Chapter Five

Three weeks later Jamie was still at Samantha and Doug's house on Staten Island. She had accompanied the rest of the family to Disney even though she couldn't do much while she was there. Katrina was thrilled she had decided to join them and even happier to see her mother was staying for a longer visit even at the cost of an injury.

It was a sunny summer Saturday on the island. Samantha and Jamie were just sitting on the front porch watching the three children play in the yard as they chatted. "So, are you going to tell me about what's really been bothering you since you came back? I know it's not really your injuries."

"No, it's not. The woman I told you about last time I was here and I had a little falling out. We got a little too close, and I realized I just couldn't be the woman I normally am with her. Usually I think nothing of sleeping with a woman I hardly know, but there was something about her. I've slept with married women before, but for some reason I couldn't do it with her. I guess I just wanted all or nothing from her, but nothing is hard, because I care about her so much."

The redhead nodded. "You're in love, and sometimes that can hurt."

"I am in love, Samantha," she confessed. "It's confusing to me though. Part of me feels like I'm betraying Stephanie even as much as I know she would want me to move on. However, whenever I look into this woman's eyes, I just feel things I haven't since a time when things were good between Stephanie and me. It feels like it did before she got sick, the laughter, the closeness, the joy."

"Then you have to go for it, Jamie."

"Samantha, all I have to do is look at that little girl, and I remember that there's someone else. She's married," the brunette stated in defeat.

Several quiet minutes passed. Samantha was just calling the kids in for lunch when a taxi pulled up in front of their house. Curiously both women eyed the vehicle, but as soon as the back door of it opened, Jamie felt weak. Sarah slowly exited the car with Eve close behind her. The two-year-old took her mother's hand as they made their way up the walk toward the porch.

Samantha looked at Jamie, whose eyes were glued to their visitor. "I take it you know her," she said. The taller woman nodded.

Seeing the brunette sitting on the porch with a petite redhead, Sarah assumed it was Samantha. Her nerves were racing as she approached, especially since she had come uninvited, but she had to see the woman she loved. She wasn't ready to accept Jamie's view on their relationship. Slowly climbing the stairs, she took a deep breath as both women just stared at her.

However, before she could even say anything, Eve smiled at Jamie brightly. "Jamie!" she exclaimed, rushing for her and hopping into the brunette's lap for a hug.

"Eve, hi," the tall actress greeted with a large grin and tight hug for the little girl. To Sarah she mentioned, "Looks like someone finally can say my name."

The blonde nodded. "We've been practicing," she mentioned, looking at Samantha.

Seeing where Sarah was gazing, Jamie rose slowly to her feet to make the introductions while she continued to hold Eve. "Uh, Samantha, this is Sarah Talbot. Sarah, this is my sister-in-law, Samantha Peterson."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sarah," the redhead said, extending her hand.

"Jamie has said so much about you that I feel like I already know you," Sarah stated, shaking hands with the woman who was about her same height.

"Did she now?" she questioned with a quirk of her brow at Jamie. "She certainly kept you under wraps. I didn't even know you two knew each other."

"Well, we just met when we started working on this new project together."

"Oh? You're doing a movie together? I hadn't realized." Samantha gave the brunette a long look, which Jamie understood perfectly. The redhead knew then that all the evasive conversations had been about Sarah. Looking at Eve still in Jamie's arms, she asked, "And who's this angel?"

"This is my daughter, Eve," Sarah announced, idling rubbing the two-year-old's fair head for a moment. "Eve, can you say hi?" The toddler didn't, instead shyly burying her head in Jamie's neck.

"She's being coy," Jamie said with a laugh. "Let me introduce you to Katrina." Calling her daughter's name, she beckoned her over. Putting an arm around her shoulders, the tall woman said, "Katrina, I want you to meet someone. This is my friend, Sarah Talbot, and her daughter, Eve. Sarah, my daughter, Katrina Taylor-Dean."

Sarah looked down at the young girl. She seemed tall for her age. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her skin was tanned. She was a stunning child. "Hi," Sarah greeted with a smile.

Katrina's blues eyes sparkled as she smiled back, but she rolled her eyes at her mother. "Mom, I know who she is."

Jamie just laughed a little. "Of course you do. How silly of me."

"Hi," Katrina answered Sarah.

Before any further conversation could take place, Samantha said, "Lunch was just about to be prepared. Perhaps the two of you would like to catch up a moment in private first. Would Eve like some lunch?"

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Sarah responded.

Turning to Eve, Samantha approached her pleasantly. "Eve, do you want to come inside with the other kids and have lunch?"

The little blonde shook her head, clutching tighter to Jamie. "Eve, I'll be right behind you. Your mama and I just need to talk first. I promise to be right there. I know Samantha has peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Don't you want one?" Eve nodded hesitantly.

"Jamie and I will be right there, baby. Go with Samantha," Sarah encouraged, to which Eve relinquished her hold of the tall woman. Samantha extended her hand for the two-year-old to take, which Eve did, and they disappeared inside together.

When it was just the two women on the porch, Jamie inquired, "What are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?"

"I bribed your agent into telling me where you were. I had to see you, Jamie. I couldn't stand it."

The older woman nodded. She knew it had been difficult for her as well. "We need to talk," she stated.

"I know, but right now Eve needs to see you. She's been stir crazy without you. She wasn't going to stop until she saw you again. Would you just spend some time with her? Regardless of me my daughter needs you, Jamie. She needs someone other than me who cares about her."

"I know. Come on. We'll discuss what we need to later. Right now I know Eve's waiting on me to eat."

"Probably," Sarah answered with a tentative smile. Gesturing to the door, Jamie let the blonde go inside ahead of her. They made their way to the kitchen where all the kids were seated at the table with a man.

As soon as Doug laid his eyes on Sarah, he stuttered in awe, "You're... you're..."

Samantha laughed at her husband. "Very smooth there, honey. Sweep her right off her feet," she joked. Turning to the blonde, she said, "Sarah, this is my husband, Doug. Honey, this is Jamie's friend, Sarah Talbot."

Doug stood from his chair and extended his hand. "Hi. How're you doing?" Exchanging a handshake, he pointed to a chair. "Well, I think this chair is yours." he mentioned, pointing to the empty place next to Eve.

"Oh, no. I know Eve wants Jamie to sit there."

"Okay, well, there's a chair next to Katrina," he suggested.

Feeling immediately at ease with her company, Sarah flashed a brilliant smile as she countered, "What about that chair next to you?"

"Uh, this one?" he stammered. He looked at Samantha, who only stood awaiting an answer. "Um, is that a trick question?" he hesitantly asked, to which all three women laughed.

"You certainly have him trained," Sarah teased Samantha.

The redhead smiled fondly at her husband. "Yeah, he's knows who's boss around here. However, I guess I could give him a little treat, because he's been such a prince. Why don't you take that seat, Sarah? I'll sit next to my favorite niece."

Jamie watched as Sarah scooted by her to her chair. Doug was still just standing there, but when she neared it, he managed to pull it out for her. When she sat, he met eyes with Jamie giving her an approving wink. The tall woman chuckled as she eased herself down into her own chair next to Eve and placed her crutches on the floor. Doug had already laid the food out for everyone, so they unceremoniously began to dig into whatever they wanted.

Over the meal attention was focused mainly on the four children around the table, but every once in awhile, Sarah would sneak a look in Jamie's direction. The brunette was all smiles around Katrina and Eve. The blonde realized she was the first of the tall woman's friends who had ever met the daughter who had blessed Jamie's life, and as she watched them together it filled her with such happiness. It made what she wanted to tell the woman she loved a little easier.

After lunch the three kids helped Doug with the food and dishes. Sarah offered her help, but it was declined. Sensing the two women needed some time alone, Samantha suggested they sit out on the porch while she watched Eve. The two-year-old seemed too involved with trying to play with the older kids to care, so Sarah thanked Samantha for the offer and led the way out to the porch.

They took seats on the bench and were silent a moment as each tried to collect their thoughts. Trying to open the talk, Jamie said, "Thank you for coming up here, Sarah. I've missed Eve a lot."

"She's missed you too, Jamie," she replied, looking into dark eyes. She wanted to hear that she was missed as well, but the tall woman didn't look as if she would say that. "I'm sorry I came uninvited, but I wasn't sure you'd let me come if I called. There's something I need to tell you."

"What's that?"

"Robert and I are getting a divorce," she answered.

"Oh? Sorry to hear that," Jamie offered, not knowing what else to say. "Why?"

Sarah shrugged. "We never should have gotten married."

"But Eve..."

"I could've had her without marrying him. I really married him to salvage what I thought was going to be a permanent blow to my career. I was twenty-three and pregnant, and I thought being unmarried didn't look good. I did love him, but I don't any longer. Furthermore, he doesn't love me. He loves her, always has, he said," she admitted.

"I'm sorry. That must hurt."

The blonde shrugged. "In truth I knew that. I knew it in my heart. I just didn't want it to be true, and then after time passed, I stopped caring. It just got to be too much for me to handle though when I saw how he treated Eve. It's one thing to spurn me but quite another to reject that perfect child, especially now that I've seen how much Eve flourishes with you. She needs more than me. She needs someone like you who dotes on her."

"I'm sure someday you'll find that person," Jamie commented, still unsure whether she should disclose anything she was feeling.

"Jamie, Robert has asked me that he be released from his responsibilities as Eve's father. He wants to give up his parental rights. This is going to be a difficult time for her, but I was hoping you would be there for her. She adores you, and she trusts you. I was hoping you would kind of be there for her during what is sure to be an unpleasant and public process. I know some not so nice things are going to be said, and I just want to make sure she knows she has people around her that love her."

"Of course. I do love her, Sarah. She can count on me."

"Thank you."

Deciding to try to get closer to the issue of them, Jamie inquired, "Has Robert started to say things about you?"

"Not publically, no. We've exchanged words, though. He threatened me regarding the divorce as well, saying that I better give him what he wants or else he has career-ending information that he'll make public. For the life of me, I'm not sure what that could be. I guess when he admitted he was in love with her and I pretty much told him that I didn't care, because I was in love with someone else as well, he knew right away with who before I even said. However, I don't see that as career-ending."

"Who did you say you were in love with?"

Sarah looked away for a moment. "I told him I was in love with you."

"Is that true?" Jamie asked timidly, reaching for the blonde's hand.

"Yes," the blonde confessed as tears came to her eyes. "I don't know how this happened. I had never imagined I could feel this way about someone like you, Jamie, because I thought you were just like your reputation. However, I now know the real you, and I am totally and utterly in love with the soft, sensitive, caring mother and friend. How could I not fall in love with you with the way you care for my daughter? You treat her as your own," she confessed.

Jamie could tell just by looking into blue eyes that Sarah was speaking the truth. "You're not divorcing Robert because of me, are you?" the older woman questioned as sensitively as possible.

The small woman shook her head. "You might have been the catalyst, but it really has nothing to do with you. This has been a long time in coming, but you just made me realize it faster."

Giving a nod of understanding, the brunette sighed. She moved to put her arms around the petite woman and held her in silence for several moments. Now that Sarah's feelings were exposed, Jamie knew it would only be fair to offer her own to assure her. "Sarah, I'm glad you came up here to tell me all this. I have to tell you that from the moment I left you two standing on the sidewalk that day, I haven't been able to stop thinking of either of you. I have missed you and Eve terribly. As you know my life is a bit complicated but having you a part of it has made me happier than I've been in a long time. You have to understand I lost my wife to a horrible disease that was long and terrible. It broke me, and I had just started putting myself back together. When you came along, it was like you picked up what was left of the pieces and began to mend my spirit, and yet it's been so painful to watch the relationships between you, Robert, and Eve. I could see the unhappiness there, and it hurt. I hurt for you, and it hurt that I couldn't take away that pain. Somehow I fell in love again, and it was painful. I fell in love with you, Sarah, all of you, the actress, the friend, the woman, but especially the mother," she whispered as she began to cry as well.

For a while they simply clung to each other as they let their emotions speak for them. All they needed to know was there in their arms. Once both of them had regained enough composure to continue their discourse, the blonde inquired, "So, what now? Where do we go from here?"

Jamie took a deep breath. "Well, we need to move slowly on this. I mean it's only a matter of time before the media gets hold of your divorce intentions, so we should keep a low profile. We go back to D.C. and finish our movie, and then we both come home to New York. I think due to the fact we both have children to consider we should take our time. I'm already very attached to Eve, and I'm sure given time together, you and Katrina would become so too. It's one thing to get our own emotions involved but quite another to get theirs into this, especially when we haven't given them a choice, so I think it's just best to take it slowly. Katrina has never seen me with anyone except Stephanie, so this might be hard for her."

"I know what you're trying to say, Jamie, and I understand completely. I don't want to look like I'm trying to replace Stephanie in her life or yours. I just want a chance to be with you."

"As I do with you," the tall actress whispered, leaning down toward Sarah's lips. She kissed them softly, not being able to resist any longer. She had waited so long for the blonde to take a step toward her.

Sarah sighed into the kiss. As soon as they came together, she knew she had found what she had always wanted. It was in Jamie Dean's arms that her world was right. "I love you, Jamie."

"I love you too, Sarah." Jamie answered as they continued to exchange kisses.

However, as soon as the brunette slipped her tongue into the blonde's mouth for the first time since their talk began, Sarah felt an unfamiliar metal. Pulling back in confusion, she asked, "What's in your mouth?" Not answering, Jamie merely extended her tongue for the younger woman to see for herself. "A tongue ring. All the times I've kissed you, I've never felt that before."

"Because I take it out for work and I hadn't had it in for awhile, but I put it back in when I came home. The hole was beginning to close, and I didn't want that to happen. Do you not like it?"

Sarah shrugged. "I've never kissed anyone with a tongue ring before. It's kind of naughty," she replied with an innocent blush.

"You have no idea," growled Jamie, leaning to capture Sarah's mouth again. The blonde willingly continued the exploration.

They were only broken apart by the sound of Jamie's nephew on the other side of the open front window commenting, "Ew. They're kissing."

Jamie laughed a little as she looked down at her girlfriend. "Boys," she mumbled. "He's at that age where girls are still gross, and affection isn't cool."

Sarah gave a nod. "Glad we only have girls," she whispered teasingly.

Jamie shrugged. Deciding to ask about children, she asked, "Have you ever thought about having another baby?"

"Sometimes I do, but I'm only twenty-five. What about you? Do you want another child?"

"I always thought it would be nice, but I'm not sure how it would work. I mean Katrina's seven, and I haven't exactly always been the best mother in the world. I love her with all that I am, but I'm not always there when she needs me."

"You're doing the best you can."

"Well, we should probably go back in and see what the plan is for the rest of the afternoon," she mentioned. Together they made their way back into the house. Not seeing any kids but Eve though, Jamie asked, "What's going on? Where are the rascals?"

"Well, we thought we'd take the kids down to the pool," Samantha said. "I thought you two might want some time alone together to catch up. We can even take Eve."

Sarah gave a pleasant smile at the redhead. She liked Samantha already with her generous nature. "That's very kind of you, but I don't have a swimsuit for her. She's probably getting sleepy anyway. She usually goes down for a nap about this time. We'll just keep her here with us. It'll be fine. Thank you anyway."

"Suit yourselves. If you two want to join us, you can. I just thought it might be more fun to stay here, especially since you can't swim anyway, Jamie," the redhead said with a little wink before leaving them alone together with Eve.

Sarah blushed lightly at the obvious inference. "I like her."

"She's cool. Samantha's a caring woman. She's kind of taken care of me ever since Stephanie passed away. They are a lot alike actually."

"Then I'm sure I would've liked Stephanie too."

"I know you would have," Jamie answered as Eve came to her to be picked up. The child curled up into her arms and put a sleepy head on the tall woman's shoulder. "Looks like you were right about our angel here. She'll be gone in a few."

Hearing the brunette refer to Eve as theirs made Sarah's heart flutter. She wanted the older woman to be her daughter's other parent. However, she didn't say that. Instead, she just caressed her daughter's fair head gently. Ten minutes later they found themselves alone. "Well, it's just us now," Sarah mentioned coyly. "Is there someplace we can put Eve down for her nap?"

"Yeah. Sure. We can put her up in Katrina's room," the brunette answered, handing the toddler over to Sarah, knowing she couldn't carry her up the stairs with her crutches. Going up to the second floor, Jamie led the way to her daughter's room and opened the door.

Sarah walked in to it and tenderly placed Eve down on the bed before building a small wall of pillows around her, so she couldn't fall out of the twin. As she moved back to the doorway where Jamie was leaning against the frame, she smiled. "And where is your room, Jamie? You look like you could use a little nap as well."

"Do I?" questioned the tall woman as Sarah's hands ran lightly up the front of Jamie's shirt as she leaned up to kiss the brunette's neck. "Well, maybe a short one," she replied, sensing what the little woman had in mind. Moving to the room next door, Jamie opened the door for Sarah and waited for the blonde to go in first.

The younger woman stepped into her girlfriend's room and looked around. It was modestly decorated, but she liked the feel of it. Jamie made her way over to the bed and tentatively sat as the blonde inspected everything for a moment from looking out the open window to investigating the contents covering her dresser. Seeing a photograph on the dresser of a beautiful blonde and Jamie, Sarah delicately picked it up and studied it for several minutes.

She knew who it was without even asking. Stephanie was a stunning woman with flowing blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She had a bright smile, and the gaze she was giving Jamie in the picture spoke of pure adoration. Likewise the brunette's look back at the beauty contained total devotion. Reverently putting it back in its place, she turned to look at the woman on the bed. She knew Jamie still had some unresolved issues regarding her late wife even though they never spoke of it. As much as she wanted to forge ahead with her plan of seducing the brunette, she knew doing so might be moving too quickly, even as much as they both wanted the physical contact. Coming to sit on the bed next to Jamie, she looked over on the nightstand to another photograph. That one was of Jamie, Katrina, and Stephanie, but the blonde looked so frail.

Seeing Sarah stare at the picture for a long time, the older actress softly explained, "That was the last picture ever taken of the three of us. She died about three months after that."

"She looks so...," the blonde whispered at a loss for words. She could clearly see the pain in Jamie's eyes in the photo mixed with an endless love for the woman in her arms. "It's such a moving picture. The way you two look at each other. You can feel the love there."

"I loved her with everything that I was, Sarah," Jamie admitted. "I still love her but not in the same way. I can't be in love with a spirit. She wouldn't want me to live the rest of my life without happiness. We even talked about it before she died. She wanted me to find someone else with which to raise Katrina. At the time I never thought I could ever feel that way for another woman, but I do, Sarah." she whispered, touching the blonde on the arm. "She's my past, and I've come to realize she has to start staying there."

"Can you really do that? Can you leave her there?"

"I have to. She wants me to. The question is can you leave her there?"

Sarah shrugged. "When I think about meeting the expectations set by her, I'm not sure. You speak of her as a saint. How can I stand up to that?"

"She had her moments too, Sarah. Everyone has not so good qualities. Stephanie had plenty just like you and me, but there's no need to remember those. There's no point in recalling all the fights and harsh words we exchanged in moments of anger. That's not how I want to remember her. I want to remember her as the perfect woman she was. Sarah, you don't have to feel like you are living up to something. I love you as you are, quirks and all."

"I love you too, Jamie," she whispered, looking up into brown eyes. Jamie reached for her cheek and stroked it gently before leaning down to claim her mouth. As soon as their lips met, the conversation no longer seemed to matter. Their bodies spoke for them as their arms found their way around each other. When the first kiss came to its mutual conclusion, blue eyes met brown. "Jamie," she uttered.

"Yes?"

"Love me," Sarah requested.

"With pleasure," the tall woman mumbled against her girlfriend's lips.

Leisurely their hands began to take in the landscape of the other, but Jamie was the first to escalate the contact as she slowly began to unbutton Sarah's light blue cotton blouse. As she released each white button from its hole with her left hand, she let her right trail over the newly exposed skin. "You're beautiful, Sarah Talbot," she complimented as she pulled the thin shirt from the blonde's shoulders.

Sarah took a shaky breath as Jamie reached around to unhook her white lace bra with a flick of her fingers, leaving her completely exposed from the waist up. She saw dark eyes staring at her with hunger and veneration. Her breath began to quicken when she saw the taller woman's trembling right hand reach for her left breast. She felt a strange comfort in Jamie's obvious nervousness. Taking her own initiative, she reached out for Jamie's knit polo shirt, taking a hold of the hem and gently pulling it up over her torso over her shoulders and head before dropping it onto the floor. The brunette's bra was next. Having never done this with a woman before, she was hesitant, but soon a larger hand joined hers. Their fingers intertwined as the older woman pressed Sarah's hand into her chest. Inquisitively the blonde maneuvered the malleable flesh under her hand, surprised and pleased when Jamie's breath caught in her throat a little. "I've never...," the small woman whispered.

"I know, but now you can. You can touch me, Sarah. I want you to."

Hearing the sentiment from her soon-to-be lover, the young actress felt confidence and arousal surge through her. She had the notorious Jamie Dean quivering at her inexperienced touch. Leaning in with her mouth, Sarah let it close over the taller woman's neck. The groan that issued from Jamie at the move encouraged her further. Soon forgetting any insecurity she had about touching Jamie, Sarah worked open the front clasp of the brunette's bra and pulled it off. Jamie just let Sarah do what made her most comfortable. She was surprised though that the younger woman was beginning to take control of the situation between them. She thought for sure she would have to lead. Sarah began to get lost in the emotions she felt coursing through her body as her hands found Jamie's tight abs and then snaked around her back. The tall woman no longer had bandages covering her back, but she could feel the stitches holding the deep wounds closed. Sarah's heart pounded harder as her fingers caressed each cut, because it was Jamie's selfless actions that had saved her daughter's life, and it served to heighten her feelings of overpowering desire for the tall woman.

