Chapter Text
There were not many places to go in this part of the city when in need of proper solitude. The narrow cobbled streets, the buildings stacked so high atop each other that sunlight was scarce, vendors all clamoring for the attention of those passing by, children darting between the chaos—they didn't allow for things as precious as peace and quiet. Those were reserved for the special few—those in the upper parts of the city closest to the castle, in the heart of Piltover—where the sun lit the way wherever you went, where the air was perfumed by window boxes overflowing with flowers and herbs, where each house and building was distinctly its own.
That wasn't to say that Viktoria didn't still think her home was beautiful, because it was in its own way. Close proximity to ones neighbors meant that your business was never truly your own, but it also meant that there would always be someone around to help you in a time of need. The sun may not pave the streets in gold, but there was a sense of pride knowing that plant life persisted nonetheless, growing along building fronts, peaking out between bricks and stones, thriving where it was never meant to. And ain't that just the way.
Viktoria felt a sense of comradery with these plants. She herself hadn't been expected to last very long—and she couldn't exactly say that she "thrived" per say—but she'd found her way, in large part due to her parents. She'd fallen ill when she was very young, not that sickness was uncommon in these parts. The pollution flowing downstream into her home made sure of that. As apothecaries, her parents were prepared to nurse her back to health. When she didn't recover as quickly as the other children, they poured everything they had into exploring alternative treatments. Though her health eventually improved, she was mostly kept inside as an extra precaution for some time. It wasn't until a few years later, when the cries of her neighbors were too loud and too persistent for the Crown and its advisors to ignore, that the pollution was taken care of.
Viktoria could never quite get a clear answer from her parents about why the King got to be the King. This simply being the way things are did not sit right with her, especially since it didn't appear as if he truly did very much. She could think of many things she would like to do if she were him—so many things that could make things easier for her neighbors.
Her parents had said something about influence, about power. She quickly wrote those words down in her journal, so she would have them ready the next time she was able to make the journey up to the library. Knowing it would be some time before she could make the trip—it was quite the walk considering its close proximity to the check-point into the upper part of the city—she tried to deduce their meanings from her parents.
If influence meant you knew people—knew how to get things done—and power meant that you could actually make those things happen, she could think of at least a dozen of her neighbors that could handle that kind of responsibility—that already did. Her neighbors had been the ones to tell the Crown about the pollution, after all.
And that's what a good neighbor was: someone that took care of those around them.
When the roof of their storefront caved in after a storm, her parents went to Mr. Benzo, who knew every builder in town since he supplied their specialty materials. If there were issues with inventory shipments, Mr. Silco would sort things out for them right away—or find a better contractor. Around age seven, when Viktoria outgrew the cane her parents had whittled for her when she was younger, Miss Felicia helped them take new measurements, find sturdier wood, and reinforce the handle. Since she was allowed back outside, she noticed her right leg giving her more trouble, so the extra support made a big difference. If all else failed, her parents—and most everyone else—would go to The Last Drop looking for Vander. He certainly knew how to make things happen if you were in a pinch.
One night—when Viktoria was meant to be asleep, even though she believed she should be allowed to stay up now that she was eight—she heard her parents discussing a Council that would be formed in the upper part of the city. Her neighbors didn't usually pay much mind to the King, but it seemed like now folks in the city's center were not too fond of what he was doing, or rather not doing, either. Her father's laugh was tired as he whispered that the King's royal advisors were seemingly doing all the work anyway, so what difference would it really make to them? He did not seem convinced that the city's merchants—who Viktoria supposed were the people helping with this—would be any better.
As she leaned closer, her cane caught on a floor board, pushing her into the cracked door and revealing her hiding space. Her parents startled at the sound, but her mother soon smiled softly and patted her lap, welcoming her in. Viktoria shuffled over and pushed herself up and onto her mother, relieved that she could share her thoughts with them now.
"Máma, what about Vander?" she asked, peering up into her mother's warm brown eyes that mirrored her own. Viktoria hoped she would be just as beautiful as she someday.
"What about him?" she replied, slowly brushing her fingers through Viktoria's hair.
"The Council! If they need merchants, wouldn't he be a good person to help out? Táta, don't you think so? He has a business!" she exclaimed, looking to her father for support and surprised he had not thought of that already.
She frowned when her father's face did not light up the way she had hoped. Instead, his expression remained fond, doting even, but more tired than before.
