By: Dreiser


Part Four…

A week had passed since the seven p.m. kiss, as Dana had dubbed it, and in that week Alice and Dana had shifted into couple mode so easily that their friends wondered if perhaps they had been dating all along and simply had not told anyone. This theory would have been more feasible if it wasn’t for the fact that in the past week the total amount of time Alice and Dana were seen by their friends came to be a little over two hours and nine minutes. Something made more significant when you considered that Tina was currently living with Alice in a fairly snug two bedroom apartment.

Knowing that retreating into extreme cutesy couple seclusion was one of the first signs for a shiny new ***** relationship, it could hardly be believed that Alice and Dana had been carrying on some sort of secret affair under everyone’s noses. That still didn’t make it any less disconcerting how they already acted like an old married couple.

Despite the total seclusion, cutesy behavior, and acting like old married people trend, Alice was deliriously happy and determined to remain that way. Which was why she kept a close mental eye on herself to reign in her natural jealous tendencies and the underlining insecurities she had in every romantic relationship. And thus far, it had been working, much to her immense pleasure and pride.

Standing on her tiptoes to grab various items of dinnerware to ready the kitchen for Dana’s return with their late lunch, Alice did a little dance. Smiling and singing along to the music. She had loaned the cd that was playing to Dana several months ago but always forgot to ask for it back and upon discovering it, Alice couldn’t resist the sudden urge to pop it in and give it a listen.

“I had your name in my head with Mrs on it,” Alice sang as she smiled brightly and set the plates down on the table, performing a nimble spin and heading back into the kitchen. “You had no clue what mine was but did not care. I came looking for the mate of my soul,” Alice laughed at this lyric while singing and rolling her eyes, she rifled through Dana’s silverware drawer in a hasty manner that she knew would later cause the super neat brunette to chastise her. “You were out looking for someone just for the night.”

Holding up two forks in an peculiar gesture of triumph, Alice bumped the drawer shut with her bottom and sang smiling, “So here I go again, dirty girl, lay me down. Pleased to meet you.” Putting the forks in place, Alice acted out a pair of exaggerated hellos even going so far to bow and shake the hand of the imaginary person in front of her. “There you go, now you know a dirty girl. Pleased to leave me.” She spun on her heel to head back into the kitchen, waving her hands to go perfectly with the accompanying lyrics. “Oh, don’t say goodbye… oh, don’t say goodbye.”

“Oh no, no, no, no,” Alice shook her head mournfully, imitating tears and a soon to be nervous breakdown. “I fell asleep to the sound of your heart beating. But I woke up when you asked me to please leave. You said nothing personal, it’s impossible,” sang Alice, reaching for a matching pair of cheesy ***** pride glasses. “You can’t fall asleep with a girl you don’t know… well,” Alice drawled and opened up the refrigerator to peer inside in a elusive hope of finding something nonhealthy she’d enjoy drinking. “Ah *****.”

Right as she sang those words was when Dana opened the front door to her condo and walked inside. The tennis player automatically started to call out her version of the cliched ‘honey I’m home’ greeting only to pause at the familiar sound of Alice singing.

“Here I go again, dirty girl, lay me down. Pleased to meet you…”

Poking her head up to peer through the banister that led to the upstairs portion of her condo, Dana grinned at the sight of Alice play acting the lyrics. “There you go, now you know a dirty girl. Pleased to leave,” the blonde sang happily and she turned to walk into the kitchen only to come right back with napkins in hand. “You always say goodbye. Why do they always say goodbye?”

“Walking home, four a.m., once again…” Alice put the napkins on the table, carefully arranging them while a secretive smile formed on her face and with it, Dana knew she was thinking of their first kiss. She then spun around to kick a foot backwards in the air and walking back into the kitchen, Alice was still singing along when she declared exuberantly, “*****!”

“Here I go again, dirty girl, lay me down. Pleased to meet you,” Alice returned, singing and holding the glasses that Dana had gotten at the last ***** pride in her hands. They were filled with what looked like the tennis player’s favorite drink, grape juice. “There you go, now you know a dirty girl. Pleased to leave.” Backing away and tilting her head in a subtle inspection of the set table, Alice continued, “You always say goodbye. Why do they always say goodbye?”

The song was pretty much over but Dana remained hidden simply because she couldn’t honestly recall ever seeing Alice act this adorable and hated for it to come an end. Watching Alice perform a jig walking back into the kitchen, Dana sprang into action. Running up the stairs three steps at a time, her long legs easily propelling forward, Dana quietly placed the bags of food on the table then came to an abrupt yet somehow silent halt directly behind Alice who wasn’t aware of her presence.

“I’m walking in the rain,” hummed Alice, half heartedly singing the fading end lyrics of song as she rummaged through Dana’s silverware drawer in an attempt to make it resemble what it was before her interference. “With my shoes in my hands. I feel stupid and…”

Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and Alice found herself lifted off the ground while velvet lips pressed against the back of her neck. “Dana!” she yelped in an unusual combination of shock and delight.

“That’s me,” murmured Dana, nuzzling Alice’s neck, a smile in her voice and she lowered the other woman delicately to the ground so she could stand on her own again.

“Of course it’s you,” Alice drawled and rolling her eyes, she faced Dana. Quirking an eyebrow humorously as she continued, “Who else would scare the ***** out of me in your condo while I’m getting ready for lunch? The Easter Bunny? Santa? The Toothfairy?”

“When I was little I was scared of the Toothfairy,” said Dana absently, frowning as she moved around Alice to fix the silverware drawer.

Upon seeing the disarray her drawer was in, Dana released an immediate sigh. The knives were where the spoons should be and somehow Alice had located her long lost spork only to put it with the fancy salad forks that were a present from her aunt. Whatever irritation Dana felt at having her silverware drawer in a state of chaos evaporated at the press of Alice’s warm body against her own and loving arms holding her close.

“Why were you scared of the Toothfairy?” asked Alice, affectionate humor laced her words. Pushing Dana’s hair aside, she brushed her lips lightly over the brunette’s pulse point, smiling at both feeling and hearing Dana gasp at this action.

Fiddling with the random spork and trying to recall its proper place in the silverware drawer, Dana replied in throaty tones, “I don’t know… just the idea of the Toothfairy was scary to me. This strange creature flies in your house without you being able to stop it and its main focus in life is collecting the teeth of children.” Shuddering, she recalled the nightmares she had as a child and went on, “I always pictured it having… I don’t know… an alter of teeth. The Toothfairy is creepy, Al.”

“You probably didn’t like going to the dentist either, right?” observed Alice, nudging Dana. “I hated the dentist. Mostly because every time I went I had what seemed like countless cavities and they all got filled at once.” Grimacing now, she muttered, “God that sucked.”

