Playing With Fire

++++++++



"So, what's this?" Kelly asked, poking the food before her as they sat down backstage for an early dinner. Fortunately, there hadn't been any incidents like the day before when it came time for them to exit the bus.



"Don't question," Peggy laughed, slapping her hand away and placing a plate in front of Carrie. "Just try it."



"You wouldn't poison me, would you?"



"Have I ever made anything that you didn't like?"



"Well, no, actually."



"Ok, now eat," she smiled. "It's a recipe I got from Cory. I tried it a while back. It's good. I'm gonna go fix the guys some. They said they wanted to try it as well."



Carrie laughed softly at Kelly's face, "You're the one that wanted to be a vegetarian."



"Well, it seemed like the right thing to do, I mean, I'm dating, what is it again? The hottest Vegan of the year."



Carrie rolled her eyes, "That was so like two years ago, are you going to let me live that down? I mean, I know plenty of hot lists that you were on, including maxim."



"Yea, but that's more popularity than actual hotness factor."



"Whatever," Carrie laughed, taking a bite. "It actually is pretty good. Try some."



Kelly frowned.



Carrie scooped up a bite on her fork, holding it in front of the Texan.



Kelly opened her mouth obediently, allowing Carrie to feed her.



"Mm, wow," she said swallowing. "I actually like that."



"Good, now eat."



"Oh, shoot, my phone," Kelly said, pulling it out of her pocket as it started to ring. Her face lit up, "Hey."



"Hey sweetie."



"Damn, 'Lyssa, you have no idea how good it is to hear from you right now," Kelly admitted, resting her forehead on her hand. Carrie smiled at the relief in Kelly's voice.



"I know, sorry we couldn't make it last night. Izzy had this cough that had us worried, and you know..."



"No, no, it's fine," Kelly assured her. "Is she ok?"



"Yea, she's fine. I have to say, I think she knows we're going see you tonight. She's bouncing away, all giggly in her car seat right now."



"Aw, well, tell her I can't wait to see her too," she smiled. "What time are y'all getting here?"



"Um..." she heard her sister question her husband who was probably driving.



"Around six-thirty," she head her brother-in-law answer.



"Around six-thirty," Alyssa repeated. "You want us to come see you before the show or what?"



"Yea, just come on to the back when y'all get here. I'll tell Brian to look out for y'all."



"Alright, we'll be there in a couple hours."



"Can't wait," Kelly replied, honestly.



"Kelly, is everything ok?"



"Yea, I just...I miss my family, you know?"



"Aw, well don't worry, we miss you too, ok? I love you sweetie."



"Love you too 'Lyssa."



"Alright, behave until we get there."



"Ok," Kelly smiled. "Bye."



"Bye."



"You good now?" Carrie asked gently.



"Yea," Kelly nodded, taking a bite out of her dinner.



+++++++++++



Kelly laughed as Carrie tugged playfully on her bottom lip. She felt the country singer's teeth graze her skin, and she shivered in delight.



Carrie pulled back in a smile, happy that Kelly had put the past days events in the back of her mind long enough to be able to have fun at that night's show. After all, what was the point of touring with your hero, if you couldn't even enjoy it?



"So, remind me why we pushed the pre-show ritual up?" Kelly asked, her eyes dancing as she gazed at Carrie's lips, unabashed.



"Because Ashley was complaining about me messing up your make-up," Carrie laughed.



"It would be off in minutes anyway as soon as I stepped under the stage lights."



"Yea, but that wouldn't be my fault, and Ashley scares me."



Kelly laughed, tugging on her shirt, pulling her closer as they kissed again.



"I'm happy you're happy," Carrie breathed against her lips.



"I'm happy you're a good kisser," Kelly replied, capturing her lips once more.



Carrie giggled as they pulled away at the sound of someone knocking on the door. She raised an eyebrow, "You locked it?"



"You live you learn," she grinned as Carrie moved from her lap, allowing her to get up to answer the door. She felt something solid run straight into her legs.



"Aunt Kelly!"



Kelly laughed as she bent down to hug her nephew, "Hey my man."



