Alexa B-Side: Tuesday Morning

“Katie, can I ask you something?” Jenny says to her roommate.

“Shoot”

“What do you think about Alex?" Jenny asks. It’s a question that has been bothering her for a few days.

“I think he has a lot of things to work out. You concerned about him?” Katie asks.

Looking at the coffee cup in her hand, Jenny responds “Yeah I’m concerned, but that’s not it.”

“Then what? Wait a second. Do you like Alex?” Katie asks as she realizes what is happening. Drooping her head a little lower, Jenny simply nods her head. Katie lets out an audible gasp. “How long has this been going on?” Kate asks, astonished with what is happening before her. Jenny and Alex? It would be one of the ultimate odd couples. Jenny is serious and confident and Alex is so, geeky? They would make the ultimate odd couple. But the answer to her question is not forthcoming from her roommate. She presses for an answer. “When did you realize you liked him?”

Jenny took a long deep breath. She knew that when she opened her mouth the world was about to change. She always liked the geeky guy from across the hall a little more than as just a friend, but with the events that happened over the weekend a new window had been opened. She saw a side of Alex she had never seen and she liked it. It was the things that brought out the side that were troubling her. Jenny looked up at her roommate and said “I realized it as Alexa was making us dinner the other night.”

“Yeah I had never seen Alex, wait a second did you say Alexa?” the words from Katie hung there. The two roommates had talked Alex into helping Jenny out with a project for her Behavioral Science class and Alex became Alexa. Katie had known about Alex’s past crossdressing and she had mentioned this to Jenny. Jenny thought he would be a perfect subject because he lived across the hall, they could observe better. Added that to the fact that Katie and he were best friends would make it easier. Katie went along with the plan because she saw no harm. And there wasn’t, however a new person emerged. Gone was the geeky video gamer and a beautiful, confident woman emerged. But that was the problem.

“I did say Alexa.” Jenny said. “And that’s my issue. I had no idea that Alexa would become such a fun person to be around. I loved the confidence but the person didn’t change. I felt instantly attracted. But I am not a lesbian. And how can I explain that I didn’t do this on purpose? This is a mess” Jenny continued on, dropping her head to the table.

Katie sat and took it all in. She knew that Alex had a gigantic crush on Jenny and now Jenny was sitting here spilling her guts about him. But the dressing thing could prove to be a major thorn in the relationship. She loved Alex like a brother and she and Jenny had become closer than most roommates. She thought hard about it and realized that if they cared for each other, what they wore wouldn’t matter. “Jen, I can’t believe I am going to say this, but go for it. I just need to be assured you didn’t do this on purpose.” Jenny assured her roommate she that the dressing wasn’t a set up. Katie continued on, “I’ll talk to him this afternoon. I planned on it anyway since I haven’t seen him since Sunday I planned on checking up on him anyway. It’s Tuesday and he is usually done early and doesn’t work. Stop by when your done with class and who knows you may have a new boyfriend! Speaking of class, I got go. See you later.” And with that Katie grabbed her backpack and ran out the door.

“I hope so” Jenny whispered.

This was originally posted as a blog entry, but I have since decided to put the B-Side stories into a book. This was supposed to be part of Chapter 9 but I didn't think it fit. So enjoy, I know it is a little past Halloween, but I still thought it was a good scene and wanted to share.

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Alexa B-Side: Halloween

With Halloween approaching our costumes had to be chosen. Even though it would have been easy to go as the cast of the old TV show “Three’s Company”, Jenny and I argued against it. Jenny did not want to go as a “blonde haired bimbo” and actually got a little upset with Katie for continually pushing it. I wanted to dress up, kind of use it as more of a coming out party and did not want to be seen as the token guy. So, after lots of thought, it came down to two options: the 70’s era Charlie’s Angels or the Powerpuff Girls. And while the Powerpuff Girls would have been fun, the simple choice was to go as Charlie’s Angels. The only questions were who was going to be Kate Jackson and who was going to be Jaclyn Smith. I tried to argue that Kate Jackson was a little more masculine than I wanted to present. But that was the argument that Katie used to say I should dress as her. Jenny smartly stayed out of the whole discussion. It came down to a coin flip and I won and chose to be Jaclyn Smith.

The costumes came courtesy of Jenny’s mother, we raided her closet. The Saturday before Halloween, Jenny took the three of us out to her family’s home on Lake Minnetonka. Minnetonka is home to many large residences from the old Minneapolis money crowd, and Jenny’s was not an exception to the rule. The house sat on about 1000 feet of lakeshore and looked out onto Lafayette Bay. The view was marvelous. Jenny, as most people who had grown up in house like this, simply took it for granted. I on the other hand was overwhelmingly impressed. There was a huge living room that dominated the main level looking out at the lake flanked by a dining room and what appeared to be a study. There were small rooms off the main room and a large stair case that led to the upper level. Jenny led us upstairs and then down a hall. As we passed one closed door, her hand slightly brushed it and I could see a little sadness. I leaned into her and asked “Is that?” and she just nodded her head.

As soon as we entered what looked to be the largest closet I have ever seen. There was a large counter as you walked in and against one wall a gigantic shelving unit full of every style of shoe you could imagine. The rest of the room was dominated by racks of clothing; dresses skirts, pants jackets you name it. And like the shoes not one of them the same. Katie and I stood there in awe while Jenny stands in front of it all showing us it all like she is Vanna White. Jenny started leading us through the various rows of clothing. She turns again and smiles “We will for sure find the right thing to wear in the disaster. My mother never throws anything out when it comes to clothes.” For the next two hours, the three us went through the racks trying to find the perfect outfit for our costume. Soon I have a white halter dress that dragged the floor, Katie a pair of white dress pants along with a red stripped shirt and matching white seater to be tied around her neck. We were the easy ones to find something for. Jenny took forever. At one point, I Ieaned over to Katie and said “Now we know where she gets it” Katie and I broke out in laughter as Jenny shot around a corner staring us down and asking what was so funny. “Nothing” I say, trying to act innocent.

Katie jumped in “We were just saying the apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree weren’t we Alexa.”

A blonde blur came shooting at me and jumped up on me. I caught it as she leaned in for a kiss. “If you weren’t the sexiest thing on the face of the planet I would throw you out that window.” After that I received a large kiss. I let her down. Jenny gave me one more quick kiss and spun and slapped her roommate on the arm. “But you young lady, have no pardon available, So...” And jokingly started dragging Kate towards the window until the two fell to the floor laughing.

Needless to say, we were a hit at the Delta Tau Halloween Party. Jenny and I made sure we kept close together to make sure we didn’t get cornered by some drunk frat guy. Kate took a little more adventurous route during the party but it was still the three that went home together. Unfortunately, as we were stumbling into our apartment building, we met up with Brandon and Steve. “Ladies how you doing tonight” Brandon said as he came up to us. He started to move towards Jenny “SO where’s that boyfriend of yours tonight? Did you finally wise up and toss him to the curb.?” I stood there getting pissed as Brandon started his move on Jenny and Steve was futility attempting to hit on Katie. Before I could do anything I suddenly saw Jenny’s knee rise and connect with Brandon’s crotch. The drunken asshole fell to the grown writhing in pain. Steve backed away quickly as he soon noticed the anger in Katie’s eyes and was afraid that his groin was next.

I walked over and stood over Brandon. I tore off the wig I had worn as part of the costume and looked down. “You’re lucky you had to deal with my girlfriend. Stay the fuck away from us. One more move like that asshole and you will be out of this school so fast your head will spin.” With my peace being said the three of us entered the building. As proud I am of Jenny, which I let her know, I do feel kind of low that I was not able to ‘defend’ the three of us against that drunken asshole. As we entered the elevator, Jenny instantly turned to me.

“Don’t start feeling bad that you didn’t defend us. I know how to take care of little pricks like him.” And with that I received a kiss and instantly felt better. How did she know I was thinking that? Is she a mind reader or have we just become that close that we can read each other’s mind? As Jenny tried to turn away, I pulled her back in and gave her a long kiss. Katie didn’t even groan this time. As Jenny and I let go of each other we both smiled at each other and acknowledge that a new rule had been written. We were always there for each other.

This is the first of two Alexa B-Side stories that are from Alexa Chapter 10; Merry Christmas Babe. Both of these stories feature Jenny as the main Character.

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Alexa B-Side: The Holiday Party

I will have to admit, as much as I love Alexa, I really did not want to go to the coffee shop’s Holiday Party. First off, any place that has a “Holiday” Party rather than a “Christmas” Party is a little too precious for me. I guess I am just an old-fashioned girl and believes they should be called Christmas Parties.

The second reason I didn’t want to go was one of Lex’s co-workers, Dannii. She was this tall Red-headed girl who seemed to like Lex a little too much. I had stopped in to the coffee shop one day after class. I didn’t see Alexa when I entered and ordered. I took a seat and began working on my laptop. It was while I was sitting there that I noticed that Alexa had made it back behind the counter. It was kind of fun sitting there watching her work and see how she related with the customers. It was also interesting seeing how her co-workers interacted with her. One in particular caught my eye, Dannii. I noticed that she was always watching Lex and trying to get close to her. She was laughing a little too earnestly at her jokes and almost hanging on her. The one thing I will give Lex was that she seemed to be a little bothered by all of this. I slipped out without her noticing me but the sight of this Dannii all over Lex was upsetting.

When Alexa got home that afternoon I played the dutiful girlfriend and asked her how her day was and she admitted it was just fine. She said some of her co-workers had been kind of mean to her as of late, but they had gotten a talking to from her manager. For the thousandth time since we had begun seeing each other, I told her she didn’t need the job that I could help her out, but Alexa was stubborn. She called it pride. I kept my mouth shut for a change. Alexa was going through all new experiences and I can understand her trying to cling to a few things.

That didn’t mean I didn’t keep an eye on things. I will admit I can be a jealous bitch. I had proved that to Alexa when her parents came to dinner at her apartment back in October. I had accused her of flirting with the butcher at Byerly’s, and was kind of mean about it. This time however it wasn’t her who was the issue. It was someone else moving in on her. I would stop by periodically just to keep an eye on this Dannii chick. I wasn’t scared that Lex would leave me. I just wanted to stake my claim. Kind of like a momma bear protecting her cub. And Alexa is my cub! I loved her more than anything and some long legged red-headed bimbo was not even go to get near her. So, I continued to check in at the coffee shop. I even was formally introduced to her. Her attitude towards me when Alexa was around Dannii was friendly, but when she wasn’t, Danni was almost mean. It started to eat away at me. I need to get this bitch alone and tell her to back off.

Then the Holiday Party was announced. Alexa was very sweet and begged me to go. And like I said earlier I was not too keen on it, but eventually agreed. I did tell Lex if we were going, I was going to pick out her clothes. I decide that she should wear the outfit that I had got her for Thanksgiving, at least the pants and boots. I did find a nice woman’s maroon turtleneck sweater. She looked gorgeous in it but, it still gave the androgynous look she was trying for at this point. I chose a simple black skirt, red cowl neck sweater, tights and black boots. I thought I looked good but Alexa was going crazy over me. The two of us were side tracked a little before finally heading out to the party.

We walked in together, but soon I was distracted by an old friend from high school who worked at another location owned by the same group and we got talking. As we split up and I started to look for Lex and I spotted her. No not Lex, but Dannii. I stayed back as I watched her try and make her move. At first it was in a group setting where she kept lightly touching Alexa’s arm and back as the group talked and laughed about something. When the group split up I watched Dannii really put the moves on MY girlfriend. I was furious. Alexa kept her at arm’s length but Dannii had a determined look in her eyes. I stayed in the shadows and kept on eye on Dannii. Lex was called over by someone and left Dannii standing alone. After a minute, I saw her head towards the ladies’ room. I kept my distance until she went in. It was then I decided that it was time for Momma bear to come out. With her claws sharpened!

I entered the ladies room and noticed that the door locked. I checked under the stalls and discovered only one was occupied. I locked the door and moved to the mirror to freshen my make-up. Dannii soon emerged from the stall and came to wash her hands. At first we just made eye contact and smiled at each other in the mirror. It took a moment but then she realized it was me and she tried to hurry her washing. I stepped between her and the door and confronted her.

“Listen honey, I saw you hitting on Alex out there. Well just to let you know he is mine. You better watch out when you are around him. I do not take kind to someone attempting to steal my boyfriend very lightly. So, watch it missy or you will have to deal with me!” I couldn’t believe I had just spoken that way to anyone. The closest I had ever come to something like that was when my mother and I had one of our many arguments about Abby, but I wanted Ginger to know Lex was off limits. At first Dannii tried to act all smug. She actually tried to challenge me for Alexa’s affections.

“I bet I could take him whenever I wanted. You’ve seen how he is around me. Your days are over sister” she said smugly. This girl really thought she could have Alexa anytime she wanted. I just stood there and laughed at her. Not only did she think she could take Alexa, but she thought she was better than me.

“OK Danni. Do you want to head out there and see who he would choose? OK, I will give you a shot at the title. Go ahead try and seduce him. I will sit back and let you try. And then I will come up. If he wants you, I will let him go. But I would bet my life that Alex will be leaving this party and every future party he attends with me.” I couldn’t believe at how jealous I became over this little twit. I knew it was time to prove who Alexa belonged with. I unlocked the door and walked out. Better yet I strutted. Just like some runway model and walked up to Alexa. She had spotted me across the room and I watched her face completely light up as she saw me heading towards her. Screw Danni I am not going to give her a chance. I turned and gave Dannii a look of victory and strode right up to Alexa and gave her a long sensuous kiss right there in front of everyone.

“What was that for? Alexa asked with a huge smile. “Not that I’m complaining. I just want to know for future reference.”

“I did it because I love you. You ready to get out of here? “I said and tried to give Alexa my most seductive look. It was like she was in a trance. She quickly nodded yes and we said our goodbyes and found our coats. We made a beeline for the door as we had ‘better’ places to be.

As we were leaving I turned and saw a dejected Dannii. I smiled broadly and waved goodbye.

Alexa B-Side: 22 Hours of Hell

Katie finally answered her phone “Jenny? Thank God.” She said

“Kate what’s wrong? Did something happen to Lex? Is she OK?” I asked my roommate.

“Oh god Jen. Have you talked to her yet?”

“Alexa, no. What happened” I ask, fearing the worst.

“When we got home from dropping you off at the airport, Dick was here.” Katie said. That was all she had to say. I instantly began screaming at the top of my lungs.

“OK, I’m on my way. I’ll keep trying to call her. Where is she now?” I ask.

“She went to work. I think she is on autopilot. I, um, found her last night on the Washington Avenue bridge.”

“And you let her go to work! Oh, God Kate. Keep an eye on her I am on my way.” I hung up the phone on my roommate before I could start screaming at her. I let out another scream and began going over everything that I needed to do in my mind. I slipped on a pair of black legging, a sweatshirt and my North Face vest. I went to grab my back pack and after stuffing Alexa’s Gopher Hockey Jersey in, I raced out the door of my room and nearly trampled my grandmother as I ran out.

“Jennifer, where are you off to in such a hurry and what was all that screaming?” My grandmother asked.

“Home. Alex’s dad found out about him and all hell broke loose. I have to go to him. I’m sorry grandma.” I stammered as I tried to get away from the one family member who I knew truly cared about me.

“Oh dear. Was he dressed as Alexa?” My grandmother asked and I simply nodded. A look of resolve came over the elderly woman’s face. A look I had not seen in sometime. “You go to him. Do whatever you must. I’ll deal with your parents.” I gave her a big hug as I raced down the stairs and began looking for her driver. I found him and asked him to take me to the airport. “Phillip. I need you to take me to the airport immediately” I announce.

“I’m sorry Miss Thompson, but I am supposed to take your parents to the Country Club in an hour. I can do it when I get back.” Phillip replies. I can’t wait I reply. Phillip continues to argue against it until my Grandmother arrives.

“Phillip you will take my granddaughter to the airport right this minute. I will deal with her parents.” The matriarch has spoken! But I am still getting a little push back from Phillip. I just stare him down, tapping my foot as I wait for him to get moving. Eventually he relents and the two of us head towards the car, Phillip mumbling under his breath the whole time. As we leave my grandmother’s estate I begin to apologize to Philip for my actions. I explain to him that I needed to get back to Minneapolis and see my boyfriend. He smiles and seems satisfied with my argument. Soon he had me in front of the airport terminal in West Palm Beach. I thanked Philip for the ride and raced into the terminal and to the Delta Ticket Counter. It was there the adventure of the day began.

I ran to Delta ticket counter where I was informed that while there were plenty of flights into Minneapolis out of Atlanta, however there were no available flights to Atlanta. I tried every trick in the book I knew, even screaming at them and using the “do you know who I am” line on them, but no luck. Growling I leave the counter and went to the other airlines but was rewarded with the same response. All their flights were full and that I could go standby if I wished. I looked at the other airlines and saw my last bastion of hope, Southwest. I have never flown on Southwest before and the horror stories I had heard made me nervous. But I knew they flew to Minneapolis. I walked up to the counter.

“I’d like a first-class ticket to Minneapolis please.” I state.

“I’m sorry ma’am, we do not have first class.” Ok I can deal with coach I guess. I agree to the flight and am handed my ticket. Unfortunately, I had been too busy playing with my phone to pay attention to the itinerary. And after the usual questions I am racing to TSA to get to my flight which leaves in 25 minutes. The line at TSA is extremely long. I never figured so many people traveled Christmas Eve. I looked at my phone again and I still didn’t have a signal. What is wrong with this stupid thing! Between my phone not working and the length of this line I am starting to get a little worked up. Won’t this line move! Oh, cool. Here come a pair of TSA agents. I’m going to get through!

“Excuse me ma’am. Will you follow us please” the female agent states and the lead me to a portioned off area. “Agent Adams is going to look through your backpack while I give you a complete pat down.” Confused, I agree and the agent begins searching me and touching me in places only Lex has. “Why are you traveling one a one-way ticket with no baggage?” The female agent asks me.

I am trying to get home to my boyfriend.” I say. “He had some problems with his family and is home alone right now. I am worried.”

“Nothing here” Agent Adams says. The female agent agrees and I am allowed to go. “Next time ma’am. Try not make such a scene. We had some complaints about a crazy woman in line. That’s why we brought you over, Have a good flight.”

“Yeah, thanks” I say as I grab my backpack and race to my gate. I look up and realize that I have less than 10 minutes until takeoff. I run through the airport and the gate agent tells me to take whatever seat is available. I get on the airplane and see that it is packed. Are there any open seats! I keep walking towards the back of the plane and finally spot one. It is center seat between two very large individuals, one male and one female. The man gets up and lets me in and I shove my backpack underneath the seat. I think I felt the man’s hand grab my ass! I turn around and he has a shit eating grin on his face. I take my seat and dig for my headphones. I am going to need them today.

You’re a right pretty thing aren’t ya. What ya’ll doin’ in Atlanta?” the red-neck said to me with a grin that seemed to be missing a few teeth.

“Earl leave the poor girl alone” came from the woman to the other side of me. I smiled and at her and nodded an appreciative thanks.

“Ah Lana, shut the hell up. I was just trying to get to know our friend here. “ The tooth less smile gets even wider and now I can now smell his breath! It was revolting. ‘Earl’ finally backed off a little after being admonished again by Lana, but I kept feeling his hand rub up against my leg. I felt like I was going to throw up right there. I tried to move closer to Lana as we awaited take off but the smell emanating from her was almost as bad. I tried to bury my head in my vest and sweatshirt, but I still couldn’t mask the smell.

As we take off, the sudden inaction hits me and all I can think about is Alexa. God, I hope she is alright. Her father is such an asshole that I can only imagine what he said to her. I have to get to her! But this is not the only thing that is on my mind now. This mental picture of Dick standing over her belittling her keeps going through my head. Between those thoughts and the smell form my seat mates, I get up as soon as the “Fasten Seat Belt Sign” is turned off. I feel Earl grab my ass once again. That’s It. I turn and slap him square across the face. “You grab my ass again Bubba I will rip your balls off.” I tell the toothless man. He wilts back a little as I move off to the rear of the plane. I can see Lana laughing as I leave, only to return once we are told we will be landing. I slide back into my seat and thankfully am left alone by Earl for the reminder of the flight.

Atlanta proves to be an absolute madhouse. This is the craziest place I have ever seen! You have husbands and wives in full out arguments. You have children screaming and crying everywhere you look, people running through the terminal trying to catch flights. I almost was run over by a young solider rushing by with his duffle bag. He was nice enough to turn and excuse himself before he had to do a pirouette around a gentleman with a roller bag. I found the departure monitors and looked up. There must be some kind of storm between here and Chicago. There were flights delayed all over the place. I found the departures for Minneapolis. Southwest does not have any flights to Minneapolis! Where am I going? MCI? What the heck is MCI? I look at the board further and find that MCI is Kansas City. Why am I flying to Kansas City? I don’t get it. I don’t have too much time to think. I see that it is leaving from Gate C51 in 15 minutes. Where am I? Gate C8! I start running to catch my flight. This is the worst ever.

Once I make it to the gate there are people everywhere. What is going on? It is then I hear the gate agent come over the intercom. “We are sorry to announce our flight will be delayed due to mechanical issues. We ask the that you do not leave the gate area as we will begin loading as soon as the issue are resolved. Thank you for your patience and thank you for flying Southwest.” Great! I run over to look at the departure board again. Maybe I can catch a flight to Minneapolis on another airline. As I am looking at the monitors, I watch as the next two flights on Delta go from ‘On-Time’ to “Delayed’. More good news! I wonder what is going on. I can’t take all this anymore. I need a drink.

The bar was crowded, all the tables were taken but I did find one stool available at the bar, next to a middle-aged man in a rumpled suit. He looked like he had been living in the suit. I gave him a polite smile as I waited for my Bloody Mary. I don’t know what was going through his mind, but I noticed him trying to work his wedding band off his finger. How disgusting. Normally I might try and tease him a little and string him on but this was not the time. To put him off I tried Alexa again but my phone was acting up and I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I had to have this thing looked at. The businessman tried to strike up a conversation but I thwarted him immediately by telling him I was a lesbian and finished my drink quickly and went back to my gate.

When I made it back to my gate they were already boarding. I was stuck at the end of the line. Southwest’s wonderful way of seating people was going to rear up and bight me in the ass again. I was going to get stuck between two big old country boys that smelled like cow manure. But luckily this time there was an open seat between what looked like a father and his teenaged daughter. I asked if the seat was open. It wasn’t long before I realized how wrong the assumption I had made was wrong. The middle-aged man turned his legs to let me move through but could care less who I was. The girl however was all excited that someone closer to her age was going to be her traveling companion. As soon as she opened her mouth, I suddenly regretted my choice.

“Hi! I’m Alyssa, but my friends call me Aly.” The teenager says to me. As I stare at the girl with a mouth full of braces I feel that there is a much larger age difference between us than the 6 years it appears to be. I try to be polite and tell her my name. “Oh my god. Like I am so excited! I have never flown by myself. I’m like 15 and my parents finally thought I could handle it myself. I am going to Kansas City to see my Grandparents. How about you? Are you like going home for Christmas?” I acknowledge that I was and began digging through my backpack for my head phones. There was no way I was going to be able to put up with this girl the whole flight. It is then she notices both my phone and my head phones. “Oh my god is that like an iPhone 7? I really want one of those. I only have a 5C. My parents won’t by the new one yet. And are those like wireless Beats? Those are like so cool!”

I put on my headphones and begin playing music. I notice two things as I am looking at my phone. One it was still in airplane mode. UGH! No wonder I couldn’t call Alexa. The second was my battery was almost dead. There is no way I am going to make it all the way to Kansas City with this phone. So off goes the phone, but what now? I check my backpack and all I have in it is a copy of People and a copy of Cosmo. I do have my laptop, but I know that is almost dead as well. This is going to be a long flight. I decide it is best to try and ease back and I lose myself in the People. It is difficult however as the teenager will not stop talking! I don’t want to be mean to her, but I do want to be left alone. It seemed like she was reading over my shoulder and commenting on every article. “Like Oh My God! Chris Hemswoth is so hot!” and “I like, love those Kardashians!” Finally, I looked over at her and asked.

“Would you like to read this? I already have read it.” I thought it might work to get her to leave me alone for a little bit. And it worked! For the first time today, something has gone right!

“Like Oh my god! You are so nice! Thank you, Jenny! And as I handed her the magazine I knew I would have at least a half an hour where I would be left alone and I closed my eyes and thought about Alexa. I could see her now curled up on the couch, crying her eyes out. I wanted to tell her everything would be alright. I wanted to dry her tears. Mostly I just wanted to hold her and tell her that I love her. I had to get to her. I was scared she would do something. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to her.

I was awoken by an announcement being made that our arrival would be delayed into Kansas City due to weather. I looked at my watch and then at my itinerary. I realized that now I was not going to make my connection to Chicago. Great! This trip was turning worse every minute. I looked over to my young seat mate who was also waking from her slumber. But it was like the switch turned on. “Does that mean we are like going to keep flying around?” she asked. I just nodded in response. “What happens if we start running out of gas. Can we use the bathroom? I saw the stories on TV.” I tried to ignore the young girl and try and figure out what was next on my little adventure.

