Tumblr fanfic

New challenge (Part 26)

Grace woke up first for once. Her body protested when she got out of bed. After stretching her aching muscles, she officially deemed herself too old for midnight-rainy-runaway-shenanigans.
She started the coffee and tried to make a mental to-do list, but it was just no use. She was just too tired.
Goose whined for attention at her feet, and Grace lazily scratched behind the dog's ear. Satisfied by her human, Goose trotted back to her doggie bed.
Her doggie bed at Hannah's home. Grace wondered when her life had turned into this, when she'd moved in in Hannah's house. Because God knows, she hadn't seen her own home in... a long time. All of Goose's stuff was here, all of her stuff was here.
"Morning." Hannah's voice broke her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, goodmorning." Grace mumbled.
"Something wrong?" Hannah asked, taking Grace's mug out of her hands and taking a sip, before handing it back.
"No, I guess not."
Hannah started to look through the fridge, "You don't sound so sure? Waffles or pancakes?"
"Waffles. I just noticed that I haven't been at my house in a while." Grace said, leaning back on the counter.
"Oh, did you need something from your place?" Hannah asked absentmindedly.
"No, I have everything I need right here."
"Grace, I..." Hannah looked uncomfortable.
"No, you don't need to say it." Grace interrupted, "Alex comes first, I know. You can't have someone else depending on you." The brunette woman was suddenly very interested in her own feet.
"That's not what I was gonna say Grace, I mean, yeah, Alex comes first, but I was wondering... if maybe... if you wanted... we, you and me without Alex, could maybe go do something... together... as a 'we'... maybe..." Hannah stumbled over her words.
Grace couldn't help but laugh, "That is seriously your way of asking someone out?! No wonder you're still single!"
"Fuck you Smells!" Hannah laughed too, "But, seriously though, would you? Want to go out with me?"
"Yes, I really want to go out with you." Grace smiled.
"Really?" Hannah was surprised, "That's... that's awesome!"
Hannah wrapped the taller woman in a bone-crushing hug.
"Get off me loser!" Grace laughed, gently pushing her away.
"Well, I'm a loser who's dating you." Hannah winked.
"Don't make me regret this Han." Grace warned, still smiling.
"Okay, I'll shut up," Hannah smiled too.
"You're such a dork." Grace teased.
Hannah pouted, "Hey! I can still back out on the date, you know!"
"As if you could ever resist me." Grace laughed.
"You're right, I couldn't." Hannah flirted easily, stepping into Grace's personal space.
Grace wrapped her arms around Hannah's neck, pulling her even closer. Hannah pinned her against the counter.
"I guess it's a good morning after all." The brunette hummed happily.
Their lips were only inches apart, and Hannah couldn't help but lean in.
"Hi."
The two women jumped apart to see Alex standing in the kitchen. Grace smiled at the disheveled little girl. Her eyes were barely open and her hair was a complete mess.
Alex shuffled to Grace, hugging her leg, and yawning loudly.
"Are you still tired, little bug?" Grace asked, lifting the girl on her hip.
Alex nodded, pressing her nose in the crook of Grace's neck.
"Any plans today?" Grace asked Hannah.
Hannah shrugged, her attention back on making waffles, "I'm going to see my therapist, but that's it."
"Alex doesn't need to be anywhere?"
"No, why?"
"Good, because I think she just fell asleep again." Grace laughed, holding the sleeping girl.
"Well, when she wakes up, there will be hell to pay." Hannah muttered.
"Why?" Grace asked.
"She ran away. She needs to learn that that is not the way we deal with our problems." Hannah said.
"You're cute when you're in mom-mode."
Hannah laughed, "Mom-mode?"
"Yeah, you turn all strict and fussy and adult-ish, it's adorable." Grace grinned.
"I'm not adorable! I'm badass!" Hannah pouted, stomping her foot a little.
"Yeah right!" Grace giggled, "You are completely adorable. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"I'm not." Hannah muttered, turning her back on Grace to check on the waffles.
Grace awkwardly wrapped an arm around Hannah, embracing her from behind while being careful not to drop Alex.
"Are too." Grace whispered in Hannah's ear, making the younger woman shiver.
"I'm gonna put Alex on the couch before my arm falls off, be right back." She pressed a kiss on Hannah's cheek and left the kitchen.
****
"We'll be fine Hannah," Grace laughed, practically pushing Hannah out the door, "Leave! You're gonna be late for your appointment."
"Okay okay! I'm going! Just don't forget to feed her please?" Hannah teased.
"Get out loser!"
Hannah feigned hurt, "The things I have to put up with."
Grace giggled, "Come on Hannah, you really are going to be late if you don't leave now."
"I know," Hannah sighed, "I just feel bad for leaving, after yesterday."
"I'll explain where you are when she wakes up. She'll understand. Now go!"
"Fine! I'm gone!" Hannah laughed, moving to her car.
"Hey Hannah?" Grace called from the doorstep.
"What?"
"Be safe?"
The blonde smiled, "Always babe. I'll see you soon!"
Grace went back to the living room, to see Alex still on the couch where she left her.
"You can stop pretending you're asleep now. Hannah left."
Alex held still for a second, before lifting her head up.
