A/N: Another epic adventure from Blitz and myself. Sit back and enjoy! All the lyrics in this story are from the song 'Little Motel' by Modest Mouse.


I hope that you like it in your little motel,

And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well.

Well I can see it as time and a sight through smell and,

Thats why its nice to be by yourself.


"Alexandra," Father Gabriel's deep voice carried from the lectern of her family's episcopal church to her ears. Nodding in acknowledgment, she squeezed her mother's hand.

Looking up at the sixty-five year old white haired man, she swallowed thickly. His blue eyes pierced her own, while the kind smile he gave her assured that she could handle what was about to come. Putting on her black framed glasses, the twenty-eight year old blonde stood.

All eyes were on the shaky but confident woman, as she made her way out of the pew. Normally, she would be fretting over her choice of clothes before standing before a crowd of five hundred people, but not today. Today, she was dressed in black heels, pants and blouse. Today, she had a speech to give. Today, was about a life ending.

Walking past the urn, she made her way up to the lectern and looked over the crowd of faces. The ones that were familiar were closest to her, those were the people she called friends and family. Taking a breath, she looked to the portrait that sat on an easel nearby.

Smiling weakly at the all too familiar face, she began, "I'd like to begin by thanking Father Gabriel for his kind words. My whole family is grateful for the kindness you've shown us over the past week. Thank you."

Looking back out at the congregation she continued, "My name is Alexandra, I am Walter's eldest daughter. He is survived by my mother, Vivian, myself, and my two younger sisters, Evelyn and Marie. For those of you who knew my father on a personal level, you know how kind hearted he was, and how much he loved his family. He and my mother, Vivian, were college sweethearts. He often joked that he asked her out everyday for a month before she finally agreed to go on a date with him. If you knew him, you knew just how much he loved and adored her. I can only hope to find love like that one day..."

Pausing to look at her mother and sisters, she moved on, "My father was a loving man. He always put his family first. Best of all, he always made time to spend with his three daughters. I can remember every snow day, he would stay home with us and make the biggest snowman possible before sledding the afternoons away. Those are some of my favorite memories with him. He taught me what family was about, and what it really means to be a good person...I owe to him an open mind and perspective on the world."

Looking to the faces beyond the familiar, she continued, "For those of you who knew him as a businessman, you know how what a risk taker he was..."


"James," Ellis Novak's voice carried across the large open floor plan, as the fifty-eight year old, strawberry blonde with her brown framed glasses walked out with a stack of papers in hand, "Have you seen the RSVP list for the gala next week?"

"Mmm," the sixty-two year old man hummed, "Let me guess, not good," he answered as he looked over his readers.

"Precisely!" She exclaimed, as she threw the papers down on the coffee table in front of him. "No matter how hard I work, or how successful the company is, no one of status attends our functions. It is as if we are continuously being ostracized be the old money elite of New York City! I just don't know what to do anymore. I have donated to every charity in town. I have tried to break into their groups, but nothing seems to work. I am at a loss."

James snorted, "Is it that important?"

Ellis sat down and looked her husband's green eyes, "Yes, it is very important. Don't you want a future for Casey? For our company? For our future grandchildren?"

"Ellis, darling," he said taking his wife's hand, "I don't think she wants any part of this..."

"She is young and doesn't know what she wants. I bought her the best education could buy so she could take over one day. I only want her to have the best," she defended.

"I think your counting your eggs before they hatch."

"What does that mean?" She snapped.

"What it means is our daughter keeps running all over this world to escape responsibility. She does nothing but live off her trust fund. She has no drive or desire to lead a company. I think our best choice is to build a board of directors to run the company, and just leave her fifty one percent of the stock, so she has control, but leave it in capable hands." He clarified.

"Casey, will settle down one day. Then she will want what I have built her. I just have to make it the best it can be."

James laughed at his wife's hopeless dreams, "To bad you can't just marry her to old money. Then you'd have the best of both worlds!"

"James!" She exclaimed sitting up straight, "That's it!"

"What's it?" He mused. His wife often got her best innovative ideas out of no where.

"We should have her marry old money!" Ellis answered with a bright and slightly crazed smile.

"You are kidding me, right?"

"No, not at all. She can marry an old money name. It's instant acceptance!"

"Ellis, first, that goes against every feminist belief you have...and two, are you forgetting the major fault to your plan?" He deadpanned.

"What is the fault?" She asked.

