DISCLAIMERS:

COPYRIGHT: Billie and Cat are my creations, Copyright by kd bard. The leading ladies resemble our two X:WP heroines. Character or name resemblance to 'real' people currently living or dead is completely coincidental. Download it, print it out and share it if you'd like, but be sure to include the disclaimers.

SUBTEXT: This story is about two women who are committed to a caring and loving relationship. Expressions of physical love are part of any normal loving union. If this type of love offends you, if you are under 18 yrs. old, or if love is illegal where you live, you might consider reading something else.

VIOLENCE: None

TIME LINE/CONTINUITY: This is the fifteenth installment in a modern day Uber-Xena series, starting with "The 'Commitment'" and followed by "A Family in Blood," "Personal Preferences," "Fighting City Hall," "Visions in Paradise," "What's In A Name?" "Promise Me Paradise," "While I Was Gone ...," "Unchained Memories," "Happy Campers - NOT!" "At Loose Ends," "On Solid Ground," "Sweet Angel," and "You Can Choose Your Friends, But...". Since this is a continuous series, there are events mentioned within that will not make much sense if you haven't read them all in order. The complete series, along with a variety of other works, can be found on my home page at http://homepages.together.net/~warriorx/WebPage.htm.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I strongly believe that love is love, regardless of how it is packaged, so please don't flame me for believing in something so wonderful. All flames will immediately be extinguished by a tour through the city's sewer pipes, however, I do beg for constructive criticism. Send all feedback to warriorx@together.net. A very big thanks to those of you who took the time to find my booboo's ... you know who you are! I really appreciate it. Finally, a big thank you to those who graciously host my stories and provide a forum for my expression. kd :-)

SPECIAL NOTE TO READERS: I'd like to thank all of you for being so patient waiting for this next installment. My life has gone through some major reconstruction over the past year, all of which has been wonderfully positive. I have found my beautiful soul mate, Marni.... we have spent the past year building a life with our two children, Heath and Dane, two cats, Samantha and Tigger, and a new puppy, Solari. We have enjoyed all of this under the umbrella of unwavering support of both our families... support we appreciate more than we could ever put into words. I have been known to say that real life sometimes gets in the way of the fun stuff (like writing), however, real life for me over the past year has been the fun stuff. I thank you for your patience, and I hope it has been worth the wait.... kd.

For Better Or For Worse

By: kd bard

Started 9/27/2000

Finished 04/19/2001

CHAPTER IV

Cat passed through the living room, glancing briefly at Skylar who was snuggled on the couch watching Saturday morning cartoons with her favorite teddy bear Petey.

"Good Morning Sweat Pea!" she called as she passed through.

"'Morning Mama,.... I'm hungry!" Sky answered, as she watched her mother disappear into the kitchen before turning her attention back to Bugs Bunny.

Cat grinned. "Of course you are, my love.... of course you are," Cat said. "How about Lucky Charms?" she called from the kitchen as she set the coffee pot up to brew.

"Okay," Skylar answered. "Can I eat in here?" she asked.

Cat hesitated for a moment before answering. She preferred to have meals at the kitchen table as a family, however, since she and Sky were usually the only ones up at this time of the morning, she relented. "Sure, sweetie," she said. "Go ahead and set up a TV tray. I'll bring your cereal in a minute."

Moments later, she carried a tray into the living room, laden with cereal, orange juice and coffee. "Here you go, love bug," Cat said, placing the cereal and juice in front of her daughter before putting the tray down on the coffee table. Grabbing her coffee from the tray, she curled her legs under her in the overstuffed chair and savored the flavorful brew as she watched cartoons with Skylar.

"Good Morning," came a velvety voice from the stairway.

Cat looked up to see Billie taking the last two steps into the living room, sleep still apparent on her beautiful face.

"It's a little early for you, isn't it?" Cat asked sarcastically.

Billie frowned. Shit! she thought. I was hoping she'd be in a good mood this morning. She decided to ignore the sarcasm while turning her attention to her daughter. "Good morning, Rugrat," she said, bending down to kiss Skylar on the head.

"Morning, Mommy. Want some Lucky Charms?" Skylar asked, lifting a spoonful to Billie's mouth.

"Sure!" Billie said enthusiastically as she ate the food offered to her. "Thanks, Dumpling!"

"Want more?" Skylar asked, offering her another spoonful.

"No thanks, sweetheart. Mommy needs a coffee right now," she replied, standing to her full height and looking across the room at Cat, who was pointedly ignoring her in favor of watching Bugs Bunny on the big-screen TV. Looking back at Skylar, she added, "How about I get a cup and come watch Bugs with you?"

Skylar's face lit up. "Sure!" she replied. "We can all watch Bugs Bunny!"

Moments later, Billie returned to the living room and sat on the couch next to Sky. No sooner had she sat down, than Cat rose to her feet.

"I think I'll take my shower now," she announced, heading to the kitchen to discard her coffee cup before heading up the stairs.

Billie watched her go, a slow indignant anger building in her chest. She tried very hard not to follow her.... wanting Cat to think she was immune to her cold treatment, but after several moments, it became too much for her to bear. Leaning over to Skylar, she placed a kiss on the child's cheek. "I think I'll go take my shower too," she explained before heading to the stairs.

Throwing the bathroom door open, Billie leaned against the frame and crossed her arms. "All right. Wanna tell me what the pissy-ass attitude is all about this morning, Cat?" she asked.

For several moments, Cat refused to answer. Finally, she reached forward to shut off the faucet. Sliding the glass door open just far enough to reach the towel hanging on the hook, she completely covered herself before stepping out of the shower. Avoiding eye contact with Billie, she toweled herself dry.

"Well?" Billie asked impatiently.

"Well what?" Cat replied, as she dried her legs, still avoiding Billie's eyes.

"Don't play games with me, Cat. You know exactly what I'm talking about," Billie said.

Cat hung the damp towel up on the hook and looked at her wife, but said nothing before proceeding to leave the bathroom without answering Billie. Billie took one step to her right and blocked Cat's exit.

"Talk to me, Cat," the tall woman demanded.

Cat put her hands on her hips. "What is there to say, Billie?" she asked, looking right into her wife's eyes.

"There's plenty to say, Cat. Like an explanation for the cold shoulder this morning," she replied.

"You want an explanation? All right.... How about asking me how the dinner went last night?" Cat said starting to pace back and forth. "How about explaining why you couldn't call me when you knew you wouldn't make it? How about letting me know where you were and what time you'd be home so I wouldn't worry that you were lying dead on the side of the road somewhere? For Christ's sake, Billie! Is your damned job so important that you don't give the kids and I a second thought once you've walked out the door?" Cat asked.

Billie didn't know what to say. Cat was right. She was so absorbed in what she was doing last night that she really didn't think about her family at all.

"Will you please let me out of the bathroom, now?" Cat said, exasperated.

Billie dropped her eyes to the floor and stood aside, letting Cat pass into the bedroom. Cat went directly to her bureau and proceeded to dress herself. Billie just stood there watching her, unable to come up with an excuse for her neglectful behavior the night before.

When Cat finished dressing, she looked up at Billie. "Well? Do I get an explanation as to why you didn't come home until two this morning?" she asked.

Billie looked at Cat. "So you were awake?" she asked.

Cat walked directly up to Billie, stopping within inches of her face. "Yes, I was... but I was so angry at you by then, I didn't dare say a word. Neither of us needed a knock-down drag-out fight in the middle of the night," she explained.

Billie nodded her head and once more cast her gaze toward the floor. "You're right," she said. "I'm sorry."

Once again, Cat's hands went to her hips. "So that's it?" she asked incredulously. "You're sorry? That's it? No explanation?"

Billie thought back to how she was feeling last night.... after her victory.... after acknowledging that through her hard work and efforts, a little girl would have the best possible care for a potentially life threatening disease. She thought back to how proud she was that she was able to help.... and she thought back once again to how helpless she had felt when her own child was in the same situation and she was unable to do anything about it. Sudden indignation filled her mind as she raised her eyes to meet Cat's.

Cat froze at the look in her wife's eyes. "Billie?" she asked after long moments of silence between then.

"Cat," she began. "You almost succeeded.... you almost had me regretting that I worked my ass off for nine hours last night to guarantee a very ill child the proper medical treatment so that she could live to see her next birthday! I'm sorry that I didn't think to call.... for that, I take full blame, but I'll be damned if I'll let you make me feel guilty about doing my job!" Billie was incensed as it was her turn to start pacing. She was so angry, all she could do was sputter as she paced.

Cat suddenly felt two inches tall. Watching Billie pace back and forth, she realized that she had jumped to conclusions. The only other time Cat has seen her this angry was when she discovered her ex-husband Brian had broken into the house and had brutally beaten and raped her.

"Billie?" Cat said softly.

Billie ignored her as she continued to pace back and forth.

"Billie.... I'm sorry," she tried again.

Billie stopped and looked directly at her wife. "Why, Cat? Why has my job been such a problem for you lately? If it was you who had to work late, I would totally understand. I would be supportive, Cat - not suspicious and controlling! Christ, Cat... it's almost as if you're jealous of my promotion!" she charged.

Cat's eyes flew open as Billie mirrored her father's sentiments from the night before. Tears filled her eyes as she looked away.

"Mama? Mommy? Are you fighting?" Came a tiny voice from the doorway.

Cat and Billie both swung around sharply to face the door. "Sky, honey.... No, we're not fighting. We're just having a discussion, sweetheart," Cat said as she dropped to her knees to take her daughter into her arms.

From the safety of Cat's arms, Skylar looked up at Billie. Billie knew she was looking for reassurance, and as much as she wanted to refute Cat's claim that everything was okay, she just couldn't break her daughter's heart, so she too relented and assured the girl that things were fine.

Cat rose to her feet and tilted Skylar's chin upward. "Hey, how about you and I watch cartoons while Mommy takes her shower?" she asked.

Sky nodded vigorously, dragging her mother toward the door. Glancing back over her shoulder, Cat was dismayed by the look of hurt on Billie's lovely face. She would have to find some way to make it up to her, but somehow, she didn't think Billie would forgive her so easily. Heavens knew she wouldn't if she were in her shoes.

**********

Billie stood under the hot spray, her hands braced on the wall below the shower head, chin dropped to her chest. Though the temperature of the water was tingeing her skin a rosy red, she didn't feel a thing as her full attention was focused on the turmoil raging in her head. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why Cat was so angry lately. Ever since her promotion, she had been snippy, short tempered, sarcastic and generally impatient where she was concerned. At least she wasn't turning her anger on the children.... at least not yet.

No closer to an answer than when she stepped into the shower, Billie finally decided to stop second guessing her wife. She needed to confront her directly about it, but she would have to wait until the kids were either gone out or sleeping. The last thing she wanted to do was needlessly upset the children. She knew she had to do something. If things continued as they were, it would surely cause irreparable damage to their marriage. That was the last thing Billie wanted to happen, because when all was said and done, she still loved Cat.... loved her with every fiber of her being. With a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, she resigned herself to giving up her job if it meant saving her marriage. The nagging feeling at the back of her mind protested this decision, but her resolve won out as she took a deep breath and shut off the water.

Reaching for her towel, she stared blankly at the wall as she dried her skin. In a daze, she walked slowly into the bedroom and fished a pair of jean shorts and a T-Shirt out of her dresser. After dressing, she sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the floor. She really didn't want to go downstairs and confront Cat. Skylar was already concerned that they were fighting; she wasn't going to subject the child to any more arguing. What she needed to do was get out of the house for a while. She had a lot of thinking to do, and she needed some advice... preferably from someone who wouldn't choose sides.

Billie's head suddenly snapped up. "Jen!" she said into the empty room.

**********

"Billie, where are you going?" Cat asked as Billie hurried down the stairs and through the living room.

"Out," she replied, not stopping to explain herself. "I'll be back this afternoon," she added, passing through the kitchen and out the back door just as Cat made it to her feet and rushed into the kitchen after her wife.

"Billie!" Cat called after her. "Damn it, Billie!" she said, realizing Billie couldn't hear her as she backed the car out of the driveway.

"Mama, is something wrong? Where did Mommy go?" Skylar asked from the doorway, Petey clutched tightly in her arms.

Cat turned to her daughter and saw the worry etched on her face. Forcing a smile onto her face, she approached the little girl and dropped to one knee in front of her. Reaching up, she rubbed Skylar's arm. "Nothing is wrong, honey. Mommy just had to go out for a while. She'll be back.... I promise," she said.

"She isn't gonna go live with Uncle Art again, is she?" Skylar asked, her bottom lip quivering.

Cat was aghast. She didn't realize until now how traumatic it was for Skylar when Billie moved out during the child's illness over a year ago. It had been such a tumultuous time. In many ways, Skylar's illness was almost as hard on them and their relationship as it was on the sick child. The tension, hurt and anger that passed between them was almost palatable. It had taken a lot of love, tenderness and forgiveness to heal the wounds and rebuild a loving relationship - a chore both women were devoted to. And they had succeeded.... or at least Cat thought they had. The past year was one of the best she could remember. Skylar was healthy, the children had all done well in school, Billie had been made a partner in her law firm.... Cat stopped cold as a wave a sickness passed through her stomach at the thought.