As much as the older woman was enjoying the sensations Sarah was creating, her need to caress the woman she held was getting overwhelming. The blonde's hands continued to run along her strong back, but Jamie made her own advance, moving her hands down to the little woman's clasp and zipper on her khaki capri pants. Gently she undid them. Feeling herself being liberated from her clothing, Sarah responded in kind. She worked open Jamie's belt before moving onto her khaki shorts.

Moaning as they kissed again, Jamie softly requested, "Let me see you, Sarah. Please. Let me see how stunning you are."

The petite woman slowly rose from the bed at the solicitation, standing in front of Jamie. Their eyes were locked on each other a long time as the blonde's hands perched themselves on hard shoulders while the brunette's hands reverently slid the rest of Sarah's clothes to the floor, leaving her totally unveiled. Jamie just gazed over the goddess standing in front of her for a moment. She took in the wild, long, fair locks being ruffled slightly by the breeze coming in from the window and the blue eyes burning with a rising passion. Her eyes trailed over delicate facial features down her shoulders to Sarah's breasts. They were full and round, tips erect, waiting to be adored by her caress. Moving lower her gaze took in the flare of Sarah's hips and the downy mass of blonde curls nestled between her thighs that shimmered in the afternoon light. Jamie took a deep breath as she viewed all the beauty before her. She could feel a lump forming in her throat at the idea of such a woman loving her. Looking back to Sarah's face, she let her eyes show their approval. "You are an angel," she acclaimed.

The younger woman blushed modestly at the words. Jamie had a way of making her feel like a striking beauty. Looking down at the woman still sitting on the bed, she wondered what the rest of her girlfriend looked like under her clothes. "I want to see you, Jamie," she stated. Nodding her consent, the tall woman began to try to stand, but it was difficult without her crutches. Seeing her struggle, Sarah placed a hand against her chest to stop her. "No. Let me do it," she requested, kneeling in front of the brunette. Jamie acquiesced by merely remaining sitting. Sarah took hold of her lover's shorts and boxers and slowly pulled them off of her. She eased them over Jamie's bulky cast before dropping them on the floor, leaving them both completely naked.

Noting that the blonde had paused in her momentum, the brunette felt it was time to take over for them. Scooting back further onto the bed, she lay down on her side and patted a place next to her. "Lay with me, Sarah," she suggested seductively.

The blonde felt the proposition settle between her thighs as she looked at the dark-haired vision before her. With the exception of the cast, Jamie was flawless. Moving to the bed, Sarah stretched out next to the taller woman. She let Jamie touch her on the side lightly. Her body was shivering slightly at all the feelings rushing through her. This is what she always thought love would be like. Not able to form complete sentences with what she was feeling, she only said one word. "Jamie."

The brunette smiled at her. "I won't do anything you don't like, Sarah. You just have to tell me. I just want to pleasure you," she murmured, leaning into the blonde's lips again.

No one had ever said that to her before, but Sarah knew Jamie only spoke the truth. This wasn't about getting her own enjoyment. It was about giving to each other, something that made the younger woman smolder in ardor. As Jamie rolled Sarah over onto her back and began to shift onto her body, the little actress fully accepted the muscled frame as it wedged its way between her thighs.

They took their time, each of them leisurely exploring all there was to their lover. However, when Jamie couldn't stand the idle caresses any more, she made a move to complete their connection. Moving her hand to where Sarah wanted it the most, the tall woman poised for the perfect moment to take the final step. However, just as she was about to do so, the blonde whispered, "Wait."

"What is it?" the older woman asked with much more patience than she really felt. She wanted desperately to sink into the depths of the woman who held her heart.

"I want to do this... I want to do this together," she managed to state.

Jamie didn't answer the request. Instead, she took the blonde's refined, manicured hand and placed it between her thighs. "Touch me, Sarah. Feel what you do to me."

The blonde brought her hand up to the tall woman's passion. Jamie was hot and wet, and before she could really even think about her own actions, Sarah found herself inside of the brunette. Jamie shuddered as Sarah entered her. She hadn't been expecting it, but the pleasure quickly outweighed her surprise as her body began to respond to the inquisitive probing. Not forgetting the little woman's needs, Jamie slipped into her.

Sarah cried out lightly as her body arched into the one above her. Together they moved in methodic unison, their hands and mouths relishing the other's closeness. It wasn't their ambition to reach the summit quickly. Rather they both wanted to take the long road, so they could maximize the feelings they were sharing.

Jamie gently but solidly pumped in time with Sarah's hips with her whole body, diving deeper with each thrust into the exquisite treasure she had longed to touch. The blonde's frame flamed out of control as expert hands and mouth teased and caressed every inch of her body and soul. The tall woman could feel the younger one's thighs straining against her own each time their hips met, signaling a forthcoming peak which further fueled her own. "Sarah," she groaned, feeling the blonde keep pace with her rocking body. "God, I'm so close," she heaved.

"Me too," the little woman replied, clutching tighter to the woman she loved. "Please, Jamie."

Hearing the plea, the tall woman worked harder to bring Sarah to the pinnacle. When she felt the petite woman's legs go rigid and a strangled cry escape, she knew she was there. Sarah let her climax wash over her like a baptism. She had shed her old life to be born again as the woman she always had wanted to be. The feeling of the blonde contracting around her sent Jamie into oblivion as well, and she collapsed against Sarah. Each woman clung to the other as they simply rested inside of their lover. Long moments passed where only panting could be heard.

Finally, the tall woman was composed enough to pull back a little and look down into her lover's eyes. She smiled tenderly as she smoothed some of Sarah's hair back away from her face. "You look more beautiful than I have ever seen you, Sarah," she confessed. The little woman blushed, letting the words reach her heart. "I love you."

"I love you too, Jamie, so much," she answered, tucking dark hair behind her lover's ears before running one hand over her back. After a moment she inquired, "How's your back?"

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt."

"Are you sure? It feels like it might be bleeding. Turn over and let me look at it," she suggested.

Jamie did as she was told, sliding off of Sarah and turning over onto her stomach. The little woman looked at her back. A small portion of a cut near her right shoulder blade was bleeding. "You need a bandage on that. I wouldn't want to ruin these sheets," Sarah mentioned.

"There are some in my bathroom."

"All right. Be right back."

Jamie watched as Sarah slipped out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. The tall woman sighed in contentment. She hadn't been this happy in years. As she waited on the blonde's return, she pondered their possible future. Moments later Sarah emerged wearing a smile and nothing more. Coming to the bed again, she sat and tenderly began to tend to the wound for Jamie. When she was finished, she patted the shoulder affectionately.

"Thank you, Sarah. I guess I shouldn't be so strenuous yet," she joked lightly.

"Guess not. The rest of your back seems to be healing rather well though."

"Yeah. Samantha's been taking good care of me."

"I'm glad," Sarah replied softly. There was a momentary lull in conversation as she idly traced over the contours of brunette's back. Her eyes were drawn to the tattoo and after a moment so was her hand.

Feeling the younger woman fingering the initials engraved into her shoulder, Jamie quietly inquired, "What are you thinking about?"

"There's something I wanted to say to you about your tattoo, but I wasn't sure how. I don't want you to get upset or anything," tentatively she stated.

Unsure of what Sarah was about to say, the brunette rolled over to her side and looked at blue eyes. "What's that?" she asked, hoping they weren't going to have some sort of argument about it.

"My favorite animal is the tiger, too. It has been since I was a little girl," she hesitantly admitted.

"Really?" Jamie asked in interest.

The blonde nodded. "I love this tattoo. It suits you. You really are a tiger in all senses. I can see that about you. Stephanie was right." At the mention of her late wife, the tall woman just nodded. She felt a little awkward discussing her after they had just made love for the first time. "What was Stephanie's middle name?"

"It was Michelle," responded Jamie.

Sarah nodded for a moment. "Jamie, do you believe in fate?" she asked.

The tall actress shrugged. "I don't know. Why do you ask? Do you?"

"I think so. Jamie, the very first time I saw this tattoo I first thing I realized was those were Stephanie's initials, but the second thing was that they were mine as well."

"What? You're kidding. Your middle name starts with M? What is it?" the older woman inquired in interest.

"It's Michelle too," she softly confessed.

Seeing the look on Sarah's face, she knew the little woman wasn't lying. "You're perfectly serious," she stated.

"Sarah Michelle Talbot," the blonde whispered.

"Oh my God. Wow. I guess if I didn't believe in fate, now I should," Jamie said. "That's incredible," she mentioned in awe, sliding onto her back. She stacked her hands behind her head and just smiled at the blonde in silent contentment.

Sarah let her eyes roam over Jamie's body uninhibited. Even though they had just made love, she still felt modest in front of the woman who was so flawless. "You really are perfect," she said plainly.

The brunette laughed a little. "Yeah. I would hope so with how much I paid for this body," she joked lightly.

"What do you mean?" curiously the blonde asked.

"Not a lot of people can look like this without a little help, Sarah."

"Well, what have you had done?"

"A little of everything, starting with these," she admitted, pointing to her breasts.

"Breast implants? No way!" Sarah declared, looking at her girlfriend's chest. Curiously she reached for them and then experimentally touched her own, feeling for differences. "Why did you do it? That's such a girly thing to do. It blows me away. It seems so unlike you," she said in fascination.

"Totally a career decision. Stephanie used to like them too, which had its advantages. Most women who look like me couldn't humanly have breasts that look like this. It's just not possible to have both perfectly toned muscle and a larger than average size chest unless it's enhanced. You know, even though I'm only capable of loving women, I know men are half of the world's population, and I like to cater to both. These are how I grab men's attention on the screen."

Sarah laughed. "Yeah, that and not bothering to wear clothes a whole lot. Anything other work you've had done?"

"Lots. This isn't my natural nose, and this isn't my chin either."

"Really?"

"Nope. I've also had liposuction on just about every part of my body. Come on. Real women don't look like this unless they are body builders or something. Granted, I work hard to maintain it now that I have it, but I cheated to get here. Being this sexy takes pain," she joked with a cocky smile.

The younger woman laughed as she slapped her lover on the stomach. "But you wear it so well. You've certainly accomplished your goal. You are sexy," she confessed.

"I'm glad you think so. What about you? Every actress I know has had something done to enhance her beauty. What's your dirty little secret?"

Sarah shrugged reluctantly. "Well, I had a little lipo and a tummy tuck after Eve was born," she acknowledged.

"Well, that's nothing. You had a baby. Any celebrity woman in your position would have done the same. That hardly counts. Is that it?"

"I get coelogyne injected into my lips," she said.

Jamie faked affront. "You mean that luscious lower lip isn't really yours?" she questioned, running her thumb across the topic of her comment.

"Afraid not," the shorter woman answered before closing her mouth over Jamie's thumb. Her tongue tickled the tip enticingly. Sarah saw the affect she had on the tall woman as her dark eyes flashed fervently.

Jamie sighed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess if you can put up with my fake tits, I can move beyond your fake lips," she teased. "Anything else I should know about? Please tell me these are real," she said as her right hand moved to the blonde's breasts.

Sarah panted lightly, releasing the older woman's thumb from her mouth. "They're very real," she whispered as the brunette teased the crest of her left one.

Seeing that Sarah was beginning to get amorous again, she decided to stoke her fire a bit more. Pulling the smaller body over on top of her own, she let her hands slip around the blonde's back to her bare backside. "This real?" she asked, squeezing it firmly as she leaned up to Sarah's neck.

"Real," the young actress replied, lowering her body down against Jamie's. Her wetness quickly coated the dark-haired woman's abdomen. Their mouths met hungrily after a moment. Sarah moaned deeply as Jamie plunged passed her lips, and they exchanged heated kisses. The older woman's tongue ring scraped against her own tongue sensuously.

Moving her right hand down between her own body and her lover's legs, Jamie rubbed the little woman's heat slowly. "What about this? Is this real?"

"Yes, Jamie. God, yes," she heaved as she felt the brunette enter her.

The older woman thrust gently for a few moments before whispering, "I want to show you something. Lie down for me," she requested, rolling Sarah onto her back. Their eyes met for a moment as the dark-haired woman smiled. "Just relax. I'm going to take you to heaven," she whispered before slowly descending down Sarah's fair body.

The blonde breathed erratically as her lover kissed lower and lower until her mouth finally reached its destination between the blonde's thighs. As soon as Sarah felt the ball on the end of Jamie's tongue ring teasing her, she groaned loudly as her eyes rolled closed. Never in her life had she had such a sensation run through her body as she did having the brunette's mouth pleasuring her intimately. Her hands laced through short brown hair, pulling her closer in time with her rocking hips, but Jamie's pace wouldn't be altered. She moved slowly and deliberately, stroking her girlfriend's fire with her tongue, tracing her curves, plunging in and then withdrawing, and literally feasting upon the younger woman's treasure in an intentional fashion as if she was eating an elaborate meal. Sarah could feel every touch from the imaginarily light to the intensely acute, all of which send her hurtling toward the edge of oblivion. Her whole body began to quiver as she held firmly to her lover. The feelings and emotions came in a swell, crashing upon her in one swoop as she cried out with a strangled gasp, but Jamie's touch didn't cease. Instead, the tall woman continued on course, knowing it would only be moments before Sarah had to give herself completely over to the pleasure that lay just on the other side of her climax. Loudly Sarah called out Jamie's name as she barreled through one peak and into another, clinging fiercely to the brunette's head and shoulder. The older woman felt the small woman's nails dig into her, but it didn't faze her. Instead she carried on, knowing there was more to give, and more than happy to stay in that sacred place as long as Sarah allowed it.

Finally, when it seemed the young woman couldn't take it any more, Jamie stilled her movements but remained where she was. She watched in fascination as her lover's womanhood trembled and quaked in aftermath. Sparing a look up into the face she loved, Jamie whispered reverently, "You are so beautiful, Sarah. I love you so much. Thank you for letting me love you."

Blue eyes opened and looked down at the brown ones situated between her legs. She could see clearly in Jamie's eyes the sincerity of her words, and it brought tears to her own. With a raspy voice, she answered, "Thank you for loving me." Slowly the brunette made her way up Sarah's body to hold her once again. Long silent minutes passed until the blonde had recovered. When she did she turned to Jamie and gave a mischievous grin. "Promise me something, Jamie."

"Anything," the tall woman replied.

"Promise to never ever take out that tongue ring," she demanded playfully.

Jamie laughed lightly. "So you liked it then?" she questioned needlessly.

"You were amazing," the blonde growled, sexily nipping at the tall woman's collarbone. Taking in the landscape for a moment, she then quietly requested, "Teach me how to please you just as well."

Jamie's heart skipped a moment as she looked down into eager blue eyes. "I'm pleased already. There's nothing else you have to do unless you want to."

"I want to. I want to learn what makes the big, powerful Jamie Dean tremble. What can I do? Tell me what pleases you," she persisted with an authoritative edge to her voice.

Seeing that Sarah truly was an ardent pupil, the older woman gave a sexy grin. "Touch me again."

"Where?" Sarah asked, running her hands over her lover's body lightly.

"Everywhere," the brunette replied softly as her body responded to the tender caressing.

Pushing Jamie down onto her back, Sarah propped up onto her arm and proceeded to watch the passion unfold in the hard body next to her as she teasingly touched it. For Jamie's part, she was patient, allowing the blonde to leisurely explore, but the closer Sarah's hand dropped toward the final goal, her breathing began to change in anticipation. However, she said nothing as she merely watched the younger woman. Sarah noticed the change in her girlfriend's body almost immediately. The muscles became wrought with tension as she moved over them, and heat suffused Jamie's skin. The blonde looked down at the taller woman's chest and then up into dark eyes. She gave a small smile before lowering her head. Bringing her hand up to cup the brunette's right breast, Sarah took it into her mouth for the first time. Jamie emitted a loud groan as the little woman's tongue circled the tip. Sarah was fascinated by the feeling of it in her mouth and the response she had gotten from her lover. Gaining confidence and momentum, the blonde actress began to avidly consume the tall woman's breast, lost in the emotions of pleasing her bedmate.

Long minutes passed as Jamie enjoyed the ecstasy of Sarah's adoration. However, as it became apparent the blonde had lost her focus, she redirected her efforts, saying, "I do have another one of those."

"How could I forget?" Sarah answered, releasing the breast with a little popping sound before moving on to the other. The same treatment ensued for the left one.

Jamie was slowly being driven mad by the fact her girlfriend's hands seemed to be everywhere except where she wanted them most, but she had been determined not to inhibit the blonde's investigation. However, when she couldn't take it any longer, she took hold of the small woman's left hand, placing it between her thighs and begging, "Sarah, please. Touch me here."

Sarah moaned as she felt the overflowing wetness awaiting her arrival. It shocked and amazed her that even a woman like Jamie could be so vulnerable at such a moment when she felt safe. It struck her with force that she was actually directing the woman's fervency. The young woman looked down at the brunette as she entered her lover. Jamie's eyes were tightly shut and her lips parted as she panted raggedly. It astounded her that she was loving a woman, this woman she had dreamed about almost since the moment they met. It was like no other experience she had ever had, but she adored everything about it. The looks, the sounds, the smells of the two of them merging together to alleviate their greatest desires was intoxicating. Unable to resist the mouth that was spewing indiscernible mumblings as Jamie neared the precipice, Sarah swooped down to claim her lips roughly.

Jamie moaned as she reacted in kind, cohering to the blonde's torrid open mouth. Immediately her arms came around the blonde's body, and she clung to Sarah as if her life depended on it. Moments later the brunette peaked, letting out a loud yell of her lover's name as spasms ricocheted through her. Sarah held her securely for the whole ride until they lay motionless once again. It took the tall actress a moment to recover. When she had she mumbled, "Oh my God. Where did you learn to do that?"

"From the best of course," the blonde replied lightly in compliment as she withdrew her hand. It was drenched with Jamie's essence. Curiously she brought it to her lips, wondering what the tall woman tasted like. She figured it couldn't have been bad with the way Jamie had loitered around in hers. Dark and blue eyes stayed fixed on each other as the little woman slid the three fingers she had used into her mouth at once. Her tongue cleaned each one before removing them. Smiling at her lover, she stated, "You taste like powdered doughnuts."

The older woman chuckled loudly. "I do believe you're stretching the truth on that one.

That's just wishful thinking on your part."

Sarah shrugged. "Well, whatever it is, I like it."

"Well, I'm glad," Jamie replied, pulling the small woman tighter into her arms. Quietness followed, and soon they both had drifted to sleep as the summer sun warmed their naked bodies.

Sometime later the brunette awoke to the sounds of a muffled cry coming from next door. The blonde didn't seem to notice at first, so Jamie quietly tried to remove herself from Sarah's clutches to check on Eve, but as soon as her feet hit the floor, the younger woman whispered, "Where are you going?"

"Eve's awake." Instantly Sarah began to move, but Jamie stopped her. "I'll get her. You just relax."

"You can't in your state. I'll go get her. You stay here. I'll be right back," she insisted, slipping from bed. She went into the bathroom and retrieved the robe she had seen earlier to put on before heading to the room next door.

While Sarah was gone, Jamie regretfully began to redress herself. It had felt so good to finally be with the little woman the way she wanted, and she wanted the moment to linger a bit longer. However, she knew Eve had to come first for the time being. The brunette was just finishing with her shirt when the blonde returned, carrying a still sleepy toddler.

Jamie smiled brightly at Eve. "Hey. How's my girl?" she asked the two-year-old gently as Sarah placed her down on the bed, and Eve moved into Jamie's arms.

Hearing the older woman refer to Eve as her own made Sarah's heart flutter. "She's fine, a little disoriented I think, which upset her," she explained. She picked up her clothes from the floor and gestured toward the bathroom. "I'm just going to get dressed."

Jamie gave a nod. "All right. We'll still be here. Take your time."

The following few hours passed in comfortable quietness as both women played with Eve. However, once the rest of the group returned from the pool, they had a leisurely meal out in the backyard. As day turned to evening, Sarah prepared to head home.

She had loved every moment of her stay, but she knew she had to go back to her New York condo for the night even as much as she wanted to return to her lover's bed. When it was time to leave, Doug and Jamie drove Sarah and Eve down to the pier to wait on the ferry. Doug stayed in the car, however, as the brunette spent a little private time with the two blondes.

"I wish you wouldn't go," she whispered, sliding her arms around the small woman's waist.

"I know. I don't really want to either, but I can't stay here tonight. We both know that." Jamie gave a nod of understanding. "I wish you would come back to my place with me."

"Me, too, but I don't want to push too much on Katrina too fast. I think she would have a hard time understanding."

Sarah nodded at the statement. "True. I hate this though. After this afternoon, the last thing I want to do is leave you here."

"I know, but I'll be back on the set soon to finish the movie."

"How much longer do you think you'll be away?"

"Two or three more weeks."

"That's so long," the blonde whined. "Come back with me."

"But Katrina…"

"Bring her with you. Please, Jamie. I can't stand the thought of spending the next three weeks without you. These past ones were horrific."

"I know," she conceded. "I'll ask her if she wants to take a trip down there with me. School will be starting back soon, and then I won't get to see her so much, so I want to spend time with her."

"I know you do, as you should. I don't want to get in the way of that, but the four of us could have a lot of fun in D.C. There are fun places to go."

"We'll see. I'll talk to her. When are you heading back?"

"In the morning."

"All right. You know how to get a hold of me?"

Sarah nodded. "I have the number. Would it be okay if I called you later after Eve goes to bed?" hesitantly she inquired.

"Sure. I'd like that." Seeing the ferry was loading its final passengers, Jamie looked down into the blue eyes she adored. "I'll see you soon, Sarah. I promise."

"Okay. I love you, Jamie."

