THIS IS A LITTLE OF WHAT WENT ON LAST TIME…

Domingo walked out past the double doors, looking around and shrugging as he continued out onto the patio. He skidded to a stop, his eyes wide at what he saw. He'd never thought, despite how much he knew that Kat wanted Oksana, that he would ever see them sucking face like they were now. Look at them go, he thought in amazement, his eyes blinking slowly. After a long moment, he cleared his throat, startling them apart.

Kat gasped for breath, weak in the knees, her hands trembling as pressed them to her face. She was mortified to be found in such a weak position. I probably look like I'm about to melt into a puddle, which is exactly how I feel. She thought, embarrassed. She stepped away from Oksana, unable to meet her friend's eyes.

Licking her lips, Oksana gazed at Kat, feeling her body surging forward, but Kat stepped back further, turning her back to her. "Kat," She whispered, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

"Don't," Kat whispered brokenly, yanking her shoulder away and quickly walking away. She disappeared around the corner of the building, the click of her heels fading away quickly.

Oksana let her head drop, exhaling explosively. "Shit," she whispered, her eyes narrowing angrily as she spun around to face her soon to be former Head of Office Administration.

Shit, if I don't get fired, it'll be a miracle, Domingo thought with a grimace. "I- ah," He stuttered apologetically, gesturing towards the double doors. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Ivanov, but Mr. Ivanov is asking for you, and his goodbye speech is coming up in a few minutes."

Oksana nodded and sighed once again, trying to calm down. She adjusted her shirt, tucking it back into her slacks in the places where Kat had pulled it out. She stopped suddenly, lifting a trembling hand to her lips and touching them softly, her eyes closing to the burning memory of Kat's lips against her own. This isn't over, she thought, letting her hand drop and continuing to fix her clothes. She looked up at the silent man. "I trust that this is between the three of us, isn't it?"

"Of course!" Domingo assured her nervously, nodding quickly. He stepped back as she walked past him, following after her back into the hall.



And this is this week's part…



Chapter Twenty-Two

A very tired Oksana followed her grandparents up to the flight check-in desk, their carry heavy on her shoulder. "Your passport please." The ticket agent said, smiling pleasantly as she typed into her computer.

Oskar gestured to Nadya, who stepped forward and leaned into the eye-scanner. Nadya leaned forward, placing her right eye over the tubular lens.

"Nadya Ivanov." The computer announced in a sexless, toneless voice. "Welcome to Russian Airlines Flight 801 at John F. Kennedy Airport."

Oskar stepped up and placed his eye over the lens, smiling when the computer repeated its welcome.

"You can both board the plane any time you want." The agent said, handing Oscar a printout of their seating information.

Oskar turned and wrapped an around his wife, smiling at his granddaughter and gesturing towards the row of seats next to the check-in desk. "We want to talk to you before we go in." He said, helping his wife sit down and following suit.

Oksana attempted to return his smile, sitting down across from them and slouching down. She hadn't slept at all the night before, reliving those short moments with Kat. Throughout the night, her desire for Kat troubled her, and her mind relived their kiss over and over again. She couldn't stop thinking about it, and it was driving her nuts. She knew her grandfather had noticed her distraction, and was glad that he refrained from asking out loud, though his eyes asked her every time she looked at him.

"Is everything alright, Oksana?" Nadya asked, her concern for her granddaughter showing in her eyes.

"Everything's fine," Oksana assured her, managing another smile. "I'll miss you, that's all." She half-lied.

Oskar's face softened, and he glanced at his wife, who had a similar expression on her face. "We will miss you too, Oksana." He said gently. "Why do you not come with us and stay at least until after the New Year?"

Oksana chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm a business woman now, Papa," She joked. "I have an empire to run now."

"You can take a vacation from time to time," Oskar said. "If you don't want to come, then we can stay until after the holidays."

"I'll be okay, papa," She said. "I didn't participate in your Christmases for the past three years, what is one more?" Her eyebrows drew down slightly.

"They were all important to us." Nadya said earnestly. "We always wanted you with us."

Oksana's regret was evident in her eyes. "And I'm so sorry for that," She said sincerely. "But I've changed."

"You could not make us any prouder."

