Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me, they belong to Alliance and
their respective creators. 


Your Not-So-Secret Admirer
-------------------------------------

Francesca Vecchio stared across the precinct at her brother and his
Mountie partner.  She had just come to a realization. //No wonder Fraser's
not interested in me// she thought. //I'm the wrong Vecchio. He wants
Ray!//

She wasn't terribly surprised. Fraser had never given her any reason to
believe his feelings for her were more than brotherly, no matter how hard
she'd tried. And except for that crazy Victoria woman she'd heard about
from Ray, he never seemed interested in any woman. From the first day her
brother had brought his friend home for dinner, their mutual care and
concern had been obvious. She remembered watching Fraser dive in to Lake
Michigan to rescue Ray from a submerged car, and the tenderness with which
he had carried Ray from the water and wrapped him in a blanket.  Frankly,
she'd been a bit envious. She was pretty sure from watching them together
that Ray felt the same way about Fraser as Fraser did about him, but
neither of them actually seemed aware of the other's feelings. 

Diefenbaker stuck his nose in her hand, searching for treats. She gave him
a potato chip and scratched his ears. "Dief," she said, "are male wolves
as thick as male humans are?" 

About a week after Frannie made her realization, Ray once again brought
Fraser home for dinner.  She was friendly to the Mountie but not overly
flirtatious. She had begun to realize how uncomfortable her attentions
made him as well as how they made her brother feel. She just wished she
could knock their heads together and say, "Okay, you two, you're obviously
in love with each other, so admit it already!" When Fraser insisted on
helping her with the dishes, she made an attempt to bring him out.
"Frayz," she said, "you like my brother, don't you? I mean, you uh, you
care for him." 

"Of course I care for him, Francesca. He's my best friend."

"No, I mean, you *care* for him," she tried again.

"I already told you I do, Francesca. What else do you mean?" 

Frannie sighed. "Never mind, Frayz. Forget it." She tossed the dish towel
on to the towel rack and went to tend to her niece, Gina. "Gina," she said
to the infant, "I hope when you grow up you have better luck figuring out
men than I do. That is, unless you decide you like women better, I guess." 
In the psychology class she'd been taking at the community college they
had discussed homosexuality, and Frannie had learned about heterosexism -
the assumption that everyone is heterosexual. She was making a conscious
effort not to make that assumption anymore.  It seemed odd to think that
her niece could grow up to be a lesbian, but no more odd than the
realization that her brother was gay, or maybe bisexual. She could hear
Ray arguing good-naturedly with his Canadian partner about some case they
were working on.  She glanced into the kitchen where she saw Ray
animatedly talking to Fraser, moving his hands around and once in awhile
touching the Mountie on his arm or shoulder. //Just tell him you love him
and be done with it// she wanted to scream at her brother. She sighed. It
looked like those two were going to need some help. While the thought of
losing Fraser stung, she knew he wasn't interested in her, and she loved
her brother and wanted him to be happy. If being with Fraser made him
happy, Frannie would just have to play matchmaker. 

The next day, Francesca went to the precinct to talk to Elaine. At first
the civilian aide was skeptical. "Ray and Fraser? Francesca, you're
insane." Frannie sighed. She knew that Elaine Besbriss had it just as bad
as she had when it came to Fraser. "Elaine," she said patiently, "you're
in the Academy. They teach you about observing people, right? Just watch
those two for a few days and see what you think. If you really don't see
it, I won't ask you to help me. But if you do...well, Ray's birthday is
coming up. I have a plan for him and Frayz. I could use your help. At
least think about it? Please?" 

"All right," said Elaine, skeptically. "But I still think you're insane." 

"Thank you, Elaine! I really appreciate it. Don't tell them I was here,
okay?" and Frannie hurried off before Ray or Fraser arrived and saw her
talking to Elaine. 

Elaine did as she had promised and spent the next few days observing
Constable Fraser and Detective Vecchio. And she began to realize that
Frannie was right. Now that she looked for them, she could see the signs.
It was just little things, but taken together they added up. Ray called
his partner "Benny" when everyone else called him "Fraser." When Ray did
use his partner's last name, he constantly mis-pronounced it, but Ben
never corrected him. When they were together they always seemed to be
touching each other - Fraser would put his hand on Ray's back, Ray would
put his arm around Fraser's shoulders. Not to mention the fact that the
Mountie seemed to accompany Ray everywhere. Elaine remembered when Benton
had been in the hospital after Ray had accidentally shot him. She'd had to
go and physically fetch the detective from his partner's hospital room a
few times when he was needed at the precinct. 

