"So we have the Grammy's in mid-March," Riven started, scrolling on the tablet in front of him. "The fourteenth, if you were wondering. Then we've got a bit of a quiet April which is why I think it's a great time to release a single, if you have one planned, and then we'll go into peak May award season with the BRITs, Billboard and then iHeart Radio."

Leia blinked back.

"What?" Riven questioned with exasperation as he looked up at the girl.

"What happened to easing me back into it all?"

Riven's eyes softened momentarily before he straightened his shoulders, tapping his stylus against the tablet's edge.

"This is easing you back in," he insisted, his voice softening as he caught the apprehension in her blue eyes. "Trust me, the full schedule would have you booked every weekend until next Christmas."

Leia sank deeper into the plush armchair of in the living room, auburn waves cascading over her shoulders as she tilted her head back with a sigh. Riven dropped his smile, placing the tablet down and looking at her properly for a moment.

"Say the words, and I'll cut down on the appearances," Riven told her. "You're the one in control here, Leia. Everything is up to you, just tell me what you need."

She hadn't said much since he'd laid out the schedule, and that alone was enough to put him on edge. Normally, she would push back, groan about the workload, maybe throw a pillow at him. But tonight, she was quiet. Too quiet.

He sighed.

 "Alright, I'll bite. What's got you looking like you just solved a murder and don't know what to do with the evidence?"

Leia blinked at him, then let out a breath. "It's not the schedule."

"No shit," he muttered. "So what is it?"

Leia hesitated for half a second before deciding there was no point in pretending. "Taylor."

Riven didn't look surprised. If anything, he looked prepared for this conversation, like he'd been waiting for her to bring it up. "What about her?"

"You know we met up."

"I do," he confirmed. "And you said it went well."

"It did," she admitted. "We agreed to try to be friends again. She told me she's happy. She told me she's in love with Joe."

Riven tilted his head slightly. "And you believe her?"

Leia exhaled. "Yeah. I do."

"But?"

Leia sighed, rubbing her hands over her face before finally looking up at him. "Last night, a package showed up at my door. From her."

Riven leaned back in his chair, arms crossing. "Go on."

"She sent me a folklore cardigan," Leia said, voice softer now. "But instead of the patch saying folklore, it had my initials. L.H."

Riven's brows lifted slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

"She also sent folklore and evermore on vinyl. And there was a note." Leia hesitated before adding, "With songs listed."

Riven frowned. "Songs?"

Leia nodded, her stomach twisting slightly as she forced herself to say it aloud. "She circled the 1, august, cardigan, mirrorball, hoax, this is me trying. And then invisible string had a little half-star next to it, so I don't know what the hell that even means." She swallowed. "And on evermore, she circled gold rush, happiness, willow, ivy, tis the damn season, long story short, and right where you left me."

Riven let out a long, low whistle. 

"Well. That's... a lot."

Leia scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding."

Riven considered her for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So, let's break this down. She tells you she's happy, she tells you she's in love with Joe, and then she sends you a personalised gift with a handwritten list of all the songs she wrote about you."

"Exactly. It doesn't make sense."

Riven tapped his fingers against his knee. "Are you sure it's not just her way of giving you closure?"

Leia hesitated. "I want to believe that's all it is. But it just... it feels like mixed signals."

Riven was quiet for a beat. Then he sighed, shaking his head. "Leia, I get why this is messing with you. I do. But Taylor and Joe are going on two years of real, public dating now. If it was fake, they would've stopped a long time ago."

Leia flinched slightly, but she knew he was right.

Riven continued, voice gentler now. "I want you and Taylor to make up. I want you to have her in your life again. But I don't want you to go into this thinking it's something it's not." He held her gaze. "You told me you believed her when she said she was happy. If that's true, then you also have to believe that this isn't her trying to string you along."

Leia clenched her jaw. "Then why send me the songs? Those songs, of all things."

"Maybe she's just making peace with what you two were," Riven suggested. "Maybe she's telling you, in the only way she knows how, that you mattered. That she didn't just move on and erase you."

Leia swallowed hard, something tight settling in her chest. "I don't know what to do with it."

"You don't have to do anything with it," Riven said simply. "You don't owe her a reaction. And you don't need to sit here trying to decode her every move."

Leia let out a slow breath, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right."

Riven tilted his head, studying her carefully. "But?"

Leia gave him a tight, wry smile. "But I still don't know what the half-star next to invisible string means."

Riven smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, well. That's between you and her, kid."

Leia rubbed her temples, feeling the beginning of a headache forming. "I just—I thought we were past this, you know? I thought we could actually be friends without all the..." She waved her hands in the air, searching for the right word.

"Complications?" Riven offered.

"Exactly." Leia stood up and paced across the plush hotel carpet. "And now I have to see her at the Grammys in what, six weeks? How am I supposed to act normal when she's sending me secret messages through song titles?"

Riven watched her with a mixture of concern and calculation, the publicist in him already mapping out potential scenarios. 

"Maybe you're overthinking this. Maybe the songs are just acknowledgment of your shared history."

"Our shared history that she supposedly moved on from with Joe," Leia countered, stopping by the window to look out at the city lights below.

"People can move on and still acknowledge what came before," Riven said gently. "It doesn't have to mean she wants you back."

Leia was about to respond when her phone buzzed on the coffee table between them. Both she and Riven glanced down at the screen, where Taylor's name flashed.

"Speak of the devil," Riven muttered, raising an eyebrow.

Leia's heart skipped a beat. She stared at the phone like it might burst into flames, hesitating long enough that Riven let out an exasperated sigh.

"Are you going to answer that or should I?" he asked, already reaching for it.

"Don't you dare," Leia warned, snatching the phone before he could get to it. She took a deep breath and swiped to accept the call. "Hello?"

"Hey," Taylor's voice came through, warm and slightly hesitant. "Is this a bad time?"

Leia's eyes met Riven's, who gave her an encouraging nod before standing up and mouthing that he'd give her some privacy. She shook her head quickly, grabbing his wrist to keep him there. The last thing she needed was to be alone with this conversation.

