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CHAPTER 8

Piper forced herself to break away from the delightful kissing. She needed some answers, and she was determined that Desiree would be the one to give them to her. Piper reached a hand up and lightly brushed the younger woman's cheek, as she smiled at her tenderly. So much had happened and she could hardly believe that she was seeing this woman again. Sometime over the last few days, Piper had considered the fact that she would most likely die tied to that tree. She had not known what had happened to Desiree and she did not want to think about it. A part of her thought that the young woman was dead, because all she had to go on was being attacked by someone in the dark and then waking up tied to a tree with the stench of something burning in the air. Piper then had the feeling that the cabin was on fire, and all she could think of was that she had handcuffed Desiree to the refrigerator. What gave her hope that the young woman was alive, was that perhaps the person who had attacked her was good and had come to rescue Desiree and had managed to get her out of the cabin before the explosion. This was not true. A man named Victor Redding had put the cabin on fire and Desiree had been saved by Taj. So, who was the person who had attacked Piper?

Piper looked at Desiree wearing a slight frown. The young woman looked back at her gingerly. The blue-eyed woman took one of her hands in her own and squeezed it.

"What happened, Desi?" Piper inquired.

The smaller woman took a deep breath. Oh where to begin? "What do you want to know?"

Piper shrugged. "Everything."

Desiree laughed humorlessly. "Could you be a little more specific for me?"

The dark-haired woman thought about it. "Okay. Let's start with you telling me who Victor Redding is."

"He was a detective who took a monumental interest in you, and the murders you were accused of committing."

"Any reason why he and I have the last name? Or just coincidence?" Piper asked.

Desiree nodded. She looked towards the door hoping that anyone would come through it. Even Alec of all people would be welcome. Desiree did not want to do this alone. How can you tell someone that a brother they did not even know that they had wanted to end their life? This was not an easy task.

Piper waited for the young woman to speak, but Desiree remained silent. The blue-eyed woman took a deep breath. This was as hard as getting blood out of a turnip.

"What is the reason, Desiree?" Piper asked calmly.

The smaller woman clasped her hands tightly together. "He's your brother," she murmured. She suddenly remembered that she had brought the letters from Emily on the trip. She would have to go get them out of Dion's car so that Piper could read them. Thinking of the other woman, Desiree peered at her seeing the shocked expression on her face.

"I don't have a brother," Piper stated quietly. What was going on here?

Desiree ran a hand through her hair, once again looking back towards the entrance to the RV. "Yes you do. You also have a sister." She heard the other woman gasp but continued, while studying the top of the table. "Your father had another family before he even met your mother years ago. He just never told you two about them. Your brother's name as you know is Victor and your sister's name is Emily. Andrea the woman you met earlier is Victor's ex-wife and she has two daughters by him that are of course your nieces." Desiree stopped, waiting for Piper to speak. After a silent moment or so passed, the strawberry-blonde looked up to see her staring at her incredulously.

"Piper?"

The dark-haired woman shook her head as though she had been in a daze. "I have siblings. A brother and a sister." She fell silent for a moment. "My brother tried to kill me." Piper peered over at Desiree. "Why?"

"Because you killed his father. He blamed you for that, although he knew why you did it. He wanted you to pay for it."

"With my life," Piper replied more to herself than the other woman. "How did you find out about all this?"

Desiree replied, "He told me. He told me all of it before he set the cabin on fire. He was insane, Piper."

The dark-haired woman nodded. "I'll say," she paused. "I just noticed that you're speaking in the past tense. Is he dead?"

Desiree nodded. "Taj came in just in time and they scuffled until Victor was shot and killed. Taj then picked me up, because I was tied to a chair that Victor had put me in, and carried me outside before the cabin blew up. The flames were already going haywire," she explained.

"Where is my sister?"

The smaller woman looked down at her hands as if she suddenly found something fascinating about them. "She's dead as well. She came to cabin in the back of her brother's car unbeknownst to him. Emily had been intending to stop him, before he could attempt to kill you, but her plan obviously failed. That's why we thought you were dead. While Victor was talking to me someone came through the door and he shot them. The person fell to the floor and I didn't get to see their face nor did he, but I thought it was you. It had to be, because who else would be in those secluded woods? I saw the long dark hair and I freaked out. I just knew it was you. Problem is I never looked at your…the profile because it was faced down, and I wouldn't have wanted to anyway. It would have hurt too much," she finished quietly. Desiree then felt a hand brush across her cheek and glanced up to see Piper looking at her tenderly.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," the tall woman stated. "Emily must have been the person who attacked me, when I was coming back to the cabin. I was almost there when someone tackled me to the ground from behind. It was so unexpected I couldn't defend myself properly. I managed to see long dark hair but I didn't get to see the person's face clearly. The next thing I knew it a rock or something came flying at my head and struck me so hard that I lost consciousness." Piper gave a short laugh. "For a moment there I thought it was you, but then I noticed that the person was too big. It wouldn't have surprised me if it was you."

"Piper-"

"No." The taller woman put a finger to Desiree's lips. "I would have deserved it," she halted. "Why don't you continue."

"Well that's the basic story. I guess I should fill it in now."

Piper nodded. "By all means please do."

Desiree thought for a moment. "You know your lawyer?" she asked.

"Frank? He has something to do with this?"

The smaller woman nodded. "He was Victor. He was Victor pretending to be your lawyer Franklin Webb."

The other woman's blue eyes widened considerably. That was totally unexpected. Although, just about everything Desiree had told her thus far had been unexpected. All of this was so unreal. "You're telling me that Franklin Webb was Victor Redding?"

"Yes he was."

"And the point of him being my lawyer was…?"

"He meant to make mistakes as your lawyer in the hopes that the jury would find you guilty."

Piper took a deep breath. Unbelievable. "So let me get this straight. My brother wanted to send me to prison and then when I got out he wanted to kill me. I assume that he was the one to commit all those murders."

Desiree replied, "All of the jurors died at his hand except for Michael Lowell, the last one."

"The one that was killed with the hammer?"

"Yeah. Your brother got Emily to do that one."

Both Desiree and Piper turned toward the entrance of the motor home to see that Andrea had answered Piper's last question. The blonde woman smiled asking if she could join them. Both of the other women nodded, gesturing for her to come over. Andrea sat at the table and studied the two women in front of her. When Desiree had kissed Piper back where the blue-eyed woman had been found, Andrea had been shocked to say the least. But looking at them now she could tell that the two cared for each other deeply. Although they were women, it didn't matter to her. As long as they were happy that was all that mattered. Andrea had to admit that Piper and Desiree did make a cute couple. She briefly wondered if Desiree's parents knew about them. The blonde woman considered that they probably didn't. That father of hers would probably have a fit!

Andrea took two folded sheets of paper that she had in her hand and gave them to Piper to read. The woman took them, thanking Andrea. After she opened one of the sheets of paper, Desiree leaned over to see that it was one of Emily's letters. Andrea had evidently gone to Dion's car and retrieved them. Piper read the first letter without comment and then moved on to the next one. She read this one silently as well and then folded up both of the letters and handed them back to Andrea. The blonde woman shook her head, claiming that they were now Piper's letters since one of them were originally meant for her anyway. Piper folded up the letters and put them in a pocket located on her shorts.

Piper turned her attention to Andrea. "Emily gave you these before she left for the cabin?"

Andrea nodded. "She sent them to me. I read them after I found out what had happened and then I knew that I had to give them to Desiree. Reading the letters I concluded that you could very well be alive, since I had yet to hear word about Emily's whereabouts."

"Thank you," Piper said, looking at her ex sister-in-law intently. "If it wasn't for you I might have died out there." She reached over and squeezed the other woman's hand before pulling away. The blue-eyed woman then turned to Desiree and gave her a peck on the cheek. Desiree smiled at her warmly.

"I just did what I felt had to be done," Andrea replied while noticing the affection between the other two women. She then took out a wallet and extracted a picture from it. She handed the picture to Piper, explaining that it was picture of Emily from last Christmas. Both Piper and Desiree examined the picture, right away seeing the definite similarities between Piper and her sister. They both had the same blue eyes, dark brown hair and Andrea informed them that Emily had been tall as well, almost reaching a height of six feet. Piper gave the picture back to the Andrea and watched the woman put it away in her wallet.

Looking down at her lap, Piper clasped her hands together. "I had two siblings and I knew nothing about them." She laughed humorlessly, feeling Desiree put a comforting hand on her back. "One of them tried to kill me and the other tried to sabotage me. Dad sure did make some fine children," she stated sarcastically. "We're all messed up."

Desiree put a hand under Piper's chin and lifted the woman's face to her own. She didn't speak until the blue-eyed woman made eye contact with her. "Now you listen to me, Piper. You listen good. You are not messed up. Victor and Emily had problems, but you don't. I love the way you are. I wouldn't have you any other way, and I don't appreciate you talking about my favorite girl."

The dark-haired woman gave her a crooked smile, suddenly feeling better. "I'm your favorite girl?" Desiree nodded adamantly. "Then we have something in common," Piper continued. "'Cause your mine as well."

Just then, Larisa entered the motor home. She had her shades on again in the hopes that no one would see the pain and nervousness in her eyes. She asked for Desiree and Andrea to come outside so that she could tell everyone which automobile they were supposed to be in, in order for them to start the trip back to Los Angeles. Both Desiree and Andrea nodded as they got up to leave the motor home. Piper started to get up as well, but Desiree gestured for her to stay put, and told her to finish her lunch.

On arriving outside, Desiree and Andrea noticed that everyone was positioned once again in a straight line. Larisa asked them to join that line, and the two complied. Larisa had her clipboard in hand, as she began to tell the group that they would be switching vehicles. Therefore, those that had ridden in the motor home on the way here were to switch with those that had arrived in Dion's car. Larisa asked if there were any problems with this new arrangement and everyone informed her that there wasn't one. It was fair.
Ten minutes later, everyone was in the right vehicle and they were ready to head back to Los Angeles. Larisa for one was glad that she would not have to ride in the same vehicle with Piper. That would have been too tense and Desiree surely would have suspected that something was wrong between the two of them. Larisa had silently promised herself that she would not ruin anything for her younger sister. This would only cause Desiree pain if she were to find out.

The bad thing about riding in Dion's car was that Larisa's father was there. He was supposed to be riding in the motor home, but had swapped places with Alec, claiming that he would not ride all the way back to Los Angeles with that woman. Of all the people in the world, she did not want to deal with him right now. The first thing he did upon taking a seat was start talking rudely against Piper, calling her a "kidnapping female dog". Poor Richie had to be subjected to listening to the insults. The dark-haired woman merely rolled her eyes and tried to ignore his ranting. She sincerely hoped this wouldn't keep going until they reached Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, in the motor home, Desiree, Piper, and Andrea were sitting at the small table they had been sitting in before the group left the cabin. Out of everyone, Desiree was the happiest to leave. She did not care if she ever went there again. The young woman had enough nightmares concerning that night as it was.

Desiree looked down as something suddenly brushed against her leg. The strawberry-blonde smiled when she saw that it was Tobias. She picked up the cat and began to stroke him, instantly turning on his purr button. The cat rubbed his head softly against Desiree's chin while enjoying the kitty massage.

Piper took a sip from her fourth glass of lemonade while watching Desiree fondly. She could not believe that they were together again. She thought back to their last moments spent together in that cabin and inwardly shuddered. What had come over her? Piper would never forget how she had so brutally hit Desiree with her fist, managing to knock the young woman's tooth out with the force of her blow. The next image in her head was that of her father beating on her mother all those years ago. It took something like this for the dark-haired woman to realize that she was truly his child. Piper shook her head to rid it of the undesired thoughts. This was her chance to make it better. She wanted to make Desiree happy and she intended to do so.

