Playing With Fire

+++++++++



Carrie opened the door to her room carefully, poking her head in. Kelly was sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard with her baby niece in her arms. The sweet sound of a lullaby escaped her lips, and Carrie smiled. Did that little girl realize how lucky she was?



"How's it going?" Carrie asked quietly, walking in and closing the door behind her.



Kelly just smiled at her peacefully, tilting her head to the side in a sign for the country singer to join her. Carrie climbed onto the bed, sitting right beside her as Kelly continued to sing softly.



"I think things have calmed down for a while," Carrie commented, keeping her voice low as she rested her head on Kelly's shoulder. Kelly kissed her softly before picking up the song once more. "Things are gonna change now."



"Everybody keeps saying that," Kelly nodded, looking at the sleeping baby in her arms fondly.



"You don't think so anymore?"



"I think," Kelly began, smiling as Izzy wrinkled her nose cutely. "I think they can only change what we allow them to change."



"Have I told you that I love you yet today?" Carrie asked, sitting up.



"Yea," Kelly turned to her. She had such a glow radiating from her, causing Carrie's heart to flutter. "But that is one thing I will never tire of hearing."



"I love you," Carrie grinned.



"I love you too," Kelly replied, allowing Carrie to kiss her.



They pulled apart slowly, and Carrie rested her head back on Kelly's shoulder as the Texan once more began to sing softly.



++++++++++



Kelly looked up as the door opened for a second time. She could hear Carrie's soft breathing, and she knew that she had now sung the country singer to sleep as well.



Alyssa smiled at the scene she walked in on, "How's my two favorite girls?"



"Happy," Kelly replied as Alyssa carefully slid onto the bed on the other side of her, trying her best not to wake either of the two sleeping girls.



"You know, you don't have to hold her the entire time. You can lay out her blanket on the floor and just set her down," Alyssa informed her. "She'll be fine."



"My niece is not going to sleep on the floor," she frowned.



Alyssa rolled her eyes, "You're gonna spoil her just like you spoiled Noah, aren't you?"



"Oh, I'm gonna do so much more damage with this one," Kelly grinned.



"Tell me the truth," Alyssa said, squeezing her knee gently. "How are you holding up?"



"I'm good," she nodded. "I don't think everything that's happened has completely sunk in yet, though."



"Have you thought much about mom?"



"No."



"I really think--"



"No," Kelly replied, struggling to keep an edge out of her voice, not wanting to agitate the sleeping baby.



"Kelly--"



"What's wrong?" Carrie asked, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.



Kelly couldn't help but smile--her niece didn't notice her change of emotion, but the country singer definitely had.



"Nothing," Kelly smiled at her.



Carrie looked past her to Alyssa, "Hi."



"Hey," she nodded.



"What'd you do?"



Alyssa raised an eyebrow.



"Care," Kelly laughed softly. "It's fine."



Carrie eyed Alyssa carefully, "So, you wanted to talk?"



"Why Kelly?" Alyssa asked bluntly. "Why my sister?"



Kelly sighed, unhappy about where this conversation was headed, but knowing it had to be done.



Carrie smiled, "You've known her for 25 years now, and you can't figure out why I love her?"



"I just want to hear what you have to say."



"Because she makes me a better person," Carrie replied. "Because when I look in her eyes, I know I have a purpose in my life."



Alyssa nodded slightly, as if urging her to continue.



Kelly squirmed, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable sitting in between the two.



Carrie laughed slightly, "Alright. Because she's literally the most gorgeous person I've ever met inside and out. I mean, she would do anything for anyone in need. When she loves, she does it so fiercely, that you know that she's truly a gift from above. I've never met someone before that could just give so much of themselves, and yet still have more to give. I know she loves me with all of her heart, and I know that's so huge for her, and the fact that she's found something in me that she trusts with that just makes me fall for her all over again. I mean, when I'm standing next to her, and she smiles at me, with that light dancing in her eyes, and we share this moment as if we're the only two people in the world, and then I look further into her eyes, and I can see that she has so much more love to show, that if I can only somehow manage to be patient enough and kind enough then I'll be able to experience it."



Alyssa just studied her.



"Then of course there's the fact that she's breathtakingly beautiful slash adorable slash sexy slash gorgeous slash hot all rolled into one pint size song goddess. When I wake up next to her--"



Alyssa held up a hand, her cheeks red, "That's enough."



