Title: Violet and Blue
Chapter Title: Adjusting.
Summary: Catherine has a niece she didn't know about? One who's coming to live with her? How will she cope and who can help her? Cath/Sara. FEMSLASH!
Authors Notes: I'm sorry, I know I should be updating my other story but I was suffering some serious writers block on it, I hope I have more soon. Maybe you could review and make it better?
C+SLOVE
"Hey, Lindsey!" Claire called over the top of the heads of the kids pushing past her.
"Claire!" The little girl yelled rushing over and jumping into Claire's arms.
"Hello, baby girl. How was school?" Claire asked giving Lindsey a hug
"Good. I got a part in my class play."
"Good job sweetheart."
"Lindsey, Lindsey!" A voice called from down the hallway, Claire and Lindsey span around to face the woman calling out to them.
"Hello Ms. Langdon," Lindsey said as the teacher approached.
"Hello, Lindsey. Who's this?"
"Claire."
"Hello Claire." The teacher spoke her eyes surveying the girl in front of her.
"Hello, was there something you wanted to ask?"
"I was hoping to get a word in with Catherine, or Lindsey's aunt Nancy."
"I'm sorry; Catherine couldn't pick Lindsey up today so she asked me to do it."
"Catherine's only ever asked Nancy or her mother to take Lindsey home if she couldn't manage it. Why has she asked you?"
"Perhaps you should ask Catherine." Claire retorted sharply.
The teacher blanched. "My job is to protect the students and I'm making sure that you have actually been asked by Ms. Willows to pick Lindsey up."
"Don't worry, I have been. Come on Lindsey."
"Okay Claire. Good bye Ms. Langdon," Lindsey said grinning as she waved good bye to her teacher.
"I can't let you go. I'm sorry." Ms. Langdon said placing a hand on Claire's shoulder.
"I suggest you don't tou..." Claire began but was cut off by her mobile. She opened it and spoke into it.
"Hi Catherine," Claire spoke into her phone.
"Hi Claire. Where are you and Lindsey? I thought you'd be home by now."
"We would have been but Lindsey's teacher won't let us leave. Apparently you have only ever had Lily or Nancy take Lindsey home if you can't make it so the teacher won't let us leave."
"Did you explain who you were?"
"No, I just told her that you had asked me."
"Claire, I thought we had discussed this, teachers don't like letting little girls go off with people they don't know, and just...just let me talk to the teacher please?"
"Sure." Claire said as she handed the phone over to the teacher.
She smiled sweetly. "Here Ms. Langdon, Catherine was just starting to get worried about why Lindsey and I hadn't returned home yet."
"Hello Catherine." Ms. Langdon said into the phone.
"Hi Kayla. Look, Claire is my niece."
"She's Nancy's daughter?"
"No, well it's a long story; can she just take Lindsey home please? My mom has hurt her leg so couldn't pick them up, I had to go to work early and my sister is dealing with her own family."
"Ok, I'm sorry, I just wasn't going to let your' daughter wander off with a stranger."
"I know, and I appreciate it, Kayla, but Claire's completely safe, they'll be fine."
"Ok. Well, bye."
"Bye." Catherine said before hanging up the phone.
"I, I'm sorry Claire. I was just doing my job."
"Whatever, let's go Lindsey." Claire responded tartly grabbing Lindsey's hand as they walked quickly off.
C+S: LOVE
"Claire, why couldn't you have just told her from the start? All you had to do was say 'I'm Catherine's niece' and she would have let you take Lindsey."
"No she wouldn't have Catherine! She looked at me like I was a freak, that I couldn't be trusted just because I had a worn leather jacket on and blue and violet hair!"
"Claire," Catherine sighed at her niece, "not everyone who glances at your hair and won't let you do what you want is judging you, it's school policy for the teachers in the lower grades to not let the children go with anyone they don't recognise."
"You didn't see the way she looked at me Catherine, you wouldn't know!"
"Claire, please just relax a moment. Even if she judged you could have just called me straight away."
"You were working! And I sure as hell wasn't about to call your' mother!"
"Claire, just...please I'm sorry. And I'm sure she's sorry too."
"I don't care, I'm sick of everyone here judging me."
"I don't judge you, Claire."
"Catherine, tell me honestly when you first saw me you didn't think I was going to be trouble."
"I thought you and I might have some trouble, but I never thought looking after you would be trouble."
