A/N: I am so loving this story! I just had to be honest. It's a fun one to write! I hope you all are loving it too. Thank you for all your reviews and support. :)
One Month Later...
Casey heard Alex open the front door to their home. Running to the top of the stairs, she called down, "Hey, baby, I am in our room painting!"
"Okay, I will be right up sweetie." Alex called up with a sigh. She loved living with Casey, hell she adored Casey, but dealing with Sharon was a daily miserable experience now that she and Casey had moved in together. She truly hoped Casey's mom would come around sooner or later.
Walking up the stairs to their bedroom, she could hear Casey singing along to Taylor Swift. The redhead loved the blonde performing artist, and Alex loved watching Casey sing and dance along. It was a win-win situation.
Entering the room, she heard Casey singing over and over, "Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods? Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet? In the clear yet? Good."
Laughing as the redhead turned and pointed a finger at her, Alex said, "Taylor Swift called, she's looking for a new back up singer and she heard you singing from across town..."
"Get over here and kiss me hello." Casey said firmly as the next song started.
"Yes ma'am." Alex sighed pulling her girlfriend tight into her arms and kissing her. The kiss quickly grew more passionate as hands began to roam. Breaking the kiss, Alex looked around the room, "I like the color. It looks good, easily in your nose." She laughed touching Casey's blue nose.
"You will still love me even if I become the laughing stock of the courthouse?"
"Well, you are my Smurf right?" Alex joked.
"You bet!"
"Good," Alex said picking up the red head and tossing her down on the bed. "I know what I want for dinner..."
"Oh," Casey sighed as she watched Alex undress...
One Week Later...
Walking into her father's home, Alex is taken back by a flood of childhood memories. She can't help but think back to growing up here, making cookies with her mother, to decorating the Christmas tree with her father, to working on school science projects at the kitchen table. This house was full of love, the kind of love that she and Casey already had in their home.
"Dad! I am home!" Alex called out tossing her keys into the center table in the foyer and walking down the hallway to the living room. "Dad!"
"Alex, honey! I'm outside cooking, grab a drink for you and Casey and come on out!" Her father yelled from the grill. Grabbing a beer, Alex walked out to join him.
"Hey Dad," Alex said sitting in a chair near him and putting her feet up.
"Hey, yourself, where's Casey?" Andrew Cabot asked.
"She's running late, she had to push out some motions." She informed her father.
"Ah, I understand. Well, at least I get some one on one time with my favorite girl. So how is the house coming?"
Taking a long swig of her drink, Alex laughs, "Great. We finished the painting two days ago, and have everything mostly unpacked. It really looks beautiful. Very us. I love it and I love Casey. Life seems really perfect Dad."
"Minus the parents?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Her dads fine, although her mother is a real piece of work. I think she is just overly protective. Which I can understand..." Alex says pausing to look up at her Dad, "How do you think Mom would have been?"
"I think she would have loved anyone you brought home, especially Casey. It's not hard to see just how in love you two are, you two light up at the mention of the other one." Andrew says with a smile sitting down next to Alex. "Spill it. You want to say something but are nervous."
"What's my tell?" Alex asked with a laugh.
"Your eyes kiddo."
Taking a breath, Alex quickly asks, "Can I have Mom's ring?"
Andrew takes a sip of his vodka tonic, "Oh...you want to propose?"
"Yes, Dad. I am so in love with her, I know it's quick, but I have never been so sure of something in my life." Alex breathed out.
"Okay, kiddo, on one condition." He started taking a large sip, "You have to ask her parents for her hand. They may say no, but you need to let them know before you ask. It's the proper thing to do and your mother made me ask her parents so I know she'd want you to ask Casey's."
"What if they say no?"
"You just have to ask honey, they very well might, but that doesn't mean you can't ask Casey anyway after. It's a curtesy factor." Andrew assured.
"Deal, I will ask." Alex said giving her dad a long hug.
"Now, let's get that ring before my other favorite girl arrives!" Andrew laughed heading into his his safe, Andrew pulled out his wife Esme's diamond marquis ring and handed it to Alex.
It was a gorgeous ring and Alex could easily remember playing with it on her mother's finger as a child. Watching her father take off his Saint Christopher's medallion and crucifix Alex became puzzled. "What are you doing Dad?"
"Watch baby," Andrew asked as he put the ring on the necklace and fixed it around Alex's neck before tucking it under her shirt. "Now you can carry it with you tonight without Casey knowing. It's how I proposed. Your grandfather wore that necklace through the war and it kept him safe as it has kept me and now will keep you."
"Thank you Dad, but I prefer to keep you safe. So I will give it back to you." Alex said with a smile.
"Don't baby, it was a gift. Keep it safe for me." Andrew said smiling.
"Ok Dad. Thank you" Alex said hugging her Dad close, "I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart. Your mother would be so proud of the woman you have grown into, I know I am."
Before Alex could respond, they heard Casey call out, "Hello! Alex! Andrew! Is anyone home?"
"Your bride to be is here." Andrew laughed as Alex stood and walked out to the terrace.
"Hey baby, my dad was showing me something in the den. How was work?" Alex asked.
"Stressful. Do you want your job back?" Casey laughed taking a swig of Alex's beer, "This was yours right? I assumed the vodka tonic was your dads."
"There she is! My other favorite girl!" Andrew called out to Casey.
