A/N: Sorry for the delay! The new story Blitz and I are concocting got so wrapped up in my head that I had to write the first chapter! Thank you all again for your support! That last chapter was a bit nerve wracking for me. Back to the present day...I hope you enjoy!
Present day...
Alex stood in the kitchen, covered with waffle mix, as she looked over her black framed glasses at her fiancé. She couldn't help but smile at the ranting redhead, who was busy cutting up berries and venting about her current writers block regarding the chapter she was working on at the moment. She could easily imagine every Thanksgiving morning being like this, which only made her fall deeper in love with her fiancé.
"Okay, why are you smiling at me like that?" the redhead questioned.
"What?" Alex laughed shaking her head clear, "Oh, well, I was just thinking about how much I love you...how I can imagine us like this years from now."
"Yeah," she smiled, "With little Alex's running around?"
Grinning bright, the blonde replied, "I'd prefer little Casey's."
"How about a little Casey and little Alex?"
"Hmm...I could agree to that, only if you have them, I can't risk losing my figure," Alex teased bursting into laughter at her own bad joke.
"You're so funny, Cabot," Casey smirked tossing a handful of berries at the blonde, quickly ceasing her laughing.
"You did not!"
"I so did," Casey asserted, squinting her eyes.
Without another word, Alex tossed a pinch of waffle mix powder over the redhead causing her to squeal and toss a blueberry back at her. Catching the blueberry in her mouth, Alex grinned with it between her teeth before eating it. "I win."
"You always win," Casey said rounding the counter and pushing her fiancé back against the counter. Kissing the blonde, moaning slightly at the taste of the berry on tongue, she pulled back, "But I know where I can win..."
"Mmm, tempting, but your family will be here any minute, and I like being liked by your parents at least."
"Ugh, fine..." She sighed pulling back, "Well, I am going to go take a shower then..all by myself."
Alex grinned. She knew her beautiful redhead was trying to bait her, but she also knew if she joined her they'd be in that shower till the water ran cold. "I love you!"
"Yeah, yeah, well you are making it up to me tonight and well into tomorrow, so give up your plans for Black Friday shopping!"
"Fine, baby," she called up the stairs laughing. She was so happy with her fiancé. Everything in life seemed perfect. Alex could honestly say that she never could have dreamed life to turn out so perfect.
Walking to the back porch door, she called for her big dog, patting him gently as he walked inside. Looking out over the backyard, she could easily imagine their wedding day. She couldn't wait to marry Casey. As her eyes, fell on her sailboat she whispered, "Thank you, Daddy."
Hearing the doorbell in the background, she closed her eyes. "Hurry up, Case." Turning to head towards the front door she heard Amanda and Liv come bustling in from the garage door.
Liv yelled, "They are here Alex! We have the champagne!"
"I saw the evil twins!" Amanda belted only to quickly yell, "Ouch, damn babe!"
"Those are Casey's sisters!" Liv chastised in a loud whisper.
"I can hear you, and don't worry, Casey's in the shower, she'll be down in a minute." Alex called walking towards the front door.
Reaching the foyer, she took a long breath and said a silent prayer. Opening it she quickly scanned the group...twins, parents, Spencer...no Elle. "Happy Thanksgiving!" She said forcing a smile to her face.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Alex," Laura greeted followed by a nod from Bill.
"Come on in and make yourselves at home," the blonde said as she ushering them inside and out of the cold morning air.
"Isn't this house a bit big for you?" Abbie sneered looking over the beautiful decor. As much as she wanted to hate Alex, she couldn't deny the blonde had impeccable taste.
"It's my childhood home. I was able to buy it back a year and a half ago. I could imagine raising our children anywhere else," Alex answered honestly.
"Children?" Laura perked up.
"Yes, future children..."
"Very future!" Casey's voice carried from the stairs, as she ran down in jeans, a sweater, boots and wet hair back in a pony tail. "I'd like to enjoy my soon-to-be wife first, so don't go buying baby stuff just yet, Mom!"
"Well, then," Laura sighed, "Pressure is still on you, Spence."
"Wha?" He gaped suddenly regretting not staying behind with his wife, "Tha-that's not just my decision and with our line of work, I don't know if I think that would be safe, for Elle or a baby..."
"It's okay son, she's just teasing," Bill assured placing a hand to his son-in-laws shoulder.
"I've got mimosas!" Amanda said breaking the nervous air as she waltzed into the foyer with a tray of filled champagne glasses.
"You have help?" Jane balked.