"It's the same thing. Anyway, I'm going to school. I'll walk. Do you want me to take Lindsey on my way?"
"I promised I'd drive her, are you sure you don't want a lift." Catherine asked softly smiling at her niece.
"I'll be fine Catherine. See you later. Oh, will you be home when we get home?" Claire asked slinging her bag onto one shoulder.
"No, I have to go in early again. Do you want me to get Lindsey and walk home with her?"
"It's okay; thanks for offering though, my mom will pick her up."
"See you tomorrow Catherine." Claire said kissing Catherine's cheek.
"Bye Claire."
C+S: LOVE
"Haven't you decided to go back to your dyke girlfriend yet?" Michelle hissed at Claire as she walked past.
"No I haven't but thank you for asking though, Michelle. " Claire responded smiling sweetly.
After being at the school for a week only Michelle kept on her back about her girlfriend, nobody was approaching her and asking her to be 'best friends forever' but only Michelle was really mean to her.
"Why don't you go back home dyke?"
"I am home, I mean why would I want to go back when I have such wonderful friends like you?" Claire said sarcastically.
"Oh that's right, you don't have one, do you?" Michelle sneered. "Because now your slut of a mommy's dead and you have to live with your slutty aunt who's probably a fucking dyke too."
Before Claire or Michelle knew what had happened Claire flung her hand across Michelle's face, leaving a bright red mark.
"Don't ever insult my mother, or Catherine. Trust me. This was going easy on you." Claire sneered as she stormed from the classroom.
As she walked past the assistant principal's office 10 minutes later she was called in.
"Claire!"
Silently Claire walked into the office.
"Hello Claire."
"Hello" Claire responded sullenly.
"Claire, when you told me you were going to change the school I didn't think you were going to go around slapping people."
"Whatever." Claire responded her voice clearly showing her disinterest.
"Please Claire don't make it worse for yourself."
"I doubt I'm going to make it worse for myself, I'm punishing myself already, I mean I don't believe in war or violence for god's sake! I can't work out why I slapped her."
"What did she say?" Lisa asked her voice caring.
"It doesn't matter."
"I'm sorry Claire, I have to call your aunt and tell her you're being suspended."
"Suspended?" Claire responded angrily.
"I'm sorry Claire, 15 students say you slapped Michelle, regardless of what she said, I have to choice but to suspend you."
C+S: LOVE
"Damn it Claire! Why'd you hit her?" Catherine snapped angrily her cheeks red in anger.
"Mind your own business Catherine!" Claire snapped her voice getting louder each syllable.
"I can't believe you were suspended! I mean you've only been here three weeks." Catherine seethed at Claire as they drove towards her work.
"Whatever. Why do I have to come to your work anyway?"
"Because you obviously can't be trusted so I'm not letting you stay at home."
"That's not fair."
"Life's not fair, sweetie."
"I hate you," Claire muttered.
Catherine paled in anger. "You know what Claire? I don't exactly enjoy your company at the moment either, so I would appreciate it if you were quiet."
"Whatever."
As the car pulled up to the building Claire pulled her back pack up and swung it onto her shoulders. Stepping out of the car and into the building she ignored the waiting room at the front of the building and made her way over to the lab she knew Greg normally worked in was.
Greg glanced up, "Hey Claire, what are you doing here?"
"Suspended." She responded dropping her school bag to the ground.
Greg stared at her. "You got suspended?" He asked curiously.
"Yep."
"You going to give me more than a one word answer?"
"I slapped someone."
"Why?"
"She said some inappropriate things."
"What did she say Claire?"
"I don't want to say, Greg." Claire said pulling up a chair next to him.
"And let me guess you didn't tell Catherine or the school what she said either, did you?"
Claire sighed and ran a hand through her mostly black hair. "She called my mom a slut and Catherine too."
"So you slapped her?"
"She called Catherine a 'fucking dyke' too, and although I would not have a problem if Catherine was gay, obviously, but Michelle meant for it to be an insult and I'm so sick of her hanging it on me for being gay when there's nothing wrong with it."
"So Catherine's angry?" Greg almost stated rather than actually asked.
"Very, she was completely pissed she had to come and pick me up because the stupid school wouldn't let me stay until the end of the day."
"You should tell Catherine what she said, I'm sure she'd understand, and you probably won't get in as much trouble."
"Thing is Greg," Claire practically whispered, "I deserve to get in trouble, because I could get much worse than Catherine will do and I deserve it because what I did was completely wrong and terrible."
