Family Reunion

By Mavis Applewater

yomavis@email.com

September 2003

Disclaimers, the characters and story are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced, posted or sold without the author’s permission. If for any reason real or imagined you are uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of two consenting adult women in a loving and sexual relationship then do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view this material then get the heck out here and do not return until it is no longer a crime.

A very special thank you goes out to my beta reader Mary.

As always this is for Heather.

*****

When I was about thirteen years old my parents split up. Not an uncommon occurrence at the time as most of my friends had experienced the same life-altering event. Yet, I withdrew even though along with my two brothers I had to agree that the end of our parent’s marriage was a blessing. The arguments during the last two years of their marriage wore heavily on all of us. Still on the day my father moved out I felt devastated. A couple of years later I began to act out. My teenage rebellion had hit like a tidal wave, and by the time I was sixteen my father announced that he had met someone new.

I honestly don’t know why it freaked me out so much. Perhaps I still harbored a glimmer of hope that my parents would get back together, and the bliss that existed before the hateful words would return. After my parents began to lead separate lives they actually got along really well. Funny isn’t it? I spent years praying that they would leave one another only to start praying that they would find one another again.

What can I say when you’re a kid you think all sorts of crazy things. For the next year I dealt with my father’s new relationship with Shelia (that was her name), who I didn’t like, with typical teenage class and finesse. I drank, I smoked, I stayed out all night, and ran around with the wrong crowd. Basically I did anything I could to add more gray hairs to my weary parents’ heads.

My main problem was that I really didn’t like Shelia. I tried at first, but she was so phony. She’d be all sweet and charming in front of my Dad and the moment his back was turned she turned into nagging conniving bitch. It was like hanging around with Sybil. She would try to pry us for information about our Mom, what kind of car she drove, how much alimony was my Dad paying her, and other weird stuff that I didn’t think was any of her business. The only thing I liked about Shelia was her kid Madeline. Madeline was very sweet even though she never said much; she simply hid away from everything usually with a book.

I liked Madeline for many reasons. First, she was nothing like her mother, and secondly, she had to be the most adorable girl you’d ever want to meet. She had sparkling, green eyes and sandy blonde hair and the most amazing breasts. Alas there was the other reason for my teenage angst reaching catastrophic proportions. I was starting to realize that I really liked girls. And it really irked me when I realized that I had the hots for the daughter of my father’s girlfriend. It was bad enough lusting after Dawn Jennings, the head cheerleader, who was straighter than straight, but Madeline was practically a member of the family. Plus her Mother was a witch who would have skewered me for being a dyke never mind harboring naughty thoughts about her precious little girl.

Madeline, to her credit, never seemed to notice my lustful desires and remained just as sweet as possible. I always wanted to meet her father; since I suspect that she must take after him and not the woman who was doing every thing she could to empty my poor Dad’s bank account.

Now by the time I hit seventeen my poor Mother was at her wit’s end as to what to do with me. I had one more year of high school and she really wanted me to go to college. By the way I was acting I was more likely heading towards juvenile hall rather than college. Now I understand the stress I put her through, but back then I thought she just didn’t understand my so-called friends or me.

My poor mother tried and tried to set me back on the right track. I, in turn, continued to screw up and make her life a living hell. Nothing she said or did could get through to me or manage to knock the twenty-pound chip I was carrying off of my shoulder. The chip grew bigger and my attitude grew more hostile when that spring my father announced that Shelia was moving in with him because they were getting married.

After I heard the joyous news it was a small miracle if I showed up at school or made it home at night. Basically I was a selfish ass. My mother in her infinite wisdom decided that I should live with my father and Shelia for the summer. She had some crazy idea that just perhaps Shelia and I would bond. I thought my mother had lost her mind. My brothers and I avoid the subject of Shelia around my mother. We did suspect, despite my mother’s politeness towards Shelia, she really didn’t like her either.

Needless to say the thought of spending an entire summer away from my friends, locked up with my over protective father and his witch of a girlfriend was less than appealing to me. A couple of other things about the arrangement were that I wasn’t allowed to drive, because I had been caught driving without a license, I had a ten o’clock curfew, and I had to share a room with Madeline.

I was not happy about not having any freedom and sharing space with someone I was in total lust with and couldn’t touch. My reaction to the news was harsh to say the least. That is when my father put his foot down and informed me I didn’t have any choice. Yeah that is what you want to tell a rebellious teenager.

From the moment I was dropped off on my father’s doorstep I was a major pain in the ass to everyone, including Madeline. In my muddled mind I figured if I pissed her off the same way I pissed everyone else off, she’d stay away from me. I turned bitter when my plan worked. Madeline gave me the space I thought I wanted. It was a bitter pill to swallow and I, of course, blamed her for being distant.

I was a real prize back then. The only up note was that Madeline was very shy and insisted on getting changed in the bathroom. I think if I had seen her naked I would have spontaneously combusted. The down side was that because I was such a cranky wench Madeline hid in our room reading most of the time. Although I was thrilled by the way it annoyed Shelia who just harped on the poor girl, Madeline’s solitude prevented me from sneaking upstairs and relieving some of my pent up frustrations.

All in all by the time the fourth of July rolled around I was a bitch on wheels. I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. I wasn’t allowed to see my friends because they were a bad influence on me, and my future stepmother was a harpy from hell. Listening to her nagging my father about the wedding was wearing on me. By mid-July, after I got into a screaming match with Shelia, I had enough and just took off.

Well I didn’t just storm out which would have been my normal method. Instead I snuck out of the house. I knew I was going to get in trouble and I couldn’t have cared less. I called my friend Buddy Truman and went partying. I was numb and uncaring as I drank all night. By the time I fell out of Buddy’s Trans Am onto the front lawn it was two in the morning and I was beyond trashed.

Suddenly I gave a rat’s ass about being caught. The teenaged mind is a strange and troubling thing. Instead of just sneaking in the backdoor, which I had a key for; I thought climbing in the window of the den was a brilliant plan. To this day I’m shocked that the neighbors didn’t call the police or I didn’t wake my father or his bitch girlfriend. I know that I must have made enough noise to wake the dead, still the fates smiled upon my sorry butt and no one except Madeline was even aware that I had been out all night.

I lifted the screen and crawled through the window. I thought I was doing great until I crashed into the den. At the moment I struck the floor I was surprised that it didn’t hurt. When I finally managed to lift my head that was spinning violently I quickly discovered why I had made such a comfortable landing. Apparently my entrance wasn’t the fluid movement I was convinced it was and Madeline had helped me. I never knew why she was waiting for me or why she was trying to help me.

In the process of trying to make a suave entrance, I knocked the both of us onto the floor trapping her beneath my body. "Are you insane?" Madeline hissed in a hushed tone.

"Huh?" I slurred as I looked down at the girl I was straddling.

"God you’re drunk," Madeline bemoaned with a hint of disgust.

"No," I hiccupped my lie as I remained on top of the poor girl with my hands planted on either side of her head.

"Get off me before they hear us," Madeline whispered as she squirmed beneath me.

I was far too drunk to realize the gravity of the situation. The only thing my booze soaked brain could focus on was the feel of Madeline’s body wiggling against my own. I lowered my head and body so I could feel more of her body pressing against me. "Do they know I snuck out?" I whispered in her ear as my senses reeled from the feel of her breasts brushing against me.

My entire body shivered as I swore that I heard her whimper before she answered my question. "No," Madeline responded sounding as if she was short of breath as she tried to lift her body up.

As her body moved her hips swayed against my center driving another jolt through my already over heated body. It felt much too good having her beneath me to giving up the pleasure, so I placed my hands on her shoulders and guided her back down onto the carpet. I can still remember the way her eyes shimmered in the darkened room as I hovered above her. "Good," I whispered as my focus drifted down to her lips. My lower anatomy twitched as I spied her tongue peeking out to wet her lips.

My brain ceased to function as the sounds of our heavy breathing filled the room. I still don’t know if I was aware of what I was doing when I kissed her. I just remember how soft her lips felt as they moved against my own. Instead of doing what any normal person would do when they realized that they were making out with someone who was about to become their stepsister I didn’t pull away and apologize for being a drunken idiot. Nope, instead I sucked on her bottom lip before slipping my tongue inside of her mouth. My body shifted so that I could part her thighs with my knee.

I became entranced as our bodies melded together and the kiss deepened. To this day I haven’t forgotten what a truly amazing kisser Madeline was. Maybe that is why I began to sway my hips against her body or why one of my hands slipped up and under the flimsy nightgown she was wearing. It was the first time I had kissed a girl, the first time I felt a woman’s breast filling my hand, and her nipple hardening from my touch. It was also the first time my blue jeans were soaking wet with passion and my clit was not only throbbing it was pounding with an urgent need.

She broke away from the fiery kiss as my hips rocked against her body. I was trying to pull her nightgown up as she pressed her hands firmly on my shoulders and pushed me away. "We can’t," She whimpered helplessly the sound of her voice tugging at my heartstrings.

There was something in her eyes that pleaded with me to understand. I just nodded as my soul shattered. I climbed off of her body and without a word we snuck up the staircase. My heart was pounding as we tried to avoid each creak and tried to shuffle without notice to the bedroom that was just down the hall from our parents. I was a mass of confusion as I watched her carefully clicking the door shut.

The room was dark except for the shadows of moonlight spilling through the curtains. My sexuality had been hard enough to deal with, but copping a feel with my future sister was just unthinkable. I had screwed up before, but never to such an epic proportion. As I watched her sit down on her twin bed, my mind and body were caught up in a whirlwind.

