Sepia Tones

Fandom: The Practice

Series: Photomosiac

Title: Sepia Tones

Author: Carla

Disclaimers: I hate to keep reminding myself of this fact but I am not David E. Kelley or any of his minions. This means I make no profit from this complete work of fiction.

Archiving: This and all my other demented ramblings can be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm

Author's Note: Sometimes a little encouragement and a heck of a lot of free time is all you need. In this case it was actually two or three liters of Diet Pepsi and some recreational herbal essences. Go figure **shrug**

This hasn't been beta-ed so any and all mistakes are mine and mine alone.

Feedback in all sizes, shapes and flavors is appreciated and maybe sent to cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

"Eleven letters Crawford guitar nemesis?" Lucy sat cross-legged in the middle of Roberta's king sized four poster bed the Sunday New York Times Magazine in her lap. She was dressed in the clothes she'd been wearing the night before, a deep maroon V-neck cashmere sweater, form fitting black jeans and Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat socks. "First letter 'M'. Beats me."

Roberta emerged from the walk in closet as she finished buttoning her shirt, "McCambridge. Johnny Guitar talk about subtext." Roberta mused.

" 'M - A' or 'M - C'?"

" 'M - C'.we should rent that sometime. Joan Crawford - paragon of femininity that she was - versus Mercedes McCambridge - another shrinking violet - in an epic Western battle over Sterling Hayden - who was actually more of the shrinking violet type than either of his co-stars. Of course according to the plot they're really fighting over land as well as Sterling Hayden but if you ask me they were really fighting over unresolved sexual tension and who got to be on top."

"Sounds like fun," Lucy drawled sardonically. She held out the crossword to the older woman, who put it aside then climbed up onto the bed to kiss Lucy passionately as she pressed the younger woman into the mattress. "I was afraid maybe I dreamed last night," Lucy whispered breathlessly when they finally parted. She looked up at Roberta who hovered over her blonde hair tumbling forward to tickle her chin, the side of her face. She slid her hand behind the other woman's neck and drew her closer till their lips were barely touching, "Regrets?"

"About what?" - she kissed the tip of the brunette's nose - "Meeting you, no." She kissed Lucy' chin, "Kissing you?" Roberta continued, "No." Now she dipped her head ever so slightly to lick at Lucy' bottom lip, "Making love to you with you? No." Roberta closed the gap between them moaning when the younger woman sucked her tongue into her mouth. Her hand slid under the hem of Lucy' sweater to stroke slow circles on silky soft skin. She felt the muscles in her new lover's abdomen jump under her fingertips and smiled into the kiss. "Ticklish?"

"Not usually. Your fingertips are cold." Lucy played with the top button on Roberta's shirt. She let her fingers trace the vee of exposed skin where the shirt was undone. "You are so beautiful."

"If you say so." Lucy rolled them over so that now Roberta lay on her back with Lucy straddling her waist.

"I say so," she reached down and began to unbutton the other woman's shirt. Her voice trembled slightly as did her hands, "I want to see you. Is this okay?" Roberta nodded she couldn't speak past the lump in her throat. "And this?" Lucy unfastened the last button and pushed the shirt open bending down as she did so to lap at the hollow at Roberta's neck where clavicle met sternum. Roberta arched offering the smooth column of her neck to Lucy' eager ministrations. Roberta gasped everywhere Lucy ran her tongue her skin burned. She swept her right hand up Lucy' side to briefly cup her breast through the cashmere sweater, before tangling her hand in the girl's thick black hair.

"Lucy," she groaned out. Lucy' sat up pulling her sweater up and off as she did so.

"I love you Bobbi," she undid the front clasp of the lace bra Roberta wore exposing her fully to Lucy' eager gaze. She bent down again to lave each newly exposed inch of skin with tender kisses and nips. And when the brunette's lips closed around one aching nipple drawing it into the heat of her mouth Roberta felt it like an electric circuit running straight from breast to groin.

"Oh God Lucy," she growled out. With one hand she held the girl to her breast while with the other she deftly unsnapped her bra. "I want to feel you."

"Roberta!" a voice called out from downstairs startling them both out of their erotic reverie, "Roberta are you up there?" It took a moment for the voice to register as Roberta hastily redressed. She threw Lucy her sweater.

"Shit I forgot I was supposed to meet Zoë for brunch."

"Who?"

"Judge Hiller, we were supposed to have brunch," she whispered before opening her bedroom door and calling out, "I'm up here Zoë I'll be right down." She closed the door and turned to Lucy. "What time is it?"

Lucy glanced at the clock on the bedside table, "One o'clock why?"

"That explains why Zoë is here. I was supposed to meet her at the café around the corner for brunch an hour ago."

"Why does she have a key?"

"She has a spare in case of emergency. She doesn't live to far from here."

"So now what?"

"You go home and I go to brunch with Zoë." Lucy looked crestfallen. "Or would you rather join us?"

