A/N: I'm sorry for the cliffhangers...it's just how the plotting worked out. You all will have your answers soon, I promise. :) In the meantime, enjoy...we are getting to the fun parts! I am working hard on the next chapter for you all, with any luck it won't be a long wait. Thank you for all your amazing reviews, they definitely spurred this chapter right along! ;)
Present day...
Sitting down at the table, in the new clothes, Alex suddenly felt very nervous. All eyes seemed to be on her and her every move, it wasn't until Casey's hand took her own that she felt like she could breathe and be normal again. At that moment she realized that only Jane and Abbie seemed to be staring her down, everyone else seemed to be in normal conversation, everyone minus Elle. She seemed to be intently looking everywhere but Alex.
"Okay, well, now that we are all here, lets eat," Bill sighed only to receive a glare from his wife.
"So, Alex, what is it you do?" Laura asked trying to break the ice.
"I build boats," she answered with a smile.
"Alex, owns Finnick Boating," Casey added with a bright smile. She was proud of her fiancés accomplishments, in her eyes there was no reason for Alex to hide.
Bill smiled as he swirled the wine in his glass, Alex couldn't help but notice, it was something Casey had a habit of doing. Clearing his throat, he spoke, "I just read an article on Finnick Boating. You should be very proud of yourself, Alex."
"Thank you," she answered with a little blush, "It is something I take a lot of pride in."
"I am sure it helps to keep your designer clothiers in business too," Jane quipped earning a frown from Laura. "What? I know how much Alex likes to shop?"
Alex looked back at her plate, quickly contemplating how fast she could eat the food provided to her without choking. She was ready for this dinner to be over with, to be home snuggled in bed with Casey. Feeling the redhead's hand on the small of her back, the blonde sat up with strength again. She did to some degree deserve what was being dished at her and she needed to wade it, after all this was for Casey and she deserved the best.
"So, Jane, I hear you are a homicide detective in NYC. How do you like it?" Alex asked hoping to catch the brunette off guard and maybe make them back off.
"Well, it's death all the time, so it's not very pleasant," Jane replied in a very flat tone before taking a large sip of her wine.
"Well, there must be some aspect you enjoy...you stay in the department and choose to work a lot of overtime." Spencer replied in his normal child like inquisitive tone.
Turning her head slowly, as she gave her brother-in-law a look of total disbelief, she snapped, "I like the puzzle aspect, good enough Captain Profiler?"
"I am just saying..." He tried to argue, only to have Elle grab his arm gently.
"Spence, let it go." She whispered to her husband. He looked at her as if he was trying to register how to react. After a few seconds of locking eyes, he just nodded awkwardly and went back to his food.
"Do you know Elliot Stabler by chance? He works Special Victims, he was a friend of mine while I was at Columbia." Alex questioned only to earn a glare of disgust from Abbie.
"You are friends with Elliot?" She asked.
"Yeah, he and his wife Kathy took the same cooking class with me, we hit it off. Anyway, Casey said you worked SVU for a bit, so I thought I'd ask." The blonde explained.
"Yeah, I know him." She mumbled. Alex knew she wanted to say more but was choosing to wait and she didn't like it one bit.
With the minute hand ticking by, the meal progressed without anymore drama, helping Alex to feel more at ease. She decided it was safer to stay quiet and let everyone else talk, which seemed to be working in her favor. Abbie and Jane seemed rather calm for the moment which Alex was grateful for, but also very leery of at the same time.
As Bill and Laura stood to start clearing plates, Alex's cell phone chimed with a text. Pulling it from her pocket, Alex looked at the screen and set it down on the table before returning to her conversation with Casey. However, the moment Bill and Laura were out of sight and Casey left to use the restroom, Abbie snatched the phone from the table.
"Excuse me," Alex snapped with her hand reached out for the phone.
"What?" Abbie asked passing the phone quickly to Jane.
"Your phone was in plain sight..." Jane muttered searching through the device. "I have every right to seize it for a search..."
