A/N: Uh-oh! It's a spat, ya'll! I told you that some of these would be the not-so-happy times that we didn't get to see. Yes, Alex and Olivia fought, we just didn't see them! The kids are 6 and 5.

I hope you enjoy and, as always, thank you to my faithful readers and friends that always review and talk about this story so near and dear to my heart. I appreciate every word.

Enjoy!

Three Vertices of the Triangle: Career Day Fast Approaches

OOO

"It's fine, Liv…" Alex's voice was muffled by the closet walls as she straightened the shoes on her side of the walk-in. "I don't even wear these…" She held up a pair of red, patent leather pumps.

"Très risqué…" Olivia smiled, folding her arms and leaning against the door frame.

But her wife was upset and Olivia could feel the disappointment radiating off of the blonde. Over breakfast that morning, Alex had been excluded as a possibility for the impending Career Day at school, hadn't even been mentioned. And even their own daughter, Isabel, had chosen Casey as career representative over her own blonde mother.

"I prefer the term retro-gaudy…" Alex smiled then, connecting eyes with her own.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Olivia offered.

"What's to talk about, Olivia? The kids made their choice…they want you and Jonathan. Although I don't know how an attorney isn't an exciting career…" Alex bent down now and retrieved a pair of eggplant purple, snakeskin booties. "And these…" she held them up, "…what was I thinking?"

Olivia took the boots that her wife was holding up and tossed them on the floor, Alex's mouth falling open in shock. "Forget the shoes, Al…I know you're only busying yourself to keep your mind off of the fact that you were shafted by your own children."

Blue eyes blazed now, the blonde's jaw clenching, "That's not true…"

"You don't think I know you?" Olivia took a few steps backward now and dropped herself at the foot of the bed, leaning forward and folding her hands in between her jean-clad knees.

Alex continued, now searching through the clothing on the hangers, metal scraping along metal, inspecting items as she went. "You know, Olivia…talking doesn't always fix things. Especially in this situation. There's nothing I can do. Plain and simple." Alex removed a silk blouse from a hanger and held it up, scratching an area on the lapel with her fingernail and then bringing it closer to her face. "This has a stain…" She crumpled it up and threw it on the floor before putting her hands on her hips and closing her eyes, face tilted towards the ceiling. "And stop looking at me like that, Liv…"

Olivia furrowed her brow, narrowing her eyes. "How am I looking at you, Al? We're just talking."

"It's that empathetic look you get…I've seen it a million times at work with victims…don't use it on me…"

Olivia raised her eyebrows, not wishing to be the further object of her wife's bad mood. "I'm going to the grocery store. I'll take the kids with me…"

That was all she said, and Alex didn't make any attempt to stop her.

"Should I wear my whole doctor's getup?" Jonathan questioned after dinner that same evening.

Olivia eyed her wife, who was sitting and staring at the flickering flame in the center of the farmhouse kitchen table, her eyes glazed over.

"Allie?" he questioned, treading lightly.

All eyes turned to the sullen blonde at the table.

"Wh-what? Your doctor's getup? Yeah, I heard you." Her eyes moved to his now and then scanned everyone else's at the table.

Casey and Jonathan and Kimberly and Katie had come over for dinner and now the kids were in the living room, playing with various toys scattered about, as the adults enjoyed coffee and the remainder of their other libations.

"I don't see why you wouldn't. People have to know you're a doctor. The uniform is proof. You can't just wear jeans and a Polo…" Alex lifted her near-empty wine glass and swigged the remainder.

"What's eating you?" he asked, his tone almost sardonic.

Olivia dare not say anything. She had not talked to Alex since noon that day in the bedroom, and every time they passed each other or were in the same room together, the tension had been high, the brunette not wanting to have an argument. She figured Alex just needed a little time to cool off, let things sink in, and she would come around in her own time.

"Olivia?" Jonathan looked at the brunette now.