Brushing the feeling aside, she snapped back to the present and looked once more at Skylar, who was still standing there, looking for assurance from her mother that her beloved Mommy would be coming home again. Taking the child into her arms, she lowered them both to the floor, where Sky sat in the circle of Cat's legs, her mother's arms wrapped around her.

Rocking the child back and forth, she whispered into her ear, "Mommy will be back, my love.... I promise. She's just gone out for a while. You just wait and see... she'll be back... I promise."

**********

"Jen, I just don't get it! She's been so edgy..... so combative for the past several weeks. I just don't know what to do!" Billie complained as she sat opposite her friend in the coffee shop. Before leaving home so abruptly that morning, she called Jen and arranged to pick her up and go out for coffee. For the past half hour, Billie had been explaining her predicament to Jen. "Maybe it's the tension from the wedding. Heck, I don't know! All I do know, is that it's causing a hell of a lot of strain between us.... and it's gotta be affecting the kids!"

"So, when exactly did it all start?" Jen asked. "Have you seen any pattern to it?"

"I don't know if I can put an exact date on it, but it's been about a month. As far as a pattern is concerned, well.... I'm beginning to wonder if it's my job. I mean, she throws the partnership in my face quite a lot," Billie explained.

Jen sipped her coffee, nodding in understanding. "And.... what prompts the slams?" she asked.

Billie looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well.... what was happening at the time that caused her to attack your job?" Jen clarified.

Billie looked embarrassed. "You want an honest answer?" she asked.

Jen placed her cup on the table and looked pointedly at her friend. "Of course," she replied.

"Well," Billie began, "she attacks my job most often when I'm late coming home, or just after I've canceled a date with her because of it."

Jen reached across the table and knocked on Billie's forehead. "Hello!!! Is anybody home?" she teased. "Jesus, Billie, I can understand why she'd be upset. How often does this happen?" Jen asked.

"Since the promotion?..... canceled three dates.... home late a half-dozen times," Billie confessed.

"So let me get this straight," Jen said, sitting back in her chair. "One month.... 20 working days.... nine of those days either late or canceled. Billie - that's nearly 50% of the time! No wonder she's pissed!"

Billie sat staring at her hands folded in front of her on the table. Long moments passed before she took a deep breath and looked at her friend. The look on her face was one of pain and regret. "I never thought of it that way, Jen. You're right... that's a pretty bad track record," she said sadly.

Leaning in, Jen covered Billie's hands with her own. "So the question is.... what are you going to do about it?" she asked.

Billie sat back and covered her face with her hands. Rubbing hard, she dropped her hands back onto the table and looked at Jen. "It makes me sick to even think about this, but I guess I'll have to give up the partnership," she replied.

"You would do that, Billie?" Jen asked sincerely, covering her friends hands with her own once more.

"Jen, Cat and the kids are my life. No job..... in fact, no amount of money on the face of this earth would be worth losing them over. So to answer your question - yes, I would do that," Billie explained passionately, a tear escaping the corner of her eye.

Jen squeezed Billie's hands. "Well, sweetie, I don't think you'll have to go quite that far," Jen said.

A glimmer of hope shone in Billie's eyes. "I hope that means you have some good advice for me?" she asked hesitantly.

"I have some advice. I don't know how good it is... but I do have some advice," Jen replied.

"Well, spill it!" Billie demanded anxiously.

"Billie, how many of the late nights were spent at the office finishing up paperwork? How many of those nights could have been spent finishing up paperwork at home instead of in the office?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

Billie met Jen's raised eyebrows with a pair of her own, a smile breaking out on her face. "You might have something there!" she exclaimed. "You know... now that I think about it, most of the late nights were spent doing just that! Filing motions in the computer, transposing notes from meetings with clients. Jen! You're right.... what's to stop me from doing those things on my laptop at home?"

"Bingo!" Jen said, directing her index finger toward her friend. "You see, I don't think Cat is envious of your promotion.... and I don't think she'd want you to give it up. But I do think she is concerned about the time your promotion is taking away from her and the family. So, if you're able to do some of that follow-up work at home, it might just solve the problem. Sure, you'd be focused on your job, but you'd be there, available to them if they needed you. You know, sometimes Fred and I can be in the same room for hours without saying a word to each other, but just being there together is enough. See what I mean?" she asked.

Billie grinned ear to ear.... Yes, she did see. "How'd you get so smart?" she asked her friend.

"It's about time you noticed, Big Guy! Now be a good girl and pay the check... it's time you head home to your little woman. I'm sure she could use a big hug right now," Jen said.

"Now that's the best advice I've heard yet! Let's go!" Billie exclaimed as she rose to her feet.

Moments later, they pulled into the driveway of Jen's house. As Jen made a move to get out of the car, Billie reached for her arm. Looking at her friend, she struggled to find the right words to properly thank her for what she had done.

Seeing Billie struggle, Jen reached over and touched the side of her friend's face with her free hand. Leaning in, she whispered, "You're welcome."

"I love you, you know," Billie said spontaneously.

"Ditto, Big Guy.... ditto," Jen replied, throwing the door open and getting out of the car. "Now go home!"

Billie threw her head back and laughed as she pulled out of the driveway and headed home.

**********

Billie pulled into the driveway exactly one hour after she had left. As she entered the kitchen, she was nearly run down by an eight-year-old bundle of energy.

"Mommy! You came back!" Sky screamed excitedly as Billie lifted her into her arms. Skylar proceeded to wrap herself around Billie, hugging her tightly.

Hearing the commotion from the living room, Cat walked to the doorway separating it from the kitchen, and leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms in front of her.

Billie looked around the human octopus that was clinging tightly to her, to cast a questioning glance in Cat's direction before addressing her daughter. "Of course, I came back, Rugrat! What made you think otherwise?" she asked.

Skylar finally released Billie's neck and leaned back so she could see her mother's face. "I thought you went to live with Uncle Art again," the child explained.

Billie's eyes filled with tears. Trying desperately not to cry, she forced a smile onto her face and calmed her daughter's fears. "Sweetheart, I just needed to go out for a while.... in fact, I went to have a cup of coffee with Aunt Jen, that's all. Honey, I love you, and Seth, and Tara, and Mama.... why would I want to leave?" she asked.

Sky shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she replied. "I just remember before when you went to live with Uncle Art, and I was really, really sad," she explained.

Billie reached up and pushed an errant lock of hair behind the little girl's ear. "Well, there's no way you're getting rid of me, partner! I'm here to stay. Don't you worry about it any more, okay?" she asked.

Skylar grinned from ear to ear. "Okay," she said, hugging her mother once more. "Mama said not to worry too. She promised you would come back, and you did!" she exclaimed, hugging Billie once more.

"Yes I did," Billie said. "Mama's pretty smart, isn't she?" she added, looking over Skylar's shoulder at Cat, who stood there with tears running down her face.... very much reflecting the ones in Billie's eyes.

"Yep! Mama is the smartest person in the world," Skylar agreed.

Billie reached a free hand toward Cat, who took it instantly, quickly embracing both her wife and child as Skylar released Billie with one hand, only to wrap it around Cat's neck, pulling her into the fold. Billie laid her cheek on top of Cat's head and rocked her bundle back and forth for several moments. Finally, the trio broke apart and wiped traces of tears from their faces.

Now that her beloved Mommy was home, Skylar was content, and quickly grew bored with her parents. Wiggling free of Billie's arms, she scrambled to the floor and ran back into the living room to watch cartoons again.

After watching her daughter go, Cat looked up into Billie's tear-glossed eyes. "So you went for coffee with Jen?" she asked, smiling, wrapping her arms around Billie's waist.

Billie flashed a crooked smile at Cat then dropped her forehead to meet the smaller woman's. "Yeah," she replied. "I swear we're gonna owe her a fortune for psychiatric visits!" she joked.

"So, did Dr. Swenson give you any good advice?" Cat asked softly.

Billie dropped a light kiss at the end of Cat's nose. "Yes she did," Billie replied, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Look Cat.... I know I've been neglecting you and the kids.... staying at work late into the night.... ignoring my responsibilities here at home," she began before Cat interrupted her.

"Billie.... please....," the red head sputtered, not at all comfortable with her tall wife falling on her sword like that.

Billie placed a silencing finger over Cat's mouth. "Shhh.... Listen to me, Cat. I know what the problem has been over the past month. It's a clear as day now that Jen has opened my eyes," she said. Releasing Cat from her embrace, she started to pace around the kitchen while Cat stood there and followed her wife's movements with her eyes.

Swinging around suddenly, Billie threw her arms out to the sides, and said, "Cat, I thought it was my promotion. I thought you were angry or jealous about it.... but I was wrong." In three long strides, she was standing in front of Cat once more. Taking her by the arms, Billie lowered her face close to Cat's. "I was wrong, Cat. It's not my promotion that's upsetting you.... it's the effect my promotion has had on this family!"

Cat grinned as she watched her wife fall into lawyer mode... pacing resumed, making points and stressing arguments to support her theory.

"I was so blind! When I actually took the time to look at what was upsetting you, I was sick with self loathing. By the gods, Cat! Do you realize that in the past month... since my promotion... I have been late nine times? And that includes three dates that I canceled on you! Damn! No wonder you've been upset with me," Billie explained, coming to stand once more in front of her wife. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I'd give it all up in a heartbeat if I thought I was losing you," she added.

Cat's eyes flew open. "Don't you dare give it up! Are you out of your mind, Billie? You've worked so hard.... made so many sacrifices to get where you are! Damn it! Don't you dare give it up - do you hear me?" she admonished the taller woman sharply, tears springing to her eyes at the sacrifice Billie was willing to make on her behalf.

Billie was crying now. As tears ran down her face, she drew Cat into an embrace and held her close. "Jen said you would say that," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Well, Jen was right!" Cat replied, clinging desperately to her wife.

"I won't give it up, Cat... I promise, but I do need to make some changes. I need to be home more often," Billie explained. "Jen suggested that I do more of the follow-up work here at home - on my laptop. I'd still be working, but at least I'd be here with you and the kids," she finished, scanning Cat's face carefully for her reaction.

Cat's face was suddenly lit by a smile that completely filled her eyes. Covering her mouth with one hand to stifle the emotion begging to escape, she nodded her head vigorously. "Billie, that's a wonderful idea!" she finally said, throwing herself into Billie's arms once more.

"Yeah, I thought so too!" Billie agreed. "I'm actually looking forward to bringing work home on Monday... it's so damned lonely there at night - all alone after everyone else has gone home to their families. Geesh! I don't know why I didn't think of this myself!" Billie admonished.

Cat placed her hand on the side of Billie's face. "Well, love," she said. "Sometimes, it's difficult to see the forest through the trees."

Billie smiled. "Sky-Baby was right - you are the smartest person in the world!" she exclaimed.

"No, love.... that would be Jen. That would definitely be Jen," Cat replied as she and Billie laughed.

**********

"All right now, everyone come over here... that's right, sit right over here in the first two pews. Good... good, thank you for joining us. Dylan, is everyone here?" asked the elderly priest.

Dylan stood up and looked around at the group that had gathered. "Everyone except Bob," Dylan replied, sitting back down.

"He'll probably be late for his own funeral," Cat whispered to Billie.

Billie furrowed her brow and looked back at her wife. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"He was late for dinner the other night too. He made quite a grand entrance if I remember correctly," Cat explained.

"I swear he'll be late for his own funeral, Padre. Let's get started without him," Dylan instructed the priest.

Cat and Billie smiled at each other when Dylan repeated Cat's thoughts.

"All right then, I'll give you a bit of instruction, then we'll walk through it a couple of times. Okay?" the priest asked. "Now, Dylan, you'll be standing up here on the altar waiting for Drew. Seth, when you see your uncle standing over there," the priest said, pointing to the far side of the altar, "... you can walk your grandmother down the aisle and seat her in the front pew next to your grandfather, then go over to join your Uncle Dylan at the altar. At that time, the music will start and the ushers and bridesmaids will begin walking down the aisle in pairs. Be sure to leave adequate distance between you. If you count to ten before starting down the aisle, that should be just about right. Is everything clear so far?" the priest stopped to ask, looking around at the nodding heads. "Good. Now...." he began again before being interrupted by a noise at the back of the church.

"Yo! Sorry I'm late," Bob called loudly.

Billie and Cat simultaneously looked to the back of the church. "Well, the prodigal son returns!" Cat said sarcastically.

"That's Bob?" Billie asked, raising her eyebrows into her hairline.

"Yep! That's the guy you get to walk down the aisle with!" Cat replied, grinning ear to ear.

"Wonderful!" Billie replied sarcastically. "He looks like a little boy!"

"It gets worse, my love. You'll be about a foot taller than him in those heels," Cat said dryly.

"With any luck, he'll make a Barney remark, then I'll have an excuse to kill him," Billie joked, drawing a chuckle and a slap on the arm from Cat.

"Behave!" Cat reprimanded lightly.

"Well, young man, I'm glad you could make it," interjected the priest. "I'm Father Couture, and I'll be performing the ceremony. If you'd like to join the rest of the folks here, we'll continue our instruction," he concluded.

"Sure, Father," Bob replied innocently, slipping into the pew next to Cat.

