Playing With Fire

+++++++++



"You like sunrises?" Carrie asked as she stood behind Kelly, her arms wrapped around the Texan's waist, her chin resting on her shoulder as they watched the sun's edges peeking over the horizon.



"It's another one of those clichés," Kelly grinned.



Carrie poked her side, earning one of those raspy laughs that she loved so much. "We should probably be heading back inside so we can get ready to go."



"Or we could just run away," Kelly suggested.



"You don't strike me as the type that would run away from a problem."



"Problem?" Kelly smiled, leaning back against her. Carrie closed her eyes as she held her closely, fighting the tears that were forming. "This is anything but a problem."



Kelly could feel Carrie's tears against her own cheeks, and she turned around in her arms to face her. She brought a hand up, moving Carrie's bangs out of her eyes, "I hate you."



"Why?" Carrie asked, laughing through the tears.



"Because you always look gorgeous, even when you cry. How unfair is that?"



Carrie smiled, wiping the tears away.



"Everything's going to be fine," Kelly nodded. "With us. Other things, maybe not so much, but we're going to be fine."



"I know," Carrie replied. "I just love you so much, you know? It's kinda scary at times when it catches me off guard."



Kelly linked both of her hands with the country singer's, "No matter what happens, or what people say, or what people do, at the end of all this, I'm still gonna be with you."



"I'm gonna love you forever," Carrie admitted, softly.



"How did I get so lucky?" Kelly smiled, making her laugh.



"It's cause you're good in bed," she grinned, tugging her closer.



Kelly laughed, "Well, at least I'm good at something."



Carrie kissed her, breathing in deeply, savoring the sweetness of the moment. She pulled away slowly, looking over Kelly's shoulder with a smile. "Mornin'."



"Sunrise?"



"It's beautiful," Carrie nodded.



"Not nearly as beautiful as what I'm looking at," Kelly said, gazing at the blonde before her, the sunlight catching her eyes, making them radiate color.



Carrie's smile grew, "You are so getting some later."



"Thank God," Kelly sighed. "Cause you have no idea how much I want you right now."



"I can imagine," Carrie laughed, kissing her lightly. "You ready to go inside?"



"Don't have much of a choice, do we?"



"Nope."



++++++++



Carrie led Kelly by the hand through the back door and into the living room. Both singers were surprised to see a room full of people.



"Well it's about damn time," Ashley frowned, standing and taking Kelly's other hand, dragging the two singers into Carrie's room.



"Um?" Carrie asked as the door was shut behind them.



"Y'all have got a little over an hour to get to the studio, and it's a forty-five minute drive to get there," Ashley replied, digging through Carrie's closet and throwing something out. "Put this on."



"Excuse me?"



Kelly laughed, "Don't take it personally. She's just trying to help."



"So, have y'all gone over the plan?" Ashley asked, throwing a pair of jeans at Kelly.



"No, not really."



"That's fine, Narvel said they'd go over it on the ride there," she said, tossing her a shirt. "Hair?"



"Up."



"Sunglasses?"



"Definitely."



"I take it y'all do this a lot," Carrie remarked as Ashley turned so she could change.



"I'm always running late," Kelly admitted, pulling on her clothes.



"Because she does too much shit," Ashley added, digging through Kelly's bag for the shoes she knew the Texan would want. She threw the pair of Chucks over her shoulder.



Kelly shook her head, slipping them on, "You've known me for too long."



"Way too long," Ashley agreed, turning back around to find the two singers in front of the mirror in Carrie's room, putting on make-up to try and hide the fact that they had been up all night. "I swear you're make-up dyslexic," she shook her head, taking the eye shadow from her fellow Texan and applying it for her. She glanced at Carrie who was doing hers perfectly. "Why can't you be more like her?"



"Because then you'd be out of a job," Kelly grinned.



"Oh yea," Ashley laughed. "Thanks for being a horrible girl."



"I am not a horrible girl," Kelly rolled her eyes. "I'm just not prissy."



"You're a wonderful girl," Carrie said, turning and kissing her quickly as she handed her her sunglasses.



Kelly slipped them on with a smile directed towards Ashley, "See."



"She's your girlfriend. She has to say that," Ashley pointed out.



"No," Kelly laughed. "Trust me, she says what's on her mind."



"You taught me well," Carrie smiled.



