Chapter 63

"I think I just want to be alone in mine,"

Barrett, Jaina and Danielle excitedly burst through the front door, all carrying large white bags. They had spent most of the day dress shopping for bridesmaid's dresses and Barrett's wedding dress. While Barrett hadn't managed to decide on a final dress just yet, they had picked out bridesmaids dresses which both were eager to try on again and prance around the house in.

"But just be super careful," Barrett said as they set all their bags onto the kitchen counter. "Maybe I should keep them just in case you two get drunk one night and decide to put them on. Next thing you know, one of you are drunk calling me all pouty faced and wide eyes because... there was an accident,"

"Awh, come on! We're not that bad," Danielle laughed as she rolled her eyes.

"I mean..." Jaina made a face when she thought about all the antics her and Danielle tend to get up to, especially if they added alcohol into the equation as well. "Maybe you should take them with you,"

"Wait, no I-"

"Thank you!" Barrett raised her hands in victory. "I'll just give them back the day before,"

"It's still so crazy to think you're getting married in a month and half," Danielle said as she brought out some glasses from the cupboard.

"I know, I know. My mother still thinks we're not engaged for  a long enough period but the place we'd always wanted had a cancellation so what's the point in waiting?" Jaina got out a bottle of wine from the fridge as Barrett spoke and filled their glasses.

"To Barrett!" The three raised their glasses and clinked them together before taking a sip.

"Can I put these somewhere before anything else?" Barrett asked as she rested her hand on the bags.

"You want to put them in Stefania's room? Because obviously, no one will need to go in there," Jaina asked but it was more aimed at Danielle because at least she could have a little bit of a say over that.

"Yeah, you can do, she'll be fine with it. I'll take them up," Danielle just about managed to pick up all the bags and headed upstairs, opening Stefania's bedroom door and placing everything on her bed. She kind of wished Stefania was home, but she had gone over to Gio's place so she just had to hold out a little longer.

"Okay! We want to get champagne!" Jaina announced as Danielle returned downstairs.

"Now?" The blonde questioned as she brought her glass up to her lips.

"When we finish the wine," Barrett had a big grin on her face as she topped up her glass. "I just feel like today deserves champagne,"

"So a classy beverage but who's going to be throwing up first?" Danielle asked with an amused look on her face as she directed it towards Jaina.

"Shut up! Lest we not forget last time when I kindly cleaned your sicky self up," Jaina pointed out.

"Wait, where's Stefania?" Barrett asked when she realised how much she missed the Italian's presence.

"She's at her brothers," Danielle replied, a small pout on her face.

"When is she getting back?" Barrett asked, dancing around on her toes.

"She didn't actually say, I can ask her?" Barrett nodded her head even though she easily could have messaged Stefania herself.

Danielle <3: Hey

Danielle <3: Barrett wants to know what time you're due home?

SS: Just Barrett?

Danielle <3: Of course I want to know as well idiot

SS: Good :)

SS: I just left so I'll only be about half an hour

"She's about half an hour away,"

"Oh good," Barrett smiled, doing a little dance with her shoulders. "Are you two okay now?" Jaina also expectantly looked at Danielle as whenever she asked, she tended to avoid it.

"Uh... surely you don't want to talk about this right now? Today should be-"

"I want to talk about it now," Barrett deadpanned, a smug smile on her face.

"We're fine, I guess," Danielle shrugged as she stared at the liquid in her glass.

"But?"

"I don't know. I've spoken to her about how I feel and she's said how she feels and we cleared the air but it still feels different. I think she wants to say something else, about Caterina, but doesn't want to bring it up again. To me at least,"

"What's Caterina like on set?"

"Does the scene, leaves. That's it. I think the directors have noticed that something is off so that needs to be fixed as well," Danielle replied.

"She hasn't said anything else about it?" Jaina and Barrett were more surprised that Danielle was actually answering their questions, both taking in the information and trying to figure out what she should do.

"She tried to the day after it happened but I told her to leave it because I probably would have slapped her or I don't know, make a lighting rig drop on her head,"

"Two very different acts but okay," Jaina nodded, a wry smile on her face.

"You can understand why though. It's such a bizarre situation,"

"Are you going to speak to her when she gets back? Because it still feels off?"