"No, it's fine. I'm just going over some scheduling stuff with Riven," Leia replied, trying to keep her voice casual despite the rapid drumming of her pulse.

"Oh, hi Riven," Taylor said, clearly understanding from that sentence that she was on speaker. "How are you?"

"Thriving as always, Swift," Riven called back, settling back into his chair with an amused expression. "Just trying to drag this one back into the spotlight without her having a meltdown."

Taylor laughed, the sound so familiar it made Leia's chest ache. "Good luck with that. She's stubborn when she wants to be."

An awkward silence fell, and Leia cleared her throat. "So... what's up?"

There was a soft exhale on the other end, and Leia could almost picture Taylor tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, the way she always did when she was slightly nervous.

"I was wondering," Taylor began, her voice carrying that melodic lilt that had always reminded Leia of autumn leaves and whispered secrets, "if you might have time to come by Electric Lady Studios later tonight? Around nine, maybe?"

Leia's eyes widened, immediately seeking out Riven's gaze. He leaned forward, suddenly more attentive, his expression a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"Electric Lady?" Leia repeated, her fingers tightening around the phone. 

"Yeah," Taylor continued, the background noise shifting as if she were moving around. "I'm working on something. Jack's here, and we both... well, I really want your thoughts on it. Your ear has always been..." She paused, seeming to carefully select her next words. "You hear things differently than anyone else I know."

Leia turned from the window to find Riven now standing, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in silent question. He mouthed, "Your call," and shrugged.

"Jack brought in that vintage Rhodes piano you always loved," Taylor continued, her voice lifting with gentle persuasion. "The one with the slightly out-of-tune A-flat that somehow makes everything sound more honest."

Leia found herself smiling despite her better judgment. Of course Taylor would remember her obsession with that particular piano, with its worn ivory keys and the stories embedded in every scratch on its wooden frame.

Leia hesitated, fingers tightening around the phone. She could feel Riven's eyes on her, waiting for her response, but she had no idea what to say.

Going to Electric Lady Studios meant stepping into Taylor's world. It meant late-night conversations in dimly lit booths, fingers tracing chords on aged keys, melodies weaving their way into something bigger than either of them. It meant stepping into a place that had once been sacred, once been theirs.

But that was then. Now, Taylor was in love with someone else, and Leia was trying... really trying to figure out what it meant to just be without needing to be wanted.

"I don't know, Tay," she said finally, her voice softer than she meant it to be.

She heard Taylor exhale on the other end. Not disappointed, not annoyed, just understanding. Like she had expected that response but still hoped for something else.

"You don't have to," Taylor said quickly. "I just thought... I don't know. It felt right to ask."

Leia closed her eyes for a second. Maybe she should say no. Maybe it would be easier to keep her distance, to keep things light and surface-level. But easy had never really been their thing.

And the truth was, part of her wanted to go.

"Who else is there?" Leia asked, buying herself a few more seconds.

Taylor hesitated. "Just Jack. Drew's outside. Security, obviously." A pause. "But no one else."

No Joe.

Leia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Not that it should matter. It didn't matter.

Across from her, Riven tilted his head, reading her like a book. When she met his gaze, he raised an eyebrow, silently asking, Do you want to go?

Leia swallowed. Did she?

She thought about the cardigan, the vinyls, the list of songs. She thought about the half-star next to invisible string. She thought about the way Taylor had looked at her in the garden of the members' club... hesitant but sure, like she was trying to make peace with something neither of them had the words for.

And then she thought about the Rhodes piano. That fucking piano she loved.

She sighed. 

"Alright," she said finally. "I'll come by."

She could hear the smile in Taylor's voice when she replied, "Okay. See you at nine."

Leia ended the call and placed the phone on the table, exhaling sharply.

Riven didn't say anything at first, just studied her with that infuriatingly perceptive gaze of his. Then he smirked, sitting back down and crossing his legs.

"Well," he said. "This is either going to be very healing or a fucking disaster."

Leia groaned, rubbing her hands over her face. "Oh my God, don't."

"I'm just saying." He shrugged. "Going to a studio where the two of you used to—" He made a vague hand motion. "Do whatever you did—"

"Write music?" Leia supplied dryly.

"Sure, let's call it that." He grinned. "Although we know that's not the only thing that went down in those recording booths. Going back there, late at night, alone with Taylor and Jack? You do see how this is a recipe for some kind of emotional revelation, right?"

Leia threw a pillow at him. He dodged it easily.

"I'm serious, Riv," she said, rubbing her temples. "I don't know what she wants from me."

Riven sighed, expression softening just a little. "Maybe she doesn't want anything from you, Lee. Maybe she's just trying to find a way to have you in her life again without it being complicated."

Leia frowned. "It is complicated."

"Then maybe this is her way of making it less complicated," Riven suggested. "Music was always your middle ground, wasn't it? Maybe this is just that. Middle ground."

Leia chewed on the inside of her cheek, considering it.

Middle ground.

That was something she and Taylor had never really been good at.

But maybe it was worth trying.

She exhaled and stood up, smoothing out the front of her hoodie. "I should go get ready."

Riven smirked. "You're already dressed."

Leia rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone, heading toward the bedroom. "Shut up."

Riven just laughed, shaking his head as he reached for his tablet again. "Text me when you get there, and if you don't, I'll assume you've been abducted by Grammy-winning songwriters."

Leia waved a hand over her shoulder, disappearing down the hall.

Middle ground. She wasn't sure she knew what that looked like with Taylor.

But maybe tonight, she'd find out.

_____

Of course, there were paparazzi outside when she arrived. She'd have been naive to think that there wasn't going to be when Taylor had already been pictured entering the building less than an hour before she had gotten there. It wasn't like she had no experience with the media, but it was weird to be back in a crowd of them at this level for the first time since the trial with Dylan.

And it clearly wasn't just weird for her - she'd never seen paparazzi so unsure what to say as soon as she stepped out Azul's car. They all genuinely seemed momentarily speechless that it was her that had pulled up outside, especially since it was on record that her and Taylor hadn't been speaking in a while now. If anything, Leia said they almost seemed more polite to see her as she kept her head down and ducked through them - and she wondered just how many were now going to appear to try get a shot of her and Taylor leaving together.