“Why did you have to get them filled at the same time?” asked Dana in confusion. Pulling distant memories from her childhood, she remembered that if she had more than one cavity she went for multiple visits. A visit for a cavity, her mother said. Dana was sure this was to make her find the dentist less torturous and it had worked to an extent. She couldn’t help but grimace along with Alice at the idea of what multiple cavities being filled must have been like for her as a small child.

Shrugging lightly, Alice rested her head on Dana’s shoulder, her arms were around the tennis player’s waist as her fingers lazily traced the flat skin of Dana’s stomach. “Didn’t have much of a choice,” she revealed quietly. “I used to see doctors regularly when I was with my dad but then he died and my mom was busy in those days. With her TV show and then some movies. She didn’t have time for that sort of thing so I only saw doctors when I was actually sick.” Alice paused and her arms tightened imperceptibly, making Dana cover pale hands with her own as she leaned back into the embrace. “That meant I didn’t go to the dentist until my teeth hurt and that usually equaled a whole lot of cavities. The time thing being a constant factor, they had to get filled all at once.”

Effortlessly turning in Alice’s arms, Dana caressed her face and tucked back errant strands of hair then smiled tenderly when the blonde leaned into her touch. “That must have hurt,” she murmured in heartfelt tones, speaking of not only the event but the reasons behind it.

Dana couldn’t imagine what Alice’s childhood must have been like… first her parents divorce when she was six years old, then her father dying when she was eight, and finally going to live with her mother who didn’t even have time enough to schedule regular doctors appointments. No matter how much Dana’s family grated her nerves she couldn’t deny the fact that they honestly did love her. They supported her and they made time for her. While their words about her ‘lifestyle’ were harsh their actions were as kind as always. Calling to make sure she was all right, congratulating her on her newest endorsement deals, and just wanting to know what was going on in her life. Lenore was a sharp contrast. She showered Alice with words and embarrassing stories to prove her acceptance and love for her daughter but her actions said differently. The only time she contacted Alice was when she needed something. A habit that her oldest children, Nelson and Jolene, also shared.

Their families were both headaches but Dana couldn’t help thinking that although she complained longer and louder about hers, she had gotten the better deal between them. Because Dana knew, no matter how her family treated the issue of her sexuality, they would be there when she really needed them. While it seemed Alice couldn’t honestly say the same.

“Yeah,” Alice breathed the word more than said it, giving a subdued admission to Dana and burying herself into the tennis player’s arms as is if to hide from her vulnerability. They remained like that for several moments then Alice asked, “What did you get for lunch?”

Smiling softly and taking the hint to move onto something less depressing, Dana drawled, “Nothing special. Just your most favorite food ever. I believe it received the highest praise on a certain writer’s best of cheap and good meals to eat in LA list.”

“Pink’s chili cheese dogs and seasoned fries!” whooped Alice, squirming out of Dana’s arms and running to the kitchen table. Dana shook her head in fond affection then followed after her girlfriend. She didn’t understand Alice’s love for the greasy food but it made her happy and that was enough to make Dana like it as well. When she walked in, Alice flashed her thousand watt smile and Dana’s heart fluttered at the sight. “You got me unhealthy food,” she crooned and took a slow step forward. Winding her hands around Dana’s neck, fingers toying with the soft hairs, their lips were just a breath apart. She spoke in soft sincere tones that, to Dana, spoke less on the food she bought and more on the idea that she had done something with Alice especially in mind. “Thank you.”

The only reply Alice got was Dana meeting their lips for a kiss.

—

Several hours later, all the unhealthy food long since eaten, they lay curled together on the couch. Alice resting easily on top of Dana, her head tucked underneath the tennis player’s chin and their fingers entwined for her to play with. In the background, Dana’s stereo played music from a cd she had created for herself. One filled with countless love songs, sad but uplifting, meant to soothe her on the nights where she was lost in her feelings for Alice.

Needless to say, Dana had been listening to this cd for quite awhile and that being true, was fairly fond of it and the songs it featured. Which was why she was currently trying to get Alice to agree to sing along with the track that was coming up next.

“But the song is so depressing,” protested Alice, reluctantly moving from her comfortable spot with her head over Dana’s heart to look up at the brunette. “Why do you want me to sing a depressing song now that we’re all happy and together?” Her brown eyes narrowed in humorously exaggerated suspicion. “Do you secretly seek drama? Are you an angsty drama *****?”

“No, I’m not a drama *****,” said Dana, scowling and using her chin to lightly butt Alice for the remark. “I like the song,” she shrugged. “Okay, I admit it’s sad but it’s also pretty. And I think you’d sound really good singing it.” She paused to study the contemplative look on Alice’s face then decided to use the ultimate weapon at her disposal. Extreme cute pouting. “Please?”

“Aww, *****, that’s not fair,” complained Alice, twisting in Dana’s arms and shifting her gaze to avoid the wide blue eyes that were silently pleading with her. “Using your Bambi eyes is playing dirty.”

“I’ll stop if you sing it,” Dana husked, voice holding an unspoken promise.

“Are you even going to be able to hear me sing it over the stereo?” asked Alice in a vague protest attempt although it now seemed certain she would do as Dana requested.

“Of course I’ll be able to hear you,” replied Dana who rolled her eyes at this comment. Reaching down, her fingers rested in messy blonde hair to play with the strands softly. “I want to hear you sing it,” she whispered fervently.

Relaxing at the sensation of Dana’s fingers in her hair, Alice huffed, “You are aware that you’re the girliest and gayest person I know, right? You’re like the embodiment of girly and *****.”

A smile in her voice, Dana replied with a wry chuckle. “What?” she drawled. “Does that mean you would rather have me be manly and straight?”

“Oh god, bad visual,” Alice made a horrible face at the thought of a manly and straight Dana. “Eww,” she repeated and gave Dana a hard poke in her side. “Now I have an image of manly straight Dana in my head. That’s so wrong.”

“Sorry,” said Dana, chuckling and not sounding the least bit apologetic.

Grunting irritably, Alice chose burrow further into Dana’s embrace instead of replying then she questioned, “Do you want me to sing the whole song or just part of it?”

“You don’t have to sing the whole song if you don’t want to,” said Dana eagerly, her excitement over the fact that Alice would fulfill her request now more than obvious.

“But you want me to?” Alice asked with a smile.

“Yes,” said Dana emphatically, nodding her head.

They were still for a moment then Alice moved slightly backwards to look into Dana’s eyes as she traced a hand down her cheek. “So goddamn girly,” she growled affectionately. After saying this, she laid her head down to rest over Dana’s heart and together they waited in silence for the song that was playing to end so the next one, meant for Alice to sing, could begin.

Upon hearing the low and melodic beat of the song as it cued, Dana’s heart sped up from anticipation. Something that Alice couldn’t help but notice with her head placed on the brunette’s chest. Feeling Dana’s enthusiasm tugged at a romantic sentiment long buried in Alice and her voice was thick with emotion on singing the opening lyrics, “Are you breathing what I’m breathing? Are your wishes the same as mine? Are you needing what I’m needing? I’m waiting for a sign.”

