(aurora's outfit for this part of the chapter)

The group went back to normal. Or as normal as you can get after you lost two friends. It was rough, and sometimes, they still found themselves looking around and expecting John B and Sarah to suddenly show up, but they managed. And slowly, the pain did start to lessen, though it never went away completely. Sometimes, they would still feel that ache deep in their hearts, but they were learning how to cope with it.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Aurora muttered, gripping JJ's hand nervously.

"Hey, pogues forever, right? Now it's really gonna be forever." JJ replied, squeezing her hand and smiling over at her.

"Right," Aurora sighs, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Okay, let's do this." She nodded at the tattoo artist, letting her know she can start. The tattoo artist nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before she started. Aurora squeezed her eyes shut as the needle pressed against her skin, the pain sharp and stinging. Her hand gripped JJ's tighter, her fingernails digging into his palm. He winced slightly, but he didn't say anything, just kept a firm grip on her hand. He would do anything for her, even hold her hand while she got her first tattoo.

Aurora and JJ had decided to get a tattoo together, as a reminder of their friendship and everything they had been through. The tattoo was a simple design, just two hands clasped together, symbolizing their bond. It was small, but it held a lot of meaning, and they were both excited to get it. As the tattoo artist continued, JJ glanced over at Aurora, noticing the crease in her forehead and the way her lips were pursed together.

"You good?" He asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm good. Totally good with a needle piercing my skin." Aurora replies, her tone sarcastic. "I'm great."

JJ chuckles, rolling his eyes at her sarcasm. He was glad she could still be a smartass, even when she was in pain. "It's almost done, you're doing great."

"Thanks, that really helps." Aurora deadpanned, though she appreciated his attempt at being supportive. She took a deep breath, trying to relax as the needle continued to press against her skin.

"Just focus on me." JJ told her, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Focusing on the guy whose hand I'm crushing?" Aurora raises an eyebrow, glancing over at him. "Which I'm really sorry about, by the way."

"Nah, doesn't even hut at all." JJ lies, gaining a look from her. "Okay, maybe a little, but really, it's fine. You're doing great, just a little longer and we'll be done."

Aurora sighs, closing her eyes and taking another deep breath. "Fine. Keep distracting me, please."

"Well, I do love hearing the sound of my voice." JJ grins, gaining a small chuckle from her. "So, you got any other tattoos planned after this?"

"No, I'm good with this one." Aurora mumbles. "You?"

"Mm, nah, think I'll stick with this one. But if you ever change your mind, I'll be right there with you." JJ grins. He notices her wince and so he continues to try to distract her from the pain. "So, about that sticker business, think you'll actually have it as a side hustle?"

"Probably not, it's just a hobby." Aurora shrugs. "But I like making them."

"Yeah, I know nothin' about it all, but I think you're pretty d*** good at it." JJ admits. "You know, you could probably make some cash off of 'em. Have your own business. Aurora's Awesome Stickers, or something." He smirked, nudging her shoulder lightly. "People would totally buy them. I'd be your first customer."

"Aurora's Awesome Stickers, huh?" Aurora smirks. "I like the sound of that." She laughed, her eyes brightening again. "Alright, if I ever do start, you'll get a lifetime supply. Free of charge, even."

JJ grins. "I'll hold you to that."

A few moments later, the tattoo artist finished up, and Aurora let out a long breath of relief. She looked down at her new tattoo on her right ankle, a smile tugged on her lips at seeing P4L permanently etched onto her skin. JJ's hand was released from her death grip, and he flexed his fingers a little, the blood returning to his hand. "Sorry," She grimaces. "Didn't mean to hold onto you so hard."

"Ah, it's all good, Rory. It's what pals are for, right?" JJ grins, and she couldn't help but laugh. He had such a contagious laugh, it was hard not to. "And hey, look, now we really are bonded together." He pointed to his own P4L etched on his right ankle. Aurora looked down at her tattoo, the bold letters "P4L" forever inked on her skin, a permanent reminder of their friendship. She laughed softly, her eyes meeting JJ's. "Yeah, I guess we are now. Forever bonded."

JJ grins, his eyes sparkling with that familiar mischief. "Told you, pogues forever." He nudged her playfully with his elbow, clearly proud of their decision.

Aurora smiles back, feeling a deep sense of warmth and gratitude. "Yeah, pogues forever."

She admired the simple but meaningful design, the letters standing for "Pogues for Life," a promise that no matter where life took them, they'd always have each other. The pain of the tattoo had been worth it, especially with JJ by her side, making her laugh and distracting her the whole time. Aurora looked over at the tattoo artist, smiling at her.

"Thanks, I really like it." She said, her tone sincere. "It's perfect." She told her cousin, who smiled back at her. The tattoo artist happened to be one of her cousins on her mom's side. Her mom has two siblings, an older brother and older sister. Her cousin was the oldest of her aunt's children, and she'd been tattooing for years. It felt special to have this mark of friendship done by family.

"No problem, Aurora," Her cousin replies with a warm smile. "I'm glad I could help you make it memorable."