After I get off the plane I race to the departure board to search for a flight, any flight to Minneapolis or Chicago. Delta has nothing to either destination and Southwest has only one flight left to Chicago that leaves in 3 hours. And it already is delayed. I instantly run to the Southwest counter to try and see if there is anything I can do. I get to the counter and greeted by a line about 50 people long. And from what I can hear, there is nothing that the airline can do. Frustrated, I tried to call Lex again, but I couldn’t get my phone to power up. I dug in my back pack looking for my charger. Where is it! I start to think back and realized I must have left it back in Florida. Could this day get any worse! But by luck I see a cell phone place down the hall. I practically sprint done the corridors of Kansas City International only to find a store that had closed for Christmas. Well at least my luck hasn’t changed. I check the newsstand next to the cell phone place and they do have some charges, but of course they are out of ones for iPhones. Perfect. Just perfect. At least this place was still open. I look for something to read for the rest of the day and settle on some trashy romance novel. At least it will keep me occupied.

As I leave the newsstand I realize I am starving I look over the concourse and see a sign for something called “The Farmer’s Market” That sounds good. Anything would be better than the Burger King right next to the Newsstand. My stomach is starting to rumble as I reach the restaurant. Closed. Is everything closed! I look at the menu and see so many appetizing things. A Garden Salad, A panini with turkey, tomato, avocado and sprouts. My mouth was watering. Everything looks so good. Why does this place have to be closed! I continue to look around. Every restaurant I see is closed. I am pretty much left with Burger King or getting a bag of chips from a vending machine. I suck up my pride and head to Burger King. I don’t think I have been to one since I was about 15. Looking at my options I realize there is nothing that appeals to me, but I know I must eat. I see a cooler at the side which has the words “Salads to Go” written across it. I open it up and find 3 containers of wilted, browning lettuce that look like they had been sitting there for a week. I return to line and suck it up and order a Whopper Jr meal with fries and a Diet Coke. I look at the food as the tray is handed to me and feel like those kids you always see in movies who just been handed a bowl of gruel. I take one bite of the burger and instantly spit it out. How do people eat this garbage? My grumbling stomach kicks in again. I force another bite down but that is it. I throw it away but keep the fries and Diet Coke and head off looking for a place to hole up and read.

After hours of reading and I finally hear my flight being announced and I board. At least this time the flight is a little more open than the last few I have been on. I had borrowed someone’s phone while waiting and had tried Alexa again and still no answer. My worries mounted as the flight attendants came through the cabin to make sure we were belted in. I must have looked like hell, as I nodded at the flight attendant as she moved towards the front of the plane. I noticed her glance back at me a couple of times. She has a concerned look on her face each time she looked at me. I must be worse than I thought. As we begin to take off I just sat back and thought of Alexa. I hope she is alright. Thoughts of her doing something bad to herself kept rolling though my thoughts.

Being that it was a night flight; the flight attendants had dimmed the lights and stated going through the cabin asking if anyone needed anything. The same blonde flight attendant that had talked to me earlier came up and asked if I needed anything. I nodded and asked if they had any white wine. Once again the look of concern came across her face. As she went forward I started digging through my back pack looking for some money. It was then I found a picture, I had forgot it was in there. It was the same picture of Alexa and I that sat in the living room of our apartment. Looking at the picture, I realized how much this special person had come to mean to me. This was early in our relationship but I could already see the love the two of us shared. I started to cry as the thoughts of Alexa being all alone in our apartment raced through my mind. The flight attendant came back with the wine and placed it on the tray table for the center seat. Then in an unusual move she sat in the aisle seat. “Are you ok?” She asked. I looked over at her and even though I tried to pull it together I failed. I broke down in front of the woman. She reached over and simply touched my shoulder attempting to give me some comfort.

“Would you like to talk? Not much going on right now. I’m a good listened. My name is Jessica by the way.” And she moves her hand from my shoulder and offers it up for a handshake.

“Jenny” I say as I continue to fight back the tears. Jessica looks down and sees the picture of me and Alexa that I had been staring at.

“Did you two just break up?” Jessica asks.

“No. Trying to get to her. Her father just found out about her.” I instantly realized what I said. The crazy part is that Jessica didn’t flinch at anything I had just said. She just keeps giving me the same concerned look. Without even thinking, I begin to rattle on about my day from hell and the concern I had that Alexa might do something to hurt herself. I can see that Jessica has begun to sympathize with me.

“I’m sorry you have had such a tough day. I know if anything ever happened to Paul, my fiancé, and I was flying I would probably hijack an airplane to get home to him.” The comment made both of us giggle and for the first time today I felt I had made a friend. The two of us continued to talk about everything under the sun from relationships, to bad airport food, to how annoying cell phones can be. I don’t know how long we chatted by suddenly Jessica looks at her watch. “Shoot I have to get back to work. It was nice talking with you Jenny. I don’t get a chance just to hang out and chat. Don’t worry this little adventure is almost over. I’m sure that Alexa is fine and you being there will make her day. It was a pleasure talking to you. Good Night and have a Merry Christmas.” I wished her the same as she moved off. I looked down and the picture again and this time instead of tears I smiled. As we are deboarding the plane, I made sure I was the last one off. I gave Jessica a quick hug and thanked her again for the talk.

I enter my fourth airport of the day and look for the departure board. My next flight isn’t for another hour and 40 minutes so I begin to wander around looking for something to do. I find a bar that is open and I go into grab a drink. Feeling much better than I did when I was in Kansas City I begin chatting with some of the others at the bar, but my joy is short lived and soon this place closes. I notice everything is closed for the night and here I am, in an airport with no one to talk to and nothing to do. I wander around and look at some of the various pieces of art and learn about the Battle of Midway as I work my way to the gate. When I arrive at the gate, I learn of my latest hurdle. Our flight was going to be delayed as the flight crew had exceeded their flight hours and that our flight was on hold. The airline was working on a replacement crew, but it would be some time. Feeling a little dejected I find a seat in the gate area and drift off, dreaming of cuddling up with Alexa.

I am awoken from my sleep by an announcement being made that the airline has located a flight crew and that we will begin boarding shortly. Yes! My luck is beginning to change, but that is when I notice the time. It is 3:15 AM. I have been asleep for almost 4 hours! But I didn’t even care because I soon was walking down the jetway and getting ready for the last leg of this long journey. The flight home turned into one the longest hour and half’s I have ever spent. I was so wound up I was practically bouncing around the plane and realized every minute I was closer to seeing the love of my life. When we landed, I raced to the baggage claim area and grabbed the first taxi I could to take me home. I probably could have flown home with all the energy I had now. I wanted to tell the driver to floor it but thought better and soon I was standing in front of our apartment building. I gave the driver a $50 bill and thanked him and told him to keep the change. At this point I didn’t care. I race up the stairs and soon found myself opening the front door of our apartment.

As soon as I opened the door, I knew Alexa was OK. I saw that the TV was still on and went over and turned it off. I took note of the half empty wine bottle sitting on the coffee table and giggled a little. I made my way back to our room. The sound of the very soft snoring that I loved to tease Alexa about greeted my ears. I looked down at Lex and couldn’t feel any happier than I did at the moment. I sat down in the chair at the vanity/desk and reflected on the last 22 hours of my life. 4 flights, 5 airports, mechanical delays, weather delays, annoying teenagers and all the other little adventures I had encountered. And I would do all of it all over again if it meant it would mean being with Alexa. As I sat there I could see her slightly stir. After a minute, she rolled over and when our eyes met, I could only think of one thing to say.

“Merry Christmas babe.”

The first of two B-Side stories from Chapter 11 of Alexa. This was written as I was having an attack of writer's block. It gives a little insight into Alexa's father.

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Dick sat at the bar nursing his beer. It was a typical Monday night and Dick was down with the guys having a few beers and watching Monday night football. Today had been a holiday from work and the chance to come down and hang out was a welcome relief. After running into his son last week wearing a dress he had been in a foul mood. The whole Christmas holiday had just been tense. When he laid down the law to his wife Charlotte about never talking to Alex again it had started an argument that lasted all weekend. He had hoped that by Christmas morning that the new washer and dryer he had bought her for Christmas would ease the tension but it did not happen. He tried to busy himself all day, avoiding her at all possible costs. The chance to sit at Willy’s and have a few beers with the boys was just what he needed.

“You think the Cowboys can make it to the Super Bowl?” Bob Hanson asked Dick.

“Fuck no. The Seahawks defense will be too tough for these rookies. We just need these dip fucks to beat the Lions tonight so the Queens have a chance.” Dick replies with a slight slur to his speech. Suddenly a woman walks up to Dick and sits herself down at the bar. Usually Dick would be excited. He had been known to take one of these barflies out to his truck to prove that he was a man. That Charlotte had never known was a miracle, but then again, his wife and some of these women don’t exactly run in the same circles. As he begins to put his best moves on, he realizes it is Barb Fahey, the mother of his former son’s roommate.

“Well if it isn't old Dick-less Quinn.” The slightly inebriated brunette says to Dick. Dick instantly wants to smack the woman.

“Get away from me you drunk.” Dick says.

“That’s right! I’m ‘fucked up’. Isn’t that what you told Kate the other day when you verbally abused both her and Alexa the other day?”

“Who? I don’t know any Alexa.” Dick replies trying to ignore Barb and watch the game. As he tried to turn back to the game, Barb grabs him by the shirt.”

“You know Alexa, your daughter. Used to be Alex your son. What kind of man are you to abandon your own child? You’re a dick-less thug Dick. I don’t care what you say about me but if I ever hear of you belittling my daughter again I will go right to your wife and tell her about all your little rendezvous down here. Including me!” And with that Katie’s mother moves off.

“You have a daughter?” Bob asks.

“Shut up and watch the game Hanson” Dick says as he tries to forget the encounter he just had.

Charlotte transferred the wet towels from the washer to the dryer. “What a wonderful Christmas present” she thought, and then kicked the new machine. What was he thinking? He is such an asshole! Leave it to a Neanderthal like Dick to think a washer and dryer were a good Christmas gift. These were the kind of things you went out on Saturdays and bought. But we could never do that she thought. Couldn’t interfere with the killing of defenseless animals!

But as Charlotte sat back down at the kitchen table with her cup of coffee, she knew it wasn’t the impersonal Christmas gift that had her in this mood. It was Alex. What was happening with him? How could he be walking around in a dress? Did Katie and Jenny put him up to this or did he choose to wear women’s clothes? She always wondered about him and spent the last few days thinking about it. Were there signs she didn’t pick up on? He had always been different than his brothers, but she just assumed it was because he was the youngest. But thinking back to Alex’s childhood, he was different than other youngest sons that she had known. So many of them tried to emulate their older brothers. They would try and dress like them and enjoy the same things as them. Unfortunately, at times it was for the worse, look at Dick and Bob. Bob was as big a chauvinistic pig as his older brother. But Alex had never been like that. He had always been kind of loner. He enjoyed reading and playing those stupid video games. He never wanted to hunt or fish like his older brothers. She had always written off as that his brothers and fathers were so mean to him, he had rejected those things.

But it was something else that ate at Charlotte. How could he do this to her? Had he rejected all that she had taught him and that the church had taught him? While Dick’s actions were reprehensible, Alex’s were almost as bad. She still loved her son but why did he have to act out like this. To dress as a woman was sickening to her. Men were men and women were woman. Any time she saw Bruce Jenner on TV, yes she still thought of him as Bruce, she would turn the channel. Her mind could not accept that someone would go to these extremes. And that her son would do this was a rejection of her and her feelings. She wanted to reach out to him as he hurt but something held her back. Yes, she had allowed her love of her son to get to her and she sent him that message on Christmas. She had allowed the motherly feelings to take control of her but she was still mad. She wanted to take her son over her knee and spank him like she had when he was a child.

She was also mad at how others would perceive her for having a crossdressing son. Did he even think of the shame that his actions would bring to this family! She could visualize the ridicule she would receive from people at school and in town when the world spread about her son. She might even lose her job because of this. The church’s views were clear on this issue. It did strike her as funny thought that as the church railed against homosexuality, it had priests running around playing around with little boys. But still with all that, the church could order the school to let her go because of this. She could see it now, unemployed 58-year-old woman being laughed at in the streets because her son was a freak. It was almost too much to bear.

Alexa's mother begins to deal with the aftermath of her husband's actions towards Alexa

But for all her anger there was one thing she kept coming back to was that she still loved her son. Dick had forbid her from talking to him, so she would have to find a way to reach out and find out what was going on. She would have to work under the cloak of darkness. She chuckled to herself that it was like being a spy. But it wasn’t too far from the truth. She was going against her husband and that was not the way she was raised. She had been raised to believe in the words of Ephesians “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord” and that was how she had always lived. But the husband was wrong in this case. For all his faults, she loved her husband. Or did she? As she thought about it, he was kind of an asshole. The washer and dryer for Christmas were a symbol of that. He had done things his way always and she was forced to accept it. Hunting and fishing on the weekends, Monday night football at Willy’s, bowling on Wednesday’s. And she was just supposed to sit there and take it. The longer she sat and dwelled on those things the madder she got at him. And while he had never truly accepted Alex he had become more verbal about it and now to outright kick him out of the family! She starred down at the wedding band she wore. It had started to feel like a symbol of slavery not of love.

It was at that point she made a decision. She would learn about crossdressing and see if she could find a way to accept Alex. She was going to go behind Dick’s back and try and keep in contact with Alex. She would still act as the dutiful wife, but things were about to change. She giggled as she thought about this. She felt like a naughty school girl, rebelling against everything she was ever taught. She would bide her time as she tried to find a way to bringing back her son. Feeling a rush of confidence, she went to the phone on the wall and placed a call. “Shelia, this is Charlotte Quinn. Do you think you could fit me in latter today? I think it’s time for a new style”

“Jenny, come in please.” Dr. Debbie Burke said as she entered the waiting area for the office of the Program for Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota. The person she just asked to come back is not a patient, but the partner of one. Dr. Burke had tumbled into one of the most unique situations ever presented to the Program. A young man had begun to question his gender. That was not unusual. The unusual part was that at the same time, he and the girl entering the counselor’s office had begun a relationship. As time went on the young man began to identify as a woman more and the relationship with the young woman intensified. The two were in love and living together. Then last week happened. The young woman had left town and the young man was discovered by his father and the reaction had left the young man almost broken. The calls to this office had gone unheeded. However something magical had happened. The girl returned and the young man had pulled out of his spiral. But now changes were beginning and the young man now wanted to be a young woman. And his girlfriend stated she was 100% behind the decision. That is what this meeting was about, to make sure that she knew what she was getting into.

Dr. Burke waved Jenny to the couch and took a seat in her standard chair, but this time without her notebook. Today was about making sure that Jenny was aware of what was happening and what she could look forward to. Debbie liked both Jenny and her boyfriend/partner Alexa. She had seen the love the two shared many times, but yesterday when the two of them came to her office it was something much more. It was almost a spiritual connection. When Alexa told Debbie the story of her father’s rejection, Jenny seemed to feel every bit of the pain Alexa described. When Jenny talked about her trip home, Alexa displayed the same frustrations Jenny must have felt as she tried to make it back to the person she loved. And when Debbie found out about the events with Alexa and her father, she expected to find a defeated boy and a girlfriend trying to do everything to comfort him. Instead she found two women in love who cared about each other and supported each other.

“Jenny, thank you for coming. This is a bit unusual for me. I have never asked a partner to come in and have the discussion you and I are about to have. But you and Alexa are the most unique couple I have ever come across. My scientific mind does not believe that there is such a thing as soul mates. But you two seem to disprove that theory. I like the two of you and I want to help. Now you say that you are in full support of Alexa as she begins this transition, are you sure of that?”

Without a second of hesitation, Jenny answers the doctors question. “110% in support. I want Lex to be happy. I want her to feel comfortable in who she is.”

“You are aware that she will go through some difficult times. People will mock her and ridicule her. Will they be as mean as her father was the other day, probably not. But they may be. Some people cannot understand why someone would want to change their gender. She will need a lot of support and understanding. Are you willing to be there for her?”

“Of course. I love her.” Jenny replies, almost miffed at the doctor for doubting her convictions.

“But Jenny, that is a lot for someone as young as you to take on. How old are you? Twenty-One, Twenty-two? Life is tough enough for you at this age but to take on the things that Alexa is going to go through will make it extra hard. You are going to be asked to be even stronger than you have already been. “

“Debbie, I have thought about those things a lot. I see it already. I think Alexa has told you about those two dipshits that live in our building. They have been harassing her for months now. And I am sure it will get even worse next week. But we can handle it.” Jenny states confidently.

“But how about the views people will have of you. I do not think you ever considered yourself to be a lesbian before, but that is what you are about to become.”

“I know. We both know. But we don’t care.” Jenny’s confident statement does not surprise or even concern Debbie. That was not the point of this little get together. She just wanted to have Jenny realizes what is happening.

“I can understand that you may not care about how society as whole views the two of you. Being gay or a lesbian does not carry the same stigma as it once did, but there are still people out there like Mr. Quinn who will not take kindly to you for those views. And what about your family? Have you explained to them what is going on?”

Jenny looks down and in hush tone answers “No I haven’t.”

Debbie presses on in this line of questioning “How do you think they will react?”

Jenny takes a moment to answer. She could lie to the doctor and tell her that her parents would be fine. But she respects her too much to do that “My mother would put on the act of being shocked by it all and then act like it is OK. In reality she would be appalled. She is a true limousine liberal. She acts like she is supportive of gays and lesbians but reality it disgusts her. My father would probably handle it better. But I really don’t care what they think. They have been so distant since my sister died. I don’t really think they would care what I did. Besides they don’t really count. The one person who does count is already on my and Lex’s side.”

“And who may that be” Dr. Burke asks.

“My grandmother. She’s the true head of the family. She loves Alexa. Well, she loves Alex so I can’t imagine she wouldn’t love Alexa. They bonded at Thanksgiving. She was the one who told me to come home. I talked with her the other day and she was extremely worried about Alexa. Heck she didn’t even asks about me” Jenny says with a smile.

Debbie laughs when she hears about Jenny’s grandmother, but she knows the story of Jenny’s sister and a little of how Jenny’s family works from previous sessions with Alexa. But she needs to be assured of some of the other things.

“Being a lesbian is going to be the least of your worries, but it does seem that you are unconcerned. But what about if Alexa decides to start HRT? You say you will support her, 110% percent you said. But what of the, uh, physical changes. Are you prepared for those?”

Jenny begins to blush. As open as she acted she was really a shy girl. Katie would never say that but Alexa had brought that out in her. The ‘physical’ part of the relationship had been somewhat new to her. She had a boyfriend before, but they didn’t make love. They had sex. It was nothing like what she and Alexa share. The tenderness was so much more different than the few times she had been with Trey. He just cared about his needs. Lex though had always cared about Jenny’s as well as her own. She thought hard as how to explain this to Debbie. “Um, yes we have talked about it, but what we share is so much more than the uh, typical, um relationship. It is much closer, more tender.”

“What about if ‘things’ start to, how do I say this. What if things stop working? Will you, Jenny, be able to deal with that?” Debbie asks as gently and politely as possible. After all she does not want to scare the girl but her goal here was to give Jenny insight as to what may happen.

“We have talked, but we will learn. That’s the part that is going to be the hardest to explain. Yes we are physical and I am not going to lie I do enjoy it. But it’s not just ‘that’ that I, we enjoy. It’s how much we care about each other that makes it so special. We will just have to find new ways to continue to show that love.” Jenny replies. This is the weirdest conversation I have ever had Jenny thinks to herself, but one she feels she must have so she understands everything Alexa is about to go through. And herself as well. She is as much a part of Alexa’s journey.

“You do realize there could eventually be diminished loss of function due to the hormones. Yes, Alexa may develop breasts, her skin will soften and smooth out her curves. And we can work together to find a way to keep things working the same if that is the way she wishes. I just want you to know the possibilities. There could be some other effects that you may not be prepared for though,’ Debbie says. She is about to enter a territory that could sway some decisions so she knows she must tread lightly. “Jenny, there is one other side effect I need to discuss with you. It is not something that normally happens but has been known to happen. And I am not going to say it will happen to Alexa. When a person begins taking things like estrogen, the chemical balance of their body begins to change. One of the areas effected is their brain. It starts to process things more like a woman. Patients do become somewhat moodier and there can be a loss in sex drive. But one thing that has happened, but not all the time is that, shall we say, preferences change.”

Would helping Alexa cause her to lose her? Was she about to agree to support someone who would reject her? Her mind began to spin. But it seems like it always comes back to one thing. She loves Alexa. She took a deep breath and said to Debbie that she understood what she was saying. “I am willing to take that chance. As I have said all along, I love her Debbie.” Wiping a tear from her eye, Jenny whispers. “I love her.” After pausing to wipe away a tear Jenny spoke up a little more. “I don’t know what Alexa has told you about me. My family is not something I care to talk about. Partially because we are wealthy but also partially because I really don’t care about them, except my Grandmother. Did Alexa tell you about my sister?” Debbie nodded at Jenny’s question. “Abby was the most important person in my life. It was pretty much just the two of us. My parents were and still are too pre-occupied with their own lives to care about their children. When Abby died, I said I would never let anyone get close again. I built up walls. Sure, I had a boyfriend but I didn’t love him. I didn’t love anything. I pretty much became a stuck up bitch. Then Alexa came along. I always liked Alex, but something about Alexa blew me away.

Jenny paused and started to search for the right thing to say that could explain how much Alexa meant. “When Alexa came into my life it was incredible. I couldn’t believe the things that I started feeling. The day we spent together when we met you at the coffee shop was magical. I had never felt so alive. And it just kept getting better, all because of this beautiful person named Alexa. She taught me to love again. Alexa has become more than just my partner. But you know what, that is the perfect word for us. We are a team. I don’t plan on losing her. Ever. I will be there at her side through all these changes.” Jenny paused as her emotions began to take ahold of her. The forceful attitude she just showed led her into an even more emotional outburst. “Do you know what the worst day of my life was? It wasn’t the day my sister died. I couldn’t do anything about that because I wasn’t there. It was last Saturday. The person I cared for more than ANYTHING in the whole world was hurting and I wasn’t there! I blamed myself! I caused Alexa’s pain and I wasn’t there! I will not allow anyone to ever hurt her again” The emotion that Jenny was showing became too much and she broke down in tears. It took her a moment and several tissues to gain control of herself. Looking up at Debbie she wipes a tear from her eye and whispers. “I love her.”

Debbie started to lose her professional demeanor at that point. She stood up and walked back to her desk where she pulled a lace handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. As a professional she knew she was not supposed to become emotionally involved with her patients. She took a moment to gain control of herself before she sat back down. Debbie’s thoughts were all over the place. She took a deep breath and tried to re-gain her professional bearing. “Jenny, I did not mean to scare you. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware of what could happen. I will be here to help both you but I think you should retain a counselor as well. You are going to need someone to talk with on an individual basis. I can recommend someone if you wish. I know that you are going to ask me to do it, but I do not know if that is wise. As a couple, I will always be available to the two of you as a couple, but Alexa will always be my primary concern in this. She is a lucky girl. Not only does she have a great support system in you and Katie, but to have the love you give her makes her one of the most fortunate people I have ever know in this business.” As soon as Debbie said this she knew it was not enough. Once again, her personal feelings for the love these two shared was clouding her professional judgement.

“Thanks” Jenny says as she blushes. Dr. Burke smiled as she saw this and reflected on the girl currently sat in front of her. When the two had met, Jenny seemed like a very nice, but somewhat aloof person. She had felt Jenny was hiding behind a facade. At that time, she knew nothing about Jenny’s sister. But as Debbie had the chance to spend time with Jenny she saw something else. Debbie has noticed the change in her. Seated before her now was a loving, caring person who was happy. She was a girl in love. And love that was being reciprocated by her partner. Taking a moment, she addressed that issue.

“I do wonder how Katie puts up with you two. You two never want to leave each other’s side. I can understand with Alexa. You have become her biggest supporter and have helped keep her sane. But when I asked you to leave yesterday, you look like I had told you that you would never see her again. Do you feel that way?” Debbie asked the young woman

The mood Jenny had been in instantly changed for one of embarrassment and sadness back to the cheerful person that had entered her office. “Debbie, as I just said, she is the world to me. As soon as I got on the airplane for Florida last week I was a mess. I knew I had made a mistake leaving Alexa back here. I didn’t know that it was going to be as bad as it was. The only reason I made it through that day of hell was I knew that I was getting back to Lex. Since I have been back I don’t want her gone for too long. She has changed me in so many ways I can’t begin to explain. And it‘s not just the opening up. She has taught me to cook! I would never even though of that before. She has taught me to have fun again and taught me to care about others. There is only one thing that hasn’t been able to change in me.

“What is that?” Debbie asked.

“I am still a completely jealous bitch.” Jenny said, almost like she was proud of that. Jenny went on to explain the situation with Alexa’s co-worker Dannii. How she had confronted her just prove that she was the ‘Mama bear’ and the Alexa belonged to her. “It felt good to show that ginger who Alexa belonged with. That’s why I call myself a jealous bitch. And that’s not going to change.”