"Okay, now where were we... oh yes... now, after the three sets of ushers and bridesmaids have started down the aisle, they will be followed by the flower girl... that would be you, little one," the priest said, smiling to Skylar sitting on Billie's lap. "... be sure to throw the rose petals around as you walk down the aisle, okay?" Skylar smiled and squirmed at being the center of attention. "Mrs. Stafford," he said, addressing Laurel, "When the little one reaches the end of the aisle, she'll sit with you and your husband. After the flower girl, comes the maid of honor, then the bride, escorted by her father. Drew and Mr. O'Grady, be sure to leave a substantial amount of space between you and the maid of honor... at least a 20-count. The bride and her father will be followed by the train bearer, whom I believe is this young lady over there... Tara, is it?" he asked, drawing a nod from Tara. "You'll need to be sure you keep up a steady pace behind your aunt so as to not tug on her gown. When they reach the altar, you'll need to arrange her train neatly to one side, then go to stand next to the bridesmaids. Okay, that's about it. Let's take it through a dry run to see how it goes," he finished, prompting everyone to take their positions.

At the back of the church, chaos reigned until Cat stepped in and decided that they should walk down aisle in age order, placing Amy and Joe first, followed by Bridget and Kevin, then Billie and Bob. Once that was decided, they quickly organized and began the rehearsal.

"All right, the guests have been seated and the time is approaching to start the ceremony," the priest began. "Seth, the wedding starts promptly at 10 a.m., so at 9:57 a.m., you'll walk your Grandma down the aisle, then go to stand by your uncle. All right... let's begin."

Offering his arm to Ida, Seth slowly walked her down the aisle and seated her in the front pew.

"Okay, very good," Father Couture said as Seth joined Dylan. "Now, the first set of attendants," he directed as Joe and Amy walked in step, followed ten seconds later by Bridget and Kevin. As Bridget and Kevin began the descent, Billie positioned herself in the center of the aisle and waited for Bob to join her. Looking around for her partner, she noticed that he was engaging Cat and Drew in conversation.

"Ahem...., Ah, Bob.... let's go, it's our turn," she called over to the group.

Bob immediately left the two ladies and joined Billie in the center of the aisle. "Sorry about that," he said, looking up at her and rocking back and forth on his heels before heading down the aisle. "So, you're Billie, huh?" he asked.

"That would be me," she replied, allowing an uncomfortable silence to settle between them as they made their way slowly toward the altar.

"Cat told me you were tall," he said, mentally berating himself for saying something so stupid.

Billie smiled to herself, knowing she was intimidating the guy. "Yep!" she replied. Once again, a heavy silence fell between them.

Billie could feel the relief washing over Bob as they reached the altar and they parted ways to stand on separate sides with the other attendants. Bob sent shy, uncomfortable looks in Billie's direction as they stood there watching Skylar walk shyly down the aisle followed by Cat, and finally Drew and Doc.

After Doc delivered Drew to the altar, and seated himself beside Ida, Tara pretended to arrange the imaginary train around Drews feet and then went to stand beside Billie. Father Couture once again addressed the group.

"Very good, one and all. Now that we know what we're doing, let's run through it one more time to get our timing down, okay?" the priest instructed as the wedding party once more lined up at the back of the church. "Amy, Joe.... good! Now, Bridget, Kevin... that's right. And finally, Billie, Bob... your turn. Great!" Father Couture commented as each couple started their trek down the aisle.

"He he.... Billie Bob.... we sound like a redneck!" Bob chuckled as they walked side by side.

Billie narrowed her eyes at the shorter man by her side, causing him to gulp.

"Ahhhh.... Sorry about that... honestly, I didn't mean anything by it," he stammered, nervous that the six-foot Amazon at his side was going to pulverize him if he kept running his mouth.

After the rehearsal was over, the group congregated outside the church, where Bob was quite brazenly flirting with Amy while Joe stood by glaring at them.

"Don't like him much, do you?" Billie said, coming up behind Joe.

Joe looked at his sister-in-law. "No, I don't. Can you blame me?" he asked.

Billie looked over at Bob who had his arm around Amy and was whispering something in her ear. "No, I guess I can't. He makes one move on Cat, and he's dead meat," Billie added.

Joe grinned. "I don't think you have to worry about that. He's scared shit-less of you," he said.

"I can't imagine why," Billie commented innocently.

"Like hell you can't!" Joe chuckled, falling silent.

"Don't let him do it, Joe," Billie said. "Don't let him take what's yours."

Joe stood next to Billie, both of them watching Amy and Bob flirting openly. "I don't own her, Billie... any more than you own Cat. She's her own woman. I can't stop her if that's what she really wants," he said sadly.

"Is it what she really wants?" Billie asked. Turning to her brother-in-law, she decided to openly speak her mind. Placing her hand on Joe's shoulder, she turned him toward her. "Look Joe, maybe there's a reason for Amy's behavior. I mean... when was the last time you let Amy know this kind of behavior bothers you?" she asked.

"Billie, I don't want her to think I'm trying to control her. Our marriage has never been that way. I've always treated her as an equal. I mean.... I'm not a Neanderthal like Kevin," he explained.

"No you're not, but maybe she needs you to be - just this once. Maybe she's trying to get a reaction out of you... you know, maybe she needs some kind of confirmation that you still love her and are willing to fight for her," Billie said.

Joe diverted his gaze from his wife to look Billie directly in the eyes. "Do you think so?" he asked.

Billie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know for sure, Joe, but my gut tells me yes," she answered.

Joe turned his eyes back to his wife and nodded his head repeatedly, remaining silent while he contemplated Billie's remarks.

"Billie! Sweetheart, the kids are getting restless. Maybe we should head home," Cat called to her.

"I'll be right there, love," Billie replied.

Sliding her hand from Joe's shoulder to rub his back, Billie looked once more at her brother-in-law. "You think about it, Joe. I really believe she loves you. It's certainly worth the chance," she said before turning to go.

****************************************************************************************************

CHAPTER V

"Janice Covington, you do NOT need another drink," Melinda Pappas scolded from her place in the window seat.

"Mel, my dear.... You forced me to get into this flying bucket of bolts, now you're gonna have to live with it," Janice replied, motioning to the flight attendant. "Another whiskey, please," she ordered.

"I swear! You act like it's the first time you've flown!" Mel exclaimed.

"It's the first time I've flown in a plane I've had to duck in to walk down the aisle.... and I'm only knee-high to a grasshopper!" Janice complained.

Mel gently slapped Janice on the arm while she straightened her hair with the other hand. "Now you know that's not true, Janice. What about the time you flew that two-seater all by yerself over Cairo?" she asked.

"Ah..... Well..... that was different. The pilot passed out," Janice defended.

Sitting up straight and placing both hands on her hips, Mel faced Janice indignantly. "He passed out for the very same reason you're gonna pass out if you keep drinking!" she said loudly.

Ignoring her wife's nagging, Janice started searching through her pockets.

"Now what are you looking for?" Mel asked, exasperated.

"I'm looking for my cigar!" Janice replied, straightening her fedora.

"You gave up smoking years ago, silly," Mel reminded the aging archeologist.

"Oh yeah, I forgot..... ah, here comes my whiskey," Janice replied. "Thank you, my dear," she added, openly flirting with the flight attendant, as she paid for her drink. "Keep the change, sweetheart," Janice said, winking and handing her a $20 bill for a $5 drink.

Looking over at Mel, Janice cringed when she saw the daggers flying from her wife's eyes. Taking a long draw on her whiskey, she looked at Mel and grinned. "Mel, sweetheart, will you marry me?" she asked.

"Janice Covington, you're drunk!" Melinda replied.

"Yes I am," Janice admitted grinning. "But I'm also madly in love with you. So....," she said, raising her glass to Mel, and spilling a portion of the contents on herself, "will you marry me?" she asked again.

Melinda looked intently at Janice. "Janice, darlin' in my heart we are already married," she replied.

"In my heart as well, my dear, but I thought we could do it up right.... you know - I could make an honest woman out of you," Janice explained quite seriously through slurred speech.

"I think it's kinda late for that," Melinda answered. "What's gotten into you Janice Covington?" she asked.

"What's gotten into me?..... about six drinks, I think!" Janice chuckled.

"That's what I was afraid of," Melinda replied sadly, knowing it was too good to be true. For years she had toyed with the idea of asking Janice to marry her, but Janice just wasn't the marrying kind. Janice always said that a certificate of union was just a piece of paper that had no affect on how they felt about each other. So, they had spent the last 50 years together, married in their hearts but legally single, attending the weddings of all their friends and family.... each ceremony reminding Melinda that her relationship had never been legitimized. She was quite confused now at Janice's apparent change of heart.

Seeing the look of sadness on her wife's face, Janice tried to explain herself. "No.... Mel.... really.... I....," she began before being interrupted by the flight attendant.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the captain has turned on the fasten seat-belt sign. We are entering an area of turbulence so it may become a little bumpy. Please remain seated with your seat belts fastened until the fasten seat-belt sign has been turned off," the voice said over the intercom.

"Great Caesar's Ghost! I need another drink!" Janice exclaimed, summoning the flight attendant, all thoughts of marriage having dissolved into thin air.

**********

"Do you see them?" Cat asked, standing on tip-toe to see above the crowd.

"Hold on.... I think that's them - over there," Billie replied, pointing to the arrival gate. "Ah.... it looks like Grandma Mel needs a little help. I'd better get over there," she added.

"Wait!" Cat said, not intending to be left behind. "Is she okay?" she asked, following Billie through the crowd.

"She's fine, Cat," Billie answered over her shoulder, "it's Grandma Jan that's having a problem standing up."

"Grandma Jan?" Cat questioned as they reached their grandmothers.

"Billie-girl! Cat-woman!" Janice said loudly when she noticed her granddaughters walking toward her, her behavior drawing the attention of everyone around them. "How are my girls?" she asked, leaning heavily on Melinda, who was red with embarrassment.

"Janice Covington, will you ever listen to me?" Melinda asked angrily. "I warned you about drinking too much on the plane!"

"Put a sock in it, Mel," Janice answered boldly, nearly falling over herself before Billie caught her and wrapped a strong arm around her waist.

"Come on Grams... time to go," Billie said, hoping to get through the crowd quickly to the privacy of their car.

"Billie, I'll grab a cart and collect their baggage, then meet you at the car, okay?" Cat asked, anxious to get her grandmothers alone to diffuse what was turning into a very embarrassing situation. "Grandma Mel, how many bags do you have?" she asked.

"I'll go with you, Caitlain, dear. Your Grandma Jan can go to Hades for all I care right now. Let her make a fool of herself.... I don't want any part of it!" Melinda said angrily.

Cat flashed a worried look at Billie before taking Melinda's arm and leading her to the baggage claim area.

"I'll be damned if I ever marry that woman!" Melinda said under her breath, but loud enough for Cat to hear.

"What was that, Grams?" Cat asked.

Not realizing she had spoken out loud, Melinda blushed and tried to hide her guffaw. "Oh nothing dear. Look - there' s one of our bags now," she said, pointing to a large piece of luggage sliding down the shoot onto the baggage claim carousel.

Cat made four trips between the cart and the carousel before she finally collected all of Mel and Jan's luggage, and then headed toward the car. When they arrived, they found Janice passed out in the back seat and Billie lounging lazily against the car, ankles and arms crossed in front of her. As they approached, Billie scurried to open the trunk, then efficiently transferred the luggage into it, casting furtive glances toward Cat in the process.

Crawling into the back seat, Billie pushed Janice into a seated position and leaned her against the passenger door to make room for Melinda to get into the car. Throughout the drive home, Mel cast disgusted looks in Janice's direction, making barely audible disgruntled sounds of discontent.

Billie looked away from the road momentarily to meet her grandmother's eyes in the rear-view mirror. "Wanna tell us what happened?" she asked.

"A proper Southern lady doesn't discuss her problems in public," Melinda replied.

Cat turned around in her seat. "Grams.... we are not the 'public', we're family. Come on.... talking about it will make you feel better," she coaxed.

Melinda looked at the handkerchief she was twisting between her hands, struggling with the dilemma of airing her dirty laundry. "Oh all right," she said, giving in. "That grandmother of yours is gonna be the death of me. The minute we boarded the plane, she started downing the whiskey, and flirtin' with the flight attendant," Mel explained. "I swear that woman still thinks she's twenty years old!"

"So.... what are you most upset about... the drinking or the flirting?" Billie asked coyly.

Melinda looked back and forth between Cat and Billie's reflection in the mirror. Blushing to the roots of her salt and pepper hair, she lowered her eyes once more to the wrinkled handkerchief she was holding.

"You know she loves you," Billie added, correctly guessing the source of Mel's distress.

"She really does," Cat added, reaching back to cover Melinda's hands with one of her own.

A lone tear fell onto the handkerchief as Melinda nodded silently, then cast a glance at the sleeping woman beside her.

"She asked me to marry her," Melinda said softly, still looking down at her hands.

Cat looked at Billie and smiled. Turning back to Melinda, she asked, "You said yes, didn't you?"

"No. I told her she was drunk," Melinda replied, looking up at Cat. "She was, you know. She asked after I caught her flirting again with the attendant."

"Grams, you know she's harmless," Cat said in Jan's defense.

"Maybe so, but she could at least have the decency to do it behind my back. It is extremely embarrassing to have your wife flirt with a younger woman right in front of you," Mel explained.

"So, do you think her proposal was sincere?" Billie asked.

