DISCLAIMERS:

COPYRIGHT: Xena Warrior Princess and Gabrielle, and all related characters, are the property of MCA/Universal and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement implied or intended. 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. Sex is part of that relationship, but not the focus. This story does contain some mildly graphic sex scenes. If this type of love offends you, if you are under 18 yrs. old, or if love is illegal where you live, climb aboard the anti-subtext train and get outta town.

VIOLENCE: None

TIME LINE/CONTINUITY: This is the thirteenth 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" and "On Solid Ground". The complete series can be found on my home page at http://homepages.together.net/~warriorx/WebPage.htm. 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.

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 be immediately 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. A special thanks to Mom for your support - it means a lot to me, and to Rosa for providing me with some wonderful story line ideas. Finally, a big thank you to those who graciously host my stories and provide a forum for my expression. kd :-)

SPECIAL NOTE: This story is dedicated to all the sweet angels who lost life's battle at too young an age. Our thoughts and love are with you babies. Watch over us from your home in the clouds. We miss you....

CHAPTER I

It was an early Saturday afternoon. Billie pushed the lawn mower back and forth across the front yard, leaving neat, overlapping stripes of mowed grass behind her. Beads of sweat lined her upper lip while streams of the salty liquid rolled down the side of her face from her hairline. The sun beat down across tanned arms, shoulders, and long muscular legs, left bare by a scantily cut tank top and cut off jeans. On her head sat a baseball cap, lent to her by her son more than a year ago to cover up baldness from brain surgery. Dark hair, having long since grown out beyond her shoulders, was pulled back and neatly entwined in a French braid. White ankle socks and construction boots adorned her feet, while teardrop sunglasses protected her piercing blue eyes from the sun's rays. Motorists and passerbys alike stared as the six foot model of bronzed perfection glided across the yard.

Meanwhile, along the walkway leading from the front porch to the sidewalk, Cat busied herself planting fresh perennials. Kneeling in the grass along the walk, she dug straight, neat trenches with her garden spade, readying the soil to accept the colorful flowers. Cat was a wholesome sight to behold. With a complexion too fair for prolonged exposure to the sun, she sported a wide brimmed straw hat banded in white silk, on her red-gold hair, which had also been entwined in a perfect French braid. A sleeveless button up shirt with tails tied under her breasts exposed firmly sculptured abs and a tiny waist, while cut off jeans adorned her slim hips and thighs. Leather sandals graced slender feet while John Lennon sunglasses perched on her finely chiseled nose. White garden gloves with red polka dots protected delicate hands from the grit and grime of gardening.

Cat sat back on her heels reaching up to wipe the sweat off her brow with the back of her gloved hand, spade still hanging loosely from it. Looking around, she caught Billie out of the corner of her eye and for the next few moments, watched her push the mower back and forth, noting the muscles in her legs contracting with each step, while deltoids bulged with the effort to push the mower along in a straight line. "Now that's what I call eye candy," she thought to herself, grinning smugly at the knowledge that the bronze goddess was all hers.

Billie caught her staring as she stopped and made eye contact with the slighter woman. The lawn mower continued to purr beside her. Cat rose to her feet and approached the tall, dark woman, stopping within a hair's breath of their bodies touching. Looking up into Billie's face, she smiled seductively, then reached behind the taller woman's neck to pull her down into a kiss. The mower suddenly died as Billie subconsciously released the emergency shut off bar to wrap her arms around the redhead. The kiss deepened until Cat's knees were too weak to support her. Moments later, they broke apart and looked once more into each other's eyes.

"What was that for?" Billie asked.

"That was for being the most beautiful goddess on Olympia," Cat replied, grinning ear to ear.

Smiling back, she was about to lower her head for another kiss when the sound of a man clearing his voice echoed in her ear. The ladies' heads turned quickly in the direction of the sound.

Cat smiled as she dropped her arms from around Billie's neck and turned around in her wife's embrace, her back to Billie's chest. Billie maintained her current position, with her arms circling Cat's waist from behind.

"Hi Bert!" Cat said cheerfully. "What have you got for us today?" she asked.

"Good afternoon, ladies," he said. "Well, let's see, a few bills, a sales flyer, and, oh yes, a letter, from... ah, let me see... yes, from Michigan," the elderly mailman said, shuffling through the envelopes and then handing them to Cat.

Handing the letter over her shoulder to Billie, she thanked Bert as he walked away, then said, "This one's addressed to you, love. It's from your Mom."

Billie released Cat from the circle of her arms as she took the letter. She looked at the handwriting nervously recalling the first meeting she and Cat had with her mother just three months earlier. The meeting had been angry and tense. Billie had learned that her mother, Laurel, had sold her as a baby for drug money thirty two years earlier. Several painful confrontations ensued as the women struggled to come to terms with each other in an attempt to build a mother/daughter relationship. Since that time, they exchanged letters, e-mails and phone calls, managing to build a friendly camaraderie, but lacking that deep emotional bond shared by a parent and child.

"Billie?" Cat questioned, placing a hand on Billie's arm as she stared at the envelope.

Billie snapped out of her trance at the sound of Cat's voice. She looked at the smaller woman and smiled nervously.

"Billie, are you all right?" Cat asked.

