Sasha didn’t mind that she was late to her meeting with her new match, which told her this had officially become old hat to her. She was seriously considering moving out of the evergreen city limits, buy some land and building a house, and just commute to work. Maybe she was too much of a control freak to let someone else choose for her. Or maybe she was just too much of a cynic now to really fit into The Vows ideals, but here she was match number 5, and she was definitely not the most sold on the idea. She would give this another shot and if didn’t work out she start considering other options, such as working for her grandmother’s firm, which was a lot closer to her birth mother, and all those men her mother was dying to introduce her to.

Stepping into the coffee shop Sasha told herself to smile. She was charming and nice, and while a strong willed control freak, she was still a great catch. She had to stop thinking that all these relationships are cracked up to be are failures, and those happy couples they keep talking about are just flukes in a flawed system. But she shouldn’t show her new match her cynical side, even if she would tell him why her last two marriages didn’t work out. Sasha knew what she wanted, and neither would have been suitable for her to stay with and have them.

Taking moment to stop and calm herself and remind herself that there was a reason she was here. She wanted to be a mother, she wanted to pour her life into someone like she had never done before, like no one had done for her. And part of that meant that she couldn’t do that with some person who wouldn’t be there for the child, the same way her parents had never been there for her. And most importantly she had to make sure her child never experienced pity for one of their parents. How many nights had she felt sorry for Lenora, and Dennis went around causing her shame, how often had she thought of her mother as a fool who was nothing more than another possession in the Campbell collection. She hadn’t minded life with Josh, but she knew that she would have been pitied amongst her children, and they would always be unwanted and unloved by a father who didn’t really want them. She wanted more from life.

Walking in to the room she played amateur profiler and tried to figure out who looked like they were waiting for someone. Seeing a guy at table by the door alone, Sasha was almost certain that he was probably waiting for her. So she tried to widen her smile and wish for the best, as she walked over to the table. “Hi, I’m Sasha Campbell- er I mean Brewer, I sent you the email suggesting we’d meet.” Sasha said, hoping that some positivity would flow through her.

Kiel looked up from his mocha when he heard a woman's voice close to him. Then he realized she was talking to him and he forced himself to sit up straighter. Oh, yes. Hi. Kiel Bier. He stood and offered her his hand to her in greeting, a bright yet nervous smile on his face. He shook her hand then stood a bit awkwardly. he looked down at himself and dusted invisible dust off his black slacks and dark blue button up long sleeve shirt. Uh... would you like some coffee? A danish? Kiel was incredibly nervous about doing this. Meeting the woman some company had chosen for him. He knew nothing about this woman. She surely she wouldn't have agreed to this if she knew he was gay. He stiffened a bit as that thought crossed his mind. Would she figure it out when he told her what he did for a living? Or did his mannerisms or the way he was dressed give it away already. he'd heard some people can just tell that sort of thing out right. He swallowed and pulled out his wallet. I'll buy... whatever you like. was he trying to hard? Oh jeeze he needed to calm down his jitterbugging insides.

Sasha noted that Kiel was nervous and part of her knew that she would be too. But this was becoming common place with her so she continued to smile as he shook her hand. She was usually good at making people feel at ease so she was going to do her best to make Kiel know that she wasn’t going to take one look and just stomp out of the door. He wasn’t repulsive, but she had learned with Edward, Chase and Josh, that was just frosting, and the cake underneath could be awful. She smiled at his offer of coffee, she had never had a taste for the stuff, finding it bitter and distasteful. But she would be gracious and choose something from the menu, so long as it wasn’t that awful stuff they called a drink. She eyed the menu, since she wasn’t a regular to the shop she had to figure out what they had to offer

Sasha watched as he stammered slightly and wondered why he was so nervous. Maybe this was his first match, but even she couldn’t remember being that nervous. He was acting almost guilty and she was sure that unless he was secretly a serial killer, or an identity thief, he had nothing to worry about. But still she wanted him to be at ease, if anyone should be worried, it should be her, she was the one who seemed fated to be alone, without the one thing she wanted in the world. So she smile turn sly as she felt the sarcasm rise inside of her. “That’s a dangerous thing to say to a woman who’s best friend is Jimmy Choo.” She said with a light laugh. “I guess I’ll have a cup of earl grey tea and a blueberry muffin.” She said hoping that Kiel would grow less nervous.