"Viki," he sighed as he took reached out to hold her hands. "Vander does not need a place on that Council to watch out for us. We help each other, take care of each other, because it is what we do. That is how it has always been."
She started to protest, but cut herself off with a yawn. Her parents carried her back to their bed, tucking her in-between them and promising to talk about it more in the morning.
Once the morning came around, there hadn't been time for her to ask again. She'd recently been allowed to check through their inventory deliveries and she relished the opportunity to notice an inconsistency no one else had. Thoughts of the new Council and what that might mean floated to the background once more. After all, it was at least clean and safe enough for her to go outside now. Her community had seen to that.
Her new cane allowed her to keep up with the other children better, but she still craved time to herself when the chaos became too much. Eventually, she found her own little place: a small cove by the sea, protected from the hustle and bustle of the docks by several large rock formations. Though it took some maneuvering for her to get down to the spot, she could manage it well enough with the help of her cane. It was the perfect place for her to write in her journal, detailing the plants that grew there and sharing her innermost thoughts. A haven away from home where she could finally get some peace and qui—
"What are you doing?"
Viktoria spun around, nearing jumping out of her own skin at the pair of golden eyes spying from behind a rock at the cove's entrance. "T- This is my spot… So, really, I should be asking what you're doing," she stated coolly.
"Oh, um, I guess I didn't know it was your spot," the voice replied, slightly muffled by its hiding spot. "I found it by accident…"
Seemingly taking Viktoria's silence as an invitation, the voice's owner crawled out from their hiding spot, finally giving Viktoria a better look at the intruder. They seemed to be around her age, wearing simple brown pants and a shirt that she assumed had once been white but was now hopelessly dirty. It looked as if they had quite literally rolled in mud, but who would do that to a perfectly good shirt? The figure crept forward before plopping down to a seat a few feet in front of Viktoria. She noted that their eyes were indeed golden, almost strikingly so, and their face was pleasantly round, with plump rosy cheeks and small dimples framing their shy smile. A few dark curls peeked out of the front of their cap, though the rest of their hair couldn't be seen. As they nervously chewed on their bottom lip, Viktoria realized she'd been quiet for too long.
"I suppose it's not my spot… but no one else has ever found me before. I usually come here to be alone," she explained.
Her words landed more harshly than she'd intended—or, perhaps, this child was just far more sensitive than the ones she usually played with. Their eyes widened slightly before they nervously looked down at their hands, where Viktoria could see most of their cuticles had been picked nearly raw.
"I… I didn't mean to intrude, really I didn't. I just… I just wanted my head to be quiet for a little while," they whispered. That was a feeling that Viktoria, unfortunately, knew all too well.
"Well, since you're already here… we could both stay and enjoy the quiet together," she tried. "You look like you could use it. No offense."
As the child looked up, she could see that their eyes were shimmering slightly, but their expression had lightened. "Really? Are you sure? I don't want to be a problem."
"You're not a problem, and I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it." To prove it, Viktoria patted the space next to her. They wasted no time scrambling over next to her, sitting much closer than Viktoria intended. As they leaned over to peer into her journal, their cheek rested against her arm.
"I have a journal too, but I didn't bring it with me," they stated, pouting out of frustration. "Maybe I can bring it next time—if there is a next time, of course! I wouldn't want to assume or anything," they continued, barely losing steam as they rambled on. "But then maybe we could share and I could show you some of my drawings or maybe you could tell me about what you're doing!"
They were unlike anyone Viktoria had met before and, for once, she found that she didn't mind a little extra noise. "Well now that you know how to get here, I'm sure there can be a next time," she said, hoping she didn't sound too excited. "I can show you what I'm working on now if you promise to bring your journal next time. Deal?"
"Yes! Of course! I'd like that very much." From this distance, Viktoria could see a small gap in their teeth as they smiled up at her.
"Good… I'm Viktoria, by the way. I'm ten."
"Oh, right! I'm, uh… I'm JJ. I just turned nine a few months ago. That's actually when I got the journal! My mother said it's good for young ladies to keep a diary… although I don't think I'm much of a lady yet," she confessed with a frown.
So she was a girl after all, not that that mattered much to Viktoria. "I'm probably not much of a lady either," she admitted, before lowering her voice to a whisper. "But don't worry. It's not a requirement for entry into the cove."