"Looks like furball is trying to make me jealous," Piper stated with a grin.

Desiree looked over at her, smiling. "Is it working?"

The blue-eyed woman snorted. "Yeah. I'm really jealous of your precious Tobias." She leaned towards Desiree and whispered in her ear. "He may get your strokes but I get that and much more." Smirking, Piper sat back watching as Desiree's face went considerably red. Andrea frowned, wondering what it was that her ex sister-in-law had told the younger woman.

Leaning towards Piper, Desiree whispered back, "Watch it, Piper. In case it slipped your mind my mother is in this vehicle."

Piper shrugged. "She's taking a nap. She can't hear me."

"Yeah, but still." Desiree looked slightly uncomfortable. No matter how proud she was of this woman, the last thing Desiree wanted was for her parents to find out about their relationship. If her father didn't like Piper now, the young woman would not be surprised if he came over with a shotgun after being notified that she was his daughter's girlfriend. Desiree admitted that it would sort of be funny to see the expression on his face, but it wasn't worth it. Eventually they would have to know but that didn't mean it had to be any time soon.

"So your parents don't know about you, huh?" Andrea inquired of Desiree.

The younger woman shook her head. "And I don't know when I'll have the guts to tell them." Desiree glanced at Piper. "I thought I liked boys until she came along." She slapped her lover playfully in the stomach.

Piper chuckled. "Hey! What can I say? I'm good." She kissed the strawberry-blonde on the cheek, much to the young woman's dismay and delight. "Hello, Alec," stated Piper conversationally while looking straight ahead of her. Desiree turned around and saw that her ex-boyfriend was standing behind the dark-haired woman, wearing a curious expression. Andrea glanced at the man wondering what was going to happen now.

Alec scowled at the back of Piper's head. "How did you know I was behind you?"

Piper clasped her hands together on her lap and without looking at him remarked, "Because I can see Leroy is in the drivers seat and Taj right by him, which leaves you to be the only," she snickered, "man in the motor home. Plus, when they hugged me I could tell that they weren't wearing that cheap crap that's supposed to be cologne." She turned around to regard him. The man was glaring at her now but Piper merely smiled sweetly. "Of course it had to be you, and let's face it. The only thing I think you have good taste in is women." She glanced at Desiree quickly, but managed to see the younger woman blush. "Your problem is you don't know how to treat them properly."

"Who died and made you a relationship expert?" Alec inquired snidely. "Desi and I may have had our share of problems but we belong together," he paused. "I don't think I like you hanging around her. Why don't you just leave Desiree alone?"

Before Piper could offer a reply, Desiree jumped in with, "Why don't you just leave us alone, Alec? Thank you for helping out in the search. Don't mess it up by acting like a jerk again," she managed to say in a rather pleasant tone.

Alec narrowed his eyes at her briefly. "You are so naïve, Desi." He shook his head sadly. "This woman is abnormal and you don't want anything to do with her."
The strawberry-blonde frowned up at him. "What do you mean she's abnormal?"

The man glanced at Piper who was staring at him with an unreadable expression. He leaned down towards Desiree and answered. "She's a dyke. I'm sure of it by the way she was looking at…" He didn't get to finish because Andrea suddenly arose from her seat and pushed him so hard that he fell to the floor. Alec looked up at her in shock.

"Don't you ever call my sister a dyke!" Andrea said between clenched teeth. "You may be a dick but she's not a dyke. As soon as you start having respect for other people, just maybe you'll get some back," the blonde woman finished before heading back to her seat. Now she knew why from the first moment she had laid eyes on this man that there was something she did not like about him. It was him plain and simple.

Alec arose from the floor first glaring at Andrea and then at Desiree because she was chuckling. Tobias, still in the young woman's lap even had something to say about it with a hiss at the enraged man. Growling, Alec picked the cat up by the back of his neck. He started to fling Tobias across the motor home but a severe blow to his stomach prevented him. He liberated the feline onto the floor as he doubled over in pain. Taking advantage of the situation, the cat reached up only on his hind legs and took a swipe at the man's cheek while he was bent over. Alec let out a little shriek as four thin lines trailed on his left cheek from the cat's sharp nails. A hand enclosed around his throat and lifted him up until he was face to face with Piper. Her cool blue eyes had fire in them as they bored into his. Meanwhile, her hand on his throat tightened almost to the point where he could not breathe at all. Alec's face started to turn a slight reddish color.

"You listen to me," the woman started, "don't you ever put your filthy hands on that cat again." The hand tightened a little. "Don't you even look like you want to put your hands on him. On second thought don't you even look at Tobias," she paused. "And you know what else?" He shook his head as he was lifted onto his tiptoes. "Do not ever again try to get in contact with Desiree. Get it through your thick skull that she wants nothing to do with you. She doesn't want you and she doesn't love you. Just accept that fact okay? It's over. Got it?" After Alec nodded, she let him go.

While taking in gulps of air, Alec touched his cheek with a finger. It came away with blood on it. Everyone in the motor home was looking at him, except for Sandra who had somehow managed to still be sleeping in the small compartment in the back. Leroy's attention alternated between Alec and the road, until finally Taj told him to keep his eyes forward.

Alec looked from Desiree to Piper. He pointed at the dark-haired woman. "Is this what you want?" he asked loudly, causing Desiree to look nervously at the door her mother was napping behind. "Is that it, Desiree? No wonder you were sometimes hard to please in bed," he goaded, finally giving up all hope that he would ever have Desiree for his own again. He touched his crotch. "You didn't want my equipment. You wanted-"

Alec never even got to finish before he was hit so hard in the face, that he fell to the floor once more. He looked up expecting to see the blue-eyed woman again, but this time Taj was the source of his latest injury. A small mewling sound came out of Alec's mouth as he wondered what this man who looked as if his second home was a gym would do to him. Taj grabbed Alec by the shirt and hauled him roughly to his feet, glaring at him all the while.

"You are the sorriest excuse for a human being that I have ever seen in my life. And I want you out of here now!" the Jamaican man demanded angrily. He continued to drag Alec towards the entrance of the motor home and opened it, pushing the man in front of him.

Leroy from the drivers' seat looked over at his older brother inquiringly. "Taj, what are you planning on doing?" he asked nervously.

Taj glanced over his shoulder and stated, "I'm going to throw this bastard out of this vehicle. You have a problem with that?" At that moment, Alec twisted and turned in the hopes of getting free, but strong hands gripping his shoulders, squeezed tightly causing the man to yelp in pain as his knee's bent slightly.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Leroy said, easing off of the gas just in case his brother decided not to listen. The slower the vehicle went the better off Alec would be injury wise. Not that Leroy liked the man. In fact, he could not stand him from the little amount of time he had spent in his presence, but it would not do for them to have him thrown out of a fast moving motor home and then to possibly lose his life.

"Well I happen to think that it's a grand one," Taj replied, noticing from the pavement through the open door that Leroy had decreased the speed. He hadn't decided whether to be relieved or annoyed by that fact. The Jamaican man glanced back at the other passengers. Andrea was looking at them curiously, silently questioning if Piper's friend would actually go through with this. Desiree was peering over with a troubled look in her eye, but she had yet to say anything to stop Taj's intentions. Taj had to chuckle when he looked at Piper. The dark-haired woman had a big grin plastered on her face and winked at him. She glanced at Desiree noticing that the younger woman's attention was not on her, so Piper looked back to Taj and motioned with her hands for him to push Alec onto the highway. Valerie, Taj's girlfriend had yet to hear or see anything. She was lying on the floor facing the other way with earphones blasting in her ears while she read a magazine. Well she was previously reading a magazine. Now she had her head down on her folded arms fast asleep.

Taj turned his attention back to Alec, who was no longer struggling to get loose. The bigger man patted him on the shoulder. "Well Alec, I guess it is time for you to go," he paused. "Unfortunately, I can't say that it's been nice knowing you." Taj began to push Alec out of the motor home, but was stopped when the man braced his hands against either side of the opening.

"Wait," Alec started in a panicked voice. "You can't do this to me. I could get killed."

"Yes, I can and I will. And your possible death is a chance I'm willing to take." Taj leaned towards him. "Remember to tuck and roll." He then shoved Alec so hard in the back that the man fell out of the moving vehicle onto the road. The good thing was that they were in the lane closest to the side of the road and even if they had not been there were not a lot of cars.

As Alec yelled rolling on the pavement before he managed to stop the erratic movement, Piper appeared by Taj at the door looking back at him. She waved and flashed him a cheery smile. While getting up, Alec noticed both actions and gave her one of his own.

Piper chuckled and hollered to Alec as loud as she could, "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to use that particular finger that way?"

Leroy sped up thinking that both his brother and Piper had lost their minds. What was left of them anyway. It had always been dangerous for those two to be together. They were like a pack of matches and a can of gasoline. When they were younger, they had gotten into all kinds of trouble with their impishness.

As Taj closed and locked the door with a faint smile on his face, Piper turned to see that Andrea and Desiree had a window open looking back at Alec. The dark-haired woman went over to them and put a hand on Desiree's back while she was leaning out of the wide window. Feeling a hand on her, the strawberry-blonde straightened up to turn around and see Piper standing there, doing her best not to smile. Desiree shook her head, wondering what she was going to do with this woman. It was then that their deal popped into her head. She gave a magnificent grin. What would she do? Anything that she wanted for the next six months.

Piper noticed the grin and grew wary. What was this woman thinking of now? Out of the corner of her eye, Piper saw Andrea close the window and walk back towards the small table, shaking her head in bewilderment. The dark-haired woman put her hands on her hips, regarding Desiree. "Care to tell me what's rolling around in that pretty head of yours?"

Desiree smirked. "I will. Later."

***

A little after three hours later, both the RV and Dion's car pulled into parking spaces at Desiree's apartment building. Sandra came out of the small bedroom after looking out of the window to see that they were back. She had been awake for over two hours but hadn't told any of the others. The last person she wanted to face was Piper. On entering the main part of the RV, Sandra saw her youngest daughter and Taj with their arms around Piper's waist, helping her out of the vehicle while ignoring the slightly weak woman's protest that she could walk on her own.

Sandra bypassed them and headed down the stairs to locate her husband. She found him stretching by the other vehicle. Walking up to him, she kissed him on the cheek. He asked her how it was to ride with that "dreadful" woman. Before they had left from the cabin, Richard had informed his wife that she should switch vehicles with him, but Sandra told him that she could handle being in the same vehicle as Piper. She hadn't wanted to give up the luxury of the RV.

"It was fine," Sandra replied. "I was in the bedroom for most of the time."

They both turned their attention to Piper, Desiree, and Taj as the trio headed towards the entrance of the apartment building. The judge had a scowl on his face as he watched the woman who had taken his daughter hostage. If he had it his way, Piper would never see his daughter again. He wondered not for the first time how his daughter could make friends with this woman. Like the rest of her family, Piper Redding was filth. No child of his should be associating with that.

***

On arriving at the apartment, Taj's parents had informed him that they were going to head straight back to his house with Dion. Taj insisted that they come up to the apartment for a few minutes because he had an announcement. After they said that they would, the couple watched as Taj took Valerie's hand and led her through the double doors. By the time Nathaniel and Vivian had reached Desiree's floor, they were sure they knew what their middle son was going to announce. Desiree's door was wide open, so they walked in talking in low voices.

"Do you honestly think that's what it is?" Nathaniel asked his wife. "They haven't been dating long. I courted you for two years."

