Author's Note: Thank you for all sticking it out with this story. It's finally coming to an end. I hope its final chapter was as good as its first. –dkc

Jane and Sutton were drinking at the bar, laughing at something the bartender said when Sutton's eyes narrowed and she nodded her head in the direction of the door. Curious, Jane turned on her stool and found herself dumbstruck. She was truly speechless. Jacqueline Carlyle had entered the bar in the most knock out ensemble of leather jacket, dark-wash jeans and lace-up high heels. What Jacqueline had under her jacket could hardly be called a camisole. In a different light it might have been sheer.

"I think it's safe to say Jacqueline has come out of her shell," Sutton remarked to the totally transfixed writer.

The blonde was making her way to the two friends. She smiled at Sutton, nodding hello before leaning in to kiss Jane on the cheek. They hadn't been out as a couple for long and it hadn't yet been established in which circumstances public displays of affection were appropriate. Sutton's company did not require a second thought.

"Hi," the editor whispered, causing a shiver to travel up Jane's spine.

Sutton stirred her drink with her cocktail straw, smirking at the absolute happiness that radiated off of the two of them.

"What would you like to drink?" the fashion assistant asked her boss.

"Gin and tonic."

Waving over the bartender, Sutton placed the order and scooted over a stool to make room for Jacqueline who joined them as if they'd been doing this for years rather than less than a month.

"Where's Kat?" she asked, accepting the drink as it was made and handed to her. "Thank you."

"She should be here soon. She sat down for an interview with a reporter from Wired after work," Jane's eyes still hadn't left the blonde, though she had gained control of her speech.

"Ah, yes. I forgot. They were wise to contact her. She knows social media better than anyone in the industry. It didn't take long for her to be on their radar."

The three of them sat in silence for a moment. It wasn't uncomfortable so much as new. Jane and Jacqueline had plans for dinner. They were in agreement that having drinks with the girls beforehand would be good for them. Jacqueline was not attempting to become the fourth Musketeer. She wasn't hoping to become buddy-buddy with Sutton or Kat. But she knew that they were Jane's family. She recognized that who she was to them brought the complexity to the situation.

"There she is!" Sutton waved over Kat who surprisingly had Adena with her. "This is an interesting development."

Jane and Jacqueline exchanged an amused look.

"Hey, hey," Kat hugged Sutton, kissed Jane on the cheek and, pausing, smiled before leaning in to kiss Jacqueline on the cheek as well. "Look who I ran into."

It was Jane and Sutton's turn to exchange a knowing look. Kat had been running into Adena more and more. She insisted she was not interested in her ex-girlfriend. Jane and Sutton believed Adena was Kat's one true love. Eventually they would find their way back to each other.

"Hello, Adena. It's nice to see you again," Jacqueline smiled. "What would you ladies like a drink?"

Like Sutton did for her, the older woman took their drink orders, passing them off to the bartender.

"Do you guys have a few minutes? Should we get a table?" Kat asked Jane.

Glancing at the blonde, Jane read the slight wink and smile.

"Yes, of course. You pick."

Jane grabbed her drink, realizing too late that her short legs couldn't quite reach the floor with a simple step down. She ditched her drink in time, but couldn't let it go and grab the counter in a single move. She tipped forward right into leather-clad arms.

"Be careful, Tiny Jane," Sutton smirked at Kat as they watched their boss holding Jane for far longer than necessary.

"Maybe they should card you and ask if you if you're tall enough for the ride before they serve you," Kat teased.

"Shut up. Both of you. And yes, you, too, Adena."

They laughed as they made their way to a booth away from the crowded center of the bar.

"How'd the interview go?" Jane asked Kat as they each slid into a seat.

Jacqueline and Jane slid in first, sitting shoulder to shoulder in the corner of the booth. Under the table the older woman's hand found the brunette's thigh and gave it a loving squeeze. Jane took the blonde's hand in her own, lacing their fingers together. Sutton, sitting next to Jacqueline watched as Kat sat down next to her, opposite Adena. It was obvious in her choice what Kat was trying to do. She was attempting to distance herself from her ex while still being in her company. She was fighting the pull. It was obvious to everyone but Kat.

"The reporter and I were joined by their director of digital media. It was enlightening. They asked what it's like to be both queer and driving queer-targeted media. I thought that was interesting. I don't look at it like that at all. Is Scarlet really targeting demographics separately on queer issues? It doesn't seem that way to me."

"It's a different social media strategy for every demographic, ultimately, right?" Sutton asked.

Adena noticed Jacqueline smiling at the women discussing work. She hadn't been around them since Jacqueline and Jane became a couple. When they announced it to those in the offices of Scarlet, she wondered what had taken them so long. For as long as she had known Kat and therefore Jane, she had seen the writer pining for their boss. There were some who thought it explained why Jane had risen so quickly to senior writer, but for those who knew both women it was clear that Jane had worked her ass off for Scarlet and Jacqueline would never give any sort of preferential treatment to an employee because of personal feelings. Adena was happy for the two of them.

After Kat answered Sutton, she looked at the blonde and said they should all take a break from work for the night. Jacqueline nodded her appreciation of this. It was still a bit awkward to talk shop with the boss in their midst.