It wasn't just the media that was going to have a great day with this.

After Taylor's documentary had came out - and herself too - the fans that had always theorised that Leia and Taylor were a couple had been over the moon. Both of their faves were officially out and playing for the same teams - so, of course, that must have meant that they had been in a secret relationship for the entirety of the time they'd known each other.

Leia kind of hated that to a slight extent, not because of the speculation but because they had so much hope that the girls would have stayed together through the Dylan trial and her rehab stints. The truth was a lot less fairytale.

Besides, Taylor had still disputed that they'd ever been a couple even after she'd came out. Tree had spoken to various papers as 'a source close to Taylor' when questioned about her past relationships and said that they'd never been a thing. Leia was glad she'd been on a no-social media policy when that all dropped, or she'd have worried she'd have ended up talking her into a spiral again.

It wasn't like she didn't understand why Taylor's team had taken that route. Both of them had public images to protect and Tree knew that Leia was in rehab - the last thing the girl had needed was to start releasing statements to the press and working through that too.

Leia was honestly surprised that Taylor was willing to meet her inside, especially since they'd met a few day before with masks on and outside. She'd tested and she assumed Taylor had too, and she figured that Taylor must not be going back to visit her mom again for a longer period of time.

The hallways of Electric Lady Studios hadn't changed since she'd last been here—still the same muted lighting, the same vintage posters in sleek frames lining the walls, the same faint scent of coffee and guitar strings that somehow permeated every corner of the building. It was a place steeped in music history, walls that had absorbed the sounds of Hendrix and Bowie, Patti Smith and Springsteen.

Walls that had once absorbed her and Taylor too.

She tugged at the sleeve of her oversized sweater, suddenly wishing she'd changed into something else before coming here. But what did it matter? This was supposed to be casual. Professional. Middle ground.

Studio A was at the end of the hall, its door slightly ajar with warm light spilling out. As she approached, she could hear Jack's distinctive laugh, followed by Taylor's voice, though she couldn't make out the words. The sound alone made something twist in her chest - not entirely painful, but not comfortable either.

Leia paused outside the door, taking a deep breath. She could still turn around. Get back in the elevator. Make up some excuse about not feeling well.

She stepped inside anyway.

Jack spotted her first, his lanky frame unfolding from where he'd been hunched over a guitar. His face broke into a wide, genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

"Holy shit, Hudson!" he exclaimed, placing the guitar carefully on its stand before bounding over to her. He wrapped her in a bear hug that lifted her slightly off the ground.

Leia couldn't help but laugh as he set her down, his enthusiasm infectious as always. 

"Hey, Jack. Still dramatic as ever, I see."

"Someone's gotta bring the theatrics," he grinned, stepping back to look at her properly. "You look good. Healthy. I mean it."

"Thanks," she said, feeling a flush of warmth at his sincerity.

It was only then that she allowed herself to look past him to where Taylor sat on a stool by the piano, watching their reunion with a soft expression. She was dressed simply – high-waisted jeans and a loose cream sweater that hung off one shoulder, her blonde hair falling in gentle waves. There was something vulnerable in her posture, hands clasped in her lap, eyes bright with an emotion Leia couldn't quite name.

Leia knew in that moment that she was fucked - she'd never be able to just look at Taylor and not feel incredible head over heels in love with her, regardless of their year of silence.

"Hey," Taylor said, standing up slowly. "You came."

"You called," Leia replied without even a hesitation.

 Jack looked between them, almost like a kid on Christmas, ignoring how Leia cringed at the words that had fallen so naturally from her mouth.

Taylor's lips curved into a smile, and Leia felt the familiar flutter in her chest that she'd been trying so hard to ignore. For a moment, they just stood there, caught in each other's orbit like they always had been.

So much for fresh starts as friends.

Jack cleared his throat dramatically. 

"Well, I'm going to grab more coffee because clearly we're going to need it." He winked at Leia as he passed. "You still take yours with too much sugar?"

"Oh, I'm off it now," Leia replied, "too much caffeine. Was giving me headaches, actually. Think you could find a diet soda?"

"Noted. Diet Coke?" Jack paused at the door as Leia nodded in confirmation. "Don't start without me. I mean it. No spontaneous musical genius until I'm back with caffeine."

As the door clicked shut behind him, the studio fell into a weighted silence. Taylor took a step forward, then seemed to reconsider, running her fingers along the edge of the mixing board instead.

"I wasn't sure you'd actually come," she admitted.

Leia shrugged, trying for casual despite the thundering of her heart. "I was curious about what you're working on."

Taylor laughed softly. 

"Fair enough." She hesitated, then added, "Thank you. For coming."

Leia moved deeper into the room, drawn to the Rhodes piano that sat in the corner, its weathered frame a testament to years of creative outpouring. She ran her fingers lightly over the keys, not pressing down, just feeling the cool ivory beneath her fingertips.

"You remembered about the A-flat," she said quietly.

"Of course I did." Taylor's voice was closer now, and when Leia looked up, she was standing just a few feet away. 

Taylor sat down beside her on the bench, leaving just enough space between them that they weren't touching, but close enough that Leia could catch the faint scent of her perfume—something with notes of vanilla and amber that she didn't recognise from before.

"New perfume?" The question slipped out before Leia could stop it.

Taylor's lips curved into a small smile. "Yeah. Joe got it for me in London."

"It's nice," Leia said automatically, ignoring the tiny pinprick of discomfort the mention of his name brought. Middle ground, she reminded herself.

Taylor's fingers brushed against the piano keys without pressing down, a nervous habit Leia recognized from countless late nights in studios just like this one.

A silence fell between them, not uncomfortable but charged with all the things they weren't saying. Leia thought about the cardigan, about the songs Taylor had circled. About invisible string with its mysterious half-star.

"I got your package," she said finally, watching Taylor's face carefully.

Taylor exhaled, like she'd been waiting for Leia to say it. 

"Yeah," she murmured, her fingers still hovering over the keys. "I know you did."

