The flight to Chicago was dramatic to say the least. Liz and Emma traveled from Ampolisa in the haze of Steph’s deteriorating condition. She was in and out of consciousness and on several occasions Emma was certain they would lose her. But, for reasons unknown to her, Steph’s resolve not to let her life slip away remained strong.

Surgery lasted long into the night. Although the procedure was complicated the surgical team emerged saying they were cautiously optimistic of Steph’s chances for a full recovery.

“When will she wake Emma?”

“Not sure Paul could be days. There was extensive damage and it takes time for the brain to heal itself after such a trauma. How is Louise doing?”

“Louise suffered a severe setback about an hour after you left. She is unconscious again I'm afraid.”

“How terrible is there anything I can do?”

“No, just keep Steph alive they will need each other when this is all over.”

“Will do my friend. I will call you if there is any change here. Please tell Louise’s family that our prayers are with her. Bye for now.”

“Okay, thanks Emma. Bye.”

Now, what to do about all the other events that are coming together at this time?

 

* * *

Everything had been a whirlwind of long hours waiting first for Steph to come through the operation and then Simon’s initial examination. If this situation wasn't a sure sign of how to survive stress Liz didn't know what else could have been thrown at them but it had.

Forty-eight hours had passed since the surgery and Steph remained unconscious.

“She hasn't woken yet Emma, is Steph really going to be ok?” Liz asked as she sat by Steph’s bed. Fear edged her words for her friend's recovery for she knew all that could still go wrong and it wasn't good. Sometimes knowledge isn't a good thing to have!

“I was there remember Liz, I know what happened and Doctor Gavey is confident and you know what we doctors are like Liz, all close-lipped.” Emma walked over to her lover and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“You could do with some rest yourself Liz, you haven't had any sleep in almost four days.” Emma smiled tiredly into the brown eyes she loved.

Liz looked up and gave her a weary smile. “Yeah I know and the same could be said of you, and you helped in the operation too. When do we know what the professor says about Simon?”

As always Liz you consider everyone and everything before you considered yourself.

“He wants to see…us in an hour. By then he will have all the test results and can give us a accurate picture of what we can and can't expect as a future for Simon.” Emma said the facts, in a voice that she used on her patients. To Liz it was her way of holding herself together when all she wanted to do was cry at the pain of her son's dilemma.

Liz had not missed the term us in Emma's statement and she glowed with love for the woman she was happy to call her partner in life, for that's how she now considered Emma.

“An hour it is then, have you the time to sit with us?” Knowing that Emma probably had other things to do as they waited for the professor's verdict.

Emma sat on the edge of the bed scant inches from the smaller woman sitting in the chair immediately opposite her.

“Can't think of a better place I’d rather be right now then with you and Steph, somehow it reminds me of how it all started between us.” Emma said wistfully a memory fluttering into the forefront of her mind.

Liz tenderly placed a hand on the thigh of her lover and squeezed it in understanding of what Emma was recalling. Emma took that as an invitation and swiftly bent her head to kiss the surprised but delighted lips of her lover, their ardor claiming them for several minutes.

“Remind me to ask if the rooms here are private next time.” A voice they recognized, still croaky from the drugs and the operation.

Emma and Liz broke apart at the words and both turned overjoyed to gaze at their friend.

“You can see us?” Emma returned to her more professional stance and moved closer to Steph to examine her briefly.

“Yeah, and there are times when I wish I couldn't.” The bantering tone was clearly their Steph and not the one that they had been told the woman might revert back to.

“I'm going to fetch Gavey, be right back.” Emma said as she slid off the bed and went out of the door at breakneck speed.

Liz moved closer and placed a gentle kiss on Steph’s cheek. “Glad to see you back with us lover.”

Steph gave her a grin and glanced at the water by the bedside. Liz having followed the eyes moved forward and tenderly placed the straw in the plastic cup on the parched lips of her friend.

“Louise.” Steph spoke just one word making Liz shift uncomfortably in her chair. What do I say? The truth!

“Steph, Louise is in Ampolisa and she's had a setback. Paul will call shortly and hopefully it is only a minor setback.” Liz tried to explain, puzzled at the calm way that her friend took the news.

“Louise was with me all the time Liz, she's gone back home now and I’ll be with her soon, I promised her.” Steph said coherently her face serene.

Liz looked at her friend closely. Surely she isn't rambling and what they thought as perhaps a complete recovery is only a front! Has she suffered brain damage and is no longer lucid?

