A/N: Last of Jonathan…more A/N at the end!
Thank you for reading!
36
The three sat in the TV room downstairs at two in the morning on that same evening, having come back from celebrating the New Year at the Lowenstein's. Alex sat on the far end of the sofa, Olivia leaning against her, a blanket over them, Jonathan on the love seat. Alex knew that Olivia was sleepy; she could see it in her eyes, as The Invention of Lying played on the TV.
"Babe? Wanna go to sleep?" Alex kissed Olivia's temple softly.
Olivia turned her head to look at her, a smile on her face but definite exhaustion in her eyes. "Yeah…I think so…" Olivia stood now and then covered Alex with the remainder of the blanket that she had just shed. The brunette leaned forward now, kissing the attorney softly, pulling away, her eyes closed briefly, "Good night, Al…Happy New Year, Babe…" She walked up to Jonathan, "Good night, brother-in-law…Happy New Year…it's gonna be a good one…"
He stood and they hugged, "…Good night, Olivia…Happy New Year…glad we could spend it together…"
She smiled and then took her shoes from the doorway and then left the room, disappearing around the corner.
"So, did you have your fun, John-John?" Alex asked, reaching forward to the coffee table and taking her glass of ice water.
"Did you enjoy your little display of my singing in the shower that you recorded?" Jonathan asked, his eyebrows raised. "Thanks for playing it among everyone there."
"Absolutely…"Alex sipped.
"I hate to say it, but that shade of pink suits you…"
"I think so…thank you for my change in hair color, big bro…Olivia seems to like it."
"It should wash out in a few washes…" He winked.
"So, you ready for your big move tomorrow?" Alex pulled the blanket up further to her neck, feeling the chill of Olivia not being there.
"I suppose, I'd better get used to it."
"But are you….ready, John-John?"
"I have to be…it seems like my only option, at present. Maybe in a few years I can come back to New York and practice…when the little one can get to know his Uncle Jonathan…" Jonathan's voice cracked.
Alex felt her eyes tear. "Oh, Jonathan…that would be perfect…" Alex set her glass down on the coffee table. "To have you closer while our little one is growing up…would be wonderful."
"And how about you…I know you would like to get pregnant…"
Alex looked at her brother, feeling the tears threaten to spill from her eyes, "Yes, Jonathan. I would very much like to have a baby with Olivia…carry our child."
"It'll happen, baby sis…I know it."
Alex nodded slowly, "Yeah…but now, it's Olivia's time…I love her pregnant and it's only gonna get better…"
"Or worse…" he winked.
Alex shook her head, "No…I am so in love with her, John-John…more and more every day. I am so thankful that we found each other again and that she let me back into her life, I thank God every single day." Alex stared ahead at a lit candle on the coffee table, zoning out briefly.
"She's quite a woman…I offered to get back at you, she and I together, and she would have no part of that. She said you're a team and that's that."
Alex smiled now, her focus going back to her brother, "Yeah, we are…" Alex moved the blanket away and began folding it, "I'm gonna turn in…what time are you leaving tomorrow?"
Jonathan stood now, too, stretching, "Around two…I have a long drive."
"You sure that heap of scrap metal will take you all the way to Florida?" Alex smirked, setting the folded blanket on the sofa and blowing out the candle.
"Hopefully. I might purchase a new one when I get there…start fresh."
"I'll miss 'Lady Libertine'…" Alex mused, walking up to her brother and taking him in a hug.
"All things must change, right sis?"
"Yeah…" she whispered, clutching him tightly, her tears now falling down her cheeks. "Goodnight, Jonathan…Happy New Year…see you in the morning…"
"Goodnight, Al…"
Alex turned and left the room, walking the short distance down the hallway to their bedroom room, opening the door and closing it gently behind her. Olivia was just getting into bed, slipping the covers over her, sheet and blanket up to her hips. She smiled when Alex came in.
The patio door was cracked slightly, letting in the sound of the ocean and the crisp night air. Alex loved to sleep when it was just slightly chilly—perfect to cuddle and snuggle beneath a mound of blankets with her wife.
"Hey, sexy Mama…" Alex said softly, walking to the dresser and beginning to remove her earrings while looking in the mirror, placing them in a small ceramic tray they kept there for small jewelry.
"Hey, Al…" Olivia continued to watch as Alex undressed, hanging her clothing up in the closet.
"Did you…?" Alex questioned.
"Yep…all set…what time are we giving your brother his wake up call?" Olivia smirked.
