Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:06:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: AMANDA PLOGGER <love4fun4life@yahoo.com>
Subject: upside_umop_insideout-15

Okay This story contains sexual acts between two females if this offends
you then don't read it. If you are not 18 or whatever the age maybe where
your from, don't read it. If you just don't like the idea of love between
two ladies, go somewhere else. Don't read it. The characters are not
real. Any similarities are just that.

  I still have a quiet a few more chapters to go. Let me know what you think so
far. Good or bad. Thank you so much to everyone who has written me giving
me much needed encouragement to keep writing. I have made many friends and
hope to find even more. It is amazing who you meet on here. *smiles* I love
to write so check back in soon and you are sure to find more.

  As always, enjoy.
  Amanda
  upside_umop_insideout

 Chapter 15

  Pain


Mike sat quietly thinking as he flipped through the business plan in front
of him one more time. He sighed and slowly shook his head. Emily looked
nervously over at Alexis and Collin, both of them looking just as she felt.
  Time seemed to stand still as they all waited to see what the look on
Mike's face meant.
  Mike sighed and looked at the three of them. "Unfortunately, I think that
this project is out of my league. What you are talking about here is
something that I have never dealt with." Mike said, looking directly at
Alexis. Disappointment filled all three of their faces.
  Alexis rose from her chair and extended her hand. "Well, Mike, thank you
for taking the time to talk..."
  "Now, don't go jumping the gun there little miss.  I didn't say I wasn't
going to help you out. I was just saying what you are asking for is
something that I haven't dealt with."
  Alexis sat back down confused. "I want to take this plan to a few of my
collages and see if they have any more experience with this line of
work. it seems like a very good investment but I do want to make sure of
that. So, what do you say you give me a week and let me get back to you?"
  "Yeah. Yes. I mean, of course." Alexis stuttered.
  "Alright then. Why don't I have my assistant give you a call and set
something up. Maybe?" Mike said, hesitating as he looked over at Emily.
  "Yes?"
  "Maybe I could bring my wife along with me and we could make a night of
it. That is if you wouldn't mind cooking for all of us. And of course
Collin I would want you to bring your lovely wife along too."
  "That sounds wonderful."
  "Alright then, it's settled. I will have my people look this over and
will get back with you within the week. It was a pleasure meeting you
ladies." Mike said, rising from his chair. He held his tie to his chest as
he leaned across the table and shook both of their hands.
  "Collin, I am sure I will be seeing you tomorrow." mike said, shaking his
hand.
  "Sure thing, Mr. Ma... I mean Mike."
  "That's the spirit." Mike said, slapping Collin on the back. "I have
another meeting in a few so I must run. I will pick up the tab on the way
out. You ladies have a very nice day."
  "Thank you. You too." Emily called after him as Mike turned to leave,
Alexis' business plan in hand. Emily sat back and smiled.
  "Well, that went pretty good."
  Alexis gave her a half smile. "It wasn't a yes."
  "But it did sound very promising." Collin said, leaning over and
squeezing Alexis' hand.
  "What if his 'people' look at it and say it will be a waste of money?
What if?"
  "Alexis, didn't we have this conversation in the car?" Emily asked
softly.
  "Yeah. I know. Guess it's in God's hands now huh?"
  Emily beamed at her. "That's right. It is. I am the one who should be
worrying. I have to come up with a menu to impress Mr. Mathis and his wife
thanks to you two talking me up." Emily said, pretending to pout.
  "There was no talking you up. You are that good. I am sure whatever you
come up with will be fabulousness." Collin said. "Well, I must be off. I
will see you ladies later." Collin said standing up.
  "We will walk out with you." Emily said as she stood and grabbed her bag.
  "Oh I almost forgot Collin. Emily and I wanted to invite you and Sarah
over for dinner tonight or tomorrow." Alexis said as they reached the front
doors.
  "That sounds great. Just... give Sarah a call. You know I never remember
if we have anything going on." Collin said, his robust laugh filling the
air as they walked from the restaurant.
  Emily sat quietly while Alexis drove them home, giving her time alone in
her thoughts. Emily was happy and excited but she knew that Alexis would be
walking on pins and needles until she got the final word, good or bad.
  Collin and Sarah joined them and the kids for supper later that night and
they recapped the meeting for the only one of them that had missed it.
  "You should have saw her, Sarah.  She was on fire. Didn't miss a
beat. Was confident."
  "I am glad I was more confidant than I felt. I am just glad I got through
it, but the waiting is going to kill me." Alexis sighed.
