Chapter 3

Rocky quickened her pace when she noticed the train conductor down the narrow corridor. Now, for shame if you think I would have killed our fine heroine or made her horribly ill from some mouthwash, although the chemical cocktail people used back then could strip paint off the wall, but I digress. Now let's get back to Rocky trying to attract the attention of a very uninterested train conductor. "Excuse me Sir." The conductor didn't hear her. "Excuse me Sir." Practically yelling, her voice carried a little too far as the other passengers, who along with the conductor, were now staring at her. A blush of embarrassment swept over Rocky's mocha complexion. She went over to where the conductor was standing and said "Um, hi," giving him a little wave. "I was wondering if Ty Blue has boarded the train." The train conductor looked down at his passenger list, trying to confirm that Ty indeed had boarded the train. "What was that name again?" This time he didn't even look up at Rocky. "Ty Blue, thin, a little shorter than me, incredibly well dressed." Rocky was hoping beyond all hope that he would be aboard. She needed to tell him something earth shatteringly important, but before she had a chance to finish her thought, she was interrupted. "Mr. Blue is on board." The conductor went back to work, not caring about the woman standing before him. "This might be pressing my luck but, do you happen to know where he is?" she asked, sheepish in tone. "Try the bar," was all that the conductor said and left to bring love and joy to all the boys and girls across the land. That was sarcasm in case you didn't notice. Really, the man was a miserable human being. And that's exactly what Rocky was thinking as she made her way to the bar car to find her cousin.

The bartender's steady hand poured an amber coloured liquid into a crystal glass for his rather rough looking patron. In the open doorway, Rocky stood, just staring at the mess that was Ty. How to tell him, how to tell him raced through her mind a mile a minute. His body language said it all. He was slumped over the bar awaiting the drink he'd recently ordered. His head hung low, his normally neat and pristine appearance was now dishevelled and unkempt. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week. The sudden gut wrenching feeling of guilt filled Rocky as if she was breathing it instead of air. How could she do this to him; they had always had a great relationship. They were as close as siblings, even though he teased her something awful, but that was just part of their repartee. It taught her how to stand up for herself, a life lesson worth learning considering she was one of the first women of colour to be a professor at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. He was family, and family always came first, and here she was about to tell her cousin that she stole his gal. Well, I suppose not really, since CeCe didn't have any feelings for him. No I can't be thinking like that, it's just not right. The fact that CeCe didn't have feelings for him doesn't negate the fact that he had strong feelings for CeCe. Rocky wasn't 100% sure of that last part, but seeing him at the bar clarified the situation for her and she felt just awful.

Approaching her cousin slowly, Rocky contemplated tapping him on his shoulder to get his attention but thought better of it, not wanting to startle him, so she decided just to sit beside him. "Hey Ty." Her voice was soft, full of concern at the sight of the man deteriorating before her. He didn't even acknowledge her existence. "Ty, I need to tell you something." The bartender asked for Rocky's drink order but not being much of a drinker, she politely declined. Ty gazed down at his drink in silence for a minute or two before answering. "I already know." The voice was raspier than normal. Rocky was confused and it was written all over her face. How could Ty know? She didn't think anybody knew since it literally happened an hour ago. "Know what?" Ty just bored a hole right through her, his eyes narrow and without kindness. Rocky didn't like where this was going. Ty was still staring her down before talking again. "About CeCe." Rocky slightly turned herself towards Ty and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Look, I didn't mean for this to happen, it just did." Rocky smiled to herself; luckily Ty didn't seem to notice since he was too busy wallowing in self pity. Remembering the whirlwind of the past 24 hours just made Rocky smile; she wasn't doing this out of malice. She just couldn't help it every time she thought of her wife. "So, when are you going to see her again?" An innocent enough question Ty thought, not knowing the extent of their relationship. "Ty, CeCe and I are…" Ty cut her off not wanting to hear his cousin go on and on about his gal. "I know, I know, you two are in love." The bitterness was apparent in his tone and did not go unnoticed by his close relation. Rocky couldn't help but look at him sympathetically. Her heart was breaking for him every second she sat by him, but she had to soldier on and tell him the truth.

