Disclaimers: Only a very, very few of the characters herein belong to me - seriously.  However I can honestly say that story is all mine so.... If you’re still reading my stuff at this point, you pretty well know what you’re getting into.  If you don’t have an open mind, why exactly are you still reading?  If you do read it and you find something you think needs disclaiming, you are still more than welcome to let me know.  It won’t change anything, but it may make you feel better.   Ugliness will earn you a smack to the back of your head.

Thanks: To Phil, Mac and Jeanne for beta reading this for me - twice.  They’ve picked up all kinds of dropped letters and missed quotation marks because Pink and Fluffy tend to leave a trail of them.  Their diligence is greatly appreciated.  Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better group of women to beta read for me.  All errors belong strictly to me.

And to J Crater, for taking all the pix Phil sent her and creating the massive collage so folks would know who’s who in this tale.  Total awesome-sauce!

Special Thanks: To Phil for playing poker for me.  Otherwise we would have ended up playing Solitaire, and really... where’s the fun in that??  And for doing all sorts of research that she’s REALLY good at and which quite frankly gives me hives to do.  And for listening to me ramble while dusting on Saturday mornings and practically every other day of the week as well as we got closer to the end of this thing.  Nothing like being able to list ‘DIVA sitting’ as a job skill.  Oh, and especially for giving me the basis for the riddles in the poker run and for playing Dinah for me – we know who does the straight man gig when it comes to comedy shtick around here.  Seriously I couldn’t have written any of the fun stuff without her input and efforts.  YOU ROCK, Babe!!!

Author’s Notes: This story is the result of two distinctly separate events colliding in the mother of all head-on impacts.  The first was a mystery hunt we did for the third Orlando Bardcon that involved asking a desk clerk at the Grand Floridian Resort for chocolate syrup and duct tape after informing him we were only going to be there for an hour or so.  Man, the look on his face - I wish I’d had a camera ready!!  The second came from my looking through the list of fandoms at Passion & Perfection one day and realizing how many of them I could tie together.  So I decided to have a little fun – who knew I would develop writer’s block before I even got started on it??  However after 18 months of real time and almost 10 months of actual writing, this sucker is finally done.  Hallelujah!!

The Halloween story being told within this tale is mine as is the story Gabrielle tells near the end.  The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.


                                                                    A Diva’s Demise
                                                                                                  By D


Prologue

“I don’t know about this, Xena,” Gabrielle muttered as she checked their dossier one last time.  “I mean the more I think about it....”

Xena stepped into Gabrielle’s personal space and removed the notebook from her hands.  She dropped it onto the table and took Gabrielle’s hands in hers.  “It’s a little late to worry about it, Sweetheart.  Everyone has already acknowledged their plans to attend and is already waiting to check in as we speak.  Why the sudden backtracking?  We’ve been working on this for months and you’ve been nothing but enthusiastic about it.  So what’s suddenly giving you cold feet?”

Gabrielle shrugged though she held Xena’s gaze without flinching.  “I don’t know.  I really do think this is a good idea for your law enforcement women as well as my media ones; I just….”  She hesitated then continued.  “You know how sometimes you just get a bad feeling?” waiting for Xena to nod her head.  “Right... well, I’ve got a bad feeling.”

Xena frowned.  “Can you be more specific?  I mean, do you know what caused it?”

Gabrielle smiled wryly.  “If I knew that, there wouldn’t be a problem.  Or at least we could take care of whatever it was before it became one.”  She snorted softly.  “Maybe it’s just the idea of that many female egos in that small a space.  There’s liable to be lots of drama.”

Xena laughed out loud.  “You’ve got media egos; I’ve got law enforcement ones.  Wanna trade?”

“Not in this lifetime,” Gabrielle responded.  “Yours have guns and legal briefs.”

“And don’t forget those honking huge needles and scalpels.  Forensic experts are part of law enforcement as well you know.”

Gabrielle covered her eyes.  “What were we thinking when we decided to hold two huge conventions like this at the same time?”

“We were thinking it would be a good way to combine work and pleasure?” Xena asked then shook her head.  “Honestly, I’m not sure now.  I know it sounded like a really good idea at the time.”

“Note to self – next time we want to go to Disney World just take a vacation.”  She looked around the room.  “At least we picked a great place to hold these conferences.  Nice facilities, nice accommodations and when we’re done for the day, we can send them off to the Disney parks to play.”

“You really think they will?”

Now it was Gabrielle’s turn to smirk.  “You really think they won’t?  C’mon, Xena – some of these women have waited a lifetime for a legitimate reason to come to Disney World and play like a kid.  You seriously think they’d pass up a golden opportunity like this?  We didn’t.”

“It would look a little funny if we did seeing as how we’re in charge and all.”  She tilted her head.  “You feeling any better about this whole thing now?”

Gabrielle shrugged.  “I’ve still got a bad feeling, but after surviving two thousand and some of years of bad feelings I figure we’ll get through whatever it is.  And you’ll be right beside me?”

“Every step of the way, Sweetheart.”  She took Gabrielle in her arms and rested her chin on the blonde head when Gabrielle snuggled in closer.  “Despite all our misgivings, I think this is going to be an interesting weekend to say the least.  I don’t think there’s ever been a gathering together of so many powerful women from both your sphere of influence and mine in one place before.  Who knows – maybe we’ll end up making this a yearly event.”

“Let’s just get through this one first.  Then we can worry about doing it again.”

Xena snatched up the dossier from the table and handed it to Gabrielle before retrieving her own.  “C’mon then – let’s go get our conventioneers checked in.  It’s time to get this party started,” waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop the chuckle she felt rumble up from her belly.  “We’re gonna have a good time?”

Xena grinned.  “Count on it, my bard.”


Chapter I

“C’mon, Barbara. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave.”  Barbara Gordon smirked, but didn’t take her eyes off of the space in front of her.  There were simply too many women loitering about for her to risk glancing at her companion even though most courteously stepped aside to accommodate her wheelchair as she made her way through the crowd.

“Helena, I can’t simply up and leave.  You know I am Gabrielle’s co-chair for this event, and registration is part of my responsibility,” nodding towards the slim-line computer currently resting in her lap.  “It’s my job to check everyone in; I put the program together, remember?”

“I remember,” Helena Kyle grumbled.  “But you’re not gonna stay cooped up here forever, are you?  C’mon, Barbara – this is Disney World.  The most dangerous thing here is a Mouse that thinks everyone has a money tree in their backyard.  Did you see the price of a bottle of water??” her voice outraged.

Barbara chuckled softly.  “Yes, I did.  Thankfully we don’t have that particular worry.” 

“Not the point, Red.  Not everyone has Bruce Wayne’s money to fall back on in a pinch; not that we would, but you know what I mean.  I may have to do a little investigating... see if there is some sort of dark conspiracy behind this place.”

Barbara laughed.  “Helena, it’s Disney World.  Of course there’s a conspiracy.  It’s called free enterprise.”  She wheeled to the door, taking a moment to admire the ‘Powerful Women in the Media’ banner that hung neatly above the counter before keying in the code she’d been given by the convention staff.  Helena held the door open, blithely ignoring the look Barbara gave her and following her into the registration area.   They stopped short when they realized they were not alone, then Barbara smiled.

“Hello, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle whipped around, having been so completely involved in preparing packets she hadn’t heard the two of them come in.  Then she grinned and offered a hug first to Barbara and then to Helena; both of whom despite their normal reticence towards such gestures welcomed from Gabrielle.  They had known one another for years and Gabrielle and Xena had proven to be trusted and loyal friends.

“Hello, Barbara... Helena.”  She blew her bangs off her forehead and looked around at the boxes surrounding them.  “Judging by the look of things, this is shaping up to be an interesting weekend.”

“Wait... weekend?  You’re going to be doing this all weekend?” Helena whined.  “When are we gonna have time to go play together?  You promised....”

Barbara turned and looked at Helena and Gabrielle hid her smile.  “Helena,” Barbara said patiently, “we won’t be conferencing all weekend; evenings are all ours unless we decide to do something with the group.  I know Gabrielle and Xena have several options available for entertainment.  Besides, it’s not like we’re not going to be here for a few days after this is over.  I promise you we will have plenty of fun before we return to New Gotham.”

“Is the JLA keeping an eye on things while you’re here?” Gabrielle asked curiously.  Barbara nodded.

“Yes.  Nightwing promised he and a few others would make sure things were taken care of until we get back.”  She frowned when Helena wandered off only to smile when she returned a moment later with Dinah in tow.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said breathlessly as she set her computer next to Barbara’s and went about hooking them both up.  “This place is ginormous.”

“No worries, Kid.  Barbara and Gabrielle are still doing their thing.”  Helena looked at both of them as Dinah finished attaching the necessary cables.  “You about ready for me to open us up for business?” motioning towards the roll down that was still lowered in place.  Dinah nodded her assent and Gabrielle smiled at their eagerness.  One thing she liked about Helena – she was painfully honest about her likes and dislikes, but when she committed to something she committed wholeheartedly.

“Yeah... I think we’re ready.  Let ‘er rip.”

With that Helena rolled up the gate.

************

“Hey, Lucy... how’s it coming?” Xena asked her second chair as she stepped into the registration area.  Like Gabrielle she’d been making up packets before Lucy arrived and it was only after she started setting up the equipment Scud had put together for her that Xena had taken a break so Lucy would have the space she needed to work in.  “This is gonna be quite a convention.  Have you seen the number of women waiting to take part in this?”

Lucy gave her the patented Reynolds’ smirk.  “Yeah... we knew that already from the registrations, remember?  I just hope no one shows up looking for Lucy Diamond.”

“Not a problem, Luc.  Everyone here knows you’re part of my team and that makes you golden.”

“Even if the D.E.B.S. show up?”

“Even then.  C’mon, Lucy... do you really think they’re gonna screw you and Amy over like that?  If they were gonna do something, Max would’ve ordered it done when they had you under the gun.  By your own admission they let you walk the first time they had you dead to rights because Amy was in your bed; and they covered for you when you ran away from Endgame.”

Lucy shrugged.  “I never did understand that.”

“Job security,” Xena joked.  “Or maybe they just like you.”

Lucy scrunched up her face comically.  “Okay... that’s just weird, ya know?”

“I know.  But it made ya stop worrying about it too.”

“True, but now I need to go wash my brain out.  And what about the rest of these guys?  How do you know...?”

“Lucy, stop worrying and trust me on this.  No one here is going to try to arrest you.  They are here to learn from you.  Now c’mon... are we ready to start checking people in?  I’d like to get finished sometime today.  I’ve got a date with Gabrielle tonight and I’d rather not be late.”

This time Lucy smiled.  “God, you two remind me more of newlyweds than old marrieds the way you act some times.  Are you sure you’ve been together long enough to actually be old marrieds?”

Xena chuckled soundlessly and nodded her head.  “Oh yeah.  I’m sure.  Let’s get moving.  I doubt you want Amy coming down here later looking for you and I know you don’t want to see Gabrielle because we’re running late.  Besides... I’d never live it down.”

Lucy snorted.  “I take it back – you are old marrieds.  They’re the only ones who worry about shit like that.”

“Careful,” Xena warned though her blue eyes glinted with wicked humor.  “It could be you one day.”

Lucy’s smile was as brilliant as the diamonds she was infamous for.  “Only if I’m really lucky,” then gasped as a pair of arms slid around her neck.  Amy planted a kiss beneath her ear and grinned up at Xena when Lucy sank back into her embrace.

“Somehow,” Amy whispered though not softly enough for Xena not to hear, “I think you’re gonna be real lucky.”  Lucy blushed and cleared her throat before catching Xena’s eyes.

“Well, c’mon then.  We’ve got work to do.”  Xena rolled up the gate with a laugh and waved to Amy as she headed back out to meet up with her old teammates.  Lucy wiped her forehead and they got down to business.  It was shaping up to be an interesting weekend and they hadn’t even gotten started yet.

************

“Amy?” The blonde head whirled at the sound of a familiar voice calling her name.  Then she squealed and ran into Janet’s arms, hugging her briefly before embracing Max and Dominique in turn.

“It’s so good to see you guys!  I’m so glad you decided to come.”

Max snorted.  “Like we were going to turn down the opportunity to see you again.  How are you?  How’s Barcelona?  And where’s your evil half?”

“Hey!  Lucy’s gone straight....” pausing when she caught the smirks the D.E.B.S. were exchanging.   Amy rolled her eyes.  “You know what I mean... she’s legitimate now.  She’s at the registration desk; she’s part of the staff of the conference you’re attending.  That’s how I knew you’d all be here.”

“So you’re not attending?”

“Not the ‘Women in Law Enforcement’ convention, no.  I don’t do that anymore remember?”

“You totally came here to go to Disney World, didn’t you?” Janet asked enthusiastically.  “That’s so cool.  Can I tell you how cool I think that is? I’ve told these guys we should have some fun while we’re here. I mean Ms Petrie wouldn’t care if we had a little fun, right?”

“Janet, breathe, okay?  As a matter of fact I’m attending my own convention this weekend.  There’s a ‘Women in the Media’ conference right next door,” motioning to the counter where Gabrielle and Barbara were working in tandem with Dinah and Helena.  “And since I do design work and book illustrations....”

“How very fortunate,” Dominique said dryly in her accented speech. “It is almost as if you had planned it yourself, non?”

Amy shook her head.  “Not me,” she replied chuckling.  “Xena’s significant other is a writer and publisher.  She and Xena are the ones who did the planning for both events.”

“That explains the number of women here.  I’d wondered, especially seeing such a mixed crowd,” Max said disdainfully.

“Oh, lighten up, Max,” Janet chided, only to step behind Amy when Max glowered at her.  She held up her hand in surrender.  “I’m just saying.”

Max held her gaze for a minute longer before looking back at Amy.  “We need to go check in.  We’ll see you later?”

Amy nodded.  “Absolutely.”

Max grabbed Janet and Dominique by the elbows and headed towards the check-in line.  Janet turned and waved to Amy.  Amy waved back and shook her head with a smile then headed back to her own side of the convention hall, passing not one, but three military uniforms.  She wondered when the military had come to Disney, then had her attention taken by the number of bellman carts being pushed through the crowd, loaded down with book boxes.  Looked like it was going to be quite a convention.

************

“Sam, are you sure we’re supposed to be here?” Janet Fraiser asked as she surreptitiously clutched Sam’s elbow to keep from being separated from her.  “I don’t see any uniforms except yours and mine and....” craning her neck.  “What looks like a Marine over there.”

Col. Samantha Carter looked up from the paper she’d been studying and glanced down at Janet.  “I think so,” motioning to the map.  “According to this we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.  I just....”  Her head snapped up when she heard her name called.

“Sam?  Samantha Carter?”

“Sarah MacKenzie?” Sam smiled and moved in the direction Janet had indicated only a moment prior.  They hugged and pulled back almost in the same instant.  Sam reached down and took Janet’s hand in hers.  “Sarah, this is Dr. Janet Fraiser.  Janet, meet Sarah MacKenzie.  We go way back.”

“The Janet Fraiser??  But I thought....”

“We all did,” Sam explained before Mac could finish her thought.  Even though it was no longer true, it still brought back the painful memories and a hollow ache in her chest when she remembered the time after the disaster that had been the mission to P3X-666.  Only Daniel’s intervention as an ascended being had made things right and Sam thanked him on a regular basis in her thoughts.  “Fortunately a mutual friend discovered Janet was only MIA... not KIA... and brought her home.”

“That’s wonderful, Sam!  I’m so glad.”

“Me too,” Sam replied fervently.

Janet blinked and dredged up the manners that had been blown away at Sam’s enthusiastic greeting of the Marine officer.  They had known one another so long Janet sometimes conveniently forgot that Sam had had a life before Janet had been a part of it.  She offered Mac her hand.

“How do you do, Colonel?”

“Please, Dr. Fraiser.  Call me Mac.  All my friends do except for Sam, and Sam talked about you so often I feel as if I already know you.”

Janet arched an eyebrow, casting a look between Sam and Mac; catching Sam with her head bowed and a deep blush tipping her ears blood red.  She turned back to Mac.  “Oh?  Do tell, please.  Sam hasn’t mentioned you at all.  And call me Janet.  I think we will make great friends.”

Mac turned her head towards Sam and smirked.  “I can see some interesting stories in my future.”