Leia tilted her head slightly, studying her. "Why did you send it?"

Taylor hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of the piano. "Because I wanted you to have it."

"That's not an answer," Leia said, voice careful.

Taylor let out a soft, almost embarrassed laugh, pressing down on a key - A-flat, of course. The slightly out-of-tune note echoed softly in the quiet room and caused both of their lips to twitch in a little smile.

"I don't really have a perfect answer," Taylor admitted. "I guess... I wanted you to know that I didn't forget. That I didn't pretend it didn't happen."

Leia swallowed. "And the songs?"

Taylor glanced at her then, something unreadable in her expression. "They were yours."

She had assumed, of course. The lyrics had screamed pieces of their past, cardigan had been the most obvious, the 1 like a quiet epilogue to something unfinished. But to hear Taylor say it outright, to acknowledge it in the way she had avoided for so long... it sent something spinning inside her.

Taylor smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Surprised?"

Leia let out a short breath. "I don't know. I just—" She shook her head. "I wasn't expecting you to be so... direct about this."

Taylor gave a small shrug. "I guess I figured I owed you that much."

Leia watched her for a long moment, her fingers now resting lightly on the keys. 

"And invisible string?" she asked, voice quieter now. "The half-star."

Taylor's lips parted slightly, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to answer that. But then she sighed, shoulders sinking slightly. "That one was complicated."

Leia arched an eyebrow. "How so?"

Taylor let out a breathy laugh, but there was no amusement in it. "Because at the time, I was trying to convince myself it wasn't about you."

Leia's throat tightened. She wasn't sure what to say to that.

Taylor pressed another key, letting the note ring out softly before speaking again. "I told myself it was about fate. About how everything in my life led me exactly where I was supposed to be." She exhaled. "But then I kept thinking about you. About us. And I didn't know where to put that."

Leia felt something inside her crack slightly. "So what does the half-star mean?"

"Can I ask you something?" Taylor deflected, not answering Leia's question.

Leia nodded hesitantly. "Yeah."

Taylor's fingers tapped lightly on the wooden edge of the piano bench. "Why did you come tonight?"

Leia blinked at the question, not sure what to say. She glanced at the door, as if considering her answer, then turned back to Taylor. 

"Because you asked."

Taylor smiled, small but real. "Yeah?"

Leia nodded. 

"Yeah."

For a second, something passed between them... something old, something familiar. It wasn't romantic, not exactly. Something new. Taylor reached out then, hesitant but certain, and placed her hand over Leia's on the keys. Just for a moment. Just enough for the weight of it to linger.

Taylor opened her mouth to say something, her eyes searching Leia's face with an intensity that made it hard to breathe, when the studio door swung open with a dramatic flourish.

"Okay, so they didn't have Diet Coke but they had Diet Pepsi which is basically the same thing according to absolutely no one ever, but it was either that or water, and let's be honest, water isn't going to cut it for what we're about to do," he announced, seemingly oblivious to the moment he'd interrupted as he set the drinks down on the mixing console.

Leia blinked rapidly, feeling like she'd been yanked out of a dream and back into reality. She cleared her throat, shooting Jack a grateful smile as she accepted the Pepsi from him.

"Thanks," she murmured, taking a sip to give herself something to do with her hands.

Jack looked between them, his eyebrows shooting up slightly as he seemed to finally register the tension in the room. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No," they both said in unison, then glanced at each other and laughed, the sound breaking some of the heaviness in the air.

Jack didn't look convinced, but he shrugged, pulling a chocolate chip cookie from the paper bag and offering it to Leia. "Peace offering for bringing the wrong soda."

She accepted it with a small smile. "Forgiven."

Taylor stood up from the piano bench, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she moved toward the control room. 

"So, we wanted to play you something," she said, her voice taking on that professional tone Leia recognised from their studio sessions years ago.

Taylor slid into the producer's chair, fingers running over the mixing board like muscle memory. Jack, still chewing on his own cookie, plopped down onto the couch behind them, kicking his feet up on the coffee table like he owned the place.

"So, what am I listening to?" Leia asked, glancing at the computer screen from where she was sitting on the piano bench, where a track was already queued up.

Taylor didn't answer right away. Instead, she pressed a few buttons, adjusting the levels before finally looking at Leia with a soft smile.

"Just... tell me what you think."

Leia gave her a skeptical look but nodded, leaning back as Taylor hit play.

The second the first few chords rang out, Leia's entire body tensed.

She knew this song. She knew it too well. Not some remix, not a live version. It was Fearless as she remembered it - warm, golden, dripping in nostalgia and teenage certainty.

Leia's head snapped toward Taylor in disbelief. "Wait."

Taylor was watching her, expression unreadable. "Just listen."

Leia turned back to the speakers, heart pounding now as the first verse spilled out, Taylor's voice wrapping around the words with an intimacy that sent a shiver down Leia's spine.

It was... different.

Older. More controlled. A voice laced with experience, with wisdom, with something heavier than the original recording had ever carried.

Leia's eyes widened as realization hit her like a freight train. She spun back to Taylor, who was still watching her, biting her lower lip to keep from smiling.

"You're finally re-recording," Leia whispered, her voice barely above the song playing in the background.

Taylor's lips finally twitched into a grin. "I am."

Leia let out a breathless laugh, running a hand through her hair. 

"Holy shit, Taylor."

"Took you long enough to figure it out!" Jack let out a triumphant whoop from the couch. 

Leia turned back to the speakers, listening intently now, absorbing every small difference in the way Taylor sang, the slightly altered production, the subtle improvements in vocal clarity. It wasn't a new song... it was the same, but stronger. Like it had grown up along with them.

And suddenly, Leia couldn't stop smiling.

Two hours later, the three of them were gathered around the console again, listening to the playback of Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor's Version). Taylor's voice was as sharp and sarcastic as ever, the production polished but still packed with that same youthful bite it had all those years ago. It had been the real reason Taylor had phoned her up - they were missing something and the only other person to ever have heard the song was Leia, back when they dated. They'd hoped she could help finalise it.