Vivian linked arms with her husband. "I'm sure." She smiled up at the big tall man. "Our baby's getting married." They took a seat on the couch that Desiree had reserved for them. Sandra and Richard were sitting by them.

Vivian looked at her husband. "I like Valerie. When she came over to the house last night, we talked some. Lovely girl."

Nathaniel put an arm around her as he smiled revealing the deep dimples that Taj had inherited from him. Still speaking in a low voice he replied, "Well it's about time he's settled down," he paused while thinking. "I think that boy has dated over two-hundred girls over the years." He chuckled. "I lost track along time ago."

"You think it was that many?"

"Remember his senior year? He must have brought home at least two girls a week for dinner." He chuckled again, shaking his head at the fond memories. "He was probably trying to figure out who he would take to the prom."

A few minutes later, everyone was settled waiting for Taj's announcement. He was the only one standing up with Valerie choosing to sit on the floor Indian style by him. She was looking up at him curiously, wondering what this was about, just like everyone else except for his parents. They both had knowing smiles plastered on. Taj didn't seem to notice this. Before the Jamaican man could get started, Sandra made a query.

"Where is Alec?"

At the dining room table, Piper put her hands over her face, desperately trying to smother the instant laughter. Sitting next to her, Desiree slapped the woman lightly on the arm, though she was smiling too. Across from them, Andrea just shook her head, though she found it necessary to bite her lower lip every time that she thought about the man being pushed out of the RV.

Valerie glanced up to her boyfriend. "That's a good question. I don't remember seeing him when you woke me up on our arrival. Did he leave already?"

With a straight face Taj said, "While we were still on the road back to L.A., he stepped out." He heard Piper break out into a fit of giggles and almost lost it. "No. Seriously, he was acting like a jerk so I put him out. I'm sure that he'll be able to find his way home. Alec will be fine," he paused, looking around to see that everyone seemed to accept this. Taj rubbed his hands together. "Now for my announcement."

Not being able to contain herself a moment longer, Vivian stated, "I can't tell you how happy your dad and I are for you and Valerie, Taj." The older woman had tears in her eyes, and after a quick trip to her room while everyone sat in silence, Desiree came back with a tissue for Vivian. The woman took it saying, "Thank you, sweetie." Desiree smiled, thinking that her own mother had never called her sweetie, and went back to her seat beside Piper.

Taj stared at his mother curiously as Valerie peered up at him. "Mommy, what are you-"

He never did get to finish, because Valerie let out a loud shriek as she jumped up from the floor and threw herself at him, sobbing. Taj put his arms around her, wondering what was going on. He glanced over at his parents who were smiling again. Next he heard clapping, and looked over to where Dion was. The man had come out of the chair he had retrieved from the kitchen and was clapping while wearing a bewildered expression.

"I never thought you would actually do it, Taj," Dion said. "I'm proud of you little brother."

Vivian and Nathaniel joined in on the clapping, and soon everyone, including Sandra and Richard were clapping as well. Taj's look of confusion turned to one of apprehension. No. They could not have thought that. Could they? Before he could set anyone straight, Valerie let go of her hold on him and looked at him with wet cheeks.

"This is so sudden," she started. "We just began dating but if you're ready then so am I." She kissed him softly on the lips. "I would love nothing more." She chuckled softly. "In case you didn't know already, the answer is yes." As the applause died down Valerie stared at him lovingly. "You have made me the happiest woman on earth, Taj Maurice Potter." She hugged him again.

Taj thought about it, and then shrugged. Oh, well. This could work out. He was starting to love Valerie. In fact, he had never felt the way he felt about her with anyone else, and they had not known each other that long. Besides, he didn't have the heart to tell her that wasn't what he was about to say. He didn't have the heart to tell his mother either. Resigned, Taj got down on one knee, fully aware that he didn't have a ring to give her. That would look odd, but he didn't have to have an engagement ring.

Looking up at Valerie, Taj smiled. She was quite a beautiful girl, and at only twenty-four she was successful with only her own clothing boutique here in Los Angeles that received notable business. Valerie was a petite woman standing at five feet five inches. She had smooth creamy skin a shade darker than cocoa butter. Valerie had thick jet-black hair that fell to just below her shoulders and big light brown eyes that Taj found that he could drown in. Yes. He could marry this sweet young woman. It was amazing how things could change so quickly.

Taj took both of Valerie's shaking hands in his own, as he felt a breeze behind him. He turned around just in time to see Desiree hurrying into her room again so fast that one would think that she was being chased. Not saying anything, Taj just waited for her to come back. A moment later, the strawberry-blonde was heading in his direction with a small black velvet jewelry box in her hand. She handed it to the man.

"This is yours, Taj," Desiree said smoothly. "You left it here this morning when you were showing it to me. I put it up in my room." She winked at him while Valerie's attention was riveted on the box. Desiree then went to go take her seat and gave Taj an encouraging wave.

Over her shoulder, Piper whispered to the blue-green eyed woman, "Where did you get the ring?"

"It was my engagement ring," Desiree replied.

Piper then turned her whole body around towards the younger woman. "Alec proposed to you?"

Desiree replied simply, "No." She patted Piper on the arm. "Let's watch Taj and Valerie." Really, she just mainly wanted to get the dark-haired woman's attention off of her. Piper watched Desiree for a moment but then decided to let the subject drop for now. She turned back to the couple.

After clearing his throat, Taj looked up into Valerie's warm light brown eyes and said, "I know you already said yes, but I'd like to make it official," he paused. "Will you marry me?" He opened the box and Valerie let out a little yelp. Taj looked at the ring and his eyes grew wider. It was a fourteen-carat gold ring with a half-carat Marquise diamond. He figured that it must have cost close to two thousand dollars. The Jamaican man glanced over to Desiree to see that the young woman was smiling at him widely. Clearing his throat again, Taj took out the ring and put it on Valerie's left ring finger. She brought it up to her face to get a closer look. Tears sprang to the young woman's eyes again as she knelt down on the floor and put her arms around her fiancee's neck.

"I'm so happy, Taj," she cried.

He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. "So am I." He held her for a minute and then thought about his real announcement. Taj let go of Valerie and stood up, offering her a hand. She took it and he helped her up as well, ending up with putting an arm around her waist. He told everyone that he had another announcement to make. "You all are invited to a celebration at my house tomorrow. We will celebrate Valerie's and mine engagement, and Piper's reappearance. I hope that you all can make it." He continued to tell them what time the party started and gave everyone a business card with his address on it.

Everyone except Sandra and Richard was excited about that. Richard rolled his eyes, whispering to this wife that they weren't going. On cue Larisa came over and kneeled in front of her parents wearing an encouraging smile. She asked them if they were coming and they told her that they wouldn't, giving the excuse that they needed to rest up the day before their flight left back to San Francisco. Their daughter gave them an incredulous look and softly stated that they were indeed coming.

The judge frowned at his eldest. There was no way that she was going to make him go to this party for that Redding woman. "What makes you think that we're going?" Richard inquired.

Larisa gave her father a smile that unnerved him. "Because if you don't," she began only loud enough for he and her mother to hear, "I'm afraid that Piper might somehow find out about that twenty-grand you miraculously got eight years ago," she paused, cocking her head to the side. "You don't want that to happen, do you?"

The judge swallowed nervously. He could never hate any of his children, but his daughter was making it really hard for him to like her. Richard nodded, almost imperceptibly. He shook his head at his wife, knowing that she was about to say something. Having taken care of that, Larisa excused herself politely and walked away.

It wasn't long after that, that everyone had taken his or her leave except for the Love clan. Larisa was about to be on her way, when she suddenly considered that her parents and Richie were staying here in Desiree's apartment. Since Piper was here, maybe she should…Larisa shrugged. What the heck? This could be her good deed for the day. She deduced that her sister and Piper most likely yearned to be alone. The woman walked over to where her parents were sitting on the couch after having just turned on the television. Larisa punched the off button on the thirty-five inch Magnavox and regarded her parents. Her father frowned at her, which seemed to have become a habit.
"I think you two and Richie," she looked towards the kitchen where her brother was just coming out with a Popsicle he had located in the freezer, "should spend your last two nights at my place, since you were here with Desiree last night." She glanced at Piper who was still sitting at the dining room table. She offered the woman a smile, but was not surprised when it wasn't returned. "And Mother," she looked at Sandra, "you've been with Desiree for days now, so come spend some time with me. You guys will see Desiree at the party tomorrow. How 'bout it?"

"I think it's a great idea," Richie said, while licking his strawberry Popsicle. He didn't have a clue that Larisa was trying to make it so that Desiree and Piper could be alone. The young man was thinking about the fact that his older sister had a swimming pool in her backyard. Plus, sleeping on Desiree's couch wasn't something that he cared to repeat. "I'll go get my stuff, okay?" Even if they weren't going, he would. When Larisa nodded his way, Richie made his way into the guestroom that his parents had been using. In there, he gathered his sparse belongings.

Larisa put her hands on her hips, looking at Sandra and Richard. They were still sitting on the couch. Richard frowned again. "Can you honestly say that you want us at your house?"

The dark-haired woman smiled at him. If nothing else, her father was perceptive. She considered that was what helped to make him good at his job. "Yes, I can," she lied easily. Actually, Larisa didn't mind her mother so much. It was her father who she had a problem with now. The way he treated Piper was not called for. He had exhibited traits the last couple of days that had been less than desirable. "Please come with me." She glanced over to Desiree who was standing by the dining room table gripping her hands together tightly. Larisa could tell that she wanted them to leave.

Richard looked at his wife after she tapped him on the shoulder. She whispered something in his ear, causing him to scowl. The judge looked at his eldest daughter. "We'll get our stuff together." They both got up and headed towards the guestroom, passing Richie as he came out with the Popsicle stick hanging out of his mouth and a small suitcase in his hand.

Desiree walked up to her sister and gave the taller woman a hug. She thanked her for what Larisa had just managed to do. The oldest disengaged herself from the embrace and smiled at her youngest sibling. "What are sisters for?"

A few minutes later, Richard and Sandra Love were ready to go. They each hugged Desiree, telling her that they would see her tomorrow. After considering it, Sandra smiled politely at Piper before following her husband to the front door. Richard had chosen to ignore Piper, like he had done the whole day. She could not have cared less. Richie hugged his sister and then walked over to Piper, who had started to get up from the chair, but he gestured for her to stay seated. He knelt down and kissed her on the cheek before following his parents and older sister to the elevator. Desiree waved at them and then closed the door, making sure to lock it. She stayed there for a few moments not turning around. She had wanted to be alone with Piper, but now it had finally happened. Butterflies began in her stomach as she realized that they were truly alone. Desiree silently admitted to herself that she was nervous. She had Piper alone, and her heart was beating so fast, that the young woman was sure that her lover could hear it.

Noticing that something seemed to be bothering Desiree, Piper arose from her chair and slowly walked over to the woman. Reaching her she put her hands on Desiree's shoulders from behind, and leaned in to take in the fragrance of her hair. The dark-haired woman closed her eyes at the wonderful scent coming from that strawberry-blonde hair. Over the days tied to the tree, a lot of her thoughts had focused on Desiree and how she longed to run her hands through the young woman's hair and stare into those blue-green eyes. Piper had missed the woman more than she thought she could ever miss anyone.

Piper began to massage Desiree's shoulders, causing the younger woman to moan faintly as she leaned her head back to rest on the dark-haired woman's ample bosom. Piper smiled as she increased the pressure of her long fingers.

"I should be doing that to you," Desiree murmured, indicating the massage.

