Camron Ribaldi sat in the low light of her lab, observing the changes in the cell structure of a blood sample she was viewing through a microscope.

Her office was located on the lower level of the world renowned National Research Hospital in Crystal City Virginia.

At thirty-two, she had been a research scientist, specializing in blood abnormalities for the past eight years.

The blonde scientist sat back from the slide she was studying and rubbed her tired green eyes.

She had been working on a chemical compound, that when added to the unstable blood cells of a patient suffering from photosensitivity would make it possible for them to stay out in the sun.

But so far, every time she tried a new variation of the components the cells would continue to boil off when UV lights were introduced.

The doctor did her research at night because she suffered from the same disorder that she was searching for a cure for. The gene had been passed down through her family line, generation after generation.

She was relieved that she didn't have as severe a case as many of her other relatives did.

Finding a way to get through school without exposing her skin to the sun light for long periods of time had been a real challenge.

She was relieved when she reached the point in her education where she could take her classes over the internet.

She had made finding a cure for the abnormality her life's work and she was determined to succeed.

*******

Antoinette Dubois was mindlessly emptying a trash can in one of the offices located in the research hospital. Her ears were covered by the head phones of her ipod and her dark head was bopping to the song that she was listening to.

To be a tall woman, she moved gracefully around the small office, never disturbing anything while going about her duties.

The dark woman had never really held down a job for any length of time. At thirty-four, she didn't feel the need to live a regimented life.

She had left New Orleans ten years before, deciding that she wanted to go on a road trip. If you asked her, she would tell you that the trip hadn't ended yet.

The woman had been many places and had seen many things, but she was still a loner. The one thing that always sadden her was the violence that people never seemed to grow tired of committing against one another.

She wasn't overly impressed with mankind so, when the mood hit her, she wasn't about to let something as trivial as friendship or a job stop here from hitting the road.

This was her first night working the night shift. For the past five months she worked mornings. But, she had eventually grown weary of the same conversations and petty problems that people complained about from day to day.

The janitor held the belief that if you don't like where you are, move on. Her blue eyes looked around the room one last time to make sure that she hadn't missed anything and then she moved to the next office.

*******

Camron was laying on the sofa in her office trying to take a short nap before she started on a new round of variables, when she heard someone out in the lab.

The small woman sat up and slid her feet back into her white Reeboks. She stood and walked to the closed door.

Now she was sure that someone was in the next room. Just before she opened the door she heard something that sounded like metal being hit on metal.

When she opened the door, the person that was there had just put the trash can down after emptying it and was now standing back up.

Camron's green eyes watched until the person finally stopped rising. When she lifted her head to take in the full view of who was in her lab, she was met by blue orbs that were as clear as a mountain spring.

*******

Antoinette was in a lab on the lower level of the hospital. She knew that the previous night shift janitor never emptied the cans on this level, so she made a mental note to check the area before she headed back up to the main floors.

She didn't know that anyone was down there until she heard the office door open. After she placed the can back in the corner, she stood and mentally prepared herself to speak to another person.

When the small blonde raised her head to look in Antoinette's face the tall woman was greeted by sparkling, emerald colored eyes that were so vivid, you just knew they had a story to tell.

It was strange, but without knowing it, the women had the exact same reaction to each other. Both sets of nostrils flared and inhaled a lung full of air, their gums itched and a low growl emitted from their chest.

The primal reaction that they had to one another, left them feeling exposed and embarrassed when the intensity of the sensations calmed and then subsided..

Antoinette recovered first and removed her headphones while extending her hand. "I'm Antoinette Dubois, the night janitor."

Camron regained some of her composure and returned the greeting. "And I'm Camron Ribaldi, research scientist." The blonde noticed right a way, how large the other woman's hand was and how warm it felt.

When she released the tall woman's hand, she continued the conversation. "I've never seen anyone down her at night before."

Antoinette smiled shyly. "The guy that had this shift before, never came down here. He would leave this level for the day shift."

Camron moved around the dark woman and sat on one of the high stools that were scattered throughout the lab.

"So, does this mean that you'll be checking the cans down here every night?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't look like there's a whole lot of trash to dump."

The scientist decided then and there, that she would ball up wads of paper to fill up every can in the office and lab if she needed to.

"Oh, you'd be surprised by the amount of paper that I cam accumulate in one night."

The open smile that the blonde projected was contagious and Antoinette found herself smiling back.

She shook herself out of the comfort zone that she had relaxed into and picked up the industrial size trash bag that she was carrying.

"I'd better get back to work . Unlike down her, the people upstairs make complaints when they come in every morning and there is even one piece of trash visible."

As the tall woman approach the door that would take her back into the corridor, Camron spoke again. "I hope the rest of your shift is pleasant Toni."

The janitor smiled and reached for the door knob. "You too Cam."

They both stopped and went stiff. Antoinette looked over her shoulder while a blush crept up her neck, turning her ears red.

Camron wasn't any better off, her pale features had flushed so badly that her fair brows stood out in contrast.

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I can't tell you why I shortened your name like that."

Antoinette tried to look as unconcerned as the other woman. "I don't know why I did it either, but I like it. Call me Toni anytime."

The blonde woman's heart started pounding in her chest. "Yeah, I like it too. Cam it is from now on."

Toni turned the knob and left Cam in the lab, wondering what was going on.

*******

Cam was in the middle of adding a synthetic binding agent to a sample when one of the day shift crew arrived.

"Good morning Dr. Ribaldi, how was your night?"

Cam turned to glare at the new arrival. "Ben, you know how much I hate that doctor crap."

Her fellow scientist placed a cup of coffee in front of her and took a seat.

"That's exactly why I do it. It's not necessary for any one to address me that way, but I must admit to getting a small thrill when someone calls me Dr. O'Shea."

Cam took a sip of the hot liquid and moaned with pleasure. "Thanks for the java. The swill that I get out of the machines cannot be meant for drinking."

Ben added a few sugars to his cup and stirred the contents with a plastic straw. "No problem Camron. So how did it go, have you made any progress?"

Before she answered the question the blonde couldn't help but notice that he used her full name, come to think of it, everyone did.

Even when she was a child, she didn't like for anyone to shorten her name, but she had allowed Toni to do it without a thought.
She let her mind drift for a moment and pictured the woman in her mind. She was tall, probably six feet at least, her black hair was glossy like raven wings with a white streak on one the side and it was pulled back in a pony tail that hung down between her shoulder blades.

Her facial features were well defined, the high cheekbones, straight nose and strong jaw line were necessary so that those incredibly blue eyes didn't dominate the woman's beautiful face.

Before her thoughts could progress Ben's voice brought her back. "Did you hear me?"

Green eyes focused on her colleague. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little tired."

Ben stood and headed for the storage closet. "That's alright."

He looked at his watch and saw that it was eight-thirty. "It's half an hour pass your quitting time. Don't tell me that twelve hours a night isn't long enough for you."

Cam gathered up her discs and research notes and stuck them in her briefcase. "No, twelve is plenty. I'm going to go home and climb into my nice warm bed. I'll see you tomorrow Ben."

Before the burley man knew it, she was gone. Just like that, she had picked-up her belongings and left.

He scratched the top of his bald head and smiled. "When she's ready to go, she's ready to go."

*******

Toni was restless. Her body hadn't adjusted after only one night. She laid in her bed watching Rachel Ray cook something that looked tasty.

Blue eyes observed the cook. 'She's cute. She's just too loud. I wonder if she yells like that when she's talking to a person one-on-one?'

She muted the television and slid down lower in the bed, hoping that she would be able to drift off. 'Speaking of cute, that little scientist was gorgeous.

Even in the dim light of the lab, her golden hair looked like moon beams were reflecting off of it. It looked like it was soft and silky. Toni remembered how it hung down the front of her lab coat, stopping to rest over her breast.

The janitor could clearly see the blonde woman's full pink lips and cute little nose. When her minds eye got to those mesmerizing green eyes, she exhaled.

She turned on her side and pressed her cheek into the soft pillow. Her last thought before sleep finally came was.

'Camron Ribaldi, I am so out of my league here.'

*******

Camron lived in a small two bedroom house in Fairfax Virginia. The windows were covered with heavy drapery to keep the sunlight out.

She tried to make small changes throughout the house to bring in the illusion of the sun. Her walls were painted with bright vibrant colors.

And the paintings on the walls depicted the sun in different stages of it's journey across the sky.

She had even purchased those lights that were used for people that suffered from depression because they lived in areas where the sun didn't shine for months at a time.

Because she believed in balance, she also hung pictures of the moon and the night sky filled with bright stars.

At the moment she didn't need to look at pictures of the moon, because it was already high in the sky.

She was dressed in a pair of khakis and a blue polo shirt. When she finished tying the laces on her sneakers she grabbed her worn leather briefcase and headed out of the door.

*******

Blue eyes closed with pleasure as the hot liquid slid down Antoinette's throat. Unlike most people, she preferred hot chocolate when she first woke up.

She admitted to herself years ago that she had a bit of a sweet tooth. Her kitchen cabinets were filled with boxes of snack cakes and juice boxes.

She never cooked, everything she ate was usually take-out or microwaved. The only food she kept was cold cuts, eggs and frozen dinners.

She leaned back in the chair that she was sitting in and took a bite of the tasty cake she was eating and thought. 'All things considered, this ain't a bad set-up.' She looked around her cramped living space and felt content.

When she finished her "breakfast" she went into the bedroom and got dressed for work. The standard jeans, t-shirt and sneakers were an easy choice.

She tucked her thermos filled with hot chocolate under her arm and left the tiny apartment and drove her Chevy Suburban to work. The large truck was the only thing that she splurged on.

Because she moved around so much, she thought that it only made good sense to put out a few dollars for a vehicle that she sometimes slept in.

She drove the huge truck out of her Arlington neighborhood and headed for the research hospital.

*******
Toni had been on duty for two hours when her supervisor told her the floor in the cafeteria needed to be waxed.

The janitor headed for the supply cabinet and retrieved the items that were needed for the job. She made her way down to the first floor and entered the large quiet room.

Because of the late hour, there were only a few employees occupying the space. Toni inserted her ever present earplugs and turned on her ipod.

She meticulously buffed each section of floor until it gleamed. When she moved towards the coffee machines she saw a familiar blonde head sitting with her back facing her.

Toni hesitated, she wasn't sure if she should approach the scientist or not. Deciding that the other woman had probably already heard the buffer, she moved forward.

When the machine was pushed pass the seated woman, she looked up. "Hey!"

The tall woman couldn't hear her because of the music.

Camron noticed the earphones and realized the problem, so she reached out and touched the woman.

Antoinette jumped when she felt the touch. She turned around and was once again overcome by a wash of primal lust, she immediately had to mentally focus to settle herself.

She removed the earplugs and smiled. "Hi."

Looking into the very blues eyes of the other woman, made Camron feel like she was running through a dark forest at full speed, with the wind blowing through her hair.

The adrenalin started pumping and her heart started beating faster. She felt like she was going to start panting.

But instead, she forced herself to speak. When her voice didn't sound out of breath, she was thankful. "How's your night going?"

Toni turned off the buffer. "It's going pretty good, how about yours?"

"Not too bad, I'm just taking a break."

She looked down at her coffee. "This is the worse stuff ever. I wish this place had better hot beverages."

"I always bring my own."

"Regular or decaffeinated?"

The tall woman blushed. "Uhmm, I don't drink coffee, I drink hot chocolate."

The blonde woman was surprised. "Even in the summertime?"

"Yeah, people drink hot coffee in the summertime, so I don't really see a difference"

The scientist thought for a second."You're right about that."

There were a few moments of silence before Camron spoke. "Why don't you have a seat for a few minutes?"

"Can't." She pointed to the buffer.

"I gotta finish-up in here and then start on the offices upstairs."

Camron was surprised at how disappointed she was that the tall woman couldn't join her.

"Well, I guess I should be getting back downstairs myself."

She stood and went to drop her half full cup into the trash can, as she passed the janitor, she wished her a good evening.

Antoinette didn't want the small woman to leave, and before she could stop herself, she blurted-out. "Would you like to meet me for lunch?"