"No it's okay," she looked around the room for her shoes. She found them over by the door to the walk-in closet and slipped them on. "Will I talk to you later?"

"Of course," the blonde snagged Lucy' hand and pulled her into the circle of her arms. "Lucy...look at me," she kissed her quickly, before continuing. "I love you okay. Believe me I'd much rather be getting back to where we were."

"But life goes on I know. It's okay I should probably go to see my grandmother anyway. I haven't been by there in a while and she's been making noise about it."

"Probably you should then," blonde head dipped to nuzzle just below Lucy' ear. "Spend the night tomorrow," she whispered sending chills down the shorter woman's spine.

Lucy nodded then turned her face so that her lips brushed Roberta's lightly. Then she took a step back away from Roberta and towards the door, "We should get going before she gets suspicious enough to come up here looking for you."

/ / / / / / / / / / /

"Roberta," Zoë Hiller put her cup of coffee down on the table, "We've known each other for over twenty, twenty-five years now right?"

Over the brim of her coffee cup Roberta smirked, "Thirty almost. We met at that Democratic Party fundraiser for Carter back in late seventy-four if memory serves."

"That's right," Judge Hiller paused searching for the right words. "And in all that time I've never really pried into or commented on your private affairs."

"Where are you going with this Zoë?"

"I was under the impression that you were 'involved' with that Berlutti fellow from Bobby Donnell's firm."

"I was. It was more of a "friends with benefits" type of arrangement but no more. Why?"

"When did that happen?"

"Officially? Last night but really it's been a few weeks at least. Zoë in twenty-eight years I've never known you to beat around the bush so if you have a question ask it already."

"I haven't seen you this happy since before Charles died. It's a good look on you."

"Thank you; I am. Very." Who am I kidding, she thought, 'Happy' didn't even begin to describe how she was feeling.

"By the way you have a lipstick stain on your collar." The tips of Roberta's ears turned red she blushed so hard.

She tried to cover up her embarrassment with bravado, "What can I say Zoë."

"You can start by saying my suspicions are wrong and you are not in fact carrying on with that child."

"Lucy is why I'm happy Zoë."

"She's why you could end up being the laughingstock of the legal community if this should get out. I hasten to remind you of Judge Applebee."

"I find it insulting that you would even dare compare me to Leon Applebee. Lucy isn't some underage hooker giving me a blowjob in the back of my car."

"I don't know which is worse appearance-wise."

"Nonsense Zoë," she signaled the waiter for a refill then continued, "You don't know her. She works full time and goes to school at night. She volunteers with rape crisis and, somehow, has managed to avoid becoming bitter in light of the things she's seen there. She has an amazing sense of humor very dry you have to be on your toes with her. I like that." She stopped talking as the waiter approached the table resuming once he'd left and she'd taken a sip from her cup. "She reminds me of Charles a little."

"How so?"

"She listens to me. More importantly, I want to listen to her...the way I wanted to listen to Charles."

"There are more appropriate repla..."

"Not for me."

"She's little more than a child. She's younger than your daughter even."

"She's far from a child believe me."

"I hope you know what you're doing Roberta."

"I'm afraid I haven't a clue really. But isn't love like that, you know "fools rush in" and all."

"I've never thought of you as a fool."

"And now?" Judge Hiller gave a small snort and sat back in her chair.

"Who can explain the vagaries of love."

/ / / / / / / / / / / / /

Lindsay Dole and Eleanor Frutt were standing by the file cabinets that lined the far wall of the common office area talking quietly with Rebecca Washington. The subject was Lucy, their office manager and unofficial little sister.

"Is it me or does Lucy seem inordinately happy to you these days," Eleanor whispered.

"I think she's seeing someone new. Guy named Robbie or Bobby something like that. I overheard her talking to him the other day. He picks her up from class on Thursday nights I know that much," Rebecca said.

"You know I bet you she sees him Mondays too," Lindsay glanced over at the subject of their conversation. "She's been coming in late, at eight-thirty, the last couple of weeks. When Bobby asked her about it she said something about a longer trip on the "T". I bet you she's been spending the night at his place."

"So who's going to ask?"

"I think you should Eleanor after all you are her lawyer."

"Funny Rebecca. I hope he isn't as tall as that basketball player she used to go out with...God remember him, talk about mismatched."

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Eugene Young and Jimmy Berlutti. As they passed Lucy' desk she held out their messages for them. Eugene snagged his, muttered "Thank you Lucy" and went directly into his office shutting the door behind him.

"Jimmy," she said coolly.

He snatched the slips of paper out of her outstretched hand without so much as a glance at her and stalked across the room to his desk.

"Well I don't know about you two but all of a sudden I'm really cold. What's going on with Jimmy and Lucy, did they have a fight or something?"

