The look of shock on Dawson's face was apparent as she watched Brett and Kidd walk back into the party. A new energy surrounded them, light-hearted and free, unlike the weight they had walked out with. She bumped Casey's shoulder excitedly and nodded to the happy pair. She couldn't help but wonder if they made out.

Jimmy looked just as shocked, his smugness gone now that he saw the two were speaking and that Kidd was no longer ignoring Sylvie. He couldn't help the anger that bubbled up in his throat at the thought of the two of them together. Brett felt his stare from across the room.

"I don't want him to talk to me," Brett said quietly, heading to the kitchen to get their drinks.

"I don't think he'll be dumb enough to. And if he is, I'll tell him to go fuck himself," Stella grinned widely.

"You're back!" Dawson said with a smile, looking at the women's not-quite-touching hands.

"Where'd ya go?" Herrmann asked curiously, leaning onto the counter after handing them drinks.

"I just needed some air," Brett only half-lied. "Stella convinced me that this was where all the cool kids were, so…" she chuckled, bumping Stella's hip instinctively.

"And passed out Boden is the coolest of all," Otis piped up, raising his Solo cup in the direction of the snoring Chief.

"I'd say I'm sorry about him, but this is pretty much how I expected the night to go," Donna laughed, enjoying her own beverage.

"We wouldn't have it any other way," Cruz noted.

The group talked and laughed, reminiscing about the Chief and their experiences with him. Brett finally felt normal again. She felt Stella's fingers twitching against her knuckles as they leaned against the chair that Dawson and Casey shared. Their magnetism was undeniable- always had been- and it was getting harder to fight the pull.

Brett knew that Stella was terrified. She couldn't blame her. As long as they were communicating, Sylvie wouldn't push her. Now that that were being honest, she was perfectly happy with one step at a time. Brett caught the look that Stella and Kelly shared from across the room, and everything fell into place. Kelly looked proud of her. Happy for her. All he was ever doing was giving her the space she needed to be afraid and process everything that was changing for them. She turned to look at Stella and smiled, eyes accidentally traveling to the woman's lips. She thought back to how that same look had nearly gotten her in trouble months ago, and how it had led them here.

Sylvie felt Stella's fingers twitch again, so close to entwining with her own. She could tell that Stella was struggling just as much as she was. It gave her an odd sense of satisfaction. Stella's arm moved quickly, behind Sylvie and around her, pulling the woman into her by the hip and holding her close. Sylvie's surprise was evident. She just closed her eyes and smiled, taking in the feeling of this woman against her, hip to hip, in front of their entire family.

Some of their brothers (mostly Otis) started in surprise, with smiles or chuckles in their direction. It wasn't judgmentally, of course. Sylvie watched them react and then looked to Stella with concern. Would the woman regret boldly making the move? She definitely didn't appear to. She only smiled and pulled Sylvie closer.

XXX

"You guys wanna split an Uber?" Dawson asked, cleaning up cups and napkins as the night drew to a close.

"Well, I mean yeah…" Brett told her, brow furrowed in confusion as to why that wasn't assumed, as they lived together.

"Kelly's gonna stay here, so I was planning to stay at Matt's," Dawson explained, earning nods from both Brett and Kidd. "And I kinda figured you two would want to be alone…" she added in a sing-song voice because she truly couldn't help herself.

"Shut up!" Brett gasped, throwing a wadded-up napkin and bouncing it off Dawson's forehead.

"Well she's not wrong…" Stella shrugged with a smirk, earning a surprised tongue-click from Brett and a grin from Dawson. "I mean, unless you don't want to be alone with me…" she drawled out playfully, poking Sylvie in the ribs as she chuckled.

"I definitely wouldn't say that…" Brett said before she thought better of it.

Casey whooped behind them and Dawson said, 'Damn.' Sylvie blushed. The look in Stella's eyes made it all worth it.

"You guys don't have to clean up," Kelly said, tossing a stack of cups in the trash bag. "I'll get it in the morning. I'm heading to bed though," he yawned as he shook Matt's hand, then took turns hugging the girls.

Sylvie watched as he hugged Stella goodnight, swaying her lovingly like a sibling. He looked too closely into Sylvie's eyes before hugging her, a smile all around him.

"I'm really happy for you. I'm so glad you stuck it out," he said softly. "She was terrified."

"Thanks for being there for her," Sylvie told him, nodding in respect. "I'm sorry if I was rude to you because I was scared it was something it wasn't."

"Naw, I would've felt the same way. You really made her step up, though. She really cares about you," he told her.

"I can hear you!" Stella said loudly from behind them, breaking the moment and making them both laugh.

"Get out of here guys," Kelly grinned, waving them off. "Have a good night. Hey, Stell?" he called, and she turned back to face him. "Remember to wrap it up. Be a gentleman," he grinned.

"Shut the fuck up!"