he smiled at that and nodded. Jimmy Choo is a genius. he said in a kind of joking manner. He knew most guys wouldn't know who the hell Jimmy Choo was or that it had anything to do with fashion. But Kiel knew. Sasha went on to tell him what she wanted from the menu. No problem. I'll be right back with that.

Kiel excused himself and headed to the counter as he pulled out his black leather wallet from his back pocket. He got in line, soon was able to order Sasha's request and brought it back to their table. Here we go. While he'd been in line he'd taken some deep breaths to calm himself. He managed to get his slight shaking under control before he'd gotten back to the table... back to Sasha Brewer.

Alright... so. Why don't you start? Tell me about yourself. The Vow's letter doesn't really give a whole lot of information. he smirked and tried to seem as casual as he could. Had he gone to far with that Jimmy Choo comment? She was about to bolt wasn't she? But if that was the case wouldn't she have ran for the door while he'd been in line? Shut up Kiel! Stop over thinking things! You always over think things.

((OOC: italics mean inner thoughts. Bold means dialogue.))

Sasha nodded glad that Kiel was smiling, and that he knew what she meant by Jimmy Choo being her best friend. Though she did think it was kind of weird, a lot of time guys didn’t know designers sometimes they hardly knew if something they bought was designer. Sure Jimmy Choo made men’s shoes, but that made her wonder about him. Was he a clothes horse, was he wealthy, Jimmy Choos certainly didn’t come cheap. Were they intentionally matching her with wealthy men? She may be high maintenance but the price tags on her clothes didn’t mean that she didn’t want someone who didn’t know how to live her lifestyle. Of course in the back of her mind Sasha wondered about Kiel’s sexulity, because honestly she like more masculine, not aggressive men, and knowing who her favorite shoe designer actually is was not a point in Kiel’s favor. “Well in my opinion shoe design is the best kind of genius there is.”
Taking a sip of her tea, Sasha considered her next move, the same way she did in poker, which was how she handled most things in life. Her bosses had praised her for being the toughest lawyer they’ve ever seen go into divorce settlement hearings. Her poker face was a combination of innocence and a fierce determinism that said that she wasn’t going to give an inch. Sure a relationship wasn’t like playing poker, but in some ways it was a matter of playing your cards at the right time. So she pondered what to tell her match and what to leave out. “Well I’m a lawyer who grew up in New York City, though I attended college in Virginia. I studied social work as an undergrad, and then went to law school. My parents raised me to be excessive but what I really want to do is make a difference, whether it’s in the court room, or in the a small community center. I’m a clothes horse and an insomniac, and I pretty much have my picture next to the dictionary definition of type A, and live with my blackberry attached to my hip. So tell me about yourself…Why the Vow?”

Kiel was impressed that she was a lawyer. She seemed set on helping people which was an excellent mark in her favor for him. He tried not to seem too nervous or twitchy when she asked about his background. Well... I uh. Chose the vow because... i want a family, i guess is the best reason. And it's kinda hard to do that by yourself. I'm and Interior designer. I actually have a bachelor's degree in the field. I've always been good with color schemes. he cleared his throat and leaned forward a bit, his elbows and forearms resting crossed on the table before him. As he spoke he found himself a bit more relaxed. She hadn't seemed to catch onto his sexuality yet. Maybe she wouldn't until he was ready to tell her. And... it's okay that your an insomniac. Good actually. Sometimes I do my best work late at night. It's quieter, calmer. You can think more clearly when the world seems to be asleep. she smiled a bit and it made his eyes sparkle.