Camron stopped in her tracks, then turned back around with a wide smile on her face. "Sure, what time."

Toni could only stare at the handle of the buffer as she spoke. "How about four o'clock?"

The doctor thought that the tall woman's sudden attack of shyness was adorable.

"That'll be fine. Would you have a problem with us getting whatever we're going to eat and then have it in the lab?"

That was just fine with the janitor, she would prefer the privacy anyway. "Sounds like a plan, I'll meet you later downstairs"

She turned the machine back on and put her plugs back in and went back to waxing the floor.

The blonde headed back to her lab with a little bounce in her step.

*******

Antoinette was pacing back and forth in the locker room talking to herself. "What am I doing? I shouldn't have asked her to have lunch. I can't start anything with her. Hell I don't even know how long I'll be around here.

She stopped and sat on the bench that was in front of the row of lockers. "Maybe I just won't show-up. Yeah, that's what I'll do, I'll pretend like I got busy and.........."

That line of thinking was cut short when the image of the blonde woman's smile entered her mind. Then she felt a pang of regret in her chest.

"Who am I kidding, that would be a temporary solution to what is quickly becoming a mind consuming situation."

She opened her locker and pulled out her thermos and tasty cakes, after closing the door and making sure that it was locked, she headed for the lower level.

*******

Camron felt her palm's get sweaty when the tall woman entered the lab. She was already seated at one of the tables waiting for her lunch date to arrive.

The two hours that she spent waiting for four o'clock to come where not very productive at all. Every time she tried to concentrate on an experiment her mind would be consumed with the feeling of basking in the depths of clear blue pools.

The scientist didn't understand her visceral reaction to the tall janitor, but it was a feeling that she was starting to crave.

Cam never dated, it was too hard to explain all of her limitations to a perspective suitor. After all, who wanted to date someone that could only come out at night?

But, for some reason, with Toni, there was hope. She felt like a kindred sprit lived within the dark beauty. And she hoped that over time they could build a solid friendship.

As Toni walked over to the table, Cam couldn't stop the smile from appearing on her face.

"Well, I see that you're punctual."

Toni took a seat across from the blonde. "Yeah, I've always been that way. I have some kind of internal clock."

This peaked the scientist's curiosity. "Do you ever use an alarm clock?"

That tall woman sat her items on the table. "Nope, before I fall asleep. I tell myself what time I want to get-up, and my eyes will open very close to, if not exactly on the time that I planned."

Cam was skeptical. "No matter wether it's day or night, you can decided when to wake-up?"

Toni's clear blue gaze held Cam for a second before she answered. "Yes, all of my life I've been this way. My mom said that as a child I would wake-up before everyone and be ready for school when they finally drug themselves out of bed..

If I had to take a test and there was a time limit, I always knew when the time was close to the end. My grandmother said that I was a true child of the moon, and that I rode the waves of her cycle."

The blonde tilted her head in question.

"She used to call me moon child. Granny said that even though you can't see the moon in the daytime, it's always there, and her influence never leaves the earth.

She said that the moon did to me, the same thing it did to the ocean, the same way that it regulated its flow, was the same way that it regulated my inner clock. I guess it kinda keeps me in sync"

Cam took a bite of her salad. "Have you ever been late for anything?"

Toni wiped off the chocolate frosting that her cup cake left on the corner of her mouth.

"No, I haven't. I'm usually within five minutes in either direction."

"And it really doesn't matter if it's day or night?"

"Not so far. For instance, the past five months I have been working the day shift, I had my internal clock set for seven a.m., then last night was my first night shift, so I had to set it for eleven p.m.

My body has to adjust to the change, but my mind seems to do what it needs to do."

Cam wanted to put this information away for further contemplation later, so she changed the subject.

She couldn't help but notice the sugar fest that was Toni's lunch. "Do you always eat like that, or are you trying to stay awake?"

The janitor blushed a little. "Yeah, this is pretty much it. Well, this and take-out, or microwave food."

"How on earth do stay so slim?"

The tall woman shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I have a fast metabolism."

The blonde rested her chin in her palm and thought. 'This woman becomes more and more interesting with each new revelation.'

Toni looked across the table and saw what the scientist was eating. She pointed a long finger at the plastic container.

"Is that all that you eat."

Cam exhaled and sat back. "Just lately, it's part of an experiment I'm doing."

The janitor looked as if she was going to say something, and then she changed her mind. Instead she noticed the barely touched cup of coffee.

"If you don't like that stuff, why do you keep drinking it?"

Cam stared at the oily liquid.. "I don't know....habit I guess."

Toni stood and grabbed the other woman's cup, she poured the contents into the sink and then rinsed it out.

When she returned to the table, she refilled the cup with some of her hot chocolate.

"Here, try some of this, I think that it might be a little better."

Lush green eyes that reminded the blue-eyed woman of a thick forest with rays of sunlight shining through the leaves searched her face.

Toni knew that if she didn't turn away soon, all that she was would be revealed to this woman, whose eyes seemed to speak to her very essence.

Thankfully, Cam lowered her gaze to look at the beverage and thereby released Toni from her hold.

She pick-up the cup, and after her first sip, she ran her tongue across her top lip and hummed her pleasure.

"This is delicious. Did you do something special to it? I don't think I've ever had any thing that tasted like this, are you sure this is just hot chocolate?"

The questions were asked in rapid succession, as if the sugar and caffeine assaulted the small woman's body immediately.

Toni reached over and put her hand over the smaller woman's, in an effort to ground her.

She didn't know that the gesture would send ripples of passion through both of them.

As soon as she felt the waves start to crash against her, she removed her hand.

When she looked to see what the other woman's reaction was, she saw that the green eyes had closed, and the perfect nose was flaring, seeking more oxygen.

In that moment, she knew..... she knew that this was her life partner. Never in her thirty-four years did she think that there was someone out there for her.

Another person had never been allowed to fulfill her desires. Every time that she had been close, she started to feel out of control and pulled back.

Now, she felt the stirrings of longing, and didn't know what to do about it.

"I think, maybe, the sugar rush is a little too much for a salad eater." She smiled, hoping that her need didn't show in her blue eyes.

But Cam opened her eyes and saw it, not only the desire, but something else.... there it was, right in front of her...... her destiny, but now was not the time to express it.

Instead, she pulled herself together and said. "You could be right. I've been eating vegetables for so long, that my body is probably in shock.

Neither woman cared that the logic made no sense, the caffeine in the coffee was probably stronger than what was in the hot chocolate.

They just needed to put words into the air until they could work pass this one moment.

Toni felt that it was getting close to her lunch break being over, so she balled-up the cellophane cupcake wrapper and stood to throw it away.

When she returned to the table she saw that there was only a little of the hot chocolate left and screwed the top on her thermos, leaving it for the scientist.

"You might as well finish it, I'll probably be too busy to get around to it myself. I'll get the thermos later.....if that's alright with you."

Cam was happy to have a reason to see Toni again. "It's fine. What time do you get off, I'll bring this to you."

I'll be done by eight. Do you know where the employee's locker room is on the third floor?"

After six years of working at the hospital, Cam knew just about every nook and cranny in the building.

"Yes, I know exactly where it is."

"If you meet me there after your shift, I'll get it from you then."

Toni walked towards the lab entrance, and felt the smaller woman's presence behind her.

When she turned to say goodbye, she almost knocked the blonde over. She reached out to stop the smaller woman from stumbling backwards and found herself wrapped around a soft, but deceptively strong body.

The closeness felt too good, and she immediately stepped back, losing contact with the firm body.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were right behind me."

The thoroughly flushed woman waved off the apology. "No problem, there was no harm done."

The janitor cleared her throat, and turned again to leave. Before she could open the door, she felt a small hand grab her biceps.

She turned and looked into nervous green eyes. Before Cam lost her courage, she pulled the tall woman into a quick embrace and released her.

"I'll see you at about five after eight."

Because she was looking down, Cam didn't see the bright smile that crossed Toni's face.

"Yeah, I'll see you then."

*******

Toni was waiting outside of the locker room for the blonde scientist. The back of her dark head was leaning against the wall, and her right knee was bent, leaving the bottom of her foot to rest against the wall also.

She didn't have to look to know that Cam was coming towards her, she sensed her, she could practically smell her.

The janitor didn't drop her foot and turn in the other woman's direction until she was an arms length away.

"Hey, am I late?"

A set of perfect white teeth appeared when the tall woman smiled. Nah, I got done early and decided to wait for you out here.

Cam handed her the thermos. "Thanks for the hot chocolate, it was delicious, I uhmm.....I cleaned out the thermos, so you don't need to worry about doing it."

"That was really nice of you Cam, thanks."

Toni tucked the thermos under her arm and shoved her hands in her pockets, she looked down at the floor before she spoke.

"Uhmm Cam.....I was wondering if I could walk you to your car."

Cam didn't know what to do, she wasn't ready for Toni to see her in all of the gear she wore to get from the building to her car.

"I'm not leaving yet, I have a few more things to do downstairs."

Toni knew immediately that it was a lie. 'Maybe I'm reading her wrong.'

But she refused to believe that, the vibes that came off of Cam were very clear.

The small woman obviously had her reasons, so Toni let her be. "Okay then......maybe I'll see you later."

Cam didn't care for the uncertainty of the response. "How about we have lunch together agin?"

The brunette liked the sound of that. "What's a good time for you?"

The doctor was relieved. "Four is fine."

"Great, I'll meet you then, uhmm Cam....what time do you get here?"

"Eight."

"You work from eight to eight?"

"Yeah, what's your schedule?"

"I don't come in until midnight."

"Wow, lucky you."

"Do you work alone every night."

"That's it, just me, myself and I."

Toni turned to leave. "I'll see you tonight Cam."

The janitor walked away smiling, she had a plan, she just hoped that the blonde woman would be okay with it

*******.

Cam had spent the last two hours staring at a sample, looking for the slightest change in it's make-up. So far nothing had happened.

Just as she was about to remove the slide from under the microscope, the hairs on the back of her neck stood-up.

She looked at her watch, her body was reacting the way it did when the tall woman was around, she noted that it was only ten o'clock, the janitor's shift didn't start for another two hours.

She wiggled her shoulders in an effort to shake off the feeling and dropped a new blood sample on a glass slide.

When she heard the door open, she turned around and met with a most welcome sight.

Toni stood there, holding a large paper bag that was emitting the most delicious smells Cam had experienced in a while.

Cam stopped what she was doing and walked over to greet her guest. "Aren't you hear kinda early?"

Toni looked down and stubbed the toe of her Canvas Converse All Stars on the floor. "I thought that I should bring you something to eat early."

Then she shyly looked into smiling green eyes. "I mean by the time four a.m. rolls around, you've already been here eight hours."

The janitor stared at her shoes again. "So I figured that I would bring you something now, and if you still want to meet at four..... well... uhmm ....we can do that too."

Cam took the bag from the nervous woman's arms and placed it on one of the high tables.

Then she turned back to her guest and stepped into her personal space. She hesitated only a moment before she rested the side of her face on a broad chest and hugged the tall woman tightly to her.

"Thanks Toni, that's the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me."

Long arms slowly wrapped themselves around the blonde woman's body. Without thought, she laid her cheek on top of the soft golden hair.

In a whispered voice she said. "I didn't want you to have to wait for me."

Cam pulled back a little and looked-up into the most beautiful blue she had ever seen.

"I don't mind waiting for you."

Both women felt that there was another meaning behind those words, but neither addressed it.

The scientist broke the hug and pulled the janitor over to the table. "Let's see what cha got here."

"I saw that you were eating a salad last night, so I got you some stir-fried veggies, rice and a couple of egg rolls. I hope it's okay."

Cam was thrilled. "It's perfect."

They unloaded the bag and shared the meal. Toni pulled out two thermos' and gave one to Cam.

"I bought this one for you."

The small woman excepted the metal cylinder and unscrewed the top. While she poured the hot silky liquid into her cup, she asked her dinning partner a question.

"Are you always this considerate of everyone?"

Toni dropped her fork full of chicken chow mien back into the carton before she answered.

"No, never, I've never wanted to do any thing for any body."