Leia leaned back in her chair, letting the sound settle into her bones. It was good. No - great. The kind of song that made her nostalgic and energized all at once, like stepping into a memory that hadn't dulled over the years.

Jack, sprawled out on the couch, stretched his arms above his head with a satisfied groan. "Damn," he exhaled. "That's a hit."

Taylor sat at the mixing board, legs tucked under her on the chair, one hand draped lazily over the console while the other absently played with the hem of her sweater. The faintest smile played at her lips, the kind that wasn't for anyone else, just for herself. 

Leia glanced at her. "You were right to save it."

Taylor chuckled, reaching forward to adjust a level, but her eyes flickered to Leia's, something unreadable in them. "We're announcing in February. Album drops in April."

Leia blinked, sitting up straighter. 

"April?" She let the realization settle in before shaking her head. "Wow. It's really happening."

Leia let out a quiet laugh, looking back at the speakers as the song faded into silence. She couldn't believe it. 

"I'm really proud of you," she said suddenly, her voice steady, sure.

Taylor's head snapped toward her slightly, a flicker of something crossing her face. Surprise. Maybe even something close to vulnerability. "Oh."

Leia frowned, tilting her head. "Why do you sound surprised?"

Taylor hesitated, then gave a small, almost self-conscious laugh. "I don't know. I guess... it just means a lot. Coming from you."

Leia didn't quite know what to say to that. There was too much history between them, too many unspoken things that made moments like this heavier than they should be. But she meant it. She was proud.

Jack, sensing the shift, stretched dramatically, breaking the moment with a theatrical sigh. "Alright, enough of the feelings. What about you, Hudson? What grand plans does Riven have in store for your big return?"

Sure, she might not have been able to be in Taylor's life in the same way as she used to be, but maybe this middle ground wasn't looking so bad.

Things had changed, and life was starting to look good again.

_____

February came around quickly, and before Leia really had time to think much about it, she was celebrating seven months of sobriety. 

Georgie and Niall had gone out of their way to make every month since the first feel celebrated - starting small with pizza nights and dinners out and about. There was still one place Leia hadn't been to since her relapse, and it was kind of an elephant in the room.

So when Leia suggested they go out to celebrate with a few drinks, it was safe to say that the rest were surprised.

"Like... out out?" Georgie asked, fiddling with Tate's harness as they paused during their morning walk in Central Park. It was something they'd started doing recently, and Leia was just grateful that the paparazzi either weren't interested or hadn't noticed it was a regular thing yet.

"Yeah, I guess," Leia mused, taking her phone out and snapping a picture of Tate as he sat at her feet, waiting expectantly for her to pass him a biscuit from her jacket pocket. "I feel ready, George. I just want to get out there and celebrate."

Georgie studied her sister's face, searching for signs of uncertainty or strain, but Leia's expression remained open, even hopeful.

"You're sure? There's no rush, Lee. We could just do pizza at your place like last month."

Leia shook her head, snapping another photo of Tate before tucking her phone away. 

"I've been hiding away for too long. It's time I got back out there." She crouched down to ruffle Tate's fur, avoiding her sister's concerned gaze. "Besides, I can't let Dylan take that from me too. I used to love going out, you know?"

Georgie's expression softened. 

"Yeah, I know." She hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, but we're doing it right. Somewhere exclusive, with security who actually check people's bags. I'll talk to Riven."

Leia grinned, straightening up. "Already did. He's making arrangements for Friday night."

"Of course he is," Georgie laughed, shaking her head. "So, who's on the guest list?"

"Just us. You, me, Niall, Riven." Leia shrugged, trying to appear casual. "And maybe Jack..."

"Jack as in Antonoff?" Georgie interrupted, not letting Leia finish. "As in producer Jack?"

Leia rolled her eyes, tugging Tate's leash gently as they continued walking. 

"Yes, that Jack. We've been texting since the studio session. He's good people."

"Uh-huh," Georgie said, her tone skeptical. "And does Taylor know you're hanging out with her producer?"

"He's not just her producer," Leia protested. "He's worked with half the industry and has been looking over some of the demos I've been working on recently. And yes, she knows. She's the one who suggested we hang out more."

This wasn't entirely true. Taylor hadn't explicitly suggested it, but she hadn't seemed bothered when Jack mentioned meeting up with Leia for coffee the week after their studio session. In fact, she'd smiled that small, private smile of hers and said something about how nice it was to see old friends finding each other again.

"So is she coming too?" Georgie asked, trying and failing to sound nonchalant.

Leia kicked at a pebble on the path. "No. She's in London."

"With Joe," Georgie added unnecessarily.

"Yes, Georgie, with Joe," Leia sighed. "Can we not do this right now? I'm trying to be excited about going out for the first time in forever."

Georgie held up her hands in surrender. 

"Sorry, sorry. I just... I worry about you, that's all."

"I know. But I'm good, I promise. This is just about celebrating seven months sober with the people who matter most." Leia softened, linking her arm through her sister's. She gave Georgie's arm a squeeze.

The truth was, Leia had been thinking about this for weeks. The Grammy's were coming up, and she knew there would be after-parties – places filled with drugs and temptation. She needed to know she could handle it before being thrown into the deep end.

"I also... I was thinking of reaching out to some of the others," Leia admitted. "I know you see them still, but I really do want to build that relationship back up with like Gigi and the others too. I know Selena is out of town but I was thinking about texting Gigi..."

"Yeah, she'll come," Georgie replied without hesitation, turning to see Leia raising a surprise eyebrow at you. "She's been pestering me since New Year about wanting to come over and see you."

Leia stopped walking, the leash going taut as Tate continued forward, then looked back at her with a confused tilt of his head.

"Wait, seriously? Gigi's been asking about me?"

Georgie's expression softened. 

"Of course she has, Lee. They all have. You were gone for a year, and then when you came back... well, you know how it was. Everyone wanted to give you space."

Leia felt a strange mix of guilt and warmth spread through her chest. She'd been so wrapped up in her own recovery, in navigating the complicated terrain of her renewed connection with Taylor, that she'd barely given thought to the wider circle of friends she'd left behind.

"Really? She never texted me."