"Billie, dear, I have pondered asking Janice to marry me for years, but she has made it painfully clear that she's not interested, so I have no basis on which to judge her sincerity. I tend to believe she wasn't," Melinda replied. "Now if you don't mind, dears, I would like to end this discussion."

Feeling promptly dismissed, Cat turned back around in her seat and raised her eyebrows at Billie. Reaching over for her hand, Billie squeezed it tightly, sending her own reassurance to her wife that at least their love was strongly intact.

Silence fell on the car's occupants for the remainder of the trip home.

**********

"All right Grams, let's go," Billie said, pulling Janice out of the car to her feet.

"I'm all right.... I don't need any help," she complained, shaking off Billie's hands.

Knowing how stubborn her grandmother was, Billie just stepped back and let go of Janice, who promptly stumbled and nearly fell on her face before catching herself.

"Oh for heaven's sake Janice, let Billie help you before you hurt yourself," Melinda scolded.

"I'm fine, I tell ya! Just as soon as the ground stops moving, that is," Janice joked.

"What's wrong with Grammy Jan?" Skylar asked, thinking that grownups acted pretty silly sometimes.

"Seth, would you mind getting the luggage out of the trunk and bringing it to the downstairs guest room, please?" Billie asked her son as she once more wrapped an arm around Janice's waist.

"Sure, Mom," he replied, taking the keys Billie offered to him.

"Okay, I've got the bed turned down," Cat called from the kitchen doorway as she rejoined the tableau trying to coax a drunken Janice into the house.

"For the life of me Janice Covington, I'll never understand why you have to cause such a scene all the time," Mel stated, obviously embarrassed with her wife's behavior.

Cat embraced her tall grandmother as Billie finally maneuvered Janice toward the house. "Don't worry about her, Grams. She wouldn't be Janice if she didn't cause a scene. You have to admit that she's added quite a bit of color to your lives all these years," she observed.

"Yeah, I guess you're right.... but most people are happy with a box of 8 Crayolas.... while Janice insists on the 96 pack!" she laughed.

Cat looked up at her grandmother, once again taken with her aging beauty and strong resemblance to Billie. "Well, Grandma Mel, you're pretty colorful too if I should say so myself!" she remarked.

Melinda blushed. "Oh pshaw, Caitlain" she said, lightly slapping Cat on the arm. "You're makin' me blush."

"And so pretty in pink!" Cat teased as she and her grandmother made their way to the house behind Billie and Jan.

"Okay, Grams.... that's it.... just a little further," Billie coached as she led Janice to the spare bedroom. "Here we are.... down you go!" she added, lowering her grandmother to the bed. "Off with the boots," came the next comment as Billie unlaced and removed Janice's combat style boots.

Billie chuckled as she took in Janice's attire. Mel was right, Janice did think she was still twenty years old. Here she was, in her seventies, and dressed in safari wear, much like she was when she was a practicing archeologist fifty years ago when she met Mel in Macedonia. The only things that were missing were the sidearm and whip.

"There you go, Grams," Billie said as she swung Janice's legs onto the bed and pulled the blankets up around her neck. Reaching over to remove the older woman's fedora, Billie leaned in and placed a light kiss on her forehead before placing the hat on the night stand and quietly making her way out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Mel and Cat had busied themselves in the kitchen while Billie put Janice to bed. Returning to the kitchen, Billie found her wife and grandmother in the process of making coffee cake after putting a pot of coffee on to brew. "Well, she's all tucked in," Billie announced, coming up behind Cat and wrapping her arms around her. "God, that coffee smells good. What 'cha making?" she asked.

"Coffee cake," Cat replied, lifting a spoon of batter to Billie's lips.

"Ummm..... pecans.... my favorite," Billie exclaimed, smacking her lips.

"Is Janice sleeping?" Melinda asked, pouring each of them a cup of coffee.

"Passed out, is more like it," Billie replied. "Grams, has she been drinking more than usual lately?"

"No, not really. She just doesn't like to fly, and she covers up her fear by dulling it with the devil's brew. She's really not as tough as she'd like you to believe," Melinda explained.

"Yeah, I kind of guessed as much," Cat chimed in, grinning. "All right.... in you go," Cat added as she slipped the coffee cake into the oven.

The three women carried their coffee mugs to the table where they sat, intending to visit while waiting for the coffee cake to bake.

After more than a half hour of "catching up", as Melinda liked to call it, Billie abruptly changed the subject. "So.... she asked you to marry her, huh?" she said, smiling impishly.

Melinda looked directly at her granddaughter. "Yes she did, but I have no reason to believe she was serious, Billie. Darlin', we've been together for fifty years! Why ask now?" Melinda said.

"Why not now?" Cat asked. "Maybe the nostalgia of Drew and Dylan's upcoming nuptials has gotten to her?"

"I'd like to think so, darlin', but...." Melinda began.

"But nothing!" Billie interrupted. "Why not give her the benefit of the doubt? Let's see what happens over the next few days. If nothing does, I'll confront her directly," Billie suggested.

"You'll do nothing of the sort, young lady. If she can't be sincere about it without bein' pushed into it, then I don't want to marry her!" Melinda exclaimed. "A lady's got standards to uphold, you know."

Billie threw a conspiratory look at Cat, silently conveying covert plans to her wife through her eyes. Cat immediately picked up on Billie's vibes as she nodded her approval.

Billie sat back in her chair and looked at Melinda, sighing deeply, as though she was resigned to Melinda's stubbornness. "All right - you're the boss," she said.

Melinda reached over and covered Billie's hand with her own. "Thank you dear. I knew you would see it my way," she replied just as the oven timer began to chime.

"Coffee cake's done!" Cat said, grinning at Billie's submissiveness. Grams, I think you're in for quite a ride.... hang on and fasten your seat belt! she thought to herself as she retrieved the cake from the oven.

**********

"Hello?.... Oh, hi Billie!" Jen exclaimed as she recognized her friend's voice on the phone.

"Jen.... I need a favor," Billie began without ceremony.

"I'm fine, Barney.... thank you for asking. And how are you?" Jen replied dryly, indirectly pointing out the lack of customary courtesy to her friend.

"Jennnnnnn!!!! I warned you about the Barney thing!" Billie scolded.

Barely able to contain a chuckle, Jen continued. "What can I do for you, oh exalted purple one?"

"That is soooooo not fair!" Billie exclaimed. "Pretty brave over the phone, aren't you?" she said dangerously.

"Damn straight!" Jen replied.

"Okay.... since I need your help, I'm gonna overlook the comments.... but just this once - you got it?" Billie warned.

"All right.... all right! I'll lay off for now Barn.... I mean Billie. What can I do for you?" Jen asked.

"Well.... Grandmas Jan and Mel are here and......," Billie started to explain, spending the next several minutes on the phone with her friend. Finally, she hung up and grinned. Billie-girl - you're a genius, she boasted to herself.

****************************************************************************************************

CHAPTER VI

"This wedding crap is really boring," fifteen year old Crystal said.

Tara look skeptically at her cousin, not really agreeing. "I don't think so. It might be fun," she replied.

"That's because you're in the wedding. At least you have something to do," Crystal retorted, "even if it is carrying Aunt Drew's dress."

"It's called a train... and at least you don't have to wear a dress like I do," Tara whined. "That's the worst part!"

Crystal and Tara had ridden Tara and Seth's bikes to the park and were now sitting side by side on the swings, lazily dragging their feet back and forth across the worn groves beneath them.

"You're gonna look like a foo-foo you know," Crystal picked, obviously jealous that her cousin was in the wedding and she wasn't.

"I'm not a foo-foo!" Tara spat back. Tara had always prided herself on her tough reputation. Even the boys at school walked a wide berth around her when she threw them one of her 'looks'. Being called a foo-foo was like issuing her a challenge.

"Are too!" Crystal argued.

"You'd better stop saying that," Tara warned, shooting daggers from her eyes at her cousin.

"Prove it then," came the challenge.

"What do you mean?" Tara asked.

Crystal looked around to see if anyone was watching them. Satisfied that they weren't the target of anyone's suspicion, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a sandwich bag.

"What's that?" Tara inquired, wondering why Crystal was so nervous about being seen.

"Take a closer look," Crystal replied, shoving the bag in Tara's face.

Tara took the bag and looked at it carefully. It contained something that resembled cooking herbs to her. Raising it to her nose, she sniffed, then quickly pulled it away and looked wide-eyed at her cousin. "It's pot!" she exclaimed loudly.

Crystal grabbed the bag and quickly shoved it back into her pocket. "Say it a little louder, Tara... I don't think the officer two blocks away heard you!" she scolded sarcastically.

Tara was feeling a mixture of excitement and fear. She had never seen marijuana up close before, but she surely recognized the odor. At the end of the last school year, one of the senior girls was caught smoking it in the girls bathroom and it left behind an odor so strong, it burned Tara's nose when she went in there.

Tara's heart was beating a mile a minute. Trying hard to calm herself and not call any unnecessary attention to her and her cousin, she took deep breaths and then looked over at Crystal who was nonchalantly swinging back and forth, quite innocent to the casual observer.

"Where did you get it?" Tara asked.

"I've got connections," was all Crystal said in reply.

Tara didn't now what to say, so she just diverted her eyes to the ground.

"So, are you a foo-foo chicken-shit, or what?" Crystal continued to dig.

Tara turned sharply toward her cousin. "I told you not to say that!" Tara spat back.

"Well, I think you need to prove that you're not a coward," Crystal said, once more pulling the bag out of her pocket and offering it to Tara.

Tara stared at the bag, not really sure what she wanted to do. "I don't know, Crystal," she said haltingly.

Crystal just held the bag in front of her, watching her cousin's eyes move back and forth between it, the ground and her own eyes.

"It won't hurt you, you know," Crystal added.

"I..... I don't think I should," Tara said softly, still staring at the ground in front of her.

Crystal jumped off her swing and started to walk away, shoving the bag into her pocket. "I thought you'd say that," Crystal said disgustedly. "So I guess you are a foo-foo chicken-shit," she tossed over her shoulder.

Tara had had enough. Jumping off her own swing, she ran after her cousin and pushed her to the ground. Sitting on her, she held her down by the shoulders and shouted into her face, "I am NOT a foo-foo chicken-shit! You got that?"

Crystal grinned up into her face. "Then prove it!" she demanded again.

Tara narrowed her eyes at Crystal. She hated being put on the spot like that. She hated being made to feel small and weak. "All right! Give it to me!" she demanded, reaching into Crystal's pocket and grabbing the bag of weed. Getting to her feet, she offered her hand to her older cousin and helped her up. "Where can we go to smoke it?" she asked.

Crystal looked around. "Well, we can't smoke it out here in the open," she said, stating the obvious. "Look over there.... there's a gas station across the street. We'll use the bathroom," she suggested, grabbing Tara's hand and dragging her across the street.

Tara had visions of the senior at school, sitting in the principal's office while she waited for her parents to come after her. "What happens if we get caught?" she asked.

"We won't get caught," Crystal replied.

"How do you know that?" Tara questioned nervously as they reached the office of the gas station.

"Because I never get caught. Look.... all we're gonna do is borrow the bathroom key, go in, smoke a joint, then head home. If we lock the bathroom door behind us, no one will be the wiser," Crystal explained. "You wait here.... I'll get the key," she added as she entered the office, exiting a few seconds later holding an extremely large key holder with a small key dangling from a chain beneath it. "Got it! Let's go," she said to Tara as she dragged her cousin around the corner of the building to the rest rooms on the side.

Once inside, with the door locked, a very nervous Tara stood in the dim light of the fluorescent bulb, watching her cousin pull a package of cigarette papers from her back pocket and expertly roll a joint, squeezing both ends closed. "Here, take this one while I roll another for me," she said.

"Tara looked at the object laying in the palm of her hand. "I thought we were going to share one," she said, never taking her eyes off the joint.

"Nah.... to get a really good rush, you have to smoke a whole one," Crystal replied. "Okay, here we go," she added, shoving the remaining marijuana back into her pocket and bringing her own joint to her lips. Raising a lighter to Tara, she instructed her younger cousin to inhale deeply and to hold the smoke in her lungs for as long as possible before exhaling.

Crystal started to chuckle as she watched her cousin choke, while she simultaneously took a long drag on her own joint. "Don't give up on it.... try it again," Crystal said as she continued to hold the smoke in her lungs.

Tara's second attempt was more successful, as was her third and forth. Soon, a bleary-eyed thirteen year old was struggling to hold on to what little remained of her smoke, finally dropping it into the sink when it became too small to hold without burning her fingers. Both hands came to rest on the sides of the sink to hold herself erect.

"You okay?" Crystal asked, leaning against the wall, her legs crossed at the ankles as she finished her own joint.

Tara looked over at her cousin and giggled. "I'm grrrrrrrreat!" she replied, sounding very much like Tony the Tiger, sending herself into a fit of giggles once more.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Shit!" Crystal exclaimed, pushing herself away from the wall and throwing the rest of her joint into the toilet. "There's someone in here!' she called loudly, futilely trying to clear the smoke away with her hands.

"Will you be long?" the voice said from the other side.

"Yeah...., we... I mean, I just got in here!" she replied.

After a few minutes of silence, Crystal was satisfied that the voice had gone away. "Tara, we gotta get out of here. Can you walk?" she asked.

