Paris is everything Cassidy remembered, the rows of vintage themed houses on cobblestoned streets. Charles de Gaulle Airport  is still a nightmare and though they entered through the executive private entrance there is still stairs and hallways to conquer. The ride through the streets into their city center hotel is picturesque, filled with red topped vendors and tourists snapping pictures of old Paris. Yes, everything is the same. The Eiffel towers still sparkles at dusk to the gasp of awe of new tourists and Les Champs Elysées still has lights strung between grandfather store and tech giants making their debut.
Cassidy talks about the hotel accommodations and how she'd probably skip dinner with Samantha; she has so much to get ready for.
That is the main difference in Cassidy talking, she is talking to her as if they had always done this. Everything is so different to Samantha, she has gone to Paris once or twice before and she never thought she'd go back with her girlfriend sleeping next to her in a luxury suit.
They have been here for two days now, Cassidy had spend most of her time at shows and meetings of course, this is the price to pay when you are dating Cassidy Vaughan. Samantha had left the suit to visit the city, she had visited the Seine through a boat, climbed up the Tour Eiffel and her miles of stairs. She had been to museums, not the Louvre though, not yet. She loves the city, its architectural treasures and its vibe. The girlfriends did not yet show up together in the street, they know paparazzis are there, especially during Fashion week, but they agreed they would go out if they wanted and not worry about the paparazzis. Cassidy is sure Samantha isn't a simple romance, she is sure it will last and she is not afraid of showing up with her. Hiding can't last forever, they would have to show up together one day or another, so why not doing it in Paris ? Samantha has agreed too, but she still hopes paparazzis will shut down for at least two or three days after Paris as they are going to her parents for the weekend and she'd rather them finding out who she is dating by the time it comes and not on the cover of Page six or some other medias.
Cassidy seems used to that city, it is true in a way because Paris is her favorite place for Fashion week. She is coming back at the hotel late after watching a couple of runways today, she is tired but she also wants to spend time with her girlfriend in Paris. Samantha is already sleeping on the couch, she probably fell asleep waiting for her to come back. Cassidy smiles as she watches Samantha sleeping peacefully.
« Darling. » She says as she strokes her cheek. « Wake up. »
Samantha jumps and exhales when she sees Cassidy giving her a shower of quick kisses all over the face to wake her up.
« What a good way to wake up. » She says more to herself than to Cassidy, smiling.
« Come on, I have some free time tonight. » She says as she gets up, Samantha groans.
« I was sleeping Cassidy. » She rubs her eyes.
Cassidy gives Samantha her hand to help her get up.
« Come on sleeping beauty. » Cassidy insists.
Samantha takes her hand and gets up with difficulty, head still far away in the clouds. Samantha brushes her blond hair quickly and retouches her makeup to look at least presentable next to Cassidy who is still dressing like a real diva: she is wearing a long black fur Chanel coat. Samantha is wearing a a long blazer checkered in brown and white as a dress, and long black boots to her knees. Paris is the best place to be fancy as French people always overdress for everything, it is as silly as it is amazing.
They meet the chauffeur at the entrance and he drops them off in the Latin Quarter, a bohemian neighborhood in which Cassidy grabs her hand and watch the sunset walking on narrow streets and with the sound of the city going to sleep. Cassidy has gone to Paris more than she has gone to sleep, she knows the city and its better places by heart. But she has never felt so happy just walking by hand in hand with Samantha in the beautiful streets as the sun is dying. Samantha's eyes are sparkling, she seems like a child getting her Christmas presents and it warms Cassidy's heart. After a long walk, they stop at a coffee shop and settle down, just like they used to do in New York.
« Paris is even better than in my memories. » Samantha starts with a smile.
« You have gone? »
« Well when I was very young, and I don't remember it being that beautiful and peaceful. »
Cassidy smiles with a satisfied smile, she is happy she feels this way about Paris. The older woman circles her cup of coffee with her fingers, searching for warmth as outside the coldness of the night is rising.
« I used to come here often when I was young as well. » The fashion diva explains.
« We could have met back then. »
The editor meet Samantha's gazes.
« You weren't even born. » She clarifies as she chuckles.
« Best things come last. » Samantha jokes and winks which makes Cassidy laugh.
They laugh at their age gap now, it isn't such an issue anymore. It is better to laugh about it than to cry anyway as it can not be modified.
Then the conversation comes and goes, Cassidy tells her about her day, complains about people's incompetence and the very famous rudeness of the french. She explains Samantha how most runways function during Fashion week, she tells her she has got the chance to meet some super models already. There is so much to talk about, Samantha forgets her tiredness and doesn't want to go back to the hotel to sleep anymore. She wishes she could stay here forever, and she smiles as she thinks about her moving in with Cassidy after Paris and their weekend at her parents in Shelby.

Paris seems to last an eternity, there are more shows, private viewings, public viewings, there are debuts, celebrity meetings, and of course planning for the magazine. Cassidy often looks across the hall or across the room to Samantha who is usually reading a book or who is absent altogether having opted for a walk along the seine. On the fifth day Cassidy cancels a viewing, she sends Lucy instead and decides to stay with Samantha.
They walk along the Champs Elysées together, some people seem to recognize the editor but they don't point it out. Nothing is on Page six yet, no rumors have been set up and none is talking about it.
Paris seems like a bubble, Samantha feels disconnected from the world when she is there. She doesn't worry, she doesn't think about what's coming next, she is just enjoying the moments given to her with her girlfriend.