"Casey, likes women!"

"Oh, lord James, being a lesbian doesn't mean she can't marry." She spouted with a wave of the hand, "And yes, it goes against my feminist fundamentals to marry of my daughter, but it is only to help her in the long run. Casey can't expect a free ride forever. Plus, I know the perfect family. She'd be helping us both."

"What are you talking about?" He asked as he now leaned in himself.

With a bit of a wicked smile, she explained, "I overheard the other day at the club, that Vivian Cabot is broke. Her late husband Walter, put the entire Cabot fortune into bad investments, and lost it all. Her investment company is on the verge of bankruptcy."

"So, what you are going to convince her to marry Casey?" He asked in total confusion.

"No, you oaf, I am going to talk to her about marrying Casey to her oldest daughter, Alexandra. Last I heard, she just broke up with her girlfriend six months ago. I will offer to bail out and fix Cabot Investments, even merge our companies, if Alexandra marries Casey."

He stared at his wife for a moment, "And what on earth makes you think you could convince our daughter of such an act?"

"It's that or she gives up her trust fund," Ellis stated. "She can stop galavanting around the world and come home and help out for a bit. I'll make a deal, that they only have to be married for two years. Casey can give up two years. Maybe it will help her grow up."

"Best of luck with your endeavor." He grunted, "Now you just have to find her first."

"Please, James," Ellis laughed, "You take me for a fool sometimes. I have people watching her whereabouts."

"For what reason?"

"Her safety of course," she clarified, "I won't have something awful happening to our child. I don't spy on her, I just know where in the world she is, in case she needs help."

James could only bite his lip and shake his head. "You truly are a piece of work, Ellis. I am lucky I married you though."

"Why is that?"

He laughed heartily, "Because I'd hate to be on the outside of the circle of trust."


Enjoying the late spring sun against her face, Alex Cabot slowly walked back home. She lived in a small apartment just east of Central Park, and had just finished her morning run. Once home she would get ready for her shift at the women's shelter downtown.

The recent events of her father's stroke that ending up taking his life at a far too early age, had changed her perception on what she really wanted for her future. She'd always found herself drawn to volunteer work, but had humored her mother and father working at the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce to keep the family name prominent. However, since his passing, she had resigned from her position there and stepped into helping at the center on a daily basis.

She got pleasure from working with the women. The feeling she got from helping them to break away from abusive partners, or out of bad situations, gave her hope for a better world. Alex truly felt like she was making a change that mattered in the world, and that made her happy.

Rounding the corner, her building came into sight, and so did her mother's car. Fearing as to why her mother to come by without notice, she started jogging to her building. By the time she hit the elevator in her building, she was breathless mess of panic.

Leaning back against the wall of the lift, she cursed herself for not bringing her cell phone with her. All she could think about was what if something was wrong, what if something had happened to her mother, or sisters. As she reached her floor, and the doors opened, she came face to face with the woman of concern.

"Mom," she exclaimed, as she rushed into her arms.

"Well, I like this greeting," Vivian Cabot said, as she pushed her daughter back to look her in the eyes. Her daughter had her eyes, and looked so much like her, but there were small bits of Walter dispersed within.

"Is everything okay?" Alex questioned, still full of anxiety.

"Yes, I didn't mean to scare you. Everything is fine," her mother assured as they turned to head to her apartment. "I just came by to discuss a business proposition with you."

"Why me?" Alex asked as she unlocked her studio apartment door.

As she followed her daughter inside the small space, Vivian looked around, her daughter always had a mind for making the best of small spaces. Taking a breath, she said, "I think we should sit down, and talk this over."

Grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge, Alex walked to her mom, "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"We should sit," she answered, causing a concerned look to cross Alex's face again, as she led the way to the couch.

"What is going on?" The young blonde questioned, as she leaned forward resting her elbows on her knees.

"Alexandra, we are broke, the company is going bankrupt," Vivian spit out before she lost her nerves.

Alex's eyes went wide, "How?"

"Your father, made a lot of bad investments over the last year. I don't know exactly what he was thinking, but I found out the day before his funeral. The finances we have now can hold us for a little bit, but by this time next year if serious changes haven't occurred the company will go under. We are going to lose everything," the older blonde sighed.

"Can't we do something?"

"I got a proposition yesterday that could fix things..."

"Well, what is it?" Alex asked, she was in a full on state of panic for her family now.

