A/N: Sorry it's taken me a bit to finish this chapter. I have written it, edited it, rewritten it, added, deleted, changed, and finally said, "Post it already you fool!" So, it still doesn't say everything I want it to and for that I am sorry. I've had a lot going on and well it influences my writing greatly. So, well, here it is…
Hopefully, you enjoy it. Presuming all goes well in the dark places of my mind, this little journey is working to a close.
P.S. Yes, I like the Walking Dead. I am that awesome, lol.
Present Day...
Alex paced in front of Donnelly's office. She was a complete mess. Liz needed to hurry up and let her in so she could get this over with already. Alex wanted this over with and was planning on making it super easy. She was going to quit.
Granted this wasn't a well thought out plan, but it would be for the best. She could move to Charleston. She'd buy a house on Daniel Island like she and Casey had dreamed of doing one day. She could get a job as a prosecutor downtown, or maybe she'd go into private law like she and Casey had discussed doing when they had children. She'd love to have children still; maybe she'd adopt a child one day. Would she be good for a child? Having a child by herself as a broken person probably was the worst idea she'd ever had. Maybe she'd eventually get over Casey; probably not. Either way she'd find it much easier to wake up without the redhead if she didn't have to see Casey with someone new. Although, Charleston wasn't really Casey free…the whole town was tainted with memories of loving Casey.
Alex leaned against the wall. Everything was moving so fast. The whole world was spinning to fast. Why had she let her jealously for Andrea cloud her judgment? The blonde haired ex had been nothing but nice to her and had even started dating someone new who she was super happy with! Plus, she and Casey had even double dated with the couple. Hell, Alex considered them her best friends, but she hadn't been able to shake her jealousy. She kept thinking and knowing that Casey would remember what she'd loved about Andrea and would leave Alex to be with her college sweetheart again. It was a sickening sensation. It is what provoked her outburst at the engagement party. She should have been open about her fears so Andrea and Casey could have had a good laugh at her and knocked some sense into her.
The result was losing her best friends and worst of all losing Casey. She could lose everything in the world and still be happy if she had Casey at her side. Now she had her worst fear confirmed…without Casey nothing else mattered.
Right now, her head was flooded with memories. Flooded with memories of her lunch with Andrea and Michonne before proposing, memories of Casey. Furthermore, that song kept running through her head. She knew deep down inside, Casey was taking part of her soul with her, and as bad as it hurt and tore her apart she was okay with that. It had always belonged to Casey so it was hers to have and do as she pleased. She only wanted Casey to be happy.
She only wanted Casey to be happy and loved.
6 Months Earlier...
"Do you think she'll like it?" Alex nervously asked fiddling with the engagement ring.
"Stop fiddling with that ring before you drop it in your soup and give it to me instead," Michonne says in her authoritative tone with a playful grin on her face. Andrea smirks at her girlfriend's strong demeanor. Meanwhile, Alex passes over the ring letting the two women really inspect it.
Alex had been nervous and slightly threatened by the reappearance of Casey's ex to New York City at first, but ever since the ball in February, where Andrea had helped to protect Casey, Alex had been more accepting of hanging out with the blonde ex. She felt bad for Andrea when she and Casey discovered later that night from Andrea, that Andrea met Audrey when she had hired Alex's ex's company to set up her wireless network in her office. Turned out Audrey had been super friendly, and even noticed a picture of a family get together that Casey happened to be in. Andrea had no doubt that she had be completely used and profusely apologized to Casey and Alex.
After that, they'd started getting together once and a while for coffee and sometimes lunch, but when Andrea brought her new girlfriend one day those brief meetings quickly grew into double dates. Andrea's dark skinned lover and now girlfriend really hit it off with Alex quickly earning the title of Alex's best friend. Alex discovered that Michonne and her shared a love for fencing, and they would often spar while Andrea and Casey went to a spin or yoga class. Oddly enough, both Andrea and Michonne had become Alex's best friends all thanks to Casey. It was a nice change especially since Casey's friends still were not welcoming to Alex.
"So it's Cartier..." Michonne says recognizing the 1938 model. The ring was elegant and stately. A two carat single diamond surrounded with microbeaded lined pave set diamonds along the band.
"It screams Casey, Alex. She is going to love it. You completely out did yourself!" Andrea beams.
