Disclaimer: Characters are owned and produced by The Disney Channel, That's So Productions, Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment, It's A Laugh Productions and Warren & Rinsler Productions. I am just borrowing them for these stories.

Author's Note: I know. Two weeks is an eternity for me. It is an abomination to the readers of Chrave fics that I have been gone so long, so derelict in my duties, to leave you hanging…

Was that enough melodrama for you? Well let me say I'm sorry and I'm back. Here is Chapter 14.


The L Word

Chapter 14

Lounge Act

Raven and Chelsea pulled apart from their kiss just after Victor walked into the kitchen. Victor paused before doing or saying anything. He had just reconciled with his daughter and assured her that he would be as supportive as possible in her relationship with Chelsea. He knew that his reaction could set the tone for his relationship with his daughter for weeks, months, maybe even years to come.

Raven had her back to the door; therefore Chelsea was the first to see him. She cleared her throat to signal to Raven that someone else was present.

"Dad! I'm sorry! I…" Raven said nervously. The shit's about to hit the fan now. She thought to herself.

"Come on you two!" Victor said with a dramatic and pregnant pause following his exclamation. "You two are playin' tonsil hockey and there are hungry people in the dining room! Now hand me the butter for the rolls and let's eat!" With that Victor turned to walk out, but not before stretching his eyes and exhaling deeply. I think I handled that pretty well, if I say so myself! Victor triumphantly proclaimed to himself as he walked out of the kitchen.

Raven and Chelsea were left in the kitchen dumbfounded.

"Tonsil hockey?" Chelsea asked with a bewildered look.

"What in the hell just happened?" Raven asked with bewilderment equal to Chelsea's.

"I… think your father just passed a major test. He saw us kissing and didn't blink." Chelsea answered. "Come on, we better get back in there."

They grabbed the silverware and linen napkins and started out the door. Raven turned back to Chelsea once more.

"Tonsil hockey?" Raven asked incredulously before walking out to the dining room table.

The six of them settled in for a hearty dinner. Victor had made a little bit of everything; two kinds of lasagna, veggie for Chelsea, meat for everyone else, baked and fried chicken, corn (Raven's favorite vegetable), asparagus with hollandaise sauce, salad, rolls and chocolate cake for dessert.

Near the end of dinner, Victor lamented the fact that school was almost upon them again.

"It's a shame you have to go back Eddie. We were just getting used to you being back." Victor said.

Eddie looked over at Raven and Chelsea then turned toward Gina, who briefly locked eyes with him then dropped her head.

"I know. I love coming home and hate leaving. But I'll be back for thanksgiving." Eddie said.

"Rae, may I use your bathroom." Gina said as she stood up.

"Sure, girl. Down the hall, first door on the left." Raven said.

"Thank you." Gina said. Everyone at the table could see Gina's glassy eyes were foretelling the fall of tears. Eddie stood up to follow her.

"Ed." Chelsea waved to him to sit. "I got it." She then mouthed "It's ok." She stood up and paused, allowing Gina enough time to get into the bathroom and close the door.

"Tell her Eddie." Raven leaned over to him and whispered. "She needs to hear it." Eddie nodded slowly then a smile began to form across his face.

"Rae, I've got an idea. How well do you know your Jay-Z?" Eddie said.

"It's ya boy, Hova." Raven said in her best Jay-Z voice.

"Cool. I'll be right back." Eddie got up from the table and headed out the front door.

Chelsea hung out in the kitchen waiting for Gina to come out of the bathroom. When she heard the door open, she called out to her. Gina came around the corner, where Chelsea waved her over to one of the barstools.

"It's so colorful in this house." Gina remarked. "It reminds me of my grandmother's house. Every room told a different story with its color and texture."

"You haven't seen anything." Chelsea said. "Wait until you see Raven's room. Mother Goose can't tell a story as well as THAT room." Gina laughed and then dropped her head, clutching the tissue she had crumpled in her hand.

"I've never fallen this hard this fast for somebody." Gina said. "I don't want him to go."

"I know, but he'll be back." Chelsea tried to reassure her.

"I just… always find a way to mess up long-distance relationships. I either call too much or not enough. Or I'll send too many e-mails, not enough text messages…"

"Raven and I will not let you mess this up. He lo—" Chelsea caught herself before she told Gina what Eddie wanted to tell her himself. Gina didn't catch her slip. "He likes you a lot."

"Would you think I was totally ridiculous if I told you that I think I love him?" Gina said. Chelsea smiled. "I know its silly. I just met him Monday."

"The first time I met Eddie, we were in third grade. He was walking down the hallway with a walkman in his ears nodding his head to LL Cool J." Chelsea recalled. "I thought he was kind of cute. I had a crush on him for about a week."

"Really?" Gina said with a chuckle.

"He does that to you." Chelsea stated. "I fall in love with him every day, platonically speaking of course. He is one of the best guys out there. So to answer your question, no I don't think you're totally ridiculous to say you're in love with him."

"Should I tell him before he leaves?" Gina asked.

"Do what your heart leads you to do." Chelsea replied.

"Thank you." Gina stood up. Chelsea stood up as well. "You are very sweet." Gina opened her arms and embraced Chelsea. "You are a good friend."

Raven walked into the kitchen. "Feelin' up my girl, huh Melendez?" She joked. Chelsea and Gina released their embrace laughing. "Come into the living room for some after dinner entertainment."

"Cory and The Boys aren't gonna sing are they?" Chelsea asked with an angst-filled look on her face. "If I hear 'Feelin' the Love' one more time, I swear I'm gonna hurl!"

