CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: PEEK A BITCH

( episode four: homecoming )

✲*'。

WITH JOHN B AND Sarah back, Arden Kim found it so much easier to pretend she was at peace. That she hadn't spent the last few months at battle with herself. Nobody wanted to acknowledge the elephant in the room, not with John B and Sarah so happy to see them together again. So they did their best to keep quiet, laughing along to each other's jokes, smiling like they'd never been closer. It got easier over time.

Hell, Arden was so distracted trying to get John B to tie down her new motorcycle that she barely noticed Haven giggling at the sight.

Much to Arden's delight, despite already knowing her already, JJ got whiplash staring at Harlow Kim. It was eery, the way the sisters were so in sync despite the years they had gone without seeing one another. It would take a while to adjust.

But fortunately for him, Harlow fit in effortlessly ... particularly with Brec the Cannon.

That was something for Arden to dissect another day. All she wanted to do know was focus on Sarah, Harlow and John B.

"Anybody else starving?" JJ asked just as the sun started to rise. After the group had left Charleston behind, they'd set off back to the Outer Banks, eager to be on familiar soil again. Nobody had noticed it, but at some point, day faded into night then day again. They were officially gone from Outer Banks for two days. As much as Arden had .... well let's just say enjoyed, her break away she was eager to get back to her daughter. "We need to grab some breakfast."

"Sounds like a plan," Harlow grinned, eyes eagerly surveying the jetty that John B pulled up to. Fortunately, nobody was around, meaning they'd be able to roam freely for a while. "So where to, my friends?"

"You can come with us," Sarah offered, smiling as she gestured between herself, Kie and Arden. "We're gonna look for some food we can―"

"Steal?" Harlow finished, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Well, I wouldn't call it that..." Sarah frowned, looping her arms with Harlow's and Arden's to skip down the jetty.

"Then what would you call it!" Arden declared happily, as she dragged her girls into the field. After a few moments of fruitless searching, Kie became Arden's saviour with a yell of 'Jackpot!'

"Oh mother have mercy I am so hungry," Harlow whined, happily digging into a watermelon a few inches away from the trio who sat burrowed together.

"So ... the reason you guys aren't friends with Haven is because she ditched you?" Sarah asked in a confused voice, fingers running through Arden's hair.

"Don't mention that heathens name, it's bad enough we have to spend time with her to clear John B's name." Arden grumbled, resting her head back on Sarah's leg.

"Not the word I would have used to describe her," Kie began, rolling her eyes in fond affection as she slid down to rob more of Arden's watermelon. "But that's the gist of it."

"So .... Do you want to talk about it or ...?"

"No," Arden hissed, pulling herself away from Sarah, ignorant to the brief flash of hurt that flickered on her face as Arden situated herself back on Kie.

Knowing how close Arden was to erupting, Kie gently placed a soothing arm on her shoulder. "Do you want to see photos of Logan instead?" She offered, finding a middle ground that would help to unwind Arden's anger.

"Of course I do!" Sarah screeched, earning the attention of Harlow who eagerly bounced over at the mention of her niece.

As she showed off the photos of her two month old baby, Arden couldn't help the beaming smile on her face. For the first time in months she felt genuinely happy, not a facade she had forced herself to to keep the peace. She didn't have to pretend here, her demons didn't have to be silenced.

She was accepted, allowed to her say her piece without the worry of hurting her loved ones. Arden Kim felt free from the stifling pressure that she found herself surrounded by. She didn't have to worry about hurting JJ, didn't have to think about how she would be lectured for saying her piece.

But of course, like everything it had to end.

When they did rejoin the group, Arden kept to Sarah and Kiara's side, eyes straight ahead as she felt JJ's gaze burning a hole in her side. It was bearable to keep her silence, with Sarah squeezing her hand every so often to the point that Arden felt like she wasn't suffocating any more.

She was still relieved when the Chateau came into sight. That meant her daughter was nearby and Arden could get the hell out of here.

"There she is," John B breathed out, looking utterly at peace.

"Bet it's good to see her old bones, right?" JJ said as he patted him on the shoulder.

"We've been taking good care of her," Arden added then, referring to herself, JJ and baby Logan. "Uh, hope you don't mind but we've been crashing for a bit..."

