Part Seven

Taya walked into the apartment and looked around. She threw her keys on a nearby table and shut the door behind her. Walking around the room she asked herself if there was anything that really meant anything to her in it. There wasn't.

She then went into the bedroom and headed for the closet. Once inside it she pushed open a hidden compartment and removed what she had come for. She took the box and went to sit on the bed as she opened it. When was the last time she had actually looked inside it? It had been so long she couldn't even remember.

Taya separated the photos and a few envelopes. In this box was her life. Account numbers from Swiss bank accounts to overseas investments, contacts, routes and secrets that kept her alive. The photos caught her eyes; she stopped to stare at an old photograph of an elderly woman. Her fingertips lightly touched the figure on the old photo remembering the last words her mother had said to her over ten years before.

"Taya Vete! No quiero verte jamas, vete!"

Taya closed her eyes as the old pain suddenly came to life inside her again. She had been schocked by her mother's words. She had expected recriminations but not banishment. Her mother had sealed her decision. Taya would never see her again. She had been set free and she ran. Taya had been actually running for years, the anger building and building till it had nowhere to go but at everything she touched. She didn't want to hear and didn't want to think. She wanted to only stop feeling.

With those words from her mother ringing in her ears Taya had run out the door and had kept running her whole life.

"Mama! No!" Taya's sister had tried to go after her but her mother stopped her.

"She hears no one. I cannot control her anymore. I don't want to answer the door one day and have a policeman tell me shat she is dead."

"Pero Mama," her daughter began to cry.

"This way I won't know," the woman said sadly as her shoulders drooped and she walked away.

Taya briefly turned around and met her sister's eyes for a moment before she started running again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taya pulled out her cell phone and keyed in a phone number. She waited patiently as the phone rang.

"Oigo," a voice answered.

"Mama…"

Taya heard a deep intake of breath.

"Mama…"

"Taya?" She heard a voice ask barely above a whisper.

Taya felt the lump grow in her throat as a sob escaped her.

"Taya, mi nina, mi nina…" her mother wept.

"Puedo verte?" She had to ask humbly. Her mother had to be the one to decide whether to allow her back into her life.

"Mi nina si, estas bien? Donde estas? Taya te quiero mucho mi nina, te quiero mucho," the elderly voice cried. In a few words Taya had heard all she need to know and she openly wept. "Ven Taya, ven…"

The sobbing racked her body as she heard the final word of 'come'

"No llores mi amor, no llores."

Her mother had said don't cry softly and all that she could do was weep as she longed for the comforting arms that as a child she had always felt come around her in comfort. It was Barbara…she had given her back all this Taya thought to herself.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A few hours later Taya stood in the middle of the apartment and looked around again. She never truly lived there. She would not miss it she told herself. It was easy to walk out and close the door to it. The world of the pens however would be a totally different undertaking but for her to survive now she would have to find a way to leave it behind.

She had taken the first few steps towards another life and for the first time in a long time she felt hopeful.

Taya walked out of the apartment building, put on her sunglasses and inwardly smiled. She jumped on her bike and rode out of the pens.

The only word to describe what she felt was elation. She pulled into Barbara's driveway and ran up the stairs taking two at a time.

Taya ran excitedly into the house.

"Barbara!"

Barbara walked in from the family room and Taya took her into her arms and twirled her around the room as the air around them filled with laughter.

Taya finally put her down and with a smile still on her face she said. "I love you, Barbara. I want the rest of my life to be with you."

Barbara was about to speak when Taya interrupted.

"I called my mother," Taya said as her eyes filled with tears.

"And…?"

"She was so happy… I haven't called in over 10 years. I want this life as much as you do querida."

Barbara smiled and caressed Taya's face. Finally, she could see a glimmer of peace in those eyes looking back at her.

"I want her to meet you," Taya said excitedly.

"You told her about me?"

"I told her I met a woman who made me want to change my life," Taya said as her lips lightly kissed Barbara's.

"Taya, she may not…"

"She will love you, and the boys can use a vacation. Just think Barbara; water, sand, sun and a new beginning," Taya said excitedly.

"Don't you think that perhaps you should spend some time with your mother first?"

"This new life is because of you querida. I will not spend another day without you in it," Taya said emotionally. She took Barbara's face between her hands and simply looked at Barbara for a moment before speaking "Te amo, te amo…what I feel for you is stronger than love…you are my life Barbara, my life."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Barbara had called the therapist that Teddy had been seeing and they both thought that the trip would actually be good for him so with that being taken care of she started packing. When the boys got home they jumped with excitement. While Barabara packed she could hear them running with glee as Taya chased them around the rooms downstairs. Barbara smiled as her thought of how different Taya was now…that's all she allowed her self to think.

The next day they were getting in an airplane flying towards Florida. Taya had gone out and come back the night before with four first class tickets for all of them.

"Darling, I could have helped to pay for those," Barbara said carefully not wanting to offend her lover in any way.

"Only the best for my family. Money is not something that we have to worry about," she said simply and went to look for the boys. "Hey guys want to play Battle Star?"