Tara tried standing erect, but nearly toppled over backward. "Sure! I'm fine," she exclaimed, clinging to her cousin for fear of falling down.

"Damn it, Tara! How are we going to ride the bikes home with you in this state?" she growled.

"State? What state is this, anyway? Alaska, Hawaii??" Tara said, laughing uncontrollably at her own attempt at humor.

"Jesus Christ!" Crystal swore through her own haze. "Come on. We at least need to get back to the park to sober up before going home."

Wrapping her arm around her cousin's waist, she half carried, half dragged the younger girl across the street and laid her on the grass near the tree the bikes were locked to. Sitting down next to her, she pulled her into a seated position against the tree and started lightly tapping her face, trying to bring her back to awareness.

"Why are you hitting me?" Tara asked light-heartedly.

"I'm trying to wake you up!" Crystal complained. "Now come on, open your eyes."

After several attempts to sober Tara up, she finally realized that the only way that was going to happen, was to let her sleep it off. Looking at her watch and noting that it was still early afternoon, she decided to take advantage of the situation herself and to join her cousin in a nap, laying down beside her. Soon, both girls fell into a drug-induced sleep.

**********

"Hi Mom," Cat said into the receiver. "Is Tara over there with Crystal?"

"No they're not, dear. Crystal went to your house earlier this morning. She said something about going somewhere with Tara," Ida replied.

"Well, they're not here, and Tara didn't leave me a note. That's not like her," Cat worried out loud.

"I'm sure they're fine, Caitlain. So, did you and Amy have a nice time today?" Ida asked.

Cat was caught off guard. "Amy? I didn't see Amy today," she said haltingly.

"Oh! I was sure she said.... Oh well, never mind dear. It must have been my imagination," Ida explained.

No, mother, I don't think it was, Cat said to herself. To Ida, she said, "Okay, Mom. If the girls show up at your house, tell Tara to call me."

"I will sweetheart. Oh, by the way, will you and Billie be able to join Laurel and I for breakfast on Saturday morning? We thought it might be fun to have a mother/daughter shopping day," Ida asked hopefully.

"Sounds fun, Mom. I'm sure Billie would love to go," Yeah, right! Cat said. "All right Mom, I've got to get dinner started. I'll talk to you later. Love you!" Cat finished before hanging up. Amy, what are you up to? she thought to herself as she turned her attention to dinner.

"Hi Love!" Billie exclaimed as she entered the house through the kitchen door. Placing her laptop on the table as she passed by, she went directly to Cat and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. "What 'cha making?" she asked, placing a solid kiss on Cat's cheek.

Cat turned around in Billie's arms and wrapped her own arms around her tall wife's neck, bringing their faces close together for a long and passionate kiss.

"Oh god!" Billie exclaimed, burying her face in Cat's neck, her mutinous knees refusing to hold her up as she leaned into her wife, pressing her back into the stove.

"Welcome home, my love. How was your day?" Cat asked, accepting another kiss from Billie.

"My day was wonderful.... very busy, but very productive. I've got a few notes to transcribe later," she said, nodding her head in the direction of the laptop on the table. "How was your day?" she asked., burying her nose in Cat's neck once more.

Cat threw her head to one side to allow Billie better access. "Not bad.... God, that feels good. I... I left early - my third surgery was... oh Billie.... rescheduled," she finally managed to get out before snaking her hands under Billie's shirt and allowing them to roam aimlessly across the expanse of skin covering her back.

Within seconds, Billie had Cat's shirttails pulled out of her slacks, her own hands quickly finding two full mounds to cup and knead.

Cat suddenly yelped as Billie pinched two sensitive nubs. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, covering Billie's hands with her own and drawing them in closer, clearly communicating her need.

Nibbling on Cat's collar-bone, she mumbled, "Are the grandmothers home?"

"No.... they're gone to Mom's for dinner," Cat replied.

Billie's mouth moved determinedly up Cat's neck to her ear. "Are the kids home?" she asked breathlessly.

"No. Seth is gone to the movies with Stevie. Sky is at Missy's house. And Tara.... well, I'm not sure where Tara is.... only that she's with Crystal," Cat explained.

Billie pulled her head back and looked at Cat, brow furrowed.

"Yeah, I know.... I'm a little worried about her too, but I'm sure she's okay," Cat said, reading her wife's mind.

"I don't know about you, Cat, but Crystal makes me nervous. I mean.... she just seems a little too old for her age... and I think Amy and Joe let her run a little wild," Billie commented.

Cat nodded. "Well, I guess it's kind of tough to discipline your kids when you're basically running wild yourself," she said. "I don't know what Amy's up to, Billie, but for some reason Mom thought she was with me all day today."

"It's Joe I feel sorry for," Billie said. "He really loves her, but I think he's afraid of losing her if he demands that she straightens out."

"I know she's my sister, but sometimes I wonder if Joe would be better off without her," Cat added.

"Well if they do break up, it will be Amy leaving Joe. Joe is so taken with her, he'll never leave," Billie observed.

"If she's doing what I think she's doing, it might just push Joe over the edge," Cat remarked. "Billie.... I think she's having an affair with Bob."

Billie shook her head from side to side. Reaching out, she pulled Cat close to her once more. "I am so glad that our lives are uncomplicated.... at least for the moment!" Billie added with a chuckle.

"Hmmmm. Now, where were we?" Cat replied, pulling Billie's head down to meet hers.

**********

"Tara! Tara, wake up!" Crystal urged, shaking her cousin.

"What?" Tara said groggily as she lifted her head.

"It's almost six o'clock. We've been sleeping for about five hours. Our parents are gonna to call out the cops if we don't get our asses home," the fifteen year old exclaimed.

Tara rolled onto her side and then climbed to her hands and knees. Sitting back on her feet, she suddenly felt dizzy. "Oh my god, I'm gonna be sick," she complained, clutching her stomach.

Crystal climbed to her feet and looked down at Tara in disgust. "Well if you're gonna blow, direct it that way," she said, pointing away from the bikes that were still chained to the tree.

"Oh god!" Tara shouted before she doubled over and emptied the contents of her stomach on the ground.

"Ewwwww! You're gross!" Crystal exclaimed.

"I don't feel so good," Tara moaned. Crawling over to the tree, she slowly made her way to her feet, holding tightly to the tree trunk for support. Five hours after smoking the joint, she was still unsteady on her feet.

Crystal stood there with her hands on her hips, watching her cousin's misery. "You are such a newbie!" she said. "I can tell this is your first time."

"And the last," Tara added. Finally dragging herself into an erect position, she held onto the tree with one hand while searching her pockets for the key to the lock holding the bikes prisoner. Finding it, she fumbled with the lock, dropping the key twice before finally fitting it into the slot.

"Come on, Tara.... we haven't got all day," Crystal whined, making no effort to help her.

At last, the lock was undone and the chain tucked away in the small saddle bag hanging on the back of the seat. Pulling the bikes apart, Crystal grabbed one, and Tara the other. After several attempts to swing her leg over the bar, she finally lost her balance and toppled to the ground, pulling the bike down on top of her.

"Owwww! Crystal, help me. This really hurts," Tara said as Crystal worked to untangle Tara's legs from the bike. Finally she was free and standing on her feet again, favoring her right foot. "I think I twisted my ankle," she said.

"We are never gonna be able to ride these home. We'll have to walk them," Crystal complained.

"I am never going to touch pot again," Tara mumbled under her breath as she limped behind her cousin to begin their long walk home.

**********

"Billie. Billie, honey, I really need to start supper," Cat said.

"Just a while longer, Cat," Billie demanded, pulling Cat down under the blankets to snuggle.

Cat happily obliged, not really wanting to recover too quickly from the afterglow of their love making. She and Billie had just spent long moments exploring each other's bodies and souls, savoring their love, figuratively and literally, neither one wanting to leave the comfort of warm loving arms.

Suddenly, Cat sat erect in bed, her 'mother hearing' finely tuned to a noise downstairs.

"What is it Cat?" Billie asked, having learned long ago to trust Cat's instincts.

"I hear something down stairs. Listen...," she replied.

"Mom!" came a voice from the kitchen.

Cat jumped out of bed and quickly pulled on a pair of gym shorts and T-shirt. "It's Tara," she said over her shoulder to Billie as she headed to the door.

Billie was right behind her, pulling her own T-shirt over her head as they made their way through the upstairs hall.

Moments later, they arrived in the kitchen to find Tara sitting at the table, her right foot propped up on a chair.

Cat immediately went into doctor mode. "Tara, what happened? Where does it hurt?" she questioned, reaching down to gently probe the swollen ankle. Before Tara could answer, Cat suddenly froze and looked her daughter in the eye. Moving in closer, she sniffed Tara's clothing, a frown growing increasingly deeper as the seconds passed.

Billie looked questioningly at her wife and daughter, moving in to check things out for herself. By the time she got within two feet of Tara, she knew exactly what Cat was frowning about.

Cat's eyes met Billie's, a knowing look passing between them. Obviously trying very hard to control her temper, Cat walked away from her daughter and started pacing the room, one hand on her hip, the other one worrying the bangs on her forehead.

As Cat paced, Billie confronted. Leaning over Tara, her nose within inches of her daughter, Billie narrowed her eyes. "Where did you get it?" she asked firmly.

Tara looked at the floor.

"You had better think about answering our questions, or you're going to spend a lot of time memorizing every inch of your bedroom," Billie warned.

Tara looked back up and met Billie's eyes. "Crystal," was all she said.

No sooner had her niece's name left Tara's lips, than Cat was on the phone. "Hi, Mom.... this is Cat again. Is Amy or Joe there?" she asked. "Hi Joe, Cat. It seems that we have a problem on our hands. Could you and Amy bring Crystal over here as soon as possible? Good.... all right. We'll see you in a few minutes, then. Thanks,"

Hanging up the phone, Cat turned back to her daughter and wife. Walking over to Tara, she stood there with her arms crossed. "You are in big trouble, young lady. Do you understand that what you did was illegal.... never mind harmful? What were you thinking?" she asked.

"Crystal was calling me names," Tara said weakly.

"She was calling you names? You smoked pot because she was calling you names?!" Cat shouted, her voice raising an octave with each word.

"And just what was she calling you that would cause you to take such drastic measures, Tara?" Billie asked.

"She called me a foo-foo chicken-shit. I had to prove to her that I wasn't, so she dared me to smoke a joint and I did," Tara confessed.

"Tara, I thought you were smarter than that! Didn't we talk about being strong in the face of adversity? Didn't we talk about how other people's opinions of you were less important than that of yourself?" Billie drilled.

Tara continued to look at the floor. "Yeah," she admitted.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Billie shouted, reaching forward to raise Tara's chin so that their eyes met. "Do you know how many kids I've seen sent to jail for doing drugs?" Billie asked, trying to put the fear of god into her daughter.

"Crystal said we wouldn't get caught," Tara reasoned.

"Well Crystal was wrong! The smell of pot is very unique Tara. Your clothes reek of it. Just how stupid do you think your mother and I are?" Billie asked. "What were you thinking?"

Tears started to form in Tara's eyes as shame washed over her for disappointing her parents. "I guess I wasn't," she replied sadly.

"No, I guess you weren't," Billie added, finally releasing Tara's chin and walking away, her own throat choked with emotion.

"And how did you sprain your ankle?" Cat intervened.

"Well, we fell asleep in the park, and when we woke up, I got sick and puked, and then we tried to ride the bikes home and I fell over and twisted my legs in the bars," Tara explained.

Cat threw her hands up into the air. "This is incredible!" she shouted. "You could have been attacked, raped... or even killed while you were sleeping, Tara! The park is not the safest place for two defenseless teenage girls!"

"We weren't defenseless," Tara said in her own behalf.

Billie suddenly lunged forward and bent over her daughter. Taking Tara by the shoulders, she scolded firmly, "Two teenage girls who are passed out in a drug-induced sleep are absolutely defenseless. You are so lucky you are still here to tell us about it."

"Hello?" Amy's voice said from the doorway. "You summoned?"

"You're damned right I did," Cat said, marching over to her niece who had come into the room behind her mother and followed by her father. Taking her by the hand, she led her to a chair next to Tara. "Sit down," she ordered, pushing Crystal into the chair.

Crystal looked at Tara through narrowed eyes.

"So what's the problem here?" Joe asked, not really sure if he should be humiliated or defensive.

"Joe, Amy, do you have any idea where our daughters were all afternoon?" Cat asked.

"At the movies?" Amy replied.

"Is that what Crystal told you?" Billie piped in.

"Where do you think they were?" Joe asked.

"Passed out in the park from smoking pot..... that's where!" Cat replied harshly.

Joe turned to his daughter. "Crystal, is that true?" he asked.

Crystal ignored her father, but instead turned to her cousin. "You are such a rat!" she vehemently spat into Tara's face.

That was all Joe had to hear. "Well, that's proof enough for me. Let's go, Crystal. Starting right now, you are on a very short leash," he said, grabbing his daughter's hand and yanking her to her feet. "We'll be in the car," he said to the group as he dragged Crystal out the door.

Amy turned to follow her husband and daughter, but was stopped by the sound of Cat's voice. "Amy.... I know you've been up to something. Do me a favor and don't ever use me as you alibi again. I won't lie for you," Cat said. "Oh, and one more thing.... you should take a close look at your own behavior and ask yourself if it might be rubbing off on your daughter. If you don't do something now to fix both her problem and yours, it will mean the end to everything you hold dear."

