By: Dreiser



The fact that the British helped make the game of tennis into the sport it was today granted the entire country, and its people, an automatic thumbs up of approval from Dana. This was something she didn’t think would ever change because of how much she truly loved her chosen sport and profession.

But then she met Helena Peabody.

To be fair, it should be pointed out that Helena didn’t do anything wrong to incite Dana’s ire. In fact, she had been the portrait of consideration and charm when she appeared with Tina at The Planet this afternoon.

Dana would prefer to claim the reason she disliked Helena was because of her loyalty to Bette. Because of the way Helena flirted with Tina, showing obvious affection for her without the least bit of concern she was seated at the same table as Tina’s former lover of seven years. She would prefer to claim that but she couldn’t.

Not if she wanted to tell the truth, anyway. No, the real reason Helena Peabody was responsible for taking away Britain’s two thumbs way up from Dana Fairbanks seal of approval was that stupid Hermes scarf Helena had put on Alice. Though logically she knew the gesture was a friendly one, most likely done to impress Tina, just recalling the sight of Helena as she wrapped the scarf around Alice’s neck made Dana start to scowl.

There was nothing to be jealous over, Dana knew that. She knew Alice loved her. *****, she even knew from the perplexed and slightly uncomfortable look the blonde shot her that Alice wasn’t too keen on keeping the scarf that was given her. And she also knew that Helena didn’t have the slightest bit of interest in Alice because it was Tina she was after.

She knew all of these things and she remained jealous. After considering it for some time, Dana finally determined the reason. To her, the gesture Helena made was a romantic one. Not meant to romance Alice, of course, but still… a romantic gesture and the last thing Dana ever wanted to see was someone other than her romancing the woman she loved.

“Stupid scarf,” Dana muttered peevishly to herself, eyeing it from across the room where it sat next to her purse. Somehow or another the scarf had ended up in her purse, something she discovered upon first arriving at the photo shoot for Women’s Fitness. Thanks to that Dana spent the entire shoot staring at her purse and simmering in her jealousy.

The sound of a low rumbling purr and the feel of a super fluffy head rubbing against her leg snapped Dana out of her thoughts. Smiling instantly, Dana crouched down to gently pet Marshmallow Kitty’s head. The name had already ended up being shortened by both Dana and Alice because of its length. Dana called the kitten simply Marshmallow while Alice had a strange fondness for calling him Poofy.

“You’re lucky, Marshmallow,” said Dana with a sigh, sinking down to sit on the floor of her bedroom. At this gesture, the kitten bumbled over to her in that lazy manner he had and settled onto her leg, pressing his head into her hand to encourage the petting to continue. “Cats don’t have social obligations, you know? If you met a cat that you didn’t like because they were all British and ***** James Bond smooth around your girlfriend you wouldn’t have to go to their dinner party because your friend is maybe kinda sorta dating them. You could probably… I don’t know… hiss at them and then just not go.”

Marshmallow Kitty stared solemnly at Dana then licked the palm of her hand by way of response. Chuckling softly, Dana scratched behind his ears gently and was rewarded with another low rumbling purr. They were sitting like that when the distinctive sound of Alice returning home filled the condo. The door opening and closing with a series of bangs, the sound of unknown objects being tossed around, then followed by the thump of feet running up the stairs. It never failed to entertain Dana that Alice’s vibrant personality transformed anything she did, even coming home, into a lively event.

“Dane! You’re not going to believe what happened with my audition for KCRW!”

Just as Dana began to push herself up and off the floor, Alice appeared in the doorway to her bedroom with a big and bright smile on her features. Walking quickly over to Dana, she dropped to her knees and leaned forward to give the brunette a soft and very sweet kiss.

When she pulled back, Alice was still smiling as she tucked a lock of brown hair behind Dana’s ear then cupped her face tenderly. “I had such a good audition thanks to you,” she said with quiet happiness. Dana blinked at this and tried to think of a reply as Marshmallow Kitty distracted Alice by nudging her midsection with his fluffy head. Looking at him, the blonde chuckled and murmured, “Poofy. What’s up?”

“What did I do to help?” asked Dana in confusion. She loved the idea that she played a part in Alice’s obvious success at the audition but she had no clue as to how that would happen.

“The be your funny self speech,” Alice supplied and gave another happy grin, letting her playful instincts take over to flick the tennis player lightly on the tip of her nose. “I followed it and huzzah! You’re looking at a new employee for KCRW. Oh yeah,” Alice wore a supremely smug expression. “Who’s the queen of ultra good and super funny land?”

Unable to help getting swept up by Alice’s happiness, Dana released a throaty chuckle and gripped the blonde’s hips to pull her onto her lap. A movement that had Marshmallow Kitty casually leaping from his place on Dana’s leg and onto the floor. Sliding her hands up the sides of Alice’s body in a smooth and sensual caress, Dana leaned in. Their lips were only a breath apart as she murmured, “You’re queen of ultra good and super funny land.”

