whedonist

Fandom: Nikki & Nora

Pairing: Nikki/Nora

Rating: PG-13 to R (depends on the chapter)

Title: A Thousand Oceans - Ch. 14 – Turn the Tide

Disclaimer: These characters well, Nikki, Nora, Dan, Darius, Georgia, Charlie, Arthur, Bobby and Mrs. Delaney are so not mine (dammit!), but Ann and Jill and other characters not mentioned in the pilot are (Ha!). The ones in the “dammit!” category belong to Nancylee Myatt and other’s I don’t know. I’m here for a bit of fun, and for this story, angst. No profit is being made here, and if it is, I’m not seeing a dime.

A/N:Well, now, the Holiday’s are kickin’ some tail and I need to sit down sometime in the next three days and draft the last chapter of this story. If yinz don’t mind, I’ll probably have a holiday story ready by the first of the year…sorry it’s going to be late. Now, other than that, this is the last post ‘till after Christmas, so whatever and wherever you’re spending the season, I hope you lot have a great time. Thank you! 1SB

For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

Ch. 14 – Turn the Tide

I’m nervous, I can admit that. I mean it’s not like I’ve ever really had a sit down with any parent to discuss my intentions towards their child. And see, putting it in those terms just makes it sound kind of wrong. Yet, that’s what I’m doing. I’m getting ready for our lunch date with Nikki’s dad. Our first day off in nearly two weeks and I have to do this. I have laundry to do, packing to start and I need to clean.

Instead I’m standing in front of my closet waiting on Nikki to get here. I’m trying to find something to wear. My first inclination is to just go in jeans and a t-shirt. I huff and ruffle my wet bangs. Ann’s not available and Jill is on location for a shoot. There’s no one to call. I screw my mouth to the side and think about calling Casey. Then I nix the idea.

I’m not too sure, but I think she and Dan got together and that thought kind of weirds me out. Not because Dan’s a guy; Casey has always been very equal opportunity with her bed partners, but it’s Dan.

My Dan.

My ex partner Dan.

My boss, Dan.

It’s a little weird.

I glance at the alarm clock to my left. Okay, so it’s only ten in the morning. We don’t have to be there until one-thirty this afternoon. I abandon my idea of getting dressed and go to sit on my bed. My robe bunches around my thighs. I tug it and pull it down trying to get comfortable.

“Nor,” Nikki’s voice calls from the living room.

“Bedroom,” I holler back. Didn’t hear her come in, but she has a key, it’s good to know she uses it.

She saunters in wearing cream colored slacks a light purple blouse and heels just shy of being too steep for a human to walk in. Smiling at me she comes to stand between my parted legs. “You look like you’re getting ready to go to the principal’s office. What’s up?”

I blink up at her and shrug.

“Sugga?” The fingertips of her right hand ghost over my left cheek to push back some damp strands of hair.

“Couldn’t decide on what to wear,” I admit.

“Ah,” she says and pushes me back on the bed. Straddling my waist, she leans down planting her hands on either side of my head. “You should wear whatever you want. Be comfortable.”

My eyebrows rise at this. Is she really telling me to go in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers?

“Baby, he needs to get to know you. You should wear whatever you are going to be comfortable in.”

Apparently she is.

Instead of getting up like I thought she would, she lifts herself up and motions me to turn around on to my back.

“Nik?” I ask, but do as she asks.

“Shh, scooch up,” she answers.

Again I do as asked and she tugs at my robe, sliding it down my body to rest low around my hips. I hear her suck in a breath and she shift s her weight. I look back to see her fumbling for the lotion on top of the nightstand on her side of the bed. She squeezes a bit into the palm of her left hand and sets the bottle down with her right.

Catching my eye, she rubs her hands together and explains, “You need this. Now shush and lemme get to work.” She moves my hair out of the way and begins.

The lotion is cool against my back, but her hands quickly warm it up as they begin to knead my shoulders. Her firm ministrations hurt slightly at first but she quickly has me moaning as she works the lotion into my skin. My eyes flutter shut when she trails a lone fingernail down the center of my back.

