Samantha shows up at Alexandra's birthday party early in the afternoon, she is wearing leather blue navy pants matching with a grey and blue top, her hair is down and straight. Cassidy bites her lips as she watches the younger woman entering the kitchen to join the three Vaughan women.
« Hey girls. » Samantha smiles as they both give her a big hug. They have become very close in only a few days, Cassidy is the happiest about it.
« Hi. » Samantha finally drops to Cassidy in a little voice as she stares at her lovingly.
Cassidy analyzes her girlfriend head to toes, this is an habit she has not lost since the first day they met. She looks beautiful in those blue pants, blue suits her very well. Samantha's sense of fashion is one of Cassidy's favorite thing about her. She loves the way she lets her emotions talk with her clothes.
« I was going to help the girls getting ready. Will you help me? » Cassidy asks, hiding her smile.
« Of course. »
They help Alexandra and Andrea for about an hour, Cassidy lets Samantha select some outfits for them, they both adore them. The four women laugh openly during the hair session, all joking around. The lovebirds exchange some loving gazes while they brush the girls hair, their eyes say it all. They reflect all the love and respect they hold for one another.
All the guests are here after 9pm, the party starts with champagne, Cassidy only sticks around with one glass as always. Alexandra and Andrea spend the evening with them, talking to everyone with an incredible vocabulary that reflects their maturity. Samantha is speechless seeing the young girls talk to those big people in the industry, every word is pronounced with so much confidence at their young age, Samantha could never. She herself still struggles sometimes, she is not used to this environment yet. But she blends in with the people in the room perfectly, no one can tell she is living in a little apartment and eat carbs. Cassidy introduces Samantha as a good friend from work, people don't ask more, and they don't explain more. They are not ready to share their relationship with the world yet, the two of them are very happy alone together.

« We've been reading some good books at school lately, I have become a fan of Virginia Woolf now. » Alexandra explains to the group of people around, Cassidy listens to her proudly. The guests seem so interested in what the teenager is saying.
« So you read classical English books right? What else do you read? » A very charismatic man with a beard perfectly cut dressed a suit perfectly ironed asks.
« I can not remember them all sadly but some of my favorites are Mrs.Dalloway, pride and prejudice and this french one from Maupassant, Une vie. » Alexandra pronounces the french words with a perfect aisance.
« You read french books as well? » An old woman ask, probably a bit older than Cassidy judging on her wrinkles showing despite the tone of foundation on her shiny skin.
« She has been taking French classes for the past four years. Of course she does. » Cassidy answers proudly with her quiet voice.
« Amazing! I have myself got my son some Shakespeare books too, he loves it. » The old woman replies, smile with what seem like an exaggerated smile.
« Samantha is a big fan of Shakespeare. Right Samantha? » Cassidy says, looking at her girlfriend as she takes a very little simp of her glass of champagne.
Samantha nods, smiling timidly at the people around her.
« Oh, yes. I've read several books by him. He is absolutely wonderful. » She simply explains, feeling everyone's eyes on her.
The party is over a few hours later, around 2am. The last few people have just left, Samantha and Cassidy are helping Emily cleaning a few things before they go to bed. The girls are already sleeping upstairs, they just went to bed. Samantha is anxious, she stares many times at Cassidy while she brushes the floor but the older woman doesn't notice. It is her first night with Cassidy.
They lay in bed for what seem an eternity both draped in their gowns listening to the sounds of their breathing. The city awakens or goes to sleep within their watch. None of the women dare moving, dare say a thing. They both want to talk but don't know where to start. This is the first time Samantha has seen the closest of an intimate Cassidy, she has wiped her makeup off and she is wearing an old fashioned pyjama. Samantha stares at the ceiling, Cassidy is playing with her hand.
« Did you have fun? » The editor chooses to break the silence between them with a simple question.
Samantha looks at her, she shifts closer to her until she feels her shoulder against her own. « Yes, it was lovely. » She answers.
« I hope I didn't bore you with those people, I know you'd probably rather spend the evening with me alone, but... » Cassidy stutters, chuckling sarcastically.
« Cass, it is perfect. » She cuts her with a very new nickname, trying something more intimate. Though it did sound a lot less awkward and childish in her mind.
Cassidy frowns.
« Don't you ever call me that again. » She replies in an ironic defensive tone, though she is half smiling.
Samantha laughs.
« Cassie then? Something cute at least? » Samantha tries again, she gets even closer to Cassidy and puts a protective hand around her to cuddle her. This is probably the most intimate moment they have had since they started dating.
« Cassidy sounds good enough for you to keep it. » She answers, smirking.
Finally, Samantha untangles herself from the older woman and straddles Cassidy, leaning in to kiss her. Cassidy smiles into the kiss, there is no opposition from the famous editor as she runs her hands over the metallic fabric of Samantha's pants and unbuttons it. It isn't perfect but it feels perfect to them. There are awkward moments and for a second, each in their own time feel like teenagers having sex for the first time. The second time around is what they expected the first time, and neither can get enough of the other one. It's almost as intoxicating as conversation.
Not much sleep is done that night and when Samantha does doze, Cassidy wraps a teal robe around her and descends the stairs for coffee. The house is stark quiet, there is a gentle hum of electronics and anticipation. Cassidy feels electricity hoover around her; the same kind you feel on Christmas morning as a child, or before a big trip. She hasn't felt that in a long time ... well maybe each time she sees a new designer or a show in fashion week, but this is different. The coffee maker dings and she can smell the Colombian roast as she pours it into a large porcelain mug. She leans against the kitchen island and takes in the morning dawn. She stands there quietly for a few minutes, more than a few minutes and she eventually pads out to the studio for a view into the street. She's not really aware of how much time elapses, her mug is empty and she feels slightly hungry when she hears the soft thud of steps.