“Well, what do you know?” said Alice in a husky reply, her brown eyes twinkling with amusement. “That was just the right answer.” After saying this, she dipped her head forward to capture Dana’s lips for a kiss.

The moment their lips met, Dana instinctively reached up to cradle the back of Alice’s head, fingers stroking the soft hair in a gesture that the journalist was delightfully familiar with. Dana whimpered faintly when Alice deepened the kiss, her tongue pressing for entrance to slide against the athlete’s before capturing it sweetly. They parted satisfied sighs from them both, though Dana’s was trembling and wavering thanks to Alice deciding to end the kiss by slowly sucking and pulling on her bottom lip.

A loving smile formed on Dana’s face as she rested her forehead against Alice’s and toyed absently with the hairs at the nape of the journalist’s neck. “All right your highness,” she said, fondly affectionate. “Tell me what your ultra good and super funny self did for an audition.”

“The chart,” said Alice proudly, beaming at Dana.

“The chart of what?” asked Dana who was experiencing yet another one of her slow on the uptake moments.

“The chart chart!” Alice replied, rolling her eyes and laughing at Dana’s sudden bout of ignorance. “You know,” she drawled playfully, leaning in to put their faces millimeters apart. “The one you drew your elaborately art deco line that links the two of us romantically.”

“The chart!” exclaimed Dana, eyes going wide as she finally understood. Releasing an amazed laugh, she grabbed Alice by the hips and said, “That’s great, Al!”

“Isn’t it?” said Alice, basking in her professional success.

“I’m so proud of you,” Dana murmured and her blue eyes glowed with affection as she pulled Alice to her again. A tiny smile tugged at her lips and putting on a faux British accent, she drawled, “The chart with Alice Pieszecki. Fridays at three on KCRW.”

“Ohhh,” Alice exclaimed in delight, “good voice.”

“You like?” chuckled Dana, still speaking in the faux accent and putting their lips oh so close.

“Yeah,” said Alice, laughing.

Arching an eyebrow and managing to look utterly solemn, Dana rumbled with the fake accent, “Make out with me Alice.”

Together they laughed into another kiss and when they parted, Dana ran her hands down Alice’s body, smiling as her eyes traced her frame. “What made you pick the chart, anyway? You had so many other ideas,” she murmured.

Instead of replying, Alice averted her brown eyes to stare at the far wall and nibbled on her bottom lip. Both of which were trademark Alice gestures that Dana knew the blonde only did when she was nervous or worried about something.

“Al,” Dana said, soft with concern. “What is it?”

Heaving a huge sigh, Alice nibbled on her bottom lip again and worked up her courage. After a few moments, she decided to just bite the bullet and looking Dana in the eyes, she said, “I ran into Gabby Deveaux at The Planet.”

“You did,” said Dana in level tones, her face as unreadable as her voice.

“Yeah,” Alice said, once again averting her eyes thanks to the tone Dana used and the veiled look on her face. “She was all ‘lets be friends’!” Laughing nervously, trying to mask her anxiety with humor, she continued, “I don’t understand this need to have a deep yet sexless relationship with an ex that treated you ***** and cheated on you but hey…”

No response came from Dana whose expression was as unreadable as ever. Her heart constricting painfully, Alice scooted carefully backwards and off of the tennis player’s lap, convinced she had done something wrong. The movement snapped Dana out of the daze she was in and she gently gripped the blonde’s waist, stopping her from going anywhere. Alice ceased her retreat but she kept her gaze averted from Dana’s until she couldn’t because of the athlete cupping her face to turn her head and meet their eyes.

“I love you,” murmured Dana, voice thick with emotion. In a smooth and effortless motion, she pulled Alice closer yet and captured her lips for a searing kiss. Her mouth hot and insistent, tugging frantically at Alice’s, tongue firm and knowing, exploring what she already knew so well but trying to go deeper still. When they parted with a loud gasp from Alice, all was silent as the blonde rested her head on Dana’s shoulder, face snuggled into the crook of her neck. After several moments, the tennis player said in low tones, “But I don’t trust Gabby Deveaux. Please tell me what happened, Al.”

Remaining tucked into Dana’s neck, Alice was slightly muffled when she replied, “I was running through more of my less than brilliant ideas for the audition and she was just sort of there. I heard her voice and looked up and bam! There stood Gabby Deveaux. And it’s like I said, she was all ‘lets be friends’ and super huggy with me. It…” Alice trailed off, when she spoke again her voice was tiny and lost and utterly perplexed, “It was weird, Dane. She’s never been like that with me. Never.”

“And then?” Dana prompted, jaw constricting grimly.

Seeming to shrink in Dana’s arms, as if she was hiding from something truly terrible, Alice whispered, “And then Lara showed up.”

“Lara?” asked Dana, frowning in confusion.