"I love you, too. Call me tonight," she said before leaning down to give the small woman a gentle kiss on the lips. When it broke she bent over and kissed Eve on top of her blonde head. The child reached to hug her in return. Looking back at Sarah she said, "You better go now. I'll talk to you tonight."

Jamie stayed up with Samantha and Doug, watching a movie after the kids had gone to bed that night. Neither of them had asked the tall woman what had happened between Sarah and her, but Jamie knew that both of them were too perceptive not to know what had taken place while they had been away with the children. Just as the brunette was beginning to wonder when her girlfriend was going to call, her cell phone rang. All three adults looked at it a moment sitting there on the coffee table before Doug picked it up and tossed it at her. Catching it in her right hand, the actress answered it casually, even though she recognized the number that came up on the caller ID as Sarah's.

"Jamie?" a female voice asked. It wasn't Sarah's but Tabitha Reid's.

"Tabitha? Hey. What's up? Are you at Sarah's place?"

"Yeah. She asked me to come over a little bit ago," she answered hesitantly.

"Is everything all right?"

"No, actually. Sarah's sick. She asked me to call you and see if you could come over."

"What's wrong with her?"

"She asked me not to tell you that. She said she wanted to do it herself."

"Why? What's going on, Tabitha? You're starting to concern me," the older woman said.

"I'm sorry. It's just that it's not my place to say. This is between you, Robert, and her. Robert's out of the country, and even if he wanted to come back, he couldn't. Sarah needs you, Jamie. I think she needs to go to the hospital."

"Then take her. It's going to take me at least an hour to get over there. If she's that bad, take her to the ER, and I'll meet you there."

"She won't go without you. Jamie, please come as fast as you can."

"All right. Tell her that I'm on my way."

Hanging up the phone, she looked at her brother-in-law. "Doug, I need a ride down to the pier.

"Is everything okay?" Samantha asked.

"I don't know. That was my friend, Tabitha. Sarah's sick and needs me to come over. Tabitha thinks she should go to the hospital, but she won't without me. I have to go."

"Well, come on then. You'll just be able to make the ferry if we go now," Doug stated, standing to get his keys.

An hour and a half later Jamie arrived at her lover's condo. She knocked and impatiently awaited an answer. When the door opened, Tabitha looked relieved. "Thank God you're here."

"Where is she?" Jamie questioned, dispensing with a greeting.

"She upstairs in her bathroom."

"Where's Eve?"

"Asleep. Please go up there and talk sense into her. She didn't want to go to the hospital, but I think she should."

Giving a nod, Jamie took the elevator up to the second floor instead of the stairs given her own limitations. Guessing as to which room was the master, she went into it. The door on the far side of the room was closed, but she saw the light coming from under it, making her figure that was the bathroom. Going over to it, she gave a gentle knock. "Sarah, sweetheart, it's me," she announced.

"Jamie," came the agonizing reply.

"May I come in?"

"No. I don't want you to see me like this," the blonde mumbled in obvious pain.

"Come on, Sarah. Nothing can change the way I feel about you. I don't care what you look like. Let me come in, baby."

When there wasn't another objection, Jamie slowly opened the door, not knowing what to expect on the other side. Peeking her head around the door first, she saw the blonde dressed in a long t-shirt sitting on the commode, her elbows propped up on her knees and her hands covering her face. The little woman was whimpering pitifully. Coming in and shutting the door behind her, the tall woman inched her way closer until she reached her. Sarah didn't move at all, merely stayed curled in the fetal position. Putting her crutches aside against the wall, the tall woman knelt down in front of the blonde.

"Sarah, what is it? What's wrong?"

The small woman looked up at her long enough to pull her closer and bury her head into Jamie's neck as she gripped tightly to her shirt collar. "It's hurts so badly."

"What hurts, baby?"

The younger woman moaned as pain racked her body again. "I lost my baby, Jamie," she softly confessed.

"Eve? What happened to Eve?" the brunette asked in absolute panic.

"Not Eve," she corrected.

Jamie let out an immediate sigh of relief. "Then what baby are you-oh God," she mumbled, coming to a realization of what Sarah was actually saying. "You're pregnant?"

"Was," she cried. "I just miscarried," she said as tears streamed over her face.

Emotions whirled through Jamie as she looked at the woman she loved. Instantly her heart broke at the thought of the blonde losing something so precious. Panic soon followed at the idea of her possibly being the cause of the situation at hand from their strenuous activities earlier in the day. Sadness ensued at the thought of Robert still owning a part of the woman she loved, followed by anger of not being told the truth. It took her a moment to choose which emotion would lead her next words. "Did I do this? Was I too rough with you today? God, Sarah, why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have been so..."

The petite woman quickly cut her off. "This isn't your fault, Jamie. Don't think for a moment it was. I've been in pain since I work up this morning. I guess I should've paid attention, but I wanted to see you more," she confessed.

"Does Robert know?" the tall woman asked tentatively.

Sarah shook her head. "No. I only found out two weeks ago."

"How? When did this happen?"

Sarah shrugged. "It had to be right before he left for his shoot, that first night he was with me on the set. That was the last time we were together," she said. "I swear," she added, seeing doubt in her girlfriend's eyes.

"I believe you," Jamie assured her. "I just wish you had told me today. You had an opportunity. Why didn't you say anything then?"

The young woman shook her head as she put her head back in her hands. "I know I should've. I was just scared," she acknowledged.

"Scared?" the older actress asked. Cupping fair wet cheeks, she tilted Sarah's head up, so she could see her eyes. "Baby, after all you know about me, why were you scared?"

"I didn't want it to come between us. I wanted to be with you so badly, and I thought you might not feel the same if you knew. I thought you might turn away from me, and I couldn't bear the thought of that," she admitted. "I need you, Jamie. I couldn't stand it if you left."

Jamie nodded gently. "Sarah, I love you. There's no way I could've gone on without you whether Robert was in the picture or not. You're everything I want, Sarah Talbot. I'm here to stay as long as you want me."

Gratefully hugging her lover, the blonde whispered, "Thank you."

"Come on now. Let's see if we can get you settled in bed. You'll feel better there. Do you think a heating pad would help? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

She shook her head. "I just want to get in bed and lie with you. There's a heating pad in the hall closet."

"All right. I'm going to go get that. Do you have any pain killers or anything?"

"In the medicine cabinet."

"Okay. I'm going to go get Tabitha to help me here. We're going to go get your room set up here. I'll be right back. All right?"

Sarah nodded. "Thank you, Jamie. I love you."

"I love you too, Sarah," she replied, making her way out of the bathroom.

Going downstairs she found Tabitha sitting in the living room in quiet anxiousness. "How is she?"

"In pain. She miscarried."

"I know. Did you even know she was pregnant?" the honeyed blonde inquired, coming to her.

Jamie shook her head stoically, trying not to let her emotions slip. However, she couldn't hold on to them. "I can't believe she didn't tell me," she whispered. "My first wife was pregnant when we started dating, and Sarah knew that, so why was she so scared of telling me? Why did she think it would change the way I feel?" she inquired rhetorically.

"Was your first wife married when you started seeing each other?" Tabitha asked. Jamie just looked at her. "Sarah told me about the two of you, Jamie. I've known Sarah since before Eve was born, and I can honestly say I've never seen her like this. The way she looks when she talks about you is like nothing I've ever seen from her. She never felt for Robert what she feels for you. I know you're hurt she didn't tell you right away, but you have to try to understand her position."

"Her position as a married woman? Damn. How did I get involved in this? I fought so hard not to do this," she stated. "I didn't want to be in this position."

"You can't give up now, Jamie. You're so close now that she and Robert have split up. You can't even think about walking away."

"I'm not going to walk away. I'm just frustrated that this happened. Sarah's hurting so much in so many ways, and I'm not sure I'm really equipped to deal with it all. That's what concerns me most, Tabitha," she stated. Giving a sigh, she continued, "I don't have time to dwell on this. I need your help getting Sarah's bed ready."

"You mean she's not going to go to the hospital?"

"No. She doesn't want to. I'm going to stay with her tonight, so if she gets worse, I can take her."

"Well, why don't I stay too? That way if you do need to go, I can watch Eve."

Jamie nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Tabitha. Now there are a few things we need," she began before rattling off a list for her friend to gather.

A few minutes later both women were up in the master bedroom putting it together for Sarah. Once that was complete, they went to retrieve the little blonde. Between the two of them they gingerly assisted Sarah to the bed and tucked her in. She looked up at them both with appreciative eyes. "Thank you both for being here," she whispered.

Tabitha smiled. "We both love you, Sarah. Just rest now. Jamie and I are both going to stay the night just in case you and Eve need anything. I'm going to sleep next door."

Sarah nodded. "Thanks, Tabby."

Tabby smiled at them both before saying, "I'm just going to check on Eve before settling down. Good night, you two."

When Jamie and Sarah were alone, Sarah softly requested, "Come to bed."

Giving a nod, the brunette moved to the empty side of the bed. She held Sarah's gaze as she began to undress. She saw ardor in those blue eyes even in the little woman's state. Once she was naked, Jamie carefully eased into bed as to not jar the younger woman too much. Slipping arms around her, she kissed the top of the blonde head. "Try to rest now, Sarah. It'll help."

The following morning a knock on the door awoke both women. Slowly Tabitha walked in with a dressed Eve in her arms. "Morning. Sorry to bother you, but I have a photo shoot and interview I have to get to. It's for Vanity Fair with Georgia Erwin and Torrance Whitfield as the photographer, and you know those ladies don't like waiting," she said softly.

"Torrance certainly doesn't, but I've never known Georgia to be impatient," Jamie commented, starting to get out of bed. She casually dressed in yesterday's clothes and then reached for Eve, who came to her instantly. "I'll walk you out."

"No need. I have a key. I'll just lock the door behind me. I'll be back later to check on you, Sarah," she said with a sympathetic smile for her friend, who was still in bed, looking like she hadn't slept much during the night.

"Thanks, Tabby. I appreciate the help."

"You've done the same for me. It's the least I could do. I'll be back in the afternoon." Looking over at Jamie, she asked, "Can you take care of Eve that long?"

"Yeah. No problem. Tell Torrance and Georgia I said hi, will you?"

"Sure."

"Me too," Sarah quietly said.

"I'll do that. Torrance and that hunk of woman Georgia's married to would flip if they knew about the two of you," she laughed lightly.

"Well, don't tell them just yet. Robert and I haven't even announced our breakup," warned Sarah. "I don't want this getting out."

"You know I wouldn't."

The brunette smiled sexily as she commented, "So, you've got a crush on Blake Erwin, do you? I would've thought between her and Tor, you would've picked Tor."

Tabitha shook her head. "You know me, Jamie. I always gravitate toward the bad boys or girls as the case may be. Torrance has been so trained by that wife of hers that she's a damn puppy. Everybody knows who runs that relationship. Blake, on the other hand, is one fine forty year old."

Jamie laughed, and Sarah cracked a smile at their friend's antics. "You do remember that she is married? And to quite a firecracker, at least that's the way I hear it," the tall woman quipped about Georgia.

"Excuse me?" cautioned Sarah playfully. "Don't even think about it, Jamie."

"Never, babe. You're the only one," she answered quickly.

"All right. I really have to go. I'll be back this afternoon."

Once Jamie and Sarah were alone, the older woman looked down at the blonde. "How are you feeling?" she asked, putting Eve down on the floor. The little girl went to her mother's side of the bed.

"Mama," she said.

"Hey, angel. Mama doesn't feel well," she explained, tenderly reaching for her daughter's blonde head. She stroked the locks a moment before looking back at her girlfriend. "Jamie, thank you for coming over last night. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner about the baby."

The brunette shook her head. "I don't want to talk about that now. Let's just focus on getting you better. Are you still in pain?"

"Yeah."

"Would it help you if I made you something to eat?"

"I don't think I can keep anything down right now, but thank you anyway."

"Okay. Well, I need to call the house and check in on Katrina. I sort of left in the middle of the night, and I just need to see if she's all right. I think I should probably stay here for a couple of days while you recover. You're in no shape to go back to the set right now, so I'll call the director as well and let him know that you're ill. Then I should probably go get some clothes, but that requires a trip back out to the island."

Sarah nodded slowly in understanding. "Thank you, Jamie."

Over the next several days Jamie stayed with Sarah to help her and Eve. During that time they didn't talk about the loss of the baby at all. Instead, they simply savored the private time together, knowing there would be very little when they both returned to work. A week later though Sarah claimed to be well enough to go back to the set, so she went back to D.C. with Eve, leaving Jamie there to recover from her own injury.

Chapter Six

Three weeks later Jamie returned to the set as well. As soon as she arrived, she went to Sarah's place instead of her own to check on the two girls that meant so much to her. A beautiful smile from the woman she loved awaited her when she knocked on the door.

"I'm so glad you're back," Sarah stated, bringing the taller woman into a hug.

"I'm glad to be here," the twenty-seven year old answered, leaning to kiss the blonde with the passion that had been pent up from three weeks apart.

"Come in. I was just working on dinner for Eve and me. I hope you'll stay."

"Of course. You couldn't keep me away any longer. Just let me drop my bags off upstairs, and I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Don't be gone too long. After dinner I'd like to spend some time catching up with you," Sarah stated.

Seeing the suggestive blue eyes, Jamie smirked. "Sounds good to me. Maybe with any luck Eve will be tired tonight."

"The nanny wore her out pretty well today for us, because I knew you'd be coming back. Unless she gets a second wind, I think there is a good chance she'll go down early."

Nodding the brunette said, "All right. Be back in a minute for dinner with my girls."

"We'll be waiting."

Quickly Jamie made her way upstairs to her place. She took only a moment to look around and see that everything was as she left it before returning downstairs to her lover. By the time she returned, Sarah was just setting the food on the table for the three of them. The tall woman grabbed Eve and placed her in her booster seat at the table before taking her own chair across from the blonde actress. Sarah spared her a coy smile before turning to Eve, who had already grabbed her fork.

"Eve, what do we do first before we eat dinner?" she asked carefully.

The little girl put her utensil down again and folded her hands like her mother's. Jamie followed suit in amazement the two-year-old understood. The blonde said a quiet prayer for their food and Jamie's return before allowing them to begin their meal.

"This is good. Your cooking rivals Samantha's," the tall woman said with a smile.

"Glad you like it. I'll admit I pulled out all the stops, because I knew you were coming home tonight, and I wanted you to be impressed. Don't get used to it though. You're seeing just about the limits of my cooking skills," she replied with a grin of her own.

"So, tell me what's been going on at work? How far behind are we really?"

"Let's just say that we better enjoy tonight, because it's going to be sixteen hours days from now until it's finished. You've got your work cut out for you after dinner."

When the older woman felt her lover's foot running up the inside of her leg, she knew exactly what she was saying. Cracking her characteristic cocky smile, she stated, "Don't you worry your pretty head about that. Jamie Dean never leaves her ladies unfulfilled. However, I think there's a little one who might throw a wrench in those plans. Hopefully not."

Sarah shook her head. "Look at her. She'll be down for the night after this, a bath, and a book. She's sleeping in the guestroom tonight."

"Why? You expecting company?" Jamie teased.

"Oh, yeah. I'm expecting a strong, dark-haired, cast-free lover to come screw me all night."

"May I watch?" she joked.

"You can do more than that. Did you wear your tongue ring?"

"That's for me to know, and you to wonder about, at least until later." Redirecting her attentions to the little girl, she asked, "So, what did you do today, Eve?"

After dinner Jamie offered to do the dishes while Sarah took Eve to her bath. By the time she was finished, she heard the blonde settling Eve down for the evening, so she decided to wait in the living room as to not risk exciting the toddler by her presence. She idly began flipping through TV channels as she waited. Jamie heard Sarah reading and then lightly singing to the little girl. However, after about half an hour of waiting for the small woman, Jamie saw her closing the guest room door.

She smiled as Sarah came into the living room. The younger woman gave a sexy smile before slinking over to the sofa where Jamie was sitting. "Hi, stranger," she whispered, pushing the older woman down against the arm of the couch and covering her with her smaller body.

The brunette gave a grin of her own. "Hi, beautiful. You're a sight for sore eyes."

"You flatter me. You don't need to do that. I think you know you're going to get laid tonight," she mentioned, starting on the buttons of the brunette's shirt. "You've got one hot woman offering herself to you right now."

"You're offering, huh?"

"Yeah, I'm offering. I'm actually doing more than that," she explained, moving her hands to her own blouse. She opened those buttons as well. "I'm pleading for you to take me," she whispered, brushing her lace-covered breasts over Jamie's face lightly. The tall woman groaned but kept her hands to herself, wondering where things were going. Sarah's mouth neared her own. It hovered dangerously close for several moments before she uttered, "I'm begging you to fuck me."

Instantly, the older woman moaned at the sexy vulgarity. "Funny. You look like my girlfriend, but I never knew my precious talked like that," she provoked in hopes of getting more.

"You think you're the only one who can be a bad girl, Miss Dean?"

"I'm the queen of them, babe," she answered arrogantly, playing the role Sarah obviously wanted from her.

"Then prove it. Fuck me. Ravage me right here on this couch."

Even though Jamie wanted to do just that, she hesitated a moment, concerned for her lover's physical wellness after the miscarriage. Not wanting to hurt her, she quietly asked, "Are you sure you can take it? I wouldn't want to hurt you, baby."

"I can take anything you give. I've been waiting for this moment for far too long, Jamie Dean."

"Then tell me exactly how you want it, Sarah," she demanded commandingly. "You want it hard and fast? Or maybe hard and long? Tell me. Tell me how to fuck you, Sarah," she growled, groping the blonde's breasts roughly.

The blonde's head rolled back as her eyes closed. It was heaven to feel Jamie's touch. Seeing the dirty language was turning on the brunette, she decided to let herself go. She took Jamie by the back of the head and slammed her face into her large endowment insisting, "Suck my tits, Miss Dean." The older woman groaned loudly as she did just as she was instructed. She never imagined the petite woman would say something so provocative. However, before she could even respond, Sarah issued another directive. "And when you're finished with those, you can eat me."

Immediately Jamie pulled back as she heard those words. Giving a crooked grin, she whispered, "Who would have ever thought you were such a naughty little freak? I love it. I love it so much that I'm going to give you exactly what you want, little girl. I'm going to eat you like you've never had it before and make you come like there was no tomorrow. When I'm done with that, you're going to take all of me, and I'm going to fuck you so hard, you'll be walking funny for a month," she countered.

Sarah smiled. "Then come on, big girl. Give me your best shot. I bet I can last longer than you," she challenged, knowing full well it was a bet she would lose, but she hoped it would spur Jamie into action, and indeed it did. As soon as she had finished her words, the older woman rolled them both off the couch down to the floor gently, leaving the blonde on the rug on her back with Jamie on top of her.

The taller woman ripped the blonde's blouse off her shoulders and popped the clasp of her bra open before tearing that off as well. Roughly she latched on to Sarah's right breast as her hands went to work on the small woman's jeans. She unzipped them before yanking them down to her knees. Immediately the brunette moved down and buried herself inside of her lover.

Sarah cried out loudly, grasping at the back of Jamie's head to ground herself. Instinctively her legs strained to open further, but her jeans restrained her, making her seem more captive than she truly was, and in turn the feeling heightened her own arousal. She had fantasized about it being this way, of Jamie taking her with abandon as she lay helpless to the stronger woman's whims. The only thing missing was having the brunette pin her wrists down as she had that day on the set while she ravaged her. However, Sarah didn't have time to dwell on that fact as she felt her climax approaching quickly. It surprised her that the brunette had evoked it so rapidly, but she gave herself over to it, letting it cascade over her whole body. When the first one had passed, she was startled that the tall woman just stopped. Looking up at her, the young actress inquired in concern, "What's wrong, Jamie?"

"Nothing. I just thought of something. I have a present for you that I brought from home, and now that I know you're game, I want to give it to you," she growled seductively. "What do you say? You want it?"

"Sure," Sarah replied eagerly.

"All right. I'll go get it. You get ready for bed. I'll be back in a few minutes, and when I return I expect to find you naked," she commanded, grabbing her discarded shirt as she arose from the floor.

Hearing the tone of her lover's voice, Sarah's body trembled in rising fervor. She knew she was going to enjoy it when Jamie got this way, but she had no idea her body would yearn to be taken with such ferocity. As soon as the front door to her condo closed, she immediately rose and made her way back to the bedroom, determined to follow the older woman's instructions in hopes of more pleasure to come. Stripping off the rest of her clothes, she laid down on the bed and waited with anxious anticipation. As she did her hands began to wander over her own skin. She was on fire and more than ready for her lover's return, which occurred a few minutes later as promised.

When Jamie entered the bedroom and saw Sarah stretched out over the comforter touching herself, she felt her knees weaken for a second. Their eyes locked as the blonde stopped her movements, but the tall woman protested. "Don't stop unless I tell you to. Let me watch you," she stated as she moved toward the foot of the bed. She observed as Sarah took the direction, continuing her pace. Her own passion started to rise again at the sight of the little blonde pleasuring herself. She studied the movements, taking in where Sarah liked to touch herself.

Beginning to get into having her lover watch her, the small woman closed her eyes as she let a fantasy take hold in her mind. Soon she forgot about dark eyes devouring her every move as she began to bring herself to peak. She panted Jamie's name.

The utterance struck Jamie's core. Not able to stay away, she moved onto the bed. She leaned down to the blonde's breasts, taking one into her mouth. Sarah cried out in relief and need as she brought her hands up to cradle her lover's head. However, her actions were rebuffed. "I told you not to stop," she warned. "Keep touching yourself." Sarah did as she was told, moving both her hands down between her thighs again as the brunette's mouth ravaged her chest. "Tell me, Sarah. Do you touch yourself like this when you're alone? Do you fantasize about me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"What do I do in your fantasies? Do I make love to you?" she inquired, sweetly kissing the crests of the petite woman's breasts reverently.

