Playing With Fire

+++++++++



"Hey," Kelly smiled, looking up from where she sat talking to Stephen at the dining room table as Carrie walked in. "Come see," she opened her arms to her.



Carrie returned the smile, walking to her and sitting on her lap, "What's up?"



"How do you feel about going to Texas for a short break?"



"I'd feel great, you know I love it there."



"Cool."



"Why?"



"Well, your dad and I were talking, and we were thinking it's probably time to get your birthday present adjusted to his new home."



"Really?" her eyes lit up.



"Yep."



"So y'all would come with us?" Carrie turned to her father.



"Just for a about a week or so to make sure he's ok," he nodded. "Plus your mom really wants to see the house out there."



"And that's ok?" she turned back to Kelly.



"Of course it's ok," Kelly laughed softly. "It's your house too. Plus, I love your family. They're welcome there anytime, Care."



Carrie gave her a quick kiss.



"We can also get all your stuff unpacked over there. Oh, and Alyssa's been bugging me about coming visit, so it'll probably be a good time to tell her to come out too," she thought out loud.



"Is she gonna bring the baby?"



"I can ask and see. Why?"



"You're just so cute with her."



Kelly smiled, "I'll ask her."



"So is that all?"



"I think so, yep."



"Do you want me to go so y'all can finish talking about me?" she smiled playfully.



"Actually, you still have a couple boxes over at your place that need to be moved," Stephen reminded. "So if y'all want we can go do that right now?"



Carrie turned to Kelly who nodded, kissing her shoulder lightly. "We're so officially living together now."



Kelly chuckled, taking Carrie's hand and allowing her to pull her out to the car.



+++++++++



Kelly staggered back as she stepped outside with a box of Carrie's belongings in her arms. The flash from the camera causing her to see spots for a moment. She forced a smile when she noticed the handful of reporters, "Hey guys."



"Kelly, what are you doing?" they followed her as she walked to place the box in the back of her vehicle.



"I'm just helping Carrie out," she shrugged simply.



"Is she moving?"



Kelly avoided the question, not sure how Carrie would want her to answer it as she closed the back door of her vehicle.



"Baby?"



Kelly turned smiling as Carrie stepped outside.



"Hey, what do you..." her voice trailed off when she noticed the paparazzi.



"We have visitors, Care."



Carrie laughed softly as Kelly walked to her, the reporters following her.



"What's going on, Carrie?" one asked.



"My sister and her family are moving in, so I'm getting some of my stuff out the way," she replied politely.



"Where are you moving your stuff to?"



"I'm sure you all can guess where," she wrapped her arm around Kelly, ushering her inside, closing the door behind them.



"How'd they get in here?" Kelly asked. "Isn't this like a closed community?"



"They probably climbed the fence. Wouldn't be the first time," she wrapped her other arm around her, smiling.



"You were looking for me?" Kelly raised her hands, linking them behind the country singer's neck.



"Yea, I was gonna order a pizza. I wanted to know what you wanted on it."



"Whatever you want's fine," Kelly pushed up on her toes, kissing her lightly. "How much more stuff do you have?"



"Just a few more boxes," Carrie assured. "You want to just wait until after we eat? Maybe by then they will get bored."



"I doubt it."



"Why?"



Kelly showed her her left hand, wiggling her fingers.



Carrie beamed at the diamond ring, "Oh yea..."



"Plus the majority of people still think you hit me, so I'm sure they'll be waiting to see if I emerge with a black eye or something," she giggled.



"Kell..." Carrie frowned.



"I know, I know, that's not funny. I'm sorry," she apologized, kissing her again. "But taking a little break does sound good. Where's your dad, anyway? Did we lose him?"



"Nah, he was just taping up the last boxes. He'll be down in a sec."



"A sec?"



"More like a minute."



"Now, a minute I can work with," Kelly nodded, wrapping her arms around, pulling her closer so she could kiss her more firmly.



++++++++++



"I got it," Carrie moved to pick up the last box in her old room.



"No, I got it," Kelly nudged her. "It's kinda heavy."



"Are you calling me weak?"



"No, I'm just saying I'm stronger than you, so it'll be easier for me."



"I'm plenty strong," Carrie pouted.



"Trust me, I know," Kelly smirked, pulling her to her. "It takes a lot of strength to toss my big ole booty on the bed like you do."



Carrie's eyes lit up.



Kelly pushed her away with a smile as she bent down to pick up the box.



"What?"



"The door's open, and your dad can come in at any second." Carrie opened her mouth to protest, but Kelly continued, "I know, I know, I shouldn't have started. I'll make up for it later, I promise."



Carrie felt her blood rush at the Texan's wink as she walked out of the room.



Kelly made her way down the hall and out the front door, an explosion of flashes momentarily blinding her. "I see y'all called y'alls friends," she noted, earning a laugh from the group of photographers following her as she made her way to the car.