She paused and then looked deeply into the other woman's emerald eyes. "Until you."

Cam had to make a quick decision, she wanted a chance, a chance for a relationship, a chance at happiness, a chance to live a normal life and she knew that to have those things, she had to tell Toni about her disorder.

She held the larger hands between her own, and started to speak. "Toni, there's something that I need to tell you."

She felt the warm hands that she was holding tighten. "I want to tell you about my research. For the past eight years I have been looking for a way to reverse the symptoms of photosensitivity."

Patient blue eyes stared at her, waiting for her to continue.

"So far every additive that I've used in combination with the blood samples continue to have a negative reaction to UV rays."

Toni looked confused. "Okay, I'm guessing there's more to this."

Cam exhaled and made herself keep talking. "I'm telling you this because...well...see...I suffer from the disorder."

Toni raised a dark brow before she spoke. "I thought that was a skin problem, I didn't know that it affected the blood."

Cam was surprised at the other woman's knowledge. "Yeah, well, I'm that one in a million that you hear about, the enzyme that attacked my melanin has also somehow entered my bloodstream.

A light came on for the janitor. "That's why you didn't want me to walk you to your car."

The blonde head nodded in the affirmative. "I have to were so much crap just to go outside, that I was too embarrassed to have you see me in it."

Toni switched hand positions with the scientist and was now holding her hands. "Why are you telling me this now?"

Cam felt the heat start to rise from her neck and knew that it was just a matter of time before her cheeks would be aflame.

"Because, I think that we are heading somewhere and I wanted to tell you before we got there."

Then the blonde head dropped. "And... I.. . I wanted to give you the opportunity to stop before you invested too much into this...... into me."

A long finger slide under the small woman's chin and raised her head so that they were looking into each other's eyes.

"Cam, I was deeply invested the moment that you opened your office door and found me in the lab."

Toni rubbed her thumb across the soft pale skin of Camron's jaw before she released her hold on the woman.

"Drink your hot chocolate before it gets cold....... cause I'm not sharing."

*******

They finished the rest of their meal, while sharing information about each other. They discovered that they were both from New Orleans, but had left several years ago.

They were only two years apart in age, and both liked to travel. At least Cam liked to travel as much as she could considering her condition.

She was fascinated by the tales the other woman told her about the places she had been and the things that she had seen.

All of a sudden Antoinette stood and stretched out her long body to get the kinks out, in that moment, she looked every inch the dark predator. When she straightened out, she looked at her dinner companion and smiled.

"I gotta get going, I have about ten minutes to get upstairs and punch-in."

Cam glanced at her watch and saw that it was indeed ten till twelve. They had spent two hours together, but it seemed like two minutes.

She knew that Toni had to go and start her shift, but she hated to lose the woman's company. She walked her to the door and looked up at her with pleading eyes.

"Are we still gonna meet at four?"

Toni knew that Cam felt a little timid after telling her about the blood disorder, and she wanted to put her at ease.

Two large hands rested on Cam's slender shoulders and then slowly slid up the sides of her neck until callused thumb pads gently brushed her cheeks.

"I can't wait until I can see you again Cam."

Toni took a chance and leaned in to gave Cam the sweetest kiss that she had ever had. When they pulled apart, they still rested their foreheads together.

The tall woman broke the silence first. "Was it okay that I did that?"

Small arms encircled the taller woman's strong neck.. "That was very okay, as a matter of fact, I'd like to try it again."

Cam pulled the dark woman's lips back to hers and this time, they explored a little deeper. Both women felt themselves spiraling out of control and had to force some distance between them.

The blonde rested her head under the taller woman's chin and spoke into her neck. "Oh my, Antoinette, that was incredible."

Large hands rubbed up and down Cam's back. "I've never felt anything like it before."

Cam placed a light kiss on the skin that her lips rested against, and stepped back from the other woman's embrace.

"I know that you have to get upstairs."

She moved to the side to allow Toni access to the door. Before she left the room the janitor ran her hand through long blonde tresses.

"I'll see you at four."

*******

The women spent their nights getting to know each other better, and then they would go home and take turns calling one another every morning.

After three weeks of doing all of their socializing at work, one Saturday morning after their shift was over, Cam asked Toni if she wanted to come over for dinner and watch a couple of movies.

The two women stood inside a storage closet confirming their evening plans, this was one of the many places they would meet each morning to give each other their daily goodbye kiss.

Their faces were so close that they were breathing the same air. They spoke to each other between quick pecks to the lip.

"So are you coming over tonight?" Kiss.

"Yeah, what time?" Kiss.

"Whenever you think that you've hade enough sleep." Kiss.

"I'll probably be too keyed-up to sleep." Kiss, kiss.

Cam leaned in and kissed Toni long and slow. "Come over at seven, okay?"

Toni hugged Cam close, well as close as she could with all the layers of clothing the smaller woman wore. She kinda looked like the little brother did in A Christmas Story, when his mother bundled him up to go out in the snow.

"Seven it is then, can I bring anything?"

"Yeah, that hot chocolate recipe."

Toni kissed her again. "You got it." Then she thought. 'I can't believe she doesn't taste the banana extract.'

The dark head peeked out of the storage room first, she ducked back in and told Cam that the coast was clear.

As the small blonde passed her she couldn't resist one more kiss and raised-up on her toes to kiss Toni one last time.

"I'll see you later." And then she was gone.

When Toni checked the hallway again, there was no sign of the other woman.

"Damn, she's fast."

*******

Camron prepared a paella, but did it Cajun style with shrimp, crawdads, sausage, chicken and hot spices. She had just turned the pot down to simmer when the knock came to the door.

The scientist invited her guest in, even though it was the first week of March the weather was fairly warm, so Toni only had a light jacket on. Cam took it and hung it up in the hall closet.

The blonde had already described her home to her guest, so when Toni saw the bright walls and paintings she felt like she had seen them before.

She pulled her hostess into her arms. "It's as lovely as you said it was Cam."

The small woman smiled, showing strong white teeth. "Do you like it Toni?"

She was guiding the taller woman to the sofa. "Yes, it feels real homey."

They sat down with Toni's arm still around the other woman's shoulder.

"Good, cause I want you to feel comfortable here."

Toni couldn't stop the amused look that spread across her features. "Oh really, why is that?"

Cam was suddenly shy. "Because I want you to spend time here, and if you are comfortable, maybe you'll come over often."

Toni felt bad for teasing the small blonde and wanted to let her know that she liked the idea. "I think that can be arranged."

Nothing more was said, they just sat and stared at each other until what was cooking on the stove got Toni's attention.

"What smells so good?"

Cam got excited. "What I hope will remind you just a little bit of home. I made a paella, but with Cajun seasonings and ingredients."

Toni stood-up and pulled Cam with her. "Show me."

The closer they got to the kitchen, the stronger the aromas became. When Cam lifted the lid off of the pot the smoke wafted under the tall woman's nose and her eyes closed in pleasure.

"That smells delicious."

The cook picked-up the spoon that rested on top of the stove and started to stir the pot. She raised a partially
full spoon out and started to blow on its contents, then she pressed it to the other woman's lips.

"Try this and tell me what you think."

Toni opened her mouth and accepted the offering. "Mmm, that is fantastic."

She took the spoon out of the smaller woman's hands and placed it back on the stove top, then she pulled Cam closer.

"I would change only one thing."

Cam stepped back a little. "Oh, really, what would that be."

Blue eyes twinkled. "I'd call it gumbo."

The blonde smacked the tall woman in her stomach, with the back of her hand.

"You are such a brat Dubois."

Toni pulled her tight again. "That'll just keep you on your toes Ribaldi."

The shorter woman wrapped her arms around Toni's neck and raised up on her toes. "No, this will keep me on my toes."

She kissed her companion until she felt the need for air.

After they separated long fingers sunk deeper into blonde locks. "I could kiss you for hours Cam."

Delicate fingers traced the dark woman's strong pectoral muscles. "Well let's eat first, and then we'll see about the kissing later."

*******

Cam was resting her back against Toni's chest, while sitting between her long legs. Mr. And Mrs. Smith was on the screen, but the women weren't paying much attention.

The blonde woman's hands were rubbing gently up and down strong forearms, and Toni's face was nestled in a soft neck, kissing the pale skin and nibbling on a pink earlobe.

Blue and green eyes were closed, they were only aware of each other's closeness.

Cam removed two large hands from around her waist and turned to face the brunette, the change in position made the blonde have to straddle long powerful thighs.

The scientist cupped the other woman's cheeks with both of her hands and leaned in to capture her lips. The kiss started out slow, and then it started to build.

Tongues wrapped around each other and shared space, in one mouth and then in the other. Cam's hands slid from Toni's cheeks into her hair. Her fingers gripped the dark glossy locks and held the tall woman to her.

Strong fingers firmly massaged the smaller woman's back, as an involuntary moan escaped both women's throats.

The wetness that flowed from the women's centers was a new sensation for both of them. Neither one had ever been this turned on.

They broke their kiss and moved their mouths down to taste each other's necks. A primal urge hit them at the same time and they had to clamp down on it tight.

Both women felt the need to bite down on the other's neck, but instead two pink tongues snaked out and licked the delicate flesh that they found.

That action just seemed to heighten their arousal. Toni raised her mouth to Cam's ear.

"We better stop Cam, this may get out of hand if we don't."

The blonde sighed into the dark woman's neck. "I don't want to stop Toni."

Then she raised her fair head and looked into uncertain blue eyes. "But I guess we should."

She removed herself from Toni's lap and then sat next to her.

Cam laid her hand on the tall woman's thigh. "I gotta tell ya Dubois, I don't want to stop, I want to be with you in every way."

Toni covered the hand that rested on her leg with her own. "Me too Cam, I just.... I.... would hate to disappoint you."

The shorter woman turned and faced her companion with worry showing in her green eyes. "How could you disappoint me Toni."

The dark head bowed and two hands started rubbing denim covered thighs. Toni never raised her head as she spoke in an almost whisper.

"I've.... I've never been with anyone before."

Cam stopped the other woman's movements and picked-up both of the large hands.

As she pulled them towards her she couldn't help but think that they reminded her of the paws on a playful puppy.

She raised them to her lips and kissed the palm of each one. "Look at me Antoinette."

Blue eyes slowly rose to meet green. "You could never disappoint me."

She held the hands more firmly, and looked deeply into Toni's eyes. "I've never been with anyone either."

She turned red immediately. "I've come close, but things happened and I couldn't continue."

Toni laughed softly. "Same here. I would start to feel a little overwhelmed and have to stop."

Toni shook her head. "Let me tell you, over the years I have left quite a few frustrated women in my wake."

Cam joined in the laughter. "Ditto, I can't tell you the number of women that hoped I'd dry-up and blow away."

"Well, Ribaldi, aren't we a pair......two virgins, over thirty."

Cam leaned forward and laid her head against Toni's chest. "When you're ready to change that state of being, let me know."

Toni kissed the blonde head that rested under her chin. "You'll be the first to know."

*******

Cam hit the off button on the remote and stood-up. She looked behind her and stood there, watching the dark beauty sleep.

She went around the house and turned off all of the lights, except for the ones in the guestroom and the hallway bathroom.

When she walked back to the couch, she called the sleeping woman's name. "Toni, Toni, wake-up."

The other woman mumbled a little.

This made Cam smile. "Come on Dubois, get-up and let me put you in the guestroom."

Tired blue eyes slowly opened, then she sat-up while rubbing them. "Oh wow."

She stopped for a second as if she was listening for something. "I'm sorry Cam, not only did I fall asleep on you, I've stayed until, two a.m."

Cam didn't even bother to check her watch, over the past few weeks she discovered that Toni was always in the ballpark when it came to the time.

"Don't be silly, come on. I've turned down the bed in the guestroom for you."

Toni hesitated. "I don't want to put you out like that Cam, I'm sure I can make it home."

"Stop it Toni, I'm not letting you drive all the out to Arlington at this time of the morning."

She pulled the taller woman off of the sofa and started pushing her towards the extra room.

I don't think that I have anything that will fit you, but I put the largest shirt that own on the bed for you. It's a tank top, I hope that's okay."