“Jenny believe me, we all can be that way.” Debbie said with a chuckle. That lightened the mood in the room immensely. Debbie could see what appeared to be relief wash over Jenny’s eyes as she was starting to comprehend that nothing bad was to come of this meeting. Dr. Burke picked up on this as well. “Jenny, were you scared to come in here today?” Jenny could only nod her head. She was still a little scared of what Debbie was going to say about her and Alexa’s relationship. Debbie picked up on that right away. With a chuckle, Debbie assured Jenny not to be scared. “I might get paid to crawl around people’s heads and help them. But one thing I will always stay away from is the love two people share. And even if I did, I would never try and keep the two of you apart. You two are special. You were meant to be together. All though I could see where Katie could be revolted by the two of you at times.” Jenny giggled at that.

“I guess we are a little over the top. But we love each other so much and I will admit that another thing Lex has brought out is a playful side in me. Katie rolls with the punches pretty well, even though there are times I feel bad for her having to deal with us. But she does keep us in our place at times. She even came up with a nickname for us when we get to be too much.” Jenny said. Debbie looked at her as waiting for an answer. Jenny piped up with “Jexy. Combination of Jenny and Lex. I think it’s cute but it drives Alexa crazy. She’s getting better with it though. The groaning about it has minimized.” Jenny’s giggling about this turned into a full throated a laugh as she explained her girlfriend’s feelings on the nickname.

“It is a cute name. I might have to tease Alexa with it next week. Well Jenny, thank you for coming in. Once again, I did not mean to scare you. I just wanted you to be aware of some of what possibly lies ahead for you two.” With that Debbie rose from her chair. “Do you and Alexa have big plans for New Year’s Eve?”

“Not really. Just going out to dinner to AJ Dunham’s. The place where Katie works and then back to our apartment. We over did it a little right before Christmas, so our clubbing days are on hold for a while. How about you? “Jenny asked.

“Nothing much. Getting together with a few friends. When you get to be my age, celebrating New Year’s Eve is not as much fun.” Dr. Burke giggled at her own comment. Thirty-Five was not old by any stretch of the imagination. But she felt she had matured beyond the craziness. “When you get to be my age you will find out the morning after a night of partying is harder to get over. Enjoy yourself tomorrow. And Happy New Year. Please tell Alexa and Katie the same. I will get you the name of a counselor for you after the new year.”

Jenny reached over to shake the doctor’s hand. “Happy New Year to you too. Thank you for all the help you give Alexa. She is such a special person and to have someone like you take such a special interest in her has made both of our lives much easier.” And with that Jenny went to leave but not without turning and waving ‘Good-Bye’ once again. Debbie once again sat behind her desk and pulled out a notebook and scribbled down some notes. As she thought of who would be a good counselor for Jenny, one name kept creeping back in her mind. Debbie Burke. She decided that these two deserved all the support they could get. She had taken a real liking to both of them. She knew she wanted to help them both. It might not be the most ethical thing but it was the best thing for these two. Jenny and Alexa were going to get all the help and support they need. Ethics be damned!

Alexa B-Side: Cold & Flu Season

The cold and flu season hit the U like it does every year, and one of its victims this year was Jenny.

For the last few days she had been slowly going downhill to the point where being the dutiful girlfriend, I took her to health services. Luckily it was not the flu just a typical cold and she was prescribed some antibiotics. After taking Jenny back to the apartment and putting her to bed, I took her prescription to Walgreen’s to have it filled. They told me it would be about 20 minutes, so I decided I would go over to Ragstock across the street and kill some time while waiting.

Ragstock is the biggest seller of used apparel in town and sometimes you find some neat stuff so I enjoy going there any chance I get. The selection today looked pretty much picked through and then I saw something that put an evil idea in my head. Grabbing the package, I went and paid for it returned to Walgreen’s where I picked up a few items and the prescription and headed back to the apartment to play my little game with Jenny. I wanted to wait until Katie had left for work before I began. I passed Katie as I was coming in the apartment building and she told me Jenny was sleeping. I told Katie to have fun at work and that I would see her later. Upon entering the apartment I went to the bedroom and saw that Jenny was still asleep. I quietly went to our dresser and extracted a few things before closing the door lightly behind me. I went out to the kitchen where I put the kettle on and heated up some soup for Jenny.

Satisfied that this was all going to be ready I went to the bathroom and played with my hair. I teased it up big and put hairspray in so it would hold its shape. Going into the extra room, I changed into the items I had taken out. Garter belt and white stockings. I took the white bra of Jenny’s and filled it a little more than I normally do with my modest size B forms. I pulled the “Slutty Nurse’ Halloween costume out of its package and put it on and finished it off by placing the nurse’s cap in my now think mane. I finished it off by donning the 5 inch white heels that Jenny had for some reason. I checked myself in the mirror and just shook my head. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Heading back to kitchen I arranged a tray with the soup, a cup of tea, a bottle of water, some toast and the antibiotics. I made sure I had the old-fashioned thermometers in the places I wanted. I picked up the tray and moved to the bedroom.

I entered to see Jenny still asleep. I placed the tray on the bed side table and lightly shook Jenny to wake her up. “Time to take your temperature Miss Thompson” I said as placed the old-fashioned mercury thermometer in the still groggy girl’s mouth. It took Jenny a minute to realize the situation and was soon laughing at my costume. Staying in character I told her she need to stop laughing or I would have to find a different way to take her temperature. Reaching into the pocket on the dress I pulled out the unopened package the clearly said “Rectal Thermometer” on it. Jenny eyes got as huge as saucers as she looked at the package. Then with a slightly wicked grin, she placed the oral thermometer on the night stand and pulled me on to the bed..

“You wouldn’t dare.” She said. I began to kiss her, but my hand slowly moved down to her rear and slowly started to move closer to the thermometer’s defined location. She quickly slapped my hand as the giggles soon began for the both of us. “I love you Lex. You do make a sexy nurse.” Jenny said as I tossed aside the prop and began a more thorough examination of my girlfriend.

Alexa B-Side: Cold & Flu Season -Katie's Turn

Second Part of Cold & Flu Season

Katie laid on the couch feeling the effects of the cold that her roommate had given her. As Jenny came through the door, Katie couldn’t help but give her roommate some heat. “I hate you” Katie states as she stares at her roommate.

“What did I do?” Jenny asks defensively.

“You gave me your damn cold!” Katie moans as the chills take over her body a little. She pulls the blanket in closer as she turns off the ‘Price is Right’ to talk with her roommate. It had been a while since the two of them had a chance to hang out alone. It wasn’t that Katie was upset by the fact that Alexa dominated so much of Jenny’s time. In fact, she was happy that the two of them had found each other. They were her two best friends and they were so much in love with each other For the most part she was happy for them even if it meant she became a third wheel at times. “How did you beat this thing Jen?” Katie asked.

“You don’t want to know.” Jenny replied a slight blush crossed her face.

“Tell me!” Katie demanded in as forceful a way a dying woman could.

‘Um, Lex nursed me back.” Jenny said as the blushing caused her face to get even more red.

“Well that was nice of her. Maybe she will be able to help me when she gets back from class.” Katie said as another wave of chills overcame her. Jenny burst out in laughter at Katie’s thought. “What’s so funny?” Katie asked.

Jenny looked at her roommate. She knew she shouldn’t break the trust of her girlfriend but it was such a cute story she had to. Plus, she missed sharing some of these moments with Katie. “Well the day that Alexa took me to Health Services she brought me back here and put me to bed and went to get my prescription filled. When she came back she woke me up wearing a “Naughty Nurse” Halloween costume. It was so cute!”

“She what?!” Katie asked with shocked enthusiasm. “You are rubbing off on her.”

“I must be. She would never have done that before. She looked extra naughty. It was fun, plus she is so sweet. She wouldn’t leave me alone all night. She was constantly at my side, she brought me soup and tea and whatever I needed. It was the best day of being sick ever.” Jenny said with a giggle.

Katie giggled too. But it also gave her time to think. She couldn’t believe how far Jenny and Alexa or Jexy as she called them had come in a few short months. It wasn’t just Alexa’s transition but it was the two of them together. Before they had found each other, Jenny and Alexa were both kind of lost souls. As soon as they found each other a romance built up that was incredible. They cared so much for each other that they were willing to do anything for each other. And she expressed these thoughts to Jenny. “And yes, I get a little worked up when Jexy time starts but it is cute too. I don’t think I have ever seen two people so much in love. Everything the two you do is always done with the other one in mind. You two are great even if your little adventures can get crazy, like Christmas day when I caught you two in the tub or when you dressed her as a soccer mom to clean out the apartment. But, I am glad you two found each other. You make a great team. But I need you to do me one favor.”

“What?” Jenny asked.

“Don’t ever let me see Alexa in the nurse’s costume.” Katie said as the two long-time roommates laughed at the request.

Alexa B-Side: Cold & Flu-Full Circle

The cold had worked its way through the apartment. Jenny was the first to get hit and then Katie. Jenny had been in tough shape but Katie seemed to get through it Ok. I had hoped when it hit me that it would continue its decrease in severity. As is usually the case I was wrong. I had been laid up for almost a week with it. My throat and chest were killing me but Jenny had been a great help. One afternoon when I was laying on the couch, dying, Jenny came home and as usual greeted me with a big kiss. “Hi sexy” she said to me. This caused me to start laughing and coughing at the same time.

“Sexy? Here I am laying around in pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a beat-up sweatshirt with no make-up and haven’t taken a shower since yesterday and you think I sexy?” I say to my girlfriend.

“I don’t care if you have pox all over you, you will always be sexy to me.” Jenny says as she pulls me in for another kiss, this one much longer and more sensuous than the first. I try and mumble something about her catching my cold. She just responds that she doesn’t care and goes back in for a little more. Finally, she breaks the kiss and just smiles at me. Breaking away Jenny informs me “I’ll be right back. I want to get out of this dress. I’ll be back and make you some soup.” I fall back and return to watching an old Star Trek: Next Generation.

Five minutes later Jenny walks up to me. I noticed her come into the room, but didn’t pay any attention to her. I look up and I see my beautiful girlfriend standing in the Naughty Nurses costume that I had bought last week when she was sick. Jenny looked much better in it than I ever did. The zipper was pulled down to almost below her breasts and was struggling to keep them contained. She had also pulled up the dress a bit to expose the tabs of the garters holding up her white nylons. She rolled me over on my back and said “Please lay back Miss Quinn. We need to massage you a little and help you get your strength back.” Jenny then proceed to straddle me and began rubbing my chest. She leaned forward and kissed me hard on the lips. Then we hear the door open.

“Oh god, what the hell kind of crazy shit are you two up to now?” We hear Katie exclaim from the door way. I can only mutter “Oh shit” as Jenny pops up and stares wide eyed at our roommate. “I thought you were at work?” Jenny asks.

“Nah, traded shifts with Zoe. Just what the hell are you two pervs doing?” Katie asks. Jenny jumps off me and stares down. Katie looked at me and then looked at Jenny. Katie then broke out in a fit of laughter as she took in ‘Nurse Jenny’ standing there. “Is that the costume Alexa bought?” Jenny shamefully nodded her head. I was in complete shock.

“You know about the costume?” I asked my ‘sister’ as my face felt like it had become as red as a fire truck.

“Yes, I do Lex. Jenny told me all about it last week. It is kind of sexy, I am just glad I didn’t catch you wearing it Alexa Marie.” Jenny giggled at that comment while I continued to be embarrassed. Katie plopped down in the chair and just looked at the two of us shaking her head. “We have to come up with some sort of signal so I don’t walk in on this type of stuff. I have always wondered what kind of crazy things you two dream up while I’m away. This is pretty good.”

“This is nothing.” Jenny says. “You should have seen the Hooter’s outfits.”

“Mrs. Thompson. You have a telephone call.” The maid said to the mistress of the house.

“And who is it, Candice?” Mary asked her maid.

“It is your granddaughter Jennifer, ma’am.” Candice replied to her boss. Mary’s mood instantly brightened. Jennifer, or as she preferred Jenny, was one of the few members of her family Mary actually liked. Mary instructed Candice to have the call put through to the sitting room she was currently in.

“Hello, grandma?” The voice on the other end of the line sounded confused and a little nervous.

“Jennifer? What is it? Is something wrong?” Mary’s mood quickly changed to one of concern. She then heard her granddaughter tell her about a situation regarding her partner, Alexa. Alexa was a young man who was in the process of transitioning to a woman. A process that began just after Jennifer and Alex had begun dating. And as crazy as it sounded, Jennifer had supported Alex, now Alexa, in this change. She not only supported ‘her’ she loved ‘her’. This support was no more evident than on Christmas Eve. Jennifer had received a phone call from her roommate, Katie, that Alexa’s father had accidently discovered that his son Alex was transitioning into Alexa and he had blown his top. The incident was enough for Jennifer to abonded her family on Christmas Eve and rush back to Minneapolis. So, when Jennifer called asking for help it got her attention.

“Alexa was harassed at work today and her employers decided to weasel their way out of it and asked her to sign a waiver, limiting their liability. I think she needs a lawyer, no wait I know she needs a lawyer. Can you help?” Jenny said to her grandmother. Mary paused as she took this all in. She had not been completely comfortable with the whole arrangement Jennifer and Alex had. To Mary’s way of thinking, the whole thing was odd, but to Jennifer it meant everything. She could hear in her granddaughter’s voice a slight plea for help. Pushing her feelings to the side, she told Jennifer she would help. She would make a call and that Jennifer would be contacted as to what the next step would be. “Thank you grandma. I knew I could count on your help. Say hi to my parents. I love you grandma.” The older woman smiled, “I love you to Jennifer. Take care of yourself and your boyfr, I mean friend.”

Mary sat there as the phone call ended trying to decide what to do. She wanted to help but still had many concerns with the whole situation. Was this some sort of game or was it real life? While not a judgmental person she struggled with people who wanted to change their gender. It was then she thought about her cousin Bridget. Bridget had been a few years younger than her and the two of them had grown up together. Like many young girls, the two were more tom-boys than girly-girls in their younger days. But Mary had grown out of that phase while Bridget never had. She continued to do ‘boy’ things as Mary moved into being a woman. This caused many problems at home for Bridget and led to the eventual downfall of her life. After her father found her kissing another girl, she was sent off to a convent in Kansas where after a short period of time she had passed away, and no explanation was given. Mary had always felt that Bridget had taken her own life because she had been denied the chance to live life the way she wanted. Those events caused Mary to become more open-minded about homosexuality and the way people wanted to live. While never a crusader on the subject of homosexuality, she was much more understanding of it than others of her generation. It was those thoughts that compelled Mary to get up from her sitting room and head for her study. Once there, she opened an address book so she could make a call. For some reason she did not have the direct number she needed, she knew her private secretary did but she was on vacation. She found the main switchboard number for the firm she was looking for.

“Hamilton, Larson and Rosburg, how may I direct your call.” Mary hears from the cheery young voice on the other end of the line.

“Yes, Barton Hamilton please.” After assuring the young girl he would take her call, Mary was transferred to Barton’s secretary. The secretary was not used to phone calls being transferred into her line so she was a little annoyed by the sound. The nonchalance at which she answered the call was instantly changed and she heard the voice at the other end. “Louise, this is Mary Thompson. I need to speak with Mr. Hamilton immediately.” Louise began to almost panic. Mary Thompson was one of the largest clients in the firm as well as a personal friend of Mr. Hamilton. Mary was one of the few who had Mr. Hamilton’s private number, so she was a little shocked to be speaking with the Matron of one of the wealthiest families in the state.

“One second Mrs. Thompson. I will get him for you.” A nervous Louise put Mary on hold and raced into Mr. Hamilton’s office. “Mr. Hamilton, Mary Thompson is on line 3 for you.” Louise told her superior. The near look of panic that crossed Mr. Hamilton’s face concerned the secretary. As much as she was not use to having to talk directly to Mrs. Thompson, Bart Hamilton was as confused on how to answer the phone in his office by picking up a line. After a few seconds of fumbling and some assistance from Louise, Bart was finally able to retrieve the call.

“Mary?” He said into the phone.

“Bart, what the hell took so long. Did you need to have Louise show you how to answer it?” Mary said to her attorney, partially as an annoyed client but mostly as a friend needling another friend. Both Mary and Bart chuckled at the comment, but Bart’s was a little more restrained. If Mary Thompson had taken the time to go through the switchboard, he knew that this was a priority that would take over his life.

“I still haven’t gotten used to push buttons, you know that. I miss the rotary phone.” Bart said with a chuckle as he braced himself for the approaching doom. “What can I do for you today Mary?” Mary cleared her throat and begin to relay the details of the events that had fallen upon Alexa and then clearly stated what she needed from Bart Hamilton. Bart was a little confused as to why she was getting directly involved in such a matter, until he put together that Mary’s granddaughter and this transgender person were more than friends. If he had any doubts as how to proceed the were erased when Mary spoke again.

“Bart I realize that this is not your firm’s normal case, but I do not want it handled by some pro-bono zealot who just graduated from Bob’s Law school. And I would appreciate it if you personally made sure all went well.” The last request by Mary really put the wheels in motion for the senior attorney. He assured Mary that all would be handled properly and to have Miss Quinn and Jennifer at his office at 9:00 AM on Tuesday morning to meet the attorney he was appointing. The assurances from Bart, seemed to calm Mary a bit, but something still nagged at her. She let Jennifer know the details for the meeting on Tuesday and went about the rest of her day. However, the nagging feeling she had kept at her.

When she awoke the next day the first thing that crossed her mind was the discussion she had with Bart. She had realized during the course of the previous evening that she needed to support Jennifer through this and if that meant supporting Alexa she would be there for ‘her’ as well. She would be there much more than Jennifer’s own mother. Marilyn Thompson was, in Mary’s opinion, a spoiled little bitch who lived in her own little bubble. Ever since the death of Abigail, Mary’s granddaughter and Marilyn & Marty’s daughter, Marilyn had become even more snooty than she had been. The interest she took in her remaining daughter vanished. Marilyn was one of those types who always had privilege in their life and had never lifted a finger for themselves. Mary was fortunate not to have that upbringing and had tried to impart a little real-world knowledge to her three children when they were younger. They had to clean their own rooms, no maids doing it. Once a year they would have to work on at least part of the yard at the family’s expansive estate on Lake Minnetonka. Mary had been raised by a police officer and bar owner father and stay at home mother who expected their children to work hard. Mary tried to impart that wisdom on her own children and for the most part it had worked. Unfortunately that had not happened with her son Marty and his snooty wife.

As Mary headed down to breakfast on that New Year’s Eve morning the thoughts of what the lawyer might due to her granddaughter and partner grew even more pronounced. When Mary entered the breakfast area, those thoughts were forgotten somewhat as Mary realized who she would be dining with. The only person at the table was Jennifer’s mother, Marilyn. After the morning niceties Mary told Marilyn that she had spoken to Jennifer the day before and Jennifer had asked Mary to tell her parents hello. Marilyn barely acknowledged what was said and Mary instantly became mad. When Mary informed her daughter-in-law about Jennifer and her partner needing a lawyer, Marilyn completely ignored the older woman, instead telling her she needed to be off to her tennis lesson. That was the final straw for Mary. She had put up with this little bitch for long enough.

“So I take it the Tennis Pro is the flavor of the month for your philandering ways?” Mary stated, trying not to get her Irish temper up too much. Marilyn gasped in shock as this was said. Marilyn attempted to act all indignant, but it was too much for Mary to take. Her heritage won out. “Listen Marilyn. I know all about the golf pro at Wayzata Country Club and I know all about the gardener and that dentist. I could care less what kind of arrangement you and Marty have. But when it comes to my granddaughter I do care! If you want to ignore her fine. You have never been much of a mother to her. If I remember correctly she came to me when she had her first period and asked me to take her shopping for her first bra. Things a mother would normally do. You on the other hand were too busy getting it on with that attorney! Yes, I know about him too. Most of the mothers I know would take a strong interest in what was going on if their daughters called looking for legal assistance. You acted like I just told you it might rain today! Get out of my sight you little bitch! Go play with your tennis pro. I will be worrying about your daughter!”

Twenty-Six years of frustration had just erupted on the aloof mother of Jennifer and she was in shock and stormed off. Mary smiled as she watched her daughter-in-law leave. “I’m 85 years old. That felt good. Screw that little bitch.” The feeling carried over into the next action as Mary marched into her study and reached for the phone. She placed a call to her personal secretary, who was presently on vacation. “Sandra?” the older woman said. “I know you are on vacation, but I need your help. Can you please call and have them set up my plane for Monday late morning to take me back to Minneapolis for a few days. Please let me know when it will be available. Tell them I will plan on coming back on Thursday morning.” And with that Mary hung up the phone and drank her cup of coffee. It took no more than 10 minutes and Sandra returned the call, informing her employer of the details. ‘Thank you Sandra. I feel terrible for bothering you on your vacation.” Mary paused to let her assistant speak “ No you will not be needed in Minneapolis. I can make arrangements. Where are you at by the way? Disney World? Are the boys enjoying themselves? That’s good. Take a few extra days if you need to. Take care and have a good New Years and I will see you on the ninth.” With that Mary hung up, but then made one more discrete call to Walt Disney World and made arrangements to have her assistants bill paid for completely. Mary felt it was the least she could do for interrupting her secretary’s vacation.

Dinner that night was an interesting event. Not only were Jenny’s parents joining Mary but also her other son Robert. Robert was her youngest and probably the most like Mary of her three children. Her daughter, Bridget, was a little like Marilyn but knew better than to act the snooty one around her mother. Robert was much more hard working. He had shunned the family business and had struck out on his own to be a rancher in Montana. He enjoyed working with his hands and had recently divorced his latest gold-digging wife. So he had come here for the holidays to enjoy the sun and warmth of South Florida. As the family sat down, Mary completely ignored the death stares being directed at her by her daughter in law and spoke to Marty about her recent conversations with Jennifer. Marty, while completely wrapped up with running the family fortune was still concerned with his daughter, but not enough for Mary’s liking. Marty also knew better than to cross swords with his mother. He voiced his concerns over Jennifer’s boyfriends plight and asked if he could help. Mary brushed him aside but subtly let him know his concern was noted. Marty saw the determined look in his mother’s eyes and backed off, He knew better than to argue with her when she was in this mood.

It was also at this time she announced that she would be heading to Minneapolis on Monday to attend the Foundation Board meeting and that any of the occupants of the table would like to come along, they were more than welcome. Marty begged off indicating he had a meeting with the citrus group of the company Tuesday morning. Robert indicated he was already flying back to Montana on Monday so he was out. Marilyn said nothing. Mary made a mental note to check on a few things when she was back home to try and confirm some rumors about her daughter-in-law that she had heard. She wanted as much leverage as she could have over this little twit as she knew a storm was brewing and Mary being a good Momma bear was going to protect her full-grown cub. Dinner passed with very little incident and Mary excused herself early from her family so they could celebrate the new year.

Come Monday, Mary sat back in her seat on her private Gulfstream jet. This was one of the few things that she spent frivolously on. Mostly because she hated airports and as much traveling as she did this luxury was well worth the cost to her nerves. Mary thanked her flight attendant Kristin for the coffee she had brought to her and stared out the window. Two things crossed the woman’s mind. The first was she wanted to make sure that Jennifer and Alex, or Alexa, were not playing some game. She had only met the young man once and could see the beginnings of something wonderful for her granddaughter. But becoming a lesbian for all intents purpose over this one person concerned Mary. She knew that college kids would play little games and Mary was afraid this one could come back to hurt Jennifer. The second thought was, I must really care about my granddaughter to fly back to Minneapolis in the middle of winter. If Mary hated anything more than her daughter-in-law it was cold weather.

The flight went without incident and Mary soon was back in Minneapolis. She was met by her driver Lewis and she instructed him to first take her to the Marquette Hotel so she could check in to her suite and then they would be going to her granddaughter’s apartment. The time at the hotel did not take long and at 4:33 PM, Mary found herself standing in front of the door to the apartment her granddaughter called home. She knocked and could hear voices on the other side of the door. Getting a little irritated she knock again and the door was opened. Standing before Mary was an attractive young woman wearing a pair of faded jeans rolled up to about mid-calf, a white top of some kind covered by a blue, yellow and white plaid shirt left open and tied at midriff. On her feet, she wore a pair of non-descript white tennis shoes and her head was topped with a kerchief that matched the shirt she was wearing.

“Mary? What are you doing here? Please come in.” The young woman addressed Mary. Mary had never met this woman but instantly knew who she was. After the young woman took Mary’s coat, Mary greeted her as Alexa and asked if her granddaughter was about. From around the corner a light squeal could be heard. “Are you teaching her how to cook?” Mary asked Alexa and Alexa answered in the affirmative. After Jennifer, had inquired about who the visitor was, she was invited by her partner to see for herself. Jennifer stood there in minor shock as she realized it was Mary. Jenny instantly felt almost ashamed that she was looking the way she was and was cooking. Mary looked over at Alexa and gave her a little grin and a wink. She then began to speak with her granddaughter “What were you doing in the kitchen young lady and why are you dressed that way?” Jenny shrunk back a little more as her grandmother walked up to her and lifted her chin up so she could look Jennifer in the eye. “It’s about time you learn a useful skill” Mary said to her granddaughter and soon the giggles and the hugs ensured. Mary thought to herself that no matter how many times she teased her granddaughter in a similar way she always fell for it. Mary had a few other grandchildren but Jennifer was special to her. And from what she was seeing here so far, Alexa was good for her. Mary’s fear had always been that Jennifer would turn out like her mother. However, Alexa was showing her a few things.