“I don't understand Steph?”

“Louise was with me through the operation Liz, we were together and she's going to be fine.” Steph smiled gently at her friend and Liz shook her head. I’d better wait for Emma and the doctor to come back they will know what to do.

The phone rang and Liz picked up expecting to hear Emma's voice, instead it was Paul with news of Louise.

When Liz replaced the receiver she looked at Steph in astonishment.

“How is Louise?” Steph asked worried by the look on her friend's face.

“She's fine. Well no, she's not fine, but she's awake she came round about the same time you did, it would appear.” Liz couldn't help the awe that was in her voice at the words. This is uncanny! Were they really together? .

“I knew it.” Steph closed her eyes and fell into a normal sleep pattern as Liz sat on the edge of her chair in complete disbelief at what she'd heard Steph say.

I can't believe it!  Paul told me Louise said a really strange thing about being with Steph...weird!

* * *

Aftermath

That had been the official verdict on Steph’s involvement.

The real version was a little different. Steph’s own safety became secondary in her need to avenge the attack on Louise. To this day she was still unable to comprehend how she had done what she did in her condition. Nevertheless it did happen, which then lead to the bizarre events of Steph being arrested for being Arenas’ accomplice. Fortunately, the misunderstanding was resolved thanks to good friends who persuaded the detective in charge to reconsider the situation. Steph then spent a few short hours in the hospital to have treatment for her deteriorating head injury. Before being transported to a Chicago hospital for emergency surgery she provided the only voice to bring Louise from her comatose state. By some wonderful twist of fate Louise and Steph seemed to cross time and space to be with each other in their hours of need. Holding each other safe from harm lending their inner powers to each other. Truly amazing the connection they share!

Being a thousand miles apart during the months of separation for therapy and treatments only strengthened the love they shared. The bond that had been created from the first day they met was impossible to sever, should anyone or anything dare try such a thing!

Louise took up painting on a grand scale in her resolve to put the sickening events of the attack into the furthest corners of her mind. She would always carry the event with her no matter how much therapy she received. The result of the injuries she'd sustained in the frenzied attack had damaged her internally leaving her unable to have any more children. Emily would be her only child, not that she'd been considering more children, however now she didn't have that option. Her father’s barn at the ranch had been her studio and continued as such when they moved back to her old residence. Once Steph finally had been allowed home for good they decided neither of them wanted to live anywhere else even if the town held some very bad memories for them both.

* * *

Reunion

Neither in a position to travel, it had been three months since she'd seen Louise. Numerous phone calls a day, emails, not to mention the electronic chat sessions they indulged in had been their communication medium. Now I am home! For wherever Louise is it is home and I know, that Louise thinks exactly the same. For us it will always be that way.

She smiled her pale face the only telling sign that she wasn't a hundred percent fit otherwise to a stranger she looked okay.

At this moment she didn't know what to expect. She wanted to surprise Louise and refrained from saying she was due to arrive calling only Jane to pick her up at the airport. The rest she would take it as it happened.

As she collected her bags and went through the gate she realized that all she wanted was to see Louise out there waiting for her but that was impossible now. Glancing around she couldn't find Jane among the small crowd in the lobby waiting for visitors.

She realized that she had her dark protective glasses on and the light in the building was fairly poor, as she slowly removed them….

Louise was excited at the prospect of seeing Steph, all this communication was fine but to see her was the world to her, the whole world. Jane called to ask if she wanted her to collect Steph from the airport and bring her to the ranch or did she want to do it herself. Like I was going to let someone else be here to pick here up!

She walked into the airport and realized she was only just on time and then she saw her…

Steph looked up after removing her glasses and saw the most brilliant green eyes shinning into her ice blue ones. It is so right.

“Do you need a lift someplace lady?” Louise asked in a mock gruff voice her eyes engulfing the figure before her.

“How much do you charge?” Steph replied mock seriously, her heart pounding at the sight of the one person who would always make her complete.

“The future.” Louise said quietly her green eyes ensnared by blue.

“The future? Does that mean all the rest of my future or a little part of it?” Steph smiled slowly and saw the answering gleam in her partner.

“I want it all!” the words uttered in a decisive way, with no element of doubt at all.

“Kind of hard to give that away without an incentive, wouldn’t you say?” Steph asked, smiling a slow sensual smile at her lover. God all I want to do is hold you close.