He took a sip of his coffee and watched her. gauging her reaction to his revelation of being an interior designer. Most women would consider it a dead giveaway. Or at least really make them suspect. But... a straight man could know colors and design schemes... couldn't they? Oh great... he was way in over his head wasn't he? Damn he kinda wished Jane was hear to coach him on what to say to not screw this up. His best friend had helped him fill out the application for The Vow. He'd been a bit clueless on what to put down in some of the fields.

Sasha was happy that Kiel wanted a family because really that was all she wanted as well. Okay maybe she wanted more than that. But that was the very next thing she wanted, more so than being a judge or opening a youth center. But before she started jumping for joy she had to be precautious, learn from the past and find out if Kiel was the person she wanted to start the family with. At first she was desperate to prove to herself that she would be a better parent than her own parents had been to her . But then she had spent months with her birth mother, and taken time to talk with a therapist. And all the inner reflection had shown her that the best thing she could do for a child is provide them a safe place, where they could be loved by people who were honest and loved each other, putting the child’s needs above their own. Sasha was ready to do that, though she didn’t know what loving her husband would look like, because she wasn’t sure she could fall ‘in love’ again.

Red flags went off in Sasha’s mind, and she didn't hear anything, because yes she like most people equated interior design as a feminine trait. Most men would not care if the throw pillows clashed with the paintings, but women, and gay men did. She had seen several interior designers in her life, since Lenora’s idea of home life was having a whirlwind of decorators come in to give the house a ‘facelift’. And not once had any of the men been straight, ironically neither had most of the women. And sure it was in New York but that didn’t mean that gay men didn’t live in Indiana. And Sasha had no problem with anyone being gay, but she didn’t want to be a beard, because that usually meant getting cheated on, and it was for that reason that she had ended things with Josh. Of course Sasha wanted to know the truth, reminding herself of one of her favorite show tunes song ‘There Right There.’ She decided that the sarcastic forward approach would be the best way to handle the situation.
“Interior design and Jimmy Choo? Hmm… you either gay or the poster child for metro sexuality.”

Kiel coughed and tried to catch his breath after choking on his mocha. Sasha's comment had caught him a bit off guard. He set down his cup and looked across the table to her. Sasha... I. he sighed and dropped his head to look at his hands on the table. I'm sorry. I was hoping to be able to tell you a bit more gently. And i'll understand if you don't want to go through with the wedding. He took a deep breath and forced his eyes to meet hers. Yes. I'm gay. But.... I want a family. And with the laws the way they are in most states, a judge would never grant me custody of a child. Especially if I was open with my... sexuality. he paused not sure what else to say.

Kiel really did meant to find a time to tell her. He was just hoping he could have put it off till they were married. But she was figuring it out anyways. And he refused to lie to her. He hated being lied to. He didn't want to start off a marriage that way. His leg started bouncing a bit and he glanced at his watch nervously.

Sasha. Before you decide to walk away. I... I want you to at least think about it? I... I'm willing to work for this. I will be faithful. And.... I am willing to try... being with you as a husband should. I mean. I have been with a woman. It's just... I was seriously drunk at a college party. And... I don't really remember much of it. And the girl never wanted to talk to me again so I can't imagine it went over all that well. Damnit! shut up you idiot! I'm sorry. I talk too much when I'm nervous. He looked away from her, unable to meet her gaze anymore. This had gone so much worse than he'd imagined.

Sasha sipped at her tea as Keil told her the truth feeling emotions rise within her as he spoke. First there was disappointment, a natural reaction to the news she had just heard. So yes she didn’t like living in a fairytale world. But part of her wanted to do more than just get by. And she had hoped that finally she’d have a match to really build a life together to do what people actually did while married, not some glossed over version that was just for appearances, like the stock photo that comes in picture frames, or the breast implants. She had watched couples like that all her life and she didn’t want to live her life as a lie.

The second emotion that rose within her was compassion, something she felt when she saw someone want something so bad that they were willing to do or give up anything, just so that they could have what they wanted most. But Sasha didn’t think you had to give up your very life just so that you should have kids. And she would not be the person who would take away from a person just so that she could have what she wanted. Nor could she be so sacrificial, that just wasn’t who she was, and she had to admit that she wanted the whole package.

