CHAPTER 1:

Casey is eating breakfast when Elsa looks at her, "I heard you and Izzie are going to both of your proms."

"Who else would we be going with?" Casey makes a snarky expression.

"I just didn't know if you were actually going to go. Some kids skip their proms."

"Izzie is totally looking forward to going, especially to hers. I didn't make a huge deal about it, we just kind of talked about it. I figured, we've been together this long, I didn't need to make it a huge deal. Maybe I should have. Did she say anything to you about being disappointed that I wasn't more enthusiastic about it?"

"Not at all. She just told me you two were going. I was actually wondering if you guys wanted me to go dress shopping with you."

"You can ask Izzie, she might wanna go with you. For some reason, she likes spending time with you. I'm going with Sharice. I promised her years ago that we would do this together."

"I'm glad you are spending time with Sharice again. And Izzie and Sharice seem to get along."

"Yeah, they do. Not at first, but, you know, Sharice always wants what's best for me."

"We all do, Casey." She puts a hand on Casey's back, rubbing it a little, being totally motherly. "Just let me know when you are going so I can give you my credit card."

"Thanks. And thanks for being chill about me dating Izzie."

"She's a sweet girl. She is really good for you. And, you know, I like it when she stays here. She helps me around the house."

"Yeah, I know she does. Maybe someday it will rub off on me." Casey rolls her eyes, then looks at her watch, "I gotta go. I'm picking Izzie up after practice to come here to help her with physics."

"She staying for dinner?"

"Probably," Casey says as she throws her backpack over her shoulder, walking towards the door.

Casey picks Izzie up from Clayton and brings them back to her house and up to Casey's room. She swings the door almost all the way shut, so they have some quiet. They spend over an hour going over Izzie's homework. Casey much rather be making out with her really hot girlfriend, but she made a promise to be Izzie's support system, and that is what she is doing: supporting. Izzie flops back on the bed. "I hate physics."

"I mean, as long as you get a C, it doesn't matter. You will probably never need this again in your life."

"That's a fact. I will never need this shit."

"You are amazing at so many other things that you don't really need to know physics."

Izzie blushes, Casey leans in and gives her a kiss. While kissing her, she takes the Physics book and pushes it off to the side. She moves closer, deepening the kiss. They start making out. Casey slips her hand up Izzie's shirt, her hand cupping Izzie's bra covered breast. Izzie lets out a moan, pushing herself into Casey's hand.

Elsa pushes the door open. "You know the rules."

Casey pulls back from Izzie quickly. "Elsa! Jesus!"

"Rules, Casey. You are supposed to be in here doing homework."

"We have been, Elsa. All of her homework is done AND she will at least pass tomorrow's test."

Elsa just arches a brow while standing in the doorway, hand on her hip. "I came to ask Izzie if she wanted me to take her shopping for her prom dress."

Izzie bites her lip a little. "Yeah, I mean, I would love to. I know my mother isn't going to take me."

"I know she won't, sweetie. We can go this weekend."

"Perfect, thank you, Mrs. Gardner."

"And Izzie, if you are staying the night, you can stay in Sam's old room."

"Of course. Thank you."

Casey gets up and partially closes the door after her mom walks away then goes back over to Izzie. "So, you excited for our proms?"

"I'm excited to go with you."

"Same. I hope you weren't disappointed that I wasn't all romantic about asking you to go with me."

"Not at all. As much as I love romance, I am glad you didn't do something crazy." Izzie moves closer to Casey, kissing her. "So, after dinner can we watch a movie?"

"So you can fall asleep on me?"

"I will not!"

"Mmmhmm."

Izzie smacks Casey playfully.

Casey and Sharice go out on the same day as Izzie and Elsa. Izzie showed up early that morning, glad to escape from her house for a few hours. She rang the bell and smiled when Elsa opened the door.

"We have to get you a key, sweetie, especially since you will be living here soon enough."

"I practically live here now," Izzie shoots her an appreciative smile. Elsa gives her a hug as she walks into the house.

"I meant what I said about you always having a safe place to be."

"I truly appreciate everything you do for me, Mrs. Gardner. Seriously. Plus, you know, you are so supportive of me dating Casey."

"I love the fact that you guys are in love. I never thought Casey would be this happy." Izzie blushes a little. "Speaking of which, she is upstairs with Sharice, if you would like to go see her before we head out."

"Yeah, if you don't mind."

"Go, we will leave in about fifteen minutes." Izzie nods, then heads upstairs.

She knocks on Casey's closed bedroom door before opening it up. Casey's face lights up when she sees Izzie. "Hey!" She gets up, walks over and gives her the biggest kiss, her hands move naturally to Izzie's hips. "I was getting worried, I haven't heard from you this morning."

Izzie's smile fades, "yeah, sorry about that."

Casey touches Izzie's chin, making their eyes meet. "Don't be sorry," she whispers. "We can talk about it later, if you need to."

"It's okay. I am just looking forward to go out with your mom. I need some Elsa-time." Casey makes a vomit noise. Izzie smirks, "stop that. I have a good relationship with her."

"I know you do," Casey kisses her again.

Sharice clears her throat, "yeah, hello, I'm still here."

Izzie looks over at her, "sorry." Izzie turns back to Casey, "it's been a tough morning already. I wasn't ignoring you."

"No, it's cool. I totally get it."

Elsa shows up in the doorway. "You ready to go, Izzie?"

"Yeah, I am." She turns to Casey and gives her a kiss, "I'll see you when we get back."

Casey kisses her back, "have fun. Send hot pics of yourself. Love you."

"Love you too, " Izzie touches Casey's hand then walks out of the room.

When Elsa and Izzie get to the car, Elsa glances over at Izzie. "You and your mother fighting again this morning?"

