Standard Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle don’t belong to me, they’re the property of Renaissance Pictures/MCA and Rob Tapert. The lucky dogs. I’ve borrowed them again for my ‘Lost and Found’ series. When I run out of story line, I’ll send them home. By the by, the other characters in this story are mine, I think I’ll keep them. Except my little voice; if someone wants that, by all means, have at it.

Violence Disclaimer: Not a wit, unless Margie takes after the dogs with her broom.

Sex Disclaimer: Oh yes! This one will have sex between two women. Who knows, maybe often, and it will be graphic. If you have been reading this series, you’ll notice I hope, that these two characters are monogamous, and have been for thirty years. Hey I think that’s cool. However, I know there are those of you out there who don’t think this type of relationship is okay, then move on, don’t read my stories. If you are not at least 21 years of age, move along. If you live in a state or province where this sort of thing is illegal; move on; don’t read. Frankly I don’t think love should be illegal, but oh well.

Hurt/Comfort: Nope, none. I think it’s time for a lighter story here.

I know I said with the end of ‘Put the Demons to Rest’ we were all gonna take a bit of a break. We did, for about twelve hours. My friend who is helping me proofread my stories called wanting to know when the next story would be ready to read. What can I say? I’ll keep at it! I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I do writing. If you would like to comment on my stories, constructively please, you can contact me. The addy is fantasy@clarkston.com. Okay this one will be fun, I hope.

Mom, How Do You Know

You're in Love?

by

Fantasy

October 8, 2000

Chapter 1: A Quiet? Saturday Morning

Mmmm, I love waking up early. I’ve always been an early riser, but early in my life it was a matter of self-defense…c’mon, don’t even go there; Dr. Friar’s orders…now it’s because I really like the first part of the day. That’s one reason; the other reason is because my angel is a late riser, and that means, I get to lie here with her and watch her sleep. Have you ever watched a baby sleep? I don’t make it a habit, no. There is one thing about the mornings I don’t like, but I won’t go into that. Well, maybe you should! Baby’s are so peaceful when they sleep, someone once said a child sleeps, ‘…the sleep of the innocent’. That’s the way Becca looks now, peaceful, innocent. She is such a beautiful woman. She could have been the model for a Greek God- dess. Her long dark hair, chiseled angular features, and strong jaw. The most striking feature is her cerulean eyes. I swear with those limpid pools, she has the ability to see right through my exterior deep into my soul. My eyes travel down over her magnificent body, barely covered by our silk sheets. Her beautiful face, her long sinewy frame, her sun kissed bronzed skin, the luscious firm breasts, with dark brown nipples and aureolas, the neatly trimmed dark patch of hair shielding her womanhood, God I love everything about her. Physically we are so different. I’m short, she’s tall. She’s beautiful, I’m…well, let’s just say I’m not gorgeous, I…ah, ah, ah, remem- ber what the shrink said…I’m not ugly. There, how’s that? It’s a step in the right direction, I think.

A slight movement brought me back from my musings. Tiny little goose bumps covered my wife’s body. I covered my angel’s body with the bedclothes. She snuggled deeper into my arms, never waking. I lightly stroked my lover’s cheek with the back of my fingers. "Sleep my love, I’m here." My thoughts took a slight turn from anatomy to philosophy. Oh my God, is there no end… Hush, go back to sleep! It has been quite a ride, the last few months. January through October, of the new millennium, sucked quite frankly. I certainly don’t want to relive that thank you very much. There was one good thing that did come out of the horrible events. What in the hell good came out of that, enlighten me please? I thought you went back to sleep. What and miss out on such an engrossing conversation? Think about it fool! Becca and I had hit rock bottom. We had nearly lost each other because of the accident, then came together, and then nearly had our world shattered by some whacko, and we lived to tell about it. Our bond now is even stronger than before. We learned the human spirit is nearly invincible where love and trust exists. Did you figure that out all by yourself, or did you have help. I had help, lots of help. I brushed my lover’s hair from her angelic sleeping face. Lots of help. I leaned down, and gently brushed the lips I’d die without, with mine, and snuggled back down into the blissful sleep that comes only from peace.

Several hours later, I awoke to the tantalizing sensation of butterfly kisses and nips being placed all over my neck, throat, and upper chest. I could get really used to this.

