AN: C'mon guys, lacking power stones.
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[The Velvet Hanger, Melrose Avenue] [Early Evening]
Chloe leaned against the first rack, hands buried in the pockets of her blazer. She felt like an alien in a hostile land. She was dressed in her usual blazer, shirt, jeans and ankle boots, her badge and her gun locked in the precinct locker as if for a change, but even so… in a place designed for celebrities and women who actually liked shopping, she still felt like a cop.
However, Ella was completely in her element. She practically rushed through the first rack, her long cardigan rustling behind her as she casually flipped through the sequined gowns, handling them as easily as candy bars. Her eyes sparkled almost every few seconds.
"Oh my gosh, Chloe," Ella said, holding up a red silk dress that seemed fit for a billboard in Times Square. "This one practically shouts, 'pick me up right now, mysterious date guy!' What do you think?"
Chloe winced. "I think I'd look like a walking stop sign."
Ella gasped dramatically and shoved the hanger back. "Okay, okay. Too bold. Got it. We'll work our way up. Baby steps into the world of hot detective in love."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "It's just a date."
Ella spun around, her eyes twinkling. "Seriously? Chloe, you wouldn't just ask me to come dress shopping for a regular date. You're practically glowing, but you look super nervous too. And I saw you almost chewing your lip when you mentioned tomorrow night. Come on, spill! Who's the lucky guy?"
Chloe paused for a moment, suddenly feeling like the boutique was way louder than it should be. She started playing with the edge of her blazer sleeve. "I... I told you. His name is Alex."
Ella just tilted her head, clearly not buying it. "Alex who, exactly?"
Chloe felt a knot form in her stomach. She hadn't planned on saying it out loud just yet because, well, she felt a bit awkward, or maybe just nervous, about the fact that she was dating someone younger. But seeing how genuinely excited Ella was made Chloe feel silly for holding back.
Finally, she said softly, "Alex Wilson."
For a second, silence. Then Ella blinked once. Twice. Yep! She was stunned for a moment.
"Wait," she said slowly, like her brain was buffering. "As in… Alex Wilson Alex Wilson?"
Chloe pressed her lips together before saying, "Yes."
Ella's jaw dropped. "Chloe. Chloe. You mean Alex freaking Wilson. Titan Alex Wilson. The third-richest man in the world... Alex Wilson. Hollywood's golden boy. The man who made Titanic. The man whose face is on more magazine covers than toothpaste."
Chloe winced. "Yeah. That Alex."
Ella clutched her chest like she'd been personally attacked. "Holy… Chloe! Do you even understand what you just dropped on me? You're casually dating the Alex Wilson and you were just going to… what? Buy a dress and not tell me until he picks you up in a flying golden car?"
Chloe gave a small laugh despite herself. "There's no flying car."
"There might as well be," Ella shot back, pacing in a small circle. "This is insane. This is like... if Clark Kent called you up and said, 'Hey, want to grab dinner? Don't mind the cape.' Chloe, why are you so calm?"
"I'm not calm," Chloe admitted quietly. Her fingers entangle together in front of her. "That's the problem. I feel like I should be calm. He's just a man. But every time I think about him, or the way he looks at me, or the fact that he never forgets to send Trixie something every morning… I feel like I'm standing on the edge of something huge. And that terrifies me."
Ella softened instantly. She reached out and squeezed Chloe's hand. "Aw. Chloe. You're not terrified. You're falling. That's the difference."
Chloe gave her a look. "Not helping."
Ella grinned. "Okay, okay. But seriously, can we rewind? He sends Trixie gifts? Every morning?"
Chloe nodded. "Flowers and chocolates for me, usually. Always something thoughtful for Trixie. Comics, toys. This morning, it was a box of Ninja Turtles stuff that hadn't even hit the market yet. She lit up like it was Christmas."
Ella's eyes went misty. "Oh my gosh. That's the cutest thing I've ever heard. He doesn't just like you. He's thinking about your daughter. Chloe, that's huge. Guys don't do that unless they're serious."
Chloe exhaled, almost like Ella had voiced the thing she hadn't dared admit. "That's what scares me. I don't know if I'm ready for serious."
Ella tilted her head. "Maybe it's not about being ready. Maybe it's about the right person making serious not so scary."
The words hit harder than Chloe expected. She looked away, pretending to study a rack of cocktail dresses, but her chest tightened with the truth of it.
Ella, sensing the shift, clapped her hands together. "Okay! Enough deep emotional breakthroughs. Let's find you a dress that makes you look like the goddess you are. No more detective armor. We're unleashing Chloe the woman."
Chloe snorted. "You make it sound like a superhero transformation."
"Uh, yeah," Ella said, already pulling a navy-blue gown from the rack. "Because it is."
For the next hour, the boutique became their private playground. Chloe tried on everything from sexy black numbers to shimmering metallics. Ella cheered from the fitting room door, offering exaggerated commentary that made the sales associate stifle laughter.