As they reached the door to the guestroom, Toni hugged Cam goodnight. "I'm sure it'll be fine.....I .... I guess I'll see you in morning."

Cam spoke softly. "Yeah.... in the morning."

They came together in kiss that left them both wanting.

Cam stepped away and whispered. "Goodnight Toni."

*******

Both women laid in their beds tossing and turning, they knew what they wanted, what they needed......each other.

Finally, Toni couldn't take it any longer. She tossed the covers off of her and headed towards her destiny.

*******

Cam just stared up at the ceiling, she didn't see anything, her mind was dwelling in the room two doors away.

She wanted to feel the other woman against her, taking her to places she had never been before, there was no doubt in her mind that Toni was the one, the one she had been waiting for.

Just as she was about to get out of her bed, the bedroom door opened.

*******

They silently looked at each other for a few seconds before Camron spoke. "Is everything okay Toni."

The question came out in a choked whisper. The air was filled with sexual tension and she could feel her hands tremble a little.

The tall woman stepped closer. "I told you that you would be the first to know."

No further explanation was necessary. Cam raised the covers up and invited the other woman to join her.

The long body slid across the still cool sheets and settled beside the blonde woman.

Cam moved over and snuggled closer to the warm body that she came in contact with.

Toni turned on her side and rested her weight on her elbow. She used her free hand to move blonde bangs off of a smooth forehead.

She looked into open green eyes and spoke in a soft voice. "Camron, I want to make love with you."

Cam mirrored the other woman's posture and turned on her side facing her. She ran her hand along the tall woman's side where the skin was exposed.

"I want that more than anything."

Toni ducked her head and was immediately met by moist soft lips. She pressed her tongue against those same lips and was granted entrance.

Their hands started to roam and hearts started to pound. The moans were a constant and the passion started to over take them.

They both felt the sensation of drowning start deep in the back of their mind, this was usually where they would stop with past partners, the feeling of going under too frightening to experience with another.

But this time was different.... it was the right place, at the right time, with the right person.

Toni was on her back with Cam laying on top of her. She had worked her hands under the smaller woman's nightshirt, and was kneading the firm breast that she discovered.

They fit perfectly in her large hands and every time she brushed her thumbs across the erect nipples, the blonde pressed her hips tighter against Toni's.

Cam tore her mouth away from Toni's and panted. "Clothes off.... now."

It took only a few seconds, and then they were able to come together, skin to skin. Neither woman had ever experienced the feel of another's skin against their own........ that alone almost sent them over.

They started to unconsciously writhe against each other. "Oh, Toni, this feels too good."

Toni's hand reached down and grabbed Cam's behind, pressing them closer together, she raised her hips into the smaller woman's and slid slowly against her.

The tall woman flipped them over and she was now on top. She looked into passion filled green eyes, and couldn't help herself.

She spoke the words that she had not spoken to another person, other than family. "I love you Camron."

The revelation didn't shock the blonde, she saw Toni's love for her weeks ago, shining brightly in those oh so blue eyes.

She ran her hands through raven tresses. "I love you too Antoinette. I think that I have loved you from the very beginning."

Toni took possession of the other woman's lips again, then she slowly kissed her way down the ivory neck, when her mouth reached the full breast, she circled the areola with her tongue, and then used just the tip to slowly swipe the hard pink tip.

Cam was so aroused that there was a flood running down her inner thighs. Toni reached down and ran one finger through wet blonde curls.

When she felt how wet her partner was she felt the sudden release of her own juices "Is all of this for me?"

Cam couldn't answer, when Toni slid the same finger between soaked neither lips, the small woman moaned from deep in her chest.

Toni moved-up to cam's ear and pleaded. "Please Cam.... touch me."

Long legs opened and straddled the blonde's thigh. The contact sent jolts through Toni's entire body.

Cam didn't have to be asked twice. Her small hand snaked down between the two body's and when it made contact with the taller woman's slick need, she mimicked the other woman's actions and started teasing the entrance to Toni's opening with her fingers.

As they rocked against the hands that were bring them so much pleasure, their tongues were involved in a dance just as sensuous as their hips.

Each time their hips pressed into one another, their fingers would slip into their openings a little. When Toni rubbed her thumb against Cam's swollen nub, green eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Cam had to take a moment to focus before she added her thumb to Toni's sensitive bundle.

The dark woman grunted and started rocking her hips faster, they could both feel themselves rising, and they knew that the orgasm was close.

Cam turned her head from the kiss and whispered in Toni's ear. "I want you to go inside Toni, I want you to be my first, and my last."

Toni rested her left forearm on the bed and raised up a little. She stared at Cam before she spoke. "And I want you to be mine."

She kissed the smaller woman as they resumed their previous actions. Their hips moved faster and they felt an energy start to build deep in their centers.

When they reached the peak of their arousal, they started to enter one another.

When they met with a little resistance, each woman hesitated, but they were flying too high to stop.

Toni spoke between pants and thrusts. "Do it baby, do it now."

As they fell over, fingers slid all the way in, touching places that no one had ever been before, both sets of hips stopped for just a moment and tensed up before they relaxed, then pick-up speed again as they continued to fall.

When their velvety soft muscles tightened around the fingers that were deep within each woman, they screamed out their release.

As they went over something started to rise from deep within both of them, it was something that felt like it should stay where it was for now.

It made them feel like they were running wild and free and soaring high above the earth all at the same time.

They were in a struggled between passion and power, power fought to dominate their release, but finally passion won out and they screamed out again when their desire reached its pinnacle.

When they came down, Toni rolled on to her back trying to catch her breath, she pulled Cam close to her side and kissed her damp forehead..

"Cam, that was the most amazing thing that I have ever experienced."

The blonde traced her finger around the other woman's dark nipple. "I had no idea that it would be like that, for a few seconds, I thought that I was going to spiral out of control, but it didn't happen."

Toni pulled Cam on top of her. "Me too, it was scary and exciting all at once."

"That's exactly what it felt like." Cam leaned forward and kissed Toni as she rolled on top of her, she deepened the kiss and sucked on Toni's tongue.

Their mounds were pressed together and they moved against each other. They felt their passion start to rise again.

The blonde raised her head and looked into blue eyes gone dark with passion. "I love you."

Toni's large hands reached down and captured Cam's rear, she held the other woman against her as they rocked together.

She kissed Cam's soft neck. "I love you so much baby. I can't get enough of you."

Cam pulled one of Toni's hands around and pressed it to her center. "Then don't try."

The rest of the early morning was spent exploring a love that still had many aspects to be revealed.

*******

Camron woke-up Sunday morning alone in bed. As she sat-up, she heard her back door open, when her tall lover entered her bedroom, she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face.

Toni was dripping with sweat and was puling of her clothes off with each step that she made.

Camron pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped the sheet around her. "I guess you went for a run huh?"

Toni stood in the middle of the room, wearing only her boxers. "Yeah, it's about the only thing that I do to stay in shape."

"You go ahead and shower, and I'll get these damp clothes into the wash."

Cam pulled on her robe and then found one for Toni. She held it up and thought. 'This should hit her above the knees, but the sleeves are going to be way short on those long arms.'

She opened the bathroom door and laid the robe across the closed toilet lid, then she pulled out a new toothbrush and sat it on the sink.

"Sweetheart, I left some things out for you." She bent over and picked-up the discarded boxers before she left the room.

As she closed the door, she heard a muffled. "Thanks baby."

*******

The scientist was loading the washer with Toni's wet clothes, as she put each piece in a scent filled the air, it was intoxicated to the blonde woman.

She held the damp shirt to her nose and inhaled. The smell was a mixture of something flowery and something wild.

Cam had to force herself to throw the garment into the machine. She needed to take a moment and pull herself back from the lust that was beginning to rise in her. She threw in the last article of clothing and went to start breakfast.

The small woman walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a few breakfast items. She found a half used package of bacon and smelled it after checking the expiration date for freshness, after determining that it was safe, she laid the strips out on a baking pan and place it in the oven.

She had a pot of unused cooked rice in the fridge so she placed it on top of the stove and started heating it, as the starch loosened up, she added sugar, milk and cinnamon.

She was buttering the toast and turning the eggs as her tall mate entered the kitchen.

Toni wrapped her arms around the small woman while she finished the meal and kissed her neck.

"The food smells great baby."

Cam removed the eggs from the heat and turned in Toni's arms. "Good, I hope you're hungry."

*******

Cam sat and watched as Toni piled her plate high with everything that the other woman had cooked. Cam couldn't believe her eyes. There was no way that this trim woman was going to consume all of the food that was in front of her.

The scientist stayed silent and ate her own food, until Toni's plate was nearly empty. She put her fork down and addressed her partner.

"I guess you were hungry."

Toni nodded her head as she stood and walked over to the stove. Cam's eyes almost fell out of her head, when the janitor spooned more rice onto her plate.

When she sat back down, she looked into amused green eyes. "I guess I worked up an apatite last night."

Cam rested her chin in her palm. "I can't believe that you were able to get-up and run after last night.... or should I saw this morning."

Toni shrugged her shoulders. "I still had some pent-up energy that I needed to work off."

The blonde started to gather the breakfast dishes and place them in the dishwasher. Green eyes sparkled when they looked into blue.

Cam finished her task and then walked over to stand behind Toni's seated form and rested her chin on the other woman's shoulder. "You know you could have woke me up."

Toni pulled the smaller woman around and place her in her lap. She nuzzled her lover's warm neck as she slipped her hand into the partially opened robe.

"I thought that I should let you rest, I did keep you occupied pretty late."

"We both......." Cam had to stop when Toni's talented fingers made a trail down to the top of her blonde curls.

She cleared her throat. "We both were occupied last night."

Toni nibbled her partner's ear. "Have I told you how much I love you my little Cammy?"

The blonde leaned back and looked at her mate with a fair brow raised.

The tall woman stood up with the blonde still in her arms as she walked towards the bedroom. "I know, don't say it........rest assured, I'll never say it again.

*******

It was just a typical Wednesday night. Toni and Cam had been together for two months and they had never been happier.

The scientist checked her watch and started to finish up her latest rounds of experiments. Her partner would be coming any minute and she was ready for lunch.

The last two months had showed the scientist how wonderful love could feel.

The two women spent as much time together as they could. Camron had stayed at Toni's place a couple of times, but the lack of protection against the sun, made it uncomfortable for the blonde.

After the second try, they agreed to spend their time in Fairfax. They would go out to dinner and movies, and one night Toni took her to a playground and they played on all of the equipment like they were still in the third grade.

Cam looked over at the Bunsen burner that was heating a beaker that was holding her latest compound, she hoped that heating it and then adding it to the blood sample would give her the results she desired.

Now more than ever, she wanted a cure, she yearned to spend time in the sun with her well traveled lover. She wanted to lay out on a beach and finally get a tan.

Whenever Cam looked at her skin next to her lover's, she cringed, Toni had what appeared to be a permanent tan, and when put against Cam's, the scientist looked almost ghost like.

She checked the burner one more time and then went into the back office and brought out a picnic basket. It took a well thought out plan to make it possible for Cam to pack the food and get it out to her car without Toni seeing it, but the blonde had accomplished it.

She was laying a checkered cloth across one of the tables when the love of her life entered the lab. She stopped what she was doing and ran to jump into wide open arms.

She kissed the tall woman all over her face. "I missed you, I missed you, I missed you."

Toni returned the kisses. "I missed you too baby."

She walked them over to the tall table and deposited the scientist on top of it. She started fingering the basket and looked at her partner.

"What's all this?"

Cam reached in and pulled out all the goodies. She had discovered that the phrase 'too much sugar' didn't exist for her mate, once she sat and watched Toni pour packets of sugar into her mouth because she craved it.

Keeping that in mind, she made sure to add a couple of packs of tasty cakes and a candy bar. There were two large Deli sandwiches, potato salad and a thermos full of hot chocolate, for Toni.

And a dish of left over vegetable lasagne, a small green salad and another thermos of hot chocolate for Cam, the janitors influence was obvious in her switch to the smooth drink.

They sat across from each other and talked about how their shifts were going. Toni told her partner that she should be finished early, the day shift had taken care of a lot of the areas that they usually left for the night janitor.

