Hello, hows the new year goin for you, hopefully ok. So, here's where I'm at, I was originally debating with myself on whether Holly should try again with Trish or not (come on, we all know someone who's gone back to a bad relationship), so I had written various chapters/scenes where Trish and Holly are kinda together again (honestly it's a good thing you guys leave comments or else this chapter wouldn't be how it is…or the last chapter…or the chapter before that, anyways) so I was going to just delete the chapters but then I decided why do that when I could just rework them, so this isn't the last chapter, there's a handful more, and yes I know, I suck, potentially putting Trish and Holly together again, oh well eh, some of your comments and messages have been kinda hilarious to read on your thoughts about Trish from is 'Trish going to hurt Holly or Gail?' (for the record, that really isn't my thing, retaliation that is, no is a valid answer and should be respected, and since this is fanfiction with a world I get to create, Trish will respect Holly's no and wont hurt her or Gail, and I know some of you have asked in other fics about is an ex going to come back and I've never really done retaliation in any of the other fics cause I'm not fond of it, sorry) to your other comments of me killing Trish off, these were the options that I have received thus far, either Trish going over a cliff or dying in a car crash or poison (the poison one probably made me laugh the most because poison?, it felt very James Bond lol). In other words, I got the hint, you guys do NOT want to see Holly and Trish together again, not to worry, it wont be happening. I'm glad you enjoyed the festive chapter last time, as always, thanks for reading and commenting, you guys are swell. Stay safe out there
A couple of months have gone by, Gail and Holly have continued on with their friends who kiss relationship thing. They have definitely become more like girlfriends, but neither has really said it out loud yet. Both of them still enjoying hanging out together and spending their days off with one another. Everyone has noticed how Gail is around Holly, how the blonde is so much happier and willing to be helpful and just all around nicer. All the cops want Gail and Holly together, it's no secret. Gail and Traci are sitting in Oli's office, they're going over some case that has the two detectives stuck, they're hoping to use Oliver's knowledge and insight to help get them unstuck, he's looking at his computer screen and smacking away at his keyboard. The phone rings, "Shaw," he answers. "Uh-huh, yes, okay, on my way." He hangs up the phone, "shit, Celery wont like this." He gets up from his desk and starts to gather some stuff and grab his coat.
"Everything okay?" asks Traci.
"Maybe. I have to go over to the big offices and see some people."
"Why wont Celery like that?" asks Gail.
"Shit, I almost forgot, thanks Peck," even though he just said it five seconds ago…Oliver reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out two tickets and hands them over to Gail, "they're tickets to the symphony, Celery and I were supposed to go, but I don't think I'll make it now, here."
"Wont Celery want to go?"
"No," Oliver laughs, "she was only going because I wanted to go, here," he says again, forcing the tickets into Gail's hand.
"Wont you be able to exchange them for a different day?"
"Tonight's the last night of the symphony for the season, they wont be back until the fall, they take summers off, just take the tickets," Oliver says.
"There's two," she says, staring at the tickets in her hand.
"And that's why you're a great detective; you're very astute," says Oliver, Traci snickers, Gail glares at the mom, her partner, her best friend. Oliver advises, "ask someone to go with you."
Gail looks over at Traci, "want to go?"
"Sorry, I can't, your brother and I have plans."
"Ew, TMI," says Gail, scrunching up her face.
Oliver laughs. As he makes his way to the door he says, "ask your friend from the lab, I'm sure she'll go with you."
Does everybody know about her and Holly? Nobody has really said anything to her…. well maybe Steve and Traci…something for Gail to think about later. "Uh…maybe. Okay, thanks Oli."
"Have fun Peck."
Gail does take Oliver's advice; she sends a text to Holly asking her what she's up to this evening. When a quick 'nothing, why?' shows up she asks Holly if she wants to go to the symphony with her. Holly easily agrees and says she'll meet Gail at the blonde's house. After moving her stuff out of Trish's, Chloe had graciously let the doctor move some of her stuff into her little apartment, but the spare room closet was filled with Chloe's clothing so Gail easily allowed Holly to move some of her stuff into the guest room aka Leo's room.