Pulling slowly away to look into darkened blue eyes as she sang, Alice mimicked the lyrics and reached out to cup Dana’s face. “My hands tremble,” her voice seemed to waver with the lyric, hands tracing a soft path. “My heart aches. Is it you calling?”

“If I’m alone in this,” Alice continued and kept her gaze locked with Dana’s, sharing an unspoken bond. Letting her see all that she was feeling, all that she felt for Dana, for this new relationship they had, for the love they had for one another. “I don’t think I can face the consequences of falling.”

The last lyric repeated and Alice pushed upwards to capture Dana’s lips for a kiss. Languid and unhurried, taking her time and showing Dana everything she held within her. When they parted with low uttered moans, Alice’s voice was raspy from desire and she sang, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Does your pulse quicken like mine?” Ducking her head, she gave into her urges and sucked on the quivering pulse before her, delighting in the gasp Dana released. Pulling away only to continue the song in husky tones, “Are you dreaming what I’m dreaming?” Alice peered up at Dana with a wry and playful smile. “I can’t read your mind.”

“One step towards you,” sang Alice, her voice soft and tremulous, her hands tracing Dana’s delicate features. “Two steps back. Feels like I’m crawling…” She trailed off as the lyric echoed and smiled sweetly, moving to nuzzle Dana’s neck, the smile growing larger at the silent shudders of pleasure caused by her actions. “If I’m alone in this. I don’t think I can face the consequences of falling.”

Unable to withstand anymore teasing, though fully aware that she brought the situation on herself, Dana grasped impatiently at Alice with hands made frantic from sheer and utter desire. Desperately reaching for Alice, wanting her close, needing her touch more than anything, Dana arched up off the couch and met their lips for a passionate kiss. Elegant fingers tangled in messy blonde locks and she moaned into Alice they melded together, striving to become one person in the heat of their embrace.

Loud heaving breaths filled the air at their parting and Alice’s voice became pure in its need as she sang on, “My hands tremble. My heart aches. Is it you calling?”

“If I’m alone in this,” Alice sang. Now exhausted, she dropped her head to once again tuck it underneath Dana’s chin. She felt wonderful but worn from the strength it took to share of what they just had. “I don’t think I can face the consequences of falling…”

The song ended, fading into the next, and they rested against one another relaxed simply by the other’s presence. Slipping a hand underneath Alice’s shirt to softly stroke the skin at the small of her back, Dana’s voice carried an underlined yearning. “I love your singing,” she announced.

Just the sound of the stereo playing and their breathing was the only response. Alice shifted in Dana’s arms as if trying to hide herself safely away in the warm embrace then spoke in small and uncertain tones that didn’t sound at all like herself. “Why?” Alice questioned. And her need to be answered honestly was clear in her voice even in its current fragile state.

“Because,” Dana started hesitantly, trying to sort her feelings in her head in order to properly explain. Alice smiled softly, looking on as the brunette’s brow furrowed in adorable concentration. Finally gathering what she wanted, no, needed to say, Dana met Alice’s gaze. “I’m not good with words, Al,” she murmured, stating this as plain fact. “But you are and I love that… I love how you can make me feel better with just a few words. How you can fix things with them. I could never do that.” Her face scrunched up and Dana appeared to be losing her train of thought, causing Alice to watch her affectionately. “When you sing it’s better than when you talk because it’s not what you say it’s more of how you say it.” Dana’s hands drifted down to hold Alice’s face tenderly, caressing the delicate shell of her ear. “I know what you’re feeling when you sing and I love that because it makes me feel closer to you.” Blushing hotly, Dana twisted around, now avoiding Alice’s inquisitive gaze.

Alice allowed this for a minute sliver of time but nothing more and touched Dana’s cheek, moving her face firm but caring until their eyes met. When they did, a luminescent smile graced her features and her dark eyes were knowing. “I love you so much, Dana,” she confessed in a shaky whisper.

The smile that Alice received at these words was as bright and as powerful as the sun. Though she would be reluctant to ever tell anyone this, perhaps even Dana, the tennis player somehow reminded Alice of the sun. Warming her with just her mere presence and seeming to bring life to everything around her. There was an indefinable innocence in Dana that was nearly impossible to resist, almost like she was a force of nature.

“And I love you… and your singing,” Dana said a tad mischievously, her eyes twinkling as she murmured against Alice’s lips when their kiss ended.

“I see where this is going,” remarked Alice dryly. “You only love me for my voice.” Wagging a finger, she mock growled, “Tennis playing hussy! You said you loved all my body parts.”

Skilled hands traveled down Alice’s body, tracing the various body parts mentioned, and Dana rumbled with a smile, “I do love all your body parts. I just love your voice the most.”

“The twins are very upset with you for saying that,” Alice pronounced, faking a scowl and dropping her forehead against Dana’s. “They might never get over this.”

“Oh?” asked Dana innocently, peering down at Alice’s ***** which was something made quite easy by their positions. “Should I apologize to them?”

“I think you should,” Alice nodded solemnly. Whatever words she meant to say next dying in her throat when Dana smoothly reversed their positions, moving down her body with lush kisses that burned deep into her skin and the reverent touch of careful hands caressing her. Alice’s fingers instinctively tangled into brown hair and she couldn’t help saying her name in a gasp. “Dana…”

Peering up at her with earnest blue eyes, Dana dropped her head and pushed up Alice’s shirt, pressing a kiss onto the flat skin of her stomach. Looking up at hearing Alice’s wavering breaths, she said soft and serious, “Do you know how long I’ve wanted this?”

Tucking back loose tendrils of wavy brown hair, Alice’s dark eyes held a quiet curiosity. “No,” she murmured with a loving smile. “How long?” When Dana suddenly became shy and tried to avert her gaze, seeming to not want to give Alice the answer, she held her still with gentle yet strong hands. Cupping the brunette’s face, Alice soothed her with tender caresses. “How long, Dana?” she asked in a muted plea for the truth. “I want to know.”

“I’ve probably loved you since the day that we met,” admitted Dana shyly and she gave into temptation, imitating Alice’s earlier position to rest her head over the blonde’s heart. She sighed pleasurably at the sensation of expert fingers massaging her scalp. “I think I first suspected it when you took me to Milk and punched Nadia Meirtschin,” Dana chuckled at the memory.

“I forgot about that!” exclaimed Alice, her hands threading out of Dana’s hair to clap together in a strange gesture of glee. Meeting Dana’s eyes that observed her with fond humor, she clucked her tongue and drawled, “I was stupendously butch, wasn’t I? I laid that ***** out.”

“Yes, you did,” Dana agreed soberly, nodding her head. Forming a playful grin, she pushed up and met their lips for a sweet kiss. “I was very impressed.” Lowering her head, she listened to the steady beat of Alice’s heart. “I knew for sure that I loved you when you flew to be with me when I was homesick during that qualifying tournament in England.”