Louise moved closer, stroking a gentle fingertip over the scar on the side of her head the concern evident in her touch, as she moved so close it would take the finest paper to part them.

“I love you, thank you for coming back to me.” Louise seared Steph with a kiss that etched itself forever in her heart. She didn't care that they were in a small provincial airport and that people would talk. It really didn't matter any more. They had been to hell and back she simply didn't care what other people thought anymore. This was the only person who was important, no one else!

Steph eventually gasped for breath and looked at the woman who held her future, and whatever made life worth living.

“I was always yours all you had to do was call me.”

“I know, and I'm calling this time for good. Stephanie Gregarious you are mine and no one else can have you.”

“I guess that takes care of that then, how about we forget the past and live for the future?”

Louise kissed Steph once again and then gave a beautiful smile. “Always.”

* * *

Homecoming
Eighteen Months Later

Smiling, Louise considered the evening ahead. Steph had been away for a week for both business and personal reasons and was due home that evening. Oh do I have plans for her when she walks through the door. Now standing relaxed at her father’s home she turned her eyes to the sight across the yard.

Looking over to the barn she grinned at Argo who was being teased by the precocious Emily Masterson, and appeared to love every minute of the attention. Emily, now three years old and into every situation that she possibly could find, loved her grandfather’s ranch and all the secret places.

Henry Masterson walked onto the porch, smiling at the toddler who looked more and more like her mother and his first wife too!

“I see she's teasing Argo again. You’d think the dog would know better by now.” Henry said smiling as he put an arm around her shoulders.

For sometime he worried he would lose her to the tragic events a year and a half ago. God certainly had been smiling on them. Or, was it that tall dark haired woman who braved hell itself, he believed, to bring his daughter round in the hospital all those months ago?

Louise laughed softly, smiling up into her father’s happy face. “Yes he probably does, he loves her and you know what it’s like when someone you love plays with you.”

“Yeah I do.” Henry laughed as his eyes softened briefly, straying towards the house.

“Paul and Fay are due next weekend for Emily’s birthday party. I assume you are being host again?” Louise chuckled, for Paul had been her father’s close friend for some time now. He had been his best man when he’d married Grace Collins a year ago. That had been a surprise but a happy one for everyone thought it should have happened years before.

“Paul assumes, Fay asks, and the children just take it for granted.” Henry shook his head as his grin showed how much he’d mellowed in the last couple of years.

“He’s a very special man as is his family.” Louise said wistfully, aware how easily it could have been for them to never know him, if they had never encountered Steph in their lives.

“That he is, and I take it you can't stay for dinner?” Henry asked and noticed the faint coloring of her cheeks as she gave him a shake of her head.

“Thought as much, a better proposition I suspect?” Henry squeezed his daughter’s shoulder in understanding.

“Yes, that about covers it Dad.” Louise said softly turning her eyes to her energetic daughter who was now chasing Argo around the barn.

“Kay is hoping she can make the party but with the baby due at anytime she's keeping her fingers crossed I think.” Henry said and pondered his younger daughter’s predicament.

“Knowing Kay she will be there, only the final pain of birth will stop her being at the party, trust me Daddy.” Louise chuckled and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“You girls are all the same.” He muttered a twinkle in the eye as he did so.

“Yes, well we come from a very strong background. Now, I will retrieve my family and go home.” Louise smiled and moved towards the steps of the porch.

“You bring my granddaughter over again soon you here me?” Henry said and turned his gaze to the child and the dog.

“Yeah, as if I can stop you and Emily meeting, she's here every day if my spies are anything to go by.” Louise replied blowing a kiss to her father and went to collect her family.

I know Steph brings her over here everyday. What a disaster it was the day when Emily got into the barn and did some painting of her own.

Stephanie Gregarious walked with relaxed confidence over to the barn on Henry’s ranch. It had been logical to keep Louise’s paintings housed in the barn as she still used it as a studio, anyway they hadn’t the space in the house at the moment, probably never would until Emily left home.

Smiling, she saw her daughter who was literally into everything, and their dog Argo approaching the heavy locked door to the building. They had inadvertently left the door slightly ajar one-day and the child had decided to explore and for their daughter she was one great adventuress.

