Author's note: I've discovered two things within the past week. Number one is that trying to write when you're depressed, cold, and busy at the same time is a disaster. I actually had a different chapter than this one that was originally going to be published. Then I looked at it and thought 'This looks like a five year old wrote it'. The other thing that I have realized in the past week is the fact that I was a little unclear in a couple of the details of this story. After sorting through six private messages for the last chapter alone, I have decided to answer these questions in this author's note. First of all, Samantha is a year and a half. She is thus able to talk, but mostly in monosyllabic words and short phrases, which she has been doing. I also realized, through these private messages, that I was unclear about what happened to Casey's father. I thought this was correct at first, until I went back and re-read a couple of my previous chapters. For those who missed what happened to Mr. Novak, please re-read. I don't want to give any spoilers away. That being said, sorry for the long update break. My creative monkey for this story has been missing, and anyone who knows me knows that I don't write if it won't be good. But I am feeling creative tonight, so here we go. Thank you for reading my insanely long explanation. Off to the chapter. Thank you for reading, and reviews are greatly appreciated.
"I think I've lost my mind." Casey examined the glass in her hand and and shook her head. "Olivia, I can't tell if this is just the design of the glass, or if there is a crack. I mean, if I turn it one way, it looks like a crack, and if I turn it the other way, it appears to merely be a design on the glass."
Olivia took the cup and looked at it, holding it up to the light. Casey was well aware that her wife was using the opportunity to mock her, but she smiled rather than saying something. Vengeance came in the most unexpected packages, after all. "I think it's just the design," the detective remarked, running her fingers across the edge of the cup. It was something Casey would have never had the courage to do, for fear of being injured. Olivia nodded. "Just the design," she repeated, placing the cup back on the counter. "You worry too much."
"No, I just want everything to be perfect about tonight," Casey replied. "There is a difference between wanting everything to be perfect, and worrying about every little detail."
"Which you're doing anyway," Olivia pointed out. "Casey, relax. It is almost nine PM, and the house has not exploded yet. Wait, I think I hear something..." She trailed off, listening.
It took Casey a full minute to realize that her wife was messing with her. "Oh my god, you did not just do that to me." Seeing the gloating look on Olivia's face, Casey grabbed a cookie from the plate on the counter and chucked it at her. Olivia ducked just in time. Casey shook her head. "I'm not crazy. I'm just married to a crazy woman. It's called crazy by proxy. Yeah, that's it," she said, half talking to herself, half to Olivia.
Olivia retrieved the thrown cookie, which had somehow landed on the very edge of the counter. "I'll go feed this to Chocolate," she announced. "And when I get back, if one dish is washed, you're in trouble."
"Why?" Casey asked. "You've done a lot today, babe. It is my job to make dinner and then do the dishes, which I am."
"No. I want you to get off of your feet and go relax. I'll meet you and Alex in the game room when I'm finished. You need to take it easy, for your sake and the baby's."
Casey sighed. She knew that it would be futile to even attempt to argue. "Alright. You win. I'll see you upstairs." After sharing a passionate kiss with her wife, Casey entered the dining room and lifted Samantha out of her high chair. "Hello, Princess. What do you say we go find Auntie Alex and watch Sleeping Beauty?"
"Yay!" Samantha remarked, clapping. Casey smiled softly and carried her daughter out of the dining room, through the living room, and up the stairs. The game room was the first room that one entered upon taking the final step. Casey smiled when she saw Alex sitting on her favorite chaise.
"That chair has always been my favorite. Sometimes, when my back is really bothering me, I come up here and take short naps in it, because it provides good support."
Alex nodded. "It is very comfortable," she agreed. She looked over at Casey, her face breaking out in a wide grin when she saw Samantha. Samantha cried to be put down, and Casey obliged, watching as she stumbled over to Alex. As the blonde picked her up, Casey claimed the sofa in front of the wall opposite the stairwell. Alex smiled. "Dinner was delicious."
Casey returned the smile with one of her own. "Thank you. I love to cook. It's funny though. Olivia makes fun of me whenever I cook, because I stand quite a few feet away from the stove. I have horrible pyrophobia," she quickly explained. "Anyway...I am very happy that you came. I will speak candidly, and say that I was skeptical at first. This is a very complicated situation, and I feared that your presence would only amplify the complication."
"I understand. If our situation were reversed, I would feel the same way. In fact, I have felt the same way, on more than one occasion."
Casey sighed, and crossed her legs. "When you got here, I had actually braced myself for a horrible evening. I actually told Olivia that if anything went wrong, I would take the baby and retreat to our bedroom. Although...I have to admit, it has been a nice evening. I mean, I don't even have to ask Samantha if she agrees," the attorney remarked. "Honey, don't tug on auntie's necklace like that."
Alex laughed. "It's okay. I don't mind in the slightest." She looked over at Casey and smiled once more. "I agree. Tonight has gone surprisingly well. I think we both prepared ourselves for a full out bitch session between us, and clearly that is not what happened."