Olivia only stared at him before she took in a deep breath and stood. "Can I get anyone more pie?" Olivia picked up the silver pie server and then looked around the table, taking note of the mood shift, and then slowly sat again, placing the server back in the space where the blackberry pie had been already cut. She brought her mug of coffee to her lips and sipped.

"So, Monday morning? What time should I be there?" Jonathan questioned, very obviously trying to change subjects.

"Nine o'clock!" Theo beamed from the living room, as he and Grace moved cars around a fabric track on the floor.

"Hey, Bud…come here…" Jonathan called to him.

Theo stopped what he was doing and dutifully came into the kitchen, standing next to his uncle. Jonathan wrapped his arm around his waist and looked at him.

"Hey, Theo…what kinds of things should I talk about when I'm there? Have any pointers?"

Theo smiled sweetly. "You should talk about making people better and giving them medicine. How people are sad when they come to you and then happy when they leave…"

Jonathan smiled and everyone at the table did, as well, Alex now looking at their son.

AAA

Alex knew she was being ridiculous. But it hurt her. Out of the five children in their family that attended the Caedmon School, none of them had wanted the blonde lawyer in the family to share what she did for a living. It was a feeling of inadequacy and, as silly as it was, it had affected her.

Nonetheless, she decided, at that moment, that her outlook would change. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before returning her gaze to uncle and son.

"Should I talk about intestines and blood and surgery?" Jonathan offered.

Theo smiled and then began giggling, nodding emphatically. "Yeah! And guts and gross things!" he continued giggling, Jonathan tickling him now.

Alex couldn't help her smile as she watched them. Her eyes turned to her brunette wife now and Olivia's expression was sweet, obviously enjoying the display, as well.

"And what do you want your Mama to talk about?" Alex held her wife's gaze, both smiling at one another. "Big, bad detective…" Alex smirked.

"Mama's not bad…" Theo's little brow was furrowed. "Mama's a good guy, right?"

"Yes, your Mama's a good guy, baby. Always has been…" Alex winked at the brunette.

Olivia shook her head slightly and smiled.

Alex felt tiny hands on her shoulders now and warm breath against the back of her neck.

"Mommy?" Grace's tiny voice questioned.

"What is it, my love?" Alex turned and Grace moved to press her little belly against the side of the blonde's thigh. Alex reached forward and tightened one of the ponytails that had become lopsided as Grace placed her palms on the top of Alex's upper leg.

"I change my mind…" she said softly, leaning closer, her eyes focused on Alex's long, gold pendant necklace.

Alex jutted her closed lips outward, furrowing her brow. "Changed your mind?"

Grace nodded, her big brown eyes now looking into her own. "I want you to come to school on career day…" A slow smile crept along her mouth, the endearment of her few, missing teeth heart-melting.

"You do? Are you sure?"

Grace nodded again, sticking her little tongue out, reaching for the mother-of-pearl pendant she had been eyeing and taking it into her hand.

"But what about Mama? You don't want a police officer there to answer questions?"

Grace shook her head and peered at Olivia behind the blonde. Then her little expression turned concerned and she looked back at Alex. "Can't you both come?"

Alex turned to Olivia now and then looked at Theo. "Can we both come, Theo? A cop and a lawyer?"

Theo's grin broadened and he threw his tiny fists in the air, jumping up and down. "Yea! Both my mommies!" He was brimming with excitement.

"Looks like a family affair..." Alex offered, turning to Jonathan and then her wife who was smiling broadly, that perfect smile on display in the candlelight.

"Hey...anyone want me?" Casey smirked.

Kimberly and Katie and Isabel all cheered from the living room before running to Casey and wrapping their arms tightly around her, the red head holding them firmly and kissing their heads. Casey had already been Isabel's choice, as well, only adding to the blonde's initial emotions.

But now, minds were changed and both she and her wife would be attending career day, along with her brother and sister-in-law.

Alex turned to Olivia next to her and leaned in, her mouth hovering just in front of the brunette's. "I'm sorry I was so difficult…" she whispered.

Olivia placed her hand on her back and rubbed soothingly before leaning in and kissing her gently. "I know, Al…I know…"