"If you're sure."
"I am."
"What are you sure about?" Catherine asked as she walked in.
"Nothing, Catherine." Claire responded softly.
"Ok, well you need to take this badge, ok? It lets people know that you are meant to be here."
Claire pinned it to her shirt and smiled sadly at Catherine, resting her hand on her aunts shoulder for a moment before she spoke. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Cath."
Catherine paused as Claire left the room. "Umm...are you alright Catherine?" Greg asked curiously.
"D...did you just hear that, Greg?"
"Umm, she's sorry?" Greg asked not sure what he was meant to have heard.
"She called me Cath."
"Is that a good thing, Catherine?" Greg asked curiously.
"She's always called me Catherine, it means to a certain extent she has to trust me." Catherine said her smile wide.
"Of course she trusts you Catherine." Greg responded shaking his head slightly.
"Well I didn't know that."
Greg grinned. "Well you do now."
C+S: LOVE
A couple of hours later Claire was sitting on the couch in the labs break room, with her back towards the door.
"Hi Claire." Claire paused and turned around at the voice that was calling her name.
"Oh, hi Sara." Claire said grinning at the woman her aunt was practically in love with.
"What are you doing here?"
"Haven't you spoken to anyone this shift?" Claire asked as she got up to get herself a glass of water.
"No, I just got back from a crime scene, why?"
"Oh, well I've spoken to I think everyone on your shift, so I assumed someone if not Catherine would have told you I've been suspended."
"Oh ok."
Claire paused. "What? You don't want to know why I got suspended?"
"Well I figured if you wanted to share than you would, plus it's not really any of my business, just yours, Catherine's and the schools."
"I slapped someone."
Sara laughed slightly. "And you got suspended for slapping someone?"
"Why?"
"I doubt you did it without some kind of reason, I mean it's still not appropriate but I know plenty of people who did worse things and only got a week of detentions."
"I guess but I still deserve to be suspended."
There was about five minutes of silence before Claire spoke. "She called Catherine a dyke."
Sara got defensive quickly, "And you think someone calling your aunt gay is such a bad thing? What? does that disgust you?"
Claire stood up and faced Sara angrily, "Of course not! Do you think I'm some kind of homophobic jerk or something?"
"Well the way you said it makes it seem like such a bad thing that someone called your aunt gay." Sara snapped taking a step closer.
"So you're going to judge me because of one thing you completely misinterpreted?" Claire hissed glaring up at the taller woman, just as Sofia entered the room. Sofia quickly strode over to Claire and Sara.
She lightly tugged Claire's arm to pull her arm away. As Sofia pulled Claire out of the break room Claire said one thing to Sara "In case you were wondering Sara, I am...hmm...What was that wonderful term Michelle used?" Claire snapped as she pretended to think "Oh yeah! I'm a 'fucking dyke' too, so trust me I would have no problem if Catherine was or is gay."
Sofia pulled Claire away and into one of the labs, "What are you doing? Are you trying to wreck Catherine and Sara's relationship before it gets properly off the ground?"
"What relationship? Last thing I knew they were totally oblivious to the others' feelings."
Sofia shook her head, "Catherine finally plucked up the courage to ask Sara out, their first date is supposed to be tonight."
"Shit!" Claire blushed and glanced up at Sofia.
Sofia laughed, "I'm not your guardian, you can swear if you want."
"How come Catherine didn't tell me?"
"I think it was more she didn't want to risk Lindsey finding it out and mentioning it to Catherine's mother."
"Oh."
"Claire, although your aunt and I fight a lot, and I mean a lot, we're close and if you said anything to her about not liking Sara or arguing with her she'd ditch any plans with her."
Claire paused, "what do you mean?"
"Look, you've been with Catherine for how many weeks? Three? Catherine would do anything for you, I know that, ok? She would do anything to keep you and Lindsey happy, and if that meant never speaking to the woman she's been admiring for three years, then she would do that."
"I doubt it, I'm always disappointing her," Claire responded turning away from Sofia's kind eyes.
"Everyone makes mistakes Claire," Sofia said resting a hand on Claire's shoulder.
"Yeah, but I told Catherine I hated her, and I didn't mean it, and I don't know if I should apologise or just forget about it because Catherine wouldn't want to think about it, I don't know her well enough."
