Playing With Fire

+++++++++



Kelly could feel the butterflies forming in her stomach already in anticipation as she walked off the airplane and into the airport. She looked around quickly.



"It was an international flight. We gotta go past security first," Ashley reminded behind her. "She'll probably be by baggage claim."



Kelly nodded, "I just can't wait to see her."



"I'm sure she feels the same way."



"Definitely feels good to be home. Well, Nashville home." Jason smiled, handing Kelly her carry on bag she had left. "You forgot this."



"Thanks, Jay," Kelly put it over her shoulder.



"She's kinda distracted," Ashley explained.



"Don't worry, you'll see her soon enough," Jason assured as they started walking.



+++++++++



Kelly sighed as she handed the security officer her passport then her license because the guard didn't believe the name on her passport. She nodded politely as he apologized, and she handed him her carry on bag so he could search it. She shifted from foot to foot.



"Patience," Ashley laughed softly from behind her.



"I don't understand the need for this. They checked all this before we got on the plane. It's not like anything suddenly appeared on the flight over here. I'm not Harry freaking Potter."



Ashley shook her head, chuckling as Kelly was finally let through security. She handed the officer her passport. "Forgive her. She's just anxious to get back home. It was a long tour."



Kelly started to walk away.



"Hold it shortie. Wait for us."



Kelly frowned, "But I want to go find her."



"She's right, KC," Jason nodded as Ashley passed through the security checkpoint, and he handed the guard his passport. "You aren't going by yourself."



"But I've been through plenty of airports by myself before."



"Yes, and that was back when you were more of an after thought to the paparrazzi and not a part of one of the biggest couples in the music industry. Not to mention all the stuff going on because of what Mom said. You aren't going anywhere by yourself, especially if it's to meet up with Carrie. That's not safe for either of you."



Kelly folded her arms frustratedly, but listened to her brother at the mention of Carrie's safety, as she stood waiting for him to finish. Finally, he walked through the checkpoint, and she let out a deep breath, "Can we go now? I just want to see her."



"We can go," he smiled, laughing as Kelly took off, walking quickly through the airport. He and Ashley struggled to keep up with her as she weaved in and out of all the people hurrying past. "Kelly, slow down, she's not going anywhere. Kelly--" he cut off mid-sentence as he nearly ran into his sister who had come to a sudden halt.



Kelly felt her breath catch in her throat as she locked eyes with Carrie who was waiting near the conveyor belt, already having gotten two of their suitcases off of it for them. Kelly's face lit up as she hurried across the small space between them before jumping on her, wrapping her arms around her.



Carrie laughed, hugging her tightly, "God, I've missed you."



Kelly kissed her neck then her cheek, then her lips.



Carrie held her even closer as she kissed her back firmly, not even caring if anyone saw. She felt one of Kelly's hands wrap itself in her hair as she deepened the kiss, moaning softly.



Kelly finally pulled back, struggling for air as she placed light kisses all over Carrie's face, making her giggle, "I. Love. You. So. Much."



Carrie took her face in her hands, holding her still so she could look at her for a moment, "Hi."



"Hi," her eyes danced.



"I love you too," she grinned.



Kelly took one of Carrie's hands and guided it down to her neck.



Carrie's fingers grazed over the thin chain that she was wearing. She raised an eyebrow as she looked down, her fingers following the chain. She moved her hand over Kelly's shirt, pressing through the thin material as she traced along the chain until she reached the bottom of it at the center of the Texan's chest. She pressed Kelly's shirt down, seeing the outline of a ring. She beamed.



"I haven't taken it off...ever," Kelly smiled as Carrie looked back up to meet her gaze.



"I love you," Carrie replied with every ounce of passion coursing through her at that moment. She pulled Kelly back to her, kissing her heatedly.



"Kelly," Jason tried to interupt, but got no response. "Ashley," he turned to her worriedly.



"Um, Kelly, we've got to go," Ashley said, placing a hand on her arm, causing the two singers to finally break apart. "Sorry, but we need to go...now."



Kelly looked around, confused at when the small crowd had gathered, and at how she hadn't noticed the flashes going off as the paparrazzi went picture crazy. She turned back to Carrie apologetically.



Carrie just smiled, reaching up to kiss her forehead. She straightened her bag on her shoulder for her, before she handed Ashley her suitcase, holding onto Kelly's, herself.



"I've got mine," Jason nodded as she started to look around. "Let's go."