"Because I told her to give you space," Georgie admitted, looking slightly guilty. "I thought you needed time to focus on yourself without feeling pressured to jump back into socialising."

Leia bumped her shoulder against her sister's, watching Georgie's tension resolve as she realised Leia wasn't angry at her for not having told her sooner. "Always looking out for me."

"It's going to be okay, you know," Georgie said softly, reading her sister's thoughts as she always did. "You don't have to be perfect at this."

Leia didn't reply, but allowed herself to wallow in the idea.

As they rounded the bend in the path, heading back toward the park entrance, Leia felt a lightness she hadn't experienced in months. Maybe it was the prospect of stepping back into the world on her own terms, or maybe it was simply the morning sunshine filtering through the trees. Either way, she was ready.

______

The car ride to the bar was filled with a hum of conversation, but Leia stayed mostly quiet, listening to the familiar banter between Niall and Riven as they debated which spot in New York had the best espresso martini.

Azul was in the front seat of the van, Greg (Georgie's sometimes security) was driving and Leia was aware that one of Niall's team had already arrived to the venue. Georgie had taken it very seriously when she said she was making sure they had a team with them.

The club, which was more of a sleek, upscale lounge than a rowdy dance floor, was tucked into a quieter part of the Upper West Side, the kind of place where celebrities could drink in peace without a phone being shoved in their faces. It had actually been Gigi's suggestion, which Riven had backed up from personal experience.

"Are you ready for this?" Georgie murmured as the car rolled to a stop outside the entrance, her hand resting lightly on Leia's knee.

Leia exhaled, flexing her fingers against the soft leather of her clutch. "I think so," she said, and for the first time in a long while, she honestly meant it.

The doorman recognized them instantly, barely glancing at the guest list before waving them through the private entrance. The air inside was warm, pulsing with the kind of low, rhythmic bass that settled in your chest. Soft amber lights lined the walls, the scent of expensive cocktails and worn-in leather booths filling the air.

Leia barely had time to scan the room before she heard a voice call out, "There she is!"

The back booth was already occupied, laughter spilling from the dimly lit corner where a small group had gathered. Jack Antonoff was the first to wave them over, his grin wide and mischievous, but it was Gigi who stood first, shoving her drink aside as she slid out of the booth.

Leia barely had time to react before Gigi had wrapped her up in a tight, all-consuming hug.

"Oh my God," Gigi breathed into her hair, her arms locking fiercely around Leia's waist. "I've missed you so much."

Leia squeezed back just as hard, something unexpectedly thick lodging itself in her throat. She hadn't realised how much she needed this, not just a friendly hello, not just polite well-wishes but the warmth of someone who had been there before everything fell apart.

"I missed you too," Leia admitted, the words barely above a whisper.

When they finally pulled apart, Gigi was smiling, but her blue eyes were wet. 

"I swear, Georgie's been acting like your bodyguard. I had to bribe her with baked goods just to get updates."

Leia laughed, a real, unguarded sound. "I appreciate the effort."

"Come on," Gigi tugged her toward the booth, wiping at her eye like she could pretend she wasn't emotional. "We got you something."

Leia was halfway to asking what when she saw it, a small cake placed at the centre of the table, decorated in clean white frosting with 7 Months piped in elegant gold script across the top.

A rush of warmth spread through her chest, a tangled mix of gratitude and disbelief. "You guys didn't have to -"

"Shut up and let us celebrate you," Jack interrupted, nudging her into the booth beside him. "Seven months is a big deal, Hudson. We're proud of you."

Leia swallowed, suddenly unsure how to respond to the weight of that statement. Instead, she let herself sink into the moment - into the comfort of familiar faces, into the feeling of being seen for something other than her mistakes.

They all settled around the table, Niall chatting at full speed with one of Jack's friends that had came too while Georgie had naturally fallen into conversation with Riven, Azul and one of the others at the table. Leia was happy there had been others invited - maybe she didn't know them well, but it was more relaxing to have less pressure on her.

Drinks were ordered almost immediately. The waitress rattled off the cocktail specials, and Jack turned to Leia before finalising his order. "You okay with this?"

Leia nodded easily. "Drinking was never my issue," she admitted. "It was... the other stuff I have to be careful of."

Jack nodded in understanding, his expression serious for once. "If it ever gets to be too much, just say the word."

Gigi slid an arm around Leia's shoulders, her presence as grounding as it had always been. 

"We got you, babe."

The drinks arrived quickly. There were an array of espresso martinis which Leia knew had been a product of their conversation in the car on the way here, whiskey neat for Jack, something citrusy for Azul. Leia stuck with a diet coke and Bacardi, taking a sip just as Jack turned to Gigi with a grin. 

"Oh, by the way, this girl's been working on some amazing new music."

Leia nearly choked on her drink. "Jack."

Gigi's eyes widened, her excitement immediate. "Wait, seriously?"

"She's being modest," Jack added, nudging Leia's arm. "I've heard some of it. It's good, G. Like... really good."

Gigi's attention snapped back to Leia, her expression caught somewhere between proud and thrilled. "You're recording again?"

Leia hesitated for half a second before nodding. 

"Yeah. Kind of. Just... easing into it," Leia admitted before shooting Jack a slide glance. "Although he was under oath to stop telling people about that before I decide if it's any good or not."

Gigi reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I hope I get to hear it soon."

Leia felt something settle inside her, a quiet reassurance that she was exactly where she needed to be tonight.

"Yeah," she said, and this time, she meant it. "You will."*

Jack was still talking up her music, having moved on now to talk to the rest of the table about how excited he was after hearing her new demos and working with her, but Leia barely had time to be embarrassed before Gigi nudged her lightly, reaching into her clutch.

"By the way, the cake?" Gigi said casually, pulling out a small envelope and sliding it across the table toward Leia. "Not our idea."

Leia frowned, glancing at the pristine white card. The handwriting on the front was unmistakable.

Her breath hitched slightly, fingers hesitating over the edge of the envelope before she finally peeled it open. Inside, on a simple cream-colored note card, was a short handwritten message in ink she recognized far too well.

Hope you like the cake. They couldn't do mint chocolate, so I settled for second best.

