(no subject)
Title: Dream a Little Dream
Author: royal_ivy
Fandom: Private Practice
Pairing: Charlotte/Violet
Summary: Violet is having some pretty inappropriate dreams about a certain Dr. King and at Oceanside Wellness gossip travels fast. Takes place in season 2.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Shonda Rhimes and ABC.
Chapter 15
Violet watched Charlotte scurry away before turning back to face the rest of the Oceanside gang. So, she had just confessed her undying love in front all of her co-workers. So what? She felt like she was on top of the world. She knew she should have been concerned about this big secret finally coming out, but she just couldn't find it in herself to care.
She glided over to the break room and calmly poured herself a cup of coffee while everyone else seemed frozen. She added some cream and sugar to her cup before turning around again. Nobody said a word to her, though she knew they were bursting with questions. She sipped her coffee and smiled politely at them. Inside she felt like laughing. If only her co-workers could see their faces.
Finally someone spoke.
"You want to tell us what all that was about," Naomi finally asked.
"Yeah, could you please tell us what's going on? I mean that's…" Dell trailed off.
"Charlotte King," Sam said, picking up where Dell left off. "That's the Tiger. You've been calling her Cruella for like the last four years."
Then everyone started talking at once. She let them go on for a couple of minutes before she set down her coffee and whistled loudly enough to get everyone's attention.
"So," she said, once all eyes were on her. "I guess you noticed me and Charlotte in the lobby."
"And your declarations of undying love," Addison added in dryly.
She chuckled at that and nodded shyly. "Yeah, that too. So, I'm not going to tell you everything because, frankly, it's none of your business, but here's the cliff notes version. Charlotte's been a really good friend to me, this recent fighting aside, and we've discovered that we have a lot in common and that we really care for each other." She paused for a second to collect her thoughts. "So yeah, we're going to start dating now, officially. I'd appreciate it if none of you teased Charlotte about this or bugged her for information. You know, you probably just shouldn't talk to her at all. I don't want anybody getting hurt."
Dell nodded in agreement and Addison bit back a smile at the last statement.
"Anyways," she continued. "I'd really appreciate it if you just kept this to yourselves for now. I don't need everybody from here to St. Ambrose gossiping about this. Thanks."
Of course, as soon as she stopped talking, they all started with their questions again. She rolled her eyes and sipped at her coffee. She was done explaining herself. She didn't really care what they thought about her and Charlotte. She was done caring what everyone thought and it was great. It was…freeing.
During the middle of all this commotion Cooper walked back in, sans Julia.
"What s going on here? Did I miss something?" Cooper said while looking at her.
"You missed Violet yelling, for the whole world to hear, that she loves Charlotte and apparently they've started dating," Addison said while passing a bewildered Cooper. "I've got a patient."
Violet looked pointedly at the rest of her co-workers and soon they were all making excuses about patients and paperwork. When it was just her and Cooper left, she let out sigh of relief.
She smiled and shrugged. "Uh, well… they all know about me and Charlotte now."
He moved forward to give her hug and then held her at arm's length to study her face. When he was confident that she wasn't just silently freaking out, he let her go with a pat on the back.
"So I missed a lot in the ten minutes I was gone. You and Charlotte are in love and I broke up with Julia."
She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Sorry, to hear that."
He chuckled. "You didn't even like her and truthfully, it hasn't really been going that well between us these last few weeks. She gets a little jealous."
Violet snorted. "A little. She's a crazy green-eyed monster and she hit my girlfriend."
Cooper grinned at her like the Cheshire cat.
"What," she said while slapping his shoulder playfully.
"You called her your girlfriend," he teased.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, grow up."
He shrugged. "What? It's cute."
"I know. Charlotte probably hates that. Do you wanna come over tonight? We can watched Chopped and eat ice cream. I know you really liked her Cooper. It was good until the last couple of weeks right?"
He sighed. "I wish she hadn't turned out to be such a jealous maniac. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to come over and brood over another failed relationship."
Violet leaned in to hug him. "You're my best friend. It's never any trouble."
0oo0oo0
Violet placed a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table alongside the ice cream and bowls of toppings. Everything was perfect for this little break-up pity party. She and Cooper always did this after every breakup they went through. Lots of Food Network and plenty of unhealthy snacks. Okay, that's pretty much what they do every time they get together, plus the addition of ice cream.
