Disclaimer: Characters are owned and produced by The Disney Channel, That's So Productions, Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment and Warren & Rinsler Productions. I am just borrowing them for these stories.

Chapter Title: In Another's Eyes (duet w/Trisha Yearwood) from Garth Brooks' 1997 album, Sevens. Produced by Allen Reynolds. Written by Garth Brooks, Bobby Wood and John Peppard.

"From error to error, one discovers the entire truth." Sigmund Freud


Love Conquers All

Chapter 7

In Another's Eyes

(Raven's POV)

Have you ever been doing something, anything that has baffled you, like… playing solitaire… and you get stuck and you keep looking at the cards over and over until you eventually see it; the lynchpin, the solution, the one card that makes every other card fall into place? Well, I found that card the other day. On one hand, I'm glad I did. On the other hand, I wish I hadn't. I am of the belief that everything happens for a reason; even if the reason makes absolutely no sense at the time.

These last three months have been strange to say the least. Over the course of the last ninety days, I have actually become friends with Devyn Shelby. It's weird that once you discover something about the way someone ticks, the more you understand them, the better you get along with them. That's what's happened with us. Now that I understand what her motivation is, I can deal with her better. And baring her soul to me must've done something for her because she has dropped a lot of that diva act with me. Don't get me wrong, she still does it from time to time, but it's a lot less than what she did before.

What really had me scratching my head though was Chelsea. I have never had this feeling before in all the years I've known her, but I get the feeling Chelsea is avoiding me. She has worked late every night for the last three weeks, getting home around nine, then when she does get home she busies herself with more work and then goes to bed. Normally she would, at some point throw her hands up and say, "That's it. It's Rae Rae time." She would stop what she was doing and decompress with me. But there is no decompression. She has been focused on work like I have never seen her do before. If I didn't know better, I would think she was trying to keep her mind off of something that is bothering her. I didn't know what else to do so I decided to find out.

Monday, January 13, 2020 – 10:15 am – Gretchen's office

"Jeff, why is the environmental lobby pissing and moaning this morning? They got what they wanted!" Gretchen paused to hear Jeff's response. "Well they are greedy. Their public relations is taking a hit and they act like they don't even care… Oh, I've got another call. This might be Senator Tomlinson's office. I'll call you later… Okay, bye." Gretchen switched lines. "Good Morning, Norris, Endicott, Pruitt. Gretchen Newberry."

"Hey Gretch. It's Raven Daniels."

"Hi Raven! How are you?"

"I'm okay. Look, I hate doing this. I don't want to put you in the middle of anything but… I need to talk to you about Chelsea. Do you have any time free today? Lunch maybe?"

"Uhh… sure." Gretchen said. She was slightly worried that Chelsea's wife would call her. "I'm free for lunch today."

"Great. Could you meet me at that café on West 68th and 9th, say… twelve-thirty?"

"Sure thing. I'll be there."

"Thanks a lot. And please don't tell Chelsea we're meeting. I know she'll be pissed if she thinks I'm talking about her behind her back. I'm just worried about her and I don't know what else to do."

"I understand. I'll see you at twelve-thirty."

"Okay. Bye." When she hung up the phone, Gretchen leaned back in her chair, looked up at the ceiling in her office and blew a long breath out and blinked her eyes rapidly several times before straightening back up and going back to work.

Twelve-thirty rolled around and Gretchen met Raven at the designated café. After greeting each other with a hug, Raven sat down and got right to the heart of what was on her mind.

"I'm worried about Chelsea. She's been acting very strangely since Halloween." Raven said. "Has anything… weird gone on at work? Anything that she's talked about with you?"

"I… know she's been working some long hours lately. She's been doing some research on a case that's a real bear." Gretchen said.

"She told me a couple of months ago about some problem that she had with a paralegal and that she was gonna ask to have her transferred. Is that situation settled?" Raven asked.

"No. The woman still works for Chelsea but their conversation is to a minimum – just business." Gretchen said, her heart beating a little faster than before.