"Yes," the blonde panted.

"Do I fuck you?" Jamie asked roughly, biting Sarah's neck.

"God, yes," she replied, inching closer to peak at the combination of stimuli.

Sensing that she was close, the brunette demanded, "Don't come, Sarah." The blonde whined. The command only pushed her further. "You can't come until I tell you to."

"Jamie, please," she pleaded.

"No. You only can come when I say. If you want to, you have to tell me to make you come."

Moaning at the dangerous edge in her lover's voice, Sarah quickly said, "Jamie, please make me come."

"All right. I will since you asked so nicely," she teased, reaching down to unzip her pants. Hearing the zipper, Sarah opened her eyes. "Keep your eyes shut," Jamie immediately insisted. The blonde closed them again but wondered what was about to happen next. Freeing herself from her khaki pants, the tall woman then reached down between the little woman's legs and grabbed her by the wrists. Sarah protested with a mewling sound, but as Jamie pinned her wrists above her head, she knew she was about to get her ultimate fantasy. The older woman easily held both the petite wrists with one hand, especially since Sarah made no move to free herself. Reaching down with her right hand, Jamie ran it through her girlfriend's wetness. Sarah responded by raising her hips toward the touch, but as quickly as it came, it left. She whimpered at the loss. Moving herself into position between Sarah's thighs, Jamie quietly but ferally inquired, "Do you think you can take all of me?"

Sarah gave a nod, feeling fairly sure in that moment that her girlfriend was going to enter her with something other than her talented fingers. Anxious to find out, she begged, "Please, Jamie. Fuck me, baby."

The tall woman growled as she held Sarah down with both hands. Latching onto her mouth savagely, she thrust with all her weight, plunging the strap-on she was wearing completely in the small woman. Sarah screamed into the kiss as her muscles gave way to the massive intrusion. The pain of being stretched far beyond her comfort and the pleasure of being completely filled by the dark-haired woman merged together in one feeling.

When Jamie felt Sarah relax after a moment she pulled her mouth away from the little woman's lips and tenderly asked, "I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"

Blue eyes opened at the question. She saw the concern in her lover's gaze. "No," she panted, still trying to get used to the size inside of her. Giving a small grin, she playfully challenged, "Well, you've shown how big you are, but the question remains. Do you know how to use it? Are you going to fuck me with that thing or not, Miss Dean?"

Jamie gave a proud lopsided smile. "Oh, I'm going to fuck you into next week," she boasted.

"Well, time's a wasting. I want it now, Jamie," she mandated, taking over again.

"Anything you desire, Sarah," Jamie answered, letting her girlfriend wield the control once more.

They moved together at a fierce pace, driven by the blonde who was already teetering on the edge of oblivion. It was only moments before she clung tightly to her lover as the cascade of release shook her to her soul. There was only panting for several minutes before she mumbled, "Oh my God."

"You okay?" tenderly Jamie inquired, looking down into blue eyes.

Sarah smiled at her in satisfaction. "Never in my life did I ever imagine love like this," she confessed. "You are by far the best lover I've ever had."

"And just how many have you had?" the brunette questioned with a teasing grin.

"Two including you," she admitted.

"Really? Just Robert and me?" Jamie asked in surprise.

"Yeah, just the two of you. How many have you had, Jamie?" curiously she inquired.

"You want an actual number?"

"Guess if you have to."

The older woman rolled off of Sarah and discarded her toys before staring at the ceiling in contemplation. "I don't know really. If I had to make a guess, I would probably say about fifty or so."

"Fifty different women? You've been with fifty women?" Sarah questioned seriously.

"Well, I started young, Sarah. I was only thirteen the first time, and after Stephanie passed away, I sort of found my relief in women. You know when I was with her, I was completely faithful, but being single has left me a little promiscuous. Now that we're together though, I can assure you of my unwavering fidelity. I've never cheated on a woman."

"I'm not worried about that, Jamie. I'm just surprised is all. You have been tested, haven't you?"

"A little late to ask me that, isn't it?" she joked. However, seeing the serious look on her lover's face, she replied, "Of course I have. I have Katrina to think about. She doesn't need to lose her other mother to carelessness."

Sarah nodded at the explanation as she curled up into the brunette's shoulder. Long quiet moments passed. "I'm getting sleepy," she finally said.

Jamie laughed lightly. "What happened to going all night?" she joked.

"What can I say? I'm a mother of a two-year-old. You're lucky to have gotten this much out of me," she teased.

"Well, it was time well-spent, I assure you," the older woman stated. "Why don't we call it a night? We have an early start in the morning anyway."

Chapter Seven

By September of that year the film was complete and Sarah and Jamie had gone back to their lives in New York. The media had already been informed of the blonde's separation and pending divorce from Robert Dawson, but the two women kept a low profile on their relationship as to not feed the rumor mill. However, they spent lots of time together with their daughters.

One evening they were all at Samantha and Doug's house for dinner. It was after their meal, and Katrina was inside at the kitchen table working on her homework, while the adults chatted out in the backyard. Eve was sitting contently in Jamie's lap as they all shared a bottle of wine. However, just then the seven-year-old poked her head out of the patio door.

"Sarah, can you help me with my math?" she questioned.

"Yeah, sure," the little woman answered, casting a bewildered look at her girlfriend. Katrina had never requested anything from her before, so she wondered if that's what the little girl really wanted. Going into the kitchen, she took a seat at the table with her lover's child. "Let's see this math," she said, moving the book closer to them. They talked about the questions for a long time, going through each one at a slow pace.

However, when they were finished Katrina looked up at Sarah. "Sarah, can I ask you something?"

"Of course. What is it, sweetie?"

"Do you love Mom?" hesitantly she inquired.

"Yes, I do, Katrina. I love your mother very much," she answered, seeing no reason not to tell the little girl the truth.

"Are you two going to get married?"

Sarah thought about the question for a moment before saying, "I don't know. Maybe. Why do you ask?"

The small blonde girl shrugged at first but then said, "I heard Mom talking to Aunt Samantha about it. She said she wanted to live with you and Eve."

Being that she and Jamie hadn't discussed that, she was surprised, but she didn't allow her emotions to show. Instead, she asked, "Well, would that be okay with you if we did?"

Katrina shrugged. Looking up at the twenty-five year old actress, she asked, "Can I live with you and Mom too?"

"Do you not like it here? Don't Aunt Samantha and Uncle Doug take good care of you?"

The child nodded. "I just want to be with Mom. Why can Eve live with her, but I can't?" she inquired with a trembling voice.

"Sweetie, if you feel this strongly, then we should talk to your mom. She just wants what is best for you, Katrina. Do you want me to talk to her?" Katrina nodded. "All right. I promise that we'll discuss it."

"Thanks, Sarah," she said, getting out of her chair and coming to the blonde. The seven-year-old embraced her in a hug.

The petite woman felt her heart flutter in happiness as she held her lover's child. It was the first time Katrina had made an attempt to be affectionate with her, and in that moment she felt as if she had a connection with Jamie and Stephanie's daughter. Holding the little girl in her arms, she mentioned, "You know, if your mom, Eve, and me live together it would only be because your mother and I were married. How would you feel about that?"

"Mom loves you, Sarah. I used to have two moms, and I wish I had two moms again."

"Would you want me to be that second mom?" Sarah inquired.

"If you want to be," she replied.

"Well, your mom and I will have to talk about it. She has to agree, but I'll talk to her about that too. Anything else?"

Katrina seemed to ponder the question before asking, "Can you help me with my spelling?"

Sarah smiled at her, sensing their serious talk was over for the moment. "Sure, sweetie. Where's the book?"

Samantha, Doug, and Jamie were enjoying the evening air on the back porch while Sarah was inside with Katrina. They were simply talking when the redhead pointed toward the kitchen. "Would you look at that?"

The tall woman turned to look over her shoulder into the house. What she saw elated her spirit. Katrina was sitting next to Sarah at the table. Her girlfriend's arm was around her daughter's shoulders as they diligently studied. "Well, I guess Katrina does like her after all. I wasn't quite sure there for a while. I'm glad they're getting along."

"I guess you don't have any worries about how they feel about each other now. I told you they would take to each other given enough time," Samantha said with a smile.

"I'm glad for that. Makes things much easier."

That night after Katrina had been put to bed Jamie, Sarah, and Eve headed back to the mainland. Without discussion they all found themselves back at the blonde's condo. Jamie put the sleepy child to bed and then moved into the master bedroom where her lover was waiting.

Coming into the room, Jamie took a seat on the edge of the bed and gazed at the blonde, who was already under the covers in her pajamas reading. "You're staying, aren't you?" she asked, looking up from her book.

"I guess so, as long as I'm invited," she teased.

"You know you have a standing invitation to this bed," Sarah answered, looping an arm around the brunette's neck and leaning in for a kiss. "Now take off those clothes and come to bed," she demanded.

Jamie smiled demurely before standing to go get ready for bed. Ten minutes later she returned from the bathroom in her robe. Sarah was giving her seductive yet playful eyes as she came to her own side of the bed. She knew what the blonde was waiting to see. With a cocky smile she shrugged out of her robe, revealing the fact that she was wearing nothing. "I take it you like my bed attire," she joked, seeing the approval in wanton blue eyes.

"You came appropriately dressed," the younger actress said, putting her book on the nightstand as Jamie slid under the covers.

"And you didn't," the brunette mentioned, reaching for the blonde's cotton pajama top.

"You can always rectify that problem, Miss Dean," she whispered, pushing the tall woman down onto her back and crawling on top of her.

Jamie knew exactly what Sarah wanted when she called her by that particular pet name. It was the small woman's way of signaling that she wanted something rougher than their usual tender intimacy. Playing her role, Jamie cracked a grin. "Tell me what you want, Sarah."

An hour later they lay quietly wrapped in each other's arms. However, the blonde broke their silence stating, "Jamie, I need to tell you something about Katrina, but I haven't been able to figure out the best way to broach the subject."

"Just tell me. What is it?" she asked in concern, hearing her lover's hesitancy.

"She talked to me tonight about some things, and I promised her I would talk to you about them. I guess she overheard you talking to Samantha about us living together."

"Oh. I thought we were alone."

"Well, she heard you, Jamie, and she's concerned."

"Concerned over what?"

"She told me that if the two of us lived together with Eve that she wanted to live with us too. She wants to live with you again, Jamie."

"I don't see how that's going to work. I guess the only way would be for me to buy a place out on the island, but even then she'd still have to stay with them when I was out on location."

"Maybe that won't bother her as long as she knows her home is really with you."

"She really said this to you?" she questioned, surprised but pleased her daughter had enough admiration for Sarah to take her as a confidant. "I wonder why she didn't tell me directly? She's never been shy about that kind of stuff before. She knows I'd give her anything she wants."

"I don't know, Jamie. She actually said even more than that though," she mentioned tentatively.

"What else did she say?"

"I felt like I should be honest with her about our relationship, because she asked me if I loved you. I told her yes. I also told her that for you and I to live together we would have to be married. Of course that led to the inevitable next question of whether or not we were going to get married. She has her own thoughts on that matter as well."

"What are they?" the tall woman asked.

"She would be fine with the two of us getting married. She said she wanted a second mother again, so I asked if she wanted me to be that mother, and she said yes."

Jamie laughed lightly. "She certainly is Stephanie's daughter," she said. "You never have to worry about the way that girl feels. She'll always tell you her opinion whether it's asked or not. It's good to see that she's chosen you as her confidant. Stephanie was that for her, and then I had to fill those shoes. Looks like she has our relationship all worked out for us, and if she's decided, then I guess that's the way it's supposed to be. Maybe I should just ask you to marry me, so we can get on with the rest of our lives," she mentioned with a smile.

"Married? Do you think I would say yes?" Sarah asked with sparkling eyes.

The brunette shrugged. "I don't know. Would you? If I got down on my knees like this, would you?" she asked as she slid from bed to the floor. Sarah giggled at the sight of Jamie naked, kneeling in front of her. "If I took your hand in mine and looked up into your eyes and said that I couldn't live without you, that I wanted to love you forever, would you say yes? Would you say yes if I said I wanted you to be a mother to my daughter and be a mother to yours?" she asked, gently taking Sarah's hands in her own. Looking down into dark eyes, the blonde realized the moment had ceased to be light, growing in earnest as she looked down into dark eyes. "Would you, Sarah? Would you marry me?"

"Jamie, are you being serious?" she asked, unsure all of a sudden.

There was a moment of pause from the tall woman. As Jamie looked up at Sarah Talbot sitting naked on her bed, she realized she was being serious. She really wanted to marry the little blonde who had taken control of her whole life in a matter of months. Casting a quick look over at the photograph of Sarah, their two daughters, and her on the night table, she thought about what it would mean for all of them. She knew without a doubt that Stephanie would approve of Sarah as a second mother to Katrina and a second wife to her as much as the seven-year-old did.

Seeing Jamie look over toward the picture, the young woman felt like the playful moment had turned awkward with the extended pause. She had put the older woman on the spot without meaning to, and she had put herself into a strange position as well. Trying to ease the situation she started, "Jamie, I..."

However, the brunette cut her off. "Sarah Michelle Talbot, I love you, and I love Eve as my own. Maybe it is fate you and I have come together in this time and place. My daughter seems to think so. You want Eve to have a second parent. Well, here I am, ready and willing, but will you take my daughter as your own? Will you take me as a wife? Will you forever forsake all others for me as I would for you? Will you marry me, Sarah, and make the happiest woman on the earth?"

Sarah gazed down at the woman she loved. Jamie had just made the sincerest proposal she had ever heard. Freeing one hand from her lover's, she ran it through the tall woman's dark hair. Regardless of how little time they had actually been together as a couple, the blonde knew her heart was intended for the tall woman. She was meant to be a mother to the seven-year-old for whom she had come to feel so much, and Jamie was meant to be a mother to little Eve. Going with her soul's yearning, she gave a confident smile. "Jamie, I will take you as my wife and Katrina as my daughter. Fate has brought me to you, and I won't even try to stop what is sure to be the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you, Jamie Dean. I want to marry you."

"And I want to marry you, Sarah Talbot."

Caressing her lover's face, the younger woman said, "Well, I guess we have one seven-year-old who's going to be thrilled."

Jamie smiled as she leaned into the touch. "Yeah. We'll have to thank her for twisting our arms on this one. You have no idea how hard it is to say no to that girl."

"After this I think I do," Sarah teased, pulling her fiancée up from the floor. They kissed slowly.

"You make me happier than any other woman ever could," Jamie confessed.

"You make me happy too, Jamie. Well, before we go to that party this weekend we're going to have to go out to the island and tell our daughter the news. I think we should take both girls to the Whitflield and Erwin Labor Day barbeque. They said families were invited. Let's take the girls. There is no sense in delaying the inevitable. I want all our friends to know how happy I am."

"Katrina will be thrilled. She doesn't know my friends, and I think it's time to stop hiding her from the world."

"And you know, once we get married, there's no reason why we can't move to the island. That way we don't have to make her change schools. Whatever she wants," Sarah mentioned.

"You're too good to me, Sarah. Thanks for understanding Katrina's needs."

The little woman gave her fiancee a smile as she cupped her face. "Anything for our girls."

That Saturday the three of them were out on Staten Island early in the morning. Jamie had already talked to Katrina on the phone the night before and invited her to go with them to the party, and as the tall woman expected, her daughter was excited to go along, so by the time the three of them got to the house, they found the seven-year-old ready for their outing. However, they had plenty of time to hang around the house before leaving, so the whole group sat down to a large breakfast courtesy of Doug.

As the family sat around the kitchen table, Jamie got everyone's attention. "I have an announcement to make. Well, actually, Sarah and I have an announcement," she corrected, looking at the little woman sitting next to her. Looking at her daughter, Jamie said, "Sarah and I have decided to get married."

Immediately she saw the seven-year-old smile and look at Sarah. "If it's okay with you, Katrina, we would like to move out here to the island after the wedding, so we can all stay close to each other," Sarah added.

Katrina nodded in agreement. Coming to Jamie the little girl slid into her mother's lap. However, she asked Sarah, "Could I call you Mama like Eve does?"

Blue eyes met brown one for a moment. The simple request stirred Sarah's heart in a way she didn't know possible. With tears coming to her eyes, she smiled down at the little girl. "You can call me whatever you want, Katrina." With that answer Katrina moved from Jamie's lap over to Sarah. She embraced the twenty-five year old in a hug.

Looking over at Samantha, Jamie saw her sister-in-law beginning to cry. The brunette knew she had mixed feelings about her sister's daughter adopting another woman as her mother. It left her with the same feeling. As wonderful as she felt about Katrina being open to having another woman fill those shoes, she didn't want the little girl to ever forget the woman who had brought her into the world.

That afternoon the new-found foursome headed out to Torrance and Helen Whitfield's mansion on Long Island for the party they and Blake and Georgia Erwin were throwing for their friends. As Jamie drove her black Mercedes convertible up the long drive towards the house, she cast a glance into her rearview mirror at the two blondes. Katrina was eying the landscape as it passed, her Gucci sunglasses hiding her eyes. Jamie smiled to herself. The beautiful seven-year-old looked very much the part of the daughter of a famous actress with her glamorous style. Looking over at Eve, the brunette saw the two-year-old clapping at the wind, obviously thrilled to play with the breeze as it whipped passed them. Gazing at Sarah in the passenger's seat, the tall woman smiled brightly. The fair-headed actress returned it as she placed her hand on top of Jamie's that was resting on her thigh.

"Maybe I should dye my hair blonde to match my favorite ladies," the brunette teased. "All three of you are such towheads."

The little woman laughed. "Don't do a thing with your hair, Jamie. I like it just the way it is."

"You know, our hostesses are going to go crazy with us showing up together with the girls. People are going to speculate."

"Like this huge rock isn't a huge giveaway?" Sarah joked, flashing the large diamond on her left hand at the woman who had given it to her. "I don't mind, Jamie. In fact I'm ready to stop hiding. I want every woman at this party to know the infamous Jamie Dean is off the market permanently," she mentioned with a wink.

"Well, feel free to stake your claim, Sarah. I can't wait to see their faces. I guess this is as good a way as any to have our relationship leaked to the press. You know someone here won't be able to control themselves with such a juicy tidbit."

"Then let it happen. I want everyone to know I did what no other woman could," Sarah stated in such obvious self-pride it made Jamie laugh.

"You got it, babe. We're not hiding any longer. The world will know it today," she answered, parking her car along the driveway with the many others.

Sarah assisted Eve from her car seat while Jamie waited for Katrina to get out of the car. Slowly the four of them strolled up to the house. Jamie gave a knock as she curved one arm around Sarah and the other around Katrina as Eve stayed in her mother's arms. Within a moment the photographer opened the door.

She smiled brightly at the four of them. "Sarah, Jamie, hi. Welcome," she greeted. She looked at the two girls. "Jamie, it looks like you've grown a family since the last time I saw you," she jested lightly.

"Actually I have, Tor," the brunette announced proudly. Just then Helen came to the door, and she had a similar surprised salutation for them. "Let me introduce you two to my daughter. Katrina, these are some of my friends, Torrance and Helen Whitfield. Tor, Helen, this is my daughter, Katrina Taylor-Dean."

The elegant blonde smiled down at the little girl. "Hi, Katrina. Come on in. All the kids are out by the pool. I hope you brought your suit," Helen mentioned.

"Oh, yeah. She came prepared," Jamie answered for her.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Jamie? There is someone else you need to introduce," Sarah said.

"Of course, angel. Helen, Tor, I believe you two know my fiancee Sarah Talbot and her daughter Eve."

"Fiancee?" Torrance questioned with a charming grin at her two friends.

"I hooked her," Sarah proudly boasted.

"You certainly did, babe."

"Congratulations!" Helen exclaimed, leaning to hug them both before stating, "Come on out back. Everyone's outside."

The group moved to the back lawn where many of the most famous and influential New Yorkers were already situated. As soon as they came into the yard, their two other hostesses greeted them. "Jamie, Sarah, so nice that you both could make it," Blake said, coming to kiss the blonde actress on the cheek and shake the brunette's hand.

"Oh, and you brought your children with you. I'm so glad," Georgia added as she too hugged their guests.

Blake looked down at Katrina. "Well, my my. The last time I saw you, Katrina, you barely came up to my waist. You've grown so much in three years," she mentioned.

"Katrina, Blake and Georgia are friends of mine, and Blake was your mother's and my attorney. This is her wife Georgia."

"You knew Stephanie?" Sarah inquired quietly to the attorney.

Blake nodded. "An extraordinary woman gone before her time," she stated as Georgia and Jamie led Katrina away toward the pool. "Did you know her?"

"No but sometimes I feel like I did."

"Jamie loved her. It was a shame to see her pass."

"Well, I think she's gotten over that now."

"Is she seeing someone?" curiously Blake asked.

Silently Sarah raised her left hand. "You could say a little more than that."

"No way. You and Jamie are engaged?"

"Yes, just recently."

"I never heard anything about you two even dating."

"I know. That's the way we wanted it until things with Robert started to settle down a bit."

Blake nodded. "Speaking of that, we need to talk. However, we won't do it now. I'm so glad Jamie's found someone. I always hoped she would. She's a good person, Sarah. She has a kind spirit."

"I know. Listen, now that Jamie and I are engaged I would like her to have partial custody of Eve with me. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course. I helped her with Katrina. Doing the same for Eve shouldn't be a problem. However, before we go that far, we need to talk about the way the divorce is proceeding. We need to have a serious conversation as soon as possible. Can we get together tomorrow?" she questioned seriously.

"Of course. What's wrong, Blake? Is something happening?"