"Look, they gave me a backstage pass," he grinned, showing her the pass around his neck.



"Wow, you must pretty cool in order to get one of those."



"Is that Carrie?" he asked, looking over her shoulder.



"Yea, you remember her from Christmas?"



"Yea, can I go talk to her?"



"Sure, of course," Kelly nodded, standing, touching the top of his head softly as he passed to join Carrie on the couch.



"I think he has his first crush," Alyssa smiled down at her baby sister. "He's been talking about her nonstop since we left Oklahoma."



"Well, I can't say I blame him," Kelly smiled.



"Come here you," Alyssa said, pulling her into a hug.



"I'm so happy to see you," Kelly admitted, burying her face in her sister's shoulder.



"Me too," Alyssa replied, rubbing her back gently. "But I think, there's someone else who's actually more excited if that's possible."



Kelly pulled back to see Sean holding her baby niece who's arms were outstretched towards her, reaching out enthusiastically.



"She's getting so big," Kelly cooed, taking her into her arms, cradling her closely. "Hey Izzy. You missed me?"



She grinned, kicking excitedly in Kelly's arms.



"You're getting so beautiful," Kelly smiled, kissing the top of the head as they walked into the dressing room. She sat on the couch, next to Carrie, Alyssa sitting on the other side of her while her husband sat in Kelly's make-up chair.



"Aunt Kelly, guess what," Noah grinned from the other side of Carrie.



"What, buddy?"



"Carrie said she'll take me to my first dance."



"Oh, did she now?" Kelly raised an eyebrow at her girlfriend.



Carrie shrugged innocently, "He's got your eyes, and you know how I can't turn them down."



Kelly laughed, "Well, you sure about that, Noah? I mean, your first dance will be like ten years from now. Carrie's gonna be old and wrinkly by then."



"I will not," Carrie fussed, hitting her arm. "I'll only be thirty-five."



"Hey, careful, baby here," Kelly reminded, smiling down at her niece as she gripped onto her finger tightly.



"Thirty-five is kind of old," Noah realized.



"Gee, thanks Kell. Now I won't have a date."



"Don't worry. I can think of somebody who won't mind you be old and wrinkly," Kelly winked at her, sitting Isabella up on her knee, bouncing playfully.



"Um, Noah, why don't you and Daddy take a tour of the stage, and go say hi to the guys in the band. I'm sure they'll be glad to see you and how big you've gotten, and I bet Carrie would love to take you," Alyssa said, looking at the country singer hopefully.



"Oh yea, definitely," she nodded, turning to the five year old. "Besides, I'm not old and wrinkly yet. You better enjoy me while you still can."



Kelly narrowed her eyes as her brother-in-law made to pick up Isabella, "Sean, you know I love you, but if you take her I'll bite you, I swear I will."



"Point taken," he laughed, backing away, following Carrie and Noah out of the dressing room.



Alyssa smiled as she watched Kelly mimicking the noises coming from Izzy's mouth, bouncing her on her knee.



"So how you've been, kiddo?" Alyssa asked, patting her back.



"Ok," Kelly nodded, sitting up straight, still making faces at her niece, making her giggle.



"I watched the news this morning," Alyssa replied. "They had footage from the protest."



"Yea," Kelly sighed.



"You want to talk about it?"



"How long have you known me now?"



Alyssa laughed, "I know, but as your older sister, I have to at least try, right?"



"I don't know," Kelly shrugged. "I'm the youngest. I never got the handbook."



She watched Kelly stick her tongue out at Izzy, earning a loud giggle, and she sighed, "I saw Mom...in the footage."



"Yea, she was definitely there."



"How was that?"



"She picked her side. There's nothing I can do about it now."



"Kelly, I doubt she's picked sides," Alyssa soothed.



"She didn't watch the show," Kelly frowned, watching as the smile faded from Izzy's face as well. Babies always reminded her of dogs in that sense, even though they had know clue what was going on, they could read your emotions so easily.



"That doesn't mean she's picked their side."



"She was waiting in my dressing room after to talk."



"And?"