The two girls led Mary to the living room area. As Mary took the lone chair, the two girls sat on the couch. Instantly the two interlocked hands, an action that did not go unnoticed by Mary. The two girls looked comfortable together and seemed attentive of the other. This surprised Mary somewhat. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she did not think she would find two people who seemed to care about the other so much. When Mary asked about the outfits, the two looked at each other and began giggling like school girls, but there was something more to it. The look was one of caring and togetherness. It was a look that melted Mary’s heart, but she could not let on that it did, at least not yet. There was some small talk about how Alexa was holding up through all the upheaval in the recent days and apologies from Alexa about disrupting Christmas. Mary knew she wanted to speak privately with Jennifer for a moment and needed a way to get the two of them to split up. She decided to use the outfits as her hook. “Before we go on, could you two please change? While the costumes are cute, I find it difficult to hold a serious conversation with the two of you.” The two rose from the couch and began to head back to change, Mary spoke up “Jenny, please stay back a second. Alexa, please give us a minute.” Jenny became nervous Mary could tell, and that was not the direction she wanted this conversation to go. As Alexa moved off, Mary began with Jennifer.

“Jennifer, I was not kidding when I said I wanted to make sure that this was not some game you two are playing. I am calling in a few favors on this little deal so naturally I had concerns. However, I see now that all those fears are unfounded. You two are obviously in love, not just lust. Now listen to me young lady. You watch out for her. She is going to go through some hard times and you need to be strong for her. And be prepared, life is not going to be easy for you either. Are you ready for that?” Mary had just laid out all of her thoughts on the situation in hand. She sat back and waited for Jennifer to answer, however she didn’t have to wait long.

“Grandma, I care about Alexa more than anything in the world. I don’t care what people say about me. Scr, I mean forget them.” Jenny said to her grandmother. The self-editing of her granddaughter brought a grin to Mary’s face. “I will tell you what I told Lex’s counselor the other day. I will standby by Alexa no matter what the consequences to me.” Jenny suddenly stopped again and started to tear up. Mary got up and put an arm around her granddaughter.

“Well then, if you are that committed so am I. I care more about you Jennifer than most people in our family. Like I said take care of her. Now go get changed.” Mary wiped the tears from Jennifer’s face, gave her a light hug and sent her on her way. Mary saw the tears give way to a big smile as she headed down the hall. Mary found out the reason for the smile, as Alexa entered the room looking like any other young girl she might encounter. She could also see the nervousness in Alexa. She knew she had to try and allay her fears. “That is much better Alexa. I will say you are a very attractive young woman. I also realize how much Jenny cares for you, which she just stated to me.” Alexa let out a sigh of relief as Mary’s words were digested. “One reason I came here is that I wanted to see for myself that this isn’t some game you two are playing.”

Alexa sat up straight and looked Mary in the eye. “I can assure you Mary that it is not. It just happened that as I was coming to terms of what I am when I connected with Jenny. I know it seems strange, but I really do want to live my life as a woman and I want to live it with Jenny. I, I um...”

Mary finished the sentence for Alexa, “You love her I believe is what you want to tell me isn’t it? And she loves you, I can tell. And that’s why I am here. Whether you realize it or not, your actions will affect Jenny. There will be a perception of her that will not be very flattering. I just said the same to her. Do you want to know what her answer was?” Alexa nodded her head as Mary continued. “She said she would stand by you no matter what you decided.” The comment brought a smile to both the younger woman’s face as well as the older woman’s face. Soon the two were joined by Jenny and Mary watched as Alexa slid over to allow Jenny to sit near her grandmother and they once again linked their hands. Alexa asked why Mary was being so accepting of this. At that point Mary went into telling her story of her cousin and how it had affected her. It was not a story she had told very often but she thought it was appropriate. The emotion soon became a little more than Mary wanted to share, so she tried to change the subject and told the girls she wanted to take them to dinner. She was somewhat shocked to hear the next comment from her granddaughter

“We don’t need to go anywhere. We have already made something grandma.” An obviously excited Jennifer stated. Mary became a little nervous at the comment. As much as she was glad her granddaughter was learning to do something normal, the thought of actually eating the food was another matter. She tried to get out of it by asking if there was enough. She was assured there was and then when Alexa made the comment Mary needed to stay because she didn’t want to die from food poisoning alone convinced her a little more. The playful banter between the two girls caused Mary to laugh. The next few hours were spent by the three talking and laughing, with various tall tales being told. Soon Mary decided it was time to head back to her hotel. As she took her leave of the girls, she told them to remember to dress appropriately, no costumes like early. Mary gave Alexa a brief hug before giving her granddaughter a much longer hug.

As Mary took her leave and began walking down the hall, led by her driver, Mary reflected on the evening. She had seen pure love between two people, something she never thought she would witness in her life. She just hopped that those two realized what they had. And Mary also realized she would do everything in her power to protect the two of them. Grandma bears protect their cubs eve more.

A storm was brewing and Charles Martin Thompson the Third knew it. It was not one that would sweep across the frozen lake he was looking at outside his living room window. No, this storm would be inside the massive house along Lake Minnetonka his family had called home for three generations. Taking a sip from the glass of Scotch in his hand he tried to prepare himself for the night that was approaching. A night where two distinct fronts would move in and change the course of this family for a long time to come.

On one front was his wife Marilyn. The term wife could only be used loosely these days, she was more of a housemate than a spouse. Once they had been in love. They had been seen as the ‘it’ couple within the upper society of Minneapolis. The children of two the wealthier families of Minneapolis who were both attractive and well behaved. Eventually they had married and a few years after that they began to raise a family. But after the summer of 2008 the relationship had changed. That summer marked the death of their youngest child, Abigail. No Marty, as he was known, could not point to that one specific event of his marriage’s down fall. It had probably begun before that, if the rumors he heard were true. But Abigail’s death had proven to be a milestone event in the disintegration of a marriage. Following that Marilyn had withdrawn into her clubs and charitable organizations. And her booze. She seemed to drink a lot and as time had gone on that amount had increased as had the difficult relationship with her husband and surviving daughter.

The second front of the storm was that said daughter, Jennifer. Jennifer had not handled the death of her younger sister very well. She had withdrawn into a shell following Abigail’s death. A shell which she never came out of until recently. The cracking of the shell is what was forming the second front. In October, she had started seeing a young man named Alex. Alex seemed to be a polite young man the couple of times Marty had met him, but as he had found out that was a shell of his own. Shortly after he and Jenny had started dating or simultaneously, Alex had begun transforming into Alexa. And Jenny had accepted it, not only that she assisted Alex in his transformation. Now the two were virtually inseparable. This had not gone over well in private with Jennifer’s mother. Marilyn thought the whole situation was an affront to ‘decent’ society. Marilyn had always been one of those “limousine liberals” as commentators liked to call her kind. Sure, she would stand up publicly for the rights of all people regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation but behind closed doors she was as big a bigot as Archie Bunker. And when the ‘Alexa situation’ had manifested itself, Marilyn was furious. Luckily for Jenny when Marilyn was made aware of everything, they were separated by almost two thousand miles. Tonight, was to be the first meeting between mother and daughter.

Marty for his part didn’t know what to think. His views were much different than his wife’s. Despite the wealth he had grown up with, he had been raised to believe that all people were equal. He had never had an issue with homosexuality, if that is what this was. That acceptance had been hammered home to him by his mother. However, the concept of wanting to present yourself as a different gender baffled him. He had always considered himself a man and had a fondness of proving that at times, which had included minor dalliances with other women. The idea of putting on a dress and heels was as foreign to him as calculus to a toddler. However, Jennifer’s attraction to this person was going to thrust the issue front and center with this family.

The interesting thing in all of this was that Jenny and her friend had an ally in the family squabble that was about to present itself. And if Jennifer was to have an ally, there was no better person to have than Marty’s own mother, Mary. His mother was the Eighty-five-year-old matriarch of the family who had seemed to get even feistier as she had aged. At eighty-five she was as sharp as she had ever been and was not afraid to state whatever opinion she held. One of those opinions was her dislike of Marilyn. His mother and Marilyn had never really gotten along and Marilyn’s actions over that last few years had strengthened that hatred. Mary had always thought her daughter-in-law had been raised with too much privilege. Mary on the other hand had not grown up with the privilege she had married into. She was the daughter of a policeman/bar owner and a stay at home mother who was working as a secretary at the Thompson Companies when she had met her future husband, Charles. Theirs’s was a whirlwind romance that Marty’s grandmother had a hard time accepting but one that was rooted in a deep love for one another. And when Mary had children she made sure they knew the ethic of hard work. Maids did not pick up after Marty and his siblings and one form of manual labor was always put before them by Mary. And it had worked for the most part. Even though Marty, his only sister and the one brother had all lived lives of luxury they also knew the value of hard work.

So, it was this set of circumstances that was about to create a firestorm in the home that had been built so many years ago by C.M. Thompson and had been passed down through his namesakes. Marty felt he should stay neutral in all this, but his heart and his head kept leading him to favoring one side, Jenny’s. He had grown tired of Marilyn and her drinking and when the rumors of her infidelities became louder his love for his wife had slowly eroded. Jennifer was his only child, a child he had somewhat neglected as he had thrown himself at the family business following Abigail’s untimely demise. He had abandoned the whole family after that and now as he was getting older those decisions were starting to haunt him. It was time for Marty to make some changes. Tonight was originally supposed to be a family chat about the future but the inclusion of Alexa into the mix had turned the evening of dinner and discussion in a new direction.

Marty took one final long pull from his glass, draining it off the last of the twelve-year-old Scotch that had filled it. A deep breath followed by a sigh of resignation. The world was about to change for his family tonight and as he moved to the liquor cart to pour himself another drink his thoughts of situation were still murky. As he returned to the window, the unmistakable sound of the family cook chastising his daughter announced she had arrived. For the first time tonight, he smiled. Looking out at the frozen lake he asked his father and grandfather for one final word of advice.

Mary was sitting on her sun porch, enjoying the lovely Sunday morning. It looked like it was going to be another postcard day in Florida. She was enjoying her morning coffee and reading the Palm Beach Post when the tranquility was broken by the sound of her granddaughter’s yelling.

“Grandma, Grandma, where are you?” Julie Preston yelled from the house.

“On the sun porch, dear, trying to get some peace and quiet. What is all the fuss young lady?” Mary announced slightly annoyed with her oldest grandchild’s yelling. Julie entered the sun porch holding an iPad and looking very flushed.

“Jenny’s in the newspaper.” Julie yelled.

“Julie Michelle Preston. I may be old, but I am not deaf. Calm yourself. Now what did you say about Jennifer?” Mary asked.

“Jenny and Alexa are in the StarTribune! There’s an article about Alexa’s transitioning.” Julie explained to her grandmother as she handed over the iPad.

While Mary was 85 years old, she was one of the few of her age group that had learned to use electronic devices. She took the offered iPad and began reading the article detailing not only the pending law suit, but also detailing Alexa’s transition as well as Jenny’s involvement and support. A smile spread across the octogenarian’s face as she continued to read. Mary loved all her grandchildren, but Jenny was special and the strength she and her partner Alexa had shown was incredible. Bart Hamilton had told her the interviews went well, but this was even better than his report. Mary called out to her older granddaughter.

“Julie, can you get Jennifer on the phone for me?”

*************************************************************

Meanwhile 1700 miles away, Mary’s son and Jenny’s father Marty was just settling in with the Sunday morning StarTribune. Sunday was the one day when Marty liked to relax and do nothing. He usually read two to three newspapers and tried to enjoy a normal day away from the craziness that was his life. He opened the front page and an article caught his attention “A Fight for Transgender Rights”. The issue of transgender rights had become a major issue in his family as of late. His daughter Jennifer had begun dating a young man who was in the process of transitioning from a man to a woman. Last night, for the first time he met the young woman. He had met the young man a few times and had found him decent enough, but last night he met a confident woman who was willing to stand her ground and not be beaten by the verbal assault conducted by his wife. His wife, what a pain in the ass she has turned into over the last few years. She seemed to be drunk more than she was sober these days and her actions last night were reprehensible. He was completely taken aback by her attitude and actions towards Alexa. Something had to be done. The time had come.

And what about Jenny? She did not sit idly by as Marilyn belittled her, partner? was that the right word to use? Jenny stood up to her mother and told her to deal with it. It was quite impressive to watch. She had really grown into a very mature young woman and last night’s events were more proof of that. Not only that, but she was in love. Marty might not completely understand what is going on but he could see it the looks Jenny and Alexa shared. And it wasn’t some infatuation or lust. It was pure love for one another. He still didn’t understand it all but he had the feeling he was going to have to.

As he was reading the article, continuing to be impressed by this young woman his mother had taken a shine to, his wife came stumbling down stairs. To be blunt, she looked like hell. The effects of too much alcohol the previous night was quite evident as Marilyn slowly shuffled along. And one thing the hangover did not erase was her attitude from the night before. “Good morning” Marty greeted his wife is a neutral way. All he got in return was a grunt as Marilyn made her way to the kitchen. Marty returned to the article and continued to be marveled at the poise Alexa displayed throughout the interview. Sure, newspaper writers took some liberties when putting these stories together, but these were direct quotes. The writer would come under fire if they were used wrong. And then there was Jenny. She came off just like she had the night before, strong, confident and in love with Alexa. To witness it was one thing, but to see it come across in a newspaper article convinced Marty even more that while he was still unsure about the whole thing, he had to make every effort to make Alexa feel accepted by this family.

Marilyn returned with a cup of coffee and a cold compress for her head. She threw herself on the couch and groaned. “You should read this article.” Marty told his wife, “Jennifer and Alexa come off very well. Very strong and confident women those two.” The groan from Marilyn soon turned into a growl.

“That is not a woman! That is some fairy posing as a woman trying to suck our daughter in! Are you blind or something Marty! Plus, why are you so full of praise today for Jenny after the way she talked to me last night! I don’t care if I ever hear from that little brat again!”

The final straw had been laid on the camel’s back. Marty was mad. As mad as he had ever been in his life. With all the self-restraint he could muster, he placed his coffee mug on the table along with the newspaper. Using every ounce of will power he had left he looked at his wife and stated ‘Marilyn, we need to talk”

************************************************************

At roughly the same time, Barb Fahey was just getting out of bed. The years had not been kind to her and either had the lifestyle she had led. But after her run-in with Dick Quinn after Christmas, things had begun to change for the 43 year-old woman. She had cut back on the drinking and had really worked at quitting smoking. The drinking had been easy, the smoking had been hard. But she was feeling better about her self both physically and mentally. One of the things that had manifested itself is she was getting up earlier and earlier, so here she was on this cold Sunday morning reading the newspaper on-line. Katie had called her yesterday and told her about the article on Alexa. Barb had looked forward to it immensely. As she read the article a sense of victory flashed over her. Alex, she meant Alexa, came off great. She had always been a good kid and had always stuck by Katie. When Katie got pregnant and refused to have an abortion, it was Alex who stood by her when nobody else would. Sometimes even Barb herself tried to put some distance between her daughter and her self. At that time, she was only 37 and did not want to be a grandmother. It had been a huge mistake she realized and scrambled to try and make it up to Katie. And the whole time there was Alex standing by her side, helping in whatever way a 16-year-old boy could help.

With that background, a sense of pride came over Barb. A few weeks ago, when she had finally met Alexa she was impressed. She wasn’t sure what she would find, but it was still the same kid. Still needling Katie, still arguing with her and still caring for her. She had said it then and after reading the article the thought had not changed. If she ever had another daughter, she would have been proud if she was just like Alexa. If only Dick-less and Charlotte would feel that way.

************************************************************

It was another typical Sunday morning at the Quinn’s. If the Quinn’s were anything, it was routine. Dick and Char had gone to 5 PM mass the night before, followed by supper at Lefty’s Lakeside Grille. As they had the week before that, and the week before that. In fact, they had followed this routine forever. Dick was one who wanted things a certain way and he reveled in routine. Charlotte always wanted something a little more, but there was a fat chance of that. The dinner, along with the rest of the home life had seemed strained the last few weeks. Charlotte was still upset about the washing machine and dryer for a Christmas present, but that wasn’t it. The divide between her and Dick had grown deeper after the discovery of their youngest child. Charlotte hurt from her husband’s rejection of Alex, now Alexa, as she had learned. Dick wanted nothing to do with a son who wanted to be a woman. Charlotte however felt the pangs of motherhood and had tried to reach out to her youngest, only to be rejected. And the fact that she had gone behind her husband’s back to attempt a reconciliation had only made the situation harder.

So there the Quinn’s were on Sunday morning. As usual, Charlotte had gone out to get the Sunday morning paper from the mailbox at the end of the driveway. It was -6 Fahrenheit but there was no way Dick would ever get it. She had started the coffee pot before she had gone out to make sure that it would be ready when she returned. She didn’t dare bother opening the paper until she had delivered it to Dick along with his morning coffee. And the routine continued. Dick pulled the sports section from the paper, took has coffee from Charlotte and pushed the recliner back. Not even a ‘Thank You’ from Dick, just silence. Charlotte took the front page of the paper and settled on to the couch with her coffee. She pursued the front page and it was the story on the lower right corner of the page that caught her attention, “A Fight for Transgender Rights”. It was the first two words of the paragraph that really pulled her in “Alexa Quinn’ she gasped as she eagerly read the article of Alexa and her fight with her employers and the love she shared with Jenny. It was when Alexa began speaking about her relationship with her parents that she began to openly weep. She hadn’t rejected her youngest she knew in her heart, she was just confused! It was the asshole in the recliner that had rejected her! She looked at the photo that accompanied the article on the inside and took in the image of her daughter for the first time. She was a beautiful young woman and even through the blurriness of the black and white newsprint, she could see the happiness. Her heart hurt.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dick asked as he looked over at his wife crying on the couch as she read the newspaper.

Charlotte stood up and walked over to Dick. Thrusting the newspaper in his face. ‘This. This is what’s the matter. Our daughter is in the newspaper. Our daughter is hurting because she is being harassed. Our daughter is saying we have abonded her.

Dick briefly glanced at the newspaper before stating. “We do not have a daughter. We have two sons. That’s it.”

For the first time in Thirty plus years Charlotte defied her husband and spoke up. “Bull shit. We have three children, one who happens to be transsexual. You just want to deny it because you think it will prove that you are less than ‘manly’ if you accept it!” Charlotte screamed at her husband as she used the air quotes hand gesture around the word manly. Dick was incensed. How could this woman speak to him that way! He stood up with fire in his eyes.

“We have two sons, that’s it!” He yelled back. He turns and pulls the school picture of Alex taken back in sixth grade off of the wall. He shows the picture to his wife. “We once had a son named Alex but he rejected us, not the other way around. He no longer exists.” With that he smashed the framed picture on the floor. Glass flew everywhere.

“Why?” Charlotte asked her husband. ‘Why is it so hard for you to accept? He has always been different than you, is that it. You have never cared for him and you have completely abandoned him, at a time when she needs us!”

The fury Dick was feeling continued to build. He did not want to spend all day listening to his wife go on. “I don’t need this shit right now. I ‘m leaving.” He stormed past his wife. He grabbed his coat and cap and headed out to his truck. He started up the truck and tore out of the driveway. Charlotte slumped back into the couch and continued to cry. She looked at the picture of a smiling Alexa again. She had a daughter, she thought to herself again. A beautiful daughter. The smile Alexa had brought a smile to Charlotte’s face as well. “Fuck that bastard” she thought. “We have a daughter. I have to find a way to bring her back.”

Alexa B-Side: #14 - Charlotte

Charlotte openly wept as she read the article and looked at the picture of her daughter for the first time. Her daughter. Words Charlotte never thought she would say in her life. But there in black and white was a picture of Alex, now Alexa, smiling like Charlotte had never seen. He, now she, was happy. Happier than she had ever been in her life and at her side was the same young girl that Charlotte had met before. Shame took over Charlotte as she thought she had failed as a parent as she learned of the torment Alexa had gone through. When Dick had asked her what the problems was, she lost it. She lost it like she never had before in her life. And Dick could not, would not deal with it and stormed out of the house.

As she watched her husband speed out of the driveway, the conflict began. She loved her husband even though he could be an insensitive asshole at times. Sure, he put up the tough manly exterior, but he could be a very loving caring husband. She remembered back to the early days, when they were in love. He could be very sweet, buying her little gifts, taking her out to fancy dinners. When Adam was born, he was excited to be a father. He changed the diapers and tried to help with the feedings. The helping and the loving lessened two years later when Danny arrived and by the time Alex came around, he was all but gone. He had begun devoting his free time to hunting, fishing, bowling etc., etc. Sure, there were times when the man who swept her off her feet would return, but it was just glimpses. But he wasn’t completely to blame. She didn’t help either. As time went along and the boys got older, she went back to work. She basically let the boys raise themselves. If any of them took the brunt of these family changes, it was Alex.

But what about now? Was her ‘abandonment’ of her youngest the reason he had turned out the way he had? Had she rejected him or had he rejected her? The choice he had made was wrong by the way she was raised and he was raised. She could understand her husband’s reaction to this whole thing. The Quinn’s had raised their sons in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. It’s not like the Quinn’s were brainwashed, but they were church going people and had been raised in the Catholic faith. A faith that had very strong teachings on homosexuality and gender. And Dick was a firm believer in those teachings. He had very strong beliefs in homosexuality and was not one to shy away from those. He had been known to openly mock men who were less than manly, including his own son. And Charlotte did nothing. She held out hope that maybe the bookworm who would rather play video games then go outside would change. He was a boy, and boys went fishing and hunting and raised hell. Not sit and learn to cook. Her job was to make sure their clothes were clean, meals were prepared and the first aid kit was ready. That was the way she was raised and that was the way she cared for the men in her family.

But was that the way to raise children in today’s world? She had been raised with 5 television channels, and phones with cords. The world had moved on but they had not. Now they had nearly 500 TV channels and the only phone with a chord on it sat in the bedroom. But they had not changed. And that was where the guilt had started to creep in to the back of her mind. Had she allowed Dick to be too hard on Alex? Was there something that as a mother she had missed? That is why seeing the picture hit her so hard. Alex had never been what you would call a happy child. Maybe that was because his feelings of wanting to change or maybe it was Dick’s harsh treatment. Either way the young girl who appeared in the newspaper was happy. Happier than Charlotte had ever seen her own child. As a mother that is all she really asked for. That her children be happy. At times, she felt like she had failed Alex. But now as she looked at the picture she saw it. It made her yearn to pull him in hold like when he was little. Before Dick had gotten his claws into him.

And Dick, what was she supposed to do with him? He had disowned Alex at Christmas when he had found him in a dress. He had come home that evening and ordered Charlotte to have no contact with Alex, that he was no longer part of the family. Charlotte had been prepared for her husband, having talked to Alex’s friend Katie immediately after Dick had left, but she wasn’t prepared for his anger. She thought the hour drive would calm him but it hadn’t. He was furious. She feared him as he went on about Alex. She was hoping that he would calm down, but he hadn’t. He would just sneer at the picture of Alex that hung on the wall of the Family room. And as the days went by she wanted to yell he was wrong. That this was their child and they need to support him. But she knew he wouldn’t, couldn’t. She would try and bring the family together. But it felt like she was going to have to choose.

Unfortunately, she was not able to make that choice. Later that day, as she was still racking her brain to find a way to make the family whole again the doorbell rang. When she went to the door, she knew that the choice had been made. Standing there was the sheriff and Father Paul. They broke the news of Dick’s passing. His truck had been found wrapped around a tree out by Cedar Lake. His head had been smashed against the windshield, the steering wheel had been crushed against his torso. “He was probably dinking.” Sherriff Young said. He explained that they had gone out to his Ice House and found several empty beer cans. Father Paul led Charlotte to the living room and comforted her. Soon Danny arrived, followed closely by Adam to comfort their mother. And as appreciative as she was of the support, she kept looking at the door waiting for her youngest to come rushing through the door. But it was not to be. He had to know, but she also knew that he had hung up on her the last time she had tried to call. So, she called Katie to relay the news. It was not the perfect way, but it was the best way.

That night, Charlotte tried to act as normal as possible, even though her heart ached. She had lost her youngest child and then lost her husband. But the act of normalcy was just an act. She just roamed the house clueless looking for answers. She tried to busy herself watching the news that had been turned on as various family members roamed her house trying to help her get over the loss of her husband. And then it started. The news report and she saw Alex. No, not Alex but Alexa. She was even more beautiful than the picture in the paper. She was confident and well-spoken during the interview, but most of all she was happy. At that moment, the decision she had told herself had been made for her by her husband’s death was made for real. Alexa was part of this family and she would do anything to bring her back. She texted her daughter immediately. Asking her to call. And she had. Adam answered the phone and berated Alexa like her father had. After yelling at Adam, Charlotte called her back. Alexa was almost combative in the phone call and left Charlotte in tears. Charlotte cried herself to sleep that night. However, the next few days the two talked and progress was made, or so Charlotte thought.