"You missed a spot." My angel giggled mischievously and latched on to my pulse point and licked, sucked, and bit like a puppy with a chew toy.

"I certainly aim to please my dear." The gentle play continued until my wife’s hands strayed to my ribs, and began to tickle me mercilessly. The two of us began to roll around on the bed; each trying to get the other flipped over on her back.

"Honey, what I lack in speed, I make up for in sheer bulk. You’ll never win." I hooked my shorter legs over my lover’s buttocks, and quickly flipped us both over and onto Becca’s back. "See, I tol’ ya so…" Just as I was about to bask in my victory, I found myself back on my back with my wife covering me with more tickling fingers, and licking tongue. This was too much. "All right, all right, I give, I give." I stopped all movement until I felt my wife’s grip on my body loosened somewhat. I took the moment to grab the momentum and flipped my wife over again gaining the top posi-tion.

"Hey that’s not fair," my wife screeched. "You cheated!" Not hardly.

"I didn’t cheat, I used my superior analytical mind to implement the better attacking strategy." My angel’s response was to bludgeon me senseless with a pillow.

"Okay, that’s it! This means total, all out war!"

I sat up, straddling my lover’s stomach; I grabbed the nearest pillow and began returning Becca’s attack, matching her blow for fluffy blow. What I neglected to take into consideration was my pedigreed mutts lying on the floor next to the bed. It’d been a while since my wife and I engaged in early morning gymnastics, and the joy that permeated the room was too much temptation for the two canines. The two Rottweilers leaped onto the bed, grabbing whatever they could in their jaws. Nip managed to grab one end of my soft weapon at the apex of my downward thrust. The resulting strong pull in the opposite direction pulled me backward off Becca allowing her the upper hand. She took advantage of her canine ally and pounced on me knocking the air out of me. Both dogs got hold of the pillow, each on one end, and began a tug of war. The result was inevitable, and the pillow was torn asunder and feathers flew everywhere. Our sweaty bodies were covered with feathers, the moisture causing them to stick to us, making us look like a replacement for ‘Big Bird’. The hellish noise soon roused the attention of our conscientious housekeeper, who burst into the room broom in hand. The room was abruptly, deathly quiet. Both animals and humans sat there awaiting the inevitable explosion. Margie surveyed the carnage in the room, mouth agape, and a deep scarlet color began to creep up her neck to cover her face, a precursor to the imminent eruption. Fortunately, our canine accomplices shielded our naked bodies because two teenagers careened into Margie, nearly knocking her over in the process. Finally the volcano blew.

"What in the Sam hell is going on in here? Look at this room. Get those mangy animals off those clean sheets." The irate cook launched her- self in the direction of the bed, wielding her straw weapon back and forth in long sweeping arcs…sweeping? whatever… until Nip and Tuck scrambled from the bed, and scurried from the room as quickly as their four legs could carry them. Becca and I furiously grabbed bed sheets to cover our nakedness from our teenage audience.

"Oh c’mon mom, get a grip. You and mother don’t have anything I haven’t seen before, right Ange?" Syd giggled. Ange nodded, trying in vain to cover her smirks.

"Yeah coach. Ya seen one set of boobs, ya seen ‘em all." That comment was all it took. The two teenagers nearly fell over they were laughing so hard. Frankly, I couldn’t see what was so damned funny.

"What’dya mean you seen one… Oh my God…you… have you?" Yeah Doc, buy a clue. She’s growing up. Have you had that ‘little talk’ yet? Margie used her broom to chase the Syd and Ange out of the room.

"You two go find those mongrels and get them cleaned up. And have a little more respect for your parent’s privacy. Go on now, off with you. Shoo, shoo!" A smart smack to their teenage butts sent the girls on their way, still laughing hysterically. I could hear Ange as they headed down the hall.

"I’ll say one thing Syd, you’re folks are a hoot. You’d never catch my folks having a pillow fight on a Saturday morning, naked, or any other time for that matter. Jeeze sometimes I wonder how I ever got conceived." Syd shook her head.

"If ya want me to Ange, I’ll explain it to you." Explain it, my baby explaining conception? Oh shit. Hello smartass, you’re kid’s growing up, deal with it, now! Damn Becca and I gotta have a talk. You got it all wrong doc, Becca already knows, and apparently so does Syd, so it isn’t Becca you got to talk to. My angel sat there looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. She reached up and extracted a feather from my curly hair.

