A/N: Let's spend some more time with our girls, as I'm sure you all wanted more after the last chapter.

Mia knocked softly on the door, peering back to the sleeping form of Alice.

"Mom? Mom?"

The tan girl sighed and knocked a bit louder. A few seconds later, the adjourning door opened a crack, and Tori poked her head out. Even though she had just woken up and was thirstier than hell, the woman could see something was troubling her daughter.

"Sweetheart," she whispered in a raspy voice. "What's wrong?"

"Can I come in?" Mia asked.

"It's cool!" came a yawning Jade. "We're decent."

Mia quietly shuffled into the adults' room and closed the door behind her. Jade sat up, shaking her head while Tori sat beside her. The teen scratched her arm as she sat on the edge of the bed, facing both of them.

"What's going on?" Jade asked her.

"Um...it's Alice. Last night...I don't feel right about...it was kind of a secret."

The former goth's eyebrow lifted. She remembered the best friend was a gatekeeper of trusted information. Jade believed that her daughter would come to her if it were serious, but Tori had that same confidence in Mia. Tori instinctively put her arm around Jade.

"Mia...I know this isn't easy," Tori started. "But if someone you care about is in trouble, you have a responsibility to..."

"She's not in trouble!" Mia interrupted with an apologetic face. "Sorry, I mean. She's pretty sad and I can't say I blame her."

The mothers exchanged looks.

"What happened, Mia?"

The girl breathed in and held it for a moment before letting it go.

"You remember Becky?"

Jade pointed in recollection. "Yeah, that girl from the play."

Tori nodded, "Right. I saw her at the beach and the party I think."

Mia nodded emphatically.

"Yeah, her. Well...oh...Alice told me the other day that she..." she shut her eyes and rapid-fire said the rest. "She wanted to ask Becky out!"

The ladies had an inkling that was the case ever since the luncheon with Alice's friends. The vibe they were getting from the teenage girl was not putting their minds at ease.

"I take it didn't go well?" Tori winced.

Mia shook her head solemnly.

Jade held her heart and frowned.

"She...um...told me that she asked Becky out and she just sat there and laughed at her. Then Becky hung up."

A tear escaped Jade's eye and cascaded down her pale cheek.

(My poor baby! She just had her little heart broken in the worst way. After I had that bitch in MY house!)

"I'll kill her," Jade growled. She looked like she was going to rise up and run back to California, but Tori held onto her love. "I'm not gonna really kill her!" she huffed. "Just wanna...cut her face a little."

"No, babe!" protested Tori. "No maiming, no killing."

Mia leaned back with wide eyes. Jade had a mama bear setting, and it wasn't pretty. Despite this, she couldn't stifle a yawn. Tori smirked.

"Why don't you go back to sleep, honey?" she suggested. "We've got a big day tomorrow, so we'll need our rest."

"Okay," the girl nodded. "Just...please don't tell Alice I told you. I only said what I said because...she might be pretty quiet, and I didn't want you two to worry."

Jade noticeably calmed down and stood out of bed only to walk over and hug the teen.

"You've got a big heart, kid!" she sighed. "That's your mother."

Tori tilted her head in appreciation of this display.

"Go get some more sleep, alright?" Jade said, gently holding Mia's chin. "And we won't tell anyone."

Mia nodded, "Thanks."

She retreated back into her room and softly shut the door.

Jade turned to face Tori wearing a frown.

"My baby's heart is broken."

Tori held out her arms to receive her girlfriend who was in the Latina's embrace in a flash. The writer nuzzled her head against Tori's chest, which upon this close of inspection she couldn't ignore how much fuller they were nowadays. Jade felt even better when Tori stroked the back of her hair. Now she understood what the fuss was about. Something about being held against another woman's breasts just calms the nerves.

"Wish I could tell her that things will be okay," Jade admitted. "Hell, she didn't even have her coming out moment and already she's been dumped!"

Tori kissed the top of her head.

"I know," she cooed. "But we promised Mia that we wouldn't rat her out. There's only one thing we can do."