Charlotte was pouting on the couch, watching her assemble the buffet of junk food for tonight. The blonde huffed loudly to get her attention and she rolled her eyes. She knew that Charlotte needed a lot of attention, but tonight the blonde was just going to have to learn to share.
"Did you really have to do this tonight?" The blonde said unhappily. "We exchange I love you's today and Cooper's comin' over when you should be upstairs having sex with your hot girlfriend."
With her back turned away from the blonde, she smiled a private smile. "We just did that, Charlotte."
She turned around to see that the blonde was looking rather alluring on that couch all by herself. Charlotte caught her look and smirked.
"We could be having more," Charlotte said in a tone that was low and seductive.
Violet shivered. She moved forward when she knew she should be getting the cans of soda out from the fridge and completing the junk food buffet.
"We do have ten more minutes before he gets here," she reasoned while sitting down next to the blonde.
The blonde traced a few nonsensical shapes on her thigh distracting her completely. She never could get any work done when Charlotte was around. Yet, somehow it didn't matter.
Charlotte smirked. "I think we could accomplish something during that time."
She felt the stirrings of desire and decided to throw caution into the wind, at least for ten minutes anyway. She pushed Charlotte back onto the couch and placed a line of kisses up the blonde's neck before capturing her lips. Charlotte's hand slipped under her shirt and caressed her back. A leg slipped between her thighs and pressed deliciously against her center. She moaned her appreciation and felt the blonde smile against her lips.
"Whoa," a voice said above them.
Violet popped her head up immediately to see Cooper staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed behind the couch. Apparently he had gotten a show.
"Please tell me that's not Cooper," Charlotte said beneath her. The blonde didn't even bother getting up.
"Uh, sorry," Cooper said sheepishly.
She was a little pissed that he had ruined the moment. "Cooper, could you please grab the soda from the fridge?"
He nodded and made his way to the kitchen wordlessly. Violet quickly got off the blonde and readjusted her shirt. Charlotte smoothed down her hair and gave her an irritated look. Yeah, she wasn't winning any awards with Charlotte tonight. She knew that she probably should have done something special with the blonde tonight, something more than this, but she was always good at destroying her own relationships. She couldn't think like that. This was different. Charlotte was different and besides, she couldn't just toss her friends aside for someone she was dating, especially not her best friend. But seriously there had to be a better way to be there for the both of them.
By the time Cooper came back she was already sitting in the middle of the couch with Charlotte on her left. Cooper put the sodas on the coffee table and hesitantly took a seat on her right while glancing at Charlotte. Clearly, Cooper was expecting some sort of backlash from the blonde.
Charlotte looked at him pointedly and let out a huff of annoyance. "I'm not going to bite your head off Cooper, at least not this time. You're lucky you just broke up with your girlfriend. Next time don't just stand there like a pervert."
Cooper had the decency to look guilty. "Sorry."
"If you're really sorry, you could just leave," the blonde said sweetly.
"Charlotte!" She admonished.
Charlotte flashed her a fake smile. "I was only kiddin'."
No she wasn't.
Violet grabbed the remote and turned the TV on and put an arm around Charlotte. She could do that now that the blonde was her girlfriend. She grinned goofily and looked over in time to see Charlotte's soft smile and knowing eyes.
0oo0oo0
Charlotte was filling out some of her never ending paperwork when she felt another presence in the office. She looked up to see Archer Montgomery grinning at her.
"What?" she said with irritation coloring her voice.
"Just wanted to congratulate you on the hot girlfriend."
Charlotte dropped the pen she had been holding. "What did you just say?"
Archer backed up a little, afraid that the blonde might actually get up and punch him.
"Jeez, calm down. I heard my sister talking about you and Violet with Naomi the other night. Relax, news of the new hot lesbian couple isn't going around the rumor mill."
Charlotte relaxed slightly. The last thing she needed was for everyone to be talking about her, well them. Violet was already sensitive about her sexuality, she didn't need any nosy people spooking her.
"But," Archer added.
"But what?" She practically growled.
"I did tell Sheldon. The guy deserves to know and he wouldn't tell anyone. He's a good guy."