She could feel the vibration coming from Piper's chuckle. The taller woman put her soft lips against Desiree's ear, causing the butterflies in her stomach to flutter more. Piper ran her slightly parted lips against the ridge of her lover's ear a few times before replying in a low voice, "There are a lot of things you could be doing to me."

Piper chuckled as Desiree turned around and slapped her playfully on the arm, before placing both arms around her waist and drawing Piper in as she leaned her back against the door. Piper put her arms around Desiree's waist as well. The blue-eyed woman wore a triumphant smile as she noticed the blush that had formed on Desiree's face. She briefly wondered if she should keep a record of how many times she was able to make the younger woman blush. Piper chuckled to herself. One thousand blushes a year easy.

"You are naughty, Piper Redding," Desiree stated. "You gonna keep teasing me?"

Piper gave her a peck on the nose. "It's what I do best."

Desiree gave a low growl and kissed Piper with a passion that surprised the older woman. The strawberry-blonde forced her way into Piper's mouth and their tongues began a furious duel. The kiss ended way too soon for Piper, leaving both women breathless. Desiree arose onto her tiptoes and whispered into the taller woman's ear, "That's not what you do best." She quickly leaned back to see if the older woman had blushed, and was discontented to see that Piper's face was just as tanned as always. She had an eyebrow raised, but that was it.

Piper smirked and nodded. "I see that you're learning."

"Well you are the Queen of Teasing. I learn from the best."

Piper smiled her white teeth sparkling although they had not seen a toothbrush in almost a week. "The Queen of Teasing? I like it."

"I like you." Desiree put a hand on the back of Piper's head and brought the woman's head down to kiss her again. This kiss was softer but just as insistent as the last one. The blue-eyed woman was overjoyed that it lasted longer. Desiree finally ended it and placed her hand around Piper's waist again. She noticed that the taller woman's blue eyes had darkened considerably with her rising desire.

"You better stop doing that," Piper warned. "Or I might just decide to take you right here on the living room floor."

"I don't think so Miss Stinky." Desiree scrunched up her little nose, which Piper found endearing. She figured that everything about this woman was probably endearing. She loved the way Desiree's nose scrunched up. It looked so cute. It looked so cute that she kissed it, causing her lover to grin up at her.

Piper then raised an eyebrow. "Miss Stinky?" She pretended to be offended. "Well you wouldn't smell so good either, after being tied to a tree for days with the absence of soap and water." She smelled her shirt, her eyes widening as she let go of her lover. "Whew! How could you stand to hug me? I do smell bad."

Desiree smiled. "That's an understatement."

Before Piper could think of a comeback, there was a knock on the door. The strawberry-blonde squinted her eye to look through the peephole and saw that it was her sister. She opened the door and noticed that Larisa was holding a very disgruntled Tobias. Desiree's mouth formed into an O as she remembered that she had forgotten all about her cat. The feline meowed when he caught sight of her, and Larisa handed the cat over. She knew that Piper was standing behind her sister, but she refused to make eye contact.

Desiree made Tobias little round face level with hers. "I'm sorry, Toby. Mama is so sorry that she forgot you in the RV." She hugged his warm furry body to her and rubbed her cheek against his head. "How about some din din? Want something to eat?" Tobias meowed again as Desiree looked up at her sister. "Thank you for bringing him back."

Larisa waved her hand. "No problem. Mother and Father were following Richie and I in the motor home to take it back when I heard a soft meowing. Richie went to investigate and found Tobias under the bed so we came back to deliver him to you. I imagine he is hungry after all these days." She rubbed him with a finger under the chin, causing the cat to lean his head back for more. Larisa chuckled and informed her sister that she would see her tomorrow. She said bye to Piper without looking at the woman. Piper didn't say anything back to her. Desiree glanced at her lover before giving Larisa a quick hug before they parted. She closed the door and headed into the kitchen with Tobias still in her arms. Piper followed her in there and sat at the kitchen table.

She watched as Desiree opened a cabinet and took out a can of cat food and rolled her eyes when the young woman reached into another cabinet and took out a crystal goblet. Tobias was one lucky cat. The feline busied himself with rubbing his body against his owner's legs and crying nonstop. Desiree made cooing noises for him the whole time that she prepared his dinner. Finished she put the goblet down on Tobias' own little forest green rug and watched a moment as he began to eat. She then filled a bowl that had the cat's name on it with fresh water and put that down as well, before going over to sit at the kitchen table with Piper.

Desiree folded her arms and regarded Piper. "What is your problem with my sister?" she asked in a gentle tone of voice.

The dark-haired woman shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a problem with your sister." She looked at Tobias as she said this, trying to avert Desiree's blue-green eyes.

Desiree put a small hand under Piper's chin and made her face her. "You don't treat Richie that way. What's the problem?"

Piper leaned back. "There is no problem. How did I treat your sister?" she asked as if she didn't know.

"Like crap," Desiree replied bluntly. "She said bye to you and you didn't say anything. I know that there's something going on. You care to tell me what it is?" She raised an eyebrow trying to mimic the other woman, and Piper started to laugh. She was infectious and soon both women were laughing so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks.

Piper gestured for Desiree to come over, still giggling. When the younger woman did so, she pulled her down until she was sitting on her lap. The dark-haired woman kissed her lover on the cheek and looked at her fondly. "You are so adorable," she stated.

Desiree had a feeling that she was trying to avoid answering her question about Larisa, but she decided to let it drop for now. Maybe she was just imagining it. I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill.

Desiree squeezed Piper's shoulder and peered at her. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

Piper emitted a low growl and nuzzled the younger woman's neck, causing her to laugh. "I most certainly am," the dark-haired woman whispered in her lover's ear.

Desiree shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant." She arose from the taller woman's lap and faced her, putting her hands on her hips. "Do you want something to eat?" Noticing her choice of words, the young woman went on before Piper could offer a reply. "Food, I mean."

Twiddling her thumbs, the older woman said, "As a matter of fact I do." She grinned mischievously at Desiree. "I'm famished." Leaning back in her chair she asked, "What do you feel like having?"

The younger woman could see naughtiness dancing in Piper's blue eyes. They were now light with playfulness. The dark-haired was most likely wondering if she would take the bait and respond to her question with a flirty reply. Well Desiree was determined not to do that. She smiled innocently. "How about pizza?"

Piper stuck her tongue out at her. She murmured, "Sucker." Louder she replied, "That sounds good." Piper chuckled to herself. "I don't even know what kind of pizza you like. What's your favorite?"

The strawberry-blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "Funny. You know everything else about me. And I heard you call me a sucker. Excuse me for not acting like a horny teenager like some people I could mention, but I will refrain from naming names."

The blue-eyed woman smiled broadly. Damn it! She loved this woman's cattiness. "First of all, I don't know everything about you. Most of what I do know I told you at the cabin. Second, am I supposed to be this horny teenager you're referring to? 'Cause if I am," she was having a hard time keeping a straight face like Desiree seemed to be accomplishing. Piper wondered briefly if she was really upset, "excuse me, but I haven't had sex in a week. Hell yeah I'm horny. And you know I always act like that. Playing off of your words." She finally let her smile show. She couldn't contain it any longer. "I like to see you blush."

Desiree smirked. "Yeah. I've come to realize you like to see me blush. A week? Please, as if that's so very long. Before that you hadn't had sex in at least eight years so I really don't see how that is an excuse."

Immediately, it occurred to Piper that they were headed into dangerous territory so she deemed it time for a subject change. "I like Canadian bacon and pineapple on my pizza," Piper stated as she arose from the chair heading out towards the living room with a frowning and suspicious Desiree following behind her. The younger woman called out her name.

"Hmm?" Piper stopped walking when she reached the couch. She looked at the two doors. One of which was by the kitchen. She pointed at that one. "That's the room your parents were in so I assume that's a guest room." She pointed to the other door. "I know that's your bedroom. Your bathroom is in there too, right? I need to take a shower."

Desiree nodded as the older woman headed in the direction of her bedroom. Desiree continued to follow her. On entering the younger woman's bedroom, Piper removed her shirt and made her way into the bathroom, where she placed the shirt on the cabinet. Her lover stopped at the entrance to the bathroom and watched, mesmerized. The blue-eyed woman reached behind her, undid the clasp on her bra, and let it fall to the floor, leaving Desiree with the difficult task of trying not to stare at her breasts. With strength that she did not know she possessed, the younger woman managed to keep her blue-green eyes on Piper's blue ones. Leaning against the cabinet, Piper removed her shoes before straightening up to look Desiree in the eyes. The older woman grinned lasciviously as she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her shorts and pulled them and her panties down simultaneously. There this almost six-foot Amazon of a woman stood naked as the day she was born. Desiree swallowed, desperately trying not to look. She knew if she did that, then it would all probably be over and she would never get her answers. At least not on this evening, she would.

Piper placed her clothing and shoes together on the cabinet and then turned to the shower to get it started. A few moments later the warm spray was coming from the showerhead. When Piper turned around Desiree had a blue towel and washcloth in her hands. She handed the washcloth to Piper silently and placed the towel on the cabinet. The woman took it and then regarded her young lover with a sensual smile.

"I believe there's enough room for two. Care to join me?" the blue-eyed woman asked in a tone of voice that made Desiree ache with need. Oh, how she wanted this woman.

Desiree shook her head, although she would have loved to do the opposite. "Piper, can you answer a question for me?"

The dark-haired woman nodded. "I most certainly can try. What's up?" She already had an idea of what the young woman wanted to ask her.

"I noticed you left the kitchen in quite a hurry." Desiree cocked her head to the side in a way that Piper deemed was enchanting. "Care to tell me the last time you had relations with someone before me?"

Piper pretended to think it over. "Nope," she replied as she got in the bathtub and closed the flowered shower curtain. One thing she had noticed about the young woman's apartment. It was nicely done, just too colorful for her taste. Well at least her bedroom and bathroom were. The next thing Piper knew it the shower curtain was being pulled aside.

"Let me rephrase the question," Desiree said pleasantly, although the other woman could tell that she was irritated. "When was the last time you had sex before having it with me?" It had just dawned on her that Piper had been out of prison for a few months before they met. It was possible that she could have been with people during that time. The rational part of Desiree was saying that she had no right to be upset, but she could not help her feelings. She couldn't stand the thought of someone else putting their hands all over Piper's body. The strawberry-blonde shook her head. She didn't even want to think about it.

The blue-eyed woman picked up a bar of soap and began to lather her washcloth. "Shouldn't you be ordering the pizza? I'm really hungry and I can just taste that mouth-watering gooey cheese."

Desiree sighed. This woman really knew how to evade something she didn't want to talk about. "Don't try to change the subject. Did you have sex with anyone after you got out of prison? Besides me that is."

The blue-green eyed woman was aware of the fact that her lover was now soaping the darkened area of her right breast ever so teasingly with the washcloth. She also noticed the tip enlarging. Desiree blew out a breath trying to maintain control of herself. "Are you trying to insinuate that I'm some sort of a harlot?" Piper asked though she was wearing a smile that made Desiree just want to give up and join her in the shower.

"No," the strawberry-blonde quickly informed her. "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to know if you've been with anyone. Call it curiosity," she paused seeing that Piper was now moving on to her left breast. She sighed again. This was more difficult than she previously thought it would be. She should have known. "So have you?"

Piper smirked. "N.O.Y.B." Her movements were closely watched as the dark-haired woman moved the washcloth to her flat stomach and began scrubbing it using a circular motion.

Desiree shook her head in an effort to clear it. Piper was really working to distract her. She got a confused expression. What in the world was the woman talking about now? "Noyb? Was does that mean? Not on your butt?"