“I am so doomed,” Sam muttered, head still bowed.  Janet and Mac exchanged glances and snickered.

“Pretty much,” Janet agreed, forcing Sam to look up at her.  Mac broke the tableau by mock-punching Sam in the arm, causing Sam to turn and glower in her direction.

“What was that for?”

“How did you make full bird ahead of me?  Deep Space Telemetry isn’t that interesting.”

“Says the JAG lawyer,” Sam teased.  “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Attending a conference – Women in Law Enforcement.  The Admiral thought it would be a nice way to network with some of the civilian agencies we sometimes have to liaison with.  I’ve actually had dealings with a few of the women here,” nodding to a group of well-dressed women standing a short distance from them.  “How about you two?”

“Same thing – I’m representing the Air Force’s interests in Homeland Security and Janet is attending the ME’s portion of the convention.”

“You’re a medical examiner?” Mac asked Janet.

“Not at all,” Janet responded with a smile, “though I’ve done my share of autopsies.”

Mac grinned.  “You wanted a trip to Disney World – got it.”  She turned and looked at the crowd gathering.  “C’mon... let’s go get checked in and then get changed out of these monkey suits.  I don’t know about you two, but I’m ready for a drink and a little R&R.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Sam said.  “Maybe you can introduce us to some of your friends here.  And I promise to fill you both in on... stuff,” with a look between Janet and Mac.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Janet said, taking Sam’s elbow once more.

“Me too,” Mac agreed.  They moved as one towards the registration area, passing by the group Mac had acknowledged earlier.

“I didn’t expect the military to be here,” the redhead commented to her dark-headed partner.  Abbie just smiled at Casey and took her hand.

“Remind me to introduce you to Mac – she’s the Marine and a damned fine JAG lawyer.  Don’t know about the two Air Force officers, but I bet we can get an introduction later if you want.  C’mon,” tugging gently on the hand she held.  “Alex and Liv are waiting for us and by the looks of things they brought the entire Manhattan office with them.  Wonder who’s minding the store?”

“Guess we’ll find out in a minute,” Casey said as they made their way towards their friends.


Chapter II

“Hey, guys!” Abbie called out in greeting as she opened her arms to Alex and Olivia.  They obliged with hugs of their own and pulled back with smiles.

“God, it’s good to see you two.  How’s DC treating you?” Alex asked, noting the rest of their contingent gathering closer to them.  Abbie wrapped an arm around Casey’s shoulder and smiled when Casey leaned into her, curling an arm around her waist.  Alex grinned.  “Never mind.  I think we’ve all got the picture.”

“C’mon, Alex,” Tracey complained.  “Let them talk.”

“Yes, Counselor,” Liz said drolly.  “Some of us don’t have the opportunity to talk to either of them on a regular basis.”  Alex rolled her eyes at Abbie and Casey who snickered.

“Not my fault you can’t pick up a phone, Liz,” Alex snarked but stepped aside to allow the judge and the rest of their contingent to move forward for their own hugs.  Melinda nudged Olivia while Serena and Kelly joined the rest of the lawyers in a circle.

“Your girl likes living dangerously, Olivia.”

Liv snorted.  “Tell me something I don’t know.  I’m still trying to figure out how she managed to get all of us off together to come to Disney World.”

“I am a woman of many skills, Detective.  You of all people here should appreciate that fact.”

Olivia smiled rakishly but couldn’t stop the blush that tinged her features.  “Admit it, Alex... you just wanted to come to Disney World.”

“Well however she managed to do it, I for one am glad she did,” Melinda said turning to Alex.  “Thank you.  My family is thrilled to be here even if I’m attending this conference while they’re out playing in the parks.”

“Are you going to hang around once the weekend is over... get a little time to play too?”

Melinda smiled and nodded.  “Yeah.  I took an extra week so we could have a little family time.”

“So did we,” Alex commented.  “I think this weekend will be good for all of us – very informative – but I am so looking forward to next week.”

“So are we,” Blair commented as she and Jo joined the small circle of friends.  “We’ve never been here before.”

“I think that can be said for most of us.”

“Well, we’re not gonna get to have any fun if we don’t get the conference out of the way first.  Wanna go get registered so we can get things started?” Jo asked casually.

Blair grinned and took Jo’s hand in hers.  “Don’t let her fool you.  I nearly had....” Her words were suddenly muffled when Jo’s hand covered her mouth.  Brown eyes glared into green and Jo smiled beguilingly at her.

“They don’t want to know all the gory details, Sweetheart,” Jo assured her and then scowled at them before either Alex or Olivia could comment to the contrary.  “Hey,” looking at the crowd milling around them.  “If that’s Abbie,” nodding towards the woman still embracing Casey and surrounded by their New York friends, “then who is that?” looking at four women a short distance away.

Then they heard the Abbie look-a-like become an Abbie sound-a-like with a longer drawl.  “TEX!!”

Abbie’s head whipped around before her face broke into a bright grin and she slid her hand into Casey’s as they moved to greet the newcomers.

“Guess we’ll find out in a minute,” Olivia commented when the whole group headed their way.

************

“Well, if there was any doubt before, I think it’s safe to say we’re in the right place,” Jill commented as Abbie and Casey headed their way.  “Who’s the like-a-like, Linds?”

“My cousin,” Lindsay said just as Abbie walked into her arms.  She lifted the lighter woman up, knowing Abbie would squeal and demand release, but also well aware the lawyer’s slight frame wasn’t enough to do the same with her more muscular one.  Surprisingly instead of pulling away, Abbie wrapped her arms more fully around Lindsay’s neck and held on for a long moment.  Lindsay returned the hug, then set Abbie on her feet.

“Later?” she asked softly.  Abbie nodded before extending her hand to Casey. 

“Case?  I’d like you to meet my cousin, Lindsay Boxer.  Linds, meet Casey Novak – the love of my life.”

Lindsay’s eyebrows went into her hairline.  “I can see we’re gonna have a lot to talk about,” she commented to Abbie.  Then she looked at Casey and took her extended hand, pulling her into a hug.  “Nice to meet you, Casey.”

“You too, Lindsay.  Abbie hasn’t mentioned you so I think we may have to get together and swap stories.”

“Us too?” Cindy asked before Lindsay or Abbie could reply.

“Absolutely,” Casey answered.  “I’m Casey,” she continued, offering her hand.  Cindy accepted it and motioned to the rest of their little club. 

“This is Jill, Claire and I’m Cindy.”

“Nice to meet you all.  Would you like to join us?” motioning towards the group of women they had so recently vacated that were still watching their interaction.  “I know a few people that are definitely going to be interested in meeting you.”

Lindsay wrapped an arm around Abbie’s neck.  “Sure.  Lead the way, Tex.”

Abbie glared, but it apparently lost something in translation since Lindsay’s only response was a grin complete with dimples.  Cindy caught her hand briefly.  Lindsay raised an eyebrow.

“I think I see someone I know.  I’ll be there in a minute.”

Lindsay nodded, then she and the girls headed back the way Abbie and Casey had come.  Cindy went in the opposite direction, looking for the couple she had briefly spotted in the crowd.

************

“Wow,” Brooke said quietly.  “It’s crowded.”

“Popular conventions I guess.  Should we try to find Alex and Abbie?” Sam asked, looking around at the growing number of women continuing to flow into the convention area and knowing they were expected by at least a few people attending.  Then she heard their names called and turned to find Cindy Thomas waving at her.  She took Brooke’s hand and met Cindy halfway to them.  Sam accepted a brief hug, then Brooke did the same and Cindy released them both with a smile.

“Congratulations, Sam.  I hear you’re up for a Pulitzer.”

“You too – that Kiss-Me-Not series was incredible... like you were actually there,” wondering what about that statement that caused Cindy Thomas to blush.

“Would you like to meet the Inspector credited with closing that case?” Cindy offered.  Sam and Brooke exchanged glances before nodding with excited smiles.  “C’mon then... she’s over there,” pointing to the growing group of women standing to one side of the registration area where Xena and Lucy were still checking people in.  Sam brightened when she realized who they were.

“Alex and Abbie are with them, so that works out perfectly.”

“You know Abbie?” Cindy asked curiously.  Sam nodded.

“She and Alex are the ones I wrote my series about.”  Cindy shook her head. 

“I didn’t realize.  Small world – she’s Lindsay’s cousin.  Lindsay’s the Inspector I wanted you to meet.”

“Lead on, MacDuff,” Sam said, gesturing Cindy towards the women whose attention was suddenly turned in their direction.  They didn’t even notice the entourage they had to maneuver around so intent were they to reach their friends.

But the entourage certainly noticed them.

************

“Emily, find out who those people are,” motioning vaguely in the direction Sam, Brooke and Cindy had gone.  “And I want to know what they do,” she continued without pause.  “If they are part of this convention, I want to know where to find them and if they’re not, I want to know that also.  The girls will need someone to take them to the parks everyday and someone will need to retrieve them as well, but they’re fine to wander around by themselves for now.  That may change depending on how things go; they are almost fifteen after all – they should be able to manage.  Make reservations at whatever restaurants they want to eat at; you’ll have to ask them what they want to do.  Ensure there is San Pellegrino available at my table that is refreshed every hour and what is SHE doing here?”

Emily looked up from her notepad to glance in the direction Miranda motioned.  Her steps didn’t falter but she blinked twice before she answered.  “Andrea is one of the speakers, Miranda – just like you.”

Miranda’s eyes grew cold.  “Make certain she does not appear anywhere near me, Emily.”

“Miranda....”

“That’s all.”

Emily watched Miranda stride off before turning her attention to her one time nemesis and now almost friend.  She grasped Andy by the elbow and pulled her out of the melee.  Andy slapped at her hand and jerked her elbow from Emily’s hold.

“Emily!”

“Look, Andrea – I know why you’re here.  Just please, please stay out of her line of sight.”

“Why do you care?”

Emily rolled her eyes.  “Andrea, I already had to clean up one mess you made; I do not want to be stuck again cleaning up the fallout that that particular encounter would create.  And despite what you did in Paris and the resulting chaos that followed, I wouldn’t really want you to endure it either.”

“Em?”

“Trust me, Andrea... it wouldn’t be pretty.”

Andy nodded.  “I’ll do my best Em, but we are attending the same conference.  We’re bound to be in the same space at some point.”

“Make sure there are people between you,” then sighed when her phone rang.  “Yes, Miranda.  I’ll be right there.”  She turned her attention back to Andrea.  “Stay out of her way.”

“Good luck, Em.”

Andy watched Emily dash out of sight before turning back towards the registration desk.  “Oh, excuse me,” she mumbled to the two women she bumped into.  “Are you all right?”

“No harm, no foul, Sugar,” drawled a low, Southern voice.  “You?”

“Fine, thanks.  Sorry about that.”

“No problem.  Excuse us.”  Andy nodded and continued on her path back towards the media conference registration area.  Nikki and Nora looked at one another, then motioned ahead.  “I think that is where we’re supposed to be heading.”

Nikki took Nora’s hand, gratified when her still skittish, newly outted girlfriend clasped her hand tightly.  She grinned. “I think you’re right.  I’ve got a really big sense of lawyer vibe coming from that direction.”

“What? No cop vibes?”

“Oh sure,” Nikki assured Nora as they made their way towards the registration desk.  “Ours is just a lot cooler.”  She cocked her eyebrow.  “The lawyers definitely have some great shoes though.”

“Shoe envy, Sweetheart?”

“Just appreciation.  C’mon – let’s get signed in.  I wanna go check out that pool bar before the sun sets.”  They resumed their course when suddenly Nora almost yanked Nikki to a dead halt.  Nikki growled in frustration and frowned at Nora.  “What?” her voice tempered by concern from the expression on Nora’s face.

“Nik, I thought you were an only child.”

Nikki blinked at the complete non-sequitor.  “What?  I am, Nora.  You know that.”

“Right.  So who’s that?” gesturing with her chin to keep from pointing.  She watched Nikki’s eyes follow her motion and felt the sudden intake of breath when Nikki found her doppleganger.

“I dunno, but I think I need to find out.  C’mon.”  She started to lead Nora away – or would have had the other woman not stonewalled her by maintaining her stance.  Nikki looked at her in sheer aggravation.  “Nora?”

“Honey, I agree that you need to talk to this woman, but look – she’s obviously attending the same conference we are,” noting that she and her group were receiving their packets from Xena right then.  “We have time to do a little investigating; find out who she is and what she does.  Once we know that much, then we... as in you and I both together... can confront her.  Just remember that she probably doesn’t have a clue either and she deserves the benefit of the doubt.”

Nikki held Nora’s gaze for a long moment before nodding her agreement.  “All right, but c’mon.  Maybe we can sneak a peek at their badges.  That should give us a good idea where to start.”

And they headed to the booth just as the other party moved away, missing the curious second glance cast their way.

************

“Hey Wendy,” Sofia said as she looped the conference badge around her neck.  “I didn’t realize you had a sister.”

Wendy’s brow furrowed in confusion.  “What?  I don’t and you know it.  Only child, single mother.  Why would you say something like that?”  Before Sofia could respond to the undercutting of anger in Wendy’s voice, Catherine wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned her just slightly.

“Probably because of the twin standing at the registration counter,” jerking her head in that direction.  Wendy’s brown eyes widened.

“Wow... you don’t suppose....” her voice trailing off as her thoughts scattered in a hundred different directions.

“I think we can probably find out,” Sofia assured her, “if you really want to know.”  Wendy blinked and swallowed hard.  Coming face to face with a twin you never imagined in your wildest dreams you might have was a little unnerving.  She looked at Catherine who still had an arm wrapped around her shoulder. 

“You don’t have to decide right now, Wendy.  We’ve got all weekend.”

“Catherine’s right,” Sofia concurred.  “Besides, if we can find out who this woman is, it might tell us a few things.”

“Hey, I see a couple people I know,” Sara broke in with a hint of excitement in her voice, breaking the awkward moment.  “Come on, and I’ll introduce you.”  The other three looked at her, trying to determine how the taciturn woman knew anyone else here besides them.  It wasn’t like she was known for making friends, and it only took seconds for their curiosity to overwhelm them before they were traipsing along in her wake.

Sara stepped up to her mentor and she grasped the ME’s elbow.  Claire swung around with her hand raised, then relaxed and broke into smiles as she returned the fervent hug she was receiving from Sara Sidle.  When they separated, their friends were both looking at them in question and they went through the introductions as quickly as possible.

“Sara was the best CSI I’d ever worked with,” Claire commented.  “I was pretty put out with Gil Grissom for swiping her right out from under my nose.”

“Yeah,” another voice spoke up from behind them, “but you stole her from my lab first.”

“Jordan,” Sara said as she turned to the woman she had worked with while she had been a student at Harvard.  “God, it’s good to see you again,” embracing her before turning for yet another round of introductions.

“You too, Slim.  Still doing eighty hours a week though, huh?” Jordan asked as she traced the dark circles under Sara’s eyes.

“Would you really expect anything less from my old roomie?” Emily asked as she, JJ and Garcia joined the ever-widening circle.  “Come on, Jordan – that dedication is what put her at the top of her class.”

“Maybe,” Claire agreed with a growl, “but she needs to take care of Sara too.  She always did have trouble with that particular detail.”

Sara blushed and the Vegas contingent watched in awe as these women they didn’t know treated Sara like she was a special part of the family.  Then Catherine stepped forward and they began introductions once more.

************

“I can’t believe how much this is turning into old home week,” Sofia commented as Lily stepped up beside her.  “I’m glad you decided to come.”

Lily smiled.  “I had to when I knew you’d be here, Sofia.  What would Mama have said if she found out I missed the chance to catch up with my favorite half-sister at Disney World?”

“Only half-sister, you mean.  If I was you, I’d be more inclined to worry about what she’s gonna do when she finds out you came down here to see me without her,” Sofia replied with a laugh.

Lily bit her lips firmly.  “Mama doesn’t need to know everything,” she assured Sofia primly.

“Uh huh, and when was the last time you had to tell her something that she didn’t already know?”

“Shut up, Sofia,” she grumbled good-naturedly.  “Besides even she thought this would be a good way to network and make a few contacts.  After all, it’s not everyday you get to meet the FBI’s top profile team; who knows when that might be an unexpected advantage?”

