A/N: My usual apologies for the delay in posting. So glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Moving along a little in this chapter, get some info on their new lives. I will do my best to update soon. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and review this story! Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 37
As the sun began creeping through the curtains of the bedroom window Alex shifted in the bed and blinked her eyes a couple times as she tried to figure out where she was. As the fog of sleep began to clear from her mind she remembered she was in a safe house outside DC. She started to stretch and sighed as her muscles reminded her of their activities the night before. She turned her head to the side and smiled when she saw Olivia already awake and propped up on her pillow against the headboard. "Watching me sleep?"
"It's become one of my favorite things to do over the last year."
Alex smiled as she looked up at the brunette; Olivia's hair tousled from sleep and a look of contentment on her face. Alex grinned as she rose up and placed a kiss on Olivia's lips "You are so beautiful first thing in the morning."
"You're quite beautiful yourself."
Alex settled back down in the bed and wrapped her arm over Olivia's thighs and rested her head against her stomach. "Yeah, but you look especially beautiful the morning after a night last night." She grinned "I love your 'I just got laid' expression."
"Ha!" Olivia threw her head back and laughed, then ran her fingers through Alex's hair. "You should love it since you're the one who put it there."
They stayed that way for a while; Olivia running her fingers through Alex's hair, both enjoying the silence, a peace settling over them at the thought of continuing their life together.
Hearing movement downstairs Olivia shook her head at the memory of the night before "So, you realize at some point we're gonna have to face Kelli."
Alex blushed slightly at the memory. "I can't believe that happened."
"What?" Olivia asked, amusement in her voice "The fact she came in when you answered, or how you responded to her when she did? Telling her how badly you wanted to have sex with me." the brunette laughing now.
Alex groaned and turned her face into Olivia's stomach "I wasn't lying." She smiled when she felt Olivia chuckle. "However, in hindsight maybe I could've responded differently."
Finally climbing from bed they dressed and headed downstairs to start the day. Olivia was about to open the bedroom door when she felt Alex's hand on her own. She looked over her shoulder and saw tears in Alex's eyes, but the blonde was smiling. "Baby?" Olivia asked, turning to face her fully.
Alex laughed as she wiped a stray tear. "I just realized this is real. We're actually together. I used to worry that I would be found and whisked away from you. Then the last several days I was terrified we'd be separated. I just…I can't explain what I feel right now. I know our life is still a mess, we don't know where we're going next, but I don't care. I'm with you and that's all that matters."
Olivia pulled Alex to her, holding her close. "It's all that matters to me too."
Alex pulled back, searching Olivia's eyes "You're sure? No regrets?"
"Not a single one. Staying with you is the best, and the easiest, decision I've ever made." The sincerity in her eyes leaving no doubt in Alex's mind.
Downstairs Kelli was sitting at the dining room table on the phone, files and papers spread out in front of her. She looked up and nodded, covering the phone with her hand. "Coffee is ready, and so is breakfast."
Both ladies were surprised when they stepped into the kitchen to see takeout boxes setting on the counter. Alex poured them each a cup of coffee while Olivia began plating their breakfast.
"Alex, Olivia," Kelli said stepping into the kitchen, a faint blush covering her cheeks. "I sincerely apologize for last night. I know you are tired of having a shadow, someone looking after you all day every day and I should've allowed you that time last night. I don't even remember now what I was coming to ask you. I do hope you'll accept my apology."
Alex glanced to Olivia, fully knowing the brunette was willing to forgive the Marshal. Alex smiled "Apology accepted. I need to apologize as well. I should've never answered as though it was okay for you to enter, and I shouldn't have been so short or so…" she trailed off. "I shouldn't have been so crass. I know I don't always show it but I do appreciate what you've done for me since we met, and I know you've only been trying to do your job." She reached out for Olivia's hand "But most of all, I want to thank you for your effort in keeping us together."
Kelli smiled "While I don't feel you need to apologize I know better than to fight you on it, so apology accepted. I know you may not believe it but I wanted you two to be able to stay together probably as badly as you wanted to stay together. I'm just glad it worked out."
"So are we." Olivia said, slipping her arm around Alex's waist.
They ate quietly for a bit at the kitchen table before Alex finally spoke up. "So where did this come from?"
"A little restaurant nearby. I've been there several times before and they have the best breakfast." She watched as Alex took another biscuit from the box and covered it in gravy "Apparently you agree."
Olivia chuckled "She can eat her weight in biscuits and gravy."
Once they were finished eating Kelli asked them to join her in the living room. Once they were seated she held up two large binders, both ladies immediately recognized what they were.
"Your books with your new identities were delivered this morning. We'll be here the rest of today then catch a flight out first thing in the morning."