"Ellis Novak, owner and president of Novon Industries came to see me." She took a deep breath, and continued, "She is a savvy business woman, and offered to bail out our investment company without asking for any percentage of control."

Alex frowned, she knew of Ellis Novak, and this surprised her, "Why would she make such a selfless offer?"

"It wasn't a completely selfless offer," she softly admitted, "Ellis wants something in return."

"Well, what is it?"

"She wants the status that comes with the Cabot name." She could still see the confusion in her daughter's eyes and continued, "She wants you to marry her daughter."

"No!" Alex said jumping from her seat and walking to a nearby window.

"It wouldn't be forever, Alexandra, it would only be for two years. You two just have to have a public wedding and attend functions together for two years, that's it. Nothing major." Vivian continued.

Alex turned to her mother with a look of horror in her eyes, "You actually entertained the idea of whoring me out."

"No, I entertained the idea of you saving your family from certain turmoil. You would get to continue living your life to your choosing, the company would get back on its feet, your sisters could stay in college, and I wouldn't be out on the streets. How is you marrying another woman for two years that bad if you achieve all that good?"

"Get out," Alex said curtly, pointing to the door, "I can't have you here right now." As she finished her words, she began to cry.

"I am sorry for upsetting you. I am just trying to keep our family in the lives we are all accustomed to. We shouldn't all have to suffer for your father's bad choices." Gathering her bag, she turned back to her daughter, "I am not asking you to sleep with her, or even fall for her. I am only asking you to be her friend and go to functions that's all. It's only two years."

Alex turned away from her mother. She couldn't say another word. All she could do was watch the world pass her by. It wasn't a fair request. She should be allowed to marry the person she loved, not marry for a business arrangement. Nothing seemed fair anymore. First, her ex-girlfriend turned down her marriage proposal six months earlier, and now she was being forced to marry someone she didn't even love or know.

Hearing her apartment door close, she rushed to lock it, before sitting in an armchair staring at a picture of her family. Tears began spilling from her eyes at the sight of her sisters. She knew she had to do this, she knew she had no real choice. It was unfair, but it was to save her family.


Casey lounged back into her seat at electronic music club she and her new friends had found amongst the busy night life of Copenhagen. Denmark had proved to be quite the party scene of her European tour. As she lazily scanned the dance floor for her next potential bedmate, she couldn't help but wonder if Italy would be just as fun.

Pouring herself yet another large mug of beer, she noticed how possessed she felt by the beat of the music. Maybe it was her degree of intoxication, but she felt like her heartbeat was mimicking the tempo. Taking a large sip of the cold beverage, she looked up and noticed her new cronies returning with a hot curly hair brunette.

She couldn't help but smirk as the younger woman helped herself to a seat in her lap. She was equally surprised with the woman's hand wandering to her waist line as she whispered how she'd love to get to know Casey better. Looking up into chocolate eyes, she smiled, letting her own fingers trail a taunting line up the inside of her new conquests leg, as she prepared her best answer. Except no words had a chance to come, due to an all too familiar voice interrupting her thought process.

"It's time to go, Casey!" Her mother's chilling voice cut through the music and straight to her ears.

Standing at a rapid rate, Casey quickly tossed the younger woman from her lap to the floor. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

Ellis Novak didn't hesitate to throw a few hundred euros into the pocket of a passing waiter, before looking back at her daughter, "I am here to collect you. Let's go!"

Following her mother outside into the cold night, Casey quickly began her questioning as they neared the busy street, "Is something wrong?"

"I will discuss the matter with you when we are in your room." Ellis quipped, as she hailed a cab.

"I'm not a five year old mother," she argued as they climbed into a cab and began their journey back to her current quarters.

Ellis snorted at her daughter's weak argument. "Oh really, you seem to be acting like one. Tell me, how long had you known that girl?"

Rolling her eyes, the redhead sighed, "Long enough."

Ellis stared at her greatly misguided child. "Casey, you are nearing thirty. It's time for you to settle down and act like an adult already."

"I am enjoying myself, isn't that enough?"

"No, you need a job. Maybe you should try using the degree I paid for," her mother sighed again.

Shaking her head, Casey found herself becoming increasingly frustrated, "Did you just come here to ridicule my life?"

"What life? You roaming the world like a lost soul sleeping with every breathing woman you can find willing?" She huffed.