"Yeah. There is something going on, which you didn't mention to me. Although, I'm not sure you even knew about this little piece of information. Please, don't worry about this now. This is a party. We'll work on it tomorrow. This is great news about you and Jamie, Sarah. I'm happy for you both. This needs to be celebrated now," she said, curving her arm around the blonde and leading them over to where Jamie was with the rest of the group.

That evening as the foursome left that party, Sarah mentioned her conversation to Jamie. The brunette seemed concerned with the development. "This sounds like that piece of information Robert had threatened you with originally. Did Blake seem worried to you?"

"Well, she was somber about whatever it was. She didn't say what it was though. Jamie, I have no idea what could be coming."

"Do you want me to go with you tomorrow, or would you prefer to go alone?"

"Maybe you should go with me. I really don't know what she's going to tell me, and it might be important for you to be there."

"Then I will. Don't worry about this right now. There is nothing we can do until tomorrow anyway. Let's just relax until then. You'll work yourself up otherwise."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Right. I guess we should go back to Manhattan tonight after dropping Katrina off."

"Sounds like it. No problem though."

The next morning both actresses arrived at Blake's office early. The attorney greeted them seriously. "Good morning. I'm glad you're here, Jamie. This actually concerns you as well. Could I get either of you coffee or tea before we start?"

The blonde shook her head. "Please just tell me what's wrong."

Taking a seat, Blake sighed. "The other day I received something in the mail in regards to you and the impending divorce from Robert," she mentioned, pulling an envelope out of her desk drawer. "I must prepare you. In light of the fact that you are still married to Robert, these are not the best things that could have appeared."

Sarah took the package the attorney extended to her and looked into it. Seeing photographs she pulled the lot of them out and began to flip through them. "Oh my God," she mumbled.

"What is it, Sarah? What are they?" Jamie asked gently.

"They're pictures of us, Jamie. That night we went out in D.C. someone followed us and took pictures of everything we did. They caught us dancing," she explained, handing the photographs to her fiancée.

Jamie looked through the stack. Images of Sarah and her intimately involved on the dance floor were depicted. "Dammit," she mumbled. "Where did you get these?"

"Robert's attorney sent them to me with a note."

"I guess that means Robert's seen them," the brunette actress stated.

Sarah nodded. "I'm sure it was his idea. What did the note say?"

"That he would send these to the press if you didn't give him what you wanted in the divorce. Now I don't know when these were taken, but it might not have as much of an effect since your engagement is about to be public. However, you are still married to Robert. I don't know how this is going to go over in the press for you, Sarah, and that's not my territory. My concern is how this affects the divorce proceedings. Personally I would not be swayed by such a threat to give him more money. Being that you were the bread winner in the family, you are already going to have to give him financial support. It's a matter of how much. I think I can make it minimal as possible, so this wouldn't concern me as far as the divorce, but I'm sure your PR people would see it differently. I need you to tell me how to proceed here."

Sarah looked over at Jamie in contemplation. "What do you think, Jamie? This is more than just my divorce. These pictures concern you as well."

The tall woman shrugged. "I don't know. It's one thing to fight rumors, but these pictures would be hard to refute. I think the announcement of our engagement might downplay them. On that point I think Blake is right. The question remains though. Will the public think less of American's Sweetheart for the behavior? I'm not so worried about my reputation. I mean, I'm already known as a bad girl, but you are a golden child in Hollywood, Sarah. Would the public mind seeing this seductive alluring side to you? These pictures are anything but of an innocent married woman. I for one would not want to let Robert Dawson manipulate you, but money in any amount might be worth keeping these out of the tabloids. It's up to you, honey. It's a matter of how strong you feel. Do you think you can take the harsh inquiries that are sure to come your way? Do you think your reputation will be sullied too much? I mean, you are already going to turns some heads in Hollywood with the announcement of our engagement. Do you think people can deal with this on top of it?"

"But on the other hand, the fact that we are engaged will probably prove to be to our advantage here. After all, these are pictures of us intimately involved. What couple in our position would not be involved in such a way? We were only unfortunate enough to be caught on camera. It's not like they are pornographic. They are of us dancing and kissing. I think we should leak our own engagement to the press before any of our friends even do. Then we tell Robert to take a hike. I'm not paying any more support than I absolutely have to."

Nodding her head in agreement, Jamie replied, "If that's what you want, that's what we'll do. Blake, how do you see it playing out from here?"

The attorney shrugged. "If this is all he has, then I don't see how much this can really affect our case. This proves you were having an affair, but since there is no custody battle here, it shouldn't matter that much."

"Speaking of custody, Blake, remember what I asked you at the party yesterday about Jamie being given partial custody of Eve?"

"Of course."

"You want me to have partial custody of Eve?" Jamie asked in surprise.

The blonde nodded. "Jamie, Eve needs you, and if we're going to get married, I think it would only be right that you were able to take on custody. Is that okay with you? Would you rather not have the responsibility?"

"No, that's not it at all. I'm truly honored that you would even consider it, Sarah. I just want to make sure it's what you really want. It would be a pleasure to take Eve as my own. It just brings up questions like Katrina. I'm not able to extend you the same consideration, because Samantha and Doug have partial custody of her."

Sarah took her fiancée's hand. "I know, Jamie. I'm not expecting Samantha and Doug to give up Katrina for me. I think we can all manage to remain a happy family without that. However, I do feel strongly about it when it comes to Eve, especially if we are going to have any more children. I just think it's the right thing to do given the circumstances."

Jamie looked at Blake. "Blake, do you see any problems with that?"

"No. However, I strongly advise you to wait before proceeding on that. Robert has claimed that he wants to give up his rights, but he hasn't done so yet. I'd wait until the divorce is final, and he's signed the papers before moving ahead. It would also be easier if you two were actually married before you filed the petition. Other than that I don't see any major obstacles. Jamie has the means to support Eve, and if Robert is no longer in the picture, I don't see how the request could be denied."

"That's what we'll do then," Sarah stated.

"There is something else we should talk about since you're both here," mentioned Blake. "Since you all are getting married, I think you two should contemplate your prenup. I'm not sure if either of you have even considered it yet, but I advise you to have one."

"Is there a particular reason why, Blake? We hadn't even talked about that," Jamie said.

The attorney looked between them for a moment. "Would it be all right with the both of you if I divulged financial information about the other?" she inquired professionally. Both of them agreed, so she continued, "Jamie, Sarah has a great deal more in assets than you do. In fact, she was the major contributor to her marriage with Robert as well. Unfortunately she and Robert didn't have a prenup, which has left the door open for some ugliness. He's fighting everything. That's very costly and time-consuming, but Sarah is determined to prevail and keep as many of her assets intact as possible. A prenuptial agreement would protect the both of you in the case that this second marriage does not work. Additionally but probably more importantly by having a prenup, it protects your assets, Jamie, so Robert can't get a hold of them. Robert is a man of means, but Sarah is clearly seen as the bread winner in that household placing the burden on her for alimony. By having a prenup it will protect the both of you. Robert will have no chance at any of your assets, Jamie. Not only that, you two can get much-needed tax breaks by bestowing money to your children instead of each other. Sarah and Robert had most of the assets labeled as Tenants by the Entirety, which in light of the events has proven an unwise choice. You two on the other hand can have assets labeled as Tenants in Common, which will provide you with some latitude should Robert continue to haunt Sarah financially, and it will provide a means to decrease your estates and leave more money for you children should something happen to either of you. Since we won't be able to get Sarah partial custody of Katrina, this is the way I think you should handle it, so both girls and any future children are protected."

"Well, I'm not worried about Sarah having my assets should something go wrong, but I am definitely concerned about the children. For that reason alone I would agree to it," the brunette actress replied.

"Me too. I want the kids to be protected," Sarah added.

"All right then. I'll draft one for you as a starting point, and then you two can work out your details as your schedules permit."

"Wonderful. You've been a great help, Blake. Thank you," the blonde said with a smile.

"That's what I'm here for. This is going to be a tough battle with Robert, Sarah, and for that I'm sorry. However, I will do my best to keep the damage to a minimum."

"That's all I can ask for I suppose. Thanks again."

Leaving Blake's office they returned to Sarah's apartment. Both of them went straight to work on calling their personal assistants and getting the news of their engagement to the public before the pictures could arrive.

The day didn't even go by without return calls from their staffs regarding announcement. All of the most popular media moguls requested interviews with the couple, because it was such a shock that Sarah Talbot, Hollywood's sweetest actress, had chosen Jamie Dean, the woman with the most reckless reputation, as a mate. The classic good girl falling in love with a bad boy had come to fruition with a modern twist, intriguing the general public, making it virtually impossible for them to go anywhere, even in New York, without notice.

Over the next few days, the two of them had to lock themselves into Sarah's apartment with their girls trying to outwait the media blitz, but the day before they were going to go on Primetime for an interview, Blake showed up unexpectedly at the condo. "Sorry to just barge in without calling first, but this is extremely important. I know you are trying to dodge the press, but there is something you should know before your interview tomorrow," she announced when Jamie let her inside.

"What is it, Blake?" Sarah questioned seeing the obvious distress in her friend's eyes.

"Have either of you been watching TV today?"

"No, we've been trying to relax from all the interviews over the last few days," Jamie answered. "Why do you ask?"

"There's been a new development in your divorce case and your public persona, Sarah, and it isn't positive," the attorney informed them, putting her briefcase down on the table. Opening it she pulled out several tabloids and held them up. "When you told me Robert said he had career-ending information about you, we both thought it was those pictures. He's taken things a step further by granting interviews to everyone possible. He's running your name and reputation through the mud. He's said all sorts of ugly things about you. All the major presses have made reference to it."

Taking the papers from her friend's hand, Jamie inquired, "What do they say?"

"Basically he gives away all kinds of secrets that you two had during your marriage. Everything from stating you intentionally got pregnant with Eve to force him to marry to how awful you were as a lover. It's everything you wouldn't want people to know. America's Sweetheart you are no longer, not after this."

Instantly Jamie opened the first paper. "You've read these?" she asked of Blake.

She nodded. "I did, because I had to know from a legal perspective what we were up against. It left me sickened to think a couple's private moments could be so grossly on display. Robert will pay for this, but I'm afraid the damage will be done before justice is. I'll just wait in the kitchen while you review them."

"Actually, Blake, if you wouldn't mind, would you go upstairs and make sure the girls don't come down? I wouldn't want them to have to be apart of this," Jamie asked.

"Sure. Just call me back when you're ready to discuss how to counteract this."

With that the attorney left the two of them alone. Sarah looked at her fiancée with fear. "I'm scared, Jamie."

"Me too but we have to know what everyone else has read."

By the time the papers had been read, Sarah was weeping. "Bastard. How could he do this to me?" she mumbled, leaning into the tall woman's body for support.

"I'm so sorry, Sarah," Jamie tried to console, but there were truly no words that could do so in the moment. She felt just as vulnerable and exposed at the horrible accusations Robert had made about her. "I don't care about anything else in life but you, Sarah. My career doesn't matter as much as your happiness. We will get Robert for doing this. If it is the last thing I ever do, I will make him pay."

"This is awful. No wonder my assistant has been trying to call all day. I've been ignoring the phone trying to get some peace, but I guess I should have picked it up. Do you really think people will actually have the nerve to ask us about this during our next few interviews?"

"If they have class, they won't, but I am sure the public is interested. We need to come up with an answer."

"I'm just going to tell them like it is, Jamie. I say we turn it around and put the blame where it belongs, on Robert for being such an asshole about this divorce."

"You can't go off and say that about him on TV, Sarah."

"I have nothing to hide, Jamie. I love you, and I'm not going to pretend to be ashamed of it. I'm madder than hell that he has done this, and I want the world to know it! Don't you?"

"Of course. We'll get through this together. I promise. No matter what happens I love you, and I'll be with you through the whole thing."

"How much do you think this is going to hurt our careers?" the smaller woman inquired hesitantly.

"I don't know. I guess only time will tell." After a few minutes of silence, Jamie stated, "Let me go get Blake. She probably knows the best way to handle this."

When the oldest woman returned to the room, she looked at the petite actress. "I'm sorry, Sarah, to be the bearer of such bad news."

"It's okay. I'm glad you told us."

Blake nodded. "I know this is hard for you both privately and professionally, but Robert can kiss his alimony good bye. I will fight for you, Sarah, to make sure he doesn't do any more damage."

"I know you will, Blake. Thank you."

"Well, I should go. I have a lot of work ahead of me. Just remember that your love for each other is strong. It will see you through. No matter what happens, you have each other, and you have me fighting for you."

As Blake rose from her chair, Sarah got off the couch to hug her. Jamie followed, embracing the older woman. "Thank you for all your help, Blake. You are a great friend."

"Perhaps if you two feel up to it, we can get together sometime soon. I know Georgia is anxious to spend time with you as well. She wants to know all about the wedding plans."

"That sounds wonderful as long as everything is off the record. She is one of these pestering writers that wants to interview us," Jamie joked.

Blake laughed. "That's my sweet Georgia peach all right. She's among best, you know."

"We know. Although maybe we can use that to our advantage, Jamie. Georgia would write anything we ask her to."

"Very true. Maybe a well-timed piece could work. I don't know when we are scheduled to meet with her. Perhaps we should move that up a bit."

"Well, I'll let you two work that out with her. Call us tomorrow, so we can make plans. Maybe we should get you two out of the city. I'll call Tor and Helen and see if I can arrange for you to stay with them for awhile until this blows over."

"That's very kind of you, Blake, but we don't want to inconvenience them."

"It won't be a problem. In fact, you should use Tor too to help repair your images. I'm sure she would be more than willing to assist. I'll ask her about that as well."

Giving a smile Sarah mentioned, "For someone not involved in our PR, you certainly know what you're doing. Maybe we should hire you as a consultant."

"I have enough to do already. Just think of it as a friend looking out for you. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Chapter Eight

The following day was strenuous for them. Unfortunately during many of the interviews they had the papers were brought up, but as they had agreed, they stood strong against the invasive questions, making it as clear as possible to the public that their privacy had been offensively compromised. Regrettably though, the topic seemed to overshadow everything, even their engagement. By the end of the afternoon, both of them were exhausted. Everywhere they had gone, they were greeted by hundreds of people. Cameras were nonstop as well as questions from the general public that most would have considered private. Jamie and Sarah declined to answer anything outside of interviews and avoided contact with as many fans as possible, but the evasive tactics had taken their toll on them.

Earlier that day Blake had called them and informed them that Helen would be by to pick up their girls, so when they arrived back at Sarah's loft, all was quiet. The attorney had arranged for a car to come for them to take them to Torrance and Helen's house in the Hamptons, so they began a flurry of packing as soon as they walked in.

Having no idea how long they would be gone, they threw mounds of clothes into suitcases for their girls and themselves. No sooner than Jamie had gotten the bags down to the front door, the building security buzzed them to inform them that their driver had arrived. Sarah requested someone be sent up to help with the luggage before turning to her fiancée.

Jamie wrapped her in supportive arms. "We'll get through this, Sarah. I promise."

A moment later there was a knock on the door. Opening it, they saw Blake standing there with a smile. "Ready to go?" she inquired reaching for some of the bags.

"Well, aren't you a surprise? Not only are you an attorney and public relations guru, you are an escort as well," Sarah teased.

"I aim to please. Come on. I had the driver pull into the garage, so no one will see us leaving."

The three of them made their way down to the garage as quickly as possible. Once they were settled, the limo pulled out into the busy upper Manhattan street.

"It is so good to be getting out of the city," the older actress mentioned. "I never knew so much media attention over some articles was possible. We really had hoped the engagement would take precedence in the interviews, but everyone just had to ask the inevitable."

"Well, we're going to fix that. I talked to Tor. She and Georgia have an idea to get things back on track. This will all be a distant nightmare. People are fickle, Sarah and Jamie. You know that. Today's news will be tomorrow's forgotten memories. We just have to find a way to help them put it behind them faster."

"It might a faint memory to the public in time, but I will never forget that Robert hurt me this way," the blonde stated. "The damage to my heart is permanent."

The attorney nodded in understanding. Looking at the younger brunette she sighed. Jamie wrapped an arm around Sarah but said nothing. The rest of the ride was quiet between them. When they pulled up in front of the Whitfield mansion, they were greeted by the sight of their friends with all their children playing in the front yard. Torrance, Helen, and Georgia all made their way over to the limo as it stopped.

Torrance smiled at the young couple. "Jamie, Sarah, how are you two holding up?"

"We're just glad to be away from people," Jamie answered for them.

Helen nodded and reached for Sarah. The blondes hugged before Georgia joined in. "You two are welcome to stay here as long as you need. This will always be a safe haven for you," Helen said, running her hand through Sarah's fair in affection.

The three brunettes just looked on at their wives. Jamie smiled at the fact that Sarah seemed more relaxed with her friends. "Thank you for taking us in, Tor and Helen," Jamie said.

"We're glad to do it. Come on. Let's get you settled. Dinner is already being prepared, and then we promised the kids a swim after that," the blonde hostess proclaimed, looping one arm through Sarah's and the other through Jamie's. Georgia, Blake, and Torrance went to round up the six children while the tall blonde showed her guests into the house.

For the rest of the evening, no one talked about the recent events. Instead the three couples simply enjoyed each other's company and the time with their children. Sitting in the backyard after all the kids had been put to bed, Jamie sat eyeing her friends. She felt safe for the first time in days, and she knew Sarah felt that way as well by the feeling of her lover's body finally having relaxed as the night overtook them. It was here with these four other women that Jamie knew the world started to right itself. This was what meant something, love and friendship. Suddenly the horrors of the press had faded with the camaraderie, and she genuinely enjoyed the time together.

That night as the actresses prepared for bed, Jamie pulled her fiancée into a strong embrace. "Feeling better?" she quietly asked, lightly kissing the little blonde on the nape of the neck.

"Much. I'm so glad to have friends like them, Jamie."

The taller woman nodded absently. "I was just thinking that earlier. We are incredibly fortunate to have them, but even more, I'm so lucky to have you. Thank you for being here with me."

"And thank you for standing by me, Jamie. I know this isn't easy for you either."

"No, it isn't, but we'll make it. I know it. Come on now. I can think of something better to do than chat about our wonderful friends," the strong woman murmured against the younger woman's ear.

Sarah knew without asking what her fiancée's intent was, but she always liked to hear Jamie express her deepest emotions. With playful innocence she asked, "Oh? And what might that be?"

"I think I need to show you how much I love and adore you. It has been too long since I've had the opportunity."

Sarah giggled lightly as Jamie's hands found their way inside her pajamas. "It's only been two days."

"As I said, much too long. You deserve my attention everyday. I can't have you doubting my unwavering love, could I?" the taller actress inquired, kissing the blonde's neck.

"Not that I ever would but perhaps refreshing my memory wouldn't be such a bad idea," Sarah conceded, pulling her fiancée toward the bedroom.

The next day when the couple finally awoke they went to check on their children, but neither of their girls was in their rooms. Figuring they were somewhere around with Torrance and Helen's kids, they proceeded to dress before making their way downstairs. Hearing noise coming from the kitchen, they headed that direction. Walking in they found everyone at the table with the exception of Blake.

"Good morning," Torrance greeted with a smile. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks," Sarah responded, coming to Eve. She hugged her daughter and then kissed her on the top of the head before doing the same to Katrina. Jamie did the same in reverse order before both of them sat.

"Well, while the two of you were sleeping late, Georgia and I have been talking. I think we have an idea to help you with this situation," the photographer announced. "Engagement pictures."

"Engagement pictures? How is that going to work?" Jamie asked.

"Simple. Tor will take some engagement photos of you, and I'll write a cover story for Vanity Fair. It'll be easy enough to pitch to my boss, because the two of you are what's hot right now. I won't brin' up any of this mess at all. Instead it'll strictly be 'bout your upcomin' weddin'."

"It will deflect this negativity and focus on the real joy in this situation. What do you think?" Torrance questioned.

Sarah smiled at her friends. "You two have no idea how much that would mean to us. We'd be willing to try anything to put this behind us as fast as we could."

"Great. I already have the perfect location picked out and have placed a call to my friend Morgan Vanderbilt. She'll be by to help with the makeup and clothes. I guarantee you this will work. Georgia is a master when it comes to writing," Torrance complimented her friend.

"And you cain't go wrong with Tor takin' the photos. We'll make you the darlin' of Hollywood 'gain yet, Sarah."

"Without shattering your tough guy image, Jamie," the photographer joked.

Smiling gratefully at the writer and photographer, Jamie stated, "We'd be forever in your debt."

"What are friends for?" Torrance mentioned, taking a sip of her coffee. "Now how about some breakfast?"

After the meal Torrance pulled Jamie aside for a moment. "When I talked to Morgan this morning, she asked that I run out and get you something for the shoot. She wants you to put this on as soon as possible," the older woman stated, handing the actress a bottle of sunless tanning solution.

"Just me? What about Sarah?"

"No. She wants Sarah to stay as fair as she is naturally for contrast. It's only to help your real skin tone. She thinks it will help display your fine attributes. Or as she really said, it'll show off your six pack nicely."

Jamie shrugged. "Whatever. She is the makeup artist. I won't complain. So tell me. Where are we doing this shoot?"

"Just down on my beach. The weather is perfect. Morgan thought having you both dressed in virginal white on the beach would be appropriate. We even discussed having Eve and Katrina in the photos if you and Sarah are comfortable with that. We figured we would try to promote Sarah's family image."

"And what about my image?" the younger woman asked.