Billie just nodded her head and walked over to the porch steps to sit down. Sliding her little finger under the flap, she slid it inside and tore it along the top of the envelope. She retrieved the letter and placed the empty envelope on the step beside her. Cat lowered herself to the step beside Billie, picking up the empty envelope, inspecting it absent mindedly as Billie read the letter beside her. When she was finished, she took a deep breath and sighed.

"Is everything okay?" Cat asked.

Billie looked down at her and reached out with her arm, pulling the smaller woman in for a hug. "Everything's fine, Cat. She wants to come for a visit next month," Billie said.

"That's wonderful!" Cat exclaimed, sitting up straight, a smile beaming from her face. She had been eagerly anticipating Laurel's first visit. She had yet to meet her grandchildren, and besides, Cat was convinced that time spent in each other company would help build the love and trust between Billie and Laurel that was still missing from their relationship.

"Yeah, wonderful," Billie said, almost sarcastically as she pulled Cat back into her embrace and rested her chin on top of the smaller woman's head.

"Billie, I thought you were okay with this," Cat said, speaking of the growing relationship between her wife and mother-in-law.

Billie released Cat and stood up. Moving a short distance away, she turned and said, "Cat, I am just having a real hard time forgiving her. I really want to, but ... I don't know ... it's just hard," she finished.

Cat stood on the step, opened her arms, motioning Billie into them. From her vantage point on the steps she was face to face, nose to nose with her taller wife. "Well, we finally see eye to eye on something," Cat said, grinning. "Ouch!" she yelled as Billie slapped her behind. "I was only joking, all right? Ooohhh, that hurts!" she said rubbing her backside. "Look, honey, I think it's a good idea that Laurel visits. After all, she hasn't met the kids yet, and I really think the two of you need time alone together ... you know, to get acquainted," Cat explained.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Billie said as she lowered her head for a kiss, but not quite reaching Cat's lips as a small body pressed itself between them.

Looking down, both ladies saw their youngest daughter wedged between her two mothers, her arms wrapped around Billie's thighs, her head resting on Billie's abdomen. Bending down, Billie picked her up and rested the child on her left hip. Skylar immediately put her head on her mother's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Where are brother and sister, Love Bug?" Billie asked.

"They're still at 'Rissa's and Stevie's," the little girl answered.

Cat reached up and brushed the red-gold hair off Skylar's forehead, noting the pale, ashen look to the child's skin. "Sky, honey, do you feel all right?" Cat asked, placing her hand on the child's forehead and realizing that she was running a low grade fever.

Skylar nodded her head 'yes', but continued to rest her head on Billie's shoulder. Seeing the concern on Cat's face, Billie also reached up to feel the child's forehead. "Sky, are you sure you feel okay?" Billie asked, noting the fever. She glanced uneasily Cat.

Again, Skylar just nodded her head, snuggling deeper into Billie's neck.

"Billie, why don't you bring her inside and put her to bed. I'll get a couple of children's pain relievers from the medicine cabinet and bring them up to her ... right after I call her pediatrician," Cat said.

Billie carried Skylar to her room and stripped the little girl of her shoes and jeans, leaving her socks and T-shirt on. Tucking her into bed and pulling the covers up under her arms, Billie bent down and placed a tender kiss on the child's forehead. Sitting back up, she compressed her brow into a frown in reaction to the heat radiating from her daughter's skin. Moments later, Cat entered the room with two chewable pain relievers and a glass of water. She approached the opposite side of the bed from Billie and sat down.

"Here, sweetie," she said to the child, helping her to sit up.

Skylar took the tablets out of her mother's hand and chewed them up, then drank the glass of water. Laying back down, both mothers tucked her in and then sat with her while she drifted off to sleep.

Billie looked at Cat. "What did the doctor say?" she asked.

"He said that children will run fevers for no reason at all. If she's still sick tomorrow, we need to bring her in," Cat replied.

"You're a doctor, Cat. What do you think is wrong with her?" Billie asked worriedly while she stroked the hair from Skylar's forehead.

"It's hard to tell, Billie. The doctor's right. It could be anything from an ear infection, to cutting her molars. If the fever is still there tomorrow, we'll have her looked at," Cat explained again.

"All right," Billie replied.

"Come on, she's asleep," Cat said as she leaned in and kissed her daughter on the cheek. Rising from the bed, she reached out her hand to Billie as they left the room.

**********

"Where's Sky?" Tara asked as they sat around the kitchen table, preparing to eat supper.

"She's in bed, Sweet Pea. She was running a fever this afternoon," Cat said, turning around to look at her middle child from her position at the stove.

Billie was just placing the final plate on the table. "I'll get her," she said as she headed for the living room.

"Is Sky gonna be all right?" Seth asked.

Cat placed a plate of rolls on the table and approached her son. "She's fine, honey. She's just running a fever. I'm sure it's nothing." Cat said as she brushed Seth's bangs off his face. "You need a haircut, young man," she added, drawing a grin out of the 12 year old.

Just then, Billie entered the kitchen carrying a groggy Skylar in her arms.

"Here she is, Mama," Billie said, a silent message of concern passing between them as their eyes locked.

Cat opened her arms for the child, who went into them eagerly. Wrapping her legs around Cat's waist, and arms round her neck, she laid her head on her mother's shoulder and snuggled in close. Carrying her over to one of the chairs, Cat said down with the child straddling her lap and carefully examined her.

Placing her lips against the child's forehead, she noted that Skylar was still running a fever. "Billie, would you get the digital thermometer for me, please?" she asked, watching as Billie immediately went to fetch the requested object. "Sky, honey, do you hurt anywhere?" Cat asked the child, who was sitting up in her lap.

