time changes everything - laurel x michaela
When Michaela Prattâs phone lit up with a text message, something she rarely ever received, sheâd been surprised. Her life at the moment was all emails and long legal documents, and the occasional phone call from an angry prosecutor or the ADA. There was certainly no room for people from her past, for the ghosts of that time to come back to haunt her.
She had regrets, sure. But she was moving on. She was a federal judge now, for Godâs sake. One of the youngest to ever be sworn in. There were more important things to worry about, verdicts to make, people to bring to justice.
And yet, when the From: Laurel Castillo brightened her phone screen, Michaela couldnât help but smile, a strange sort of giddiness overcoming her. She shouldâve been scared or afraid or confused, but all she felt was happy. Theyâd all cut her off, Laurel, Annalise, Oliver, Connor. That last one still hurt, even if she understood why.Â
And Laurel contacting her, it was a sign that she hadnât permanently fucked everything up.
Laurel asked her to meet at a cafè near the courthouse, having clearly kept in mind that Michaela couldnât be away from the place for long. Sheâd put thought into this. Michaela couldnât help but feel touched. Nine years had passed, and Laurel still cared enough.
She tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, uncharacteristically nervous, as she sat across an empty chair. She checked her watch, observing the seconds as they ticked by, feeling like eternities were passing in the spaces between them.
But finally, a woman sat across from her.
Michaela took Laurelâs features in. She looked older. Not much, but just enough for Michaela to notice. There were crinkles in the corners of her eyes, the lines of her face more defined.
âHi,â Michaela said, letting the understated greeting hang in the air for a minute.
âHey,â Laurel said, and Michaela watched as her expression softened in real time.Â
âSo, um,â Michaela said, with none of the confidence she was used to having, âWhy did you want to meet?â
âWell,â Laurel said, âI think we should be back in each otherâs lives.â Michaela opened her mouth, but Laurel continued talking before she could get a word out. âAnd I know you probably think thatâs a bad idea, but just hear me out.â She frantically gesticulated throughout the whole sentence, and Michaela couldnât help but smile. Some things never changed.
âEvery single case weâve been involved in is closed. Weâve confessed to what weâve done, mostly told the truthâŚthereâs no danger. And I miss you, Michaela,â Laurel said, voice dripping with unflinching sincerity. âI want to get to know you again.â
Michaelaâs eyes flitted down to Laurelâs lips for a second. She knew how they felt, how they tasted. After all these years, she still hadnât forgotten their celebratory post-exam makeout, never mind that it had lasted for all of five seconds. She wasnât sure why she was thinking about it now, only that it filled her with a strange sense of longing.
âLaurelâŚâ Michaela said, âI want that. You have no idea how badly I want that.â She placed her hand over Laurelâs, which was resting gently on the table. âBut isnât itâŚcomplicated? I mean, for Godâs sake, Connorâs still in prison.â Her voice broke on the last word, catching with guilt.
Laurel raised an eyebrow. âNo, he isnât. You didnât hear? I thought youâd be all tapped into the legal grapevine by now. He got let out early. Good behavior.â
âReally?â Michaela said, looking up.
âYeah,â Laurel said, eyes misting. âListen. I know itâs complicated, and I know itâs messy, but weâve all grown and changed and become newer, better people. Iâve changed. A lot. But one thing never has. I love you, Michaela. I donât think anything could ever stop me from loving you.â
Oddly, Michaela wasnât surprised by the admission. She just felt a sort of settled calm, a sensation of security. Like it was always meant to be said, somehow, someday.
âOkay,â Michaela said. âOkay.â She ran her thumb, still lingering on Laurelâs hand, over the soft fibers of her skin. âHow would you feel about starting our reacquaintance over iced coffee and a croissant?"
Laurelâs face broke out into a smile. It was the most beautiful sight in the world.
âIâd like that,â she said.