"Do you want to save Sarah's career or not? Have you noticed in the press that all the talk has been about her? People don't care that you were mentioned, because the public expects that behavior from you. It's Sarah that's really suffering here, Jamie. Besides, Georgia and I already decided to have just some single photos of you in the article. I wouldn't let your bad girl façade go to waste. After all, you got the ultimate prize in the public's eyes. You got Sarah to fall in love with you. To them you are the coolest thing in Hollywood. We're going to promote that while endorsing her image as the good girl she's always been. It'll be a delicate balance, but I think we can pull this off with Georgia's help."

"At this point I will try anything. I don't want Sarah to endure this more than she has to. She's not used to such scrutiny the way I am. When will Morgan be here?"

"Soon. She was just going to get her things together and then come over, so we can take advantage of the light. You better get that tanning lotion on, so it can start working."

An hour later Morgan arrived at the house. Immediately she took Jamie to outfit her for the shoot and then went to work on the brunette's makeup since Torrance wanted to shoot her first. Then it was Sarah's turn in the makeup chair. As she sat in her friends' kitchen allowing Morgan to work her magic, Helen and Georgia kept her company. Informally Georgia probed for information for her story as the three of them casually talked. It only took Morgan an hour on Sarah before she turned her attentions to the two girls. Sarah and Jamie felt strongly about them being as natural as possible for the shoot, so Morgan focused mainly on dressing them appropriately and doing their hair.

When the three blondes were ready, the whole crew except Helen, who stayed behind to baby sit the other kids, moved outside down to the beach. As Sarah saw Jamie on the horizon, she felt her heart start pounding in her chest. There her lover was standing barefoot in the sand. Her long legs were encased in white cotton trousers that had been rolled up far enough to expose some of her powerful calves. The white linen button down shirt she was wearing was open, revealing a white sports bra and tanned physique. Jamie was wearing a cocky lopsided grin, and her hair was sexily disheveled, creating a whirlwind of sensations in younger actress.

Before Sarah even realized it, both girls had taken off at the sight of the brunette. Katrina reached her first jumping into her mother's arms. Jamie twirled her in the air as they both laughed, and then the tall woman reached down to scoop her favorite two-year-old up into her arms as well. She cast Torrance a smile, knowing that the photographer had continued to click through film as the girls had assaulted her playfully.

Sarah approached slower. She tried not to focus on Torrance for the moment as she stepped to the woman she loved holding their daughters. They smiled at each other before kissing gently. Their private moment went on for several minutes while Torrance finished the roll of impromptu opportunities before requesting all of them get into position for more formal photographs.

Knowing Katrina and Eve would not sit still very long, Torrance wanted to take family pictures of the four of them. She was surprised that Eve made it almost half an hour before growing tired of the task, so once the two-year-old had obviously had enough, she sent both little blondes back to the house with Georgia, leaving the photographer and Morgan the only ones there with Jamie and Sarah. With the kids gone, both women could focus easier on the task at hand. Since both of them being used to photo shoots, they did everything as Torrance had directed only stopping when Morgan felt it necessary to reapply makeup. By the time the sun was beginning to set, the photographer called an end to the shoot, having more than enough film to get decent pictures.

Knowing the hardest part was ahead of them, Jamie and Sarah moved back to the house to do the official interview with Georgia for the article. Morgan stayed for dinner and helped Helen and Torrance entertain the children after that while Georgia had private time with the two actresses.

Looking at her two friends, the Southern belle gave them a comforting smile. "We're only goin' to talk 'bout what you want. As far as I'm concerned, those papers don't exist unless it's somethin' you wish to discuss," she said, opening her notebook and picking up her pencil. She turned on a small tape recorder before looking at them. "Let's start with somethin' everyone wants to know 'bout. Exactly how did you two meet?"

Sarah laughed lightly at the question as she recalled that night at the lesbian bar. "Actually we had talked on the phone before we ever met. We both had signed on do to the movie 'Mortal Games', and since we had never met, Jamie suggested we get together for a drink."

Seeing her friend's grin, Georgia pressed, "Go on. What was your first impression of each other?"

Cracking a smile, Jamie answered, "Well, the moment I saw her, I knew the photos I had seen hadn't done her justice. She was the sexiest thing in the whole bar."

Sarah flushed lightly at her lover's words. "Well, Georgia, I was the first to arrive, so I was just sitting at the bar when she got there. I have never seen such an entrance. She held everyone in the place captive, me included, as she glided over to me. I was thoroughly intrigued. Her persona seemed to match what I had read."

"How did the two of you get along on the set?"

"Well, we had our moments. For the most part, I think we worked well together though," Jamie answered, slipping an arm around her fiancée.

Sarah nodded. "We did work well together except for that one day. I can't go into too much detail, because it would compromise the movie, but there was one day that we had a huge fight. I think that was the day I finally realized what I was feeling was more than professional."

"And what 'bout you, Jamie? When did you start havin' feelings for Sarah?"

"Since as long as I have known of her existence. I had a crush on her long before we ever met. In fact, I can say I was probably seventeen just starting out my career when my interest in her came about. I used to watch her in movies when she was just a teenager. I always thought of Sarah as my fantasy woman. I'm just lucky that has become my reality," the brunette answered, hugging her fiancée lightly.

"I never knew that," Sarah mentioned, obviously moved at the confession.

Georgia smiled at her friends. "That's incredibly sweet. Back to when y'all were on the set, how did you disclose that you had a daughter, Jamie? That was virtually unknown information until recently."

"I just felt safe in telling Sarah. From the moment we starting working together, we were friends, and I instinctively knew I could trust her. It's true I have lived with the secret of my daughter for seven years, but I always knew I could put my faith in Sarah never to betray my confidence. In fact, it wasn't until our engagement that we introduced my daughter to the world. I wanted Katrina to have as normal a life as possible, but I knew marrying again, especially to someone like Sarah, people would eventually find out the truth."

"And what 'bout your daughter, Sarah? She is still very young, but how does she get 'long with Jamie?"

"Oh, Eve has been enamored with Jamie since they moment they met. Jamie has a special way with children. I've never seen anything like it. For a woman of her tough image, it was strange to see, but Jamie has so much to give, and I feel blessed that she and Eve get along so well."

"Jamie, what 'bout Sarah and Katrina? Your daughter is a little older."

"I think under the circumstances regarding my late wife's death, Katrina and Sarah are getting along extremely well. Katrina is a resilient child, and I'm glad she and Sarah are open to each other. I feel blessed that I have another chance at happiness with all three of these lovely women. The three of them make my life complete."

"I know all our readers want to know about your wedding plans. Is there anything you can share with us?"

Both Jamie and Sarah shrugged. "Well," the older woman began. "We haven't really had the time to discuss things in detail. We are really just relishing the moment."

"As you should," Georgia conceded. "Can you give us a tentative date?"

"Probably within the next year," Sarah answered vaguely, knowing full well they would tell Georgia all their plans off the record.

"And after you're married, do you plan to make any additions to your family?"

"We both would like to have more children. It's a matter of timing and the situation. We're perfectly content right now with the two girls, but there is always a possibility of more kids. Jamie and I feel we have so much love to give."

Nodding Georgia stated, "With your weddin' you are goin' to be puttin' a new face on marriage in Hollywood. Not only will this be second marriages for you both, both of you have children from your previous spouses, and this is the first time for you to be with a woman, Sarah. How do you think the public will react to this?"

"Hopefully they will extend us the same courtesies they did when we were married to our other spouses. It is true we are putting a new face on the modern family, but we obviously don't think that is a bad thing. I hope that people will see us as a good example of what two people who love each other eternally can accomplish regardless of their gender."

"I agree with Sarah. I think this is an excellent chance for the general public to see how normal our family is, well outside of us being actresses anyway," Jamie joked. "I know there will probably be some backlash from conservatives, but I would like to think that the public can see beyond the controversy."

"Do you think this will hurt your careers?" Georgia hesitantly asked.

Jamie shrugged. "Whether it will or not can only be judged in time. I do hope that Sarah and I both get the opportunity to continue to share our talents, but even if I never made another movie, I would still have all that matters. This is what life is about, relationships, and I feel fortunate enough that Sarah has chosen me," honestly the older woman answered, showing a rare vulnerability.

However Sarah made up for her partner's sudden sensitivity. "I don't know about Jamie, but I fully intend to continue on. There is a lot left people haven't seen of my abilities. I'm just getting started," boldly the blonde actress claimed with a confident smile. "Nothing will stop me from pursuing my dream."

The interview continued on for another half an hour before Georgia turned off the tape and closed her notebook. Looking at her friends, she said, "This interview is goin' to be the best one I've written yet. Don't worry about a thin'. I truly think this will work."

"I hope so," Sarah mumbled with uncertainty.

"Those pictures Tor took of you are goin' to be fabulous."

Sarah nodded in agreement as she looked at her fiancée. "That much is true. I can't wait to see those she took of you. You looked so sexy in that outfit."

"Well, maybe I just have to put it on for you again sometime," Jamie answered playfully.

"Off the record now, have you two decided on anythin' regardin' the weddin'?"

Sarah shook her head. "No but don't worry, Georgia. We want you, Blake, Tor, and Helen to all be a part of it."

"Great. Just tell me what we cain do."

"We will. For now though, let's go relieve Helen of the kids. She's been a saint by putting up with the six of them all day. She deserves a break."

Georgia nodded. "Yeah and I've got to get Luke and Lana home. It's getting' late, and I promised Blake we'd be home tonight."

"Where is she by the way?" Jamie questioned as they went in search of the children.

"Oh, she was out of here early for work. You know they way she is, always putting her clients first."

"I know she's helping us a great deal. We couldn't manage without her," Sarah mentioned as they heard noise from the living room.

They saw everyone minus Helen and Eve watching a Disney movie in the dark. "Where is Eve?" quietly Jamie asked.

"Oh, she was getting tired, so Helen went to get her settled. Would you mind watching these rascals while I help Georgia get the twins in the car?"

"Sure no problem," the tall actress replied.

"I'm going to relieve Helen. Be back soon," Sarah said.

Heading upstairs Sarah went to the bedroom where Eve was staying. The door was ajar, and she could hear her friend singing to her daughter. Sarah peeked into the room and just watched for a minute. Helen looked so content holding Eve. Making her way over to them softly, she knelt beside the chair. Green eyes met blue. "She was getting sleepy," Helen tried to explain.

"It's fine. Thanks for taking such good care of her," the petite blonde answered. After a silent second, Sarah whispered, "Have you told Tor that you want another baby?"

Helen shook her head. "Not yet. John and Marta are both still young. We should wait a little longer before trying again. What about you and Jamie? Are you two going to have a baby together?"

"We haven't decided anything officially, but I think we probably will. I think we both want another one. There is so much we need to do first though."

Helen nodded as she went to put Eve down. "How are you holding up in all of this?"

"It's been hard, but I am so glad Jamie has been here. She's made it bearable. I love that woman so much."

"And she loves you. It's easy to see. I think you'll get beyond this soon. I know Tor and Georgia are going to do everything they can as well as Blake. I only wish there was something I could do."

"You're already doing it, Helen," Sarah assured her, clasping her friend's hand. "You're here. That means everything."

The taller woman smiled at the actress. "Come on. Let's let this angel sleep. I feel like I've been ignoring my own children today, so I want to spend some time with them before they have to go to bed."

Going back downstairs, they found Jamie and Torrance with the children. The brunette actress was lying on the floor next to her daughter while the photographer sat in the middle of the sofa with her kids on either side of her. Both blondes smiled at the scene.

"I think it's time for our young ones to get settled down," Helen mentioned to her wife. Torrance nodded in agreement even as John and Marta grumbled about how tired they weren't. Nevertheless their parents ushered them from the room after bidding their friends good night.

"And what about you, Katrina?" Jamie inquired. "You ready to head to bed?" The

seven-year-old shook her head. "All right. I'll tell you what. I'll make you a deal. You get ready for bed, and I'll let you finish this movie up in your room."

"All right," the blonde mumbled. "Fine, Mom."

"Good. Go on. I'll bring it up in just a minute."

Once Jamie and Sarah were alone, they smiled at each other. "Alone together at last," Sarah stated.

"Yes. How nice. What's that smile for?" Jamie asked as she embraced her fiancée.

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about Helen."

"Oh really? And just what were you thinking about that goddess? Something X-rated I hope," the older woman teased.

Sarah laughed and playfully hit Jamie in the stomach. "You think she's a goddess, do you?" Sarah lightly admonished.

"Well, don't you?"

Sarah gave a nod. "She is the most elegant woman I've ever known," she conceded. "However, that doesn't mean anything. Unlike you, I don't look at my friends that way. That would be like me asking you if you thought Tor was attractive."

Jamie smiled. "I just hope I look as good as she does at that age," she joked, earning her another small hit from her lover. "Seriously, Helen is one of the most stunning women I've ever seen. The two of you would definitely be a video I wouldn't want to miss," she jested.

Sarah laughed loudly. "Keep dreaming, Jamie."

"You and Georgia for that matter would be pretty hot too," the brunette pressed.

"As much as you creeps might enjoy that, it's never going to happen, so just stop talking about it when you're in your little secret brunette club. Georgia, Helen, and I are little angels, and you three devils should just remember that," Sarah reproached jokingly. "Besides, now that I have you, I could never be with someone else, even just for fun. You're all I ever want."

Jamie smiled at the smaller woman. "As much as I jest, I don't think I could ever handle it if you were with someone else, Sarah, even if it was for me. You're mine as I am yours forever now, and there is nothing that brings me more happiness than knowing that."

Sarah leaned up to kiss the woman she loved. "Come on. Let's make sure our oldest is tucked into her bed with her movie, and then perhaps we should tuck each other in?"

"I like the sound of that. Let's go." Walking up the staircase together, Jamie inquired, "So, what were you thinking about Helen anyway?"

"Oh, nothing important. I was just thinking about what a surprise Tor is going to be in for tonight. It would not shock me if the goddess tried to entice her mate this evening. You should have seen the way she was looking at Eve when I came upstairs, Jamie. Helen desperately wants another baby."

"Then I am sure Tor will make that happen. She would do anything for Helen. Enough about them though. I'm looking forward to our own practice baby-making activities."

Sarah giggled. "And as they say, practice does make perfect. Not that you need any work."

"Neither do you. Nevertheless, I always enjoy the opportunity to work on my technique."

Over the next week the actresses stayed with their friends. While they were there, they took the chance to work on their wedding plans, since they made it a point not to do anything else other than relax. Upon the advice of Helen and Georgia, the two decided to work with the wedding planner they both had used.

Then the next task on their agenda was to start searching for a new house on Staten Island for their new family. Once their week of solitude with the Whitfields was over, they moved over to the island to be with Samantha and Doug in order to continue the low profile. However, since most of the neighborhood was already used to seeing Jamie and Katrina there, everyone was friendly toward Sarah and Eve as well but kept a polite distance from the couple, making it easier for them to travel the island.

Daily they looked at properties, but Jamie was insistent that whatever they chose be close to her family. Sarah willing agreed, which kept their search in a limited range. Both of them knew they could afford more than the houses in neighborhood in which Doug and Samantha lived, but neither cared because what was most important was for Katrina to feel as if she still had a home with all of them.

Over dinner a few nights after they had arrived, Doug mentioned, "Jamie, I was talking to our neighbor across the way this morning before I went to work, and he said he had gotten a big promotion. He wants to move his family to the city. I asked if he was going to sell the house, and he said he was thinking about it. I bet if you offered him a good price he'd sell."

"The house right across the street from you? The one with the fantastic view of New York?"

"Yeah."

"What do they want for it?"

"I don't know. Perhaps you two should talk to him though. He asked if I knew anyone that might be interested. Even if you didn't like the place, the location is perfect. You could always tear it down and start over."

The brunette nodded. "That's true. Maybe Sarah and I should go over there."

"I'll go with you after dinner if you want. I think it would be less of a shock that way," Doug joked. "It's not everyday celebrities just go knocking on people's doors around here."

Sarah and Jamie both laughed. "That's probably true, Doug. We'd be grateful if you went with us. There isn't a lot of turnover here in this neighborhood, which is making it more difficult than we imagined," the small actress stated.

"Then it's settled. Wouldn't that be fun to have you all right there? The kids could play together all the time."

After dinner Samantha stayed with the children while the other three adults walked across the street to the neighbor's house. They were obviously surprised when they answered the door at the sight of Sarah and Jamie. However, Doug casually explained the situation. Immediately they were allowed in for a tour of the place. Jamie and Doug were quiet as Sarah did most of the talking, asking all sorts of questions about the house itself. When the short tour was over, both the actresses graciously thanked the neighbors before the three of them headed back across the street.

They found Samantha reading to Eve as the older kids watched TV. "So, what did you think?"

Sarah shrugged. "The location is great."

"Yeah, that part is great, and it has some wonderful views, but the house itself lacks something," the taller woman said.

However the blonde continued, "I think it's worth considering though. I mean Doug is right. If we had to, we could tear it down and rebuild to our taste. It's hard to beat the location."

"I don't think you're going to find all that you need without building at least a little," Doug mentioned.

"You're probably right. The house still needs to be valued. We'll see what kind of price they have in mind. I wouldn't mind buying it just because it's close to you," Jamie said.

"Neither would I," Sarah agreed.

"Well, it certainly would be great having you all across the way. I guess we'll see then, huh?" Samantha inquired with a smile before returning her attentions to the book she was holding for Eve.

That night as the couple settled themselves for bed, Jamie asked, "Do you really think we should buy that house?"

The younger woman nodded. "The location is perfect, Jamie. I say we buy it and build what we want. We're not in a hurry. We both have lofts in the city, and there is always Samantha and Doug. We're not without a place to live. Besides, I promised our daughters we wouldn't live together until we were married. We have time to build the house we want, because my divorce from Robert won't even be final until next year. We can't even get married until at least then."

Jamie nodded. "I suppose you're right. Fine. I guess when they come back to us with a figure we should take it. The bigger problem is designing a house to go in that space."

"Well, it shouldn't be that difficult. All you have to do it let me have my way on everything, and it'll be simple," the blonde joked.

Jamie laughed. "You know if that's what you want, I'll give it to you. I want you to have your dream house."

"I know, but my dream house is far away from here."

"Where is it?" Jamie inquired as they both slipped into bed. They curled up together in the dark.

"It's the mountains of Montana."

"You want me to build you a house in Montana?" the older woman questioned.

"No. I already have my dream house in Montana. It was the first thing I bought when I had enough money. It's so peaceful there. There's nothing for miles."

"Talk about solitude. Why haven't we gone there yet?"

Sarah shrugged. "I didn't want to disturb Katrina's schedule too much. We'll go there someday soon. I hope Robert doesn't try to take that from me."

"We'll fight him if he does."

"He always hated it there, but I wouldn't put it past him to try to take it just to be spiteful."

"Don't worry about it, darling. Blake will make sure that doesn't happen."

"Quite frankly I'm surprised he hasn't tried to take Eve," the blonde whispered into her lover's shoulder. "That would be the ultimate malice."

"Even if he tried, he wouldn't win. No judge would ever give a man like him a daughter to raise when the child has an extremely loving and capable mother. Not even the most conservative judge in New York would do that. That would be a losing battle from the start, and I'm sure he knows that. He only wants to pick fights he thinks he can win."

"Well, I'm tired of it. I just want it to be over. I don't know how the man I loved so many years ago turned into this. I thought he had some decency left in him, but I guess I was mistaken."

"It doesn't really matter now, does it? It's over."

Sarah nodded her head. "Yes, it is, and I by far have won a much greater prize in you and Katrina. Even if I did have to lose everything, you and our daughters would still make my life complete."

"As you do mine, Sarah," Jamie replied, kissing the blonde on the top of the head gently.

Over the next several months life began to return to some normalcy for the couple. As Torrance and Georgia had predicted, as soon as Georgia's article landed in the audience of the general public, the couple was once again seen in a more positive light. The interview requests still came in hordes, but both of the actresses found them much less invasive in tone. Nevertheless, the articles never seemed to be forgotten, but the details were never mentioned.

During that time Jamie and Sarah had settled on the house across the street from Doug and Samantha and then promptly tore the structure to the ground to begin afresh. Between meeting with architects with the house and the wedding planner, their life was busy. Fortunately for Sarah, it appeared as if Blake managed to persuade Robert and his attorney to settle for an uncontested divorce with Sarah, where the petite woman got to keep everything and pay him nothing in exchange for not suing over the slanderous interviews he had done, freeing the blonde from her husband sooner than any of them imagined would be possible. With that wonderful news, Sarah and Jamie immediately set about moving up their wedding. The younger woman wanted the brunette to be able to have joint custody of Eve as soon as she could, so the date was set for the following spring in a location secret to everyone except those involved.

Chapter Nine

The day of the wedding Jamie was up early hearing commotion in the house. Pulling on her robe, she headed downstairs to see what all the noise was. Their wedding planner was standing in the middle of the kitchen shouting orders to a multitude of staff. She smiled when she saw the tall actress.

"Well, so the even the sexiest woman alive has her less than perfect moments," the planner joked.

Jamie just shot her a sexy grin. "Sarah never has those moments," she bantered, knowing full well the woman was really referring her.

"Speaking of the bride, where is she?"

"Still upstairs in bed trying to sleep, which is where I'd like to be. What's with all the noise?"

The wedding planner shook her head. "How could you gamble with fate by seeing each other before the wedding? Don't you know that's bad luck?"

"We don't believe in such silliness."

The woman shrugged. "Me neither. However, I thought we agreed you two would stay at a hotel last night, because you knew I was coming early."

"We thought better of it. How suspicious would that look in the middle of Montana?" she questioned, looking out the large kitchen window at the flurry of activity outside. The chairs and tents were already prepared for the occasion. She smiled at the view of the plains from their perch at the mountain house.

"Well, go back up to your room and get back in bed. I'll have someone make you two breakfast. Go on. You need all the rest you can get today."