JJ giggled, leaning in like they were sharing a secret. And maybe they were—after all, the cave was a place for just the two of them now. "Good! Although, you're certainly pretty enough to be a lady," JJ whispered back.
Viktoria blushed at the compliment. "I'm sure you're pretty enough to be a lady too, underneath all that mud, of course," she teased, although JJ was more than pretty enough, mud included. "Perhaps it is a good thing that you didn't bring the journal with you today, seeing as you fell down. It would've gotten dirty."
JJ blinked slowly, as if processing something. "Fell down?"
"Well, yes. I assume that's where all this came from, no?" she stated, gesturing to JJ's clothes. "Unless you just decided to take a swim in a puddle or something."
"Oh! Oh, yes, that… yes, I…" JJ paused. "I tripped on some of the rocks and that's—yes—that's when I ruined my shirt. I forgot, I think."
Her new friend started pulling at her sleeves, seemingly attempting to brush some of the dried dirt off of it. Viktoria didn't have the heart to tell her that the effort was likely in vain. While she had intended to tease JJ, once again it appeared that she'd hurt the poor girl's feelings—like a warm, ripe peach that would bruise as soon as you picked it up.
Sweet girl. Viktoria had been pushed around by bullies before, she'd tripped over her own foot before—maybe JJ was simply embarrassed. She could be working odd jobs to support her family, for all Viktoria knew. That would explain the rather boyish clothing.
She was determined to make sure JJ felt welcome and to accommodate her tender heart. The frown scrunching up her face didn't suite her at all.
In fact, Viktoria decided she didn't want to see that frown ever again, clearing her throat.
"I actually slide down some of the rocks closer to the water a few months ago trying to reach these little yellow flowers that popped up. I tore my apron pretty badly," she explained, tugging on the mismatched hem laying across her lap. "But then my mother fixed it up for me with some old curtains and now its much more interesting."
JJ nodded slowly, reaching out to admire the patchwork smock overtop Viktoria's dress. "Did you get to the flowers?"
"I did. And I have the apron," she affirmed. "Happy accident."
"But accidents are bad… Aren't they?" she looked up, confused. Viktoria couldn't help but smile fondly as she noticed that JJ was rubbing her thumb over her apron's hem—certainly unintentionally, but clearly seeking comfort.
"Not always. Sometimes you don't mean for something to happen, but it does. And sometimes something nice comes out of it… You didn't intend to find this place, right? But you did and now it belongs to both of us. Very happy accident."
JJ stopped chewing on her bottom lip as a small smile spread across her face. "Oh. Yes, I think it's happy too—I-I mean, I'm happy I'm here, that I found you."
JJ hummed to herself, deciding something, before suddenly standing. She offered her hand to Viktoria. "Come on! I have an idea."
Viktoria grabbed her cane so she could pull herself up. JJ likely didn't mean anything by it—in fact, it seemed she hadn't noticed the cane until now—but she wanted to show she could do it herself. Still, she couldn't resist weaving her fingers in-between JJ's once she was standing, letting herself be slowly led to the cove's opening. JJ looked around for a moment, before picking up a jagged stone and getting to work on the side of the rock she'd previously hid behind. After a few moments, she stepped back to admire her work.
Leaning closer, Viktoria inspected the side of the rock. Forever immortalized in stone, there was now a simple carving making it clear who this spot belonged to: "JJ + V."
—
As the years came and went, the carving stayed and so did the two girls. Even as Viktoria helped her parents more and more at the apothecary and JJ's own responsibilities kept her away during the day, they always found time for each other. Viktoria would bring new plants she'd found or learned about from her parents and JJ would bring books from the library to share with her. Viktoria had initially been surprised by how nice the books were—the ones from the library in the lower levels were in far worse condition and the collection was certainly much smaller. She'd often worry about getting them back to JJ on time, but her friend always said the library was happy to let her keep them as long as she wanted, which was very nice of them.
They would also work on small projects together. When Viktoria started to need additional support in her leg and back when she was 12, she and JJ found little ways to enhance her braces, adding padding, oiling the joints, or—at JJ's insistence—adding embellishments to personalize them. She was never sure where JJ found the parts she brought—and they were always in such good condition.