"As her attorney, I concur." Abbie smirked.
Alex let out a sigh, "Are you two serious? You are acting like teenagers. Give me my phone!"
While Abbie and Jane refused to listen, Spencer and Elle sat quiet. Only Spencer would give Alex sympathetic look, one she didn't want considering her past with his wife. Rolling her eyes at the twins, she sat back in her seat unamused with their antics. They wouldn't find anything other than a billion pictures of her, Casey and Max, so they could amuse themselves.
"Who is Amanda? You send her lots of texts..." Jane spat.
"You better not be screwing around on my little sister, Cabot," Abbie snapped.
Feeling her blood boil at the accusation she'd hurt Casey, Alex gritted, "Give me my phone."
"Why does little ole' Mandy want to know when you'll be home?" Jane quipped.
"Jesus Christ! Amanda is her cousin." Elle snapped standing up. "I need some air, I am going for a walk." With that Elle and her husband left the room.
Alex didn't hesitate, she jumped from her chair and ran after the couple, only to be stopped at the doorway, by Jane. "Move," she snapped.
With a cold stern look, Jane spoke, "You'll leave my sister be. You may have brainwashed Casey, but you will go no where near Elle again. Do you hear me?"
"If you'd just let me talk to her," Alex tried only to be cut off.
"I said no. You almost caused her death the first time. I will never let anyone hurt her like that again...especially you." Passing the phone back to Alex, she continued, "Now, get out of my parents house."
"Fine," the blonde muttered. She knew she wouldn't be able to talk to Elle tonight, but she would before the brunette left for Virginia again. She would not let this drag out any longer.
Walking to the kitchen, she found Casey with Bill and Laura. "Baby, I thought maybe we could have everyone over for breakfast tomorrow! Show everyone where we are going to have the wedding, eat a nice breakfast and then we can come back her and watch the parade while we all cook!"
Forcing a smile to her lips, Alex said, "That sounds great, babe. Maybe we should head out now then to get supplies?"
"Good plan!" The redhead replied kissing her parents goodbye and giving her twin sisters hugs.
Bill made his way to Alex while the sisters said goodbye, "Hang in there Kiddo. They are just testing you. Casey loves you, so you have our love and support too." With that, he gave her a hug along with Laura. It was nice to know at least someone other than Casey was happy about her presence.
As they left the house, and made their way to the SUV, Alex couldn't help but look back at the house. It seemed like such a short time ago she was visiting Elle for the first time, sitting on the porch steps laughing about English class while Casey rollerbladed in the driveway. Hearing the brunettes familiar voice, she looked forward and saw her fiancé hugging her sister, before watching her walk on past. Life just couldn't be simple today.
Driving back towards Daniel Island, Casey rambled on, "Well, it was really rocky at first, but I think you made progress at dinner! I really think things will be much better tomorrow!"
Alex didn't have the heart to crush her fiancés hopes. Instead, she decided to be quiet about Jane and Abbie's taunts, eventually they'd have to grow up and stop. Glancing briefly at her, Alex nodded taking her hand, "I think you are right baby. I really do. I just want you to know that I am in it for the long haul. I love you."
"I love you too," Casey beamed placing a quick kiss to her cheek.
Once their shopping was complete, bags unloaded, and dog walked, the couple headed upstairs. As she got ready for bed, Alex couldn't help but watch Casey. The redhead seemed so at ease with everything, which was what Alex wanted, but for some reason it scared her.
What if the sisters antics hurt her? How could she prevent that from happening? Would it be better to tell her? These questions rattled in her head.
"Alex, baby, what is it?" Casey's husky voice cut through her train of thought.
"I was just thinking about stuff..." The blonde mumbled.
"And things?" Casey grinned at their Walking Dead inside joke.
"Things and stuff..." Alex grinned, "Let's go to bed baby, tomorrow will be a long day."
Climbing in bed, and pulling Casey tight, Alex knew just what to do. It was simple. She would do everything it took not to lose the woman she loved.