"What are you gonna do when she gets back?" Grace asked, "Pretend you're asleep forever?"
Alex blushed.
"Hannah isn't mad at you." Grace said, "She's just gonna give you 'the talk'. Never go out alone, don't go with strangers, never pet a dog you don't know..."
"I know that." Alex protested softly.
"Well, you didn't act like you know that yesterday, did you?" Grace replied, "God, I sound like my mother."
"Look Alex, it's not my place to scold you, Hannah will take care of that. But just, please don't ever do that again. I was so worried." Grace sighed, "If you ever want to get away, come to me, okay? I'll take you to my place for a night, or we go for a walk with Goose. But don't ever go out alone, okay?"
Alex nodded.
"Good! Now, Hannah is gonna stay away for a while, do you think you can keep a secret from her?" Grace asked.
The little girl looked up and nodded excitedly.
"Awesome! We'll need to invite Mamrie though."
****
Hannah arrived home in the afternoon. She'd planned to come back as soon as she was done with her therapy session, but Swike called. So Hannah had gone to Swike's home, only to find that the tall woman didn't really need her for anything. Hannah almost felt like Swike was stalling her.
She hung her coat up and put her slippers on.
She heard tiny feet padding toward her, and Alex ran towards her.
"Whoa baby, where's the fire?" Hannah laughed, scooping the girl up in her arms, "What did you do today?"
Alex grew very serious, "It's a secret."
"A secret huh? Sounds exciting." Hannah smiled, "Did you have fun?"
"Yessss!"
"Good!" Hannah smiled at the little girl's happiness, "Where's Gracie?"
Alex squirmed, so Hannah would put her down and grabbed the woman's hand, pulling her to the office.
Grace was working on her own laptop, with Mamrie leaning over her shoulder.
"Oh, hi Mames!" Hannah said, "I didn't know you where here."
"Hey Hannah, Grace invited me."
Grace shut her laptop and smiled at Hannah, "Hey, how was your day."
Hannah sat down next to Grace and pressed a kiss on her cheek, "Hi. It was okay, I guess."
Mamrie raised an eyebrow at the two, "How come I don't get a kiss?"
Hannah blushed and Grace giggled, embarrassed, "Shut up Mames!"
"Hey Mames, since you're here, I kinda need a favor. Could you maybe babysit Alex next week?" Hannah asked.
"Sure, when do you need me?"
"The Friday after the courtdate."
"No problem dude." Mamrie smiled, "Hey Grace, you want to keep me company?"
"Uh... I can't... I have something too..." Grace was embarrassed, and Hannah almost started laughing.
"What..." It clicked for Mamrie, "Oh my god! Are you serious?! You're going on a date?!"
Hannah smiled proudly at Grace, "Yeah we are."
"I'm gonna need ALL the details!"
"Mamrie!!"
****
Hannah finally succeeded in getting Mamrie to leave.
"Alex? Come to the living room sweetheart!"
"I'll go and make dinner." Grace said, getting up to leave.
"No, I... I want you here too Grace."
"Hannah, she's your kid, not mine. You need to discipline her, and I get to give her ice cream afterwards." Grace smirked.
"Oh, so I have to be the bad guy?" Hannah laughed, "I'm not punishing her though, just, you know, point out that she made a mistake."
"You'll do fine," Grace smiled, "Now, I actually really do need to get dinner started, come help me when you're done here?"
"Yes dear." Hannah teased.
Alex finally sulked into the living room, dragging her feet.
"Come on," Hannah patted the seat next to her, "Talky-time."
Alex hung her head but sat down next to Hannah anyways.
"Now, I don't think I need to tell you that what you did yesterday was really dangerous, do I?" Hannah said gently, "So, I'm gonna give you some rules, okay?"
Alex pouted and nodded her head as Hannah listed of all the new rules.
"Now, we're gonna put all of this behind us, okay?" Hannah said.
Alex nodded, and crawled on Hannah's lap for a hug.
"It's fine baby," Hannah wrapped her arms tight around the little girl, "I love you."
Alex squirmed of Hannah's lap, and stomped away.
"Hey!" Hannah yelled surprised, picking the girl back up and placing her back on the couch, "What's wrong?"
Alex angrily crossed her arms and scowled at Hannah.
"Really? This is how you're gonna react every time I tell you how much I love you?" Hannah smiled, finding the tantrum absolutely adorable.
Alex frowned deeply, trying to look as angry as possible.
Hannah kissed the little girl's forehead, "I love you."
Then she kissed her nose, "I still love you."
Alex tried to stay angry, but Hannah could see that the girl was fighting hard not to smile. She started peppering kisses all over the kid's face, constantly repeating how much she loved the girl.
Alex cracked, laughing and trying to squirm away from Hannah. The girl shrieked when Hannah switched to tickling.
Grace heard the commotion, and went to check on them.
"What are you doing?" Grace laughed.
"I'm winning!" Hannah exclaimed childishly.
"Oh poor Alex, is Hannie being mean?" Grace asked mischievously.
"Yes! Yes yes yes!" The girl shrieked, tears of laughter streaming down her face.
Hannah looked up, "Uh Grace? Who's side are you one?"
"What do you think?" Grace asked, an evil glint in her eyes.
"Oh ow."