"Something wrong hon?" My lover’s hands began to caress my shoulders and back, then moved up and over, to capture my breasts, finally cupping one in each hand brushing her thumbs over the protruding buds until my nipples were hard and erect. She lowered me back onto our feather-covered bed, and latched onto my now throbbing nipples with her warm, wet mouth. She began a gentle sucking rhythm with her mouth matching the pounding in my center. With one hand, my angel began twisting and pinching the other turgid bud, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my groin. The other hand crawled down over my belly until it reached its destination in the moist damp curls covering my sex. Gentle, but strong fingers began stroking my slit from anus to clit.

"Oh baby, you’re so good at that, don’t stop. I love the way that feels." I thrust my hips upward to meet my angels stroking fingers. Those fingers circled my clit, stroking it back and forth, stimulating the hard little bundle of nerves until I was groaning out my pleasure.

"Yes, darlin’ that is nice. Mmmm, I want a nice long slow climax. Make this last. Huuummm, so good. Yeah, that’s it stroke me baby. Please go inside now. Slide your fingers inside my wet hole. Oh yeah." My angel used her fingers to tantalize my honey hole.

"Oh Stace, you’re so wet. Your juices are covering my hand. Tell me this is all for me love, mmm so creamy and warm. God baby your scent is driving me wild." My angel took my lips with hers and sucked and nibbled them, drawing them into her mouth. Our tongues intertwined with each other like two swans in a sensual dance of love. We explored all the inner surfaces of our mouths until we could no longer go on for lack of air.

"Oh my love, you taste so sweet. I have to taste your sweet nectar too. Tell me baby is that what you want?" I groaned out my need. My lover moved down to my aching breasts and began to suckle ravenously. My angel was so into loving me, her gentle fingers had slipped into my clinching love chamber and began a long, slow masterful fucking. My angel knew just what to do, but I wanted the most intimate kiss two lovers could share. Gently, I pushed the raven head down over my body until her loving lips reached my seething mons.

"My angel please, love me with your mouth. Lick and suckle my clit. Drive your tongue deep inside me. Please baby kiss me, love me." I wanted to watch my wife as she devoured my sex, so I propped myself on my el- bows and lifted myself up. My lover was a master at giving me pleasure. She covered my dripping sex with sensual, wet kisses. Her tongue traveled the length of my slit, lapping up all the juices I produced. She nipped and sucked my labia pulling the swollen, puffy flesh into her mouth. She rubbed her face all over my pussy, smearing my juices all over her face. I continued to watch my angel make love to me. It never ceased to amaze me how much love my wife could put into the act of sex until it was no longer merely satisfying a bodily need, but became an act of worship and devotion.

"Mmmm baby you are so wet, your juices are so sweet and spicy. I want more baby; give me more." With that demand my baby drove her tongue deep inside my squeezing cunt, fucking me with her tongue. Her fingers were not idle as they flicked and rubbed my pulsing clit. God it felt so good, and her ministrations were driving me close to the edge. My lover was draining every bit of strength I had, and I could no longer keep myself upright to watch her loving me. I flopped back onto the bed, accepting the wonderful inevitability of my impending orgasm. The sweet pleasure my Becca was giving me was about to explode to the surface. I could feel the burning electric sensations begin deep in my core, working their way outward. I was caught in a maelstrom of pleasure, and I needed to see the storm through to its completion.

"Becca, my angel, I’m cumming. It feels so good, baby don’t stop. Please I wanna cum so bad. Make me cum baby. Oh yes! Feels—so—good, God don’t stop." I was so close to the abyss, I could see over, and I wanted to never come back. While my lover was feasting on me, she was furiously finger fucking her own cunt, bringing herself over to fall into the same abyss. My quivering pussy muffled her screams of passion.

"Ungh, ungh. Mmmm. God Stace I’m cumming!!" I climaxed simultaneously with my love.

"Yes Becca yes, yes!!" My orgasm exploded throughout my body with such force I past out momentarily. When I came back to myself, I was being held by the gentle, strong arms of the most beautiful goddess I had ever seen.

"Well now, that was fun. Thank you my love. You never cease to amaze me. Every time we make love, it only gets better. God at this rate, when were eighty, we’ll kill ourselves." Well you are always saying you want to die in bed. Can’t think of a better way to go myself. My angel kissed me playfully on the nose.