"She picked," Kelly nodded, wrapping her niece in her arms again as she reached out for her.



"What am I supposed to say to make this better?" Alyssa asked worriedly.



"There's nothing in that handbook of yours?" Kelly gave a shaky laugh.



"I'm afraid not," she sighed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and kissing the top of her head.



"I'm sorry about dragging all of y'all through this."



"Don't be."



"What?"



"Do you love her?" Alyssa asked.



"Well yea."



"Then don't be sorry. Love is something you should never have to apologize for."



Kelly felt her eyes stinging, and Alyssa kissed the top of her head once more.



"What's that?" she asked, pointing to the book on the make-up counter.



Kelly raised an eyebrow, "My Bible."



"Catching up on some reading?"



"I didn't bring it in here," Kelly shook her head, standing up to grab it and sitting back down again. She flipped to the page that the sticky note was marking. Carrie's hand writing decorated it simply, and her eyes scanned the page for the verse that Carrie had pointed out.



"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends," Kelly read slowly before looking back at the note Carrie had left on the sticky note: I LOVE you. xxCarrie.



"Looks like she isn't sorry either," Alyssa smiled gently, rubbing her little sister's back.



Both looked up at the sound of the door opening as Ashley walked in.



"Hey," Ashley smiled, hugging Alyssa as she stood. She looked down at Kelly. "Aw damn it. What'd you do? You know once she starts crying, she can't stop. How am I supposed to work like this?"



"Shut up," Alyssa laughed as Ashley picked up Izzy in her arms, allowing Kelly to stand. "Well, I'm gonna go find Noah before her proposes to Carrie. Have a great show, ok?"



"Yea," Kelly nodded, hugging her once again, smiling sheepishly as her older sister wiped her tears for her. "You have ear plugs for Izzy, cause I could get some from one of the guys if not."



"It's ok, we have some," she assured her. "We'll see you after."



"Alright. Have fun."



+++++++++



Kelly grinned as the band played the last few lines of "Fancy". She caught Alyssa's eye as she cheered loudly. Noah, who had been standing on his chair the entire time, waved enthusiastically when he noticed her looking their way. Kelly waved back, sending him a wink as she felt Reba take her hand, both of them bowing one last time for the crowd before rushing off the stage.



Kelly closed her eyes at the feeling of Carrie catching her in her arms. She hugged her tightly, slightly out of breath.



"That was a great show," Carrie grinned. "You were so spot on."



Kelly wrapped her arms tightly around Carrie's neck, burying her face in her shoulder.



"You ok?"



Kelly nodded, "Just hug me."



"Will do," Carrie smiled, kissing her hair.



"Hey," Alyssa smiled, as she and her family joined them backstage. "Is she ok?" she asked worriedly.



"Yea," Carrie nodded. "It's just been a long weekend."



"Aw," Alyssa frowned, rubbing Kelly's back. "Come here kiddo."



Kelly let go of Carrie enough to allow her sister to pull her into a hug, "You're gonna be ok?"



"Yea," Kelly replied.



"We were about to go to the hotel for the night, but if you need me to stay..."



"No, I'm fine," Kelly assured her with a smile as she pulled back. "Y'all go ahead. Get some sleep."



"Alright," Alyssa nodded. "But if you need anything, no matter where you are, you call me, you got that?"



"Yea," Kelly smiled, hugging her once more before hugging Noah, and giving Izzy a kiss on her forehead as she slept in Sean's arms.



"It was a great show," Sean smiled as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.



"Thanks, y'all drive safe tomorrow, ok? Take your time going back home."



"Will do," he nodded.



"Sweetie," Alyssa grabbed Kelly's arm carefully. "I'm serious. Call me."



"I will," Kelly assured her, closing her eyes as her older sister kissed her forehead.



"Love you."



"You too."



Kelly felt Carrie wrap her arms around her waist from behind as she watched Alyssa and her family walking away.



"You miss them already, huh?" Carrie asked softly.



"Yea."



"I know the feeling," she replied, kissing her cheek. "You ready to go get your stuff and head to the bus?"



"Definitely."