"I thought this woman was helping her with research, cause Chels has been doing a lot of research on her own. Maybe she needs more help maybe? I mean, I don't want to tell y'all how to do your jobs it's just…"

"I know. You're worried about her, and frankly, so am I." Gretchen said. "She needs to get away from the office for a little while. A vacation."

"We were planning on going back to San Francisco to see our parents in May. But I don't know if she can make it until then." Raven said. "I mean…" Raven leaned in to whisper to Gretchen. "We're not even…"

"I… gotcha. For how long?" Gretchen asked.

"Since before Christmas. We just can't get on the same page. Something is eating away at her and I need to know what it is." Raven said. "She's been kind of irritable and we've been snapping at each other. I don't know if it's the lack of sex, the stress of whatever it is on her mind, the job or a combination of all three but all I know is that something's gotta give. Can you just… see if you can find out anything? She just keeps giving me the 'I'm fine, just gotta a lot of work on my plate' thing."

"I'll see what I can do." Gretchen offered.

"Thank you Gretchen. I really appreciate it and again, I'm sorry about dragging you into this." Raven said.

"That's okay. She's my friend and I am happy to help where I can." Gretchen said.

"I really love her." Raven said softly.

"I know you do. And she knows that too. Maybe that's why she's not telling you about whatever it is." Gretchen suggested.

"She knows that she can tell me anything." Raven said.

"Some things are difficult to talk about, even with a spouse." Gretchen said.

"Well, maybe she'll open up to you." Raven said. "Whatever it is, it can't be as bad as she thinks it is."

Monday, January 13, 2020 – 1 pm – Evelyne's office

Evelyne was researching some old precedents when a knock on her door interrupted her.

"Come in." Evelyne said.

"Hey sis." Erin said.

"Hey babe." Evelyne said as she stood to hug her sister.

"How's it going?" Erin said.

"It's going." Evelyne replied as she sat down and offered her absent office mate's chair to her sister.

"And how's your problem?" Erin asked.

"Reduced to a series of three and four word sentences or an email." Evelyne said.

"Were you expecting anything different? You kissed a married woman." Erin said.

"I wasn't expecting a complete communications shutdown." Evelyne said. "At the very least, I expected to be transferred to another attorney. I was even bracing myself to get fired. But to not even have her talk to me so I can at least apologize…"

"But you don't want to apologize, do you?" Erin said. "Why would you? You don't think you did anything wrong."

"My heart keeps telling me to go after her." Evelyne said.

"Based on what? Flirtatious glances? A kiss? What do you really know about her?" Erin said.

"I know that I am drawn to her and she's drawn to me." Evelyne said.

"Well obviously she's not. She hasn't said a meaningful word to you in weeks." Erin said. "Ev, you are a beautiful woman that can hand pick any woman in this city you want. Don't choose a married woman. Don't break up a home."

"Better a home than my heart." Evelyne said softly.

Erin looked at her sister in disbelief for saying that. "After what mom and dad went through after his affair, how can you sit there and say that? It took them a long time to put things back together and you mean you want to put someone else through that?" Erin said.

Evelyne paused and dropped her head in thought. "I hate it when you're right." Evelyne said. "And I hate feeling like this."

"You've got to talk to her. I mean have that once-and-for-all talk and you have got to tell her that you are going to leave her alone." Erin said.

Monday, January 13, 2020 – 2 pm – Offices of DevynShelby Designs

Raven was sitting in her temporary office at DevynShelby Designs looking over budgets for her upcoming summer line of merchandise when Devyn knocked and stepped in.

"Haven't seen much of you today." Devyn said as she sat down.

"I've… just been going over budgets and doin' some thinking." Raven said.

"Well, don't think to hard. You don't want your head to explode." Devyn said making Raven chuckle. "That's what I always tell my sister."

"You have a sister?" Raven asked.

"Three actually. Danara, Denise and Danielle. I'm surprised I never mentioned them." Devyn said.

"Nope. The only thing I really know about you is what you told me about your parents." Raven said.

"Oh, well, I'm the oldest. The youngest one, Danielle, just graduated from Morgan State. Danara and Denise are both married and live just outside of Baltimore." Devyn said.

"Is that where you're from?" Raven asked.