Sky shook her head no. "I'm just tired, Mama," she said in a tiny voice.

Billie returned with the thermometer and handed it to Cat, who placed it under the child's tongue. Skylar immediately rested her cheek against Cat's chest while they waited for her temperature to register on the thermometer. Billie paced back and forth nervously glancing at her wife and child.

"Billie, honey, could you please finish setting the table?" Cat asked, noticing that Seth and Tara were patiently waiting for their dinner. Besides, Billie's pacing was making her nervous.

Billie knelt on one knee next to Cat and Skylar. "Cat?" she asked, stroking the child's head.

"Billie, please. Worrying about it won't make the fever go away. Please, take care of Seth and Tara. We'll be done here in a minute," Cat said.

Billie rose to her feet to serve dinner. Damn, I hate it when the kids are sick. I feel so helpless, she thought as she placed the rest of the dinner on the table.

"Mom, I'm worried about Sky," Seth said.

"She's probably fakin' it," accused Tara, as she dove into her food.

Billie leaned over to address both children. "No, I don't think so," she said, rubbing Tara's back. "She feels pretty hot to me. Mama will give her some aspirin, then I'm sure she'll be fine. We'll take her to the doctor's tomorrow if she's still sick," Billie explained to the children.

"99.6," Cat said, looking at the thermometer in her hand. "That's only one degree above normal. It's not unusual for kids to run a low grade fever like this," she said, glancing at Billie encouragingly.

A look of relief crossed Billie's features as she approached Cat and took their daughter out of her arms. Hefting her high into her own arms, she looked at the child and asked, "Are you hungry, Pooh Bear?"

Cat watched her wife and daughter settle in at the table. Anyone would think you actually gave birth to her, love. Cat thought as she marveled at the bond between the two.

Dinner at the Charland house was normally a time of controlled chaos, as was the case this night. Stories of the day's events passed back and forth across the table as everyone vied for their turn to speak. Billie and Cat loved this time of day. It was the one time when the whole family was together and interacting on a personal level. After dinner, the kids disappeared into the family room to watch TV while Cat and Billie cleaned up the supper dishes.

"She didn't eat very much, Cat," Billie said as she scraped Skylar's plate off into the garbage disposal.

"Well, I'm sure the fever is affecting her appetite," Cat said as she took the plate from Billie, loading it into the dishwasher. Turning, she placed a comforting hand on Billie's arm. "Sweetheart, you're going to make yourself sick worrying about her. Look, I'm worried too, but there's not much we can do until morning, short of a trip to the emergency room ... and I don't think a one degree fever warrants an action that dramatic," she explained.

Billie took a deep breath and nodded her head. "You're right. I know I'm over reacting, but I can't help it. She's our baby, Cat," Billie said.

"I'm beginning to think she's more your baby than mine. You spoil that kid rotten, you know," Cat said with a knowing smile.

"I can't help it. She looks so much like you that I can't resist loving her to death," Billie said, leaning in to steal a kiss.

"You, my big bad warrior, are nothing but a big softie," Cat teased. "All three of the kids know exactly where your buttons are, and they don't hesitate to push them!" she added, chuckling.

"I'll show you who the big softie is when I turn you to mush later my love," Billie said, pulling Cat in close for a passionate kiss.

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Cat asked breathlessly between kisses.

"Oh, that is definitely a promise," Billie responded.

Minutes later, Cat and Billie joined the kids in the family room, armed with a big bowl of popcorn, ready to settle in for an evening of family time together. Five minutes into the movie, Skylar climbed into Billie's lap and snuggled in close. Billie's long arms involuntarily wrapped around the small body, as she subconsciously placed a tender kiss on the child's head.

Cat looked over at them and smiled, silently saying I told you so, with her eyes. Billie responded by sticking her tongue out at the red haired woman.

Eyes widening at the gesture, Cat leaned in to Billie and whispered into her ear, "Is that how you plan to keep your promise later, my love?" Sitting back, she grinned ear to ear at the blush that rapidly colored Billie's face.

Sometime later, after the children were tucked into bed, Billie kept her promise, and made several more in the process.

**********

Cat and Billie were awakened the next morning by a small body pouncing on them. "Mama, get up! I'm hungry!" the voice said.

Billie lifted her head to see Skylar straddling Cat, shaking her awake. Cat had been sleeping on her stomach with her arms tucked under her pillow, so she had no defenses to use against the child.

"No... go away!" Cat said sleepily.

"Mama, come on!" Skylar whined.

Grinning, Billie reached over and pulled her off Cat, throwing the giggling child down between them on the bed and tickling her unmercifully. "You little Rugrat!" Billie exclaimed. "Do you know what time it is?" she scolded through peals of laughter.

"Time to eat!" Sylar exclaimed.

Billie suddenly stopped the torture, remembering the child's illness from the day before. Leaning over her, she brushed an errant lock of red-gold hair from her face and asked how she felt. "How are you feeling this morning, Love Bug?"

"I'm hungry," replied Skylar.

Cat had rolled over onto her side to face her wife and daughter. Propping herself up on one elbow, she reached over with the other hand and felt Skylar's head. It felt cool. "No fever this morning," she said. "... that's good."

Skylar laid there between her mothers, beaming up at both of them. "Can we eat now?" she asked.