Sorry I can't be there - but really proud of you.

T.

Leia read it twice, her pulse stuttering at the familiar curves of Taylor's handwriting. She could practically hear her voice in the words, the way she probably bit her lip while trying to make it sound effortless. But it wasn't effortless. It was Taylor. Deliberate. Thoughtful.

She glanced up, blinking quickly, finding Gigi watching her carefully.

"She sent this?" Leia asked, her voice quieter than before.

"Yeah. She texted me a couple of days ago, asked if I could sort it out once Jack had mentioned to her that we were coming out to celebrate. She wanted to bake it herself, but you know, logistics." Gigi smirked. "You're lucky... I hear she actually considered baking one herself and flying it over just to make sure it made it here in one piece."

Leia let out a short, incredulous laugh, shaking her head. Of course she did.

Leia tucked the card into her clutch, a small smile lingering on her lips as she turned her attention back to the table. Niall was in the middle of some elaborate story about a fan encounter, his hands gesturing wildly as everyone laughed. The cake sat untouched, waiting for its moment.

As the night progressed, the lounge grew busier, the low hum of conversation rising to meet the music's steady beat. Three drinks in, Leia felt warm and loose-limbed, but still firmly in control. She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed this - the simple pleasure of being out with friends, of feeling normal again.

"I'm going to hit the bathroom," Gigi announced after their second round of appetizers, sliding out from the booth. She glanced at Leia with a raised eyebrow. "Coming?"

Leia nodded, excusing herself from a conversation with Jack about chord progressions. As they weaved through the crowd, she felt a few curious glances, heard the whispered recognition, but no one approached. It was one of the unspoken rules of places like this - privacy was sacred.

The bathroom was a study in luxury. Black marble sinks with gold fixtures, soft lighting that somehow managed to be both flattering and practical, plush hand towels stacked in neat piles beside bottles of expensive hand soap. Gigi immediately gravitated toward the mirrors, leaning close to check her makeup, while Leia stepped into a cubicle quickly.

Once she was finished and walked back into the main bathroom, Gigi was smiling at her through the reflection of the mirror.

"So," she began, her voice casual as she dabbed at the corner of her lipstick. "You and Taylor seem to be on good terms."

Leia laughed, leaning against the counter beside her.

"What?" Gigi grinned, turning to face her. "I'm just saying. Custom cakes and handwritten notes aren't exactly 'we're just casual acquaintances' behaviour."

"We're friends," Leia replied, the word still feeling strange in her mouth when applied to Taylor. "We're... figuring it out."

Gigi nodded, her expression softening. 

"I'm glad. She was really worried about you, you know. During everything."

Leia swallowed, not quite ready to dive into that particular conversation. "Yeah, well. It's complicated."

"When isn't it, with you two?" Gigi teased, bumping her shoulder gently against Leia's.

Before Leia could respond, the bathroom door swung open, and a group of three women entered, laughing among themselves. They were dressed for a night out, all high heels and shimmering dresses, their voices carrying a slight edge of intoxication.

Leia thought she maybe recognised one of them - maybe a model? She wasn't sure but she barely paid them any attention as they continued conversation amongst themselves. Her and Gigi stopped their conversation, knowing that talk of Taylor wasn't something that would happen when others were present.

"Oh my God, sorry," one of them apologized as she nearly bumped into Gigi. Her eyes widened with recognition. "Wait, aren't you..."

"Probably," Gigi replied with a practiced smile, the kind that was friendly but discouraged further conversation.

The woman seemed to recognize the polite dismissal and retreated back to her friends, who were huddled by the last sink in the row. They continued their animated conversation, voices lowered but still audible in the marble-lined space.

Leia turned back to Gigi, about to suggest they head back to the table, when she caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror. One of the women had opened her clutch and was pulling something out - a small plastic bag.

The woman's manicured fingers deftly unfolded the bag, and Leia felt her body go rigid, her pulse immediately quickening. She didn't need to see more to know exactly what it was.

Why did this always happen when she went to the bathroom?

Gigi noticed the change in Leia's posture instantly, her gaze flicking to the mirror to see what had caused it. Their eyes met in the reflection, a silent conversation passing between them.

One of the girls noticed the way Leia had looked over, clearly not recognising who the singer was.

"Want to join us?" the woman offered with a casual smile, like she was extending a stick of gum. "It's really good stuff. My boyfriend's a producer, so..."

Leia's pulse quickened, a rush of adrenaline flooding her system as she stared at the contents of the bag. Time seemed to slow, the bathroom's ambient music fading to a dull thrum as her focus narrowed to the powder that had once been her escape, her downfall, her everything.

Gigi's hand tightened on her back, and Leia caught her friend's panicked glance in the mirror. Before Gigi could intervene, could make excuses or pull her away, Leia found her voice.

"I appreciate the offer," she said, surprised by how steady she sounded despite the thundering of her heart. "But I'm an addict, so it's probably best I don't."

The words hung in the air, stark and honest in the marble-echoing bathroom. The woman's expression shifted from casual friendliness to mortified embarrassment in an instant, her fingers fumbling to zip the bag closed.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," she stammered, shoving the bag back into her purse like it had suddenly caught fire. "I had no idea - oh, you're..."

"It's fine," Leia interrupted, gentler now. The initial surge of craving had passed, leaving behind a dull ache but also something else, a quiet pride in her own resilience. "Really. Just... maybe find somewhere more private next time?"

The woman blinked rapidly, clutching her purse to her chest like a shield. Her friends had gone deathly quiet behind her, the atmosphere in the bathroom shifting from casual glamour to tense discomfort in seconds.

"It isn't fine," Gigi cut in, her voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension. Her blue eyes had gone cold, the friendly warmth evaporated like morning dew under a harsh sun. "Actually, it's really not fine at all."

"You were just about to do drugs in a public bathroom where anyone could walk in," Gigi continued, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Including my friend who's worked incredibly hard on her sobriety." 

She crossed her arms, her designer bracelet catching the light as she shifted. 

"You better get out of here before I call security and have them check every inch of that bag you're clutching like it contains the nuclear codes."

