As she prepares to leave, Merida hears the doorbell ring and rolls her eyes, already imagining that she would be late for her appointment. Then, walking to the kitchen, she looks at the small intercom screen and sees a woman from the back.
— Yeah?!
— Merida?! It's Alexandra... — Alexandra Cabot's voice sounds a little weak on the other side.
— Oh! — the redhead exclaims confused and, after pressing the button to open the door, she steps forward to the living room, watching Thunder lying on the sofa face up. — Did she come to see you, boy?! I just hope she won't be long, or I'll be late for the show.
As soon as she sees the beautiful blonde woman entering, Merida observes Alexandra Cabot holding a small suitcase in her hands. The two look at each other for a few seconds, when the redhead closes the door and, turning her body ready to smile, sees the blonde throwing things down.
Before she says anything, Merida is hugged by Alexandra, who hides your face in her neck. Feeling surprised by that and not knowing what to do, Merida asks in a loving way:
— Is everything okay?
Immediately, Thunder jumps excitedly on the prosecutor's legs, who lovingly caresses him.
— I just wanted a place to spend the weekend... I can't stand being in that house anymore, looking at her and seeing my daughter dead in her arms! — Alexandra exclaims crying tiredly and Merida raises her chin to look into her blue eyes.
— What are you telling me, Alex?
Looking deep into the Welsh's green eyes, Alexandra replies:
— I should have gone to LA with my mother and sister, to spend the weekend, but I couldn't! I don't want to hear everything they keep saying to me over and over! They say that I must get divorced, that my marriage is already broke and things like that! But they don't know how I really feel! — she grabs the collar of the redhead's jacket and keeps her eyes intense. — I didn't want to go home either, I didn't want to be in that horror that my life became about living with Olivia. The only place I thought of coming was here, in your house... I'm a closed person and not much of friendships... you're the only person who would be able to understand what I'm going through without judging myself...
In that instant, Merida's eyes widen, noticing the woman in her arms ready to collapse, then, ignoring her cell phone vibrating in her pants pocket, she smirks saying:
— It's okay... stay calm... — the redhead sits down the blonde on the couch and kneels in front of her, stroking her chin. — But first, what do you think about letting Olivia know that you're here and that you need some time alone?
— No! I don't want her to know that I didn't go to LA! — Alexandra exclaims shaking her head and wipes the silly tears from her face. — You will promise me that you won't say anything to Olivia! Please! Promise me!
— What?! — Merida slowly moves away from her and stands, running her hands through her hair. — Alex, you can stay here as long as you think necessary, but Olivia needs to know that. What do you think will happen when she finds out you didn't go to LA and is missing, huh?! Besides, she's my friend and it wouldn't be fair to hide such a thing.
Also standing and approaching Merida, Alexandra replies:
— I have always been a rational, calculating and very reserved person, so I say that I have no close friends, to the point of asking for a favor like that I ask you, Merida. You were the only person who actually talked to me since I lost my daughter and I didn't think twice when I decided to take refuge here... Please, I'm going to talk to Olivia, but not today... not now...
The prosecutor wipes the tears with the back of her hands and smiles in a corner, noticing the redhead's clothes and her well-groomed hair.
— I hindered any possible date, didn't I? — Alexandra questions when pointing to the Welsh as a whole. — I'm sorry for that... I think it was a bad idea to come here... I'm sorry!
Immediately, Merida takes Alexandra by the waist, making her look firmly in her eyes when she says:
— Alexandra, you didn't disturb anything, rest assured! If you're telling me you're going to talk to Olivia tomorrow, I'm more relieved. — the redhead points to the corridor at the end and smiles. — You can feel at ease and stay with my room, because I still don't have a bed in the guest room. I will sleep on the sofa and thus let you relax with my room, which is a suite. — she winks at Alexandra, who looks at her more calmly. — And I just have a show to go, it's a drag queen show. My best friend is a drag queen famous in London and is touring here, so I am going to this concert hall to honor her. Only that!