Then I made the mistake of looking into her eyes. I just about broke into tears as I knelt before her. I cupped her face in my hands and brushed away her tears with my thumb. "I’m sorry," I stammered out the feeble excuse knowing I couldn’t do anything worse unless of course I had set her on fire. And that seemed to be the problem. Her dark green eyes were filled with tears and something else. The smoldering fire was drawing me in once again. I hesitated for only a moment until I felt her hands on my waist.

The kiss was soft and tender as I nestled my body between her thighs. I dismissed all of the reasons why I shouldn’t be kissing Madeline and gave in to the passion. Our tongues teased one another’s as I felt her hands tightening against my waist. She pulled me in closer as the air between us slipped away.

The kiss deepened as the feel of her body fanned the flames of my desire. She moaned into the warmth of my mouth as I began to lift her nightgown up. We broke apart and I removed the garment from her body. She gave me a shy glance as I sat back on my heels and drank in her half naked body. I could feel my own shyness consuming me as I reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek.

My mouth felt suddenly dry as I brushed her face with my fingers. I watched the steady rise and fall of her chest as my touch gently drifted down along her neck and across her shoulders. I took a deep breath as I felt her legs wrapping around my waist and guiding me to her warm inviting body. Never in my wildest imagination could I have pictured myself kneeling before her as she sat on her bed wearing nothing but a pair of panties as my fingers gently explored her flesh.

She laced her fingers in my hair and drew me to her. We kissed passionately as I felt her desire brushing against my stomach and her hands roaming across my back. The feel of her hips arching against me as I held her soft supple body in my arms was pure bliss. I cupped her breast once again and caressed it tenderly. The scent of her skin mixed with the musky aroma of our mutual desire filled me as I kissed her chin. My eager lips and tongue drifted lower. Her head fell back as my mouth began to worship her neck.

She whimpered with need as her legs tightened around my body. Her skin tasted amazing as I suckled her neck. She released another deep moan as my fingers teased her nipple. I needed to remove my own clothing and feel our bodies touching, yet I was unable to yield my wandering hands and mouth.

Her moans grew heavier as my tongue discovered the supple valley between her breasts. Her body thrust harder against me as my tongue flickered across her nipple. I was on fire as I felt the bud puckering against my lips just before I captured it. My hips were swaying as my need grew to a painful level. Still I was unable to give in to my own needs as her pleasure was my only concern.

Madeline released a series of sharp gasps as my teeth joined in on the feast. I suckled her harder as one of my hands slipped between our bodies. I could feel her wetness seeping through her underwear and my t-shirt.

She thrust harder against my touch as I slipped my hand between her thighs and cupped her mound. I teased her nipple harder as she rode against the palm of my hand. I had dreamed of holding and touching her for so long the moment seemed surreal. Our breathing became ragged as I slowly lowered her panties down to her thighs.

The tiny bed creaked as her body responded to my touch. Her wetness painted my fingers as I explored her passion for the first time. Her desire filled my hand as my fingers glided along her slick folds. I felt alive for the first time in years as my fingers stroked her throbbing nub and I continued to suckle her nipple.

We were captured in a maddening spell as I slipped inside of her. My fingers filled her as my thumb teased her clit. There we were, my fingers gliding in and out of her and her breast filling my mouth, when the bedroom door flew open. Madeline was on the edge of ecstasy when her mother burst into our bedroom.

"Girls are you all right I heard . . ." Shelia’s words died on her lips as her focus cleared.

"Shit," I gasped as I pulled away from Madeline’s body. I will never forget the sheer look of horror plastered on Shelia’s face as she stood in the doorway.

I quickly tried to block her from the view of her half naked daughter as Madeline frantically tried to get her nightgown back on. "You degenerates," Shelia bellowed which of course brought my father running into the room. I blocked Shelia’s path as she reached out for Madeline with her hand raised.

"Don’t touch her," I shouted angrily as I pushed Shelia away before she could strike her daughter.

"What is going on?" My father asked clueless as to what Shelia had discovered.

"Dad this is my fault," I offered in an effort to spare Madeline.

"Okay?’ My father stammered in bewilderment as Shelia kept trying to push past me so she could hit her only child.

"It isn’t your fault," Madeline argued as she ducked behind me in an effort to escape her mother.

"You diseased bitch," Shelia spat at me as she slapped me across my face.

To my credit I didn’t flinch when she hit me. Instead I kept my stance and Madeline safely behind me. "Shelia!" My father shouted out in horror as he pulled her away from us. My father never so much as spanked his children, and seeing Shelia hit me infuriated him. "Now everyone calm down," He said in a cold tone. "Now someone tell me what is going on here?"

I swallowed hard as my father’s eyes bore into me. "Dad it is my fault," I bravely confessed.

"No it isn’t," Madeline argued as she stepped out from behind me.

"Yes it is," I offered as the guilt consumed me. "I’m the one to blame."

"Well since you reek of Jack Daniels I am inclined to believe you," My father responded wearily. "Just what is it that happened?"

"She didn’t," Madeline protested as my jaw dropped. It was the first time in years someone had actually defended my callous actions. It was also the first time I didn’t want someone else to take the blame. Madeline still had to live with Shelia and my Dad and there was no way I was going to leave her behind in a living hell. Let them punish me and think I’m a sick freak, but I wasn’t going to have them think that about Madeline.

"I’ll tell you what happened," Shelia said as her lips curled into a hateful sneer. "Your precious little angel was raping my daughter."

"I what?" Came my horrified response to the absurd accusation.

"No she wasn’t!" Madeline argued.

"The both of you are disgusting," Shelia sneered once again. She reached out quickly and grabbed Madeline by her hair and before I could intervene she was dragging the poor girl out of the room. My poor father just stood there in shock.

"Dad this isn’t Madeline’s fault," I repeated as I listened for any sounds that Madeline might need my help. I had a sinking feeling at the way she just let her mother drag her out of the room this wasn’t the first time the witch had smacked her around.

"What happened?" He pleaded in a dejected tone that broke my heart. The look in his eyes made me angry. It screamed, ‘What did you do now?’ It was a small miracle that I didn’t do what I always did and lash out. Somehow I remembered that there was another person’s well being at stake. I took a deep breath and tried to think of what I could possibly say that would defuse the situation. I took another deep breath knowing that there wasn’t any good way of explaining what had happened. The only thing I could do was gloss over the details and hope for the best.

"Shea?" My dad pleaded, as the worry lines in his brow grew deeper.

"We were making out," I finally said. Actually I whispered it hoping he wouldn’t hear the words.

"You were what?" He stammered as the confusion clouded his face. "But you’re both girls? And she’s practically your sister?"

The perplexed look on his face grew. I honestly believe that I could have told him I was smoking a joint with an alien from Mars and he would have had an easier time believing it. The sounds of Shelia’s footsteps storming towards the room made me sick. I knew that she would put her own sick spin on things and I had to come clean. "I’m sorry Dad," I began slowly the tears filling my eyes. "Truth is it was more than making out," I never felt so sick or ashamed in my entire life. If Shelia hadn’t exploded I wouldn’t have had to face my father and explain to him that I was having sex. I think deep down my Dad would be happy if he could go to his grave thinking I was a fifty year old virgin. And to this day the idea of him thinking that way is just fine with me.

"That slut is not staying in this house," Shelia coldly informed him.

My father’s gaze bounced between the two of us. I’m not certain which of us had shocked him more? Both Shelia and I had shown our true colors that night. Only question was which of us could he live with? He just kept looking at the both us as the color drained from his face. "I’ll go," I finally offered in an effort to bring some peace back into his world. He blinked in surprise at my offer. "I’ll pack my things and go to back to Mom’s."

"Okay," He nodded the shock still clearly written on his face. "I’ll wait downstairs for you," He added softly before he and Shelia stepped out of the room.

As I packed my meager belongings I could hear my father arguing with Shelia. I couldn’t understand what they were saying. All I knew was that the both of them were very angry. I cried as I picked up my luggage. I had broken my father’s heart and I had no idea what had happened to Madeline. For the first time in my young life I realized that my actions really do have consequences and I was disgusted by what I had done. I wasn’t disgusted that I had kissed Madeline or had feelings for her. What disgusted me was the fact that I didn’t stop and think about the aftermath that would crash down upon my entire family.

The drive back home was spent with me sniffling like a baby and my father just staring out the windshield. Not once with all of the screw-ups I had been involved with did my father not look at me. Now he couldn’t bring himself to look or even speak to me. We woke up my mother. She was more than a little surprised at our arrival.

I could hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen as I sat in the living room awaiting my fate. My heart sank when I heard the front door quietly closing. My father had left without saying goodbye. My poor mother looked like death warmed over as she joined me in the living room. I couldn’t look at her as I slumped further down into the sofa. "He hates me doesn’t he?" I choked out as fresh tears rolled down my face.

"No he doesn’t hate you," My mother responded in a surprisingly gentle tone. "He’s in shock. But your father and I both love you. Shea are you gay?"

The gentleness of the question took me by surprise. "Yes," I sniffed certain that my confession would make both of my parents despise me the way that Shelia now despised Madeline.

"Why didn’t you tell us?" Her question was once again gentle.

"You’d hate me," I sobbed as she sat beside me and wrapped me up in her arms.

"Don’t be ridiculous," She chastised me as she rubbed my back and held me in the same manner she did when I was just a little girl. "No wonder you’ve been acting like a delinquent, between the divorce and being confused. It is never easy dealing with your emotions when you’re a teenager, but discovering that you are different can be hell on earth. I remember what Ruby went through," She sighed in a surprisingly thoughtful manner.

"Aunt Ruby is gay!" I squeaked out in surprise at the news that my mother’s sister was a dyke.

