*to confused anon: Karma took Amy to visit her mom at her old house in her old neighborhood. Karma did gift her family a farm but the farm is in a different location (a rural location) and the Ashcroft's did not need to sell their house to keep their free farm so they kept their house since it is where they prefer to reside when they're not overly busy or having an event at the farm. Karma's brother, Zen, is doing a lot of the organizing on the farm and he mostly lives at the farm because he can. In the story I have it known that while Karma is at home with her Mom, her Dad and Zen are at the farm picking things and getting ready to bring crops to the local farmer's market where they earn nothing but profit and adoration from the local community for their award-winning goods.*

*to everyone else: I know these are small details but someone asked so…

Also, this chapter is short but I'm posting CH 29 right after I post this because it's also complete*

Chapter 28

Cozy

Shane called around 10:30. That was the longest he could wait. He had every mind to go find Karma and take her out for a dish session.

Karma sensed that as soon as her phone rang.

"So, you ready to work yet?" He asked.

"Depends," Karma straightened. Amy was making popcorn and they were about to start #2 in the Nightmare on Elm Street series.

Karma was overly interested in Amy's hidden passions and that led them to "favorite films" and then to horror films, and then, of course, to the confession that Karma had only ever seen the very first Nightmare on Elm Street.

Horror movies were hard for Karma. She used to watch the newer ones all the time when she had Liam but ever since he became distant she realized she couldn't watch them alone.

Social justice. A strange beast. To Amy it all seemed connected, her interest in helping others was directly connected to her obsession with TV and film.

Karma's interest in law was only ever a result of her interest in Liam. It was sad to admit but horribly true. If Amy had to describe that she'd relate Karma to Kerri Russell's Felicity. Felicity, the valedictorian, who followed her crush Ben out to the college of his choosing for no other reason than to be close to him. Amy's mom, Farrah, loved that show. Just like she loved Gilmore Girls. She and Amy used to watch things together all the time. All horror aside, Amy was a hopeless romantic.

"I think I might take a week off," Karma teased Shane while focusing her gaze on Amy Raudenfeld who was absentmindedly staring at the microwave and strumming her fingers on the underside of the kitchen counter.

"You do know we'll crumble right? You're the only one of us who has their shit together 100% of the time."

"Yeah well. Something's come up and I want to see how it plays out." Karma was staring at Amy's back from the couch. A week with her couldn't hurt. They'd only had a few days and they were already mending wounds and repairing broken bonds. "Besides," she sighed, turning her eyes away to concentrate a little harder on Shane's voice. "Don't you think it's time you two pulled your weight?"

"Umm.. I was hoping I'd never have to?" Shane teased, being down-right truthful in his own lack of motivation for his job.

"You have Lauren and Theo though and Chad and Gia and Petra and-"

"I know," he said, stopping her. He knew, she knew, having all those other people was not the same as having her. "Karma. You're the case-killer," he pushed. "Not me. Not Petra," he teased. Petra was indignant and more proud of herself than anyone else ever could be so it was fun for all of them to just mention her off hand and use her as a punchline because she lined herself up for that almost constantly.

"Oh Shane. Come on. If I can do it so can you, right?" Karma knew how bad Shane was at turning down a challenge. "Think of this as your turn to shine," she said. "Doesn't it embarrass you that I'm the one the clients and reporters look for now?"

"I know what you're trying to do Karma. It's not going to work," he teased even though he knew he was defeated.

"Where are you?" She asked. It was very loud on his side of things.

"Just that stupid bar near the courthouse. Liam has me buttering up one of his regulars."

"Hmm…"

"You can come down if you want. I'll buy!" He was eager to skip out. One day of just work was one day too many.

"Tempting," she lied.

"Are you with someone?"

"Maybe," Karma bluffed.

"I'll get it out of you eventually."

"I have to go Shane," Karma said. Amy was coming back.

"Karma, please?" He begged. "Just come in tomorrow morning, we can talk about it."

"We'll see," she said. She'd made promises to clients. As much as she needed a break she'd hate to let people down. That would always be her weakness; promises, promises, promises.

"Okay," Shane shrugged.

"Gooood luuuuck," Karma sang.

Amy came back with the popcorn.

"What was that?" She asked, plopping down next to her more-than friend.

"Shane already misses me."

"Cute," Amy teased.

"Not cute," Karma darkened. She took the popcorn from Amy and shoved a handful in her mouth. "He wants me to work."

"Oh," Amy realized. "Yeah. That's annoying."

"I've given too much to that firm."

"Let's quit," Amy smiled.

"Mmm, maybe," Karma stared over at her with intrigue. She really adored when Amy was being purposely cute. And that face was exceptional after all. It was hard not to stare.

"We can drive out to Dallas. I hear they're having auditions for American Idol."

"Oh really?" Karma smiled, her voice rising. That one came out of left-field. She knew Amy wasn't a big fan.

"I mean it, why not?"

The option was right there. Tuesday. Karma knew. The auditions were Tuesday.