The driver could only clear his throat, as he pulled the car to a stop to let them know they'd met their destination. Paying the cab fare, Ellis led them from the car and to Casey's room. Once inside, the true reason of her visit began.

Sitting in the living space of the suite, Casey allowed her mother to fetch her a bottle of water. She had a funny feeling she would want to be adequately sober in the morning. Taking the bottle, she sighed, "Okay, Mom, why are you really here. I've been a wanderlust for the last four years, I doubt you are really that concerned."

"I am always concerned about you. However, you are right, today's visit goes beyond mere concern. I have a business arrangement I expect you to help with," The older Novak explained.

Trying to focus in on her mother's slightly blurry figure, Casey questioned, "What kind of business arrangement?"

"You will return with me to New York City tomorrow. You are getting married." Ellis stated very a matter of a factly.

"Excuse me," the younger redhead slurred. "You want me to get married?"

"No, I expect you to get married. You will meet your bride to be in three days time, her name is Alexandra Cabot."

"You are fucking with me, right?"

"Watch your language!" Ellis snapped, "And no I am not. You will marry her as a convenience to me and her mother. Her family's business is going under thanks to her ridiculous father's bad investments, and I intend to bail them out for the price of their old money name."

"You are serious?" Casey gawked, "You are seriously going to sell me for a name?"

"I am not selling you. You will marry Alexandra for two years time. During that period, you two will attend functions together. At the end, you two will separate for differences in beliefs. The company will have the status it needs to flourish, and her family company will be alive and succeeding as well. All it does is good for all parties involved."

Casey had a slew of arguments in her head, but unfortunately was too drunk to use them for her own good. Grasping at straws, she finally found a simple question, "And what if I don't go along with your plan?"

Ellis smirked, "Then you will have no more funds in which to waste."

Casey couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You would cut me off?"

"In a heart beat," Ellis smiled.


The next two days passed in a blur for Casey. Maybe it had been from the hangover, or maybe it was the fact her life was about to fundamentally change. Whatever the case was, she wasn't happy about it.

Looking out the chauffeured car window, she shook her head. She couldn't believe she was letting herself be strong armed into marrying this woman. She didn't even know Alexandra Cabot. What if she turned out to be a total killjoy?

"Mom, I can't do this," she sighed, "It just doesn't feel right."

Her mother rolled her head in her direction, as her father set down his newspaper, "James would you like to take his one or should I?"

"I will," he said, "Casey, I will admit when your mother first mentioned this idea to me, I wasn't thrilled. I even thought she was insane, but then I heard about your activities in Europe. I think it is time you did something to right your life. We are only asking for you to sacrifice two years, and with any luck during that time you may grow up."

"It's your choice Casey. You don't have to marry her if you don't like, but if you don't your trust fund will be withdrawn and you will have to find a job to pay your own bills." Ellis firmly stated.

Casey looked out the window, the drive to the Cabot home was coming into view. "You'd just kick me out on the streets. How is that love?"

"We wouldn't kick you out on the streets," Ellis huffed, "We'd put you in an apartment you could afford on a $35,000 salary, since you have zero experience that's most likely where you'd start out, and pay your bills for the first month. After that you'd be on your own."

"This is blackmail," Casey groaned, as she pressed her face against the window like a sullen child, as the driver turned into the Cabot estate.

Watching the fading sun filter through the leaves of the trees lining the drive, she could only wonder what this other woman must be thinking. Was she as torn up about this as Casey was, or was she okay with the arrangement? Would she like her, or would she think she was a misguided fool? As the car came to a stop, she could only dread the inevitable.


Alex sat in her old bedroom, looking out at window at the bright green leaves. She used the excuse of unpacking for her reason to be in her room and not waiting in the den with her mother, but in reality she needed to find serenity for how her life was going to change. She found that in the trees, they seemed so at peace. It was a peace she longed for deep inside.

Little had changed in her parents Long Island estate since she'd last lived here, however, so much had changed inside her. She couldn't be sure if it was for good or bad though. Hearing a knock at the door, she swallowed thickly. She knew it was information regarding her soon to be wife's arrival.

"Come in," she choked out.

Seeing the knob turn slowly, Alex wondered who was about to enter. As her godmother's warm face peered around the side, she smiled, "Aunt Liz, I didn't know you were coming."

"Do you think I'd actually let you go through with this crazy plan?" Liz Donnelly spoke as she sat at the end of Alex's bed.