"Kelly," several of them cut off her path back to the house, cornering her against her car. "Since Carrie's not out here, can you answer a few questions?"



"Guys, please let me go inside," Kelly replied, growing nervous at the feeling of being trapped. "We have a long day today, so please..."



"Does Carrie really hurt you?"



"Of course not. Come on, y'all...y'all been around her enough to know that she's not the type of person that would do that."



"But your mom said--"



"My mom's a liar," Kelly could feel her anger start to rise.



"What about the song?"



"That song was never meant for release."



"Is it about Carrie?"



"Of course not," her jaw tensed as she stepped forward. "It's just a metaphor. Now please, let me go."



"Kelly?" she heard Carrie question.



"Care!" she called back, feeling a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of the country singer making her way through the crowd.



"Are you ok?" Carrie studied her carefully.



Kelly nodded.



Carrie took her arm, pulling her back towards the house, "Move guys. I mean it. Unless y'all want a law suit on your hands, y'all had better move."



"Maybe you should loosen your grip on her," a paparazzi shot back.



Kelly twisted out of Carrie's grasp, turning to them agitatedly, "Did I not just say she doesn't hurt me? Y'all need to back the hell off."



"What about the song?"



"For the thousandth time. The song isn't even about her," she said firmly.



"But Kelly, the song--"



"Oh my God, it's about my mom, alright? Are y'all happy now? I wrote it about my mom, so if y'all want to pester someone about the way they treat me, go pester her, but for the final time, leave Carrie alone," she was practically shaking.



Carrie quickly reached out, wrapping an arm around her, and guided her inside. She closed the door behind them.



Kelly collapsed against it, sliding to the floor, her face in her hands.



Carrie watched her nervously, "Baby?"



"It's about my mom," Kelly repeated softly.



Carrie knelt down in front of her, reaching out to run a hand through her hair.



"It's just a metaphor," she shook her head. "It's about how...how..."



"Abusive?" Carrie offered.



"She didn't hit me."



"There's such thing as emotional abuse too," she pointed out gently.



"My relationship with her over the past months has just been so hard and just not good and unhealthy for me. I was just...the song's kinda sarcastic, you know?"



"I know," she nodded, brushing the tears from her cheek for her.



"I can't believe I wrote a song like that about my mom," Kelly shook her head. "If you would've told me a year ago that I would write a song about how horrible my relationship with my mom is, I would've laughed so hard."



"A lot has changed."



Kelly nodded, wrapping her arms around her as Carrie pulled her onto her lap.



"I know that song was just a way for you to get your frustrations out," Carrie held her closely. "And I know that you never meant it to be public, so don't feel guilty about it. It wasn't your fault the song leaked. And I know, it's your mom, but you had every right to write that song."



Kelly sniffed, resting her head in the crook of her neck.



Carrie looked up as her dad walked by.



"Is everything ok?" Stephen asked worriedly.



"Yea, just give us a couple minutes?"



He nodded, walking back to the kitchen.



Carrie turned, kissing the Texan's forehead, "Are you ok?"



"Yea," she nodded. "At least now, they'll drop the whole you hurting me thing."



"Yea," Carrie rested her cheek against her forehead. "Kell..."



"No, you didn't grab me too hard outside," Kelly laughed softly.



"I was just trying to protect you and get you out of there."



"I know, and I love you."



"I love you too," Carrie turned, kissing her forehead again.



++++++++++



"This was a great idea," Carrie smiled as she walked alongside Kelly, holding her hand.



"Definitely couldn't have come at a better time," Kelly nodded, taking a deep breath, loving the smell of the fresh Texan air.



"I love how refreshed you look every time we come here."



Kelly smiled, stopping.



Carrie mirrored her smile. She reached up, running a hand through the shorter girl's hair, "What are you thinking about?"



"About how at peace I feel with everything for the first time in a very long time. It's like admitting what the song really was about just lifted this huge weight off of me, you know? Like now, I can finally move on, and leave all that in the past."



Carrie's smile grew.



"And I'm also thinking about how much I love it here, and how much I love having you here with me, and how I am so thankful for just simple moments like these."



Carrie tilted her head down, kissing her softly.



Kelly gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she pulled back.



Carrie led her over to the big tree that she knew Kelly loved. She sat down, leaning against the trunk, patting the space in front of her.



Kelly sat down as well, settling in between Carrie's legs, leaning back against her chest.



"So what time is the pony getting here?" she wrapped her arms around her.



"Around three."



"And your sister and them?"



"Tomorrow at like tenish."



Carrie kissed her cheek lightly.



"Did you ever think we'd actually make it here?"



"Make it where?"



"The light at the end of the tunnel," she giggled.