“Thank you for being honest with me. But you need to be honest with yourself. And I have to be honest with you. I’ve been married before, twice actually, and why I’m not married now is because they didn’t want me, and I didn’t want them. I thought I could marry for convenience, like any good heiress should, but I couldn’t stay with those unions because one was hostile and the second just wanted a stand in to please his parents. It’s noble that you want a mother for your children, but when I was growing up I would have been happy to have just one parent who loved me, no matter what their sexual orientation.“

Sasha took another sip of tea before continuing, kind of approaching her next statements as if she was in court. What she had always thought when she was in her criminal defense classes was that it was easier to prove guilty than innocent. It was even tougher when Kiel was being both jury and defendant, ready to sentence himself to a life with a woman he could never love.

“Okay I have to be honest again, I don’t want to marry you. But not because I think you’re disgusting, but because I could not live with myself if I let you turn away from your very identity. Hypothetically say we do get married, and our child is now 13 years old, going through puberty and trying to figure who they are. What do we tell them about self acceptance and love? I’d want to tell them to be themselves, and to try for love. I may not have had success with it, but I’d still want my child to go for love. And I’d want the same thing for you. I may not become your wife, but I would love to be your lawyer. Anyone willing to give up so much to be a parent, certainly deserves to be one.”

Kiel felt his heart sink as she rejected him. And she sounded so... professional as she did it too. Made him feel a bit worse. But he was very glad that she was able to be honest with him. It'd taken a lot for him to be able to open up like he'd just managed to do. Kiel let his head fall forward as she talked. Turning him away like a person with a bad credit score trying to buy a car. He swallowed, trying to moisten his suddenly dry mouth. His drink was gone. He was about to save Sasha her time and effort and excuse himself from their meeting when something she said caught his attention. She was offering to be his lawyer... to help him become a parent.

Kiel looked up at her in wonderment. You.... you want to be my lawyer? This is unbelievable. he chuckled a bit, more of a nervous release of the tension that had built up inside him and in the air around him and Sasha Brewer than because anything was funny. He leaned back in his chair and eyed her carefully, making sure she wasn't pulling his leg on this one. So you won't marry me because I'm gay. But you'll help me gain the right to adopt because I'm gay. he was just talking out loud at this point. He leaned forward against the table again. You know they wouldn't let it happen in this town. I'd love to be able to be myself here. I was born and raised here. But this place is so... 1950s that no one can warmly welcome a single father, let alone a gay single father. he paused and glanced around a bit, watching the people coming and going in the coffee shop. Its just so much easier to hide, put up a front. I've tried to live the life. Face the world. And my boyfriend cheated on me with some girl in his dorm. he furrowed his brow in anger at the memory of walking in on that scene. she shook his head in an attempt to shake the memory out of it before he turned his gaze back on Sasha. It lightens my spirit a bit to know that you would help me despite the facts. Thank you, Sasha. You're good people. But I think you would be wasting your time on my case in a town like this. his voice held sadness and longing in his voice, in his eyes.

Sasha was worried that somehow Kiel would just get offended and walk away but he seemed to not mind the idea of her helping him to adopt a child. Sure there would be hoops to jump through, but she had been hired for her acrobat skills she had displayed during her multiple internships. Part of her knew that this would be a risky job to take on, but part of the fact that she was an heiress made things easier, she didn’t need job security, she could never lift a finger again and she would be set. What was important was that she helped out this kind hearted man. “I don’t carry some of the cold heartedness the title stereotypically proclaims. I got my undergrad in social work, and you’re the kind of case I’ve always wanted to take.

