TITLE: House Arrest (35/35)
PAIRING: Lindsay/Cindy
DISCLAIMER: Women’s Murder Club does not belong to me. The characters do not belong to me. They are the property of James Patterson, 20th Century Fox Television and ABC. I have no problems with that as long as I can borrow them for short bursts and use them in pursuit of my own enjoyment. I am not trying to infringe. Though, I don’t know why anyone has a problem with fan fic. After all, it really is a compliment. If anyone wants to write fan fiction about my book, feel free. 

(1/05  Cindy’s POV) 

Cindy was nervous. All the way to her mom’s house, she was nervous. Because Lindsay was meeting her mom and her mom was meeting Lindsay, and she really wanted Lindsay and her mom to like each other. She wanted Lindsay to like her mom, because her mom wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. And she wanted her mom to like her Lindsay, because she wanted Lindsay to be her Lindsay forever.

And now they were parked on the street outside of the house, in Lindsay’s SUV, because Lindsay had been just insistent that she drive, and Cindy was scared to go inside. Lindsay was looking at her with a subdued smirk, because she knew exactly what the holdup was.

“Worried I’ll embarrass you?” Lindsay asked with way too happy of a grin.

“No,” Cindy scowled. She tapped her foot quickly on the floor mat and looked out the windshield.

Cindy could see Lindsay’s continuing analysis of her from the corner of her eye.

“It’s not going to make a difference you know. Even if we hate each other,” Lindsay said quietly. “We’ll still both love you.”

Cindy wasn’t actually expecting to hear that from Lindsay again quite so soon, but it felt nice nonetheless, and now that it was floating out there…

“Okay, wait. So…” Cindy started, putting on her best befuddled performance. “If you and my mom hate each other, Mom’s still going to love me, and you, you’re going to what?”

Lindsay looked over with a light laugh and an unwavering smile.

“I’m still going to love you,” she conceded, turning a touch more serious. “I love you.”

“Okay then,” Cindy responded. “Let’s go in.”

“Okay,” Lindsay said, pulling on the door handle.

Using her special skill as a mother to detect an approaching child, the front door opened before they reached it and Cindy’s mom appeared in the doorway.

“Hi,” she said, grabbing Cindy and hugging her tightly.

“Hi Mom,” Cindy returned.

Her mom pulled back, looked at Lindsay, and started backing through the doorway.

“Come inside,” she said, putting her hand on Lindsay’s wrist and giving it a slight tug and the three of them stepped over the threshold.

Cindy’s mom shut the door, her eyes glued to the only person in the room she didn’t know.

“Mom, this is Lindsay,” Cindy said, nervously.

“I thought maybe. I’ve heard so much about you. You’re the inspector right?”

Cindy did her best to avoid Lindsay’s amused and inquiring eyes.

“That’s right,” Lindsay responded to the question, offering her hand to Cindy’s mom.

Cindy’s mom took Lindsay’s hand in both of her own, giving it her special “I like you already” shake. It gave Cindy a decidedly giddy feeling, until she heard Lindsay speaking and the shock set in.

“Her girlfriend,” Lindsay said. “Unless she changes her mind again.”

The room seemed suddenly very quiet and Cindy’s mom looked to her as if for confirmation of the disclosure.

“My girlfriend,” Cindy corroborated slowly, and, looking at Lindsay, the word felt natural on her lips.

“Oh my God,” her mom started. “She’s so beautiful. You two are gorgeous together. I have to get a picture.”

And with that, Cindy’s mom ran from the room, leaving them where they stood, and the boisterous activity picked up again, the few members of Cindy’s family who were in the living room returning to their relatively intense game of cards.

Lindsay’s hand came to rest on her back and when she turned to look at her, Cindy was greeted with a quick kiss and an expression that she could now recognize as adoring, though when she used to see it on Lindsay’s face she had written it off as a hundred other things. Why was it so hard for her to see this? It had been apparent for some time.

Then, her mom returned with the camera and blinded her, and Cindy couldn’t see anything, and Lindsay was whisked into the family events, and all chance for speaking to Lindsay disappeared into the flurry.

When they finally did have the chance, they were back in the car again, later than Cindy had intended to leave. Lindsay started the engine, but didn’t take off. Cindy just sat and watched, anticipating an explanation for the delay was forthcoming.

“Your mom totally loves me,” Lindsay said smugly after a few silent minutes.