After both getting dressed in their separate rooms, Gail is waiting for Holly downstairs by the front door, "Holly! You almost ready?" The anticipation is slightly killing the blonde. Gail turns around when she hears movement at the top of the stairs. Gail is rendered speechless as she watches Holly walk down the stairs in her fancy clothes, "wow," Gail says.
Holly walks over to Gail and kisses her cheek, "you look nice," she smiles.
Gail is able to shake herself out of her stupor, "I look nice?" she questions, "you look nice! Beyond nice, lovely, beautiful. Holly," Gail looks Holly up and down, not able to stop herself, "I don't know if I want to leave now," Gail says getting lost in Holly's curves, loving the way the navy blue elegant dress hugs all the right places, she can't help herself as she reaches out and touches the brunette.
Holly smirks, she's loving the way Gail is ogling her. "It's only for a couple of hours," Holly reminds the blonde, picking up Gail's hand and threading their fingers together.
"True, but we could do something else in those couple of hours," Gail wiggles her eyebrows up and down making Holly laugh; she swings their clasped hands back and forth between them.
"Gail," says Holly, in a slightly warning tone, she started to look forward to this fancy night out.
Gail sighs, like it's the biggest thing in the world having to go to the symphony, "fine, but you're coming home with me, right?"
"Of course, honey." She leans in to kiss Gail on the cheek again, not wanting to ruin the blonde's lipstick, "you want me to drive?"
Gail shakes her head, still a bit stunned. They make it to the theater downtown Toronto, plenty of symphony goers there; the two are patiently waiting in the lobby for their turn to go through the doors and find their seats. Gail has her back to the front entrance; her and Holly are still smiling at each other, happy to be there with the other. Feeling all giddy being together out in public, Gail again sneaks her hand into Holly's. She watches the smile grow on Holly's face.
"Gail!"
Gail hears it but she ignores it, thinking there is likely another Gail there, even though she totally recognizes her mother's voice.
"Gail!" A bit of a pause. "Gail Peck!"
Holly gives Gail a questioning look. Gail closes her eyes and shakes her head slightly, this can't be happening. When did her parents start going to the symphony?
"Detective Gail Peck, daughter to Bill and Elaine."
Gail looks into Holly's eyes, "I'm really sorry." Gail reluctantly turns around; using their joined hands she pulls Holly to her side. "Mom, Dad, what are you two doing here?"
Elaine looks at Holly, not recognizing this lady, giving her a quizzical look, "I could ask you the same thing."
"Hey sweetheart," Bill leans in and gives his daughter a hug, "you look beautiful."
"Thanks dad." She puts her arm around Holly, "Holly these are my parents, Bill and Elaine. Mom and Dad this is Holly."
Bill sticks out his hand, "nice to meet you Holly." Elaine looks Holly up and down not saying anything, so Bill keeps talking, "what brings you two to the symphony?"
"Uh, Oliver had tickets but couldn't go, so he gave them to me, I asked Traci but apparently she's busy with Steve, Holly and I were going to hang out after work today so I asked if she wanted to go and she said yes." Gail gives Holly's hip a little squeeze, happy to have her by her side.
"Oh," says Elaine. "Are you new to our division, officer?"
Holly smiles, she's loving the way Gail's fingers are moving casually back and forth on her hip, completely subtle movements, "I'm actually a doctor, I'm a forensic pathologist, I work in the morgue, the labs."
Elaine furrows her brow, "what's your name?"
"Doctor Holly Stewart."
Elaine's eyes go big, she gasps slightly, "you're doing wonderful things for our police force, how meticulous you are with the deceased, we haven't had as many mistrials due to forensics mishaps since you've joined on."
Gail tilts her head to the side, she gets a bit of a smirk on her face, is Elaine fan girling Holly?
Bill rejoins the conversation, "are you new to the city?"
"Kind of, I went to school here but then I was away for a bit, but I missed my friends, they're like family to me," Holly doesn't want to go into too much about her past and family right now the first time she meets Gail's parents, "and I was thinking once my contract was up with the city I might go somewhere else again, but," she looks over at Gail fondly, "Gail is making some very compelling arguments why I should stay in the big city."
Elaine nods her head, "good idea Gail, our symphony is delightful, where else do you plan on taking her Gail? The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto Island?" Elaine pauses as an idea strikes her, excitement on her face, "What are you doing this weekend? Gail why don't you bring Holly home to our monthly Peck dinner?"