Doing as she was told, Jamie headed back up to the bedroom. She was thankful that their daughters had stayed the night with family at the hotel, because had they been there, she wouldn't have been able to sneak back upstairs for a nap. Slipping back into bed, she pulled Sarah into her arms.

"Is that noise what I think it is?" Sarah yawned, pulling her lover closer.

"Yes. The day has begun, my sweet. Can you believe it? We're getting married today."

The little woman turned over and smiled up at the brunette. "It's about time this day got here. It's the moment I've been waiting for my entire life," she said, pulling Jamie down into a slow kiss.

Quickly the exchange escalated as the older woman's hands slipped under Sarah's top. In turn the blonde shed Jamie of her t-shirt and quickly removed her boxer shorts, so the tall actress was naked. Jamie moaned as Sarah softly attacked her neck and turned them over, so the older woman was on her back. Before getting lost in the sensation of Sarah's mouth, the taller woman managed to take off the blonde's top and cotton pants. However, it was obvious that the petite woman wanted to be in charge, so Jamie allowed Sarah to take the lead between them.

Sitting straddled across her lover, Sarah gave a sexy smile. Without a word she took Jamie by the arms and pinned them above her head. The older actress complied willingly. Wrapping the stronger woman's hands around two of the bed spindles, Sarah leaned down and whispered, "Don't let go or I'll stop." Jamie just smiled at her bride-to-be. She loved it when Sarah got this way.

Feeling certain that the brunette was going to do as she was told, Sarah let her hands go and began to lavish attention on the older woman. For Jamie's part, her hands remained where they were, even though she was desperate to embrace the woman she loved. Methodically Sarah worked her way down Jamie's body, taking in all her favorite places with her hands and mouth until she found herself lying with her face between her lover's legs. She kissed one of her fiancée's powerful thighs. Jamie groaned and panted Sarah's name but stayed in the position that was asked of her.

Licking a path up Jamie's leg, Sarah murmured, "Well, well, it seems to me that you didn't get enough last night. Look at you all hot and wet for me."

"Sarah, please," Jamie growled in anticipation.

The blonde quirked a fair brow at her lover as she lowered her head toward her goal. However stopping just short, she asked teasingly, "Please what, my love?"

"Sarah Michelle Talbot-Dean, don't tease me. Fuck me now, baby. Please," she begged, knowing well what Sarah wanted her to say.

With a triumphant grin, the blonde did as was requested of her using only her mouth on the older woman. Jamie moaned and gripped tighter to the spindles, wanting to do what Sarah had asked, even though she needed to touch her lover. Just as Jamie felt her climax building, there was a sudden knock on the bedroom door. Both women stilled their movements at the unexpected interruption.

Sarah tried to raise her head, but Jamie was faster, pushing the blonde back into position as she called out, "What?" The blonde giggled and resumed her activities. Instantly the taller woman's eyes rolled closed at the feeling.

"Sorry to disturb you but Morgan is here and ready to start on your hair and makeup, Jamie," the wedding planner shouted through the door.

Jamie moaned softly at what Sarah was doing, but managed to find her voice. "Fine. I have to shower first, and then I'll be down."

When they heard the footsteps lead away from their door, Sarah leaned back a little and laughed. "Looks like we have to stop," she stated, starting to move off the brunette.

However, the older woman grabbed her by the arm playfully. "Oh, no you don't. You can't stop now. Do you want me to combust before I even walk down the aisle? Please, Sarah. Give it to me, baby."

Smirking at Jamie, Sarah replied, "All right. Since you are so desperate."

It was only moments before Jamie found peak under Sarah's ministrations. Giving a shaky sigh of relief, the brunette pulled her bride into her arms. "That was incredible. Now let me return the favor."

Sarah laughed lightly as the older woman ducked into her neck. "We can't. We have to get up. You don't want to be late for our own wedding, do you?"

"But what about you? I want to please you," Jamie persisted.

However, the blonde pulled her fiancée's mouth away from her endowment. "I am pleased already, Jamie. This was just for you. Now we really need to get out of bed."

"But you want me. I can feel how much you do," the older woman growled as her hand ran through her lover's wetness.

The blonde moaned but managed to wrestle Jamie away. "Just think about how much more I'll want you tonight if you make me wait all day. I'll be aching for you," the younger actress enticed.

Jamie groaned at the thought. "Tonight then," the taller woman promised with a sly smile.

Sarah returned it fondly. "I'll hold you to that. Go on. Go get in the shower."

"Care to join me?" Jamie offered as she slid from the sheets.

"No. We'll never make it if I do," Sarah answered. "Now stop trying to get laid. Go shower and put on that suit of yours, so we can get hitched as they say out here in Montana."

Giving a mock salute, Jamie laughed. "Yes, ma'am."

Several hours later the guests began to arrive for the late morning wedding. Jamie stood in the study with Katrina and Eve looking out over the gathering crowd as they waited for Sarah to be ready. Glancing at her eldest daughter, she saw the blonde reading a magazine as she sat haphazardly in a chair, obviously disinterested with the commotion going on around her. As for Eve, she was playfully twirling around the tall woman, making her little dress flare each time she did it. Jamie smiled at the little girl, who had just turned three.

"What are you doing, princess?" the actress asked, kneeling down to Eve.

"Practicing for Mama," she answered, taking the brunette's hand to steady herself.

"Oh, you're practicing for your dance with Mama? What about your dance with me?"

The little blonde smiled at her. "No dance with you," she teased.

Jamie feigned hurt. "Oh, you break my heart, Eve. You won't dance with me? Katrina will dance with me. Won't you?" she questioned, looking to her older daughter.

The seven almost eight-year-old nodded. "I promised I would dance with you and Mama, didn't I?"

"See, Eve. Even Katrina will dance with me."

The little girl giggled. "I dance with you, Mom," she said, throwing her tiny arms around the brunette's neck.

Jamie embraced the little girl, holding her closely as tears came to her eyes. It was the first time Eve had ever not called her Jamie. "Thank you, sweetie. That makes me very happy."

Just then the door opened and Blake and Tor both stepped into the room. "Well, are you ready, Jamie?" Tor questioned. "Haven't changed your mind?"

"Not a chance of that," the younger woman replied. "Is everyone else ready?"

The attorney shrugged. "I know that Georgia and Helen are, but I don't know about Sarah."

"What about Tabitha?"

"She's ready too, and she looks good," the photographer mentioned with a sly grin.

All three brunettes laughed lightly. "Of course Samantha doesn't look too bad either," Blake joked.

"Hey now. It's one thing to comment on the friends, quite another to do it to my family," Jamie jokingly reproached.

At that moment Doug opened the door and admitted himself. "There's too much laughing in here for such a solemn occasion," he jested.

"There's my best man. Looking sharp there, Doug."

"Thank you. It's time, Jamie."

Nodding she turned her attention to her daughters. "All right, girls. It's time to go. Now do just as we practiced yesterday, and you'll be fine."

The actress followed her friends out to the designated spot where the wedding planner was waiting to put them in procession order. Blake and Georgia were the first to go followed by Helen and Torrance. Tabitha walked down the aisle alone as the maid of honor. Looking at her two girls, Jamie gave nods of encouragement before the wedding planner shooed the two of them down the row together, leaving the actress with just Samantha and Doug standing beside her.

Looking at them, she smiled. "Thank you both for being here," she said.

Samantha embraced her. "Know that Stephanie is smiling down on you from heaven, Jamie."

The actress nodded. "I know. Now I guess we should do this. Thank you for agreeing to walk me down the aisle," she mentioned, taking the redhead by the arm.

"It's an honor."

Looking over her shoulder at Doug just before they processed, the brunette said, "And thank you for walking Sarah, Doug."

"No. Thank you for making a man's fantasies come true. It's not many men who get the arm of such a woman on her wedding day," he joked, making the three of them laugh to break the seriousness that had encompassed them suddenly.

When the moment came, Jamie and Samantha took their time making their way down the aisle. The actress looked around all the guests, smiling at the assembly as she passed them. However, what caught her attention the most was the feeling of Samantha on her arm. Her late wife's sister pressed closely against her, guiding her toward a new life. She felt the small hand grip tighter in a reassuring manner. Finally making it to the end of the row, they both stopped. Turning to look at each other, they both smiled.

Leaning up to kiss Jamie on the cheek, Samantha whispered, "You and Sarah will always be our family, Jamie, no matter what happens. My love for you will never change."

"I love you too, Samantha. Thank you," she murmured, hugging the smaller woman before allowing her to go stand next to Torrance.

Turning her attention from where she had just come, she waited for Doug and Sarah. Her eyes drifted skyward momentarily as the sun broke through the scattered clouds casting radiance around the wedding party. The actress allowed the warmth to embrace and calm her. She only became aware again of her surroundings as the music announced Sarah's presence. Casting her brown eyes toward the blonde, Jamie smiled brightly at the sight of the woman she loved on the arm of her brother-in-law.

Sarah smiled back at the tall woman standing at the end of the aisle. She had never seen her lover more beautiful than standing in the light of the sun. Her gray suit jacket hung confidently off broad shoulders, elongating her height, and the matching pants fit her perfectly in every way. However, it was the lustrous smile that caught her eyes that made Sarah fall for her all over again. She could feel the blush rising in her own cheeks as Doug escorted her to her wife-to-be.

Jamie reached for Sarah's hand as they neared her, and Doug obligingly relinquished it to her. "You look so beautiful, Sarah," she complimented, gazing over her lover's blue dress. She knew the blonde was not going to wear white, but the smaller woman still looked incredible. The color of her dress flawlessly matched the brightness of her eyes.

"So you do, love." Casting a tiny glance toward the sun, she whispered, "Looks like everyone made it today."

Knowing to what the blonde was referring, Jamie nodded and smiled. "Yes, they did, which makes me incredibly happy."

"I know. I'm glad she approves of me."

"How could she not?" the brunette replied as she turned them toward the front to start the ceremony.

The rest of the day passed too quickly for them. Thankfully no one of the media had found them, making it the intimate occasion for which they had hoped. However, it was still over too soon. By that afternoon all of their guests had gone, leaving them just with family. As Jamie and Sarah packed their clothes for their short honeymoon, Samantha and Doug rounded up the kids to go back to the hotel.

"So, exactly when will you be back again?" Samantha inquired as they were settling the children into the car.

"We'll be in Hawaii for a week, and then we have to get back to New York. Our movie will be opening in a few weeks, so we have a ton of interviews and photo shoots lined up in preparation. You have all our numbers though in case you need us," Jamie answered.

"We'll try not to disturb you though," the redhead stated.

"I'm sure we won't be able to go a day without talking to the kids, so don't worry," Sarah mentioned, hugging both their girls. Jamie did the same.

As they watched the SUV Doug and Samantha had rented disappear down the steep driveway, the brunette mentioned, "Well, I suppose we should get going as well. We have a plane to catch to the land of Aloha."

"I have a better idea," Sarah began, leaning up to kiss her wife. "What if we didn't get on the plane?"

"Didn't get on the plane? Then we'd be stuck in Montana, in the middle of nowhere."

"No civilization for miles," the petite woman whispered, running her hands over the contours of her wife's shoulders.

"No one to bother us," Jamie mumbled, finally realizing what Sarah's point actually was.

"No tourists, no fans, just two newlyweds anxious for each other," the younger woman murmured, capturing Jamie's mouth in a stirring kiss.

The taller woman moaned as their tongues met gently. "You're right. Let's not get on the plane. What's the point of being there when we aren't even going to see anything other than a bed for days?"

Laughing softly, Sarah asked, "Promise?"

Taking her wife by the hand, Jamie motioned back to the house. "You want to go in?"

"Unless you'd prefer to consummate our marriage in the driveway," the blonde mentioned, starting on the button's of her lover's shirt. "You have a promise to keep, Miss Dean."

Jamie laughed and scooped the smaller woman up into her arms. "And keep it I shall," she avowed, walking them back to their mountain cabin.

Returning to New York a week later, they were bombarded with two happy girls. Katrina and Eve were both anxious for their mothers' arrival and had lots of news to share with them. Delightfully Sarah and Jamie listened as the both of them reported on all their activities over dinner with Samantha and Doug. Finally when the evening got late, Sarah and Jamie rounded up their daughters to go home. Quickly they said their good byes with promises to be by again the next day, and then taking each child by the hand, they crossed the street to their new home.

Sarah and Jamie smiled at each other as the brunette unlocked the door for them. This would be their first night together as a family. All four of them toured the house curiously since no one had been there since it was completed. Eve raced around, but Katrina followed at a more subdued pace. However, once both girls were tucked into bed, the newlyweds went into their own room.

Both of them stood on the balcony over looking the New York skyline. "Seems like a world away," Sarah mentioned softly.

"Yes, it does, but I kind of like it that way," the taller woman admitted.

"Me too. I'm glad we decided to live here. I think we might actually find a little peace at home now."

Jamie nodded. "It's better than either of our lofts in New York. Not so much noise. Not so many fans on the street. It's a real community here, and they've always sort of protected me. I think they'll treat you the same."

"I'm sure they will."

Giving a yawn, the older actress mumbled, "I'm tired. Perhaps we should get to bed? We have that photo shoot with Tor tomorrow for 'Rolling Stone', remember?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "How could I forget? I still can't believe you actually talked me into posing nude on the cover."

"It's not like you'll be alone. I'll be with you covering all your private parts," the brunette whispered, cupping her wife's breasts lightly. "Besides, it might not end up on the cover. We'll see when we get there. Tor won't make us look X-rated. You know we can trust her."

The blonde nodded. "I know we can. Let's go to bed. I need some beauty rest if I'm going to look good in the morning."

"You always look good to me," Jamie replied, kissing the little woman sweetly.

The next day Katrina went to school as usual with her cousins, and Samantha babysat Eve while Sarah and Jamie went about their work in town. The first thing on the agenda was the photo shoot with Torrance. They were greeted by a huge smile from their friend when they arrived. "Well, hello, newlyweds. So good to see you," the photographer stated, coming to hug them. "How was the honeymoon?"

"Not long enough," Sarah answered as she was immediately ushered toward the makeup chair.

"Definitely would still like to be on it," chimed in Jamie as she was led away in the opposite direction to get her hair done.

An hour later Sarah was brought to the stage where they would be shooting in her first set of clothes, ones that closely resembled what she had worn in the movie during one of her sex scenes with the brunette. Torrance was just describing to her the first shots she wanted to take when they both saw Jamie being led toward them. Sarah chuckled as she saw her wife dressed as she had been for most of the movie including the facial hair, but the brunette's hands were also handcuffed in front of her.

"You better have the keys to these, Tor," she joked as she stepped to her wife.

"Well, well, talk about a fantasy," Sarah whispered. "It's not often I get to see you chained up."

"Well, it can be arranged if you'd like," the older woman replied with a smile, slipping her arms around her wife's shoulders as best as she could given her confinement. "You look incredibly sexy."

Before the blonde could respond, Torrance broke into their conversation and started to position them for their first shots. From there both of them slipped into their professional roles, knowing that in order to get the best photos as possible, they would have to listen to Torrance's directions implicitly. Hours and several costume changes later, Jamie found herself standing alone in front of Torrance's camera in nothing but a pair of tiny shorts, her arms folded across her chest as she waited on her wife to come out in her final outfit.

Torrance and Jamie talked casually as if the brunette actress was fully clothed. Everyone else had been dismissed from the set as the actresses had requested in order to do the nude shots, leaving just the two brunettes alone. Just as Jamie was beginning to wonder if Sarah had changed her mind, her wife came out to where they were dressed in only a robe.

"All right. Let me show you how I want you two arranged before you take off your clothes," Torrance said, taking each of them by the arm. She positioned them the way she wanted and then stepped back to view her creation. Satisfied with the pose, she turned to the blonde. "If it would help with your modesty, Sarah, I'll turn around while you disrobe," she offered.

The blonde nodded and then looked back at her wife while their friend turned around. Boldly the older actress shed her shorts, tossing them to the side out of the way. Then she helped her wife out of her robe. When they were naked and back in the position Torrance had wanted, they told the photographer to turn back around toward them.

Torrance studied them a moment requesting minor final adjustments before starting a new roll. However, after a few minutes, she said, "There is another pose I'd like to try but only if you two are comfortable with it."

"What's that?" Jamie asked.

"Well, I thought if Sarah could stand in front and you behind her, we could have one of your hands covering her below and your other arm covering above. In turn, Sarah, you could put your arms around Jamie's neck. Splay your hand for me, Jamie, so I can see how big it is." Jamie did as she was instructed. "I think that will do it. Do you want to try it?"

"It's up to Sarah," Jamie answered, looking at the blonde for consent.

The blonde nodded. "We can try it. I trust you, Torrance."

Their friend nodded. "I won't take any pictures if I don't think it will look good, but I have an inclination that it will. You two get into position," she said, turning her back again to pick up her camera.

When Torrance was satisfied with the photographs, she freed both of them to go change into their normal clothes again. Sarah modestly slipped back into her robe and then scampered off toward her dressing area. Jamie walked more slowly to her discarded shorts and picked them up. Without even bothering to put them back on, she turned to her friend. "So, you'll let Sarah and me know if you decide to use any of those nude shoots in the magazine before it's published, right?"

"That's what we agreed to. Don't worry, Jamie. If we use any, they will only be in good taste. We worked so hard to repair your images. Of all people, I would be the last to want to destroy what I helped rebuild."

"I know. She's just nervous about it after all that's happened."

"I understand. Listen. Before you run off and change, what do you say to a few rolls of just you? I'm working on a new project of nude celebrity women."

Jamie grinned at her friend as she casually tossed her shorts aside. "Well, how could I say no to such an offer? You know me. Any chance to be an exhibitionist," she teased, moving back to the stage where the other shots had been taken. "How do you want me?"

"I think I just want to do you from the back. Why don't you do some weight lifter's poses to show off those muscles of yours?" the photographer suggested. "I just need to get some more film before we start." Jamie nodded as Torrance loaded her camera. Within a moment the older brunette was fast at work photographing the image before her. The actress simply did an impromptu session of poses for her friend, trying to demonstrate her physique.

When Sarah finished dressing, she went out to find her wife. Hearing Torrance speaking to someone where they had just done their shoot, she figured Jamie had finished dressing first and joined her friend in wait. However, as she made her way back to the sound of the photographer's voice, her steps slowed at the sight of her wife. Her breathing instantly became labored watching the woman she loved flexing her musculature so it boldly outlined the tattoo that sat on her shoulder. Mesmerized by the display she simply stood next to Torrance as the photographer continued to snap pictures.

"All right. How about turning to the side slightly?" Torrance suggested. As Jamie did what was asked of her, the older brunette looked towards the blonde. She smirked at the look in her friend's eyes. "Impressed?" needlessly she inquired.

"She looks like a sculpture," Sarah answered in awe, watching her wife strike another powerful pose.

"Sometimes it easy to forget she's real," Torrance mentioned. "I've never seen a body like it. She is the epitome of art in motion." Sarah nodded in agreement. "You want to join her?" the photographer asked.

"No, I couldn't," shyly the youngest woman replied.

Giving her a smile, Torrance nodded. "Maybe next time," she stated before starting to shoot Jamie for a few more minutes.

Finally Sarah told them that she and Jamie had other engagements to attend, so regrettably the brunette actress walked back to her dressing room. She was just about to slip into her clothes when Sarah appeared in her doorway. Immediately the blonde grabbed her wife by the arms and forced her against the wall. Jamie laughed at the smaller woman's actions, allowing herself to be manhandled.

"You," the blonde growled sexily. "You are going to make us so late to our next appointment."

"Oh really? And why is that?" joked the older woman, pretending not to see that look in her lover's eyes.

"Because, Miss Dean, you have more important matters in need of immediate attention," Sarah panted, grabbing her wife's right hand and shoving it between her clothed thighs.

Both of them moaned as the blonde harshly brought their mouths together. Jamie went to work on her wife's pants, ripping them open with urgency as Sarah continued the oral assault. Quickly she connected them in the way the younger woman desired, making Sarah amorously cry and claw at her naked shoulders. Managing to break free from the blonde's mouth for just a moment, the dark-haired woman fervently whispered, "Is this what you wanted? Did you want me to fuck you like this?"

The younger woman moaned as she shamelessly rode the tide of pleasure the taller woman was creating inside of her. "God, Jamie. You feel so good. It's been too long," she groaned, rocking her hips faster.

Jamie giggled at her wife's behavior, because it had only been a few days since their last encounter. "You're starting to sound like me," she jested. A few moments later Sarah let out a loud familiar cry signaling her peak. Jamie stilled her movements and held the blonde in strong arms until her shuddering subsided. "Feel better now?" she inquired when Sarah pulled away from her.

The younger woman nodded as dilated blue eyes met brown ones. "Thanks. I needed that," she teased.

The older woman just laughed and nodded her head. "You certainly did, and it was definitely my pleasure to give it to you. Come on now. We better get going, so people don't think we're standing them up. Get out of here, so I have a chance to get dressed in peace."

The rest of the afternoon after the shoot was taken up by interviews. Both women talked excitedly about their upcoming release in hopes of adding to the hype already surrounding the controversial movie. Almost everyone they spoke to was curious as to how their on-screen relationship affected their lives during the filming, especially since they had made it clear previously that was how they met, but they graciously fielded all the questions about their personal lives. Finally when the exhausting day was over, they went home to Staten Island to pick up their children at Doug and Samantha's. Both of them knew that now that they were back from their honeymoon, their lives would take them on a parallel journey for the next few weeks until the release, but then they would be off again working on their separate respective projects, making their private time that much more valuable to them.

Chapter Ten

A year and a half later the two actresses got ready for their big night at the Academy Awards. Their movie, which had just missed the release cut off date for the nominations the previous year, was up for several awards that evening. Both actresses had been nominated as well, Sarah for Best Actress and Jamie for Best Supporting Actress for the psychological thriller that had swept the nation, leaving fans and critics amazed.