“Yeah,” Sofia agreed, then frowned at the look on Emily’s face.  “But she looks like she’s seen a ghost.  Maybe we should find out what’s going on.  I don’t want this weekend to blow up before we even get a chance to see Mickey Mouse.”


Chapter III

“Emily?” JJ asked with concern, placing a steadying hand on Emily’s arm.  She waited a long moment for Emily’s eyes to track to hers, then had to swallow a gasp at the furious look on her face.  “Emily? What’s wrong?”

Emily didn’t respond verbally; instead she took JJ’s chin in her hand and turned her head until they were looking in the same direction.  Penelope followed their gaze and her eyes widened comically behind her pink frames.

“Isn’t that...?”

“It sure looks like it,” Emily growled softly.  “Would you excuse me a moment?”

She moved two steps before realizing JJ was keeping pace right beside her.  She turned and looked at JJ questioningly.  JJ shrugged.

“I screwed up once by letting you walk away from me... or by me walking away from you.  I vowed to myself that it wouldn’t happen again – not for any reason... including your mother.”

Emily smiled.  “Possessive much?”

“Only about the important stuff.  Now c’mon... let’s go see why Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss is at a law enforcement convention.”

“Yeah,” Garcia seconded.  “What she said.”

************

“Bre?  Do you know the young woman currently headed our way?” Kelly asked as she watched Emily’s determined approach.  She turned to look at Sabrina, surprised to find a gobsmacked expression on her face.  “Bre?”  She exchanged a concerned glance with Kris who shrugged and shook her head.

“I don’t believe... this can’t be.”  She took two steps forward only to find them matched on either side by her compatriots.  She stopped walking and looked at Kris and then Kelly, waiting for an explanation.

“It’s obviously important, Bre.  We do this together,” tucking her hand into Sabrina’s elbow and smiling when Kris did the same.  Sabrina smiled and crossed her arms to pat the two hands clutching her biceps.  Then Emily was standing in front of them frowning.

“Emily?” Sabrina asked cautiously.  Emily shook her head even as Sabrina reached out a shaky hand, but she allowed the tender touch.  “I haven’t seen you since you were a very little girl.  You probably don’t even remember me,” she said around a catch in her voice.  Sabrina cleared her throat.  “Your mother refused....” watching the recognition flare in Emily’s eyes.

“Aunt Bre?”

Kelly and Kris released their hold on Sabrina’s arms just as JJ put her hand on the small of Emily’s back and gently urged her forward.  They met halfway and Sabrina lightly rocked them together even as Emily held on for dear life.

Kelly, Kris, JJ and Garcia all exchanged curious glances before returning their attention to the tableau in front of them.  Hopefully sooner rather than later, they would be getting an explanation.  For now it was enough to realize that something good was happening in front of them.

************

“Doesn’t that look like the women from the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit?” Camille asked Angela as they and Temperance headed towards the registration desk past the large group of women gathered in front of it.  “I know they were talking about participating, but there was some doubt about whether or not their director would give them the time off they needed to come here.”

“I think so.  I haven’t....”

“It is,” Bones broke in.  “I’ve had the opportunity to work with them on occasion. “

“Really?  I didn’t know,” Camille said with a hint of a question in her voice.

“Um hmm,” Tempe said though she didn’t expound on it.  Angela chuckled and Camille just rolled her eyes, following Tempe towards the sign in desk.

“Well, I wonder who the other women are. I haven’t seen them before.”

“I dunno,” Angela replied.  “But I’d guess the two hugging are related somehow.  They have the same bone structure.”  She shrugged.  “Maybe we’ll get a chance to find out this weekend.”

“Could be.  Meanwhile I intend to take full advantage of our time here.”

“I thought this was a work seminar,” Bones commented solemnly.

“Doesn’t mean we won’t have some time off to have a little fun,” Angela commented with a smile that was immediately backed up by Camille.  “Maybe we can even sneak into to the other convention that seems to be here - ‘Women in the Media’.  Who knows who we might run into?”

“We can if you want to,” Bones replied off-handedly.  “I was invited to participate since I am a best-selling author.  I just....”  Brennan stopped speaking when she was surrounded on both sides and herded towards the law enforcement convention.  “But....”

“Trust me, Honey,” Angela assured her.  “It’s for the best.”

************

“Wonder what that’s all about,” Helen commented to Nikki as they pushed through the crowd of women, passing Cam and Angela moving Bones away from them.  Nikki shrugged.

“Dunno, Love.  But it looks like they’re going to your side of the hall.”

Helen smiled and tucked her hand into Nikki’s arm, squeezing lightly for emphasis.  “I canna believe we’re here, Nik.  Who’d a thought it?”

“Great place for a second honeymoon, Helen.”

“I wasna aware we were done with our first.”  She grinned in response to Nikki’s unexpectedly shy smile.  “I am so happy to be here with you, Nikki.  So proud of you.”

“Me too,” Nikki replied cheekily.  Then she cupped Helen’s face tenderly.  “I’ve always been proud to be seen with you.”

Helen captured Nikki’s hand and brushed a kiss over her fingers.  “Let’s get you checked in, Love.  Anyone whose writing has won awards like yours has is bound to be expected.”

“Right, and then we’ll get you done as well?”

“Sure, though I’m thinking a former warden won’t be nearly as exciting as a best-selling author.  Say, isn’t that Kate and Emma?” motioning to the two women currently approaching them.

“Think so,” Nikki replied as the two detectives greeted them with a wave. 

“Isn’t this just the best?” Scribbs asked with enthusiasm as they met up.  “I never thought to be here and to be able to charge it off to work....”

Nikki chuckled.  Helen and Kate exchanged eye rolls and smiles.  Kate reached for Emma’s hand.  “C’mon then.  We need to get checked in and participate in the work portion of this trip first.”

“Aw, Ash – you’re taking all the fun out of this.”

“Good.  That means the rules are still working.  Now let’s go.  Helen, would you like to come with us?”  Helen looked at Nikki who nodded.

“Go on then, Love.  I’ll join you in a few minutes.”  So they split up, heading for their separate registration areas to get checked in.

************

“I’m glad we decided to come,” Annabelle confided to Simone as they got into line behind Nikki. 

Simone smiled indulgently at Annabelle and tried to ignore the crush of women around her.  “Gabrielle made it really hard to say no.  And besides, you ask so little of me – how could we not?  Especially since your first book received such critical acclaim.”

Annabelle smiled and the excitement of the little girl she’d left behind not so long ago peeked back at Simone, reminding her again of the many reasons she loved the young woman standing in front of her.

“Be honest, Simone – you just want to ride the teacups and get an autograph from Peter Pan.”

Simone rolled her eyes and just managed to contain the snort she wanted to give.  “Actually,” she said drolly though she couldn’t hide the twinkle in her eye.  “I came to stalk princesses.  I understand I can find them in all four parks if I know when and where to look.”

They had just reached the desk and Annabelle crossed her arms over her chest and frowned in thought.  “I’ll have to see if they have a costume in my size,” she muttered much to Simone’s delight.

“I’m pretty sure I can make some arrangements for you if you need help,” Gabrielle replied without missing a beat, having overheard the last part of their conversation.  Annabelle’s eyes lit up and Simone flushed a beet red.  “Come see me later,” she directed.  “We’ll see what we can do.”

“Gabrielle!!” Simone protested in embarrassment.  Gabrielle just smiled.

“Don’t bother, Simone.  I know better.”

“Ack... bu... how...?  Never mind,” Simone sputtered.  “On that note....”  They accepted their packets and Barbara turned from her computer to look at Gabrielle.

“You are a wicked woman.”

“Thank you.  I’ve had years to perfect my technique.  Are we about done?”  A beat as she glanced in Barbara’s direction, then looked where the redhead was looking.  “Barbara... is there a problem?”

Barbara shook her head.  “I don’t know.  She’s not supposed to be here,” motioning to the woman coming towards them.  “I mean she didn’t register in advance.”

“Then she’s not part of our conference.  Everything is already set up.”

“She’s trouble, Gabrielle.  You’re going to want to keep an eye on her.”

“Hey,” Helena cut in, “isn’t she the bitch that...?” trailing off when Barbara gave her the evil eye.  The woman in question stepped up to the booth moments later wearing a sickly false smile.  She extended a hand that Gabrielle accepted, wincing at the limp, dead fish grip she was offered.

“Gabrielle?  I am Desdemona Imala Von A’Calandra of AVID Publishing, but you can call me DIVA – all my friends do.  I was wondering if it was too late for me to register my company for your convention.”

“I’m sorry, Ms Von A’Calandra, but it really is.  Everything has already been set up and I’m afraid there is simply no way to change it at this late date.”

“I see,” her words cold and cutting.  “Perhaps you should talk to Ms Gordon.  I’m sure someone as brilliant as she is would be able to help you come up with a way to make it possible.”  She glared at all of them briefly before turning on her heel and stalking off.  Helena looked at Barbara.

“Are you sure we can’t make an exception to that killing rule?”

Gabrielle shook her head.  “No killing.  But let’s wrap this up and head back to my suite.  I want to hear more about this DIVA person.  I’m sure there is quite a story there.”

Barbara sighed and nodded her head wearily only to glance up at Dinah when she tapped her on the arm.  She raised a brow in unspoken question.

“Um... isn’t that Diana?  What’s she doing here?”

Three heads turned in the direction Dinah was indicating.  Barbara nodded even as Gabrielle explained.  “She is here by my invitation... and Xena’s.  She’s an old friend,” not feeling the need to share just exactly how old.

************

Diana looked around the convention hall carefully, noting almost absently the number of women gathered between the two registration areas.  It was fairly easy to pick out who went with what group and she smiled as she watched them eye the other with a bit of trepidation and curiosity.  She approached Xena’s counter, smiling as she came from behind and wrapped her in a hug that Diana fervently returned.

“Hello, old friend.  Long time, no see,” Xena greeted.

“Yes and don’t think I don’t hear about that particular problem on a regular basis.  The sisters miss you and Hippolyta wants to know when you and Gabrielle will be returning to Paradise Island for a visit.”

“Soon,” Xena promised.  “Maybe when this is over.”

“I’ll make sure to tell them you said so.”

“I’m sure you will.  C’mere – I want you to meet someone.  Diana, this is Lucy Reynolds, my second in command.  Lucy, Diana Prince... my oldest friend in the world aside from Gabrielle.”

Xena excused herself to take a call.  So Lucy and Diana exchanged greetings briefly; then Lucy took care of getting Diana registered and handed her the welcome packet. “Speaking of Gabrielle,” Diana said after a moment of awkward silence, “I’d better go say hello to her as well.”

“Hang on and I’ll go with you,” Xena said.  “Can you handle things here, Luce?”

“Piece of cake.  We’re about done anyway.  I think Diana was the last person that needed to check in.  I’ll call Scud and have him come help me get this stuff moved into the main hall.  Are you coming back tonight?”

“Yeah, we’ll stroll back over after dinner.  So don’t stay too long.  Get it moved and you and Amy go have a little fun tonight.”

Lucy smirked and nodded but didn’t say anything else.  Xena took Diana’s elbow and they headed over to where Gabrielle was currently disassembling her own registration area.

She paused momentarily in her work to come around and jump into Diana’s arms.  Fortunately, Diana was prepared as this was the normal greeting she received from Gabrielle on the rare occasions they saw one another in man’s world.  She kissed both cheeks before lowering Gabrielle back to the floor.

“Hippolyta sends her regards and best wishes to you both.”

Gabrielle smirked.  “I’m fairly certain that’s not all she sent.”  She looked back at the women still sitting behind the counter.  “I think you all know each other.”

“Indeed we do,” Diana assured Gabrielle.  “Hello Barbara, Helena, Dinah.  It’s good to see you out of Gotham and Metropolis.”

Dinah smiled widely.  “It’s good to be out of Gotham and Metropolis.”

“Very true.  I’m looking forward to exploring this whole Disney thing.”

“Me too,” Dinah replied with enthusiasm.  “And I’m gonna take Barbara and Helena along with me if I have to drag them kicking and screaming.”

“HEY!” Helena protested.  “I’m the one that’s been trying to get out to the parks to play since we got here.”

“We’ll get there, Hel... I did promise.”

“Good thing I made you do that,” Helena grumbled.  “Otherwise I’m pretty sure you’d be happy to stay cooped up here all week.”

“So you are staying here after the convention?”

“Yes!” Helena replied emphatically to counter Barbara’s eye roll.  “And we’re going to....”

While she was naming all the things they had plans to see and do, Xena took Gabrielle aside.  “What’s wrong, Love?”

“I think I found my bad feeling.”  Xena arched a brow but Gabrielle shook her head.  “Not here.  Barbara is coming back to the room with us.  She’s got the scoop.”

“Well let’s get this shut down and head out.  I’m sort of interested to hear what she has to say.  Besides, I’m hungry.”

“Why don’t you go arrange for some snacks for us since I’m not sure how long this will take and I don’t want you keeling over from hunger before we have a chance for a proper meal.  We’ll be there shortly.  OH!  Make sure you include Pop-Tarts for Helena – strawberry preferably.”

Xena blinked but nodded amiably.  “You want me to bring Diana along?”

Gabrielle shrugged.  “Ask her if she wants to come.  She may have plans already.”

“All right,” planting a brief kiss on Gabrielle’s lips.  “We’ll see you in a little while.”

Gabrielle smiled.  “Gotta admit we’re starting out with a bang.”

Xena grinned.  “When don’t we?”  Then she excused herself and headed out with Diana at her side.


Chapter IV

“Hey, Xena... wait up!”  Xena and Diana turned from their stroll towards the food court at Helena’s call.  They stopped and waited for her to catch up, exchanging glances as she wound her way through the many remaining conference attendees still clumped together in small groups.  “God, you’d think they could find somewhere else to be besides in my way,” she muttered as she reached the two waiting women.  “Gabrielle said you were picking up snacks?”

Xena nodded.  “She said you needed Pop Tarts.”

“Yeah, about that....”  Helena scratched the back of her neck with a hint of embarrassment.  “I should probably pick those up myself.”

“I don’t mind,” Xena assured Helena, wondering about the odd sense of discomfiture she felt coming from the younger woman.

“Oh... I know.  It’s just... I have a really fast metabolism, ya know, and it makes me kinda a chowhound.  I um... I eat Pop Tarts by the box.”  She cleared her throat awkwardly.  “I should probably talk to Barbara about investing in them actually.  Anyway I thought I’d go pick those up – save you and Di here the trouble.”

“Well that’s very considerate of you, Helena,” Xena said with a completely serious countenance.  “Could you pick up some chocolate milk as well?  Diana and I can cover everything else here,” motioning to the food court behind them.

“Oh, sure... sure,” Helena acknowledged.  “I’ll grab a couple bottles and meet you back at your place... unless you need my help...?”

“No, I think we’re good.  Just let Gabrielle know we’re right behind you.”

Helena nodded and turned right down the hallway towards the main gift shop while Xena and Diana went left to enter the food court.  They snagged a couple trays from the front and with a minimal amount of discussion, split up to cover more territory more quickly.  Xena headed to the back to order a batch of French fries while Diana moved towards bakery section to pick up a supply of cookies and pastries.

The sudden muffled exclamation of “Holy fuck!” in Helena’s voice caused her and Xena to turn towards one another simultaneously, wondering if anyone else had heard.  Reassured that it was only due to their exceptional hearing that they’d heard Helena’s mumbled expletive, they exchanged smirks and continued on with their appointed tasks.  The sooner they finished here, the sooner they would find out what was going on.

The cashier eyed them both warily but made no comment on their choices or the amount of food they had.  Instead she scanned their card quickly and politely, giving them a smile as they left the food court where they were immediately met by Lucy and Amy.  Xena cocked a brow in question.   Lucy shrugged.

“Gabrielle said for us to come help you guys.  Scud’s closing up shop as we speak,” answering both unspoken questions.  Xena turned to Diana who just smirked at her.

“You’d think she thought she was the Queen of the Amazons or something the way she’s ordering everybody around,” Diana quipped with a smile.  Xena rolled her eyes.

“If anyone should be Queen of the Amazons, you’d think it’d be Xena,” Amy replied seriously.  “After all, she’s in charge of a convention full of cops.  Aren’t they modern day warriors?”

“C’mon.” Xena cut in before any real discussion about warriors and Amazon Queens could get rolling.  “I want a shot at these fries before they’re stone cold and we’ve got to get all the way to the other side of the resort.”