“Ohh, I remember that,” said Alice as she toyed with the soft hairs at the nape of Dana’s neck and comfortingly rubbed the tan skin before her. “I got food poisoning from the fish and chips. Although,” she made a comical face, “I’m not sure if I got food poisoning from it being cooked improperly or if it was the fact that the food was just bad.”

“Figures that’s what you’d remember,” Dana complained with good humor.

Squirming underneath Dana’s welcome weight, Alice moved to kiss the strong line of the brunette’s jaw and murmured in husky tones, “I also remember how hot you looked in that little white tennis outfit of yours. How every time you ran it would fly up to let me see that tiny bit of your perfect body that was hidden.” Reaching out with soft lips, she nibbled and tugged on Dana’s ear lobe then moved a slow path towards her mouth. “I remember how ***** you looked when you won,” her voice rough in desire. “I remember how I wanted you but made myself ignore it because you were a friend.”

Their lips met in a kiss and they groaned when their tongues met, striving to be as close as they possibly could. Wanting to crawl inside each other’s skin to feel this connection go on. They parted with audible moans and Dana chuckled. “At least I wasn’t the only one,” she noted.

“Mmm,” Alice made a noncommittal noise in response and pulled Dana closer who then tucked her head underneath the journalist’s chin. Her hands ran over the length of Dana’s back and together they released a quiet sigh of happiness. “I wonder if we could stay like this?” she pondered after a moment. Laughter in her voice, Alice went on, “I bet I could write for LA Magazine from this couch. Sadly, it’s really not that different than my puny office space.”

Unable to help it, Dana burst into delighted laughter at this absurd idea. “I don’t know, Al,” she started, tones mischievous and teasing. “Somehow I can’t see me being able to play tennis from this couch. There’s a whole host of problems involved. Beginning with the issue of how can I run after the ball when I’m busy lying on top of you?”

“You’re not working with my brilliant new life plan here, Dane,” pouted Alice, forming a matching expression that only served to endear her further to her girlfriend.

“Sorry,” laughed Dana, not sounding at all remorseful as she leaned forward for a quick kiss. “But your brilliant new life plan doesn’t really work with my Subaru deal either. I’m not sure how I could participate in a wide scale ad campaign from a couch.” At these words, the blonde tensed ever so slightly but enough that Dana definitely took note. “Al,” she murmured worriedly, tilting her head and peering at the other woman. “What is it?”

Irritated that she created a shift in their cheerful mood, Alice shook her head and flashed a wide smile. “It’s nothing,” she declared and moved to kiss Dana only to have her attempt foiled when the brunette retreated from her. “Dana?” she whispered, a little hurt.

“I want to know what’s wrong,” supplied Dana, locking her gaze with Alice’s. She paused then cautiously reached down to touch the pale skin before her. “You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. I want to be the person who takes care of you.” Frowning in a sign of frustration, Dana continued, “But I can’t do that if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, Al.”

Nibbling on her bottom lip, unaware of the effect this absent gesture consistently had on the tennis player, Alice shifted to look into endless blue eyes. “It really is nothing,” she muttered, sounding annoyed with herself. “It’s just… when you mentioned Subaru I remembered the deals Tonya made. And then I remembered how she set herself up for a 15% take of your earnings when she got you endorsements.” She looked up at Dana anxiously, desperate to properly explain. “I don’t care about your money though! I mean, I do care, because it’s your money but I also know from my mom that money, fame, and all that can’t ever really make you happy. I just worry about the possibility of Tonya permanently weaseling her way into your finances thanks to that contract she made. I know how much you want to make it professionally,” Alice finished in a subdued whisper.

“Oh,” said Dana, her tones hushed. The apprehension in Alice was palpable and although she wanted to immediately ease the tension, she had to pause to consider the blonde’s words. “My agent is taking care of Tonya,” she said finally.

“Good,” Alice gave an audible sigh of relief.

They were silent for a long moment then Dana spoke softly, her voice laced with wry humor, “And, Al? I know you’re not after my considerable fortune. You don’t have the ability to be subtle enough to make it as a successful gold digger.”

“I’m not sure if I should feel complimented or insulted,” replied Alice, wrinkling her nose.

Laughing quietly, Dana folded her arms on Alice’s chest and rested her chin on them, peering up into brown eyes. She tilted her head into the blonde’s touch when warm hands cupped her cheek. “My father warned me thousands of times to be careful with my money,” she began thoughtfully. “I wish now that I had paid more attention to his advice. Maybe when things blow over I’ll talk to him about Tonya. Ask him what he thinks I should do to fix the entire problem with the endorsements.”

“That’s a good idea,” encouraged Alice with a smile. A playful twinkle emerged in her eyes and she drawled, “Though you do realize that because we’re dating your mother will probably think that I did indeed convert you to the ***** side totally Darth Vader style.”

Knowing that Alice was most likely correct in her prediction, Dana released a loud and highly embarrassed groan, to then bury herself in Alice’s arms who rocked her to and fro, laughing at her girlfriend’s state of mortification at merely imagining it. But frankly, she could hardly blame her.

—

“You know,” Shane looked around the apartment, a truly perplexed expression on her handsome features. “This place looks different.” Sinking into the ugly as always couch, a frown formed and she turned to Tina who was approaching. “Did you and Al change something in here or what?”

“No, we haven’t… but you are right. Something does look different,” replied Tina, looking contemplative as she studied their surroundings. “I wonder why?”

They sat together on the ugly couch and by some strange twist of fate, realized exactly why the apartment looked so different at the same time. Facing one another, Tina and Shane wore identical grins of victory and exclaimed, “It’s clean!”

Bursting into laughter, they clung to each other, not really sure why they found this so funny but simply enjoying that they did. Wiping a tear from her left eye, Shane remarked, “You know the real reason why the place looks so nice, right?”

“Because I cleaned it?” asked Tina sardonically as she bumped Shane’s shoulder with her own in an affectionate move that showed she was merely teasing.

“No,” Shane chuckled, returning the bump softly. “It’s because hurricane Alice hasn’t been around. With just you on the premises of course it’s gonna look nice.” Nodding her head wisely, Shane sank back into the couch and grinned. “When’s the last time you saw her anyway?”

“I don’t know,” murmured Tina, arranging herself more comfortably on the couch. Trying to achieve comfy sitting positions was becoming increasingly difficult as the pregnancy progressed, she had learned. “Today’s Saturday so I think it was Thursday morning. She came here to get some notes for that article she’s writing on the positive effects mayonnaise has on feminine skin.”

Lifting a perfectly sculptured eyebrow, Shane shook her head then drawled, “I don’t wanna know.”

“That might be best,” said Tina, releasing a giggle. After which she turned red and became even redder when she saw the delighted grin Shane wore on hearing this. “My god,” she whispered in vague horror, “did I just giggle?”

“You did,” Shane nodded solemnly, green eyes twinkling.

