Irreconcilable Differences

+++++++++++



Carrie bowed her head with the rest of them as Jeanne said grace. Kelly gave her hand a light squeeze before letting go as the talk started again around the table which was piled with food.



"Seriously, I've got to stop eating here," Jessica laughed from across the table. "I gain like five pounds every time I come."



"Well, technically, I lose weight when I--" Bryan began



"You finish that sentence at this table and I will tell my mom what you really mean," Kelly warned him.



Mark and Carrie snickered.



"So, you're family is totally awesome," Carrie told Kelly as she passed her the plate of bread.



"I know," Kelly beamed.



"What about the friends?" Mark asked.



"I don't know," Carrie frowned playfully. "I'm still not sold on them yet."



"Ooo...burn," Kelly laughed at him.



"Kinda like that time with the poptarts?" he asked, teasingly.



"You burnt poptarts?" Carrie asked.



"More like blew up," Jason replied from across the table, giving Mark a high five.



"At least I didn't blow up a priest," Kelly retorted.



"You blew up a priest?" Carrie choked, looking at the two guys in shock.



"We didn't blow him up," Jason shook his head with laughter.



"Yea, we just slipped a rocket in his pants."



Carrie's jaw dropped.



"He was fine," Jason assured her. "He just couldn't sit for about a week."



"Yea, but we couldn't sit for like a month after that," Mark frowned, chancing a glance at Jeanne.



"Well, it's not like y'all didn't deserve it," Kelly replied.



"Hey," Jason defended. "We were teenage boys. We were supposed to get into trouble. You blew up that poptart a year ago. What's your excuse?"



Carrie laughed as Kelly narrowed her eyes at him, while fighting back a smile.



"So, y'all two grew up together?" Carrie asked Mark and Jason.



"Yea, Jay's actually a couple years older than me, but I kicked his ass one day at basketball, and after that, we were friends up until he moved when he was like what? 15 or 16? Anyway, the sad thing is, he still sucks at basketball," Mark laughed.



+++++++



"Here ya go," Kelly said, joining Carrie and Ashley who were talking to Kelly's sister, Alyssa, in the living room. She handed her a glass of eggnog, holding her own in her other hand.



"Thanks," Carrie winked, scooting over on the sofa for Kelly to sit.



"So you had fun?" she asked, eyeing the clock, which read 2 AM, wearily.



"Yea," Carrie replied. "Thanks for letting me join y'all."



"Anytime," Alyssa smiled. "You seemed to fit in well. Maybe a little too quiet, but you'll lose that soon."



The other three laughed tiredly.



"So what time you're heading back tomorrow?" Kelly asked with a yawn.



"My flight's at noon," Carrie answered with a frown.



"You're leaving already?" Ashley asked. "You just got here."



"I've been here for over two weeks," Carrie pointed out.



"I think I must have missed a couple days," Ashley frowned.



"No more eggnog for you," Kelly teased.



"But yea, I still got a little vacation time left, so I want to go spend it with my family," Carrie explained.



"As you should," Kelly nodded, leaning her head on her shoulder.



"How bout we head up to bed?" Carrie suggested.



"I like the way you think," Kelly agreed, taking the hand that Carrie offered as she stood.



"Night y'all," Kelly said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.



"Night," Ashley and Alyssa replied.



"So what's that about?" Alyssa asked, turning to Ashley.



"Oh, nothing. Kelly was having trouble sleeping after Sam died, so Carrie's just helping her out."



Alyssa raised an eyebrow.



"Trust me, it's innocent. Despite all the rumors," she added.



"Yea, how's she taking that?"



"You know Kell. She just laughs about how ridiculous it is."



++++++++++++



"You had a good Christmas?" Carrie asked, laying behind Kelly with her arm wrapped around her waist.



"Definitely," she replied. "And I have to say the coolest gift award, without a doubt, goes to you."



"You're just being sweet," Carrie smiled, pulling her closer.



"No, I'm not," Kelly said, honestly.



Carrie placed a kiss on the top of her head, making her smile in content.



"So, I guess I'm losing my buddy tomorrow, huh?" Kelly yawned.



"Yea," Carrie laughed softly. "But don't worry, I'm sure Clive will have some new event for us to attend."



"Speaking of," Kelly said. "A group of us have been going to Vegas for New Years Eve the past couple of years, and we were wondering if you would you want to meet up with us there. You can bring a few of your friends and stuff if you want. I promise it'll be fun."



"Sounds great. I'll just have to see how everything's going at home, but yea, I'd love to."



Kelly turned her face upward, going to kiss her cheek, but got her jaw line instead.



"Sorry," she giggled. "I'm tired and it's dark."



"It's ok," Carrie replied, trying to get her heart to return to it's normal speed.



++++++++



Carrie groaned, turning onto her back as she heard Kelly's cell phone ring loudly, yet she smiled as she heard the series of expletives that escaped the short Texan's mouth as she reached for it.



"'Mornin," she drawled, huskily into the phone, sending shivers down Carrie's spine. If only she could wake up to that voice every morning, she would be in heaven. Kelly laid back down, snuggling into the warm body next to her. Carrie smiled, wrapping her arms around her and placing a kiss on the top of her head.



"What?" Kelly asked, a slight edge in her voice. "You can't be serious."



"You and her. In my office. Now," Clive repeated from the other end.



"One, that's impossible, we're in Texas," Kelly reminded him. "Two, Carrie's flying to Oklahoma in a couple of hours. Three, you're crazy."



"This is not an option," he replied, trying to hold back his anger.



"No," Kelly said, firmly.



"Look, I've put up with your stubbornness long enough. I've let you have your fun. Now, it's time for business. I want you two here in...an hour ago. So, get up, and get to the airport. There will be two tickets waiting for you on the first flight up here. This isn't up for debate."



"Damn it," Kelly cursed as she heard a click on the other line.



"What's wrong?" Carrie asked, concernedly. "Who was that?"



"Clive," Kelly replied, sighing. She pushed herself up so that she could look down at Carrie. She smiled apologetically as she brushed a blonde curl out of the country singer's face. "We have to go to L.A."



"What? When? Why?"



"Now, and I have no idea. He sounds pretty pissed though. Care, I'm sorry. I tried telling him no, but I really don't think now's the time to piss him off."



"It's ok," Carrie frowned. "It's not your fault. I could probably still make it home before tonight, anyway."



"Yea," Kelly frowned, laying back down, snuggling into the crook of her neck.



"I thought you said now?"



"He can wait five minutes," she replied. "Like he said: I'm stubborn."



Carrie laughed as she held her close.