“Well then,” Lucy said with a dimpled grin.  “Guess it’s a good thing I arranged for transportation,” as they stepped out the doors to the waiting cart.  Xena grinned.

“Great work, Lucy!” Xena commented as she climbed in.  The rest followed and Lucy gave their location to the driver.  Xena looked at her in question.

“Gabrielle said something about accommodating Barbara,” and Xena nodded.  Then they settled back to enjoy the short ride to Barbara’s suite.

************

“Fuck, Barbara.  Do you know what they charge for Pop Tarts here??  Two-fifty!!  Two-fifty for two lousy Pop Tarts!!  And milk... oh man – you don’t even wanna get into what milk costs!!  We could almost buy a whole freaking cow for what a quart of milk costs here.”

“Helena, sweetie – calm down and take a deep breath,” Barbara said soothingly as Gabrielle and Dinah pretended to be busy outside the bedroom she and Helena were currently ensconced in.  “Why is this bothering you so much, Hel?  You knew when we came here it wasn’t going to be cheap and it’s not like we can’t afford it.”

“Not the point, Barbara.  We can afford it so easily because we have his money to fall back on in a pinch. Imagine if we were doing this on your teacher’s salary... or my bartending one.”

Barbara nodded her head slowly.  “All right, Hel.  I see your point.  What would you like me to do about it?  Buy the Disney Company to make it more affordable for people to come here?  Bruce might wonder, but I’m pretty sure he’s got the resources to do it.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Helena muttered darkly.  “It might be worth it to see the look on his face to know that the Bat is the proud parent of the Mouse.”

Barbara snorted.  She didn’t mean to but somehow the visual Helena’s words conjured up was just too good to pass up on.  The sound caused Helena to grin slyly and glance at Barbara from beneath dark lashes.  She waggled her eyebrows, causing Barbara to slap at her.

“Hey!” Helena complained.  “Whadja do that for?  I wasn’t the one snorting at the idea of....”

“Maybe we should just buy Kellogg’s too and just be done with it,” Barbara interrupted, cutting Helena off before she could continue further with her line of thought.   She almost laughed at the way Helena’s eyes glazed over at the thought.   “We could probably take over the world,” Barbara confided in a conspiratorial whisper though her eyes twinkled with humor.

Helena crawled into her lap, bracing her legs on either side Barbara’s and tucking them into the chair to give them better stability. Barbara locked the brakes, then her arms automatically went to Helena’s hips to steady them; Helena wrapped her arms around Barbara’s neck in return, relishing the gentle smile she received.

“I like the way you think, Brain – Pop Tarts for every household at every meal,” grinning when the soft surface she was ensconced upon shook with silent, gentle laughter at her tomfoolery.  “It’ll be a sugar revolution!”

Barbara shook her head, but that didn’t dim the smile that rested on her lips.  “And what are we going to do once we’ve taken over the world, Pinky?” she asked guilelessly with just a hint of laughter in her tone.

Helena leaned in close enough for their breaths to mingle and dropped her voice to a bare whisper.  “I imagine we could come up with something.”

Barbara grinned and brushed their lips lightly together.  “You think so?”

Helena nodded.  “I’m clever that way you know,” she responded seriously.

This caused Barbara to laugh and Helena relished the sound as it washed over her.  “I know, Pinky,” stealing another swift kiss before leaning back and patting the firm surface under her hands.  “But for now we have guests, and we need to figure out what to do about Von A’Calandra.”

Helena took the hint and slid from Barbara’s lap, crossing her arms over her chest defensively when Barbara pinched the bridge of her nose at the mention of their latest nemesis. 

“Still think we oughtta bend that killing rule.”

“Helena....”

“I know, I know... doesn’t mean I have to like it though,” she groused before opening the door and motioning Barbara ahead of her.  Six faces looked at them expectantly and Barbara slid neatly into place at the end of the couch beside Xena while Helena dropped onto the floor at her feet.  Gabrielle passed over their drinks and made sure Helena had her Pop Tarts, then cleared her throat.

“All right... now that we’re all here, why don’t you fill us in on this DIVA person, Barbara?” she instructed politely.  Barbara didn’t even open her mouth to speak before she was interrupted by Lucy’s gasp.

“She’s here?”

Xena turned to look at her.  “You know her?”

“I know of her.  She gives criminal masterminds a bad name; real slimy if you know what I mean.  Her idea of a major coup is blackmailing someone into doing her bidding.”

“Sounds charming,” Diana said drolly.

“She’s a snake,” Helena hissed. “Always wants what she doesn’t have and has no qualms about using any means at her disposal to take it.”

Gabrielle nodded her head in understanding, appreciating the fire in Helena’s eyes.  “And blackmail is her chosen method of taking?” waiting for the nods she knew were coming.  She directed her attention to Dinah.  “What’s your take on her, Dinah?  Can you get a read on her?”

Dinah tucked a lock of hair behind her ear nervously as she considered her answer.  “She’s dark and manipulative and in possession of secrets she shouldn’t have.  Trying to read her....”  She shook her head and looked beseechingly at Barbara.

“When Von A’Calandra came to us originally, Dinah tried to get a read on her.  It knocked her out cold.”

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances.  “Sounds like someone made a deal with the devil.”

“So why haven’t we heard of her?”

“One of two reasons that I can think of,” Barbara offered.  Xena cocked an eyebrow at her and she took the unspoken hint.  “Either you don’t have any secrets that she can find or she found something that made her afraid of you for some reason.”

“I’d be more inclined to go with the first.  Otherwise she wouldn’t have approached me like she did earlier.”

“The question is – what does she really want?” Amy asked.  “If she really wanted to participate in the conference, it seems like she would have made more of an effort when the announcement first went out instead of waiting til the last minute and expecting some sort of preferential treatment.”

“That’s just the way she is – she seems to think there is an entitlement due her.”

“Sounds like she needs an attitude adjustment,” Xena muttered.  Gabrielle laid a gentle hand on her arm and Xena gave her a wry smile before speaking again.  “What do we want to do about her?”

“First I want to understand who she is and what she knows,” looking back at Barbara.  The redhead pinched the bridge of her nose breathing out slowly in an effort to stave off the headache she felt building up behind her eyes.

“Get comfortable – this could take a while.”

************

“Blair, have you heard from Natalie or Tootie?” Jo asked, looking at her phone.  “They should have been here by now.”

Blair glanced at the phone that she’d tucked into her purse hours earlier.  “No, and I’m starting to get concerned.  They’re supposed to meet us for dinner.”

“Maybe we should try to reach them,” Jo commented even as she put the phone to her ear.  Then she shook her head.  “Straight to voicemail.  Did she mention who they were going to see or give you a number or anything?” as she snapped her phone shut.

“No.  All I know was it was an old friend she’d met in Iraq during Desert Storm.”

“All right,” Jo sighed.  “Let’s go meet the rest of the guys.  They should be waiting out front by now.” 

“Hopefully Alex managed to snag us large enough table at the brewery.”

Jo snorted and took Blair’s elbow as they exited their room.  “Leave it to Cabot to find the single upscale beer joint at Disney.  Where is this place anyway?”

“The Boardwalk,” Blair replied, dropping the valet ticket into Jo’s outstretched hand.  “I’m going to leave a note at the desk for Tootie and Nat in case they get back soon.”  Jo nodded and headed toward the lobby where the rest of their party waited.

************

“Nat, are you sure these directions are right?” Tootie asked as she looked around at the nothing that surrounded them.  Though in fairness that wasn’t completely accurate.  There were orange groves just coming into fruit and pine trees tall and green that lined the four lane highway they were currently traveling on.  Occasionally there were wide-open spaces with herds of cows spread across them.

“I printed them off exactly like she sent them to me, Tootie.  Look around – the last thing she said to me was that when I was lost I’d be there.  We’ve got to be close because I am completely lost.”

“Well if we’re taking a vote, I vote we turn around at the next available intersection.  We’ve been out here for hours and hours and I’m not even able to get a cell signal to call Blair and Jo and let them know we’re going to miss dinner.”

Nat sighed.  It hadn’t been hours and hours... not really, since only a couple had passed since they’d picked up the rental car... but she was beginning to agree with Tootie.  Coming out here straight from the airport had probably not been the best idea she’d had.

“All right, Tootie.  I’ll turn around at the next light and head back towards Disney.  We probably should find a gas station and get some directions though.”

Tootie nodded and they rode another couple minutes in silence.

“Hey, look… there’s a light and a gas station,” Tootie pointed.  Natalie started to laugh; Tootie just looked at her with a frown.  Nat gestured towards the street sign attached to light they were approaching.  Tootie looked up and back down at the directions she held in her hand.  She began to laugh as well.

“Guess she wasn’t kidding.”

“And when you’re lost, you’re there,” Natalie said on a chuckle.  She signaled her intent to turn and slid into the turn lane to wait for the light. 

************

“Everything all right?” Alex asked Blair when she returned to the table.

“Yes. Apparently Natalie’s friend wasn’t kidding; she and Tootie were ready to turn around when they realized they’d found it.”

“Will they be back in time for the conference tomorrow?”

“Oh yes – they’ll probably be back before we are,” motioning towards the pool tables that their respective detectives were occupying.  Jill and Casey had joined Jo and Olivia at the table and currently it was the lawyers versus the detectives with the lawyers taking quite a beating.   Claire and Cindy were laughing and although Alex and Blair couldn’t hear the words being exchanged, it was clear they were all having fun.

“You realize we may not get them away from there before last call.”

“Sure we will,” Blair assured her.  “Olivia doesn’t know you were a hustler back in the day, does she?”

Alex blinked shocked blue eyes.  “How did you…?”

“You should know by now that what one Gamma knows....”

“... all Gammas know.”

“Um... you were quite the legend.”  Alex blushed but held Blair’s gaze.  “The question is... do you still got it?”

Alex smirked and rose from her seat.  “What say we find out?”  She waited for Blair to join her before she continued.  “Besides, I think the twins need some time alone,” motioning to the end of the table where Abbie and Lindsay had their heads together speaking quietly.

“Wonder what that’s all about.”

“I don’t know.   Let’s leave them to it though.  We have a couple of detectives to hustle.”

With matching chuckles they headed over to the pool tables.


Chapter V

“So what is going on over there?” Claire asked Cindy with the barest jerk of her head towards Abbie and Lindsay.  In front of them, Jo and Olivia were decimating Casey and Jill at pool though the conversation and laughter made it apparent that they were all having a good time.  She signaled the waiter to order another round of drinks while she waited for Cindy’s reply.  What she got was a shrug.

“I dunno.”  She turned open brown eyes to meet Claire’s.  “I just know Linds was concerned about Abbie.  She seems to think something was bothering her and you know how Lindsay is when she gets an idea about something.”

Claire smiled and nodded.  “Indeed I do.  Well, I hope whatever it is gets resolved.  Uh oh,” she added when Alex and Blair rose and headed their way. Cindy looked at them and then back at Claire.

“What?”

Claire grinned.  “Trouble if I’m not mistaken.  I’ve seen that particular expression on the boys’ faces when they’re up to something and hoping not to get caught.”

Cindy looked again and just stopped herself from giggling at the predatory expression swiftly hidden as Alex and Blair reached them.

“Ladies,” Claire greeted, then narrowed her eyes at them.  “Which of you’re going to tell me what you’re up to?  And don’t deny it,” she instructed in a mom tone.  “I have children – I recognize the signs.”

“We just thought we should show support for our fellow barristers,” Blair stated.  Cindy stared at them both for a long moment.

“Which of you is the ringer?” smiling when they exchanged startled glances.  “Been there, done that.”

“You any good?” Alex asked frankly.

“It paid all my college expenses except tuition and gave me a nice little nest egg besides.”

Alex eyed Cindy for a long moment.  “All right – willing to put your money where your mouth is?”

“What are you proposing, Counselor?”

Alex glanced at Blair, who nodded.  “I think it’s time to take the detectives down a peg or two.”

“Aren’t they your girlfriends?”  Alex and Blair nodded.  “And they don’t know you’re a ringer?” directed at Alex who shook her head.  Cindy chuckled.  “All right – I’m in.  This could be a lot of fun.”

A groan went up from the lawyers as Jill scratched.  Jo and Olivia shook hands and they all placed their sticks on the table and approached the tall table Claire and Cindy were currently ensconced at. 

“Clean sweep, Joey?” Blair asked when Jo crossed over to her side, swiping the beer she held and draining it halfway.  Jo shifted the bottle from her lips and gave Blair a cocky grin though her eyes twinkled in pure delight.

“Uh huh.  We still got it,” slapping hands with Liv.

“So you wouldn’t mind playing me and Cindy then, right?” Alex asked coyly.  Jo and Olivia exchanged glances.

“You get the feeling they’re trying to set us up?”

“Probably,” Liv agreed with a smirk giving Alex the once over.  “But if getting set up means I get to see Alex wearing those jeans bent over a pool table for the next hour, I’m not gonna complain.”

“Benson, you’re a dog.”

Olivia snorted.  “Like you wouldn’t say the same thing if it was Blair.”

Jo looked at Blair whose arms were crossed over her chest and whose eyebrow was raised in question.  “Busted,” she admitted sheepishly.

Blair rolled her eyes.  “Barbarian.”  But she couldn’t stop the smirk or the twinkle.

“And on that note,” Cindy said as she slid from her stool, “let’s play some pool.”

************

“So what’s up, cuz?”  Lindsay pegged Abbie with a firm glance.  “And don’t try to dissimilate with all that lawyer mumbo-jumbo either.  We may not have shared a womb, but I still know you better than anyone else in the world and I’m not gonna let you sidetrack me with big words and flashy litigation.”   When it didn’t garner her as much as a smirk or a twinkle, Lindsay frowned.  Usually she would have gotten at least a snide comment.  Instead Abbie traced the condensation down the side of her glass, staring in fascination as beads of water followed her finger down to the tabletop.  Lindsay covered Abbie’s hand with her own, forcing her chin up with her other hand until their eyes met.  Then she sucked in a silent breath at the bewilderment she found staring back at her from her eyes’ twins.  “Abbie?”

“Tell me about you and Cindy,” Abbie asked after an awkward moment of silence.  Lindsay’s brows rose to her hairline.

“Um... all right.  What would you like to know?”

“Everything.”

“Ooookaaaay,” she drawled slowly.  “Can I ask why first?”

“I don’t suppose I could blame it on family inspired nosiness, could I?”

“You could try, but I’d still want to know what my relationship with Cindy has to do with whatever is bothering you.  You never even met her before today.”

“Is what you have together real?” Abbie asked abruptly.  Lindsay’s eyes widened, but considering the source of the question she stopped her impulse to rail and gave the query some thought.  After all Abbie wasn’t the type to speak without thinking first.  “That sounded impertinent, didn’t it?” Abbie continued, breaking into Lindsay’s train of thought.  “It’s just, you’ve always been a man’s woman – beating him at his own game and still making him grateful to be the one going home with you at night.”

“What makes you think that has changed?” Lindsay asked seriously.

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you, Linds.  I may not be a trained inspector, but even I recognize the signs of lust and infatuation.”

“Is that all you see?”

Abbie shrugged.  “I... I’m not sure.  I don’t really know Cindy well enough to do more than guess at her feelings.  And you’ve always been pretty closed off about anything personal; your passion seems to be reserved for your work.”

Lindsay sighed.  What Abbie said was the truth, and Abbie knew her better than almost anyone else on earth including Jill and Claire.  But this....  She sighed again.

“You’re right, Abs, and that single-minded devotion has cost me a lot through the years – my marriage, my baby... almost my life.”  Lindsay stopped speaking as her thoughts wandered back through her darkest memories until a hand cupping her face brought her attention back to her surroundings.  She blinked and found compassion and understanding in Abbie’s eyes.

“You all right?”

Lindsay smiled.  “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”

“We’re something all right,” Abbie agreed.

Lindsay chuckled and sat back slightly, clasping the hand that had been cupping her cheek.  “We’ve kind of wandered pretty far off topic.  To answer your question – I really don’t know yet.  I know that I like spending time with her – she’s fun and smart and beautiful and she sees things in a way I really never have.  She has an optimism that is naïve and refreshing and completely frustrating and she is forever trying to make me see the best in people that I know just isn’t there.  She makes me feel....” Lindsay paused trying to formulate her thoughts.  “She makes me feel,” she reiterated, “and in her eyes I am young and sexy and desirable.  And she’s become a good friend, despite me.  Is that enough for a lasting relationship?  I dunno.  But I do know we are only at the beginning of whatever we have and I want the time to explore and discover the possibilities between us.” 