"Where are we going?" Alex asked as she stared at the book in front of her, almost afraid to open it.
"Can't say right now. Just like before we'll probably stay in a couple different places before you wind up in your permanent location."
"And our permanent location?" Olivia asked.
"Montana."
Blue eyes met brown, not exactly where they were expecting or hoping. "A northern state again?" Alex sighed "We'd hoped for a little warmer climate."
"I know but this is the location we felt would be best. You're not going to be up in the more mountainous area though, so it won't be quite as cold or snowy." She then pushed the binders across the coffee table to them.
Both took a deep breath then picked up the books and opened them. Alex's jaw dropped when she saw her name while Olivia's face scrunched up. They looked to one another, unsure what to make of each other's expression.
"I take it you're not a fan of something?"
"Who comes up with these names?" Olivia asked as she looked at Kelli, back to the paper in front of her, then back to the Marshal.
"It's not that bad."
"Persephone James?" she looked to Alex on her right who was now also looking a little confused. "Do I look like a Persephone?"
"No, you look like an Olivia but you can't use that name."
Alex shook her head "You've got to be kidding."
"Like I said, it's not that bad."
"It couldn't be as bad as mine." Olivia said with a roll of her eyes.
Alex ran her fingers through her hair "Brandi Lynn McKenzie." She looked to Olivia who was grinning slightly "And its Brandi with an 'i', I'm pretty sure my IQ just dropped 10 points."
"In case you've forgotten, my name ends with an 'i'." Kelli said dryly.
Olivia snickered and was met with a backhanded slap to her thigh. "Sorry." She lightly nudged Alex's shoulder "I think it's kinda cute."
"Okay Brandi, Persephone."
Both ladies slumped a bit, they knew how this worked. They were now Brandi and Persephone, they were no longer Alex and Olivia.
Once Kelli had their attention again she began going over their new identities. "Alright. Persephone, you were born in Washington State but have lived in Oregon since you were a child. You're an only child, Dad was a fisherman, and Mom was a nurse in a local doctor's office. Dad died a few years ago, Mom a year later. And if anyone asks, you were named after your grandmother on your Dad's side." she now turned her attention to the blonde. "Brandi, you were born and raised in Texas. Your Dad worked for the power company, your mom a librarian at the local elementary school. Your parents are retired and you keep in touch with them as much as possible, but don't get to see each other very often."
"When it comes to your recent history. You two met while living in Las Vegas." Both ladies eyes widened.
"How did I get from Oregon to Nevada?" Persephone asked.
"You wanted a change after your parents died. You grew up in a small town and figured Vegas would be the opposite of what you were used to. You were working at one of the casino-hotels as a front desk receptionist, and that's where you two met."
"So help me," Brandi said with an expression she reserved for perps "If you say I was a stripper I will kill you."
Kelli grinned "Well…." seeing the blonde was about to lose it she shook her head. "I'm just messing with you. Brandi moved to Vegas with an ex a few years ago. Soon after arriving you found out you were being cheated on and ended the relationship. Not wanting to go back home and face the people who had tried to discourage you from the relationship you decided to stay. You got a job working one of the tables in the casino. You both began working there about the same time but your paths didn't cross at first. You began dating shortly after meeting and have been together ever since."
"Okay," Persephone said as she flipped through the pages of her new identity. "What made us move to Montana?"
"After an attempted robbery you both decided you wanted to leave Vegas." Both looked at her quizzically, but realization dawned on Brandi first.
"That's how I'll explain my wound."
Kelli nodded. "Your apartment had been broken into while you were both out one evening. When you came home Persephone was surprised in the kitchen by the robber. He grabbed a knife from the counter and stabbed her. Brandi you had left something in the car and was delayed coming upstairs. Just as you entered the apartment you heard Persephone scream. You raced in to see what happened and saw her on the floor. You attacked the robber, knocking him to the floor. A gun fell from his pocket and skidded across the floor. Persephone saw it and attempted to get to it but was unable due to the pain she was in. The robber kicked you back Brandi and scrambled for his gun. You lunged to stop him and he fired, hitting you in the shoulder. He escaped but a neighbor heard the gunshot and came to see what happened. He called the police and stayed with you both until help arrived."
"Was the perp ever caught?"
"Yes, about a week after the incident." Kelli grinned internally as both ladies nodded, no matter how many times their identity changed the prosecutor and detective was still there.
"But why Montana?" Persephone asked again.
"You both wanted to make a fresh start together. So you were looking online for places to live while you both recovered. You came across Billings, Montana and liked what you read about it. Once you had both healed you took a little trip to the area and liked it so well you decided to make the move. You will be living in a suburb of Billings, a little smaller than the city you were in before but I think you'll like it."