"Yeah. I go home and visit every now and then. My sisters and I call ourselves the Divas." Devyn said.

"Hey! That's funny. My friends and I call ourselves the Divas too!" Raven said.

"I bet my divas are more diva-ish than yours." Devyn said.

"I've got two words for you – London and Tipton." Raven said, knowing that London's diva reputation still lingers.

"Okay, you win." Devyn said with a laugh. "What about you and your family?"

"Well, my dad had his own restaurant in San Francisco, that's where Chelsea and I grew up. Then he became the executive chef at the White House." Raven started. "My mom studied law at Oxford for three years, she was in the Justice Department under President Obama now she has her own practice. And I have a younger brother Cory, who is an investment analyst at American Express. He's engaged to the vice president of marketing for M&M's. He met her in high school in D.C. And get this, her name is Candy!"

"Aww, I bet she's so sweet!" Devyn joked, earning her a playful swat from Raven. "So that's why you always have fresh M&M's on your desk."

"I've got three cases of them in my office. You want some? You can have as much as you want." Raven offered.

"Thanks. I'll take you up on that." Devyn said with a smile. "So you also said you were doing some thinking. Everything all right?"

"It's… family stuff. Nothing that you would be interested in." Raven said.

"Now I know that I'm kinda new to this whole friend thing but from what I do know, friends listen to friends when they need help or advice and since I am your friend now… I'm here for you." Devyn said.

"Well… okay. You're an international jet-setter. How do you deal with relationships where you're busy all the time?" Raven asked.

"That's easy. I have a different girlfriend in every city." Devyn answered.

"I'm serious!" Raven exclaimed in a half-chuckle.

"I'm serious too. I tell them upfront that I'm not looking for anything long-term, just for some fun. I set up the boundaries ahead of time." Devyn said.

"Well, I'm married so that's not my problem." Raven said. "I think we just need a vacation. Get away from the city for a while."

"What's wrong?" Devyn asked sincerely.

"Too much work, too much stress, not enough us." Raven said flatly.

"Ahh, the old my partner is Casper the friendly ghost deal, huh?" Devyn said.

"Something like that." Raven said.

"Well look. Our little collaboration will be done in April and you can take a breather then." Devyn offered.

"I did tell somebody that we were planning on going home to Frisco in May." Raven said.

"There. Lift your eyes up and focus on May." Devyn said with a smile. "And maybe a trip back to Babeland wouldn't hurt."

Raven looked at Devyn incredulously. "How did you know about that?"

"I was using your computer one day and an email popped up thank you for your recent purchase and invited you back for a sale." Devyn said. "I wasn't being nosy, I swear." Raven blushed. "I didn't know you had a freak inside you!"

"I'm pretty damned incredible if I may say so myself." Raven teased as she popped her collar.

"With that body, I have no doubt." Devyn said.

"See! Not even you can resist taking it all in." Raven joked.

Devyn then switched her voice to a stereotypical ghetto girl accent. "I mean, you all right. I mean you ain't Beyonce or nothin' like that. But you all right."

Raven started laughing. "That was pretty good. And I'm way better that all right. Just be lucky I can't put it on ya!" Raven said. "Now I think, I am gonna get wrapped up here and go surprise my wife with some good old fashion chocolates and roses, hand delivered by yours truly, and just make her day."

"I'm sure she'd like that." Devyn said warmly. She then stood up. "I know this sounds a little silly… you know what? Never mind."

"No. What is it?" Raven asked.

"I just had the urge… can I give you a hug?" Devyn asked. "I haven't had a friend in while and I just have the urge to hug my friend."

Raven smiled and thought to herself how adorable that was that a woman in her mid-thirties would have such a thought. Raven's answer was to step around from behind the desk and open her arms. Devyn stepped forward and embraced Raven, rubbing her back platonically before releasing the hug.

"Good luck with Chelsea." Devyn smiled. See you tomorrow." Devyn said as she walked out.