"What?"

"Give the apple of your eye the best birthday!"

She knew all too well what it was like to have a teenage daughter feeling despondent on the eve of her big day. Coming from a long line of quinceañeras, Tori tried to make a production of Mia's fifteenth, but she wasn't having it. Didn't help the birthday girl felt out of sorts in any kind of dress. Tori pondered if any of her friends got married down the line, would Mia request that she wear a suit with the appropriately colored cummerbund and tie versus a whole gown in that color.

Alice's birthday would be big, as described by Jade, but not nearly as elaborate with the fancy dressing up and dancing. But Tori saw a girl's fifteenth birthday as something sacred and she will be damned if anything goes wrong. She's a good kid and deserves a good time, which hopefully will take her mind off this recent bad news. Tori didn't really imagine having another child since Mia but now that she was with Jade, the principal couldn't think of her life without Alice. The girl was an angel, and she would protect her as intensely as her own blood.

Having their fill of airlines for the time being the gang took the Amtrak to Boston. It was a pleasant four-hour ride where the scenic beauty of Connecticut and Rhode Island were a welcome change from the man-made wonders of New York City. The air was probably superior here, probably even than the air back home. These parts don't appear to have a smog problem. Tori leaned against the window, holding Jade's hand while the former goth scrolled through her phone reading an article.

(Maybe Christmas wouldn't be so bad out here. I've never really experienced the snow.)

"I bet it's beautiful here," she mused out loud.

"You bet what is beautiful?" Jade asked.

"You know," Tori shrugged. "New England in the winter must be gorgeous. I've only seen pictures but..."

Jade put down her phone and smiled at her. Now she wanted to look outside, too. Which meant Jade needed to cozy up closer so they could share the view. The train car was air conditioned, but the sunshine was beating down on their side, so they were in the crosshairs of its warmth.

"As long as you bundle up, it's pretty nice."

"It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you..." the Latina gently sang for just the two of them.

"That sounds amazing," Jade agreed.

Both ladies were thinking of a wooden cart being pulled by a couple of massive Clydesdale horses. It had started to snow, and they were safe under the thick blanket they brought along. The gloves they wore were just right, keeping their hands toasty while allowing the dexterity to hold their hot beverages. Tori had hot cocoa and Jade had coffee, naturally. But feeling festive, Jade allowed Tori to put some of her marshmallows into her cup. They both sipped their refreshments through the plastic lids, the right temperature to warm up their insides but not to burn their tongues. Where were the girls? Back at the house, probably snooping for presents.

"You bet your sexy ass we're spending Christmas together next time, Vega!"

"I'll gladly take that bet," Tori grinned.

After arriving in Boston, they took a shuttle from the train station to the townhouse Jade had found.

It was even more beautiful than the pictures showed. There was a simple porch, complete with a swing. On the opposite side of the front was a big bay window, which showed off just how much natural light this house got. Tori and Jade went through the door and were amazed. Blue wallpaper in the living room, red in the dining room and green in the kitchen. That touch gave all of the key areas of the place a cozy feel that was unique. The green brings to mind cooking vegetables and using spices. The blue was light and inviting, the best first impression for visitors. And the red by contrast was a darker tone, more intimate, which suited the table where family and friends would break bread.

This building was reminiscent of the brownstone back in New York, but it was very New England architecture. People think that a home out here was strictly colonial style, but the Boston area had more variety than that. Alice looked around with an expressionless face, finding a red velvet couch to sit on. She kicked off her shoes and put her feet up.

"You like that?" Tori asked.

The short girl closed her eyes and nodded. She slept much of the train ride and now she was looking for a place to nap. The Latina shrugged, pointing to a creme colored Afghan on the back of the couch.

"Grab that if you get cold, okay sweetie?"

Jade came up behind her and squeezed her arm gently.

"Already out. That's how you know it's a good couch."

Tori smirked and kissed Jade's shoulder.

"IS THAT A POOL?"

Mia ran past the moms and went straight for the backyard. The women laughed as they slowly followed her.