  "You will be fine." Sarah reassured her.
  "I am glad you all have confidence in me." Alexis said, leaning in to the
seat.
  "Aunt Sarah. Mommy is going to have a baby." Piper said loudly, smiling
at her aunt as she climbed onto her lap.
  "Yes, I know. What do you think about that?"
  "I want a little sister." Brant said from the other side of the table.
  "I want someone else to play with. Brant is mean sometimes." Piper said
in her little three year old voice.
  "Am not." Brant argued.
  "Okay, you two it's time for bed." Emily said, looking at her two
children.
  "But mommy!" Brant whined.
  "Come on. I'll even give you a piggy back ride." Collin said.
  "Well, okay." Brant said, hopping down from his chair.
  "I better go with. He needs his teeth brushed." Emily said as she started
it get up.
  "You sit and visit with your sister. Collin and I can take care of the
kids." Alexis said, giving Emily a kiss on the forehead.
  "So Collin tells me that you will be cooking the celebration dinner for
all of us." Sarah said as she helped Emily clear the table.
  "I don't know about that. I will be cooking but I can only hope that it's
a celebration dinner." She said, helping clear the table.
  "So have you decided what you are going to cook?" Sarah asked as she
scraped the plates into the garbage disposal.
  Emily sighed as she leaned onto the counter. "I have no idea."
  "Well, I am sure whatever you make will be great. So you have no idea?"
  "Well, I have been thinking about it." Emily said with a little smile.
  "Something tells me you have a few ideas."
  "Eh. I don't know. Everything I think of I shrug off."
  "Okay, so tell me what you've been thinking and I will pick one for you."
  "Well there is this one recipe that I have been dying to try."
  "What is it?" Sarah said, knowing that her sister was dying to tell her.
  Emily walked around to the other side of the kitchen and grabbed her
homemade recipe book.  "It's this one. It's a twist on veal parmesan. It's
more like a stuffed Italian chicken." She said showing Sarah the recipe she
was looking at.
  "That sounds really good. You came up with this all on your own?" Sarah
asked.
  "Well, part of it was Grandma Contiello's recipe. I just changed it a
little."
  "Ah. So what else would you serve with it?"
  "I was thinking of starting off with a stuffed pepper..."
  "Oh the ones with sausage? Those are to die for." Sarah said as Emily
nodded. "If I hadn't just eaten my mouth would be watering right now. What
else?"
  "Bruschetta topped garlic bread, white wine would compliment it nicely. I
would pair the chicken with a penne pasta mix. And for desert..."
  "You're famous pies."
  "I was kind of thinking about doing something different." Emily said,
laughing as her sister shook her head.
  "If you are planning on impressing them, if your dinner hadn't already,
your pie would." Sarah said with a grin. Emily loved her pie, as did
everyone who tasted it, but after making it so many times, it became a
little old.
  "Fine, my pie and for those who can actually drink I was thinking of
doing an espresso twist on a hot tot tee."
  "I can't wait." Sarah said as she finished loading the dishwasher.
  "If I can pull it off."
  "You will do fine."
  "No that's not what I mean. I think I am going to be sick." Emily said,
turning and leaning over the trash can.
  "Aww, poor thing." Sarah said holding Emily's hair as she lost her supper
in the kitchen trash.
  "Bad timing?" Collin said from the doorway.
  "A little, yeah." Emily said between heaves.
  "Well, when you're finished, Alexis and I have a game of pitch set up in
the living room." Collin said as he backed out the way he had come.
  The rest of the night and week went by slowly for both Emily and
Alexis. Every day that passed became harder for them. The tension that
filled the air was almost unbearable.
  "Emily, I can't take them anymore. This is driving me NUTS!" Alexis
practically yelled.
  "They will be calling soon." Emily promised.
  "That's what you have said for the last two days." Alexis said as she
paced back and forth in the middle of the living room.
  Emily started to speak just as Alexis' phone rang. "See that's probably
him now."
 Alexis jumped up in place as she looked at the caller ID. "Are you a
psychic or something?" She asked as she flipped the phone open.
  "Hello." Alexis said as she stood there, rocking back and forth. "Really?
yes. Yes. Okay. That sounds good. Sure. Tell him I said thank
you. Okay. You have a nice day." Alexis said as she shut her phone and
stared at it.
  "So?" Emily said, searching Alexis' face for any signs.
  "Mr. Mathis... Mike. Mike would like to come tomorrow for a celebration
dinner."
  "What?" Emily asked.
  "We got it. He is going to. I mean... we're in! It's a go!" Alexis said
as she started jumping up in down.
 Emily jumped off the couch and gave Alexis a long kiss. "I told you!!!"
Emily shouted as Alexis hugged Emily and swung her in a circle. "Oh, I have
to call Collin." Alexis said as she almost dropped Emily.