Izzie looks at her, a little surprised. "How d-"

"I can tell by now." Izzie looks out the window, trying to hide the tears forming in her eyes. Elsa glances over at her again, as she is driving, "whatever she said to you, don't take it to heart. She will never understand you, or appreciate you. You deserve better."

"She was mad that I'm going to the prom, she was mad that I'm going with a girl. She wishes this 'fling' with Casey would blow over. She is so homophobic, and I hate it. She drives me crazy. I have been with Case for almost two years, it's not a fling."

"She needs to accept that you are a lesbian. Doug had a hard time at first, but he's come around and understands Casey much better now. I know there is still tension between you two, but we are working on that. Her not accepting every part of you is a problem she has to deal with. Our house will always be a safe place for you both."

"I have to remind Casey that she is lucky that she has two parents that support her. That's why I'm practically living with you, I feel safe. Plus, I like hanging out with you."

"And I enjoy the time we spend together. Casey doesn't like spending time with me. She has been a little more open with me lately, but I know she is dealing with her own stuff right now."

"Yeah, she is."

"You two seem so happy together."

"It was weird when she went back to Newton, but at the same time, she has been happier and had more time for me." She looks over at Elsa. "And now that we made our hard decisions about college, I feel we are both in a great place."

"I won't lie, I am really happy you guys are going to the same school AND you are going to be living at home. Denton is lucky to have you guys next year."

"Casey finally admitted to me that she knew she wouldn't be able to handle being so far away with no support system around her. She's been having a rough time dealing with some personal issues, but she is working them out."

"None of which she will discuss with me."

Izzie smirks, "she's doing okay. I know you worry about her, but, honestly, she needs to work through some of her own things. If I had any concerns, you know I would come to you. She knows I am there to support her, no matter what."

"And I support her too. I get it, it's hard discovering yourself. I'm not blind, I notice the change in the style of clothes she's been wearing, and just small things. I just want her to be happy."

"I know you do," Izzie looks down at her hands. "Coming out has been hard on both of us. I didn't want my mother to know because she sucks. I worried what other people would think. But then I realized I wasn't being fair to Casey and just went for it. I found support from the kids in the GSA. For Casey, it's been different. She kind of got lost along the way, trying to figure herself out, coming to terms with herself and admitting she's bisexual. And I accept Casey for Casey.

"And Casey is an amazing person."

Izzie looks over at Elsa and just smiles, knowing she's right.

When they get to the store, they look at dresses together, Izzie trying on the ones she likes, laughing and having fun with Elsa. Anyone watching the two of them would think they are mother and daughter, just based on their interactions together. Izzie takes a few cute/sexy pictures of herself and sends them to Casey.

"You checking with Casey before we buy anything?"

"No, I mean, I might. But, I like sending Casey pictures when I look cute. She loves that."

"Isn't that sexting?" Elsa asks, mostly innocently.

"No, her and I don't do that." She bites her lip a little, "honestly, I'm a good girl, or at least try to be."

"Once you send a naked picture, it's out there forever."

"Exactly. Casey will get cute photos of me, and she's good with that."

"You two are going to be so adorable. Are you doing anything after either of your proms?"

"Not sure about Casey's. I've been invited to a party after mine, which we might go to. The girl who runs the GSA group is throwing it. But I kinda just wanna do something low key and quiet with Case."

Izzie is contemplating over two of the dresses that looked the best on her. She isn't sure which one to get. She holds them up for Elsa, without saying a word, asking for her opinion. Elsa picks up the first dress she tried on, a sexy black and red strapless dress that really made Izzie stand out. Izzie nods in agreement, as she was leaning towards that one from the beginning.

"We have a cabin, the one Doug and I stayed at when your team made regionals. You two are more than welcome to stay there for the weekend, as long as you don't do anything stupid."

"Really?!. And that actually sounds really, you know, romantic. I totally will take you up on that offer. And, I promise, we will leave it just as we found it."

"Do I have to worry about you two being unsupervised?"

"No, I think we will be okay."

"I won't be there to interrupt you two making out all the time."

"With all due respect, I have been dating Casey for almost two years. I feel we earned the right to make out with each other."

"And I am sure there's been more than just making out."

Izzie nods, she won't lie to Elsa. "Yes, of course. But, not a decision we took lightly or rushed into, especially since it was my first time."

Elsa stops walking and looks at Izzie. "You really are a good girl, aren't you?"

"I wasn't just saying that to make you feel better. Casey and I were open with each other before we took that step. We didn't want to ruin our friendship or relationship by rushing into things. But, I swear, if you tell Casey that we talked about this, she will kill me."

"Don't worry, this conversation stays between us. And I know I have still been a little, you know, protective. I know I need to give you two more space. I feel like a responsible parent, I shouldn't be letting you two sleep in the same bed or have the door closed."

"I know, but, you already promised us that after high school, things will change, since we are both going to be living there full time."

"You will also both be over 18 when you graduate. Casey's 18 now, and you will be soon enough. That changes things, a little. That doesn't mean I will just allow certain things to go on while I am home."

"Point taken."

They spend an hour trying to find the perfect shoes to compliment her dress. They walk up to the register to pay for everything. Izzie goes into her purse to make sure she has enough money on her. Elsa motions for her to put it away. "I'm taking care of it, sweetie."

"You don't have to do that," Izzie tells her. "My grandma gave me some money."

"I want to. You are part of the Gardner family." Izzie gives Elsa a big hug, holding her really tight. Really wishes her mother was half the mother as Elsa, but is appreciative of the last two years and the support she has gotten from the Gardners.

"Thank you, so much." Izzie wipes away the couple of tears that formed by her eyes. Elsa just rubs her back a little, reassuring her that everything is going to be okay.