Playing With Fire

++++++++



Carrie looked up from her breakfast at the sound of someone entering the kitchen, "I-I'm gonna go."



"Nonsense," Jeanne replied, waving for her to sit back down.



Carrie obliged, suddenly finding something in her scrambled eggs that interested her greatly. "So, um, you slept good?"



"Yes, the guest room is perfectly comfortable," Jeanne nodded, starting to fix her own breakfast. "I'm sorry for kicking you out of your room and making you bunk with Kelly. I know she can be a kicker when she sleeps."



"Oh, you didn't kick me out..." her voice trailed off as Jeanne turned to her curiously. "It's ok," she smiled quickly. "She doesn't kick that much."



"So you slept well?"



"Yes ma'am."



"And Kelly?"



Carrie shifted, growing increasingly uncomfortable discussing her and Kelly's sleeping arrangements with the older woman.



"Oh, come on now, we're all adults here," Jeanne smiled, teasingly.



"She, um, she slept well too."



"Good," Jeanne nodded. "I take it she's in the shower?"



"Yes ma'am," Carrie looked back down at her food, her cheeks burning at the thought of Kelly wrapping her arms around her in the shower about ten minutes before, trying to get her to stay. Carrie just couldn't put herself up to it, at least not when Jeanne was there, which made being around the other idol rather torturous seeing as how it had been over a week since the last time they were together--far too long in either girls' opinions.



"So, Kelly says your on tour right now too?"



"Yes ma'am."



"So, I take it you're going to have to be leaving us sometime soon."



"Um, no, actually the next show isn't until next Wednesday, so I get to stay with Kelly this weekend. Will you be joining us?"



Jeanne sighed, "Yes, looks like it."



"Should be fun," Carrie forced a smile.



"Mm, morning you," Kelly grinned, wrapping her arms around the country singer from behind, kissing her cheek.



"Kell..." Carrie warned softly.



Kelly looked up, her face paling, "Um, m-morning Mom."



"Good morning," her mother nodded before turning around to the stove.



Kelly's looked at Carrie wide-eyed who shrugged in innocence. "You could've warned me," she whispered.



"How was I supposed to know?"



"You know I can't keep my hands off you in the morning."



"It's not my fault waking up makes you horny."



Kelly laughed, glancing at her mom to make sure she was still turned before kissing Carrie quickly on the lips.



"But dang am I glad that you are," Carrie smiled, her hands resting on the other girl's hips. "Fifteen minutes away from here...it's all I'm asking."



"So," Jeanne turned back around.



The two girls jumped apart.



Jeanne smiled, "What's on the plans for today?"



+++++++++++



"Please, please, please," Kelly bounced on her toes, tugging on Carrie's arm.



Carrie turned to Ashley who held up her hands, laughing. She turned back to her girlfriend, "Whatever you want."



"Score!" Kelly cheered, kissing her quickly, grabbing the jumbo box of ding dongs and putting it in the cart.



"You're lucky," Jason laughed as they started to walk down the grocery aisle again. "She used to just start stripping in the middle of the store when she didn't get her way."



"And that makes me lucky how?" Carrie grinned.



Jeanne coughed loudly behind them.



"Sorry," Carrie mumbled, turning a deep shade of red.



Jason and Ashley tried to stifle their laughter.



"Care!" Kelly called from down the aisle.



"Yea?"



"Grapes!"



"Go on," Carrie laughed, watching Kelly dart around the aisle to find the fruit. "Ding dong and grapes?"



"I've seen her eat a salad for lunch, then a huge ass brownie for dessert," Ashley replied. "I don't think she understands the concept of health food. She just eats what tastes good."



"I can see why you don't take her shopping often," Carrie nodded as Kelly came jogging back with a bag of grapes.



"Even if she weren't one of the most famous singers in the world, she'd still manage to attract way too much attention," Ashley shook her head.



"Baby," Kelly beamed. "There's an entire half of the store with just vegan stuff. You've gotta check it out."



"Kell, I know," Carrie nodded, holding her hand. "That's why I shop here."



"We need to shop together more often. This is awesome."



"Sure...so what do you want to eat tonight?"



"Oh, you remember those stuffed mushrooms you made a while back?"



"Yep."



"Can you do those?"



"Yea," Jason cut in. "Those seriously kicked ass."



"Alright," Carrie laughed. "We're gonna need some more stuff, though, so let's get a move on."



"Oh, shoot, I have an interview this afternoon at five," Kelly frowned.



"No problem, we'll push dinner back till around seven-thirty."



"You sure?"



Carrie turned to Jason and Ashley who nodded. She looked back at Jeanne, "Is that ok with you?"