In the middle of their conversation Cam suddenly jumped up, remembering that the beaker was still over the heat.

As she approached the work station, she saw that the liquid had burned out and the glass was over heating.

She rushed towards the impending disaster, but stopped short when a large hand clamped around her waist and spun her around.

*******

Toni sat at the table and watched her lover jump up to turn the burner off. She saw what Cam didn't.... it was already too late, the glass was going to explode.

She ran towards her lover and grabbed her around the waist, she also held a hand in front of Cam's face to protect it from the flying glass.

The blonde felt a few shards, but she didn't suffer any damage. When she turned back around to check on her mate, she was greeted by the sight of Toni holding a bloody hand.

She acted on pure instinct and pulled off her lab coat and wrapped it around her mate's injured hand. After she covered the injury, she needed to turn away for a second and breath deeply so that she could rein in her emotions.

When she turned back around she walked Toni over to a table and slowly unwrapped her hand, what she saw made her knees weak.

The pinky finger of the tall woman's left hand had been severed. It was laying in the lab coat as the blood coming from the stump started to slow its flow.

She was about to run to the phone and call for help, when something extraordinary happened, the missing digit started to grow back.

Green looked into blue and Cam opened her mouth and asked. "What's going on Toni?"

Antoinette stared at the woman that she loved, and was terrified, the only thing that helped her to remain calm, was the fact that the scientist wasn't panicking.

"Baby there is something that I need to tell you."

She sat on a stool and motioned for Cam to do the same.

"I'm not sure where to start really."

Cam looked at her with unwavering green eyes. "How about starting with why I just saw you grow a replacement finger."

"Okay, I guess the best way to start that is by saying that I am a daughter of Lycos........"

The scientist held up her hand to stop her partner from speaking. "Are you telling me that you are a lycanthrope?"

Toni bowed her head. "Yes...... I know that people don't believe that we exist, but......"

What happened next shocked the dark woman. Camron stood up and waved her hands in the air and started talking to herself.

"Well if this isn't the damnedest thing, I have fallen in love with a lycan...... me of all people, this is too bizarre to be true, but they always say that truth is stranger than fiction."

Toni was starting to worry, it looked as if Cam was going to snap and she didn't know how to prevent it.

The small scientist walked over and stood in front of Toni. "You know what's so funny about all of this?"

Toni shook her head no.

Cam dropped her blonde head and when she lifted it she curled the corners of her mouth, revealing two very sharp extended incisors. "You see my love, I am a daughter of Vlad."

They just stared at each other, now it all made sense, they finally understood their initial reaction to each other.

Their other natures were trying to come out.

As if remembering that moment, once again their nostrils flared, their gums inched and a low growl emitted from their chest.

But this time, they did something about it. Their lips came together in a flash of heat. They opened their mouths upon contact and tried to devour each other.

Toni stood up and cupped the smaller woman's rear, she pressed their hips together and started rubbing with a purpose.
Camron tore her mouth away from the kiss. "Quick, take me to the office."

Toni had them there in four long strides. Cam slid out of her embrace and opened the door, after they entered she closed and locked it.

They came back together without hesitation, Cam pulled Toni's shirt out her pants and ripped it open, sending buttons flying across the room.

The tall woman was already stepping on the heels of her shoes, trying to pry them off, as she pulled Cam's shirt over her head.

In no time, they were both naked, Cam moved into Toni's personal space and latched on to a dark nipple.

Her hot mouth sucked on the firm flesh, trying to get the whole thing in her mouth, Toni's large hand cupped the back of the blonde head and held her in place.

"Oh yeah baby, that feels so good, don't stop."

When Cam's hand moved down and she ran her fingers through wet folds, Toni's head dropped back and she started to pant as she rocked her hips to the motion.

Cam changed the position of hand and entered her mate with two fingers while she frantically rode a hard thigh, trying to relieve her arousal by painting it with her passion.

Toni moved them over to the couch with jerky movements, when reached the furniture she sat down with Cam straddling her lap, still inside of her.

She maneuvered her hand and slide first one, then two fingers into her blonde love. Camron moan loudly. "Oh yes!"

The smaller woman rested her forehead on her partner's broad shoulder and impaled herself on long strong fingers.

Sweat was pouring off of their bodies as they started to peak. When they were about to go over, they stared into each other's eyes and for a brief moment, both sets of teeth made an appearance.

They quickly disappeared and their shared climax crashed through them. They rocked their hips harder into the fingers that were buried deep within as they continued to ride out their orgasm.

After coming down, they pulled out of each other and Toni laid back on the sofa while Cam stretched out on top of her.

Toni ran her fingers through shiny blonde hair. "I love you baby."

Cam snuggled deeper into the strong body that she rested on and kissed her lover's throat. "I love you too sweetheart."

She yawned and started to feel sleepy. Before she drifted off she gave her mate instructions. "Wake us up in half an hour love........ We have a few things to talk about."

*******

Thirty-five minutes later, they were dressed and sitting on the sofa. Toni was on one end and Cam was on the other.

Cam looked at Toni's shirt hanging open, exposing her t-shirt and felt bad. "Honey, I'm really sorry about your shirt, I just...... I don't know, I guess I lost control."

The janitor gave her companion a lopsided grin. "Don't worry about it..... it was exciting.... I kinda liked it."

Cam exhaled and reached over to rub her lover's hand. As she did, she thought to herself. 'Well now I know why I thought they looked like puppy paws.'

She ran her thumb over the skin on the back of Toni's hand. "It seems we have a few things to discuss."

Toni grunted. "That's an understatement."

She looked into her mate's green eyes. "Is there anything that you want to know.... any questions?"

"Oh I have plenty of questions, just as you do. But I'll start with, how come you can be out when there is a full moon and not turn?"

Toni scooted closer to the scientist. "Because I'm not insane."

The blonde head tilted in question.

"Only a lycanthrope that has gone mad is affected negatively by a full moon. They have usually contracted something...... I guess the best way to describe it is saying it's kinda like rabies."

Camron laughed softly. "That's one of the good things about being a vampire..... we don't contract diseases."

Toni stretched out both of her long hands and looked at the perfectly formed pinky finger. "And we can regenerate."

Cam crawled over and sat in Toni's lap, she rested her head on the tall woman's shoulder and examined the new digit.

"Look at us, you can grow new parts and I don't get sick.....what a pair we make."

Toni leaned back and raised Cam's chin so that they were looking into each other's eyes.

"That's right Cam.... what a pair we make, we make a great team, and I'll never feel any differently. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't care what we are, if that was the only way for us to be together...then so be it."

Cam pulled Toni down for a gentle kiss. "I agree sweetheart."

She buried her hand in Toni's glossy black hair and looked her deep in her eyes. "You are the love of my life Antoinette and I don't regret a thing."

Toni smiled and a bit of mischief entered her brilliant blue eyes. "I guess this means you're not trying to cure photosensitivity."

Cam had to laugh. "I guess not."

*******

After arriving at Cam's house that morning, they undressed and got into bed. They were snuggled together when a thought came to Toni.

"Baby, how is it that you can be out in the sun at all?"

Cam tightened her hold on Toni's waist. "Well, it's like this, my father is a full vampire and my mother is half vampire half human."

"So can she walk around in the daytime without protection?"

Cam smiled before she answered. "I never thought in a million years that I would be able to talk to someone about the real me."

Toni kissed her golden head. "Me either baby."

Cam exhaled before she answered. "My mother needs a little more protection than I do, but if she wanted to, she could go out in the day light."

"What about that sleeping in coffins, drinking human blood thing."

Cam raised up on her forearm and looked at her partner very seriously. "Those things are very true sweetheart, there are plenty of vampires out there that look at the human race as nothing more than a huge buffet or slave labor."

"So how is it that you are different?"

"There have been so many stories told about vampires that the truth was lost to humans centuries ago. We have been here since the beginning, just like the trees, the birds and all of nature.

We held dominion over the night, and we built our dwellings below ground to stay out of the sight of humans.

>From what I've been told, it wasn't a bad existence, humans ruled the day and we ruled the night.

Well, to make a long story short, I'm sure you remember that whole problem with Lucifer trying to take over and the followers he gathered.

There were a few vampires that joined him, they wanted to reign in the day as well as the night. They wanted to destroy mankind, so that the earth would be theirs and Lucifer told them that he could deliver that desire.

The only problem was that the vampire forgot one very important detail while devising their plan, they overlooked the fact that mankind was God's most favored and it wasn't going to be an easy task to destroy them.

When God discovered the plot, he cursed the vampire's blood, making it boil in the sunlight, thereby turning the being into dust, with that one act of condemnation the vampire was damned to walk only in the dark.

But Lucifer was not going to give up easily, he knew that his plan to erase humans had taken a blow, but him being who he was, he decided to add to us his own touch, he made us crave human blood.

He said that if we drained them and replace our tainted blood with their's, we could walk in the daylight again.

That of course was a lie. That was his way of making vampires carry out his plan to rid the world or mankind, if it couldn't be a war fought out in the open, then he would use his soldiers to take them in the night.

But Lucifer left out one little detail when he riled up the ancients to go out and take human blood....... you see, although there was a craving, you still had a choice, if you didn't give in, you could still be redeemed.

Lucifer knew that God was a forgiving God and if the vampire changed his allegiance, he could once again, hold dominion over the night and dwell in the sunlight.

They didn't know that once you fed on a human, you were damned for eternity. When they did discover their fatal error, it wasn't Lucifer that they were angry with, it was men.

So, it has been this way, century, upon century, upon century, vampires come out at night and feed on humans.... they have been doing it for so long, that it is the only nourishment that their systems can tolerate.

If they tried to stop, it would kill them, so they feed, maim and murder until the sun starts to rise and then they scurry off to their coffins, waiting for night again."

And although there are those of us that have never fed on a human, we still carry the tainted blood of our ancestors in our veins.

Cam looked into open and understanding blue eyes. "Did you know that vampires didn't start sleeping in coffins until humans started to erect buildings, then the grounds had to be dug up.

There have been so many underground caves found that were homes to a whole clan of vampires. With the modern age, came the necessity for the vampire to become mobile."

Toni rubbed Cam's pale cheek. "Do you crave blood?"

The scientist hung her head in shame. "I don't crave it, but if I see a lot of it all at once, I have to center myself and force down the urge to taste it."

Toni raised Cam's head kissed her moist lips. "Is that why you had to turn away when I cut my hand."

The blonde head nodded.

"Never hang your head in shame my love, you are a brave and noble being, your strength and courage should fill you with pride. I love you Camron and I love who you are."

The warmth that flooded the scientist was all consuming. She was indeed with her life mate as odd as it was, a vampire and a lycanthrope were fated to be together.

*******

On Friday morning Cam was packing her briefcase preparing to leave when Ben came in. "Well looky here, if it isn't the elusive Camron Ribaldi."

The blonde woman had to smile, because she was spending so much time with Toni, the scientist would be gone by the time Ben got in.

"I know, I know, it's been a while. I've been busy Ben I'm sorry we've been missing each other."

The bald man's face lit-up with a bright smile. "It's okay Camron, I'm sure there's a good reason."

At that moment Toni entered the lab looking for her always punctual lover. When she saw the other person in the room, she stopped.

Cam looked over her shoulder and smiled at the stunned look on the dark beauty's face.

Ben looked at the tall beautiful woman and whistled through his teeth. "Now that's what I call statuesque. I haven't seem a combination of black hair and blues that stunning since Liz Taylor."

Cam's chest swelled with pride. "That's also the reason."

Ben was confused. "What reason?"

"You said there must be a good reason why I'm always gone when you get here."

The blonde held out her hand and motioned for Toni to come over. "And here she is. Sweetheart I want you to meet someone."

When Toni reached Cam's side, the smaller woman wrapped her arm around Toni's trim waist. "Dr. Ben O'Shea, I'd like for you to meet the love of my life, Antoinette Dubois."

Toni blushed a little at Cam's profession of love, but was filled with pride that this beautiful little woman didn't have a problem letting people know that they were together.

She reached out and shook Ben's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. O'Shea."

Ben looked at Cam and rolled his eyes. "Please, call me Ben."