"Hey Andrew, sorry I am late." Casey said hugging him.
Alex left her dad and girlfriend joking on the terrace to get Casey a drink. Watching them through the window, she couldn't help but smile. Everything in life seemed almost perfect. Her father loved Casey as much as he loved her. It seemed like life couldn't get any better. If only she could get Sharon to love her now everything would really be perfect. Either way, Alex had Casey and that's all that mattered.
Later that night lying in bed next to Casey, Alex couldn't help but imagine the many different ways she would ask Casey to marry her. She adored Casey and the proposal needed to depict that perfectly. Although, first she had to ask Jack and Sharon. Alex figured she call on them this weekend. She was more nervous about asking for Casey's hand than she'd ever been in court.
"Baby, what's keeping you up?" Casey groggily asked.
"Work," Alex lied.
"Come here," Casey said rolling over and opening her arms to Alex. Alex didn't hesitate she moved in and laid her head on Casey's chest listening to her even breathing and beating heart. It was so calming she could already feel sleep carrying her away.
"I love you Casey." She said as sleep began to take her.
"I love you too, Alex." Casey answered following Alex into dreamland.
Two days later, Alex was stressing about what to wear. She was going to Casey's parents house while Casey was out for lunch with Kim and Serena. Today was the day she would ask for Casey's hand.
Finally settling on a pair of designer jeans and a nice top with heels and a light weight jacket, Alex put on her necklace with the ring and headed out. To say she was nervous was an understatement, she was terrified. She hoped this might change Sharon's opinion of her, maybe this would show Sharon just how much Alex loved Casey.
Pulling up outside of Sharon and Jack's brownstone, Alex got out of the car and shakily walked up the stairs. So far all encounters had failed to change Sharon's opinion of her. What on earth would make her think this would be any different?
Ringing the bell, Alex waited patiently. Seeing Jack she let out a sigh of relief, at least Casey's stepdad liked her. As he opened the door a warm smile spread across his face, "Alex, what brings this pleasure today?"
"Jack, I would love to talk to you and Sharon if possible." Alex said rather quickly. Her nerves were clearly getting the best of her.
"Absolutely, come on in. Sharon and I were just sitting in the living room watching the football game." Jack said still obviously happy to see her. "What can I get you to drink Alex?" He asked as walking to the bar in the living room.
Sharon hearing Alex's name quickly perked up. "Alex, what brings you here, without Casey?"
"Red wine as usual Alex, or would you like a beer for the game?" Jack asked.
"Is Casey okay, Alex?" Sharon continued to question.
"Thank you for the offer Jack, but I am fine right now." Alex answered, "Sharon, I came to speak to you and Jack today."
"About?" Sharon asks as Jack takes a seat next to her.
"Alex please sit," Jack says pointing to the chair next to them as he pauses the game.
Sitting, Alex takes a deep breath. Sharon is giving her the death stare as if daring her to ask for Casey's hand, while Jack just sits happily smiling at her. It amazes her how polar opposite Casey's parents are, Sharon the hard ass and Jack the happy. "Sharon and Jack, I love your daughter. Casey means the world to me, she is my queen and I can't imagine spending a day without her. I love her more than the air I breathe and all I want to do in life is make her happy. I am here today because I want to ask for Casey's hand in marriage. I know it's a bit fast, but I promise to love her for all of eternity."
Sharon's jaw drops at the question, as Jack jumps up from his seat. "Alex that's the best news ever, absolutely yes you can marry Casey!" He exclaims as he pulls Alex out of her seat for a hug.
"No!" Sharon yells. "No, you may not marry my daughter."
Jack turns to Sharon, "Sharon think about what you are saying. Casey loves Alex, and Alex loves Casey. This is genuine love. Do you want to be responsible for Casey not being happy?"
"Fine, but you remember my warning Cabot." Sharon says as she storms off.
Looking at Jack, Alex nods, "I think I got you in the dog house. I am sorry."
"Don't be. You are going to make Casey super happy." Jack says as he leads Alex out of the house. "Congratulations, Alex and welcome to the family."
"Thank you Jack." Alex says as she walks down the stoop.
"And Alex," he calls out as she reaches her car. "Don't worry about Sharon, she will come around."
"Thanks, Jack." Climbing into her car, Alex feels defeated despite Jack's blessing. She doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to cause problems between Casey and her mother, but she doesn't want to let Sharon come between her and Casey.
The drive passes to quickly and soon she finds herself walking into her house. Entering the kitchen she finds Casey chopping up vegetables. She can't help but pause and look at her gorgeous girlfriend. Seeing Casey puts every fear she has to ease, the redhead just seems to have magical powers over her.
"Hey babe, you okay?" Casey asks.
Walking to Casey, Alex takes her in her arms, looking into her eyes she says, "I love you, Casey. Marry me..."
"Yes." Casey blurts out interrupting Alex.
"I wasn't finished!" Alex laughs as she kisses Casey.
Laughing into the kiss, Casey admits, "It doesn't matter, my answer is yes baby, and I love you no matter what, I have been waiting for you to ask. I found the ring on your dads crucifix the other day while you were in the shower."
"You snoop!" Alex jokes.
"If you call putting laundry away snooping then guilty. Next time hide things better." Casey says with a laugh. Kissing Alex, Casey can't help but think all her dreams are coming true...