  "Put him on speaker phone." Emily squealed. Brant and Piper came running
into the room. They must have sensed the excitement in he air because they
began to jump up and down and dance around the room.

 "Collin? Hang on a second." Alexis said, moving the phone away from her
ear to put it on speaker. "Can you hear me?"

 "Yea, what's going on? Is everything okay?" Collin asked, his voice filled
with concern.

 "You could say that. I just received a call from Mr. Matheis' personal
assistant."

 "You did? Well, come on woman, don't leave me hanging. What did he say?"
Collin asked excitedly.

 "Looks like we are having a celebration dinner here in a few nights."

 "Really? He said yes?"

 "Yes! He said yes! I don't know how to thank you Collin." Alexis gushed
and the kids squealed.

 "Praise God. That is great."

 "Thank you Collin." Emily said.

 "No, don't thank me. I just pointed her in the right direction. Your girl
had a brilliant business plan. Hey, have you called and told Sarah yet?
She's been dying to know too."

 "You were are first call. Let me get off of her and give her a call."

 "Okay, you let me know when the dinner is."

 "Will do Collin."

 "Love you Uncle Collin." Brant yelled.

 "Love you all too. I will talk to you soon."

 "Alright. Talk to you then." Alexis said, flipping her phone shut.

 "Emily get the kids ready. This calls for a celebration. Where do you guys
want to go?"

 "Aunt Lexie can we go to Chuck E. Cheese?" Brant asked.

 Alexis laughed. "You have to ask your mom but where ever is fine with me."

 Emily looked warily at Alexis. "Mommy please. Please mommy, can we?" Brant
asked jumping around his mom.

 "Mommy. Please, can we?" Piper joined in.

 "Yeah, mommy please. Please please." Alexis asked joining the kids that
were jumping around their mom. "Please!!!"

 "You have no clue what you are getting yourself into." Emily said
laughing. "Fine, fine. I can't take on all three of you. Let's go get your
shoes and coats." Emily said laughing so hard her eyes were filling with
tears. The three excited 'children' wrapped Emily in a huge hug.

 "I love you guys." Emily laughed.

 "You love Aunt Lexie too?" Brant asked looking up at his mommy from where
he still clung to her waist. Emily's smile faded for just a second as she
looked over at Alexis who just squeezed her tighter.

 "She's my best friend in the whole world. I love her lots and lots." Emily
said, looking back down at her son.

 "That's good mommy. I love her too." Brant said hugging his mommy again.

 "Do you?"

 "Oh yeah, she's great." Brant said as they all let Emily go.

 "And so are you buddy. I love you too." Alexis said as she knelt down and
gave Brant a bear hug.

 "Aunt Lexie, you're squeezing me to death." Brant said, trying to squirm
out of Alexis' arms.

 "You love me too?" Piper asked turning her big green eyes up to Alexis.

 "Of course I do baby girl." Alexis said, pulling Piper into her arms.

 "Aund Less why you crying?" Piper asked. Alexis looked up at Emily and
squeezed the little girl closer.

 "Because baby girl. I am happy. Sometimes people cry happy tears too."
Alexis explained as she let Piper go.