"Lord yes," My mother chuckled. "Did you really think that she and Frieda were just roommates?"

"Yes," I blurted out.

"Come on," my mother comforted me as she helped me to my feet and led me into the kitchen. "We have a lot to talk about."

That night was a turning point in my life. Coming out to my parents hadn’t been the disaster I had always feared it would be. Granted they never did cartwheels or were tremendously thrilled with my sexuality, but they did the one thing they had always promised to do. They loved me. It was that simple.

I never heard from Madeline again. She was shipped off to East Orange, New Jersey to live with her father, or so I heard from my father after he moved out of the house and left Shelia behind. Everyone’s lives were altered because I made a mistake. Facing that was what set me back on the right track. Granted Shelia probably would have shown her true nature eventually, but my father really did care for her or at least who he thought she was. I ended their relationship and forever damaged Madeline’s relationship with her mother. In many ways I felt like a drunk driver who had killed their best friend.

It was a sobering thought in many ways. So I got my act together and really grew up that night. I even managed to pull my grades up. I discovered the funniest thing during my last year in high school; I wasn’t as dumb as I kept telling myself I was. Now don’t misunderstand me my senior year certainly didn’t erase the three years before it, but I did manage to get into a decent community college.

This brings me to why I’m taking this trip down memory lane. I arrived at my daughter’s school for the usual parent teacher conference. Andrea is seven and the light of my life. And, thankfully, she doesn’t take after her mother. Nope she takes after Garrett my best friend and the kindest soul you’d ever want to meet. Asking him to father my child was the smartest thing I had ever done. All in all I felt pretty lucky.

That was until it was my turn to go into Mrs. Spencer’s classroom. I almost fell over when I was greeted by the sight of Madeline sitting behind the desk. She didn’t notice me at first as I closed the door behind me. When I accidentally plowed into a row of desks, she noticed me and how. At first she was concerned that I had injured myself. She jumped up to help me. "Are you all right?" She blurted out with concern.

"Oh fine," I managed to mutter as my face turned beet red. That was when it hit her. It must have been my voice. Her head jerked up and she looked up at me as if she had seen a ghost.

"Shea?" She gasped in astonishment.

"Yeah," I muttered once again not certain if she would be angry at seeing me again. "So you’re Mrs. Spencer? Wait Spencer was your maiden name?"

"All the kids do that," She snickered her hand lingering on my arm. "Why don’t you have a seat?"

"Can’t I just stand here and wallow in my embarrassment?" I teased praying that she didn’t hate me.

"No," She chastised me in a playful manner as she took a seat behind her desk. "Now have a seat," She instructed me as if I was one of her students.

I heard her snicker as I poured my large frame into one of the tiny students chairs. I pursed my lips into a scowl, which evoked another snicker. "So how is Andrea doing?" I asked as I found myself staring into a very familiar pair of emerald orbs. "She just can’t say enough nice things about you."

"Andrea is very sweet, bright, gets along with all of the other kids, very well behaved and truly a delight to have in my classroom," She complimented my pride and joy. "Are you sure that she is yours?"

"Oddly enough you’re not the first to ask that question," I played along as my body filled with a sudden sense of warmth I hadn’t felt in years. "My Dad usually asks about once a month."

"How is your father?" She quickly asked as a smile lit up her delicate features.

"Great," I smiled in response. "He and Mom got remarried about six years ago."

"To each other?" She said with surprise.

"Yeah," I laughed. "We didn’t even know they were seeing each other. They were sneaking around like a couple of teenagers for years."

"Uh huh," She said dryly.

"I’m sorry," came my quick response suddenly realizing how it must have sounded. "How is your mother?" I asked not really caring about Shelia. I really just wanted to know about Madeline’s life for the past few years. I thought it might be more polite if I didn’t spew a litany of questions at her all at once.

"Okay," She shrugged as the smile slipped from her face. "We haven’t been close in a very long time."

"I’m sorry," I said with a hard swallow. It was something I had been waiting years to tell her.

"Don’t be," she said the smile returning in full force. Once again I felt my body warming. "I was much happier with my father. I was never happy with her or how she manipulated people. She’s married again. I think this is her fifth time. Hard to say, like I said we haven’t been close in a long time."

"And that is what I’m sorry about," I confessed.

"We weren’t very close to start off with," Madeline reassured me. "Shea I was more than a willing participant that night. Hell I thought you were the hottest thing since sliced bread."

"Really?" I beamed in a slightly cocky manner. I couldn’t help feeling good about the statement. How often do you hear that the first person you kissed thought you were hot?

"Yes," She responded in a droll tone. "And I am very thankful that you didn’t end up being my sister."

"Me too," I sighed with relief.

"Yes that would have been a twisted version of the Brady Bunch now wouldn’t it?" She teased me. I laughed along with her feeling completely blown away by the confident woman sitting in front of me. Madeline bore no resemblance to the awkward teenager I once lusted after. "As much as I would love to catch up," she said with a heavy sigh. "And just for the record I would love to catch up, but I’m afraid that I have to play teacher."

"Fine," I nodded in understanding. "So we both agree I have a great kid," I added as I struggled to pry my five foot ten frame out of the tiny chair. My actions earned me another snicker from the blonde schoolteacher.

"Yes your daughter is wonderful," Madeline agreed as she stood and crossed from behind her desk. I felt giddy when she offered me her hand. I clasped her smaller hand tightly and our eyes met for the briefest of moments as our touch lingered. "I meant what I said," she added as my hand trembled from her touch. "I really would like to catch up."

"I would like that," I confessed as I reluctantly released her hand from my grasp. "I’d like a chance to show you that I’m not the same punk I was back then."

My hand was still tingling from her touch as I left her classroom and gathered up my daughter. We had dinner at my parent’s house that night and all through the meal I couldn’t get Madeline out of my head. I couldn’t wipe the silly grin off my face all night long.

"Shea are you all right dear?" My mother finally asked after we had cleared the dishes and were sipping coffee in the living room. Andrea ignored us as she played on the computer.

"Yes I am," I chuckled for some unknown reason. "I went to the parent teachers’ night."

"Well that explains the silly ass grin on your face," my mother teased.

"Grandma," Andrea scolded my mother. I swear my kid is the only adult in the room at times.

"I’m sorry Andrea," my mother apologized as my father snorted with amusement.

It is strange to see them together after all of these years. They are happy, now that the pressures of family and work are behind them. My father had always said the reason they didn’t work wasn’t because they weren’t in love. It was stress, money problems, mid-life crisis, and all the things that tear apart the happiest of couples that finally drove them apart.

"No surprise that the teacher just gushed over Andrea," I boasted with a smirk as I plotted how I was going to drop the bomb on them. "She did ask if I was sure Andrea was mine." This got a heartfelt laugh out of both of my parents.

"You were quite the handful," my mother sighed. "Not at Andie’s age, but later I never thought we’d survive it."

"Speaking of my terrible teens," I slyly began. "Andie, sweetie, would you tell Grandma and Grandpa your teacher’s name?"

"Mrs. Spencer," my darling daughter responded with a shrug. "She’s really neat."

"Yes, Miss Spencer is really neat," I corrected her. My parents gave me a strange look. I knew that they knew I was up to something.

"Okay Miss Spencer is really neat?" My mother played along.

"What’d you do hit on her?" My father teased me.

"Yes," I smirked in response.

"That’s my girl," my father beamed proudly.

"Shea you didn’t?" My mother scolded me as my daughter released a disgusted groan.

"Yes I did," I proudly exclaimed. "Seventeen years ago."

"Mom you’re not dating my teacher," Andie whined as my parents just stared at me with confused looks camouflaging their faces.

"Wait, Spencer?" My father finally said as the light dawned.

"No Andie I’m not dating your teacher," I reassured her as my thoughts screamed that I really wanted to date her teacher.

"I’m confused," my mother finally said.

"Madeline Spencer," I informed her with sly smile.

"Oh wasn’t that the girl you got caught with," my mother’s words drifted off as all eyes turned to my daughter who was listening to every word.

I love watching my daughter’s face scrunch up. Andie hates it when adults try to talk around her. Sometimes my little darling is just too smart for her own good. "Relax Andie," I reassured her. "I knew Miss Spencer when we were teenagers."

"Wow I knew she was old," Andie began before she realized what she had said. "Sorry?" She blurted out quickly. Like I said my kid is too darn smart for her own good.

Months passed and it was just about summertime. Even though Madeline and I had gone out for coffee and chatted when I would drop Andie off or pick her up nothing else had happened. There was the notable exception of me falling for her all over again. I was sitting in my brother Ray’s backyard as I retold him and his wife Sally the whole saga.

"So you’ve gone out for coffee?" Sally eagerly asked. "No dinners, but you really hit it off? And she’s let you know that she’s single and gay?"

"Yes," I confirmed suddenly feeling like an awkward teenager again.

"You like her, from what you’ve said she likes you, so why haven’t you asked her out on a real date?" Ray asked me as he looked at me like I’ve lost my mind.

"Because Andie would hate it," I tried to explain. "And Maddie’s hinted around that dating a student’s parent isn’t a good idea. I think she’s interested in me too, but she hasn’t out and out said it."

"Well I can understand her problem with dating a student’s parent," Ray confirmed in a thoughtful manner. "And if I was seven I would think it gross if my mother was dating my teacher."

"No kidding," I sighed.

"But tomorrow is the last day of school," Sally annoyingly pointed out.

"So you see my problem?" I blurted out like an idiot.

"Not really," Ray mumbled. "Ask her out."

"What if Andie still has a problem with it?" I sheepishly inquired.

