Chapter 2

The next day, while Lucy hung out with Jesse and his family, Kate found herself dress shopping with Julie, just like she promised she would. The two of them were at their third store and Julie finally found a dress that she loved, but was perusing the racks for another just in case something caught her eye. She noticed a dress and glanced over at Kate.

"Aunt Kate, when are you and Aunt Lucy going to get married?" Kate's eyes widened and she was caught off guard by the question until she noticed the dress Julie was eyeing. It was not the type of dress that would be worn to a school dance, but one more suitable for a wedding.

"I don't know. We aren't exactly talking about that yet."

"Well, you love her, right?"

"Yes."

"And she loves you, so why not," asked Julie as she held the dress up to her.

"It isn't always that simple."

"Why not?" Kate searched for an answer and Julie smiled smugly, looking very much like her mother, when she couldn't find one. Julie looked herself over in the mirror as she held the dress in front of her.

"You and Aunt Lucy should get married and I can be your flower girl." Kate giggled.

"I'll keep that in mind, but how about we get back to shopping? You seem to like the one earlier. Is it the one?" Julie excitedly nodded.

"Definitely."

"I think so too. Good choice," commended Kate.

"I hope Ben likes it."

"He'll love it and even if he doesn't, you love it and that's what matters." Julie nodded in agreement as they headed toward the front of the store. Kate glanced over at her as they got in line to pay for the dress Kate knew Julie couldn't wait to show her mom and brother when she got home.

"Oh and um, let's keep the marriage talk between you and me, okay?"

"Got it," giggled Julie and Kate took in a deep breath. As usual when it came to the Tennants, she got a bit more than what she bargained for in the best ways possible and a lot to think about.

The shopping trip lasted longer than Kate thought it would, but was still not as bad as Jane said it would be. It felt nice to spend time with Julie, especially after being away from her for so long. When Kate decided to leave Hawai'i for a new start, she didn't consider how difficult it would be to leave all of the Tennants behind. Spending time with Julie reminded her of what it was like to be a kid again and she'd missed that. She used her key to unlock the door to her and Lucy's house. It was taking her some time to get used to that part. There were things that she missed about her old apartment, like the view and breakfast on the balcony, but there was something that felt more permanent at Lucy's. It was more spacious and had more room for the couple to grow together. Moving in together made more sense to both of them than Kate finding a new place and the two going back and forth. What surprised her though was how effortless it all felt. They each had their flaws. Lucy would often leave toothpaste in the sink and Kate would track sand into the house after her morning surf, both things they were working on being mindful of, but they also loved relaxing mornings in bed and curling up on the couch to watch movies. They loved to cook together and both did their part with the cleaning. As different as they were, they found a rhythm together that worked for them and both were pleasantly surprised by how the simple things didn't have to feel so hard anymore between them. Kate tossed her keys into the bowl by the door and could hear the television on in the living room. She beamed with happiness when she saw Lucy curled up on the couch under a blanket looking quite adorable. The smile she gave her made Kate melt on the spot and Lucy giggled as Kate showered her with kisses.

"Watching Great British Bake-Off without me again," teased Kate.

"It's a rerun. I learned my lesson after last time, you big baby."

"I'll remember that comment when Umbrella Academy comes back on." Lucy playfully glared at her.

"You're not allowed to watch that show without me. I see the way you look at Allison." Kate smiled wistfully.

"Aw yes, Allison," she said with a sigh, but laughed when Lucy started tickling her.

"I won't watch without you," laughed Kate as she pulled Lucy into her arms.

"You better not."

"Oh don't act like I'm the only one and at least my crush is on a fictional character. You are totally in love with Blake Lively."

"Maybe I'm learning I have more of a type than I thought, so sue me." Kate tenderly kissed her and giggled when Lucy pulled her on top of her. The sound of Kate's phone ringing made them groan. She begrudgingly pulled it out of her pocket and sighed.

"It's Maya." Lucy kissed her cheek.

"I'm going to make a snack. Want something?"

"That would be great, babe." Lucy headed for the kitchen and Kate answered.

"Hey, what's up," asked Kate.

"Have you ever seen two colleagues be able to date and still work well together if it doesn't work out?"

"You're calling to ask me about that, a woman who fell in love with a colleague?"