Carrie smiled, "Just wanted to let you know how I feel."



"I get the picture," she nodded. "I just have another question, though."



"Sure."



"How? I mean, did you just wake up and decide, ok I'm gonna fall for a girl?"



"Alyssa," Kelly groaned.



Carrie laughed, "Um, no, it was more of a realization. I woke up, and she was the first thing I thought of. The first time I kissed her, it was purely instinct. I couldn't think of anything else at that moment. I didn't stop to think of what it meant about me or about her or about the repercussions that would follow. I just felt like I needed to kiss her that I needed to feel her against me that I needed her in my life."



Alyssa nodded, "From what I can tell you're a good kid with a good heart that's in the right place. I mean, I'd have to be blind not to see how the two of you take care of each other. Just please...please don't--"



"I won't," Carrie replied quickly, smiling in relief at having once less obstacle to overcome.



+++++++++++



"Narvel," Carrie said, looking out the window in the backseat. "Are you sure we're going the right way?"



"To the airport?" he asked. "Yep."



"I really don't think we are," she frowned, not quite sure because of the night sky.



"We're going to a different one," he explained.



"Um, Narvel, we're in Oklahoma. There aren't that many airports around here."



"Trust me on this," he replied.



Carrie nodded, turning to watch Kelly who was staring intently out of her window.



"Kell?"



"I'm ok," she nodded, turning to give her a small smile. "I'll just be glad when we're home and able to relax a bit."



"Me too," Carrie smiled, laying down across the seat and resting her head in Kelly's lap. Kelly ran her fingers through her hair as she went back to staring out the window.



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



"Here we are," Narvel announced.



Carrie sat up, and Kelly rubbed her eyes.



"Narvel, have you lost it?" Kelly asked as she looked out the window at the private hanger they were parked in front of.



"It was the best solution," he shrugged, getting out.



The two singers followed as a second vehicle that Stephen was driving pulled up behind them. He got out along with Tony, Ashley, and Jason the latter of two with wide eyes.



"A private jet?" Jason grinned as they walked to the back. He and Ashley raced up the stairs.



"Narvel, this is ridiculous," Kelly frowned. "What happened to the plane?"



"Word spread faster than even we thought it would," he replied. "There've been reporters at the airport all day today, waiting."



"So? Let them get a picture. It's better than all this secretive crap," she snapped back before walking up the stairs and onto the jet.



Narvel sighed, rubbing his forehead.



"She didn't mean that," Carrie said softly. "She knows you're only looking out for us, and she does appreciate that. She's just...it's just all a lot to take in, you know?"



"Yea," he nodded, patting her shoulder.



"I'll talk to her," she promised.



"Thanks."



"Love you daddy," she smiled as Stephen pulled her into a hug.



"Love you too baby girl."



Carrie grinned, loving the feeling that him calling her that again brought about, "You ready Tony?"



"Yea, I'll be right there. I just gotta talk to Narvel real quick," Tony replied.



Carrie nodded, before turning and walking onto the plane herself. She noticed Kelly sitting all the way in the back, and she went join her, sitting beside her, waiting for take off.



Tony boarded not long after and the door was shut, and the jet was put into motion.



Carrie closed her eyes tightly, and she felt a small hand slip into her own. She turned to find Kelly still glaring out the window, but holding onto her hand comfortingly. Carrie wanted to cry. That was one of the reasons she loved the girl sitting next to her so much. Because even when she was going through hell, she always knew when Carrie needed something, and was willing to give it.



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



The plane leveled off, and Carrie let out a deep breath.



"Kell," Carrie said gently.



"What?"



"You know Narvel was only trying to help us, right?"



"Yea."



"Well, don't you think you were a little harsh back there?" she asked softly.



"Yea," she nodded, her voice cracking.



Carrie closed her eyes for a moment, fighting back her own tears. The thought of Kelly crying was the one thing that would get her every time.



"Come see," Carrie said, standing up and pulling the Texan along with her to the back of the plane and into the bathroom. Carrie closed and locked the door behind them. "Baby, what's going on?"



"I don't know," Kelly replied, her tears now falling. "I just want to be able to live my life with you. That's all I want. Why is that so hard?"



"I don't know," Carrie said. "But if it helps, that's all I want too."



Kelly smiled as she linked their hands together, pulling her closer. Carrie smiled back, feeling her pulse quicken as they locked eyes, holding each other's gaze.