John B didn't say much, too lost in admiring the place he hadn't seen for so long. The group quickly sidled up to the jetty, gathering around under the awning where, just a few months ago, Pope had sat with a drone and John B and Kie had swum around as he tested it. That seemed so much longer than just a couple months. It felt like years had gone by since then.

If only she could go back. But like so many things, Arden learnt she never could.

"You know, I gotta be honest," Kie said. "Not exactly looking forward to a check-in at home."

At the reminder, both Haven and Brec winced. "Yeah, neither are we," Brec said, gesturing between herself and her girlfriend.

"My parents probably already arranged my funeral."

"Yeah, I also predict unpleasantries at the Heyward household," Pope sighed.

"Yikes." Arden winced, glad she didn't have to worry about this at all. Thank fuck for Liam.

Pope scoffed and sent Arden a pointed glance. "You know he'll be pissed at you too, right? You were supposed to start work... two hours ago now."

At that, Arden's face immediately dropped. "Oh, fuck," she cursed, but there was no urgency in her movements. "You know what? Screw it. I'm late anyways."

"See? That's the energy we all need to have," JJ insisted, moving towards her to gently rest his hands on her hips. "No one knows we're here, right? And you guys aren't gonna get into any more trouble for showing up twelve hours later. Am I right or am I right?"

Pope huffed to himself, though technically he couldn't deny what JJ was saying. "I mean, you're not wrong, but..."

That was enough for JJ. With a grin, he declared, "So that means we have twelve hours to do whatever we want. A little pogue fellowship. How does that sound?"

"I'm in, so long as you take the hit with mum." Haven spoke, and at her words, Arden tensed and it was only when JJ soothingly rubbed a hand along her hip did she calm down.

She could easily get out of this, she only had to make a brief appearance, spend the night with her daughter.

Arden could do this for JJ.

JJ nodded in her direction. "Done deal, Havey."

Slowly but surely, the others were also considering it. John B first of all, saying with a grin, "Let the shit hit the fan tomorrow. Come on."

"Yeah!"

"The cops could be looking for us," Sarah pointed out with an uncertain frown. "It could be really stupid."

But JJ wasn't about to change his mind now. With a quick peck to her temples, he marched right up to the blonde, ignoring the blood stain on her jeans and the pure stench of muck from constant running as he grabbed her by the arms and said, "Sarah Cameron, you've heard of my philosophy, right?"

"No," she chuckled.

Now, it was Arden's turn to join in. "Oh, come on, Saz," she teased. "I think you have."

"Hm. Not sure I have."

"Stupid things have good outcomes all the time."

"Oh, fuck it," Haven decided, as she strutted past her to JJ, Arden glanced away, keeping her gaze on the jetty, working up the courage to get the hell out of here. "I wanna get drunk. Lead me to the booze, cousin."

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" JJ hollered and sprinted back towards the boat.And so, at the next jetty, Arden practically leapt off the boat, Harlow quick to follow, all in haste to finally lay eyes on her daughter again.

As she approached the entryway to Haven's house, Liam's wide eyed stare went on oblivious to Arden Kim. She only had eyes for her squealing baby girl, who readily went into her mothers arms. A beaming smile left her lips as Arden felt at peace, the suffocating feeling all but disappearing as Logan settled in her arms.

Her whole world here now; Arden didn't have to worry about anything, she didn't have to think about her bitter fights with Haven, could temporarily push away her fears about John B and Sarah being discovered.

Arden was finally back with her daughter.

Creeping up beside her sister, a warm smile overtook Harlow Kim's face she came face to face with her niece, the only person who kept her mothers heart beating. Logan was beautiful; the best parts of Arden and JJ Maybank combined together.

As much as it thrilled Harlow to finally meet her niece, a piece of her heart broke, easily seeing her father in the little girl. Like Arden, Logan took after Seojun Kim in looks; the only unrecognisble features being her little button nose and bright blue hues, the markers of JJ Maybank.

As Harlow was forced to listen to a lecture by Liam, the confused screeches of one Melinda Maybank, Arden Kim sat oblivious to the world, her focus only on her daughter .

Just as it should be.