“So it is real.”

Lindsay shook her head slowly, then nodded.  “I think so.  I know I wouldn’t mind if it was.” A beat.  “You wanna tell me what this is about now?”

Abbie looked around, her eyes settling on the tableau taking place around the pool table.  Cindy and Alex were obviously winning, judging by the looks of delight on their faces.  Casey, Jill, Claire and Blair were laughing and cheering and the sight brought a smile to Abbie’s face.  Lindsay watched her for a long moment, then tugged on the hand she still held.

“C’mon... let’s go for a walk.  I need some air.  They can call us when they’re ready to leave.”

Abbie followed Lindsay out the door.  Casey watched them go with a thoughtful look on her face.  Claire tapped her on the leg, bringing her attention back to her surroundings. 

“Don’t worry, Honey.  If something is bothering your girl, Lindsay’ll ferret it out.  It’s what she’s good at.”

Casey smiled sadly and nodded, patting the hand resting on hers.  “I hope so.”  Then she turned her attention back to the game playing out in front of her, trying to put her worries out of her mind.  It was going to be a long night.

************

“What a nice night,” Janet said as she and Sam sat outside at the pool bar. 

“Oh yeah,” Mac agreed as she returned with drinks for the three of them.  “This was a great idea.”

“Disney or drinks by the pool?”

“Yes!” Mac chuckled.  “And I see we’re not the only ones who thought so,” motioning around at the tables filled with laughing, drinking women.

“I recognize a lot of these faces from the registration this afternoon,” Sam commented as she sipped her margarita.  “Though it seems like a very mixed crowd – not all law enforcement personnel, I mean.”

“I think there is more than one convention here.  I seem to recall....”  Janet let her voice trail off as her eyes closed.  Sam and Mac waited patiently for her to continue her thought.  “I think there was some sort of publishing convention or something.  Didn’t we see some kind of book boxes being brought into the room next to us?”

“I think so; I know there were two separate registration desks running,” Mac replied, sipping her drink and sighing in contentment.

“That must be it then.  Looks like it is catering to a female clientele as well judging by the number of women here.”

“Yeah, ‘cause they sure stick out,” gesturing to a mixed group of tired looking individuals that had just dropped into seats two tables over from them.

“Sam!”

“What, Janet??  They do.”

“I know, Sweetie.  That doesn’t mean we need to draw any more attention to them.  It looks like they’ve got enough to deal with.”

“How do you know they didn’t just spend too much time fighting crowds at the parks?”

“Because tired tourists, even those with kids, don’t look that miserable.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they got dressed down by their commanding officer so to speak.”

“Yeah, I think we’re all familiar with that look.  Wonder who could be that unhappy at Walt Disney World?”

“Hopefully we won’t have to find out.”

************

“What the hell are we supposed to do now, Gordon?” AVID marketing director Adelia Ryder asked CEO Gordon Reichmann.  “This is going to be the event of the year and yet, Desdemona managed to completely dismiss the need to register.  And from what I’ve heard, the woman in charge isn’t one to be trifled with.”

“You think she can take on Desi?”

“According to what I can find out,” AVID’s legal advisor Buster Goodfellow said softly.  “She and her partner have no reason to fear her.  Of course I’ve only had a few hours to dig anything up, but so far they’re coming up clean as a whistle.”

“Aw, c’mon guys.  Desi’s not like that,” accountant Franklin Mint spoke up.  “She’s such a gentlewoman.”

“Shut up, Frank,” the group said collectively, causing him to shrivel in place and force his attention to the drink that sat in front of him in the hopes they would forget about him.  Security agent Harmon Nottingham glared at him a moment longer before looking at his compatriots.

“I got nothing as well.  I’ve got some feelers out, but....”  He shrugged.  “Even if we manage to dig something up, I doubt it will be of any use before tomorrow, and Desdemona expects to be able to walk into that conference tomorrow like she owns the place.”

“It’s gonna suck to be her then,” editor Violet Hunter-Powers commented softly though her lips quirked in what looked suspiciously like a grin.  “Karmic payback’s a bitch.”

“Yeah, but I’ll be the one paying for it,” editor Graham Lacking griped.  “You and Melissa always seem to fly under her radar.”

“At least you get noticed, Graham,” editor Melissa Parsons replied softly.  “Sometimes it would be nice to be seen for a change.”

“All right you two... enough,” webmaster Dotty Comstock interrupted before an all out argument could start.  “Rehashing your same old argument again does nothing to help us resolve the situation we’ve got right now.”

“Honestly, Dot, I don’t think anything is going to help with that,” Desdemona’s personal assistant Bailey Bonner stated plaintively.  “She’s already in a snit.”

“So how’d you escape?” Desdemona’s half-brother Warner Godwin asked sardonically.  “Don’t you have a perpetual bullseye tattooed to your forehead?”

Bailey shrugged.  “She wanted to be left alone.  I wasn’t going to miss my chance to escape.”  A tall redhead walked by, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.  She winked at Bailey, causing a small smile to grace Bailey’s face, but the woman moved on without speaking.

Chuckles and snorts broke out across the table.  “Well, I think your early release from the clutches of the evil known to the world as DIVA calls for a round of drinks,” Gordon offered.

“That sounds divine,” Bailey agreed.  The rest nodded their agreement and Gordon and Franklin rose from their places after taking orders from each of their tablemates.  At least their evening was shaping up better than their day had been.  And when a drink arrived for Bailey with a note, it gave them fodder enough to entertain themselves about her new secret admirer.

************

Gabrielle pushed her bangs off her face and sighed out loud.  “My gods,” she mumbled, exchanging glances with Xena.  Xena held her gaze for a long moment before turning back to Barbara.  The three of them had moved into the bedroom at Barbara’s request, wanting to give her the privacy necessary to share the secret Desdemona had unearthed about her.

“Are you completely sure about this?”

Barbara looked at Xena askance at the question.  It wasn’t like killing someone... accidental or not... was something she would ever forget.  She let her sigh convey her thorough frustration with the whole situation – both Desdemona’s knowledge of the event as well as having to share this particular ugly secret with two people she’d come to respect and admire.  “Oh yes.  She showed me proof of her knowledge although the fact that she had that particular knowledge was proof enough.  It’s not something I would share around – it’s not something I am proud of.”

Gabrielle placed a hand on Barbara’s shoulder, squeezing it gently in affectionate support.  “Just know we don’t think less of you, Barbara.  We’ve seen and done much worse.”  She held up a hand to halt the protest Barbara would have made.  “Trust me – I would never lie about something so important just to make you feel better,” allowing Barbara to see the truth in her eyes.  Barbara’s eyes widened in response and she nodded her acceptance.  Xena cleared her throat.

“Who else knows about this?”

“Um... Helena, my mentor Bruce Wayne and probably our butler Alfred.  He always seems to know everything without being told anything.”

“People you trust then.”

“Implicitly.”

“And she has something on Helena and Dinah as well.”

Barbara nodded slowly.  “I have tried to find a way to remove her from our lives or at least relieve her of the proof she has, but I have been unable to find a way to do so short of simply eliminating her from the gene pool altogether.  And I can’t do that – we don’t kill.”

Xena nodded.  “It’s a good code to follow, Barbara.  Becoming judge, jury and executioner is a steep slippery slope to stand on and it gets easier after consciously taking that first step.”

Barbara held Xena’s eyes for a long moment.  “You know that from experience, don’t you?”

Xena’s head dropped.  “I do,” she replied softly, feeling Gabrielle’s hand rub comforting circles across her back.  Her head popped up when Barbara rolled forward and covered Xena’s hand with her own.

“That doesn’t change the person that you are now or how I think about you, Xena.  Sometimes you just do what you have to and move on.”

Xena smiled.  “I like you Barbara Gordon – you’re good people.”  She briefly clasped the hand she held tightly before releasing it and standing.  “All right.  Let me talk to Lucy for a minute and then... well, then we’ll see what we can do about this DIVA.”


Chapter VI

Xena moved back into the main room and jerked her head at Lucy, causing the younger woman to move into the kitchenette area of the suite to assure them some privacy.  Amy made to follow when a shake of Lucy’s head stayed her movement.  Instead she turned her attention to watching Barbara and Gabrielle emerge from the bedroom.  Barbara rolled to Helena’s side instinctively while Gabrielle’s attention was claimed by her ringing cell phone.

“This is Gabrielle.”

“Gabrielle, this is Natalia Rivera – personal assistant to Blake Marler of LaCrosse Publishing.”

“Hi, Natalia.  What can I do for you?”

“I realize that we missed registration this afternoon; we had some serious weather issues coming out of Chicago.  Anyway I was wondering if it would be possible to check-in tomorrow morning. ”

With a single motion from Gabrielle, Barbara had her laptop up and Gabrielle flipped through the pages of conference notes to find the registration for LaCrosse Publishing.  She nodded her thanks to Barbara before turning her attention back to the phone.

“Absolutely, Natalia.  Or if you’d prefer, you can pick them up this evening.”

“Oh, could I?  I’d appreciate it,” sounding a little harried.

“Sure,” Gabrielle said with sympathy in her voice.  “I’ve been in your shoes before.  You’ll have to give me a few minutes to get back to the convention area though.  I’m at the back of the resort.”

“So am I.  Would you like some company on the walk back over?”

“Sure,” Gabrielle replied with a smile and gave Natalia Barbara’s suite number.  She heard a palpable sigh of relief.

“Wonderful... you’re just around the corner.  I’ll be there in a couple minutes if that’s all right.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Gabrielle assured her before closing her phone.  Then she moved towards the kitchenette to let Xena know what was going on.

************

“So you know this DIVA woman personally?” Xena asked Lucy as soon as they were out of earshot of the rest.

“No,” managing to convey disgust and trepidation at the same time.  “I know her by reputation.”  She blew out a frustrated breath causing her bangs to flutter a moment before they resettled themselves on her forehead.  “She’s not an acknowledged part of any known criminal network, but they are all aware of her.  Rumor is she’s managed to get some pretty big secrets on some pretty major players.”

“So no one has taken her out... why, exactly?  C’mon, Lucy – you and I both know someone like that has a way of disappearing.”

“Unless her disappearance or death would cause those secrets to be revealed?” Lucy responded with a question in her voice.  “I dunno,” she shrugged.  “Maybe the secrets weren’t big enough for that; maybe they were just embarrassing things people didn’t want to see the light of day and therefore not important enough to call for a hit on someone that would require a public investigation.”

“What does she have on you?” Xena asked abruptly.

Lucy sighed, letting her eyes drop to the ground before meeting Xena’s once more.  “The reason I was deported from Australia,” shrugging nonchalantly again.

Xena smirked.  She had a feeling this was going to be much more entertaining than Barbara’s secret.  “And that would be...?”

Lucy’s lips twitched.  “How was I supposed to know she was the Prime Minister’s daughter?  And while it’s not the worst thing in the world, it isn’t something I want out there, ya know?  It makes me look like an idiot.”

Xena held up her hand.  “Say no more,” she instructed.  Then she turned to greet Gabrielle.  “What’s up, Sweetheart?”

“I just wanted to let you know I have to go back to the con hall for a couple minutes.  One of my attendees was late getting in and I told her we’d get them checked in tonight.  She sounded like she was having a really bad day, and maybe this will help it end a little better.”  Xena nodded, knowing Gabrielle had an uncanny sense for things like this.

“You want me to walk over with you?”

Gabrielle shook her head.  “She should be here in a minute and you need to finish up here.  But I wouldn’t be adverse to you joining me as soon as you’re done here,” smiling at her beguilingly.  “We do have a date tonight, you know.”

Before Xena could answer, Lucy cut in with an almost gagging sound.  “Honestly... the two of you are gonna give me diabetes with all the sappiness.”

Xena leaned down and kissed Gabrielle briefly but thoroughly.  She turned to Lucy when they separated.  “Jealous much?” she asked with a snicker and twinkling blue eyes.  Lucy simply rolled her brown eyes and shook her head, knowing this was a discussion she had no hope of actually winning.

A knock interrupted their tableau and Helena moved to answer it even as Xena, Gabrielle and Lucy moved back into the living area.  Natalia studied Helena for a long moment, then glanced around the room at the other women gathered there.  “Um... I was looking for Gabrielle?”

Helena motioned her in as Gabrielle stepped forward.  Natalia crossed the threshold, followed immediately by Olivia holding Emma’s hand.  No one even blinked as Gabrielle reached out a hand to introduce herself.

“Natalia?  I’m Gabrielle.  This is Xena, Lucy, Amy, Dinah, Diana, Barbara and Helena,” pointing out the rest individually as she introduced them with a smile.  Natalia nodded her head at them in acknowledgement and accepted Gabrielle’s hand.

“It’s very nice to meet you all. I’m Natalia and this is my partner Olivia and our daughter Emma,” feeling Olivia’s smile at her introduction of their family.  It had been a long, hard road to get them to this point and she couldn’t help the bit of pride that slipped into her voice.   Gabrielle smiled, recognizing the tone for what it was, and unwilling to embarrass Natalia by drawing attention to it.  Instead she clasped Olivia’s hand briefly, welcoming her as she had welcomed Natalia, then turned her attention to Emma.

“So are you attending the conference with your mom, Emma?”

“Oh no... Mama is the one attending the conference with Auntie Blake.  Mom promised to take me on Pirates of the Caribbean and Soaring.  Mama said she has to take me on Mission Space, Test Track, Tower of Terror and the Rockin’ Roller Coaster though.”

Gabrielle grinned.  “Your mama is a very brave lady.”

Emma raised her hand to cup her mouth in an effort to confide secretly in Gabrielle although the entire room heard her stage whisper clearly.  “Mom says it’s ‘cause Mama’s nuts, but really it’s just ‘cause Mom can’t do those rides ‘cause of her heart.  And Mama wants me to have the chance to do everything here.  I’ve never been here before, you know. ”

“Emma!”  Olivia’s exclamation was nothing more than a gasp laced with laughter.

Gabrielle kept her eyes focused on Emma though she could feel the glances Natalia and Olivia were exchanging as well as the attention of the rest of the room.  “Well, I’ll tell you what – I happen to know a couple daredevil types that have done everything here at least once.  They would probably be willing to do all those things with you if your mama decides to keep an eye on your mom instead of being considered nuts by her.  I could even provide references,” with a quick glance of reassurance at Olivia before returning her eyes to Emma.

Emma’s eyes lit up and her smile grew excited at the prospect.  “Really?”

“Really,” Gabrielle grinned.  “But how about if we go over to the convention hall and get the papers your mama needs to come to the conference tomorrow?”

Emma nodded emphatically.  “Yes!  Mom promised me ice cream and a trip to the pool after we take care of business.  Are there any other kids here, do you think?”

“For the conference?  I don’t think so, but I know there are a number of children at the hotel.”

“YES!” Emma exclaimed again, this time pumping her arm in victory.  Then she grabbed Gabrielle’s hand and tugged her towards the door.  “Well, c’mon already.  Let’s get this over with so we can go have some fun.”  Gabrielle followed her out the door, her laughter real and full-bodied.  Natalia and Olivia exchanged disbelieving looks with one another before glancing around the room.

“Um... sorry?”

Helena snorted.  “Why?  She was just being honest.  Besides, we’re all looking forward to the same thing; we just have to pretend to be adults first.”

Natalia laughed softly.  “And here I thought it was just us,” she commented before Emma’s voice carried through the still open door.

“C’mon you guys – I want ice cream!”

Natalia took Olivia’s hand and pulled her towards the door.  “It was nice meeting you all, but we better go before Emma disappears again.”

“Not to worry,” Xena reassured them.  “Gabrielle won’t lose her.”

Olivia snorted.  “You’d be surprised.  That kid is slick - I really should have nicknamed her Houdini instead of Jellybean.”  Everyone in the room chuckled at the visual Olivia’s droll pronouncement gave them.  Natalia and Olivia each gave a quick wave, then closed the door behind them.

The room was silent for a long moment, then they gave a simultaneous sigh, causing another chuckle to ripple through them.  “Wow,” Amy commented after a deep breath.  “I get the feeling that kid is a real handful.”