"It's two now, so…six? We should do it when he's in a dead sleep." Alex walked to the sink in just her bra and panties and then placed a ponytail holder on before beginning to wash her face. "We can go back to sleep after that…"
"Sounds good, Babe."
In the reflection of the mirror Alex watched as Olivia slid further under the covers, the brunette's eyes closing before yawning widely.
She knew Olivia was more than exhausted, and she was, as well. Alex brushed her teeth and then slipped her short, silk, lavender button-down nightshirt on before joining her wife in bed, lifting the covers and slipping in, reaching over and wrapping her arm around her, pressing her body against her side. Olivia began stroking her hair at the crown, Alex's eyes closing from the sensation.
"So tired, Al…" Olivia voice was soft.
"I know, Babe…go to sleep…"
Olivia reached over and turned the lamp on the bedside table off, the two now lying in the darkness.
Alex felt a coldness brush her leg. "Liv…your legs are freezing…are you OK? Do we need another blanket?"
"No, Babe…I thought that was your leg…"
Just then, they heard a tiny squeaking noise and then something fluttered by.
"What the hell was that?" Olivia said, her body tensing now.
Alex felt the coldness again, this time sliding upward along her inner thigh that was hiked over her wife. "Olivia…is that you?"
"No, Al…no it's not…" The squeaking and flapping passed by them again, both women shooting out of bed frantically. Olivia turned the lamp on again.
Cautiously, Alex pulled the entire bedspread and sheet off the bed, revealing the cold, seemingly leg-like object at the foot. It was a snake—a five-foot long black snake with gold and brown markings on it, now curled in a ball at the foot.
The source of the fluttering also zoomed by once again, Alex screaming as she headed toward the door, beginning to open it. "Shi—it's a bat!"
"Don't open the door, Al!" Keep it in here...if you open the door it will be harder to get it out of the house."
Alex ducked, squealing, as the bat flew by again. It was not that big, maybe the size of a tiny mouse, but she was absolutely petrified that it would bite Olivia or herself. "Come over here, Olivia!"
Olivia just stood in the same place on the other side of the bed, looking intently at the snake. Alex witnessed the snake begin a slow slither toward her wife. Olivia, in just a skimpy nightshirt, didn't seem scared—more in awe. "This is beautiful, Alex…I had a roommate in college that had one of these…it's a Ball Python...its markings are gorgeous, don't you think?" Olivia leaned in to look at it, examining it as the snake's tongue darted in and out, smelling the brunette.
"Yeah, absolutely gorgeous…" Alex deadpanned, "…now get your sexy ass over here!"
The bat flew toward the brunette now, just missing her ear, and Olivia squeaked—apparently more into snakes than bats—and headed to the door to join her wife, arm wrapped around her and huddled against her protectively. "Let's go on out, Al…I think we need your brother to wake up and do some animal control in here." The both grabbed their robes from the back of the door on their quick escape out.
They crossed the hall and stood in front of Jonathan's door. Alex used a balled up fist to pound on her brother's door three times. They waited. No answer.
"I swear to God, Olivia…" She banged again.
This time the door opened, Jonathan with an immense amount of paper towels bunched in both hands. He didn't look happy, and he shouldn't after what Olivia had done to his toilet.
"Jonathan…you need to come get the zoo out of our room."
"How about you give me a few minutes to clean up my urine-soaked bathroom floor, Allie."
A slow smile crept across Alex's face and she turned to Olivia who was full out grinning, turning her head the other way.
"An oldie but a goodie…" Jonathan began, "…you really stretched that Saran Wrap tightly over the surface of the commode…who was the genius?"
"That doesn't matter, Jonathan…finish up what you're doing and then come get your pets."
"Pets?" He looked confused. "Don't you mean…pet…I only put a snake in there. What else is in there?"
"There's a bat in there, Jonathan and don't say you didn't have anything to do with that…"
Jonathan laughed, still confused, "I didn't Allie…did you leave your patio door open, sis? I know you like fresh air at night sometimes…and you were knockin' 'em back pretty hard at Diana's.
Alex opened her mouth wide to say something and then settled on a scowl. Through clenched teeth and finger poking at his muscled chest with each word, she demanded, "Come. Get. The. Snake." With that, she turned and followed a laughing Olivia up the stairs.
"God, you're sexy when you're angry…" Olivia began, turning to her wife at the top of the stairs and taking her into her arms, slithering her arms around her. She leaned in for a soothing, calming kiss.
