Queen of Blackmail

"Wakey, wakey," Natasha heard as she felt Marion playfully tapping her. Natasha's eyes slowly opened. She groaned with fatigue. Why was Marion's face so close to her? Oh, that was right! They had gotten drunk together while watching a movie and took their deep conversation about politics and other things into Marion's room. Natasha had casually lain on her bed while Marion brushed out her hair and commented on how much more comfortable it was than the twin bed in the guest room. Eventually, she fell asleep where she was, and Marion fell asleep next to her without waking her and telling her to go into her own room. Natasha opened her eyes even more. "I fell asleep here?" "You sure did, but I don't mind. Want some coffee?" Natasha nodded and yawned. The weather turned cold, the snow fell, and Natasha had now been with Marion for 6 months. She hated the snow and the cold and desperately longed to be back in a warmer climate with her husband, as much as she knew a part of her would always miss Marion. She got the friend request from the former “classmate” on Facebook as expected. It was a huge relief to let each other know all was well, even if they had to do it in code, so to speak. She grinned from ear to ear when the message came in from “Bart” saying, "Hey, I think we went to school together. My life has turned out pretty well. How about you?" Natasha replied, letting him know all was well and to let her know when and where the next class reunion would be. Her only concern was Marion. It wasn't that she didn't feel some attachment to Marion, but Marion seemed to be getting more attached to her, and quickly, too. It wasn't that she didn't know that Natasha would eventually return to the US, but talking about it and actually doing it were different things, and she worried about how Marion would handle it. Would she put up a fight? Would she threaten to turn her in even if Natasha made damn sure she didn't know where she was going or even when? Or would she wish her the best of luck and promise not to turn her in if she didn't release the video? Realizing just how complicated things could get was a reminder that she would have to slip out to the airport at an undisclosed time when Marion was at work. She would leave a note behind telling her she had gone and that she promised to keep her secret safe as long as Marion did. Leaving couldn't come fast enough! But it was still too soon. She and Phillip would feel more comfortable if they gave it more time and waited until around May. He got off the grid and changed his name and did his best to conceal his identity at all costs. They needed to be sure the police wouldn't figure out who he was and where he'd gone and then go looking for him in hopes of finding her. Natasha sighed wistfully. It was only December. May seemed so far away. She got up, showered, and dressed. It was cold, with a foot of snow, and it was also the weekend. Therefore, she decided to focus on the moment and enjoy lazing around the apartment with hot drinks, snacks, and Marion. Midway into the day, Natasha tidied up the kitchen and then approached Marion in the living room, who was watching a movie. "Need anything else washed or cleaned?" she asked. "No thanks," said Marion, reaching for her arm and pulling her down onto the couch next to her. Natasha was surprised to see her drinking so early. She drank little to nothing during most of the week, but she really overdid it on the weekends, and Natasha was a bit concerned for her, even though she knew it wasn't her place to be. Marion was a grown adult, and she had to be responsible for her own well-being. Still, it saddened and worried her to see her do this to herself every weekend. "It's barely one in the afternoon. How many drinks have you had, girl?" "Does it matter?" Marion asked. Natasha simply shrugged, not wanting to get into an argument. Besides, she knew you couldn't help those who didn't want help. Natasha sighed and sat back to watch what Marion was watching, even though it was in German and her German still wasn't perfect. It was going to be a long few months ahead.