"So why is everybody here?" Kelly asked Ashley, absentmindedly holding out her arm for Carrie to hold for balance as she slipped her shoes on.



"Gotta know the game plan," Ashley shrugged.



"No fighting?"



"Nobody's had enough caffeine yet for any of that."



Kelly frowned as she pulled her short hair back into a pony tail.



"Don't worry about it," Ashley said. "They're only like that because they care about you two. None of us want to see y'all getting hurt."



"I know," Kelly replied as Carrie wrapped an arm around her waist, signaling that she was ready. "So who's all coming with us?"



"Well, the two of you. And Tony and Narvel," she handed Kelly a black head scarf to put on.



"That's it?" Carrie asked.



"Well, it's not like any of your other people can go. They don't know about the two of you. And you don't want any of us over there because it'll look too weird."



"How do I look?" Kelly asked.



"Like the girl I've known since middle school," Ashley laughed.



"But if you hadn't known me since middle school?"



"I wouldn't recognize you at first," she said, squinting at her.



"Good, cause I mean, I'm guessing the plan isn't for us to just walk right and in there and be like 'check this out' and just start making out, right?"



Ashley laughed, "Right. Although, that would definitely shock them."



"They'll be shock no matter what we do," Carrie commented, as she couldn't help but laugh at Kelly struggling to tie the scarf behind her head. "I got it."



Kelly smiled as Carrie batted her hands away, tying it for her.



"Ok," Ashley said, looking down at her watch. "It's time for you to go. You two ready?"



+++++++++



"Ok, so, what's the plan?" Kelly asked as she and Carrie got settled in the back seat of the rental SUV that Reba and Narvel had gotten at the airport. He and Tony were seated in the front.



"First, you two buckle up," Narvel said, eyeing them in the rearview mirror. "If y'all get hurt on the way there, I'm never gonna hear the end of it from either of your families."



Kelly laughed, but did as she was told as he put the car in drive and pulled out of the long driveway.



"So, the plan is for Carrie to go in there and surprise the DJ's," Tony explained. "Meanwhile, we'll just be sitting outside the studio, like good little managers and assistants do."



"Carrie," Narvel said. "You just go along with the interview. Keep it light and friendly. Talk is gonna eventually go to your love life. It always does in every interview for every artist. Here is where you tell them the news. It's up to you the exact words because this is about you two. We're just trying to make this as easy and as least damaging as possible."



"I know," Carrie nodded. "And thanks."



"That's what we're here for," he smiled gently.



++++++++



"We're here," Narvel commented, pulling the vehicle into park. Except for the initial conversation, the drive had been a quiet one.



Kelly was holding onto Carrie's hand tightly. The country singer's knees were shaking nervously.



"Um, Narvel," Carrie said, swallowing hard. "How dark are the windows on this thing?"



"Easily illegal in most states," Tony laughed.



"Can you two, um, give us a moment?"



"Oh, yea, of course," Narvel nodded, as he and Tony slipped out of the vehicle, giving the two girls a moment of privacy.



"This is it," Kelly nodded.



"No going back now," Carrie agreed.



"I wouldn't want to."



"Neither would I," Carrie smiled, holding the Texan's face in her hands.



"Are you gonna kiss me? Or are you just gonna stare at me all day?" Kelly laughed uneasily, trying to ease their nerves.



"You know, I seriously could stare at you all day," Carrie admitted.



"Please kiss me."



"Well, since you asked so nicely..."



Carrie pulled her closer, pressing their lips together. She felt Kelly's lips moving shakily with hers. It was always so easy to tell exactly what the Texan was feeling when she kissed her. The way her lips were quivering, yet still kissing her firmly showed Kelly's nerves and fear, but also that she was sure of this, she was sure of them.



The two broke apart, breathing heavily. Kelly rested her forehead against Carrie's with a sigh. There was a knock on their window, signaling that it was time to go.



"Are you scared?" Carrie asked.



"Yes," Kelly nodded. Normally, she wouldn't be one to admit to that, but she knew that it was what Carrie needed to hear, to know that she wasn't alone in this.



"This is gonna be hard."



"Anything that's worth fighting for is gonna be hard."



Carrie closed her eyes with a smile, "Love you."



"Love you too," Kelly smiled back, kissing her lightly.