Nikki’s hands continue kneading and slowly, I loosen up. I’m on the cusp of dozing off when I feel the first brush of her lips against my left shoulder blade. My eyes snap open as her teeth drag across my back to my right shoulder where she places a closed mouth kiss on the apex of my shoulder blade. Her hips press down into me. I raise my backside just enough and she rolls her hips once again as her mouth carves a path up the center of my back to the nape of my neck. Her lips come around to nibble on my ear and stoking the slow burn between my legs.

She’s not playing fair.

I try to turn the tables around and flip myself on to my back. I look up into soft, hooded brown eyes and smirk at the small pout. “You’re spoiling my fun,” she whines.

“Too bad,” I state and tug at her top. “You’re overdressed.” I wiggle my eyebrows causing her to giggle.

I lace my fingers behind my head and watch as she slides off me. The first thing to go is the button down blouse. It slips from her shoulders and she tosses it onto the floor. Next are her heels which she kicks towards the bathroom door; her slacks slip down her hips to pool at her feet. She steps from them and stands before me in a matching flesh colored bra and panties. Her breasts are pushed up and looking entirely too enticing.

I take my left hand and indicate her bra and underwear, “Those need to go too.”

Her right eyebrow lifts. I smile and put my hand back under my head. I figure if you’re going to get naked you might as well get really naked. I lay there watching her until she rolls her eyes and shimmies out of her underwear too.

My gaze rakes down her torso, over the swell of her hips to her long, lean legs. I love her legs. As I track back up her mostly nude form, the bra falls to the floor and she asks, “Better?”

“Much,” I smirk.

She steps up to the bed, her knees hitting the mattress before she tugs at the belt of my robe and pulls it free. The terry cloth falls open and it’s her turn to smirk.

Instead of crawling up to me, she tugs at my ankles, causing me to slide to the edge so my legs dangle off. Intrigued, I watch as she drops to her knees and lifts my left leg, kissing a path from my calf to the inside of my thigh.

As surprises go, I haven’t had a better one in a while. She moans as her nose ghosts over my mound and moves to the inside of my right thigh. Her touch releases small shivers to the outlaying area of her touch. I close my eyes and mentally track the path of her lips, teeth and tongue. She moves down my right leg in much the same fashion as she moved up my left. As she ascends, I spread my legs a little further apart to give her better access to the problem she’s created between my thighs. I can feel the moisture as it pools in me.

“Nik,” I whisper, my voice lower than I thought it could go, “Please.”

“Shh, sugga, I’ve got this,” she whispers back.

And at the first swipe of her tongue, I readily agree. Yes, she does.

“I know Ann, okay, okay…” Nora says. The phone is pressed to her ear and I’m driving us to Café Ravi in the Garden district to meet my daddy. Parking’s atrocious as I circle the block once more and find a spot. Nora chatters away as I parallel park.

I give Nora a bit of time. Ann’s been out of town working and Nora’s been goin’ crazy not being able to talk to her closest friends. With Ann’s birthday passing, my girl’s finally gotten the chance to catch up with her three weeks after the fact.

“I’m glad everything’s okay…Yeah, when is she due back?” The conversation carries on as I prop my head on my hand as my elbow rests on the windshield to listen. “Soon. Promise. All right.” She hands the phone off to me and I take it a little shocked.

“Hello?” I say pressing the phone to my ear.

“Nikki, hey,” Ann says. We’ve talked on the phone before, but this is new. This hesitation from her. Of course we haven’t really talked since I walked out of the hospital room either. My reaction then may have something to do with the hesitation now.

It seems like that was forever ago, but in reality it’s only been maybe five, six weeks tops. Time passes quickly. I smile and say, “I understand I owe you a happy belated birthday. I hope it was fun.”

She laughs and I can hear some of the tension ease from her voice as she answers, “Not really, I spent it working. Jill’s out of town until Thursday.”

“Well then will you be celebrating when she gets back?” It seems a waste to let a birthday go in such a fashion. Just because I’ve spent a birthday or two at the station doesn’t mean everyone needs to.

