Playing With Fire

++++++++++



Kelly smiled as she sat on Carrie's lap, facing her, listening as she did another over the phone radio interview. It was her fourth that afternoon.



"Yes, it's really true," Carrie nodded, rolling her eyes, causing Kelly to have to stifle a giggle. Every interview so far always started with that question. Is it true that you're dating Kelly Clarkson? At least this DJ had the decency to wait until the end, and not just blurt it out.



Kelly's smile grew as Carrie linked her free hand with hers. Kelly brought it up, kissing the back of it. Carrie winked at her, holding her arm out, allowing Kelly to snuggle into her. She smiled at the warmth of the Texan's body against her own. She watched as Kelly unhooked their hands and started to play with her fingers, tracing around each of them.



"Well, thank you so much...that really means a lot to me," Carrie smiled. "Alright talk to y'all later. Bye."



"What really means a lot?" Kelly asked curiously.



"Oh, he said he hoped everything worked out with the two of us, and that once things settle down we can go on just living our lives and being happy."



"Well, that's sweet," Kelly replied.



"So, what's up?" Carrie asked, rubbing her back.



"I'm hungry," she admitted.



"Well, what do you want? I'm in the mood to cook, so I'll fix something up for you."



"I don't know," Kelly shrugged. "What do we have?"



"I don't know. Let's go see."



Kelly nodded, climbing off of her, and holding out her hand which Carrie took as they hopped off the bed. Kelly led her down to the kitchen before jumping onto a bar stool to watch. She always loved watching Carrie doing something, anything that was a process. She just looked so cute.



"Well..." Carrie said thoughtfully as she looked in the fridge. "Oh, we have that new pasta we wanted to try. How's that sound?"



"Good," Kelly smiled.



"And how about I grill you some fish for on the side?" Carrie asked, looking to find Kelly pouting. She laughed softly, "Kell...come on."



"But that's cheating."



"It's seafood. You have to take baby steps," Carrie reminded. "Peggy said so too, right?"



"But you're not having fish," Kelly pointed out.



Carrie walked to her, placing the ingredients on the counter before placing her hands on Kelly's knees, "You know the only important thing to me is that you're happy and healthy, right?"



"But I want to show you I can do it."



"Sweetie, I know you can. I have no doubt in my mind that you can. It's not about that, I promise. It's just that becoming a vegetarian is a big thing. It takes a while for your body to adjust. Without any meat your body is losing a serious amount of protein."



"They have vitamins for that. I'm already on some. Why can't I just up the dose?"



Carrie tried to cover her giggle, "The thing is, you don't want to just go cold turkey because you don't know how your body is going to react. Especially, since you're on tour right now, and you're burning way more energy than a normal person. Just take it slow, ok? You're already on just seafood right now, right? In a couple weeks, you'll be completely meat free. Everybody's just trying to make sure you're body's ok with it. That's a pretty expensive instrument you got there, you know? You get burnt out and sick, or you have some reaction to the vitamins or something, and I'm gonna get my butt handed to me for putting the idea in your head, alright? So at least do it for me?"



"Alright," Kelly nodded. "But can you bake it instead?"



"Sure," Carrie smiled as she leaned forward, kissing the tip of her nose, making Kelly beam. God, she loved it when she did that. And more importantly, she loved that she was the one that caused her to do that.



+++++++++++



"Anything that would make me laugh?" Kelly asked, bouncing on the sofa next to Ashley as she flipped through a gossip magazine.



"Well, apparently, someone's romance is getting hot and heavy," Ashley smiled.



"Who?"



Ashley looked at her pointedly.



"Please," Kelly laughed. "We've been hot and heavy for a long time now."



"I love that you think that I need to hear these things."



"Whatever," Kelly rolled her eyes. "You know you so want to know. Just don't think of it as Carrie, think of it as some hot guy I picked up at a bar."



"He'd look a little ridiculous in those heels she wears, don't you think?"



Kelly shrugged, "Then think of her as a drag queen."



Ashley scrunched her nose, "That's just wrong."



"I know," Kelly laughed. "I think I just grossed myself out."



Ashley shook her head.



"So why are we hot and heavy now?" Kelly asked curiously, looking at the magazine she was reading.