Billie looked at Cat. "Well, you can tell she's your daughter all right! She certainly has a one-track mind," she observed, grinning ear to ear.

Cat swatted Billie on the arm, then addressed Skylar. "Honey, go wake up brother and sister, then I'll come down and make breakfast for all of us. Okay?" she asked.

"Okay, Mama. Hurry up, I'm starving," Skylar said.

After Skylar scooted off the bed and ran to wake her siblings, Cat pounced on Billie, straddling her waist and pinning her hands to the bed above her head. "One track mind?" she said evilly. "I'll show you a one-track mind, oh warrior-mine," she said, lowering her lip's to Billie's. The kiss deepened, their tongues fighting for space in each other's mouths. Cat stretched her length out on top of Billie. With little effort, Billie freed her hands and immediately started caressing Cat's back, moving down to cup her bottom pulling pull their bodies closer together. Cat responded by grinding her hips into Billie. With a muffled cry, Billie flipped them over and propped herself up on her elbows, placed on either side of Cat's head. Lowering her head, she placed feathery kisses across Cat's jaw and neck, while pressing herself firmly against the smaller woman below her.

"Gods, Cat, do you have any idea what you do to me? One look, one touch, and I'm mush in your hands," Billie declared, kissing the hollow between Cat's collar bones.

Cat arched her body toward Billie, eyes closed, head pushed back into the pillow as she entwined her hands in her wife's dark hair, pulling Billie's mouth closer to her neck. "I need more, Billie. Please ... love me," she responded.

"Mama, Seth and Tara are awake. Can you make us pancakes?" a voice came from the doorway.

Billie dropped her forehead to Cat's chest and groaned.

"Damn!" Cat said under her breath. "Okay, sweetheart, I'm coming .... I wish," she said, the last part of that comment meant for Billie's ears only.

Chuckling, Billie rolled off the smaller woman and laid on her back, hands clasped behind her head, as Cat got out of bed.

Standing beside the bed, Cat looked down at her lazing wife and reached for a pillow. Smacking Billie in the face with it, she said, "Out of bed, Big Guy ... you've got sausage duty. On your feet, soldier!"

Billie reached out and grabbed Cat, pulling her back down onto the bed beside her. Rolling over on top of her she asked, "And what will you do to me if I go AWOL, Sarge?"

"I'll have to confine you to quarters, Private ... mine to be exact!" Cat answered wickedly.

"And if I cooperate?" she asked.

"Confinement to quarters ... mine again, followed by ... let's see ... lots of pushups and laps," Cat threatened.

"Laps?" Billie asked, raising her eyebrows into her hairline.

"Laps," Cat said.

"Laps as in running, or laps as in laps?" Billie asked suggestively, flitting her tongue over her lips.

"Well, there's not a lot of room for running in my quarters, Private," Cat replied.

Billie was off the bed in two seconds flat. Standing at attention, right hand saluting, football jersey falling to mid-thigh, she said in a clipped military voice, "Private Charland reporting for KP duty, sir!"

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

CHAPTER II

"Billie, you need to give your Mom a call," Cat said.

"I'll do it later, Cat ... when I'm no so busy," Billie replied.

"Busy? You call what you're doing, busy?" Cat asked as she watched her wife rock back and forth while stretched out on the hammock. Cat and Billie were relaxing in the back yard of their home while the children, along with Karissa and Stevie, played kick ball nearby. Cat chose to spend her time updating her journal and writing poetry, while Billie just relaxed.

"Hey, keeping this thing swinging is hard work!" Billie teased.

"No, really, love. You need to call her. She wants to visit next month, right? Well, next month is only a week away. We'll need to plan activities, time off from work, meals, ...." Cat rambled on.

"All right! All right! I'll call," Billie said as she attempted to roll out of the hammock.

The next thing any of them knew, Billie was flat on her back on the ground under the hammock. Cat tried her best to suppress a grin, but it was a losing battle. The kids were not so subtle. Within seconds, they were upon her, all five of them, burying the fallen women under a football huddle.

"Five against one ... no fair!" Billie yelled. "All right, I guess I've got to play dirty," she said as she proceeded to tickle each one of them away until she was on her feet and surrounded on five sides by vultures circling in for the kill.

Suddenly, they were wet. Cat had retrieved the garden hose and had sprayed each of the children, and Billie, only to be chased by all of them at once. Soon, she was soaked from head to foot as well.

"I surrender ... I surrender!" Cat screamed as they finally backed off and went off to play at Stevie and Karissa's house. A very wet Billie walked over to her and reached down to help her up. Pulling Cat to her feet, she kissed her soundly, then left the aroused woman standing there while she went to make her phone call.

Cat watched Billie walk away. Damn, she looks sexy with wet hair, she thought.

**********

Billie stood in the living room shivering, phone in one hand, while dialing with the other.

"Cold, my love?" Cat asked, placing a large warm, bath towel around her wife's shoulders. She had followed Billie into the house intent on changing her wet clothes from the water fight in the yard, when she noticed Billie shivering. Well, I got her wet ... the least I can do it warm her up, Cat thought as she retrieved the towel. Placing it around Billie's broad shoulders, she wrapped her arms around Billie's waist and laid her head between the tall woman's shoulder blades. Her fingers made lazy circles on Billie's stomach as she dialed the phone. By the time Billie had dialed the whole number, Cat's hands had made their way up to Billie's breasts. Billie was helpless to stop her, and if truth be known, she really didn't want to.