"Alright, Ben it is. Cam has told me a lot about you Ben, I'm glad that we could finally meet."

Ben looked at how his co-worker gazed at the tall woman as if the sun rose and sat on her and knew that Camron was deeply in love."

Ben raised and eyebrow. "She allows you to call her Cam?"

Toni looked shocked. "Yeah."

She looked down into dancing green eyes. "Is that a problem?"

Cam reached up and ran her finger tips over Toni's high cheekbone. "Nope, it's not a problem at all."

Ben decided to tease his friend a little, he caught Toni's eye before he spoke. "Wow, she must really be smitten with you, I've known her for six years, and she has always corrected anyone that tried to shorten her name."

When Toni smiled, a row of straight white teeth were revealed. "Ben, she is no more smitten than I am."

When the tall woman looked down at the small scientist Ben saw all that he needed to see. The dark haired woman was just as in love as his friend was.

It was something that he was glad to see, as far as he knew Camron had been alone since he met her, he was happy that she finally had someone.

Cam grabbed her briefcase and outdoor gear off of the table and headed to the office. She pulled Toni by the hand as she walked away.

"Come on Dubois, I may need a little help."

Ben had to laugh out loud at the picture they made. It looked like a parent leading away a reluctant child.

*******

A week had gone by since the women had revealed themselves to each other. One morning after work, Cam was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and Toni had finished wiping off the table and counters, and was now sweeping the floor.

Cam closed the dishwasher and started it. She hopped up on the counter and watched her lover execute a very basic domestic chore.

When Toni was finished with her task, she put the broom and dust pan back in the storage closet. On her way back to the table, Cam called her over and positioned the tall woman between her legs.

She ran her hands through black silk. "You know Dubois, you looked mighty cute acting like a domestic."

Toni rested her hands on Cam's slim hips. "Is that why you fell in love with a janitor, so you could get me to keep your house clean?"

Cam kissed Toni sweetly. "I didn't care what you did, I fell in love with my life mate, your job didn't factor into it."

Toni ran her large hands under Cam's shirt and made contact with the warm skin on her back. "Aren't you the little sweet talker?"

Cam ran her tongue across Toni's moist lips. "Do you think that I could sweet talk you into moving in here with me?"

Toni opened her mouth and sucked in Cam's tongue. "You think you can put up with me living here?"

Cam Leaned back and looked at her lover. "Sweetheart, when was the last time you stayed at your place?"

Toni thought for a second. "I was there last week."

The triumphant look on her face only lasted a moment. "You went there to pick-up more clothes, then you came back over here."

'Oh yeah, I guess I forgot about that part."

Cam cupped both of Toni's cheeks in her hands and looked her in the eyes. "Is there something wrong, am I asking you to do something that you don't want to do?"

Toni removed Cam's soft hands from her face and kissed the palms. "No baby, I would love to move in here with you, it's just..... are you going to be okay with me having to go out and......run?"

Run was a code word for the couple, there were times when the dark woman had to go out and run while in the form of a lycan, and she always wondered if it truly bothered her lover.

Cam smacked the other woman in her middle. "Are you seriously asking a vampire if I mind that you have to change form an go run free sometime?"

Toni smiled shyly. "Kinda silly huh?"

Cam kissed the tip of her nose. "Yes, very silly, besides, I have a secret..... when you come back and your clothes are all sweaty, the smell turns me on so much, that I have to do deep breathing exercising to keep control of myself."

"Oh really, well I guess my plan to take a towel and wipe myself down before I put my clothes back on is now void?"

The scientist grabbed the taller woman by the collar. "You better believe it's void, don't you dare try and take away one of guilty little pleasures Dubois."

Toni wrapped the blonde's legs around her waist and pulled her off of the counter. As she walked them towards the bedroom, she nuzzled sweet smelling golden hair.

"When we reach the bed, I want you to show me a few of those guilty pleasures of yours Ribaldi."

*******

Even though it was their night off, both women were awake at seven o'clock in the evening just lik the were on work nights.

They were still in bed, the television was on and they were watching a rerun of the new show Heroes on the sci-fi channel.

Cam was sitting with her back against the headboard and Toni's head rested in her lap. "Honey, who is your favorite hero?"

Toni turned over and looked at her lover. "I like Hiro. When he squeezes his eyes tight, trying to bend time, he looks like a little kid."

"Wow that's surprising, I thought you would like that dual personality chick with the skills of an assassin."

Toni turned back over to focus on the screen again. "Nah, I'm not into psycho chicks, besides, being able to bend time, is much cooler than shooting a gun."

Cam slowly massaged the dark scalp. "Sweetheart, there is something that I've been very curious about."

Toni was in heaven, falling deeper into the massage. "What's that baby?"

"Can you tell me the story of the lycanthrope?"

Toni turned back over and looked up at her heart, she reached up and feathered her fingers through the silky blonde tresses.

"Well, the way the story goes is that back when people still believed in the Olympian gods, the moon goddess Artemis wanted a race created that was part human and part wolf.

She wanted the being to be a companion to her followers in the day and their protectors at night. She sought out the alchemist Lycos and commissioned his help.

Lycos, through trial and error, found a compound, that when ingested would forever change the cell structure of a human and all of their descendants.

The elixir worked with the rising of the moon. When Artemis reveled the moon after Apollo sat the sun, the lycanthrope would walk with his human companion.

When Apollo rode his chariot across the sky and brought the sun, Artemis concealed the moon, and then the human walked with the goddess' followers.

There was a lycan by the name of Mysia, it was said that her hair was the color of wheat fields in the midday sun, that her eyes were as blue as the Aegean and her skin as soft as a rose petal.

Soon, Artemis found favor with her and she became not only a companion of a follower, but she also became the companion of the moon goddess.

Before Mysia, the lycan had no choice as to wether it wanted to change or not, when the moon rose, we went down on all fours.

After Artemis fell in love, she wanted her companion in human form unless she was protecting her charge, so the moon goddess manipulated the energy of the moon so that a lycanthrope could call to it, instead of it calling to the lycan.

And as it goes for one, it goes for all, that's when we stopped being slaves to the light that illuminates the night sky and became free to use it as a tool.

One night while protecting her charge, Mysia was wounded, the attacker had used a farming tool on the lycan, some say it was a sickle, others say it was just a plain ole chopping axe.

Either way, she had suffered many deep wounds, damage to her organs, lost a limb and was bleeding to death.

Artemis appeared and cradled her love in her arms, and as she wept and pleaded with Mysia not to give in to death, Athena heard her sister's anguished cries, and came down from Mount Olympus to sooth her.

It was breaking the goddess of wisdom's heart to see her sister so distraught, so she asked her what she could do to ease her pain.

Artemis begged her sister to heal her love, but not just heal her, make it so that if something like this were to ever happen again, she could heal herself.

The goddess didn't like the idea of giving humans the ability to heal themselves, but Artemis reminded her that the lycanthrope wasn't only human.

So with a wave of her hand, Athena healed Mysia and bestowed her with regenerative abilities...... and as it goes for one, it goes for all.

Cam was fascinated by the story. "Wow, so any part of your body that's damaged can be replaced?"

"Yep, except for our heads, but we are still susceptible to diseases, that's why there are insane lycans running around at night."

"Why did Artemis change the energy of the moon instead of just changing the lycanthrope?"

"Ahh, because, Lycos' elixir had already been infused into our very being, lycans had been around for centuries by then, and it was actually easier to change the moon, than for the moon goddess to find another alchemist that could create another compound to counteract the first one.

And as an added bonus, when Artemis changed the energy of the moon, it allowed us to change in the daytime if we so desired."

"You know, it doesn't surprise me that the lycanthrope is a protector, that is totally your persona."

Toni pulled soft pink lips down to meet her own. "Is that so?"

"Yeah, I always feel safe with you around."

"Hey baby, why are you called sons and daughters of Vlad?"

"Because he was the first to embrace the belief totally and then build an army to act on it."

Cam looked around like she was about to share a secret.

"What's really funny, is that Vlad wasn't even a vampire, he was a wanna be, he was the lover of a vampire and thought that if he proved his devotion by bleeding humans in the daylight that he would be turned, of course he never was, his lover just used him to do his dirty work in the light of day, because he couldn't"

Cam sighed. "I guess it just comes down to the fact that he is the most famous of our associates. And believe me, his lover was none too happy that the slave received more recognition than the master."

Toni asked in a teasing voice. "So there is no Count Dracula?"

Cam tugged on the black hair that her fingers were wrapped in. "Is there a Wolfman?"

Toni laughed. "Point taken."

*******

Three months after Toni moved into Cam's house, the scientist was finally able to talk Toni into taking her with her when she ran.

It was a warm August night as they were packing a backpack with a towel, bottled water, a package of cup cakes and a candy bar.

Cam laughed to herself. 'Well at least now I know why she craves sugar the way that she does and has an apatite that rivals any hungry man.'

Toni was having an inner struggle, she wanted to share all that she was with Cam, but the blonde knowing that she turned and seeing her turn, were two different things.

Cam sensed her lover's discomfort and came up behind her to rub her back. "Sweetheart, if this is going to be too hard for you, I don't have to go.

But I want you to know that, I will love you no matter what, nothing can change that, not even you changing forms right before my eyes."

Toni placed her hands palm down on the counter top and hung her dark head. "You don't know what you're asking baby, I become another species."

Cam rested her head between her lover's broad shoulders. "When you change, are you still in there....... what I mean is, are you still thinking with your own mind, or does a wild animal take over your thoughts?"

The tall woman still wouldn't turn around. "It's me, it's always me, from beginning to end."

"Then I want to see it, I want to see you be the other part of yourself."

Toni knew that she couldn't deny her mate this request. "Okay my love, lets load up the car and head out."

*******

The couple drove down to Manassas Virginia to a wooded area that spanned over five square miles, it was well past one a.m. when they parked on the side of the road.

Both women remained silent as Cam grabbed the backpack and followed Toni into the woods. After they had gone in about a half mile Toni stopped.

Nervous blue eyes looked down into understanding green. "I'm gonna strip and leave my clothes with you.... here... okay?"

Cam nodded her head, as Toni started to undress, she fold her clothes as she went along.

"Sweetheart, do you always fold your clothes?"

"Yeah, I hate to come back and they're just laying randomly around the area, when I fold them I feel more..... I don't know, I guess I feel more civilized."

Camron was at her breaking point. She grabbed the half naked woman by the arm and spun her around.

"What the hell do you mean more civilized! Do think that just because you change form that makes you some kind of monster?"

The blonde woman was breathing hard. "Let me tell you what an uncivilized monster is, that's a creature that stalks human beings in the dead of night, latches on to their jugular and drains them of their life's blood, THAT is a monster!"

Toni stood and stared, shocked and wide eyed at her lover. "Your lineage is one of honor and protection and I refuse to watch you be ashamed for another second."

She moved forward and caressed her partner's high cheekbone. "You once told me that I was brave and noble, that I should be proud of who and what I am, well, I am giving those words back to you my love, embrace who you are and run free."

Her mate's heartfelt words filled the tall woman with courage, she looked into adoring green eyes and removed her final piece of clothing.

She kissed Cam softly on her lips and then turned and took off running at full speed. The energy that she left behind was intoxicating.

Cam watched as her lover's body changed with each stride. It was like watching a movie frame by frame.

One second she was a naked six foot tall woman with long black hair flying behind her in the wind, then the next she was a beautiful sleek wolf with a glossy black coat and bulging muscles.

It looked as if her size had doubled if the amount of bulk she now carried was accurate. Just as Cam lost sight of her in the trees, she yelled at the top of her lungs. "I LOVE YOU ANTOINETTE!"

In response she heard a long loud howl.

*******

After waiting only fifteen minutes Cam couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to join her mate, she wanted to be free in the moonlight with her love.

She closed her eyes and waited until she could feel which direction the light breeze was blowing from, when she zeroed in on it she took a few steps and then took flight.

As she felt herself soar higher and higher the anticipation of catching up with her mate was exhilarating, the higher she climbed the more of a breeze she could ride.

As she scanned the ground below, she finally saw her love running full speed through a clearing. She used the wind to carry her voice down to her partner.