"Well," Ashley said, turning back a couple pages to the article. "First there's the fact that the tour bus was parked where people could see the two of you going in and not coming out until the next morning."



"We could've been in separate bunks, they don't know that. I mean, we weren't," she added as Ashley laughed. "But still."



"And then there's the two of you meeting with Reba for a nice little breakfast," Ashley continued as she scanned through the article. "And then," she turned the page. "There's the kiss."



Kelly smiled at the picture of her kissing Carrie briefly after the two country singer's had rejoined her in the front of the cafe. There was another one of Carrie kissing Kelly's temple, her arm around her waist. "Well, I mean, if they're suggesting we slept together on the bus, is it really that much surprise that we kissed?"



"You don't get it," Ashley shook her head. "This is the first picture anyone's gotten of the two of you kissing. That's a big deal to them."



Kelly's smile grew as she touched the picture, "Can I have that?"



"Sure, why?"



"I wanna frame it."



Ashley laughed, handing her the magazine, "Knock yourself out."



+++++++++



"What's that?" Carrie asked, walking up behind Kelly, wrapping her arms around her. She had just gotten back from interviews all morning long. Because she was spending all weekend with Kelly every week, her weekdays were completely full with work, making it even rarer than normal for them to be at the same place at the same time.



"It's our first picture kissing in a magazine," Kelly replied, placing the now framed picture on her desk next to her computer. She had also told Ashley buy another copy of the magazine so she could put one in the house at Texas.



Carrie laughed, "Well, check us out. Do you have your stuff packed and ready to go?"



"Yep," Kelly nodded, ready to catch the flight in a few hours that would take them to Virginia where the tour would pick up the next day. "You?"



"Yea, I made a trip to my house this morning before all the interviews and stuff."



"So, that's why you left so early."



"Yea, sorry," Carrie replied, kissing her shoulder sweetly. "But hey, once I have time to move all my stuff over here and to Texas, we won't have that problem anymore."



"True," Kelly smiled. "Everything went good today?"



"Same old questions."



"We never got around to discussing how it went with you and Reba," Kelly pointed out, turning around in her arms to face her.



"The usual," Carrie shrugged.



Kelly nodded.



"But I do have to say, it's kinda getting aggravating."



"What is?" Kelly asked curiously.



"Us having to constantly explain our love for one another. I mean, I swear the next time someone asks why I love you, I'm just going to be like, 'Because I do, damn it'."



Kelly giggled as she always did when Carrie cursed, "Well I love you because I do too...damn it."



Carrie laughed, "You're lucky you're cute."



"Please," Kelly smiled, wrapping her arms around Carrie and pulling her closer. "You are so wrapped around my pinky and you know it."



"Ain't it the truth," Carrie nodded, knowing she would do absolutely anything the shorter girl would ever ask of her without so much as a hesitation.



"But that's ok, cause I'm kinda wrapped too."



Carrie smiled, hugging her tightly.



"How did we ever get so corny?" Kelly laughed, pulling back.



"I don't know."



"I think it's you. I seriously think you stole all my mojo," Kelly nodded. "You know, I used to be sexy as hell before I knew you, now I'm a freaking romantic."



Carrie laughed, "There's nothing wrong with being romantic."



Kelly rolled her eyes.



"Besides," Carrie added, leaning in to her ear, her hands slipping under Kelly's shirt, running up and down the curve of her back. "You are still sexy as hell."



A chill ran down Kelly's spine, and she shivered slightly in Carrie's arms, making the country singer laugh again as she kissed her cheek before pulling back.



"Oh," Carrie remembered. "Reba did ask about your mom and what was up with all that."



"What did you say?"



"I said she should ask you that."



"You could've talked about it. I wouldn't have minded," Kelly replied.



"I know. But it just wasn't my place."



Kelly nodded, "So I'm guessing I'm gonna be getting the 3rd degree?"



"Probably."



"Ironic timing, huh?"



"How so?"



"Well, tomorrow night we're in Virginia, then the next two we will be in good ole North Carolina."



Carrie smiled sadly, "Sorry."



"It's not your fault," Kelly replied, leaning into her as Carrie pulled her closer.



"You think any of your family are gonna be there?"



"I don't know. I mean, they have tickets. I gave them some before all of this blew up. Whether they use them or not..."