Michonne bumped Andrea's shoulder with her own, "This one's easily over excitable, so her statement isn't always a fair assessment. I, however, have a 100% trustworthy assessment because I am much harder to please, and I am saying this is awesome! You did really well Cabot."
Alex put the ring back into the keepsake box she'd bought for it. "Good, I am glad you all love it." Alex states before adding, "I am proposing this weekend at Isle of Palms."
"You are!" Both women exclaimed.
"Yes, I can't wait another minute." Alex said with a proud grin. She couldn't wait to propose. She couldn't wait to marry Casey. She couldn't wait for all of their dreams to come true. All she needed to complete hers was to be with Casey.
4 days later, Isle of Palms, Cabot Family Beach House...
Alex awoke to the sounds of Taylor Swift booming up the stairs. Rolling over in bed she was in no way surprised to see her redheaded lover was missing. Smiling she climbed out of bed and headed to the stairs.
On the weekends Casey liked to play music and while cooking breakfast. She had a good idea that is exactly what she would find. Reaching the open landing to the main floor, Alex sat and watched Casey. Mixing spoon in hand, the redhead twirled, leapt and jumped while singing along.
"Say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress,
Staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again
Even if it's just in your (just pretend, just pretend) wildest dreams, oh, ah, in your wildest dreams, oh, ah
Even if it's just in your wildest dreams, oh, ah, in your wildest dreams, ah, ah."
She looked stunning in her torn up boyfriend cut capris, black tank top and messy ponytail. Alex couldn't help but clap. Casey looked up with a goofy grin saying, "Thank you, thank you," while bowing.
Crossing the room to take Casey in her arms, Alex gives the redhead a chaste kiss before holding her tight in her arms and whispering, "I want to remember every moment from today." Casey just hums and nuzzles further into Alex's embrace completely unaware of the depth behind her blonde's statement.
Alex had the whole day planned out. She couldn't wait to propose, to see Casey's face when she saw the ring for the first time. She hoped the redhead would love it as much as Michonne and Andrea thought she would. Mentally laughing to herself, Alex knew if Casey hated it she'd buy her a million rings until she found the right one, that is how crazy she was for the redhead.
Later that evening, Alex and Casey wandered through the little beach town of Isle of Palms. Alex had reserved them a rooftop table at Coconut Joe's, they could eat dinner, listen to the band and watch fireworks. Somewhere in the mix Alex planned on proposing. She figured she would do it while the fireworks were going off. She thought the ring would be look neat in the explosion of light. She had planned ahead and had the ring attached to a long necklace hidden under her shirt.
Hearing Casey laugh hysterically, Alex looked up shaken from her thoughts. Seeing what the redhead was laughing at caused Alex to shake her head in immediate disapproval. "Casey, what do you possibly find funny about a tsunami warning sign?" Alex questioned.
Casey's eyes went wide looking at Alex, wiping her tears from laughter the redhead tries to compose herself enough to explain. "Okay, okay," Casey tries to steady herself to explain, taking a deep steadying breath she says, "Tsunamis aren't funny, this sign is!"
"Casey…" Alex can't even find the words to express what she wants to say she just starts to laugh at the redhead's ridiculousness.
"Seriously Alex, look at it! It's a stick figure man running to a straight cliff with a big giant wave behind him! He doesn't stand a chance. What kind of warning is that? He's a goner." Casey laughs.
Alex just shakes her head and takes Casey's hand. "Where are we going?" Casey asks. Alex smiles and leads Casey out to the beach. Finding an open spot of the beach, Alex pulls the necklace out from her shirt and breaks it free with the ring in her hand as she drops to knee.
Without waiting for Casey to fully realize what was happening, Alex begins, "Casey, you are truly something to behold, elegant and bold, you are electricity running through my soul. You hold a part of my soul Casey. It's yours to have, it has always been yours. I love you Casey Diane Novak. Please make me the happiest woman in the world. Be my wife, my partner in this world for life. I never want to be without you. I want every part of you. I want goofy fun Casey. I want serious hard ass prosecutor Casey. I have never met someone who loved me like you do, all broken parts and whole parts. I love you Casey. I always will. Marry me please."
Casey just stands there looking awestruck, finally she managed to nod her head yes. Watching Alex slip the ring onto her shaky finger and stand to take her in her arms, she managed to whisper, "Yes, I will marry you Alexandra," as she pulled the blonde in for a kiss.