Viktoria was never sure why JJ was so expressive and open when it came to matters between the two of them, but rather cagey when it came to talking about her home or family. She supposed that it didn't matter very much—family matters could be quite complicated and—from what she could tell—JJ clashed considerably with her mother. Her friend never went into specifics, but it was clear that they disagreed on what JJ should and shouldn't do. If JJ was running late for one of their planned meetings, it wasn't uncommon for her to arrive in tears.
Viktoria never understood how anyone could look at JJ and not feel proud of her kindness, her intellect, her wit. Perhaps, Viktoria could see why her mother might not approve of the way that JJ dressed or her habit of stuffing her hair into hats and scarves. Although that was purely based on how proper and stuffy she assumed JJ's mother to be—Viktoria knew there was little that could diminish JJ's beauty, and her masculine attire made her look quite handsome even when covered with the layer of dirt and dust that never seemed to leave her.
It was strange. JJ was her best friend and had been for years. She knew her better than anyone else and, yet, it sometimes felt that she didn't know her at all. Her life outside of their midnight meetings was a mystery to Viktoria. Ultimately, she decided it didn't matter—she would take the time she did get.
When Viktoria was 13, her father passed away suddenly. With hindsight, she and her mother recalled that he had eaten a little less, perhaps been a bit paler than usual, but he had been in good health otherwise—or so they thought. The relief of knowing that he passed quietly in his sleep didn't stretch very far. She was grateful that it was quick and painless, but that wouldn't make him come back.
JJ was one of few comforts during those first few months, but Viktoria was called on to help her mother at the apothecary more and more with her father gone. She'd always known she would take over the business one day, though she didn't think those responsibilities would be passed on so soon. She started exclusively meeting JJ at night, slipping out once her mother was asleep. She didn't want to cause her mother any unnecessary stress.
Her mother was never truly the same after her father's passing. She'd always been on the quieter side, but now she was nearly silent, always seemingly far away. Though she would tend the storefront during the day alongside Viktoria, it became more of a formality than anything else. She would make sure her mother was comfortable, propped up in a chair behind the counter, occasionally making conversation with those that stopped by but receding into her own thoughts otherwise. Their neighbors took notice, often dropping off meals or offering to watch her mother while Viktoria ran errands. At 14 years old, she was practically an adult already.
Although JJ could never make it into the lower levels of the city, she started bringing Viktoria produce from her family's garden and giving her little trinkets to lift her spirits. Viktoria especially loved when JJ brought her wildflowers so she could press them in her journal. Her friend was always quick to offer to adjust her brace on bad pain days or rub her leg after a long day on her feet. The pain never fully went away, but JJ's care was a welcome presence nonetheless.
When they'd met by chance a few years prior, she'd never expected to rely so heavily on a stranger, but JJ was everything to her. Sure, she had other friends, but none so close as she. JJ often lamented over her inability to do more for Viktoria, frustrated to a degree that Viktoria found both endearing and confusing. JJ was only 13 and seemingly strictly under the thumb of her mother—what was she supposed to do?
—
Shortly before Viktoria turned 15, the winter's chill took her mother. Whereas her father's passing had been a cruel shock, her mother's death was like the expected dull ache after a long day of work. Though she harbored guilt over it, Viktoria had felt something close to relief when it happened. No one could say for certain what finally claimed her, but there was a clear cause that went unnamed: a broken heart, as simple as that. While her parents were reunited at last, Viktoria was more alone than ever.
With no one else to run the apothecary, she saw JJ even less. She'd once asked her friend to stay with her, even just for a night, but the devastation in JJ's eyes as she explained that she just couldn't had been painful enough for them both that she hadn't dared to ask again. Viktoria had trouble articulating why exactly it pained her so to feel as if she was JJ's friend only by the moonlight, even though she understood that was just the way things were.
Several months later, she finally understood why.
She and JJ were curled up in their cove, with Viktoria resting her head in JJ's lap as her friend read her a story aloud—a pastime that Viktoria had come to rely on when she wanted nothing more than to empty her mind and surround herself with her friend's sweet voice. As she read, JJ's hand gently stroked Viktoria's hair, sometimes diverting to caress her cheek. Truthfully, Viktoria wasn't paying much mind to the actual story—something about traveling to a far off land with mages and princesses and talking woodland creatures.
"V? Are you asleep?"
She cracked her eyes open, blinking up at her friend. JJ smiled, her head haloed in moonlight. "Mmm… no… just letting myself get emersed in the story," she hummed.