"GUYS, YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!"

Walking through the glass French doors, the yard had a sizable in-ground pool, as well as a smaller in-ground jacuzzi. To the left there were an entire area to entertain, a big table and bench-style seating all made of stone. On the opposite side was a BBQ pit, also made of the same light tan stonework. This must have taken a very long time and a lot of money to make. And to top it all off, there were paper lanterns that adorned the area on black wires. The yard was surrounded by a six-foot medium brown wooden fence for total privacy.

"This is awesome!" Mia said, shaking her head. "Did I pack my bathing suit, mom?"

"I... don't think so."

"That's alright," Jade told her. "He can find you something in town."

Tori whispered into her ear.

"I didn't pack mine, either."

"You won't need that for what I have planned."

The woman blushed, fanning herself.

Overtime, everyone brought up their luggage to their respective rooms. This time, Mia and Alice wouldn't have to bunk. Mia liked having a room that felt like a real bedroom, and not a hotel. She relished putting her clothes away in the tall chest of drawers and plugging in her charger behind the nightstand, so her phone can be by her bedside. Mia then took her empty rolling suitcase and put it against a blank spot on the wall.

She wondered if Alice was unpacking like she was. The girl eventually made her way off the red couch and into the kitchen for some water out of the fridge dispenser, where it also made ice. Alice initially refused to eat but took a banana per Jade's insistence. The renter left a bowl of fresh fruit to welcome the tenants, and everything looked good, except for the honeydew. Jade would give Alice her space but will not allow her baby to go hungry. And Tori was determined to not let that delicious produce go to waste.

Wanting to check out more of the abode, Mia bounded down to the living room and looked over the shelf of books. A lot of it were older things like Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare. Mia didn't mind cracking open the occasional book now and then, but this older stuff from well over a century ago felt like English homework.

Mia heard her phone buzz, and she went to check it. She didn't recognize the number, but it was L.A. judging from the area code. Mia was about to ignore it. Then again, that could be her Uncle Miles. The shop did have a landline, and she kept forgetting to get it down in her contacts. Mia sighed as the call ended and the notification faded. Then she saw that this same strange phone number tried calling her two times before.

"What the hell...?" she muttered to herself.

INCOMING CALL...

"Ugh! You again? Alright, fine" she huffed. "Who dis?"

"Mia? Is that you?" came a familiar voice.

"Who's asking?"

"It's Becky."

Mia's breath hitched and her eyes narrowed.

"You!"

The blonde squeaked on the other end. She had to know this was coming, essentially calling Alice's big sister and she wasn't having any of this.

"I don't believe you!" Mia growled. "Alice is the nicest, most selfless person on this stupid planet..."

"Mia, let me explain myself..."

"HELL NO! You're gonna listen to me!"

The teen breathed out sharply and looked around, making sure that last instance of raising her voice didn't attract unwanted attention.

"She was you friend!" Mia shout whispered into the phone. "And this is how you treat her? What you have a problem with her liking girls, is that it?!"

Mia had always been a staunch opponent of homophobia and just about every other prejudice you can name. But that anti-gay sentiment hit especially close to home as she adored her mother and Jade. It was an adjustment as she never saw her with anyone besides her father before. But it had nothing to do with Tori dating another woman. It just worked out that she got to know Jade first and vibed with her as a person, beginning as simply her best friend's mom.

Speaking of which, she was actually low key happy for Alice's revelation. Jade likely would prefer it not take her daughter years and years to understand herself. What do they say? You always want your kids to do better in life than you. And to have Alice's first attempt to embrace her queerness to result in being shot down so horribly, it made Mia see red. She thought she was upset at the assholes in school, or when some tart flirted with Ryan. This was different. Mia felt a surge of rage that only comes out when someone you love (like family) is being harmed.

"I don't give a damn if you're close-minded!" Mia went on. "She can't help being who she is..."

"It isn't like that!" Becky insisted on the verge of crying.

The older girl paused, listening to the blonde sob on the other end.