“She was there to cook for Kit. To see about getting the job for head chef,” Alice reminded the athlete of the news they heard from both Kit and Lara a week or so ago. When Dana made a slight sound of recollection, she bit her lip and tried to work up her courage. She remained in stasis, trying to be brave until she felt Dana’s warm hands softly caressing her back, rubbing it in a comforting circular motion. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Alice finally said, “Lara kissed Gabby. They’re dating, Dana.”

Silence.

“What?” Dana’s voice, shaky in disbelief, pierced the silence.

“Lara and Gabby are seeing each other,” said Alice quietly, hiding in Dana’s embrace, not wanting to pull away to see the expression on the brunette’s face.

Only she didn’t have much choice when Dana pushed her forward and lifted her chin so they were looking at one another. “Say that again,” demanded Dana, quiet but fierce.

Flinching visibly, Alice looked away from Dana when the tennis player’s fingers slipped from her face. “Lara is dating Gabby,” she said in a frustrated whisper. When Dana froze at these words, Alice used the opportunity to slide off her lap and rise to her feet. Hugging herself for comfort, she continued, “I’m not sure how long its been going on but it looked pretty serious. They… they seem to really like each other, Dane.”

“I can’t believe this,” muttered Dana, bitter and incredulous. “What the ***** is wrong with Lara dating Gabby Deveaux? Doesn’t she know what a ***** she is?”

“Lara wasn’t on the chart,” offered Alice almost hesitantly. “Maybe she doesn’t know about Gabby’s reputation. We’ve never even talked to her about Gabby.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it’s Gabby ***** Deveaux, Al,” said Dana, her voice dripping with sarcasm and anger. Pushing herself to her feet, she ran her fingers through wavy brown hair in aggravation and muttered, “I can’t believe Lara would fall for her bullshit charm routine. I thought she was smarter than that.”

“Smarter than me, you mean,” said Alice flatly.

Jerking her head towards Alice and taking in the dull look in dark brown eyes, Dana filled with panic and quickly crossed to the blonde. “God, Al, no…” she murmured, trying to hold Alice who squirmed in her hands, fighting her. “Alice… Al… please,” Dana was begging now, trying her best to keep the journalist still. “Please, Al…” She gave up trying to be gentle and pulled the blonde forcibly into her arms and wrapped her up in a tight embrace. Alice was stiff and unyielding in her arms and Dana pressed their faces side by side as she murmured, “I’m sorry… I love you. I’m just… surprised to hear Lara is dating Gabby. It’s… god,” she released a shaky laugh. “I don’t have words for what it is.”

“***** twisted?” Alice said, her voice muffled.

“Yeah,” chuckled Dana and she pulled back to gaze at Alice who kept her head ducked. Cupping Alice’s chin and meeting their eyes once again, she cursed herself on seeing the insecurity lurking there. “I’m sorry, Al. I didn’t mean to take it out on you… I’m just worried about Lara. I know first hand how she likes to give people second chances and usually that tends to hurt her in the end. And I…” Dana trailed off helplessly and sighed deeply.

“You don’t want to see Gabby hurt her,” finished Alice knowingly.

“Yeah,” Dana echoed wearily, falling into Alice for another embrace.

Pressing a tender kiss onto Dana’s temple and stroking wavy brown hair, Alice murmured tentatively, “Maybe she won’t. Maybe Gabby’s changed.” Instead of replying, Dana released a loud snort of skepticism and Alice chuckled. “Or maybe the real Lara is gone and the one I saw has been totally Invaded of the Body Snatchers.”

“I like that,” Dana said, voice laced with amusement. “It makes way more sense.”

Smiling softly at this, Alice toyed with Dana’s hair and tried to block out the sinking feeling in her stomach. The one that started the moment Dana began her anti-Gabby tirade. The one that had her wondering if maybe it wasn’t just about Dana not wanting Gabby to hurt Lara. The one that planted the suspicion that Dana wasn’t quite over Lara.

Bullshit, she knew. It was bullshit to think that way. She knew Dana loved her but she couldn’t help being worried because Lara was just so damn Lara. As far as Alice could tell the redhead was nearly perfect and she had been Dana’s first adult relationship.

In some strange way, maybe even her first love.

That kind of thing was hard to get over. Alice knew that from personal experience. Her first love had been her high school boyfriend, Isaac Hix, and part of her still thought she wasn’t over him. Probably because they had dated since the second month of their freshman year and he had to move away their senior year. Just thinking of Isaac made Alice smile. His unruly black hair that always made it look like he had a constant case of bed head, those reassuring green eyes, and that crooked smile that always held a hint of mischief. Isaac had been the first person Alice knew that really listened to her… who really cared and she had loved him desperately for that. She knew he felt the same, that’s why when he moved they decided to just break it off. To stay in contact and know they couldn’t be together, couldn’t see each other, would hurt them too much.

But Alice still thought of him sometimes.

“I can’t let Gabby hurt her,” the sound of Dana’s voice broke into Alice’s walk down memory lane. “I can’t let her do that. I have to at least warn Lara about her.”

“I know,” Alice said in resignation as she sighed. “I know you do.”