"I dunno," Karma said, sobering up. "Maybe we should just see how tomorrow goes." She took Amy's hand and leaned into her so that Amy would be holding her. "Thanks for staying with me."

"Anytime," Amy said, her heart racing at how close Karma was and how much they'd already been through in one day.

The movie was ridiculous. Amy was embarrassed after only a few minutes. She should've picked something better but Karma was glad because it distracted her easily and got her mind somewhere else.

"Okay, this is pretty terrible, right?"

"It's fine," Karma said, hugging an arm around Amy's waist and holding her tight. She had endured so much worse with Liam, it was laughable. Plus, Karma didn't care what they were watching as long as they were together.

"Yeah, I can't do it," Amy said, stopping the film.

"What?" Karma asked.

"What do you like? What do you want to watch?"

"Amy, this is fine," Karma laughed.

"No, I'm serious."

"Okay," Karma shrugged, pushing off of her and fetching the control.

They'd bought the movie off of Karma's Amazon account but money wasn't an issue so switching it up wasn't even a thing.

"What do you think I like?" Karma asked.

"Oh boy," Amy sighed. "You?" she asked, the smile on her face stretching wide.

"Mmhmm," Karma challenged.

"I bet you like those embarrassing hetero rom-coms with the terrible scripts and the horrible acting."

"Hey!" Karma fought. "Say what you really think!" She teased.

Amy wasn't wrong though.

"What?" Amy said. "I like them too. Sometimes."

Karma wasn't sure if this was a lie or not.

"What's your favorite?" She asked.

"Truthfully?"

"Yeah," Karma pushed.

"I like The Holiday."

"The Holiday?" That was as dead-on as a person could get.

"Yeah, Cameron Diaz can't cry. Kate Winslet is this lonely sad person pining away after this jerk. They both have these lives they don't really love. It's perfect. What's not to like?"

"Okay," Karma smiled, staring over at her with this dreamy look.

"Stop," Amy pushed.

"Just didn't figure you for a rom-com fan."

"Kinda hard to be all for something that tricked me into thinking I was 100% straight."

"I guess," Karma sighed. She hadn't really thought about herself and what she was. Since Amy, she hadn't had time. All she knew was that it seemed right.

"What's your favorite?" Amy asked. She didn't like the eyes all on her.

"Mmm," Karma thought. "I can't choose. It's too hard."

"Come on?!" It wasn't fair. "You have to give me something."

"There's not a lot I don't like," Karma smiled. "I like horror movies and sappy movies and old movies, I like everything."

"You have to give me something though," Amy pushed.

"Okay…" Karma thought. "The Princess Bride. I love The Princess Bride."

It was cheating. Everyone loved The Princess Bride. There was nothing embarrassing about confessing this.

"It's very sweet," Amy smiled.

"What?" Amy was staring at her as if she hadn't given enough.

"Nothing," Amy said, turning her eyes back to the tv and waiting for the subject to change.

"No, you want to ask me something, I can tell."

"It's fine, really," Amy tried.

"Amy," Karma asked, pulling on her clothes.

"I just wish I knew everything about you. Is that weird?"

"No, it really isn't," Karma relaxed. She let her hand pull at Amy's side so that she could squeeze her in her arms.

"It's crazy. I know we've only known each other for a few days but all of a sudden I'm actually upset that I don't know you more."

"That's good," Karma sighed. She let her eyes close as she felt Amy's body in her arms.

"I dunno," Amy said, remembering herself. It was all pretty strange and new for her. She was finally beginning to understand what she'd been missing all those years ago in her longest relationship. What she missed was this feeling, this desperation, this want, this need.

"You okay?" Karma leaned back to survey her. She took a hand to Amy's hair and brushed it out of her face so that she could see right into her eyes.

Amy looked sad.

"Almost," she said, trying hard not to be overwhelmed.

"Well," Karma sighed, searching Amy's face and wishing she could help. There were suddenly no words. Karma tried to think of something but her thoughts were taken.

"Well?" Amy asked nervously. She couldn't help but notice the way Karma was staring.

Karma shook her head, realizing how lost she'd just been in Amy's gaze. "What should we watch," she smiled, nearly laughing at how dizzy she'd been just then with wonder. She had to collect herself, remember things, come back down to earth.

"The Holiday," Amy decided. It'd been a while.

"Okay," Karma sighed, happy to have something else to focus on. She pulled it up on Amazon and paid.

As soon as it started she cuddled up to Amy again. The music was so triumphant, Karma had definitely forgotten that much.

Karma got up and turned the lights off. When she cuddled back into Amy this time Amy rest her lips in Karma's hair.

"Thank you," Amy whispered once they were settled again in the dark.

"For what?" Karma asked. She was too comfortable to move. She could already feel her heavy eyes closing as sleep approached.

"Just everything," Amy sighed.

"Stop thinking," Karma laughed, squeezing her tight.

"Okay," Amy smiled. She breathed Karma in and held her tight as the movie played.

Not half-way through the beginning, Karma fell quietly to sleep. Amy kept holding her the whole time.