"When is Richard back?" the older woman asked Sutton.

"This weekend. Thank god!"

"Mama needs some loving," Kat tossed a napkin at her blushing friend.

"Not anymore, she's got an app for that, remember?" Jane joined in.

"An app?" Jacqueline raised an eyebrow.

Sutton covered her face and groaned.

"Remember the sex toys Sage's friends developed? They have one that is connected to an app for long distance partners. Sutton has the vibrator and Richard the phone app that controls it."

Jane felt Jacqueline's hand squeeze hers tightly as she explained the toy.

"Now they have more than FaceTime," Kat added. "More, more."

"You guys!"

Sutton was embarrassed by the topic strictly because Jacqueline was there.

"No need for bashfulness on my account, Sutton. Sage gave me a gold vibrator," Jacqueline said nonchalantly.

Jane choked on her drink, coughing excessively. The others burst into laughter. Jacqueline shrugged.

"They make good products," the editor added.

"Apparently I'm the only one at this table that didn't benefit from Sage's friends' entrepreneurship," Adena said.

"Hey, I didn't!" Jane remarked.

"Not yet," Sutton finally got a dig in.

It was Jane's turn to blush furiously.

"Isn't it time for our dinner reservation?" the writer tried desperately to get out of the conversation; Jacqueline wouldn't allow it—she simply shook her head.

They were all laughing at Jane's when the waitress arrived with another round of drinks, winking at Kate as she left.

"Ohhhh my. That was a sultry wink if I've ever seen one," Sutton whipped her head around to look at Kat.

"Don't start. Back to Jane now…"

"Oh, no you don't!" Jane insisted. "It wouldn't be right to not mention the lady killer."

"That's an inappropriate thing to say about your boss, Jane!" Kat poked back.

"Ooooo!" Sutton's mouth fell open as she looked to Jacqueline for a response.

"What can I say?" the blonde shrugged, grinning.

Everyone at the table was in stitches.

"I mean, seriously, if Jane hadn't, surely one of us would have fallen down to worship the goddess Jacqueline Carlyle," Sutton smiled.

Jacqueline shook her head, blonde curls bouncing with each movement.

"I concur."

Adena was the last person they thought would make such a comment about the editor-in-chief. The entire table went silent for a beat before laughter washed over them.

"Jacqueline?" a man's voice broke through their noise.

The blonde seemed to hesitate for a moment before standing and hugging the man.

"Ladies, this is Max Audrey. Max and Ian were college roommates."

Each woman smiled warmly and nodded greetings. Each woman with the exception of Jane. She hadn't been forced to face Jacqueline's life with Ian much, certainly not the Carlyle's friends. She'd become comfortable with the Carlyle kids and even, to a degree, with Jacqueline's mother.

"Max, these are my friends and colleagues. Adena is a photographer; Sutton is a brilliant designer and stylist; Kat runs social media, in fact she was interviewed by Wired magazine tonight; and, Jane… Jane's a senior writer and my girlfriend."

The last word out of the blonde's mouth caught each of the seated women by surprise. Their surprise was not nearly to the level and apparent disdain of Max.

"It's lovely to meet you each. Jane," he nodded to her condescendingly and she smiled, still floored by Jacqueline's ability to define their relationship to someone from her previous life. "It's good to see you Jackie. I'm glad to see you well."

They exchanged cheek kisses and Max disappeared to a table of men. He must have said something to them because they all looked over. Kat gave them a snide little wave.

"He was…" Sutton was at a loss.

"Pompous? Self-righteous?" Jacqueline offered.

"Jealous. How couldn't he be? I've got this beautiful woman and he's got the Brooks Brothers over there to keep him company."

Jane's sincerity said it all.

Jacqueline leaned in, planting a gentle, appreciative and loving kiss on the brunette's lips. The other women smiled broadly at the display.

"You two better get out of here or you'll never make your reservation," Sutton interrupted them.

"She's right," Jane hummed.

"It's been lovely spending time with you tonight," Jacqueline said before standing and holding out a hand to Jane. "Let's do it again soon."

Jane put cash on the table, taking a final drink from her glass before leaving it behind.

"Have a nice dinner," Kat said. "But not too nice. You know what I mean?"

Jane rolled her eyes and swatted at her friend.

The two women took each other's hands, Jane wrapping herself around the taller woman's arm. They were well aware that there were eyes on them. The nearly thirty-year age difference always earned them a look or two. So did their height difference. However, they liked to think it was because they were two gorgeous women together that made people jealously look on.

"Goodnight, ladies. It was lovely to see you Adena," Jacqueline smiled.

After goodbyes were exchanged all around, the two walked confidently through the bar. Neither bothered to look the way of Max and his table. It was a defiant move by two women who were clearly in love and didn't care who else knew it.

"I suspect we'll be spending a lot more time with Mama Jackie," Kat smiled, briefly turning inward and considering what she wanted for her own life. When she looked up, she saw Adena's eyes on her. "And I, for one, am glad about that. It's wonderful that Jane is happy."

"Isn't it? Our Jane is in love," Sutton added.

Three pairs of eyes had followed the two women's path through the crowded bar, smiling.

-finis-