With a shake of her head, Amanda clarified, "My name is Amanda Rollins, I'm Alex's cousin...my wife is in the kitchen, her name is Olivia...anyway, we have regular mimosas here and I have blood orange ones in the kitchen if that's your sort of thing. Also, Liv can make Bloody Mary's if you prefer."
While she passed out the drinks, Alex pulled Casey close, kissing her cheek. "I love you."
The redhead nuzzled into her fiancés embrace whispering, "I love you too," into her neck. "Want to get the Christmas tree up tonight?"
"Sure, baby." Alex whispered back, as they led their family into the great room.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" Liv greeted, "Alex and Casey have breakfast all ready to go and the table is set, so if you'd like to grab a plate, we can all dig in while it's hot!"
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Bill stated quickly grabbing a plate.
As they all fixed their plates and sat down to the table, Casey looked to her mother, "Where's Elle?"
Taking her hand, Laura looked sympathetically at her daughter, "She said she wasn't feeling well."
Alex noticed how the redhead swallowed thickly, clearly trying to fight back the urge to cry. Reaching over, she took Casey's other hand and squeezed lightly, earning an appreciative look. She knew she needed to fix things today, she just didn't know how if the brunette kept avoiding her.
"So, what was wrong with her?" Amanda piped in without a filter, while her wife shook her head in dismay. Alex could only half smile at the scene.
"She said she was nauseous," Spencer replied unfazed. "There is a high likeliness at this time of the year to pick up a stomach virus while in mass transit, so it's very likely that is the cause."
"Thank you, Spencer, for that piece of information while I eat my breakfast," Bill groaned sarcastically.
"Your welcome," the younger man replied oblivious to the situation.
"More likely she was sick because of company..." Jane said loud enough for only Alex to hear.
Alex just took a deep steady breath and let it go. Today was about Casey. Today was about fixing the mess she created years ago. Any struggle was worth it for Casey.
As breakfast came to a close, and dishes were filed into the dishwasher, everyone headed outside to see where Casey and Alex intended to get married. Walking out into the cool November weather, Jane and Abbie noticed their next plan of attack, the pool. Looking at one another, they nodded in agreement. If everything went according to plan, they would be finished with Alexandra Cabot by night fall.
Waiting for everyone to file out onto the pool deck, as Casey explained how they planned to decorate and setup, Abbie asked Olivia, "Is it okay if I run inside to use the restroom."
Liv smiled at the woman, "Yeah, no worries. Don't be alarmed if a giant dog comes up on you. It's Max, he's friendly." Watching the twin wander off, she couldn't help but wonder what was so evil about her.
Jane smirked watching her sister head inside. This plan was classic. Alex would definitely snap and Casey would see the real side of Cabot once and for all. As they walked along the long length of the pool, everything positioned itself perfectly. Spencer stood next to Alex right next to the edge of the pool, asking questions about the house's architecture, while Casey continued to fill her parents in on wedding details. Now, all she had to do was wait for the perfect moment. Noticing, Amanda and Liv move on to the carriage house, Jane saw her opportunity to strike.
Without missing a beat, she moved alongside her brother-in-law, placing a foot perfectly just behind his so when he turned he'd trip. "Hey, Spence, do you have your phone on you?" She asked setting the trap.
Like clockwork, he tried to step back to turn towards her, instantly tripping and grabbing onto Alex as he tried to steady himself, but the unsuspecting blonde was of no use. The two instantly fell backwards into the pool, with Alex letting out a shriek as her body touched the freezing water. Jane bit her lip trying to look shocked as Bill, Laura and Casey ran up.
The now swimming duo surfaced very unamused, as Casey exclaimed, "What happened?"
"Probably Spencer's clumsiness..." Bill muttered only to get a scolding look from Laura.
"I tripped," the younger man confessed, "I am so sorry Alex."
Climbing from the pool first, Alex reached back to help him out, "Don't worry about it, accidents happen."
The poor man kept apologizing until, Bill patted him on the back, "Accidents happen. Let's get you home and into dry clothes before you catch pneumonia."
"Hey, wow, what happened?" Abbie asked jogging up.
"Poor Spencer tripped and took Alex down with him." Jane explained with a smirk. "So, we are going back early. Did you take care of everything?"
"Yes ma'am, I am all better now." She winked.
"Fantastic." Jane said with a smile, as they walked around the house towards their cars following Casey. Seeing Alex head in the back door of her house to take a shower, Jane could only think, "Payback is a bitch, Cabot."