Moving out of their embrace, Dana held Alice’s face and searched her eyes, “You know I love you, right? I only love you, Al. I’m just worried for Lara, that’s all.”

“I know,” repeated Alice, forming a weak smile.

Wearing a worried expression at this, Dana started to say something else but the phone rang and she darted her eyes to the dresser where it sat. Alice gave Dana a tender squeeze and murmured, “I’ll go get that.” Picking up the phone, she looked at Dana with lidded eyes then said, “Hello?”

“Dana?” Jenny’s rather confused voice rang in her ear.

“Hey Jenny,” said Alice, breaking her gaze away from Dana. “This is Alice.”

“I’m calling to let you guys know we’re not going to Helena’s for that dinner party,” said Jenny, sounding a tad bit like a naughty child. “Shane, Carmen, and I. Plus Mark. But he wasn’t invited in the first place so I guess he doesn’t count.”

“What?” Alice blinked. “Hold on a minute, okay?” Covering the phone with her left hand, she looked to Dana and said, “Jenny and them aren’t going to Helena’s.”

“Where are they going?” asked Dana, frowning.

“Where are you going?” Alice echoed Dana’s words, smiling slightly when she heard Jenny chuckle at their little routine.

“Bette’s,” chirped Jenny happily. “Shane came up with the idea. She said it’s been too long since you guys have had family night and we need to start a new tradition. So how about it? Are you two going to join us?”

“I’m pretty sure we will but hold on again,” said Alice, chuckling and lowering the phone slightly. “They’re going over to Bette’s to start a new family night tradition.” A slow smile curving on her lips, she drawled, “What do you think? You want to go with them?” Dana paused to consider this and Alice’s brown eyes twinkled playfully. “Come on, Dane,” she said in mischievous tones. “Forget about those manners your mother drilled into you. After all, Bette has never given me a fancy scarf. That includes when we were dating.”

Considering it for a few seconds, Dana declared firmly, “We’re going.”

“You hear that, Jenny?” asked Alice with amusement.

“Loud and clear,” replied Jenny, still sounding perky to an almost disturbing degree. “We’ll be seeing you in a few.”

“Later,” Alice chuckled before ending the call. Placing the phone back in its receiver she walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs. “We better get going, Dane. If we get there last then Shane will get to pick the food and last time she did that I was sick for a week.”

Frowning slightly, Dana headed after Alice and watched the blonde busy herself with searching through her pile of belongings that she dumped by the front door. When Alice finally retrieved her coat and shrugged it on, Dana was on her, pressing her against the door in a forceful but gentle movement.

“Dana?” asked Alice in definite confusion, her brow furrowing when the tennis player shushed her quietly by placing an index finger over her lips.

“Do you know how much I love you?” Dana said in a husky confession, her finger falling away as her hands gripped Alice’s hips. She pulled the blonde into her while using gravity to press them against the door. Dipping her head down, Dana gave into her impulses and slowly nuzzled a path up Alice’s neck and whispered in her ear, “How much I want you? Sometimes I think you do but then sometimes, like right now, I don’t.” She paused then said in stark and soft tones, “And I don’t like that feeling, Al.”

“Dana,” Alice’s voice cracked on saying her name.

“I love you,” said Dana again, her breath hot on Alice’s skin as her lips pressed into her to begin a path of kisses. “Only you.” She moved back to search the depths of brown eyes in front of her. “You believe me, don’t you?”

“I believe you,” said Alice who was now frantic and eager, darting forward for another kiss. “Of course, I believe you.” The kiss deepened and she moaned low in her throat when they parted for air, Dana’s fingers tangled in her blonde locks. “And I love you too.”

To no one’s real surprise, they were the last to arrive at family night and to Alice’s misery Shane had indeed gotten to choose what they would be eating. But this time she was only sick for four days instead of seven.

That was something, at least.

—

Shifting in the too high seat in the passenger side of Dana’s Outback uncomfortably, Alice squinted at the large house that the brunette had grown up in. Though if you asked her it wasn’t really a house… it was estate or something like that. Dana claimed it couldn’t be an estate or a mansion because it only had six bedrooms. Apparently estates and mansions require having more than six bedrooms.

Six was plenty enough if you asked Alice.

The house was just so… big and white and fairly intimidating. Which was funny to Alice because she wasn’t really put off by fancy digs. She had lived with her mother during the height of her career, after all.

How many bedrooms did Lenore’s old house have? Alice was sure it was more than six. That meant she sort of grew up in a mansion… a big empty mansion. Somehow Alice knew Dana’s house hadn’t been like that. That being so, why was it so intimidating?

Probably because of who was inside it, Alice reasoned. Turning to Dana and lightly squeezing her hand, she murmured, “You ready?”

“This was a bad idea,” said Dana in foreboding tones.

“It’s only dinner, Dane. We’re not planning for the future world peace. All we need to do is get along with her for an hour or two,” said Alice, chuckling and squeezing Dana’s hand again in reassurance. “And shouldn’t I be the nervous one here? I mean, she’s going to be my ***** version of a mother-in-law. You get Lenore to deal with.”