"Well..." Once again Ty interrupted her; the constant interruptions were starting to annoy her. It was hard enough to tell him the truth but to have Ty horn in every time she started to speak was not okay. "Did you know she was my gal?" Ty's speech was starting to slur with the drink he consumed. Rocky's posture stiffened with that question. She wasn't sure how to answer it so she stayed mute. Ty then pulled a blue velvet box from his inside jacket pocket and placed it upon the bar. A chill went up Rocky's spine as she realized what that was. "I'm so stupid; I was going to ask her to marry me tonight. Did you know that?" Rocky just shook her head no and continued listening to Ty. "And I thought she was going to say yes and we could live in New York and she would go on performing and I would own the club one day, it was the perfect life. That is until you came along. You came along and in less than twenty minutes you had her. You, who usually can't even talk to a girl let alone ask her out without my help and you had her in less than twenty minutes." Ty practically yelled that last part as he guzzled the rest of his whisky down his throat and gestured to the bartender to bring him another. What could Rocky say; she hated the fact that she had caused him so much pain. "Ty I really need to tell you something and I don't want you interrupting me. It's tough enough I have to tell you this." Ty went back to his recently refreshed beverage "What?" "Well, you're not the only person who wanted to propose to CeCe last night." They sat in silence not daring to look at each other, Rocky in fear of what Ty's reaction would be and Ty not knowing how he should feel in this situation. He was happy that his cousin found someone but why did it have to be CeCe? Ty eventually broke the silence, his eyes still firmly locked onto the glass filled with the amber liquid. "Did she say yes?" This sentence was emotionless. "Yes." One word answers seemed appropriate at this point. Ty let Rocky's answer sink in before he asked his next question. "Did it happen already?" Ty thought it would be a good time to finish the drink before him. "Yes." Rocky's voice was no more than a whisper.

Ty just sat there nodding, truly understanding that he lost and lost big. So there's only one thing to do at this moment, try and keep what was left of his dignity. He reached down and pulled something out of his pocket and placed it on the bar. Rocky glanced down to see what he had placed there. Two tickets for a sleeper cabin aboard the train. Ty had purchased the tickets in hopes that he would have a place to take his new fiancée, but he wasn't the one who had the fiancée, it was Rocky. Ty figured she could use the cabin a lot more than he could. Rocky was confused by the gesture. "You're going to need these." Ty got up, straightened his tie and gave Rocky a small smile and left the bar car with a bit of a stumble, but made his way out graciously enough. She looked down at the offering, realising that this meant that even if things weren't okay with each other now, they would be and that was good enough for her.

As CeCe directed the porter where to put the luggage that carried all her worldly possessions, Rocky quickly came up behind her. Not making a sound, she wrapped her arms around an unexpecting CeCe, enjoying the feel of the slender waist beneath her arms. The unanticipated contact caused CeCe to shriek in surprise. "This better be my wife or I'm going to have to seriously hurt someone." CeCe's tone was threatening and not to be toyed with. "Don't worry it's just me." Rocky sang with ease, then thought about her wife's menacing words "Wait, should I be worried for my life?" questioning the stern tone from moments earlier. CeCe turned around in the arms where she now found comfort to face the questioning voice "Don't let these skinny arms fool you, I'm scrappy." A cheeky smile crept across CeCe's face. "Well then, I'm definitely attracted to scrappy." Rocky lowered her head and placed a quick peck on her wife's lips.

After a moment of the simple embrace shared by Rocky and CeCe, Rocky' face fell and worry replaced serenity. The expression did not go unnoticed by the redhead. "How did he take it?" Rocky looked into CeCe's eyes, seeing only concern for her family, as she debated how much information to divulge. "He'll be okay." It was simple and the truth. Rocky decided not to share Ty's serious feelings about CeCe. Not because she was trying to manipulate the situation, but Ty was her family and things were going to be tough enough with out having that awkwardness looming over them. When CeCe heard the news she wasn't sure she was convinced by Rocky's answer but she knew she'd find the truth eventually. "And to show that Ty's really okay with this, he gave us his cabin for the night so that we could have a little privacy." Rocky wiggled her eyebrows up and down for the last part. "Well, let's not waste any time then." CeCe grabbed Rocky's hand and set off.