"And do you have a problem with that?" Not a bit and I snuggled deeper into my lover’s arms.

"No sweetheart I don’t. I love you." We both lay there in our ‘feather love bed’ and basked in the feelings of the afterglow of love. Usually, we slept for hours after a session like we just had, but there was a nagging thought preventing me from entering Morpheus’ realm. My lover was having no such problem. Her droopy eyelids signaled she was about to leave the realm of consciousness. I didn’t have the heart to stop her journey, so I simply snuggled deeper into our nest, and lay there thinking.

It’s true; our little girl was growing up. Soon Sydnee René would leave our home and build a life of her own. With someone smartass. I don’t want to think about this. God I didn’t want to lose my little girl. Our life is so good together; our family is so strong. When she leaves, a part of me will be torn out of my body. God, get a grip. She hasn’t gone yet, and she’ll still be part of the family. She could no more leave you and Becca permanently than she could fly to the moon. Look at Becca and her folks, has she totally forgotten about them? Not! You’re right. And this surprises you? Gimme a break!

That’s true. Still we do have to have that talk. I can’t believe she’s fifteen and I haven’t talked to her about sex. But not just sex. We need to talk about love and devotion to a life partner, male or female. I want Syd to have what I have, and I don’t care whether that person is male, female, black or white, poor or rich. I want someone who will take care of my daughter and love her the way I’m loved, forever. Oh she can pass over all the heartache and pain. But then that’s a part of life too isn’t it? Yes unfortunate-ly it is. But does it have to be? God I don’t know, I just don’t know. I looked into the face of my world, and wondered if she was thinking the same things. Naw, she isn’t a paranoid cynic like you are. You can go away now. Look at that face; of course she isn’t obsessing over this. So why should I? I have one advantage no one else had: Rebecca. I didn’t have to do this alone; we’d do it together. Hello! I glanced over at the clock: 12:30pm. Shit, Margie’s gonna kill us. I took stock of our current state, and decided I needn’t worry about my talk with Syd, cause when Margie was finished with me, I wouldn’t be talking to anyone, ever.

"Baby, c’mon wake up. We have to get this room in order. Margie’s gonna shit a brick." Sleepy pools of blue opened and tried to focus on her surroundings.

"What’s the problem?" What’s the problem?

"It just looks like a couple of geese exploded in here, which is what Margie’s gonna do too." My lover stroked my cheek with her fingers, and drew my head down to her. She kissed me tenderly and whispered.

"I love you." How does she do it? She calms, soothes me, and makes me believe nothing is as bad as I think it is. Hmm!

"Okay, I understand. Cool my jets right?" My angel nodded and we crawled out of bed, feathers swirling all around us in the breeze our movement created. My lover plucked a downy object from my hair and kissed my cheek.

"You look good in feathers." A soft touch began trailing down my arm. Before the fingers could stray any further, I grabbed the offending digits.

"Ugh ugh, as much as I’d like to spend the day in bed, we have things to do."

She brushed the feather back and forth under my nose several times until I could no longer hold the sneeze. By the time I recovered, Becca was long gone and had disappeared into the bathroom. I scrambled over the bed to follow where my wife had gone. We spent another forty-five minutes in the bathroom, exploring more than washing. But eventually, we had covered every inch of naked skin much to our mutual satisfaction. When we returned to the bedroom, the room was spotless, and featherless. Margie had come in and cleaned our love nest. What would we do without the old gal? The sixty-five-year-old former housemother had come into our home and became part of it almost ten years ago, and it was the best hire I’d ever made…

"So, Mrs. Donaldson, your resume is quite impressive. Your

former employers speak very highly of you. But I’ve learned to look

at the person not just the paper work before I make a decision about

hiring, especially where my family is concerned, I hope you understand

my caution." Hey this broad hasn’t even flinched. You may have met your

match there smartass. If she knew I listened to voices, she’d be down the

road in a heartbeat.

impressed very much like resumes, but then they’re a necessary evil. Oh

yeah, she’s good. About that time, there was a loud crash, and peels of a

child’s laughter followed by thumping of puppy paws running through the

house. The look on Mrs. Donaldson’s face was dubious at best.

"What was that, may I ask?" Well in for a penny, in for a pound.

"That was going to be my next question. How to you feel about small

children and animals." The names in this case are interchangeable. Get lost!