"So ask her?" Sally practically shouted at me.

"Who?"

"Andrea, ask her if she will be grossed out if you date Miss Spencer now that she isn’t in her class anymore." Sally growled at me. "And if she says no, and Maddie says yes, then Andie can sleep over on Friday night."

"Hey even if the both of them think this is a peachy idea," I blushed as the words spilled out of my mouth. "It is only dinner."

"Not to be crude Sis," my idiot brother began as I rolled my eyes. "But the two of you have been going out of your way to just chat since September. And based on what you said happened the last time the two of you were close, it was the first time for both of you and you got interrupted."

"I am not talking to you about my sex life," I cringed at the very thought.

"You talk about it with Sally," He whined.

"That’s a chick thing," I tried to explain.

"It’s true Honey," Sally thankfully confirmed. "But," I cringed as she continued. "Even if it is just dinner you’ll need a sitter anyways and we are taking our kids to Six Flags to celebrate their last day of school so why not let Andie spend the night with her cousins?"

"That was very diplomatic," I congratulated my sister in law. "Okay fine. Now let me go home and ask my daughter if I can go out and play on Friday night."

I found myself sitting at my kitchen table as my daughter peered over her bowl of ice cream. She knew that I was up to something. I swear sometimes I wonder which one of us is the adult. "Andie," I began slowly as she blew bubbles in her chocolate milk, and then again sometimes I know she’s the kid. "Sweetheart, you remember the first time I met Miss Spencer don’t you?"

"Kind of?" Andrea shrugged in the typical seven-year-old fashion.

"If I dated her would you have a problem?" I carefully asked.

"Gross," Her face scrunched up at the very idea.

"Okay," I sighed knowing this wasn‘t going to be easy. I never hid my sexuality from my daughter, yet I didn’t go into great detail either. "But after tomorrow she won’t be your teacher anymore, would you still think it is gross if I went out to dinner with her?" ‘I so can not believe I’m asking my kid if it is okay for me to go out on a date!’ My mind screamed as I watched Andrea ponder the idea.

"I guess it’s okay," Andrea finally shrugged as I blew out an exasperated breath. "Can I have some more chocolate milk?"

"Don’t ever grow up on me kiddo," I laughed as I got her more milk.

***

I was sweating as I waited to hear the school bell ring. Andrea rushed out and jumped into my arms. I was certain she was more excited about the trip to Six Flags than seeing me. I didn’t care why I got hugs; Andie was most definitely the best thing in my life. I set her down as I spied a familiar blonde weaving her way towards us. Since the first time we met again, Maddie had made a special effort to talk to me when I picked up Andrea. I couldn’t help noticing the way her eyes were darting around in a nervous fashion as she talked to my daughter.

"Andie, why don’t you talk to your friend Tina for a moment?" I interrupted them. It was going to be hard enough asking Maddie out on a date. There was no I way I would be able to do it with my daughter watching.

"Why?" Andrea asked not grasping the situation.

"Please?" I pleaded with her.

"’Kay," she shrugged before catching up to her friend.

"I am going to miss her," Maddie sighed as I kept a careful eye on my daughter.

"Yeah Uhm," I stammered as I turned my attention back towards the petite blonde who was still making me crazy after all of these years. "Maddie, I mean Miss Spencer," I quickly corrected myself in case anyone was listening to my conversation. "Would you like to have dinner tonight?" My palms were sweating and my heart was racing as I awaited her answer.

"Yes," She blurted out quickly. I smiled at the way her hand flew up to her mouth and her face turned a deep shade of crimson. I couldn’t help smiling at her embarrassment as she cleared her throat. "I mean that would be lovely Miss Griffin. Will Andrea be joining us?"

"No she is spending the night with her cousins," I whispered softly so only she could hear my words.

"Shea I was never so happy to see the end of the school year," Maddie crooned softly in my ear.

"Me either," I agreed as I stepped away. "I’ll pick you up at seven."

After I dropped Andrea off at Ray’s and kissed her goodnight I raced back home. I must have changed my outfit half a dozen times before settling on the very first one I had selected. I was a nervous wreck by the time I arrived at Maddie’s doorstep. Then I took one look at her and my mouth dropped. She was wearing a simple black dress that hugged her body in all of the right places. I had to calm my breathing and remind myself that this time I needed to take things slowly.

Over dinner I realized that over the past nine months Maddie and I had already been taking things slowly. As we chatted I realized that we really knew a lot about one another. I learned that it was my father who sent her to live with her dad. After he returned that night and discovered how badly Shelia had beaten the poor girl, Dad just snapped and got Maddie safely away from her mother. What surprised him the most was that Shelia didn’t seem to care that he had taken her daughter away.

What was more important than the knowledge and history we shared was that we really connected. There was an undeniable current flowing between us that I was certain could light up an entire city block. I also couldn’t help wondering if the underlying flirting we had exchanged since September had been our way of wooing one another?

As we lingered outside of the door to her apartment I realized that I was a goner. Somewhere, somehow I had fallen head over heels for this woman. Of course then I was plagued with thoughts about whether or not she felt the same way and if I should try to kiss her goodnight? And with the fire that was raging inside of me could I behave like a lady and not try for more than just a kiss?

We just stood there staring into one another’s eyes until Maddie broke the silence. "Shea," She said so softly that I had to lean in to hear her words. My body quivered as we brushed slightly against one another. "I’m really glad that you asked me out."

"I almost didn’t," I chuckled softly as I felt her breath on my skin. "I had to get Andrea’s permission first."

"Good thing she likes me," She whispered as her lips grazed my neck ever so slightly. "I feel like I’ve been given a gift," she continued her breath and lips teased my sensitive neck as I clenched my hands tightly in an effort not to just reach out and kiss her senseless. "I’ve wondered over the years what would have happened between us if we had been given the chance to explore our feelings. We never got the chance to see where what we were sharing would lead."

"I thought about it too," I moaned as I leaned even closer to her and felt my body spinning out of control. We kept moving closer and closer until I was pressing her body against the door. My hands refused to remain idle as I caressed her hips and erased the distance between us. The feel of her labored breaths on my neck made my body quiver. "Kiss me," I pleaded as I felt her fingers in my hair.

She drew me down to her and captured my lips in a soul-searing kiss. I had always remembered how Madeline kissed when we were young. It had plagued me into adulthood. At that moment I discovered that time had been good to her, and she was even more amazing than I remembered. Out of instinct my thigh shifted between her legs. She moaned deeply at the contact as I raised the hem of her dress slightly so our bodies could be closer.

My eyes remained half open as the kiss ended. I could feel her fingers playing against the back of my neck as each of us tried to breathe. When my eyes finally met her gaze my knees buckled. "Stay?" Came her needy request as I felt one of her hands tugging on my belt.

I was about to ask her if she was sure or if she wanted to slow things down, when I realized it was a ridiculous question. There was no mistaking the fire in her eyes, which mirrored the fire burning inside of me. "Yes," I gasped as I felt her hips slowly swaying against my body.

She fumbled for her keys as we held onto one another. Somehow we managed to stumble into her tiny apartment without breaking contact. I could feel myself being led through the darkness as my clothing slipped from my body. I couldn’t stop kissing her as I did my best to remove her clothing as well.

The air escaped my lungs as my body landed on the bed. I was mesmerized as I watched her undressing the both of us. Despite the warmth surging through my body my skin erupted with goose bumps as I drank in the vision of Madeline’s glorious, naked body hovering above my own. "I’ve waited a long time for this," she purred as she began to kiss my face and neck. I groaned as she suckled my earlobe into her mouth while her hands caressed my breasts.

"So have I," came my own husky response as I felt her tongue and hands exploring my flesh. I clung to her as I felt her tongue teasing my nipple. The bud puckered from her touch as my hands drifted down the smooth skin of her back. I cried out as I felt her mouth suckling my nipple. I wrapped my long legs around her waist and arched against her. I knew she could feel my desire on her skin as she teased me with her teeth and tongue.

Her hands and mouth were maddening as she drove me to the edge with the slightest of touches. I was begging for release as she worked her magic down my body. Her warm breath teased the damp curls of my mound as she nestled her body between my legs. I opened myself up to her touch as I felt her tongue tasting the inside of my quivering thighs.

I looked down my naked form and was greeted by a pair of emerald orbs twinkling up at me. She moaned as she drank in my scent and draped my legs over her slender shoulders. I felt her parting me as I watched her. She moaned once again as I gripped the bedding. A bolt of lighting struck my core when I felt the first touch of her tongue. I felt my passion flowing heavily as her tongue glided along my swollen lips, drinking in all I had to offer. I had never felt so willing or eager to give myself so completely.

My clit was throbbing as her mouth teased me. I pressed my body closer as I begged her for more. She suckled my aching nub into her mouth as I rode against her touch. She murmured with pleasure as she feasted upon my wetness. I couldn’t still my body when I felt her slipping inside of me. I knew I belonged to her.

Madeline seemed to know exactly how to touch me as her fingers glided in and out of my wetness and she nibbled on my swollen clit. I was screaming out as she tried to steady my body. I fell into the abyss as the waves of passion consumed me. Still she pleasured me even after I had released my passion.

I finally pleaded with her to stop before my heart exploded along with the rest of my body. I was trembling as she kissed her way up my body. I needed to hold her, to touch her, to hear her screaming out my name. I wrapped her up in my arms as our bodies melted together. The feel of our skin touching scorched my soul as my hands explored her skin.

I felt our wetness touching as our clits united in a slow, steady rhythm. I cupped her firm round backside and guided her to ride against my body. Once again I became lost in the madness. I needed more as I rolled her onto her back and dipped my long fingers in her wetness. She whimpered as she clung tightly to my body. I slipped from her grasp and kissed every inch of her flesh.