(She had been blowing up Alice's phone. Maybe she feels remorse? I have to be sure that this isn't a trick!)

"If I have it wrong, then tell me the truth!" she insisted.

Becky sniffed, "The truth?"

"Duh doy, yeah," shrugged Mia.

There was a strong silence for about half a minute before Becky finally said something.

"Last month...I...I shared something very personal with Alice. Because I could trust her. And I can see now why you two are best friends! You care so much for her...I guess I can trust you with this, too."

"Trust me with what?"

Becky sighed before giving it up.

"I honestly didn't know that she felt this way for me, okay? But the only reason Alice thought she COULD ask me out was...because...I am...a lesbian."

Mia let that sink in as she leaned against the sky-blue wallpaper.

"Oh..."

"Really? That's all you can say is OH?"

"I don't know!" Mia threw up her free hand. "Gay, straight, all of it, none of it, I don't give a shit!"

"Wow," Becky cleared her throat and almost transitioned into a soft chuckle. "Too bad the whole world isn't like you."

"Don't wish that. The world is pretty fucked as it is."

Mia's head was spinning, not anticipating this conversation when she woke up this morning. She opted to sit in the bay window. She waved at Tori, who was taking pictures outside. The thumping around upstairs alerted her where Jade was at.

"Okay, so you're gay but what's your deal? Are you a closeted self-loather or something? Was that why you turned down Alice?"

"Closeted? Working on it. Self-loathing? No way. Reject Alice? I would never!"

Mia sighed, mentally strapping herself in.

"Alright, blondie. Spill the tea already."

The younger girl was sprawled on her bed, regarding the ceiling fan.

"They're not voice activated; you know."

Alice turned her head to see Mia standing in the doorway.

"Gotta pull the little string."

She just made a noise in the back of her throat, barely anything resembling a chuckle.

"Where were you?" Alice asked. "Exploring?"

Mia shook her head and sat beside her.

"Been tied up on the phone. Conversation took longer than expected."

"Oh..." Alice breathed. "Are you and Ryan okay?"

The tan girl smacked the side of her head.

"Right, I gotta call Ryan today."

"Then who were talking to?" Alice asked.

Mia handed Alice her cell, which was already dialing.

"Please don't be upset, but someone really needs to talk to you."

She raised an eyebrow and accepted the phone, curious why the older girl was being so coy. Alice put it to her ear as the ringing sounds stopped.

"Alice? Alice!" Becky sounded like she was running, her voice was so tense.

"Yeah," sighed the pale girl.

"Listen, Alice PLEASE! Let me explain!"

She looked up to Mia who nodded with encouragement. Alice reluctantly stayed to hear her out. She might not have if it weren't for Mia.

"What do you want, Becky?"

Mia winced at that, sounding so uncharacteristic of Alice. She was still harboring plenty of hurt from last night.

"First of all, Alice, I didn't hang up on you last night. We lost the connection, and I couldn't get you back. I. DIDN'T. HANG. UP!"

The girl thought back to her phone. The apps were having a hard time refreshing this morning. Perhaps there really was a network issue because she was connected to the hotel Wi-Fi at the time. None was offered on the train, and she was in "Do Not Disturb" mode because she was still didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

Fresh tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she wiped them. Mia silently gestured if Alice wanted her to leave. The short one was hesitant. The last time they were left alone, the conversation didn't end well. But it would be too much to have this talk with a third party in the room, as emotions were going to run high, so Alice covered the receiver and whispered to Mia that she was okay to leave her. Mia nodded and shut the door behind her.

"Alice, are you still there?"

"I'm here!" she answered promptly. "Just tell me what you want to tell me. I'm tired...didn't sleep very well."

She could hear the other girl sniffing over the phone.

"I'm so sorry, Alice!" Becky's voice fragile. "It wasn't my intention to hurt you. What you told me was so unbelievable...you should really see it from my perspective."

Alice shot up, nearly falling over from sitting up so fast.