"I don't understand," Alex whispered in confusion.

"I can't let you do this, Alexandra. You have to leave."

Shaking her head, as her brain seemed to struggle for understanding, she asked, "What do you mean? If I don't go through with this, it will destroy my family. They will lose everything. I can't do that to them."

Liz stood and pulled out her most intimidating glare, "Your father may have been sick this last year and made some foolish investments, but he would forever hate himself if he knew you gave up your life and chance of being happy to pull off some sham marriage. Now, I was his best friend, and as that best friend, I can't let you go through with this. So, here."

As she finished speaking, she passed an envelope over to Alex. Not waiting, she opened the white paper to discover an American Express Black Card with her name on it and a one way ticket to Rome. Feeling her eyes flood with tears, she looked up into the warm eyes of her godmother, "Why?"

"Because you deserve to marry for love," she said with a smile, "I will handle your mother. She is letting panic get to her head, she will be fine and we will figure out the mess with the company, but right now go find happiness."

"But whose card is this?" Alex asked holding up the credit card.

"It's linked to my name, you are just a user. Don't worry about expenses, just spend whatever you need or want. I can float it, I promise. Just don't use anything linked to yourself in case you mother tries to track you."

Alex let her tears fall as she stood and hugged the older woman tight, "Thank you, thank you for everything."

"I love you, kiddo. Just be safe and check in with me often." Liz said as she held her back, "You will find true love soon. Just keep your chin up."

"Thank you," Alex said with a smile.

"Oh, I almost forgot," she exclaimed reaching into her pocket to retrieve a new iPhone, "Your new 'Mom' free phone."

"Are you sure you aren't in the CIA?" Alex joked as she walked to her bedroom door.

"I can't guarantee anything," Liz laughed. "At the back service entrance, you will find a cab waiting for you. Grab your bag and go, I just saw them pull into the driveway, I will stall."

Nodding, Alex didn't hesitate to grab her bags and run down the back stairwell. Reaching the outside, she kept a fast pace as she ran down the old brick driveway to the service entrance. Once on the other side of the fence, she looked back up at the old house.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, before she walked to the cab. She deserved to find true love. She deserved to be happy with someone she loved. This time, she could be selfish.


Ellis, James and Casey sat in the den of the Cabot estate across from Vivian Cabot. Casey noticed how painfully quiet everything was, but she could not bring herself to talk. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want to go through with this charade any longer.

Finding her voice finally, she blurted out, "Vivian, does your daughter actually want to marry me?" She could see her mother cringe at her words, but she didn't care. This had gone too far.

"That is neither here nor there, she would like to see her family and business survive." Vivian answered calmly.

"So, she is dreading this ridiculous event just as much as me," Casey snorted, "Great, this should be a marriage made in hell."

"Casey, control yourself," James spoke.

Standing, Casey's shoved her hands into her pockets, "Why, do you think it might make her change her mind?"

Walking to the window, she noticed something that made her smile. The woman was blurry and she couldn't see her well, but looking out towards the side entrance, she could see a blonde running with a bag on her shoulder. She honestly couldn't help herself as the laughter began to fall from her lips. It took her a minute to regain control, and as she did she turned around to see another older blonde in the room.

Her mother and father were easily giving her the glare of death, but she didn't care. What she'd just seen confirmed her suspicions. "I'm sorry," she said between gasps for air.

"Well, Alex is going to be a bit longer," the new woman explained, "She decided to change before coming down."

"Oh really," Casey smirked, "I bet she did."

"Casey!" Her mother snapped, "Mind your manners."

"Mom, this is over. I'm leaving." Casey laughed as she walked towards the door, "And don't think I backed out on our deal, because I just saw the bride to be running for a cab. She bailed, not me."

Seeing everyone's jaw drop at her words, she turned to Mrs. Cabot, "It was very nice to meet you. Sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances."

"I will get her back now," Vivian said in a panic, as realization struck.

"Vivian, if there is one thing I have learned from all of this," Casey interrupted, "Your daughter was the smart and brave one. Let her run."

As she walked to the foyer, she turned back to her parents, "I will be in the car. Don't be too long, I'd like to catch a flight out at a decent hour."

Walking from the house, she said a silent prayer of thanks for the blonde bailing. Whoever, her mystery bride was, she did her a huge favor. Casey Novak wasn't one for marriage, or relationships. She would have doomed them both. She was far better off alone.