As Raven watched her walk out of the office, she cocked her head to one side and smiled again, thinking for the first time since she had known Devyn that she was actually turning out to be a sweet woman that would make the right woman a lucky one. After having that passing thought, Raven sat back down and began wrapping up what she was doing. That included calls to her favorite chocolate store and florist for her surprise visit to Chelsea's office.

Monday, January 13, 2020 – 4 pm – Chelsea's office

Chelsea picked up the phone to dial Raven's private office line.

"You have reached the desk of Raven Daniels of Raven Daniels Designs…" Tristan's voice announced. Chelsea hit the end button and tried Raven's temporary office at Devyn Shelby to no avail. She then dialed Raven's cell phone which went to voicemail.

"I wonder where she is." Chelsea asked herself before she heard a knock at her office door. "Come in." When the door opened, Evelyne appeared at the door. Chelsea knew this wasn't a business call because she hadn't called for Evelyne and the younger woman didn't have any folders in her hands. Evelyne didn't wait for Chelsea to invite her in. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Chelsea didn't say a word or make a move as Evelyne walked toward the desk and sat down on the side opposite Chelsea.

"You and I need to talk." Evelyne began.

"About what?" Chelsea asked. "I don't know if there's anything that needs to be said between us."

"There's plenty that needs to be said. We kissed each other two and a half months ago and we still haven't dealt with it." Evelyne said in a calm voice.

"What is there to deal with? You kissed me, I kissed you. It was a moment of weakness for both of us and we've moved on." Chelsea said.

For the first time since she started working there, a flash of anger shot across Evelyne's face. "It was not a moment of weakness for me. It was one of the strongest things I've ever done and felt. That was a powerful kiss to me and I have not moved on. It is hard for me to move on. I am still very attracted to you and it's killing me inside because you are married and I know that morally I can't do anything about it. And it might be easy for you to sit there and tuck your tail between your legs and try to pretend like nothing happened, but I can't do that." Evelyne's voice grew more passionate. "I sit in that office everyday, hoping that you will come over there and say something, anything to me. Yell at me, scream, shake me, anything to let me know that even though you can't return the feelings that I feel inside, you felt something and that I wasn't alone. Because damnit, I don't think I was alone. As a matter of fact, I know I wasn't alone. Now what I need you to do right now is say something to me that let's me know that you felt something too and not sit there like a goddamned statute and make me feel like that geeky girl in high school that pined after the starting quarterback on the football team."

"What do you want me to say, huh?" Chelsea started. "Do you want me to tell you that I have sexual desire for another woman besides my wife for the first and hopefully last time in our marriage? Do you want me to tell you that every time I'm in the same room with you, I think things that I'm not supposed to think about a woman that I didn't walk down the aisle with? Do you want me to tell you that when I kissed you that it was perhaps the most electric kiss of my life and that is including every kiss I have ever shared with Raven? Do you want me to tell you that I was five, maybe six seconds away from ripping every stitch of clothing off your body and make you scream my name from here to Battery Park?" Chelsea then gritted her teeth. "Do you want me to tell you that I am having trouble making love, no, even being in the same room with my wife because of how guilty I feel for kissing you? How absolutely nuts it makes me feel that I can't stop what I'm feeling and I can't tell her about any of it because of how painful it would be for her to hear? Or do you want me to tell you that right now, after everything I have just said to you that I am sitting here, still thinking about how beautiful you are, about how your lips tasted on mine and how soft your skin probably is and that I feel so fucking dirty right now because I have the most incredible wife on the face of this fucking earth and I have the audacity to feel these things for another woman?" Chelsea paused and then delivered her sarcastic coup de grace. "No Evelyne, I don't feel shit for you."

"I'm handing in my two weeks notice tomorrow." Evelyne said.

"Why?" Chelsea said.

"Why? The woman that I want and can't have is my boss! I can't work under conditions like this!" Evelyne exclaimed.

"Transfer to another attorney." Chelsea said flatly.

"YOU are still here. As long as you are still here, it's not going to be any different. Temptation for me will still be here in this office, sitting behind that desk." Evelyne said. "My sister called me a potential homewrecker, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna be that. I can't."

There was another knock on Chelsea's door that in her mind could not have come at a worse time. "Yes?" Chelsea called out in irritated form.

