AN: Along with not being able to name chapters correctly, or format well at all, my lack of skills now includes: counting. I need to go find something safe to bang my head on. Since I can't count… consider this epilogue 3.5/4. (It really should have been just one whole epilogue, but timing and my inability to format made a real muck of things…)

Epilogue 3.5/4

.

.

"This isn't what I thought you meant when you asked me to come on a workout with you two."

"Why else would I ask you to bring a second? What exactly were you expecting?" The corner of Alex's mouth turned up ever so slightly. "You knew we were meeting at Serena's club, and you know we play tennis often."

"You, my dear girlfriend, are hardly playing." Casey swatted playfully at Alex when she sent her the familiar glare for using her least favorite relationship term yet again.

Casey gave up quickly though, and retreated over to the benches to wipe her face with the towel in her bag. Her partner was sucking down water, slumped on the bench next to her.

She and Abby were both avid runners, athletic and in shape, and - they got their asses handed to them.

Just like Alex said they would, the pairing of Serena and Alex taking them in straight sets.

"You know," Casey said, louder. "You told me she was good… you withheld the fact that she's a ringer."

Serena laughed from the corner of the court, bouncing lightly on her feet, as she did a few dynamic stretches. "Two-time state champ in my high school's division," she held up two fingers.

Alex laughed, and then laughed harder at the glare Casey leveled at her. "Not my fault you didn't do the research."

"Now, I'm supposed to research for a friendly workout?"

"That is what Google was made for." Alex smirked.

"Never thought I'd have to google just to make sure that working out with my girlfriend doesn't end up in bruises."

"Matching bruises," Abby called from her resting spot on the benches.

"And you," Casey accused, standing and slowly moving closer, mock-threateningly, toward Alex. "You were letting Serena do all the heavy work, you're barely breaking a sweat."

Alex took two steps back. "I do believe I have a nice, light-glow."

Casey set her eyes upwards, sharing her disbelief with the high ceiling, and shook her head, but continued to advance.

"What can I say," Alex held her hands out and open and took two more steps back. "It's working out well for me."

.

.

Serena shook her head as she watched Casey and Alex move closer in a step-slow chase and continue their verbal sparring. She saw Abby motion to her and met her at the net.

"You think they know how much they light each other up?" the raspy voice said.

Serena looked back at the two and shook her head. "Nope. They both think they're so stoic." The two were still trading barbs as Alex plied Casey with another water bottle. "It would be disgusting if they didn't make each other so happy."

Abby laughed. "What would you say to ditching the love birds and getting something to eat?"

Serena grew quiet, thinking about it, trying to decide if she should decline yet another offer from Abby. Then her stomach rumbled loudly, bringing out nervous laughter. "I guess you have your answer."

"Want to check out that brunch place Casey was going on about before you put us through our paces?"

"That did sound good, didn't it. We can clean up and meet out front in 15?"

Abby nodded, with a soft smile, then it turned to a smirk. "Think they'll even notice we're gone?"

"You know, I'm really not sure. It's a 50-50 shot. I'll text them when we catch a cab."

.

.

Alex reached out and pulled Casey closer by the waste-band of her shorts. Casey let herself be pulled. Grinning.

"I can't believe chocolate waffles worked."

Casey grinned even harder.

"How did you know?"

"You said I should find a fourth. I found a fourth. The timing alone was going to assure they'd be hungry. I know I am."

"That's it?"

"It wasn't too hard to pick up that you wanted the two of them to get together."

"Serena likes her, she's just-"

"Stubborn?"

"Just needs to get over herself."

Casey smirked.

"And going on and on about that new café in SoHo?" Alex swatted her again.

She pumped her eyebrows and grinned. "Okay, well, I may have taken a page out of Alex Cabot's social engineering tactics."

"I do no such thing."

Casey laughed.

"Seriously, how did you know?"

"I trusted you that Serena was interested, and well, as far as Abby goes, Munch is her biggest fan and he remembers every detail about her, including that she has a sweet tooth."

Alex looked slightly impressed, then smiled. "Sweet tooth or not, I think you made everyone in earshot hungry."

She put her hands on Alex's hips. "Including you?"

"Yes, but-"

"But," Casey smiled devilishly. "We should leave them be."

"You wouldn't know how to make those things would you?"

"Chocolate waffles," she grinned again. " I'm sure I could figure it out with the proper motivation." After receiving some motivation she said, "or I could easily switch it to chocolate crepes for you."

Alex smiled bigger. "I guess there are benefits to having a girlfriend who cooks." Alex smiled like the cat who caught the canary, knowing that how it affected Casey each time she used the word (and sure enough, Casey beamed). "It's pretty sexy."

Casey eventually cleared her throat and tried to stop herself running her hands up and down Alex's arms. "Want to clean up and head out?"

"If we go straight home we could save water by sharing a shower."

Casey barked out a short laugh. "That never ends up saving water."

"Are you saying you liked your plan better?"

"I'll get our stuff," she said.

.

.

"My mom is coming to town next week," Casey said, her voice hitching higher as she stared at her phone, checking her text messages on the cab ride back.

"How long is she visiting for?"

"She's just coming up for the day," she said. "She wants to know what day was good for me so she could make dinner reservations."

"That'll be nice. I know its been a while since you've seen her."

"Do you… would you want to come with me?"

"Are you asking," Alex spoke slowly. "Or is your mother?"

"Both of us, I guess."

Alex grew quiet and Casey wondered if they would get back before she would respond.

Another block later, Alex cleared her throat. "If you'd like me to," she said.

Casey squeezed her hand. "It's not a pressure thing, I think she's just curious."

"Curious?"

"I talk about you - not infrequently," she continued quickly when Alex looked mildly alarmed. "All good things…I promise. We're close enough for her to know about our relationship," she said, and fidgeted a little as they pulled to a stop in front of the building. "I don't think it would be too awkward."

"Right, because meeting the in-laws is never awkward," Alex said as she got out of the cab, sarcasm coming out full at the end of her sentence.

Casey tried not to stare, but Alex could still shock her sometimes, and she could feel her cheeks burning with a blush and frozen out side the buildings entry doors.

"That's not what I meant and you know it," Alex said, and rolled her eyes for cover.

"I didn't say anything," Casey tried to pull up her poker face and held the door for Alex."I'm sorry if that killed your… appetite.

"Not by a long shot," Alex winked. "You're going to have to try harder than that if you can't keep up," she laughed lightly and kissed her on the cheek as she walked by.