When they arrived at sleeper cabin 3A, CeCe looked expectantly at Rocky. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Rocky was honestly confused. "Well, aren't you going to carry me across the threshold?" CeCe had always imagined this moment since she was a little girl. Although when she imagined it, the locale was definitely not on a train and her spouse was definitely more male. Rocky just smiled, leaned down and kissed her wife gently "I'd love to, but if you think I'm doing that in these heels you're insane." They both got a chuckle out of that. "But if you want, I'll open the door for you." Rocky suggested, hoping to appease her wife. "Wow, that's romantic." Once again, the sarcasm CeCe offered flowed like honey. CeCe was rather preoccupied with Rocky when she entered the cabin, so when she turned around she was rather shocked by what stood before her eyes. An elderly man, who must have been about seventy, if not older, stood with his pants around his ankles, clearly in the midst of changing, while his wife unpacked a large suitcase. Everyone involved in this particular situation just froze on the spot. "CeCe why did you, oh." Rocky's jaw dropped when she saw the man and immediately placed her hand over CeCe's eyes, not wanting her modesty to be compromised. "Herbert put your pants on." The voice was shrill, abrasive and was possessed by an unappreciated wife of forty years.

Herbert stood there for a moment before the words from the voice he usually ignored actually sunk in. "Oh." He hastily turned around to pull up, fasten and buckle up the article of clothing that was causing such a fuss. Now that embarrassment had safely transitioned into curiosity, Herbert asked the obvious question "Now, what brings two lovely ladies to our cabin?" Knowing full well what a man looked in his underwear, CeCe removed Rocky's hand, which until this point had shielded her eyes, to answer the man's question. "I believe we have tickets for this cabin." Rocky reached inside her hand bag and removed the tickets Ty had given her as proof of CeCe's statement. The rotund woman quickly waved her arms exuberantly up in the air; she always felt the need to make grand gestures when she felt like she had been wronged and the mere presence of these two women defiantly fell under that category. She started searching through the suitcase to prove without a doubt that the cabin belonged to her and her husband. "Herbert, would you tell them that this room is ours." Rolling his eyes, Herbert had heard this tone in his wife's voice many times before. Harsh and unnaturally loud, his wife had a talent for peeling paint off walls just by yelling at them, but this time it was uncalled for. "Quiet Edith, let's see the girls' tickets. This could be an honest mistake." That made him feel better but Edith, on the other hand, wouldn't hear any of it; she just kept waving her arms and insisting that she was right. Rocky and CeCe stood frozen by the door, not wanting to get in the middle of this quarrel that must have started at least forty years ago. As his wife was yelling at him from behind, he just asked to look at Rocky's tickets. Cabin 3A was clearly printed on the tickets, he started rubbing his chin trying to think of a solution to this conundrum but the constant yammering from behind him was making the task next to impossible. Herbert snapped "Woman shut up! The only one listening to you is you. Now shut your pie hole and let me see our tickets." Edith was aghast; Herbert never yelled back, she didn't know what to do.

Silent for the first time since Rocky and CeCe entered the cabin, Edith passed the tickets to her husband. "Just what I thought, Cabin 3A." Apologetically, Herbert looked at the two women in front of him, hoping they might have some suggestions to help the situation. That's when Edith's resolve returned and her stubbornness took hold as if her life depended on it. Grabbing the tickets from Herbert, she was going to let everyone how this was going to play out. "Well, I don't care. I've been waiting far too long to take this trip and I'm staying in this cabin. You'll have to pry my cold dead body from this cabin if you think I'm leaving." Annoyed by Edith's childish behaviour, CeCe was compelled to comment under her breath "That can be arranged." Rocky simply nudged CeCe's arm, signalling her disapproval of the inappropriate commentary. "Look," Rocky spoke with sincerity "We can get the porter and see if we can't figure out a solution here, maybe there's another cabin available." Rocky offered optimistically. Edith stormed right up to Rocky and pointed her finger in her face, waving it about. "Look missy, there's only one solution here; I'm staying here with my husband." Edith humphed for emphasis. Now CeCe was mad. Nobody pokes her finger at Rocky and gets away with it. Then she conjured up an idea that just might work, playing to Herbert's sensitivities. She noticed that he was more agitated with his wife than with them; maybe if he knew they were newlyweds, well, you never know until you try. So CeCe calmly approached Herbert while Rocky stood in the doorway trying to figure out what CeCe was up to. "Just to let you two know, we just got married and well you know, Herbert, being a man of the world, a little privacy would be nice, if you know what I mean." CeCe added a wink at the end to drive her point home. Edith's eyes shot wide open and Rocky just rolled hers shaking her head in disbelief. "CeCe, everyone knows what you mean." Rocky was slightly annoyed and embarrassed.

