Second Ave Series: Ac-Counting on You (WLW)

When It Rains, It Pours

"But...why?" Gwen inquired as she felt her sorrow rising with the arch of her brow.

Fiona simply smiled and reached over, taking her hand resting on the tabletop. "Because me staying as your therapist would be unprofessional." Doctor Kokkinos sat back after giving her a series of pats on her hand, then grasped her tea and took a sip from its steaming cup. They sat in Brook's cafe for their regularly scheduled session every Tuesday and Gwen couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't lose Fiona. Not when the blessed woman was one of the main reasons behind her becoming so strong. "Take it this way; we can still hang out, only now as friends. Because that is how I see you, Gwen. As my friend first, not my client."

"But..." As much as Gwen tried to hold onto her angst as she didn't want to give up her sessions with the doctor, she found herself smirking uncontrollably and the expression mimicked by Fiona. After taking a sip from her cocoa, Gwen nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment, then came to an unspoken conclusion behind her rather elusive phrasing. "You could get in trouble for becoming too personal with your clients, couldn't you?"

"Yes, I could even lose my license to practice depending on the circumstances. Gwen," Fiona set her tea cup down and leaned forward with her elbows on the table and a bright grin. "You and I are friends. I don't want something like my job to come between that, nor would I want to lose said job for unprofessionalism. Can you understand that?"

"Well, yes, I can. But who will I see for my sessions?"

"My colleague from university just opened a practice down the hall from me. She's willing to take over your therapy and trust me when I say she is very good at her job. You can even come knock on my door once you're done and we can come here for some food and drink." Fiona took another sip from her tea and Gwen caught something moving just over her shoulder, beaming the moment her eyes fell on Brook. She stood at a table a few yards from them and was deep in conversation with one of the people Gwen recognized as a regular. Brook threw her head back in laughter and the man to whom she was speaking cackled right along with her as he kept up whatever discussion had them giggling so fiercely. Breaking through the mesmerizing allure of watching Brook smiling, Fiona cleared her throat and peered over the rim of her cup toward Gwen. "So, I take it things are going well?"

"Very." She knew she was blushing bright and strong, though Gwen wasn't deterred as she had been in the past. In fact, it was the precise opposite and she embraced the warmth it brought. As if sensing her gaze, Brook peeked back over her shoulder and her eyes briefly widened as she met her stare. She smiled from ear to ear and sent her a wink before returning to her work, moving to stand behind the counter now that her conversation with her patron was over. Things really were going well. More than just well, they were exactly as Gwen described the night Brook brought so much passion into her bed. They were sublime. Turning her gaze back toward Fiona, she couldn't hide her cheer and picked at her croissant sandwich as she finally added, "We have another date planned very soon. Speaking of dates, I heard from Brook that you're holding your wedding reception here?"

"Yes, the venue we were planning was hit with a few problems and Brook offered the moment I mentioned it. I hope that's alright...?"

"Are you kidding me? It's great, Fiona. I'm truly so happy for you and Kanda."

"As I am for you and Brook. And I'm glad you're my friend, Gwen, but I was thinking perhaps you could meet my other friends later this week?" Gwen jutted her head out and felt her eyebrows hit her hairline as Fiona chuckled with the shake of her head. Then, she found her eyes drawn from the doctor toward a familiar woman traipsing into the shop. Someone who she thought she may have seen in the area multiple times in the past, but had figured was only her mind playing tricks. "We are having a small get together in honor of Hiyama Studios later this week for their latest employee. The bar isn't too far away and Finley deserves her welcoming party after it was postponed so many times. So I thought that maybe... Gwen...?"