“Baby!” Tina ducked her head down and gently cupping her rounded belly, she wore a face of exaggerated scolding and she proceeded to talk to the child inside of her. “You’re creating crazy hormones that are making Mommy giggle. That is unacceptable and perhaps worthy of a no chocolate ice cream today punishment.”

“That’s way too harsh man,” rumbled Shane in sympathetic tones. Leaning down, she mock whispered to Tina’s stomach, “No worries kid. When she’s asleep I’ll stick a Hershey bar in her mouth. She’ll never know what hit her.”

Playfully slapping Shane on the shoulder, Tina sighed happily and rubbed her stomach. “That was an empty threat anyway,” she said with a grin. “I love chocolate far too much to deprive myself of it. Baby induced giggling or not.”

“I figured,” said Shane kindly. There was a pause then Shane asked, her voice careful and almost hesitant, “How are you doing, T? Really?”

“I miss Bette,” said Tina, deciding to abandon pretenses and simply tell the truth when it came to this conversation. “And I’m not angry at her constantly like I used to be. I still hurt but it’s not the same sharp feeling I had… where I felt like it would kill me. It’s more of a dull ache, created from wanting something that’s gone.” Lifting her gaze, Tina met Shane’s knowing eyes. The hairdresser somehow was looking more breathtaking than usual in her expression of honest empathy. A sad smile pulling on her lips, Tina confessed, “I want to see Bette. I’m ready to see her again but I’m not sure what to tell her when she asks me what I want because I have no idea.”

“Then tell her that,” advised Shane, her face and vocal tones soft and so very understanding. “You doing that would be more than enough for Bette right now. I can promise you.”

“That’s right,” Tina gained a sudden and sharp awareness. “You probably see Bette every day since you live next to her with Jenny.” Without realizing she was doing it, Tina scooted forward and looked at her friend slightly pleading now. “How is she, Shane?”

Shane released a breath of air, not really a sigh per se but perhaps instead a vocalization of her confusion. Running her fingers through her shortened but still perpetually crazed hair, Shane finally made her decision and muttered, “Not good, T. You know, I go to see her all the time and she’s not like she was. I’m not sure how to explain it… but it’s the same as you,” she finished feebly, looking irritated at not being able to find the right words.

“What do you mean?” questioned Tina worriedly.

“She’s not the Bette that I know, *****, she’s probably not the Bette you know either anymore. And I figure that goes the same for you but she’s not sad all the time anymore,” Shane said. Shrugging her impossibly thin shoulders, she laughed wryly and said, “She’s not happy either. I guess, it’s more like… she’s getting by. But I think she’s doing better, sorta like you are.”

“Oh,” Tina said in a hushed murmur, seeming forlorn.

Seeing this, Shane cleared her throat and when the blonde looked to her, she said, “Bette misses you. And I sure as ***** know that she loves you. What you wanna do with that is up to you but I’m telling you now, T. She’s waiting for you to make your move.”

There was silence as Tina mulled over Shane’s words and after a few moments, the wiry brunette decided that they both needed a good dose of cheering up. Which in their group of friends meant just one thing only and despite the many changes in their lives recently it was something that remained reassuringly the same.

And it was that Dana and Alice were considered their built in source of comic relief. Without even trying, they managed to make their friends laugh and feel better about life in general.

Personality traits that sadly, would bring the end of their voluntary seclusion.

—

Dana was startled out of an exceptionally enjoyable sleep by the loud and persistent ring of her doorbell that was sounding off in 2.4 second intervals. Groaning and shaking her head as if to deny the ringing was actually occurring, Dana shifted and it was then that she noticed her position.

Well, not her position really. Their position. Her and Alice’s.

The position happened to be a complicated one. Studying their limbs, Dana couldn’t quite figure out where her legs were, just that they were hopelessly tangled with Alice’s. She did know, however, that Alice was snuggled into the crook of her neck, lips pressed lightly over her pulse point. Possessing an unnatural ability to sleep through pretty much anything, Alice remained in slumber though some part of her was coming into consciousness thanks to the doorbell ringing.

This became clear because Alice was squirming enough to make certain body parts come into far closer contact, causing Dana’s heart to speed up and her pulse to flutter wildly. A pulse that found itself partially kissed by soft lips as Alice muttered, half asleep, “Knock knock not funny, Dane…”

If possible, the doorbell transformed into an annoyance of more monstrous proportions as the ringing changed from 2.4 second intervals and into the realm of .97 second hellish high pitched torture. It was an evil that Alice, even equipped with her mighty power of coma patient type sleep patterns, couldn’t fight successfully against.

Roused with a very grumpy protest, Alice’s ill advised squirming continued in the trend of her accidentally touching Dana in fairly sensitive places. And when a searching hand that was trying to readjust Alice’s body so she might attempt to keep sleeping just happened to slip lower down…

THUMP!

Alice, thanks to Dana’s instinctual reflexes, was now lying face first on the floor and found herself fully and rather unhappily wide awake.

“Oh my god, Al!” screeched Dana in a panic, rolling off the couch to plunk onto the ground. She then hastily crawled over to Alice on her hands and knees. The blonde was lying completely still, remaining face first on the floor. Scurrying to her side, Dana pulled her over so she was lying on her back. Brown eyes were squeezed tightly shut and leaning down, Dana darted her eyes frantically up and down the writer’s body. “Al? Al, are you okay?” Dana fretted. She cupped Alice’s face and biting her lip, she said in a near hysterical babble, “Al! If you’re okay tell me because I’m getting worried and I might call 911 and you’re not supposed to call them unless it’s an emergency. I think it’s against the law. No, I know it is because Howie did it once–”

“I’m paralyzed,” Alice announced in supremely droll tones. “No,” she groaned and her habitual squirming returned in full force as she stuck her hand underneath her back to rub it wearily. “I can’t be paralyzed. If I was then my body wouldn’t hurt this much, would it?”

“Al,” Dana breathed a huge sigh of relief and she collapsed next to Alice on the floor, no longer paying attention to the irritating .97 second doorbell ringing intervals. An instinctive smile formed on her face when Alice opened her eyes and tilted her head to meet their gazes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking dejected. “I didn’t mean to make you go flying like that.”

Ceasing to rub her bruised body, Alice smiled softly and touched Dana’s face, pushing back stray strands of hair. “I’m fine,” she soothed and scooting over cautiously, wary due to feeling rather sore from her sudden flight, Alice kissed Dana sweetly. Pulling away to murmur, “But you should really go see who that is because I don’t think they’re going away anytime soon.”

Eager to please, Dana leapt to her feet and bounded towards the source of the insistent ringing. Opening the door to reveal that an evilly smirking Shane was the culprit responsible for the agonizing noise torture. The hairdresser was removing her thumb from the ringer. A thumb that had turned red from the pressure of repeatedly pressing the doorbell at faster and faster intervals.