 "So you crying cause you're happy?" Piper asked, confused.

 "Yes, sweetie, I am crying because I am happy."

 "Oh, okay." Piper said happily as she skipped out of the room.

 "Emily, thank you." Alexis said as she stood up, pulling Emily into a hug.

 "What for?" Emily said into her shoulder.

 "For giving me the family I've never had." Alexis said, giving Emily a
soft slow kiss.

 "Lex, the kids." Emily said as Alexis pulled back.

 "They are upstairs getting their shoes."

 "And we should go help them." Emily said, unable to stop herself from
giving Alexis another kiss.

 "I love you, Emily Rae Boggs." Alexis said as she rested her forehead on
Emily's.

 "And I love you, Alexis Marie Frost." Alexis smiled and kissed her on her
head and bounded up the stairs.

 "You guys better be getting ready." Alexis yelled as she ran up the stairs
two at a time.
 Emily and Alexis were beat by the time they got home, each one carrying a
sleeping child. "I think they had fun." Emily said as she joined Alexis at
the door of Brant's room.

 "You are so blessed. They really are great kids." Alexis said as Emily
wrapped her arms around her waist.

 "I'm blessed to have you too." Emily said, resting her head on Alexis
shoulder.

 "Let's get you to bed." Alexis said, turning around.

 "Sounds good." Emily said, turning sleepily towards her room. "You
coming?"

 "Yeah." Alexis said, following her. The too of them slowly changed into
their pajamas and collapsed into bed.

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

 "I can't keep doing this." Sarah said softly as they pulled away from the
Friday night celebration dinner a few nights later. Collin looked over at
her as she rested her head on the passenger window as they drove away

 "I don't know what to tell you, Sarah. I've told you what I think. I think
that you should talk to them. I think you should tell them how you are
feeling and what's going on." Collin said softly, taking Sarah's hand in
his own.

 "I know." Sarah relented. "I just... I can't. They are so happy and they
have so much going for them."

 "I can't tell you what to do Sarah. I can't make this decision for you. I
told you before, I don't agree with you not saying something. They are
family. But I love you and I will stand by you no matter what you decide."
Collin told his wife as he brought her hand to his lips, never taking his
eyes from the road.

 Sarah smiled sadly at him. "I love you too." It was all she could say
before the tears began to all down her cheeks.

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

 "Does something seem off to you with Sarah?" Alexis asked as she helped
Emily with the dishes after supper.

 Emily shrugged and looked at Alexis. "I don't know. I don't think
so. Why?"

 "I don't know. She seemed pretty withdrawn for her. Like she was really
quiet all night." Alex said as she took the plate from Emily and began to
dry it.

 "I don't know. I mean she knew that this night was about us. About you."
Emily said as she continued to wash.

 "Yeah, your probably right. I still think you should call and check on her
tomorrow." Alexis said as she kissed Emily on her neck.

 "Okay, I will."


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

 "A few days passed before I actually did call her. When I did, all I got
was a voice mail. When she finally did call back she acted as if everything
was fine but made one excuse or another not to join me for lunch. I was so
busy taking care of the two of you and we were trying to get things settled
with Emily's place. We were so happy when Sora was born. They were there
for that, smiling. That was the last picture I have of all of us together."
Emily said, swallowing back her tears. "After I got home from the hospital,
I tried to calling Sarah. She never answered. No matter how many times I
called, she never answered. I waited a few days and called back, still
nothing. I tried... a few more times that week. I just thought..." Emily
started before a sob racked her body. Alexis pulled her into her arms.

 Brant and Piper looked at each other, both trying to figure out if the
other had any idea what happened. Piper shrugged and Brant shook his head
and they both sat silently watching their mother cry.

 "I... I should have tried to go over. Should have called sooner. Should
have found a way." Emily whispered as her crying slowed.

 "Baby, there is nothing that you could have done. It was obvious that she
had it planned for a while. I don't know what she was thinking but I know
that I will never forgive her for doing this to you." Alexis said as she
rubbed small circles across Emily's back, trying to calm her down.