With every passing moment, Edith was getting more upset. "Now I've heard everything, I'm not going to let the likes of you two have this cabin to do whatever you two would do." The disgust and judgment just oozed with every word Edith muttered. Once again, Herbert had enough of his wife's attitude "Shut up woman." Edith just glared at her husband. "You have no right to judge, you're uncle…" Herbert was rudely cut off. "My uncle what?" Edith bored holes with her gaze, daring her husband to continue his statement. Although he wasn't wrong with his information, she didn't want it getting out. To get him back, like all good wives, she knew which buttons to press to irritate the poor man. So Edith started into her diatribe. "You know, I could have married that nice boy John Wilcox, he was so well off. My mother warned me about marring the likes of you; she always liked that boy John. Oh, I wonder what he's doing now." CeCe and Rocky glanced at each other sharing silent prayers of hope that their marriage wouldn't turn into endless hours of bickering, fighting and regrets. "Woman, why do you always bring him up, I had options too you know." Herbert was becoming agitated forgetting the two newlyweds were even in the room, which may have been Edith's plan all along. Staring each other down like prize fighters, Herbert and Edith were getting ready to go all ten rounds if necessary. It was Edith's turn to launch an attack "Like who, who was this perfect woman?" her arms crossed over her ample chest. CeCe turned to Rocky, whispering in her ear "I think we should give them the cabin, this sounds like it could go all night." Rocky completely agreed and they quietly backed out of the sleeper cabin, not noticed by the quarrelling couple.

After tracking down the porter, only to be told that there was no available space left on the train, CeCe and Rocky made their way to the bar car now empty of all its patrons. Due to the lateness of the hour, CeCe led Rocky to the banquet seats located at the rear of the car so they could get some much needed rest. Rocky had other ideas though. She took her coat and placed it along the seat and guided CeCe down beside it. CeCe was about to say something but was soon quieted by Rocky placing her index finger tenderly on her lips. Rocky gently shook her head from side to side indicating that there was to be no talking. Tracing her finger down CeCe's arms, Rocky slowly took off her gloves and bent down to kiss both her hands then silently went over to the light switch and turned it off so that the only light source was the low glow of the under mounted lights of the bar. Rocky headed back to where CeCe was seated and placed her coat over them both to warm. CeCe nuzzled closer to Rocky, enjoying the warmth her body provided. "Thank you." CeCe whispered delighting in the closeness. "For what?" Rocky was a little confused. CeCe looked up from where she was cuddling Rocky. "I don't know, for all this, for being the best wife ever." Rocky laughed a little at that last part. "You do realize that I've only had that job for a day and the accommodations could be a little more comfortable and private. Also, this is not what I was hoping for in a wedding night." CeCe sat up slightly and looked around the empty car. "I don't know, I think this is very private." CeCe then captured Rocky's lips with hers. It was slow and CeCe could feel that Rocky wanted entrance into her mouth, so she granted it. But CeCe wasn't ready to give up her dominance over Rocky's mouth yet. CeCe deepened the kiss. She was successful as she heard a moan from Rocky. Reluctantly, they separated both needing air to survive. Soon after CeCe started kissing Rocky's neck which Rocky thoroughly enjoyed until she heard what sounded like a squeaky wheel. "CeCe?" CeCe made some sort of sound that Rocky interpreted as a yes. "Do you hear something?" CeCe was far too amused with her ministrations to really be paying attention to anything Rocky was trying to say to her, so she continued. That was until a valet taking a cart of ice to the bar walked in, flipped on the lights and proceeded to the bar. CeCe practically jumped off Rocky. The thump was audible as Rocky's head hit the wall behind her. "Yep, the perfect ending to a perfect day." Her frustrations very evident as she rubbed her head, CeCe couldn't contain her laughter. "Look, let's get try and get some sleep, everything will be better tomorrow," CeCe soothed and gave Rocky a chaste peck on the lips.