The woman's face drained of colour, her friends already gathering their things, mumbling apologies as they edged toward the door. 

"I'm so sorry," the first woman repeated, her voice small and mortified. "I didn't recognise—"

"Out," Gigi said simply, pointing toward the door. "Now."

"We're going, we're going," one of them muttered, tugging at her friend's arm. "Come on, Mads, let's just go."

Gigi didn't move, her stance protective as the women scurried out, the door swinging shut behind them with a soft thud that echoed in the now-silent bathroom.

The moment they were alone, Gigi whirled around, her expression softening into concern as she reached for Leia's shoulders. 

"Are you okay? Do you need to leave? I can get Azul to bring the car around right now—"

But Gigi stopped mid-sentence, her words trailing off as she took in Leia's expression. Leia was standing by the sink, eyes glistening with unshed tears – but she was smiling. A real, genuine smile that reached her eyes and softened her entire face, transforming it into something luminous despite the bathroom's unforgiving lighting.

"Are you okay?"

Leia nodded, a breathless laugh escaping her as she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. 

"Yeah," she said, her voice thick with emotion but steady. "I'm more than okay."

Gigi studied her friend's face, searching for signs of distress beneath the surface. "You sure? Because it's completely normal if you're not. What those idiots just did..."

"I said no," Leia interrupted, her smile growing wider even as a tear finally escaped, trailing down her cheek. "I saw it right there, and I didn't even..."

She let out a breathless laugh, her chest tightening in a way that wasn't unpleasant, but unfamiliar. It wasn't panic. It wasn't dread. It was pride. The realisation struck her fully then of what had just happened - she had faced the very thing that had once consumed her for the first time since her last relapse, and she had walked away.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Gigi's voice was thick with emotion as she gripped Leia's shoulders, squeezing lightly.

Gigi pulled her into a tight hug, the scent of vanilla and citrus wrapping around Leia like the warmth of an old memory. 

"You should be so damn proud of yourself," Gigi whispered. "Because I am."

Leia clung to her for a moment before pulling back, sniffing lightly as she forced a grin. "If you cry, I'm going to cry again, and then people are going to think something dramatic happened in here."

Gigi laughed, swiping under her own eyes. "Something dramatic did happen. You just had your main character moment, Hudson."

Leia exhaled, giving her one last squeeze before stepping back. 

"Come on," she said, straightening her shoulders. "We have that cake waiting."

Gigi looped her arm through Leia's, guiding them both out of the bathroom. "Damn right we do. And you better be ready for an over-the-top, embarrassing toast because I'm about to make one."

Leia caught a glimpse of their table before they reached it - Jack gesturing wildly as he told some story, Niall doubled over in laughter, Georgie's head thrown back in amusement. The sight sent a surge of affection through her chest. These people, this moment - it felt like coming home to something she'd forgotten she missed.

"There they are," Riven called as they approached, raising his glass. "We were about to send a search party."

"You were in there forever," Niall added, sliding over to make room. "Thought maybe you'd found a secret exit and ditched us."

Leia slid into the booth, the leather cool against her bare legs. Something in her expression must have given her away because Georgie immediately straightened, her smile fading as she leaned forward.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice dropping to a concerned murmur that only those at their table could hear.

Gigi settled beside Leia, reaching for her drink with a casualness that didn't match the fierce protectiveness still evident in her posture. Her head was craned around, checking to see if those girls had left or if she was about to go scream in their faces some more.

The words caught in Leia's throat momentarily, not because she didn't want to say them, but because she was still processing the magnitude of what had just occurred. 

"Some girls were doing coke in the bathroom," she said finally, her voice steady despite the weight of the admission.

The table went utterly silent. Jack's animated gestures froze mid-air. Niall's smile vanished. Georgie's hand shot out, instinctively reaching for her sister's. Riven's jaw tightened, his eyes already scanning the room as if searching for the culprits.

"They offered it to me," Leia continued, lifting her gaze to meet theirs.

"And she said no," Gigi continued, a grin on her face.

"And I said no," Leia repeated, looking at Gigi and squeezing her hand.

"You said no," Georgie breathed out, a grin forming on her face as she looked between her sister and Gigi, making sure she wasn't imagining this.

The faces around the table transformed from shock to pride, joy radiating from each of them in waves she could almost physically feel.

"Damn right she did," Gigi added, raising her glass. "And then she stood there like some kind of sobriety superhero while I threatened to call security on those idiots."

The faces around the table transformed from shock to pride, joy radiating from each of them in waves she could almost physically feel.

"Damn right she did," Gigi added, raising her glass. "And then she stood there like some kind of sobriety superhero while I threatened to call security on those idiots."

"I'm so proud of you," Georgie whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she squeezed Leia's hand tighter.

"You have no idea how badass she was," Gigi added, squeezing Leia's shoulder. "Completely calm, totally direct. Just straight-up told them she was an addict and wasn't interested."

"I can't believe they had the nerve," Azul muttered, his protective instincts clearly ruffled. "In this place, of all -"

"It doesn't matter," Leia interrupted, reaching for her drink. "What matters is that I saw it, I wanted it for about three seconds, and then I realised I wanted this—" she gestured to all of them around the table, "—way more."

Her eyes flickered to the cake and the card.

She wanted the implications of that way more too.

The cake was prepped with seven small candles in moments once Riven had decided it was time to really celebrate, their flames casting a warm glow across the table. Leia thought about Taylor's note tucked safely in her clutch, about the thoughtfulness behind the gesture even from thousands of miles away. She thought about how far she'd come since that night in the club, since the trial, since rehab.

Leia closed her eyes, made a silent wish, and blew out all seven flames in one breath.

As the night wound down and they piled into cars to head home, Leia pulled out her phone. She hesitated for only a moment before typing a message.

'The cake was perfect. Thank you. Wish you could have been here.'

She sent it before she could overthink it, tucking her phone away as Georgie slid into the seat beside her. The reply came just as they were pulling away from the curb, her phone lighting up in the darkness of the car.

'Someday soon. So proud of you, L.'

Her life suddenly felt like her own again.

.

.

.