When Chloe stepped out in a dark green dress with a deep V neckline and a subtle slit up the leg, Ella slapped both hands over her mouth and squealed. "Chloe. Oh. My. Gosh. This is it. This is the one. You look like you belong on his arm at the Oscars."
Chloe nervously adjusted the fabric. "It's a bit… revealing, don't you think?"
"No, it's perfect!" Ella corrected, turning her around to face the mirror. "Look at you! Strong, elegant, and totally stunning. That's not revealing, that's owning it."
Chloe stared at her reflection. For a moment, she didn't see Detective Decker with circles under her eyes from overwork. She saw a woman who could stand next to Alex Wilson and not feel out of place.
Her throat tightened. "I don't know if I can pull this off."
Ella met her eyes in the mirror. "Chloe, you already are."
Silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was warm, grounding. Chloe smiled faintly, a rare softness on her face. "Thanks, Ella."
Ella grinned back, hugging her from behind. "Anytime, girl. Now let's get those shoes sorted. Because if Alex Wilson is going to fall on his knees when he sees you, you might as well give him a view worth worshipping."
Chloe laughed, shaking her head.
..
...
[Chloe's Apartment – That Night]
Trixie sat cross-legged on her bed, head bent over her math homework, her tongue poking out slightly in concentration. From the kitchen, Chloe kept one ear tuned to her daughter while she rinsed out the dinner dishes. The bouquet from that morning sat in a vase on the counter, filling the space with the sweet smell of fresh flowers.
The knock on the door came just after eight. Chloe dried her hands on a towel, glancing toward Trixie's room before she opened the door after peeking through the spy hole.
Dan stood there in jeans and a simple jacket, his expression caught somewhere between sheepish and tired. He shifted on his feet.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," Chloe replied, surprised. "It's late."
"Yeah. I know." He rubbed the back of his neck, then let his hand drop. "Can I come in for a minute?"
Chloe hesitated, then stepped aside. "Sure."
He walked inside, glancing briefly around the living room as if to ground himself. The flowers were still impossible to miss. Chloe noticed his eyes catch on them again, but to his credit, he looked away quickly.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Dan began. "For this morning. I came in hot, and I shouldn't have. I was out of line."
Chloe leaned against the back of the couch, arms crossed loosely. She studied him for a moment before answering. "You were protective. I get it. But you're right too. I should have told you sooner."
Dan let out a breath like he had been holding it all day. "Yeah, maybe. But that doesn't excuse how I reacted. I just… I wasn't ready to see Trixie opening gifts from someone else. It threw me."
Chloe softened slightly. "She was happy. You saw that. And she deserves happy moments."
"I know," Dan said quickly. "I know she does. And honestly, Chloe, you do too. I don't want to be the guy who gets in the way of that. I just worry. It's hard to picture someone new in her world, in our world."
Chloe nodded. "I've thought about that a lot. I didn't rush into this, Dan. I took time because I know how much it matters. Whoever I let into my life, they're going to be part of Trixie's too. That's not something I take lightly."
He gave her a searching look. "So you're serious about him?"
The question lingered in the air. Chloe looked down at her hands for a moment before lifting her gaze. "Yes. I am. It's new, and I'm still figuring out what that means for me, but… yes."
Dan pressed his lips together, then nodded slowly. "Alright."
They stood in silence for a beat. Trixie's voice floated faintly from her room, reading a problem out loud to herself before scribbling the answer. The normal sound grounded them both.
"Thanks for telling me that," Dan said finally. "And I'll try to respect it. He seems… generous, at least, from what I've seen."
Chloe smiled faintly. "He is. Thoughtful too. But this isn't about him, Dan. It's about us making sure Trixie feels secure. That has to come first."
"Always," Dan agreed. His tone held no hesitation. "No matter what else happens, she comes first."
Something in Chloe eased at that. They might not be partners anymore, but they would always share that bond.
"I'll make sure to keep you in the loop from now on," Chloe said. "You deserve that."
Dan gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks. I'll do the same. And again, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. Old habits die hard, I guess. I still think of you as…" He trailed off, then shook his head. "Anyway. That's not fair to you. I'll work on it."
Chloe tilted her head, her voice soft. "I know it's hard. But we're in a better place when we're honest with each other. For her sake."
He nodded again, his eyes flicking briefly toward Trixie's room. "Speaking of, how's she doing with all this?"
"She loves it," Chloe said with a small laugh. "You should have seen her face this morning. The turtles nearly sent her over the moon."
Dan chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, she was pretty excited. She told me in the car that she wants to introduce me to Mikey. I had no idea what she was talking about."
Chloe laughed, the sound easing the tension between them. "That's one of the ninja turtles. You're out of the loop."
"Clearly," he said, shaking his head with mock defeat.
Then, Dan went to Trixie and they talked for a moment. Then he walked out and stopped in the living room before Chloe.
For a moment, they shared an easier silence. Then Dan shifted, glancing at his watch. "I should head out. Early morning tomorrow."