“Maybe. We’re actually supposed to get ready for Thanksgiving. She likes to have her mom and dad over. Lee too if he can get away from his family. You two make plans?” she asks. A simple question really. Also, no mention of her family. I really have been horrible about this. I don’t know that much about either of the two women that Nora feels close to.

“Not yet, but I assume the conversation will happen sooner rather than later,” I answer. “What about your family?”

She snorts a harsh sort of laugh into the phone. Uh-oh. “Nor hasn’t told you much about me has she?”

“Not really.” I look at Nora who is sporting a furrowed brow. “She’s not said much.”

“It’s okay. I don’t have any that I like to spend time with. It’s Jill, Nora and Lee. They’re family.”

That makes sense. “I see. Well then, I hope it’s nice.”

“I’m sure it will be, thanks Nikki,” Ann gives me. “Hey, uh, I also wanted to ask, or, talk to you about what happened on that case. I’m sorry it caused so many problems. Nikki, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

My respect for Ann Flemming is raised a notch or two and I wave her apology off by saying, “Ann, it’s really okay. I think everything worked out for the best.”

“So I’ve heard. You sure you wanna live with her?” the agent teases.

“More than anything,” I answer. “You know, it really wasn’t you, there was a lot boiling under the surface. We needed to work it out. I may have over reacted a bit too.

Ann laughs and says, “Look, I know how you feel. Jill went through it with Nora and me too. And just ‘cause I knew Nora first and we have a history, doesn’t mean I’m not your friend either. You wanna vent about the stubborn blonde, I’m here. It’s good to call me or Jill even. She really likes you. Hell, I’d be worried if I didn’t know better.”

I smile at that. Jill is a kindred spirit of sorts. “I will hold you to that, agent.”

“Good enough,” she says. “Hey, I know it’s a bit early, but Jill and I both took some time for the holidays. Why don’t you two come up for a week or so if it fits in your schedule?”

That really isn’t a bad idea. Maybe if I can convince Darius and Daddy to have Christmas a little early or later, we can do it. I don’t know about Nora though. She and Bobby are still on the outs and nothing’s improved with her mom. I run a hand through my hair and go for non-committal, “Let me run it by Nora when we have a moment and I’ll let you know.”

“Good enough. And to make it easier it doesn’t even have to be over Christmas. Come after or before or whenever, we just want to see you guys.”

“All right, enough, I’ll run it by this one and she’ll let you know sooner rather than later,” I say, smacking Nora’s hand away from my side. She’s been sitting for more than five minutes and she’s nervous enough.

“Okay, then I’m going to go. John just came back with lunch. Bye Nikki.”

“Bye Ann, take care of yourself,” I say before the line goes dead. Turning to my lover, I hand the phone back to her and smile. She gives me this half grin. “She’s invited us for Christmas,” I say handing the phone back to Nora.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I slide across the bench seat to snuggle up against Nora’s left side. Her arm wraps around my shoulder and she asks, “Did you want to go?”

I shrug. “It’d be nice to spend Christmas with you this year. Last year was kind of a bust.” We had plans to sneak away Christmas Eve and take off for two days. Both of us had the time off, we had made the applicable excuses with the family and I had two nights at the W in the French Quarter booked in one of their best suites.

Then we got hit with a double homicide, a robbery gone wrong about an hour before our shift was supposed to end. Two hours after that shift was supposed to end and we were still at work, another double in another robbery gone wrong. We chased the two people that were guilty across all of New Orleans for the better part of three days.

Christmas was shot to hell and if we could get away this year, I would be very very grateful. “I think it’d be nice. Our plans last year were shot. I could do a spell getting away with you.”

I look up at her and she smiles down at me. “Okay. We’ll talk to Dan when we get back to work and set everything up. Maybe start looking at airfare after Thanksgiving?”

I nod and wrap my arms around her midsection. Her heart’s beating double time. Glancing at the time displayed on the dashboard, I groan. I kind of like being cocooned here in June Lee, but it’s almost time to meet Daddy and there really is no sense in delaying the inevitable.