"I think you should apologise if you feel guilty, especially after Catherine's date tonight, because if it goes well, and I'm sure it will, she'll be in such a good mood she'll be happy to forget about it."
"I guess. But I'm not sure. Catherine was really angry that she had to pick me up."
"She'll get over it, now my shift's finished, wanna get some coffee or hot chocolate or something? Then I'll take you home in time for the school day to end so Catherine's mom doesn't have to find out you were suspended."
"If it's okay with Catherine," Claire responded standing up as she spoke.
"It is, I asked her before I found you and Sara."
"Let's go then"
C+S: LOVE
"Thanks Sofia, for talking to her I didn't know how to talk to her."
"That's alright, Cath, that's what friends are for, right?"
"Sure. But thanks again." Catherine said as she walked out of the locker room to where she knew she would be able to find Sara.
"Hey Sara." Catherine said softly whispering into the taller woman's ear. Sara turned around and grinned at the older woman.
"Hey, Cat. What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you."
"Why Catherine, how romantic." Sara said grinning and kissing the top of Catherine's head.
"Do you want to come to dinner at my place?"
Sara paused. "S..sure."
"Is there something wrong, Sar'?"
"No, not at all, Cath, we've been going out for almost a month, right? And I want it to be longer so I should meet Lindsey, right?"
"Yeah, and meet Claire as my girlfriend."
Sara choked slightly on the water she had been drinking. "Yeah."
C+S: LOVE
Claire sighed as she walked through the corridor heaps of 14 year old excitedly running around and screaming. She sighed. Orientation Day. She shuddered and made her way outside deciding she should avoid the cafeteria for once. As she made her way outside she ran into a girl who just reached her chin. The smaller girl fell over and Claire lent forward to give the girl a hand.
"Are you lost? The cafeteria's on the other side of the school."
"I don't want to go to the cafeteria."
Claire laughed. "It can be a scary place."
"Oh I don't care I'm just more worried about not having anyone to sit with. Anastasia by the way."
"Claire. What about your friends?"
"They're going to different high schools," The small girl said as she ungracefully sat down on a seat in the courtyard.
"What about the girls you've met today?"
"None of them want to talk to me?"
"How come? If you don't mind me asking."
The little brunette sighed, "well you'll probably find out anyway, my mom's gay, well technically both my moms are...but you get what I mean."
"I doubt you're the only one, in fact I know there's at least one other girl, umm, Stacey, yeah, her name is Stacey I think. Plenty of people's mom or dad are gay."
The brunette giggled. "That girl, Stacey, that's me. You've obviously spoken to my ma, Lisa Matthews?"
Claire grinned, "yeah she told me about you. She was worried about the prejudicial behaviour within the school and was worried about you."
Stacey sighed. "She's a little protective." Then she giggled again. "Okay, she's very protective of me," Claire finished.
"Most people leave me alone about me being gay, so I doubt it's going to be so bad that your mom has a female partner." Claire responded sitting next to the smaller girl.
"Yeah, but the partner is the assistant principal."
Claire blanched. "Oh I hadn't thought about that, man that sucks for you."
Anastasia laughed outright, "yeah, I'm sure I'll be alright but I can't be bothered eating inside. So why are you outside?"
"Well to tell you the truth," Claire said as she laughed, "you 14 year olds scare me."
Stacey laughed with Claire. "What so you'll stand up to the popular bitch at the school, but 14 year olds scare you?"
Claire stared at Anastasia as she continued, "I'm not the only one ma tells stories about, obviously."
Both girls laughed again.
"So what year level are you in?"
"I'm a junior, so I'll be senior next year."
"So that makes you how old?"
"16, almost 17 years old."
"I'm 14."
"Cool."
"Not really, but whatever."
"So what about your friends? Why aren't they out here with you?"
"Friends? Well I don't really have many, I pretty much go out of my way to annoy Michelle and I'm slowly getting people to realise she's a bitch but no one wants to go up against her. That will change soon though, she's learning, mostly she doesn't say much, but occasionally she just goes on and on."
"So that's what ma meant when she said 'upsetting the social hierarchy of the school'" Stacey commented as she pulled out a peanut butter sandwich.
"I prefer to call it 'teaching the stupid bitches a lesson' but your ma's expression does too." Claire responded glancing at Staceys sandwich.
The younger girl blushed, "I know it's a little kid sandwich, but it was that or a salad."
Claire laughed and pulled out her sandwich. She opened it. Stacey laughed loudly.