She was squirming beneath me as my mouth discovered her already erect nipples. I felt her wetness pressing against my stomach as I suckled her urgently. I felt her nearing the edge as her body trembled against my own. I licked and tasted my way down her body. Her desire filled my senses as I parted her. I had waited far too many years to drink in her ambrosia. I almost climaxed as I tasted her for the first time. I buried myself inside of her wetness as my tongue curled and plunged inside of her warm, wet center.

I could hear her calling out my name as my tongue continued to slide deeper inside of her. I plunged in and out of her until I felt her body tightening against me. She grumbled as my tongue slipped from her warmth. My fingers soon replaced it as I captured her swollen clit between my teeth. I wanted to drown in her passion as I felt her body rocking against me, matching the wild rhythm of my fingers and mouth. Just as she had done with me I continued to claim her long after she had exploded against my body. She tasted so amazing that my own body climaxed in response.

I was reluctant to remove my touch from her body. Alas she begged me to stop. I licked and tasted my way up her body until we were wrapped up in one another’s arms. The fire quickly consumed us and our bodies became one. We kissed deeply as our bodies became entwined never breaking contact until neither of us had anything left to give.

Sated and spent she rested her head on my chest as I ran my fingers through her long, blonde hair. I felt her breath evening out as she drifted off in a blissful slumber. As I followed her into sleep, I thanked whoever was watching over us for the second chance we had been given. Tomorrow would be the start of our new lives, and I couldn’t wait to see where the road would lead us.

The End

Extended Family

By Mavis Applewater

Disclaimers for those of you who still need them. This story and characters are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced posted or sold without the author's permission. If for any reason you are uncomfortable with or do not wish to read a story containing graphic descriptions of two consenting adult women in a loving sexual relationship then do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view this material then please leave and don't come back until it is no longer a crime. This is a members choice story, selected by those fine folks at my egroup as a story they wanted to see more of, I suggest you read part one so you will know what is going on. I still think it is very wrong for stores to display Christmas items before Halloween. Nothing to do with the story it was just bugging me.

A very special thank you goes out to my beta reader Mary.

As always this is for Heather.

*****

I eyed my opponent carefully as I watched and waited for her next move. Then it came and the triumphant "Sorry," was screeched from her lungs. I looked down at the board with a scowl plastered on my face. I then looked up at my opponent who was pumping her tiny fists in the air celebrating her victory.

"Good game Andie," I reluctantly congratulated the eight year old.

"Thanks Mrs. Spencer," she gloated as her mother sauntered into the kitchen. "Mommy I just crushed Mrs. Spencer."

"Andie," Shea cautioned the imp. "Good job," she added with a cocky smirk as I rolled my eyes at the duo that began to high five each other. It is moments like this that I don't harbor any doubts that Andie is Shea's daughter.

"Loser cleans up," Andie blurted out before dashing out of the kitchen, probably to announce her victory to the entire neighborhood.

"Don't slam . . ." Shea called out just as the door slammed shut. "The door," she concluded with a heavy sigh before she turned her attention towards me. I sat there with my arms folded across my chest scowling up at her. "I really need to break her of that habit," Shea absently commented.

"What gloating about kicking her teacher's butt or slamming the door?" I asked as I tried to hold my bitter look in place. It wasn't an easy task since Shea looked absolutely adorable.

"No, I meant calling you Mrs. Spencer," Shea corrected me before brushing her lips against my brow. "I take it she beat you fair and square?"

"Of course she did," I grumbled. "She is now the undisputed, Sorry champion of Westwood Drive. She's is probably telling every kid in the neighborhood how she kicked old lady Spencer's butt."

"Oh poor old lady Spencer," she placated me as she began to rub my shoulders while I began to pick up the pieces to the board game.

I put the lid on the box and leaned back, encouraging Shea to continue. I released a deep moan as her fingers continued to work their magic on my tired shoulders. I glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall. "It is getting late," I muttered regretting the end of another wonderful weekend.

"Every Sunday I really hate it when you say that," she grunted as her hands stilled.

"I hate saying it," I agreed as I stood and wrapped my arms around her slender waist. "But what can we do?"

She gave me an expectant look that I was becoming all too familiar with. "No," I cut her off before she could say anything. "We haven't been together that long. Now back to the little Sorry shark, what is it about my name that is bothering you?"

"First it is Miss Spencer," Shea began thoughtfully.

"I told you all the kids do that," I chuckled. "For some reason all female teachers at that age are called Mrs., whether we are married or not."

"I know," Shea conceded. "But that is the other problem, you're not her teacher anymore and given our relationship I think that maybe Andie should stop being so formal. Maybe she should start calling you what I call you?"

"Babe?" I teased while she rolled her brilliant blue eyes at me.

"No, you goof," she corrected me with a playful swat to my midsection. "How would you feel if she called you Maddie instead?"

"Well, since I am planning on sticking around for quite some time I agree with you," I explained. "But it is going to have to be Andie's choice. She may not be comfortable with idea. And she can't do it at school even if I'm no longer her teacher."

"I'll talk to her," Shea responded with smile. I had a feeling Shea just wanted to reassure herself that I was planning on sticking around. "I hate having to clear things with my eight year old kid. You have no idea how torturous it can be to ask your daughter if it is alright if you ask her teacher out, or if she would have a problem with Miss Spencer spending the night."

"I would have loved to have been around for your little sleepover chat," I laughed as she blushed. Andie was a great kid, but very intelligent and she had a way of asking the most embarrassing questions. The questions were innocent enough, unless you're an adult trying to answer them without really answering them.

"It was hell," Shea groaned as she began to tease the nape of my neck.

"You are making it hard for me to leave," I stammered, shivering from her touch.

"Good," she responded in a breathy tone before she captured my lips with her own.

Shea was always a good kisser. The first time she kissed me was when we were seventeen and she was trying to sneak into the house at two in the morning. She was the first woman I had ever kissed, and, at the time, I thought she was amazing. Now I know not only is she amazing, but she has definitely improved with age.

We became caught up in the kiss unaware that we had an audience until the sound of someone clearing their throat disrupted us. "Dad?" Shea exclaimed while I stood there in stunned silence. Even though Shea and I had been dating one another for the past five months I still hadn't run into her father during that time.

The last time I had seen Collin Griffin was when he drove through the night in order to get me to New Jersey and to the safety of my father. There was something about him catching me making out with Shea in the kitchen that was like a bad flashback. For a year and a half of my youth this man was for all intents and purposes my stepfather. Thank goodness he never actually had the bad judgment to marry my mother and that was the other thing making me uncomfortable at that moment. The reason Collin called off the wedding could be traced back to Shea and I getting caught doing things that a person really shouldn't be doing with their future stepsister.

"Madeline, it is good to see you," he greeted me with the same warmth and tenderness he had shown me when I was just a confused teenager.

"Mr. Griffin," I stammered out still embarrassed that he had caught me in a lip lock with his daughter.

"Mr. Griffin? What happened to Collin?" He asked tenderly as he gave me a warm hug. It felt good to be hugging the man who had given me so much.

"Collin, very nice to see you again," I greeted him finally.

"So Dad what brings you by?" Shea asked as she smiled over at the both of us.

"I have some free time so I thought I'd take a look at the guesthouse for you," he explained.

They chatted about the guesthouse for a few more moments before I was forced to get my things together so I could head back to my own apartment. "You could leave some stuff here?" Shea offered as I packed my bag.

"Yeah, I know," I mumbled. It was getting harder and harder to leave every weekend. "What happened to the guesthouse?" I asked in an effort to change the subject.

"Tenant left it a complete mess and left without giving me notice," she grumbled. "Now I am going to screen through a whole new list of whackos. I hate having a stranger living behind the house. Maybe I should just leave it empty? I never planned on renting it in the first place."

"Why not?" I asked curious as to what were her original plans for the tiny cottage that was located just past the in ground pool.

"When I first bought this place I had just started trying to get pregnant," she began to explain. "Back then I had no idea that Mom and Dad would be getting back together. I thought that the guesthouse might be a nice place for either of them."

"Oh so you were looking at a place to house a built in babysitter?" I teased her.

"Yes," she quipped merrily. "Actually I was thinking that it was just the right size for Dad. He had been living in tiny apartments ever since . . . well for a long time."

"Ever since he and my mother broke up," I supplied.

"Mommy!" Andie shrieked as she barreled into her mother's bedroom and jumped up onto the bed. The first thing the little sprite did was to start digging through my overnight bag. It was a new habit she had began each time I tried to leave. She would painstaking pick through each item and ask, 'what's this,' It was the latest development in her delaying tactics. I had to admit the kid was good.

"Andie," Shea cautioned her. "We've talked about this. Maddie has to go home so she can teach school tomorrow."

"Why?" Andie sighed with exasperation as she flopped down onto the bed.

I leaned over her and met her crystal blue gaze. "We are not playing that game Andrea," I cautioned. What the heck, I was still old lady Spencer might as well use it.

"Andie sit up," Shea instructed her in a firm voice. "I need to talk to you about something."

Andie released another heavy sigh that only an eight year old can make and sat up. I looked over at Shea wondering if I should offer to leave the room or not? "The name thing," Shea explained with a shy smile.

"Oh," I responded still wondering if I should excuse myself or not? I had never been involved with someone who had children before and the ground rules at times could be very confusing. "Do you want me to step out of the room?" I finally asked.

"Only if you want to," Shea reassured me. "Andie?" She scolded the miniature version of herself who was rifling through my bag.