"Hello, Jim? Jim, this is ..... ah!" Billie said, throwing her head back as Cat pinched her nipple. "Ah ... Jim, this is Billie, is Laurel home?"

Cat's hands roamed under Billie's T-shirt as they waited for Laurel to pick up the phone.

"Caaaat!" Billie warned as the hands moved higher.

"Hmmm," Cat murmured into Billie's back.

"Hello? Hello, Laurel, this is .... oh gods, Cat!" Billie said involuntarily as both of Cat's hands slipped under her bra, each one capturing an erect nipple and squeezing hard. Billie was nearly exploding with desire. Reaching around with her free hand, she placed it on the small of Cat's back and pulled her in tighter, grinding her bottom into Cat's abdomen.

"No, this isn't Cat," said the voice on the other end of the line.

The voice pulled Billie back to reality.

"Laurel!" she said a little too hurriedly. "Laurel, no ... this is Billie. Cat ... well, Cat ...," Billie stammered.

"Cat is right there, teasing the hell out of you while you're trying to talk to me," Laurel finished for her daughter, a trace of laughter in her voice.

"Well ... well yes, as a matter of fact, that's exactly what she's doing," Billie admitted. "She's on to you," Billie added to Cat after covering the receiver with her hand.

"Oh gods!" Cat said, blushing and embarrassed that her mother-in-law had caught her in the act of foreplay with her wife.

Billie turned her head sharply to look back at Cat, and stuck out her tongue in a "serves you right" kind of gesture.

"Don't wear that tongue out, I have plans for it later!" Cat said over Billie's shoulder, loud enough for Laurel to hear. Now it was Billie's turn to blush.

"You know, Billie, this is all very entertaining, but somehow I don't think you called me to discuss foreplay. I take it you received my letter?" Laurel asked.

Cat's hands were on the move again.

Billie reached back and slapped her butt. The hands continued to move.

"Ah, the letter ... yes, I did receive it. Yesterday, in fact," Billie replied.

Snap, Zzzzzzip. Hands inched their way inside the waistband of Billie's cut-offs.

Billie turned around sharply to confront Cat.

Major mistake! Cat immediately went for the delicious orbs that were now at mouth level.

Billie suddenly forgot that she had her mother on the phone, as she reached out and pulled Cat's head in closer. "Oh gods, Cat, that feels so good," she moaned loudly as Cat inhaled first one, then other sensitive nipple into her mouth, sucking hard and biting gently.

"Billie! Billie!" the voice from the phone shouted, once more snapping Billie back to reality.

Billie raised the receiver to her ear. "Laurel," she said, "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to call you back."

"That's a good idea, Billie. Tell Cat for me that she's a wicked woman, all right?" Laurel asked. "I'll talk to you shortly. Bye."

Billie placed the receiver on the phone as she looked down at Cat, barely disguised passion in her impossibly blue eyes.

"Oh, Oh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?" the smaller red head said as she looked up at Billie.

Billie nodded and said, "And I'm gonna love dishing out the punishment."

Grinning ear to ear, Cat turned on her heel and high-tailed it out of the living room and up the stairs to their room, Billie right behind her.

Catching Cat by the arm just as she made it into their room, Billie struggled to control the smaller woman as Cat fought to get away.

"Hold still!" Billie commanded, almost losing, then regaining her grip on Cat's arm. Billie was surprised at how squirmy Cat was. Finally, she maneuvered herself behind Cat and wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her off the floor and planting her on one hip.

Cat's feet were completely off the floor as she found herself helplessly trapped. "Let go of me, you brute!" she shouted.

"Brute? I'll show you who's a brute!" Billie threatened as she walked over to the bed, sat down, and threw Cat over her lap, face down.

Bracing herself against Billie's legs, Cat lifted her upper body off Billie's lap. "You wouldn't dare!" Cat challenged as she realized what Billie was about to do.

"Wouldn't I?" Billie replied, landing the first sharp blow on Cat's wet denim-clad bottom.

WHACK!

"Aaahhh!" Cat screamed.

WHACK!

"Billie, you stop that, this minute!" she demanded, trying to cover her bottom with her hands in anticipation of the next blow.

WHACK!

"Damn it, Billie!" she screamed again.

WHACK!

"Okay ... Okay! I'm sorry!" Cat pleaded, her pride hurting far more than her backside, and her libido curiously aroused.

Stopping her hand in mid-swing, Billie brought it down lightly across Cat's backside and began rubbing away the sting from the previous contact. Of their own volition, Cat's hips began to rotate, pressing her bottom into Billie's hand.

Reaching under the woman still lying across her lap, Billie unfastened her shorts and worked them off Cat's hips, taking the lace panties with them and exposing her bottom, warm, red and tender from the treatment it had just received. Billie ran her hand over the warm skin, gently caressing and soothing, before leaning over and placing tender kisses on each cheek. Cat moaned loudly as her hips moved in time with Billie's caresses.

"Gods, Billie," Cat said as she once again braced her arms on Billie's leg and raise her upper body. Billie lowered her mouth for a kiss while her hand continued to caress Cat's tender bottom.

Breaking the kiss, Billie placed her free hand on the side of Cat's face and asked, "Are you all right?"

Cat smiled, pressing her bottom toward Billie's hand once more. "I'm fine, love," she answered.