"Of course," Jeanne nodded.



"Then, yea, I'm sure," Carrie smiled as Kelly kissed her happily.



++++++++++



"Now, don't cook them too long," Jeanne said, looking over Carrie's shoulder.



"I won't," Carrie assured her, trying to stay relaxed, which wasn't easy with the older woman hovering around the kitchen while she tried to cook. Normally, cooking, especially for her girlfriend was the easiest way for her to unwind, but that definitely wasn't the case now.



"Are you sure? Because they look a little dark."



"I'm sure," Carrie replied through gritted teeth. "I've done this plenty of times before."



"I know, I just know that Kelly doesn't like her food crispy."



"I know how Kelly likes her food."



"I'm just trying to make sure she's happy."



Carrie took a steadying breath, "I know. That's all I'm trying to do too."



"What's that smell?"



"It's the sweet potato casserole."



"Kelly doesn't like sweet potatoes."



"She does when you load them with marshmallows."



"Hm."



"Jeanne," Carrie began carefully. "I really appreciate you trying to help, I do, but why don't you go relax in the living room with Jason? I mean, I've got this covered, and I'm sure y'all could use some catching up time."



Jeanne frowned, "Well, if you think you've got it under control..."



"I do," Carrie promised quickly.



"Well...ok, then..."



Carrie let out a sigh of relief as she watched Jeanne walk out of the kitchen, giving her a moments peace.



++++++++



Carrie felt her entire body untense as a pair of arms wrapped around her stomach from behind.



"So...I heard you kicked my mom out of the kitchen," she could hear the laughter in Kelly's voice.



"Kell, I'm sorry, but she was driving me crazy."



"It's ok," Kelly smiled, kissing the crook of her neck. "I know how she can be sometimes. Just promise you weren't rude."



"I swear."



"Ok," Kelly nodded, resting her head against her shoulder. "It smells good. What's in the oven?"



"Sweet potato casserole."



"With marshmallows?" she asked, excitedly.



"Duh," Carrie smiled. "I know what you like."



"Which is why I love you," Kelly replied, kissing the top of her shoulder before letting her go. "I'm gonna go set the table."



"Ok," Carrie nodded, turning her head to kiss her quickly on the lips.



Kelly placed a hand on the taller girl's hip, holding her there as she deepened the kiss.



"Ooo," Carrie raised an eyebrow as the Texan pulled back.



"Thanks for being so understanding with my mom."



"Fifteen minutes," Carrie pleaded.



"Well...we're alone right now," Kelly stepped closer, her voice low.



"Have I told you lately how sexy your voice is?" Carrie asked, her lips inches away from the shorter girl's.



"How's dinner coming along girls?" Jeanne asked, walking in.



"It's coming great," Carrie replied as the two girls turned away from one another quickly.



"Why don't you help me set the table, Mom?" Kelly suggested, her voice shaky. "You can tell me about your day."



"Sure," Jeanne smiled, walking out of the kitchen.



"Fifteen," Carrie mouthed.



Kelly grinned mischievously as she backed out of the room.



Carrie shook her head, turning back to the stove with a smile, "That girl is gonna be the death of me."



++++++++



"Care, this is seriously amazing," Kelly commented as they all sat around the table.



"I agree," Jason nodded. "You really outdid yourself this time."



"Ashley's the one that found the recipe for me," Carrie replied.



"Yea, but you totally pull it off," Ashley countered.



"You like it Mom?" Kelly asked curiously.



"Yes, it's very good," she smiled politely.



"And seriously...the perfect amount of marshmallows on the sweet potatoes," Kelly nodded.



Carrie laughed, "Well, I'd hope so. I used the entire bag."



"Maybe you should just put marshmallows on everything from now on," Ashley teased.



"Hey, I'm totally down for that," Kelly smiled.



Carrie shook her head, still laughing, "So how was the interview?"



"It was good," Kelly replied. "The lady was real sweet. It was the tall, red-head. She asked how you were doing."



"Oh, yea, the one with the crazy glasses?"



"Yea," Kelly giggled.



"Yea, she was always real nice in interviews."



"Yea, I told her you were good. Enjoying your tour and everything. She asked about my tour with Reba, how it was set up and everything. People seem to be amazed by the whole concept."



"Well, it is a first," Carrie replied. "I can't remember another concert put on this way."



"But I mean, it's just a natural extension of the Crossroads show. I just figured everyone knew that."



"Yea, but you're also the girl that doesn't see the big deal about how amazingly you sing."



"Whatever," Kelly rolled her eyes. "So, what's for dessert?"



"What makes you think I made dessert?"



"Because I know you, and you love me, and I love dessert, so..."