“Yeah,” said Dana dimly, still sounding rather foreboding as she stared blankly at her parents house.

Sighing and tilting her head to one side, Alice formed a mischievous smile then said casually, “Lenore’s much easier to deal with, if you ask me. Once you disregard her habit of hitting on everyone I date and trying to link herself to people on the chart. I guess everyone’s mother tries to get ***** from their dates though.”

“Yeah,” said Dana, remaining foreboding and blank. Then she blinked and whipped her head to stare at Alice. “Lenore does what?!” she practically screeched in a panic.

“And she can hear,” Alice said affectionately. “I was beginning to wonder if you were turning Helen Keller on me. Which would suck because I’m so not Anne Sullivan.”

“That wasn’t funny, Al,” said Dana peevishly. “I could almost believe Lenore would do something like that.”

“Well, she does try to link herself to people on the chart,” revealed Alice, smiling. When Dana scowled and didn’t look the least bit amused, Alice unbuckled her seatbelt and squirmed until she was practically sitting in Dana’s lap. The tennis player looked away from her, staring out the window, still in the midst of her pouting. “Don’t be mad,” Alice crooned, leaning in and tugging on Dana’s ear lobe before releasing it to kiss the line of her jaw. “I was only teasing to try and get you to relax. You shouldn’t be this tense. It’s not good.”

Sighing in pleasure as Alice slipped her fingers into wavy brown hair and massaged her scalp, Dana said quietly, “I can’t help it. My mother… she makes me nervous. She has since I was a teenager. When I was little things were different somehow… it seemed like she didn’t expect as much from me. But when I was older I got the impression that nothing I did was really good enough. Like something was missing in me… I don’t know,” she muttered, sounding annoyed with herself. “I can’t explain it. It’s just a feeling I get.”

Alice released a thoughtful murmur then pressed a soft kiss against Dana’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “I think I can understand. But us staying out here and staring at the house isn’t really helping anything, is it?”

“No,” said Dana wryly, thinking of her mother’s reaction to knowing they had lurked outside for close to an hour now without coming inside. “I guess it doesn’t.”

Smiling warmly, Alice captured Dana’s lips for a kiss that was getting interesting as the brunette’s tongue slipped inside to duel with her own when a series of loud bangs sounded against the passenger door window. They parted from the kiss but remained in each other’s arms, heads pressed side to side as they stared at Howie’s smushed face as he squashed it up against the window.

“How!” groaned Dana irritably, pressing a button and lowering the window, allowing Howie to poke his entire head inside the car. “I just had the car washed.”

“Stop bitching, you’ve got the cash,” Howie responded carelessly. Focusing on Alice, he waggled his eyebrows and formed a lascivious grin. “You having fun with my big sis?”

“Oodles,” drawled Alice humorously.

“You gave up the sausage for her, so she must be good in the sack, right?” asked Howie, grinning big. “At least that’s what I’m thinking.”

“You think about that?” Alice arched an eyebrow and chuckled softly. “You know we’re in California and not West Virginia, hm? Incest is not an encouraged practice in these parts.”

“Gross,” Howie scrunched his nose up in a gesture that made Alice laugh loudly because it reminded her so much of Dana. “She’s my sister and she’s not hot.”

“According to you,” said Alice, her eyes twinkling. “However, I would beg to differ.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” snapped Dana in petulant tones.

“Dude!” Howie exclaimed softly, appearing altogether shocked at her outburst. He had never seen his sister act that way before.

Alice, on the other hand, was rather used to this reaction from Dana and cupping the brunette’s cheek she tilted her head down to meet their eyes. “Hey,” she murmured. “He’s on our side, remember? Little brothers always act this way. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t have one. I have two ancient older siblings that are a royal pain in the *****.”

“Are you calling me a pain in the *****?” demanded Howie.

Looking from Alice to Howie and narrowing her eyes a bit, Dana grabbed his nose and squeezed it in between her thumb and index finger. “Yes, we’re calling you a pain in the *****,” she answered, forming an almost evil grin. “Because that’s what you are, How.”

“Leb go!” Howie insisted in nasal tones, whapping ineffectively at Dana’s hand as she continued to squeeze his nose. “Leb go, Dayba! I habe web bo dis!”

Considering this, Dana clucked her tongue and said casually, “I don’t know… I don’t hear the magic words and you know I don’t let go until I hear the magic words.”

“I habe boo!” scowled Howie, glaring at her.

“Yes, I know you hate me,” Dana chuckled. “Now, the words?”

Howie formed a petulant expression that was almost an exact match for Dana’s and grumbled, “Bennis bocs.”

“Yes, tennis does rock,” uttered Dana solemnly, nodding her head. “And it makes me so happy when you acknowledge that, How.”

With that, she released her hold on his nose and Howie scrambled away from the car, rubbing his nose and scowling at Dana deeply. “You suck,” he accused.