“I got the feeling Gabrielle volunteered her and Xena to watch her,” Diana remarked with a smile.

“Nothing we haven’t done before,” Xena said with a telling look in Diana’s direction.  “However,” her tone serious and bringing their focus back to the situation at hand.  “We need to keep an eye on this DIVA individual.  I won’t have her causing problems for Gabrielle... or us, for that matter.  So if you hear anything, let me know immediately, all right?”  Her look turned dark, and everyone in the room felt the temperature drop.  “I’m sure I can convince her of the error of her ways.”

Helena turned to Xena, breaking the silence.  “I’d pay good money to see that.  Hell, I’d pay good money to help.”

“I think we all would,” Lucy confessed.

“All right then,” Xena said, clapping her hands together.  “On that note, I’m going to go to catch up with Gabrielle.  You ladies have a good night and if anything comes up....”

“You’ll be the first to know,” Diana said solemnly.  Xena nodded, knowing Diana would spend a good portion of her night digging for whatever she could find out about Desdemona Imala Von A’Calandra.  A tiny part of Xena almost felt sorry for the woman who had brought herself to their attention, but the larger part of her – the warrior part – was looking forward to the denouement with great relish.

************

“So when are we taking Jellybean to the parks with us?” Xena dryly asked Gabrielle several hours later when they were comfortably ensconced in their room alone together at last.  Their dinner date had turned into a family affair as everyone who knew them stopped by to say hello and chat a moment.  They tried not to begrudge the time as they counted each of the women who did so as friends, but it was something of a relief to finally get back to their suite.

“We don’t have to....” Gabrielle started before grinding to a halt at Xena’s upraised hand.  Xena motioned with her finger and Gabrielle presented her back.  Xena unzipped her and planted a kiss on the juncture between shoulder and neck, then patted her back before she responded.

“Sure we do,” she replied with a smile, kicking off her shoes and unzipping the dark trousers she wore.  “You promised her we would.  And to be honest with you, I think it would be kind of fun.  We haven’t seen this place with a newbie’s eyes since it was new almost forty years ago.”  She paused a moment.  “I’m kinda curious as to why you did it aside from there being a good story between Olivia and Natalia.  They kinda - they remind me of us... once upon a long time ago.”

“You got that feeling too?” Gabrielle asked, stepping out of her dress and hanging it up for dry cleaning later.  She turned to face Xena and started casually unbuttoning the silk shirt she had on as Xena tried to neatly fold her pants.

Xena smirked.  “When you’ve lived with a bard as long as I have, you learn to pick up on the subtle things.”

Gabrielle smacked the bare belly she had just exposed.  “Don’t go blaming me for your sixth sense, Warrior.  You were doing that long before you and I met.  As I recall you’re the one who taught me to look for significance in the details.”

“Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe,” Xena commented, bracing herself for the second smack she knew was coming, then pouting the least little bit when it landed.  “Oof!  Careful there, bard of mine.  You’re gonna damage the goods.”

Gabrielle smirked before sliding down and leaning over to kiss the spot she had just hit.  “That’s all right,” she reassured.  “I own these goods.  Besides, you heal pretty quickly, and I’m pretty sure I can make you forget all about any residual pain you might be experiencing in the meantime,” continuing to ghost light kisses across the muscled midriff in front of her.

Xena cupped Gabrielle’s chin gently, raising her face until their eyes met.  “You think so, huh?” blue eyes dancing with merriment.  “Can I get that in writing?”

“I have a counter offer,” waiting for the brow to spike in question like she knew it would.  She stood up straight, putting her hands on Xena’s shoulders and nudging her gently towards the bed and watching the raised brow become a smirking expression.

“Oh?”

“Umm... how about you take me on faith just this once?” pushing Xena to sit on the bed before straddling her lap.  “If it works out in your best interests, we’ll just forget all about that written guarantee, all right?”

“And if it doesn’t?” Xena asked distractedly, her focus concentrated on unclasping the bra Gabrielle wore and sliding it off her body while stroking every bit of bare skin she could touch.  She smiled when Gabrielle’s breath caught in her chest at the light caresses.  Gabrielle shook her head and cleared her throat in an effort to regain control of herself and the situation that was rapidly spiraling away from her.

“If it doesn’t,” she replied breathlessly, “you can name your terms,” sucking in another deep breath when Xena tweaked both nipples hard.  She felt her eyes flash red-gold at the pain and allowed them to meet Xena’s as her incisors began to elongate.  The warrior chuckled.

“So,” she purred, nuzzling into Gabrielle’s neck and sniffing at her pulse point.  “It’s a win/win situation for me.”  She felt the barest pinprick at her own neck and scented the coppery tang of blood in the air surrounding them.

“Um hmm,” Gabrielle agreed as she licked the drop of blood that had welled up on Xena’s neck.  Then without warning she found herself on the bottom of a hot-blooded warrior pile and she smiled beguilingly into Xena’s eyes.  “Is there a problem?”

“Not at all, my bard.  Just remember than any marks you leave on me, I will be only too happy to return in kind.”

“Promise?”

It was the last word spoken between them for the remainder of the night.

************

Diana blew out a frustrated breath and closed her laptop, removing her glasses and rubbing eyes that were actually aching with the strain of staring at a computer screen for too many consecutive hours.  She had found some information on Von A’Calandra but not enough to put her away for.  There were a lot of rumors, some hints and clues about possibilities, but no real hard-core evidence that the woman was guilty of any real wrongdoing.  Not that blackmail was a respectable occupation, but without absolute proof or someone willing to testify against her, Xena would simply want to beat the woman senseless for her implied threat of Gabrielle.  And that didn’t even take into account Gabrielle’s reaction or that of the Amazon Nation when they got wind of the threat to their most revered Queen.  No... what Diana needed were cold hard facts she could put in front of a judge – or better yet, in front of a council of elders who would punish the woman in ways she would never again think of breathing out of sync... much less anything that smacked of illegality.

Diana let her hands move down to her neck, rubbing at the stiffness there before moving from the table and crawling between the cool sheets with a sigh.  She didn’t think it was enough on its own, but maybe it was enough of a start that she and Xena might come up with some new ideas in the morning.  At any rate, she needed some sleep.  Hopefully tomorrow would bring more answers.

************

Meanwhile at another resort on property, Desdemona sat propped up in bed hacking into files and search engines looking for something... anything... she could use as leverage against Gabrielle.  She had the distinct feeling the woman was a force to be reckoned with judging by her polite but unflinching manner earlier.  And she was determined to get into that conference by whatever means necessary.

She smiled and cracked her knuckles as the computer whizzed through the directives and parameters she had given it.  Everybody had secrets.  And secrets had a way of coming out if you knew where to look and what to look for.  Lucky for her, she was a master at hide and seek and knew how to parley that knowledge into a profitable little side venture.  She chuckled softly and resumed her searching.

Desdemona was going to be the star of this conference... one way or another.


Chapter VII

“So how was your friend, Nat?” Blair asked as they sat at breakfast in the resort’s main dining room.  They had contemplated eating in the food court for about half a minute before deciding to simply take the buffet option and the quieter setting.

“Good – better than I expected,” Natalie replied as she buttered her toast.  “I think there is probably a story there if she’ll let me run with it.”

“There is a story there,” Tootie confirmed.  “You wouldn’t believe the things she shared with us last night... about this war as well as Desert Storm.”

“And does she have proof?” Jo asked as she set her coffee cup on the table.

Natalie shrugged.  “That’s the first thing I have to find out, but I’d be willing to bet she does.”

“So it was worth missing dinner with us?” Blair asked haughtily but couldn’t contain the twinkle in her eye.

Natalie smirked and cocked an eyebrow, but her eyes remained serious.  “It would have been even without a story, Blair.  I see you guys all the time.  I haven’t seen her for years though we have kept in touch.”  She paused, her expression sobering.  “She saved my life.”

Silence fell at her statement and Jo cleared her throat awkwardly.  “Maybe you’ll share the story one day?” she asked quietly.

“Maybe one day,” Natalie agreed.  Then they focused on breakfast, not surprised to see more conference attendees entering the restaurant.

************

“Are Abbie and Casey joining us this morning?” Alex asked as she and Olivia entered the restaurant foyer waiting to be seated.  When Liv shrugged, Alex asked for a table for two and followed the hostess to a quiet corner in the restaurant.  “I wonder what’s going on there,” she said after they were seated, her voice quiet despite their relative privacy.  Olivia shrugged.

“I dunno.  But if I was a betting woman, I’d guess it has something to do with Abbie having commitment issues.”

“You think Casey is pushing her?”

“Not at all.  I think Abbie wants it badly, and she doesn’t know how to deal with that.”

They heard a faint buzzing sound and Alex jumped slightly before reaching for her phone.  She read the text message and frowned, typing in a response before tucking her phone away again.  Olivia arched an eyebrow in her direction and Alex sighed.

“Mary’s been held up in Albuquerque though she’s hoping to be here sometime tonight.  I was really hoping she’d be here early so you could meet her.  I liked her a lot better than Hammond; she was more a little more sympathetic and much easier to deal with.”

Olivia smirked.  “Not that you made it easy.”  Alex glared at her briefly before giving Olivia a sheepish grin and a shrug.  Then her demeanor changed and Olivia watched Alex wave someone over, not surprised to see Casey come up beside them.  Olivia took one look at their friend and rose to snatch an empty chair from a nearby table, motioning Casey to a seat before she resumed her own.  Alex covered Casey’s hand.

“You all right, Case?”

The redhead gave a negative shake.  “Not really,” she said, blowing out a breath and accepting the menu Olivia handed her.  “But I will be.  It’s just going to take time.”

“I could just kick her ass,” Liv offered, earning her a glare from Alex and Casey simultaneously.  She shrugged.  “It was just a thought.”

“Put your macha back in your pants, Detective,” Alex admonished.  “It’s not our problem to solve.”

“I know, Alex.  Is it wrong that I don’t want our friends to suffer through what we did to find happiness?”

“I think it’s sweet of you, Liv,” Casey said with a sad smile.  “I think it’s also one reason you appreciate what you have.”

Olivia and Alex exchanged a long look.  “Probably,” they said together and smiled.  “Still wouldn’t wish it on my friends though.”

Casey smiled.  “I appreciate that.  And I think having her cousin here will do her a world of good.  I just have to be patient,” chuckling when Olivia’s head met the table.

“I hate that word,” she mumbled, purring when she felt Alex’s nails scrape against her scalp.

“All good cops and lawyers do,” Alex assured her when her hand reached the base of Olivia’s skull.  “Now sit up and let’s order breakfast.  I have a feeling today is going to be a busy day even without all the personal drama.”

“With any luck, the personal drama will be over before it turns into really bad melodrama.”

Casey raised her coffee cup at Liv’s sentiment.  “Hear!  Hear!!”  Then they turned to give their orders to the waiting server.

************

“My word, it’s busy in here,” Helen commented as she and Nikki took seats in the food court next to Kate and Emma.

“It’s to be expected, Luv,” Emma assured her.  “Remember the crush of women that were registering yesterday?  On the plus side, it’s likely we’ll be making some good contacts on this side of the pond before all this is over,” she mentioned just as Kelly approached them.

“Excuse me,” the light Texas drawl evident to the British quartet.  “I don’t mean to impose on you, but I saw you registering for the conference yesterday?” the question evident in her voice.  Four heads nodded in tandem.  Kelly smiled.  “Right, well, could I ask you to possibly help me hold these two tables?” motioning to the tables beside them.  “I need seating for six and as busy as it is in here....”

For answer Kate shifted over to the nearest table and Kelly’s smile became a genuine grin.  “Thank you,” extending her hand.  “I’m Kelly Garrett of Townsend and Associates.”

“We know of you,” Emma exclaimed with a smile of her own.  Then the introductions began as they waited for the remainder of Kelly’s party to join them.

************

Emily and JJ watched as Garcia charmed the man at the omelet station into creating something that vaguely resembled pizza before they moved on to the grill station.

“So are we going to get to hear the story of you and your Aunt Sabrina soon?” JJ asked as they waited in line.  Emily shrugged.  Their plans the previous evening had gone up like so much smoke when a phone call from Charles Townsend had called Sabrina, Kelly and Kris from the restaurant before they could even be seated.  They had just had time to make arrangements to meet for breakfast and as busy as the food court was, they were glad Kelly had volunteered to find a place for them all to sit together.

“I hope so,” Emily said sadly.  “I’d really like to know....”

“So would I,” JJ agreed fiercely, bringing a smile to Emily’s face.

“Thank you for being patient,” Emily commented as they reached the head of the line.  “I know it’s hard.”  She smirked.  “It’s driving me nuts myself.”  She turned and gave their order to the cast member waiting to take it.  JJ bumped her shoulder.

“So we’ll be squirrelly together.  No worries.”  Then Penelope caught up to them to let them know she would meet them at the table.

“Looks like Kelly made some new friends.  Always a good thing in this business,” she mentioned before she headed towards the seating area.  They watched her go for a moment before turning their attention back towards the food that was being prepared for them.

************

“I can’t believe she had the nerve to show up here,” Kris commented to Sabrina as they collected breakfast for the three of them.  “You’d think with the number of law enforcement personnel here....”

Sabrina smirked, one of her first since Charlie’s call the previous evening.  Not only had she lost an opportunity to reconnect with a niece she had sorely missed, Charlie’s news had been less than welcome and they had spent a good portion of the evening going over everything they knew about the woman everyone knew as DIVA.

“I’d be willing to bet good money and tickets to Disney besides that she wasn’t aware of the law enforcement conference.”  She bit her lip thoughtfully.  “She still may not be.  Remember, according to Charlie’s information she’s here for the Women in Media conference that is set up next door to ours.  I imagine we’re going to be something of an unpleasant surprise for her.”

“As bad as she was for us?”

Now Sabrina’s smile turned feral.  “Worse – she’s screwing up a reunion I really want to happen.”

“And we’ll get to hear about this?” Kris asked as they moved towards Kelly.  Sabrina chuckled. 

“You think Kelly would let it lie?”  Kris laughed.

************

“You think Linds got her cousin straightened out last night?” Jill asked Claire as they exited their room.

“Maybe,” Cindy replied, stepping from her room in time to hear the question.  She took a deep breath that became a yawn before she responded more calmly.  “Abbie stayed the night with us.  I think Linds may have gotten through to her, but God what a mess in the meantime.”

“What’s a mess?” Catherine asked as the Las Vegas contingent exited their rooms almost simultaneously.

“Trying to get up and going this morning,” Cindy replied without missing a beat.

Sofia nodded her agreement.  “No kidding.  I think we were up half the night trying to figure out where Wendy picked up a doppelganger.”

“Find anything?” Sara asked as they headed towards the main building as a single unit.

“Well,” Lilly said slowly.  “We know she’s a New Orleans police detective named Nikki Beaumont.  Otherwise...” she paused.  “Wendy may just have to talk to her to get some answers.”

Jill snorted.  “Figures we can’t even come to a conference at Walt Disney World without running into some sort of mystery.”  The rest chortled at her comment, and they made their way to the restaurant for breakfast.

************

“Excuse me, Jordan?” Liz asked, looking at the woman’s nametag to ensure she didn’t call her Claire.  “Could we join you?” motioning to her fellow counselors.  Jordan cocked a questioning eyebrow but nodded, her curiosity overwhelming her caution.  “Thank you.”

Serena, Tracey, Kelly and Liz all took seats and Jordon continued eating until their surreptitious glances caused her to blurt out, “What?!”

“I’m sorry,” Liz apologized.  “You just remind us so much of an old friend.  Did you know a woman named Claire Kincaid?”

Jordan paused thoughtfully then shook her head.  “Tell me about her?”

************

“Tempe?” Mac asked as she, Janet and Sam wended their way through the restaurant.  Bones waved them over and Angela and Cam made room for them to join them.  Mac performed introductions and they quickly ordered from the harried-looking though still smiling waitress.  Then they glanced around the full room.

“So how did the military end up at a law enforcement convention?  Or are you attending the media conference?”

“Well, you know Mac is a lawyer; Janet is a doctor who has done her share of autopsies and I was ordered here as a Homeland Security liaison.”

Angela snorted.  “I just wanted the free trip to Disney World.” 

Janet laughed.  “Me too.”