As they got up and walked to the front of the store to the front counter, Aurora started to pull her wallet out, but her cousin stopped her, shaking her head.

"It's on the house, I couldn't make my favorite cousin pay." She smiled at her, her blue eyes sparkling with mirth.

"C'mon, Toni," Aurora protests. "I can pay, it's fine. You deserve it."

"You're family." Toni firmly said, glancing over at JJ, her face softening. "You too, JJ. You guys have been through a lot together. It's the least I can do." Toni's smile widened, and JJ grinned back, his eyes full of appreciation.

"Thanks, Toni. Really appreciate it." JJ said with a nod, not one to argue when it came to family. He glanced at Aurora, who smiled warmly at her cousin and squeezed Toni in a quick hug, thanking her again. The connection between them was unmistakable, and it was clear that this tattoo meant more than just the ink—it was a shared bond that had been built over time, strengthened by their experiences.

As they left the shop, the cool evening breeze hit their faces, and they walked side by side, their matching tattoos a testament to their friendship. Aurora felt a sense of pride in her new ink, not just for the design but for what it represented—the people who stood by her, through thick and thin, no matter what.

"I'm glad that's over with," Aurora admits as they head towards her yellow jeep. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the tattoo, but man, that was painful." She laughs softly, rubbing her ankle where the tattoo now marked her skin. "Worth it, though. Totally worth it."

"Totally." JJ agrees, grinning back at her while they climb into her jeep. "I say we deserve a celebratory ice cream."

Aurora's eyes lit up at the suggestion, a smile spreading across her face. "Now that is the perfect idea." She started the jeep, the engine humming to life.

As they drove, a comfortable silence fell between them, the kind that only close friends could share. Aurora occasionally glanced over at JJ, catching him looking at his own new tattoo with a small, satisfied smile. It was clear they both felt the weight and significance of the ink etched onto their skin—a permanent reminder of the friendship and loyalty they shared.

Aurora smiled to herself as she drove, her heart full. They may have lost John B and Sarah, but they would always have each other, and that's what mattered. She looked forward, focusing on the road ahead, her mind drifting to the future. Whatever it held, she was ready. As long as she had her friends, she knew they could handle anything.

****

(aurora's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Aurora often helped her mom out at her marine biology center, working as a volunteer on weekends and whenever her schedule allowed. She liked it there, the quiet atmosphere and the soothing sounds of the waves were a perfect escape. She would also often bring her sketchbook with her, drawing whatever was on her mind. One day, she was sitting at her usual spot near the back, sketching away while her mom was busy with some customers. Her sketchbook was full of drawings, some were nature, some were random doodles, and some were of her friends.

"Rory." She smiled at hearing JJ's voice and looked up, the smile falling at seeing the look on his face. He looked like he was trying to hold back tears, his hand gripping his chest while she realized his breathing was a little uneven. She immediately closed her sketchbook and stood up, walking over to him.

"Hey, hey, what's going on? What happened?" Aurora asked, her voice filled with concern. She reached out to gently touch his arm, guiding him to sit down on one of the nearby benches.

JJ takes a shaky breath, his eyes red-rimmed. "I-I was at work. Then there were some kooks being kooks...Talking about John B and I just...I lost it. Almost...Almost had a fight with Kelce-got fired, and now I-I can't breathe..." JJ's voice cracked, his chest rising and falling in quick, uneven breaths. He rubbed his chest, the ache in his heart growing stronger. He was fighting back the tears, the lump in his throat getting tighter. He had managed to hold himself together until he got here, where he knew he was safe, that he could finally break down.

She immediately drops to her knees in front of him, her hands gently resting on his knees, trying to ground him in the moment. "Jay, look at me." She gently commands. His panicked eyes met hers, the pain in them causing her own heart to ache. She could see the guilt he felt, the grief still so raw and overwhelming. "Deep breaths. In and out. Follow my lead." She grabs his hand from his chest to place it over her heart, holding it there with her own hand so he could feel the steady beat of her heart, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. "You're safe here, JJ, and I've got you."

He focused on her, the way her eyes shone with care and her gentle voice soothed his frayed nerves. Her steady heartbeat against his palm and her even breathing helped calm his racing heart, his own breathing slowly beginning to match hers. As his breathing returned to normal, he let the tears flow, his head falling forward into the crook of her neck.

Aurora wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She felt his tears wetting her shoulder, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that he was okay, and she would do whatever it took to help him through this. He had always been there for her, and now it was her turn. She rubbed his back soothingly, her fingers tracing circles across his skin. She looked up over his shoulder when she heard footsteps, noticing her mom standing near the entrance to the back, a worried expression on her face. Aurora mouthed to her 'i got him' and her mom gave her a small smile and nod before disappearing back into the front.

JJ's tears slowly began to subside, and he pulled back slightly, wiping his eyes. Aurora smiled gently at him, handing him a tissue. He wiped his eyes and blew his nose, and she waited patiently for him to compose himself, her hands still on his knees.

"Better?" She asked, her voice soft.

JJ lets out a shaky breath, giving her a weak smile. "Yeah. A little."