"I don't know but you're right they've been kind of on edge around each other for a while now," Eleanor's eyebrows shot up as an idea came to her. "Hey you don't suppose." she looked pointedly from Jimmy seated at his desk to Lucy who was using the copy machine. Lindsay followed her gaze and snorted.

"No way Eleanor."

"Well why not Lindsay. I mean he used to date Judge Kittleson and she's what fifteen, sixteen years his senior. And remember that client of his, Jennifer. Not that I'm saying he had anything going on with her but."

"Rebecca c'mon we're talking about Jimmy. And Lucy, even if he was going to date someone that young it certainly wouldn't be her."

"What are you three talking about?" Lucy called from across the room startling the three attorneys out of their impromptu huddle.

"Oh nothing much really," Eleanor answered, "What have you got there?"

"It's the directions to my new place I'm having a house warming party week after next," she gave each of them a sheet of paper with the party announcement on one side and the directions printed on the other. "It's just a small get together really you guys, my dad some of my cousins...a couple of friends. Anyway I hope you can come. Bring the kids if you can't find a baby sitter you know."

"Sounds great Lucy' I'll be there for sure," Rebecca glanced at the address printed on the invitation. "Nice address, moving in with someone?"

"Yeah actually I am."

"Roommate or boyfriend?" Lindsay asked.

"No, no boyfriend."

Without looking up from the papers on his desk Jimmy said, "Girlfriend is more like it."

"What was that Jimmy?" Eleanor shot him a look over her shoulder.

"He said "girlfriend", Lucy rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'm moving in with my girlfriend." Rebecca went slack jawed with shock while Eleanor laughed and Lindsay spluttered.

" 'Girlfriend' as in "girl whose a friend" or 'Girlfriend' as in," Lucy interrupted her.

" 'Girlfriend' as in "I like her she likes me" is that a problem? Lindsay...Rebecca?"

Rebecca recovered enough to answer her, "No of course not. It's just...unexpected is all, what's her name?"

"You know her actually."

"Really who?" Eleanor was intrigued, she had a few lesbian friends but she couldn't picture Lucy dating any of them.

"Roberta Kittleson."

"As in Judge Kittleson?" Rebecca asked incredulously. "Used to date." she jerked her head in Jimmy's direction. Lucy nodded.

"I thought." Lindsay looked at Jimmy sitting at his desk then back at Lucy. "Well that explains Jimmy I guess. How long have you two been...friends?"

"How old is she?"

"Eleanor!" Lindsay swatted the heavyset attorney on the shoulder.

"What it's a legitimate question."

"That doesn't matter."

"What doesn't matter...you think age doesn't matter? Of course it matters how many May/December relationships do you know of that last?"

"But that doesn't mean that it won't."

"Thank you Lindsay", Lucy interjected before either Eleanor or Rebecca had a chance to respond to the blonde attorney's statement.

"You're welcome. For what?"

"You're the first person I've told who doesn't assume it won't work," Lucy' voice cracked, "or says it's wrong. It's as if everyone is waiting for this relationship to fail so that they can say 'I told you so' or something. Like it's all really a joke or some sort of aberration and I'm going to wake up one morning and realize I made a mistake. I'm not making a mistake and I'm not jumping in blindfolded feet first." Despite her best efforts the tears that had been accumulating as she spoke began to slowly fall. Lindsay reached out to hug her; Eleanor patted her back and made soothing noises while Rebecca got her some Kleenex.

"Lucy", Eleanor said in her most soothing voice, "that's not what I was saying. I want you to be happy, we all do." The other two women nodded, "All I was saying is that age 'does' matter it does impact your relationship to some extent and to ignore that...well to ignore that is foolish and...and I don't think you're foolish Lucy. I think you're probably one of the least foolish people I know."

"Eleanor's right Lucy," Rebecca held out the box of Kleenex to the crying girl. "I think I speak for all of us," she shot Jimmy a pointed look, "when I say we love you. You're like the younger sister we all want to protect. We don't want to see you get hurt is all."

"Why does everyone assume that it's me who'll get hurt. Me who'll get my heart broken and not the other way around, hmm?"

"I don't know Lucy," Eleanor said.

"Trust me on this okay, I've been there. It's because everyone assumes that the older person in the couple has all the power in the relationship. That they initiated things to start and that the younger person is somehow suffering from an extreme case of hero worship. Hero worship by the way fades and when it does...well often times when it does the relationship will end. On its own, naturally and probably painfully." Lindsay sighed, "At least that's been my experience. But, and this is a big but, I wasn't the one who wanted it to end. And I wasn't the only one hurting when it did."

While they'd been talking the phones had been strangely quiet but suddenly several lines began to ring and Lucy moved to answer them, "Thanks you guys, Lindsay."

"No problem. You listen to your heart, your voice and enjoy yourself. If you ever need to talk I'm here."

She gave the attorney the 'okay' sign and a wink as she answered the phone, "Donnell and Associates how may I direct your call?"