Author's Note - A couple quick notes to keep me out of trouble: La Vida Loca lyrics are the property of Ricky Martin and Desmond Child. No harm, foul or infringement intended. Feedback feeds the hungry muse. I'll step aside and hope you enjoy!
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By the time the band had started, the three women had their fill of Mexican cuisine and too many mojitos to count. Alex excused herself to the ladies room.
"So, Wanda, you having fun?" Liv asked.
"Yes, actually. This is always a good time, but I'm ashamed to say a little more fun this time. Ben's not much of a partier." She smiled shyly.
"I see." Liv sipped her drink. The band was starting to play a conga song and Doug was leading the conga line right past their table.
"C'mon girls! As the hosts, we order you off your seats and in to the conga line." Doug shouted as they kicked and danced their way around.
Liv smiled and shrugged. "Shall we?"
Wanda laughed and stood. "C'mon detective. Let's conga!"
Wanda got in line first and Olivia placed her hands on the petite woman's hips as the line processed with much festivity.
The band played a conga medley. Halfway through, "Hot, Hot, Hot" Alex reappeared. She laughed as Liv bounced and kicked in line with the others. She insinuated herself in to the line behind Liv. "Hey, baby."
"Hi yourself." Liv called over her shoulder. They made one more lap around the courtyard before the band's big finish and everyone clapped. The women returned to their seats.
"That was fun." Liv said as she sat.
"Yes, it was." Wanda smiled. "Anyone need another drink?"
Liv tilted her head in consideration. "What do you think, Alex?"
"I guess one more couldn't hurt." Alex grinned at Olivia.
"I'll be right back then." Wanda walked over to the bar.
"She's got a crush on you, you know." Alex offered placing her hand on Liv's knee.
"Sure she does." She shook her head. "She's just being friendly and having a nice time." Liv leaned in and kissed Alex's lips.
The alcohol clouding Alex's better judgment, she opened her mouth and deepened the kiss as her hand slowly inched its way up Liv's thigh.
"Ah hem." Wanda coughed. "Get a room." She placed the drinks on the table and stuck her tongue out as the two women separated.
"Jealous?" Alex spat playfully.
"That I don't have someone to make out with? Yes." Wanda slumped down in her seat.
As the next song began, Liv leaned in and whispered something to Alex. Alex nodded in response. "Let's take your mind off it. May I have this dance, Wanda?" Liv stood and offered Wanda her arm.
"Are you kidding me?" Wanda sipped her mojito. "I'm lucky Alex didn't rip my arms off and beat me with them for conga-ing with you. We dance to La Vida Loca, she'll shoot me...or worse."
"I've already cleared it with her. C'mon." Liv smiled warmly at her new friend.
"Ok, but you asked for it." Wanda stood up and took Liv's arm. "Thanks, Alex."
Alex lifted her drink in a toast as she watched her girlfriend lead the shorter brunette to the dance floor. They whispered to each other on the way. Both women were smiling.
The singer began to sing about the time the women hit the floor:
"She's in to superstition. Black cats and voo doo dolls." Olivia took Wanda's hand and spun her away from her. Wanda let go of Olivia's hand and danced back up to her. "I feel a premonition, that girl's gonna make me fall. She's in to new sensations. New kicks in the candlelight. She's got a new addiction for every day and night."
Alex giggled as she continued sipping her drink and watching with an almost voyeuristic thrill as her girlfriend slunk around the dance floor with another woman. Olivia was a good dancer...which wasn't surprising.
"She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain. She'll make you live her crazy life; she'll take away your pain. Like a bullet through the brain. COME ON!" With a big flare, Olivia grabbed both Wanda's hands and spun her to her and away several times in rhythm with the chorus.
"Upside, inside out she's livin la vida loca
She'll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca
Her lips are devil red and her skin's the color mocha
She will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On!
Livin la vida loca, Come on!
She's livin la vida loca."
Wanda was holding her own, as well. Both women were laughing now and having a blast. Alex drained her drink and smirked. She wondered inwardly how the crowd would react to Olivia twirling two women sensually about the dance floor to the current song. There was one way to find out. She slid her chair back and stood up.
"Woke up in New York City in a funky cheap hotel
She took my heart and she took my money
She must've slipped me a sleeping pill
She never drinks the water and makes you order French Champagne
Once you've had a taste of her you'll never be the same
Yeah, she'll make you go insane."