"Why are you so calm?" Alex asked as Olivia began kissing her neck.
"I just am, Babe…he'll be gone tomorrow and we'll have sweet freedom." She moved her kisses to Alex's now-exposed cleavage, her tongue searching the crevasse in between her breasts. "I love it when your cheeks get this certain hint of reddish-pink…so arousing…"
Alex smiled, "Anything is arousing to you, right now, Baby…and I love it…"
"You are absolutely right." Olivia pulled away, smiling. "I need a snack."
Alex clutched the brunette's backside firmly, "Then let's get a snack, Babe…"
They walked into the kitchen and Alex and Olivia both opened the refrigerator and peered inside.
"Feel like a sandwich, Babe? There's this sliced rotisserie chicken in here…want a half a sandwich, Al?" Olivia began to take the chicken, bread, cheese, mayo, and a tomato from the refrigerator.
"Sure…almond milk?" Alex asked, retrieving two juice glasses from the cabinet.
"But, of course…" Olivia winked.
Alex got the almond milk from the refrigerator, poured two, half glasses and then returned it to the storage spot. "They'd better both be gone when we get up there, Liv or he's gonna get an earful from me."
Olivia cut the sandwich in halves and set each on a small plate, bringing them to the counter where Alex had perched herself, along with the milks. Alex reached for two napkins from the holder in front of her, handing one to Olivia.
OOO
"All done…" Jonathan breathed, holding a two-foot by one foot, rectangular glass pet tank, complete with sand, small branch inside, and the Ball Boa, a mesh, screen cover on top. "I gotta return this to my buddy before I leave." He walked up and stood behind and in between Alex and Olivia, "You sure you don't want to keep it in your room tonight, girls? Keep you company?"
Alex leaned back, away from her brother and the tank, looking at him as though he had lost his mind. "I think Olivia likes it, but I don't…I'll have nightmares."
Olivia smiled, rubbing Alex's upper arm.
"OK…then I'll put him on the counter in the butler's pantry for the night." Jonathan disappeared inside the small room briefly and then came back out, closing the door and leaving it open a crack.
"I'm assuming you wouldn't be stupid enough to put a snake that could hurt one of us in our bed, John-John…because if that was a—"
"Relax, Allie…harmless and actually afraid of humans. You probably noticed it curled in a ball as a defense tactic. That's all they've got…not teeth, no form of attack. You and your beautiful pregnant wife were more than safe."
"Well, then, you're lucky, or else I would have had to have taken a pair of cuticle cutters to your testicles."
Jonathan winced, taking in a sharp inhale of air.
Olivia began laughing, chewing the last bit of her sandwich and wiping her mouth.
"And the bat?"
"I opened the door all the way and it finally found its way out. So am I done here? Can I go back to sleep, Your Majesty?" Jonathan bowed briefly.
"Yeah, Johnny…you can go back to sleep…" Alex winked at Olivia. "Lunch and surfing tomorrow, Jonathan, as a last farewell?"
Olivia witnessed her wife's eyes mist slightly. She knew her wife would miss Jonathan terribly, and worry about her brother just as much. The brunette would have to make sure to comfort her well. Olivia placed a soothing hand on her back, rubbing tenderly.
Alex smiled and grabbed her hand, placing it in her lap and squeezing. "Yeah, we'll try it with the wet suits and, if it's too cold, we'll come in…OK, Liv?"
"Sounds good, Baby…" Olivia leaned in for a kiss. For some reason, the way Alex was looking at her at that moment, eyes sleepy and hair in a high tousled bun, and in her robe, made Olivia want to jump her. But, they had to get up early to perform their show, so she would let both of them get, at least, a little sleep.
Alex stood from the chair and the ladies put the dishes in the dishwasher before beginning to walk toward the staircase, Jonathan leading the way, Olivia followed the attorney, wrapping her arms around her waist as they walked toward and down the staircase. Separating in the hallway, they said their goodnights and entered their rooms.
… … … … … …
Alex stood, poised with the bagpipes she had borrowed from Katie—a gift from the housekeeper's grandfather when the Englishwoman was a teenager. Katie was happy that it would be put to use—if not a musical use—then a good enough use, nonetheless.