“Come on sugga, let’s go,” I say sitting up and running a hand through my hair.

I follow Nora out of the passenger side and straighten my clothes. Offering her hand a tight squeeze before I let go and we trot across the street to the café. This should be interesting.

As Nikki let’s go of my hand, the bats, not the butterflies, in my stomach start-up double time. My palms start to get a little clammy and as she holds the door to Café Ravi open for me, I wipe them on my jeans. She’s done a heck of a job taking my mind off of today’s lunch, but… I can’t get out of this, unless I can get a hold of Dan to call us in.

I discard that thought just as soon as it comes to me. I can’t do that. I need to do this for Nikki. If I keep repeating that to myself, that this is for Nikki, then I’ll be okay. She’s close to her father. He needs to at least meet me.

“Welcome to Café Ravi ,” a chipper hostess greets us.

I smile while Nikki talks, “Hi, I’m Nikki Beaumont. Has my father shown up?”

“Ah, yes, Ms. Beaumont. Right this way, we’ve got your table all set up and your father’s been expecting you,” her nametag reads, Cindy. We follow her off to the left and a little towards the back.

I’ve seen pictures of her father, never actually met the man, but the photos do him justice. His hair is silver and black. His smile is bright and wide as he spots his daughter approaching. Briefly, I try to recall if my dad ever got that look in his eyes when he saw me. Sadly, I can’t seem to recall. Maybe when I was younger, but I don’t remember too many good times after I hit puberty. Dad and I lost our connection then or maybe he thought he lost his ability to relate to me.

I shake it off and hold out my hand to the now standing Arthur Beaumont. He gently takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle shake.

Nikki makes the introductions, “Daddy, this is Nora Delaney. Nora this is my dad, Arthur.” Such manners in my girl, they still catch me off guard.

“Hi, Mr. Beaumont,” I say, taking the offered chair to his left.

He helps Nikki with her seat and says, “Arthur please? And it’s nice to finally meet you, detective.”

He takes his seat and we all give our drink orders to the hostess before continuing the conversation.

“So, Nikki, dear, tell me what has been going on?” her father asks, directing the conversation back to his daughter.

Nikki offers him a casual shrug. “Work mostly. A few cases here, a few cases there.” She smiles over at me and I raise an eyebrow before looking down at the menu in my hands.

“Yes, well, that is to be expected. It is a busy city.” Arthur looks briefly over the menu in his hands before picking back up, “I spoke to Johnny this morning. He got on about you. Wanted to know if you were planning on making an appearance at his holiday party.”

The waitress drops our drinks off to us then, halting the flow of conversation as we place our food orders. When she leaves, Nikki says, “Well, actually, Nora and I were asked to go out of town for Christmas, so I don’t think I’ll be able to.”

I swallow. We just barely spoke about this not more than ten minutes ago. I mean yes, of course, if we can get away, then I’d like to go visit the girls for the holiday, but we both need to check to make sure we have the time and Dan will be merciful and give in to our request.

“Oh, really?” He seems a little shocked. “Where would you be headed?”

“Richmond, Virginia,” I answer, “One of my oldest friends works for the F.B.I. and she lives in the area.”

“Very well,” he says, taking a sip of his sweet tea. “I’ll let your uncle know.”

“It’s not definite. We still need to clear it with our lieutenant, but as soon as we know for sure, I’ll call Uncle Johnny and let him know. Actually, you met one of the women we’re going to visit. Do you remember Jill, my date for that charity function a few months ago?”

He looks to the ceiling before returning his attention to his daughter. “I do. She was nice. So you’ll be going to see her and…her…”

“Wife,” Nikki offers.

“Yes, thank you, her wife?”

“We’d like to. Ann just asked right before lunch actually. So as soon as I know more, I’ll let you know as well.”

“Thank you,” he says. Turning to me he asks, “So, detective, tell me a bit about yourself. You’ve been with the department for a while?”

I bob my head before answering, “Yeah, since Ninety-three. My dad was cop, my uncle, a couple cousins and my younger brother as well.”