« Have you been up for a long time? » Samantha husks.
Cassidy looks up and smiles at the woman, she's beautiful bathed in soft sunlight of a winter day in New York, wrapped in one of her silk robes, charcoal grey and fluffy slippers. Her sky blue eyes sparks as she lifts her lashes and smiles at her, she wishes she had a camera with her, she wishes she could capture this moment in more ways than just her memory.
« Quite some. Why? Did you miss me? »
Samantha laughs, nods.
« I did. »
« You are beautiful, Samantha. » She drops as it is usual for her to say things like it, which isn't in fact usual. But everything seems so simple with the younger woman, she is starting to feel simple again too and this is what she needs. Simplicity.
Samantha blushes, she looks surprised at the compliment.
« Do you tell that to many people? » Samantha asks playfully.
« Sometimes. » She shrugs. « But I rarely mean it. » She smiles.
They stare at each other for a few second, none of them want to break this moment of pure love.
« Do you really love me? » The young woman whispers.
It takes a long time for Cassidy to answer honestly. She sighs and looks around.
« I do. Yes. » She whispers.
It is still hard for Cassidy, it doesn't matter how closer they are getting, it will take a long time for her to get used to this relationship. Samantha half smiles at her answer, she walks closer to her girlfriend and come to stroke her cheek with her hand.
« Then what are you afraid of? » Samantha questions, looking deeply into Cassidy's captivating icy eyes.
The editor doesn't look away.
« Nothing. » She drops, she knows she is lying to Samantha.
Samantha stroke her cheek even more, she wants to show Cassidy that she is here and she won't leave her like whoever did in the past.
« Tell me who hurt you. »
This time Cassidy looks away. She doesn't want to tell Samantha, she doesn't want to talk about it at all. Sierra must be a secret, because she wants no one to find out the famous editor has got a heart break in the past too.
Cassidy straights up to change the subject.
« Not today. William is coming to pick the girls in a few hours and I want today to be just you and me. »
Samantha is half happy half disappointed, because she told herself the night before that she would ask those things to her today. But she doesn't want to force Cassidy, or to scare her away at risk of loosing her. She wants to know, Cassidy knows Samantha wants to know, she'll tell her when she is ready to talk about it. They have only been together for more than a week, some things aren't ready to change yet.
As promised, they spend the day together mostly talking on the couch like an old-fashioned married couple.
A month passes by quickly, both women have lost time notion when they are together. They see each other most of the days, Samantha is practically living with the Vaughan women now. They spend time with the girls when they are home, and they enjoy their time together when the girls are not there. Many things have changed in only one month, for both women, the feeling of loneliness has faded away. Cassidy has still work to do on most days, when she is busy at the office Samantha just waits her home to be there when she drops. They would never have thought they would find that much happiness in one another, Cassidy would never have thought she'd find more than a friendship. Samantha would never have thought she'd find more than just a job at first. What they have found in one another is priceless, no pairs of clothing could ever replace it.
Perhaps it is a test or a joke when Cassidy does the unexpected.
« Samantha. » Cassidy calls out from the other side of the room as Samantha takes her makeup off that night.
« Mmh? » Samantha looks up to the mirror to see Cassidy's reflection as she is sitting on the king sized bed, waiting for Samantha.
« Come with me to Paris. » She drops in her usual elegant voice, she doesn't even mean it as a question. It is not a simple question, it is a request. Cassidy wants Samantha by her side.
Samantha is surprised at first, they have not gone outside many times since they have been together, avoiding the press or some possible setting rumors. She knows if she goes to Paris with her the press will ask questions, people will talk.
« I don't know. » She answers simply, she does not know if Cassidy has thought about the medias.
« You don't know if you want to come with me? » Cassidy says, irritated.
As she's done removing her makeup, she turns around to face Cassidy.
« People will talk, have you thought about the press? »
Cassidy stays stoic, she knows how to handle it, of course she has thought of it. Samantha worries over something Cassidy is an expert in.
« Yes darling I have thought about it and we'll be as discreet as possible if this is your wish. » She says satisfied. « So? »
« You know I want to go everywhere with you. » She leans in to kiss the older woman who shies away, she looks irritated.
« Then? »
« Are you sure you need that publicity on Fashion week? »
« It's not like we're going to advertise you. » The editor answers flatly and now it's Samantha's turn to reproach. She lets Cassidy go and shakes her head, her little blond curls bouncing as she does.
« Geez you sure know how to make me feel better about it. » Samantha says ironically, unsatisfied of her girlfriend's answer.
« What do you want? You want me to sugar coat it for you? You want me to give a press release saying I'm bringing my younger lover to Paris? What I do with my life needs no explanation to the media. If they find out we agreed on what to do. »
« So do you want them to know or should I stay in the hotel room all day?" Samantha bites back. She isn't in the mood to argue, all she wants is to fall asleep next to the woman she loves, but she hates it when Cassidy gets too defensive.
« Don't give me a guilt trip Samantha, doesn't suit you. Hasn't made you feel bad yet. » Cassidy finishes and pulls the cover to the bed out sliding in and turning the lights off.
« I just don't want to push it too fast. » Samantha clarifies.
« I don't see you rushing to tell your family. » Cassidy says and throws in « I don't want to talk about this anymore, I've had a tough day. »
« Is that all? » Samantha mocks.
« Yes, that's all. »