Despite the impending divorce, the next few days were fairly uneventful for Lilith. She and Frasier both became too swamped with work to even begin the process, so they simply slept in different rooms and tried to avoid each other at all costs. But work was just what Lilith needed—a distraction. Rather than overthinking what her life would soon be like, Lilith could just focus on the lab rats and ordeals, which did, after all, ensure her income and security.
She'd avoided Cheers for the past few nights, knowing that Frasier had likely gone there to rant to his friends about their failed marriage and her sexuality. While Frasier had been kind, she didn't exactly think the folks back at Cheers would be. After all, they were beer-drinking, dart-throwing, most definitely homophobic losers. Or maybe, they'd be nice to her face, and gossip the minute she left the bar.
(She'd certainly taken enough "Oh, thank God it's you, Lilith–I thought I'd seen a ghost!" lines in the past. But she needed to let go of her insecurities and acknowledge the immaturity of the folks at the bar for doing so–or at least that was what her therapist had suggested.)
Instead, about a week after Lilith's confession, she dialed a newly familiar number and listened for a casual hello on the other line.
"Rebecca? It's Lilith."
"Oh, hey Lilith! I haven't seen you in a while, what's up?"
Lilith opened her mouth to speak, pausing for a second as she struggled to find a reason for why she was calling. There wasn't one that came to surface—not a truthful one, at least. She really only wanted to speak with Rebecca. And so, she procured an excuse, or rather, a proposition to go on a date.
"I was wondering if you'd like to get a meal with me again, sometime?"
She ran her spare hand through her messy hair (which was free of its characteristic gel, for once) and braced herself for the answer. Nerves resided in every corner of her body, her stomach tied in knots as she tried to visualize the reaction of the woman on the other line. Lilith grew impatient in her stalled state.
Finally– "Yes!" Rebecca's voice peaked, cracked; Lilith pressed her lips into a smile, taking in the small detail that was so perfect to Rebecca's character. Rebecca cleared her throat, taking on a more solidified, firm tone to say, "Yes. Sure. Just let me know when and where."
Did Rebecca think Lilith had meant the question platonically? Lilith, so filled with nerves, did not push the issue further, instead asking, "Alright, when are you free?"
"I'm free tonight, tomorrow, you name it. They don't exactly need me down at the bar."
"Would you be okay with tomorrow night at seven P.M.? There's a wonderful little restaurant in the North End that I would love to take you to." Lilith asked, her expression rather a statement of fact in comparison to how giddy she felt inside.
"Of course, Lilith."
She decided to wear her hair down with her favorite turtleneck and leather jacket. The more she looked at herself in the mirror, the more she came to the conclusion that she did not look herself. In her own opinion, she was dressed far too casually, but she knew for a fact that this was the very sort of attire that go over well with any self-respecting woman she may date. Yet a part of her felt more comfortable in this ballsy attire than in any of the pretty dresses she had worn previously on dates with Frasier. There was a level of comfort in the leather jacket that she could hide behind. With it on, Lilith felt separated from the professional woman she seemed to be to appear, and instead able to do the unconventional–to date women. For now, she hid it under her coat and decided she would reveal it at the restaurant. She left at six-thirty– right on time.
As Lilith walked, she could not help but wonder what Rebecca would think of her appearance. The lack of definition of their meal as a "date" did not help and only worsened her lingering worries. For goodness' sake, she didn't even know if Rebecca liked women. There was a good chance that Rebecca had zero interest in her romantically. Statistically speaking–no, no, her brain mustn't wander to her research now. She had to cross that bridge when she arrived there. Lilith needed to go into the meal as naturally as possible and hope like hell that Rebecca liked her back.
She turned the corner, and the restaurant was suddenly barely twenty feet away. Rebecca was suddenly barely twenty feet away. Lilith forced herself to take deep breaths, slowing her breathing until it felt relaxed and routine. Routine was exactly what she needed to distract her from the fact that her reality was anything but.
She approached the restaurant, told the waiter she'd arrived, and checked her watch. Five minutes early. She hung her coat, took a seat at a table, and crossed her legs, still retaining good posture despite her more casual appearance. Not a minute later did Rebecca walk in—which took Lilith by surprise. Rebecca, dressed in green, with her hair styled gorgeously. Lilith found herself in awe, but she kept herself together.