Cindy couldn’t contest it, because it was true. Her mom had made it very clear several times throughout the evening.

“Maybe more than you,” Lindsay added.

“Maybe more than she loves me or maybe more than I love you?”

“Maybe more than you love me,” Lindsay said.

“No,” Cindy said softly and seriously, shaking her head lightly, and it seemed to be exactly what Lindsay was fishing to hear.

She smiled and looked down at the steering wheel. It was clear that she had more to say, but didn’t know how to say it. Timidity was something Cindy was going to have a hard time getting used to seeing on Lindsay.

Lindsay turned her head slightly, as if she was going to start speaking, then chuckled nervously to herself and scratched her head. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. It was cute and rather mystifying.

“Do you, uh…” Lindsay started, then stopped and blew out a breath. “Do you… want… to move in with me?”

To say that Cindy was in shock would be putting it very mildly. She opened her mouth several times to respond, but she couldn’t seem to form words. Her failure to speak apparently came across as hesitation.

“It’s not a deal breaker,” Lindsay continued quickly. “It’s just… I got really used to having you around.”

Lindsay laughed lightly and looked back at the steering wheel. She seemed to be in disbelief at herself for asking.

“Yes,” Cindy said carefully, and she did, “but don’t you think it’s kind of fast?”

“Yeah,” Lindsay said with a supporting nod. “And no. I guess that depends if you are basing this decision on this week or the past five months.”

“In which we have gotten to know each other pretty well,” Cindy asserted.

“In which we’ve been falling in love,” Lindsay corrected. “Already fallen for most of it, actually.”

Every time Lindsay said it, the words amazed Cindy. From the look on her face, they were amazing Lindsay too. It was as if she couldn’t believe she was posing this scenario.

Cindy reached over and took Lindsay’s hand.

“You know, it’s not a deal breaker for me either. You don’t have to ask me that to make me want to be with you.”

“I know. I want to.”

Cindy swallowed. She’d given Lindsay an out, and Lindsay had chosen to stay firmly in.

“Your bed is pretty soft,” Cindy pretended to consider the proposal, while deep down she already knew the answer.

“I’m glad you like it. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in there, no matter what your address is.”

Cindy stared into Lindsay’s eyes, then looked away. She really did want to do this. It didn’t feel particularly sudden for her, but, knowing Lindsay the way that she did, she knew for her it had to be lightning speed. But then, Lindsay was the one who broached the subject.

She didn’t realize just how long she’d been contemplating until Lindsay said her name softly. When she looked over at her, she knew. She just knew. Lindsay wanted this. Forget the whys and logic. So, it was a romantic whim. What was so wrong with that?

“Okay,” Cindy answered.

“Okay?” Lindsay raised her eyebrows, looking somewhat anxious.

“Okay,” Cindy repeated for her slow-to-comprehend girlfriend.

Lindsay smiled and kissed her, and Cindy fell into it like she always did, until she was pulled out by a loud knock.

They both jumped and looked toward Lindsay’s window, where her mom was standing with a plastic wrapped plate and a grin. Lindsay lowered the window in welcome.

“I’m glad I caught you. I forgot to give you cookies.”

“Thank you,” Lindsay said, graciously accepting the plate.

Cindy was feeling less cordial.

“You were watching from the window Mom. You knew we hadn’t left yet.”

Her mother looked affronted.

“I was watching the wind blow through the trees. You were just in the path.” Then she made a sudden move, reaching in to cover both of Lindsay’s ears with her hands and leaning across her. “Don’t let go of this one,” she whispered before releasing Lindsay. “Okay. Have a nice night.” She patted Lindsay’s cheek and walked back toward the house.

Lindsay put her window up, and smiled over at Cindy as she put the cookies in the back floorboard.

“I’m such a rock star,” she uttered, sitting back up.

Cindy sniggered.

“More like a folk singer. My mom’s a total hippie.”

“Either way, the audience is staggered by my radiance.”

Cindy watched Lindsay. Smiling Lindsay. Happy Lindsay. And she was the cause. How surreal.

Cindy leaned over, pushing Lindsay’s hair out of her face and kissed her on the cheek in front of her ear. She heard Lindsay sigh as her lips touched down, and pulled back just far enough to whisper hotly in Lindsay’s ear.

“So, does that make me like… a groupie?”

“God I hope so,” Lindsay answered.

“Let’s go home,” Cindy said, sitting back in her seat. “I’ve been waiting all night to get you backstage.”

THE END