"Which is mainly what we wanted to speak with you about." Oskar said. "I made a mistake after your father died," He paused. "I made Ivanov Enterprises my hole life, leaving you and Nadya alone to deal with your loss. You reminded me so much of Owen, that I could not look at you without seeing his face." He choked up, and cleared his throat.

Oksana felt tears sting her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

"You were so spirited as a teenager, just like him," He smiled fondly at his granddaughter. "You would not believe it, but he only calmed down when he met your mother. He was thirty-six at the time."

Oksana blinked in surprise, leaning forward on her seat and looking at him questioningly. She knew she was born when her father and mother were in their thirties, but she had thought they'd been married for a while before she was born. Shows how little I know.

"Yes, very shocking, I know." Oskar chuckled, thinking back to his son's youth. "Owen was wild, but he cared about Ivanov, and had just started working with me at the office right before he met your mother." He smiled at the memory of his son's face the first time he'd laid eyes on Marissa. "She had been working in the LA offices and transferred over to the New York offices."

Oksana listened intently, a half smile on her face as the tears gathered once again. Before her parents' deaths, she had been too young to hear the story, and she was glad that her grandfather was finally comfortable with telling her.

"Your mother got pregnant just before their wedding, and it was the happiest moment in all our lives." Oskar paused, swallowing hard.

Oksana wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands, sniffling softly.

"You have grown so much in the last few months," Oskar continued, his smile proud. "But I do not want you to shut yourself off from the world. Ivanov will survive if you leave the office at five o'clock every evening. You must find a balance between your personal life and your professional life."

"I have a personal life."

"I just wanted you to stop the crazy lifestyle you were living. You were going to get yourself killed if you did not stop." Oskar said.

Oksana looked away, silently acknowledging the truth of his words.

"I want you to find the one who makes your heart beat out of control. The one whose touch makes the hairs on your skin stand on end, and whose kiss makes you forget everything around you. Nadya and I found each other, and Owen found Marissa. Now you need to find the one for you."

Oksana didn't respond, her eyes narrowing as she thought. There was someone who made her feel all of those things, but to get Kat to acknowledge what was happening between them would be an uphill battle.

Nadya could see that Oksana was thinking of someone, and as she remembered what she'd seen the night before, she was sure that this person was Kat. I hope that Kat feels something for Oksana too.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the last call for Russian-American Airways Flight 801."

Oksana looked up, jarred from her deep thoughts by the disembodied voice. She stood up, moving quickly to help her grandmother stand.

Nadya smiled up at her granddaughter, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes as she lifted her hands and cupped her granddaughter's face. "I love you so much." She whispered. "Please take care of yourself." She pulled her down to gently kiss her forehead.

Oksana nodded, straightening up and smiling shakily. "I love you too. Enjoy your vacation." She waited as Nadya stepped back and her grandfather took her place. She hugged her grandfather, wrapping her arms tightly around him. They hadn't done this in such a long time that she felt herself choke up at his closeness.

They both finally stepped back, wiping tears from their eyes. "Call us any time, alright?" He said, his voice thick with emotion.

Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, Oksana simply nodded. She bent down and picked up her grandparents' bags, following them to the boarding gate. She handed them their bags and they smiled at each other one last time before both seniors entered the gate. Tears in her eyes, Oksana watched them until they disappeared around the bend. Shoving her hands deeply into her coat pockets, she sighed and began the long walk to the terminal's entrance, where Josef waited patiently for her.

ÑÑÑÑÑ

Josef watched the Ivanov heir emerge from the terminal, and opened the limo's door as she approached, acknowledging Oksana's quiet thanks before closing the door. From now on, or at least until Mr. Ivanov returned, he would be Oksana's driver. He did not mind; she had always been cordial to him, even at her worst moments. "Anywhere in particular Ms. Oksana?" He asked after he'd settled himself in the driver's seat, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

Oksana took a deep breath, sliding down on her seat and leaning the door. "Can you show me Ekaterina's house?" At his confused frown, she hastened to explain. "I know she's moving this weekend, and I'm just curious about what her house looks like." What she really wanted was to know where Kat lived. She knew the femme would try to avoid her at all costs, and she wanted to make sure that she had a way of communicating with her once Kat finished her move.