+++++++++



Kelly followed Carrie into the building as Narvel held the door open for the two of them. Carrie made her way up to the front desk as Kelly slunk back, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible standing with Narvel and Tony.



"Hey," Carrie smiled, greeting the receptionist, glad to see that it was the same one that had been working there when she first came.



"Carrie," the woman smiled, walking from around her desk to give the country singer a hug. "It's so good to see you again. It's been way too long."



"I know. Sorry about that."



"Don't apologize," the receptionist brushed it off. "The boys will be glad to see you."



"Don't tell them. I want to surprise them."



"Good to see you haven't changed," the woman smiled as she signaled for a security guard to join them. "Frank, this is Miss Underwood. Please, escort her and her entourage at all times while they are in the building. If anybody gives them any problems, you deal with it, ok?"



"Yes ma'am," the overly large guard replied, holding his hand out to Carrie. "Frank, ma'am."



"Carrie," she smiled. "And you can drop the ma'am."



"Yes ma'am," he replied, motioning to the hall. "Right this way ma'am."



Carrie motioned for the other three to follow as they made their way through the building. She felt a soft hand bump into hers, and she didn't even have to look to the side to know that Kelly was there. Carrie linked their pinkies together as the five of them entered the elevator. Kelly found herself squished with the country singer in front of her--their two fingers still laced--and the elevator wall behind her. She took this moment to lean forward as inconspicuously as possible, kissing the back of Carrie's neck. She felt Carrie squeeze her finger, and Kelly had to pull away, the urge to kiss the rest of the soft skin becoming to strong.



"Third floor," Frank announced as the door opened, stepping aside to let the two girls pass first. "It's the one all the way to the end," he informed them, pointing to the door with a glass window that was facing them at the end of the hall. He hurried to the front of the group, as they finally reached the door, holding it open for them.



It was a small rectangular room with a couple chairs lining the walls. There was another door facing them with a small sign above it that was lit up, reading 'On-Air'.



"Right through there," he smiled.



Carrie turned to Kelly who tried to give the best reassuring smile she could muster.



"Frank," Tony said as he and Narvel pulled the burly security guard to the side to discuss whether or not it was better to have delivery from or eat at the local pizza place, giving the two girls a moment of privacy.



Carrie reached a hand up, touching Kelly's face gently, saying all that needed to be said with a gentle smile. Kelly turned her head, kissing Carrie's hand.



"Ready?" the country singer asked.



"Yes ma'am," Kelly grinned, making Carrie laugh.



"Frank," Carrie said, causing the three men to turn back to them.



"Is there a way that they can listen to the interview from in here?"



"Yes ma'am," he nodded, pointing out the speaker system.



"Could you turn it on when I go in there?"



"Yes ma'am," he smiled.



"Well," she took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."



Carrie opened the door, entering the room to find the DJ's quickly glancing upwards, their jaws dropping.



"Carrie Underwood?"



++++++++++



Carrie smiled as the two male DJ's stood, grins spreading across their faces.



"Well it's about time," Max greeted, walking around the equipment table to give her a hug.



"I thought maybe you'd gotten lost," Craig teased, getting up to hug her as well.



"Ladies and gentle men," Max said, settling back into his chair and pulling his microphone closer. "In case you didn't catch that, the one...the only...Miss Carrie Underwood is here."



"Hey y'all," Carrie smiled, settling into a chair they pulled for her in front of the spare mic as they handed her a set of headphones.



"Carrie," Craig said, sitting back down as well. "I don't believe you've met Christi. I'm pretty sure she wasn't working here the last time you came."



"No, I didn't," Carrie replied, nodding at the new blonde DJ. "Nice to meet you."



"You too," she replied shakily.



"So..." Max laughed. "Carrie Underwood..."



"Stop that," Carrie grinned. "You know I hate when you call me that."



"Haven't changed," Craig shook his head.



"How have you been girlie?" Max asked.



"Well, missing you two of course," she said.



"Aww," Craig sighed, putting a hand over his heart. "You're definitely looking good Miss Underwood. You seem to have this...liveliness about you that I haven't seen in you in a while. That's good."



"Yea, you know, I'm in a real good place in my life right now. I seriously couldn't be happier with things."