Chloe walked him to the door. "Thanks for stopping by."
He paused in the doorway, his expression softer than when he had arrived. "Yeah. I just… didn't want to end the day like we did this morning."
Chloe nodded. "Neither did I."
They shared a small smile. Then Dan gave a short nod and headed down the hall. Chloe closed the door quietly behind him.
For a moment, she leaned against the wood, letting herself breathe. The conversation had been difficult, but necessary. She was relieved it was behind them.
From the bedroom, Trixie called out, "Mom, I finished my homework!"
Chloe pushed away from the door and walked toward her daughter's room, her smile returning. "Good job, Monkey. Let's check it together."
...
[Williamsburg Diner – Late Evening]
The bell above the door jingled as Max and Caroline walked in. Max carried the leftover cupcake box and plopped it right onto Earl's desk.
"Here you go, Earl," Max said. "One box of sugar bombs. Eat them now, or leave them in your car overnight and watch them evolve into raccoons."
Earl grinned, opening the lid. "Darlin', I've been waitin' all week for you to feed me. If I die, I'm makin' sure my obituary says death by cupcake and sarcasm."
Caroline smirked as she pulled off her gloves. "Trust me, Earl, the sarcasm will outlive us all."
At the counter, the two new waitresses were in full meltdown mode. One dropped a tray of fries, the other looked like she was about to cry as a table of six loud college guys in football jerseys booed them like it was the Super Bowl.
"Pathetic," Max muttered, watching the boys high-five each other. "It's like watching toddlers bully a goldfish."
Caroline frowned. "Should we help them?"
Max cracked her knuckles. "Don't worry, Blondie. Mommy's got this."
She walked toward the small counter...
Oleg leaned out from the kitchen window, smirk plastered on his face. "Hey, Max. You come to show the new girls how to serve, or how to handle a big sausage?"
Max didn't even blink. "Oleg, the only sausage I'm interested in is the one I can use to beat you unconscious."
Oleg winked. "Kinky."
Max groaned. "I'd say get help, but therapy doesn't cover chronic perv."
She grabbed the plates and turned back to the girls. "Step aside, rookies. Watch and learn how to neuter Neanderthals."
Caroline trailed after her, muttering. "This is either going to be inspiring… or end with a food fight."
Max strolled up to the table with her signature smirk. She slammed the plates down in front of the guys like a judge delivering a sentence. "Here you go, gentlemen. Burgers, fries, and enough cholesterol to clog your arteries before midterms. Enjoy."
One of the guys, broad-shouldered and smug, leaned back in his seat. "Wow. Service with a snarl. Do you practice that face in the mirror?"
Max deadpanned. "Nope. It's natural. Unlike your biceps. How many protein shakes does it take to still not get drafted? Oops, let me guess, steroids?"
The biggest one, sporting eyeliner-thick eye black for no reason, leaned back and smirked. "Think you can handle us after insulting us like that?"
Max smirked, "Sweetie, I've handled more numbnuts in this diner than your mom's handled divorce lawyers."
The table erupted in "oooohs" from the other customers nearby.
Another guy, with a chin the size of a melon, sneered. "What, you think you're funny?"
Max arched a brow. "No. I know I'm funny. You think you're scary, but your haircut says you lost a bet at Supercuts."
Caroline covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Earl shouted from the counter, "Got 'em!"
The quarterback wannabe leaned forward. "You got a smart mouth."
Max smirked. "Yeah, and unlike you, it works without a playbook."
The newbies watched in awe as Max leaned in closer to the table. "Here's the deal. You're going to eat your burgers, tip like you actually passed Math 101, and leave without making the new girls cry. Otherwise, I'll tell everyone in this diner what size helmet you wear, and spoiler alert—your brains are not the reason for XL."
The football bros sat there, crushed under the weight of her insults, suddenly very quiet.
Max tapped the ketchup bottle like a mic. "Any questions? No? Good. Enjoy your food, team no-brain."
She walked off with a victorious smirk, hips swaying just enough to make her point. The entire diner clapped like they'd just watched a cage fight.
Caroline leaned over. "Max, you just traumatized six grown men."
Max shrugged. "Eh. Builds character. Now they'll know what it feels like to face a real opponent."
Earl chuckled. "Girl, you got more bite than their whole defensive line."
Caroline sighed, sitting beside him. "I don't know what's scarier. Max humiliating an entire table of football players… or the fact that I'm starting to enjoy it."
Max grinned. "Welcome to the dark side, Blondie."
The rookies watched with wide eyes. One whispered, "How did you do that?"
Max smirked. "Rule number one of diner survival: bullies are just insecure toddlers in padded jerseys. Talk to them like you would a dog who peed on the rug."
Caroline sighed, shaking her head. "And rule number two, apparently: always carry pepper spray. Just in case they try to bark back."
Earl chuckled from his booth.
---[Note: We'll see Rookie, starting next chapter]---
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