On Thursday, Charlotte stood in her pew as Father Paul finished the mass. It had been a hard few days for her. The final report had come out. Dick was drunk at the time of his accident. She thanked the lord that he had not hurt anyone by his foolishness. She felt the comfort of her extended family and Dick’s friend but there was one thing missing. Alexa had refused to show up at the funeral. She wanted nothing to do with the man who had been so cruel to her for most of her life, and deep down Charlotte did not blame her. But Charlotte wanted her whole family here with her. Family is what helped you get through these times. Sure, her other two sons were here but there was still a huge void. As the pallbearers came forward to carry the casket to the hearse, Charlotte took one last deep breath as her middle son Danny took her arm and escorted her back up the aisle. Charlotte had held it together pretty well, only breaking down once during the service. But now she needed Danny as she followed her husband to his final reward. As Charlotte walked down the aisle, she happened to glance up at the choir loft. In the shadows, she thought she saw three figures standing there. Her heart leapt a bit as she thought it may be Alexa. Maybe she did come after all! But those dreams were dashed at the cemetery. Following the limousine ride to the cemetery, Charlotte could not stop scanning the faces that were there, but she never found Alexa. Her heart sank.

The funeral party returned to the parish hall, where as was typical, the older women of the church served their luncheon for the mourners. The ham and turkey sandwiches were on their trays and the infamous ‘funeral hot dish’ sat warming in the large roaster. Various salads had been made for the meal as well as the pies the ‘Funeral Ladies’ had become almost famous for. Charlotte picked at a sandwich and some Seven-layer salad but had no appetite. Her emotions of the last few days had played havoc with it, but she knew she must try. She greeted several well-wishers who had come to pay their last respects. They had told her they were sorry for her loss. They told her amusing and personal stories of times each had spent with her husband. Through it all Charlotte just grinned and thanked them. However, her mind was not there. Her mind was scanning the room searching, hoping for the one person who she hoped would be there but was not. Soon the trays were removed and the hot dish was put away. Danny came up to her and said that they should head back to the house. Charlotte’s oldest son Adam and his girlfriend had already headed back to prepare everything for the streams of family and well-wishers that undoubtedly would come by. Danny had been a rock for Charlotte throughout this process. The recently single 24-year-old young man had been at his mother’s side since Sunday. Making sure she was taking care of herself and doing whatever little tasks that needed to be doing. She smiled up at Danny and nodded. As she got up she gave Danny a big hug and thanked him.

‘Thank me. For what?” Danny asked.

“You have been such a great help Danny. I don’t know that I could have gotten through all this without you.” Charlotte said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Danny stood there embarrassed but he knew what his mom was saying and appreciated it, but he still had a reputation to uphold so he gently chided his mother “Aw, knock it off ma! It’s a son’s job to do these things.” The two put on their coats and headed to the minivan parked in the church parking lot for the drive back out to the Quinn house. As they were getting ready to pull out, Charlotte asked Danny to drive by the cemetery. Danny questioned his mother, because it was the opposite direction of the house, but Charlotte stood firm and told him to drive that way. Charlotte had hope, she had hope that she would find her youngest child there. She knew he, she, always had felt a sense of obligation and Charlotte hoped that that hose sense had taken over.

As the minivan approached the cemetery, Charlotte spotted three women standing at the grave site. Her heart soared. “Pull in!” She yelled at her middle child.

“What? Why?” Danny asked.

“Daniel Timothy Quinn! Pull in right now dammit!” Charlotte yelled. A shocked Danny pulled the minivan into the narrow driveway of the cemetery and watch as his mother practically jumped out of the van and walked to the three figures standing at his father’s grave. Charlotte was going through a million emotions all at once as she approached. The sadness of her husband’s death was being erased as she thought, no she knew, that the daughter she never had until now was here. She was scared that daughter would reject her. She was nervous as to what to say but mostly she was excited by the prospect of holding her youngest child once again. As she approached the three, she could hear both crying and laughter. None of the three turned around as she stopped just a few feet away. In a hushed voice, Charlotte said one name, a name she would use for the first time.

‘Alexa”

The three girls turned around and the dark harried one in the middle instantly rushed towards Charlotte and enveloped her in a tight hug. At that moment, Charlotte knew she was never going to lose this child again. She might not completely understand what Alexa was going through. She might not completely agree with the life her youngest child had chosen but she knew that this was her child and was never going to let her go. She would learn about gender dysphoria and the feelings of her child. She would fight for her daughter the rest of her life. Her daughter! What a wonderful feeling to say those words.

Alexa B-Side: #15 - The Big Date

“Hello, Katie? Hi, it’s Dan Quinn. How are you?” a nervous young man said into the phone.

“Hey, what’s up?” a confused Katie Fahey replies. Why is Alexa’s brother calling her she wonders?

“You know it was good talking to you the other day. I forgot how, um, nice you were.” Danny continues, trying to be as nonchalant as possible but completely failing in his own mind.

“It was good talking to you too Dan. Did you need something or did you call to talk about Alexa?” The confusion setting in deeper.

“Well no point in beating around the bush. You see I have these two tickets for ‘Wicked’ at the Orpheum on Friday night and I was wondering if you, um. If you would like to, um, go with me?” The question came our awkwardly and Danny braced himself for the rejection that was soon to follow. However, the response was far from what he was suspecting.

Katie’s eyes go wide at the question. “Sure, I have always wanted to see that. What time?” Katie says, trying to hold back the excitement she was feeling.

“How about I pick you up at 5:30? You still live by Alex, right?” Danny asks.

“That’s Alexa you dope and I live with her now. In her old apartment on 14th. The time is perfect. I can’t wait. Bye Danny. See you Friday.” Katie says and ends the call.

“Well that could have gone better Danny me boy” Danny says to himself.

######

“OH, MY GOD!” Katie screams as she hangs up the phone. Turning to her roommate who is sitting at the kitchen table she blurts out “I have a date Friday night!” Jenny looks up at her and asks who. Katie gets a grin across her face. “You’ll never guess” she tells Jenny who simply stares at her. “Danny!”

Jenny takes a moment to go through all the Danny’s she knows. It takes her a minute until she stumbles on to one name, “Danny as in Alexa’s brother Danny? Danny Quinn?” Katie nods enthusiastically as Jenny screams in excitement and rushes over to her roommate. ‘Oh, My God!”

Following a hug, Katie looks Jenny in the eye. “You can’t tell Alexa. I want to hear her reaction.” Jenny hems and haws for a bit, but it’s all for show. Jenny has inherited a little of her grandmother’s teasing ability and knew that this would get her partner good. Jenny asks how this came about. “I don’t know. We talked for a while at the open house and he was very nice and funny. And I have always thought he was cute, but I never thought he would ask me out. This is so great!” The roommates share another hug, though Katie releases it quickly. She looks at Jenny in the eye. “You have three days to be quiet can you, do it?” Jenny nods her head and states “Watch me.”

######

It’s Friday and Danny is standing in front of the mirror finishing tying his tie. He could barely do it as his hands are shaking. Why did he ask Katie? Sure, it was fun to talk to her at the funeral and all, but to ask her out? He had known her forever, but just always thought of her as that girl his brother hung around with. But seeing her that day at the funeral, completely changed his mind. She was hot! The skinny short girl had really grown up since she went off to college. And he was attracted. It was the first time since he and Lynn broke up that he had felt this way about someone. And that scared him. He was scared of getting hurt again after what Lynn had done. But he didn’t want to just waste the tickets and they gave him the perfect excuse.

His mother walked by as he was fighting the tie. “What are you all dressed up for?” She asked her son.

“I got a date tonight. Using those tickets I bought Lynn for Christmas.” Charlotte inquires as to who he has a date with and sheepishly he states “Katie”

“Katie? Katie Fahey?!” Charlotte asks. “You better be nice to her. And be nice to your sister!” Charlotte warns and begins to help Danny with his tie. “Are you nervous?” She asks.

“Yeah. I don’t know why, I mean I’ve known her since she was a kid, but I had fun talking to her. I just don’t want to come off like a big jerk. I am sure she has heard enough bad things about me recently.” Danny states hanging his head a little.

“Don’t worry about that. Be a gentleman. And be nice to your sister!” Charlotte once again warns before giving Danny a quick motherly peck on the cheek. “And have fun.”

“Sure mom. And why did you have to kiss me?” Danny says as he reached for his Suit jacket and heads out the door.

######

Katie had hauled Jenny in to the room that is affectionately known by the residents of the apartment as ‘the Closet’. It was supposed to be Jenny’s room, but now it just housed all the clothes she and Alexa owned. Katie sighed as she looked at it. How could two college women own so many clothes! She shakes her head as she realizes her little ‘sister’ had been brainwashed by Blondie here. And as she sat there staring at the clothes, Katie’s ‘sister’ comes to the forefront. She looks over at her roommate. “Jen, do you think Alexa will be OK with this? I mean it is a little odd and Danny hasn’t always been the nicest to her.”

Jenny giggles a bit “Oh Alexa will be fine. She’s a big baby. I’ll sweet talk her later.” After Jenny’s reassurance, Katie outlines a plan for the day. She had already picked out a dress she wanted to wear and when Alexa got home, they were going to draw her in to the ‘closet’ and then magically find the perfect dress for the night. Katie would then kick Alexa out, saying she needed help getting ready, leaving Alexa to answer the door. The roommates shared a slightly evil laugh as they waited to spring their joke on the third resident of the apartment. The wait wasn’t long, as they heard Alexa come through the front door and call out for Jenny and Katie. Jenny calls her back to the closet, where of course Alexa has some dumb joke. Alexa then asks what was going on.

“Katie has a date tonight” Jenny squeals in excitement. Katie just stood there and grinned like that cat who at the canary. When Alexa pushed as to who it was with, Katie simply stated she was not telling. After about 20 minutes of Alexa’s ‘help’ Katie exclaims she has found the right dress. Jenny tells Alexa to go figure out something for dinner tonight and that she was going to help Katie get ready. While Jenny did do a few things to help, it was all Katie. She wanted to look her best tonight. Alexa did try and come back one other time, but was quickly admonished to get out of there after a brief discussion about Alexa’s mother coming to visit.

######

Danny arrived earlier than he had planned, like 20 minutes early. He wanted to just show up, get Katie and leave. As well as his conversations the last week had been with Alex, Alexa, Danny still didn’t get it. His mother tried to explain what was happening a bit, but he didn’t completely understand. He did tell his mother that he would try and understand. After sitting in his car for 5 minutes, he admitted this was crazy. He knew he was going to have to deal with his sister at some point. What a crazy thing to say, his sister.

But that was not the only thing on his mind. This date had brought back the whole episode with Lynn, finding her in bed with that jack-ass Brian Stewart was probably the lowest day of his life. He was in love, or he had thought he was at the time. She seemed like she was too, but why would she sneak around on him like she did? At that point Danny went into a deep period. He didn’t hide, he just didn’t deal with people all that well. He still went to the bars and hung out with his friends. He still went hunting and fishing like he always had, but something had changed. It wasn’t just his friends, but it was his job and where he was living. He stated to think he needed a change. He began actively looking for a new job and let the lease on his apartment expire. He needed out. Unfortunately, with the death of his father he felt he needed to stay. So, he moved back in with mom. Then he met Katie. Something changed again. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, so he asked her out. And now here he was, standing at her door, knocking.

######
The knock was heard on the other side of the door as well. Katie called out from the back “Get that will you Alexa. It’s probably my date for tonight. Be nice to him and entertain him for me, OK. And BE NICE!” Katie and Jenny shared giggles as the elaborate joke was about to be sprung. Alexa for her part made her way over to the door.

######

“What do you want Danny?’” Danny’s sister said to him. Danny felt like he would start sweating through his suit at any minute he was so nervous. He tried once and failed and then opened his mouth again.

‘I’m here to pick up Katie. She ready?” Alexa stood there for second before screaming out “No! No way! Katie! Get out here! Now!”

Katie and Jenny couldn’t stop laughing. Composing herself for a minute, Katie called out. “I’ll be out when I’m ready! See if Danny want’s something to drink.”

Danny relaxed a bit as his sister, still an odd thought, went and looked for a beer. Sitting in a chair he tried to calm himself. Alexa soon returned with a beer and a glass of clear liquid for herself. Soon the siblings were talking. It started out strained, but soon it felt natural. Danny talked a little bit about the break up with Lynn, but not much. It was a subject that he didn’t want to talk about. Danny wanted to ask his sister what he thought about the whole date thing, but was too nervous. When Alexa started to tease her brother a bit about the date, a completely foreign comment came to Danny. One he did not expect, but one that seemed natural. When Danny made a comment about Alexa’s dress length his brain stopped. Did he really say that? When Alexa called him out on it, Danny winced a bit inside. Was he approving of this? He realized he was. Alexa got up and slapped him on the back of the head and told him to deal with the dress length. Danny chuckled to himself.

From behind him, Danny could hear Alexa gasp. He stood up and his eyes were instantly drawn to Katie. She looked beautiful. He was mesmerized by her. Before he knew it, their eyes were locked on each other and smiles formed across their faces. They both greeted each other with a very soft hello.

######

Katie was instantly drawn to Danny. He looked very handsome in his Leland’s suit. She was sure it was from there, because the Quinn’s never left Faribault to buy anything. Katie’s heart began to race as she and Danny just stared at each other. Alexa tried to put up a protest, and as if on cue, both Katie and Danny told her to shut up. Jenny giggled from behind Katie, and Katie turned around to look at her longtime roommate and show the excitement in her eyes. Danny held out his arm like a true gentleman and Katie took it. He led her over to the door and helped her on with the coat. Soon the two were saying goodbye to Jenny and Alexa and headed out the door.

As the two headed down to corridor to the elevator, neither knew that the other was thinking the same thing. How good the other looked, how excited they were for the evenings events, how well it had gone with Alexa, but most importantly how much the fireworks the one felt was happening with the other. Both began thinking what a great feeling they had for the other. Maybe this will work out.

Alexa B-Side: #16 - The Magic Kingdom

As we walked through the tunnel and on to the Town Square it was so fun to watch the look on Alexa’s face as she took in the Magic Kingdom. I knew this what she truly needed, what both of us needed. After the last few months of turmoil in both of our lives the chance to unwind and just be kids was the best thing we could do. Alexa was like the little kids who were all around us, excited to see all the characters. While I had seen large smiles on Lex’s face in the past, this one was bigger than any I had seen. But what got to me was the pure joy she had. I started to get a little choked up. When we posed for a picture with Minnie Mouse I felt happy that I could do this for her. As we stood there I could see a little tear come from her eye, and it nearly broke my heart. When we were finished, I took her in my arms and gave her a kiss before leading her up Main Street to begin our adventure.

We rode on a few rides, one being Pirates of the Caribbean. Now I had been here once when I was like 10, but I don’t remember much of it. And I didn’t remember that there was a chance that I could get wet. When the boat took the little drop, and splashed the two of us, I gave out a little scream. I was not wild about getting wet. Lex looked over at me. ‘Sorry about that babe. I forgot we could wet.” I didn’t buy her explanation at all. And pretty much told her so. I accused her of doing this on purposes, but all with a laugh. She just gave me a kiss. “Maybe I did.” She said cryptically.

I will admit I do not have the same intense love of Disney World as my partner. I think she would come here once a month if she could, but I did enjoy it. Of all the rides, I was most excited to go on ‘It’s a Small World”. I always remember going on it with Abby the one time we came here. She was so excited. She loved the little children dolls singing and dancing away. Her favorites were the little French dolls doing the can-can. I remember a few days later Abby lifting her dress and attempting to do it. Our mother did not think it was proper thing for a young lady to do that and I remember Abby being crushed by it. I recall taking her into my room when we got home and giving her a dress that she could do it with. She was so happy to do it, even though every few minutes she would stop and look to see if our mother was around.

The one bad thing I thought when we entered the line for the ride was that there were lots of little kids all wound up. While I love kids, this many all jacked up might drive me up a wall. But as we stood there waiting, I thought the kids were all so cute. Alexa and I would point and giggle about many of them. There was a little girl who was right in front of us that was really cute. She had blonde hair and pretty green eyes and was all decked out in matching Tinkerbell shirt and shorts. She had a smile the was heartbreaking and was just so precious! Lex and I loved talking with her. She kept telling us all about what she had already done on her family vacation. “We went to Howiewood yesterday and gut to see Wightning MahQueen and Staw Wars and the Muppwets. It was weally fun”. She was just so darn cute! When she looked up and said that Lex and I were pretty my heart melted. I couldn’t help it and bent down and asked her name and she told me “Abby” I almost lost it. As I looked at her I had flashbacks of standing in this very line with ‘my’ Abby. I did hold it together, but I could feel Lex grab my hand. I looked up and gave Lex an acknowledgment before turning back to the Abby. When I told her I had a sister named Abby, she just giggled. I stood up as she and her mother moved along in the line. I gave Alexa a hug and whispered a quick thank you to her for being concerned. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and the two of us moved on, but I couldn’t stop staring at little Abby. I think that was the first time I ever thought about having children of my own. It was also then I realized there was only one person I wanted to have that child with. I gave that person another kiss on the cheek.

The rest of the day was just spent with the two of us roaming around the Magic Kingdom and just enjoying each other and people watching. As many laughs as the two of us had shared, I had never laughed as much as we did that day. It was great and it was then I realized that Alexa wasn’t only my lover, but my best friend. To think that just six months ago we were two friends that just hung out together really hit me. The love the two of us now shared was something I never expected but now could never live without. As we ducked down a little path next to Cinderella’s castle, I noticed a secluded spot. I pulled my partner over and laid a long kiss on her. When we broke, we just smiled at each other. No words were exchanged, no questions asked as to why. We just looked at each other deeply and as weird as it may sound, I felt our love grow even deeper.

We finally made it back to Fantasyland in the afternoon and took in all those rides. It was so cute to see Lex pout as she realized that ‘Snow White’s Adventure” was gone, but we did go on ‘The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.’ I have never been a big fan of roller coasters, but Alexa wouldn’t leave me alone. “Please Jen! I want to go but I don’t want to go alone.” She pleaded with me, and if it had been anyone else, I probably would have said no, but not my Lex. The sweet look in her eyes melted my heart and I relented and I will admit I had fun.

After that we went over to the Tomorrowland Speedway where once again we were stuck waiting in line. This time around, it wasn’t any little kids, but two teenage boys that we had to deal with. They looked to be fourteen and were just far enough ahead of us we would occasionally be standing right next to them as wound our way through the queue. It was funny watching them check us out and try and act so manly like they had a chance. Alexa leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I wish Danny was here to take care of these two losers checking out my girlfriend.” I giggle, but then tell Alexa the truth.

‘They’re not just checking me out babe. They’re checking you out too, you big tease.” Lex’s face instantly goes ashen. I whisper in here ear again. “Get used to it babe. You’re a beautiful sexy woman. Just remember your all mine.” This makes Alexa giggle a bit and I tell her just to go with the flow. While it is always flattering to have some guy check you out, I know what is real and it is the beautiful woman standing next to me.

The ride was fun. Alexa and I kept crashing into each other, most of the time on purpose. There were times though that our bumping was more because we were trying to control the cars as we were laughing away. As we finished up we could barely stand due to our laughing fit. We gave each other a huge hug and shared a kiss. The ‘pit crewmember’ who was helping us laughed at us and gave us a lecherous look. It was the look of the fourteen year olds that was even better. They stood there, motionless with their mouths agape. Lex and I gave them a little wave as we left the ‘pit area’ giggling away.

We made our way back towards the entrance of the park, Alexa began bugging me about stopping to share a sundae at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. I just rolled my eyes as she pleaded with me to stop and I reluctantly agreed to follow her in. After we get our sundae and began to dig in, we saw a young couple come in to the parlor with the man carrying a little girl who seemed to be asleep. She opened her eyes and instantly spotted us. She somehow wiggled free from her father, got down on the floor and ran over to us. “Hi Jenny, hi Awexa! Are you having fun? I am having so much fun!” Abby told us all about her adventures today. Her mother had come over, attempting to chase her down. I looked up and gave her a smile to let her know it was OK. I looked over and saw the smile on Alexa’s face as she listened to Abby and her ask Abby what she had seen. As I looked at the kindness Alexa was showing, I realized I had made the right decision earlier about who I would want to have children with.

Abby’s parents joined us at our table and tried to offer apologies for Abby. We told them it was fine, that we actually were enjoying Abby’s tales of the Magic Kingdom. We learned about Abby’s family. They were from Pittsburgh and had come down to get out of the cold weather and had figured Abby was old enough to really enjoy Disney World. They also let on that they had another surprise for Abby on this trip. Beth, Abby’s mother,’ patted her stomach to let us know what the surprise was. Feelings of happiness washed over both me and Lex as we congratulated them. Beth’s action did not go unnoticed by Abby. “Do you want some ice cream Momma?” Abby asked which caused all four of us to laugh at the little cutie. Jay, Abby’s father, shot in that maybe Beth would like a pickle with that, which caused Beth to shoot her husband an evil look. Once again, we all laughed as Abby looked around at the four of us in confusion.

As we were finishing up, a sudden urge came over us. Alexa and I asked if it would be alright to get a picture with Abby. The little girl had stolen both of our hearts. Both parents smiled and told us it was fine as long as we shared the photo with them. We asked Abby if she wanted to have her picture taken with us. The excitement that lit up her eyes was precious. When we asked her where we should do it, she said with the castle. The five us headed outside to find a spot for the picture and found a spot by the garden that gave us a good view of the castle in the background. The three of us smiled our biggest smile as Jay took the picture with my phone. I instantly sent the picture to Jay. We exchanged more contact information and said our goodbyes, not without exchanging hugs with our new friend. I did notice a slight tear on Lex’s cheek as she broke the hug and she instantly reached for her oversized sunglasses. As the three and soon to be four members of the Gibbs’ family left us, I gave Lex a squeeze around the waist and a kiss on the cheek. “Come on Lex, let’s go have some fun.”

We made our way around the corner and entered the area I wanted to go most of all, Main Street USA and all the shops! Lex just rolled her eyes at me, but was also excited. We did buy some earrings at the Jewelry store, even though we didn’t buy the ones I wanted. I had daddy’s American Express card and really wanted the diamond Mickey earrings, but Alexa put up a stink. I wonder if my father ever realized how much money Alexa had saved him over the last few months! We then made our way across the street to the Emporium, where more money was spent. I did manage to ditch Lex and bought her a cute little Mickey jacket. We finally met up and I could see she was acting a little odd. Not in a bad way, more like she had something up her sleeve. As cute as Alexa is, she has a terrible poker face. I finally got it out of her after we had left the Emporium as to what was up. That was when she showed me the T-Shirt she had bought me. It was navy with the words ‘Shoes Make the Princess’ on it along with a drawing of a glass slipper. I instantly loved it, and I could see how excited was over giving it to me. I decided to see if I could pull a ‘Grandma’ on my lover.

“Why would you get me this?” I asked and instantly I could see the excitement drain from Alexa’s face and turn into a bit of panic. “And I don’t wear t-shirts very often. This would just look silly.” I could see Lex look down like she had been a naughty little girl. I couldn’t hold back any longer and broke out into laughter. She just looked at me like I was crazy. I pulled her in for a tight hug and whispered I love it and asked her how it felt to be teased as I gave her a kiss. I could hear a few comments and groans from around us, but who cares. This was the person I love and we were showing that.

We made our way over to Epcot, where we strolled hand in hand through the World Showcase. I knew at that moment this is what I wanted for the rest of my life. I knew that I would never find anyone who I could love and care for more than I loved Alexa. The only time I even questioned my feelings was when we were asked for our ID’s at the pub in England. Was I too young to feel this way? Heck I was just twenty-one. Was it seeing all these little kids running around that had gotten me to feel this way? Maybe. I did know just being around Abby at ‘It’s a Small World’ brought back a lot of memories but also triggered something inside me. Was it wrong to be in love with someone who wanted to be a woman? Could I handle that? I had told myself, and others, several times I could. Was I questioning it now?

And as ‘Illuminations’ was about to start and we had arranged our chairs so we could find a way to cuddle up together, I knew the answer. I would never let this beautiful, wonderful person go. Ever.

Alexa B-Side: #17 – The Collection

Debbie had set this appointment up for us. It was going to be an odd day. I had never in my life thought I would be going to a ‘sperm bank’, but that is where I was. The last few weeks had been crazy. First Alexa had been so anxious to begin HRT that she was getting annoying, then came the day she showed me that web site for the plastic surgeon. I couldn’t believe she was thinking that. I was furious! But I was worried as well. It was starting to be an issue that was really weighing on Alexa’s mind. It was when she broke down that I finally found out what was bothering her and why Debbie hadn’t yet prescribed the Estrogen. She was still worried about me! I could have kissed her and punched her at the same time.

As many times as we had talked about that I would be there for her no matter what, she still felt like she wouldn’t be able to please me. To say I was frustrated with her was an understatement. She didn’t understand it wasn't about the sex, it was who I was with. But then there was the other admission that she made I have to admit that I really hadn’t put much thought into. She wouldn’t be able to give me a baby. It was typical Alexa. Always thinking of me. Damn her.