Kelly took Carrie's hand firmly as she followed Jason through the small crowd, airport security helping to make the people part for them as they made their way out of the airport.



++++++++



Kelly held onto Carrie's hand in both of her own as she sat in the middle of the back seat, right next to her.



Carrie smiled as Kelly kissed her knuckles.



"It's so great to be able to just be next to you," Kelly whispered, knowing that Jason and Ashley would tease them for being so mushy.



Carrie nodded, leaning to her and kissing her sweetly, "I love you."



"I love you too," Kelly brushed their noses together before kissing the tip of Carrie's, making her giggle softly.



"So where are we going?"



"Home. Do we need to pick up your parents?" Kelly cocked her head, questioningly, "I totally never thought about that. How'd that work?"



"We stayed at my old house," Carrie replied. "They helped me finish moving all my stuff to your house."



Kelly raised an eyebrow.



"Our house," Carrie corrected with a smile, kissing her again.



"I love hearing you say that," she grinned.



"Um...about that..." Carrie sat up straighter.



Kelly's eyes grew wide as she felt her heart sank.



"No, no, no," Carrie quickly corrected. "It's our house...it's our house, I promise."



Kelly let out a sigh of relief, "I thought you were having second thoughts or something. I mean, we've been living together for a while now, so it's a bit late for that."



"Baby, we're gonna be married. That's pretty much the biggest way for me to say I want to live with you for the rest of my life."



"I know," Kelly replied. "I just...it's unreal sometimes, you know?"



"What is?"



Kelly snuck a glance at the front seat before lowering her voice, "You're just so beyond my wildest dreams...I'm just waiting to wake up."



Carrie pinched her arm.



"Ow!" Kelly fussed.



"Carrie," Ashley warned from the front seat. "No marks."



"Convinced you're not dreaming yet?" Carrie smiled at the short Texan next to her.



Kelly laughed, pulling her to her for a warm kiss. "Mmm," she pulled back. "There's no way I could dream up something this good."



Carrie smiled, kissing her lightly.



"So what were you trying to say before we got side tracked?"



"Hmm..." she kissed her again. "I can't remember...did it have something to do with me and you and what we're gonna do in our bedroom tonight? Cause I know that's the only thing that's been on the mind since I left you in Europe."



Kelly giggled, "Shh..."



"Please, like we don't already know y'all are gonna be doing it like rabbits as soon as we get home," Ashley rolled her eyes in the front seat.



"Ok, way too much information," Jason groaned.



"You know it's true."



"I refuse to think of my baby sister doing that."



"You're living in a sheltered world, Jay."



"That's perfectly fine with me."



Kelly shook her head, laughing softly.



"Oh, no, I remember," Carrie nodded. "It's about my old house. I want to tell you so you don't think that I've changed my mind or anything like that."



"Ok?"



"Shanna's moving to Nashville, remember?"



"Yep."



"Well, right now, they're living in an apartment because she had to start right away, but they were going to look around for a house."



"Why don't they just live in your house?"



Carrie's eyes lit up as she kissed her happily.



"What was that for?" Kelly asked, confusedly.



"For being perfect. That's what I told Shanna. She had a fit at first, but I agreed to allow them to pay rent, althought I'm totally just gonna put it in a college fund for my niece and nephews, but she doesn't have to know that. Anyway, my mom said I should talk to you about it first."



"Care, it's your house. You get to decide what to do with it, but I think this is a perfect idea."



"I know, my mom thought so too. She was just worried how you'd take it. She didn't want you to think I was just keeping the house as some sort of backup in case things didn't work out with the two of us. I was so shocked when she told me I should tell you because of that, because I swear, Kell, that thought never even crossed my mind."



"I know, baby," Kelly smiled, cradling her cheek gently.



"But my mom said, that this relationship thing is hard, and if we plan on making this work for good, we need to communicate constantly. You know, tell each other everything, even the stuff we think that the other one might not care about because it's the little things that turn in to big things, you know?"



"I know," she nodded, smiling wider.



"What?"



"Your mom totally wants this to work for us."



"Well yea, she loves you, remember?"



"Yea, but that has to give you a little more confidence with telling them, right?"



Carrie looked at her thoughtfully before replying, "You know...yea, it does."



Kelly chuckled as Carrie wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly.



"I love you."



"I love you too," Kelly replied, moving her lips to her ear. "So...what exactly did you have in mind for tonight?"