“A family tradition of sorts. Has your father retired?”

“No, uh, he passed away in Ninety-eight. My uncle a few years before that. Bobby, my younger brother’s with the mounted patrol and my cousins are all beat cops,” I supply. “I’m sorry to hear that. It’s been a good while since Nikki’s mom passed.” He stops and gets a little wistful, “The time seems to fly, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” I agree and take the offered cup of coffee Nikki fixed for me.

“You have other siblings?” he asks, taking note of the exchange between Nikki and me.

“Yeah, Patrick is in San Diego with the Marines and Terry’s in Baton Rouge with the National Guard. We, uh, seem to have bent towards uniforms in the Delaney family.” I fidget for a moment before offering more, “Right now, it’s just me, Bobby and my mom.”

“That’s not so bad,” he says smiling. “It’s good to have at least one parent around if you can manage it.”

“Says you,” Nikki finally comments looking over her coffee cup at the two of us.

“Now, Nikki, dear, you act as if I’m a bother,” he teases.

“Yes, well, now, daddy, if the shoe fits…” she trails off and his cheeks dust a rosy color.

The conversation trails for minute before our waitress returns with our food. I look at my salad and see that I have Nikki’s. She doesn’t even look up as we exchange plates.

“Oh, before I forget,” Arthur starts, “Everything is all set and you need to contact Mary. She asked me to tell you that she has everything in order and the keys are just waiting to be picked up.”

Nikki’s face lights up as I feel the smile spread across my own. My lover nearly squeals, “Fantastic. I’ll call her when we finish up. Did she need anything else from us?”

He shakes his head as he dumps Tabasco sauce on the po’boy that he ordered. “Just give her a call to arrange a time to pick up the keys and sign the final bits of paperwork.”

Nikki’s hand reaches out and stops the bottle of Tabasco sauce from adding anymore onto the councilman’s sandwich. He clucks his tongue, but allows his daughter to take away his condiment. The actions telling me that this is an old routine of theirs.

All in, as we sit enjoying a comfortable silence and the food, this isn’t as bad as I’d feared. He’s not foaming at the mouth mad or waving a bible around declaring sin and damnation. Not that I had expected it, but sometimes it’s hard to tell. Nikki’s never really gone into how her dad handled her coming out.

Right now, I’m happy with the pleasant surface conversation. I can handle that.

I watch Nora scribble he name along the bottom of the last form that we need to sign to make this our home. A warmth spreads through my chest causing it to tighten. We did it. I’m sure that there is a foolish grin plastered onto my face, but who cares, it’s only Nora and Mary here with me.

Nora’s sporting a similar look and Mary, she’s been through this before.

The older woman, takes the pen and paperwork from my partner and runs her hand along the edges, putting them into a neat stack. “Well, ladies,” she says, “I think that’s about it.” Turning to her bag she pulls out three sets of keys. “Now, here’s one for you,” she hands me a set, “Nora, for you,” she gives another to my girlfriend, “and the last set, for extra.”

We both pocket the keys and Mary slips the finalized paperwork into a folder in her bag. “Also, per the instructions Nikki’s father handed over, I’ve taken care of the utilities. As I understand it, the cable man was instructed to put the one box in the living room and the guest bedroom.”

I look to Nora for confirmation and she steps in, “Correct.”

“Wonderful, I’ve left all the paperwork and such over here,” she points to small stack of papers and booklets by the space where the refrigerator will go. “Electricity, water, sewage, garbage, phone and gas are all on.”

“Thanks again Mary,” Nora says, stepping over to me, slipping her hand in mine.

“Above and beyond the call of duty, we appreciate it,” I say, giving Nora’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“It really was no trouble at all. You two ladies certainly got busy pretty quick and working with Mr. Beaumont was such a joy. He helped get some of the paperwork pushed through a bit quicker and I had no idea a politician could be that funny.” She winks at us and I smile back.

“Daddy took a liking to you too,” I tell her the truth. He wouldn’t stop talking about her and said that if all real estate agents were like her the world would be a better place. I also know Nora was pleased that Mary didn’t try to hit on me.