So here we were, sitting at Lakes Labs in Plymouth, awaiting to meet with one of the counselors. To me it was an odd feeling, but looking over at Lex I could tell she was nervous. ‘Relax, babe. These people are here to help us.” Alexa was almost trembling as we sat there and waiting. Eventually there was a knock and in entered a middle-aged woman with red hair. She stuck out her hand and began speaking. “Hello there, I am Dr. Ellen Telane, and you are Jenny and Alexa? It says here you want to make arrangements for personal storage? This must be wrong.” The doctor states, looking all flustered as she starts whipping through the chart. I start laughing but Alexa is still too nervous.

“Excuse me, Doctor, but the chart is right. You see Alexa here is just beginning her transition to be being a woman and we want to save some, ah, um We want to.” I couldn’t say the words. It is really an odd word, sperm. Where did that come from? I try and push the thought out of my head and try and focus on the doctor.

“OK then. I see you have filled out all the paperwork and I see that we have copies of your latest medical records and all seems good. So, we need to go over a few things. Alexa, have you been intimate with anyone recently?” Dr. Telane asks. Both of us blush a bit. Alexa tries to speak but words don’t come out. She looks over at me in frustration. Finally, she just nods. I squeeze her hand little more just so she knows I am there for her. “Well we have to reschedule for another day. It’s Tuesday, today, could you come in on Friday? You would have to abstain from any ejaculation.” The last line really put Lex and I over the edge and we began giggling like school girls. Dr. Telane looks at us oddly. It seems like the woman has no sense of humor. We both finally nod. So, we set up an appointment to meet back here on Friday.

######

The next few days were hell not only for me but for Jenny as well. We could barely be around each other. It was like Christmas when you were a kid. You could look at the presents and that’s what Jenny was. My own Christmas present that I couldn’t open. It got a little anxious around apartment. On Tuesday I came back from class and there was Jenny as usual and we shared a kiss. It was a kiss that seemed to linger a bit. We looked at each other longingly. Jenny spoke first “We can’t do this.”

“Why? We can’t kiss?” I asked.

‘You know what I mean. Our kisses rarely stop there.” Jenny chided me. I pouted a bit but knew Lex as right. It made for a very interesting evening. Thank god, we both had studying to do.

######

The night proved to be the longest I had spent in some time. I would take a break and look over at Alexa and see she was looking at me like a puppy dog. I felt bad for her, but I was losing out on this too! We made sure we stayed away from each other, but then bed time came. We tried to fall asleep like normal, holding each other but both of us were feeling some tension. I rolled away from Lex because the tension was almost too much. And she was even more frustrated. I could feel her flopping around for about a half an hour. Finally, she got up growling away and left the room. I felt bad for her. As I laid there I realized that this was the first time since Christmas that we had not slept together and not because of fight. I started to cry a bit. I reached for my phone and texted her.

“I love you :-*” I typed.

“This sucks :’-( She typed

“Remember why we are doing it.’ I replied. As I lay there, I thought I could hear her whimpering and it broke my heart. I don’t think either one of us got much sleep that night.

######

The next few days were absolute hell. I wanted to be with Jenny so much, it was killing me. I took more cold showers than I ever had. The worse was Thursday night. Jenny was becoming nervous I might take things into my own hands. We were sitting around watching a little TV when Jenny asked me a question. “Have you been a good girl?’ She asked me. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust me she said she just wanted to make sure. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was the giggling from the third member of the apartment.

“Shut up!” I yelled at Katie, which made her laugh even harder. The laughing got louder from Katie. I even noticed Jenny giggling a bit. I felt so low. It was then Jenny spoke up.

“Shut up Kate” Jenny said with a smile. “I’m sorry babe, but you know we have to do this if we want to make sure this all works out OK.” I agreed with her that this is what we both wanted but it sucked. I stood up as I was feeling uncomfortable. That is when my sister spoke up.

“Another cold shower Lex?” Katie asked, still laughing away.

“Shut up Katie!” I screamed. Katie could see I was really upset, and between that and Jenny’s scolding, Katie calmed down. A defeated Katie slumped back in the chair. I gave Jenny a quick kiss as a thank you. It had to be quick, because if it was longer it could have been disastrous.

######

It was finally Friday. Alexa and I both got up early and got cleaned up and dressed. She purposely wore a short skirt with no nylons or tights. “I want to get this over with quickly” she told me.

“With as wound up as you are, I think it will be quick.” I said with a giggle which earned me a dirty look. I quickly went into apology mode. “I’m sorry babe” I told her. “Can I make it up to you tonight?” I asked which was only acknowledged by a grunt. We quickly made our way to the Lab and waited. Finally, a technician came out to get us. We were led to an area that looked like a typical hallway with a few closed doors with lights over each door. The technician opened one of the doors and led us in. Inside was a television and a DVD player. The technician looked at us and began going over the routine. The first thing he did was he produced a long stainless steel tube. Alexa got nervous at the sight of it.

“What’s that? she asked.

“Oh this, this is a collection tube. You see we place this over you and then hook you up to the milking machine.” The technician said with a grin on his face. Panic over took Alexa as she looked at me. I had to work hard to suppress a giggle, but I took her in my arms and shot the technician an evil look. He quickly began to back pedal. “I’m so sorry. We use this as little joke to get the patients relaxed.” He quickly turned around and pulled out a cup. “You will just deposit your semen in here. As you can see it already is marked with you name so there will be no mix ups and then place the container in this little door when you are done. Then just stop at the front desk on your way out.”

Alexa seemed a bit more relaxed at this. The technician then asked me to leave, while he went over some more instructions with Lex.

######

I was still in shock over what the technician said as Jenny left the room. He continued to point out a few things. There was a recliner in one corner and he showed me where the remote was and then he asked if there was anything I wanted to watch or read. I looked at him like he just asked me the square root of 4783. “I mean to help facilitate things” I shrugged my shoulders and said anything I guess. Just with girls. “I thought so” he said. He placed a DVD in the player and handed me the remote. He told me to relax and showed me a phone and told me if I needed anything to pick it up. It rang directly to his station. Soon he was out the door and I was left alone. I tried to get situated in the chair and hit play on the DVD. Soon I was watching a movie with two women slowly seducing each other. It was very exciting and both women were very beautiful. After watching for a bit, I realized nothing was happening. I continued watching and tried to help but still nothing. I don’t know if it was because I was so nervous but nothing was happening. Finally, I picked up the phone and talked with the technician.

######

I was just sitting in the lobby leafing through a People magazine. I kept looking at my phone wondering how long this was going to take when the technician came out and asked if I could follow him. I stood up as confusion overtook me and followed him back down the hallway to the room where Alexa was. He knocked and I heard Alexa said to come In. He nodded at me and left. I went in and I found my soul mate in near panic. On the screen was a pornographic movie of two women enjoying each other and Lex practically in tears, I raced to her side. “What’s wrong babe?” I asked. My heart hurt as I listened to her.

“Nothing’s working!” She cried out.

“Shh, babe. This isn’t working?” I asked pointing to the screen.” Her bottom lip stuck out as she shook her head.

“I tried, but nothing seems to respond.” She said. I hugged her even more and then knew I had to help. I began and in no time things were taken care of. The relief on her face was great. The next line though almost leveled me.

“Thanks babe, I’m sorry. The girls in the movie were pretty but...” she paused for a moment. I urged her to go on. “I guess I’m only tuned on by you. I guess I am Jennysexual” If I had loved her before, I knew at that moment she was truly part of me. I gave her a long, deep kiss and told her “Well good, since I am Alexasexual it all works out.” I took the cup from her and asked her what to do with it. While she straightened herself out, I put the container in the door she showed me. And soon we were out the door.

######

The weekend drug on. After Friday night, Jenny and I were back in our abstinence mode. I had another appointment for Tuesday. We wanted to get this all taken care of before any effects of the Estrogen took control. We still cuddled but it was very difficult for us to keep our hands off one another. We were able to sleep together but we almost gave in to the urges we had. I did try my best to give Jenny the love she deserved but it left me frustrated and I was a bitch all day on Sunday. Katie just laughed at the two of us. “I can’t believe I am about to say this, but I can’t wait for the two you to be jumping each other. You two are absolute bears when denied.”

I went to my normal appointment with Debbie on Monday and she tried to assure me that in the long run it was going to be worth it. But I didn’t want to hear. I even snapped at her at one point. Rather than get mad, she laughed which made me even crabbier. But I was able to relax and get through the session without ripping Debs’ head off. Although when I went home, I began thinking of another doctor I wanted to kill.

######

I came home from my class I was fit to be tied. Dr. Burg had announced a test for the next day, which meant I could not go with Alexa to her appointment. The thought of her struggling like she had on Friday really started bothering me as I sat through class. The whole way home it bothered me. I didn’t know what to do. As I was sitting down on the couch it hit me. I ran to the ‘closet’ and dug out my digital camera and tripod. I grabbed the remote and stripped down and began taking pictures of myself. I was so embarrassed but kind of got into after a while. I changed into a couple of different things, including the infamous ‘naughty nurse’ costume. I did not hear the door to the apartment open and the next thing I knew Katie was standing in the doorway of our bedroom as I was flashing my breasts at the camera. “Uh Jen, what the hell?” I heard as I realized she was there I quickly grabbed a blanket and covered myself up.

“Get the hell out of here Katie!” I screamed. But as she left, so had the adrenaline rush I had been on. I got dressed in a pair of leggings and grabbed the discarded Gopher Jersey lying on the floor. I made my way out to the living room, where I sat down with Kate.

“What the hell is that all about?” Kate asked me. Once again, I was torn by wanting to help Alexa and my need to keep some things private. But I also know that Katie would never say a word. I took a deep breath and began in.

“The other day when Alexa went to the lab, she, um, how do I say this? She, she had some issues, so I thought I would help out.” I explained to our roommate.

“Issues? What kind of issues?” Kate asked.

Once again, I took a deep breath. “You see they give you things to help you along. But it didn’t help. I got called into to give her a hand.” I explained. Of course, Katie had one of her typical smart ass answers.

“I’m sure you did” Katie said. I told her to shut up.

“It was one of the sweetest things that I had seen. She was really sad. They had this movie on of two women ravaging each other but Alexa was nearly in tears. It was then she said something that I had never heard but it might have been the most loving thing ever.” Katie looked at me to get me to say it. “She said that the girls didn’t excite her. She thinks she is Jennysexual.” The two of us started giggling. “Don’t ever say I told you” I implored Katie.

“Don’t worry I won’t. That is very sweet. I think the correct term is Demisexual” Katie said. “You know what it also means don’t you?” She continued on. I stared at her for a second. “You will never lose her. She loves you more than anything.”

I smiled one of my biggest smiles “Well it is a two-way street Kate” I said.

######

I walked into the lab even more nervous than I had last week. I didn’t know how this was going to work. I had made the commitment but that damn Dr. Burg had decided on having a test. As I was walking down the hall behind the technician I tried to think of everything possible to get me prepared to finish this little adventure. After getting rid of the technician. I just stared at the TV again and still nothing. That’s when my phone started to go off. By the tone, I knew it was text messages from Jenny. The first one simply said ‘I hope the following help. Good luck and remember I Love You’ That helped relax me but the next text and the several that followed did very little to relax me. The last one with Jenny in her Gopher jersey brought more than a smile to my face. A few minutes later I strolled out the room with my head held high. As usual Jenny had come through for me. God, I love her.

“I can’t believe how Danny and ma were fawning of that little fruitcake” Adam growled as he and Bethany made their way down Cedar Road on their way to Lefty’s Lakeside Grille. Adam had just come from a meeting with his mother and siblings with the family attorney. The estate of his father had been finalized and all that was left was for the papers to be signed. His mother had decided that it should be a family event, which when he got there he found out why. His brother Alex was still listed as an heir and the way the will was written, Alex was to be a partner with him and Danny in Quinn Construction. Adam was in shock over that, he guessed the old man had forgotten about changing the will after having disowned Alex at Christmas. In his eyes, he would always be Alex. The little dress wearing fairy, brother. A brother which he had no time for.

The other thing he wanted to make sure of was that his girlfriend didn’t get sucked into this acceptance thing like Danny had. It was sick watching the way Danny and Alex got along. They were brothers, brothers don’t sit and laugh like that! And now he was going to have to sit through dinner with them. Not only them but their girlfriends as well, who just happened to be roommates with Alex. So, as he drove down the road he admonished his longtime girlfriend Bethany.

“Don’t get sucked into their little fucking games Bethany! I don’t know what Katie did to Danny, but he is sucked in and so is mom.” Adam exclaimed. Bethany just sat and nodded her head. She didn’t understand why someone would want to switch genders. She just thought it was sick, and she didn’t understand that rich bitch and how she not only put up with it but embraced it. It was all extremely disgusting to her. She had worked with Katie at Lefty’s years ago and got along OK with her. But she also knew that Katie and Alex had been best friends for years. Bethany was grateful that they had finally arrived at Lefty’s. Hopefully Adam would not be such a jerk in public. Thankfully he rarely was, but when it was just the two of them he would rant on and on about everything. The man was never happy and that included his outlook towards her. And it had started to get old, but she loved the man and was hoping to someday marry him. She prayed that once that was over with and they had settled down, things would be better

Bethany and Adam entered the bar and found Charlotte, Danny and Alex along with their girlfriends. She and Adam still couldn’t call it Alexa. She still didn’t get it, he would always be a male, not man, in her eyes. As she and Adam walked up to the bar, she could feel the tension in her boyfriend’s grip. Charlotte recognized that the last couple had joined the group. “Hello Bethany, glad you could make it. Come over and have a drink, our table will be ready shortly.” Bethany nodded she nodded and slid up to the bar next to Charlotte. Katie was all smiles and invited her over to join the club. “Hell, you are in already in the club.” Alex asked if she wanted anything and then ordered up the requested Coors Light. Bethany noticed a change instantly in the three people in front of her. Katie was trying to make Bethany feel welcome by bringing up their past here at Lefty’s and it did help her relax. But each time she felt relaxed, she would catch Adam giving her a look.

The other thing that struck Bethany was how the other three were dressed. All three wore very stylish dresses, and she noticed various men in the bar were checking them out, all three of them. First, she looked down at what she was wearing. Nice stylish jeans, her favorite 4 inch heels a mauve silk blouse topped by her favorite waist cut leather jacket. Very appropriate for a place like Lefty’s and quite better than most of her girlfriends. She felt a bit undressed as he looked back up at the three roommates. And that’s when it hit her for the first time. Alexa, she meant Alex, made a very attractive woman. But as she studied him further she realized there was happiness in him. Maybe he was sad as a boy. As she looked over at her boyfriend she could understand a bit. She turned her view back to the group, and loudly said “Alexa, can you get me another beer?” The question shocked Alexa for a moment but she shared a warm smile with her brother’s girlfriend before turning around and ordering up the Coors Light. Soon all four women were laughing away, making comments about their relationships, their lives. However, the discussion ended quickly as the Quinn Brothers began coming over the group. An obviously irritated Adam came up in a bad mood “What are you hens cackling about?” Bethany immediately slunk back from the group. As the group began to move to the dining room, Adam grabbed Bethany’s arm and held her back.

“What do you think you were doing back there?” Adam asked, the flush of anger starting to overtake his face.

A confused Bethany looked at Adam. “I was just laughing with the girls.”

‘There were only two girls and that fruit bag.” Adam snarled.

For the first-time Bethany stood up to Adam. “When are you going to admit that Alex is now your sister named Alexa?” The anger built to a near overflow level as he stared at his girlfriend.

“Never!” He growled. Grabbing Bethany by the arm he led her into the dining room. This is where the next test took place. There were two seats left, one next to Danny and one next to Alexa. Adam quickly sat down next to Danny, leaving a sad Bethany to stand there. She quietly took the seat next to Alexa. She remembered a time when Adam would hold out her chair. She noticed something though as she took her seat. Alexa flashed her a sympathetic smile. Bethany was taken aback by that. At that point, she started to become a little more accepting of her boyfriend’s new sister. The two shared a giggle over the Danny and Katie relationship, only to have the fun stopped by a glare from Adam.

Dinner went fine, except when she tried to order, and Adam basically told her what she was going to order. The control he had been trying to exert over the last few months had started to get to her. As soon as dinner was over, she excused herself and went to the rest room. None of the other girls volunteered to come with, which she found odd. Women almost always go the rest room in pairs. It was another point that was driven home to her about how ostracized she was due to her boyfriend’s attitude. As she stood fixing her make up in the mirror, she noticed the sad look in her eyes. She had never been like this before. And she began to think why she was this way. As she stood there a resolve began to come over her. She had had enough of Adam and his ways. Who was he to say who she could speak to. Katie, Jenny and especially Alexa had all been nice to her. Yes, Alexa she thought. Alexa was as much woman in mind in spirit as the other two. A smile came over her and she strode out the bathroom a changed woman. The smile changed and her thoughts of her boyfriend were hammered home as she heard Adam scream at Katie and then practically drag Bethany out of the restaurant.

“I can’t believe all those people in their defending that little fairy in there. They all must have a screw loose!” Adam yelled out as they made their way outside of Lefty’s. Bethany stopped and yanked her arm from Adam’s grip.

“You’re the one with a screw loose. That is your sister in there and she is happy. But because it goes contrary to some 1950’s view you have, you won’t accept it.” Bethany said to Adam. For the first time in six years, she was standing up to Adam. She could see the rage in him reach a level she had never seen. She also noticed Adam begin to form a fist.

“What?!” Adam screamed out in anger. Bethany stood her ground.

“That is your sister. What are you going to do, hit me because I am friends with her?” Bethany said. The feeling of standing up to him was empowering. Bethany felt better than she had in months. Just as Adam was about to say something, Bethany noticed Roger and Judy Nelson coming out of the restaurant. They were friends of her parents and proved to be a perfect distraction. She turned to the couple. “Hi Roger, Hi Judy. Do you think you could give me a ride home?” Roger could see the anger in Adam’s eyes and new it would be good idea.

“Sure, no problem.” It kind of was Roger thought, but keeping something bad from happening was more important. The Nelsons led Bethany to their car, leaving Adam confused and shaken. As they were driving off, Judy turned and asked what was going on.

Bethany replied, “Adam is just being his father’s son.”

Alexa B-Side: #19 - ER

“I love you Jenny” came through the phone, but before I could respond in kind, I heard the sound of twisting metal.

“Alexa! Alexa!” What the hell just happened? Where was she? I have to get to her? I was at a loss as to what my next move should be. I instantly called the foundation. Allison, the receptionist answered the phone. “Allison did you see what time Alexa left?”

“I think it was about 15 minutes ago. Did you try her on her phone?” Allison told me. I couldn’t take it. “UHG” I growled and hung up. I couldn’t just sit there and I raced to my car. I hopped in and started driving as fast I could towards the west. I began thinking about it. If she was going to stop at Byerly’s like she had said, I could only think of three along the way, and one was a bit off course, so I disregarded that one. I raced down 394 and the exit for the first of the two came up. I exited Plymouth Avenue and was instantly confronted by a large line at the stop light. I was getting beyond anxious as I sat there for my turn. Before long I was able to make the left hand turn on to Plymouth Avenue and my heart stopped There laying off to the side of the road was a tangled heap that was the same color as Alexa’s car. I began to shake. I found a way to pullover and found the nearest policeman. “Excuse me officer” I yelled out through my tears trying to get the officers attention, finally he turned around.

“Miss, you shouldn’t be out here this is extremely dangerous.” He told me, but I waived him off and told him I didn’t care. I then begin asking where they had taken the driver. “Methodist I would think. It’s the closest Trauma center to here.” Before he could say anything else to me I ran as fast as I could and jumped into my car. Squealing my tires like a F1 driver, I whipped around and began racing towards Methodist, ignoring the police officer waving at me. The rush hour traffic was maddening but as soon as I hit 169 south it let up a bit. I exited at Highway 7 and went crazy. I know I ran at least one red light on the short drive down the four-lane road. I hadn’t been here for a while and forgot you had to pay to park. I almost drove right through a security arm before I realized it. After driving up several levels I finally found a parking spot. I ran as fast as I could for the elevator down and began searching for how to get to the emergency room. I burst into the reception area out of breath and ran up to the desk in almost panic.

“Where is Alexa Quinn?” I asked

“Miss, you will have to wait. I am dealing with this gentleman right now.” The middle-aged woman sitting behind the desk told me. And while I wished no ill will towards the man holding his arm, I was trying to find out if part of my soul lay dying in some sterile room on the other side of the door.

“Ma’am, Alexa is my girlfriend. She was in a car accident and was just brought here! I need…” Before I could get any farther I could see fire come to the nurse’s eyes.

“Miss! I have no idea who has been brought in. If you will let me get this man’s information I will be right with you!” The nurse said sternly. It was a voice that scared me and I backed off a bit but was not ready to completely back off. I just stood there staring at the woman, waiting my turn. Finally, she turned to me and “Now what was the name?” I told her and she began typing away at her keyboard. The nurse started to speak, “Female, early 20’s, car accident. Head, chest, wrist. Trauma 2.” The robotic tone of the woman just about made me loose it, but I knew I had to keep it together. The woman looked up at me. “So, you are friends with this woman?” I nodded, trying to make sure I didn’t lose it. She picked up the phone and called someone. After a brief conversation, she hung up and looked at me, “someone will be up shortly and get some information. If you will have a seat, it will just be a moment.”

“I need to know what is going on!” I screamed. All I could think about was Alexa laying there dying and me not being there and these people would not help me. My screaming accomplished one thing, it made the woman behind the desk mad. “Miss what you need to do is step away from this desk!” I tried to stare down the woman, but knew that this was not the time or place. I slowly went back to the seating area, but I couldn’t sit. I began pacing a bit as my mind started to get under control. As I waited for someone to come talk to me, I realized I should tell Charlotte. I started going through my phone and realized I did not have her number! I could have sworn I put it in my contacts but it wasn’t there. Katie! If Katie didn’t have it, I knew she was with Danny. Plus, those two should know about Lex. I hit the speed dial. It took a minute or two but a giggling Katie finally answered. “Hey Jen! What’s Up?”

“It’s Lex. She’s been in a bad car accident.” I tell my other roommate and then begin to break down a bit. I hear the tone of Katie change from the giggling girl in love to one of a concerned sister. “Where is she?” Katie asks and I tell her Methodist. “Danny turn around now.” She commanded. “Methodist is the one in St. Louis Park, right? We will be there as fast as we can. We just came through Rogers. You OK?” Katie asked as she also gave directions to Danny. I heard the squeal of tires through the phone and it scared me a bit.

“I’ll be fine as soon as I know what’s going on! Hurry please and call Char.” I said. Katie, being the most mature of the three of us. “Jenny just relax. Call your dad, call your grandmother. Have one of them come there. You shouldn’t be alone.” I broke down at the mention of those names. I realized that Alexa was as much of my family as either one of those two. I thanked Katie and told her to hurry before hanging up. I thought for a moment and decided she was right. I went back into my contacts and called Daddy’s office directly.

‘Daddy” I said into the phone as my tears took control of me and I broke down. He instantly began asking what was wrong and I told him that Alexa had been in an accident. “Where are you right now?” He asked and I could hear something more than simple concern in his voice. It was almost a panicked sound. I told him where I was and he told me he would be right there. I started to feel a bit week and looked for a chair. Just as I sat down, a woman in scrubs and a paper gown came over to me.

“Are you with the young woman that just came in from the car accident?” She asked me. I practically screamed yes at her and began asking about how Lex was doing. The nurse tried to calm me a bit, but wouldn’t let on about her condition. “We need to ask a few questions so we can treat her properly. Does this woman, Alexa you say, have any medical conditions?” I tell her no. It was when she asked if Lex was on any medication. I got confused for a second. Was her Estrogen a big deal? I didn’t want to do anything to do anything that could harm Alexa’s chances but I was still somewhat torn about telling the truth. I blurted out Estrogen, and it was like I hit the woman, a stunned look came over her face. “Really? She’s transgender?” I could only nod my head. “Thank you for that. Your girlfriend is not doing very well right now, she took a heavy blow to her side. We will be back out in a bit, but thank you for this.” And with that the nurse moved off quickly, leaving me alone once again. I tried to call out to her, but she ignored me. I stood back up and began my mindless pacing once again.

Just as I was about to ask the nurse at the desk if there was anything new, my dad came through the door. “Daddy!” I called out as I raced to him. He pulled me into his arms and the waterworks began again. “It’s OK, I’m here princess” That got me going. I step back and growled at him “I am not a princess!”, enough to get the few people in the waiting area to turn and stare at us. I watched as a smile came across his face. “I know that, I said it just to get you stop crying. Now come over here and tell me what is going on.” My father said to me as he extended his hand and led me to a nearby set of seats. I sat down and began telling him what I knew. I told him how I had been talking to Lex when the truck hit her and how I raced out and found the car and raced here after the cop told me where they had taken her. I started to talk about her condition when I saw the nurse who had come out and talked to me earlier come from the back. I leapt out of the seat and ran to the desk. “What is happening with Lex?” I asked only to be ignored by the nurse. “Listen lady! That is my whole life back there. I need to know what is happening!” I scrammed before my father led me back towards the chairs.