Jamie was finished getting ready first and opted to spend her free moments talking on the phone with their two daughters who had stayed behind in New York with Samantha and Doug while she and Sarah made the trip out to Los Angeles. Eve, now four, was the first to get on the phone. "Hi, Mom. When are you coming home?"

"Tomorrow, sweetie. What are you doing?"

"I was just playing with my puzzle, but Katrina keeps poking me," she complained.

"Put her on the phone then, Eve," Jamie instructed. When the nine-year-old got on the telephone, the brunette said, "Stop poking your sister, Katrina."

"She started it, Mom. I was just watching TV when she had to sit right next to me and dump her puzzle all over the place," she grumbled

"Katrina, she just wants to be with you. Now give her a break and be nice."

"Whatever," Katrina mumbled. "When will you be home?"

"Tomorrow night. You be good for Aunt Samantha and Uncle Doug."

"May I stay up to see you and Mama on TV?" Katrina asked.

"I suppose so, but then you have to go straight to bed. No trying to talk your way out of that," she answered, smiling into the phone at her child. She knew Katrina would definitely try to stay up later if she was allowed. As much as Jamie loved her daughter, Katrina had started to assert her independence over the last six months. For the most part the brunette shrugged it off. She knew from experience Katrina was beginning to turn into Stephanie, even at her young age. The little blonde was the same spunky woman her mother had been, so whenever Jamie had to warn her about the rules, she still smiled, because it was like living with the best parts of her late wife again.

A few minutes later, Jamie heard Sarah move into the room. She turned, her eyes starting at the floor and moving upward as a black dress came into view followed by a rounded stomach and then a stunning face. "Wow," Jamie said in obvious awe of her pregnant wife.

"Are you talking to the girls?" The taller woman nodded. Sarah gestured that she wanted to talk, so Jamie relinquished the phone to her. "Hi," she greeted.

"Hey, Mama," Katrina replied.

"How was your day, Katrina? Have you been good?"

"It was fine, kind of boring."

"Well, don't stay up too late tonight. Put Eve on the phone for me please."

"All right."

When the four-year-old got on the phone, she said, "Hi, Mama."

"Hi, sweetie. How are you?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you too, honey, but we'll be home tomorrow. We just have to go to a party tonight, and then we're going to fly home in the morning. Have sweet dreams tonight."

"You too. I love you."

"I love you too, Eve. Bye." Hanging up the phone, Sarah looked at her wife. Jamie was still just standing there with her mouth slightly open. "Well?"

"Wow. You are stunning, Mrs. Talbot-Dean."

"So are you, Mrs. Talbot-Dean," the blonde answered as they kissed quickly.

"All right. I suppose it's time to go," Jamie stated, consulting her watch. Holding an arm out to the blonde, she asked, "Are you ready to go win our awards?"

The younger woman smiled as she put her hand on her wife's arm. "I'm ready as I ever will be." Going downstairs they got into their awaiting limo. Both of them were quiet at first as they looked out the window at passing traffic.

"Are you nervous about tonight?" Jamie asked conversationally.

Sarah shrugged. "Why should I be?"

"Well, this is our first real public appearance since you started showing. We're presenting together, and we're both up for awards."

"That's true. I guess I'm a little nervous about presenting, but you'll be there, so I have nothing to worry about."

"Very true," Jamie replied, slipping an arm around her wife's shoulders.

"So you think we're going to win our awards?"

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"Maybe. I want you to win. You deserve it most, Jamie."

"You deserve yours too for your role. You made the movie what it was. I was just a psycho transsexual killer. It was your brilliance as the special agent that made people want to see the movie. They wanted to see my wife kicking my ass," she joked.

"And I did a damn good job of that if I can say so myself," the blonde teased, poking Jamie in the side lightly.

The tall brunette laughed and squirmed a bit. "I love you, Sarah Talbot-Dean," she said.

"I love you too, Jamie."

When they arrived at their first stop of the evening, Tabitha's hotel, their blonde friend was all smiles as she greeted them with hugs. "You two look fabulous," she complimented.

"You look good too, Tabby."

"You sure do," Jamie agreed with a sexy wink that made both blondes laugh.

"Down girl. You're spoken for by a blonde who can beat you up. The whole world knows that," Tabitha teased.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I just let her take me, so she could look good."

"I'll take you all right," Sarah purred, slipping a hand onto her wife's slacks-covered thigh. "We both know who's boss."

"I don't want to see this," Tabitha joked, shielding her eyes as her friends exchanged a kiss. Jamie groaned for affect to make their friend squirm, but Sarah's laughing gave away the game.

For the rest of the ride, they merely chatted. However when they arrived at the red carpet, they all knew it was show time. Preparing their best smiles, they waited for their limo door to be opened. Jamie stepped out first as cameras came to life. She gave a wave and cocky smile as she reached back into the car to assist Sarah. As the blonde emerged from the limousine with her pregnant tummy proceeding her, the media snapped their cameras furiously. Once Sarah was out of the car, Jamie helped Tabitha. Then she extended an arm to each of them and proudly escorted the two blonde beauties through the press. As usual, reporters swamped them as soon as they got close enough. All of them were congratulatory on the upcoming baby for the couple and asked the standard questions about their excitement of being nominated. Of course, Sarah, with her usual grace, fielded them all, with Jamie standing next to her.

Once they were inside and seated, it was only a few minutes before the program began. Through it all, Jamie sat holding her wife's hand. They were supposed to be presenting an award together that evening in what was to be their first real planned public forum since they announced Sarah's pregnancy. Even though Sarah didn't say it, Jamie could tell the little woman was nervous about it.

Time moved quickly and soon they were being escorted back stage for their turn. Standing in the wings watching the people before them, Sarah fidgeted a moment. Curving a protective arm around her, Jamie said, "Sarah, no matter what happens out there, I'm right beside you. I love you."

"I love you too, Jamie. Let's do this," she stated with confidence, taking her wife's hand.

It was just a moment before the announcer stated, "Now to present the award for this year's Best Foreign Film, we have two of tonight's Academy Award nominees, Sarah and Jamie Talbot-Dean."

The crowd clapped loudly as the two women made their way onto the stage. Jamie eyed her wife next to her. She was her usual composed elegant self as they made their way over to their microphone. For Jamie's part, she took on her more public persona, swaggering with an air of confidence next to the petite lady.

When they came to a stop in front of their microphone, Jamie took a slight step back to allow Sarah to sparkle alone in the limelight. After the crowd had settled, the blonde began their monologue on the teleprompter. Jamie did her part as well, but when the moment of announcing the winner was at hand, she let her wife take the duty. When the winner's speech was over, the tall brunette led her wife from the stage along with the recipient.

"See. That wasn't hard. They loved you," Jamie stated.

"They loved us, Jamie. Now if we can just make it to our awards, we can go home and call it a night. I'm starting to get sleepy."

"Well, after we win, I was hoping you and I might celebrate," she mentioned.

"If we win," the blonde corrected. "And even as much as we should go to some parties, I am feeling a little too tired."

"We're going to win. I feel it, and after we do, I'm going to take you home and make love to you like the queen you are. Forget the parties," she whispered sexily.

Sarah blushed lightly but said nothing as she waved at acquaintances of theirs on their way back to their seats. "You're bad," she finally replied as they sat again.

"On the contrary, I'm quite good. At least that's what you said last night," she responded, nipping the blonde's ear.

"Behave. We're in public," Sarah giggled.

"Make me," challenged Jamie, letting her hand drop onto her wife's thigh.

"Jamie," she warned softly. "Later. I promise."

Pleased that she got her way, the tall woman said, "That's all I wanted to hear."

Half an hour later the big moment for Jamie was at hand. Even though she was slightly nervous, she didn't let it show as she gave the cameras a cocky smirk and wink when they panned to her as her name was called. She did want to win the award, but she would rather have been at home with Sarah worshipping her wife's body than sitting there in front of the world. Holding the blonde's hand as she waited for the moment of truth, she thought about the woman next to her. She was the real reason for Jamie's passionate performance.

When Jamie's name was announced as the winner, it was the blonde next to her who screamed the loudest in the crowd as she threw herself into the tall woman's arms. Jamie returned the embrace heartily as she kissed her wife with the same fervor she had in the film that had caused such a stir in the first place. Then she slowly made her way up to the stage. However, as she stood there looking out over the crowd, she opted to be herself instead of her public personality. Finding Sarah in the crowd, the tall woman began to cry. "This is quite an honor. I've never done a film of this nature before, so I want to thank those people who believed I could actually do this," she started. Quickly she thanked the people who had assisted her career before moving on to more personal matters. "Most of all, I'd like to thank my family. Eve and Katrina, I know you're watching right now, and as soon as this show is over, you have to go to bed," she joked. "I also want to mention a very special woman to me, my late wife, Stephanie," she said, looking towards the lights. "I know you're up there looking down on me at this moment, and I feel you watching over me everyday. I want to thank you for giving me the greatest gifts you ever could, your love and Katrina. Lastly, but certainly not least, I want to thank you, Sarah," she said, again making eye contact with her wife. "You've brought me back to life. Thanks to you I know what it means to live again, and I look forward to the new addition to our family and many years of happiness together. I love you."

Sarah just cried as she watched her wife on the stage receiving her award. Even as much as she wanted to win her own, she was even more thrilled Jamie had been recognized for her talents. She was so moved at the sight of her brunette standing there revealing to the world the woman she knew in private, instead of affecting her public attitude. Through the years Sarah had become accustomed to the cockiness that usually surrounded her wife whenever she was out. It was what the media expected of her, and the tall woman had perfected it with her bad girl style, but it was her soft nature Sarah adored most, and she was reveling in it for those few moments her beloved spoke to the crowd.

It was several long minutes before she got back to her seat. When she did, Sarah embraced her around the shoulders. "You truly are the most amazing woman, Jamie," she confessed. "I love you more than you could ever know."

"I do know, because it's how much I love you. I can't believe I won," she said in quiet excitement. "Now if they would hurry up and give you yours, we can get out of here."

"You're in a hurry now? What? Do you have a hot date or something?" the blonde teased softly.

"You better believe it. I have a date with a bed and the hottest woman on the earth."

"Oh, sounds fun. Could I watch?" Sarah audaciously questioned, affecting her lover's persona for a moment.

"You know I mean you."

"I should be so lucky."

"Well, we could leave now," Jamie suggested softly.

"No. We have to wait for my category first."

"Oh, come on, Sarah. I'd much rather be in that bed than doing anything else. You know that."

"I certainly do," the blonde murmured. "However, you just have to wait. Our daughters are waiting to see me on TV. Remember? Besides, this will be my first Oscar win. I can't exactly skip out, even as much as I do want to."

"Oh. All right. I guess I can be patient for our girls," she acquiesced playfully.

The wait for Sarah's category was painful for the brunette. With her little wife having offered herself for the night once they event was over, she didn't care about anything else but touching the soft skin of her lover. However, she knew she had to play the part they both knew was necessary. When it finally came time for the category, Jamie had become disinterested and bored, being far too preoccupied with the woman sitting next to her.

When Sarah's name was announced, she smiled at the camera but squeezed her wife's hand anxiously. The older woman knew that as much as the blonde acted like she didn't care, she wanted to win the award as a way of proving herself as a serious actress and an independent woman.

The seconds passed like hours as the little woman watched the presenters. When they opened the envelope and paused, she felt as if her heart was going to stop. Then the moment she had dreamed of since she was a child came to pass as her name was called. She screamed in happiness as Jamie hugged her fiercely.

"You did it, baby. I knew you would," Jamie said with a smile, leaning down to kiss the blonde. Sarah responded passionately, giving the whole world a brief glimpse into the love they shared. "Go get your award, beautiful. You deserve it," the brunette said with a loving grin.

"I love you, Jamie. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Sarah. Go on now. This is your moment."

Taking the short walk up the aisle toward the stage, Sarah carefully took the steps up to receive her award. The audience cheered for her, but she only had eyes for one person. Meeting the dark eyes of her wife, she gave a shaky sigh.

"Wow. This is an incredible feeling to stand here. You all will never know how much this award means to me. As a little girl, I dreamt of this moment. The making of this particular movie changed my life. It was a challenge for me but one I am so glad I took. There are so many people I'd like to thank, but I have to start with four people first. To my wife, Jamie Talbot-Dean, thank you for opening my eyes and my heart. Making this movie with you was the beginning of something wonderful, and I know it only gets better from here. To my two daughters, Eve and Katrina, you two are blessings to my life, and to a very special woman who I never actually had the pleasure of meeting, Stephanie Taylor-Dean. Thank you for making Jamie the wonderful woman she is today," she began. Seeing Jamie sitting in her seat crying, she began to do the same. Quickly she finished her speech by thanking the rest of the people who had made her moment possible before being escorted away behind the stage.

Ten minutes later, Sarah returned to her seat. She was greeted by an amorous brunette who immediately embraced her. The younger woman leaned to Jamie's ear and bit it seductively as she whispered, "We can leave now."

"Thank God," Jamie growled under her breath. "Come on." Trying to be discreet, the two of them moved out of their seats and up the aisle toward the exit. They did their best to evade the press as they made their way outside where their limo was already waiting for them. Getting into it as quickly as possible before they were spotted, they zipped away into the Los Angeles night.

"Well, now. Here we are. Alone at last," Sarah stated, moving closer to her wife.

Jamie grinned as they leaned to kiss each other. "Well, we both won. This calls for a celebration, don't you think?"

The blonde quirked her brow as she answered naughtily, "You can start the party by taking me right now."

"Sarah, you are such a temptress. You know I'll give you anything you want," the older woman replied.

"On your knees, Miss Dean," Sarah commanded, pushing her lover down to the floor of the limo.

Jamie smiled sexily as she looked up at her wife. She loved it when Sarah acted this way. She usually was the aggressor between them, but there were times when the younger woman took the reigns, and it always turned out hot and exciting. "Anything you want," she said, placing her hands on the hem of her lover's black dress. She pushed it up her legs to her waist. She then pulled off the hosiery that encased Sarah's legs and dropped it next to her with the blonde's shoes. Not even waiting for instructions, she dipped her head between her wife's thighs, taking in the scent that was distinctly hers.

Sarah's eyes rolled shut at the glorious feeling of Jamie adoring her body. Lacing her fingers through dark hair, she held on as the brunette took her to the peak leisurely. It didn't take long before she was begging for the release only Jamie could give her. Thankfully the tall woman didn't delay in providing the relief she needed. She shook as her climax overtook her.

Jamie rose to the seat and pulled Sarah into her arms, whispering endearments as the little woman began to descend again. When she seemed to have calmed, she sweetly asked, "Are you all right?" Sarah nodded dreamily. "How's our baby? Okay?" Jamie inquired, placing a hand over her wife's full tummy. She lightly rubbed it.

Sarah smiled over at Jamie as her hand came to rest on top of her lover's. "He's fine."

"Good."

"Oh. You're so good to me, Jamie," she sighed with content as she leaned to kiss her wife's lips gently. Of course that only started them down the fervent path once again.

A little later they managed to tear themselves away from each other long enough to get up to their luxurious room at the hotel. The tall woman playfully carried her bride over the threshold of the room before securing the door behind her. "Well, here we are," the brunette said, placing Sarah down on the couch before going to the bar. Grabbing a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider, she asked, "Could I pour you a glass?" "You've thought of everything, haven't you? That would be lovely. Thank you."

The older woman poured two glasses and brought Sarah hers. Raising her champagne flute toward the blonde she proposed, "To our children, all three of them."

"To our children," echoed Sarah before lightly touching her glass to Jamie's. Taking a sip, she mentioned, "This is delicious."

"Not as delicious as you," the tall woman quipped. "Drink up, darling. You are urgently needed in the bedroom. There's something I need to tend to there."

The petite woman smiled behind her glass as she leisurely enjoyed the beverage. She knew her slow motion would drive her wife to even greater passion. However, when it appeared as if Jamie was on the edge of her sanity, she acquiesced. Putting her empty glass back in the tall woman's hands, she demanded, "Take me to bed, Jamie."

Placing the glasses on the coffee table, the brunette took the blonde by the hands to help her from the sofa. Moving into the bedroom, Sarah saw the room had been decorated especially for them, her favorite flowers draping over every piece of furniture and white candles illuminating the otherwise dark space. Sarah smiled at her beloved for all the work Jamie had actually put into their evening. Looking down at the little woman fondly, the dark-haired actress whispered, "Let me make you more comfortable."

Sarah stood there at the foot of the bed, letting Jamie have the lead between them. She always enjoyed when Jamie touched her, because the older woman instinctively knew how she needed to be loved. Jamie was capable of every range of love two people could share, so the blonde was never disappointed, and she knew tonight would not be an exception between them. Looking up into brown eyes that had darkened even more with desire, she just stood waiting for her wife to begin.

Jamie simply looked down at the blonde for a moment. Sarah never failed to take her breath away with just a loving gaze. Showing a bit of her cocky side with a one-sided grin, the tall woman started to undress herself first. Holding the gaze with Sarah, she shrugged off her black suit jacket. Blue eyes widened a bit in response. Next she slowly unbuttoned her black silk shirt and let that drop to the floor as well. Quickly she discarded the black bra she was wearing, leaving her naked from the waist up.

Sarah took a deep breath as her wife's torso came into view. The sight of the sculpted form never failed to make her skin simmer. Seeing brown eyes silently inviting her to join the fun, she reached for Jamie's belt. It was open within a moment, and then she went back for the button and zipper. Slipping her right hand between the wool folds, she gasped, feeling that her lover wasn't wearing anything else. Jamie gave a quirk of her left brow before stepping to the blonde. Sarah felt the heat envelope her immediately. Moving her own hands to the tall woman's hips, she pushed the slacks off of her as the brunette reached behind her to start on the zipper of her dress. She held firmly to her lover's back as Jamie nipped her neck lightly. Her dress came slithering off moments later. The rest of her silk undergarments followed quickly. Feeling one of Jamie's hands move over her stomach and stop, Sarah pulled back a little. She felt modest in her seven-month pregnant body compared to the magnificent creature in her arms.

"You are so beautiful, Sarah," Jamie stated reverently.

The awe in her voice was obvious, making the blonde flush at the compliment. Even now the older woman had a way of making her feel like the most gorgeous woman she had ever seen. Giving a smile, she answered, "You're not too bad yourself, good-looking."

"I love you, Sarah. You'll never know how much."

"I love you too, Jamie, always. You're so good to me."

Maneuvering them onto the down-turned bed, Jamie let her body hover over her lover's. As much as she wanted to feel the blonde's body firmly against her own, she knew she had to be careful of Sarah's stomach. They merely held each other's gaze for a moment before Sarah pulled her wife's head down for a kiss, signaling that she had waited long enough.

Tenderly they made love for long hours into the night before settling down in each other's arms for sleep. As Jamie held the small woman in her embrace, her thoughts drifted to their upcoming arrival. "Sarah," she whispered.

"Yeah?" the blonde replied, snuggling closer into Jamie's naked frame behind her.

"What are we going to name our son?"

"James," the blonde answered with a little giggle.

"James? James Talbot-Dean? It was bad enough my mother named me after James Dean. I don't think we should do that to our son."

"But he'll be named after you, honey. Don't you want a namesake?" Jamie shrugged. "Well, I have another idea. What about Stephen? Stephen Michael Talbot-Dean."

"SMT? I take it that's not a coincidence."

"I thought you might like it," she explained.

"I do like it, Sarah. It's a sweet gesture."

"So Stephen Michael it is?" she questioned, turning in her lover's arms.

"Stephen Michael it is," Jamie answered leaning to kiss Sarah's lips. "You're wonderful, Sarah. I'm going to spend the rest of my life loving you."

"Good. You can start right now," the blonde teased, reaching for the tall woman's hand and placing it between her thighs.

The brunette growled lowly. "God, you're still wet."

"Always for you," Sarah panted as Jamie stroked her slowly. Just as her wife was about to make them one, she groaned painfully.

"What is it?" the older actress asked in concern.

"Stephen's kicking me."

Jamie looked down at Sarah's stomach. She could see their son making his presence known. Covering the spot with her hand, she felt the force of him moving. "Wow. He has quite the kick there. Maybe he'll be a soccer player with moves like that," the brunette joked.

Sarah smiled at the joke, even through her discomfort. Stephen had become more active over the last few weeks, making her wish for the day she had him. He seemed more than ready to be in the world with the rest of his family, judging by the way he was moving around. The blonde just waited, hoping he would settle down after a few minutes, but Jamie had other ideas.

Seeing that her son was still kicking Sarah, she decided to try something she had done years ago with Katrina. Moving her head down to her wife's tummy, she rubbed it soothingly as she softly began to sing. The blonde watched in amazement as she stroked the dark head on her stomach. Her wife was singing their son a gentle lullaby. Sarah listened to Jamie's melodious voice as it comforted their child and soothed her own soul. She had never had experienced something so loving when she had been pregnant with Eve, and the brunette's simple actions moved her to tears. Her knowledge that Jamie Dean was her soul mate was reconfirmed everyday but even more so as she watched the older woman pacify their son with a song.

When the tall woman had successfully lulled Stephen into rest again, she looked up at blue eyes. "What is it?" she questioned softly, seeing Sarah crying.

The blonde shook her head. "You," she murmured. "You really are the most perfect mate I could ever have. I love you, Jamie. Thank you for giving me life."

"And thank you for giving it to me, Sarah. If it weren't for you, I'd still be dead inside, but you saved me, and I'll always be grateful, my love. I love you, and I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together," she said, leaning up to kiss her wife sweetly on the lips before settling down beside her. Pulling Sarah into her arms, the two of them drifted off to sleep, dreaming of their future.

The End