Amy stared at Cat for long moments, contemplating what her younger sister had said, before turning wordlessly and heading out the door.

"Just where to you think you're going, young lady?" Billie asked Tara as she noticed her trying to sneak out of the kitchen while her mothers were occupied with her aunt.

Tara turned around guiltily. "To my room," she replied sheepishly.

Folding her arms across her chest, Billie narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "We are not finished with you yet, Tara. What you and Crystal did today was seriously wrong," she scolded.

"It's not my fault!" Tara whined as she sat down once again. "Crystal made me do it."

"She did no such thing!" Cat interjected. "You have control over your own actions. You decided to smoke the pot. Crystal may have provided the means, but it was a conscious decision on your part to go along with her," Cat explained.

Tara sat with her hands in her lap and chin resting on her chest.

"So what do you think we should do about this?" Billie asked.

The teenager looked up at her mothers, guilt and shame clouding her features. "Please don't ground me," she begged. "I promise not to do it again. It was gross anyway. It made me feel really horrible."

"This can't go unpunished, Tara," Cat said as she paced back and forth, trying to come up with a punishment that fit the crime. Finally, she stopped and faced her daughter. "Look," she said, "your trip to South Carolina is a month away..."

"Ma! Please don't make me stay home!" Tara exclaimed suddenly.

"No... no, that's not what I had in mind," Cat replied quickly, calming her daughter's fears. "What I was going to say, is that for the next four weekends, you will spend either Saturday or Sunday volunteering at the homeless shelter. Drugs and alcohol can be major contributors to homelessness. I think you need to see first hand the affects of reckless drug abuse," she explained.

Tara jumped to her feet, wincing as her weight came down on her sore ankle. "No way!" she exclaimed.

"Yes way!" Billie responded, throwing her approval behind Cat's plan. "Its either that, or four weekends of grounding. Your choice!" she offered.

"This isn't fair!" Tara ranted. "I'm gonna punch Crystal's lights out!" she threatened.

"Just remember that Crystal is only part of the problem, Tara. You are not blameless here," Cat pointed out.

Tara sat down again and angrily folded her arms across her chest, refusing to look at her mothers.

"Well?" Billie asked, hands on her hips as the looked at her daughter.

"I guess I don't have a choice, do I?" Tara mumbled, pouting profusely.

"No you don't. Now, I think it might be a good idea if you went to your room. I'll bring you an ice pack for that ankle in a few minutes," Cat said.

Billie folded Cat in her arms as they watched their angry daughter hobble toward her room. "Hang in there, love.... they're only teenagers for nine years," Billie chuckled.

Cat looked up at her tall wife, eyebrows etched high on her forehead. "Nine years?" she said incredulously. "Nine years times three kids, you mean! I swear Miss Clairol is going to make a fortune off me before Skylar turns 20!" she exclaimed, causing the tall woman to laugh out loud.

****************************************************************************************************

CHAPTER VII

"Janice? Darlin', could you fix this zipper.... it appears to be stuck?" Melinda asked as she brushed the imaginary wrinkles off the front of her dress.

"Anything for you, my love," Janice replied after first straightening her fedora. "Turn around here and let me see."

Turning her tall wife around, Janice reached for the zipper and attempted to raise it into place. It soon became apparent that it was stuck fast on a piece of material that has been caught in the teeth.

"Looks like the little bugger is attempting to take a bite out of your dress, Mel," Janice observed. "Let me try to unzip it a bit first..... there - that did it!" she added after freeing the captive material and successfully raising the zipper to its proper position at Melinda's neckline. Before Melinda had a chance to turn around again, Janice slipped her arms around her waist and pulled her in close, allowing her hands to roam freely across Melinda's abdomen as she pressed herself into the tall woman's back.

"Janice Covington! My word! What are you doing?" Melinda exclaimed, knowing full well what Janice was trying to do as heat rushed to her smiling face.

"After fifty years, I would hope you'd know, Mel," Janice quipped dryly.

It totally amazed Melinda how even in her advanced years, Janice had the power to turn her insides to mush. Never once in their fifty years together had she ever regretted becoming committed to this woman. There had been times when she would have quite willingly strangled the aging archeologist, but never did she regret their relationship. Caitlain was right, Janice most certainly did add color to their lives. She just couldn't imagine what it would have been like without her.

Janice was in the process of driving her crazy with sensual caresses as Cat and Billie were waiting for them to join the picnic they had planned with their neighbor Jen and her family, and giving in to Janice's amorous advances was just not convenient. Reaching up, she grabbed Janice's hands, which were quite brazenly making they way across her breasts. Resisting the urge to encourage the roaming hands, she firmly pulled them away and turned herself around to look into her wife's smoldering green eyes.

"Janice, dear heart.... we are expected to join the family for a picnic. This is not a good time to.... umpphhhh," Mel tried to say as Janice silenced her with an invasive kiss.

"Oh my!" was all Melinda could say when Janice finally released her. Fanning herself with one hand, and reaching for the edge of the dresser to steady her weak knees with the other, she looked at her wife, who was standing there, hands buried deep in her trouser pockets, bouncing up and down on her toes, a smug grin spread across her still pixie-like features.

"I've still got it!" Janice boasted as she stepped toward Melinda and placed one more gentle kiss on the end of her nose. Then, taking one step back, she offered her arm to the regal southern belle. "Well? Are you ready? We're holding up the party!" she added, as if the delay was all Melinda's doing.

"Ms. Covington.... I swear you are gonna be the death of me yet!" Melinda responded breathlessly as she took Janice's arm, adding as they reached the bedroom door, "I sincerely hope you plan to finish what you started when we are properly alone?"

Janice's chest puffed out with assured cockiness. "You're damned right I do, Ms. Pappas - that, you can count on!"

"Oh, I am, Ms. Covington.... I am," Melinda replied as they joined the family in the back yard.

**********

"Here they are.... finally!" Seth said as Melinda and Janice stepped out of the house. "Now can we eat? I'm starved!"

All eyes turned to the back porch as the two elderly women descended the steps. Leaning in to Cat, Billie whispered in her ear, "That's a nice flush on Grandma Mel's face..... I bet I know what took them so long."

Cat grinned and turned to look at her wife. "I believe you're right, my love. If we're lucky, that will be us in another forty years," she replied.

"Mrs. Charland.... that you can count on!" Billie replied, unknowingly imitating Janice's words.

"They look so cute together!" observed Cat as Janice and Melinda approached them. Melinda walked daintily at Janice's side, her right hand slung possessively through Janice's arm as her left hand kept her flowing skirt in order, a large hat shading her creamy white features from the sun's rays. Janice walked by her side, her fedora tipped slightly to the right, back erect, head held high, leading the delicate flower attached to her arm safely to their destination.

"I'm afraid the days of the delicate Southern Belle, and gallant Southern Gentleman are quickly coming to and end with these two," Billie added sadly as the two women finally reached them.

"I'm sorry we're late," Mel began after a round of hugs. "Your grandmother here.... well, let's just say she chooses the most inopportune times to misbehave!"

Janice wiggled her eyebrows up and down at Billie as a knowing look passed between them.

"Not a problem, Grams," Cat said as she took Melinda's arm and led her toward the array of chairs arranged under a large canopy. "We're still waiting for Jen to come back..... she had to run a quick errand. As soon as she arrives, we'll begin."

Seeing that the grandmothers were finally present, Seth and Stevie ran over to where Cat had seated Melinda. "Ma.... we're really starving. Can we eat now?" Seth asked.

"Honey, Jen isn't back yet," Cat replied.

"Ah come on! We're really, really, really starved! Aren't we Stevie?" Seth begged.

"Yeah.... we're really hungry too!" added Tara, mirrored by a vigorously nodding Karissa.

Cat looked over to Billie and Jan who were both tending the grill.

"Billie, honey.... is there enough cooked to get the kids started?" she called out.

Billie took inventory of the items on her grill. "Yep! I think so," came the reply.

The kids jumped up and down cheering at the news.

"Whoa.... wait a minute!" Cat said. "The salads are still in the house..... you'll need to fetch them, along with the paper plates, napkins and utensils. Okay?"

"No problem!" Seth replied as the four older children ran into the house to collect the rest of the food.

"Grams, I'd better go after them to make sure they get everything. Will you be all right alone?" Cat asked Melinda, who was sitting quite comfortably in the shade, sipping a glass of ice tea.

"Well of course, Caitlain. I'm quite content here. Go on and see to the young'ens," Melinda replied, shooing her granddaughter away.

Just as Cat reached the back porch, Jen and Fred finally arrived, accompanied by an elderly gentleman. "Jen! You're here! Good.... the kids are driving me crazy wanting to eat!" Cat exclaimed.

"You mean there's still food left?" Jen asked incredulously. "I figured those eating machines of ours would have cleaned us out by now!" she joked. "Sorry we're so late - Pops wasn't quite ready," she added. Reaching out for the hand of the gentleman beside her, she pulled him over. "Pops, this is Cat Charland," Jen said, making the introductions.

"It's so nice to meet you.....," Cat replied, not really wanting to call the man "Pops".

"Chester," said the older man as he extended his hand. "But please.... call me Chet," he added warmly.

"Well, Chet, welcome to our home. I hope you're hungry - we have a ton of food!" Cat replied.

"Ravenous!" Chet exclaimed.

"Great! Ah, Jen, would you mind introducing Chet to the others while I make sure the food is ready?" Cat asked.

"No problem," Jen replied taking her father by the hand and leading him into the yard.

"Cat, where do you want the beer?" Fred asked, coming around the back of the car carrying a large cooler as his wife led his father-in-law away.

"Hi Fred," Cat said, placing a kiss on her friend's cheek. "Put it over there by the garage. Billie and Grandma Jan are manning the grill if you want to keep them company," she added.

Fred looked over to where Billie and Jan were struggling to keep the smoking grill from getting out of control. "You are actually letting Billie cook?" Fred asked, aghast.

"Well, she's got to learn sometime!" Cat replied, laughingly.

"Yeah, but I'd prefer it not to be when I have to eat it!" Fred replied through barely controlled laughter.

"Well, you could always give her a hand," Cat suggested.

Fred looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. "You DO want to be able to eat it, right?" he said dryly. "I don't know whose a worse cook, me or Billie! Either way, we're all doomed!"

Cat just shook her head and chuckled as she made her way into the house.

**********

"It's so nice to meet you, Chet," Billie said as she firmly shook the older man's hand. "I'm glad you could join us."

"Thank you for the invitation," he said, retrieving his hand and clasping both of them behind his back. "My Jen has told me so much about you and Cat. To be honest, I was a little unsure about your friendship at first.... no offense intended, you understand..... but when she explained to me that you were responsible for saving the lives of my grandchildren and son-in-law in that fire several years back.... well, how could I object? Over the years, it has become apparent that she has really come to care for you and your family. That is a good thing.... never having had brothers or sisters, she missed that kind of closeness. Anyway, thank you for being there for her over the years," he concluded.

Billie, a little taken back at first by his subtle intonations, decided that she liked this man.

"And this is Cat's grandmother, Janice Covington. Janice, this is my father, Chet," Jen interjected as she turned his attention to Billie's grill-mate.

A warm smile spread across Chet's features. "Ah! Finally, someone closer to my own age!" he replied as he extended his hand to Janice. "It's nice to meet you, Janice Covington."

"Likewise," Janice replied. "So, what brings you here, Chet?" she asked.

"An invitation out of the blue," Chet replied. "I received a phone call from my daughter here, asking me to visit for a while. Although, in her defense, she has asked me several times in the past, but I was unable to due to my business commitments," he added.

"Really? What type of business are you in?" Janice asked, clearly making small talk.

"I was a museum curator until I retired last year," he replied, causing Janice's ears to perk up.

"A museum curator? Well, it seems like our careers are somewhat related, Chet. I am an archeologist.... at least I was, until I, too, retired a few years ago. I'm looking forward to comparing notes with you," Janice explained.

"Well, we'll have plenty of time for that. Pops will be here for a few weeks," Jen said smiling. "Oh! Where are my manners? I haven't completed the introductions yet! Come on Pops, there's someone else I'd like you to meet," she said, pulling him away from Billie and Janice and in the direction of Melinda who was still fanning herself in the shade of the canopy.

Janice frowned as she watched Jen pull the older gentleman away from the grill.

"Something wrong?" Billie asked coyly, seeing the look on Janice's face.

"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "Something doesn't feel right about this.... don't know what it is though," she thought out loud.

"Well, I'm sure it's just your imagination," Billie assured her grandmother. "Here, hold the plate while I rescue these burgers from an early grave," she added as she scooped the charred pieces of meat from the grill and stacked them on the plate.

**********

"Pops, I'd like you to meet Ms. Melinda Pappas, Billie's grandmother," Jen said as she pulled her father to a stop in front of Melinda.

Chet couldn't believe his eyes. There before him, was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Even sitting, it was obvious that she was tall and slim, with long dark hair peppered with gray. When Melinda looked up at him and removed her sun glasses, he was almost floored by the intense color of her sky-blue eyes. Bending over at the waist, he reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it... his eyes never leaving hers.