Dana chuckled again and started to reply but she froze on seeing the front doors to the house open as Sharon walked outside. She stood there for a moment then called out to them in rather irritated tones, “Do you plan on staying out here all day, Dana? Because we can arrange to have dinner in your vehicle. It wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Busted,” said Howie, sing song and triumphant.

Hurrying out of the car and bumping Alice’s head against the ceiling in the process, Dana stood on her tip toes to respond in an anxious call, “No! We’re coming inside now, Mom! We were just talking with Howie, that’s all!”

“She was abusing me,” Howie said more to himself than anyone else since he said this too quiet for Sharon to hear but wasn’t really looking at Dana or Alice when he spoke.

Instead of replying, Sharon walked back inside the house and when she did, Dana sank down and leaned against the car. “God,” she groaned pitifully. “This is starting out bad.”

“Yeah,” said Howie in agreement, stepping closer but not close enough that Dana could grab his nose. “First you torture your adorable baby brother, then you piss Mom off, and you end it by giving your girlfriend brain damage when exiting your foreign sports utility vehicle.”

“Al!” yelped Dana, sounding close to panic as she whirled around to face Alice who was sitting in the drivers seat and rubbing the top of her head. “Oh no, Al,” she groaned and carefully touched the blonde locks. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“I don’t remember how to do quantum equations,” Alice mumbled, sounding gloomy. “Wait,” she chuckled, lifting brown eyes to reveal a playful twinkle. “I never knew how to do those in the first place. I guess I’m okay then, huh, Dane?”

“You’re something, all right,” murmured Dana, her voice laced with deep affection, leaning forward to put their faces a breath apart. Caressing Alice’s cheek, she said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. When I heard my Mom’s voice I just…”

“Freaked out?” suggested Alice wryly. Tangling her fingers in wavy brown locks, she deposited a soft kiss on the crown of Dana’s head and said softly, “Don’t worry. I’ve been through worse, trust me.”

“Like sand through the hour glass,” intoned Howie dramatically, humming the theme song to the soap opera for good measure. “These are the ***** of our lives.”

“Howie,” growled Dana, appearing as if she might make another grab for his nose.

In response, Howie released a strange noise of delight and panic then took off running towards the large house that Alice privately thought should maybe be called an estate. Climbing out of the car, she shut the door and stood next to Dana who was staring at the house moodily.

“Come on,” said Alice in a quiet murmur, squeezing Dana’s hand. “Lets go.” When the tennis player didn’t make a move, she stood in front of her and reached up to cup her chin. “I know it’s scary but it’s your family, Dane, and they love you.”

“You’re right,” Dana whispered, her throat convulsing. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”

“You’re bringing me home to meet the folks,” chuckled Alice, taking Dana’s hand and gently pulling her along. “That’s a good reason for anyone to be nervous, I’d say.”

“They’ve already met you, Al,” replied Dana sardonically. “Several times.”

“True,” Alice admitted with humorous inflection. “But they met me in a friend and not girlfriend capacity. There’s a difference in how you gauge someone based on whether or not your kid is boinking them.”

“I can’t believe you just said boink,” Dana laughed, shaking her head. “Who uses that word anymore? What are you? In kindergarten?”

“What’s wrong with the word boink? It’s a good word!” said Alice, looking offended. “I like how it sounds.” When Dana kept laughing, she cleared her throat then sang in a series of almost operatic tones, “Boink… boink boink… boink boink boink… boink!”

“Stop it,” Dana wheezed, her eyes tearing up and her lungs almost collapsed from laughter as they reached the porch to the large house.

Accommodating Dana’s request and grinning impishly, Alice held the brunette’s shaking sides and rubbed them in a comforting gesture. “Feel better?” she murmured, dipping her head to look into bright blue eyes.

“Yeah,” breathed Dana shakily, smiling happily at Alice. “I do feel better. Thanks.”

“No worries,” said Alice kindly.

They remained like that for several moments then unable to resist the temptation, Dana moved forward and captured Alice’s lips for a kiss. One that was slow and sensual, taking its time to explore and taste and learn. Causing them to be in the middle of it when the front door opened to once again reveal the form of Sharon Fairbanks.

A loud clearing of the throat and they barely stopped the kiss, looking at Sharon in wide eyed surprise when she said stiffly, “Dinner is getting cold. If you can restrain yourselves then perhaps we might begin eating it.” With that, she headed back into the house.

“Oh god,” Dana moaned miserably, dropping her head to rest on Alice’s shoulder. “Why me? Why us? Just why?”

“Well, look at this way,” began Alice, trying her best to find some sort of bright side to the situation. “Dinner won’t be boring.”

Another miserable moan was Dana’s only response.

—

Strangely, Alice’s prediction wasn’t right. At first anyway. Dinner had been pleasantly boring to begin with as Irwin discussed the intricacies of the stock market and his improved putting skills on the golf course, then Howie bragged about being the starting forward on the soccer team after complaining about the SATs, but then the spinning wheel of conversation landed on Sharon and the dull small talk came to an end.

