Never Judge

That evening Cedric and his family all returned to the Capital along with their friends and families. It seemed odd that someone they had just met had such a big impact on all of them, in the case of Jam Lobo it was the quality of their friendship that beat out the quantity of time spent together.

Cedric and Miguel sat in silence in Mountain View's home bar, pouring each other a glass. 

"Do you regret trying to save him?" Cedric asked Miguel. He knew his friend was being plagued by his own thoughts on Jam's death.

"No, of course not. I just -" Miguel paused and took a deep breath. "It's just that I feel like I could have done more."

"Miguel you and I both know there was nothing you could have done." Cedric said as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. He could relate to what Miguel was feeling, he too blamed himself at first for Jam's death. He thought that the Reyes Heir was the real target or that the death could have been avoided, but over the past few days he had accepted the fact that the murderer and the mastermind were the ones truly at fault. It didn't mean he still didn't feel guilt, he still felt that, but he understood more now.

Miguel sighed and finished his drink. "I'll go back now. V's gonna kill me if I come back reeking of alcohol so late." Miguel said, shaking his head as he stood up and bid his friend goodnight.

The walk to Cedric's guest house wasn't long. It was just beyond the pool and down a gentle slope that provided ample privacy for those that stayed in the two story guest house.

He entered the house and changed from his outdoor shoes to his indoor ones. When he got to their bedroom Veronica was still awake looking through some files.

"Hey." Veronica greeted him with a rare smile.

"Hey." Miguel said back in a distant, depressed tone.

"Are you ok?" Veronica asked as she got out of the bed and walked over to her husband.

"Mmmm… No, not really." Miguel said with a sigh. He was taken by surprise when Veronica suddenly wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. 

"You're always the stronger one, the braver one, the one comforting me when I'm down. This time let it be me." Veronica said as she buried her head on his chest. 

Miguel was stunned by her words, he hugged her back and hugged her tight.

"I can't help blaming myself V." Miguel said as he let himself feel all of the emotions he was suppressing.

"Miguel it isn't your fault. No one could have done better." Veronica said as she tried to comfort her husband.

"How do you know V? I'm supposed to be the fucking miracle doctor and yet I couldn't save Jam." Miguel said as he began to sob. 

Veronica held him, like he had held her so many times this past year when she was stressed or when she encountered a failure, it was her turn to support him now. 

"Because my husband is the best doctor around. If he can't do it then no one can." Veronica said as she tiptoed to kiss him on the cheek. "Come." Veronica said as she led Miguel to the couch. She held his hand as they accompanied each other in silence.

"Why don't we talk about something else?" Veronica asked.

"I can't think of anything right now." Miguel said as he shook his head. His mind was too deep into thought about his failure to save Jam.

"Hmmmm, remember when we were both in Paris?" Veronica said as she tried to recall what memories they shared. "I never understood why you took that job. Everyone was so excited for you to return, most especially your dad. You were already the golden boy of the medical field and you were going to take over Saints after he showed you the ropes. We were all so shocked when we heard you took up a charitable position in Paris."

"Well, I took it for you." Miguel shyly admitted.

"What?!" Veronica said in shock as Miguel confessed he was there for her.

"Nicole and Ram told me about what happened to you and Jason. V, I already loved you back then and it hurt me that you were hurt by some scum like him." Miguel said as he pulled his wife onto his lap. "Don't blame them. They just wanted to give me my chance." Miguel said as he held her tight, afraid that she would run away. His emotions were vulnerable at the moment, if she ran it would break his heart.

"How long?" Veronica asked.

"How long what?" Miguel asked her back.

"Don't be stupid, you know what I'm asking." Veronica said as she rolled her eyes.

"I want to hear it from you V." Miguel said in a seductive tone.

"Don't flirt." Veronica told him.

"Come on. Please." Miguel said as he planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Ugh. Fine." Veronica said, finally surrendering. "How long have you known that you, ummm…" 

"You've got to speak up V." Miguel teased.

"How long have you known that you loved me?" Veronica finally managed to say.

"Since that year you brought Jason to my coming home party." Miguel laughed. "I wanted so badly to take you away from him. The next year when I saw the way he used you, I wanted to kill him. I heard him boasting to his friends about how he could get you to buy anything for him and I just snapped."

"You hurt Jason?" Veronica asked.

"Not physically, no. I'm not Alexi or Ray." Miguel said with a laugh. "I just made sure that he could never have you." Miguel said as he planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Wait, so you weren't forced to accept the engagement?" Veronica asked in shock.

"No, I offered myself. It was either me or Jason, and I could never let that happen." Miguel told his wife.

"Wait, what do you mean it was either you or Jason? Why am I only finding out about this now?" Veronica demanded. She tried to get out of Miguel's lap but he refused and held her down.

"You didn't know?" Miguel asked. He suddenly realized that this was probably why she was so cold to him. She must have thought that he was the first and only option.

"No." Veronica said as she shook her head.

"Well V. Remember that year I took you and Nicole to the mall?" Miguel asked.

Veronica simply nodded in reply.

"Well your family was already talking to Jason's family. They were going to engage the two of you. At first I was willing to give you up since I saw how happy he made you." Miguel explained as he looked lovingly into his wife's eyes. "But then, luckily Ram and I heard how he truly felt about you. How he told his friends that he was just using you. V, I could never let you be with someone that despicable, I swear I will always protect you, no matter what the cost. To me you always come first."

"Miguel…" Veronica said as she kissed him. Miguel did not complain and kissed her back. He pulled her closer to him, Miguel didn't dare do anything else, he was afraid that she would get mad if he was too bold.

"I need to know something." Veronica said as she breaks the kiss and pushes against his chest.

"Ask anything and I will tell you the truth." Miguel promised as he kissed her gently on the lips.

"Miguel, you said you've never been with a woman. Is that true?" Veronica asked.

"Yes." Miguel nodded.

"Be honest Miguel." Veronica said in a demanding tone as she got off his lap and walked towards the door.

Miguel chased her and caught her by the wrist. "I'm telling you the truth Veronica! I've never been with a woman. I'm a virgin damnit!" Miguel shouted.

"Then how do you explain the noises I heard in your office in Paris?! I heard you having sex with a woman. She was shouting 'Doctor, doctor, do me now!' I wouldn't mind if you've been with someone Miguel! But lying to my face! I won't fall for that!" Veronica said as she shook Miguel's hand off of her wrist and ran out.

As she approached the stairs she suddenly tripped and fell down a flight.

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