"Well shoot, if they don't want to be there, then we don't want them there," Carrie replied firmly.



Kelly frowned, her head resting on Carrie's shoulder, "Actually, I'm afraid that they will be there."



"To cause trouble?"



"You never know."



"Kell...that is your family. Remember that."



"That's not my family," Kelly shook her head. "You, Jason, Alyssa, Ashley...y'all are my family. The couple of those in my family that have actually contacted me, saying that they support me, and are sorry about all of this, that's my family. Everyone else...they can just kiss it."



Carrie couldn't help but laugh softly.



"I'm glad you're here on the tour with me," Kelly said. "Even if that means I hardly get to see you during the week, I love getting to share it all with you."



"Me too," Carrie nodded, yawning.



"You want to take a nap before the flight?"



"Will you be joining me in this said nap?"



"Well yea," Kelly smiled.



"Then absolutely," Carrie replied with a grin. She led them over to the bed as they kicked off their shoes, and she pulled the covers back allowing Kelly to jump in. She slid in right behind her, wrapping an arm around her stomach, their bodies molding together perfectly as her hand slipped into the Texan's. It always amazed her how quickly they could do that.



She smiled as Kelly turned her face upward, kissing her cheek before laying back down, "Love you too."



++++++++++



"That's bull and you know it," Carrie laughed, looking down at the scrabble board as they sat on the bus after the Virginia show had gone off perfectly.



"I'd say that's pretty damn good scrabble playing, that's what that is," Kelly smiled.



Ashley laughed, "She's right."



"An 's'?" Carrie asked. "You add an 's' to a word I worked my butt off for, and it conveniently lands on a triple word score? What kinda evil person are you?"



"The competitive kind," Kelly grinned.



"Hello ladies," the heard a familiar twang enter the bus.



"Hey Reba," Kelly replied, not even bothering to look over her shoulder at her as she studied the board closely for her next move.



"I brought some tea for you two," Reba smiled, setting the drinks down in front of Ashley and Kelly. "And a coffee for you...decaf. I figured I didn't need you keeping Kelly up all night."



"Thanks," Carrie laughed, accepting the drink as Ashley slid over to let her sit.



"So, what's going on?"



"Nothing much," Kelly shrugged. "You want to play?"



"I don't want to mess up y'alls game."



"Doesn't matter, they can't catch up anyway," she said honestly.



"Hey, you never know," Carrie replied.



"Care..."



"She's right," Carrie nodded. "She was kicking our butts."



Reba laughed, "Well, alright then."



"Actually," Ashley said, getting up.



Reba stood to allow her to slid out.



"I'm gonna be heading to bed," she announced.



"Alright," Kelly nodded, laughing as Ashley ruffled her hair as she passed. "See you tomorrow."



Ashley waved over her shoulder as she walked off the bus and into the back entrance of the hotel where the band and every one else were staying.



++++++++++



"So, how long are you going to dance around it?" Kelly asked curiously, watching as Reba studied the board. "Because normally you just jump right into it."



Reba sighed, "Carrie told you?"



Kelly smiled, "She tells me everything."



Carrie nodded in agreement when Reba turned to her.



"Do you want to talk about it?" Reba asked worriedly.



"There's not much to talk about," Kelly replied, placing a word down for her turn. "My mother disowned me then sold me out to the entire world."



It's funny, Carrie thought to herself as she took Kelly's hand in her own. She was there when all of it happened, and it still killed her to hear the Texan talk about it.



Reba shook her head, "I really don't understand. I mean, I know your mother, Kelly. That really doesn't sound like something she would do."



"Yea, well, unless she has an evil twin..."



"Kell..." Carrie said gently.



"Jason told her," Kelly began. "He had walked in on us and freaked. Another one of those forgetting to lock the door moments. Carrie and I had a bit of a falling out because of it, and she left. I was upset. Jason was pissed, and he kind of blurted it out."



"So, she didn't take it well?" Reba asked.



Kelly shook her head, "I don't think she took it at all. It was...weird. She asked if he was telling the truth, and I said yea, Carrie and I were dating. She heard the 'were' and seemed satisfied to write it off as a phase no matter how much I tried to correct her."



"Seems like she was just in a bit of shock."