"I think that's what Olivia was expecting. Did you notice that she removed all pointy objects?" Casey asked, unable to hide her grin.
"I suppose it's her job to remove any hazardous materials," Alex added, chuckling.
Casey nodded. "Hey, haven't you realized? We're little teenagers who can't be trusted not to get into a catfight and kill each other the second she turns her back." At that, both women laughed until their sides hurt. Once everything was calm again, Casey shook her head and stood., walking over to the entertainment center. Retrieving the Sleeping Beauty DVD from the third shelf, she popped it into the DVD player and grabbed the remote, re-claiming her seat on the couch. "Do you mind watching a fairy tale?" she asked. "It's one of Samantha's favorites."
"I don't mind at all," Alex answered. "Besides, there is some fun in watching Disney movies as an adult and finding all of the subliminal messages that little children are too innocent to pick up on."
"Like the priest's nice little reaction to Ursula and Eric's marriage?" Casey asked.
"Let's not forget the fact that a mermaid and a human somehow consummated their marriage, despite a clear DNA barrier."
Casey giggled. "And the scene in...damn. I can't remember which movie, but one of them has a naked lady in the window."
Alex nodded. "I remember that! And then of course, there are all the lyrics in the supposed love songs."
"And who can overlook all of the princes' bulges?" Casey asked, smiling as she hit play on the DVD options menu. She stood up and turned all of the lights off. "I sometimes wonder why fairy tales are so horrible. Not only do you have all of the subliminal messaging, but there is the fact that most Disney movies give happy endings to stories that were originally gory and cruel."
"Definitely. Pretty women are the only saving grace to the Disney version of fairy tales," Alex remarked, and both women fell silent as the beginning movie credits stopped and the movie itself began.
During the cottage scene, Olivia made her way up the stairs and sat down beside Casey on the couch. "What did I miss?" she asked, kissing Casey on the cheek.
Casey, who knew how much her wife hated fairy tales, shrugged. "Aurora was just picking berries in the forest so that the fairies could prepare her surprise party." She laid her head on the older woman's shoulder. For the rest of the movie, no one spoke a single word.
Once the movie was over, Casey turned the lights back on. Samantha had fallen asleep in Alex's arms, curled up on her lap. Casey carried her to bed and kissed her goodnight, then set the baby monitor. Returning to the game room, she sat down beside Olivia and said "The baby is asleep. She's with her favorite elephant. Where is Chocolate?"
"In our room, on her bed," Olivia answered. "So when you go to bed, try not to trip over her."
Casey nodded. "Well, Alex, have you decided to stay or not?" she inquired.
Alex checked the time, noting that it was almost eleven. "It's late, I have had a little too much to drink, and it's freezing outside. That being said, I think I will indeed stay for the evening. Thank you again for having me."
"It's not a problem, Alex," Olivia replied. "We are both glad that you came," she qualified, wrapping an arm around Casey.
"Olivia's right." Casey smiled, sharing a secret grin with Alex, as they both knew what had been said between them, and Olivia was certainly not privy to the information. "Which room would you like?"
Alex thought for a moment. "Do you have one with a large window, a queen sized bed, and is warm enough that I don't get frost bite?"
Casey nodded. "If you go through the game room and down the hall way over there, turn left. It is the one directly at the end of the hall. Only..." She trailed off, sharing a glance with Olivia.
"What's wrong with it?" Alex asked, and Casey could see that she had worried her.
The attorney quickly replied "Nothing is wrong with the room. It has all of the things you wanted and more, but it is right above our room and..." She sighed, trying to avoid the awkward discussion. Finally, she said "It's right above our room, and I don't want to disturb you." As she finished speaking, Casey blushed deeply.
Alex, however, shrugged it off. "Trust me, I've heard worse. At least I know you two. Try being at a hotel where the guests in the room next to yours have insanely loud sex AND make their bed squeak."
"Well, our bed doesn't squeak. At least, uh..I don't think it does," Casey answered. "And we will keep it down, out of respect for you. We have to anyway, because of the baby, so don't worry at all. Enjoy your night. And if you need anything, just let me know and I will gladly get it for you."
The three women shared a series of hugs before going their separate ways. Casey followed Olivia down to the third floor and into their bedroom. As they changed for bed, Casey slipped into her favorite nightgown, adjusting the sleeves. "Tonight was a really good night," she observed. "I am glad she came. I think it will provide closure for all of us."
"I hope so," Olivia answered, placing her clothes in her side of the hamper and sliding into her favorite boxers.
Casey was about to reply when she heard Chocolate howl suddenly. As the little dog rushed out of the bedroom and darted down the stairs, Casey followed, Olivia close behind. They realized at once why the puppy was barking: someone was pounding on the door. Casey looked at Olivia nervously, and Olivia silently told her to move. "This is the police. Open up now," came a deep male voice from outside.
