on.

Swann sank down a little and laid her head on the pillow, still tired from the night.

Kat immediately tried to snuggle up to her.

Swann chuckled. "Geez-o, you're impossible." She gently pulled Kat halfway onto her, who hummed contentedly, wrapped her arms around Swann, and laid her head on her chest. Swann held her tight, gently running her hands over her soft skin. She breathed in Kat's scent deeply: fresh wood and lavender.

"I'm so glad you're here." Full of love, she looked at the young women in her arms, the one who had changed her life.

After a while, Kat slowly opened her eyes and beamed at Swann before letting out a long yawn.

"Good morning, Sleepyhead," said Swann.

"Fuck! The best morning ever," grinned Kat, snuggling her full weight against Swann's naked body.

Swann wrapped both arms around Kat's body and together they enjoyed each other's warmth for a moment.

"Swann?”

“Yes, Kat?”

“I've been thinking.”

“About what?”

“What if I told you, there might be a way to bring Katarina back.”

Swann pushed Kat away a little so she had to look at Swann.

“What do you mean?”

Kat nibbled on her lower lip. “I think we can save Katarina. I mean her soul.”

“You… what-?” Swann looked at her lover puzzled.

“I know you've grown fond of Katarina. And she deserves more than just erased like that. Back when I was sick, I hated everything and everyone. Bloom and Rage brought me back from the darkness. I know what it's like to live in the darkness…” Kat looked sadly out the window directly above Swann's guest bed.

Swann took a deep breath. “What if it doesn't work out the way you want it to, Kat? What if something happens to you? I can't lose you again. I just can't."

Kat placed her hand on Swann's chin and gently lifted it. "I promise you that nothing will happen to me. You shouldn't be afraid. I won't disappear. I'll always be here. I won't stop loving you."

"How can you promise that?" she asked quietly. Swann's hands suddenly trembled.

Kat stroked Swann's cheek tenderly with her thumb.

Swann looked at her doubtfully. "You'll do it with or without my consent."

Kat shook her head. "If you really don't want me to do it, I won't." Her eyes looked at her seriously. Swann had no doubt that she meant it.

She sighed. "If we could bring Katarina back without either of you having to disappear, that would be wonderful. Especially for Nora."

Kat nodded. "Is that a fucking yes?”

Swann rolled her eyes at her. "It's a fucking, yes."

We'll have to go to the Abyss. All four of us.

"Hah... I knew you'd say that." Swann really didn't feel comfortable going back to that place.

"Don't worry. We're not summoning it... But the magic is much stronger there, and we need as much help as we can get." Kat leaned forward and kissed Swann gently on the lips.

"Everything will be okay."

Swann nodded resignedly. "Then let's tell the others."

Kat nodded. "We'll meet later in the woods. I'll go see Dylan first."

"Good."

5 hours later at the Abyss.

Nora, Autumn, and Swann were waiting for Kat at the destroyed cabin.

Nora and Autumn, like Swann, were skeptical of Kat's plan, but they also wanted to save Katarina if they could.

"So, here I am." Kat approached the women with a grin. Swann was about to ask why she was in such a good mood when she noticed the old headphones that Kat always wore around her neck.

Swann chuckled. Other than her hair being shaved short on the sides, Kat had barely changed. With the headphones and, as Swann noticed, the new black overall she was now wearing, she looked like the Kat she had first met back then. ... Only a little sexier.

Swann cleared her throat. "Kat! Damn, she look amazing."

"Fuck yeah! Dylan saved my old things. I just bought the overall," she grinned proud.

"Like no time had passed, shorty," Autumn winked.

Nora grinned too.

Together they went to the place where they had summoned the Abyss back then. The place hadn't changed.

"I want you to stand in a circle and cut your right and left index fingers."

The women looked at the blonde in shock.

"Another blood ritual, Kat?" Autumn groaned, raising an eyebrow. "You know we summoned the Abyss with this..."

Kat nodded. "This time, though, I want you to hold hands and think of me and then Katarina."

Kat handed the knife to Swann. The redhead cut both her fingers as Kat had instructed and handed them to Nora. The singer did the same. Autumn hesitated briefly, but when she looked around, she nodded confidently and cut herself as well.

“Good. Now hold on tight. Trust in our circle.”

Bloom and Range formed a circle and took action. “Think of me. Anything that comes to your mind. Then think of Katarina. Think of her as someone else. Her own person. She is Katarina.

Swann tried. She imagined Kat smiling at her. Her laugh, her unique laugh that she loved so much. Then she imagined Katarina.

Even though she and Kat were the same person on the outside, they weren't on the inside. Katarina's expression was different. Yes... Katarina was quieter, perhaps a little shyer. She loved the water and the forest. Katarina was Katarina.