Luckily for the two younger ladies the lights start to flash indicating for patrons to head to their seats, "it was nice to meet you two," Holly says politely.
Bill agrees with Holly realizing they should all make their ways into the theater, he puts his hand on the small of his wife's back ready to guide her to their seats, "we should go find our seats, yes Holly, it was nice to meet you and hopefully we will get to spend more time with you and you can tell us the other places Gail takes you to."
Holly smiles, "that sounds like fun," and Holly actually means it. They part ways; Gail and Holly find their seats and sit down ready for the orchestra to begin.
The conductor comes out and gives a speech, explaining the music they will all be hearing that evening, when the music starts to play Gail tries to get lost in it. She hasn't been to the symphony in years, she always enjoyed going, being surrounded by the sound and how full the music makes you feel, but she just can't. She starts to jiggle her leg, Holly reaches out to put her hand on Gail's knee to stop the bouncing, it calms the blonde for a second, but then the movement begins again. Finally the first song ends. Now's Gail's chance, she leans over to whisper in Holly's ear, "did you mean it?"
Holly furrows her brows at Gail, needing more clarification.
"Will you come with me to my parents' house this weekend?"
Holly shakes her head no. Holly watches Gail visibly deflate. Holly tilts her head to the side, she cups Gail's cheek, "sorry, I have that conference, I'm heading there Friday then I'll be there all week, I should be home by next Saturday. But I'd love to go with you next time." Holly hopes next time will be good enough and that Gail will still want her there.
That surprises Gail, "really?"
"Of course, honey." Holly watches the sparkle in Gail's blue eyes come back. A smile spreads across both of their faces, "you okay now?"
Gail nods her head, the music begins to play again, they both turn their attention to the stage again, Gail rests her hand on Holly's thigh, Holly rests her hand on top of Gail's, both feeling more at peace.
Later that week, the rookies are going mini golfing, well, supposed to be going mini golfing, Gail and Holly show up and no one is there, their phones start to beep, they get an alarming amount of messages from their friends each saying they couldn't make it to the mini golf course, Holly turns to Gail, "I think they think they're setting us up."
"Pfft," says Gail, "don't they know I'm already seeing someone, and I personally think it's kinda serious," she takes a step closer to Holly snaking her arms around the brunette's neck, not exactly sure how the brunette will react, but hoping Holly feels the same.
"Oh yeah?" questions Holly with a lopsided smirk, moving her arms to rest her hands on Gail's hips.
"Yeah," Gail leans in to kiss Holly's lips.
"What a coincidence," jokes Holly. "You have a girlfriend, I have a girlfriend!"
"Ha, nerd," Gail laughs. "It's not too soon?" Gail asks slightly nervous.
"Not unless you think it's too soon," Holly says, technically it's been a year since Holly and Trish have been together, Holly is definitely ready to move on.
"Just making sure you're okay with it," Gail smiles, completely thrilled at the idea of getting to call Holly her girlfriend. "Since we're here, you still want to play a round or do you have to go home and pack for your conference thingy?"
"Yes, I do need to pack, but let's play a round anyways, want to make it interesting?"
"Oh," says Gail raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, if I win-"
"Which you wont," Gail cuts in, all smiles.
Holly can't help but smile at her girlfriend, she repeats herself, "if I win-"
Gail cuts in again, "how about winner picks what we have for dinner, and do you want to watch a movie tonight?"
Holly shrugs her shoulders, "okay."
"So winner picks what's for dinner and the movie."
"That's it?" asks Holly.
"What did you have in mind?" asks Gail with a curious expression.
"I don't know, I was thinking maybe something more," she looks around to see if anyone is watching them, "sexual."
Gail laughs, "you dirty bird, or should I say you dirty nerd?"
Holly's cheeks go red; Gail leans over to kiss the blush spreading across Holly's cheeks.
Gail revises the winnings, "Okay, so winner picks dinner and the movie, and gets lucky, in more ways than one. Happy?"
"Very."
"Good, okay Stewart, get ready to lose."
"Whether I win or lose in mini golf today, I'll still be a winner because I got to spend the day with you."
"Barf," says Gail, "don't be like that."
Holly laughs, she's just trying to throw Gail off her game even though she meant every word.