Josef accepted her explanation, and he nodded slowly. He wasn't worried about Oksana's behavior towards his daughter any more. She had changed, for the better, and he knew she wouldn't offend Ekaterina again. What harm would it do to show her my Ekaterina's beautiful new house? He pulled out of their spot with a proud smile on his face.

Traffic wasn't heavy on the way north, and they reached Sanford in less than two hours. He headed towards East Sanford's middle class Tudor Village, where Ekaterina's house was located. As they passed the house, Josef couldn't contain the surge of pride that swelled his heart at the view of his daughter's acquisition. He glanced into the rearview mirror and watched Oksana's eyebrows rise in admiration. He slowed the car down as they watched some men emptying furniture from a large truck that was pulled into the driveway.

"It's a beautiful house," She said after a long moment, pleased with the brown trims and red brick perimeter of the small house. It radiated calm and strength, its personality similar to its new owner's. "It matches her completely."

"I will tell her you said so," Josef replied, turning and heading towards the estate.

"You'll be spending Christmas and New Year's with her, right?"

"We will spend them at the estate."

"You can take both holidays off, Josef." Oksana said, smiling reassuringly. "I'll be fine." What's another holiday by myself? "Mary can take off also."

A surprised Josef's mouth worked for a few seconds before he found his voice. "But-"

"No buts," Oksana said. "Spend them with your daughter. You all deserve a break."

"Uh, alright." Josef decided not to argue. Not even Mr. and Mrs. Ivanov had ever given them Christmas day off.

Oksana leaned her head back against her seat; sighing softly, she watched the scenery pass by.

ÑÑÑÑÑ

"I'm almost done," Kat said as her mother entered what would no longer be her bedroom, putting tape on the last box. The movers were due at any moment to pick up her things and deliver them to her new house.

Yuliya sat down beside the box on the bed, smiling at her daughter. "Josef just got home, and he brought good news." She said.

"What is it?" Kat asked, curious.

Yuliya grinned. "Oksana has given your father and I both Christmas and New Year's off. We can spend them with you at your new house!"

Kat frowned. Her first thought was of Mary being in the house alone with Oksana, her claws extended and ready to sink into a willing Oksana. It raised her hackles. "What about Mary?" She asked slowly.

"She has the holidays off too." Yuliya said, confused by her daughter's frown and then relieved smile.

"Well, that's nice of her," Kat said, breathing easier. That's very nice of her, She thought, her smile fading. But she's going to be alone, with no one to share Christmas dinner with, no gifts, and no hugs… Her heart ached for Oksana; just imagining that she would be alone on the holidays made her sad. "But what is she going to do?"

Yuliya's expression showed that she'd wondered the same thing. "Same thing she does every year since college, I suppose." She shrugged.

Kat turned away from her mother, frowning again. "She's going to be all alone." She said softly.

"I know," Yuliya sighed. "Unless she's going to look for company…"

Kat spun around, scowling at the insinuation in her mother's voice. "She wouldn't do that, mama, she's changed!" Too late, she realized that her vehemence might give her away. Shit.

Yuliya frowned, her eyes taking her daughter in as if for the first time. "Why the anger?" She demanded gently.

Kat racked her brain for a good explanation. "It's just- I- I wouldn't like to believe that she's lied to her grandfather for all of these months." She said. "It would hurt him." She made her expression blank, hoping that her mother would buy it.

Yuliya's face cleared, only slightly, but she smiled. "I was just guessing, but I also think Oksana has changed." She said.

Kat turned away, hiding her flushed face from her mother. The question in her mother's eyes was making her nervous. "Why don't we have dinner here with her?"

Yuliya's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What?"

"I think we can have dinner at my house at any other time." She said, turning back to face her mother. Shrugging, she sat down next to her. She met her mother's eyes, smiling softly. "So what do you think? I'd feel so bad if she had to spend Christmas by herself."

Yuliya gazed at her daughter for a long moment, her eyebrow arched. Maybe I need to rethink the reason she doesn't have a boyfriend. She mused. "I think that it is a good idea." She finally said, allowing a smile to grace her face.

Kat hid the sigh of relief she felt rising when her mother asked no questions.



CONTINUED…

(NOTE: Remember, this is a first draft, and I'm posting as I go, so if something doesn't jive or it seems a little awkward, bear with me. I'm going back to fix things. Now, if you see something, point it out to me anyway.)


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