Emily decided to imitate her mother and when they finally realized where she was the damage had been done. The child was covered head to toe in bright blue and green paint. Had Louise not looked so stricken at the prospect of what she would find, Steph would have laughed at the state of their child. But her partner appeared upset as she walked over to the child, quickly scanning the rest of the room. It appeared that Emily had probably done more damage to herself than to any of Louise’s paintings. Except the one that Louise had been working on for the past month. It had a kind of interesting blue and green sheen to it now and Steph was sorely tempted to laugh at the landscape that now looked like a great abstract!

“You know she has interesting brush strokes. Perhaps we should put it in a frame.” Steph smiled at her partner and was given a look of distraction from green troubled eyes.

“Interesting huh?” Louise softly answered, her eyes looked from the now useless canvas to her daughter who had a wide-eyed look that would have melted a glacier.

Steph watched Louise paint as a way of therapy to relieve the effects of the attack. It had been therapy for Steph as well for she needed the rest from her own ordeal. Now she looked at their daughter and saw the beautiful blue eyes waiting for one of her parents to say something to her.

“Hey Emily, let’s go clean you up while Mama checks out your handy work Mmmm?” Steph spoke in a quiet voice and held her arms out for the child who quickly went into them in the sure knowledge that she wasn't going to be chastised for her new adventure.

Louise had rolled her eyes, sitting down heavily on the chaise lounge, her eyes at first on her painting and then to the retreating back of her partner who was softly talking to their daughter. The very picture was so heart warming it could so easily have been a different scenario. That thought allowed Louise to forget about the damage done to her new masterpiece and call out to the two figures as they reached the door.

“I love you both.” Louise said clearly and watched with a tender smile as the tall back stiffened at the words and then turned towards her.

Steph looked back at the woman she had fought the brink of death to return to, giving her a dazzling smile, her face now covered with blue and green marks from Emily.

“We both love you too.” Steph said her tone husky as she went on her way towards the house and the mock stern grandfather.

*

Grace Masterson arrived on the porch as Louise left. “She's right the child is here every day and we know whose fault that is.” Grace placed a hand on his shoulder, as Henry looked once again at the family and then back to the woman who had become his wife six months before.

Henry smiled at his wife, “Yep and I'm mighty glad of that and who would have believed it?” He slid a warm arm around Grace’s waist remembering the day Stephanie brought Emily over and he the two of them really bonded for the first time.

Steph watched in fascination as her daughter again tried to create mischief but this time she was thwarted as the door to the barn was firmly closed and locked.

“You ready to discuss building a new house Stephanie?” the brusque tone of Henry Masterson asked as he walked steadily towards her.

Steph smiled at him and gave him a rueful look out of ice blue eyes that instead of ice they held warmth that endeared people to her these days.

“Well, Henry it’s like this…” she was halted from saying anything further when Henry held up his hand to stop her answer.

“I know exactly what you’re going to say.” He smiled at her and then laughed as Emily made a charge at Argo, and the dog with practiced speed moved out of the way just in time as the child crashed to the ground.

“You do?” Steph gave him a quizzical glance and then turned her eyes back to her daughter who was looking around for sympathy over her situation of sitting in the dirt.

“Oh yeah! Louise doesn’t want to leave her Grandparents home even though it’s too small for you.” Henry gave her a wry smile of understanding, and turned to his granddaughter watching the lip quiver. The child was about to cry out her protest of Argo getting the better of her, as was the norm for a child of her age.

“Yes. Yes you are right it’s exactly that, and what do I do? You know Louise once she's set her heart on something well it happens.” Steph shrugged her shoulders and continued to watch the child who now wanted attention and was ready to shout her protests at being ignored.

“Oh, I figured that one out real easy, look at you.” He grinned at her and went towards Emily as she gave out a loud cry and the crocodile tears streamed down her pink cheeks.

“Look at me?” Whatever is Henry implying?That Louise set her heart on me and that was the end of my resolve? Steph asked indignantly and watched as Henry picked up his grandchild, soothing her with a gentle kiss to the cheek and stroked her blonde hair.

“If the cap fits.” He replied and walked towards the house with Emily securely in his arms.

Steph snorted at the remark and whistled for Argo as she strode after the retreating figure, if the cap fits indeed, don't I have a choice in the matter? No, nope I never had!

“Oh, and Stephanie thanks for bringing Emily over everyday I appreciate it, more than you know.” Henry smiled as the tall woman caught him up and walked easily beside him.

“My pleasure, she loves it here and you love her so what better reasons. Incidentally Henry, did Louise ever get up to the tricks that Emily does?” Steph spoke conversationally to the man as they ambled towards the house.