Alex strode to the dance floor carefully calculating how she would insinuate herself in to the dancing between Olivia and Wanda. A twinkle was present in her glacier blue eyes, she walked up to Olivia as she spun Wanda away and mock slapped her face, twice. Olivia grinned widely and nodded.
As Alex turned away to 'walk off in a huff' Olivia grabbed her hand and spun her back towards her. Then just as quickly spun her away.
"Upside, inside out she's livin la vida loca
She'll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca
Her lips are devil red and her skin's the color mocha
She will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On!
Livin la vida loca, come on!
She's livin la vida loca."
As Alex spun away, she crossed paths with Wanda, put out her arms to stop her mid stream and danced with her a bit as Olivia watched playfully.
"She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain.
She'll make you live her crazy life
But she'll take away your pain like a bullet to your brain. Come On!"
As the women danced, a circle formed around them of applauding, hooting and hollering party guests. All were at least amused by the mock drama on display. Alex put her hand on Wanda's shoulder and whispered something. Wanda nodded.
"Upside, inside out she's livin la vida loca
She'll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca
Her lips are devil red and her skin's the color mocha
She will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On!
Livin la vida loca, come on!
She's livin la vida loca."
Olivia braced herself for whatever the ladies were planning next as she continued to dance and watch the women moving together.
As the big finish of the song approached, both women spun in to Olivia's arms. Olivia spun them both back out and then...
"Livin' la vida loca
Livin' la vida loca
Come on come on come on
La vida loca
Come on come on come on
La vie!"
Liv gave each woman a firm yank so that at the final chord of the song, both women were spun in and draped over her arms and legs.
Huge applause broke out; including some catcalls and whistles from the band. The three giggling women took a few bows and headed back to the table.
"Here are some waters, ladies." Uncle Mort sidled up to the table with the drinks. "If you don't need cooling off, I know some party guests who do now!" He winked and wandered off.
"That was a lot of fun. Thanks, Olivia...and Alex." Wanda hadn't stopped smiling.
"Any time. That was a blast. You're pretty good." Olivia grinned and grabbed a water. She took a napkin and wiped her brow.
"It was fun. You guys are both really good dancers. Although I think the mojitos might have removed a few inhibitions, I think we did pretty well as a group." Alex added taking a water as well.
"Yeah, the wet dream team." Junior commented as he walked up. "Nice job ladies."
"Jealous, Juni?" Alex teased.
"Naw, got my own hottie...and one's more than enough. Ben'll be sorry he missed the show, though." Junior grinned.
"Yeah, well, maybe next time he'll stick around." The smile faded from Wanda's face.
"Sorry to bring it up. Danica and I are calling it a night. See you in the morning. Don't party all night!" He called over his shoulder.
"Good night, Junior." Olivia called.
"We'll try not to be too loud." Alex teased. "Good night."
Uncle Doug came over and placed his hands on Wanda's shoulders. "Ladies, there aren't near enough people on the dance floor now...you're a hard act to follow. Wanda? Dance with your father-in-law?"
She smiled. "An offer I can't refuse." They walked off.
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After dancing to "Smooth" and getting another round of cat calls, hoots and hollers, the new couple exchanged glances and decided it was time to call it a night.
"We're going to call it a night, Wanda. Will you be ok getting yourself to your room?" Alex leaned toward the petite brunette.
Wanda smiled and nodded. "I'll be fine. If you think I'm going to stand between you and the guest house..." she gave Alex a wink and a nudge, "you're mistaken. Have fun and do things that I wouldn't do." She whispered in Alex's ear.
Alex laughed at how forward her cousin was being. "Will do, Wanda."
"Good night, Wanda. I sure did have a lot of fun dancing with you. Maybe we'll do it again next year." Liv stuffed her hands in her pockets and smiled.
"I'd like that very much, detective. I enjoyed myself, too." She reached both her hands over and squeezed each woman's shoulder. "Sweet dreams!" Wanda called as she staggered out of the courtyard.
Olivia snaked her arm around Alex's waist as they walked to the guesthouse. "This has been so much fun, Alex. Thank you for inviting me."
"This is the most fun I've had at one of these in a while, Liv. I think it's the company." She looked down at Olivia who was looking up at her. The look in Olivia's eyes made her knees go weak.
Liv was gazing at Alex, who was framed in golden moonlight. It reflected in her hair and made her look like a mystic moon goddess. Her eyes matched the deep blue of the night sky. "Moonlight suits you, Miss Cabot." Liv whispered softly in her ear.
"Likewise, Detective Benson. Likewise." Alex stopped their strolling and stole a brief but passionate kiss under the stars.
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