Hey, just trying to help. "We have a five year old daughter and two Rottwieler

pups. They can be quite a handful."

feet. Well she hasn’t run off yet. Give her a minute. Without the inhibitions of

an adult, Syd plunged right ahead with her questioning.

"Who are you?" I clasped my hand over my precocious child’s mouth.

"Sydnee René! You mind your manners. This is Mrs. Donaldson who’s

thinking about coming to work for us." My child looked the woman over care-

fully.

"Ya like my dogs? They’re Nip and Tuck." Bolt now lady while you have

a chance. I thought you were gone.

"They’re very nice, yes." I could tell Mrs. Donaldson wasn’t thrilled in

the least.

"Hon, why don’t you take the pups outside where they belong. By the

way, what was the crash?" A low contralto voice responded.

"You don’t want to know." My angel stood in the doorway giving our

little sprite ‘the look’. Oh Oh.

"Who has, or should I say had ownership of the crashed item." My wife smiled slightly.

"You." Ah ha. My little girl scrambled down off my lap, and scurried

out of the room, her canine accomplices right behind her.

"Outside with those mutts," I called after the retreating forms. "We’ll

discuss the crash later." A door slammed, and she was gone. In her wake was

a slightly flushed prospective housekeeper. This is it smartass. I prepared for

the rejection that didn’t come.

"Children surely liven up a home don’t they?" My shocked expression

obviously surprised the woman. "Oh I have children and grandchildren. I’m

used to such shenanigans." Kids, that’s the easy part, the lifestyle part could

cause a problem.

"The other thing you should know is that Becca and I are partners. We’re

lesbians. We have been together as best friends since we were twelve, we’ve

been lovers since we were eighteen, and married for the last fifteen. We don’t

flaunt our relationship, nor do we hide it either." The woman never missed a

beat.

"I don’t think the Good Lord cares one way or the other, as long as

there’s love. And one thing I can sense here is love. What other folks think don’t

count for spit. If ya want me, I can start the first of the week."

…so I guess in the end, I didn’t hire Margie, she hired us. The rest as they say, is history. I walked out of the bedroom through the living room. I glanced out of the wall to wall floor to ceiling living room window and saw the kids high tail it down the path to the beach with Nip and Tuck right on their heels like the devil himself was chasing them. I stuck my head into the kitchen to see if Margie was around or if it was safe enough to grab a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Sure enough the head cook and bottle washer was standing at the sink preparing veggies. This was the only woman, besides Becca, who could bring me to my knees with just one look. Becca obviously, for different reasons. Margie made me feel like that twelve-year-old kid standing in front of Sis Liz who had called me on the carpet for some rules infraction.

"Um Margie, listen about the mess in our room…uh…I’m sorry you had to clean it up. I know we just made more work for you…I…" Our beloved housekeeper waved off my pathetic apology attempt.

"You listen up Dr. McGregor. I would gladly clean up messes like that day after day. Do you know why? I’ll tell you why. Because that means the joy and love has moved back into this house again. A few feathers are a minor inconvenience." Without thinking about the consequences, I wrapped my arms around the rotund cook and hugged her fiercely, then kissed her sloppily on the cheek.

"Go on get outta here. Next time you keep those filthy animals off the bed, you hear me?" Yes ma’am. As I turned to leave, I looked back, and saw Margie wipe a tear from the corner of her eye with her apron. Thank you God. Thank you for her’; she is truly a blessing.

I sat down in the lounge chair on the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean, newspaper and coffee in hand. The headlines screamed out about the ongoing peace talks in the Middle East had broken down, again. My God they’ve been fighting for over two thousand years; do they expect anything different? Please give me a break! In Hollywood, the Screen Actors Guild was on strike. Another professional athlete is on trial for murder. What’s the matter with people these days? I shook my head and folded the paper and leaned my head back on the lounge chair letting the warm October Califor- nia sun bathe my soul. Mmm no smog today, that’s unusual. Warm soft lips caressed my cheek and then moved over to capture my earlobe and teased my neck.

"Hmm, that feels nice, but watch it. My wife might catch us." A little grunt escaped my angel’s mouth.

"Is your wife the jealous type?" The question took me by surprise. I’d never given that any thought before.

"I don’t know; I never gave her a reason to be." My wife stopped her ministrations and looked me in the eyes, her expression serious.