"Andrea," I jumped in using my best teacher voice, which got Andie to stop and sit back down. "Your Mother wanted to ask you about something."

"Are you moving in?" She asked hopefully.

I paused for a moment as I reminded myself that she was only eight years old. "No," I responded still shaking my head. "Your Mother and I wanted to know if you wanted to call me Maddie when I come over to visit?"

"Why?" She asked truly curious about the question.

"Well because when I'm here I'm not Mrs. Spencer the teacher. I'm here to visit you like a friend," I tried to explain.

"Cause you're Mommy's girlfriend," Andie supplied like it was no big deal. I couldn't help but smile at the innocent comment.

"Right because I'm your Mommy's girlfriend," I laughed as I looked over my shoulder at Shea who was laughing along with me.

"Only I can't tell the other kids at school," Andie pouted. "Okay."

"Okay?" I said with confusion.

"Okay I want to call you Maddie like Mommy does," she shrugged.

And that was the end of the conversation. Just like that Andie had accepted that I was her Mommy's girlfriend. Pity that adults didn't see things that clearly. I said goodbye to the both of them and drove home. Every Sunday when I would walk into my empty apartment, I was filled with a sense of uneasiness. It was the nagging feeling that something was missing. The feeling grew more and more with each passing weekend.

I settled down and finished going over my weekly lesson plan when a knock at the front door startled me. For a brief moment I had hoped it was Shea, but that would be impossible since she was probably tucking Andie into bed at that very moment.

I was pleasantly surprised when I peered through the peephole. I tore open the door and flung myself in his arms. "Dad!" I exclaimed like a small girl.

"Hey pumpkin," he greeted me merrily as I pulled him into my apartment.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I tried to make him comfortable. After all of these years it was still strange seeing him wearing a suit and tie. I still expected the ponytail and ripped jeans. They disappeared after I was sent to live with him.

"I have a lay over," he explained. It seems this time he was on his way to London. Dad had started out fixing motorcycles and somewhere along the line he got an education and moved into the business end of his first love. Still he didn't go completely corporate until I was living with him full time.

"Really, now what airline would lay you over in Boston if you are flying to London from New York?" I questioned him as he fidgeted with his tie. I honestly doubt if he will ever be truly comfortable wearing them.

"Okay so I moved my schedule around so I can see my kid," he answered me with a brilliant smile. "I called earlier but you weren't around."

"I'm sorry Dad," I apologized feeling a little guilty that I had missed him earlier. "I haven't been spending my weekends at home lately."

"Yes, the new girlfriend, which I've heard almost nothing about," he teased me with a tickle to my ribs.

"Yes the new girlfriend," I responded with a bright smile.

"Wow," he beamed. "She must be special I haven't seen you this happy in a long time. So fill the old man in. The last thing I heard about her was sorry I couldn't visit you this summer Dad I just started dating someone."

"She is special," I gushed. "She is my age give or take a couple of months. She is an engineer for Danzer. She has a daughter who just turned eight. Her daughter was in my class last year."

"Smart, responsible and stable sounds like a remarkable woman," he complimented my choice. "Does she have a name?"

"Shea Griffin," I muttered quickly. The thing of it was that Collin and my father kept in touch over the years. Collin didn't just drop out my life. He would send birthday and Christmas gifts and he kept up on how I was doing through my Dad. I knew that they still exchanged Christmas cards and such during the holidays. My father really liked Collin and was forever grateful that he convinced my mother to give up custody. He didn't hold Shea's character in such high regard. Granted the last thing he had heard about Shea was that she was messing around with me, which led my mother to go ballistic. Needless to say Shea was not one of my father's favorite people.

"Shea Griffin?" He muttered thoughtfully. "Why does that name sound familiar?"

Fearfully I watched as he started to put the pieces together. "Hold it!" He shouted as his face turned crimson. "Isn't that the little punk who seduced you?"

I held my breath as his eyes bore into me. It amazed me at how I could suddenly feel like a kid again. "Dad," I began slowly before I remembered that both Shea and I were adults. "Yes," I asserted proudly.

"Oh no that punk is not the woman for you," he fumed.

"You have the two confused," I pointed out as I watched his face screw up in frustration. "The seventeen year old punk wasn't the person for me. The thirty-five year old woman is."

"Madeline, people like that don't change," he argued.

"Really?" I taunted him with a cocky smirk. He grimaced as he sensed where I was leading the conversation. "Dad what were you like at seventeen?" I challenged him.

"I was a punk," he confessed with a scowl.

"What changed things for you?" I pushed.

"The night I held my new born daughter in my arms," he confessed as his dark green eyes misted up.

It was the truth my father, the light in my life, was a dropout biker bad boy who didn't give a damn about anyone or anything. That was until the night he became someone's Dad. Everything changed for him the night I was born. Ironically, my mother who was the proverbial good girl ended up using men as a meal ticket. My birth made her bitter and made him strong.

"The night everything happened Shea changed," I explained to him as he nodded his head.

"Collin said she did a complete turn around," he begrudgingly admitted. "Still," he paused for a moment. "Collin is a stand up guy always has been. He was the best of the lot your mother dragged home. His kid is probably okay. I'm still not going trust her completely."

I knew it had taken him a lot to concede the point. After he left the following morning I still had my doubts that he was behind my choice in Shea. I would just have to wait until the two of them met. Oh, and he let me know that my mother was single again and looking for me. That could only mean that her settlement wasn't what she had hoped for and she needed money. I made a mental note to myself not to answer my telephone without checking the caller ID.

The following night I was sitting alone in my apartment thinking about what my father had said about Shea. The first time I saw Shea Griffin my stomach did a somersault. I kept thinking how gorgeous she was and how much it sucked that she was the daughter of my mother's new boyfriend. I had already begun to figure out that I liked girls instead of boys. But there was no one I could talk to about it. My mother was out the question since she always called homosexuals filthy queers or perverts, and my Dad traveled a lot, and I had over heard him more than once telling a fag joke. So I retreated into my own private world of books.

I counted down the days until I could move out and go to college. It seemed like forever. And then we moved into a new house with Collin. Mom was getting married, again. I doubted that Collin ever knew that she had already made two trips down the aisle and neither of those times was with my father.

I have suspected for many years that my mother only got pregnant so my father would marry her. She must have been pissed when he didn't ask her. He was, and still is, a great Dad. But it was always a secret whenever my mother started dating a new man. Dad fought for custody for years, but all mom had to do was bring up his past mistakes which included run ins with the law and that would be the end of that.

I kept telling myself that she really did love me, no matter how many times she hit me. If she didn't love me then why would she fight my father for sole custody? I got my answer the night Shea and I got caught together. Collin called my father in a panic after he rushed me to the hospital. Collin and the doctors wanted to call the police, but I did what I always did, I lied to protect my mother.

On the drive back to the house Collin asked me if I wanted to live with my father. I told the truth, I did. I over heard the argument Collin had with my mother when we got back.

'Shelia she should be with her father!' Collin shouted. I was shocked, since I had never heard him raise his voice before.

'No,' my mother refused with a screech.

'Shelia you need help,' Collin pleaded.

'The hell I do,' my mother argued. 'The sick queer you brought into this house is the one that needs help. I should have her arrested.'

'Don't ever talk about my daughter that way again,' Collin threatened in a cold voice. 'As for calling the police, I was just about to do that only it is you who should be locked up.'

'How dare you!' My mother screamed.

'How dare I?' Collin gasped. 'You beat your child. I am not going to argue with you anymore. Madeline is going to live with her father. I've already spoken to him.'

'You don't have the right to take my daughter away from me,' my mother protested and I reminded myself that she really did love me.

'Eddie said he will keep paying child support,' Collin grimly cut her off.

'Fine,' my mother laughed. 'Get that sick little whore out my sight. The sooner the better.'

And that was it. Collin loaded me into the car and drove my straight down to New Jersey. There are just some things that children shouldn't hear. Hearing that you were never wanted or loved tops the list. Funny thing was that because of the way that Collin and my father treated me that night and afterwards liberated me. By the time I graduated from High School I was a confident out going young woman and nothing like my former self.

I still get sad when I remember hearing those words. Then I would think about Shea. I smiled as I recalled the way she would strut into a room with her cocky swagger and ripped blue jeans. She was tall, dark and gorgeous and I wanted to die the day I discovered that we would be sharing a bedroom for an entire summer.

Shea still would apologize for that night. I would remind her that it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It freed me from my mother and I got to make love to the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I blushed as I recalled how easy it was to give her my innocence. My blush deepened as I thought about how much more incredible it was to be in her arms now.

The following Friday afternoon I drove Andie home from school, my over night bag was already in the car. I could hear hammering in the back of the house as I opened the door for Andie. I could smell the aroma of fresh baked cookies wafting in from the kitchen. I knew it could only mean one thing, Rose was there and she was baking. Rose is Shea's mother and the sweetest person on earth. I met her when Shea and I first started dating and liked the elderly woman instantly.

Andie and I almost knocked one another over trying to get to the kitchen. "Grandma!" Andie squealed.

"Happy to see me or is it just the cookies?" Rose teased the youngster.

"I love you Grandma," Andie said sweetly.

"Uh huh," Rose said as she eyed her with suspicion. "No cookies until you change out of your school clothes and wash up. You either," she added as she wagged her finger at me.

"What is with all the noise?" I asked as Andie bolted past me in an apparent hurry to change so she could get her paws on some of Rose's Toll House Cookies.

"Collin is fixing the guesthouse," she explained with a grimace. "The place is a mess; you'd think the tenant was raising wild boars back there. Never thought a quiet man like Mr. Fergus would be such a pig."