"Right," JJ laughed. "I think maybe it's time for us to wrap up for the night since you're getting so sleepy."
Viktoria nuzzled further into her friends lap. "No, I'm awake, I'm listening. Not time to go yet," she insisted as her eyes fluttered shut.
She felt JJ shift, then felt herself be lifted to a seat. Without thinking, she let her head fall into JJ's shoulder. Her friend continued petting her hair for a moment, before whispering, "If you plan on continuing to fall asleep, then I guess I can't give you your surprise before I go."
Viktoria scoffed into JJ's shirt. "You're just saying that."
"No I'm not," JJ replied, tapping her pocket which jingled with the movement. That sparked Viktoria's interest.
She lifted her head to meet JJ's gaze, narrowing her eyes slightly. "What's the occasion?"
"You wound me, V," she chuckled, tilting her head. "We met five years ago around this time of year. Remember?"
"Honestly… no, I forgot," she said sheepishly. "I'm sorry, there's just been—"
"V, it's fine, truly. I actually… um, I was planning on giving you the gift before I realized what time of year it was. So it's not really for our anniversary—or not our anniversary, but I guess sort of a friendship anniversary?"
"Well, I guess that's alright then," she teased through a fond smile.
"Good." JJ smiled, though she was nibbling on her bottom lip nervously. "Um, just turn around…"
Viktoria shifted on the gravel, so her back was turned to JJ. After a moment, her friend's hands appeared in her periphery accompanied by a necklace that sparkled slightly as it caught the light. Once it was lowered across Viktoria's neck, she got a better look while JJ clasped the back. Hanging from the silver chain was a small blue pendant.
"It's sea glass... I know it's not super fancy or anything, but I found it in the cove one of the first times that I came back here while I was waiting for you. It's been on my bedside table all these years because it reminds me of you and this place, but I— I realized that I want you to have it… I know that we don't get to see each other as often and I want you to have a little piece of me with you. I know it's just a dumb piece of gla—"
"JJ, it's beautiful." She held her friend's hand, giving it a squeeze. "It's the most wonderful gift I've ever received, thank you. I— Truthfully, now I'm even more embarrassed that I don't have anything to give to you."
"Oh! Viktoria, no. That's not necessary. I mean, you shared this place with me and that's a debt I'll never be able to repay."
"If memory serves, I don't know that I had much of a choice but to share the cove with you. With you looking so pitiful, wide-eyed and caked in mud." JJ laughed, gentle shoving her shoulder. "Alas, I still feel I should give you something."
She's not sure what possessed her but—before she could stop herself—she leaned in, cutting off JJ's rebuttal with a kiss. A quick press of her lips, fleeting, chaste, almost as if it didn't happen, but a kiss nonetheless.
When she opened her eyes—suddenly breathless and buzzing with nonexistent electricity—it felt like she was transported back in time as wide open golden eyes met hers. Not breaking eye contact, JJ slowly brought her hand up to her lips, then her gaze dipped as she reached out to brush her fingers against Viktoria's lips as if she were putting together the puzzle pieces of what just transpired. Before Viktoria could think to do anything, JJ leaned forward to connect their lips once again, more firmly this time, more certain.
They both pulled back moments later, the silence breaking as Viktoria giggled, overcome with how giddy and deliriously tired she was. JJ soon followed, holding Viktoria's hands in hers as they both caught their breath.
"We should probably both go home, I guess," Viktoria admitted, finally.
"Yeah, we probably should."
"The next few days are going to be quite busy for me… Maybe I'll see you on Sunday?"
JJ nodded her head solemnly. "Of course. Sunday then."
Viktoria was certain that she'd never had an easier walk home than she did that night, on account of her floating the whole way.
—
When the creeping warmth of spring came to the city, so did the seemingly never-ending season of rain. Due to the geographic layout their home, the lower parts of the city tended to flood as water trickled down from the upper city—thankfully, now, without any additional chemicals along with it. As a result, traveling upwards through the streets was difficult on the heaviest days, even with the grip that JJ and she had built for the bottom of her cane. It wasn't uncommon for their meetings in the spring to be interrupted by rain, same as the winter with snow.