"Did you really mean what you said to Alyssa?"



"Oh God, every word and so much more," Carrie replied.



"I just thought you used to tell me that stuff just to get me in bed," Kelly grinned. "But to hear you admit it to someone else...that was just...wow."



Carrie laughed softly, watching as Kelly's eyes drifted to her lips, "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"



"Trust me," she said, running her fingers over Carrie's lips. "It's nothing compared to what I'm looking at."



Carrie closed her eyes at the touch. She felt Kelly's fingers slide to beneath her chin, tilting her head upwards. She soon felt Kelly's lips on her neck, and she reached behind herself, leaning against the sink for support. Kelly's lips parted, and Carrie moaned at the feeling of the Texan's tongue against her skin.



"Are you sure about this?" Carrie asked, fighting the way her head was beginning to spin.



Kelly mumbled against her neck, and Carrie's knees went weak.



"I mean..." the country singer struggled. "We're both highly emotional right now."



Kelly pulled back, her eyes already growing cloudy, "Highly emotional...drunk...you realize we're together now, right? You don't have to worry about taking advantage of me. I'm your's whenever, where ever."



"Oh thank God," Carrie replied, pulling her in for a kiss.



Kelly felt dizzy at the softness of Carrie's lips on hers. She broke the kiss, going back to what she had been doing before the interruption: kissing her way down Carrie's neck. She slowly made her way down the front of Carrie's shirt. Carrie's face flushed just from the feeling of Kelly's lips through the material. Kelly knelt down as she made it to the waistband of Carrie's jeans, undoing the button with a smile. Her hands slid underneath the country singer's shirt, raising it as she kissed her way back up her girlfriend's body, this time taking her time to enjoy the taste of her skin. Kelly lifted the shirt off of Carrie as she stood back up, her hands on the blonde's bare hips. Carrie licked her lips at the smirk the shorter girl was wearing.



Kelly giggled, "Ready to join the mile high club?"



Carrie laughed, "You need to learn when not to talk."



"Like now?" Kelly asked, leaning in for a kiss.



"Definitely like now," Carrie whispered before their lips met again. Kelly felt Carrie's tongue against her lips, and she placed one arm around the country singer's waist and the other on the sink behind them for support.



Carrie broke the kiss enough to place a soft line of kisses along Kelly's jaw line. She felt Kelly's arm slip from around her as the Texan unzipped her jeans. Carrie pulled away, bringing a hand up to push Kelly's bangs out of her eyes. Kelly smiled at the gentle touch, always amazed at how little had to be said between them in order to know what was going on in the other's head.



Kelly slowly kissed her way back down to her knees, one hand still on the sink, the other on Carrie's stomach as she kissed along the gentle slope of her hip bone. A sudden jerk of the jet caused her to fall back on the floor as Carrie grabbed the sink tightly.



"Will everybody please take their seats," a voice over the intercom announced as another jolt went through the plane. "We seem to have hit a rough patch. But don't worry, according to the weather we should be out of it in no time."



Kelly quickly pushed herself to her feet, prying Carrie's hands off of the sink and taking them into her own, "You ok?"



Carrie shook her head, her wide eyes full of fear.



"It's gonna be ok," Kelly assured her, grabbing her shirt for her. "He said it's nothing to worry about."



"Kell," she bit her bottom lip.



"Care, I promise, it's nothing to worry about," Kelly swore, putting her shirt back on for her. "This happens all the time when you fly."



Another bump and Kelly watched Carrie's eyes tear up.



"Sweetie," Kelly sighed, kissing her gently. "Come on. Let's go sit down. You'll feel better when you're buckled up."



Carrie nodded, allowing Kelly to guide her by the hand out of the bathroom and back to their seats. Kelly did her seatbelt for her before doing her own.



"Better?" she asked, allowing Carrie to hold her hand as tightly as she wished.



"Yea," Carrie replied shakily, clenching Kelly's hand with all she had as they hit another bump.



Kelly leaned over, kissing her temple before whispering in her ear, "It'll be ok."



++++++++



"Home sweet home," Carrie smiled, dropping her bags on the floor in Kelly's room. She walked up behind the Texan, wrapping her arms around her stomach and pulled her back into an embrace.



Kelly sighed in content as she leaned into her, "Home?"



"I couldn't think of a better place," Carrie replied, swaying them back and forth. "Why?"