Piper chuckled. "None," The rag circled its way around her bellybutton, "of," it moved to her abdomen as the dark-haired woman watched her lover watching the washcloth, "your," the washcloth was now right above her dark curly thatch, "business." Piper propped her right foot up on the ledge of the bathtub and moved the rag further down. She then began to move it up and down. Growling, Desiree snatched the washcloth from her and glared at her lover.

"Stop that!" the strawberry-blonde all but shouted.

Piper regarded her with a look of innocence. "What did I do?"

"You were washing yourself."

The blue-eyed woman raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that what you wanted me to do? I thought you wanted me to be clean?" She asked knowing why Desiree was upset. The petite woman looked so cute all hot and bothered. Piper planned on fixing that later.

"I did," Desiree said between clenched teeth. "But you're doing it all…sexy like."

Piper chuckled again. "Sexy like?" She removed her foot from the ledge. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she lied, trying to hide a grin.

Desiree glared at her more. "Whatever," she said in an irritated tone. "Are you gonna answer the question?"

"Tell me about the engagement ring." As far as she knew, Desiree had never been married before. Piper hated to admit it, but the business with the expensive looking engagement ring was bothering her. She had got a good look at it on Valerie's finger and had started to really wonder who have given it to the young woman if it hadn't been Alec.

The blue-green eyed woman stared at her. "Is that the only way you'll tell me?"

Piper nodded as she picked up a bottle of shampoo. She opened it and squirted some into the palm of her hand before rubbing both hands together and applying it to her hair. She massaged the scalp while looking at Desiree.

The strawberry-blonde thought about it. Two could play this game. "Fine. You tell me yours and then I'll tell you mine."

Her lover shook her head. "I don't think so, Desi. You go first. After all, I did ask you that question before you asked me yours. Why should I tell when you didn't?" She stopped washing her hair momentarily. "Now does that seem at all fair to you?" She resumed washing her hair.

Desiree shook her head. She never knew what emotion Piper was going to bring out in her from one moment to the next. She was used to being in control of her own emotions and here was her new lover throwing them all out of whack. It was driving her insane, but she wouldn't change Piper for anything in the world. For some reason unbeknownst to her, Desiree liked the older woman just the way that she was. It was a shame that she might have to kill her within a week.

Desiree admitted, "I guess it doesn't." She stood there silently for a second. "I'll go order the pizza." She turned around to leave the bathroom, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Desiree turned around and regarded Piper with a questioning look.

"I take it that you're not going to tell me about the ring, are you?"

The smaller woman shook her head. She was determined that Piper would break before she would. Desiree could tell that the business with the engagement ring was upsetting the other woman. She smiled inwardly. Good. Now her lover knew how it felt not to be told something that one really was anxious to know. No, Desiree was not going to be the first of the both of them to break down.

Piper nodded. "Okay. That's just fine with me. I can be just as cryptic as you." She smiled. "Do you really want me to take a shower and get clean?"

Desiree nodded. "I would appreciate that unless you plan to sleep on the floor." She grinned at Piper.

"Nah. I don't plan on sleeping on the floor. On you, but not the floor." She got a slap on the arm for that one. It only caused her to chuckle. "Well can I have my rag then?" Piper held her hand out for it, and Desiree realizing that she still had it gave it to her. The older woman thanked her and closed the shower curtain. The strawberry-blonde picked up Piper's shoes and clothes and started to leave when Piper thought of something and called her back.

"Yes, Piper?"

The dark-haired woman poked her head around the shower curtain. "Do you have a spare toothbrush by any chance?"

Desiree bit her lower lip. She had not thought about that. In fact, she had not thought about getting any essentials for Piper. "No, I don't." The strawberry-blonde glanced at her own toothbrush sitting in a cup on the sink. She turned her attention back to Piper. "I guess you can use mine. I know it's not very hygienic, but it's better than nothing." She grinned. "If you're thinking otherwise, your breath won't keep you out of my bed. Besides I have some Tic Tacs."

The blue-eyed woman raised both eyebrows and gave a little grin of her own. "Well that's good to know. I'll just use my finger and toothpaste for the time being."

"Okay. We can get you one tomorrow morning."

"Great. See you in a few," Piper replied before she disappeared behind the shower curtain once again.

Walking out of the bathroom, Desiree heard her lover beginning to sing More than a Woman by the Bee Gees in quite a lovely voice. So Piper could cook and sing. Desiree grinned wondering if the woman knew anything modern.

***
Piper walked into Desiree's bedroom from the bathroom dressed in nothing but the towel that the younger woman had given to her. Desiree was sitting at her computer writing something. Watching her, Piper could tell that she had a look of intense concentration on her face. The dark-haired woman smiled. She looked so adorable. Piper shook her head, wondering when she had become this mushy. It was when Desiree had managed to break through her defenses most likely. The younger woman made her feel alive and playful. Piper hadn't felt that way…well since Jamaica. That was probably her last happy memory before Desiree came into her life.

Piper walked around so that she could look at the computer screen. As soon as she did so, Desiree minimized it. She scowled at the younger woman asking why she had done that. All that Piper had been able to make out was the date. It was today's date.
The strawberry-blonde turned around in her chair to face the other woman, placing her arms on the arms of the chair. "Because it's not for you to read. It's my private journal." She sighed. "Unfortunately, I now have to start over."

Piper walked a few feet back and sat on the bed. "I'm sorry, Desi." The dark-haired woman shook her head. This was all her fault. She never should have brought Desiree to the cabin in the first place. When she thought of that though, Piper realized that they might have never met if she hadn't taken her hostage. What would her life have been like if she hadn't met this wonderful young woman? Would she still be running now? That made Piper think of the fact that she had to get her life back. She almost laughed at that. Before Desiree came into her life, she didn't have much of one. Now she had a reason to want to live.

Desiree arose from the chair and went over to sit on the bed next to the older woman. She put a small hand on Piper's bare knee. The towel didn't reach down that far. "Don't apologize," the petite woman stated softly. "I shouldn't have carried my journal entries in my purse." She smiled. "None of this is your fault."

Piper looked at her. "How can you say that? I nearly got you killed." She abruptly left the bed and started pacing. "I took you hostage for purely selfish reasons."

"You were being framed for crimes that you didn't commit. I might have run too in your situation. Don't blame yourself for your brother's problems," she paused thoughtfully. "I'm the one who should be apologizing to you."

The blue-eyed woman stopped pacing and faced her. Desiree gestured for her sit down again, and Piper did so. Piper started to utter something, but her lover gave her a pleading look for her to remain quiet. Desiree took both of her hands between her smaller ones and looked the woman in the eyes. "I lost faith in you." Piper began to speak again, but the strawberry-blonde put an index finger against her lips. "And I don't know how I can ever forgive myself for that. When Victor told me that he was the murderer, I felt like I could just die." She tried not to cry, but the tears began to fall anyway. Piper moved her hands so that she was now holding Desiree's in between her own. "Part of me wanted him to kill me because I felt so horrible because of the way that I had treated you." Her voice broke and she couldn't go on. Gently pulling the younger woman into her arms, Piper made soft cooing noises in her ear while she rubbed her hair softly.

"Don't cry," the dark-haired woman spoke quietly. "Please don't cry, baby. It's okay. Everything is gonna be okay now." Piper placed a kiss in her hair. "You don't have any reason to apologize. I don't blame you at all." Piper shuddered, thinking about her actions that day. "I'm sorry I hit you. I don't know what got into me. My father and I are two of a kind," she said disgustedly.

"No!" Desiree shouted as she pulled out of the comforting embrace. She wiped away her tears and sniffed. "You are not like that man, Piper. You were under a lot of pressure and stress and let's face it. I wasn't making it any better for you." She placed her hands on either side of Piper's face. "Piper, I'm so happy that you're in my life. I don't know how I ever did without you. I…"

Blue eyes closely studied her. "What?" Piper prompted. Her heart started to beat faster wondering if Desiree was going to say those three special little words.

"I…think you are…beautiful." Turning away from Piper, Desiree rolled her eyes. Well that was lame. I am a sucker. She had started to tell Piper that she loved her, but changed her mind at the last moment. She was afraid that Piper might not feel the same way. After all, they hadn't known one another for very long. I'll just wait a bit longer.

Piper put her hand on the younger woman's chin and brought her face back around so that she could see her. She was wearing an adorable crooked little smile. "You're the one who is beautiful." Leaning towards Desiree she added, "I bet if you were to look up beautiful in the dictionary there would be a picture of you displayed along with the definition." Piper chuckled as Desiree rolled her eyes again, but she had managed to make the young woman smile. What Desiree had just told her wasn't what she had been hoping to hear but it was alright. They had plenty of time.

Desiree gave her two thumbs up. "Awesome pick-up line you got there." She giggled.

Piper feigned hurt. "Hey! I'll have you know that I've never used that particular line before. Besides the important thing is that I meant it." She grinned and kissed the younger woman on the nose. It was quickly becoming a habit.

Desiree sighed in contentment. "That must be the third or fourth time you've done that."

"I like doing that."

The strawberry-blonde whispered, "I like doing this." She then leaned towards Piper and trapped the woman's lips in a passionate kiss. Piper wrapped her arms around the smaller woman's waist and laid her down on the bed. Deciding to put her hands to good use, Desiree entwined them in her lover's still wet hair. They ended up on the nape of her neck and Piper moved her mouth away from Desiree's and openly kissed the woman's neck causing her to moan. She bit the side of her young lover's neck gently while her hands began to slide Desiree's shirt up.

"Okay. We can finish this later," the flushed younger woman stated as she gently pushed Piper away. Sitting up on the bed, Desiree looked at the dark-haired woman who was breathing as heavily as she was. Her blue eyes had grown darker again and she wore a slightly irritated expression. Desiree grinned as she kissed her on the nose. That initially earned her a scowl that quickly changed into a smile.

Rising from the bed, Piper said, "That was cruel woman. Very very cruel. You're lucky I'm a gentlewoman." She grinned as she walked over to Desiree's closet and opened it. "As much as I love wearing this towel do you have anything big enough for me to wear?" Piper turned to look at Desiree who was still sitting on the bed. "I mean I know you and Barbie wear the same clothes, but-"

She never got to finish her statement because she was attacked. She ended up on her back on the carpet with Desiree straddling her. Piper raised an eyebrow. Oh, yeah this was her kind of position! The smaller woman put her hands on her lover's broad shoulders and lowered herself until they were nearly nose to nose. Desiree was trying to pretend that she was angry but she wasn't in the least bit convincing. A smile kept playing on her lips.

"I hate it when people bring attention to my short stature." Desiree playfully growled only arousing Piper all the more.

"I didn't say anything about your short stature, Dino. What I was stating in a way was that you were small. That's all." Piper grinned as she put her hands on the woman's hips. "Did you order the pizza?"

Desiree nodded. "Should be here soon." She put on a mock frown. "What do you mean by calling me Dino?"

"Simply that you act like him. However, this is the first time that you've been successful in knocking me down like he does Fred. I like it. It's a cute nickname for you because you also have this cute little growl like Dino." She grinned again and said in a lower voice, "Growl for me, baby." She started to raise the shirt again but Desiree slapped her hands away. Piper stuck out her lower lip.

"Don't try the boo-boo lip routine on me. It doesn't work. And do I look like a pet to you? I'll growl when I want to."