"I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?" Billie asked, genuine concern in her eyes.

Cat's smile broadened. "You can punish me like that any time you want, my love," she said, accepting another kiss from her dark lover.

Billie helped Cat to her feet and led her to stand before her, while she remained seated on the bed. Spreading her legs apart, she pulled Cat in to stand between them, arms wrapped around the smaller woman's waist. Sliding her hands under Cat's T-shirt, she pushed it over her head and threw it on the floor. Cat's bra soon joined the fray.

Standing there naked in front of Billie, Cat could feel the warmth radiating from her backside, each pulse of heat sending pangs of desire to her core in remembrance of how the heat came to be there. Gods, I can't believe how turned on I am, Cat thought to herself as she pressed her body forward into Billie's embrace.

Billie placed butterfly kisses on Cat's abdomen, each one causing the smaller woman to catch her breath and clench her stomach muscles. "Cat, are you sure the kids have gone to Jen's?" Billie asked between kisses.

"Yes," Cat answered breathlessly.

"Good," Billie said as she reached up to cup one of Cat's generous breasts, bringing it to her mouth. Cat's knees weakened as Billie took the swollen nub into her mouth and suckled it gently before moving to the other. Cat had her hands resting on the small of her own back, arching her upper body toward Billie's mouth, but quickly moved them to Billie's shoulders for support when her knees gave out.

Billie supported Cat with both hands on the smaller woman's waist as she closed her legs and motioned for her to sit on her lap, facing her. After Cat was seated, straddling Billie's knees, toes pressed into the floor, Billie spread her own legs open again, forcing Cat's legs apart, exposing her most vulnerable parts to the dark haired woman.

Billie looked at Cat intently. "By the gods, you are so beautiful, my love," she said pulling Cat down into a kiss while her right hand caressed Cat intimately. "Is this for me?" Billie asked her wife, noting how ready the smaller woman was.

"Only for you," Cat replied, pressing herself down onto Billie's hand. Cat's forehead fell onto Billie's shoulder at the intensity of the invasion. "Oh gods, Billie! More ... I need more," she begged.

Billie was more than happy to oblige as she added a second finger, thrusting deeply into the woman she loved. Cat screamed out her desire, begging for more as she rose up and down frantically. A third finger pushed Cat very near the edge as she continued her ride. Finally sensing that Cat was about to explode, Billie drove herself deep and hard over and over into the smaller woman on her lap. For the next several moments, Cat repeatedly screamed out Billie's name in ecstasy as she rode the wave to fulfillment, finally crashing into the sea of love that was her wife. Cat lay like a rag doll in Billie's arms, totally overcome by the intensity of passion she had just experienced at the hands of her lover.

Billie pulled Cat in closer and took firm hold of her waist as she rose to her feet. Cat instinctively wrapped her legs around Billie's waist and locked her ankles, her arms still draped around her tall lover's neck. Billie reached down and supported Cat by her still-tender bottom as they stood there for long moments, mouths locked in a passionate, soul-sharing kiss.

"Let me love you," Cat said between kisses.

"Oh I intend to do just that, my love," Billie replied as she moved toward the bed.

Suddenly, their passion filled moment was interrupted.

"Mom! Mom, Skylar hurt herself!" the two woman heard Seth shout from the hallway.

All thoughts of fulfilled passion fled. Billie quickly put Cat down and headed toward the door while Cat threw on a robe and followed her. Seth was in the hall waiting for them.

"Where is she, honey?" Billie asked her son urgently.

"She's downstairs, Mom. She hurt her leg," he explained just as Cat emerged from the bedroom.

"Seth, sweetie, is she bleeding?" Cat asked.

"No, but it hurts her real bad. She's got a really big bump on her shin," he explained as he led his mothers to the stairs.

Down in the living room, Tara and Skylar were sitting on the couch side by side, Tara with her arm around her little sister, while Skylar wailed loudly.

Billie was immediately by her side, soothing her tears while Cat knelt on the floor to examine the bruise. Billie looked over at Tara, reaching behind Skylar to rub her older daughter's back. "Thanks for taking care of your sister love," Billie said, drawing a huge smile from the little tomboy.

"It doesn't look like anything is broken," Cat said. "How did this happen?" she asked, looking back and forth between the three children.

"We were playing baseball in Stevie's yard. I was pitching and Tara, Sky and Karissa were playin' the field," Seth said. "Stevie hit the ball and it got Sky in the shin."

Billie cringed at the description of the speeding ball smacking her daughter in the leg. She was sure the ball was going well over 100 miles per hour on contact.

"Ba...baseball is stupid!" Skylar stammered between tears.

"I told you to get your glove down, Sky," Seth said. "Coach says the ball won't hurt you if you don't let it go under your glove."

"Stevie is stupid!" Skylar said. "He hit me with the ball."

"Sky, honey, Stevie didn't hit you on purpose. The ball just happened to go in your direction," Cat tried to explain to her daughter as she poked around the bruise. Satisfied that nothing was broken, she asked Billie to get the cold compress from the freezer. "Well, little Missy, looks like you're going to be confined to the couch for a while with an ice pack on your leg," Cat explained just as the phone rang.

"I'll get it," Billie said as she rose to her feet. "Hello?" she said into the receiver.

"Hi Billie, this is Jen. Is Sky all right? Stevie told me what happened. He feels horrible. Is she okay?" Jen asked nervously.