Aurora nods, smiling back at him. "Good." She squeezes his knees gently, her expression softening. "What can I do to help?"

JJ shakes his head, not wanting to bother her. "Nah, I'm okay. I knew you would be working here, I should probably just go-"

"Hey, none of that." Aurora cut him off, her tone firm but gentle. "You're not going anywhere. Not when you're like this. I'm here for you, Jay. Always."

JJ sighs, his shoulders slumping. He gives her a grateful look, nodding. "Okay. I just...I need a distraction."

Aurora smiles, understanding. "Gotcha. Distraction it is." She stands up, offering him her hand. "You wanna see something cool?" She grinned, wiggling her eyebrows as she grabbed her things to put in her bag she had.

JJ takes her hand, letting her pull him up. "Sure."

Aurora's face brightens and she leads him inside, greeting some employees as they passed them. Aurora led JJ through the back entrance of the marine biology center, the air shifting from the saltiness of the sea to the cool, calming scents of the tanks and aquariums. Her mom was busy with some customers, so Aurora had free reign to show JJ around. She wanted to take him to see one of her favorite creatures, a baby dolphin they recently rescued.

"Here, let's go check on my new buddy." Aurora grinned, tugging him towards the back area where the animals were.

"New buddy?" JJ raised an eyebrow, his tone curious.

"Yep. Baby dolphin. He's adorable." Aurora says, a sparkle in her eyes. "C'mon, I know you'll love him." She grins, leading him over to the pool where the baby dolphin was swimming. The small creature spotted them, his eyes lighting up and his tiny fins waving in the water excitedly. Aurora smiles, leaning down to run her fingers along his head and back, the dolphin nuzzling her hand affectionately. "Hi, little guy. You miss me?" She cooed at the creature, her smile widening as the dolphin let out a happy squeak.

"My mom and her rescue team saved him from a fishing net a few weeks ago. He's doing so much better now." Aurora shares, watching as the baby dolphin swam excitedly around her, clearly enjoying the attention. "Once he's all better, we'll release him back into the wild, but for now, he's getting the best care possible." Aurora's voice was filled with pride as she watched the dolphin swim in circles around them, clearly thriving under the attention.

JJ's expression softened, his eyes lighting up as he watched the dolphin's playful movements. He crouches down beside Aurora, his previous worries and panic momentarily forgotten. "He's pretty awesome," JJ remarks, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I can see why you love him."

Aurora grins, her eyes glowing with affection as she reached out to scratch behind the dolphin's dorsal fin, causing the baby dolphin to nuzzle her hand. "Yeah, he's amazing. And he's got the sweetest personality. It's hard not to smile when he's around."

The dolphin squeaks again, splashing the water as if trying to get their attention. Aurora giggles, leaning back just in time to avoid getting splashed. "I think he's trying to show off for you." She teased, her voice light and playful.

JJ chuckles, his mood visibly lifting as he watched the dolphin's antics. "I'm not complaining. I needed this." He admits, reaching over to gently stroke the dolphin's head, his eyes bright with a mixture of wonder and amusement. "He's got a way of making everything else fade away, doesn't he?"

Aurora smiles warmly at him, watching the way his face softened as he interacted with the dolphin. "Yeah, he really does."

"Thanks for taking my mind off things, Rory." JJ smiled fondly at her, feeling a sense of calm wash over him that he hadn't felt in hours.

Aurora looks at him, her smile softening. "Of course, Jay. You never have to thank me for that. You've always been there for me, and I've got your back, no matter what." For a moment, they both stood quietly, watching the dolphin swim happily in the water. Aurora's heart swelled with a sense of contentment, knowing that, despite everything they'd been through, their friendship was as strong as ever.

JJ let out a breath, his shoulders a little less tense now. "I think I'm ready to get back to the world outside this place," He said, standing up and offering her a hand. "But, uh, if I need another distraction, I know where to find you."

"Exactly. Or you can just hang out with me for the rest of the day. I'm sure my mom would love another pair of hands around." Aurora shrugs, a smirk tugging at her lips. "She could probably find some tasks that need done."

JJ grins, shaking his head. "I'd be more likely to mess things up than help. Besides, you know I'm not a fan of doing chores."

Aurora laughs, rolling her eyes playfully. "Yeah, me neither, but this is different. You get to hang out around these cool creatures. And me." She added, grinning at him.

JJ chuckles, a smirk tugging at his lips. "True."

"Just an idea, no pressure. You can leave if you want." Aurora assured him, nudging him with her elbow.

JJ shakes his head, looking down at the baby dolphin again. The dolphin swam close to the edge, as if hoping for JJ to pet him again. JJ smiles, running his hand along the dolphin's head, his eyes softening. "Maybe I'll stick around for a bit longer."

After a few minutes of playing with the dolphin, Aurora and JJ decided to head back to the main part of the center. They walked side by side, the baby dolphin's playful splashes in the background, as they continued through the center. Aurora, with her warm and steady presence, had given him more than just a distraction; she had reminded him that, even in the toughest times, he didn't have to face the world alone.