Welcome to Hartford was pristinely painted on a wooden sign, informing all passengers on the train who happened to be looking out the window as CeCe was. She was nervously freshening up in the ladies room getting ready to meet the new in-laws. She could hear Rocky just outside the door asking her to hurry up. "You can't rush perfection," she quipped trying to stall just a little bit longer. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her but she did smile when Rocky agreed with her. To try and calm her nerves, she thought about what it would be like being married to Rocky when a thought popped into her head. "Hey Rocky, what does a professor's wife do anyways?" The question was simple and something she never thought about before now. Rocky had to think for a minute. What were the responsibilities of her new wife? "Well, I guess the first thing is keep the professor happy." Rocky's smile was sly and cunning, while CeCe's smile was just a mirror image as she continued to get ready. "And what else?" The curiosity that CeCe now possessed was starting to quell her nerves and her confidence was returning. "I don't know; there are a couple of student faculty functions though out the year that we would have to attend." Rocky stopped her train of thought when CeCe emerged from the bathroom looking stunning in a black and white Channel suite. And there was that goofy grin plastered all over Rocky's face again. CeCe knew that she would never get tired of seeing that smile. "You look beautiful." Rocky placed a small peck on CeCe lips trying not to disturbed the freshly placed lipstick. "Are you ready to meet my parents?" The question asked by her wife brought the butterflies back with a vengeance. "I don't know. I haven't had a proper family in such a long time, what if they don't like me?" Rocky could see the fear in CeCe's eyes, so she embraced her to help quell her unsettled feelings. "Don't worry; they'll love you just like I do."

Passengers and porters alike were whizzing by the newlyweds as Rocky was desperately trying to figure out where to put CeCe's entire mountain of luggage. "CeCe I don't think you brought enough luggage." The jab did not go unnoticed by the shorter redhead. "Ha, ha very funny; I didn't know what to pack on such short notice so, I brought everything." And that's when she heard a familiar voice from behind. "Good morning, good morning, good morning. CeCe what are you doing here? That's right, I married you." CeCe had to turn around to make sure she was hearing things properly; it was Ty's voice and he was extremely chipper. Once she recognized Ty, she immediately gave him a big bear hug which Rocky observed very closely. Ty seemed to be enjoying the hug just a little too much for Rocky's comfort, so she had to break this up. "No Ty, you didn't marry her, I did." Rocky thought a small reminder wouldn't hurt anybody right now. Ty looked up to meet Rocky's unimpressed expression. "That right." He looked down to see CeCe "That would make us cousins right?" CeCe nodded in agreement just as Herbert and Edith walked by while CeCe was still in Ty's embrace. Looking CeCe and Ty up and down from head to toe, Edith commented to Rocky "If your cousins want to use the cabin its free now." All three of them shot Edith daggers as she sauntered away. "I see you two have made friends." Ty let go of CeCe and stared at Edith and Herbert who were trying to catch a cab. Rocky collected some of CeCe's luggage "Those two would have been your roommates last night," she stated, slightly out of breath from the weight of the bags while CeCe headed towards the taxi. "Yeah, I probably should have told you about that before I gave you the tickets." Ty's voice was a little too jubilant as a sly smile crept all over his face. He grabbed a couple of bags from the mountain to help out. Rocky couldn't believe what she had just been told; her jaw actually dropped "Rat bastard" slipped out of her normally sainted mouth. All Rocky could do was watch Ty catch up to CeCe as she secured transportation to get home.