"WHAT PERPSECTIVE, BECKY!? In what reality is me pouring my heart out funny? Just say I'm too late, or you don't think of me that way, ANYTHING ELSE!"

Becky suppressed her cries as best she could to not lose control of her breathing. Not again. She needed to be able to say this and if she doesn't, Alice might not give her many opportunities to do so.

"I wasn't laughing because I thought you liking me was dumb. I was laughing because hearing that you liked me was a relief!"

"What? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Remember that night at the beach?"

"Fourth of July," Alice shrugged. "I remember."

The girl checked the phone screen to make sure that she was indeed still on the line with Becky. The blonde was so quiet that it unnerved her. This was why she preferred doing deep conversations in person. Alice didn't trust technology with complex human matters, like emotions.

"The reason I laughed was because it was so ironic what you said. That girl I told you about, the one I really liked but wasn't sure she felt the same way...was you, Alice."

She flopped back onto the bed; her eyes grew wide with shock.

"I can't believe I just said that!" Becky shakily added.

"I can't believe I just heard that!" Alice admitted. "Why did you lie?"

Becky coughed on the other end.

"Trust me, I was going to tell you. When I got up and went about my routine, I decided that night would be the night. But...I chickened out! So, I made up some girl to see what it would be like to say those things to your face. And it...kind of worked. I felt so much better getting that all out. Just one problem...you didn't know those words were meant for you!"

BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM

Alice rolled onto her side, her back to the door and her eyes fixed on the window overlooking the green trees.

"Are you telling this whole time I was worried some lucky girl had your affections..."

"You're the lucky girl, Alice" Becky chuckled. "I've always liked you and because of you I could face who I am. But once I realized I was gay, nobody I could think of compared to you. Then I got depressed for a while, thinking you being in a relationship with me was a long shot."

"You weren't sure she liked girls or could like a girl..." Alice trailed off, gnawing on her thumb.

Becky sighed.

"Exactly! You knew my deal, but I didn't know yours."

"Haven't given it much thought," Alice said. "I guess I... have no deal. No, that would make me ace, wouldn't it? I dunno...replaying that night in my head, looking into your eyes while you told me these things...I felt shivers. Boys have done that before, but a girl never did before you. And I really liked it."

"Can we...um...forget about the night before and start over?"

Alice rubbed her neck, making sure her heart wasn't trying to escape.

"I'd like that."

"Well...since I started this by confessing to you incognito, then would you mind if I asked you the question this time?"

"O-O-Ok-kk-ay..."

"Alice...will you go out with me?"

"WAAAHHH!"

THUD

The girl didn't realize just how close to the edge she was and fell straight to the hardwood floor below. There was a rug that the bed sat on top of, but it did very little to cushion the impact. Alice groaned as she held her forehead and then scrambled for her phone, hoping they didn't lose connection.

"Are you alright?" Becky asked with worry.

"Uh-huh!" Alice replied. "Just being a total klutz."

"Did you hear the question?"

"I did," Alice nodded. "I just...could you say it again?"

Becky uttered a very pleased, serene sound.

"Alice Doyle, will you go out with me?"

"YES!"

"Really?" the blonde asked excitedly. "You will?"

Alice covered her face, biting her lip.

"Of course!" she iterated.

"Okay!"

She sat in silence for a minute, as apparently Becky was doing the same.

"What happens now?"

"I...I don't know," Becky admitted. "Never had a girlfriend before."

"Same," Alice grinned.

A/N: You know me! Two things I love but cannot stand when they are dragged out: cliffhangers and misunderstandings. As a writer, I refuse to keep you on the hook for more than a few days. And yes, misunderstandings do happen in real life. But I hate it in stories where a simple error never gets addressed and the characters go days or longer without communicating once. In this day and age, that shouldn't happen. It would have been unrealistic if Becky wasn't trying to contact Alice to clear the air. And maybe someone else would not let Becky get a word in, but that isn't Alice's nature.

We have a new official canon romance in this universe! S.K. Rowling dubbed it "Becklice." What do you guys think? Probably the better one because "Alick" just sounds wrong.