Gazing curiously at the Welsh and wondering why she always feels a chill when she hears Merida speaking, Alexandra comments:
— I never went to a drag queen show, do you believe me?!
Opening her eyes wide and placing her hands on her hips, Merida asks:
— Never?! I don't believe that, Alex! It is one of the best moments of your life and they are the best people you will ever meet! — she steps up to the blonde's suitcase and nods. — Come on! Change your clothes, because you will go with me to one of the best shows of your entire life!
Alexandra shakes her head, not believing how good she feels around Merida and how hot she makes her feel:
— You are unpredictable, you know?! I don't want to disturb you, Merida. Tomorrow we talk better! Go out with your friends, I don't want to be a burden.
— Stop it, Alexandra, I'm inviting you and I'm sure you desperately need to go out for a little fun. — Merida says as she walks to her room, deposits the suitcase on the bed and returns to the door. — Make yourself comfortable, change your clothes calmly and then go to the living room, I'll be waiting for you there!
Laughing ashamed, Alexandra says:
— That's right... Give me just 20 minutes and I'll meet you in the living room.
Entering the police station, Olivia steps forward to her table and, throwing herself against her chair, sighs heavily at the thought of the conversation she had with Alexandra the day before. Then, looking at the frame on her desk, she smiles when she finds herself there with Alice and Alexandra.
— Could I have done everything differently? Could it be that if I had killed Reeves when I had the chance, maybe he would never have been arrested and thus escaped to take revenge on me?
— Hey, Liv! What are you doing here today? — Tutuola asks when he stops in front of Olivia and slaps a hand on her table. — Aren't you supposed to be off duty?
Shaking her head, fleeing a possible sadness at the thought of her daughter, Olivia strokes the photo and raises her eyes to the man as she replies:
— Yes, I should be home, but as Alex traveled to LA, I thought it best to work and thus occupy the head. You know how I hate being idle and... without her at home, I am alone with Alice's memories.
Folding his arms, Tutuola looks worriedly at his friend and, sighing heavily, says with some fear:
— Liv, don't you think it's time to take Alice's room apart? — Olivia looks at him a little seriously and he continues to speak: — See, this only brings painful memories, instead of being good memories. Keep your daughter's things in a box, dismantle the room and, when you feel you have overcome some of the pain, you will be able to move Alice's things without hurting so much... Do it for you and for Alexandra, who seems to run away all the time from your house.
At that moment, Olivia feels her friend's words penetrate her ears as if they were hard stones, but true. Yes, she knows she needs to take care of herself and her marriage, and needs to hide everything for the time being that makes her think of Alice. Even though it was a short time from the loss, Olivia would very much like to dismantle her daughter's room and thus save herself, and save Alex too, from the pain of memories.
— Yeah... I'll talk to her as soon as she gets back from LA. — Olivia mumbles thoughtfully, feeling that Alexandra's trip is not quite what she said.
As soon as they enter the crowded place, loud music and drinks of all kinds, Alexandra shakes Merida's hand saying:
— Is it always like this?! — the Welsh simply nods and the prosecutor murmurs: — How long have I been in these places...
The moment they almost approach a lively table, a drag queen with blue hair and green eyes exclaims as she stands:
— Aaaahhhhhh, finally our Welsh has just arrived! — she hugs Merida tightly and stares gently at Alexandra. — And I see you came well accompanied!
As soon as they parted, Merida smirks as she says:
— Lilla, this is Alexandra! — Merida introduces the prosecutor, who finds herself exchanging fake kisses with the drag queen. — Alex, this is the wonderful Lilla, one of my friends from London!
— It is a great pleasure to finally meet the new girlfriend of my dear ginger! — Lilla says laughing and winking at the prosecutor. — Wait until the people find out that our ginger is dating, finally!
— What?! — Merida exclaims shaking her head. — She is not my girlfriend, you crazy! She's just a friend! Just it!
Alexandra, trying to understand the games of that drag queen, sees another drag queen approach and exclaim:
— Merida, you bitch! Were you giving a quickie before coming?! — she gives Merida a peck, who embraces her awkwardly.