As Rocky finally made her way to the cab, Ty was gesturing towards CeCe's new in-laws. There stood Rocky's dad, Dr. Curtis Blue, dressed as a prestigious professor should be dressed; the finest of suites, overlaid with a dark camel trench coat and a fedora to top it off. Next to him, was Mrs. Blue, who was no slouch herself in the fashion department. She complimented her husband in every way, starting with her stylish feather hat and ending with her statuesque pose. Out of breath, Rocky brought with her the last of CeCe's never ending wardrobe and loaded them into the cab. "What are you guys talking about?" Rocky's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, nothing too much. Ty was just pointing out your Mom and Dad." Rocky was surprised they had come to the train station; she had assumed that she would meet them at home as always. "Hey Rocky?" Ty had noticed something that made him uneasy. "Why is your Dad so calm? Shouldn't he be more upset at your nuptials?" Ty's questions were innocent enough if you new why he was asking them. "Well, no." Rocky's voice was shrinking, making her sound more like a child than an associate professor at a major university. CeCe started to connect the dots in her mind "You haven't told them yet have you?" CeCe wasn't angry; she just wanted to know what she was going to walk into. "No, I haven't told them yet, but I was thinking once we got to the house I could casually mention something." Again the child-like voice was doing nothing for Rocky as she tried to justify her thought process. CeCe thought about the predicament she was now in and made a decision. "Well, if your parents don't know about me, I'm not going home with you." The seriousness of CeCe declaration hit Rocky hard. "Why?" It was practically a whine. "Look Rocky, I love you to death, but I'm not going to be the one responsible for killing your parents due to shock. Until you tell them, I'm not going with you." And that was that, Rocky couldn't argue with her. CeCe was right she needed to tell her parents the truth, but at the right time, after they had a couple of drinks, after they had a really good day, maybe after their first grandchild was born. "So where are you going to stay until I tell them?" Rocky was pouting. CeCe was surprised by the question "Oh, I hadn't thought about that." Rocky could see the wheels in Ty's head starting to turn and she did not like the direction they were taking. "No, no, no, no, that will not be happening." Rocky said to a question that had only been asked silently by her cousin. "It's the only option." Ty rebutted. This left CeCe very confused "The only option for what." Rocky rolled her eyes and in the flattest tone she could muster "Ty wants you to stay with him at his apartment." CeCe was caught off guard by this, but then thought for a moment. She knew if she stayed at Ty's apartment Rocky would be beyond jealous, but that might be the kick in the pants Rocky needed to tell her parents that they were married. "You know what; I think it's for the best that I stay with Ty until you talk to your parents." CeCe quickly pecked the lips of a very hurt and anxious Rocky then started to get into the taxi with Ty.

CeCe's heart sank as she watched Rocky walk over to greet her father and mother. It wasn't fair for her to use Ty just to torment Rocky's little green-eyed monster just to get what she wanted. Dr. Blue's greeting to his daughter was cooler than expected. "When I send someone to do a task I expect it to be followed." His was tone was stern and not to be trifled with. It was evident to Rocky her father was not in a good mood. "Dad, I brought Ty home liked you ask. He's in that taxi over there." Rocky's explanation fell on deaf ears. Dr. Blue was pleased that Ty had returned but was unenthused about his travelling companion "I didn't think you would be that foolish and let him bring that redheaded harlot home with him." Rocky hated hearing her wife being described in such a way. "Dad, she is not a harlot." Again Rocky's words fell on deaf ears. "Rocky you know nothing about the certain kinds of women in the world who like to take advantage of wealthy, young, unsuspecting gentlemen." Dr. Blue spoke with all of the confidence of a man who had no idea what he was talking about, in other words, an unnatural amount of confidence. "Dad I really don't think that what's going on. She's a very nice girl, if you just got to know her." Rocky was practically pleading with her father, but to no avail. "Rocky, when you were a child I disciplined you. When you were an adolescent I taught you, but Rocky, you are now twenty six years old and you are still very naive about the world around you," her father scolded. "But Dad…." Rock was instantly cut off. "We will discuss this later; I have a meeting with the board of directors that I'm late for. Gunter will take you and your mother home in the car. Bye." Off he went as Gunter offered Rocky his arm to take her to the car. Rocky ignored the offered appendage and made her way to the car. Gunter then escorted Mrs. Blue to the automobile, opening the door for her and making sure she was comfortable inside. CeCe witnessed the entire conversation from the window of the taxi. She insisted on waiting until she knew that Rocky was safe. There was just one burning question. Who was the blond gentleman who tried to help Rocky into the car? His appearance was far too opulent to be a chauffer and he was riding in the back with the family. Her inquiring mind just had to know. "Ty, who was that blond gentleman with Dr. and Mrs. Blue." Ty's previously bored expression turned to one of great amusement "What, Rocky didn't tell you?" CeCe's shook her head no. "Tell, me what?" Ty's grin was toothy and full of satisfaction while CeCe was still blissfully unaware. He relished in this moment for a second before he told CeCe "That's Rocky's fiancée; Gunter."