ᗴ᙭ᑭᒪOՏIᐯᗴՏ|ᵗⁱᵐ ᵇʳᵃᵈᶠᵒʳᵈ

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛| 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵.

In the car, Diana and Charlie went over the plan again. Knocking on as many doors as possible, finding Vance's girlfriend, not running into Bradford along the way, and make a deal with the girlfriend to arrest Vance.

Both kept quiet afterwards, enjoying the low hums of the engine and their view on the city. Soon, their silence was broken by a ringing phone. Sighting, Diana pulled it out and looked at the screen.

Iɴᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ Cᴀʟʟ
𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗺𝗮

Aᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛ/Dᴇᴄʟɪɴᴇ

"Jo, what's up, Mama?"

She heard a chuckle on the other end of the line. "How often did I tell you not to call me that, woman?"

"Oh, only a few dozen times," Diana smiled. "Tell me Athena, what can I do for you?"

"You got some time right now? I don't want to distract you from work."

Diana shook her head, even though she knew the other woman wasn't able to see her. "I've got a few minutes. I could also come over after work if you'd like? With a bottle of wine, maybe?"

"If you're so keen on dining with me, Bobby, my children, my ex-husband and his boyfriend, then sure. How could I say no to you?"

Eyes wide, Diana looked at her partner. Since he didn't hear what Athena was saying, his face held a confused expression.

"Your husband... Michael introduces his boyfriend to you? Seriously?"

Now, Charlie's eyes widened, too. 'What the hell,' he mouthed at her, careful so Athena didn't hear him.

"He's my ex-husband. And I have Bobby now. It wouldn't be fair of me to stand in his way."

"Athena," Diana sighed. "You had a rocky marriage and yes, he is gay but... that doesn't mean you didn't love each other. That doesn't mean that you don't still love each other. That man is the father of your kids. You spent years together. It's totally normal that you feel the way you do."

"Thank you, Diana." The woman on the other end of the line sighed deeply. "Anyway, I have to go to work now, but... since you offered, it would be really nice to have a buffer between... 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙪𝙮 and me. And I'm sure the kids would be happy to see you again. And Bobby-"

With a knowing smile, Diana interrupted her friend. "You don't have to convince me. I'm in. And I bring the wine."

"You really don't have to."

"I want to, Athena. See you tonight, Mama."

"See you tonight, sunshine."

End Call

"Did I get this right? You eat with your friend, her boyfriend, her ex-husband and his boyfriend?"

"And their kids," Diana nodded. "Athena was the second person I knew in this city - first was Buck. She helped me in the police academy. You know, when you change between different states, you have to absolve the academy there again. She was a guest instructor and we talked. After the academy, I rode with her for a few months. Since I was already a cop in New York, I was able to finish my training faster and climbed up the ladder. A year  and a half after coming to LA, I was a Detective again. She was there the whole time."