The two texted every day and called as often as possible for almost a year before it happened. It was baby Kassandra’s first birthday and April was a little late because of an emergency at the hospital but she hadn't missed much. “I'm here, I'm here! How's the birthday girl?” April huffs, out of breath. 

“She’s amazing. She’s all dressed up and ready for her first cake, isn't that right?” Jacob coos at the infant earning a smile and a curious look from April.

“He's very excited. Just wait till her eighteenth birthday,” Ellena smiles, handing April a drink.

“Wait until she starts dating,” April mumbles into the cup.

“Bite your tongue,” Jacob says in a sweet voice still occupied with his little girl, “If I have anything to do with it she won't date, ever.”

“What if she likes girls? Who’s gonna keep them away?” April chuckles.

“Cleo’s got that covered,” Jacob shrugged.

“I don't care who she likes as long as she's happy and you two don't kill them,” Ellena smiles, gesturing for Jacob to hand the baby over.

“Five more minutes!” 

“You've had her all day!” Ellena wines.

“You held her for nine months straight! I'm making up for lost time,” Jacob says, turning away from his wife as she reaches for the baby.

“You two could just share,” April laughs.

“No!” the couple yells in unison.

“Hey!” Cleo parts the two, “If you two can't share…I’ll take the baby.” Cleo finishes grabbing for the baby only to have Jacob move out of the way, “Oh come on! You've had her a whole damn year!”

“She had her for almost a year and nine months!” Jacob points to his wife.

“I birthed her! I think I deserve to enjoy the very thing that came out of me!” Ellena yells.

“Hi, Kassie! Do you need grandma to take you away from these crazy people?” Mrs. Lancaster smiles plucking the one-year-old out of her father's arms.

“But mom-”

“But nothing. I went through 29 years of keeping you alive and then three years trying to keep Ellena from seeing just how crazy we really are so I could have half my dream come true of having an amazing daughter-in-law and so I could have my first grandbaby,” Mrs. Lancaster says in the sweetest baby voice, her attention focused on her granddaughter, “I deserve this. Besides god only knows how long I’ll have to wait for my second daughter-in-law,” Mrs. Lancaster smiles at her children before noticing the redhead among the group, “Cleopatra Lancaster!”

“Mom, no!” Cleo mumbles stepping in front of her mother.

“Honey! You didn't tell me you had a new girlfriend,” Mrs. Lancaster smiles, swatting her son's hands away as he reaches for his daughter.

“Because I don't,” Cleo says through gritted teeth.

“Yet. Never too late,” Mrs. Lancaster winks at April earning a steely look from her daughter and a quick laugh from April before the redhead could cover her mouth.

“She’s not even gay!” Cleo whisper-shouts.

“Yet.” April bursts out laughing earning a pleading look from Cleo.

“Don’t encourage her!” Cleo whines.

“See she's cute! She can cook and she can fix anything! Plus, I hear she's pretty good in bed! Everything you want in a butch lesbian!” Mrs. Lancaster gestures like an advertisement.

“Oh my god,” Cleo covers her face as April laughs even harder.

“What? I'm just trying to help!” Mrs. Lancaster smiles, swatting Jacob and Ellena away.

“April, will you help me here?” Cleo turns to the redhead.

“She’s right Mrs. Lancaster. I'm straight actually, I'm in a relationship already.” April smiles.

“Ah, well worth the shot,” Mrs. Lancaster shrugs, “You're still my daughter-in-law even if Miss Antisocial marries someone.”

“Thank you,” April says a little more seriously.

“Of course, now come see your niece.”

“Your mothers quite the woman. I haven't met someone so amazing in a while,” April gushes.

“That’s my mom,” Cleo smiles, “There aren't many people who can match her energy.”

“Well she got lucky,” Cleo raised her brow, “She has you and Jacob! You guys match her energy perfectly.”

“Not as perfectly as Dad could. They were perfect for each other,” Cleo smiles into her drink.

“Where is your dad?” April smiles.

“Uh…he died…Jacob was eighteen and about to go off to college. A few months later Jacob met Ellena….She saved him.” Cleo mumbles.

“Saved him?” April frowns.

“Yeah,” Cleo sighs, “Just wish I had someone like her back then, hell I wish I had someone like her now.” April gave Cleo a confused look, “When our dad was alive he had depression, he got it from his dad who got it from his mom who got it from her father, etc. It's hereditary. Our family has a history of…suicide…For a while, we worried Jacob had gotten the family trait but it was just your normal grief. And having Ellena…it lessened the blow a lot. So much so that if she wasn't there I don't know if he'd be here,” Cleo frowns.

“I'm sorry…” 

“No…no it's fine. He's fine-”

“What about you?” April presses.

“What?”

“Have you ever felt depressed?”

“I'm fine.” Cleo tenses.

“That's not a no,” April steps in front of the other woman, “Cleo-”

“I have my good days and my bad but I'm okay. I have a therapist, I'm on meds. I'm okay,” Cleo smiles.

“And if you're ever not?” April asks, taking Cleo’s hands in hers.

“Then I can call you or my mother or my brother or Ellena. I have people. I'm okay!” 

“Okay…I just care about you a lot-” 

Cleo pulls the redhead in for a hug, “You know if you need anything you can talk to me, right?” Cleo smiles, feeling a slight nod from the redhead in her arms.

New Year's Eve was the first time the two women were in the same room for more than a few hours. Lancaster Inc. Threw its annual New Year's Eve party for family, friends, and business associates. April had only managed glimpses of Cleo, the brunette was too busy greeting everyone. “I know it sucks, not being able to spend the entire night with them but at least we have each other,” Ellena smiles while holding up her champagne glass. 

April forces a fake smile, “To us,” the two women toast. It was ten minutes before midnight before the two were able to get ahold of the Lancaster siblings and by then the two women had had a few too many drinks.

“How much longer?” April asks turning to Ellena.

“I don’t know, they should have been done greeting guests an hour ago,” Ellena groans.

“They haven’t found you yet?” Mrs. Lancaster asks walking up behind the two girls.

“No, not yet,” Ellena huffs.

“That’s it. I’m just going to go find her,” April announces making her way through the crowd with the two women following. “What are you doing?”

“What?” Cleo asks turning around, “April! I’ve been looking for you, where have you been?”

“Waiting for you! At the bar,” April almost hollars catching a shoosh from Ellena.

“What? No, I’ve been by this door all night. How did you get past me?” Cleo thinks aloud running her hand through her hair.

“I came with Ellena. I didn’t say hi 'cause I didn’t want to interrupt your business talks,” April points around the room.

“Interrupt? No, no you wouldn’t have. No “business” conversation I would have been having would have been more important than seeing you. I talk business all the time, I only get to see you every once and a while. I am not wasting that time ever again.” Cleo smiles holding April’s hand. “I’m sorry, is there any way I could make it up to you?”

“Well,” April smiles mischievously, “You could spend the rest of the party with me.”

“Deal.”