"Hello. You look amazing," Lilith stood up and smiled, partially afraid her face would go bright red. Rebecca didn't seem to notice Lilith's awkwardness, instead taking a seat with a large grin (and prompting Lilith to do the same).
"Hi Lilith, so do you," Rebecca's eye contact caught Lilith off guard, and she found herself extremely aware of it. Rebecca was so beautiful; Lilith felt pale in comparison. She became exceedingly aware of every motion she had in her body— or rather, the static-ness of it, and consciously made the decision to be less stiff in order to appear less awkward.
Rebecca began the conversation: "So how are you taking the divorce?"
"It is going better than I had imagined. Frasier is a good man despite how awkward the situation was. He has handled it very well."
"No! no Lilith-" Rebecca placed a hand across the table, grabbing hers. Lilith felt something jump under her skin. "How are you taking it? I've seen Frasier come into Cheers every night—I don't care about him, but, you know, I've been really worried about you, especially before I got that call."
"I suppose I am doing okay. My work has kept me busy. It has honestly been relieving. I feel I have much less to hide," Lilith said. She was completely aware that Rebecca still had her hand on hers. "As a matter of fact, I should let you know, assuming that they have not told you, that I-" She looked around the restaurant, to ensure no one was eavesdropping, and leaned into the table, "I am a homosexual. Or in more basic terms, a lesbian."
Rebecca nodded. "They did tell me that."
She retracted her hand, and Lilith's stomach suddenly clenched in disappointment. Lilith had been aware that her reaction would be unpredictable. For a split second, she was filled with a large sense of dread.
Instead, "Good for you. Honestly, it suits you better than being with Fraise. You look a lot happier, Lilith."
Lilith pursed her lips in a hesitant smile.
"Thank you. You're the first person I've socialized with since Frasier and I's separation. I'm just glad to be here."
The waiter came, and the two each ordered a glass of wine. Lilith then scanned the menu, ultimately deciding on a spinach-ricotta-ravioli dish and side salad which caught her eye immediately. Simple, maybe, but comforting. After a moment of silence, as each woman scanned the menu, Rebecca put hers down and looked at Lilith with a sort of smile the barely settled woman was completely unprepared for.
In defense, discomfort, and panic, Lilith let out a hasty, "What?" which only widened Rebecca's grin.
"Oh, I don't know. It's nice to forget about my crappy life too, and, I guess, to have dinner with another woman after hanging around the bar for so long. It's different."
"I understand. In fact, I feel the same way. You're the first woman I've sat down and had dinner with alone since… since Dorothy, actually. I believe you two have not met yet."
Rebecca shook her head, "No, no I don't think so."
"I think you would like her," Lilith said. She was decided in that— Dorothy was, of course, very similar to her own character. It had been a wonder the two women had gotten along so well, but the clicking of their two personalities had driven their relationship. They had understood each other on a level Lilith was sure she would never see replicated. But Dorothy, in many ways, was a thing of the past. She lived in New York, still, and Lilith hadn't communicated with her in at least a year. I should really give her a call about the divorce.
"She is, in many ways, a kindred spirit to my own," Lilith elaborated, having found herself distracted by the thought momentarily. She took a sip of water.
"Well, if she's half as smart as you, I'm sure I'd love to meet her," Rebecca said with a warm smile. "But Dorothy isn't here, Lilith, and you are. Have I ever told you that, in college, I had a gay phase myself?"
Lilith just about spit out her water, but she caught herself and swallowed. "Really?"
"Yeah, I had a girlfriend under the radar for a moment. But we broke up and I got right back to dating men. Not to say that I didn't like it," Rebecca took a sip of water herself, but her lips were curved into a slight smile.
"So you…"
"Yes, Lilith, I like women too!" Rebecca said quietly. She smiled, hiding back some obvious embarrassment at her admittance. "And I am so happy you asked me out."
A/N:Hey, this chapter was sitting as a draft for ages so I finally took a look at it again. Its been ages since I watched the later seasons of Cheers, and I don't have a Paramount subscription right now so if my characterization of Rebecca feels a little off its because I literally haven't watched an episode with her in a year-plus.
My life has changed an extraordinary amount since I was writing this fic, and I feel I am way more qualified and way less to write it in different ways. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even if it came a year later. Hopefully I'll write the rest of the date soon! ;)