Just as my father was trying to get me settled, my grandmother came walking up to me. I reached out and like she always has she took me in her arms. By now the tears had stopped. Anger over not knowing anything had taken control of me. “Impressive, young lady. Haven’t seen anyone scream at hospital staff since, me when your grandfather died.” I leaned back and looked at a slight grin on my grandmother’s face. “It might help in the short run dear, but just be calm and they will tell what is happening when they know something.” I just nodded, but I don’t want to hear what she was saying. I kept pacing around the room. I needed something. Sitting there was driving me crazy. At one point, I felt compelled to go outside and scream at the top of my lugs just to try and release some energy. Just as I was finishing that up Katie and Danny came rushing up. But instead of Katie coming up and hugging me, it was Danny! I could hear fear in his voice for the first time ever.

‘Did, did she? Danny ask and I could feel a bit of a tremble in him. I leaned back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Not that I know of, they haven’t told me anything. I just needed to get that out of me.” Danny let me go and Katie took over giving me a hug. For the first time, I admitted to someone my true feelings over what is going on. “I’m scared Kate. I can’t lose her. What would I do?” Katie whispered that it all would be fine as she hugged. For all of Katie’s bluster over how Lex and I act, she was always our protector and our source of strength. She knew the love Alexa and I shared and made sure no one, or in this case, no thing, would come between me and Katie’s ‘sister’. Katie kept her arm around me and led me back in, where she tried to get me to sit. I pushed her away and returned to my pacing. About the same time we came in, we notice that Char has arrived and is sitting with Grandma and Daddy talking. Before anything was said Charlotte got up and the two of us hugged. She told me to calm down and that everything was going to be OK, but I ignored her. I went back to my storming around the waiting area, exchanging looks with the woman behind the desk. The nurse from before came out once again and just as I was before I was all up in her business, trying to figure out what was going on with Lex. This time however she did not retreat into the back after she spoke with the nurse but came towards me. The woman looked extremely tired. I was unable to read what was on her mind.

“Miss Thompson, I just wanted to tell you that your girlfriend has pulled through and that the doctor will be out to see you in a minute.” She gave me what appeared to be a forced smile begore moving back to the back. I raced towards her screaming, “Is that all you can tell me? What is going on?” The nurse stopped and turned to me. If I thought she looked tired a second ago, I thought she now looked beaten. “I think it would be best if the doctor would speak to you.” This time she did disappear through the door. I raced to the door, screaming at her ‘What is going on?” The woman at the desk came over to try and tell me to sit down. I turned and looked at her and letting all the anger that had built up loose. “Back off lady!” I screamed at her, and for once she did. I banged on the door into the exam rooms one more time trying to find out what exactly was going on. This time Charlotte came over and lead me back to the rest of the group. I didn’t fight it but instead exchanged a long hug with her and told that Lex is alive and that the doctor was going to be out.

After Charlotte got me to sit down, I curled up in my grandmother’s arms. She didn’t say anything, just held me as I tried to pull myself together. I don’t know how long grandma held me. But it seemed like it had been forever when I noticed a man about ten years older than me walk out from behind the doors and walk over to me. Despite my grandmother’s grip, I jumped up and made my way over to the man. The look on his face was like the one of the previous nurse, tired. We met and he began “Miss Thompson, I am Dr. Curtis. I was the attending physician on duty when they brought in your girlfriend. Are either one of her parents here?” He asked and Charlotte came over. After introducing himself to Charlotte he began going over Lex and her injuries. “Well ladies, it’s like this. Miss Quinn has two broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She also took a big blow to her head, resulting in a concussion. We have her sedated right now, to help the healing. She may also have a broken wrist, but we won’t know anything until a technician can take a closer look. The biggest issue we had was we had a very difficult time getting her lung to re-inflate. She must have been hit pretty hard. There are some other cuts and bruises which are nothing major. I would like to keep her here overnight so we can monitor her. I am a bit concerned with the head trauma. Heads are funny things.”

“Can I at least see her?” I asked. All the anger I had a few minutes ago seemed to vanish as now the overwhelming feeling of just holding her came over me. I wanted Alexa to be in my arms and I wanted to do everything I could to help her heal. The doctor nodded and asked Charlotte if she wanted to come back as well, and she did. The doctor led Charlotte and I back into a room where we found Alexa propped up in a bed like she was sleeping. A look of terror came over my face and the doctor noticed it. “She’s fine” he told me “Like I said we have her sedated for the time being. I slowly moved to the side of the bed and attempted to smooth her hair out a bit. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and broke down in to tears. I wrapped my arms as best I could around the most wonderful person in the world who had gone through such a horrific incident. I felt Charlotte come up behind me and begin to rub my back. I spun around and Charlotte took me in her arms and held me. “She’s going to be all right Jenny.” Charlotte told me as she tried to comfort me. “I know.” I told her “but I just hate seeing her like this. It’s not fair after everything she has been through.” That is when Charlotte told me the best thing ever.

“As long as Alexa has you everything will be perfect. You are the best thing that ever happened to her. Just love her.” Charlotte said in the soothing voice. I responded the only way I knew how.

“I plan on doing it for the rest of my life.”

Alexa B-Side: #20 Jenny and the Proposal

I had finally gotten Alexa to relax and take a nap. I had never met someone so stubborn, except maybe Katie, ever. I was just trying to make sure she didn’t push it too hard, but she kept having other ideas. Yes, I knew she was more than capable of doing many of these things herself, but she had just been through a traumatic event and I had been told by Debbie and Dr. Curtis that my job was to make sure she recovered properly. If I was being a bit overprotective, tough! I loved this beautiful woman more than anything in the world and if I had to be a bit tough with her during her recuperation that is the way it was going to be. Even getting her to take a nap was a battle. She kept telling me that she wasn’t tired and I kept reminding her that she needed the rest. I tried to help her over to the couch and she told me she was fine. “You are hurt babe!” I told her but she would come back that she had done nothing how could she be tired. I had to find a new tactic so I pleaded with her just to relax but she kept trying to find things to do, all to be stopped. It came to me that I would get her into the entertainment room and maybe put on a movie or something. It worked like a charm. I got her into one of the oversized recliners and cuddled in next to her. Between the dim lights and the movie, she eventually fell asleep in my arms. After I was sure she was out, I slipped away and went for a cup of coffee. It was just when I was curling up with a book that my grandmother came in.

“Good afternoon Jennifer, is there any more coffee?” She asked. I told her yes and went and got her a cup. When I came back out she was just staring at me. “Is everything alright Jennifer?” She asked me. I started to tear up a bit as I slouched down on the couch. Usually my grandmother would be all over me for my posture, but she said nothing. Instead she slid over on to the couch next to me and pulled me in for a hug. I broke down as she held me. “I almost lost her grandma” I said as my grandmother comforted me. I cried a bit longer, rambling a bit how scared I had been after I saw Alexa’s car and how hard it had been to see her just lying in the hospital. “It devastated me. She has been through so much already! I just wanted to hold her and never let her go. I wanted her to know that I would be there for her forever. But she was hooked up to all those machines and she was out of it. It was the worst thing ever. I thought our future was over right there!”

That comment got must have triggered something in grandma, because she let go of me and eased me up. “Your future?” I realized I had gone too far in my confession to my grandmother. And if there was one thing Grandma Mary was, it was tenacious. When Julie had started to talk seriously about Andrew she was all over Julie trying to find out what exactly the status was of the two. I began to hem and haw as grandma tried to get it out of me, she wasasking all sorts of questions about how close we really were and what my true feelings were about Lex and our future. It got to the point where I finally broke. “Yes, grandma, I want to ask Lex to marry me, but I don’t know if we are ready?” She looked at me with a sympathetic look.

Grandma sat me up and looked at me. “When did you start thinking that you wanted to marry Alexa, Jennifer?” As she sat there I knew I had to answer the question or have to listen to her harassment until I finally gave in, so I figured it would be best to just come out with it. “It was when we were in Florida. Right after we met that Carol woman at the coffee shop. When Lex stood up for us. I knew right there that this was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I just didn’t know how all of you would accept this, us. Then came the party. The way daddy stood up to Trey for us, not just me but us, I was convinced that he had accepted us. Now it is all the other questions that have got my head spinning. Are we too young? How are we going to make our way in the world? I mean I still have a year left of undergrad and then my masters to work on. I have a lot of things up in the air.” I looked to grandma for some support and advice, but she just sat there for a moment. Her thoughts on all this were just as important to me as my father’s. She just smiled at me for a moment. And then a look of resolve came over her face. She stood up and left the house.

As I sat there I thought I had really stepped in it this time. Was grandma upset? She never said anything when I was done with my rambling. She just got up and left. And then she was back. She sat down next to me and took my hands in hers. She took a moment and then looked me in the eyes. “When I was 22 I had decided I would leave my job at as a clerk at Dayton’s and began working as a secretary at the Thompson Company. I didn’t go there looking for anything more than better money. I had lived what I had thought had been a happy life. I had dated a few boys but had pretty much decided that I was better off on my I own. I loved to work and wasn’t ready to settle down. I had been one of the many secretaries that worked throughout the offices. About a year after I started, a young man came in to the office who I had never seen before. He was tall with dark hair and had the most incredible blue eyes I had ever seen. I was smitten just looking at him. He happened to glance at me and suddenly stopped. He walked over and asked my name. A few days later he came into the office again and asked me if I would care to join him for dinner. I tried to play a bit hard to get, saying I had plans, but he was persistent. Every few days he came in and would go through the same routine. And finally, I agreed if I could pick the restaurant. That Friday night, I took your grandfather to Rosato’s for the first time. That was not his typical place. He was used to the fancy restaurants and clubs of Minneapolis, not little Italian places. That was when I knew, but I couldn’t tell him that,”

Grandma paused for a moment and took a sip of coffee. “For the next six weeks, we were nearly inseparable. We went everywhere together and he was a perfect gentleman. Then one night, after a dance outside at the Lake Calhoun Band Shell, he led me out on to one of the docks and got down and one knee and handed me this.” Grandma reached into her pocket and pulled out a small grey box. She opened it and I saw the most exquisite princess cut diamond. It was a ring I remember seeing once when I was very young. I took the box from grandma and just stared at it. It took my breath away. Then it happened. “Jennifer, I have never known who I would give this to, I figured it would be one of the twins, but.” And she paused again and for once in my life I saw my grandmother get emotional. She reached into that sweater and pulled out a handkerchief. “I can think of no one in this world outside of this family I would rather see have it than Alexa. You two were meant for each other. Who cares how old you are. You two belong together. Now and forever.” I had lost it by this point and just reached out for my grandmother and hugged her deeply. She slowly got up and kissed me on the top of my head before she headed out the door.

Now I had the ring, a ring that was a legacy in this family. Now I needed to find the place and time to do it. I wanted it to be perfect. And the shape that Alexa was in, I didn’t want to do it now. I wanted to make sure she was back at full health. I tried to be as calm about the whole situation but inside I was nervous as hell. I became a bit more overprotective at that point and I think it was getting to Lex. I didn’t know what else to do. I just kept on her. It was during one of those days when I had talked her into another nap that a plan came together. I had been reading a magazine when an article caught my eye. It was about who had the best hamburger in the Twin Cities and it featured two places. Matt’s Bar that was on 35th and Cedar Avenue and the 5-8 Club, which was one 58th and Cedar. They both claimed to be the home of the Jucy Lucy or Juicy Lucy, depending on which placed you believed. As I read the article I became intrigued by Matt’s. It was the kind of place I would never go but it sounded neat. Then as I thought about it, the idea of going to that same spot on Lake Nokomis, which was right down the street at 48th and Cedar, where I had told Lex about Abby came to be. I now had a place, a place that was special to both of us. Now I needed a when.

The time came about in an odd but perfect way. Dr. Burg called to see if I would be able to come down and discuss my senior paper. I asked when would work for him and he asked if I could come down on Thursday morning. I will admit that my paper was not the foremost thing on my mind at that point, but the realization Dr. Burg had just given me the perfect time to ask Alexa to marry me. I readily agreed and began to think of what I would need. Not only was I going to need the ring, but I wanted to have some champagne to celebrate back at the apartment because I knew Alexa would want to go tell Katie right away. So, a couple of days before the meeting when Alexa was taking one of my ordered naps, I went down to the wine cellar and found a bottle champagne and I took it up to our room and hid it in the closet.

The morning of my meeting, I was shaking like a leaf on a tree. Alexa just thought I was nervous for my meeting, but it was for what I had planned for after the meeting that had me in this state. And it was as I was getting ready that doubt started to set into my mind. What if she says no? I was sure she wouldn’t but the question of what if crept into my head. I was quiet the whole drive down to campus and again Alexa just thought it was my nerves. She dropped me off at Elliot Hall and I went in to meet with Dr. Burg. Thankfully the meeting was short and I was well prepared on my thesis. He gave me a quick approval and soon I was out the door. I went to the apartment hoping to get this whole thing rolling but Alexa wasn’t there. Where could she be? I blew if off at first but it kept eating at me. I put the champagne in the fridge and went and sat on the couch and began reading a newspaper. Thankfully the wait wasn’t long and soon Alexa was standing there. I must have been a bit eager to get this going because as soon as she walked through the door I asked her if she had ever been to Matt’s. She looked at me funny and finally answered me and said yes, she had. I told her I had never been and wanted to go. With that we were out the door and headed south.

I will be honest when I say that other than burning my mouth I barely remember anything about the food. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, it was an excellent hamburger. I just wanted to get this going. I wanted to cement this relationship even further than it already was. When we were finished I asked Alexa if she wanted to go for a walk. I know that this was not how I normally acted so I played on the fact that we were near Nokomis and how much I enjoyed our last time together there. We hopped in Alexa’s little hatchback and made our way down to the same parking lot we had parked after Alexa’s little episode with her mother right after we started dating. I was using every ounce of my being to maintain a semblance of normality as we drove and as we began our walk. As we approached the bench I will always remember, I could feel my heart stat beating faster, my breathing became shallower. We finally got to the magical bench and I began in.

“Lex, you know that you mean the world to me. We have had lots of great times over the last few months. The trip to Florida, the times out at the lake. They have all been wonderful.” I could see fear creep into Lex’s eyes. I took a minute to take a breath because I wanted to get this right, I began again. “Those times have been the best time of my life so far, and I...” That’s when I started to lose it. Now was the time. I took one final deep breath and asked the question that would change my life. Forever.

“I don’t ever want those times to end. Alexa Marie Quinn will you marry me?”

Alexa B-Side: #21 - Ashley

“I still don’t see why we can’t go! We go every year and we were invited!” The teenaged girl yelled out in frustration over her father’s decision.

“I told you I am not dealing with that freak! He has made this family a laughing stock!” her father said as he slammed down the magazine on the arm of his recliner. He stood up abruptly to try and prove his point and spilled his beer. “God dammit! Now look what you made me do. Karen grab me a towel! This discussion is over. We are going to your Uncle Ken and Aunt Peggy’s tomorrow.” Bob said as took the towel from his wife and began soaking up the spilled beer.

Bob’s wife watched as her daughter raced from the room screaming how mean her father was. She knew that Ashley and her cousin had made a connection when they ran into each other at the State Fair and Karen knew that they had exchanged text messages. Karen still didn’t understand the reasoning behind her nephew’s decision to become her niece, but the bond her daughter and Alexa had started to form was growing. After taking over the cleanup duties from her husband and depositing the towel in the laundry she walked down the hallway. She took a deep breath before she knocked on the door. “What?” was the tear-filled, terse reply Karen heard from the other side. Karen opened the door a bit. “Can I come in” she asked the prone girl and slowly slipped into the room and took a seat on the bed net to her daughter.

‘Why does dad hate Alexa so much? She just wants to be happy.” Ashley said as she raised her head from the oversize giraffe that she clung to. Karen rubbed her back. “I don’t know Ash, but you know how he feels about gay people and he probably sees it that way.” Ashley contemplated what her mom said for a moment and burst out rather forcefully ‘Well that’s just wrong” before flopping back down into her bed. Karen was torn. While she did not approve of gay people, she understood her daughter’s need for closeness to someone in her extended family. Ashley had no cousins on Karen’s side of the family and all the Quinn cousins were older. The closest one in age to Ashley was a boy and Ashley did not care for him. So, Karen began to think to herself. How could she help her daughter and keep the peace in her house? She gently rubbed her daughter’s back before she headed back out the door and towards the kitchen.

As she opened the refrigerator to get herself a can of Diet Pepsi, an idea started to form. Maybe Ashley could go to one of her friends, she thought. No that wouldn’t work, as her two closest friends were both out of town for the holiday. One to their cabin and another to their grandparents in Worthington. Karen had no family, having lost her only brother in Iraq to an IED and her parents now in Arizona. What about Charlotte? While the relationship between the sisters-in-law had been strained since the funeral, they had remained on speaking terms. Karen had been kept up to date on the lives of her nephews, and she guessed her niece, as their lives continued. And one thing Karen had learned was that Alex, now Alexa, was happy. She had been in a terrible car accident but had survived and was now engaged to the Thompson girl. Maybe she had found the happiness she craved for so long. The idea of staying with Charlotte began to strengthen. Karen put the unopened can back in the fridge and grabbed her phone.

In the time Ashley had been left alone, she had logged on to Facebook on her phone and checked out her cousin’s page. Ashley was amazed at the pretty young woman her cousin had become. Alex had always seemed a little different as he was growing up, but it was hard for Ashley to really know. She was six years younger than Alex and the age difference had meant they weren’t that close but they had always gotten along. And when Uncle Dick had died, Ashley had been amazed at the strength Alexa had shown at her mother’s house knowing that there were people there who would be against her, namely their Uncles and Ashley’s own father. When the two had crossed paths at the State Fair, Ashley knew she wanted to welcome her properly into the extended family. Ashley’s attitude towards her cousin may have shocked her cousin, but the shock was to be Ashley’s as when she was showing her lamb a cheering section had formed at the side of the show ring, that of two of her cousins and their girlfriends.

Karen knocked on the door again and without be acknowledged walked into her room again and sat down next to her daughter. “Ashley, I have an idea and but we have to sell it to your father. What would you think of spending tonight and tomorrow with your Aunt Charlotte?” Ashley’s mood instantly changed. Excitement came to her eyes and she began to nod. “OK, you stay in here and I am going to go talk to your father. As her mother left, the excitement grew and Ashley went and found the large carry bag she used as an overnight bag and began digging through her dresser and closet looking for clothes to bring with. The excitement level was instantly doused as a loud scream came from the direction of the family room. “Ashley! Get in here now!” Ashley began a slow walk down the long hallway and making the turn into the main family portion of the house. She could see her father in his chair, seething over the plan Karen had come up with.

“So, you would rather spend Thanksgiving with that fruit of a cousin than your own family. Fine, I will remember this. You never want to be part of this family anyway. Always playing around on that god damn phone of yours. Well go. We were planning on going up to the Cities on Friday morning and I am not coming to get you so it looks like you will be stuck with your aunt and the fruit cake for a few days. Now get out of my sight!” He screamed as Karen mouthed a thank you at her husband and was treated to a grunt. While a now confused Ashley worked her way back down the hallway, Karen returned to the kitchen and called her sister-in-law. Karen made arrangements to have Charlotte pick up Ashley at the Erickson Store in town, since Karen had to get her son from a friend’s in town.

Ashley finished packing the last few items she thought she would need and made her way down to her mother’s Equinox. Her mother was already running late and was a bit short with her as she climbed in. On the drive in to town, Karen started to explain a few things to her daughter. “I can say that I am disappointed in you Ashley. I thought you were a little more mature than that, having a temper tantrum over something that had already been decided. I stuck my neck out for you and you need to realize that. You know your father does not support homosexuals and either do I. But I recognize your need to connect with your cousin, so I decided to grant you this one time ‘wish’. But while you are at your Aunt Charlotte’s I want you to think about if the way you acted this evening is the way a mature young lady acts.” Ashley instantly felt small. Her mother always had a way of making her feel like a four-year old.

The mother and daughter pulled up in front of the store, nothing was said as Ashley exited in the car and opened the back door to grab her bag. “Tell your aunt to call me when she wants you to come home” was all Karen had to say to her daughter. At that moment, Ashley had never felt so alone. She slung her bag over her shoulder and slowly entered the store. Not sure how long her Aunt Charlotte would be, she went to the coffee counter and ordered herself a small pumpkin spice latte. She made her way over to one of the booths and tossed her bag in. As she sat there a sadness came over her. Was she really rejecting what her family stood for? Was it wrong to be kind and accepting? Was that what she had always been taught, not to be judgmental? The words of her mother rang in her head and she slumped down and began to whimper. She wasn’t sure how long she had been there when she heard a voice that she did not expect to hear.

“Hey, Ashley. You ready to go?” the pretty brunette with the blonde girl at her side said. Ashley was stunned. She was expecting to see the somewhat stern visage of her aunt, instead it was her cousin. Confusion overtook the young girl. No more than when her cousin sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. To go from feeling so guilty to feeling accepted was too much and the emotional roller coaster proved too much for the sixteen-year old and the tears began in earnest. And Alexa, a person who should have rejected her because of how her parents had acted, pulled her in and comforted her. Ashley knew at that point that she was being held by one of the kindest people she had ever met. When they eventually got up to get Charlotte’s grocery items, Ashley was able to witness the strength this woman she called her cousin had. She watched first hand as another person tried to tear her down and then watched as Alexa slowly came back at the woman. Not forcefully like a Quinn, but subtle and crafty. And then when they were headed back to Charlotte’s house, Alexa and Jenny played the music of an English girl group she had never heard of. It was great!

As Ashley sat in the back seat, she thought about the argument with her father and the coolness her mother had shown while she tried to remain upbeat, she began to feel down. But it wasn’t because she had gone against her parents. She felt sad because her parents did not know what a truly exceptional person Alexa had become. A smile crept across the teenager’s face. “Man, my cousin is cool” she thought.

Alexa B-Side: #22 – The Christmas Card

Katie tugged at the short hem of the dress. “How did I let you two talk me into this?" she asked as she shook her arms, trying to get comfortable in the red, fur trimmed elf dress.

"Oh, come on Kate, it's fun!" Alexa said.

"Besides, they are damn sexy!" Jenny added as she said her hand up the back of Alexa's thigh. A surprised look came over the blonde girl’s face while Alexa's smile grew wider and more mischievous.

"Oh God! Knock it off you two." Katie said as she turned and left the room. Jenny took her fiancée in her arms. "Has someone been a naughty girl?"

"Not yet" Jenny and Alexa shared a long kiss before strolling out of the make shift dressing room, large smiles across their faces. As they neared the gigantic Christmas tree that sat in the Thompson Family’s great room they once again encountered their roommate. “I hope you two got that out of your system.” Katie asked. The couple looked at each other and began to giggle. Katie shook her head, no matter how crazy the two of them drove her with their affectionate ways and dress up games, she was happy for the couple and realized the love they shared was something special.

The roommates had decided that a Christmas card was needed from the apartment. More like Jenny had decided and Alexa had willing followed. But this was not going to be just the three girls, there was one more person in the picture. Jenny asked where Danny was. “He will be out in a minute. He is having a hard time with the belt.” Katie said. Just as she finished saying this, Katie’s boyfriend appeared, ready for the picture. Jenny had chosen the outfit Danny was to wear, a simple Santa suit and hat with no beard. And by no means was Danny excited by the choice. Instantly the Quinn siblings were at each other, as only siblings can be.

“Oh look, it’s the Santa Ken doll!” Alexa said to her brother. Jenny slapped Alexa on the arm but couldn’t stop giggling as her future brother-in-law walked in, grumpy as ever. “Shut up Alexa. Jen, why do I have to wear this stupid thing?” Danny asked. Jenny informed him it was fun, and he made a good Santa. “It will look great and you have to be in the picture because you are basically live at our place.” Danny harrumphed his way over to the large straight back chair that had been set up next to the tree in the Thompson’s main room. He was finally in a better mood as one of the ‘elves’ took her place on Santa’s lap. The two shared a large smile and a deep kiss.

“I don’t know who’s worse. Them or us.” Jenny said. Alexa answered that question immediately. “Us” she stated as the two shared another deep kiss.” Danny was annoyed by the actions of his sister and her fiancée. “Knock it off you two and let’s get this done.” An anxious Danny said. Alexa looked at her brother and pointed up.

“Mistletoe. Just following rules.”

Alexa B-Side: #23 – Game Day Morning

I woke up and realized I was alone. That was odd, and I figured that Alexa had woken up to use the bathroom, but I looked over and noticed that the light was not on. “Where did she go?” I wondered. I grabbed my phone and realized it was 6:45! I decided I should go and try and find her. I slipped on my robe and slippers and began making my way downstairs. Since we were going to watch the game with Daddy, Alexa and I came out to the lake last night to have dinner with Daddy and spend the night. It had been an interesting night as I could see both daddy and Alexa seemed a bit anxious. It didn’t take me very long that it was today’s game with the Eagles for a chance to go to the Super Bowl that had the two in this state. I am sure they would have been amped up if the Super Bowl was being played in New Orleans or Tampa or Timbuktu they would have been wound up. The fact that the Super Bowl was being played in Minneapolis this year just multiplied the nerves by a factor of one million!