She waited a moment and watched as both women allowed everything to begin sinking in, then stood and gave them a sympathetic smile "I have more phone calls to make, so I'll leave you two alone."
Once they were alone Brandi sighed and leaned into the brunette next to her. "I can't believe we're doing this all over again."
"I know." Persephone said as she leaned back and pulled her partner with her. She propped her feet on the table in front of her and stared at the binders on their laps. "At least this time it should be easier. I mean we know what to expect plus, we're not alone this time."
They quietly flipped through the pages, learning their new lives. They were grateful to see Kelli had printed a few pages from travel sites about their new home. It at least gave them and idea of where they would be and things they could do.
As the day wore on they stayed mostly to themselves. Kelli was busy with arrangements on where they were headed next while both ladies continued to study their new lives. They were at least happy to see that where they were headed, while it would be cold and snowy in the winter it may not be quite as brutal as their previous home. They were also glad that it appeared there would be plenty to do for entertainment; from shopping, to the arts, to historical sites. They were also surprised, and happily so, to find out they would be able to keep their hair the color it currently was. While Persephone's wasn't as dark as it had been in the past at least it wasn't blonde anymore. Brandi knew that going back to her natural blonde would just further the stereotype of the 'dumb blonde' between her hair color and her new name, but she couldn't help it. She was already planning once they were settled in on going to a salon and making the final change from her current ash blonde to her natural color.
"What about money until we get a job? Or even a car?" Brandi asked later that evening over dinner.
"We've already closed out your accounts. The money will be deposited into your new accounts once you open them. Your home will be furnished and anything you purchased while in the program is being moved from your old houses to your new one."
The couple shared a knowing grin as they remembered their conversation about what the movers would find when they packed up their 'personal' belongings.
"You'll also have a car to share."
"And I guess the same goes for our jobs as it was before?" Persephone asked. "Nothing to do with our previous line of work?"
"Correct. There are several good businesses in the town where you'll be living so I think you'll have a good shot at a decent job. If not you are only about fifteen miles from Billings so you could also look for work there as well." she then motioned toward her pile of papers still on the dining room table. "I've been looking at some employment opportunities online. I'll print some of the info so you can take a look at it while we're traveling."
Later they lay quietly in bed, both contemplating their new lives. Persephone could tell the blonde was deep in thought, she had a habit of tilting her head back and forth as if she was visualizing what she was thinking about. The brunette rolled onto her side and watched the woman next to her "I can hear the wheels in your mind turning from here."
Brandi grinned "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"Everything."
Persephone draped her arm over the blonde's waist and gently squeezed her side "Wanna tell me about it?"
Brandi sighed. She knew it was senseless to be worried about it but at the same time she couldn't help it. "Promise you won't get mad?"
"Cross my heart." Persephone said while making the motion over her heart.
"Are you sure you're okay with this? With staying in the program?" she was afraid to even make eye contact. It was short lived though when she felt Persephone gently pulling her onto her side so they could face one another.
"I promise you, I'm okay." She reached up and brushed a few strands of hair from Brandi's eyes. "I've told you I'm right where I want to be. Tell me why this keeps bothering you."
"I guess I'm afraid that one day you're gonna realize this isn't what you want. That you're going to wake up and wish you were back in LA with your friends, your squad, chasing down perps and throwing them in jail." She sighed and again averted her eyes, afraid of what she'd see there. "I just worry that I won't be enough."
Persephone gently tilted the blonde's face so they were again making eye contact. She waited until she was sure she held Brandi's attention. "Sweetheart, you are more than enough. You are everything I've ever needed, and more. You're everything I've ever hoped for but never thought I'd have. It still amazes me that someone as wonderful as you would give me a second glance, let alone love me like you do. Do I miss my friends and the guys? Yeah, but if it comes down to you or them, it's you every time."
Brandi took a shallow breath. No one had ever made her feel as loved as the woman in front of her. "I love you." her voice a shaky whisper.
"I love you too." Persephone leaned in for a kiss. "You. Are. It. For. Me." each word was punctuated with a kiss. She smiled as their kiss ended "I don't care if your name is Emily or Alex, or Brandi." She placed a hand on Brandi's chest "I'm in love with the person in here."
Brandi chuckled lightly and wiped her eyes. She kissed the brunette again, her lips lingering for a few moments. "I can't believe we're really doing this."
Persephone pulled her partner closer and snuggled down further in the bed "I'm in this for good. Me and you forever."
A/N 2: I hope none of you have the same name as Alex does now. If you do, I meant no offense with the comments she made. Just remember, they may be happy they're together but it doesn't mean they're completely thrilled about their situation. Plus, it could lead to some good natured teasing from Olivia. I mean Persephone.