"That's great," Max nodded. "We've got to go to a quick break everyone, but y'all stick around out there. I'm sure we can wrangle Carrie into chatting us up for a bit, huh?"



"Of course," Carrie replied before Christi gave the stations line as they went to commercial break.



++++++++++



"Frank," Kelly said, standing from her chair as he stood in front of the door that led to the hall, looking out the window, waiting for trouble. The commercials for the radio station was playing over the speakers.



"Yes ma'am?" he asked, turning to face her.



"I think I should introduce myself to you," she began cautiously. "Cause you see, I think you should have a heads up."



"You're Kelly Clarkson," he smiled, proudly.



"Um, yea...I am," she furrowed her brow. "How'd you know? Is it that obvious?"



"No ma'am," he laughed. "My little girl is in love with you. She has pictures and posters of you all over our house. I feel like I see you more often than I see my wife."



Kelly giggled, "Well, thanks for not saying anything about it. I mean, we're trying to keep things quiet as long as possible."



"Your secret's safe with me," he winked. "But um, if you could only..."



Kelly smiled, taking the paper and pen that Frank offered her, "What's your daughter's name?"



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



"Wow," Craig shook his head. "I was starting to think that we weren't ever gonna hear from you again."



"Unless it was like through your 'people' or something," Max added with a playful smile.



"Come on, you know that's not me."



"That's not what I've been reading."



"Since when do you know how to read?"



"Ouch," Craig chuckled. "Yep, definitely still my girl."



"Excuse me? Who's girl?" Max asked.



"Don't you two have wives?" Carrie questioned. "Or did they finally give up on you?"



"A guy can dream, can't he?" Craig raised an eyebrow.



"And we're back here with Carrie Underwood, live in our studios," Max announced as Christi signaled to him. "So, Carrie, how's the big bad industry treating you?"



"Well, it's the industry," Carrie reminded him.



Max laughed, "So true."



"But actually, it's not all that bad. I've learned recently that my happiness is more important than anything else, and one of the things that makes me happy is my music, so it's definitely something I'm no longer afraid of fighting for."



"Major lesson to learn," Craig nodded. "Who taught you that?"



"Um, you know, I've ended up making some really amazing friends in the industry. Turns out they're not all out to get you."



"Glad to hear it," Max replied. "Because if there's any artist that I've ever met that truly deserves to be happy, it's you."



"Aw, thanks Max," she smiled. "That means a lot."



"So Carrie," Christi said. "As a girl, it is my duty to bring this up."



"Ok?"



"How's the love life? Single? Taken? What's going with you girl?"



"Um, actually...yea, I am taken," she couldn't help but beam despite the way her stomach was flipping back and forth inside of her.



++++++++++



Kelly chewed on her bottom lip nervously as her face paled.



"Are you ok?" Frank asked worriedly. He turned to Narvel and Tony, "Is she ok?"



"She'll be fine," Narvel assured him, guiding Kelly to a chair. "Just make sure to keep an eye out, out there, ok?"



"Yes sir," he nodded, obediently going back to his post.



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



"Way to hurt a man," Craig sighed.



"Is it someone we may know of?" Max asked, excited to be getting a scoop.



"You know, it just might be," Carrie nodded.



"Oo, mystery man," he teased. "Is this person here with you today?"



"How's that gonna help?" Craig asked. "We didn't see who she came in with."



"No, but maybe we can convince the guy to come in here. I mean, he's bound to be listening out there, right? What kinda guy wouldn't be listening to his girlfriend on the radio?"



"I know..." Craig smiled. "How long have you two been together?"



"How's that gonna help?" Max mocked.



"Well, we can maybe determine from the time they started dating as to what was going on around then, and maybe narrow down the field.



Carrie laughed, "For nearly half a year now."



"Wow, that's nearly a lifetime in show business," Christi commented. "Are you in love?"



"Completely."



"And the knife in my heart just goes deeper," Craig replied.



"Now wait a minute," Max held up a hand. "Are we talking puppy love here? Or the real stuff?"



"The real stuff," she nodded, smiling.



"You guys out there should see this," Max commented. "She's literally glowing right now. This really is real."



Carrie shrugged, "I don't know how else to say it: I'm head over heals for the girl."



The three other faces in the room all looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to correct her slip up, but when she didn't, they all struggled to find the words to say.



"And on that note," Max managed. "We'll be right back."