Standing behind her were Tina, Lara, and Jenny. Both Tina and Lara wore contrite expressions on their faces but Jenny wore a huge grin that Alice would’ve most likely described as ***** eating. While Shane had nothing in her hands, probably because she had assigned herself annoying doorbell ringing duties, Tina held a dvd, Lara carried several large plastic bags which Dana’s nose told her contained Chinese food, and Jenny was hefting two large cases of beer in each hand.

“You guys?” Dana blinked at them in bafflement, lost as to precisely why they would decide to spontaneously visit. They did know that she and Alice had just begun dating, didn’t they? And they had to know that new couples like to spend some time alone. “What are you doing here?”

Being Shane, she managed to smoothly push past Dana without seeming rude, drawling as she did so, “We brought emergency supplies for the latest members of the lezzie isolationist cult.”

“Hey Dana,” said Lara almost shyly, moving towards the tennis player and lifting up the large bags. “I got us some food from Hoys. I hope that’s okay.”

“Yeah, of course it is,” said Dana distractedly, taking the food from Lara, continuing to be preoccupied with figuring out why they were all here.

It was then that Tina appeared at her side, looking rather sheepish. “I’m sorry, Dane,” she began. “I was feeling down and Shane got this idea to come here for a visit because… well…”

“Because you and Al are ***** perky,” Shane magically reemerged. She had apparently gone upstairs but for what reason Dana had no clue. “Where’s the little woman? I can’t find her scrawny ***** anywhere in this place. This condo is like some weird leveled labyrinth, Dane.”

Frowning at the dig, Dana gestured, with food bags in hand, to the living room. “Al’s in there,” she remarked then turned to Jenny who had the ***** eating grin permanently frozen onto her face. “What kind of beer did you get?” asked Dana, not recognizing the brand the skinny brunette held.

“Tsingtao,” chirped Jenny and she raised her arms to let Dana have a closer study. She was feeling almost giddy at being included in the gathering and rather hoped it would help her slowly but surely make a place for herself in this circle of tight knit friends. Laughing at the odd expression Dana wore, Jenny continued, “Don’t worry. It’s really good.”

“Al! Dude, what the *****?” Shane’s voice carried throughout the condo and everyone immediately went running towards it. Well, except Dana. She sighed heavily and trudged after her friends already mourning the needless death of her and Alice’s enjoyable seclusion.

They entered to find that Alice hadn’t moved, remaining sprawled out on the floor on her back, but now with an arm flung over her eyes. Upon hearing Shane speak, she moved the arm slightly to peer backwards at her friends while staying in her lying position on the floor.

“What are you guys doing here?” asked Alice, unaware that she was saying a variant of her girlfriend’s words from moments earlier.

As she said this, Dana poked her head into the room and on seeing Alice had stayed on the floor her expression became troubled. “Al? Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, Dane, really,” Alice waved off the concern and flashed her most dazzling smile.

“Oh no,” said Shane, releasing a laugh that was a tad sinister in the level of sheer amusement found in it. “Dane did you finally go and lose control because Al got all forceful with you?”

The reactions to this remark were instantaneous. Dana turned fire engine red then scampered away with Chinese food in hand, Alice appeared totally perplexed, Shane had an air of smug pride, Tina wore a combined look of curiosity and concern, Lara just blinked, and Jenny continued to wear her ***** eating grin until infinity and beyond.

“You should get up, Al,” chastised Tina, moving over to Alice and then crouching down next to the blonde. “I don’t think this can be good for your back.”

“Yes, mother,” pronounced Alice in sing song tones, rolling her eyes and sitting up. “Good to see you, T,” she murmured, giving her friend a genuine smile. She rose to her feet, aiding Tina with her own attempt which was made a little difficult due to her pregnancy, and remarked, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you ***** aren’t answering my question. What are you doing here anyway?”

“Yeah,” Dana chimed in, striding into the room on a direct route towards Alice. She folded the blonde into an easy embrace, her arms wrapping around the small waist in front of her and Alice leaned into her with a sigh. Dana dropped her chin to rest on the writer’s shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“Don’t be so mean,” declared Shane who managed to look believably heartbroken. “We wanted to make sure you were alive. We weren’t positive because between all of us we’ve only seen you guys for a total of about two hours in the span of a whole week.”

“Or in other words, you missed seeing us,” Alice deadpanned. “Awwww,” she crooned, smiling impishly as she unconsciously moved with Dana who was rocking them gently to and fro. “You guys must be the huggiest bunch of friends that a couple could possibly have.”

“Shut up,” ordered Shane sternly, pointing a finger at Alice. The grin that tugged at her lips made it evident that she was teasing. “Besides,” she continued, nodding in Tina’s direction. “Shouldn’t you be feeling ashamed for leaving your new roommate alone when she’s in the family way?”

Shane barely got the words out when Alice extricated herself from the warm circle of Dana’s arms and rushed to Tina’s side. “You haven’t been feeling well? Why didn’t you call me? Do you want to see a doctor?” she rattled the questions off urgently.

“I’m fine, Al,” said Tina, unable to help laughing at the protective and mother hen quality that Alice had suddenly taken on. “I feel the same as any other woman would at this point in the pregnancy.” When Alice looked at her doubtfully, Tina chuckled and gave her an affectionate one armed hug. “I’m fine,” she cajoled, murmuring in Alice’s ear and blowing back locks of blonde hair. “I promise I’ll let you know if I start feeling really sick.”

“Right,” Alice’s eyes were narrowed slightly and she looked down at Tina’s round belly. Touching it tenderly, she said in a humorous command, “Don’t make your Mom feel crappy, baby. You’ll make me mad and then I won’t buy you a slew of useless yet shiny toys as presents.”

While this occurred, Shane and Jenny exited the room to put the beer in Dana’s refrigerator which left only Dana and Lara to observe the interaction between Alice and Tina. Able to discern jealousy when she saw it, no matter how trivial and unwarranted it was, Lara moved to Dana’s side when the tennis player’s jaw set into a grim line.

“Alice loves you, Dana,” said Lara quietly yet powerfully enough that the brunette turned to her wearing a startled look on her face. Smiling, she clasped Dana’s arm and rubbed it in a comforting motion. Giving into the evil humor she had probably contracted from spending time with Shane on the ride there, Lara’s blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “But don’t ask me to explain why.”

It hardly seemed conceivable but somehow Dana managed to turn redder than she had thanks to Shane’s forceful comment. Of course, when she did so was the moment that Alice looked from Tina to Dana. At the sight of her blushing girlfriend standing next to her ex in the middle of what looked to be a fairly intimate gesture, Alice arched an eyebrow in sardonic speculation.

“Perkins,” said Alice in lofty tones, sounding almost like she was beginning a speech. “Don’t tell me that you came over here for the sole purpose of using your suave chef moves on my woman.”