The dark-haired woman looked her up and down. "Well I don't know. You are cute and small." She swiftly moved so that Desiree now had her back on the carpet. Leaning over the younger woman, Piper smiled like a hunter in the wild that had finally caught his prey. "And it feels nice to cuddle with you too." Piper leaned down and captured Desiree's lips in a searing kiss. It took all of the younger woman's self control not to rip Piper's towel off of her. It didn't take long for Piper's lips to find their way to her neck again. Except that this time they were on the opposite side. Desiree began to moan and finally got the willpower to push her lover away again. "Okay, okay," Piper started as she sat back on her heels. "We'll wait until later. But I don't know why we can't do it now."

Desiree got to her knees in front of Piper. "Anticipation is part of the excitement. Waiting can make it even better." The truth was that she was scared. They had made love more than once before, but now everything was different. The circumstances were different. They were no longer hiding out in the woods, but were free. It felt good but at the same time nervousness kicked in. This was reality and Desiree did not know if she could handle it. She hardly knew Piper and was already making plans in her head to have the woman live with her. She sincerely hoped that the dark-haired woman did not intend on going back to San Francisco. Obviously, she did not have to continue on her probation since not even Desiree's father had said anything about it. It appeared as though Piper was actually a free woman. The question was if she was with Desiree long enough would there eventually come a point that she wanted to be free of her as well? The younger woman did not know if she would be able to stand it.

"I guess that could be true," Piper said grudgingly. "If the waiting doesn't kill me first."

Desiree smiled at her warmly before she kissed her chastely on the lips. "I'm sure you can wait a couple more hours." Maybe more.

Piper rolled her eyes. "Do I have a choice?" she grinned at the smaller woman as she again noticed the chain with the charm on it around Desiree's neck. From the first time she had noticed it back at the cabin grounds, the blue-eyed woman had been curious about it. "What's this?" Piper asked as she reached out to open the charm. "Is there a picture in here?" Before Desiree could stop her, she had opened the charm. A thimble full worth of ashes fell to the floor as the younger woman's mouth opened but no sound was forthcoming. Piper frowned. Of all things why had Desiree been carrying around ashes in a charm? Hair she could understand, but ashes? And wasn't it supposed to be a picture?
Piper chuckled slightly. "Are those from a memorable bar-b-que or something? Had some tasty ribs did you?" she asked, noticing that the strawberry-blonde seemed to be speechless. This was highly unusual. "Is something wrong, Desi?"

Desiree nodded mutely.

The other woman was now very concerned. Removing the chain and charm from around her neck, Desiree closed the charm before laying both on the carpet. She looked at Piper after the woman called her name in a worried voice.

Opening her mouth Desiree whispered, "You just wasted your sister."

Piper looked at the younger woman as if she had just stated that she was from another planet. The blue-eyed woman glanced down at the ashes on the floor and then brought her attention back to Desiree.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Remember when I told you while we were still in the RV that Taj and I had spread ashes out in the ocean thinking that they were yours?"

Piper nodded and then it dawned on her where this was heading. She pointed at the ashes. "Do those…is that…um…Emily?"

"Yes. That's her." Desiree shrugged. "A little bit of her anyway."

The dark-haired woman peered at the ashes a moment in silence, before glancing at the other woman. "I wonder what part. A bit of an ear maybe." She chuckled. "A nose."

Desiree's mouth formed into a wide O. Before Piper could even think to stop her, the younger woman had reached out a hand and slapped her none too gently on the side of the head. Ignoring her lover's shocked expression, Desiree grabbed the chain and charm as she arose from the floor. She walked over to her dresser and placed both items in her floral designed jewelry box, almost lovingly. Desiree heard Piper asking her why she hit her, but did not offer a quick response. Instead, she kept her vision focused on the jewelry box, willing her temper to cool down some. Finally, sensing that she could control any outbursts, Desiree turned around to regard the other woman. Piper was now leaning against the wall close to the bathroom entrance with her arms crossed over her chest. It was clear from the expression on her face that she was waiting for an explanation.

"How can you be so callous?" Desiree asked in a quiet voice. "This is another human being we are talking about. Your own sister, Piper."

A scowl appeared on Piper's face. "Let me get this straight. You are defending a woman who tried to frame me for a murder that she committed? I don't have any sisterly feelings for that woman." She shrugged. "If that makes me seem cold-blooded then so be it."

Desiree mentally counted to ten. This was starting to become one difficult relationship, but the young woman was determined to make it work. Who am I kidding? This has been difficult from the start. She knew there was a heart of gold in this woman. "She's dead," Desiree simply stated.

The dark-haired woman studied her for a few seconds in silence. "Not my problem." Her blue eyes had turned ice cold, and the strawberry-blonde got the distinct impression that she was pushing her luck. Piper was speaking in a normal tone of voice, but Desiree knew that the woman was most likely seething underneath it all. Not exactly at Desiree herself, but at the whole situation with her siblings. That's something else that I'll have to work on. She is way too hot tempered.

Desiree sighed. Should she just drop the subject for now? That might be in both of their best interests. "So you want something to wear?" She tried to ask brightly.

Piper nodded, glad for the change in subject.

The younger woman turned towards her dresser again and opened the top drawer. After rummaging in there for a few moments and not finding anything suitable, she moved on to the next drawer. As Desiree moved the clothes around in that drawer, she felt warm hands on her shoulders. Next, she felt a pair of soft warm lips lightly touch the skin just beneath her left ear. "I'm sorry," Piper whispered. Desiree looked in the mirror in front of her and spied both her own and Piper's reflection. The dark-haired woman gazed at her through the mirror. "You make me want to be a better woman."

Desiree's face screwed up in thought. That sounded so familiar. Where had she heard it before? As it dawned on her where, the younger woman began to chuckle softly. Her lover raised a dark eyebrow, still looking at her reflection in the mirror. "Is there something that you find particularly humorous?" Piper removed her hands from the shorter woman's shoulders and repositioned them on her small waist.

Desiree nodded as she finally managed to stop chuckling. "You stole that line from the movie As Good As it Gets and you know it."

Piper barely managed to keep from grinning. She had figured that she would be able to get away with it. "I don't recall Jack Nicholson saying that Helen made him want to be a better woman," she retorted.

The strawberry-blonde chuckled again. "You stole the majority of the line though. Just edited it a bit." She turned around in Piper's arms to face the taller woman, smirking. "Don't try to pull one over on this Love girl. I live and breathe movies and that flick happens to be one of my favorites."

Piper tightened her hold as Desiree put her own arms around her neck. "So you're a movie buff, huh?"

Desiree nodded.

The blue-eyed woman said, "Well, I meant it. Every single word, even though…as you put it, I stole it." She leaned down and kissed her lover on the nose, receiving a low growl from the younger woman. Piper smiled. "That's my Dino."

***

Ten minutes later, Piper was dressed in a tight fitting navy blue T-shirt that showed off her upper body quite well in Desiree's opinion. For the lower half she had on baggy white cotton workout pants that had belonged to Alec until the blue-green eyed woman had swiped them the last time she had washed the clothes. When the dark-haired woman asked her why she did that, Desiree had replied that the pants looked comfortable and warm since some nights she found to be chilly. Unfortunately, she had never got the chance to wear them because the next night she was abducted.

At first, Piper was adamant against wearing the pants, stating that she did not want to wear anything that had belonged to the other woman's ex-boyfriend. Desiree shook her head, wondering why this woman had to be so stubborn. Since Desiree did not have any underwear that would fit Piper, and the ones she had on before taking her shower had just been tossed in the garbage it was either the pants or nothing. The strawberry blonde told her that if she refused to wear the pants then she would have to walk around either with the towel wrapped around her waist or with her naked rear end sticking out. Not being in the least bit modest, Piper was all for the latter. Desiree shook her head. There was no way on this earth that she was going to allow this woman to walk around in nothing but a T-shirt that barely covered her abdomen. The strawberry-blonde decided to deliver an ultimatum. Piper was told that she either put on the pants or sleep on the couch tonight. Alone. After mulling it over for all of a second, the dark-haired woman put on the pants in what must have been a record time. Desiree shook her head, chuckling as she showed her lover the blow dryer.

While Piper busied herself combing out the tangles and drying her hair, the other woman took a quick shower. Standing right next to the shower Piper was sorely tempted to cease fixing her hair and join Desiree no matter how much she protested. If the dark-haired woman had her way, Desiree's resolve would break soon. Just as Piper finished with her hair, the other woman cut off the shower and asked her politely for the towel that was lying on top of the lid of the toilet. The blue-eyed woman got a mischievous glint in her eye. No way was she going to let this golden opportunity pass. Turning towards the closed shower curtain, Piper put her hands on her hips.

"Gee, I don't know if I can," she stated in a sing song voice.

"What do you mean you don't know if you can?" Desiree inquired behind the shower curtain.

Piper could not see the younger woman but she could imagine what Desiree must look like. All wet and slippery…The blue-eyed woman shook her head. Thinking like that was not a good idea, since her lover obviously wanted to wait. Piper could not fathom why she wanted that, but she was determined to respect the younger woman's wishes. Even though, the tortuous waiting was starting to drive her completely insane.

Piper shrugged though Desiree could not see the action. "I just don't know if I can."

The strawberry-blonde mumbled something under her breath and the dark-haired woman asked her to repeat what she had said. "Nothing. I said nothing. Forget it. Listen. Piper, just hand me the towel okay? Please? I'm getting cold." Which was true. Desiree wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to retain some warmth. She shook her wet head. That woman was going to get what she had coming to her very soon.

"Then turn the hot water back on," Piper offered, grinning.

Desiree argued, "But I wanna get out." She was nearly whining now.

"Sounds like a personal problem to me." The blue-eyed woman could hear her partner growling in frustration or anger. She couldn't tell which. Either way she was happy. Desiree was so cute when she was miffed.

"What do you want, Piper?" the strawberry-blonde asked in an irritated tone. Yes, her lover was definitely going to get it. She didn't know what "it" was yet, but Piper would most definitely be getting it.

Piper sauntered towards the closed shower curtain until she was close enough to open it if she wanted to. Which she really wanted to. "Oh, you know what I want," Piper replied in a deeper voice that sent warm tingles through the other woman's body. It's amazing how she can just turn me on with her voice.

Desiree pulled the curtain back just far enough for the taller woman to see her face. Piper had a good view since she was standing right outside the tub. If the woman managed to get any closer she would probably trip over the edge and fall in. Desiree raised a golden eyebrow. Suddenly her nervousness had disappeared. She wanted Piper and she wanted her now. "What is it that you desire, lover?" she asked in her smokiest voice, pushing the shower curtain back so that the other woman could see her entire body. She immediately saw Piper's blue eyes darken with her passion and the goofy grin she was wearing evaporate.

"You," the dark-haired woman answered in a whisper that Desiree could barely hear. However, Piper did not make another move. In fact, she was as still as a statue, waiting for the strawberry-blonde to make the next move. It was completely up to Desiree what occurred next. Piper did not have to wait long for the younger woman to act.

Wrapping her wet arms around Piper's neck, Desiree brought her lips to those of her partners in a light touch. The blue-eyed woman placed her arms around Desiree's waist as the kiss deepened. Piper's tongue asked for entrance into the other woman's mouth and was immediately let in. Their tongues danced together as Piper began to move her hands up and down her lover's smooth back. Desiree moaned softly as she broke the kiss and quickly moved her lips to the older woman's neck and bit the skin gently causing Piper to let out her own moan.

"Oh, baby, I want you so bad," the dark-haired woman whispered hoarsely. She moved her hands down to Desiree's firm yet soft buttocks and began to massage her cheeks. Desiree moved her mouth to Piper's ear and started to suck the lobe gently. The taller woman felt Desiree's hot breath on her skin and involuntarily shivered in delight.
Unfortunately, someone picked that precise moment to ring the doorbell. Piper growled in frustration as she took a step back, releasing the other woman from her embrace. Running a hand threw her hair, Piper told her lover that she would die if she didn't have her soon.