"Shea said he left without giving her any notice," I added as I peered out the kitchen window as a ruse to snatch a cookie. Rose swatted the hot chocolate chip treat out of my hand.

"Do that again and you won't get any," Rose scolded me. "Shea hates renting out the place. Even with the realtor handling the screening process, she is still so nervous about a stranger living so close to Andrea."

"I have to agree with her on that one," I said. It made me more than a little uneasy that someone who might want to hurt Andie or Shea could be living just across the backyard.

"When is your lease up?" she pried as I narrowed my eyes at her.

"It was supposed to be August," I explained which would have been perfect. If Shea and I were still together then I could finally think about her not so subtle hints about moving in with her and Andie. I grew up seeing the worst in relationships, so naturally I tend to be a little gun shy when it comes to co-habiting. The truth was that I never lived with any of my lovers. "But the building was sold and now I have until the end of January," I continued thinking that eight months into a relationship was much too soon for me to be moving in.

"Moving in the middle of winter," Rose sighed as I reached for another cookie. "I don't envy you."

"Maddie you haven't changed out your school clothes yet," Andie chimed in as she skipped into the kitchen. I blinked with surprise as I smiled down at the little informant. It was the first time she had called me Maddie.

"Put it back," Rose demanded as she waved the spatula at me in a threateningly.

"You little rat," I huffed as I replaced the cookie. I bent down and scooped Andie up in my arms and twirled her around. "Squeal on me to Grandma will you?" I threatened as I tickled her furiously. I tired more quickly than the squealing package in my arms so I had to put her down. "Okay I need to change out of my school clothes." I grumbled as Andie clung to me. "Come on, let go. I don't want to be all stinky when your Mommy gets home."

"She's home," Andie shrugged as she released my leg and looked expectantly up at her Grandmother.

"Really," I whispered with delight as I snatched up my bag and raced out of the kitchen.

I locked the bedroom door behind me and threw down my bag. I could hear the water running in her bathroom. My heart raced knowing that she was in the shower. I started removing my clothing as I crossed the room and tip-toed into the bathroom. I drew back the shower curtain slowly hoping that she wouldn't hear me.

My lungs became devoid of air as I spied her standing under the running water with her back to me. My eyes wandered down her back that was matted with her long dark hair. My gaze quickly worked its way down to her firm backside. "Hey Babe," she greeted me in a sultry tone without ever turning to look at me.

I released a throaty growl as I finished removing my clothing. My eyes never wavered from the sight of her wet, naked body. I stepped into the shower and wrapped my arms around her waist. "When did you get home?" I asked as I licked the droplets of water from her shoulders.

"Little while ago," she sighed as my hands caressed her stomach. "I caught Andie racing up the stairs; you were in the kitchen with Mom so I thought I'd take a quick shower. We don't have much time," she cautioned me as my hands cupped her breasts.

I thought about how I love the feel of them and the way they fill my hands as my thumbs brushed lightly against her nipples. "I know," I agreed while I pressed my mound against her backside. "She called me Maddie," I whispered.

"Yeah?" She happily asked as she looked over her shoulder and down at me.

"Yeah," I boldly explained. "I almost broke into tears it felt so good."

"Speaking of feeling good," she panted as one of her hands shot out and slammed against the tile. She braced herself against the wall as I teased her nipples harder. "I missed you this week," she moaned as I began to roll the erect buds between my fingers.

"I missed you too," I confessed as I placed promising kisses on her back. I felt her hips grind against my center. I knew what the both of us needed, and I understood that we didn't have much time. I ran my hands down along the curve of her body. Her moaning grew deeper as my hands caressed the firm flesh of her ass. I caressed her hip with one hand while I slid the other between her thighs.

Her head fell forward as she parted her legs. She was so wet as my fingers dipped inside of her. Later that night we would take our time. At that moment I needed to feel her explode against my touch. My fingers teased her clit as I ground my own wetness against her. Shea's needy whimpers filled the bathroom as I entered her. Slowly I stroked her, plunging in and out of her until she cried out. I released a moan as I held her tightly.

We finished the shower quickly and dressed so we could rejoin the rest of the family. All of them were seated at the table. Andie was happily munching on some cookies while Collin and Rose sipped their coffee. By the looks we received we knew that everyone, with the exception of Andie, was well aware of what had transpired upstairs.

"Squeaky clean girls?" Rose taunted us. I blushed furiously from the guilt as I noticed Collin staring deeply into his coffee mug.

"Yes thank you Mother," Shea quipped as she poured her own cup of coffee.

"So Uhm Shea," Collin stammered. "I should be able to have the guesthouse back in shape by the end of the month."

"Thanks Dad," she said as I tried to avoid eye contact with anyone. "I guess I should call the realtor next week."

Her tone was so grim whenever she talked about renting the guesthouse. "Why doesn't Maddie live there?" Andie innocently chimed in. My jaw dropped. I looked over at Rose to see if this was her doing. Nope this time she was innocent, although I think that was only because Andie beat her to the punch.

"Andie that is a very sweet idea, but Maddie doesn't want to live there," Shea quickly explained to her daughter.

"Why?" Andie pushed. I swear this kid is going to end up working for the CIA. "Everyone is sad when she has to go home. If she lived in the backyard we wouldn't be sad." Yup, definitely going to go into some type of work that involves interrogation.

"Andie that's . . .," Shea's words trailed off as she turned and looked at me.

"Shea," I cautioned her.

"Maddie, just think about it," Shea pushed.

"Excuse us for a moment," I hissed as I set my coffee mug down, grabbed my lover and dragged her into the living room.

"I do believe Shea is being called out to the woodshed," I heard Collin chuckling.

"Maddie why not?" Shea pleaded in a hushed tone.

"No," I flatly refused.

"But we wouldn't be living together," Shea tried to reason with me.

"Oh please," I scoffed. "Yes we would. Plus I can't afford that place. You charge two grand a month for it. And as well you should, it is a two bedroom with a pool, fireplace, off street parking and use of the backyard." The more I argued with her the more I thought, yes I would like to live a place like that. Then I remembered that my girlfriend would be my landlord.

"Yes, and I've had nothing but trouble," Shea argued still keeping her voice down. "Even when the tenant is a normal person I am really uncomfortable having a stranger wandering around my backyard. You'd be doing me favor, and I would certainly lower the rent for you," then she blew out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry. I won't pressure you. Plus your lease isn't up until this summer."

"January," I mumbled hoping she wouldn't hear me.

"Excuse me?" Shea beamed. "January as in three and half months from now?"

"The building was sold," I grumbled. "I thought it might be happening. I just found out last week. I have to be out by the end of January. I could fight it but what good what that do? The new owners offered a bonus to anyone who moves out within the next sixty days. They want to tear the building down and put up townhouses."

"So you could give your notice and move in here just before Halloween with a big check?" Shea asked triumphantly. "And that would be a bad idea how?"

"Shea," I practically whined. The truth was I was starting to agree with her. I just couldn't set aside my fears about us living so closely. "I can't make that decision right this second."

"Okay," Shea conceded. "But over the weekend why don't you go take a look at the place you've never seen the inside."

"I'll look," I agreed begrudgingly. "But I don't think I will be accepting your offer."

"Fine," Shea accepted as she gave me a hug. "I bet if it was summer and the pool was open you'd snap it up."

"Well duh," I teased her.

For the moment the subject was dropped. We went back into the kitchen. Collin was excited that my Dad had been in town. Shea didn't seem as excited. She knew that he probably wasn't happy to hear that we were together. She would also be the first to admit that he has good reason to be leery of her.

That night after we put Andie to bed we snuggled by the fire before retiring upstairs and making love. Shea simply took my breath away. The following morning was a somber affair. Garrett, Andie's father, arrived so she could spend the weekend with him. I didn't begrudge Garrett time with his daughter. It was just that it meant I wouldn't be able to share the weekend with her, and I wouldn't really have anytime with her until the following weekend. While Shea was saying her goodbyes to Andie I slipped on my jacket taking the key for the guesthouse with me and went into the backyard.

"I'll just look around," I promised myself as I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The damage was evident but the beauty of tiny little cottage was still apparent. I looked around carefully, the fireplace in the living room, the breakfast nook, everything about this place screamed cozy. I peeked in both bedrooms; the smaller one would be perfect as a home office. Then I made the mistake of looking in the bathroom. "You just had to have a Jacuzzi didn't you?" I bemoaned as I planted myself on the edge of the tub.

"I was wondering where you had run off to." Came the familiar husky tone of my lover's voice.

I looked over to find her leaning in the doorway. Again she managed to take my breath away, and this time all she did was lean in a doorway. "I hate saying goodbye to her when she spends the weekend with her father," I explained. "So I did it after breakfast. I thought I'd take a look at this dump you're trying to get me to move into," I teased her and she laughed lightly at my jest. She was silent allowing me to sort through my thoughts. "I love the time alone with you, but I miss her like crazy," I tried to explain.

"Trust me I understand," Shea sighed in agreement.

"She won't get back until after I leave tomorrow," I continued my heart ached as I tried to explain what I was feeling.

"Andie was right you know," Shea began tenderly. "Everyone is sad when you have to leave. And you're right, it is too soon for us to be living together. The solution is right here. I know it would practically be like living together, but it would be your own space. Rushing things isn't my style Madeline. Do you know how many women I've allowed into my home and around my daughter?"

"No?" I responded fearful of the answer.

"Only you," She said simply. "If things don't work out between us everyone gets hurt; you, me and, most importantly, Andrea. Whatever you decide just promise me it will be what you want. Because if it isn't my daughter gets hurt. And I won't have that."