Lara smiled sweetly in response, noting the amusement lining the blonde’s voice. Too bad it was something that Dana didn’t catch onto. Eyes wide with panic, she performed a sideways leap to put a good deal of distance between her and Lara then began stammering anxiously, “She wasn’t! She was only being nice. Which Lara always is. Nice, I mean, but not flirting nice because I’m not interested in flirting with her because I’m only interested in flirting with you, Al.”

“You should totally teach speed talking classes, Dane,” commented Shane, who entered the room with Jenny trailing after her. “You got that ***** down pat.”

Whirling around to face Shane and Jenny, wearing an expression that could be described as mortified fear and embarrassment, Dana didn’t notice Alice’s approach until pale arms wrapped around her waist to hold her tight. Soft lips nuzzled her neck and there was a smile in her voice as Alice whispered, “I know you only want to flirt with me, Dane. And I only want to flirt with you.”

Their friends somehow couldn’t move their eyes away from the sight of Dana and Alice, watching transfixed as Dana formed an elated smile and sank into Alice’s body. She tilted her head back to say something to the blonde who chuckled fondly at her words and moved in for a lazy kiss.

“So ***** cute,” Shane shook her head, smirking.

Separating from the kiss and smiling at the quiet sigh Dana released on doing so, Alice peered over at Shane and smirked. “Please,” she intoned playfully. “You know you want this.” Shane rolled her eyes in response and Alice laughed, looking to the others and realizing for the first time that Tina was holding a dvd. “What you got there, T?”

A gleeful smile formed on Tina’s features and she practically skipped over to Alice, lifting up the dvd. “I brought you a present filled to the brim with excellent movie making badness,” she said happily.

“Yeah?” asked Alice, smiling and taking the dvd as Tina handed it to her. She studied it a moment and looked up at Tina in amazement. “No way! How did you get this? I’ve been trying forever to buy a copy of this. Her website is sold out.”

“I know,” Tina nodded excitedly, flipping the dvd over in Alice’s hands. “I found it at that tiny rental place a few blocks from the apartment. The one that looks like an old Mexican restaurant.” She excitedly pointed at the horrible graphics on the cover that featured a green faced man in a lab coat with insect feelers. “It sounds so bad, Al,” she laughed. “The strip club is called the GoGoSaurus and its owner, for some reason, decides to order a shipment of bioengineered marijuana. Of course, it has spiders inside it who eat the marijuana and turn all crazy human killing because of it.”

“I love Misty Mundae,” said Alice solemnly. Separating from Dana, she walked to the TV with Tina following. “She is truly a genius. Who else but a genius would be in a movie of this stature?”

The two blondes then started to analyze in depth and praise session focused on Misty’s acting talents that left the others stupefied. Dana looked to her similarly confused companions and stated hesitantly, “Mundae? As in rhymes with Sunday?”

“I don’t think we want to know,” said Jenny, her voice foreboding.

“But it looks like we will be knowing pretty soon,” Lara observed, nodding at Alice and Tina who were putting the movie into the dvd player.

“I’m gonna get the food and booze,” Shane finally contributed to the conversation, shrugging before she bounded upstairs. “Looks like we’ll need it.”

“Yeah,” echoed Dana, frowning at the opening sequence of the movie that featuring the most horribly assembled sets she had ever seen. “It looks like.”

—

Half an hour later, they were gathered around the television watching the movie, eating Chinese food, and drinking beer. Tina had been given the couch as her own personal domain and sat on it length wise with her feet in Shane’s lap. Jenny and Lara settled into the nearby smaller sofa while Alice perched on Dana’s lap who was in the super comfortable recliner.

“You know,” began Dana in thoughtful consideration, taking a long drink from her beer. “That exterminator is really horrible at his job.” Eyeing Alice’s ginger chicken, she waited until the blonde was focused on the television then her hand darted forward to steal some pieces. Popping the chicken into her mouth, Dana remarked, “I’d shoot the stupid spiders.”

“If he was good at his job we wouldn’t have a movie,” Alice said, turning back to Dana and looking down at her food she frowned. The amount of chicken on her plate had greatly decreased. Meeting eyes with a suspiciously guilty looking Dana, she scowled. “Stop stealing my food!”

“I’m not stealing your food,” said Dana, looking offended. “Why would I steal your food?” Holding up the vegetarian meal Lara had gotten for her, Dana smiled. “I have this… mmm… yummy… steamed broccoli.” She held the plate up under Alice’s nose which immediately scrunched up.

“Ugh! Get that away from me, I hate broccoli!” exclaimed Alice in almost a shriek, squirming to put distance between herself and Dana’s vegetarian meal monstrosity. “It is by far the most disgusting and useless vegetable,” she muttered under her breath, turning her attention to the movie again.

Soon as she did, Dana stole another piece of ginger chicken.

Watching the couple interact, Shane chuckled and leaning towards Lara and Jenny, she mock whispered, “See what I mean? They’re already acting like an old married couple. Sad, huh?”

“Tragic,” Lara agreed solemnly.

“Almost Shakespearean, isn’t it?” mused Jenny.

“Shut up, *****,” ordered Alice distractedly, her eyes fixated on the television screen. By this point only she and Tina were truly paying attention to the movie. “We like acting old and married.”

“Yeah, we like it,” echoed Dana, stealing yet another piece of ginger chicken and chuckling when Alice half heartedly whapped at her for doing so. Taking the chicken that Alice was holding into her mouth, Dana gave into her naughty impulses and nibbled on pale fingers in the process. The blonde exhaled a shaky breath at this and reached back to thread her fingers into the Dana’s wavy hair, massaging her scalp in an affectionate gesture. Beaming widely, the tennis player looked to the others and declared, “Ha! If we like to act old and married then you can’t call it tragic. Because tragic means to regret something and do you see us regretting acting old and married?” After she finished saying all of this, Dana practically glowed with pride. Then she gave into her more childish instincts and stuck her tongue out at them. “So there.”

Upon seeing Dana’s tongue aimed in their direction, Shane, Lara, and Jenny collapsed into hysterical laughter. Alice and Tina, in the meantime, were analyzing the virtuoso skill of Misty as she killed a marijuana mutated spider with her high heel.

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” Jenny wheezed through her laughter.

“Definitely,” concurred Shane, nodding her head.

“I’ll go with that,” Lara said with a sigh, wiping at her tears.

“Why the ***** are you guys quoting Captain Kirk?” asked Dana, looking absolutely mystified.

Total silence and then the trio burst into uncontrolled laughter loud enough that if it went on long enough could have probably shaken Dana’s condo apart. Dana scowled heavily at this reaction while Tina and Alice looked irritated at having their movie watching experience disrupted.

“The lady doth protest too much is a quote from Shakespeare, Dana,” said Jenny, taking deep breaths and attempting to calm her stomach which was still twitching from laughter. “The play is Hamlet and the character who says it is Gertrude if you want to be more specific.”