She beams at that. “I think it’s time for me to be headed out. You two should stay and enjoy your new home. Take a look around and take it all in.” She gathers her bag and Nora and I both give her a hug before she disappears through the door leading to the courtyard.

Nora spins me around as the door clicks shut pulling us together to wrap me in a hug. Her lips press against my neck and I shiver. I know exactly what she has in mind, but first, I want to take another look around our home. I tell as much, “Sugga, as much as I want to do what you’re thinking, can we look around our home first?”

She pulls back and looks at me with clear green eyes and nods. I take her hand we walk the whole of the downstairs. Taking in the guest room, the living room, dining room and kitchen. Nora gives a few ideas about how she would like to decorate the spaces. It’s a little surprising. While Nora’s apartment isn’t un-decorated, there’s no underlying theme except that it’s Nora. The furniture isn’t matched, the bed room set, if you want to call it that, she’s had since college.

I’m more than happy to let her do some of the decorating.

We make our way upstairs to the sitting room, a quick peek in the bathroom and then into the bedroom where we both stop. Nora’s hands drop from my waist and she steps around to come up on my right side to look at the set up in the bedroom.

Sitting in the middle of the floor is full size air mattress, complete with fitted sheet and blanket and two pillows. A folded card sits on the end of the bed. Next to the bed, a bottle of Champagne, two glasses and a small paper plate with an open box of chocolates. I look to Nora and she just shrugs.

I move towards the bed first, bend down, pick up the note and read aloud, “Ladies, I wanted to be the first to give you a house warming present. Please enjoy the Champagne and chocolates spending the first night in your new home. May you enjoy the four greatest blessings: Honest work to occupy you. A hearty appetite to sustain you. A good woman to love you. And a wink from the God above. Mary.”

“That woman may just be the sweetest thing since you were born,” Nora teases me.

I roll my eyes. “Was that supposed to be less cheesy?”

She shakes her head while plucking the note from my hand and tossing it over her shoulder. Her arm reaches out and a finger hooks in a belt loop of my pants. Drawing us together, her lips brush across mine, before pecking out a path along my jaw and down my neck. I tilt my head back to give her better access and she takes the inch I gave and goes a mile.

Gently, she lays us down on the bed, sheds her jacket and begins to work at my clothing. I lay there and let her do as she pleases. I want her to run the show and obviously she has some ideas that she seems more than willing to share.

My shoes go first, my pants and socks quickly follow. She stops then, taking her time to admire my lower body. Her hands run up and down the length of my exposed legs. Blunt nails gently scrape up the length of the inside of my thighs. I part my legs and give her better access, but she stops and her hand move past the band of my panties to travel north.

She straddles my waist and motions for me to sit up, I comply and she slips my jacket off and pulls my top over my head. Finally down to just my undergarments, I reach up and pull at her t-shirt. She smirks and pulls it off, tossing it behind her. My hands dance up her flanks, come towards each other to cup teal satin covered breasts. The pads of my thumb ghosts out over protruding nipples earning a moan for their attention.

Nora’s hips push a little harder down on my thighs and it’s my turn to smirk.

“Sugga, those pants need to go,” I husk.

Playfully, she leans back, her back resting atop my legs as hers straighten out. I reach out, snap open her pants and pull them off her. Those go over my shoulder, and since I’m here, I hook a finger under sensible blue cotton bikini briefs and tug them down too. She rights herself, naked now from the waist down.

I pull at the straps of her bra and tug them down, letting the cups fold over for her breasts to spill out. Leaning forward kiss the top of each and work my way up. One arm snakes around her waist to steady her undulating hips and while the other runs up the length of her back to gently grip the hair at the nape of her neck. My Nora groans as my teeth find her pulse point. Her grunts and groans do the most delicious things to me.

Pulling away she whispers, “I do believe I owe you for earlier today. Sit back and relax.” With that she pushes my onto my back, leans forward and finds my lips.

My eyes flutter closed and I know I could spend just this side of eternity like this.

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