"I don't know," she shrugged. "I just thought you'd want to stay in Nashville."



"So what? You were gonna just sell this place?"



"If that's what you wanted."



"Kell..." Carrie smiled, turning her around so she could look at her. "I would never ask you to get rid of this place. This is your home way so much more than Nashville ever was to me. Plus, you and Jason put so much work into it. I love it."



"Really?"



"I've never felt more at home than when we're walking outside on that huge ass yard hand in hand, or when I'm holding you on that bed right there. I mean, there's already so many memories here. This is it."



"But we're still gonna need a place to stay in Nashville," Kelly pointed out.



"Then we'll decide when we get back there which one we want to keep," Carrie replied.



"I never moved in with anybody before," Kelly admitted nervously.



Carrie linked her hands behind Kelly's back, watching her patiently.



She smiled at the country singer's adoring gaze, "Then again, I've never loved someone like this either..."



Carrie beamed.



"Thank you!" Kelly let out a squeal of happiness, as she let herself relax in the moment. She threw her arms around Carrie's neck, pulling her into a tight hug. "This is our home," she repeated over and over again, leaving butterfly kisses all over the other blonde's face.



Carrie laughed, feeling her heart swell at the thought that she was the one that was able to make the Texan this happy.



++++++++++



"So?" Kelly asked Jason as she sat next to him on the sofa the next morning. He had quickly changed the channel when she walked into the room, a sure sign that he had been watching an entertainment news show.



"Kelly," he shook his head.



"How bad?" she asked firmly.



Jason sighed, "It ranges. Some say they knew it all along--"



"Knew what?"



"That you were..."



Kelly rolled her eyes, but signaled for him to continue.



"Others think it's all some big joke like for that television show Pop Fiction or whatever. Others don't think it's a joke, merely a scam for publicity."



"And the ones who believe it?"



"Some have made supportive comments."



"And others?" she asked nervously.



"Apparently rednecks now have the ability to damn you to hell. Who knew?"



Kelly sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly, "You know what? No more updates, ok? I don't want to hear a single thing those jackasses have to say."



"That's the spirit," Jason smiled, patting her back. "There's some breakfast in the kitchen if you want."



"Thanks," she nodded, standing and making her way to the kitchen.



Carrie waited before Kelly exited the room before walking in a joining Jason on the couch.



"Slept good?" he asked.



"Yea," she nodded. "So tell me the truth about what they're saying."



"What makes you think I wasn't telling Kelly the truth?" Jason asked curiously.



"Because you try to protect her at every opportunity you get," Carrie reminded.



Jason smiled, patting her knee, "I told her the truth. Some people are happy. Some aren't, but we expected that, right?"



"Yea," she nodded, eyeing him carefully.



"Carrie, I'm being honest with you," he assured her.



"Good," she smiled, standing. "Thanks."



Jason nodded, watching her walk to the kitchen to join Kelly. He groaned, placing his face in his hands. Ashley couldn't help but laugh as she sat in the recliner.



"What's up?"



"When did I go from thinking she was hot to thinking of her as a sister?" Jason asked, looking through his fingers.



"You were protecting her weren't you?" Ashley questioned.



He frowned, shutting off the television.



"So how bad is it really?"



"Well, I was telling the truth about what they were saying on television," he replied. "But I mean, it's t.v., they have to be p.c. if they don't want some activists suing their asses."



Ashley nodded, "But?"



"Online," he said simply.



"How bad?" she asked again.



"Ashley, honestly, it's bad," he took a deep breath, lowering his voice to make sure the two singers in the kitchen didn't overhear. "I mean, sure they're the hardcore fans that will defend them with all they have, but you wouldn't believe how fickle some people are and how fast they will turn on you."



"We already knew that," Ashley replied. "Do you remember her last record?"



"That has nothing on this. I mean, some of the things they're saying, it just makes me want to..." Jason trailed off as he closed his eyes tightly.



Ashley frowned, "So you just aren't going to give them a heads up?"



"Well, it's not like they're expecting the world to welcome them with open arms. They know not everybody is going to agree with this."



"Jason, they deserve to know."



"Give them these two weeks," he pleaded. "That's the least we can do for Kelly after all that she's given us, and for Carrie for all that she's given Kell."



Ashley nodded, "But no false hope, you hear me? If they ask again--"



"I'll be straightforward," he nodded surely.