“Oh,” said Dana self-consciously, once again turning a dark hue of red. Tucking her face into Alice’s neck who was leaning back into her, she muttered peevishly, “I’d like to see her try and return a 120 mile per hour serve.” Alice apparently heard this quiet utterance and chuckling in amusement, she turned to the brunette to then deposit a soft kiss on her lips. Smiling happily, Dana nuzzled Alice and said in a murmured observation, “You don’t smell like an old married lady.”

The comment earned Dana another kiss before Alice returned to talking with Tina and they began discussing the likelihood that Misty could run that well in high heels in real life. Dana turned to face Shane, Lara, and Jenny to then stick out her tongue for her final rebuttal.

A gesture which was returned to her in thirds.

—

“I know that they meant well,” Alice mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste, vigorously moving her brush back and forth. “But I’m so glad they’re gone. I mean, I’m sorry! I like being isolationist with you.” Leaning over the sink, she spit it out and took a drink of water. “I guess it is sort of our fault for ignoring them.” She paused to look at Dana’s reflection in the mirror. The tennis player was leaning against the doorframe to the bathroom, watching her with hooded blue eyes. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Dana replied in husky tones, pushing off the door and walking over to Alice. Her hands dropped to rest on birdlike hips and she smiled softly. “I was just thinking how you fit in perfectly here. Like it’s where you’re meant to be.”

“Maybe because I am,” said Alice simply, matching the smile and winding her arms around Dana’s neck. “Us? You and me? We’re simpatico.”

Dana’s nose scrunched up and her brow furrowed in the adorable fashion that Alice loved and she said in a half whine, “I have no idea what means. I bet it isn’t from Star Trek though.”

“No, it’s not from Star Trek,” Alice laughed fondly. “It isn’t from anything in particular, to tell the truth. And it just means is that we fit. So all I was doing was agreeing with you, Dane.”

“Oh,” said Dana quietly, beaming proudly on hearing this. Moving down to capture Alice’s lips, she murmured against them, “I love that we agree.”

The kiss deepened and Alice moaned into Dana who pushed gently forward, placing her hands on either side of the blonde to intensify the embrace. Pushing her tongue for an allowed entrance and tasting of what she could never have enough. She felt Alice’s fingers tangle into her hair, massaging her scalp and pulling her in closer yet. Hesitating for a moment, Dana gave into her desires and decided to try her hand at being bold. Praying that she wouldn’t regret this, she removed a hand from the sink to start a slow path up the side of Alice’s body. Tracing the curves and stopping to hold the welcome weight of a breast, thumb reaching out to caress a hardening nipple.

“Okay,” Alice tore her mouth from Dana’s with a loud gasp, squirming out of her arms and ducking underneath her to do a strange dash into the bedroom. “We need to get ready for bed.”

“That’s what I thought we were doing,” responded Dana in tones made rough from desire. Her blue eyes were almost black with the want and need she felt. Though lust was fogging over her brain she could still recognize the nervous air surrounding Alice who was running about the room, searching for her bedtime wear. “Al?” her voice was a husky plea for attention. When Alice stopped in her mad quest for clothing, Dana’s lust had faded away enough that her insecurities could now step in. “Don’t you…” Swallowing the lump in her throat and suddenly feeling almost sick, Dana went on hoarsely, “Don’t you want me?” Alice didn’t respond and stared at Dana blankly, which made the tennis player continue on in a defeated and apologetic babble, “I’m not experienced, I know, but I can get better! All you have to do is tell me what I’m doing wrong and I’ll fix it.” Blue eyes were watery and beseeching as her lips trembled. “I promise, Al. Just tell me…”

“Oh god, Dana,” Alice managed to get the words out in a horrified whisper. Dropping the worn t-shirt she held in her hands, she rushed over to the brunette. Cupping the tan face before her gently, Alice practically growled in an intense and not to be disputed murmur, “You are perfect. Everything you do is perfect. Your kisses, your touches, your gropes, everything. I swear to you, Dana.”

“Then why…” Dana started only to trail off and she bit down on her lip nervously before meeting comforting brown eyes. “Why do you keep stopping me when I try to take things further?”

Suddenly Alice was just as nervous as Dana and sighing heavily, she leaned into the brunette’s arms that instinctively wrapped her up in a tender embrace. “I guess I’m scared,” she finally revealed. Chuckling upon actually feeling the confusion arise in her girlfriend’s body language, Alice continued, “With my other relationships ***** is usually the first thing that we do together. There’s never been much of a waiting period with me,” she laughed wryly. “I never saw the point in it. But now… I just wonder if that’s why they never worked out. That we had ***** too soon and it forced the relationships to levels they weren’t ready for. I don’t know,” Alice sighed again. “I’m just worried I’ll make the same mistakes with you that I did with others and I can’t do that, Dane.” She pulled back to look up at Dana, emotionally raw and vulnerable. “I want us to work so badly. I want it more than anything, I think. And I’m so ***** scared of messing us up with my usual endless barrage of *****.”

“God, Al,” breathed Dana in relief, forming a loving smile and playing with strands of blonde hair. “You don’t need to worry about that. Okay,” she nodded her head and rubbed a pale cheek fondly. “What do you think of when you think of us and our relationship? The very first thing.”

Alice released an embarrassed groan, hiding her face in the tennis player’s chest. “Do I have to answer?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“Yes, you have to answer,” replied Dana in haughty irritation.

“Fine,” Alice pouted and tried not to concentrate on how close her lips were to the ***** hidden by a fairly thin white tank top. “I guess the very first thing I think of is that it feels right.”

There was silence and Alice hesitantly moved to look at Dana who wore a smile that, in her opinion, could someday outshine the sun. Feeling the weight of Alice’s gaze, Dana met their eyes and said in an adoring confession, “I feel the same.” They remained locked like that, eyes meeting eyes, frozen in the connection they had just made for a long while. Then she shook her head and said quietly, “Then that’s how it will be for us, Al. Right. If the first thing you think of when you think about us is that we’re right then how in the world could us being together ever be wrong?” When Alice didn’t respond and instead wore an expression of pure astonishment, Dana found herself growing uneasy and soon stammered, “But I’ll wait for however long that you want…”

“No!” exclaimed Alice in loud protest. When Dana looked at her in wide eyed surprise, she winced and said more softly, “No. I don’t want to wait… you’re right, Dana.” Looking rather sheepish and annoyed with herself, Alice moved closer, pressing their bodies together and resting her lips inches from Dana’s. “We’re right,” she chuckled happily before starting a slow and deliberate kiss.

Tongues mingled and the kiss grew more involved as they stumbled backwards to the bed. Alice falling onto it with a laugh and a moan, burying her fingers in Dana’s hair as the athlete pressed the length of their bodies together. They kissed long and luxuriously while hands explored and as they did so, they knew without a doubt that they were right, that this was right.

And decided to spend several hours proving it.


To be continued…


(Don’t worry, people. I’m not a *****. There’s tons of ***** in Part 5. I swear on baby Jeebus.)