Of course there were other legal issues, particularly surrounding Kiel’s contract with The Vow, but she was willing to take anything on, and she could be passionate about a case for the first time since she had sat as a co counsel in that long drawn out case in DC. It would mean long hours, strong tea, and extensive study of state and federal laws, but it would be worth it. So that she could guarantee that at least one child would never experience a cold loveless childhood that she did. “You’re right I won’t marry you because you’re gay. But I want to help you because I think that adopted children should be in a loving home. “

Sasha thought about the family that she had grown up in and the way life had been for her. She was adopted, but in many ways she had been just another acquisition for the Campbells. Something to be claimed as a trophy, rather than properly cared for and loved like a child should be treated. “Since you’ve let me in on a big secret, I guess I can let you in on a secret of my own, which is part of the reason that I want to help you adopt a child. I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but my parents divorced when I was 18, and because of this divorce and ‘equal division of shared assets’, we had to sell our penthouse. Though my ‘trust’, which was really something setup because my parents don’t trust each other, bought me another one so that I would have a home in the city, a little smaller, same neighborhood. But when I was helping the movers pack up items I stumbled across the documentation for the records of my adoption.” Sasha said before taking a sip of her tea.

Part of me knew it all along, but what really struck me was how unfair it was that I was adopted by two people who had never paid any attention to me. The system doesn’t work quite as well for couples who don’t have as much money or influence. So instead of being just straight pre-law I decided to focus on Social Work, so that as a lawyer I can help bring families together. Children are too precious to be treated that way, and if I can help one child find a happy home with you, I’m already off to a great start. We just need to start with the state, this town may be ‘vintage’ but they are still subject to the laws of the land. And lucky for you, I’ve already started doing my homework. “ Sasha said before taking a bite of her muffin, glad to have something to be truly excited for.

Kiel was in awe at this woman. He listened to her story and her reasons for wanting to help him. And he couldn't help but smile. I... I don't know what to say, Sasha Brewer. I'd have to be an idiot to turn down your offer. he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest as he thought deeply for a few moments. Alright. If you really think you can pull this off, I'll hire you as my lawyer. I don't have a whole lot of money though. Decorating people's homes and offices pays well, but the demand is low. he reached a hand across the table to shake on the deal and smiled broadly. But I'm sure we can figure something out. You seem like a reasonable kind of law woman.

Kiel's chest felt tight with nerves and excitement. Sasha seemed confident in her abilities to win his case. To help him gain the right to adopt and live openly as who he really is and still live in this town. If she managed to pull this through then maybe... just maybe he would find Mr. Right one day and have a real family. He felt a tear stinging his eye and he quickly looked away to wipe it away. Geez, give a guy hope and he gets all emotional. he laughed lightly at himself as he looked back to Sasha. Well, this is a time for celebration then. Excuse me and I'll get us another round of drinks and we can talk about details? then he stood and headed for the bathroom to collect himself and then to the counter to refresh their drinks and get more pastries.

Sasha wondered how she would make this work, but then she remembered that she was Sasha Campbell and this was what she did. She made a difference, just like she changed the perspective of cheerleaders, and helped to implement an anti bullying policy at her prep school. She would use her skills experience and knowledge of the law. “Glad to know you have some room in your brain for more than just shoe designers and décor.” Sasha said doing a little teasing, this opportunity would be great for both of them. Maybe the boss people wouldn’t like it but then again she doubted they’d mess too much with the granddaughter of Sharon Campbell.

“Well I’ll have to charge you for any time I spend using office resources but otherwise it’s pro bono work. Either that or I can connect you with my Indy contacts so that you can start making some commissions. But money is never a concern for me, I’m more concerned about the case itself. So you will see that I’m more than reasonable about my fees.” Sasha only thought of her paychecks as travel and grocery money. It was the work that she loved, especially when she had a case that really got her blood pumping.

“No worries about getting emotional around me, I’m not going to scream ‘Man Up’, not unless you really need it, or you chicken out on me. “ Sasha said with a smile, feeling much more relaxed, though this match did turn out to be a bust. At least this time the guy wasn’t a jerk or a cheater. He just happened to like guys, but need her in another way. Things may not be working out the way she planne , but she was still happy with the outcome. “Sure go get me another tea, and I can start finding room for you in my Blackberry. “ Sasha said as she finished the last sip of her tea. Pulling out her phone to see how her schedule was shaping up. Maybe the next meeting would have to be over a meal time so she could kill two birds with one stone.