As I made my way down stairs I could hear a TV playing, I could hear pots and pans clanging against each other. I could also hear two of people I loved more than anything ‘discussing’ the upcoming game. “So glad Sendejo and Thielen ae both going to be able to play today” I heard my father state, only to be rebuked by my other half.

“Oh, give me a break Marty! You have been bad mouthing Sendejo since the season started, now you’re a fan?” I couldn’t help but smile and sigh. The two had argued about the Vikings safety since the season started. At times it was good natured and at times it got a bit more heated. The arguing stopped as I walked in to the kitchen. A smile came to Alexa’s face instantly as she saw me. I went over and gave her a kiss and told her good morning. I grabbed a cup and poured myself a cup before joining my father at the table.

“Good morning daddy” I said. “I can see you two are getting properly warmed up for the game. What time did you two get up?” Daddy put down his paper and told me he had been up for about an hour. Alexa laughed at that. I turned and looked my partner who, as usual, had a comment.

“I down here at 5:15 and you already had the coffee made!” Alexa said teasingly to my father who tried to hide behind one of his many newspapers. Daddy informed me he couldn’t sleep he had something on his mind. “Yeah the game.” Alexa piped up from the refrigerator she was standing in front of. Daddy shot Alexa a look as if to tell her to be quiet, which got Alexa laughing. I then asked her why she had gotten up. This time I got the look and couldn’t help but laugh.

As we sat there, I noticed that there was a news show on. There was a storm on its way and I asked to neither of the two in particular. “Huh, what?” Daddy said as he dropped the newspaper. “I think they are still saying 6 to 10 inches. Haven’t really been paying attention.” I looked over at Alexa who just shrugged her shoulders and repeated the same thing. As soon as Alexa finished her comment, a live report from Philadelphia by the station’s sports anchor came on the screen. Daddy put his paper down and Alexa rushed over so she could see the live stand up from the City of Brotherly Love. They didn’t pay attention to an incoming storm that some were predicting would drop up to a foot of snow on us but a report that had nothing new to it got the two to drop everything. A year ago, these two barely knew each other, now they were as close as a man and his child’s girlfriend could be, especially when it came to game day. Once again, I had to smile. When the report was over, the discussion of the game began again. I sat as the two talked about how the defense was going to shut down Nick Foles and how Case was going to have a big day.

My enjoyment over the conversation was broken by an incoming text. I grabbed my phone and saw that it was our roommate and the girlfriend of Alexa’s brother Katie. They were going to come out and watch the game with us, but the game wasn’t until 5:40 this afternoon. I read the message “Do you care if we come out now?” I smiled and then typed my reply.

“Please!!! I don’t know if I can deal with these two. Maybe we can go hopping or something!”

Alexa B-Side: #24 - Fireside Chat

“You should see the bruise. It looks like someone punched her.” Nicole said with a slight giggle. “I have never seen Debbie wear so much make up!”

“Is it really that bad?” I asked.

“She is trying to cover it up, but the yellow is seeping through” Nicole told me. I had come to the Program on Human Sexuality to pick up Alexa and to get a bit of gossip around the office. I had made several friends during my brief stint here last summer. I missed the day to day banter with some of these people and it was always good to see them. Just as Nicole was finishing up, Lex and Debbie came into the lobby. I don’t know what that woman has done to me, but every time Lex enters a room, my whole world lights up. As we shared our standard kiss, I could sense something was on Alexa’s mind. Now was not the time to bring it up, and I wanted Alexa to tell me on her own. As we broke I noticed my former boss standing there.

“Nice shiner Debs” I said, teasing the woman who had been a godsend to Alexa and me.

“Watch it Miss Thompson or you may need to get that CV updated. Can’t have the help being cruel to their superiors.” Debbie said with smirk. I just laughed it off. I know Debbie was just having some fun, but that fun was lost on Lex. She seemed preoccupied by something that must have been discussed in her session. We said our goodbyes and made our way down to the car.

As we drove down 394, I could see that Alexa was struggling with something. The car was not the place to have this conversation, so I decided I should ramble on about my day. Maybe that would get her out of funk. I don’t even remember what I said, it was mostly just babbling. When Alexa’s expression didn’t change, and I asked her if she was OK. “Huh, what?” she asked. “Just a bit tired. Didn’t sleep real well last night.” She completed the thought, but I knew that wasn’t true. I didn’t hear her stir all night and the one time I was up in the middle of the night she was as peaceful as always.

It was when we were at the grocery store that I knew there was something really wrong. When it came to our food choices, she was the one who took control. Not today. Today she moved listlessly through the aisles as we picked up the few things we wanted for the weekend. The same was true when we stopped to pick up some wine. I tried to ask her if she wanted to pick up some vodka and she just shrugged her shoulders. I was beginning to get nervous that something had happened or been said in the meeting. I was tempted to call Debbie, but I knew she wouldn’t tell me anything. I drove the two of us to the house and as we finished unpacking the bags, I took a surprised Alexa by the hand and led her out to the great room. I had texted Thomas to start a fire and watched as he slipped out the back when we showed up.

We took a seat on the sofa in front of the fire place. I finally had Alexa in spot where we could talk with out any disruptions. I looked her in the eye and asked what she and Debbie had talked about. At first Alexa looked at me and then down at her lap. She began to squirm a bit as we sat there. Did she relate some secret to her counselor about her feelings towards me? Now I was panicking. Lex let out a long sigh before blurting out “She brought up SRS”

That’s it? God I really was worried about nothing. “Are you going to do it?” I asked. While we had never talked about it, I knew that it was the probability. The idea that Alexa would have surgery had never been a question in my mind, it was just when. But her reaction to the whole thing surprised me. She seemed extremely conflicted. Maybe she wasn’t going to have it. I knew that I had to tread carefully here. But for some reason my brain couldn’t control my mouth “It is what you want, isn’t it? It would complete your journey. Have you talked with Nikki about her surgery? Or Paige and what she has had to go through as she gets ready for hers?” I wanted to kick myself. I had to let Alexa come to me with her feelings and not push it. I tried to calm myself as Alexa tried to formulate an answer. All she could say was that she wasn’t sure and rested her head on my lap, starring at the fire. Something was really bothering her.

I let her take time. I did try and assure that no matter what she chose, she would still be a woman. That got her going. “But that’s it Jen. Some people will still think I am some sort of weirdo just pretending to be a woman.” she said. She’s scared of what people will think? That is not right! All that matters is what she thinks. But this wasn’t about my views, but hers. I needed to try and bring out her fears. I needed her to know I would be there for her. I asked her if she was scared. “Petrified” she told me, but what was she scared of? Was it perception or was it the process? I had to know. She buried her head in my lap and began to cry. Nothing broke my heart more than the love of my life crying. I rubbed her back trying to comfort her. It must have worked a bit, because she turned her head and spoke up. “I am scared you will leave because then I will really be a freak. I will have been mutilated.”

I love Alexa more than anything in the world, but there are times she could be the most frustrating person on the face of the planet! And just as I was about to lecture her, I stopped myself and remembered what I said last spring. My comment about not wanting to be around as she planned her own mutilation was coming back to haunt me. But this would be different. It would be us going through it together, not some whim because of frustration. It would a struggle. She would be laid up for a good six weeks I bet. And from what I heard from Sarah, it will take some time before a more ‘normal’ life returns. That would be the toughest part, but I was willing to do it if that is what this wonderful person wanted. I loved her and wanted her happy.

Just as I was about to say something, I realized that our sex life being put on hold would not be the toughest thing I would have to go through. Watching the person I cared for more than anything be in pain would be the hardest part of all of this. The accident last summer was hard to bear, but that was minor compared to what would happen if Alexa had the surgery. Could I hold up to that? I knew I had to. The vows we will take this summer say, ‘in sickness and in health’. Those simple worlds seemed to strengthen me. I would do whatever it took to make this incredible person happy.

I reached down and gently lifted her up, so I could look her in the eye. The sadness there melted whatever was left of my heart and I had to fight every instinct I had to lecture her. I told her that no matter what she decided I would be there for her. “If you decide you don’t want to have the surgery, that’s what you have decided. I will stand by you. If you decide to have the surgery I will be there too.” I went on to say that I would do everything I could to comfort her and love her “Whatever you decide I will be there. Remember I love you and you are stuck with me forever.” I kissed her and repeated forever to her. That seemed to calm her a bit. She smiled at me before cuddling into me.

As the two of us stared into the fire, I knew that the path our lives were going to take had taken a new turn. But it was a path we were going to go down together. Hand in Hand. Sharing the love we had for one another. Now if I could just get Alexa to realize that.

Alexa B-Side: #25 - The Playdate

“Just relax. Enjoy it.” Jenny whispered into Alexa’s ear as they broke the hug. There was a bit of fear in her eyes as Jenny took leave of her fiancée. Little Jenny was all excited to get a chance to spend some time with her “special friend" and ‘Big’ Jenny was as well. But there was still part of the American woman that was back at the flat with Alexa. This was going to be a first for Alexa, and Jenny for that matter. The couple had always been together for these moments, but Jenny couldn’t be this time. “It’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding” Charlotte, Alexa’s mother, warned the two of them playfully before their trip to London. Jenny’s heart longed to be there to see the most wonderful person in the world in that incredible gown.

The Older Jenny was grateful for the distraction spending a few hours with Nikki’s little sister would provide. She was hoping that the energy the little tornado would provide would keep her from dwelling on the activities back at the flat. “So, what is the plan?” Jenny asked trying to put on a smile. Sandra, Nikki and little Jenny’s mother, had a curious look on her face as she studied her older daughter’s American friend. Sandra recognized that the young woman was putting on some sort of cover but decided to let it slide a bit.

“Since it is a fairly nice day, I though it would be good for Jenny here to go to a playground for a bit. Get some exercise in her and there is a wonderful one over at Regent’s Park. There are some geese at the lake in the park and I brought some bread to feed them. Jenny loves that. Plus, there is a little café there in case we get hungry.” ‘Big’ Jenny though it sounded great and they moved towards Sandra’s car. After getting little Jenny situated and secure in her car seat, the other two got in the front seats and made the short drive over to The Regent’s Park.

After finding a spot to leave the car, the three got out. The toddler began dragging the American to the elaborate playground equipment. “Come on Jenny. We can go down the slide together”, the young Thomas girl said as they moved quickly over to the play structure. Being that it was a school day, there were only a few younger children around, so the two Jenny’s had the run of the place to themselves. The two went down the slide and ran across the suspension bridge that connected various towers and traversed the stairs in every direction. “Come on Jenny,” the little one would yell out and had proved to be a good distraction, but when Little Jenny said something about her being the princess and this was her castle, Big Jenny went into thought. “Sorry little one, but the real princess is back at your sisters flat” and the sadness that she couldn’t be with Alexa hit her again.

The change in attitude did not go unnoticed by Mrs. Thomas. Sandra recognized the look. And she wasn’t too old to remember the feeling of not being with the one you love at a very special time for her. Sandra said nothing but continued to watch the blonde American woman. For all the crazy things that Nikki, Sarah and their American friends had done over the last few days, Sandra was quite impressed with the three young women that Nikki and Sarah had become good friends with. They seemed very polite and kind. All three of the Americans had fit right in with Sarah and Nikki’s Uni friends and the special bond between Sandra’s two older daughters and the American couple was quite evident. Add to that the interesting connection Sandra’s youngest daughter had made with the young woman had given Sandra a very positive feeling towards the Americans, but there was still something bothering this one.

The toddler was beginning to get tired out so the three walked down to the lake to feed the geese. The two older women sat on a bench while little Jenny went down towards the lake to feed the geese. “I have the feeling that while you are enjoying yourself, you would rather be back at Nikki’s?” Sandra asked a few minutes. The blonde American laughed.

“Is it that obvious?” Jenny asked.”

“It is. You obviously are quite in love with Alexa and this must be terribly hard on you, am I correct?” Sandra asked. Jenny nodded. “I have seen the look before, in Nicola. She would be the same way when she was away from Sarah. When Sarah started University and Nikki would come home from her job with the Angels, she would sit around sulking. At first I thought it was because she hadn’t go to Uni, but it was because she wasn’t with Sarah at Uni. I know I have only met you a few times, but I am not blind to see that what you two have is very special. Keep that. Fight for that.” Jenny smiled at the advice.

“I plan on it” Jenny said and then looked at her friend’s mother a little closer. “Thanks. How do you know so much?”

Sandra thought for a moment. “I’m a mum. Come on I bet they are done, let’s see if the dressmakers are done and get you back to your soulmate.”

Alexa B-Side: #26 – Katie in London

Katie sat there and watched as her two roommates and their two friends strolled up to the stage to begin their latest alcohol laden performance. As this trip to London had neared, Katie began to get a bit apprehensive over the whole thing. The idea of being a fifth wheel started to weigh on her. She had been around when the four had talked via Skype and remembered that night a year ago when she found the four of them. The four were a perfect match. Nikki had been a great help to Katie’s ‘little sister’ and Sarah had been a wonderful supporter of both Alexa and Jenny. A strong bond had been formed amongst the four. Katie started to worry that she would put a strain on that dynamic when she came over with her two roommates.

But that wasn’t what had happened. Katie had found a group of people she could bond with. Not only the couple known as Snikki, but their friends. Katie (Hendo), Lauren, Jacinta and even Ophelia had proved to be the kind of friends that neither she nor Alexa had growing up. Sure, they had ‘friends’ or more accurately there were people they spent time with, but no one they were really close to. They had each other and that was it. Then the world changed. First Katie and Jenny had been assigned as roommates. And then came the events of a year and a half ago. Alex became Alexa, and then came Jexy. The oddest couple at the beginning and now a couple that Katie couldn’t comprehend life without. And a life that Katie couldn’t even have comprehended came to be that night she came home from work and found her two roommates drunk, singing along with two girls she had never met. And because of that night Katie had more friends than she had ever dreamed of.

She was now able to see the closeness that Jenny and Alexa went on about when they came back from London last fall. She was skeptical of the stories that the couple had shared about how accepting and kind the people had been over here. And now she saw it firsthand. She still was trying to wrap around her mind that one of the most popular groups in England could be so kind to a couple of abnormally crazy American fans. But it wasn’t just kind, there was a friendship there, and it wasn’t just because of the similar circumstance that Stephanie and Alexa shared. It was something stronger than that. It was a friendship based on something that Katie completely understood, the mutual teasing of one another. Almost as much teasing as went on between Jenny and Alexa and the two flight attendants, Jessica and Paige. Paige wasn’t the one who teased her roommates as much as the blonde American. And Katie liked that. Someone who could keep her little sister in line.

But even those two groups were nothing compared to the warmth and generosity of the group of supermodels who had welcomed all three of them into their lives. Jamie Lee and her best friend, Charlotte had not even blinked an eye when they brought the three Americans into one of their famous parties. Jamie seemed like the big sister to all these people. She may have been the biggest star but was also one of the kindest. And the husbands and boyfriends had been just as welcoming to Katie. Most of them had meet Jenny and Alexa on the last trip but they had shown just as much interest in Katie’s life as anyone ever had.

Katie sat back for a moment and realized how that one fateful day, at of all places the Mall of America, had led Katie this moment. In a pub in London with a group of people she would be friends with for a long time. A group that was cheering on her two little sisters and their partners in crime as the stumbled around on stage to the song Venus. One of that group, Hendo as she had been called this week as to not confuse the two Katies, came up and handed her a pint of beer. “Isn’t this great!” the British Katie said. Katie looked around and smiled at her new group of friends.

“Yes, it is”

Alexa B-Side: #27 - Big Brother

“Don’t worry,” I told Jenny as we sat at the family dining table. “Alexa will be fine. Like I told her, Adam isn’t stupid enough to do anything while I am around.” My words didn’t seem to help my future sister-in-law as my two siblings were having a one on one discussion following Alexa’s announcement that she was moving forward with gender confirmation surgery. I tried to comfort Ma as well, but I could tell she was worried about the conversation. And to be honest, my words weren’t really helping me either. Adam was a grade A prick. At times I thought he was more closed minded and cruel than Dad had ever been. He would see some guy who was kind of nerdy and start in on him. It was worse when he had been drinking. Still I didn’t think he would do anything with me there.

Our little conversation didn’t go much farther, because Alexa rounded the corner. She wasn’t crying, which was a relief, but she wasn’t smiling either. She sat down next to Jenny and rested her head on Jenny’s shoulder. I knew that it was time for me to have a chat with Adam. This was our sister dammit!

As I got up from the table, that thought just hit me, our sister. Growing up Alexa had been my little brother. And like most older brothers, I was somewhat ruthless on him, granted I wasn’t cruel like Adam was. Adam thought beating the crap out of our little brother was fun. Me, I was more devious. I enjoyed playing jokes on him and embarrassing him rather than pounding on him. But since that first date with Katie I realized that this was a different person. Maybe deciding to live as a woman had changed her, Alexa was someone I had come to care about. I still didn’t always understand it. Why would you want to give up being a guy to be a girl? And yes, I will admit at the beginning I really wondered if Alex was gay and Jenny was just a cover. Now I knew better. I had never seen anyone like them. They laughed, hugged, teased and kissed each other constantly but there was one other thing, they loved each other in a way I had never seen. They could be a handful, but I wouldn’t give them up.

“What’s your problem?” I asked Adam as I entered the Family Room and looked at my older brother sitting there in Dad’s chair trying to do his best Dick impression.

‘My problem? What’s your problem? How can you just sit by a think this is OK? That is our brother in there who just announced he is going to cut off his dick! And you think that it’s OK?“ Adam replied as he slowly stood up and faced me.

“Do I completely get it? No, I don’t. I could never do that, but there are lots of things that I have seen that has shown me that Alexa is a lot stronger person than she was when she was trying to live as Alex. And she is happy. I may not get it, but I am not going to turn my back on her either, she is family. She is our sister. You should show her some support. You would be surprise at what you would find if you got to know her a bit better.

“It’s just fucking wrong!” Adam shouted. I could see the vein in his neck begin to bulge and his face start to redden.

“Would you shut up!” I said to him. “I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t make you understand what is going on, I can only tell you what your attitude is doing to this family. You are breaking Ma’s heart with this rejection and even though she won’t say it, Alexa wants your approval. I have gotten to know her very well over the last year. She is some one with a caring heart who just wants to be part of the family. That is all Alex wanted and we all rejected her, I mean him. But you know what, Alexa is part of my family, and always will be. She might be a little too affectionate, a little neurotic and a lot crazy, but she is my sister and I will be there for her no matter what. Why? Because she is my family.”

Adam just growled at me and then began walking towards the dining room. Did I make a difference in what Adam was thinking? Probably not. But one thing I did learn from this conversation was that I really did care about that little crazy woman that was my girlfriend’s best friend. My sister. I just hope she doesn’t figure that out.

Alexa B-Side: #28 – Katie & Danny

“Katie, wake up” Danny whispered into his girlfriend’s ear. Katie groaned a bit and then slowly opened her eyes. It took her a minute to figure out where she was. She was in one of the guestrooms at her roommate Jenny’s family estate on Lake Minnetonka. Katie and Danny had come out to the Lake on Friday for the annual Thompson Memorial weekend gala. While these were not the type of people that the couple usually hung with, the technical “hostesses’ were, so they came and enjoyed themselves. Katie knew there was another reason that Danny had come. This weekend was the bass fishing opener in the State of Minnesota and Lake Minnetonka was one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Danny had brought his new boat up for the opener and then went to the party. As part of a deal the young couple made, they spent also spent Saturday night so Danny could try his hand again Sunday morning.

“Yeah I’m awake. What’s up? Is it night or morning? Katie asked as her eyes adjusted to the dark room.

“It’s 4:30, I was wondering if you wanted to go out fishing with me this morning?” Danny asked. Katie was not that excited by the prospect of getting up at this ungodly hour but getting a chance to spend some quiet time with Danny was always a bonus. She just didn’t want him to think he could get by with this all the time. She didn’t really care one way or the other about fishing, but she did prefer sleeping over getting up at the crack of dawn.

“Sure, I guess. You will have to bait the hooks and take off the fish.” Katie told him. Danny readily agreed to those tasks. “I will go see if those two have anything for me to wear.” Katie said as she rolled out of bed. A few minutes later she was opening the bedroom door of her two best friends. Jenny and Katie had been roommates for all four years of college and had developed an extremely tight bond, though not as tight as her and Alexa had. Alexa had been Katie’s best friend since middle school. Alexa had been there during most of the major events in her life. Confirmation, two graduations, prom and the one thing that still always nagged at her, the unplanned pregnancy she went through in high school. When it seemed like everyone was bailing on her, Alexa stood by her side, protecting her, helping her, but most importantly caring about her. And not only was there bond as tight as sisters, but Alexa was also Danny’s younger sister. Her relationship with Alexa was a concern for Katie when she and Danny had first started dating. However, Alexa could see the attraction between the two and assured Katie that she was more important than her dumb brother.

Katie slipped in and went to the large walk in closet at the one side of the room. She shut the door behind her and turned on the light. As her eyes adjusted, she saw clothes lying everywhere. “God these two are slobs” Katie thought to herself. “What is going to happen when I move out?” The idea of Katie moving out had been a recent topic of discussion in the apartment. Mostly because they were deciding what they all were going to do now that they were done with their undergraduate classes. Jenny had been accepted to the master’s program in Psychology at the U and Alexa was going to work for the Thompson Foundation in the Fall. But Katie had only decided the other day what she was going to do. She had received two offers for employment. One was as a floor nurse at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, a brand-new state of the art facility. However, Fargo was over 5 hours away from her mother, her friends and Danny. The other job was a little less pay but was at the Mayo Clinic Health System clinic in Montgomery. She was excited that Mayo had come to her and hoped that it may lead to bigger things. Plus, it was only a half hour’s drive from Faribault. She had decided on the Mayo job but had not told anyone yet.

After tossing aside a few skirts and tops, she finally found a dresser shoved in the corner. She opened it up and found a ratty old Blake Hockey sweatshirt and a pair of shorts. She started to head out of the closet when she knocked over a pile of shoe boxes. “Damn Alexa” Katie muttered as she left the closet. The collision in the closet most have been louder than Katie had thought.

‘Who’s in here?” Alexa asked into the dark. Katie identified herself and explained that she was looking for some clothes. “Well quit making so much noise. Why do you need an old sweatshirt anyway?” Alexa asked.

“Going fishing with Danny” Katie said with a little glee in her voice. Alexa groaned.

“Fishing? You’re whipped” Alexa told her sister, who was promptly told to shut up by Katie. “You shut up” Alexa responded.

“Both of you shut up, I’m trying to sleep.” Jenny said from her side of the bed. Katie said she was leaving anyways and soon she was gone and the couple in bed cuddled into each other again and drifted back to sleep.

Katie went back to the guest room to get her shoes and surprisingly, Danny was nowhere to be found. She went downstairs and found her boyfriend once again struggling with a coffee pot. “Here, let me do that you big oaf.” Katie told her boyfriend before giving him a quick kiss. Danny quickly agreed and said he was heading down to the boat to get it ready. “He seems a bit anxious this morning.” Katie thought as she poured two large travel mugs of the hot brew and made her way down to Danny’s new fishing boat. She untied the bowline and hopped on while Danny warmed up the motor. A few minutes later the pair were easing the boat out of the bay and into the large part of the lake,

The morning had a slight chill, but nothing like what some days in May could be like. The air was calm, and it was peaceful as the sun was showing its first light on the eastern horizon. Danny found a nice spot where he thought the bass would be biting and dropped anchor. He instructed Katie to move to the front of the boat, where a platform made up the bow along with a single chair. He started to get everything organized in the back while Katie got her self situated. “It’s really pretty out here at this time of day” Katie commented as the sun continued its rise over the far end of the lake.

“It is, isn’t it” Danny commented as he stopped what he was doing and looked around at the morning sky. He stopped digging in one of his tackle boxes and moved to the bow. “All set?” Danny asked his girlfriend. She nodded as she looked over his shoulder and had a perfect view of the rising sun and the purple, orange and golden colors that emanated. “Well I’m not.” Danny said. He knelt down. “Katie, I never thought I would be saying this and least of all to you, but. You are the most special person I have ever met. You have a toughness to you that tells me you won’t put up with any crap but also you also have a warm and tender heart. And I was wondering if you would marry me?” There he had said it and he held open a box holding a beautiful gold ring with a single solitaire diamond. Silence came over Katie for a second then Danny had to reach up to grab his girlfriend as she began to fall out the fishing seat. The couple fell backwards onto the deck of the boat. Their faces were inches apart, their smiles as large as any ever seen as they stared into each other’s eyes. Finally Katie shared a kiss with her now fiancé before giving a slight nod. At that point all fishing for the day was forgotten.

A few hours later Danny’s boat pulled up to the dock at the Thompson’s and the pair held hands as they walked up to the patio where Alexa and Jenny were enjoying their morning coffee and cuddled into each other. “Catch anything?” Jenny asked as the newly arrived couple stood before their family.

“Yep. And it is was a keeper!” Katie said as she flashed her new engagement ring at her sisters.