Chapter 23 (Vivi) - I Can't Stand a Cheat!

Being young and fit, Melissa decided to join the law enforcement career. Having a child could really change your perspective! She wanted to do her part to make the town a little bit safer for her daughter. 

She had some work to do if she wanted to get a promotion anytime soon!

She asked if Vivi wanted grilled cheese for dinner, but her love balked.  "I'm so tired of eating grilled cheese!" Vivi complained.

"Tired of eating grilled cheese? How? I could eat it every day!" Melissa said in surprise.

Vivi grumbled, "And you do!"

Dear little Tesira learned to talk.

While Melissa was away, Vivi played!

Melissa was not without her own indiscretions. 

Hm, my mom always said you'd never lived until you'd done it with the undead, Vivi randomly remembered as she greeted the Zombie.

She supposed it didn't hurt to get to know her a little better before jumping into woohoo.

"I'll see you after work hun!" Melissa called out.

"Hmm, why is the seat in the full recline position," Melissa wondered as she got in the car.

Happy Birthday Tesira!

It appeared poor Melissa hadn't found someone that would listen to her talk about grilled cheese.

With their small efficiency, there wasn't a spot to put a bed for little Tesira.  She either slept on the couch, or in between the romantic couple.

"We need to finish making the second floor addition," Vivi said, feeling quite desperate.  "It's a good thing we started as soon as we bought the place!"

Melissa took the family down to the Justice Compound to try to get a little extra work done. 

"Does that mean there are super heroes there, Mom?" Tesira asked excitedly.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of trouble a little girl could get into unsupervised.

"This is a jail cell, not a playground," the deputy told her, shaking his finger at her. 

Tesira bounced off the bed and looked duly chastened.

"Testing, 1, 2, 3," Benito tapped on the microphone, ignoring all the adults in the room.

"Vivi! I haven't seen you for ages!" Christy said, greeting her dear, old friend.  They'd had a casual flirtation years ago, long before Vivi had married Melissa.

"Christy! You are looking beautiful, as ever!" Vivi said.  "And your skin looks so smooth!"

Christy basked under Vivi's compliments.  Still the same charming Vivi as ever!

When Tesira ran into the room, she stopped short to see her Mom flirting with the red-haired lady.  Why were they looking at each other like that? she wondered, upset and bewildered.

"Hey, I'm Benito!" the young boy said, running up and greeting her.  "Wanna play?"

The pair ran around the compound, playing, giggling and getting into trouble.  She picked up the phone on her side and motioned for him to pick up his. 

"Can you hear me?" she asked.

Benito laughed. "I can!"

Tesira giggled, slammed down the phone and pressed her face against the glass, leaving a smudge of her nose and lips.

Benito laughed, then raced off to find her.

They played cops and robbers until her Mom found her and told her it was time to go.

"Call me!" Benito yelled after her.

"I will!" she yelled right back.

"That was fun!" Tesira told her Mom.  "Can we come back soon?"

Vivi laughed.  "I'm not sure the compound could survive another visit from you!" she teased.  She'd heard that Tesira and her young friend had run up and down the halls and investigated every nook and cranny.  "I'm glad met a new friend," she added.

Tesira glanced up at her Mom.  She wanted to ask about the red-headed lady, but hesitated, somehow knowing something wasn't right.

Vivi saw the young lady that matched the description of the trashcan kicker.  She greeted the miserable looking young lady with a smile.  Someone obviously needed to befriend her!

She invited her in to warm up. Quite literally.

Tesira quietly played nearby, casting anxious glances between her Mom and the lady with braids. 

She was ever so relieved when her Mom got home.  "Mommy! I missed you! Why do you have to work? Why can't you stay home with us?" she asked pleadingly.

Melissa kissed the top of Tesira's head.  "That would be fun, pumpkin. But, I'm helping make the town safe!" She tapped the young girl's nose.  "Come on, let's go see what Mommy's up to."

"Could you give us a moment to talk?" Vivi called from the bed where she and her wife were cuddling.

Melissa giggled and slapped at Vivi's hand.

Not knowing where else to go, Tesira went into the bathroom and waited.

It was a snowy day when Tesira called her friend Benito and asked him to come over.

Best Friends Forever, she promised him.

The pair played chess.  She pointed to the distance and nearly giggled as he turned around and looked away.  Quickly, she moved pieces around so she would win.

Vivi spent the afternoon chatting with the town's head scientist.  She focused her conversation of her working knowledge of Biology and Anatomy, making the woman's cheek blush and her heart race. 

"We'll continue this another time," she promised when she heard the door open.  Then turned to brightly greet her wife as she walked in.  "My love!" she said cheerfully, pressing a kiss to her cheek.  "How was work?"

Sarah took her cue from Vivi and quietly excused herself. 

"I'm so glad you could come," Vivi greeted her family as they walked down the block to her house.

Little Tesira and Sookie got to know each other a little better.

And inside, the rest of the family chatted over grilled cheese.

Once everyone was gone, Melissa turned on the Fingerprint Scanner.  She would save those prints just in case she needed them one day. 

"I saw that Tesira Fancey!" Vivi said sternly.

Tesira tried for the most innocent look she could muster.  "What do you mean Mommy?" she asked

"I saw you move that piece!" Vivi declared, high insulted.  If there was one thing she could not stand, it was a cheat!