“Alice,” said Sharon in slow deliberation. “Would you mind if I asked you a question?”

“No, of course not,” Alice frowned slightly. “Ask away.”

“What happened to the boyfriend you spoke of?” Sharon lifted an eyebrow in a gesture of sedate curiosity.

“Mom!” exclaimed Dana, looking utterly mortified. “Al, you don’t have to answer that,” she reassured.

“It’s fine, Dane,” soothed Alice, smiling at the brunette and squeezing her hand softly. Turning back to Sharon, her smile quirked a little and she replied simply, “We broke up.”

“Ah,” said Sharon knowingly. She paused then said in a subtle dig, “You do that quite a bit, don’t you? Break up with people. Men and women. Dana spoke of your dating habits before she told us about herself.”

“What are you trying to say?” asked Alice politely but her voice had a sharp edge of warning.

“You don’t appear to possess any lasting emotional attention span,” said Sharon, her expression veiled. “I don’t want my daughter to end up as yet another name in your book of failed relationships. Or as some type of experiment. I simply won’t have it.”

“Mom!” Dana exclaimed again, this time rising to her feet as she did so. Scowling deeply, she pulled Alice up with her and said, “I can’t believe you’re doing this!”

“Doing what?” asked Sharon staidly, looking at Dana. Her eyes dragged over to Alice and she said, “I want to know what her intentions are, that’s all. You’ve spoken enough about her that I know her character, darling. Is it so wrong for me to want to hear it from Alice herself?”

“What do you want to hear?” asked Alice quietly, staring Sharon down. “You want to hear that I only like girls? Or that being bisexual is a cop out? That there’s no such thing? Or maybe that I’m the one who converted your daughter over to the evil ***** lifestyle?” Sharon didn’t reply and silently met Alice’s gaze as she finished in soft yet powerful tones, “Or do you want me to promise to never hurt Dana? I can’t do that last one, no matter how much I want to. I can tell you that I love her though. I love her more than anybody I’ve had in my life, male or female. I can tell you that for sure.” Brown eyes gleamed and Alice murmured, “Is that what you want to hear? If not, then that’s too bad because it’s the truth.” Turning to Dana and smiling tenderly, she said, “Do you still want to go?”

“Definitely,” said Dana tightly, giving her mother a final glare before pulling Alice out of the dining room and then the house.

The large house was silent except for the echoing bang of the front doors slamming shut. Sharon winced at the sound as she closed her eyes. Watching her carefully, both Irwin and Howie wondered if she got what she wanted, and if it was worth the obvious price.

—

“I can’t believe her!” Dana ranted in aggravated tones, waving her hands wildly about while she stomped towards her car. “Asking you about your boyfriend and being all… all…” Unable to find the word she wanted, Dana released a strangled combination of a yell and growl.

“Dane, calm down, it’s all right,” soothed Alice, frowning in worry and trying to fight the amusement she found at the sight of her girlfriend ranting. Though she knew she shouldn’t, part of her always found Dana’s emotional episodes a strange turn on. Maybe it was because they revealed the clear depth of her emotions. Or maybe it was because Dana was damn cute when ranting. “She was just being a mom.”

“Just being a mom,” repeated Dana, looking at Alice as if she was insane.

“Yeah, she was just being a mom,” Alice replied, rolling her eyes and mocking Dana’s echoing of her words. “Come on,” she sighed, holding her hand out. “Give me the keys. You’re way too worked up to drive.”

“Mothers don’t insult the girlfriends of their children,” grumbled Dana, handing over the keys.

“Of course they do,” drawled Alice, unlocking the car and hopping into the driver’s side. “They just don’t do it in such an obvious manner. Your mother needs to work on her subtly if she wants to properly insult me.”

“Al,” groaned Dana, thumping her head back into the seat as the blonde backed the car up. “Don’t make jokes about this. She was horrible to you. That’s not funny.”

“She wasn’t horrible to me,” replied Alice reasonably. Hearing the snort of disbelief from the brunette, she sighed and sorted through her thoughts before she said finally, “I wish I had a mother like yours.”

The car was silent and if she wasn’t trying to get onto the freeway, Alice would’ve turned to Dana just to see the stupefied look she was sure was on her face. Instead, she focused on the road as Dana said dryly, “You hit your head harder on the ceiling of the car than I thought, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t,” Alice chuckled, shaking her head. “I don’t have brain damage, Dane. And seriously, I mean that… my mother doesn’t really care about what’s going on in my life. I mean, she would never ask you the stuff Sharon just asked me.”

“Which is a good thing,” said Dana, who sounded as if she was trying to explain physics to a three year old.

“Not really,” said Alice wryly. “Your mother asked me that stuff because she loves you, Dana. She wants to make sure her daughter isn’t hurt. That’s all that was about. Just her giving me the traditional parental warning of ‘don’t hurt my kid or I’ll kick your *****’.”