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"No, no, no, don't hang up. I'm just surprised you're even still in that stage of things."

"What stage?"

"The 'is this worth the risk' stage, I went through it plenty of times, you know that."

"You and Lucy had a rocky start, but you're really happy now. I can tell." Kate smiled at the words.

"We are."

"I want that and I want it with Zeinab. I just don't want things to change."

"So that's what this is really about. Change isn't always a bad thing, Maya, but if you are worried that the team will change, don't be. Carlos and I have been watching you two circle each other for a while now. You both deserve this, so stop overthinking and trying to analyze everything. Just go have fun."

"That's rich coming from you."

"And yet here we are, you calling me for advice and me giving it."

"Fine, less thinking, more fun," grumbled Maya.

"Exactly."

"But why does this feel so…so…"

"Scary?"

"Yeah! I've tracked down serial killers and analyzed the minds of terrorists, but I'm struggling with how to plan a date? What's happening to me?"

"You're in love," Kate practically sang.

"Oh, don't start with me. I could write a book on the ways you melt on the spot the moment you even think of Lucy. I've never seen someone go from staring down a suspect and getting a confession out of them to being a goofy, smiley cheeseball the second Lucy Tara enters a room. If I didn't know any better, I would think she used some type of hypnotherapy on you. A snap of her finger and my boss is gone."

"Hypnosis, really, wait do you even believe in hypnotherapy?"

"Not really my cup of tea, no."

"But you know what is your cup of tea? Deflection."

"Again, rich coming from you."

"Which is why I can call it when I see it, you and Zeinab are going to have a great time, so stop overthinking. You're good for each other."

"So, does that mean we have your blessing?" Kate frowned in confusion.

"Of course you have my blessing. I've been clear about that."

"Well, I mean you've never actually said the words, you have my blessing."

"I've said plenty of words and have been trying to encourage you two to get together for a while. That counts more than saying the word blessing."

"We have to work on you using your words. Speaking of using their words, have you heard from Scott again?"

"No and you let me worry about that. Stop stalling and go get ready for your date or I'll have to help you unpack why even the thought of change sends you spiraling. How's that for using my words?"

"Hurtful, fair, but hurtful. I would unpack your need to lash out at the ones you love…"

"I don't lash out at…"

"But I have a date to get ready for."

"Zeinab has her hands full with you."

"Here's hoping. Thanks, Kate, really, I appreciate I can call you when I start to spiral."

"Anytime, now go have fun," encouraged Kate before hanging up. She looked up when she heard a giggle and saw Lucy standing there with a tray of snacks and an adoring smile.

"You two are so cute."

"She drives me crazy sometimes, but I love her."

"She nervous about the date," asked Lucy with a knowing smile as she placed the tray of food on the coffee table and cuddled back into her girlfriend's arms.

"Yeah, a bit. It's actually kind of cute. She's usually more confident in herself."

"That's how you know it's love. Before you, I was very sure of myself when it came to dating. I loved dating casually, I was very good at hookups and keeping things light, then I met you and all that went out the window. It's one of the reasons I was so upset when we broke up. I'd never met someone who could just have that kind of power over me, someone who made me want to obsess over every move and word I said. Falling for you was easy. Admitting that to myself was very hard."

"I know the feeling and now look at us. You make me so happy, Luce."

"You make me really happy too. So happy, in fact, that I'll let you choose what we watch," she said as she handed her the remote.

"Pretty in Pink?"

"Absolutely not. I am not Kai. You can save that nonsense for your next playdate with him."

"Can you stop calling them playdates and what's with your aversion to 80s rom coms?"

"You mean besides the fact they all center white, heteronormative characters?" Kate sighed, but nodded.

"Fair, how about we catch back up on Stranger Things?"

"Only if you don't tease me about being freaked out on the scary parts and jump scares." Kate smiled adoringly at her girlfriend.

"Only if you promise to pull me closer in that way you do when you are freaked out on the scary parts and jump scares." Lucy bit her lip with a smile.

"Stop seducing me, Whistler." Kate gave her a wink and sweet kiss before sifting through their queue to find the show. Lucy grabbed a handful of grapes and popped one into her mouth as she smiled at her girlfriend, knowing both were happy to spend the rest of their day together at home.