Carrie smiled, "So all those people who are up in arms about our engagement is the light at the end of the tunnel?"



Kelly shrugged, "Who cares what they think?"



Carrie nodded in agreement.



"You know, we still haven't named the pony."



"Yea, but the last time I saw him he was just this little bitty thing. Maybe we should wait till he gets here. I'm sure he's grown a lot."



"Yea."



"And for the record...yes."



"Yes?"



"Our relationship has been crazy and passionate and emotional and full of so many highs and what seemed like twice as many lows, but yes, I always believed we'd make it here."



"Good," Kelly laced their fingers together. "Me too."



"You did?"



"Yep."



"You? Miss Afraid-of-Commitment?"



She smiled, "I may have been afraid of commitment, but I believed so much in you and in us, even if I did let the fear over shadow that sometimes, it didn't mean I ever once stopped believing."



Carrie kissed the back of her head, "Sing me a song?"



Kelly laughed softly, "Alright." She took a deep breath before beginning,



"I don't wanna spend my life jaded, waiting,

To wake up one day and find,

That I let all these years go by,

Wasted.

Yea, I don't wanna keep on wishing, missing,

The still of the morning, the color of the night..."



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



Epilogue





Kelly finally relented, allowing herself to wake up. Her eyes opened slowly, blinking several times to adjust to the amount of sunlight coming through the window. She smiled at the sight of Carrie laying on top of her, her head resting against her chest as she slept soundly. Kelly leaned forward, kissing the top of the country singer's head softly, her hand soothing over Carrie's bare back. She winced as she felt a pain shoot up her other arm.



Kelly looked back to see her right wrist still bound to the bedpost with one of Carrie's scarves. She looked to the other bedpost to find another scarf tied loosely around it. She giggled, remembering how Carrie barely had time to untie one of her hands before the pair of them passed out, exhausted. Her heart sped up as Carrie's body shifted against her own.



"Mmm..."



"Care..." Kelly smiled.



"Shh...I was having this really hot dream," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around her.



"Oh yea?"



"Mmhmm...it involved me getting to have my way with the Kelly Clarkson while she was tied to my bed."



"Ahh..." Kelly nodded, tightening her free arm around her. "So it was hot, huh?"



"Very?"



"And a dream?"



"Yea."



"Then explain to me why I'm still tied to the bed," Kelly chuckled.



Carrie looked up, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She grinned, "Wow."



"So much for that being a dream, huh?"



Her grin widened as she pushed herself up, hovering over the shorter singer, "I don't know...maybe we should do it again, just to make sure it wasn't a dream."



"Mm..." Kelly smiled, pulling back from a kiss. "I'd love to, but I have to get to work."



"Work," she made a face. "Who needs work when you have a naked me in your bed?"



"Baby, you're my wife...I have a naked you in my bed every night."



Carrie smiled broadly.



"I know," Kelly nodded, kissing her softly. "Several years later, and I still love saving it."



"I love you," Carrie kissed her nose.



"I love you too," she smiled. "What time is it?"



"Eight."



"That's it?"



"Ok, it's almost ten."



"Ten?" Kelly squeaked, pushing Carrie up. "I have to be there in like half an hour." She tried to sit, but drew in a sharp breath, her arm holding her down.



"Baby..." Carrie quickly reached forward, untying the scarf, allowing her to sit up. She started to massage the Texan's shoulder. "You slept all night in that position?"



"I was really tired," she shrugged, watching as Carrie's fingers kneaded over her upper arm.



Carrie smiled when she caught her eye.



Kelly returned it, leaning forward and kissing her adoringly, "I'm gonna be late, aren't I?"



Carrie nodded, pushing her back down onto the bed with a mischievous spark in her eyes.



+++++++++++



"Shit, shit, shit," Kelly hurried around the bathroom, grabbing all the stuff she would need for a shower.



Carrie laughed, as she leaned against the door frame.



"Care, I'm gonna be late. It's my first time in a studio in like two years. It's not funny. Oh shit..." her eyes turned to her, wide.



"She's perfectly fine," Carrie smiled. "I just went check on her."



"What about the studio? Do you think she's ready for that? I mean, it's gonna be a long day," Kelly shook her head.



"It's my day," Carrie reminded.



"It is?"



"You hogged her all day yesterday while I was at that interview and photo shoot for the magazine. It's my turn."



"You sure?"



"Yep," Carrie nodded, giving her a quick kiss. "Now, get cleaned up. I'm gonna go make some breakfast."



++++++++



"Ok baby girl," Carrie smiled. "What do you want for breakfast this morning?"



"O," the fifteen-month old replied from her high chair.