They also spend a lot of time inside the hotel as it is immensely beautiful. The décor of the iconic hotel has not changed much throughout the years since Mademoiselle Chanel stayed here with her German lover in war occupied Paris. Rumors have said that she was a Nazi spy, that she gave information to the German officer with whom she had a romantic liaison. It had never been proven but to the people of 1940 France, it was more than true.
Mademoiselle Chanel lived here until her death in the 70's. Cassidy does not completely admire Chanel, in fact she thinks the fashion icon is often overvalued. She knows that the labor practices and tactics Chanel used were not humanitarian and she thinks Chanel was a very selfish person. Nevertheless she recognizes the appeal she formed for her brand. There probably is not a person in the world who does not recognize the name Chanel or the fact that it is very expensive. She also finds the allure of the Ritz charming and she wishes she could stay here forever.
« This is where I met William, exactly 16 years ago. » The editor says as she contemplates the decorated wall of their suite.
« And now you're here with me. » Samantha mumbles.
« Who would have thought. » She drops for herself as she smirks.
Samantha smirks, she takes off her few jewels she wore today and put them on the night stand.
« You are known to be unexpected, remember? » Samantha says as she leans in to kiss her on the bed.
Cassidy wants to answer something but she can not manage to break their kiss, so she moans softly instead.
Not much sleep is done that night, they can't get enough of each other.

Versace is the last runway for Cassidy. She watches the models and the clothes, but her mind does not really seem to care. She is anxious about tomorrow, anxious about meeting Samantha's parents for the first time. She doesn't know what bad can happen if they are as genuine as their daughter is but she also knows this relationship isn't an easy pill to swallow for a parent.
They fly home on the evening in the company's jet and Samantha feels nostalgic already. Paris has been too short, she struggles to say goodbye to that city even now. The atmosphere of that city feels like a dream, she already feels anxious already as she has been gone for some minutes now.
Cassidy notices the sad gaze on the woman's face and she puts her hand on Samantha's.
« Are you okay darling? » She asks quietly, worried.
Samantha gives her a little smile to reassure her but it quickly fades away.
« I wish we could have stayed more. » She drops sadly.
« Paris stays with you forever, remember? »
Cassidy promises her they would go back soon during the flight, they then change the subject and enjoy their hours together above the sky.

The drive to Shelbyville in Illinois is a little bit long. Time from New York to Shelbyville is slightly over 13 hours given that the traffic be kind.
« Have you ever been to Illinois ? » Samantha asks trying to joke.
« I don't remember much of it. » Cassidy answers honestly.
« Well hum... There is nothing to remember actually, especially if you're living in New York. »
Cassidy rolls her eyes. She knows she is a lucky woman, she has everything she wants and needs, she isn't to be sad about. But she also knows how to enjoy simple things.
« You think I don't like small towns because I live in New York? » Cassidy asks seriously, raising her eyebrows, her hands on the wheel. She chose to drive and she wanted to ride only with Samantha and not a chauffeur or someone else.
« I didn't say that. But Shelbyville is nothing compared to the big buildings of New York, that's all. » Samantha explains.
« Small towns are great Samantha, even for me. I like to have rest days too. » She says. « Now tell me about your parents. » She drops to change the subject.
« There is nothing really, my dad's a cabinetmaker and my mom is... She's... complicated. » Samantha sighs.
She doesn't talk about her parents often.
« Complicated? » Cassidy asks.
Samantha looks away through the window, she looks at the grass and the road. There is almost no one on this road.
« She's an alcoholic. » She spits out sadly.
She knows Cassidy would never judge her, but she knows her parents's life is nothing compared to Cassidy's. Being an alcoholic sounds silly next to the editor-in-chief of Wardrobe.
« Oh... I'm sorry. It must be really hard for you. » Cassidy says, she gives a supportive gaze to Samantha before looking back at the road.
« Yes, but it's fine. I mean she is not that kind of alcoholic you see, she is caring and genuine, and she is a good mother. She has always tried to get rid of her addiction for me. My father told me she was doing better these days. » Samantha says as she shrugs.
« I'm sure she is a wonderful mother. I would never doubt it, see how she raised you into the best woman I have ever met. » Cassidy looks at her as she smiles, she means every word she says.
Samantha chuckles and smiles lovingly at her.
« I love you so much. » She mumbles more for herself than for the woman next to her, but it is loud enough for Cassidy to hear it and smiles even more.
« So how do your parents call us? » Cassidy questions again, she is really impatient and anxious but she would never show it.
« Girlfriends I guess. Is that okay? »
It is a strange way to ask that question.
« Oh okay. I wasn't sure, that's all. » She nods.
Samantha sinks into her seat again, she shakes her head and looks at Cassidy with a playful smile as she is driving.
« I can also say you are the love of my life. » Samantha jokes.
Cassidy laughs loudly, she is not used to laugh like that with anyone else. Seeing her laugh is a chance, being the one to make her laugh is a privilege. Samantha is aware of that and it makes her even more happy to call the older woman hers and only hers.
« I like the idea. We could say that mutually. » Cassidy says.
It's a moment of contemplation. How ironic that this would happen on the way to visit her parents. That Samantha would confess so nonchalantly that Cassidy is indeed the love of her life but even grander is to hear the well poised, private, editors says that Samantha too is the love of her life.
« You mean it? » Samantha asks.
Cassidy simply nods.
« Of course I do. »