"Toni look into the sky."

The wolf slowed it's stride and turned its huge head skyward. The beautiful lycan stopped running and stood still, waiting for her mate to come down and join her.

Cam guided her body towards the earth and glided to the ground, when she landed, it was the most graceful thing that Toni had ever seen.

The small woman landed, and she hit the ground walking, it seemed like it was the most natural thing in the world, she never stumbled or missed a step, she continued her stride until she reached her mate.

She couldn't help herself, the first thing she did was wrap her fingers into the thick black fur and then she hugged the huge lycan close to her.
She whispered into a sensitive ear. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

The large animal whimpered and nuzzled its huge head against the blonde vampire. "I'll take that as an I love you too."

A long wet tongue snaked out and licked Cam's cheek. "Well I see some things never change, no matter what form you take, that tongue is always deadly."

The large animal growled and bumped the smaller woman, almost knocking her over.

"Oh so you do like it ruff, I thought you said you weren't into the kinky stuff. Cam wasn't sure, but she thought she saw the crystal clear blue eyes roll in response to her comment.

Cam rubbed her nose against the wet muzzle of the huge lycan. Even with her standing at her full five-five, the wolf's long nose was even with her mouth.

"Damn baby, can't I ever just tower over you?"

The wolf snorted like it was laughing at her. Cam kissed the nose that was right in front of her, then she released the beautiful creature.

"I guess I should be happy that you chose not to stand-up, I know you would dwarf me then."

She stepped back and stretched her arms wide open and tilted her head back, absorbing the energy around her, when she brought her head back down, she focused on her mate again and smiled. "Come on baby, let's run with the wind."

Toni didn't hesitate, she took off like a rocket and Cam was right behind her. They stayed out for hours, both women enjoying this feeling of freedom for the first time with another, it was like a drug that they couldn't get enough of.

*******

They were both laying on their stomachs panting, trying to pull air into their lungs. As soon as they got home, they had to have each other.

The energy was too strong to ignore the feelings that had risen in them. They were on their stomachs because their backs were covered in scratches.

For the first time during their love making, they had allowed some of their other selves to emerge. There were also small nips along their necks and upper bodies.

There was a moment when both women let their teeth descend and their claws appear, but just a little, they knew if they let go totally that they would fully change and their lovemaking would be over.

They finally understood why they could never share their passion with any one in the past, it called to their other nature, and there was a possibility that they might have revealed themselves and that wasn't safe.

Cam recovered first. "I don't think that I can do that very often."

Toni grunted. "Me either baby, but I'll tell you this........ that was fucking incredible."

The scientist laughed softly. "My sentiments exactly."

The blonde raised her head and looked at her partner's back. "Baby, I'm gonna have to clean your back and put some first aid cream on it."

Toni slowly sat up and evaluated her lover's smooth back. "Well my love, I hate to tell you this, but it's not my back that's going to need attention, it's yours."

Cam opened her mouth to protest, but stopped short when Toni turned around. "Damn Dubois, that's just not fair, how can your back be healed already."

Toni raised a dark brow at her mate, but said nothing. Cam hung her head and laughed. "I guess I forgot."

"You stay there and I'll go and get the first aid kit."

When Toni returned, she cleaned out Cam's scratches and covered them in the medicated cream.

Toni scooted down in the bed, so that she was eye to eye with her mate. "Tonight was the most liberating experience of my existence."

Cam brushed her hand through damp black strands. "I want you to know that you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, no matter what form you take."

Toni snuggled her body closer to the small woman. "You make me feel that way Cam, before you, I only saw the animal, I never recognized the majestic protector that you showed me."

Cam kissed her lover's moist red lips. "That's who I see sweetheart, you are the most magnificent being I have ever encountered."

Toni couldn't believe that she was blushing. Then playful blue eyes started to twinkle. "Ahh sucks Cam, you say the sweetest things."

Cam laughed at her mate's attempt at humor, then she caressed a strong shoulder and looked deep into Toni's blue eyes. "I love you more than I can say and together, we can do anything."

Toni lost herself in the lush green of Cam's eyes. "For some reason, when you say it, I believe it."

*******

The women were sitting in Cam's lab sharing their nightly lunch break. Between bites of fried chicken Toni would ask Cam questions.

"So, all the blood samples that you use come from you?"

The blonde nodded. "Yeah, I have been trying to find a stabilizing agent for years, I think I've come close, but the additives will not bind."

"No one knows that your not researching photosensitivity?"

"Nope, as long as I submit a monthly report on my findings it's okay."

Toni wiped a few crumbs from her mouth. "Baby, how long have you been a vegetarian?"

Cam blushed. "I'm not a vegetarian, I stopped eating meat eight months ago to see if ingesting meat that had blood flowing through it, could be a contributing factor in the cravings that vampires suffer from."

The janitor looked confused. "What?"

"Although most meats, other than beef aren't usually sold bloody, it comes from animals that circulate blood, I am trying to see if eating meat from those animals can somehow trigger or maintain some level of blood cravings."

"I think I understand....... do you plan on ever eating meat again, cause I gotta tell ya, you are one hell of a cook, I mean this fried chicken is great."

Cam ate a spoonful of her beans and rice before she answered. "Oh yeah, I plan on going back to meat very soon."

Toni had a curious look on her face. "Baby, how come you can fly, I mean I thought vampires grew wings or needed a cape."

Cam understood the misconception. "It's like this, we are creatures of nature, so there are certain things that we can manipulated and use to or benefit.

The wind is one of them even when you can't feel it or see leaves blowing, there is usually a mild breeze blowing, that's all it takes.

I can't explain it, but the vampire is..... I don't know kinda aerodynamic, I guess riding the wind is one of the gifts we were given."

"This ability to manipulate the wind, is that why it sounded like you were whispering in my ear when you called me from the sky?"

"Yep, that's why humans think that vampires can hypnotize them, the ability to speak into a person's ear, without being next to them is something that people can't comprehend."

There was a question that Camron wanted to ask, but she was afraid of the answer. She picked over her lunch for a few seconds to build up her courage.

"Sweetheart, I need to know something."

Toni heard the nervousness in Cam's voice, so she stopped eating an gave her partner her full attention.

Fearful green eyes looked into bewildered blue. "How.... how long does a lycanthrope live?"

This issue had been on Toni's mind for a while, she knew that they would eventually get around to it, and here it was, she clasped her hands together and rested them on top of the table.

'Well baby, lycans have a life span of about three hundred and fifty years." She cleared her throat and asked the question she already knew the answer to.

"Uhmm, how long does a vampire live?"

Pain filled green eyes looked back at the janitor, and in a strained whisper, Cam said. "Forever."

Toni exhaled. "That's what I thought you would say."

She saw how distraught her lover was and wanted to help if she could.

"Cam don't worry, we have a long time to figure something out."

She smiled and reached over to hold Cam's small hands.

"Believe me, I'm not worried, you see I have a secret weapon."

The corner of Cam's mouth turned up a little. "Oh yeah, what's that?"

"My partner is a brilliant scientist and I have a feeling that she's going to do a little research over the years and figure something out."

Cam leaned across the table and kissed Toni's waiting lips. "You better believe it baby, as a matter of fact, I'm going to take a blood sample from you before you go back to work, because you need to know, I will not be here without you."

Toni returned the kiss. "That's what I'm banking on my love."

*******

It was close to midnight and Cam and Toni were walking hand in hand through Rock Creek Park. It was one of there favorite things to do.

Walking through the woods at night was somehow comforting to the women. Cam looked up at the bright light of the full moon and remembered a question that she wanted to ask.

"Sweetheart, does the full moon affect lycans differently than the other phases?"

Toni draped her arm over her mate's shoulder and held her closer. "Yeah, it does."

Cam reached up and laced her fingers with the long ones that were hanging over her shoulder. "How so?"

"Uhmm, how do I put this........ it's kinda like when two people are drag racing at the track and one pushes his nitrous-oxide button to give the engine a super boost."

Toni looked down into her partner's open face. "You understand?"

Cam nodded her blonde head. "I think so, it's like the full moon is rocket fuel and the other phases are regular gas."

The tall woman laughed and stopped walking, when she turned the smaller woman around, she ducked her head and kissed her.

"That's a great way to......"

Toni stopped all movement and went completely still.

Cam heard Toni growl deep in her chest and when she looked into her face she saw her nostrils flaring rapidly and fur started to appear on the tips of her ears.

Before she could ask what was going on, she was thrown to the ground. When she looked up she saw that her lover had fully changed and was now engaged in a battle with a large gray wolf.

Cam got up and approached the fighting lycans, hoping to find a way to help her mate, but the bodies continuously changed positions and she couldn't see an opening.

The night was filled with the sounds of a struggle, growls and snarls echoed through the trees. The violent force that was used to roll the two large bodies around, shook the ground.

The black lycan finally got the upper hand and was on top of the gray beast. Before Toni could deliver the final blow, the nocturnal attacker made its move.

Cam backed away in horror, when she saw the gray wolf raise its back off of the ground and sink its teeth into Toni's throat, the anger immediately rolled off of the black lycan in waves.

The dark wolf raised her razor sharp talons high and then plunged them in, ripping their attackers side open, when the animal released its hold on Toni she pulled herself away and settled on a small slope while she changed back.

The gray beast laid on its side panting trying to regain its strength, Toni was breathing deeply trying to evaluate her injury.

The lycan had infected her, she could feel the poison start to flow through her bloodstream, with the moon being full, she didn't know how long she had.

Cam ran over to her and dropped down beside her injured partner. The dark woman was covered in blood, sweat and dirt.

She pulled off her shirt and pressed it against Toni's neck, trying to stop the bleeding. It didn't dawn on her that the blood wasn't tempting her.

She was on the verge of panicking and doing everything that she could not to fall apart, she knew Toni needed her.

Toni spoke to Cam between pants. "Baby...you've got to.... finish him.... off."

Green eyes went wide with fear. "W.... w.... what do you mean?"

The dark woman was struggling to stay coherent. "He infected .... me..... can feel the.... sickness....you.... need to.... hurry .... separate his head.... from his.... body."

Cam became frightened. "I don't think I can do that....... can't I just put a stake in his heart?"

Toni grimaced in pain while sweat poured down her face. "Only.... works.... for.... vampires, lycan..... will repair... the damage."

Cam saw that there was no time for debating, she had to pull herself together and act quickly.

The blonde stood and slowly walked towards the injured animal. She turned and looked at Toni, her head was bent and her damp hair was hanging down over her face, while her chin rested on her heaving chest.

Cam saw her future turning black, she felt the pain of her short lived happiness being taken away from her, then she focused her anger on the cause of the dark future that she now faced.

She approach the huge gray wolf and threw her head back screaming out her heartache to the night sky, her teeth descended and her nails extended, this was the most powerful she had ever felt as a vampire.

The gold flecks that surrounded her pupil, had taken over most of her usually green orbs, her nails were long and as sharp as surgical steel.

This fact became evident when she placed the backs of her hands together with her elbows pointing outward and drove her nails through the animals throat like she was cutting through soft butter.

With one final yell she pulled her hands apart while they were still embedded in the beast neck and swiftly separated its head from its body.

As quickly as it was done, was as quickly as it was forgotten, Cam made her way back to her injured mate and raised her damp head so that she could look into her eyes.

The blue eyes looked fevered and a red rim was starting to outline her black pupils, Cam had to think quick, there had to be something that she could do.

She refused to believe that they were brought together, just to be torn apart, suddenly an idea came to her, but she knew that she had to act quickly, Toni was starting to give in to the sickness.

Vampires are deceptively strong, so when Cam picked Toni up to carry her deeper into the woods, it was with little effort.

She walked down to a small creek that ran trough the park and walked into the gentle current, while holding her lover.

When the cold water made contact with Toni's over heated skin, the tall woman started to shiver. Cam quickly cleaned them both off and exited the creek walking further into the woods.

When she felt like they were far enough in, she propped her lover against a tree trunk. She knelt down and straddled the sick woman's thighs.

She cupped Toni's hot cheeks and forced her to look at her. "Sweetheart, I need you to focus for me."