"I guess," Kelly shrugged. "So, that's when Carrie started having trouble with her CD and everything. She ended up on my doorstep," Kelly laughed softly. "Naturally, we ended up back together. That's also around the time when you and I were on Oprah, and I performed on the NFL kick off thingy."



Reba smiled, "I still have no idea how I didn't see it back then."



"When we got back, my mom was there. She'd somehow found out about us being back together. I think it was a picture some fans had took or whatever. Anyway, she was there, and she knew. Except, she kept trying to act like she didn't. It was driving me crazy. I was so worn out from trying to keep up with it all. Then one day for lunch...just a simple lunch...my mom," Kelly shook her head, squeezing Carrie's hand. "She gave Carrie a real hamburger, not telling her, and I know that may not seem like a big deal to you--"



"No, I get it," Reba nodded. "I have some friends who are vegans. I totally get it."



"And that's the thing," Kelly frowned, her voice catching slightly. "She did too. My mom completely understood what she was doing. Carrie already explained all of it to her. So, Carrie took off running to the bathroom, which naturally upset me seeing her like that. My mom got mad because I was taking Carrie's side in it, and I blurted out that we were dating which of course is what she had been waiting for the entire time. She went off about how I wasn't her daughter anymore. About her I disgusted her."



"So then what happened?" Reba asked gently.



"I did what I always do, and I ran. Jason came after me. By then he had come around to the idea of Carrie and I being together. He's been great about it, really. So, he got me to calm down. We went back inside and up to my room where we found my mom, Carrie, and Ashley. My mom was going off on Carrie, and Carrie finally decided to stand up for herself. When she did...my mom did something she never had the right to do, so I kicked her out of my house."



Reba looked at Carrie who was in turn studying Kelly carefully, watching for the first sign that she was growing upset because as soon as she did, she would put an end to the conversation. Reba smiled, despite the subject of conversation as she turned back to Kelly.



"So, that's the last time you talked to her?"



"Unfortunately not," Kelly shook her head. "I went on tour. Carrie and I made it through that in one piece. She was there when I got back home to Texas to surprise me. However, so was my mother."



"Do you know why?"



"I think her first hope would be that we wouldn't be together anymore," Kelly admitted. "I hadn't exactly had the best luck in the past making long distance relationships work."



"But this time you did."



"This time I actually wanted to. But when she realized that we were together, I thought that maybe she was there to set things right, you know? Well, actually, at first I didn't really care why she was there, but Carrie got me to calm down enough to think about it, so..."



"Is that why she was there? To fix things between the two of you?" Reba asked.



Kelly shook her head, "She was there to break us up. Every chance she got, she was ripping Carrie down. Carrie stood up for herself. I, admittedly, should've stood up for her sooner, but I was just so torn."



Carrie squeezed her hand reassuringly.



"Then, as was bound to happen, my mom crossed the line one more time, and so I kicked her out for good, telling her that she had been right. She wasn't my mom, at least not the one I grew up with. Then, well, the rest you know."



Reba reached out, taking her free hand in her own, patting it soothingly, "I'm so sorry, sweetie."



"It's fine," Kelly shrugged. "You learn to deal, I guess.



"But that is something a child should never have to deal with," Reba shook her head.



"It's not like I have much of a choice."



"Maybe we should call it a night," Carrie suggested, feeling Kelly's hand shaking slightly in her own.



"Yea," Reba agreed, noting the change in Kelly's demeanor as well. She stood up, along with both girls. "Thanks," she whispered, hugging Carrie good night.



Carrie nodded as she pulled back, watching as Reba wrapped Kelly in a warm, motherly embrace. She heard the Texan sniff loudly and noticed her shaking shoulders. Yet, Carrie relaxed, knowing that the way Reba was holding her, and whatever it was that she was whispering in her ear were things Kelly had needed for a long time now.



"Get some sleep," Reba said, pulling away, rubbing Kelly's back.



Kelly nodded, wiping her eyes.



"Make sure she does," Reba told Carrie as she walked passed her, squeezing her shoulder gently.



Carrie nodded, watching as she walked off the bus. She walked to Kelly, wrapping her arms around her from behind, "You ready for bed?"



"Yea," she nodded, letting out a sigh of content at the feeling of Carrie's lips pressing against the back of her neck, her arms hugging her tightly.