“Now that is a good question, a very good question…”

“How about you and I go inside and look at those cruise brochures I received this morning in the mail?” He smiled and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

*

Grace smiled at him in loving warmth. “I never could deny you anything Henry, so let’s go and see if we can find a wonderful vacation shall we?” She chuckled as he placed a tender arm around her shoulders and they laughingly went inside the house.

* * *

Later That Night

Stephanie Gregarious pulled her four by four into the drive of the house and she sighed heavily as she extracted her tall frame from the vehicle. It’s been a long week. It feels good to be home at last. Her eyes traveling over the small picket fence and the color of the numerous plants that Louise insisted had to be planted. She called it a welcome home and Steph realized perhaps for the first time that it was just that, coming home! Her somber expression changed to a bright countenance and the welcome she would receive once inside the small house made her tingle all over. This house only has good memories.

Inserting her key in the lock she smiled wryly at the action, for it had been that very event almost two years ago that started her memories flooding back. Albeit the following six months had been difficult with her recovery from the head injury and Louise’s from her assault, but together they kicked the odds, having survived every obstacle in their path.

As the door opened the hinges creaked, I really did need to do something about that! As she closed the door she could smell the aroma of spices and garlic, guess we will be keeping to ourselves for the next day or so. Louise just loves to add lots of garlic to her culinary creations.

As if by magic one part of the family descended on her as Argo bounded from his playtime in the yard, pouncing on her as she laughed at his exuberant welcome. When dog finally let her up from his voracious hold on her, she heard Emily chuckling happily in the other room. The sound always bringing tears of happiness to her, it just seemed so right that their daughter was happy in this environment and how lucky she was that her parents were still alive.

Then Steph heard the soft sounds of her lover singing a tune she hadn’t heard before, smiling she walked closer to the woman that held her heart and always would. As she pushed open the kitchen door she thought that the woman before her was wonderful and entirely too beautiful not to….

Louise who had a second sight when it came to the woman who shared her soul turned. Her smile beaming and making Steph catch her breath at the sight.

“Ah so you finally decided to come home?” Louise said in mock annoyance.

Steph eyed her with warmth from her ice blue eyes, “sure, Liz, Emma and Simon were quite happy to get rid of me. I think I annoyed them with my stories about you and Emily.” Steph said quietly her eyes never leaving the green gaze.

Louise looked directly into the orbs she loved, thanking God for the skills of the people who had operated on her lover, who had not only restored her sight but her memory in part too she was sure. “Well, in that case shouldn’t you make me happy too.”

Steph gave a small smirk, closing the gap between them enclosing Louise in a loving hug. “Anytime lover anytime.” Placing her lips in welcoming passion on the willing lips of her partner.

It was several minutes later when they decided to break the connection, leaning her forehead on Louise’s Steph whispered to her. “I love you Louise always will.” Gently placing her lips against her lover’s relishing the contact as it brought warmth to her body that defied explanation.

It was like having all her dreams come true as Louise was once again enclosed in her body. “I love you too Steph, forever. I’ve missed you so much. Mmm you feel so good. Just how hungry are you?”

Steph raised an eyebrow at the strange comment and gave Louise a smile. “Not that hungry…except for you of course my love.”

“You flatterer you, but I love it and you. I was thinking about settling Emily, it will leave you and I time to become reacquainted, what do you think?” Louise watched the differing expressions fleet across the beautiful face in front of her, as she reached out a hand and touched the scar that was still evident on her forehead.

“Sounds like a proposition that shouldn’t be bypassed, I'm all for reacquainting myself with the beautiful Louise Masterson anytime and anywhere.”

Steph captured Louise’s lips to reinforce her reply.

* * *

Her own experiences left scars both in the mind and body that she would never forget, although with the help of her attentive partner, daughter and her family she was able to move a step forward each day. Steph arriving back in the town after her own brush with death made sure that Louise never felt threatened. Their infrequent trips to the town center to shop had after the initial speculation and finger pointing subsided and became quite a pleasure for them both and Emily.

Things had changed in town too. Mayor Arenas resigned his office immediately in disgrace once the facts were known about his eldest son’s activities were known. He and his family left the area and it was heard the State as well. Jon Arenas buddies finally admitted their guilt in the original assault on Louise and were all given lengthy sentences in a correctional facility.