************

“Emily, why am I dealing with all these people?  Surely there is a way I could have peace and privacy for breakfast, especially with her in our vicinity,” sneering in Andrea’s direction before turning her attention back to her own table.  “Never mind... the girls seem to be enjoying it,” she doted, noting the smiles on Caroline’s and Cassidy’s faces.   “And the food is acceptable at least.”  She noticed Emma and her mothers two tables over.  “Find out who those women are.  They are a lovely family and that child is adorable.  We might be able to use something like that in an upcoming issue,” the wheels of her mind turning as Emily scribbled as quickly as she could.  “Emily, for heaven’s sakes... eat something before you fall over.  And make sure the girls get out to the park as soon as they are done here.  I will see you in the conference room in forty-five minutes,” dropping cash onto the table as she rose.  She kissed both children, then made her way out the door, not noticing the stares that followed her.

************

“I wonder who she is,” Ziva commented as she watched Miranda leave.

“Fashion editor,” Kate commented, frowning when Abby and Ziva stared at her.  “What?  Just because I carry a gun doesn’t mean I don’t have an eclectic mix of reading material.”

“No need to get defensive,” Abby commented.  “I like Runway myself if only to try and figure out what the designers were smoking when they were drawing.”

Ziva snorted.  “I never understood the fascination with pencil thin women.”

“It reminds the rest of us how good it is to be normal women with curves who can relish good food and caffeine,” Kate snarked, then deliberately took a bite of bacon and eggs. 

Ziva laughed.  “I can agree with that.”

“Me too,” Abby said, relishing the Caf-Pow the staff had managed to concoct to her specifications and reminding herself to leave them a good tip.  “Life would be ugly without it,” raising her glass and smiled when her companions did the same in return.

“Hear!  Hear!”

************

“Excited?” Simone asked Annabelle as they looked around the crowded food court.  Annabelle bit her lip as a substitute for the fingernail she couldn’t reach due to the tray she held in her hands.

“A little, maybe.  Nervous mostly,” she confessed as they squeezed into an empty table for two.

Simone frowned.  “Why?  Annabelle, you are one of the most gifted, confident women I know.  Where is all the insecurity coming from, Sweetheart?”

“I don’t know, but it can go away now.”

Simone smiled.  “We’ll get through this just like we have everything else that’s come our way.  And once we’re done here, we can go Princess stalking.”

Annabelle narrowed her eyes.  “I’m going to give you something to stalk in a minute.”

“Promise?” Simone queried with an evil smirk.

Annabelle set her tray down and wrapped her arms around Simone’s neck, previous nervousness completely forgotten.  “Guaran-damn-teed.”

Simone grinned, glad her ploy had worked.  They never even saw the harried individuals that passed them without a second look.

************

“Are you kidding me, Bailey?” Adelia asked incredulously, cringing at the force ten glare leveled her way.  “Of course you’re not.  But what the hell does she hope to accomplish with this?”

“How the hell would I know?” Bailey ground out between clenched teeth.  “I tried telling her that if Gabrielle doesn’t get us tossed, Disney will do it of their own volition.  You definitely get what you pay for here, but you absolutely have to pay for it.  Stealing space is going to land us in jail!!”

“So while she’s landing all us girls in jail, what are the boys doing?” Melissa asked as they made their way to wherever Bailey was leading them.

Bailey shook her head.  “I’m not sure.  I know they’re bringing books over, but otherwise...?”  She shrugged.  “I’m sure she’ll let us know when she thinks we need to know.”

“Someone’s going to get fed up with her one day,” Violet smirked even as she hefted one end of the long table Bailey had scrounged from somewhere.  “And then it will be bye-bye Desi.”

“I hope that day comes soon,” Graham said as he rolled up with a bellhop’s cart full of boxes.  “Someone needs to take that bitch down a peg or six.”

Silence fell – all of them agreeing with him but unwilling to make that sort of commitment aloud for fear of the consequences.  Instead they returned to their task, wondering how long it would be before hell broke loose for them... again.


Chapter VIII

“Morning, Sport,” Xena commented to Lucy as she clapped her shoulder, garnering a glare from her younger compatriot until Lucy started coughing.  Instantly Xena smacked Lucy sharply between the shoulder blades, causing her to dislodge whatever had caused her to choke.  Lucy waved her off, catching her breath and taking a few swallows of her orange juice before hissing and glaring in Xena’s direction again.  Xena’s brow creased.  “What?”

“That burns,” Lucy croaked, reaching for the water and sighing when its coolness hit the back of her throat, soothing the rawness.

“You all right?” Xena asked sincerely.  Lucy nodded.

“Yeah... I just didn’t hear you sneaking up on me,” Lucy smirked.  “What’s up with that anyway?”

Xena blinked guileless blue eyes.  “I’m not sure I know what you mean.  I walked over here just like I walk everywhere else.”

“My point,” Lucy crowed though the twinkling in brown eyes belied any real upset.  “Can’t you stomp or wear a bell or something?”

Xena rolled her eyes and signaled the single server assigned to this room over for both her order as well as Gabrielle’s.  Sometimes it was good to be in charge, and at the moment, in a private dining room that allowed the organizers of both conventions a few more minutes of peace before the melee began, it was good.  She only hoped she’d feel the same at the end of the day as well as at the end of the conference.

They watched the waiter walk back towards the kitchen area behind the conference rooms before Lucy resumed eating.  “Amy having breakfast with the D.E.B.S.?”

Lucy finished chewing and swallowed carefully before nodding.  “Yeah.  Janet came by this morning to see if Amy would join them; you know... to give them a little chance to catch up.  Since she’s really not part of the staff for either conference....”  Lucy trailed off and Xena nodded sagely.

“Fair enough,” then nodded again when the waiter offered her a cup of coffee.  She looked around casually, noting with satisfaction all their computer equipment seemed to be set and running.  “Scud’s already been and gone?”

“Yeah,” Lucy replied with a laugh.  “Said he needed to get out of the estrogen field before he lost his boyish figure.  I’m not sure where he’s gonna find a testosterone laden bingo game at the Magic Kingdom, but if it makes him happy....”  She trailed off with a shrug.

“Remind me to give him a bonus.  He did some really great work here for both conferences.  I know he saved Barbara and Gabrielle some effort.”

“Speaking of... where’s everyone else?” Lucy asked motioning around the empty room with her fork.

Xena looked at her watch and shrugged.  “We’re actually a little ahead of schedule.  Gabrielle sent me ahead to take care of ordering for us because she couldn’t find her glasses.”  Xena watched Lucy’s eyes widen comically and chuckled.  “I know, but she said I was causing more problems than I was solving,” her smile just the slightest bit evil.  Lucy snorted.

“No, really?  Imagine that.”

“Exactly,” Xena nodded emphatically, lips protesting her innocence even as her eyes spoke of her deviltry.  “I mean who would think...?”

“Anyone who knows you, Sweetheart,” Gabrielle pronounced from the doorway as she led an entourage into the room.  Helena shook her head in understanding.

“Glad I don’t seem to be the only one with that affliction,” she remarked to Barbara.  “Always being sadly misunderstood.”

A raised brow from Barbara and a snort from Dinah caused Helena to purse her lips in the smallest pout – which immediately changed to a blinding smile when Barbara took her hand and squeezed lightly.

Dinah slapped her hands over her ears.  “All right, you two – stop projecting mushy stuff!!”  She stomped to the table and dropped into a chair, propping her elbows on the table.  “I’m gonna need therapy to recover!”

“I wouldn’t recommend it; there’s not enough therapy in the world to fix your issues on that particular front,” offered with a smirk that caused Dinah to stick out her tongue in Helena’s direction.  “Besides, we both know from personal experience that psychs are bigger lunatics than the rest of us combined,” Helena commented roughly.  “Although that makes a certain amount of sense given that they listen to fruitcakes complain all damn day long.”

“Maybe I can take your mind off of it Dinah,” Diana said as she crossed the threshold holding her open laptop.

“Bad news?” Xena asked, her tone causing the rest to straighten and find the seats at the table.

Diana nodded and passed the notebook to Xena.  “It’s not good,” she confirmed.  The waiter placed Xena’s order in front of her and waited for Gabrielle to signal for the other plate, then patiently waited for the rest to place their orders.  He scooted off quickly when they were done, and they all turned their attention to Xena, awaiting her verdict on Diana’s research.

************

“So we can expect some sort of retaliation at this point regardless,” Xena stated flatly, directing her gaze to Diana who nodded slowly.

“I’d say it was a safe bet.  She doesn’t seem to be the type to let any sort of perceived slight to slide.”

Xena cocked an eyebrow.  “I’ll look forward to her trying.”

“Xena,” Gabrielle chided softly.  Xena turned to look directly into green eyes and the rest of the world faded from their consciousness.

“No, Gabrielle.  I never have, and I’m certainly not starting with this woman.  She wants to be the baddest ass on the block – I’ll show her what badass is.”

Gabrielle smiled gently, cupping her hand around Xena’s cheek.  “Still my champion?”

“Always.”

“But you do know I can handle this?” seeing the truth in the blue eyes she held even as broad shoulders lifted nonchalantly.  “Xena….”

“I know; it doesn’t make me want to pound her face into a fine powder any less.”  She held Gabrielle’s eyes a moment longer before giving a loud sigh.  “Fine... we’ll do it your way for now.  But so help me, Gabrielle, she lifts an eyebrow in your direction....”

“... and all bets are off.  I know.  I have to try my way first.  I doubt she’s ever had to deal with someone like me before.  We both know there is nothing for her to find.”

“And she won’t be able to plant anything against her either,” Diana assured them, bringing their attention back to the room and the women patiently waiting for the tableau to be over.  “I contacted Paula last night and she is running a program that will effectively thwart every effort Desdemona makes to take action against Gabrielle.  It’s quite clever actually.”

“May I see...?” Barbara asked, holding out her hands as Diana scooped up her laptop and offered it to her.  She waited until Diana keyed in a few commands, then stared at the screen with an evil smirk.  She turned to Diana and laughed.  “Am I reading this right?” pointing to one small portion of the screen.

“Depends,” Diana replied cautiously.  “What do you think you see?”

Barbara studied the area a moment longer, then slipped her glasses from her face to chew absently on an earpiece while she remained thoughtfully still.  Finally after a few moments of contemplation she returned her eyes to meet Diana’s, absently noting that the rest seemed to be waiting for her discovery as well.

“I think it is a bot that turns her own actions against her.  The more digging she does... the more action she tries to take against Gabrielle, the more the bot makes her the victim of her effort.”

“In English please, Barbara,” Helena asked, knowing from some of the other befuddled looks in the room that she wasn’t the only one having a difficult time following.

Barbara folded her hands in her lap and took a deep breath to address the gathered women just as she would a classroom full of English Lit seniors.  “Correct me if I’m wrong, Diana,” with a nod to the other woman, “but it looks like it’s creating a loop that always leads back to her.  When she tries to investigate Gabrielle, the bot will only provide Desdemona information about herself... not Gabrielle.  And any attempt Desdemona makes to fabricate some sort of charge against Gabrielle – anything she could try to use as blackmail material – ends up as her ‘truth’.  In other words, she can’t plant any evidence of wrongdoing against Gabrielle because it makes her look guilty of whatever she’s trying to accuse Gabrielle of.”

Helena nodded her approval.  “That’s pretty fucking cool, Red.”

“I thought so too,” Barbara admitted.  She looked back at Diana.  “Do you think I could get a look at the code for my personal curiosity when this is all over?”

Her eyes didn’t leave Barbara’s, but the vigilante got the distinct impression Diana waited for approval from Gabrielle before nodding her agreement.  Barbara smiled and passed the laptop back to Diana. 

“Thank you, Diana.  You won’t regret it.”

“I know, Barbara, and I appreciate that.  Now,” closing her laptop and turning back to the others in the room, “if we’re done here....”  But before she could finish, the Disney convention coordinator strode quickly into the room from the back, her expression more than slightly harried.

“Rita?” Gabrielle asked.

The slim woman took a deep breath.  “Gabrielle, I think we have a problem.”

************

“Is this the best you could do?” Desdemona asked sharply as she swept up to the beleaguered women currently putting the finishing touches on the tables they had pilfered not many minutes before.  They were draped and labeled with the AVID logo.  Boxes were stacked neatly under them waiting to be opened and their bounty placed on the tops.  All in all they weren’t doing too badly, and Bailey exchanged a look with her hapless cohorts before looking at Desi.

“We’ve only had a few moments to prepare,” she started, but cut off abruptly when Desdemona sighed like a martyr while giving her a look that distinctly called her a moron without ever saying a word.

“Why are we out in the hall?  We are supposed to be inside with the rest of the publishers!  This is not some two-bit company looking for handouts.  We are one of the foremost leaders in the industry of feminine publishing.  Tell them, Franklyn.”

“We are one of the foremost leaders in the industry of feminine publishing,” he droned obediently.  Bailey and the rest rolled their eyes at one another though they did not let Desdemona see such an action.  She wasn’t very tolerant of much – least of all insubordination.  Bailey took a deep breath when she turned back to Desi to find her waiting impatiently for an explanation – hands on hips and eyebrow raised in question even as she scowled in anger.

“Be that as it may, it does not change the fact that we did not register for this convention and there is not a place inside for us.”

Brown eyes burned red with rage and Desdemona sneered.  “Are you so sure??  Have you tried?” grabbing for the door handle and jerking only to find it locked against her efforts.

“Yes, Desdemona.  I am sure and I have tried,” Bailey responded calmly, wondering again why she continued working a job she had come to hate almost as much as she did the woman who employed her.

“Well, pick the lock or something,” Desi demanded.

“No,” Bailey returned shakily though her eyes never left Desdemona’s.

“What did you say?” hissing and standing straighter.

“No, Desdemona.  Setting up out here is going to get us into enough trouble.  I’m not going to add breaking and entering to the charges.”

Desdemona snorted.  “That’s ridiculous.  What charges??  We’re entitled to be here.  We’re a pillar in the publishing community.  There should be a place for us regardless of whether we registered or not.  They need us.”

“If they need us then they will ask us to join them when they arrive.  Until then, there’s not much else we can do,” Bailey explained patiently.

“Actually,” a new voice broke in, “there is something you can do.”  The AVID publishing contingent turned as a single body to find a slim woman approaching them wearing a Disney nametag.  Bailey gave a longsuffering sigh.  She had been waiting for this and knew with Desi here, it was likely to become an ugly confrontation.

“Who are you... Rita?” Desdemona sneered, hoping to intimidate the woman into leaving.  “What business do you have here?”

Rita smiled pleasantly enough, but it was clear to the rest of the AVID team that she was someone of importance in this place.  “I am the convention planning supervisor for the resort,” she informed Desdemona politely.  “And it is my job to ensure that things run smoothly and that everything is in place for my clients.”

“Good!” Desdemona replied, oozing slimy charm.  “Then you can let us into the convention hall,” motioning to the locked doors behind her.  “We were late getting in and my associates thought it best to set up in the hall since we couldn’t gain access to the main room.  Now that you’re here however....”

“Now that I’m here, I’m going to have to ask you to pack up your things and return the tables to wherever you found them.  Then you need to clear the premises.”

Desdemona sputtered, her anger washing over her in white hot spots.  “Clear the premises?!?  Do you know who I am???” drawing herself up to her full height... a height that made little difference to Rita who stood another five inches taller than she was.

“Yes, actually I do.  And I know you are not actually registered for either convention that is taking place in this hall this weekend.  So as a courtesy I am offering you the opportunity to vacate these premises without penalty.  If I have to have you removed, it will be unpleasant.  You will be removed, not simply from this resort, but from Disney property.”

Desdemona narrowed her eyes.  “Are you threatening me, Rita?”

“Not at all, Ms Von A’Calandra.  I am simply telling you how it is going to be.”

Desi pursed her lips, then gave what was supposed to have been a charming smile.  “I think there has been a misunderstanding.  I am supposed to be part of the Women in Media conference.  I am certain the paperwork just got lost... probably my worthless assistant,” gesturing to Bailey who turned red at the implication.  “Perhaps if we were to talk to Gabrielle....”

Rita sighed.  She knew what she had been told, but if it would make this... individual... leave peacefully, she would ask Gabrielle to reiterate her instructions.  She nodded.

“Very well.  Wait here.  I’ll go find Gabrielle and we’ll get this settled once and for all.  However, regardless of what she says, you cannot keep these tables here.  They need to be dismantled and put away where you found them.”

