I'm so fucking sorry, guys. I never meant to update so late and yet, here we are in 2017 lmao I assure y'all that the updates will come faster and soon this story will be completed. Thank you so much for the reviews and follows and faves, I'm humbled by your interactions and may more come my way...

Anyways, that's that. I hope you enjoy.

The person behind the nervous knock definitely wasn't Rooney.

"Oh shit" Cate said out loud before slapping a hand against her lips, in fear that the person behind the door would hear her. A person that shouldn't be here. A person that should be with their children in bloody London to oversee the procedures over acquiring their new house.

Andrew.

Her thoughts were scattered around her brain and without her consent, the door opened and her husband walked inside. "Cate, my love" he said sweetly, all those years of marriage heavily permeating the air as he smiled at her. "Andrew, weren't you supposed to be in London?" she blurted at once, not even stopping to gauge his reaction before her own feet carried her to the bathroom, where she nervously checked her hair.

"Well, yes… but I thought it was better if you were with me. So I came to pick you up" he came up behind her, softly encircling her waist with his arms while he stared at her reflection on the mirror "You look gorgeous". With a smile finally making its way on her pale lips, the woman let herself fall against him before replying "Dear, I already told you about the cast and crew party. I can't possibly be at two places at the same time".

"We'll go to the party-" he started but she turned to face him quickly and shut him with a peck on the lips "No. I know you, love. You wouldn't let me drink as much as I plan too" she smirked and winked at him, affection blossoming on her chest as he quickly accepted without further ado. The shame burned deeply inside her guts, making her hold him even tighter against herself.

What the hell was wrong with her? She worked with other people before and this had never happened. They had such a good marriage, they were friends on top of everything, staying by each other's side come hell or high water and here she was, dismissing Andrew so she could drink her guilt away and finally pounce on Rooney. Not exactly pounce, she thought, but perhaps they could talk and Cate would be finally able to dismiss this passing fancy she had for the other woman.

But as she rationalized the whole situation while in Andrew's arms, a small but rapidly growing part of herself sighed at the ridiculousness of her predicament. The blonde woman knew herself well and these damned feelings weren't a fleeting thing. Fucking hell, she was doomed. With a grim resignation, she broke their hug and stared at his face for some seconds before pecking him again on the lips and walking away from the bathroom.

Gathering her phone and ID and quickly dropping them inside a black hand purse, she took a second to look at the time. And she was decidedly late, much to her chagrin. "Andrew…" she called, but he already was following her, the picture of placidity. With a smile she stood outside her room, waiting for him to exit so she could close the door.

"Me and the kids will be waiting for you in London, alright?" he said with a small smile, watching as she fluffed her already flawless hair and nodded as a response to his question. "Have fun and do not drink too much, you hear me?" he continued as she came close to him and kissed his cheek softly, whispering a goodbye against his face.

With a mischievous giggle, she sauntered to the lift and entered when it stopped on her floor. "Can't promise anything" she finally replied, pulling a funny face at him as the doors closed and he shook his head at her, clearly amused.

With a sense of finality, Cate sighed at the heavy weight that seemed to have settled against the back of her skull. These headaches were getting worse with her constant stress but she figured that today would be the last day of suffering for her. She was so immersed in her thoughts that when the lift finally opened its doors again, she didn't know whether to walk forward or to stay inside.

But a glimpse of brown hair propelled her to advance and suddenly, she met an anxious looking brunette just before the hotel main doors. Her breath caught and the blonde woman felt herself grow warm at the sight before her.

Rooney looked absolutely ravishing in a cream coloured short dress, all lace and see-through panels of fabric that made the younger woman look like an absolute angel. A line of Carol popped into her mind faster than she could utter any words but didn't come any closer to her vocal cords, choosing instead to permeate Cate's brain until all she could think about was that.

"I'm so sorry for my lateness, darling" she said instead, taking a step closer to the brunette and kissing her cheek – a bit too close to finely shaped lips, but who was there to see it? Rooney simply looked at her with those doe eyes and smiled openly before replying "It's quite alright, you're not too late. Can we go now?"

"Oh yes, of course. Lead the way" and they walked side by side out of the hotel, a black sleek car already waiting for them, the door opened so they could enter without interruption.

As soon as they sat against the comfortable leather, Rooney started to fidget like a small child. The fragrance coming off of her blonde companion was intoxicating and if she inched closer to the woman in question to get a better feel of it, Cate didn't seem to notice. "You look dazzling, my dear" the older woman suddenly said, startling Rooney from the half-trance she was in.

"Thanks… you look-" the girl started before cutting herself short and finally taking a real look at the woman before her. Whatever compliment she meant to deliver died short against her mouth and she had to swallow a couple times just to make sure that the dryness of her mouth was illusory.

Cate was a goddess gracing Earth with her mere presence and Rooney couldn't bring herself to say what she really wanted to say or do, so she simply slumped against the seat and breathed "You look like the most beautiful woman I have ever seen…" before shutting her eyes and missing the look of pure rapture that passed over the blonde's features.

Just as Cate was about to open her mouth, she felt the car roll to a stop and the answer crumbled against her tongue, leaving her desperate for a moment alone with Rooney.

Perhaps they would have time for that later, but now she had to face the music. And with an ephemeral touch to Rooney's soft jaw line, she got out of the car and quickly entered the club Todd had chosen for the party.