"I love you so very much do you know that?" Our lips joined in a soul searing kiss, one of love and caring. I pulled my lover onto my lap and we lay there together basking in the glow of our love.

"Oh sweetheart, this feels so good. I’m so glad you are part of my life. Our family means more to me than I could possibly put into words. Speaking of words; now would be a good time to talk to Syd.

"Um baby…I uh…well y’know…" God why am I having so much trouble with this? Cause you’re a chicken. My angel could read my mind and in this case, I was glad.

"Honey you’re worried about Syd aren’t you?" I nodded sheepishly.

"Babe do you think…I mean…has she…? Oh God Becca she’s growing up so fast it scares me. It seems just the other day she was toddling around here in diapers." My angel snuggled deeper into my arms and kissed the skin exposed by my open collar.

"Oh Stace, she hasn’t been in diapers for thirteen years. And no, Syd isn’t sexually active. She would have told us if she was." Oh God, she said the ‘s’ word. Oh please not that. C’mon smartass, Syd’s a smart kid. How you deserved her is beyond me, but don’t worry, she’s cool.

"Ya think?" My angel placed feather light kisses on my throat, neck, and pulse point.

"Sweetheart what brought this up anyway?" I wanted to crawl into a whole, I felt so stupid. My angel figured out my problem. "Aahh, Syd’s

comment this morning huh?" Guilty as charged. "Sweetie, you’re a doctor, and our conversations around the dinner table have covered just about every topic under the sun. And we certainly have never hid our relationship from her. She’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to have learned something about sex." The woman makes sense. It’s a good thing one of you has a functioning brain.

"I guess that’s true." Finally you get a clue.

"There’s something else she’s learned. She’s learned about love, the kind of love two people share for a lifetime. If we’ve taught her anything, we’ve taught her that. Honey I know our daughter well enough to know she will come talk to us whenever she needs to. We’ve always been here for her; we always will and she knows that." The subject of our conversation came charging up the path with her best bud and the two dogs scrambling up behind her.

"Hi guys. How was your run?" From the looks of our dogs, it looked as though they spent more time in the ocean than on the beach. Ange plopped down on the grass cross-legged and Tuck flopped down next to her.

"Yeah coach; we ran all the way to the point and back. I beat Syd by a mile. Cool huh?" Syd glared at Ange.

"You big goon, you cheated! You sent Tuck out in front of me. If I hadn’t tripped, you wouldn’t a beat me." Then Syd did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out at Ange.

"What can I say. You’re supposed to be the high hurdle champ. Can I help it if you’re a clutz?" Syd was fuming, and I decided I’d better head off a potentially dangerous confrontation.

"Y’know to hear the two of you grouse at each other, you’d think you hated each other." The two friends looked at each other and burst out laughing. I grabbed a handful of my wife’s butt and squeezed teasingly.

"Sound like anyone we know?" My angel chuckled.

"Yeah you couldn’t run worth a damn either." All right Becca. You walked right into that smartass.

"That really isn’t nice y’know. I always told you, a shortstop doesn’t need long legs and be able to run a mile. The important asset is to be able to move quickly in short bursts of speed." The three women looked at me dubiously, and simultaneously responded.

"Yeah right!" I don’t have to take this kind of abuse.

"Well whose trophy’s are those for NCAA MVP Player of the Year four years running? Hum? Answer me that will ya? Why if there would have been a pro women’s softball league I’d a been a shoo in." There take that. Give me a hard time will ya. Ha! My angel gave me a big sloppy wet kiss right on my nose.

"I’m sorry honey. I keep forgetting how sensitive you are about your little problem." Yet another crack about my height. Well I’ll show you who the bigger, more mature person here.

"I don’t have to take this. C’mon guys, lets go for a run." I started off toward the path, but before I could take two steps, a strong hand grabbed a hold of my shirttail.

"Come back here. You’re not going anywhere, and I’m sorry I hurt your feelings." Ah yeah, go for the guilt trip. I pouted profusely.

"Well, I guess I can forgive you. But you have to promise that there will be not any more cracks about my height, or lack thereof from anybody. Okay?" The three women nodded. "All right. You’re all forgiven." About that time Margie came out, with her special treats: nachos and sodas all around.

"Ange, of course you’re invited for lunch." Ange wanted to but she promised her folks.

"Thanks coach, Mrs. M. But I promised mom and dad if they let me spend the night I’d be home by two, so I’d better get going." I looked at my watch.