Desiree chuckled. "I don't believe deprivation of sex can kill someone."

The dark-haired woman gave her a mock scowl in return. "You just remember this conversation when you're weeping over my tombstone that reads, 'Here lies Piper Redding. Died because she couldn't get any'. You'll be sorry then."

Laughing now, Desiree playfully slapped her on the arm, informing the woman that she should get the door. Piper headed towards the bathroom door, but then stopped and came back around to face the strawberry-blonde. The blue-eyed woman wrapped her arms around Desiree's waist and kissed her quickly before stating huskily, "I'm gonna rock your world tonight, Desi." She let go with a wink and hurried out of the bathroom to answer the door as she heard the doorbell ring again. Piper heard Desiree telling her that the money was on her dresser if that was the pizza deliverer. The dark-haired woman quickly grabbed a twenty-dollar bill lying on the dresser before all but running for the front door. She hadn't had pizza in months. Not since she first got out and treated herself to one. After that one time, Piper had not allowed herself to splurge very often.

After peeping through the peephole, Piper opened the door and greeted the deliverer with a bright smile. She could smell the delicious aroma coming from the rectangular box already. The young pizza delivery boy took one look at Piper and took a step back as he gasped. For some reason, the action caused the dark-haired woman to quickly look over her shoulder. Not seeing anything, she turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. Piper asked him if something was wrong.

The teenage boy nodded then shook his head. It was obvious that he was confused or frightened about something. Piper wondered briefly if he was high on some illegal substance by the way that he was acting. The dark-haired woman shook her head sadly. Some of these kids today… He pointed at her. "I…I kn…know you. I know you," he stated in a shaky voice as he jumped a little.

Piper raised an eyebrow again. "You do?" he nodded emphatically. "Funny. Because I don't think I know you. To be honest you don't look familiar at all."

The boy pushed a few strands of shoulder-length blonde hair out of his face. "Dude, I wouldn't. You don't know me but I know you." He moved towards her a step. "I thought you were dead."

It then dawned on Piper why he was acting the way that he was. She took a deep breath. Maybe answering the door wasn't such a good idea. "You're not the first person to tell me that today. So you've obviously heard of me."

"Yeah." He chuckled and bounced some. "I can't believe that I'm staring you in the face." The next thing Piper knew it, the teenager had a hold of her hand and was shaking it. After forcing himself to let go he looked at his hand as though he would never wash it again. He glanced at her and said, "I am a big fan of yours, Ms. Redding. May I call you Piper?" Before she could answer his question, he went on talking excitedly. "I've been keeping up with you since all this shit happened and I hafta tell you that I thought you were innocent of those crimes from the start. Sure it looked shady but I never gave up hope." He put the pizza on the ground and pointed at himself. "By the way, I'm Ice Cream." He shrugged. "That's not my real name but they call me that because I'm smooth, cool, and sweet."

He gave her a look that caused the dark-haired woman to roll her eyes. Poor thing, little did he know he didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of wooing her. "Look, Ice Cream…thank you for believing in me. I really appreciate." She glanced down at the pizza box. "May I have my pizza now?"

"Just a minute." Ice Cream removed his work shirt and showed Piper his T-shirt underneath. "Check this out. I had a friend of mine do it. Cool, huh?" The white cotton shirt sported a picture of Piper that was taken during her trial nearly nine years ago. She was sitting in a chair in the courtroom wearing a gray charcoal suit. She remembered that day. It was the day the jury had read the verdict. Underneath the picture in all capitals and bold writing was printed the word "INNOCENT". Ice Cream turned around and Piper read on the back of the shirt, "UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY". The dark-haired woman thought it odd that the boy would choose the picture that was taken the day she was indeed proven guilty. Ice Cream turned back around to face Piper with a huge grin plastered on his face. "Do you like it, Piper?"

She nodded although all she really cared about was getting her pizza. "May I now-"

Ice Cream cut her off. "Ooh! Dude, can I have your autograph?"

Both of the dark-haired woman's eyebrows shot up. "You want my autograph?" So, the boy saw it fit to give her the status of a celebrity. Well far be it of Piper to let him down. Besides, the quicker she got rid of him, the quicker she could sink her teeth into that mouthwatering pizza.

The delivery boy nodded. "Please?" He took out her receipt and turned it over on the back, which was blank. "Do you want this?" Ice Cream waved the small slip at her, and Piper shook her head. "Okay. You can put it on the back of here then." He felt on his pockets and then informed her that he did not have a pen.

Out of the corner of her eye, the blue-eyed woman saw Desiree coming out of the bedroom wearing green plaid pajama bottoms and a green tank top to match. The top showed off the smooth feminine muscles in her arms and Piper grinned in appreciation. The strawberry-blonde was drying her hair with a fluffy towel as she came over to the door wearing a curious expression.

"What's going on Piper?" the young woman asked as she looked at the pizza boy who appeared to be a little bit too excited about delivering pizza.

The dark-haired woman turned to her. "Ice Cream here, knows me." At Desiree's blank expression she continued, "He knows who I am and he wants my autograph." She shrugged and finished, "He's a fan." Piper tried hard not to, but she could not manage to keep a grin off of her face. Thinking it over it felt good to know that she had someone else in her corner that didn't even know her personally. The dark-haired woman asked Desiree if she would get her a pen. The young woman left to retrieve the requested item and shortly came back. She handed it to Piper who asked Ice Cream for the receipt. Piper then asked him what he wanted her to write on it.

"Put to my greatest fan, Ice Cream. Yours always, Piper Redding. Oh! And that's Ice Cream with a "K" not a "C"."

The blue-eyed woman nodded as she began writing the message on Desiree's back. Finished, Piper handed the autograph to the delivery boy. Thanking her, he folded the autograph and put it in his wallet. Picking up the pizza, Ice Kream handed it to Piper while announcing that it was on the house. She tried to pay him but he refused to take her money, so she and Desiree ended up getting a free pizza. The delivery boy shook Piper's hand and then made to leave when the strawberry-blonde called him back. Ice Kream looked at her expectantly.

"Now this is our little secret, right?" Desiree inquired. "You won't tell anyone that you saw Piper here, will you? She really doesn't need the press hounding her right now. She's been through enough as it is."

The delivery boy nodded. "Of course I won't tell anyone. I completely understand what you mean, Miss…?"

Standing beside her, Desiree heard Piper chuckle. She resisted the urge to glare at the older woman, and instead turned a sweet smile on Ice Kream. So, he did not know who she was, eh? The strawberry-blonde did not know whether to be insulted or relieved by that fact. So what if the teenager did not ask for her autograph. It did not matter one bit to Desiree. What am I? Chopped liver?

"It doesn't matter, Ice Kream," Desiree replied. "I'm just a friend of Ms. Redding's and she just came here for some peace and quiet before she resurfaces. So mums the word. Okay?"

Ice Kream nodded again. "Of course. You have my word that I will not tell anyone." He laughed. "Dude, I won't even tell my own shadow."

***

Desiree eyed the last piece of pizza in the box. It was not hot anymore, but she still wanted it. If there was one thing that the young woman excelled at, it was eating. From an early age, she had done it well. Piper, sitting next to her on the couch, smiled inwardly. At first, the strawberry-blonde had been turned off at the idea of eating pineapple on pizza, but she ate more of Piper's half than she did. She also ate her own which only consisted of pepperoni.

The dark-haired woman stretched her legs out on the coffee table. "You looking at my last slice of pizza?" she asked with a trace of amusement in her voice.

Desiree spared her a quick glance. "No." She turned her attention back to the old movie playing on television. She was full, but it tasted so delicious.

"Come now, Desi." Piper leaned towards her and whispered in the younger woman's ear, "You know you want it." Desiree gulped. "You can just taste it, can't you?" Piper quickly ran her tongue on the ridge of the other woman's ear, causing her to shudder. Leaning back into the comfortable couch she said in her regular voice, "G'wan and take the pizza." When Desiree did not make a move she added, "Take it before I change my mind. You can have it." Giving in to temptation, the strawberry-blonde reached over and swiped the last slice from the box. She practically inhaled it while Piper looked on in amazement. How could such a little thing consume so much? Piper guessed it was probably one of those many mysteries in life.

Impulsively, Desiree reached over and kissed the dark-haired woman on the cheek and said, "I'm so happy to have you back, Piper."

The other woman smiled at her warmly. "Ditto."

Desiree grinned back and then maneuvered herself until she was stretched out on the couch with her head in the other woman's lap. Piper immediately placed a hand in the strawberry-blonde's hair and began to stroke it gently as she turned her complete attention to the movie.

A while later, as Desiree watched the credits of the movie roll, she wondered if Piper had fallen asleep since she had been quiet for the last fifteen minutes or so. The strawberry-blonde had learned something interesting about the other woman. Piper, to Desiree's great surprise enjoyed talking while watching a movie. Now probably with anyone else she would have been irritated, but not with the woman whose lap she was lying in quite comfortably at the moment. Piper liked to make comments, most of which were positive, though some of what she said caused Desiree to start laughing.

Enjoying where she was immensely, Desiree did not want to move, but it was time to wake Piper up and get her to the bedroom so that she could lie down and get some much-needed rest. Desiree sighed. The last thing she had on her mind was rest, but she considered that the other woman needed it, and as bad as she herself had been sleeping, Desiree had to admit that she should head to bed as well.

The strawberry-blonde reached for the remote and clicked off the television as she felt a drop of something wet fall on her cheek. It was followed quickly by another drop leaving the young woman to wonder if there was a leak in her ceiling coming from the apartment above hers. Another drop fell and Desiree turned so that she was lying on her back, with the back of her head on the other woman's lap. With widened blue-green eyes, Desiree noticed that Piper was crying. The dark-haired woman swiped the tears away and turned her head to the side.

Biting her lower lip to keep from laughing, the strawberry-blonde lifted a hand to turn Piper's full profile back to her. However, Piper refused to make eye contact.

"Piper, that is so adorable," the younger woman stated as she left her hand on the other woman's cheek and began to caress it softly.

The dark-haired woman glanced down at her. "What is?"

"That you're crying over the movie. At least I assume that's why you're crying."

Piper sniffed and quickly wiped at her right eye. "I don't know what you're talking about, Desi. I wasn't crying," she retorted stubbornly.

Her lover smiled. "Yeah, right. So those things falling from your eyes aren't tears?"

The dark-haired woman lied, "I just got something in my eye is all. I don't cry over movies. Not like it's real or anything…"

Yeah, sure, Desiree thought to herself. Did Piper actually think that she was fooling someone? Well Desiree was not about to press the issue.

Piper leaned over and kissed the strawberry-blonde on the nose. "Ready to hit the sheets?" she asked waggling her eyebrows.

The younger woman chuckled. Well rest could wait. "Yes, but you go on ahead." Desiree got up and stretched before starting to gather their mess from dinner. Piper offered to help her, but the younger woman refused, advising her to go wait in the bed. After thinking it over quickly, the dark-haired woman decided to take her up on her offer and all but skipped to the bedroom. Desiree could never be sure, but she thought that she even heard Piper whistling a little happy tune.

Gathering the empty pizza box and everything else, Desiree took them to the kitchen. She washed the few dishes and glasses while Tobias rubbed against her legs while purring. After finishing and drying her hands on a dishtowel, Desiree picked up the cat and scratched him for a few minutes as her thoughts traveled back to the sensual woman waiting for her in her bedroom.