Silence again and Alice heard Dana murmur in amazement, “You’re right.” The blonde smiled and couldn’t help but laugh when Dana added peevishly, “But she didn’t have to be so mean to you while doing it.”

“Well, I’ll give you that,” said Alice warmly, looking to Dana and smiling at her. “But come on… today wasn’t all bad. Now I’ve got great mother-in-law material to use on air.”

“Oh god,” groaned Dana, thumping her head again.

—

Lara opened the door to the sight of Dana and much to her relief, she wasn’t crying this time. But she did look rather worried and slightly grim. Frowning a bit, Lara stepped to one side as she said, “Come in, Dana.”

“Thanks,” said Dana, nervously stepping into the threshold of the apartment and darting her eyes around as if looking for a monster that could be lurking around any corner.

“What’s up?” asked Lara, sinking down onto her couch and peering up at Dana who remained standing in front of her.

“Lara… I’ve… god,” Dana muttered, running her fingers agitatedly through her wavy brown hair. “Okay,” she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, calming herself. Something that made Lara’s frown deepen as Dana blurted out in a rush, “Gabby Deveaux is an evil ***** who broke Alice’s heart more times than I can count and I think she’ll do the same to you.”

Staring at Dana wide eyed, Lara asked in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

“You’re dating Gabby Deveaux, aren’t you?” asked Dana, hoping desperately that maybe somehow Alice had been wrong and Lara wasn’t involved with the she-devil.

“I am,” said Lara slowly, still looking confused. “Why are you calling her names, Dana? That’s just… well,” Lara gave a bemused laugh. “That’s just not like you.”

“I called her that because that’s what she is,” said Dana firmly. Sitting down on the couch, she bit her bottom lip nervously then said, “For almost five years now she’s been Alice’s on and off girlfriend. They get together, they break up, then they do the same thing over again. And each time they break up it’s always for the same reason. Gabby cheated Alice. She cheated on her and she treated her like she was less than nothing,” Dana muttered in dark tones, her jaw clenching tightly. Lara was taken aback by the vehemence in the brunette’s tone and expression but relaxed on seeing blue eyes look at her with gentle compassion. “I don’t want her to do the same thing to you, Lara.”

“Dana,” said Lara with a sigh. “I appreciate that you’re worried about me but I’m a big girl.”

“But–” Dana began to protest only to be cut off by Lara.

“I understand what you’re doing with this, Dana. I really do but it wasn’t necessary.” Lara formed a wry expression and said, “I’ve already been warned by more than enough people. Some have even gone so far to warn me about Gabby with Gabby standing right next to me. So,” Lara drawled and her green eyes glowed with amusement. “Thanks for the warning but I’ve already received it. More times than I can probably count.”

Forming a frown on having her words thrown back at her, Dana tilted her head and sighed. “It doesn’t matter, does it?” she asked sadly, looking away from Lara. “You’re like Al. She never listened to me about Gabby either.” Rising to her feet, Dana growled lowly, “What is it about her anyway, huh? What the ***** does she have that makes people think it’s okay for her to treat them like *****?” Whirling around to face Lara, she started to rant more but stopped when she saw the redhead staring at her in something close to shock. She had never seen Dana in an aggressive emotional state before, having only experienced the soft and sad side of her emotions, not the violent turmoil she could often produce just as easily. “I’m sorry,” Dana muttered. “I should get going… I’m meeting Alice for lunch. She said its got something to do with family. Maybe it’s her mother again.”

“Dana,” murmured Lara worriedly. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” said Dana in frustration, clenching and unclenching her hands. She took a deep breath and looked to Lara as she smiled fondly but sadly at her. “Be careful with Gabby, all right? I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s the only reason I came barging in here like this.”

“I know,” Lara returned the smile, standing up and clasping Dana’s hands. “I know that and I appreciate it, Dana. Really I do but I honestly think Gabby’s changed. I’ve heard so many stories from so many people,” she released an incredulous laugh and rolled her eyes. “God, all the stories!” Looking back to Dana, she continued, “And I still want to give her a chance. That’s my choice.” She paused and seemed to be considering something before she said quietly, “Just like it was my choice to take you back after what happened with that Subaru dinner when we were dating.”

Flinching at this, Dana looked away from Lara and replied, “I understand.”

“Good,” said Lara, sounding thoroughly relieved.

“I should get going,” Dana mumbled, heading to the door with Lara trailing after. “I shouldn’t be late… Alice might need me.”

“Dana?” called Lara, voice laced with concern. When the brunette paused at the front door, she then said, “What about us? You know, as friends? Are we okay?”

The tennis player’s shoulders tensed for a moment then relaxed as Dana faced Lara and smiled wanly. “Yeah,” she murmured, appearing somewhat defeated. “Sure.”

Staring at the closed door to her apartment, Lara’s frown returned when she realized that Dana hadn’t said that they were friends. It was a verbal exclusion that Lara couldn’t discern was on purpose or not.


To be continued…