"Cory will not be performing. Come on." Raven said with a smile. Gina and Chelsea followed her into the living room where Victor and Cory were already seated. Eddie was standing.

"Great! Everybody's here." Eddie said. "Tonight, Big-E Productions proudly brings to you some after dinner entertainment… with a special message for someone special." He looked at Gina when he said that. She smiled warmly as she looked up at him. "Assisting me with tonight's entertainment is the lovely and beguiling, Miss Raven Baxter." Everyone applauded and cheered except Cory, who gave her a one-man round of boos. Raven leaned over and slapped him on the side of the head, which made him laugh. Raven took her place beside Eddie.

"Chelsea, would you be so kind as to hit play on the boom box, please?" Raven asked. Chelsea hit play. The Baxter household then filled with the unmistakable opening acoustic guitar chords of Jay-Z's 03 Bonnie and Clyde featuring Beyonce. The only difference was, this was the instrumental version. Jay-Z and Beyonce would not be performing this number, Eddie and Raven would.

(Eddie talking)

Uhh uhh uhh.
You ready B? Let's go get 'em..

(Eddie rapping)

Look for me! Young, B
Cruisin down the westside – (Raven) high, way
Doing what we like to do – (Raven) our, way
Eyes behind shades, this necklace the reason
all of my dates been blind dates
But today, I got my thoroughest girl wit me
I'm mashin the gas, she's grabbin the wheel, it's trippy how hard
She rides with me - the new Bobby and Whitney
Only time we don't speak is during "Sex and the City"…

Gina's eyes widened. Besides the fact that she is a huge Jay-Z fan and any opportunity to listen to his music is a joyous one for her, she, more than anyone in the room, understood the significance of that particular song. She nodded her head to the beat as Eddie continued.

The '03 Bonnie and Clyde, Hov' and B

Chorus
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Raven) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Raven) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.

Eddie's eyes never left Gina as he performed. Even though Raven, Chelsea, Cory and Victor were there, this was a private show. This performance was all for Gina.

Eddie was in rare form as he continued on to the second verse. He admitted to his boys back in Philly that he sometimes had trouble following Jay-Z's lyrical flow when he covered his songs. Eddie had no such difficulty this time around. Every word was on beat. Every inflection was perfect. It was as if he were meant to perform this song for this girl at this moment.

The only time you wear Burberry to swim
And I don't have to worry, only worry is him
She do anything necessary for him
And I do anything necessary for her
so don't let the necessary occur, yep!

As they moved into the chorus, Raven readied herself for Beyonce's solo part.

Chorus
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Raven) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Raven) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.

Eddie) Talk to 'em B

Everyone in the room was shocked when another voice overtook Raven's for the solo. It was Gina's.

(Gina singing)

If I was your girlfriend
I'll be there for you, if somebody hurts you
Even if that sombody's me
Yeah-hee (Eddie) Break it down for 'em!
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be
And so I put this on my life
Nobody or nothing will ever come between us
And I promise I'll give my life
my love and my trust if you was my boyfriend
Put this on my life
The air that I breathe in, all that I believe in
I promise I'll give my life
my love and my trust if you was my boyfriend

This time, when the chorus came around, it was Gina who sang it with Eddie.

Chorus
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Gina) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.
(Eddie) All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
(Gina) Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.

(Eddie) Look for me!

When they finished, everybody applauded and cheered. They all stood up and hugged Eddie, Gina and Raven and exchanged high fives and handshakes.

"Girl, I did not know you could blow like that!" Raven said to Gina.

"You need to sing more often!" Chelsea said.

"I only sing like that when I'm…" Gina looked at Eddie. "Motivated."

"I knew you had it in you." Eddie said softly as he embraced her. "Let me talk to you for a minute." Eddie took Gina by the hand and led her into the kitchen on the way to their destination – the back yard. The others waited until they heard the backdoor close and then they scrambled into the kitchen.

"The song pretty much said what I wanted to say to you, but I still want to say it myself." Eddie started. "I've only know you for five days, but these have been the happiest five days of my life. And it really sucks that I have to go back to Philadelphia tomorrow. But before I do I need to say something to you. And I hope you understand."

"Okay." Gina said, looking down at her hands in his.

"Gina… I love you." Eddie said and then paused to see her reaction. Gina smiled with a quivering lip. A single tear fell. "And I would love to go back to Philadelphia tomorrow knowing that when I come back for Thanksgiving, I'll have a girlfriend… to come back home to."

Gina started wiping her tears away as she chuckled. "So… you want me to get Raven and Chelsea to help me find you one?" Gina laughed as she continued to wipe her tears. Eddie smiled. "I would love to be that girlfriend you come home to." Gina reached up and hugged Eddie around the neck. "I love you too." Gina said. Eddie picked her up and kissed her. At the moment Eddie touched Gina's lips with his own, screams of delight could be heard from inside the Baxter house.

Eddie and Gina broke their kiss, touched foreheads and chuckled. "You and I really need to get a privacy screen, you know that?" Gina said before planting one more peck on Eddie.

"Like I told you before, they are always looking for a show." Eddie said. "Let's go back inside."

"K." Gina said sweetly as she took his hand and trailed him as they walked back toward the house.


Chapter 15 of this story is up next after these messages and a word from your local station. You are reading exclusive coverage of Triple L's The L Word in the That's So Raven fandom here on Fan Fiction dot net. PLEASE REVIEW.