“Of course,” Desdemona agreed sweetly.  “We’ll get right on it.”

Rita walked away and Desdemona turned back to her employees fuming.

“All right!  Get this mess packed up and put away.  You knew better than to try something like this!  I can’t imagine what you were thinking!”  A beat.  “Oh that’s right – you can’t think for yourselves, can you?  That’s why you need me to do it for you all the time!  And you,” facing Bailey who met her eyes defiantly before dropping back to the table.  “If Gabrielle doesn’t forgive your lack of preparedness and allow us into this convention – you’re fired.”

“Of course,” Bailey mumbled under her breath.  “Heaven forbid you take responsibility for your own mistakes.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, Desdemona.”

“That’s what I thought.  Now get to work.”

Bailey bit her lip and the rest looked at her sympathetically, but no one stepped forward to interfere.  Instead they doubled their efforts, hoping to deflect Desdemona’s attention from her ire.  Then Gabrielle and her entourage approached with Rita leading the way and they simply stood back to watch the fallout.

************

“Gabrielle, I don’t think you understand.” Desdemona’s smile reminded Gabrielle vaguely of an alligator waiting to bite.

“I understand perfectly, Ms Von A’Calandra.  The fact remains that you did not register for the conference and there is no way to make a place for you at this late date.  Now I am sorry that you cannot attend, but I cannot and will not make an exception.”

Desdemona’s eyes flared in rage and she looked at the women behind Gabrielle, smirking when she caught Barbara Gordon’s eye.  “I guess Ms Gordon didn’t explain things to you.”

Green eyes flashed fire and Desdemona forced herself not to take an instinctive step back in reflex.  “Oh... Barbara made things perfectly clear, Ms Von A’Calandra.  So let me make myself perfectly clear to you.  I don’t like you and I don’t like the way you operate; therefore I have absolutely no reason to allow you into my conference.  Do yourself a favor and go home.”

Desdemona snarled.  “Oh Gabrielle,” she purred.  “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Gabrielle’s chuckle caused a flush of red to infuse Desdemona’s features.  “That’s where you’re wrong, Desdemona.  I know exactly who and what you are.  But let me assure you, you really don’t have a clue with whom you’re dealing.  Now go home and leave my friends alone.”

“And if I don’t?”  Before Gabrielle could say a word, Xena stepped up beside her and let her eyes flash red-gold.  This time, Desdemona did step back, clutching at her throat with her hand and nodding jerkily.  “Very well,” she conceded with another sneer in Gabrielle’s direction.  “I’ll go for now.  But we’re not done.  This isn’t over!” she proclaimed dramatically before motioning to her minions and striding off down the hall, leaving the rest to watch her departure in silence.


Chapter IX

Lucy waited a whole heartbeat after the AVID contingent disappeared around the corner before she snorted indelicately.  Helena caught her eye and added a guffaw to her merriment and soon they were laughing.  Rita, Dinah and Barbara joined in and even Diana chuckled quietly at the turn of events.  Only Xena and Gabrielle remained unfazed, exchanging smirks and silent communication over not only the events of the past few minutes but also the method of stress relief their cohorts were indulged in.

Finally Rita drew a deep breath and sighed.  “I know that was completely unprofessional of me, but that woman has been a thorn in my side and that of my fellow planners since she arrived two days ago.”  She looked at Lucy and Helena.  “Thank you for the laugh; I needed that.”  She turned to Gabrielle.  “Thank you for allowing me to be a witness to that.  It was nice to see her get her comeuppance in a way that I am simply not allowed to give it to her.”

Gabrielle patted the hand resting lightly on her arm and gave Rita a sympathetic smile.  “I do not envy you, Rita.  I’ve been where you are and I’ve learned that sometimes the best art of negotiation lies in just telling it like it is.”

Rita nodded.  “Is there anything else I can do for either of you at the moment?” looking between them and watching the unspoken communication in fascination before Xena and Gabrielle turned to face her once more.

“Not at the moment,” Xena replied.  “I think we’re all set.”

“All right.” Rita nodded again.  “Well, I’ll have my cell on and you know where the office is if you need anything.  John will be in this morning and Shondra has the evening shift.”

“Thanks Rita,” they offered and watched her walk back towards the office area before Xena clapped her hands together.

“All right troops!” motioning the women around her to scatter.  “Time to get to work.”

With that, Xena, Diana and Lucy went one direction while Gabriella, Barbara, Helena and Dinah headed another.  It was time for the fun to begin.

************

“Casey, can we talk?” Lindsay asked as she met up with the rather large New York contingent waiting to enter the conference room.  Casey studied Lindsay for a long moment before nodding her head. 

“Sure.”  She looked at Olivia and Alex.  “Will you guys excuse me?”

“We’ll save you a seat,” Alex assured her as they were herded towards the door.  Casey nodded her thanks and moved off to one side with Lindsay following just behind her.

“What can I do for you, Inspector?” her tone firm.

Lindsay bit her lip.  “First of all, Abbie doesn’t know I’m here talking to you.  If she did she’d disown me for minding her business.”

“Which is?” Casey prodded.

“Look, I can’t tell you that; it’s really not my place.  What I can tell you is that when she comes to you... and she will... and she tells you it’s her and not you – she’s not lying.  Her problem is her right now, but if you’re patient I promise the payoff will be worth it.”  When she was met with silence and a skeptically raised eyebrow, Lindsay sighed.  She should have known that her cousin would pick some one who was her equal – not just in the brains and beauty departments, but in the stubbornness department as well.  She scrubbed her hands over her face and rubbed the back of her neck before catching Casey’s eyes and holding them with her own.

“Casey, do you love her? Really truly love her?”

“Heart and soul, Inspector,” Casey answered without hesitation.  Lindsay smiled.

“Then trust me on this.”

Casey studied the brown eyes looking into her own and realized they were so like the ones she loved.  She saw the same flecks of gold, the same twinkling sense of mischief peeking out at her and the same sense of earnestness and genuine concern.  She wondered what caused the shadows in Lindsay’s eyes and vowed to befriend this woman on her own merit as well as for Abbie’s sake.

“All right, Inspector,” she said at long last.  “I’ll trust you; I don’t think you’d lie to me about something like this.”

“Nope.  I love my cousin,” Lindsay stated honestly.  “We were best friends growing up.”

Casey smiled.  “So you have lots of good stories to tell then.”

“Oh, you betcha.”  Lindsay paused.  “One condition though.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re gonna have to call me Lindsay.  Inspector is just too... formal... for family.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal, Lindsay.  Oooh,” noting the line of women going into the conference room had thinned to a trickle.  “Guess we better get in there before we miss out on something.” 

As a matter of course, Lindsay put her hand on Casey’s back to usher them towards the door together.  Then they crossed the threshold into the convention room and found their friends holding places for them as they had promised. 

************

“Ladies... ladies, if I could have your attention for a moment....”  Xena looked out over the room and the rows and rows of chairs that were filled to capacity.  The women quieted and faced the podium.  “Thank you.  My name is Xena and I just wanted to welcome you to the Women in Law Enforcement conference.”  The women present clapped and cheered, and Xena hesitated, a bit nonplussed.  “We’re going to give you some time this morning to visit the many vendor booths we have set up around the room.  Each of you received a schedule in your registration packet - it shows the different panels available to each of the disciplines registered here.  Please take advantage of as many as your schedule allows; I think you’ll find them informative regardless of your vocation.  So thank you for joining us.  Feel free to move about the room and we’ll see you all back here at ten o’clock.”

Before anyone could say a word, Xena stepped off of the stage area and was moving towards the breakout room where the computer equipment was currently being monitored by Lucy.

“How’re we doing?”

“Everything’s cool.  The vendors are all well represented and all the speakers and instructors have checked in.  Attendees are still straggling in, but since it’s just after eight am that’s not surprising.”

Xena nodded.  “All right.  I’ll be walking the floor.  Let me know if you need me for anything.”

“You got it, Boss.”

Xena turned to head back to her side of the convention hall when she paused to look at Dinah who was manning the computers on Gabrielle’s side.

“You doing all right, Dinah?”

“Yeah, thanks.  It’s quieter in here and I actually enjoy this part of things.  Barbara’s been teaching me at home.”

Xena nodded, understanding everything Dinah was saying as well as those things she wasn’t able to say in front of Lucy.

“Well if you need anything....”

Dinah grinned.  “I know where to find you and Gabrielle.  Go do your ‘being in charge’ thing.  Lucy and I are cool in here.”

Xena shook her head and walked towards the con hall, muttering under her breath about needing a vacation.  Lucy and Dinah just exchanged grins and went back to their respective monitoring.

************

“Ladies, if I could have your attention,” Gabrielle said with a smile, nose crinkling in excitement as all eyes in the room turned to her.  It had been a long time since she had been on stage for any reason and she realized with a bit of surprise that she missed it in ways she hadn’t realized until that moment.  Still this wasn’t a performance and there was a lot of work to be done in the next few days.

“Please, if you could all take your seats, we’ll get started,” waiting for the women to settle into place.  “Thank you.  Welcome to the Women in Media conference.”  Applause greeted the pronouncement and she waited for it to die down before resuming her introductory speech.  “My name is Gabrielle and I’m happy to see you all here today.  If you had a chance to look through your packets, you’ll see that the first couple hours this morning are open.  This will give you a chance to visit the vendors as well as do some networking amongst yourselves.  This afternoon, we’ll begin the tutorials and classes that have been arranged for this weekend.  I think Barbara scheduled it so that if you want to attend every panel, you’ll have the opportunity to do so.  Just try to have some fun this weekend as well, okay?”  More applause and Gabrielle just smiled and waited.  When it was quiet again, she spoke.  “So please enjoy yourselves and if you have any questions, well... I’ll be wandering around the hall, all right?”

They cheered again and Gabrielle stepped from the stage, finding Barbara at the bottom of the steps waiting for her.  Green eyes met and Gabrielle smiled and arched an eyebrow, knowing Barbara would understand her unspoken question.

“Everything’s on track.  The vendors and publishers are excited and stocked with all sorts of goodies and giveaways; the speakers prepped and ready; and Dinah’s in the monitoring room with Lucy.”

“She all right?” knowing Barbara had intended to man the computers herself.

Barbara nodded.  “Yeah.  As good as she’s gotten at control, there are a lot of projectors in this room.   And it doesn’t matter how strong of a telepath you are – when people throw their thoughts out for all and sundry to hear, it’s wearing. There’s no need for her to suffer through this if she doesn’t have to.”

“You’re a good woman, Barbara Gordon.”

Barbara cut her eyes at Gabrielle.  “Don’t you go spreading that around.  Ruins the image you know.”

Gabrielle snorted.  “Barbara, as far as everyone here is concerned, you’re a high school English teacher who does editing on the side.  Why wouldn’t they think you are a good woman?”

“Face it, Red,” Helena said as she approached stealthily from behind the stage area.  “You’re always gonna have a good girl rep.”

Barbara stuck out her tongue.  “That sucks!” she muttered low to keep the conversation private between the three of them.  “I’m a vigilante for God’s sakes.  I used to ride a motorcycle!”

Helena leaned forward, a teasing glint in her eye.  “You’ll always be my bad girl, Barbara.  The rest of the world doesn’t need to know that side of you.”  Barbara flushed red but kept her eyes steadily locked onto Helena’s, returning the gentle smile.

Gabrielle covered her mouth to keep her chuckles silent at the exchange she was an unwitting witness to, but Helena heard them anyway, her eyes flashing gold before returning to their natural blue state.  She broke Barbara’s gaze briefly to smile rakishly at Gabrielle and Gabrielle just shook her head knowingly.

“You two are quite a pair,” she said with a smile.  “Now go have some fun,” motioning towards the full convention hall.  “I’ll be around if you need me.”

Barbara caught her hand and squeezed it lightly before releasing it.  “Thanks, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle didn’t ask what for – she simply nodded and smiled before wandering into the crowd.

************

“Excuse me?” the harried looking woman reluctantly interrupted the two striking dark-haired women sitting alone in the long hall leading to the convention area.  They looked up at her simultaneously and she caught her breath.  “I’m sorry to intrude, but you seem to be the only ones around at the moment,” gesturing at the empty corridor.  “My name is Doris Wolfe, and I was wondering if you could point me to the Women in Law Enforcement conference.

“Sure,” the younger of the two answered, standing up and moving closer to Doris.  “Just go down this hall.  You’ll pass the first convention hall, then the hallway crooks to the right – keep going straight by the smaller halls until you reach another wide area like this one.  The Law Enforcement conference is in the second large convention room in that hall.”

“Oh... thank you so much.  My plane was late and I’m....”  She trailed off, remembering the tableau she had interrupted.  “Sorry, I’m babbling.  Thank you for your help Ms...?” waiting for a name.

“Prentiss... Emily Prentiss.”

“Well thank you for your help, Emily Prentiss.”

“My pleasure, Ms Wolfe,” watching her walk away dragging her suitcase and various other bags behind her.  She returned to sit next to Sabrina who was watching her with proud, patient eyes.

“You are so not like your mother.  She would have been scathingly polite but sent the woman away with her tail between her legs for daring to interrupt us like that.”

“Did you mind?” Emily asked.

Sabrina shook her head.  “Not at all.  It didn’t hurt either of us, and it helped her.  So why not extend a bit of courtesy to someone who needed it?”

“Are you certain you and Mother are related?  I mean... don’t get me wrong, but you’re so... different.  It’s hard to believe you were raised by the same parents.”

Sabrina shrugged.  “We made different choices in life.  We wanted different things.  It’s one reason we grew so far apart.”

“Is that why you disappeared from my life?  Because you and Mother were different and wanted different things out of life?”

Sabrina paused, considering her words carefully.  She didn’t want to be the cause of any trouble between her niece and her sister.  But at the same time, she felt the desire to be honest about the reasons behind their estrangement.

“Partly,” Sabrina replied.  “Your mother didn’t want me to be an... undue influence on your life.”

Emily frowned.  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Sabrina sighed. “It means that when I told her I was gay, she was afraid I might be contagious and refused to have anything to do with me after that.  And there was no way in hell she was going to let me near you.”

“Excuse me?” Emily’s voice and facial expression created a picture of confused disbelief.  “You have got to be kidding me.”

Sabrina snorted.  “Not at all though Elizabeth did think I was kidding her when I told her.  After all, as she pointed out I had been married and divorced twice when I made the decision to become a lesbian.  That’s how she saw it, you know.  I chose to be a lesbian because I knew how it would reflect on her and the family and I would do anything to bring shame and disgrace to her.”  Sabrina’s voice was laced with bitter memories and she closed her eyes.

Emily stared at the woman who, on the outside at least, resembled the mother she had struggled with and against her whole life and yet was so different.  Tentatively she raised a trembling hand, gently cupping Sabrina’s cheek and watching her brown eyes flutter open slowly.  “Mother told me you died.”

Sabrina shook her head.  “As far as she was concerned, I did.  I tried to keep in touch, but the State Department isn’t real big about releasing information about its employees – especially the ambassadors.  Even Charlie couldn’t get anything from his contacts.”  She chuckled wryly.  “It figures that Elizabeth cultivated one that could blockade Charlie.”

“So you looked for us?”

“I looked for you.  I figured given how uptight your mother was you might need an outlet.  I thought I might be able to be that for you.”

“I wish you had been.  I could’ve used a friend like you when I was growing up.”

“And now?”

“Now I could still use a friend like you, Aunt Bre.”  Emily tilted Sabrina’s head forward and planted a kiss on her forehead.  She dropped her hand down to clasp Sabrina’s, tugging on it gently until they were both standing.  “C’mon, I know your friends and mine went ahead to give us a chance to get some answers from one another, but if we don’t get down there pretty soon, they’re going to come back looking for us.”

“We’ll sit down soon and catch up?” relishing the fact that Emily hadn’t released her hand.

“Oh, you betcha.  We’ve got years of stories and life to share.  I’m not letting go now that I’ve got you back.”

Sabrina’s grin was wide and she loosened their hands enough to allow her to wrap an arm around Emily’s waist.  Emily reciprocated the motion and Sabrina brushed a kiss over her niece’s temple.  Then they walked arm and arm down the corridor towards the convention hall, following the same path Emily had directed Doris to earlier.

Part 2