 "What? What happened? What did she do?" Piper couldn't take the not
knowing any longer, looking between her adopted aunt and her mother.

 "They left. We went over..." The look of complete sorrow in her Emily's
eyes broke their hearts. "One day they were here and the next..." Silence
filled the air in the kitchen, each lost in their own thoughts.

 "So I am confused." Piper exclaimed, every head turning to her. "I
don't. I mean, they stuck through you with everything that happened with
your brother and your father only to leave. It doesn't make any fucking
sense." Piper waved off the look her mother gave her at her choice of
words.

 "I don't understand. I mean, they disappeared? They left? Did they tell
you anything? Give you any hint that they were leaving?" Emily could hear
the anger in her son's voice.

 "Something changed after your brother was born." Alex said softly. "Collin
and Sarah seemed so happy for us. Everything was falling into place. The
building had started on Emily's Place. Collin was always there to give us
advice. Then the calls slowed. We barely saw them. They stopped coming over
or inviting us for dinner. Then one day it all stopped. We tried calling
them to invite them for the grand opening. Instead of the voice mail that
we'd been getting for weeks, their number was disconnected. I thought that
it was strange so I went by their house. It was empty. No furniture, no
cars, no forwarding address. That was one of the hardest things I ever had
to do. Come home and tell your mom that her beloved sister was gone." The
stress filled her voice as she remembered that day.

 "They never called? Never let you know that they were okay?" Piper
inquired.

 "The letter." Emily's voice sounded so weak to her children. They had
never saw their mother as weak. She was always so strong. Always the one to
take charge and make things happen. To see this side of her, the heart
broken, vulnerable Emily was hard.

 "You still have it." Alexis said, more of a statement than a question.

 "It's in the top drawer." Alexis nodded and stood up, understanding with
that simple statement what her love needed her to do.

 "Mom, how? How could you go through all of this and still be able to
smile?" Piper looked at her mother with a new respect.

 "I had to. I had you and your brother's and Alexis to worry about. There
are still nights I cry myself to sleep."
 The three Boggs' sat silently, each in their own thoughts as they waited
to Alexis to return.

 "Emily, my sister. My best friend. I can't imagine what you are going
through right now. I've sat down a hundred times to write you, to try to
explain what has happened. I can not find the words to tell you. I know
this is not fair to you, or to Alexis. Please know that Collin and I love
you all so very much. This is so hard. I wish things could be
different. That I could find the words to tell you all that has happened,
yet every time that I try my words fail me. You have no idea how much I
will miss the five of you. All I can do is beg for your forgiveness and
hope that maybe one day you will find a way to forgive us for leaving. It
was the right things to do and I hope one day you will see that. I will
miss you till the day I die. No matter what I will always love you.
 -Sarah" Alexis' voice trailed off.

 "She just left? No explanation?"

 Emily nodded.

 Alexis looked at Emily's tired face. "That's enough for today. You're
mother needs to rest now. Brant, can you get your brother today?" Alexis
asked as she helped Emily from her seat.

 "Yeah, sure. Do you want some help getting her to bed?" Brant asked,
standing.

 "Thank you." Alexis said with a soft smile. "I think I can get her."

 "Mom? Aunt Lex?" Piper called after them as they reached the door of the
kitchen. Alexis held Emily's elbow in one hand, keeping her steady on her
feet. As one they turned to Piper as she ran up to them.

 "I love you two so much. Thank you for telling us, I know it wasn't easy
for either of you." piper said giving them each a long hug. "And don't
worry about the restaurant tonight. I will make sure everything goes smooth
and gets closed down."

 "Piper, you don't have to do that. You always complain when we make you."
Alexis argued.

 "And don't you have that big date tonight? No, Lexie and I will do it."
Emily said, shaking her head.

 "No, you and Lexie are going to go and spend the day in bed together,
relaxing. You both need a break. Plus if my date wants to see me, she can
come to the diner. Now go." Piper said, giving them both a peck on the
cheek before skipping out of the kitchen, getting the last word in as
always. Brant just looked at them and shrugged his shoulders before
following his sisters cue and gave them both a peck on the cheek. "Guess
you better follow the queen's order and go get some rest. Both of you."




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