Admittedly, Alex had no idea what she was doing, but told Olivia she would just fiddle with the four pipes and blow as hard as she could when the time came. They had already painted her six foot four brother's toenails a bright pink and put around twenty plastic barrettes in varying bright colors in his hair, unbeknownst to the deep sleeper. Olivia had her iPhone out, ready to film the action on Alex's count. The brunette's eyes remained bouncing back and forth between the screen of the cell phone and her wife, waiting for the cue, the whole time, giggling silently. She couldn't wait to hear the sound of the instrument.
Alex mouthed five, four, three, two, one…
Then the cacophony of screeching, ear-stinging whistles and squeaks began, loud and clear and obnoxiously loud, Alex's face becoming red instantly from blowing so hard and with such pressure.
Jonathan jolted, sitting upright in bed, wide eyes immediately going to the bagpipe player, then to Olivia, then back to Alex, his eyes blinking and wild, hair sticking up all over from the multitude of hair clips. He briefly felt the top of his head, "Oh, you're gonna get it…" He bolted from the bed, Alex running out of the room now, her bear-like brother chasing her, Olivia following, still filming.
They ran upstairs, around the island, across the kitchen, downstairs again, Alex hiding and dodging him as he found her, just slipping from his half-awake grasp. Finally, they ran back down the stairs and out through the door, into the early morning light of the sunrise, both stopping at the sight of bright orange and gold in the sky, the sun just hovering amidst the horizon down the shore. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Olivia continued to film as Jonathan sidled up to his sister, putting his arm around her lovingly.
Alex looked at Jonathan, smiling, her brother softening and turning wrapping both arms around his sister, the blonde doing the same. Words were not necessary, the two looked at each other and then Jonathan pulled her into his big arms, against his muscled chest and held her, Alex crying freely.
Olivia felt her own eyes fill with tears, wondering if she should continue filming such a tender moment. But her instincts told her that neither of them minded.
Brother and sister needed this moment to share a goodbye that might not come later in the day, with distractions and more emotions. They needed to share this understanding, this comfort, in that one embrace, letting the other know that they would both be OK, that they would see each other soon—messages without words.
Alex pulled away smiling, both now turning toward the camera calmly.
Olivia smiled and sniffed. A moment between brother and sister caught in time.
She pressed the stop button and lowered the camera, her lower lip trembling, trying to control those hormonal emotions. It was futile. Alex and Jonathan both reached out an arm for the brunette to join their embrace. Olivia felt her face contort and she walked to the duo, burying her face in the huddled Cabots, her cheeks against each of their shoulders.
Without a single speck of a doubt in her head, Olivia felt the full, complete, unequivocal love of being a part of the Cabot clan. She let her tears fall, relishing in the moment.
… … … … … …
They finally went back to sleep around seven and awoke again at eleven, the temperature just hovering at freezing that morning in Southampton.
After a lazy morning of lying in bed and then slowly taking showers, the trio decided to go to Main Street Bar and Grill because they did, in fact, have the best fish and chips in town and Jonathan kidded that he wanted to have diarrhea on the drive to Florida, so that's where they went for his farewell lunch. It was too cold for surfing, even with the full body wet suits, too cold even for even sitting on the beach, unless wrapped in a few woolen blankets and wearing a multitude of layers. So they decided to go to an early lunch, instead.
"So, what do you think the baby will look like?" Jonathan sprinkled more malt vinegar on his fish and chips.
"Mmmm…" Olivia tried, wiping her mouth and chewing. She swallowed, "We don't know, but the donor was a tall, blue-eyed blonde…I know brown eyes are usually dominant, though…but I hope the baby has this one's eyes…" Olivia leaned in to Alex next to her in the booth and kissed her lips softly.
"As I have been saying, I want it to look like my gorgeous wife…all of them…little Olivia's…boy Olivias, girl Olivias…" Alex smiled, forking a bite of her grilled salmon salad into her mouth.
The ladies had ordered the same thing, not wanting a heavy, fried meal that may or may not agree with the mother-to-be's stomach.
"Do you think it'll be hairy like you?" Jonathan asked, looking at the brunette and beginning to laugh upon seeing the look on Olivia's face.
"You're an ass…" the brunette smirked.
Alex stared her brother down, now leaning back and taking her water glass into her hands on her flat belly, obviously ready to strike with that silver tongue of hers.
Well?" Jonathan coaxed.
"Jonathan William Cabot. Don't you dare insult my wife." Alex's tone was eerily calm.
"No, Babe…it's OK…I do have some…hair…I just…like a true lady of the twenty-first century, I keep it in check…I take care of it…"
Jonathan just laughed, shaking his head now.