“Good. Keep it up,” Swann heard Kat echo from afar.

Swann's body felt completely light. It reminded her of the moment in the cabin when they danced and floated together.

A bright light made Swann jump.

The young women cautiously opened their eyes. Swann blinked several times to clear her vision.

"Did it work?" Nora asked.

Swann looked around. She didn't see Katarina.

Wait a minute…

She looked around in panic.

"Where's Kat?!"

"Oh god..." whispered Autumn.

"Shit!" Nora also looked around in panic.

"Kat!" screamed Swann.

No, that couldn't be happening. No, no, no.

"KAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Everything's okay. We're here."

"Kat?"

"Up here."

"Holly fucking shit," Nora exclaimed. All six pairs of eyes looked up at the sky, where Kat was slowly floating down. But there wasn't just Kat. An almost transparent person was holding her hand, and together they landed safely on the ground.

Slowly, the person took shape. What immediately struck Swann was the fact that Katarina looked very similar to Kat, but, different. She wasn't a copy. She is now her own person.She had blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail like Kat's, but without a sidecut. She was wearing the same clothes she'd worn when Bloom and Rage had first met her. Swann always thought the tie suited her, even if it was Kat's body.

Her nose was slightly longer than Kat's, and she had a scattering of freckles on it. If you didn't know better you would think that she and Kat were siblings.

Speechless, she looked around, and before she could say anything, Nora pulled her into a tight hug.

Katarina seemed confused for a moment, but when she looked into the happy eyes of her friends, she smiled, and tears welled up. She wrapped her arms tightly around the singer and snuggled up to her.

"Unbelievable. It's really Katarina! We did it, guys!" Autumn said, stunned.

One by one, the women approached Katarina and hugged her tightly.

“Katarina, you probably have 100 questions but—”

“It's okay. I've seen most of Kat's memories. I think I know everything I need to know,” Kat interrupted Nora, smiling and looking in Kat's direction.

Kat nodded and grinned.

Bloom and Range spent the rest of the afternoon at the lake at Fawn's Curse. Autumn sunbathed, Katarina and Nora played happily around the lake, and Kat watched them with a satisfied smile.

"Hi"

"Hey"

"Mind if I sit next to you?"

Kat tapped next to her. "Dude... Sit down."

She sat down next to her girlfriend, looked at her sideways for a while until Kat shook her head and chuckled.

"Swann. You make me blush. Go on, talk."

Swann grinned. "I'm just admiring you. This—" Swann pointed at Katarina. "You made this impossible idea possible. You're amazing."

Kat shrugged with a smile. "You know none of this would have worked without you guys" She turned to Swann and placed her hand on hers.

“For a brief moment, I really thought that I had lost you.”

“I'm sorry.” whispered Kat.

Swann sighed. "No more magical rituals from now on, understand?

Kat nodded quickly. “I promise.”

Swann pulled the poetess to her and kissed her gently. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” replied Kat with a soft voice.

"Sorry to disturb—"

Swann and Kat pulled away and looked in surprise at Katarina, who stood before them with an apologetic smile.

"Can I speak with Swann for a moment?"

Kat raised an eyebrow and then stood up, nodding. "Don't forget—that beautiful redhead belongs to me," she said, with a cheeky grin.

Katarina raised her hands. "Understood."

Kat nodded in satisfaction and went over to Autumn and Nora.

Katarina sat down next to Swann.

"How are you feeling?" Swann asked.

Katarina sighed. "Between excitement and exhaustion. But right now, it's excitement. 

“I am really glad that you are back with us. Even if the intense feelings were due to Kat, I really like you Katarina. I hope we can continue to be friends. Katarina looked at her in surprise. "Of course. I feel the same.” 

Katarina cleared her throat. “Ahm…Nora asked me out."

"Oh?" Swann waggled her eyebrows.

Katarina laughed awkwardly.

"And?"

"I said, yes." Her ears turned red.

Swann smiled. "You two really are a sweet couple. I'm happy for you."

Katarina nodded happily and looked at Nora and Kat, who were repeatedly splashing water on their faces.

"She really loves you very much."

Swann followed Katarina's gaze. As if Kat had noticed her she looked in Swann and Katarina's direction and quickly waved before Nora splashed more water in her face.

"I kept wondering why my feelings for you were so overwhelming. Although I haven't known you for long. They were so strong that sometimes it was hard to breathe around you." Katarina tilted her head back. "They were Kat's feelings. This love for you can't be put into words. Only one thing is clear. She would do anything to protect this love."

Swann nodded with a warm smilie.

"I feel the same way. She means the world to me.”

Katarina stood up and held out her hand to her "Let's go join the others. Bloom and Rage have a lot to celebrate today."

Swann took her hand. "The day Bloom and Rage officially got a fifth member.”

End