"Sprinkles? As in fairy bread? That's so cute. You don't seem the type, but sure, that's great, now I can eat my peanut butter sandwich without embarrassment."
"Anything to make the little one happy." Claire said in a mocking voice.
A few minutes later the bell rang. Claire whipped around to face Anastasia.
"If you feel like hanging out over the summer, we have a pool, so give me a call, okay?" Claire said as she quickly jotted her number down on Stacey's hand.
Quickly they separated and each went a different way.
C+S: LOVE
"Claire, Sara's coming for tea tonight, and I know you were going to make spaghetti bolognaise, but can you not put any meat in please?"
Claire sighed glancing at the sauce she had already started. "Sure, Cath."
"Should I chuck this sauce out or finish making it?" Claire muttered to herself, not hearing Lily enter the kitchen.
"Why are you getting rid of the sauce Claire?" Lily asked curiously.
Claire who wasn't paying any attention as she spoke answered, "Catherine's going to introduce Sara to me and Lindsey tonight as her girlfriend, and Sara's a vegetarian, although it wasn't as if I hadn't already worked out the were together anyway."
There was a brief period of silence, realising who she had just spoken to Claire whirled around to face Lily. "Shit." She swore dashing out of the kitchen after seeing the shocked look on Lily's face she ran to pick up the phone and quickly dialled Catherine's mobile.
"Catherine?" Claire asked into the phone.
"Sara, Catherine's a bit busy at the moment, is that you Claire?" Sara responded.
As Claire nodded she realised Sara wasn't able to see her so she spoke, "Yeah, it is, listen Sara, long story short, Lily knows your Catherine's girlfriend and you're coming around for dinner, and I think she's going to hang around to meet you, can you please tell Catherine, and tell her I didn't mean to let it slip. Please, Sara?"
Pausing for a second Sara spoke into the phone, "wait, you know about Catherine and I?"
"Of course I know, Sara. Please just find Catherine now and tell her?"
"Sure thing, I well I'll see you tonight."
"Bye" Claire said as she hung up the phone. Sitting down for a couple of minutes Claire decided to go and talk to Lindsey.
"Hi Claire." Lindsey said grinning as the older girl entered her room.
"Hi princess. Did you have fun at school today?"
The seven year old girl giggled happily. "Yeah, we're growing beans." Her face fell. "But mine isn't as big as everyone else's."
"I'm sure it'll grow Linds." Claire paused. "Now tonight sweetie mommy is going to bring Sara over." Lindsey grinned and cheered. "Yeah I'm excited too," Claire continued, "but your grandma doesn't like Sara very much so if I say so tonight can you go straight to your room please?"
Lindsey nodded her little face serious.
At the LVPD Catherine stood in her office with Sara on her desk chair.
"What do you mean? How does my mother know we're together?" Catherine asked rubbing her forehead.
"Claire called."
"Wait Claire called? And that still doesn't answer my question."
"Sorry, Claire let it slip, she honestly didn't mean to let your mom know, she kept apologising, and now she thinks your mom is going to stay and hang around so she can meet me, and well yell at you."
"Claire knows?" Was all Catherine said in response to Sara's explanation.
Catherine sat on Sara's lap resting her head on Sara's shoulder. Wrapping her arms around Catherine's petite frame she spoke, "It will be okay, do you understand? Your mother finding out isn't the end of the world."
"You'll still come to dinner right? This won't affect us, okay? It doesn't matter what my mother thinks." Catherine whispered as she nuzzled against Sara's neck.
"Of course Cat, and of course I'll still come to dinner, I love you." Both women paused for a moment.
Grinning, Catherine kissed Sara's lips, "I love you too Sara, I love you."
"Let's go then, babe."
Sara kissed Catherine's lips as they exited her office.
C+S: LOVE
"Catherine," Claire said flying out the door the second Catherine's car pulled into the driveway.
Catherine wrapped her arms around her young niece. "Hey sweetie, how are you?"
"I'm fine, but I'm so sorry Cath, I didn't mean to let it slip, I'm so sorry," Claire spoke quickly.
"It's okay," Catherine responded kissing Claire's forehead. "Let's g inside and talk to my mother, okay?"
Claire nodded as she walked forward, Catherine's arm around her waist.
C+S: LOVE
Yay! A new update for you, be happy, this is over 4,100 words, which is my longest chapter...ever.
Please Review!!