"I'd like to meet her"

6 years later, 1995

Carol slumped back in her seat, eyeing the polaroid in her hand.

"Girlfriend..." she mumbled, studying the woman pictured. She was beautiful, there was no doubting that. Rubbing her hand over her face, Carol throws the photo onto the table tiredly. "Why can't I just remember?"

Maria offered a sad look as she replaced the polaroid back into the photo album. Shaking her head with a sigh, she ran over what to say.

"We both lost a part of ourselves that day." Closing the album, Maria leans closer to Carol. "In a way, you're lucky you can't remember anything. That way you have nothing to hurt you. Us? We had everything. When they told us you were dead we had everything to remember and everything felt like another stab to the chest. I had to tell Lillian because no one else would. She looked as though her heart had been torn from her chest." Carol swallowed harshly as Maria scoffed at the attitude her superiors had towards the incident. "I'd never seen so much emotion on that woman's face." Pointing a finger at Carol, Maria stands. "Lilly loved you with her entire being. When we first met her she was this stone-faced bitch who wore a similar outfit every day. As soon as she started warming up to you, she loosened up." Bracing her hands on her best friend's shoulders, Maria made sure the blonde was listening. "You gave her life, Carol, you two were meant for each other- there's no doubt about that." Reaching up to hold Maria's hands, Carol purses her lips, thinking.

"Do you know where she lives now?" Hesitantly, Maria nods.

Lillian had not moved from the home she had shared with Carol. While her demeanour had returned back to its calloused and demanding self, Lillian Love still clung to the one thing that reminded her of happier times. However, there was an evident change everyone had noticed in the blonde after Carol's 'death'- she failed to care about her appearance anymore.

The next day, where she was forced to act as though nothing had happened, Lillian dressed in the same uniform as everyone else would with her title. Six years later and her closet was collecting dust. Only six tee shirts and trousers were worn each week, her hair wild and static as she only ever ran a brush through it now.

Six years and her self care had gone down the drain. She's built up her walls and that was all she knew now.

"I'd like to meet her again, Maria." Gaping and releasing a disapproving noise, Maria shakes her head.

"That's really not a good idea!" She rushed her words, unsure of how Lillian would react should Carol show up on her doorstep alive and kicking. Hell, the Lieutenant General would probably murder Carol and then Maria and then Carol again. "I have no idea how she'll react-" Carol was giving her the look she always had when she really wanted something. "Don't look like that!" The brunette whined before huffing. "Fine!"