As everyone began to sip their wine and resume their conversations, Dani stepped up to Alex and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry I snapped at you. I never meant to scare you."
Alex wrapped her arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, you just really surprised me. I wasn't expecting that, especially since I was telling you that I was trying to relax."
Dani stepped back and looked at her with an exasperated expression. "Is that what you were saying?" She shook her head and chuckled. "Apparently I'm going to need to learn to speak Italian."
Alex looked at her sheepishly. "I was speaking Italian?" Dani nodded her head. "Well, okay then." She shrugged apologetically. "I didn't realize. Sorry."
"No problem, but I can see that it might be a good idea for us to learn."
"So tell me, where did you learn to dance like that?" Kelly asked as she and Natalie settled into the loveseat. "You weren't that good when you were trying to teach me."
Alex curled into the corner of the couch and reached for her wine. "In the most amazing little club in Florence. I spent nearly a year there recently. I just came home a few months ago." She took a sip of her wine and realized she had everyone's attention. "I met this group of women there that took me in. They helped me begin the healing process after Jo."
Kelly leaned forward and gave her a devilish smile before asking, "What was her name?"
Alex blushed slightly before replying, "Serafina. She was a very special woman. Sera knew I was damaged, and never pushed me for anything more than friendship."
Kelly frowned. "Damaged is pretty harsh."
"But unfortunately accurate." She snuggled closer to Nikki, who put her arm around her shoulder. "I don't think you would have recognized me, Kelly. She nearly destroyed me, and I let her."
Kelly closed her eyes as pain and guilt swept over her. "I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have walked away, I'm sorry."
"You can't blame yourself, Kelly," said Rachel.
"No, you are not to blame," Alex replied. "Jo is, and I am for staying with her, for allowing her to push everyone away."
"You remind me a lot of the Alexis I used to know, just a little older, more experienced, and far more open. I'm glad you found someone that is able to help you heal." Kelly looked down at her and Natalie's joined hands, and then back up at Nikki and Alex. "I'm warning you now though. I won't let anyone chase me off this time. I plan on sticking around and making sure you don't become a Stepford wife again."
Nikki couldn't help but grin at Alex's chuckle. "Duly noted. It's nice to finally meet some of Alex's closest friends."
As they were saying good-bye, Alex pulled Natalie into her arms for a hug. "Thank you again for helping me out earlier." She placed a kiss on her cheek before stepping back with a smile.
Natalie met her eyes and said, "I meant it all you know. You're one of my heroes."
She dropped her gaze to the floor and shook her head. "I'm nobody's hero."
Natalie reached out and cupped her cheek, lifting her head. When their eyes met, she said, "You're my hero, and not just for your accomplishments on the diamond. That may be where you first caught my attention, but it was what you did off the diamond that left an impression." At Alex's questioning look, she explained as she dropped her hand from her cheek. "You have helped so many people over the years. You never made a big deal of it by drawing attention to yourself, but you didn't hide either." Natalie smiled at her look of surprise. "I'm sure there are many charitable things you've done that I don't have a clue about, but I do know of a few. Learning what I did tonight doesn't change how I feel about you, in fact, it solidifies everything. It's always nice to know the people you look up to are human and capable of making mistakes. It's even better when you can see they have the strength to correct the mistakes and learn from them." She leaned over and kissed Alex's cheek.
Kelly stepped up and slipped her arm around Natalie's waist. "Thank you for dinner, it was wonderful as always. I don't know how you manage to stay so thin, cooking the way you do."
"Just lucky I guess."
Kelly and Alex watched as Natalie stepped away to say good-bye to Dani and Rachel. "What do you think of Natalie?" she asked.
Alex watched as Natalie hugged Nikki. "She's incredibly beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, and sensitive. I think you are both very lucky to have found each other. You're a perfect match." She looked back at her with a look that spoke volumes. "I'm very happy for you. You deserve this, Kelly."
She smiled and tilted her head toward Nikki. "So do you, Alex."
"Let's not tell them just how wonderful they are, or their heads may swell," Alex said and smiled at Kelly's chuckle.
"What are you two up to over here?" Nikki asked as she walked up.
"Nothing, mia cara, nothing at all," she replied as she slipped one arm around her waist and pulled her close.
They watched as everyone climbed into their cars and drove away. As the taillights disappeared around the bend of the driveway, Alex turned to Nikki and said, "Take me to bed, my love."
Nikki finished locking up the house and headed upstairs. She stepped into the master bedroom and found the lights turned low, the covers on the bed turned back, and a trail of clothes leading to the bathroom. She could hear the water running and Alex brushing her teeth. She picked up the clothes and dropped them in the hamper on her way into the bathroom. Leaning against the doorframe, she watched Alex prepare for bed.