After making certain that neither Fraser nor Ray was within earshot,
Elaine picked up the phone and dialed the Vecchio home number. "Okay,
Frannie," she said. "What's your plan?" 

Francesca explained what she had in mind. She had planned to take Ray to
one of his favourite restaurants, Cecconi's, for a birthday dinner. Now
she planned to use the money to treat both him and Fraser to dinner,
courtesy of a "secret admirer." Since she wasn't a very good typist, she
wanted Elaine to produce two "secret admirer" notes on her word processor,
claiming that if each man showed up to the restaurant at a certain time on
a certain date, he would meet his 'admirer.' They had to be careful that
neither of them discussed the notes with the other.  Frannie would make a
reservation in a secluded booth for two under an assumed name. Her friend
Suzanne was a waitress at Cecconi's and Frannie would make certain that
the reservation was in her area. After all, she needed a spy to tell her
how the plan worked. If things worked the way Frannie wanted them to, Ray
and Fraser would confess their feelings to each other. She hoped. 

She also hoped that Fraser wouldn't think it was a trick to get him to
meet her, Frannie. Well, Fraser had to know she couldn't type.  She asked
Elaine to make the language in the note fairly formal, not like something
that came out of "Sword of Desire."  Now she had to make sure she kept Ray
and Fraser apart so that neither of them had a chance to discuss the
notes. She'd have to make sure the note said to keep the meeting a secret.
Boy, this was getting complicated. Fixing up her girl friends was never
this nerve-wracking. There was also the possibility that the men would see
it as some kind of joke and either leave, or eat the dinner anyway but not
discuss their feelings.  Okay, she would be at the restaurant at the same
time, to reveal her little subterfuge and tell them *exactly* why they
were there. They'd either fall into each other's arms or hunt her down and
kill her. Or both. 

The next day she met Elaine and went over the notes. Each went something
like this: 

"Dear (Detective Vecchio/Constable Fraser):

You probably have no idea who I am, but I have been loving you from a
distance for a very long time. I have finally decided to reveal my
identity to you. Please meet me at Cecconi's restaurant at 8:00 tonight.
Reservations have been made for the two of us in the name of 'Smith.'
Please do not discuss this note with anyone. I want this to be our secret.
You may be surprised when you discover who I really am. Or perhaps you
knew it all along. Either way, all will be revealed tonight. 

A Bientot,

Your soon-to-be-no-longer-secret admirer. "

Francesca practically squealed as she hugged her friend. "That's perfect,
Elaine! I never realized you were such a romantic." 

Elaine blushed slightly. "Yeah, well, you'd be surprised. Underneath this
uniform beats the heart of a true Renaissance woman." 

Frannie didn't know what a Renaissance woman was, but she smiled at
Elaine's blush. "Really? I wonder what else is underneath that uniform."
Oops. How had she let *that* slip out. Elaine would probably smack her
now. 

But the Civilian Aide smiled at her and said, "Wouldn't you like to know." 

Francesca could hardly believe her ears. Was Elaine actually flirting with
her? 

She met Elaine's gaze as directly as she could and willed herself not to
blush. "Actually, I would." 

In response, Elaine moved toward her, reached an arm around the back of
Francesca's neck, and kissed her. Frannie was thrilled and scared. She
hadn't kissed another woman since junior high, when she and her
girlfriends used to "practice kissing" on each other. "Elaine," she
whispered, "um, don't take this wrong, I definitely like this, but we're
at the precinct!" 

Elaine reluctantly backed away. She looked at the floor. "Sorry, Frannie,"
she said. 

"Don't be sorry! I enjoyed it just as much as you did...at least, I hope
you did." 

"Yeah. I did." But Elaine still wouldn't look at her.

"Elaine Besbriss, you better not be ashamed of kissing me, because I want
you to do a lot more of it - just not here and not now." 