Toni growled and tried to shake her head free from the small hands that were holding it in place.

The blonde could see her mate's struggle, small changes were trying to happen to her lover's body, her nose would lengthen slightly, then go back to normal, fur would appear in patches on her cheeks or on her forehead, then disappear.

Cam didn't know how much time she had, so she held her even tighter and spoke to her in a sharp tone.

"Antoinette, I need you to dig down deep into that arsenal of strength that you have and focus on what I'm saying to you."

The injured woman closed her eyes and went completely still, when she opened them again, there was a little more sanity shining through.

"Baby, I want you to listen very carefully to me, I'm going to try and suck the tainted blood out of you, while I'm doing that. I want you to take in my blood."

Toni moaned in pain and shook her head no. "I... won't."

Cam was in no mood for arguing. "Yes, you will, I'm hoping that the antibodies in my blood, will fight the infection in yours."

Toni mumbled again before she spoke clearly. "Can't... you'll be....damned."

Cam raised the other woman's head, so that she could look into her sickly blue eyes. "If you are going to walk this earth out of your mind, then I'll be damned anyway."

Then she smiled a little. "And you're only half human, maybe the big guy will give me a break on this one."

It nearly broke her heart when her lover tried to laugh, but all that came out was odd sounding gurgle.

Cam removed her shirt from Toni's neck and looked at her lover one last time. "Baby, I need you to focus real hard, be careful when you bite me because your teeth are for ripping and I can't grow new neck skin if you get over zealous."

The other woman's dark head barely nodded. Cam leaned in and placed her mouth over her lover's wound, before she proceeded, she reached up and placed her hand on the back of Toni's head and pulled the weak woman to her neck.

When Cam started to gently suck the blood from Toni's wound, it was very bitter at first and she had to fight to stop herself from pulling away, but when the sick blood gave away to Toni's blood, it became pure nectar to the small blonde.

As ill as she was, Toni took great care in breaking her lover's skin, as she slowly took in the blood that she hoped would heal her, she was suddenly over come with the feeling that she was drinking from the blossoms on a honeysuckle vine, her mate's blood was thick and sweet like honey.

They soon lost control of their actions and Toni wrapped her arms around Cam and pulled her tighter to her, they were slowly bobbing on the waves of a sexual haze that came over them totally unexpected.

It was the most intense and the most erotic feeling either woman had ever experienced, although there were no movements involved in the way that they felt, they still felt like their bodies were crashing against each other.

The longer they stayed connected through blood, the higher their desire rose until they felt like they would explode into particles of pure pleasure.

Cam pressed herself closer to her mate as darkness started to move in from their periphery, just before their consciousness was pulled into the abyss, they both shuddered with an orgasm.

*******

When Cam opened her eyes, she realized that her face still rested in the crook of Toni's neck, she also noticed that she was still sitting on her lover's lap.

She raised her head and looked at her lover sleep, her dark head was laid back against the tree and her mouth was hanging open.

Cam knew that she had to wake her partner up so that she could check on her, but she was afraid, suppose Toni was still sick, what would she do.

Cam laughed to herself. 'I would insist that we figure out a way to infect me too, so that we could be insane together.' She brushed the tips of her fingers along her partner's cheek, 'always together' she thought.

Cam continued to brush Toni's face while she whispered to her. "Baby, wake up..... come on sweetheart, open those eyes for me."

Toni groaned a little and then slowly opened two very tired blue eyes, when she saw the blonde woman in such close proximity, the corner of her mouth raised a little in a crooked smile.

Cam leaned in and kissed her lover softly. "Now that's what I like to see."

The scientist cupped her mate's face with both hands so that she could look into her eyes, from what Cam could see, the blue eyes looked clear.

Small hands raised Toni's head and turned it from side to side trying to get a better view of her partner. She was squinting, trying to focus, her eyes were aching and she couldn't see very clearly because of the spots that would randomly appear before her eyes.

"Well honey, from what I can tell, you seem to be alright, when we get home and out of the sunlight I'll be able to see a little..........."

They both went still, Toni's eyes grew wide with fear, without thinking, Toni went to pull her clothes off to cover her mate, then she realized that she was naked.

Changing course, she quickly threw herself on top of her partner and shielded her against the sun.

She chanted over and over. "Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay."

"Baby what are you doing?"

"I'm keeping the sun off of you."

Cam's hands were pinned between their bodies, so she couldn't move, all that she could do was stroke her lover's chest where her fingers were trapped.

"Honey if I ask you to do something for me, will you?"

"I'll do anything that you want me to do except get off of you."

"Okay, I just need you to tell me what time it is."

Toni stopped for a moment and then looked into her lover's eyes.

"It's ten in the morning."

"Alright, that means that the sun has been up for three and a half, maybe four hours."

Toni agreed with the assessment.

"So, I think that it's safe to assume that I'll be okay, or you would have woken up with a pile of dust in your lap."

Just the thought of that happening, terrified the tall woman. But she thought about it for a second, then she looked into twinkling green eyes.

"You think it's okay then?"

Cam looked into blue eyes that seemed to glow within the curtain of black hair that surrounded them. "Yeah, I think it's okay, you go ahead and get up and we'll see."

The tall woman raised her long body onto her knees, and then she stood and straightened to her full height, before the smaller woman knew what was happening, she was being pulled up and pressed tight against a naked torso."

Small arms wrapped around a strong neck and pulled the taller woman's head down to her.

When their lips met it immediately ignited a flame, Cam pulled back from the kiss and started to breath heavily.

"I'd better run to the truck and get your spare set of clothes before we shame the squirrels."

Cam was surprised to see a pout on her lover's face. "She reached up and ran her hands through tangled black tresses.

"What's wrong my love?"

Toni dropped her head because she felt silly. "I want to be with you the first time that walk in the sun without protection."

Camron laughed in total understanding. "And I want you with me."

She stood in front of her naked lover and thought for a moment. "Well, let's see, we didn't park out in the open, and we aren't in a well traveled area."

Blue eyes looked anxious, hoping that her partner had a plan.

"We can most likely get back without being seen."

Cam grabbed Toni's large hand and pulled her in the direction of the truck, Cam kept her eyes wide open, just in case they saw someone.

When they reached the area where the confrontation took place, there was no sign of the other lycan, as Cam picked-up the remaining shreds of Toni's tattered clothes, she looked around in confusion and fright, wondering if the sick animal was still roaming around somewhere.

"Where did he go?"

Toni sensed her mate's concern. "Don't worry baby, he's long gone, when a lycan dies, he is.... for lack of a better word, absorbed into the earth."

The smaller woman laughed. "Yeah, right, at least we turn to dust and blow away."

Toni raised an eyebrow. "You think only vampires can have a dramatic exit?"

Cam started walking again. "I see your point."

Both women continued to look around as they talked. "Baby, are you okay, is there any discomfort to your skin?"

They ducked behind an out cropping of rocks when two joggers ran by, after the pair passed by their hiding place, the women reemerged and continued their trek to the truck.

The ridicules picture that they painted, didn't escape them, they both had slight smiles on their faces.

"No, I'm fine."

She rubbed her eyes. "My eyes ache a little and I occasionally see spots, but other than that.... I feel pretty good."

Toni became worried. "Should I try to carry you?"

Cam thought for a second. "Nah, but if you can keep up with me, we could run to the car."

Toni raised both of her brows. "What do you mean keep up with you, if you haven't noticed, I'm pretty fast."

The blonde stopped walking and patted her partner's hard stomach. "That's as a lycan sweetheart."

"You don't think that I can keep up with you on two legs?"

Cam could swear there was a bit of a challenge in Toni's voice.

Small hands were placed on slim hips and Cam stepped closer to the naked woman.

"Well..... I don't know love, you must remember that I flow with the wind, that's why I move so quickly."

Toni grabbed the smaller woman by her biceps and picked her up. "On the count of three.... we take off."

She kissed the soft pink lips before she put the woman down, she was willing to try anything in order to get Cam out of the sun.

Cam looked into Toni's very blue eyes and smiled. "You're on."

They stood side by side and Toni started her count.
"One.... Two.... Three.... GO!"

They took off like...... well like a bat out of hell.

At first they were neck and neck and then Cam started to pull ahead, she was shocked when she looked behind her and Toni was on her heels.

They reached the truck very quickly and jumped in immediately, Cam crawled in the back and grabbed one of the duffle bags they kept in both cars.

Cam had suggested that they keep spare clothes for Toni..... just in case.

After receiving the bag, Toni reached into the glove box and handed Cam the sunglasses that she kept there.

When the tinted plastic slid over the blonde woman's green eyes, the relief was immediate.

While watching her mate get dressed, Cam asked a question. "How did you keep up with me baby?"

Toni pulled the t-shirt over her disheveled head and started to pull on her jeans. "I'm guessing the same reason that you can be out in the sun."

That spoke at the same time. "Transference."

*******

When the women returned home, they showered together and pulled on terrycloth robes and socks.

They each had a cup of hot chocolate and Toni was unwrapping a cup cake.

Cam tucked her feet under her and exhaled. "Sweetheart, I don't know what I'm going do."

Toni sipped her drink. "About what?"

Cam looked at her like she was dense. "How do I explain to my colleagues that I can be out in the sun unprotected, but I don't have any scientific data to explain why?"

Toni winced. "Oooh, that's a tough one."

"Tell me about it."

"Well baby, I guess you can't tell them."

Cam leaned over and placed her cup on the coffee table. "That's gonna be hard, now that I don't have to wear all those layers of clothes, it's not going to be easy putting them on."

Toni reached over and pulled her lover close to her. "I know it's going to be a pain, but there's really no choice until we can think of something."

Cam rested her head on her mate's shoulder. "I knew you were going to say that."

*******

Toni narrowed her eyes as small fingers stole a piece of bacon off of her plate. "You know, you can order another side of bacon baby."

The blonde woman savored the smokey taste of the salty meat. "I think I might."

She licked her fingers and sat back in the booth that she shared with her partner.

Cam looked out of the large window in the diner and focused her green eyes on the sidewalk, she was fascinated by the people that walked by.

Being able to observe people's daytime habits was new to her, it had been a month since she and Toni had been attacked in the park and a lot had changed.

She got their waitress' attention and ordered another serving of bacon, that was one of the things that had changed, she now enjoyed meat on a daily basis.

They were both excited the first time they watched a sunrise, the emotions that they experienced were overwhelming and they found themselves crying when the light of day had fully taken its place in the sky.

Cam was thrilled when she started getting color to her skin, she had to admit, it was scary at first, to just lay there and let the sun....... have its way with her.

But once she got used to the heat on her sensitive skin, she purchased four bottles of sun tan lotion and laid out in the backyard when ever the feeling hit her.

Toni looked across the table at the woman she loved and smiled, Cam had changed so much over the past month.

She was filled with so much energy, that when they got off of work, she didn't want to go home and go to sleep.

That was why they were sitting in a diner at nine-thirty in the morning having breakfast, Toni understood her partner's desire, she knew that Cam had thirty-two years of days to make up for.

The small blonde finished her second plate of bacon and they paid the bill and headed for the truck.

Every so often Cam would slow her pace and sniff the air, she could swear that since their exchange, her sense of smell had been heightened.

And at this moment, she was picking up something that was threatening, she grabbed Toni's forearm and stopped their progress.
"Baby, do you smell that?"

Toni raised her head and inhaled deeply. "I don't smell anything out of the ordinary, why?"

They started walking again. "I don't know, I thought I smelled something odd."

She shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little. "I guess I just need to get used to daytime smells."

*******

It was three a.m. and a dark menace was sitting behind his desk listening to his flunky's report. In mid speech, he held his hand up to stop the man's progress.

"You're positive, Camron Ribaldi is walking around in the daylight?"

"Yes sir, I've been following her for the past week and she wears no protection."

He had always hated the fact that the small blonde had just enough human blood to walk in the sunlight while covered.

Her research was only a mild annoyance to him, because he knew that there was nothing that she could do to reverse what they had become, but if she has found a way, it could be a big problem for them.

The angry man slammed his large hand down hard on the desk. "So after all of these years the little scientist has finally found a cure."

He lean