— Vida Boehm! You are wonderful! — Merida exclaims after exchanging kisses with the drag queen, who points to Alexandra questioning:
— And who would that be?! Any girlfriend?!
— No! She's just a friend! — Merida exclaims again, shaking her head. — And we didn't give a "quickie", you silly! — she puts a hand behind Alexandra's waist and says: — This is Alexandra, a friend.
Eyes wide and laughing, Vida exchanges fake kisses with Alexandra when she says:
— Nice t meet you, dear, I'm Vida Boehm, the best friend of this wonderful doctor here! And my husband is the one over there, see?! — Vida points to the handsome man sitting at the table. — Enjoy the show and welcome to our club!
The prosecutor says nothing, seems a little thoughtful and realizing that the Merida Harris she met is not as serious as she looks and looks at the redhead beside her commenting:
— You are nothing like I imagined, you know?!
Raising an eyebrow, Merida asks smilingly:
— Really?! I bet you thought I was a serious, boring British woman who could only work! Got it?!
Affirming her head, feeling ashamed for thinking the redhead's wrong, Alexandra replies:
— Yes! Oh, I'm sorry, but I had this impression of you! I would never say that you're lively and surrounded by drag queen friends!
Lifting her shoulders and taking Alexandra by the hand, Merida takes her to the table, where there are several people there, who exclaim excitedly:
— Meridaaaaaaaa!
— Now that I finally arrived, the kiki can start! — the doctor exclaims making everyone laugh and Alexandra laughs, shaking her head, feeling something different for Merida.
After the show, Vida joined her friends at the table and watched Alexandra a little less embarrassed and laughing while talking to the other drag queen and sitting very close to Merida, who drinks her third bottle of water.
Then, approaching the Welsh, Vida says:
— Ginger, come with me! I want to get something to drink!
— Ah, ok! — Merida exclaims nodding and looks at Alexandra. — Do you want to drink anything else? I'll get me another water...
Suddenly turning her face and almost kissing the Welsh, Alexandra doesn't respond immediately and feels her body beg for those lips. Is it the fault of the alcohol from the two drinks she had already drunk? Or a possible attraction for Merida that Alexandra has not felt for your own wife for a long time?
— Alex? Want something? — Merida asks again and lightly nudges the tip of the prosecutor's nose, who shakes her head, chasing away her thoughts.
— Ah! It could be another drink, please! — Alexandra responds by squeezing the redhead's chin. — You're so cute, you know?!
Asserting with her head and moving away from the blonde, Merida walks with Vida to the bar.
— Merida, my dear friend, who is this Alexandra, huh?! You seem a little shy around her... — Vida asks as soon as they stop in front of the counter and wait for the barman.
— Oh, Vida, it's a complicated story and I admit I'm a little worried to have brought Alex with me. — Merida comments running a hand through her hair and observes Alexandra laughing with Lilla. — She's Olivia's wife.
— Olivia?! That detective friend of yours,I don't know?! — Vida asks shocked and, as soon as the redhead nods, wags a finger at her. — Ah, Merida, and what is your best friend's wife doing alone with you in this club?! Where's Olivia?! Does she know her wife is with you?
— No, she doesn't know and Alex doesn't want me to tell Olivia.
— Merida, this isn't right! — Vida says worriedly and squeezes the Welsh's chin. — Didn't you notice the way she almost kissed you just now?! This is dangerous, huh?!
— I know! I know, Vida! — Merida exclaims impatiently, and after ordering Alex's drink and water for herself, she returns her gaze to the table, noticing the prosecutor laughing. — But she came to my house, asking to stay there for a few days and crying. How should I have acted?! I still want to call Olivia and tell her where her wife is, but I'm also afraid that Alexandra will be angry with me, saying that I didn't respect her. You see?
With a long sigh, Vida comments:
— I know... but she and Olivia lost their daughter, right?! — Merida says with her head and the drag queen continues to speak: — So, creature, it is more than proven how much she is seeing in you a way out of the pain that is going on, besides being desperately seeking in you an adventure, something that divert her from the pain of loss. You need to call Olivia and tell her where her wife is, Merida.