When they both finally made their way to the cove again, JJ fell into Viktoria's arms the moment she arrived. Between hiccuped sobs, Viktoria was able to make out that JJ had gotten into another fight with her mother. Something about her family, their business… Viktoria didn't know enough about that to understand how or why, but that didn't matter nearly as much as comforting her friend, whatever the reason. She pulled JJ's legs across her lap, cocooning her in her arms as she slowly rubbed JJ's back and pressed her lips to her temple. They hadn't kissed again since that night, but the impact on their closeness was undeniable. JJ always stayed close to her, but there was something more delicate underneath it now, something they were both becoming aware of.
"Shh, it's alright, sweet girl. You're alright," she cooed. "You're with me now. She can't find you here."
After several minutes, JJ's breathing slowed and her sobs were reduced to sniffles. "I don't want to go back, V. P-Please don't make me go back."
Viktoria lifted JJ's chin so she could meet her gaze, tucking a loose curl behind her friend's ear. "I know you don't want to go back, but you have to."
"No. No, I can't. We've never fought like that before, I've never seen her so angry… I can't go back. I just can't."
"JJ… where else would you go?"
That gave JJ pause. Her eyes were wide, shaking, rimmed with red and still-drying tears. Finally, she looked up, her gaze unwavering with certainty. "What if we left," she stated—not as a question, because she wasn't asking.
"We can't just leave…"
"Why not? Neither of us have ever left this city, there's no one keeping us tethered here. We're smart enough to make it on our own. Every place needs an apothecary and I could work in a library or an archive, or maybe we could study somewhere as long as we pass the entrance exam! V, we could do this."
"I don't know… There'd be so much to figure out and… we just can't. You can't leave your family."
"Viktoria, you're my family," she pleaded. "If I really miss my other family, then there's nothing stopping us from coming back, but… I don't think I can be who I want to be—or even really figure out who I want to be—if I stay here. We're smart—we can figure this out. Why not?"
There was a part of her brain screaming that she couldn't just up and leave… but couldn't she? Running her family's apothecary just wasn't the same anymore, now that she was alone. And JJ was right, she could set up a new practice anywhere. Maybe she could even further her studies at an academy, like JJ said. She was so focused on the day-to-day knowledge that helped her run the shop, but she'd always craved more. To dig deeper into botany beyond the medicinal properties of plants, maybe even broaden her horizons to biology or chemistry.
Looking into JJ's eyes, she knew she could never refuse her. There wasn't anything holding them back, and if JJ was ready, then so was she.
"Are you sure you want to do this? Leave? With me?" she asked in a small voice. She knew what they meant to each other, but this felt different. Bigger.
"More than anything else," her friend replied without a trace of hesitancy.
"I'll need time to get my things in order. I'll have write a note, explaining that I've left. I— I think I know someone who could take over the shop."
"Of course, V. I'll need to get my things together too," she nodded. "How about we leave the beginning of next week? Is that enough time?"
Was it? "Yes… Yes, I think that should be enough time. And we'll have to have a proper send off to say goodbye to the cove." She knew she would miss this place more than any other.
"That's a wonderful idea. We'll do that," JJ agreed. "I'm a little scared… But I'm really excited."
"Me too," Viktoria giggled nervously. "But we're doing this. We're really doing this."
"Yeah. We are." JJ reached for her hand, bringing it up to her lips and placing a feather-light kiss against her knuckles. Leaning in further, JJ pressed her forehead to Viktoria's.
Overwhelmed, she just barely choked out, "You— D-Do you know what—"
"I do," she whispered. "I've read a lot of history books, V."
Viktoria steadied her breath, finally pressing intentionally into JJ. She'd never shared a moment like this with anyone other than her parents and the only other people she'd seen them share this gesture with were each other. Maybe in the upper parts of the city, this kind of closeness would still seem intimate—but only those in the lower levels understood the depth it held. She wasn't sure what kind of book would hold that information, but she couldn't deny the warmth she felt thinking that JJ had sought it out for her.
"I'll see you first thing next week. Yes?"
"I promise," JJ whispered. "First thing next week."
But, by the time a week had come and gone, JJ was nowhere to be found.
Viktoria waited with her packed bags all night. And all the next day too. But she never appeared.
Not the next day, not the next week, nor the one after that.
After a month, Viktoria realized that JJ was never coming.
After a year, Viktoria realized that she would never see JJ again, questioning if she'd ever been real at all.
Wish as she might, JJ never returned to their cove.