"I am honored to make your acquaintance Ms. Pappas," he said formally. "Let me introduce myself.... Chester McAllister. My friends call me Chet."

Mel was quite taken aback with this gentleman's formal manner. After fifty years with Janice, she was used to blunt, abrupt and quite informal introductions. This gentleman was like a breath of fresh air. Sitting tall in her seat, she tilted her head back, squared her shoulders and shook his hand daintily.

"The pleasure is all mine, kind sir," she said, smiling brightly through her thick southern drawl.

"Ah.... do you mind if I excuse myself for a moment..... it seems that things are getting a little out of hand on the grill," Jen interrupted, seeing the smoke billowing from the barbecue.

"Not at all dear," Melinda said. "Actually, I'm a bit surprised that Billie and Janice are doing the cooking!" she exclaimed, a bit of laughter tingeing her voice as they watched Jen run to the rescue.

Chet listened carefully to the sound of Melinda's voice as she spoke to Jen. "Do you mind if I ask where your are from, dear lady? I can't help but notice your accent," he inquired.

Melinda motioned to the chair beside her. "Please, have a seat, Chet. Of course I don't mind. I am from Charleston, South Carolina. My family has been well established in that region for many generations," she explained.

"South Carolina. Well, that certainly explains why it sounds so familiar. You see, I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia... grew up there as a child before my parents relocated our family to the New York area," Chet explained.

"So you're a fellow Southerner, are you?" Melinda exclaimed happily. "I should have guessed that very fact, based on your good manners, fine sir," she added.

"Could I ask what brings you to this part of the country, Ms. Pappas?" Chet asked politely.

"Oh please... call me Melinda," she replied, touching the back of his hand lightly. "And what brings me here.... well, actually, what brings us here - Janice and I, that is, is the wedding of our grandchildren," Melinda explained.

Chet was a bit confused at the inclusion of Janice in Melinda's travel plans. "I don't understand," he said. "How is it that you know Janice?"

Melinda glanced over at Janice, who was busy helping Jen rescue the burgers and hot dogs from the grill. A look of starry-eyed longing filled her eyes as she signed deeply. Without removing her eyes from the scene, she recalled her first meeting with Janice Covington. "Janice and I have known each other for fifty years. We first met when I traveled to Macedonia to help her translate ancient writings. You see, my daddy taught me how to interpret ancient script before he died," she explained, moving her eyes from the grill to Chet's face. "Shortly after my daddy died in 1941, I found a letter from Janice requesting his help with the translations, and with him unable to help - being dead and all.... well, I guess I was looking for a reason to leave the plantation, and since I was in a position to help, I went to Macedonia and introduced myself to Janice." Melinda looked down into her ice tea glass as she recalled that first meeting.

"I sense there is so much more to your story.... please go on," Chet urged.

Melinda looked at him and smiled. "Well, you are certainly right on that count. So, where was I... oh yeah - our first meeting. Well.... Janice wasn't really interested in my help at first - in fact, she thought I was a spy or something... can you imagine? Anyway, to make a long story short, I helped her find some ancient scrolls that in Janice's words, had the power to 'turn gods into legends and legends into gods', or something like that. After we found the scrolls, we started working together, and heck, we've been partners ever since," she finished, intentionally leaving out the part where Xena the Warrior Princess took over her body and did battle with Ares, the god of war. That part always made people look at her like she had lost her mind, so she had gotten into the habit over the past few decades of leaving it out of the story.

Chet sat back in his chair and furrowed his brow in thought. "Pappas.... Pappas.... Covington.... Wait a minute! Melinda Pappas and Janice Covington! Of course!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "I remember attending a meeting of museum directors right after World War II where your find was discussed. Well.... I am certainly impressed, and quite honored to be in the presence of such distinguished women," he concluded excitedly.

Now it was Melinda's turn to be surprised. Leaning forward, she looked for clarification. "I'm sorry, Mr. McAllister, but how is it that you were at that meeting?" she asked.

"Please dear lady, I beg of you, call me Chet.... and I was in attendance at that meeting because at the time, I was the curator of the Archeological Museum of Ancient Art in Augusta, Georgia," he explained.

"Well I'll be!" Melinda said in wide-eyed wonderment. "Janice... Janice, darlin' come here and meet Mr. McAllister," she said loudly, motioning for Janice to join them as soon as she had the other woman's attention.

Janice cast Billie a suspicious look as she handed the plate of charred meat over to her and shoved her fedora down onto her head before sauntering over to Melinda and her gentleman caller. Coming to a stop in front of her wife, she crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at Chet, trying hard to intimidate him.

"Oh Janice, stop that and come be sociable," Melinda scolded. "I want you to meet Chet McAllister. Chet, this is the acclaimed archeologist, and my partner of fifty years, Janice Covington," she said, making the introductions.

Chet rose to his feet and once more, extended his hand to Janice. "I have already had the pleasure of making your acquaintance madam, but that was before I realized just who you were, and the significance of your work. You are known throughout the industry as a brilliant archeologist. It is an honor to meet you," he said, shaking Janice's hand vigorously.

Janice didn't know whether to beam under his praise, or punch him out for flirting with her wife. As it turned out, she didn't have the chance to do either as Jen came back to collect her father.

"I'm so sorry.... I'm afraid I'm not being a very good hostess, dropping my father on you like that, but the burgers were in serious trouble and in dire need of rescuing," Jen explained. "So, I assume the introductions have been made?" she asked.

"Jen, you didn't tell me there would be such distinguished guests at this cookout. Do you know who these ladies are?" Chet asked, referring to both Melinda and Janice, but obviously directing his attention to Melinda alone - a fact not lost on Jen... or Janice.

"Well of course I do, Pops. They are the grandmothers of my very dear friends Cat and Billie. The fact that they also happen to be famous in the world of archeology was one of the reasons I asked you to visit. I knew you'd have so much in common with these wonderful ladies," Jen confessed.

"You, my dear, are quite a sneak," Chet laughingly scolded his daughter.

"It runs in the family, Pops.... where do you think I got it from?" Jen teased. "So... is anyone hungry?" she asked, abruptly changing the subject.

At the mention of food, Chet turned to a still sitting Melinda and extended his hand. "May I have the honor of escorting you to lunch, dear lady?" he asked.

Melinda smiled from ear to ear as she took his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet. "Well of course, fine sir," she replied, slipping her hand into Chet's arm, feeling very much like a pampered southern belle. Looking over her shoulder, she added, "Janice, darlin', will you join us?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah.... I'm right behind you," Janice said gruffly as she followed her wife walking arm in arm with Chet toward the picnic table.

****************************************************************************************************

CHAPTER VIII

"So when's the party?" Billie asked while transposing notes into her laptop at the desk in the corner of their bedroom.

Cat looked up from the book she was reading, snuggled in warmly under the covers of their bed. "Party?" she questioned.

"Yeah - you know.... the bachelorette party. Aren't the female members of the wedding party supposed to give the bride a party before the wedding.... just like the guys do?" Billie explained.

"You know... you're right," Cat replied, putting the book she was reading face down on the night stand. "The wedding is just two weeks away.... we'd better get busy with the plans."

"Well, we should have plenty of help. There's Amy and Bridget, you and I, and both our moms.... I'm sure they'll be all glad to pitch in," Billie pointed out.

"Where should we have it?" Cat asked.

"I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a surprise, so I guess we'll have to have it here and invent some reason to have Drew come over. Maybe Dylan can give us a hand with that part." Billie suggested.

"Good idea," Cat said, reaching for the pad of paper next to the phone on the night stand. "Now let's see.... who to invite," she contemplated, tapping the pen against her chin.

"Well, there's the bridesmaids, maid of honor, mothers of the bride and groom..... I guess grandmas Mel and Jan should be invited, Jen ... and maybe Tara and Skylar," Billie listed.

"Before we decide on Tara and Skylar, we need to decide on what type of party we're going to have. I mean.... if it turns out to be a little raunchy, we're not going to want the kids there," Cat explained.

Billie grinned at the thought. "I guess you're right," she said. "I do kind of like the idea of making it a little risqué," she added. "Maybe we should talk to Jen about having the kids do a sleep-over at her house that night. I'm sure she won't mind, seeing as she'll be here! Fred's a big boy - he can handle a few kids for one night. Whaddaya think?" she asked, eyebrows bobbing up and down on her forehead.

Cat smiled broadly. "I think you are an evil woman, my love," Cat replied.

"Me!? Evil?" Billie asked innocently.

"Oh yeah!" Cat replied. "My very own sexy devil."

Closing the cover of her laptop, Billie turned in her seat to face Cat. "Devils are supposed to be naughty, aren't they?" she asked in a sultry voice.

Cat's eye widened as Billie intentionally dropped her voice into that low sexy octave she loved so much. "Very naughty," Cat replied, throwing the covers off in an open invitation.

Billie's eyebrows jumped even higher on her forehead. "I sometimes wonder who the naughty one really is, dear heart," Billie remarked as she rose to her feet. Crossing her arms in front of her, she grabbed the tails of the shirt, and very slowly and deliberately lifted it.... over her stomach..... over her breasts.... and finally, over her head. Holding it out to the side, she unceremoniously dropped it to the floor, a look of pure mischief filling her eyes.

Without breaking eye contact with Cat, she began to run her hands up and down her abdomen, over her bare stomach, across her breasts, tracing the trail once followed by the removal of her shirt. Cat sat helplessly on the bed, watching her wife sway seductively and loving every minute of it as Billie reached behind and unhooked her bra, allowing it to follow the shirt's path to the floor.

Billie's hands slowly made their way back down, stopping briefly to cup full breasts and quickly squeeze erect nipples, causing Cat to gasp in anticipation from her position on the bed. Slowly the hands moved, down across her stomach, back and forth across her abdomen, until finally, her fingertips slipped inside the waistband of her denim shorts, disappearing behind the coarse blue material. Cat's eyes were glued to her wife, pleading silently for those long slim fingers to work their magic and remove the clothing that was covering her wife's treasures.

Throwing her head back and closing her eyes, Billie's tongue snaked across her lips as her hands drove deeper, hips swaying to the sultry music that could only be heard in her mind. Cat was squirming helplessly as she watched her wife pleasure herself beneath the denim material, wishing with every fiber of her being that it was her hands administering to the dark-haired beauty in front of her.

"Billie.... come here, please!" Cat pleaded, reaching out with both hands as the tall woman slowly removed her hands and brought them to her lips. "By the gods!" Cat exclaimed, suddenly climbing to her knees and crawling to the end of the bed to where she was within a hand's reach of her wife.

Reaching forward, she latched onto Billie's waist with both hands and sat back on her heels, pulling the taller woman in close to her. Wild with passion, Cat buried her face between Billie's breasts, covering the creamy skin with kisses, alternately suckling each nipple as Billie clutched desperately to Cat's head, entwining long fingers in her hair, pulling her closer.

"Oh god... Cat!" Billie moaned, throwing her head back, causing her long black tresses to fall to her waist. "Harder, Cat.... please.... harder," she urged as Cat inhaled one swollen nipple into her mouth and caught it between her teeth, flicking the tender bud with her tongue.

Billie's body spasmed repeatedly as bolts of desire shot directly from her breasts to her groin. "Cat..... Cat, I need you," she rasped hoarsely as Cat administered the same torturous treatment to Billie's other breast.

Cat fumbled like a schoolgirl as she clumsily unzipped Billie's denim shorts. Rising to her knees, the height of the bed put her at eye level with her tall wife. Flashes of desire jumped between their eyes as Cat slipped her hands into the back of Billie's shorts and roughly cupped the tender mounds, pulling Billie toward her quickly and firmly. Cat squeezed Billie's bottom unmercifully until a small whimper escaped her lover's lips. Reaching up, Cat captured Billie's face between her hands and narrowed her eyes at the dark haired beauty. Her breath came in short pants as she fought to control a primal urge to roughly take Billie right on the spot. Not able to resist any longer, Cat covered Billie's mouth with her own, savagely thrusting her tongue deeply into the moist cavern.

A deep growl escaped Cat's throat as she pulled Billie down onto the bed and covered her tall frame with her own, continuing to assault Billie's mouth until a salty tinge of blood invaded her senses. Whether it was her blood or Billie's didn't matter.... the coppery taste only served to heighten her desire. Straddling Billie's waist, she pinned her wife's hands to the bed and leaned in close until their noses were a mere hair's-breadth away.

"I want you," Cat growled, to which Billie responded by arching her chest skyward and throwing her head to the side to give Cat better access to her neck. Cat wasted no time as she systematically devoured Billie's neck and shoulder, leaving telltale tracks that would surely bruise. With each bite, Billie moaned and squirmed, pressing her abdomen into Cat, encouraging the savage onslaught.

Making her way across Billie's chest, Cat once more worshipped at Billie's breasts, squeezing and nipping each one in turn, pushing Billie to the precipice of desire.

"Cat..... please. I need you - now!" Billie pleaded. "Take me.... please."

Cat lifted her head and looked Billie in the eyes, her nostrils flaring in and out in and effort to control her breathing. Billie reached up with both hands to touch Cat's face, only to find them captured and pinned back to the bed by the red-haired siren. Lowering her lips to Billie's ear, she rasped, "Tell me what you want, Billie."

Billie closed her eyes, a lone tear of frustration escaping each one. "I want you, Cat.... please!" she replied.