Carrie laughed, "There may be a blueberry cobbler in the oven."



"Awesome!" Kelly's eyes lit up as she stood.



"I'm gonna make sure she doesn't break anything," Ashley nodded, standing to follow her.



"I haven't seen her this energetic in a while," Jeanne noted, her eyes staying on the door her daughter just exited through.



"You just haven't been around her when she's with Carrie," Jason shrugged, placing another mushroom on his plate.



Jeanne frowned slightly, "Maybe it's this new tour schedule they have. Not having a show every night of the week, gives her more time to rest."



"When have you known Kelly to rest?" Jason chuckled, not bothering to look up from his plate of food.



Carrie shifted in her chair, thankful for the door opening and Kelly and Ashley returning to the table. "What have you got?" she smiled at Kelly who was holding her hands behind her back.



"It may or may not be ice cream," Kelly replied carefully.



"Ice cream?"



"You can't have cobbler without ice cream."



"Alright, bring out the ice cream," Carrie laughed as Kelly sat back next to her, placing the carton of ice cream next to the blueberry cobbler that Ashley set down.



++++++++



Kelly smiled softly as she looked up from where she sat on the floor, slipping on her shoes. Carrie had walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her wet hair pulled back. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"



Carrie raised an eyebrow, looking around for the third person that Kelly was talking to you.



"I'm talking to you, you nerd," Kelly laughed softly as she stood up.



"Kell...I just got out of the shower, I don't have any make up on, and I'm--"



"Stunning," Kelly finished for her with a slight nod. "You're stunning."



Carrie smiled, kissing her lightly.



"You're hungry?"



"Yea, do you mind fixing me something? A bowl of cereal's fine, I just don't want to be stuck alone with your mom like yesterday morning."



"Why? What happened?"



"It was totally awkward," Carrie made a face. "I swear, she was asking about our sex life."



"She was not," Kelly's eyes grew wide.



"Just about," Carrie nodded, shivering slightly. "I totally get the whole in-law thing now."



Kelly laughed, "Care..."



"It's not funny," she couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laugh. "Yesterday for dinner, when you and Ashley left to get dessert, your mom commented about how energetic and happy you seem, and how she hasn't seen you that way in a while."



"So? That's a good thing, right?"



"Yea, but when Jason made some off handed comment about it being because of me, she started making excuses to why you were really like that, like it couldn't possibly be me."



"Care?" Kelly wrapped her arms around her. "Baby?"



Carrie looked her in the eye.



"It's you," Kelly nodded with a smile. "It's definitely you."



Carrie returned the smile as Kelly leaned up slightly to kiss her. She found herself thrown by the softness of the Texan's lips as she so often was. That was never something she'd get used, and she was thankful for that, promising herself that she'd never take the shorter girl for granted because she could not afford to lose her.



"I love you," Kelly whispered, slowly pulling away.



"I love you too," Carrie admitted.



Kelly's smile grew at the sincerity in her voice.



++++++++++



"So?" Jason grinned teasingly. "No road trip this time?"



"Shut up," Carrie frowned as she held onto Kelly's hand tightly while they sat in the airport terminal.



Ashley and Kelly's jaws dropped, "Ooo."



"She told you," Ashley laughed.



"Crack the whip."



"Jealous?" Jason asked.



"You can have the whip," Kelly's eyes sparkled. "I rather the handcuffs anyway."



Their laughter quickly died off as Jeanne returned from getting coffee.



"What's so funny?" she asked curiously.



"Oh, um, nothing, Jason's just picking on Carrie," Kelly replied.



"About what?"



"She doesn't like flying."



"Oh, well a lot of people don't like flying."



"Yea, but I bet a lot of people don't drive all night across the country because they're afraid," Jason laughed.



Kelly glared at him.



"You what?" Jeanne questioned.



Kelly sighed, knowing her mother wouldn't like this, "It wasn't across the country. It was just to Kansas."



"You drove all night?"



"Yea."



"By yourselves?"



"It wasn't a big deal, Mom."



"Did you have a show that day?"



"Mom, it wasn't a big deal. I got plenty of sleep. Nothing happened. We're fine."



"But something could've happened. Do you know how dangerous that is? And all because she was too--"



"Mom," Kelly cut her off, raising her voice slightly. "It wasn't a big deal. So drop it, please."



Jeanne sighed, folding her arms.



Kelly turned back to Jason who mouthed a 'Sorry'. She rolled her eyes, squeezing Carrie's hand gently as she rested her head on the country singer's shoulder.



Carrie frowned, kissing the top of her head. She wasn't sure how much longer Kelly was going to remain energetic and happy if she was constantly having to keep her mother in line.