"You sure, Frannie?"

"I am damn sure! But right now you and I both have work to do. Can I meet
you here later?" 

Elaine smiled at her. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Frannie looked around to make sure they were alone in the break room, then
quickly kissed Elaine. "Good," she said. "I'll see you tonight - if my
brother hasn't strangled me by then." 

--------------------------------------------------------------

The 'big night' had finally arrived.  Francesca and Elaine were enjoying
their own romantic dinner in a secluded corner of Cecconi's.  Suzanne
would tell them when Ray and Benny arrived.

"So, um, Elaine," said Frannie, a bit nervously. "Have you, uh, always
liked women, or is this something new?" 

"Both," said Elaine. "I've always...liked women, I just never did anything
about it. Until now." 

"Yeah? Me too," responded Frannie. "God, I can't believe I'm so nervous. I
wonder what my Ma would think - I'm on a date with you, and Ray is on a
date with Fraser." 

"You Vecchios are full of surprises," Elaine teased, squeezing Frannie's
hand under the table. "It's okay to be nervous. Neither of us has a lot of
experience dating other women. It's not like I'm going to jump you across
the table." 

Francesca put on a disappointed look. "You're not? Damn, I was hoping I'd
get lucky." 

Elaine threw a napkin across the table at her. Both women laughed and the
tension dissipated.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the restaurant....

Fraser stared in surprise as his partner arrived at the table. "Ray? What
are you doing here?" 

"I was going to ask you the same thing, Benny. I got a note asking me to
meet someone here," said Ray. 

"As did I - a secret admirer."

"So, does this mean you're my secret admirer, then, Benny?" Ray asked
teasingly. 

"Well, now that you mention it, Ray....I didn't send you any note, but I
have admired you for a long time." 

"Admired me?" asked Ray in bewilderment. "Admired how?"

Benny looked serious. "I am in love with you, Ray."

Ray turned pale. "How...how long, Benny?" he asked in a soft voice, barely
above a whisper. 

"For a very long time. Since we worked on finding my father's killers. I
do not expect you to feel the same way about me, though. " Fraser suddenly
looked frightened. "Perhaps I should leave - "

Ray grabbed his partner's arm as the Mountie started to get up. "Stay
right there, Benny," he said firmly. 

The Canadian tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "Ray?" 

"I love you, too, Benny."

"You - you do?"

"Yes. Very much. I was just scared to admit it - everything I grew up with
says that it's wrong to love another man.  But I don't care. I love you
and I can't deny it anymore." 

The two men leaned across the table at the same time and kissed.

"Well it's about time." A familiar voice interrupted them.

"Frannie!" groaned Ray. "What are you doing here?" Then he noticed that
Elaine was with her.  Not only with her, but holding her hand. 

Elaine smiled mischeviously. "You two have been set up," she announced.
"By a master setter- upper. Looks like it worked." 

"Francesca," said Fraser. "Are you responsible for the letters, for
getting myself and Ray here together?" 

"With some help from my sweetie, here," replied Frannie, squeezing
Elaine's shoulder. "Happy birthday, Bro." 

" 'Sweetie' ?" asked Ray, completely confused.

"Did I tell you that you could call me 'sweetie' ?" Elaine demanded,
mock-angrily. 

"Well, you are my sweetie, aren't you?" teased Francesca.

"Well, okay, but you're the only one who can call me that, Francesca
Vecchio." 

"I'd better be," answered Frannie, and kissed Elaine. 

"Okay, will somebody please tell me what's going on?" Ray finally asked. 

Francesca smiled at her brother. "Elaine and I are together. Like you and
Fraser are together." 

"What, is it genetic or something?" exclaimed Ray.

"Could be, Ray," replied Elaine thoughtfully.

"But who cares?" asked Frannie. 

Elaine nudged her girlfriend. "Let's leave these two lovebirds alone,
Fran. We have plans, remember?" 

"How could I forget? 'Bye, guys.  And congratulations."

"The same to you ladies. Goodbye," Fraser responded.

Elaine and Francesca departed, still holding hands.  Ray and Fraser ate
their dinner, taking time to kiss in between bites when no one was around
to see them. 

And later that night, two very happy men made love for the first time. As
did two very happy women. 

END