"She seems to be fine, Jen. Cat doesn't think anything is broken. She's sitting on the couch right now with an ice pack on it. Tell Stevie it wasn't his fault, okay? Things like this happen. She shouldn't have been playing baseball with the older kids to begin with," Billie said.

"Well, you know how she is, Billie ... determined and stubborn, just like her mother," Jen remarked.

"I'll tell her you said that, Jen," Billie joked.

"You insufferable, two-toed, knock-kneed rat!" Jen exclaimed. "You're going to get me in trouble, you know," Jen responded.

"I love you too, Jen. We'll keep you posted, okay? Talk to you later," Billie said before hanging the phone up with a chuckle.

Billie turned to her family. "That was Jen. She said Stevie is feeling really bad about this," she said.

"Stevie is mean!" Skylar insisted.

Billie knelt down beside her daughter as Cat adjusted the ice pack on her leg. Reaching out, she turned Skylar's face toward her and said, "Now, Sky, do you really think Stevie made the ball hit you on purpose? Do you?" she asked again.

Skylar looked at her mother and reluctantly shook her head no. "I guess not," she admitted.

"Well then, I think you need to tell him that you're okay and not angry with him," Billie explained.

Cat was listening to the conversation between her wife and daughter and admired the way Billie was handling the situation. "Seth, honey," Cat said, "why don't you run over and invite Fred, Jen and the kids to a cookout this afternoon. That will give Stevie and Skylar a chance to make up, okay?"

"Cool!" Seth responded as he ran out the door.

Billie looked over at her wife and smiled. "Good idea," she said.

Rising to her feet, Cat observed, "Well, I guess I'd better get dressed, I've got salads to make." Then, turning to Skylar, she asked, "Are you felling better, Rugrat?"

Skylar shook her head vigorously.

"Don't worry, Mama, I'll keep her company," Tara said. Then to her little sister, she added, "want to color with me, Sky?"

Secretly worshipping the ground her big sister walked on, Skylar beamed under Tara's attention. "Really?" she asked. "Sure, let's color!" she said excitedly, her bruised leg all but forgotten.

As Cat started toward the stairs, Billie intercepted her and took the smaller woman into her arms. "Want some company? I still need to get out of these wet clothes," she said.

Cat eyed her wife wickedly, running her hands up and down Billie's upper arms. "I was hoping you'd ask. If I remember right, we have some unfinished business to take care of," Cat replied.

Billie leaned in and kissed Cat passionately, leaving them both breathless. Releasing her, she bowed at the waist and gestured toward the stairs. "Lead on my lady," she said.

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

CHAPTER III

The next week at the Charland house was relatively quiet. Monday was the first day of summer vacation, and that meant the mornings were more relaxed, with no mad rush to organize the children in time to catch the school bus. During the school year, Cat shifted her hours so that she started early enough to be out of work shortly after the bus dropped the children off at the daycare center. This allowed Billie to shift her hours in the other direction so that she put Seth and Tara on the bus in the morning and took Skylar to daycare, arriving home in the evening just before dinner. It was an arrangement that had worked out well for them over the four years of their marriage. They basically kept the same schedule in the summer, but the sense of urgency was gone, the atmosphere more relaxed.

This morning, Cat was reluctant to go to work, lingering in bed longer than usual and dragging her feet when she finally did get out of bed.

Billie had the girls sitting around the breakfast table eating cereal and juice when Cat finally meandered down the stairs, a total lack of enthusiasm written across her face. Stopping in the doorway between the living room and kitchen, she leaned against the casing and sighed. Billie finished putting the juice back in the refrigerator and approached Cat, opening her arms to the smaller woman, who went into them eagerly, resting her head between Billie's breasts and wrapping her arms around the tall woman's waist.

"Are you all right, Cat?" Billie asked, placing a kiss on top of the red-gold locks beneath her chin.

"Cramps," Cat said.

Billie smiled knowingly. "Maybe you should stay home today," she suggested.

Cat would have loved to stay home, curled up in bed with a hot water bottle pressed into her lower abdomen, but she was scheduled for an early surgery, and it was just too late to find a replacement. "Can't," she said, squeezing Billie a little harder. "Need some drugs," she said, referring to the menstrual medication they kept on hand.

"Here, you sit down with the girls, and I'll get it for you," Billie said, seating Cat at the table, then filling a coffee cup for her before heading to the bathroom medicine cabinet.

While Billie was gone to retrieve the medicine, Cat looked at her daughters then rose to give them each a good morning kiss. Before sitting back down, she looked at Skylar carefully, having noted from the kiss on the forehead, that the little girl seemed to be running a low grade fever once more.

"Billie," she called into the other room. "Bring the thermometer back with you, okay?" Looking at Skylar once more, she said, "Sky, are you feeling all right, honey?"

Billie came charging into the room. "Thermometer? Who's sick?" she asked.

"Sky feels warm again. It's pretty low grade, but I can feel it," Cat said, taking the thermometer from Billie and placing it under Skylar's tongue. She took her own pain relievers with her coffee as she waited for the digital thermometer to beep.

Billie felt Skylar's forehead and agreed that she did indeed feel feverish. "Sky, do you feel all right, honey?" Billie asked.

Skylar nodded her head vigorously just as the thermometer beeped.

Cat reached up and took the temperature gauge out of her daughter's mouth. "98.9," she said. "That's not too bad. Sky, do you hurt anywhere? Are you tired?" she asked.