I knew I was smiling as I looked over at her. "The first time I saw you I thought you were the coolest girl I had ever met," I began as my smile grew brighter.

"I was cool," she protested.

"You were a juvenal delinquent," I corrected her.

"I was a troubled teen," she offered in her defense.

"You were an arrogant pain in the ass who ignored me," I continued as the both of us grinned like idiots.

"I ignored you because I had the hots for you and you were about to become my sister," she explained with a mock scowl.

"As I was saying," I pushed on. "You ignored me. You smoked, you drank, you got in trouble constantly, and I still slept with you. Because I thought I was in love with you. That is why I gave you my virginity. Now I know that wasn't love. Do you want to know how I know that?"

"Yes I do, and for the record it was my first time as well," Shea confessed. I was slightly stunned by her admission.

"I know now that I wasn't in love then because now I know what love really feels like," I said making my own confession. "I think I fell for you the moment you stumbled into my classroom like a big buffoon."

"See I'm still cool," she quipped with a brilliant grin. "I love you Madeline Spencer, and that isn't going to change whether you are living here or on the North Pole."

"I love you too, Shea Griffin," I told her as I stood and took her by the hand. "Come on let's go enjoy some alone time."

I didn't tell her that I was taking the guesthouse right away. I had more important things on my mind. She was right I had to be sure about everything. If I made the choice under pressure we wouldn't survive. Breaking one another's hearts was nothing compared to breaking Andie's heart. I looked around my apartment that Sunday evening and knew it wasn't where I belonged. The following morning I gave my notice.

Collin was so excited by the news he worked night and day getting the guesthouse repaired as quickly as possible. He even dragged Ray and Brian, Shea's brothers, over on the weekends. On the thirtieth of October I moved into my new home. Shea gave me the space to unpack in privacy. I did it in record time so I could enjoy getting Andie ready to go out trick or treating.

It was amazing; we took pictures of Andie in her little Wonder Woman costume while Rose stayed at the house and handed out candy as we took Andie around the neighborhood. The kid made quite a haul before Garrett arrived to take her to spend the night with his parents. We chatted with Rose for a while before she too had to go on her way. In the few short months I had known Rose Griffin she had been more of a mother to me than the woman who gave birth to me.

"Alone at last," Shea sighed with exhaustion. "I love Halloween, and I hate to admit it, but I love that Andie spends the night with her father."

"Why," I asked as I locked up the house and guided her towards the backdoor.

"Two words, sugar high," she informed me as I dragged her outside and locked the door behind us.

"Shea I'm a second grade teacher I know those words," I told her as I continued guiding her through the back yard. "I lived with it all day long today. Only I had twenty-two of the little buggers freaking out on me."

"I don't know how you do it." Shea conceded. "I take it we are going to your place?"

"Yes," I laughed as I unlocked the door to my new home.

"The pumpkins you and Andie did look great," she complimented the glowing carved creations Andie and I had made the weekend before. It had been Andie's idea; she said I needed something to decorate my new place.

"I had so much fun doing those," I confessed as we entered my little house. "Living in an apartment you miss out on those kinds of things. Tonight was really special for me, Shea. It was one of the few times in my life that I felt like I was a part of a real family."

"You are a part of a real family," she reassured me with a soft kiss.

"Do you know how I want to spend our alone time tonight?" I teased her as I led her towards the bedroom.

"I'm beginning to figure it out," she purred in response as she began to tug my shirt out of my pants.

"I want to christen the Jacuzzi," I boldly proclaimed as I pushed her down onto my bed.

"Isn't the bathroom out there?" She laughed as I pulled my shirt up and over my head.

"Yes it is," I answered her as I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra. "I am going to light a fire in the fireplace, get the Jacuzzi all warm and bubbly for us, and open the bottle of champagne I bought."

"And what should I be doing while you are toiling away?" She asked in a breathy tone her eyes already darkened with desire.

"Taking your clothes off," I boldly instructed her. "I want you naked woman," I demanded as I tossed my bra at her.

"I can do that," she stammered as she blatantly stared at my breasts.

"Then get moving," I command as I clapped my hands together.

"Yes, ma'am," she gulped as she frantically yanked off her shoes. "Slave driver."

"I'm just getting started," I promised her in a husky voice before dashing out of the bedroom.

I set about performing my tasks. I completed each one and was standing naked in the bathroom checking the temperature in the Jacuzzi. "Perfect," I announced to myself as I turned the jets on and added more bubbles to the water.

"Yes you are," echoed through the bathroom. I jumped at the sound of my lover's voice. I turned to find her glorious naked form approaching me. I fought to control my breathing as I drank in the sight of her.

"What other tasks can I perform for you?" She asked as she cupped my face in her hands.

"Kiss me?" I pleaded. She wasted no time in complying with my request. The kiss deepened quickly as our tongues battled for control while my hands explored the curves of her body. I cupped the firm flesh of her backside and drew her in closer until I felt her wetness on my skin.

I could barely breathe when the kiss ended. "Get in the tub Baby," I whispered as she began to kiss my shoulders.

"In a sec," she murmured against my skin as she began to kiss her way down my body.

My skin burned as her mouth worshiped my body. I felt light headed as she knelt before me. I ran my fingers through her long silky hair and pulled her towards me. She parted me and I felt weak. I could barely stand as I felt her tongue greeting my wetness. I pressed her closer as I opened myself up even further for her.

I could hear her moaning with pleasure as she drank from my passion. "Oh God," I whispered as she teased my clit with the tip of her tongue. My body was aching as she teased me relentlessly while I clung to her. I looked down and caught her sparkling blue orbs twinkling up at me. I cried out as I felt her tongue slipping inside of me. I begged her for more as used the appendage to plunge in and out of me.

My thighs trembled against her as I felt the world spinning. I was ready to collapse as I erupted against her. I moaned with displeasure when her tongue slipped from the warmth. My displeasure vanished as her fingers quickly replaced her tongue. She suckled my clit while her fingers filled me. She took me slowly to the top retreating each time I was at the peak. "Please," I cried out until she finally brought me to the edge and allowed me to fall over.

She rested her head on my stomach as the after shocks slipped from my body. I chuckled as I felt her fingers leaving me. I was weak in the knees as she guided me into the tub. "Oh that feels so good," I cooed as the bubbles and warm jets encompassed my body. The sound of the champagne bottle popping echoed throughout the room. "I would have done that," I sighed as I watched my lover filling the glasses I had placed on the vanity earlier.

"Rest," she said softly as she handed me one of the crystal flutes. "You'll need your strength," she promised as she slipped in beside me.

We relaxed in one another's embrace and sipped our champagne. I placed my glass on the shelf and rested my head on her chest. She sighed contently as she ran her blunt nails down my back. My tongue peeked out and flickered lightly against her nipple. She leaned back allowing me full access to her body.

I shifted so that my body was half covering hers. I nudged her thighs apart with my knee until I could feel the thick patch of hair tickling my thigh. Her hips instantly responded and swayed gently against my thigh as I captured her nipple between my lips.

The feel of the warm, bubbling water and her body moving gently against my own was pure bliss. My hands caressed her skin while I teased her nipple with my teeth and my tongue. "Maddie," she groaned while she rocked harder against me.

I could feel her nipple puckering in my mouth. The feel of her aching need was driving me insane. I released the erect bud from my lips and straddled her body, splashing water onto the floor as I climbed on top of her. She clasped my hips and guided me closer to her. I kissed her again and again as our desire grew frantic. I lifted my body so I reach her, so I could feel my way down the front of her. She begged me to take her and I did.

My fingers plunged inside of her as I felt her tongue brushing against one of my nipples. She suckled it as I began to stroke her. Water splashed over us as our bodies moved as one. Her head fell back; she clung to the sides of the tub as I drove her higher. "Cum for me," I encouraged her as I felt her body tightening against me.

Her cries rang out as I felt her climaxing against my touch. I kept pleasuring her needing to quell her desire. I kept pleasuring her, loving the feel of being inside of her until finally she choked out a plea for me to stop. I retrieved our champagne and nestled against her. I rested my head on her chest and listened to the erratic beating of her heart.

"This place is a mess," she squeaked out after she managed to crack open one of her eyes. Finally its twin blinked open.

"I know," I agreed leaning back and sipping my champagne. "I hope my landlord doesn't find out." She released a snort of laughter. "Baby we shouldn't stay in here much longer."

"Can't move," she protested.

"Yes, but the instructions say you shouldn't stay in for very long," I explained to her.

"There are instructions for these things?" She asked genuinely surprised by the concept.

"The fact that you are an engineer truly frightens me at times," I quipped as I shut off the jets and bubbles.

"I design bigger and better waste receptacles," she explained to me as I helped her out of the tub and into the bedroom.

"You make trash cans?" I asked surprised. "I never thought to ask just what it is you do," I explained as I tucked her into bed. "Somehow I thought you worked on electronics or something like that. You never want to talk about your work."

"First, although I enjoy what I do, it isn't exactly stimulating party conversation," she yawned as I climbed into bed beside her. "And we don't call them trash cans."

"But that is what they are?" I pointed out.

"Trash cans, recycling bins, dumpsters that won't total your car if you back into them," she snickered. "This is the recycling age, Babe. What I do is design products that utilize waste in an effective manner."

"Smart and beautiful," I yawned as she wrapped her arms around my body and drew me into a warm embrace.

"And cool, don't forget cool," she persisted.

"Yes Shea you are still cool," I agreed as she slipped into the dream world. The first night of our new lives together was over and I had to admit it felt good. I couldn't wait to discover what the rest of our lives would be like.

The End.