"Kiddo, it’s 1:30, you won’t make it home by two. Throw your bike in the back of my Blazer and I’ll drive you." Syd jumped on the chance to go for a drive.

"Mom can I come too?" I winced at my daughter’s poor grammar.

"I don’t know can ya?" Syd got my meaning immediately.

"May I come along." I wrapped my arm around my kid’s shoulders.

"Yes you may. Get going. I’ll be out in a sec." My angel put her arms around me and whispered.

"This would be a good opportunity to have that little talk, you were so concerned about, with Syd. Humm?" Oh yeah, right.

"I guess so. Maybe we’ll stop at Garcia’s for ice cream on the way home. Don’t hold lunch for us." Margie caught the tail end of the conversation.

"Just what do you mean hold lunch. Do you think all I have to do ‘round here is cater to your eating whims? Well if you do then you’ve got another think…" I held up my hand.

"No I don’t think that’s all you have to do, but I want to spend a little quality time with Syd. You know the ‘talk’?" I wiggled my eyebrows for emphasis.

"Ooohhh that talk. Oookkaayy, but are you sure you can handle…" I beg your pardon?

"Hey, don’t be casting aspersions on my abilities. I am a doctor you know." Oh God the poor kid doesn’t have a chance. Shut up, you aren’t invited. Whoever said I’d let a little thing like that stop me. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. This should prove to be very interesting. I kissed my Becca and swatted Margie on the butt.

"Later." Margie just shook her head.

"That woman doesn’t have a clue does she?" Becca just sighed.

"Nope, not one iota. Let’s have lunch." My angel wrapped her long arm around our housekeeper’s shoulder and both women disappeared into the house.

After we dropped off Ange, Syd and I made our way to Garcia’s for ice cream. Syd jumped on the fact we were having ice cream.

"Mom cool. We’re gonna get ice cream? Wow, what’s the occasion?" Ouch, I’m insulted. We went inside and were greeted exuberantly by the proprietor, Gus Garcia. We ordered our favorites. I got the vanilla caramel special with nuts, and Syd ordered the ‘Garcia Blast’. No one knew for sure what all Gus put in his specialty of the house, but there seemed to be every flavor imaginable, with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, and a cherry on top. We found a quiet table outside on the verandah and sat down. I answered my daughter’s question after we were settled.

"Does there have to be an occasion to take my daughter for ice cream?" Since you’ve done this exactly one other time in her fifteen years, I’d say yes.

Butt out! "Well hon, it’s true we haven’t done this often, just the two of us, and for that I’m sorry. It seems like whenever we do go out there’s usually someone else along. We’re either having a family outing or the whole soccer or softball team comes along too. I feel badly about that; I’d like to spend more time with you if you want that too. I want to get to know my little girl before she grows up and flies away." I could have sworn I detected a little moisture in the corner of my Syd’s eye.

"Oh mom, I’m not going to fly away anytime soon, and even if I were, I wouldn’t fly far away from home. Ya know it kinda scares me a little. With my grades and all, then challenging my classes, I jumped a whole grade ahead. That means I’m going to finish high school a year early. Mom, I don’t think I’m ready for that yet." My heart went out to my little girl’s fears. I reached out and squeezed my darlin’s hand.

"Honey, don’t feel that you have to leave home just because you finish high school. This is your home, your mum and I love you so very much, and we are your parents. We’re not going kick you out as soon as you get your diploma." That was smooth. If you’re not gonna be any help, get lost. Ironic isn’t it? I couldn’t wait to get away from home, but Syd doesn’t want to leave. Maybe I’ve done something right after all. I’d say so. "Hon you know you could always live at home for awhile after you graduate, take some courses at the community college until you decide what you want to do for sure. But hon, remember, we still have a year before you decide. Just always know whatever you decide, your mum and I will support you 100%. ‘Kay?" Syd- nee nodded around a mouthful of ice cream and remarked.

"Mom leaving school early means Ange and I won’t be together any- more." Oh man is this going where I think it is? Don’t jump to any conclusions. I was almost afraid to ask, but I forged ahead anyway.

"How do you feel about that?" God you been hanging around Dr. Friar too much, you’re even beginning to sound like her. I could see the confusion and doubt in my Syd’s eyes.