The town itself had taken Louise to their hearts after the whole sordid episode was made public. By default that meant they accepted the tall dark stranger who owned the gallery in town as well. Inseparable was the word often associated with the two women, if people voiced anything else it wasn't mentioned in public.

“How was Simon?” Louise asked Steph, as she grinned at Emily as they put her back in the playpen for her final romp before bedtime. Emily had an abundant source of energy that never seemed to fail until she simply went to sleep without a murmur.

“He was giving Liz lessons on how to play this new computer game, you know what Liz is like with computers.” Steph slipped onto the sofa, pulling Louise into her arms as she kissed the top of the blonde head.

“Has he finally finished with all the doctors now and been given a clean bill of health?” Louise sank into the firm but welcoming embrace of her lover.

Steph considered the question, smiling as she recalled receiving the final bill from the hospital for Simon’s treatment. It brought everything into focus for her since she used the money gained in her previous career to good effect. Strangely for some reason all her bad dreams of the episode that resulted in the deaths of several men by her hand stopped. “Yeah, he sure has and he’s now talking the hind legs off a donkey. Emma and Liz indulge him, as Emma says he’s got some time to catch up and you can see her just watching him as he talks to Liz with a strange expression on her face.”

Louise shifted so she could look at Steph quizzically asking, “what kind of look?”

Steph gave her a warm tender look of complete adoration, continuing to stare into the green eyes before her saying nothing.

Louise saw the concentrated gaze and smiled slowly as it dawned on her what Steph was trying to convey. “Ah, that look, the one that says I'm happy to have you in my life and please never go away again kind of look, Mmmm?”

Steph captured the lips close to her own and whispered her agreement.

“How about we have that early night?” Louise softly replied and was given a dazzling smile in reply as they without haste moved from the sofa and collected Emily.

As they placed Emily in her room and watched her fall back asleep, they encouraged Argo to sleep in his basket in Emily’s room. They then retreated hand in hand in silence to their room.

“Who has the shower first?” Louise asked. She was immediately silenced as full lips enclosed hers with a sensual kiss that left her breathless.

“No one, you and I are going to explore each other and then a shower might be appropriate.” Steph growled as she placed her lips on the exposed neck of her partner. Sucking the exposed area gently, she felt Louise’s heart rate increase as she arched her body into the touch.

She had sorely missed and would always miss Steph when she wasn't with her.

“I think I'm over dressed.” Louise whispered as her hands threaded through the midnight black hair. Steph’s lips continued devouring her pulsing flesh. Louise could feel the heat rise in her body and the stirring in her loins at the very thought of those lips and hands seeking passage to the moist cavern of her womanhood.

Gentle but strong fingers traced a path over her breasts as the buttons of her shirt were swiftly opened, exposing a lacy bra as the ice blue eyes smiled in satisfaction at the sight. They darkened with passion as her fingers unclasped the bra, allowing the full breasts to fall, taking Steph’s breath away at the sight. The nipples came to attention from the stark gaze of her lover’s eyes. When fingertips trailed over the peaks they responded to the action as if they had been starved of the very essence that kept them alive. Louise moaned into the bent head of her lover and placed her own hands feverishly over the broad back wanting deeper contact. The clothes she wore were quickly dispensed with as they sank onto the bed covers. Steph lowered her taller body over the naked form of her lover smiling sensually into the green eyes she loved.

“I think you’re a little over dressed now Steph how about we take care of your clothes?” Louise smiled a sultry smile and practiced fingers easily slid the shirt she was wearing over her head the buttons forgotten in the need to feel flesh against flesh. As her skirt was removed and the lace panties slipped down over black silk stocking legs, Louise could feel the passion rising not only in her lover but within her own body too. Steph’s long legs encased in black silk were a definite delight as she pressed closer to the feel of the silk against her own bare thighs. She felt the friction of her skin and the fabric, bringing a flood of desire between her legs that only the woman resting on top of her could fulfill.

Steph’s expression was filled with a longing, which held only extreme tenderness, devotion and love, “I adore you Louise Masterson and there will only ever be love between us that I can assure you.” Her lips closed in on the smaller woman in her arms as Louise faintly answered her with a similar declaration.

“Always and forever Steph.”

The two women lost themselves in the pleasures of a loving reunion, which later saw them holding each other tightly, cocooned in their love, as they watched the birth of a new day dawn.

Knowing it would be this way for the rest of their lives, Always and Forever!

End