"I hope this wasn't a bad time." Raven said as she stuck her head inside.

The briefest flash of horror shot across Chelsea's face when she saw Raven's head pop inside her office door. Evelyne turned around and had much the same reaction upon seeing in person the woman that was in the many pictures in Chelsea's office.

"Rae?" Chelsea started before Raven came into full view with two dozen roses and a giant box of Belgian chocolates. "Raven! What is this for?"

Evelyne felt her stomach drop to the floor with a thud as she watched the object of her desire being courted by her wife.

"I haven't done anything like this in a while and I thought since you've been working a lot lately, you could use a pick me up." Raven said with a smile.

"These… are gorgeous." Chelsea said as she took a whiff of the aromatic flowers. "Thank you." Chelsea said as she leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Raven's lips. She then in that instant remembered that Evelyne was standing their. "Oh. Uhh… Raven, I'd like you to meet Evelyne… Carlson. She's one of our paralegals. She's been my… right hand the last few months. Evelyne, this is my wife, Raven Daniels."

Raven extended her hand to Evelyne and saw Evelyne's eyes shift from Chelsea to her back to Chelsea and then her again in a manner that struck her as odd.

"Evelyne, it's a pleasure to meet you." Raven said warmly.

Evelyne returned Raven's handshake. "Chelsea has told me so much about you." Evelyne chose her words carefully. In her mind, it was not a pleasure to meet Raven. It put a human face on the previously faceless entity that she was causing Chelsea to betray.

In Raven's mind, it clicked that this was the paralegal that Chelsea had told her that she was having trouble with. Raven didn't know what she expected this paralegal to look like, but this certainly wasn't it. The young woman before her was stunningly beautiful and didn't appear at first glance to be a troublemaker.

"She's not causing you too much trouble, is she?" Raven joked to Evelyne. The chuckles she received back were forced and Raven took note of that. She had the feeling that she must have interrupted an argument of some kind.

"Not at all. I couldn't have worked for a better boss than Chelsea." Evelyne said. "I have to say, you are far prettier in person than in your pictures and they are stunning."

"You are gonna make me blush! And I've got to save some blushing for Chels!" Raven kidded causing Evelyne to flash another forced but somewhat believable smile.

"Hey Chels, I was just wondering…" Gretchen said as she came around the corner into Chelsea's office. She stopped cold when she saw Chelsea, Raven and Evelyne standing there. Raven detected the same nervous shift in Gretchen's eyes between Chelsea and Evelyne before Gretchen's eyes fell on her. "Raven! How are you doing? Long time, no see!" Gretchen said as she went to embrace Raven.

"I'm good. I just thought I'd drop in on Chelsea and woo her a little." Raven said with a smile that was now forced on her part as she sensed the dynamic in the office was off.

"Well I'm just going to get out of your way." Evelyne said. "Chelsea, please let me put those in some water for you."

"You really don't have to…" Chelsea said.

"I insist." Evelyne said. "Raven, it was nice meeting you." Evelyne said as she started out with the bouquet in hand. "Oh by the way Chels…" Evelyne referred to Chelsea by her nickname for the first time, a fact that was not lost on Chelsea. "That thing I was talking to you about earlier… I'll have it on your desk first thing tomorrow morning." Evelyne then turned and walked out of the office. Chelsea's face was unable to contain the scowl that lurked underneath. She was pissed that Evelyne decided to throw that last line regarding her resignation out there like that.

"Man, Chels. You really don't like her, do you?" Raven said to the shock of Gretchen, who was wondering what in the hell Chelsea had told Raven about Evelyne.

"We have our moments." Chelsea replied crisply. "Well, look. I'm sure you didn't intend to just drop by here with flowers and candy and leave so, let me just wrap up here and let you take me home." Chelsea said, delivering another chaste kiss to Raven.

"Oh Chels, can I show you one thing in my office before you leave?" Gretchen asked. Chelsea looked at Raven who nodded and smiled.

"Sure. Be right back." Chelsea said, winking at Raven as she left the office. She followed Gretchen into her office. Gretchen let Chelsea pass her before closing the door behind her.

