It was a big adjustment, going from having a dog and a bird to having a kitten in the mix. Sadie finally decided to call the kitten by her given name, as she thought the name was pretty and Joy smiles, knowing that it was a perfect yet unique name for a cat. The kitten loved playing with Victoria's yarn from her knitting box. Victoria had taken up knitting, and it was one of the few things she was good at. She enjoyed knitting scarfs. The kitten enjoyed even laying on one of Victoria's unfinished hats, so she finished it just so Teacup could have a hat. Sadie loved putting the hat on the kitten, but the kitten would always try to bat it off, which made Joy and Victoria laugh.

'Apparently, Teacup isn't a hat girl,' Joy says one night over coffee with Victoria. They went out once a week together, even if it was for an hour or two. Melanie was free, so she was babysitting Sadie.

'I agree. I was considering giving her a sweater too, but Sadie told me she thinks Teacup might try to rip it off.'

Joy almost snorted coffee. 'She really told you that?'

Victoria sips from her cup, and smiles. 'Of course, dear. Seven year old girls say the darndest things.'

They share a mutual laugh, as the girl comes and brings them their second cup.

'Thanks, 'Joy says to the waitress, and then turns to Victoria.

'What has happened to us? Three years ago, we were different. But look at us now, we're together, we've got ourselves our own place, we have a daughter, and three animals.'

Victoria smiles, touching Joy's hand. 'We woke up one day and decided that we loved each other, and that we no longer could hold back our feelings.'

Joy grasps her hand, and squeezes it gently. 'I love you more and more each day.'

Victoria smiles sweetly, knowing that Joy truly was the best thing that ever happened to her. She had someone who loved her for her, and someone she could come to when she felt sad or down, Joy would always find something to cheer her up.

'I love you too, babe, and I mean it.' She fishes in her jacket pocket, to find a small ring box. Pulling out the box, she opens it, revealing a beautiful band, encrusted with small diamonds.

'I bought us commitment rings. Think we're ready for committing to each other? '

Joy gasps, taking the ring in the palm of her hand. She admires it, and checks for an inscription. Sure enough, there was. It was engraved, 'My princess'

Breath taken, she says, breathily, 'It's so beautiful. And yes, I think it's time we were a committed couple.' She holds out the ring, and Victoria takes it, then slipping it on Joy's ring finger. Taking the other ring out, she holds it out to Joy.

'Put it on my finger, won't you, my lady?'

Joy slips the ring on Victoria's ring finger.

They sit there and admire the rings, excited that they finally took the step and got rings. Joy and Victoria were symbolizing the commitment to each other and Sadie.

Joy gets up, and slips a twenty in the folder with the bill. She and Victoria walk out, holding hands as they headed to the car to head home.

When arriving home, they find Sadie asleep on Melanie's lap, the TV on, and Teacup sleeping next to Grammy.

The noise of the door shutting woke Melanie up, and she smiled when she saw Joy and Victoria.

'Hey guys, Sadie's asleep. We had dinner, and then watched a kid's film. She fell asleep halfway through. How was your night?'

Joy smiled, 'It was great, fantastic actually. Victoria and I went out for coffee, and she presented me with a commitment ring.'

Melanie did her best to keep herself quiet, as to not wake Sadie who was still sleeping soundly on her lap.

'That is amazing! Congratulations!'

Joy tapped Sadie gently on the shoulder.

'Sade, honey…its well past your bedtime. Why don't you go to bed, and mommy will be there shortly to tuck you in, alright?'

Sadie yawns and heads to her room, Teacup following her. Grammy opened one eyelid, and then quickly went back to sleep.

Joy excuses herself, and says, 'Anyone want some tea?'

Mel shakes her head no. 'I'm good, Joy.'

'Tori, would you like some tea, honey?'

Victoria thinks for a moment, then says, 'Sure, babe.'

Joy smiles as she pours water into the kettle to boil. Her mother bought Victoria and Joy a tea kettle as a housewarming gift, because she knew Victoria and Joy both loved tea, which is when they weren't drinking coffee.

Joy's mother approved of Victoria; she felt Victoria was stable, and good for her daughter to be around. Her mother wasn't surprised at the confession Joy made to her over video chat, she actually seemed to have taken the news as well as she was expected to by Joy. Victoria never really told her father, because, she didn't see the need to. She had had relationships with other women prior to Joy. They were short flings though. Joy's mom was like a second mother to Victoria—her own mother never saw her after she and her father divorced, and Joy's mother was the closest to her mother that Victoria had. She liked Joy's mother more than Mel's…Melanie's was more annoying and such.

Joy and Victoria's favorite thing was to Skype with Joy's mom and they'd chat while having wine. Joy's mother would lecture the two of them or catch Joy up on the goings on of the garden club while Victoria listened. Sometimes, they'd let Sadie chat with her. Joy's mother found her to be a 'pretty, charming little girl' as she told Joy over Skype the one day. Joy was happy her mother was pleased with the fact that she adopted a child, and was raising a child. She knew her mother wasn't probably pleased with her and Victoria being in a relationship, but she seemed to think her mother handled it fairly well. Victoria sensed it one night after they signed off with her mother.

'Do you think your mother hates me?'

Joy took her in her arms. 'I don't think so, why?'

Victoria looked at her emotional, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'I don't know…it's just I get the impression she doesn't like it that we're in a relationship. She doesn't seem to notice how happy we really are together.'

Joy sighed, sipping her wine. 'That's just Mum for you. She loves you, Tori…I think it's a lot like Melanie. Give it time, and she'll warm up to it. She already has said she loves Sadie, so that's a start.'

Victoria falls limp into her arms and Joy hugs her tightly.

'Babe, just give it time, okay? Underneath, I know she loves you just as much as she does me. She's never been much of a person who expresses her feelings.'

Victoria nods, sighing. She was happy with Joy, and wanted to make Joy happy. Victoria only hoped Joy wanted the same. Victoria crawls into Joy's arms and sobs.

'I just want to feel acceptance.'

Joy whispers softly in her ear, 'Babe, I've always loved you. I still love you. Mum's been that way as long as I remember. It's just our parents and their generation.'

Victoria smiles through her tears. Joy strokes her hair gently, and whispers softly, 'I know what would cheer you up, sweetheart.'

Victoria sniffles, and looks up at Joy, 'What would cheer me up?' she emphasizes the 'would,' making Joy smile.

'Let's watch a movie together in bed tonight. I'll let you pick, and we can cuddle.

Victoria grins excitedly, and wipes a few tears from her cheek, 'Babe…cuddling sounds so incredibly nice. Can we just skip the movie, and we can spend time together, me and you?' Joy smiles at the suggestion, knowing that it was ultimately likely it would lead to more. They hadn't been very active in the last week, as work was hectic for Victoria, coming home late after doing research for a news story with the other anchor, or making important phone calls to famous people to come and participate in a telethon or private fundraiser. She had been too tired, and came home most nights, just wanting to slip into bed. Joy grins.

'Sweetheart, let's just see what happens, alright?' She pulls an arm around Victoria's waist, and leads her into their bedroom.