Later that evening, Maya and Zeinab were walking along the beach as the sun set in the distance. They had just finished an early dinner at a high-end restaurant and Maya found herself doing what she tended to do when she was completely invested in something, she started overanalyzing once again.

"It was too formal, wasn't it," asked Maya as she cringed at her choice in restaurant.

"I was going to say it was very upscale, but sure."

"I'm sorry. I should've chosen another place." She sighed as Zeinab stopped and pulled her into her arms.

"Hey, it was a nice dinner and I don't care where we go. Maya, all I want to do is spend time with you. Nothing else matters to me but that."

"You do," she asked hopefully and Zeinab smiled adoringly at her.

"Of course I do, I think I've been making that pretty clear." Maya sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around Zeinab as they gazed at one another.

"I just wanted our first date to be perfect. I'm not the best with dating. I've never really needed to be. It isn't necessary for me to be good at my job and that has been my focus since I became a field agent."

"I know the feeling, but maybe we're approaching this all wrong. We don't need to try to make our dates perfect. We aren't strangers. We aren't trying to make a good first impression. I know you and you know every part of me, so maybe we just let that be enough. Let us be enough," suggested Zeinab. Maya smiled when Zeinab stroked her cheek with her thumb. She leaned in and Maya closed the distance between them as their lips meshed together in a sweet kiss. All of her nerves melted away as they kissed teasingly, each more than happy to take their time and enjoy the intimate embrace. Maya sighed in relief when they pulled apart to catch their breaths. She rested her forehead against hers and couldn't help but smile.

"That was pretty damn perfect," she whispered and Zeinab grinned from ear to ear.

"I always knew we would be," she assured. She giggled at the blush that crept on Maya's cheeks and kissed the top of her hand.

"Come on, let's go get some ice cream. I know you still want dessert," suggested Zeinab and Maya sighed in relief.

"Yes, please and a burger too. I'm still starving."

"You mean the itty bitty serving sizes didn't do it for you? Shocker."

"Not even close and our waiter was totally judging me."

"Well, you did analyze his body language and basically tell him he needed a career change."

"He's the one that isn't happy, not me. Just because he doesn't realize that or is most likely too afraid of change to do something about it isn't my problem. He was a very capable man. I simply wanted him to seize the day." Zeinab shook her head in amusement.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"Really, because most people would find my incessant need to analyze everything quite obnoxious?" Zeinab laced their fingers together and smiled warmly at her.

"I fell in love with your brain before I allowed myself to fall in love with any other part of you," confessed Zeinab and tears filled Maya's eyes.

"You did?"

"How could I not? I still remember how you walked into that conference room in New York. We were all waiting for Kate to show up and the moment Scott tried to give you a hard time, you read him like a book, was pretty spot-on too. I still can't believe you called him Captain America, though."

"Oh, he very clearly idolized Steve Rogers as a kid."

"And that's when I knew you would be trouble, not because you would analyze us, but because I already knew you had me intrigued."

"You think he's okay? It's weird that he just called Kate out of the blue, right?"

"Yes, but knowing him, he was calling for a recommendation or reference and lost his nerve after how everything went down."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Come on, there's a burger joint down the block and I think they have milkshakes and ice cream sundaes too." Maya kissed her cheek and beamed with happiness.

"You know the way to my heart." Zeinab giggled and was about to start walking toward the local hamburger joint she went to for lunch once with Carlos, but Maya pulled her back to her.

"By the way, I fell in love with you too. I'm not sure if it was your compassion or wit or ability to be one of the most highly skilled people in the room and still manage to put people at ease, but falling for you was pretty damn easy," she assured before kissing her again. Both blushed and giggled when they pulled apart. Maya locked arms with Zeinab and kissed her cheek.

"Next date, you choose what we do," added Maya.

"How about rock climbing?"

"Best girlfriend ever," giggled Maya.

"Girlfriend, I like that." Zeinab kissed her forehead as they headed toward their destination for burgers, fries, and ice cream. They were practically glowing and excited about where the night would take them.

AN: It was great to finally write a Maya and Zeinab date scene. I hope those that were waiting for it enjoyed it. I also enjoyed domestic Kacy. There's something nice about writing them just at home and at ease with each other after so much drama and angst all season. I hope we get at least a few scenes of that in Season 2.