"What in the world just happened in there?" Gretchen asked Chelsea in a whisper-yell.

"Evelyne came to 'confront' me about our…" Chelsea used air quotes with the word "confront" and couldn't bring herself to say kiss. "And in the middle of it, Rae drops in unannounced with flowers and candy."

"This has got to stop, Chels!" Gretchen whisper-yelled.

"I know. This is ridiculous. I felt like such a tool in there. I'm telling Raven tonight when we get home." Chelsea said. "I'm telling her about the flirting, the kiss, the whole nine. She'll understand. She may get a little upset but she'll understand."

Gretchen grabbed Chelsea and hugged her. "I am so glad to hear that. If you need a pep talk or anything like that, you call me, okay?"

"Gretch, I feel the weight starting to lift. Just saying that I'm gonna tell her feels like a load off my chest." Chelsea said.

Moments earlier back in Chelsea's office, Raven waited patiently for Chelsea to return from Gretchen's office. Raven walked around looking at the various pictures and awards that adorned Chelsea's wall. She looked with fondness and pride at the degrees from Cal-Berkeley and Stanford that Chelsea possessed. Raven then sat down in Chelsea's giant leather chair behind her desk.

"Man!" Raven said as she bounced up and down and wiggled her behind in Chelsea's chair. "This is more comfortable than my chair. I've got to get her to break mine in." Raven said as she took a couple of swivels around in Chelsea's chair. On her third swivel in the chair, Chelsea's email chime sounded. "You've got mail." Raven said out loud causing her to giggle at her own joke. Raven glanced at the screen, not intending to be nosy, just curious, and saw that the latest email that popped up came from the young woman that had just left the office moments earlier, Evelyne Carlson. The foreboding subject head made Raven pause. It read, Unfinished business. Chelsea's email had a preview pane that allowed the user to read the entire email. Sensing that something wasn't quite right earlier with Evelyne's presence, Raven thought that this email might give her a little insight into what was troubling Chelsea. Raven would soon come to understand fully the saying, "Be careful for what you wish for, because you might just get it."

From: Evelyne Carlson

To: Chelsea Baxter

Sent: Monday, January 13, 2020 4:23 pm

Subject: Unfinished business

Chelsea,

Our conversation is not over. You and I have to settle this before anyone else gets hurt. Now that I've met her, I know my decision to leave is the right one.

By the way, no need to feel dirty. It was only a kiss.

Ev

Raven's blood ran as cold as it could possibly run. That was what Chelsea's funky behavior was all about. The avoidance, the jumpiness, the irritability… it all made perfect sense now. It was guilt… guilt over a kiss that she shared with her – that paralegal that she had trouble with all those months ago. Her mind then flashed back to Halloween night and the uncharacteristically intense Chelsea making love to her in the living room. It was all becoming crystal clear now. Chelsea had kissed Evelyne. But was there more to the story? Raven sat at Chelsea's desk shell shocked by what she had just learned, unaware that seconds earlier, Chelsea had returned to the office.

"Babe, you ready to go?" Chelsea asked. Raven looked up from the screen with an ashen face, all of the blood drained from it.

"You, uhh, have something you need to… tell me?" Raven asked with a shaky, small voice.

"Besides the fact that I'm ready to go home? Don't think so." Chelsea said.

Raven stood up and stepped away from the desk. "You better… check your email before we leave." Raven said with bland shock evident in her voice.

"Rae, what's wrong?" Chelsea asked with concern.

"Just… check your email so we can go home." Raven said as she walked to the center of the office and stopped with her back to Chelsea.

Chelsea walked around to her desk and sat down to read the newest email message that popped up in her absence. When she did, she closed her eyes and exhaled the shakiest breath of her life as her heart began to hammer wildly and her head began to throb. Her eyes began to rapidly fill with tears as she looked up at Raven with her back to her.

"Rae… I can explain…" Raven began shaking her head vigorously.

"Not here. Not now." Raven said with as calm a voice as she could muster. "We're going home." With that, Raven walked slowly out of the office leaving Chelsea sitting at her desk nearly in tears.