"You're kidding?" Olivia inquired.
Jonathan nodded, continuing to laugh, "Yes, Olivia…I'm kidding…"
Olivia pulled her water glass to the edge of the table, all ten fingertips steepled on it, contemplating, while looking at her brother-in-law. "Alex and I actually saw a really hairy baby in the grocery store…right, Al?"
Alex nodded, smiling.
"And I thought…" Olivia looked back at the blonde, "…if I laugh at this baby, will karma come back and cause the same thing to happen to me? I felt badly…I thought about it all night…" Olivia fingered the condensation on her glass.
"Babe…" Alex leaned in, her mouth next to Olivia's ear, warm breath sending shivers down her spine. The attorney spoke softly enough so that only the brunette could hear, "You don't have a hair problem, Liv…your hair is perfect…everywhere, Baby…" Alex pulled slightly away and looked into her eyes, those crystal blue eyes looking into her own. "And mine is fine, too…" She kissed the brunette, "…so we have nothing to worry about…"
Olivia smiled and then kissed her wife once more.
"And if our baby is hairy, there's always electrolysis…" Alex joked. "Never too young to start…"
Olivia reached for Alex's side, tickling her, squeezing her waist, her lower hip, leading to another kiss.
"Jeez, you two…do you ever get mad at each other…?" Jonathan forked the last of his food into his big mouth.
"Rarely…but it has happened…" Olivia looked at Alex, stroking her hair and then tucking it behind her ear. "Why get mad and…" Olivia squeezed the blonde's cheeks in one hand, "…look at this face…how can I get mad at that?"
"Easy…she's infuriating sometimes…"
Alex opened her mouth smiling.
"But I love her…" Jonathan added.
"And I love you, big bro…"
… … … … … …
AAA
Alex sat on the window seat in the study, a cup of tea in her hand, looking out at the evening waves as they ebbed and flowed against the shore. Her brother had left an hour prior and she and Olivia decided that they would return the following day, instead of waiting until the sixth.
It was the first day in January and snow was expected in the entire state of New York on the following day, so they wanted to leave early the next morning so that they could take their trip back slowly for their two-and-a-half hour drive back to the city.
Alex brought her mug to her lips, inhaling the peppermint aroma before taking a sip.
"Hey, Al…"
Alex looked up to see Olivia walking toward her, arms folded over her long, mid-thigh, gray cardigan, lapels wrapped tightly across her chest, black leggings beneath, hair in a high ponytail. God, she looked so sexy, even in that outfit. Her boot slippers adorned her feet. She walked up to the attorney. Alex set her mug down and reached with both hands around to the brunette's backside, squeezing firmly, looking up and smiling.
Olivia took both of her hands to the top of the blonde's head, lightly raking her hair with her fingernails backwards, the sensation causing Alex to close her eyes and smile.
Olivia continued as Alex proceeded to massage her backside, the two simply sharing a moment together. Alex opened her eyes, looking up into cocoa orbs.
"Are you OK with going back tomorrow, Liv?"
Olivia nodded, "More than OK…it's so cold here, no beach action is happening…if we're going to suffer through winter, I'd rather be in our apartment, in our bed, with our furry daughter…wouldn't you?"
Alex smiled, "Absolutely…" Alex lifted her chin upward, looking at Olivia's lips.
Olivia took the cue and leaned down, separating her lips and taking Alex in a soft, sucking, stroking kiss.
Pulling away, eyes closed, Alex said, "Katie is coming tomorrow morning for her stay…I told her we might come back in a couple months when it gets a little warmer…"
Olivia nodded, "I should be bikini ready by then…"
Alex smiled, "God, Olivia, you'll be the sexiest pregnant woman on the beach in a bikini anyone has ever seen…I can't wait, Liv…" Alex parted the lapels on Olivia's cardigan, exposing a sheer white tank, sans bra. Alex reached beneath the flimsy fabric and cupped her breasts, squeezing firmly, eliciting a gasp from the detective.
"Let's go in the bedroom, Babe…make love to me…"
Alex smiled and nodded, "With pleasure, Liv…" Alex stood and took the brunette's hand, the two leaving the TV room and headed into their bedroom.
They made love for the last time at the beach house that winter, ready to head back to their haven in the city, safety and security awaiting the women, ready for their routines, ready to return to what they knew.
… … … … … …
A/N: OK…next up, driving back to Manhattan in the snow…a strange smell in the car and another last couple of pranks by their loving brother.
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