Piper Redding was her girlfriend, and Desiree supposed live-in lover. That is if the dark-haired woman decided to stay. Desiree certainly hoped that she would. What if she wanted to go back to San Francisco? The young woman shook her head. No, that wasn't going to happen. She was sure of it. After all, there was nothing for Piper there. Her friends were here and Desiree considered that she didn't have anything to go back to. No commitments or family. The strawberry-blonde knew for a fact that she herself would not want to go back.

Desiree sighed. She would have to get working on her book again and get a job if she didn't want to get herself, Piper and Tobias evicted. She was sure that her parents would help out, but that was what she was trying to avoid. Desiree wanted to be on her own without their help. She was an adult and she was fully capable of taking care of herself. So, that was what she would do. If she had to get a job at a burger joint for the time being in order to pay the bills then so be it. Sometimes you had to work your way up the ladder of success.

That settled Desiree deposited Tobias down on the floor despite his meows of protests. The young woman began to walk out of the kitchen, but then turned back around and went to one of her cabinets rummaging around until she found a bottle of whiskey in the back behind a big can of coffee. Untwisting the cap and taking it off, Desiree tipped the bottle and took a few swigs of the alcohol. The nervousness had returned some but she needed Piper. She wanted her so much that she could taste it. Taking another long swig, Desiree put the cap back on and replaced the bottle in the back.

Taking a deep breath, the young woman made her way through the living room and then quietly opened her bedroom door. The light was on and she could plainly see Piper in the bed, stretched out under the sheets and blanket with an arm across her face, covering her eyes some from view. First sighing, and then chuckling to herself, Desiree turned out the lamp next to the side of the bed Piper was sleeping on and then crawled in next to her. In her sleep, the dark-haired woman immediately rolled over and threw an arm around Desiree. Feeling her lover's warm deep even breathing on her neck, the strawberry-blonde succumbed to sleep.

She was dreaming and my, was it vivid! Someone was kissing her on the neck and she discovered that it was quite a delightful feeling that sent wonderful sensations through her body. She moaned as she felt a soft warm hand enter the waistband of her pants and roam down until it was covering her mound. The woman moaned again as a pair of soft lips covered her own. The tip of a tongue touched her bottom lip and the woman opened her eyes to find that this actually was not a dream at all.

Desiree blinked her eyes and then reached over to turn on the light. With her eyes narrowing because of the brightness, she squinted at Piper, who was lying besides her with their bodies in close contact. Desiree could all but feel the heat emanating from her lover. She could also feel Piper's index finger consistently rubbing at the entrance of her center, and she involuntarily let out a soft moan of pleasure.

"Pi…Piper, what are you doing?" What kind of idiotic question is that? What does it look like she's doing?

The dark-haired woman chuckled low in her throat. "You know what I'm doing, Desi," she whispered. "I like to keep my promises." Piper covered a patch of skin on the younger woman's neck with her lips again. "If you notice the time," she went on between kisses, "it's not yet midnight, therefore it's still Sunday and I distinctly remember saying that I was going to rock your world tonight." She stopped to gaze into Desiree's eyes. "That is a promise that I won't break." Finished with her short speech, Piper leaned down to capture the other woman's lips with her own. Desiree moaned as she kissed her lover back passionately. Far be it from her to prohibit Piper from fulfilling her promise.

Moments later, Piper ended the kiss and got to her knees. She reached down and began to pull Desiree's shirt off of her. Wanting very much to help, the younger woman sat up and shucked her T-shirt, throwing it across the room. Piper growled low in her throat as she leaned down to take one of Desiree's rosy nipples into her mouth. The blue-green eyed woman gasped at the stimulating contact. Piper increased her sucking as she gently nudged the other woman to lie down. Desiree did so willingly due to the sudden weakness that she was feeling.

The dark-haired woman crawled down to kneel besides the other woman's legs. She pulled Desiree's pants and panties off of her at the same time. Piper threw them onto the floor, as her darkened blue eyes raked over her lover's body. The strawberry-blonde began to fidget from the silent exploration. She wanted this woman to make love to her. Not examine her like a rare piece of art.

Desiree cleared her throat. "Are you going to just look or…touch?" she asked in a lowered voice.

Dark blue eyes glanced at her, before Piper hurriedly removed her own T-shirt and caused the bed to bounce some, as she pulled off the baggy pants and threw them in the general direction of the shirt. Now it was Desiree's turn to admire her body. Was it the younger woman's imagination or had Piper managed to look even better with her clothes off, then she had a week ago?

Piper covered the smaller woman's body with her own and started kissing her soft lips. Desiree wrapped her arms around Piper's back and began running her hands over it as she melted into the kissing. The older woman began to grind her middle into that of the other woman's as she broke the contact of their lips and began to kiss along Desiree's jaw line.

"I want you so bad, Desi," Piper stated in a lowered voice. She began to kiss the younger woman's neck. The dark-haired woman could feel Desiree's heart beating as rapidly as her own was at that instant.

Before Piper knew what had happened, she was lying on her back on the bed with the strawberry-blonde straddling her hips. The older woman grinned, wondering what Desiree was intending to do. One thing was for sure. Piper was not about to let herself be handcuffed tonight. Though she had thoroughly enjoyed it up at the cabin, she wanted full usage of her hands tonight. For some reason, she didn't believe that Desiree had any handcuffs lying around anyway.

Desiree leaned down and kissed her lover on her eyelids softly. She then kissed the woman on the nose, and then made a detour for one cheek and then the other. The strawberry-blonde passed those wonderfully full lips, and went for Piper's neck instead. She placed her lips over the spot where she could feel the dark-haired woman's racing pulse. Desiree's lips traveled to a collarbone that she gladly kissed along, as she felt Piper's long fingers run through her hair. She then felt the woman's hands on her shoulders, putting a slight pressure there, silently urging the strawberry-blonde to go lower.

Desiree smiled mischievously up at her impatient lover. "Did you want something, Piper?"

The blue-eyed woman growled low in her throat. "You know what I want, Desi. Please don't tease me tonight," she replied sounding earnestly desperate. There was pleading in Piper's eyes, and Desiree being a soft-hearted person, did not have it in her to tease when the other woman was being so sincere. She thought back to events from earlier that evening. Though it wasn't like Piper didn't deserve to be teased. The younger woman considered that she had every right to pay the woman back, but not now. Besides, Desiree was getting impatient herself.

One more ribbing wouldn't hurt anything. She could not resist. "You know," Desiree began in a conversational tone, fully aware that Piper looked like she might be getting ready to take charge of the situation, "this chick once told me that patience is a virtue." The strawberry-blonde smirked.

"Really?" Piper lifted an eyebrow. Rule #1of dating Desiree Love. One must watch what they say around her. For it could come back to haunt them. "Well whoever she is, she's crazy."

Desiree kissed her lover on the lips and grinned. "I couldn't agree with you more."

The dark-haired woman smirked. "Cute. Very cute." She gently but quickly pushed Desiree off of her and the younger woman landed on her back, with a gorgeous naked Amazon of a woman kneeling over her.

I can't believe she's mine. "Hey! What did you do that for?" inquired Desiree in a playful tone.

"I've decided," the blue-eyed woman started as she slowly lowered herself onto her younger lover. Piper closed her eyes at the exquisite contact of their bodies. Sure she was much bigger than this woman, but they were a match made in Heaven. Blue eyes opened as a hand began to travel down Desiree's body, starting at the side of her breast. The strawberry-blonde's breath began to quicken, wondering where that hand would end up. Piper went on, "to take," the dark-haired woman began to kiss her small lover, starting with her chin and slowly going down her throat as her hand stroked the woman's thigh. Piper moved down the other woman's body until her mouth was level with her full breasts. Her tongue darted out and lightly flicked across an extended rosy nipple, as Desiree arched her back, beginning to moan softly, "matters," Piper whispered before she closed her mouth over the other woman's nipple, taking as much of the breast into her mouth as was possible. She heard the younger woman call out her name as her mouth moved to give equal attention to the other breast. After a few moments, Piper ended the sweet torment and slid off of Desiree, making sure that their bodies were still touching. Her hand traveled up the inside of the other woman's thigh having a destination in mind, "into," Piper went on in a voice thick with desire as one finger slid into the strawberry-blonde's hot and moist center, "my own hands." Desiree cried out at the pleasure. The dark-haired woman began to move her finger in and out slowly as she reached up to place a feverish kiss on her lover's mouth. This was true bliss.

Their tongues thrashing about, Desiree's hips moved against the digit plunging within her, deeply caressing her. Wanting her lover to feel what she herself was experiencing, Desiree slipped a hand between them and stroked Piper's womanhood, her outer lips coated with her thickened nectar. Moaning in delight into her mouth, the brunette practically begged Desiree to come inside of her while as she added another finger, her pace quickening. Not wanting her lover to have to wait another moment, the strawberry-blonde slipped a couple of digits between her swollen lips causing Piper's hips to began almost furiously gyrating.

They eagerly matched each other's strokes and soon worked up to a feverish pace, sweat dampened foreheads touching, heated puffs of air flowing between them as slick thrusting fingers brought them to the precipice where they swiftly catapulted into a pool of rapture.

Breathing heavily, Piper kissed the length of her lover's neck as soft palms languidly rubbed up and down her back. Softly moaning, she raised her head and tenderly touched her lips to those, which she deemed sweeter than honey. Gazing into Desiree's eyes, a smile curved her lips.

"That was…damn," she reverently whispered.

Desiree lightly chuckled while giving a slight nod. "My sentiments exactly."

With the lights now off, Piper gently rubbed Desiree's back in a circular motion, while the woman's head rested on her broad shoulder in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Their breathing had returned to normal and the two women were quiet. Neither had said much in the last few minutes, and Piper felt the need to break the silence.

She began to speak in a quiet voice. "Desi, I don't feel like I deserve you. In fact, I know that I don't. You deserve to have someone that can give you so much more than I have to offer. Just look at the way we met. I kidnapped you." She bent her head and gently kissed the object of her affection on the forehead before lying back on the pillow. "I'm so sorry, baby," she whispered as a tear escaped her eye. Piper didn't bother to wipe it away. "But I'm way too selfish to just leave you. I can't do that. I don't wanna leave you. I need you. It frightens me that I need and want you so much," she paused. "I guess you could say that I desire you Desiree." Piper chuckled. "I've been waiting to use your name and that word in the same sentence," she paused once again. "If you were ever to decide that you didn't want me, and I wouldn't blame you one bit…I might just die. Not actually, but I know that I might just die inside. I'm hooked on you now, and I have a feeling that that will never go away. That it's forever. I'll always want you. Need you." Another tear fell as Piper whispered, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I love you, Desiree Meredith Love."

Minutes passed without Desiree offering any comment. Piper's heart to began to beat faster. Oh, God. I've probably scared the poor girl. Good going, stupid. Should have just kept my mouth shut. "Desi, I'm sorry I said all that. Are you upset?" When the younger woman still did not answer, Piper's brow furrowed as she turned her head to look down at the woman. Since it was dark, she reached over and clicked on the light. Getting a good look at Desiree's face, the dark-haired woman felt instant relief and a small amount of disappointment at the say time. The strawberry-blonde was fast asleep.

"I'll be damned," Piper said good-naturedly. Oh well. Maybe Desiree was not meant to hear her declaration just yet. Extinguishing the light before slipping her arms around her young lover, she closed her eyes. As she lay there, it suddenly dawned on Piper that she had not been this happy in a long time. The feeling was incredible. A slight smile evident on her lips, Piper drifted off to sleep.

Continued in Part 9.