"I have tried to before though, but we end up avoiding it and having sex,"

"They have a lot of sex," Jaina chimed in, her eyes slightly wide. "I hate to think what they're like when I'm not home," Danielle let out a laugh to the statement as she thought about the many places her and Stefania have had sex in this house. They couldn't help it though. It just so happened that they both usually always wanted to rip the others clothes off.

"I'll see what mood she's in and also how drunk we all are," Danielle sighed as she finished off her glass and quickly topped it up then handed the rest of it to Barrett. "But also, I feel like I'm overreacting?"

"No, you're not," Jaina assured her. "If I ever saw Boris kissing his high school sweetheart, I would flip. Even if it was the same story as yours and he didn't kiss back and it was all her, that's something you never want to see,"

"But I kiss Caterina,"

"For work!"

"Damn, this is like some messed up reality show. This should be the storyline on your show," Barrett laughed as she leant against the counter.

"Barrett I- anyway," Jaina laughed before turning her attention back to Danielle. "You kiss Caterina for work. You spoke to Stefania about it. It was all okay. Her ex kissed her. You saw it. Not okay,"

"I just don't want to start an argument,"

"Oh, you're scared to lose her," Barrett stated. Danielle didn't expect that sentence to hit her so hard, yet it did.

"Yeah," She said quietly. "Dammit, I'm getting sad about it!"

"No, I'm sorry," Barrett put her glass down and wrapped her arms around Danielle, kissing the top of her head. "Don't be sad,"

"It's okay, it's okay. I just don't want a repeat of falling in love with someone and it just falls apart in front of me,"

"You're in love with her?" Jaina asked curiously as Barrett let go of Danielle, the slightest stumble in her step.

"No, just hypothetically." Danielle shrugged. "I don't- I love her but I'm not in love," That seemed way to early anyway. Danielle knew that when she falls for someone, she falls hard, but she wasn't in love with Stefania. She could see it happening though.

"Time to get champagne!" Barrett suddenly shouted as she finished what was left in her glass, Danielle and Jaina following suit. They all cheered and headed straight out the door, stumbling and giggling as Barrett almost crashed into a lamp post. At least this will brighten her mood undoubtedly.  Barrett stood in the middle of Jaina and Danielle and linked their arms together as they made their way down the street, animatedly speaking about whatever decided to come out of her mouth.

"So I was speaking to my Dad about- Stefania!" Barrett halted suddenly, pulling Danielle and Jaina backwards.

"Why were you speaking to your Dad about Stefania?"

"Why did you stop?"

"No, she's there!" Barrett pointed across the road to where, indeed, Stefania was walking. "Stefania!" Barrett unlinked her arms and jumped around, waving her hands. It was impossible for Stefania not to notice her. Anyone on the street could notice Barrett. Stefania smiled as she crossed the road, pulling her earphones out.

"Hi," Danielle felt herself get kind of nervous as Stefania placed a quick kiss to her lips then hugged Jaina and Barrett. Her girlfriend smiled softly at her as she laced their fingers together and squeezed, Danielle squeezing back.

"Where are you headed?" Stefania asked as she gently stroked the back of Danielle's hand with her thumb.

"To get champagne," Barrett replied, bouncing around from one foot to the other. "You're having some," The tone in her voice considerably changed and it was clear that she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Si," Stefania nodded her head slowly as Barrett's face lit up.

"Do you guys need me to come as well?" Danielle asked as she leant into Stefania's side a little. Perhaps this was the best time to speak to her.

"I guess not," Jaina replied as she linked her arm back with Barrett who was clearly feeling the affects of the wine quicker than any one else.

"Okay! Let's just us go then. See you soon!" Barrett dragged Jaina off down the road, waving her hand above her head.

"I could have walked back by myself, you know," Stefania said as they began to walk in the direction of the house.

"I know. But I need to talk to you," Danielle said, the words hanging in the air.

"Oh. Okay," Stefania felt a small sinking feeling in her chest. The time that she had spent at Gio's gave her a lot of time to think and talk to an outside perspective, in fact, she needed to speak to Danielle as well but couldn't quite work out her tone.

"I need to talk to you too,"

A/N: Just a touch of angst :)