Barbara was looking at Taya as she was fussing over Teddy and Eric. "You guys okay over there?"

"Darling they are fine. You bought them enough games for the Gameboy's to keep them enthralled for at least the foreseeable future," Barbara said smiling. She would have to talk to Taya about all the presents. She didn't want to discourage her from her attentiveness but she didn't want her to be constantly buying the boys presents. It just wasn't good for them. There would be time for that she smiled thinking to herself. There was a lifetime to spend with Taya now.

"Are you happy?" Taya covered Barbara's hand with her own.

"I have you. Yes."

Taya's smile had never seemed brighter.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Taya, come on, I want to go down to the beach!" Teddy insisted.

Taya stepped out of the bedroom and smiled indulgently at the boy. "Can't wait, huh?"

"Please…" Teddy looked at her the way he knew she would never said no to him.

"Okay, grab a towel. Let me tell Mom that she can meet us down stairs with Eric okay?"

"Okay..." Teddy said excitedly.

Taya turned around and smiled sheepishly as she saw Barbara leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "Push over." Barbara said with a smile.

"Would you mind?" Taya nodded and smiled.

"No, go ahead when Eric is ready I will meet you both downstairs." Barbara walked up to her slowly and just stood in front of her. They were still careful in front of the boys.

"Come on Taya, just kiss Mom and let's go pleaseeeee……" Teddy wined.

Barbara and Taya stared at the boy than back at each other.

"You kiss her, Mom." Teddy again insisted.

It had happened that simply. Barbara leaned up and kissed Taya lightly on the lips.

Taya just as stunned left the suite with Teddy by the hand.

"You okay with this, little man?"

"With what?" He said as he looked up at her.

"With me and your Mom?" Taya asked tentatively.

He suddenly stopped and looked up at her. "Yeah, I'm okay with it. Eric and I had a long talk about it." He started walking again and Taya felt as if she was being walked instead of the other way around.

"You and Eric?"

"Yeah."

"I love you all more than anything you know." Taya said simply all choked up with emotion to say anything else.

"I know," The child had simply said as they continued to walk down the hall towards the elevator.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They had decided to stay at a hotel for a few days before going to meet Taya's mother. Taya felt more than saw Barbara's worries. She wanted it to work. All that she had done would not be allowed to touch the woman she loved. They had a chance; a real chance at building a life together and she was prepared to do anything to make that happen.

They boys had loved that the hotel that they had chosen to stay at was right on the water. The Fontainblue Hotel boasted to being one of the most luxurious places on the strip. Barbara had again suggested that she help pay for the accommodations and Taya had just smiled and said no.

Once they were upstairs and all settled in, the real meaning of what they had just begun hit Barbara.

"Taya?" Barbara had tentatively reached out to her lover as the boys were in their bedroom to the side of the suite.

"Yes querida." Taya turned to face her.

"We really haven't made any plans have we?" Barbara looked deeply into her eyes. "I think we should don't you?"

Taya walked up to her slowly. "Loving you for the rest of my life is my plan."

Barbara smiled but she would not be deterred. She looked towards the bedroom as she heard the boys giggling.

"I love them too, Barbara," Taya said reassuringly.

"I know you do," Barbara said as her hand went to caress the face of the woman in front of her. "But, there are things that we must discuss."

Taya pulled away suddenly. "What?"

Barbara came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her softly. "The little things that will make our future."

"I don't understand," Taya said as she turned around and again put distance between them.

"Taya, there are things I need to know." Barbara tried to explain.

"All you need to know is that I love you." Taya suddenly took her into her arms.

"Taya…" Barbara's mouth was suddenly covered with lips that hungrily took her.

"Mom?"

Both women turned around. Barbara headed towards the boy's room. Taya just stared as she saw her walking away. Barbara stopped and turned slowly back to her. "I will be back once I put them to bed."

Taya nodded.

Once left alone she went into the bedroom to the other side of the suite and stepped out onto the balcony. Barbara had questions she told herself. It was natural after all for her to have questions. Taya however knew that the answers might be very hard to swallow. She had been dreading this moment from the first time she realized that Barbara was the woman that she loved and needed in her life. Now the questions were here and she was more afraid than she had ever been in her life.

Barbara found Taya out on the balcony and came up behind her again and leaned her head on her back. "Come to bed. I need you."

Taya turned around and kissed her with desperation. They both walked in together.

"Do you?" Taya voiced in the darkness of the room as the woman she loved stood in front of her.

"Do I what darling?"

"Need me?"

Barbara took the step that separated them and put her arms around Taya's neck as she pulled her mouth down to her own before saying. "More than life itself."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Crashing noises and the braking of glass made a woman sit up quickly on the bed. The man lying next to her jumped out of bed and pulled out a handgun from behind the night stand.

"Rico?" The female voice asked filled with fear.

Rico looked at his wife before the door to their bedroom burst open and the night was filled with gunfire. The last thing he saw was the face of the woman he loved and the red liquid that seemed to be covering her body. "Miranda…"