Well that and he was terrified of Charlotte.
"Fine. Anything else?" She said, growing impatient.
"Seriously though, nice work," Archer complimented.
"Out!" She shouted, while pointing violently at the door.
Archer gave her a thumbs up before getting the hell out of her office.
0oo0oo0
Sheldon was waiting by Violet's office door when she came back from her lunch break. Violet smiled at him and ushered him into her office. She placed an armful of files and texts onto her desk and turned around to see Sheldon pacing.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned. Sheldon wasn't really a pacer.
He stopped his pacing and sat down on her office couch. "No, not really. I know I said, go be with the man that you love, but when I said that I didn't know that I was driving you into the arms of Charlotte. Violet that woman used to be awful to you."
She crossed her office to join him on the couch. She was surprised that he knew she was dating Charlotte, but she did kind of yell it across the practice earlier this week.
"First of all. Things change. People change. You and I both believe that all people have the ability to do so. And it's not like I planned for this to happen. I'm not doing this to hurt you, Sheldon."
He sighed. "I know that Vi. I just worry about you. Charlotte is mean and grouchy all the time. She yells at everyone and she comes with a lot of baggage. Are you sure she's good enough for you?"
She knew he meant well, but it didn't stop that flare of anger from rising up. "I know all that already and I really don't care." She looked at him and in a much softer voice said, "I love her. Faults and all. Besides, I'm no picnic either. I've got my own set of baggage."
He was silent for a moment, as if considering what she had said and then finally, he nodded.
Sheldon stood up to leave. "If you're sure. Just be careful, Violet."
She nodded. "Hey, how do you know about me and Charlotte anyways?" She asked before he could get out the door.
"Uh, Archer told me, but don't worry no one else in our practice knows."
0oo0oo0
Charlotte smiled from her position on couch as she watched Violet play her piano. Lovely fingers stroked ivory keys. Watching the therapist play was always captivating. She sipped at her hot cocoa and pulled the blanket further up her lap. It was mid-November and the night was a little chilly. A week had passed since Charlotte had confessed her love and she was already reaping the benefits of being the therapist's girlfriend.
Being Violet's girlfriend meant many things. It meant cute nicknames that she didn't appreciate (well, sometimes she didn't mind when Violet called her sweetheart), cuddling on the couch, more smiles aimed her way and private piano lessons.
Violet doted on her. The therapist made her special meals and packed her lunches with sickeningly sweet little notes in them. But there were also the foot rubs after a hard day of work and the way Violet was interested in everything she had to say, even if she was talking about hospital policy. Sometimes Violet made her feel as if she were the only person in the world.
Charlotte wasn't used to this amount of attention and adoration and it scared her. It made her want to run, but she was smart enough to realize when she had a good thing going. She had a woman who knew all her faults, but loved her anyways. Besides, this is what she wanted, to have Violet all to herself.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Violet asked her, when she was finally done playing.
"Nothin' much," She said while suddenly becoming interested in her cocoa. "Just you." It still embarrassed her to be so sappy and sentimental. She had become so used to masking her emotions that finally letting everything out was a challenge.
Violet removed the mug from her hands and placed it on the coffee table. The therapist slipped under the blanket to lie on top of her.
"So sweet," Violet murmured to her before placing a soft kiss on her lips.
She rolled her eyes. "Uh huh, I'm very sweet." She pulled Violet even closer to her so she could kiss her properly.
A phone rang, interrupting their moment and Violet reached down to pull her cell phone out of her pocket. The therapist put the phone up to her ear without even checking caller ID.
"Hello. This is Dr. Turner."
Charlotte watched as Violet sat up suddenly and stiffened. Distress was clear on the therapist's face.
"Okay. Sure. Bye." Violet hung up after uttering those three words.
Charlotte reached up take Violet's hand in her own.
"Hey. What's wrong?" She said softly.
Violet smiled at her and shook her head. "Oh, nothing. My parents are coming to visit next weekend."
She tried to coax more information out of the therapist, but with little success. She didn't know much about Violet's parents only that Violet didn't get along with them. She knew very few details about the people who raised Violet. Among them was the fact that they told their own daughter that her dream of studying Piano was stupid. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to like them.