— Yes, I'll do it tomorrow. I was practically ready to come, when she appeared at my door with a suitcase! What should I have done?! Then, she said she had never come to a drag show... — Merida responds worriedly and, after picking up the drinks, walks with Vida back to the table. — And I have no interest in her, if that's what you're thinking, Vida! She is my best friend's wife and I would never increase her sudden desire for me, especially for the moment she is going through. You know how much Olivia means to me, she's practically a sister and that's why I would never be with Alexandra.
— Great! Great! — Vida comments thoughtfully and, after sitting down at the table, smiles at Alexandra. — Honey, what do you think about having a kiki?!
Looking curiously at the drag queen, Alexandra asks laughing:
— What would be kiki?!
At the same moment, Vida and Lilla get up and, clapping their hands, a very lively song begins to play and they sing animatedly as they pull Alexandra from the chair, making everyone in the room dance and sing along with them.
Dancing with Alexandra and watching her closely, Merida claps her hands as she notices the prosecutor smiling for the first time since meeting her in person. The Welsh feels divided for brief seconds until, winking at Alexandra, she approaches her.
— Come on, Merida! — Alexandra, clearly a little drunk, exclaims, motioning for the Welsh to approach and stretches her arms towards her, biting her lower lip. — Bring that athletic body to dance with me!
Merida just strokes the blonde's cheek and, walking past her leaving her confused, walks to the bathroom. As soon as she enters, the Welsh takes out her cell phone and calls Olivia, who answers on the third ring.
— Speak, Merida!
— Liv, don't ask me anything now, just come to the address I'm going to send you, tell the security guard that you're invited by Vida Boehm and look for me in the right corner of the party. Come now! — Merida says smiling from the corner and, after hanging up, walks out of the bathroom, returning to the table.
The moment Olivia looks at the location of the address indicated, she feels a certain insecurity, but, telling the security officer exactly what Merida had told her, she enters the club realizing that it is a lively place, with loud music and several people dancing, drinking and talking.
— But why the hell would Merida invite me to a place like this? I've interrogated drag queens from here, I'm sure! — Olivia exclaims when trying to pass by the people and, as soon as she reaches the right corner of the place, before seeing Merida, her eyes widen. — Oh!
She sees her Alexandra dancing with a group of drag queens in a lively, free way and laughing as she had not seen Alexandra laugh for a long time. Olivia's heart is beating fast as she smiles, covering her mouth with one hand, not believing that she is seeing her wife finally enjoying herself.
At that moment, feeling more in love than ever with Alexandra, Olivia remains just watching her and managing to breathe calmly, as she hasn't been able to for some time.
— What's up?! I see you like what you see! — Merida asks, laughing lightly when she stands beside the detective and looks at Alexandra.
Affirming with her head, still not believing that her Alex is laughing and having fun, Olivia says:
— Yeah... I LOVE what I see... — she pushes the Welsh by the shoulder in a light and playful way, but without taking her eyes off Alexandra. — Something was telling me that she wasn't in LA... How do you?!...
— Ah, forget it now and enjoy this moment with your wife... — Merida says while patting the detective on the shoulder.
— Hey! — Olivia takes her arm and nods. — Thanks for...
— No need to thank, stay and enjoy this moment! — Merida says winking at the detective and puts her hands in her pants pockets. — I'm going home, because tomorrow I will have a full day at the hospital. Good thing I don't drink anything alcoholic, you know!
Olivia says nothing, just nods and, returning her gaze to Alexandra laughing and dancing, feels that Merida is really her best friend. Before going to that club, the detective had passed in front of the Welsh house and had seen Alexandra's car parked there, so she was just waiting to find out if Merida was cheating on her or not. That's why, with that Welsh attitude of calling Olivia to go to the club and see Alexandra laughing, the detective is sure and with the hope that Merida is her friend and that she would help Olivia get that beautiful smile from the prosecutor back in your day to day.