"Mom, how did you know you liked girls and not guys?" I damned near choked on my ice cream.

"Uh…honey…I…well…I just knew." My baby girl was so like her mother. Always thinking about my feelings before her own.

"I’m sorry mom, I shouldn’t have put you on the spot. If you’re uncomfortable with this we don’t have to talk about it; I don’t want to ruin our day together." Tell me again who is the adult here?

"Nope I don’t have a problem with this, you just surprised me is all. Ya know I don’t think I ever stopped to think about it before. It’s just your mum was always there for me. I never thought our relationship would grow into anything other than love. We spent so much time together, not because we had to, but because we wanted to. Love just simply followed in a natural progression." Here came the big question.

"Mom do you think you were born gay?" God was I, or did I just dislike men because I hated my father so much, or because I never had a mother, I was looking for something only a woman could give.

"Gosh honey I honestly don’t know. I was never attracted to girls particularly, I don’t even think I was attracted to your mother sexually. I’ve never been with anyone other than Becca. I don’t know. I guess the only thing I can tell you honestly is that I fell in love with the person, not the package. Now don’t get me wrong, the package is damned nice." Syd chuckled at that remark. "I guess what I mean is that if your mom had been a man, I probably would have fallen in love anyway." I was almost afraid to ask the next question, but I did. "Syd, do you have those kind of feelings for Ange?" Now it was my baby girl’s turn to choke.

"Ange? Mom you’ve got to be kidding. I love Ange, but like a sister. Besides, she’s always ogling Barry Johnson, Kylie’s brother. I’m surprised she hasn’t jumped his bones already. Mom I’m not attracted to girls at all. Does that bother you?" I don’t know, does it? Of course not.

"Honey, believe me who you fall in love with can’t be controlled. We don’t plan to fall in love with someone in particular; sometimes it just happens. But know this baby: no matter who you fall in love with; your mum and I will support you all the way. Don’t let your choice be influenced by whether or not you think we’ll approve; do what makes you happy. Don’t try to live your live to suit someone else’s views." Syd nodded and slurped up the last of her ice cream. We paid our bill after arguing vociferously with Gus. We walked out to the Blazer, and as I keyed the doors open, Syd growled across the hood.

"Ange? Oh mom how could you even think such a thing? You didn’t think because of what Ange said this morning…oh mom, please, give me a little credit. Or…you don’t think because you and mom are lesbians I would be too?" Well get out of this one would you. How stupid could I be? For me, that’s easy.

"Guilty as charged, on both counts. Ijust didn’t want you to make a mistake because you thought it was something I wanted for you. You know like mother like daughter. Pretty dumb huh?" Syd shook her head, and leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"No mom, it just means you care and I love you for that. Shoot these days a lot of parents don’t care what their kids do just as long as they don’t embarrass them. That’s sick mom. But all this was worth it, to see you blush and fumble around with ‘our official talk’. It was cool." Kids love to see their parents in a bind, they must, otherwise why would they do some of the things they do.

"Well hon if it helped you clear up a few things you were struggling with, then it was well worth it. I just wish I could save you from all the rough spots you’ll face in your life, but I can’t. Those things are part of life, and how we deal with the hard things, even fail, says more about us as human beings than getting through the good times. It’s easy to do the right thing when things are going great, but it’s another thing entirely to do the right thing when we have to make hard decisions during hard times." Syd just sat there thinking about what I had said.

"Mom you’re pretty smart y’know. How did you get this way?" I’m hardly smart, if I were, I might not have made some of the dumb ass de-scions I made.

"Baby, I’m not all that smart. If anything, I hope I’ve learned from the mistakes I’ve made, so I don’t make them again." Satisfied, Syd was quiet for the rest of the ride home. We turned into the driveway of our home, and once again I felt a sense of calm peace descend on me. Life is pretty damn good. I put my arm around Sydnee’s shoulder as we walked in through the front door.

"Mom? What are you gonna tell mother about our talk?" I’ll simply tell her the truth.

"I’m gonna tell her how very lucky we are that God brought you into our lives that day fifteen years ago." I kissed my kid’s temple and thanked God once again for my little girl.

This was just a little transition story from the past to the future in Becca and Stace’s lives. Hope I had you going there for a bit. I’m going to concentrate on the ongoing healing process both Stace and Becca have yet to complete. As usual, I need input so I know how y’all feel about my stories. Later.