Cat had never felt such primal lust as her emotions nearly carried her over the edge. Her desire for this woman was so heightened by both her own bold actions, and Billie's sensual responses, that she had to fight her body's traitorous orgasmic response.... at least until she was able to bring fulfillment to her lover pinned beneath her.

Cat leaned in once more. Huskily, she demanded, "No, Billie.... tell me what you want."

"I want .... no, I need you inside of me. Please Cat.... I need you, now!" Billie pleaded, suddenly.

Cat grinned evilly as she slowly shimmied her way to the foot of the bed. There, she sat back on her heels and reached forward to strip Billie's shorts and panties off, leaving her totally naked and literally shaking with desire. Climbing slowly back up the length of her tall wife, Cat leaned in to whisper once more in the desperate woman's ear. "I love you Billie.... I want to make love to you.... I want to fill you completely. Is that what you want, my love?" she asked.

Billie's breath was now coming in quick pants and she vigorously nodded her approval. "Yes.... Cat.... please," she begged.

Cat dropped a tender kiss on Billie's nose before she moved downward once more to spread her eager lover's legs. Billie's hands quickly shot out to rest on Cat's shoulders, urging her forward. Cat had all she could do to control both her actions and her own body's response to Billie's sensual vulnerability as she savored her wife's treasures. Listening to Billie's loud moans and gyrating hips as she pleasured the tall woman drove her crazy as she reached one shaking hand forward and slipped three fingers into her eagerly waiting wife. Billie's hips immediately left the bed as she accepted the invasion, thrusting her self forward to deepen the penetration.

"You like that, don't you, my love?" Cat asked seductively.

"Yes.... yes.... harder, Cat.... please!" Billie demanded as she repeatedly pressed herself onto Cat's hand.

Cat added another finger and increased the intensity and speed of the thrusts, causing Billie to throw her head back and scream out her pleasure.

Billie's head thrashed from side to side, tears running steadily from the corners of her eyes. Suddenly, Billie felt as though she would lose consciousness as an explosion started deep within her core and spread through every cell of her being. "Oh my god! Cat.... I'm coming..... Cat!" Billie yelled as Cat finally gave in to her own desire and allowed her orgasm to wash over her while bringing both herself and her lover to fulfillment.

Moments later, Billie lay wrapped in Cat's arms, both women exhausted physically and emotionally as they savored the afterglow of their love making.

"Thank you, my love," Cat said, kissing Billie lightly on the forehead.

Billie looked up at Cat, surprised that she was actually thanking her. "It's I who should be thanking you, Cat," she replied softly.

Cat smiled into her wife's face. "No, love. Thank you for trusting me with your vulnerability. I know that's difficult for you," Cat explained.

"You make that possible for me, Cat. I feel safe in your love," she explained.

"Always," Cat replied tenderly as Billie snuggled in once more.

"We still have a party to plan, you know," Billie murmured from her safe haven in Cat's arms, drawing a slight chuckle from her red-haired wife.

**********

"I think we should hire strippers," Janice suggested as she took a large bite from her buttered toast.

"My lord, Janice! Must you always live in the gutter?" Melinda asked impatiently.

"Hey! The view's great from down here! And besides, I have lots of company too," Janice joked. "So whaddaya say?" she added looking around the table at the ladies seated around the large table in the diner.

"Nona, don't worry about Mom. You forget, I was raised by her too. I know what she can be like," Ida replied, reaching forward to cover the older woman's hand. Then, reaching over to Janice, she grinned mischievously and said, "Don't ever change Mama.... okay?" to which, Janice replied with a grin of her own.

"So, if we DID hire strippers, where would we find them?" Laurel asked.

"Okay... okay... I guess we've decided that this isn't going to be a nice clean social event," Billie observed, wide eyed with disbelief that her own mother actually seemed excited by the idea.

"Damn straight, it isn't," exclaimed Amy.

"Oh for God's sake, Amy. I vote for a formal tea party.... you know, like the Southern Belles would have.... kind of a symbolic send off of the virgin," Bridget suggested.

"Oh Puuuuulease Bridget! Do you really believe Drew is a virgin? Or Dylan either for that matter?" Amy replied.

"That is definitely more information than I needed to hear!" Ida piped in.

"Well, I like the idea. Strippers.... LOTS of them!" Janice reiterated enthusiastically.

"You've got my vote," Jen said. "Sweaty bodies, sleek muscles, gyrating hips.... oooooh mama!"

"Have any of you been to a party with strippers before?" Laurel asked. "I mean, do they really take it ALL off?" she added, somewhat breathlessly.

"Oh yeah!" Janice replied knowingly. "They take it off all right.... exposing everything.... slender waist, firm breasts...."

"Whoa.... wait a minute here!" Amy interrupted. "Grams... we're talking about MALE strippers, not FEMALE," she corrected.

Janice frowned and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You sure know how to ruin a wet dream, granddaughter," she scolded Amy sulkingly.

"Janice Covington.... you really didn't expect the ladies to hire female strippers did you? Did you forget that this party is for your STRAIGHT niece? My word!" Mel responded.

"Cat, you're being awfully quiet. What do you think?" Billie asked, drawing the attention of everyone at the table.

Cat looked at Billie and smiled. "I was just enjoying the exchange. You know, it's not often that we're all together like this. It's funny that when we ARE, it's to talk about some obscene party!" she replied chuckling. "Anyway.... I think the stripper idea is great. I'm not sure Dylan will appreciate having some naked guy shaking his bootie in front of his wife-to-be, but to hell with him if he can't take a joke!" she added, grinning ear to ear.

"Oooh Cat! I like the way you think!" Amy said, giving her sister a high-five.

"Okay then, it's settled. Here's to glistening, sweaty, muscles, doing the hoochie coochie in our faces!" Jen exclaimed, raising her coffee mug for a toast.

All the ladies except Bridget eagerly raised their coffee mugs to meet Jen's in the air above the table. "To naked sweaty men!" she toasted.

"To naked sweaty men!" came the reply.

"And women!" added Janice.

**********

"But Mom! Why do we have to go to Karissa's house? I wanna stay here with all you guys," Skylar whined.

"Sorry Rugrat. This party is for the adults. You'll have a good time with your sister and Karissa. Fred is planning to camp out with you guys in the back yard. You'll have a camp fire and toast marshmallows and stay up late. It sounds like fun," Billie tried to explain to her daughter.

"But Mom! Why can't I stay? Tara can go to Karissa's house by herself," the child insisted.

"Sky, honey, I explained to you that this party is for the adults," Billie reiterated.

"Buy why?" Skylar persisted.

"Because there will only be ladies here and you'll be bored. We're pretty much going to sit around and talk about how cute Uncle Dylan is, and we'll drink tea and exchange recipes and listen to Nana and Grandma talk about how Papa and Grandpa can't pick up after themselves.... and then we'll talk about doing housework and laundry, then we might have another cup of tea and maybe a piece of cake.... and then we'll listen to Grandma gossip about the neighbors, and maybe we'll even play a little bridge.... then the ladies will all go home and go to bed," Billie explained.

Skylar looked at her mother through furrowed brow. "That does sound boring!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah. Actually, I'd rather go camping with you guys in Jen's back yard! You're the ones who'll have all the fun!" Billie said regretfully.

"Maybe you can come with us!" Skylar said excitedly, making Billie wince as she realized she had gone a bit too far.

Putting on her poutiest face, she sighed deeply. "I wish I could, sweetie, but Mama and I are the hostesses, so I have to be here!" she said.

Skylar patted her mother on the back. "Don't worry, Mom, I'll bring some toasted marshmallows home for you tomorrow," she promised.

Billie smiled. "Really?" she said hopefully. "That would be great! And I'll save you a piece of cake. Deal?" she said, extending her hand to the little girl.

"Deal!" Skylar said as she took her mother's hand and shook it vigorously.

**********

"Oh baby, baby! Take it all off!" Bridget shouted as she cheered the stripper on.

"Jimmy" was very buff. Six feet tall, sandy blond hair, muscular build, slim waisted, very tight glutes... and an instant success with the ladies - well, at least with most of them.

Cat sat back in her chair and thoroughly enjoyed the scene before her. There, standing on the coffee table, was Jimmy, wearing nothing but a G-string, gyrating his hips to the music of Bon Jovi. All round him, were several ladies, in various states of drunkenesss, dancing... the most surprising of which was Bridget, who was whooping and hollering louder than the rest of them combined.

"Hey sweetness!" Billie said, tripping over her own feet and landing in Cat's lap.

"Hmmmph!" Cat replied. "Are you having a good time, love?" she asked after regaining her breath.

"Sure am!" Billie answered. "This is a great party. Jimmy almost makes me forget that I'm gay!" she added laughingly, her eyes traveling up and down the sleek muscular body posed on the coffee table.

Cat frowned at her wife's interest in their entertainer. "Really?" she asked seriously.

Billie's eye softened as they met Cat's. "No, not really. But it sure does help me remember why I found men attractive in my younger days," she admitted.

Cat looked at Jimmy once more and grinned, nodding in agreement. "I'm kind of surprised with Bridget," she commented.

"Bridget? I'm surprised at our mothers! Did you see them earlier? They were sticking $5 bills in his G-string! You can dress them up, but you can't take them anywhere!" she said, chuckling.

The entire party had been a success right from the start. They had manufactured a plan to have Dylan drop Drew off at 6 p.m. to have dinner with Cat and Billie while he attended his own bachelor party. Drew was in a funk when she arrived, sulking over the fact that there was bound to be a stripper at Dylan's party. The ladies took Drew to the local steak house where they enjoyed a nice dinner while the rest of the ladies arrived at their house and hid in strategic places to surprise Drew when they returned.

At nearly 8 p.m., Cat, Billie and Drew walked into a darkened living room and were immediately met with a chorus of "Surprise" as the lights flashed on and the ladies appeared to greet Drew with cheers of congratulations. The party escalated from there when Janice broke out a large jar of maraschino cherries that had been soaking in rum for a week. Over the next hour, the ladies ate, joked, partied, drank and ate the intoxicating cherries as Drew opened her bridal shower gifts, most of them suggestive in nature, including black crotch-less panties, negligee's, vibrators, and even a large rubber dildo from Janice, which made Mel blush from head to toe as Janice's eyebrows danced up and down after Drew opened it.

At promptly 9 pm, there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" Bridget proclaimed as she rose a little unsteadily to her feet and answered the door. There before her, stood a very good looking man in a long, dark trench coat.

"Is this the Charland residence?" the man asked.

"Yes it is. How may I help you?" Bridget asked politely.

In response, the man grabbed the front of the trench coat and ripped it open, exposing glistening tanned limbs, muscular chest, and near-total nakedness, covered only by small spandex bikini briefs.

Bridget screamed and fell back onto her rump, drawing the attention of the other ladies. Seeing the prize that was still standing in the doorway, Amy rushed forward, and stepping over a still prone Bridget, invited their guest in, totally ignoring her sister's plight on the floor.

"Oohhhh! DO come in!" Amy purred. "And your name is...?" she asked, leading him into the living room.

"Jimmy," he replied, grinning ear to ear.

"Jimmy. I like it!" Amy replied. Stopping in the doorway to the living room, she announced their presence. "Ladies.... I give you, Jimmy!" she said excitedly, removing his coat and throwing it across a living room chair.

Jimmy was immediately surrounded by the ladies, all a little tipsy from the drinks and cherries, and all wanting a close-up view of their guest. Bridget, having scrambled to her feet, followed them into the living room. "I let him in!" she proclaimed, trying to gain one up on the ogling ladies.

After a few moments, Jimmy asked which of the ladies was Drew. When Drew was introduced to him, he took her by the hand and led her to a chair. Asking the other ladies to give him some room, he set up a portable boom box with his own pre-recorded music, and began to dance. And dance he did. As Drew sat mesmerized in the chair, Jimmy gyrated around her, bending over her to run his tongue across her face, taking her hands and rubbing them all over his body, straddling her lap and rubbing up against her. By the time his dance had finished, he had ripped off the bikini briefs, exposing the G-string beneath, and leaving a very flustered Drew speechless and a very excited group of ladies hoarse from cheering him on.

The next couple of hours were spent entertaining the ladies, who became rowdier as the night progressed, culminating in the $5 bills being tucked into Jimmy's G-string by Laurel and Ida as he danced.

Finally, as the last song died down, Jimmy jumped off the table and announced that he had another engagement to fulfill, calling an end to the evening amidst regretful protests from the ladies.

Climbing out of Cat's lap, Billie helped her to her feet and together, they thanked Jimmy for his services. After dutifully hugging each of the ladies, and receiving a pinch on the butt from Janice, he donned his trench coat, collected his stereo and was on his way.

"Damn! He was hot!" exclaimed Jen, who was fanning herself as she watched him climb into his car and drive away.

"He was okay.... for a man," Janice replied.

"Oh, he was like... so much more than okay," added Drew as she pulled his bikini briefs out of her pocket to the delight of all the ladies. "... he was like... in-fucken-credible!" she finished, starting a chorus of squeals and cheers.

"To Jimmy!" exclaimed Amy, raising her drink high.

"To Jimmy!" the ladies added as each one raised her own drink..... and many more throughout the night.

****************************************************************************************************

Continued in Part 3.