"Cheerio's. I agree," Carrie nodded, pulling out a box of cereal. She fixed herself a bowl and grabbed a handful of the dry cereal, placing on the tray of the high chair. She watched with pride as the small child began to play with her food, pushing it around the tray, every now and then, picking a piece up and placing it in her mouth, feeding herself. "Oh, drink. What do you want to drink?"



She looked up at Carrie, her hazel eyes playful as she babbled away in her own little language.



Carrie giggled, "You're so going to be a rambler."



"Mama."



Carrie's eyes lit up, watching as her daughter scrunched her nose cutely, before smiling widely, reaching out for her.



"Mama."



"Look at you," Carrie beamed, feeling herself tearing up as she leaned down to kiss her forehead. She felt her tiny hands on her cheeks, pulling her down so she could place a sloppy kiss on her nose. She laughed, "Ok, how about some milk. Are you up for trying the sippy cup today? You think you can be a big girl and not spill everywhere?"



"She likes to drink from it now as long as you hold it for her," Kelly replied from behind her.



Carrie jumped, causing the baby to giggle, "Shoot, you scared me."



"Sorry," Kelly smiled, grabbing the peanut butter sandwich Carrie had made for her off the counter. She looked at the clock on the wall. "Shit, I'm gonna be so late." She gave Carrie a quick kiss, "Thanks for breakfast, baby."



"Good luck today," Carrie called after her as she kissed their daughter before hurrying out the door. She stood, waiting patiently. She heard the sound of the door opening again, and she smiled as Kelly walked back into the kitchen, "Forgot something?"



"Did she call you Mama?" Kelly raised an eyebrow.



Carrie nodded.



"Care!" Kelly squealed, wrapping her arms around her tightly. She pressed their lips together firmly.



Carrie held her close, smiling into the kiss.



Kelly pulled back, slightly breathless, "That's the first time she said it to you, huh? Like that's the first time she actually called you that, right?"



"Yep," Carrie nodded.



Kelly's fingers traced her jaw line, "I'm sorry I left without a proper good-bye kiss."



"I knew you were coming back," Carrie shrugged.



"I love you."



"I love you too."



"And you, my baby," Kelly turned to her daughter who immediately reached out for her. Kelly lifted her from the high chair, holding her in her arms. "Baby girl, where are your clothes?"



"That's all her," Carrie laughed from behind her. "I tried dressing her in three different outfits, and she managed to get out of each one. I was barely able to get her to keep her diaper on...I wonder where she gets that from?"



"Apparently the love for nudity is genetic," Kelly giggled as she felt a wet kiss being placed on her cheek. "Who knew?"



"Ok, girl," Carrie took the baby from her, placing her back in her high chair, laughing softly as she started babbling away again. "You've really got to get going this time."



"But I don't want to," she pouted.



"Yes, you do."



"I'm not ready."



"Yes, you are. This is your first time back in a studio since before you had Gracie, and you are so pumped for this...it's ok to be pumped for this."



Kelly looked down at the small blonde in the high chair, sadly.



"Mama," she looked up at her.



Kelly ran hand over her soft hair, forcing a smile.



"You're gonna be great," Carrie assured.



"Will y'all come join me for lunch?"



"Absolutely," Carrie nodded.



"Ok," she finally agreed, turning to her. "How about one for the road?"



Carrie smiled, kissing her sweetly. She could hear Grace giggling. She left one more light kiss on her lips before pulling back, "Love you."



"Love you too," Kelly kissed her again before turning to her daughter, kissing the top of her head. "And I love you too, my girl. Try and behave for Mommy, ok?"



"No."



Kelly and Carrie froze.



"Where did she learn that?" Kelly looked at her wife, wide-eyed.



"I swear, it wasn't me," Carrie shook her head.



"And so it begins...did I not try warning you that I was terrible as a child?"



Carrie smiled, "We'll be fine."



"You're right," Kelly kissed her again. "Ok, I really have to go now."



"Yes," Carrie nodded, reaching up to kiss her forehead. "Promise to kick butt."



"I promise," Kelly smiled, hurrying back out of the house.



Carrie laughed as she turned back to her daughter, "Mommy's so silly, huh?"



Gracie grinned, offering Carrie a Cheerio.



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







okie dokie, so, if you haven't figured it out yet, yes, this is the last chapter of playing with fire. sadness, i know. i'm definitely going to miss this fic since it was my first clarkwood, and only the second fic i ever wrote, but yea, good times. ok, so, first i have a question, does anybody know how to change the description so it says completed? lol, cause i have no clue. and second, i have another fic that i'm going to start posting now. it's not clarkwood, but it's still kelly and it's kinda similar to clarkwood, and i hope y'all like it. and third, if y'all are interested i can extend this epilogue into a sequel. so yea, just let me know. and thank y'all so so much for all the reviews and for sticking with me through this one, i know it had its rough patches, lol, so yea, thanks so much, and i hope y'all enjoyed it.