"No, I feel good. Can I have some more juice?" Skylar said, handing her glass out to Billie.

"May I have some more juice," Billie said, correcting the five year old's verbiage, "and what's the magic word?" Billie added.

"Please?" Skylar said, grinning ear to ear at her mother.

Billie took the glass and kissed her daughter on the head before retrieving the juice. Bringing it back to the table, she handed it to Skylar who immediately began drinking. "What do you think, Cat?" asked Billie.

"She seems fine, Billie. Her temperature is pretty much within an acceptable tolerance of normal. Ask them to keep an eye on her today at daycare and to call one of us if she seems to be ill or sluggish at any point during the day," Cat suggested.

"All right," Billie said as she watched Skylar finish her juice.

"Wanna play dolls with me, Tara?" Skylar asked her sister.

Tara rolled her eyes at Cat and Billie, but agreed to play anyway. "Let us know when it's time to go, Mom, okay?" Tara called over her shoulder as she led her little sister down the stairs to the family room.

"All right, sweetie," Billie replied as she watched her daughters go.

Cat smiled. "Tara seems to be taking quite an interest in her little sister these days," she observed.

"Yeah," I noticed that too," Billie said, reaching out to rub Cat's back as she sat doubled over in her chair. Sitting down in a chair next to Cat, she reached out her hand and said, "C'mere."

Cat rose from her chair and climbed into Billie's lap, snuggling her face deep into her wife's shoulder as Billie wrapped her long arms around the ailing woman.

"Are you sure you can't take the day off, Cat?" Billie asked, hating to see her go to work in such pain.

"I'm sure. The meds will kick in soon, love. I'll be all right," Cat added, placing a tender kiss on Billie's neck.

Billie held Cat tight, neither woman saying anything for long moments, as their hearts spoke volumes. Finally, Cat broken the silence.

"Billie?" she asked.

"Yes?" came the reply.

"When is Laurel coming to visit?" Cat inquired.

Billie thought for a moment. "Her plane lands at 2:15 pm on Friday, so she'll be here in four days," Billie said.

Cat nodded her head, closing her eyes against the pain in her abdomen. Billie placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Billie?" she asked again.

"Yes?" came the reply once more.

"I'm nervous about Seth staying home," Cat said.

"Cat, he is twelve years old. I think he's a little too old to be going to daycare ... and besides, Jen is home all day and she offered to keep an eye on him," Billie explained.

"I know, but ... well, I'm worried about him being alone," Cat confessed.

"Sweetheart, he'll be fine ... and besides, I'm willing to bet that he'll either be at Jen's for most of the day, or Stevie will be here. He has strict instructions to go nowhere but here and there. He'll be fine, Cat. Don't worry about him," Billie said, trying to soothe her wife's fears.

"I can't help it love. I still remember how he was the first time I laid eyes on him, so fragile lying there in that hospital bed. It was love at first sight. It broke my heart to see him like that. I can't believe that was six years ago," she said. "I guess I'm just being over protective."

"Yes you are," Billie replied, kissing her on the head again, then chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Cat asked, lifting her head to look at her wife.

"Knowing Seth, the day will be half over before he even gets out of bed," she replied, chuckling again.

Cat smiled. "You might be right. Are you sure he isn't my son?" she asked, referring to the standing joke about how hard it is to get her out of bed in the morning.

"Oh, he's your son all right - he's definitely your son!" Billie exclaimed.

**********

"Billie Charland," Billie said, cradling the receiver between her chin and shoulder while she organized the brief she was working on.

"Hi Hon!" Cat replied.

"Cat! What a surprise. How are you feeling?" Billie said, stopping what she was doing to savor the discussion with her wife.

"Much better, thanks. Cramps are gone for the most part," Cat explained.

"Good. Is everything okay? The daycare hasn't called you about Sky, have they?" Billie asked, worriedly.

"No, they haven't. Actually, I'm calling to see if you can leave early to pick the girls up. The anesthesiologist who was supposed to assist on a 3:00 operation has taken ill and I was asked to cover." Cat explained.

"Yeah, sure, I can do that. Do you want me to start supper?" Billie asked.

Cat groaned involuntarily into the phone.

"Oh come on ... my cooking isn't that bad!" Billie complained.

"Honey, I'm sorry, you weren't supposed to hear that," Cat said apologetically. "Sure, go ahead and start supper if you want. There's some left over potato salad in the frig ... just throw a few burgers on the grill and some corn on the cob on to boil and that should do it. Okay?" Cat said, hoping that her simple meal suggestion was one that Billie wouldn't ruin with her less than adequate cooking skills.

"How long does the corn need to boil?" Billie asked.

"Ten minutes ought to do it," Cat replied.

"All right ... I can handle that. Do you have any idea what time you'll be home?" Billie asked.

"Hopefully by the time dinner's ready. Well, I've got to go prep. I'll see you soon, love. Bye," Cat said hanging up the phone.

Billie hung up the receiver and checked her watch, noting that it was nearly 3:00 pm. She finished collecting and organizing the brief she was working on, then neatly piled them into her briefcase. I'll finish these at home, she thought as she snapped the case closed.

Stopping by Art's office on the way out, she stuck her head in and let him know that she was leaving early.

"Is everything okay, Billie?" Art asked. "You seem a little distracted today," he observed.

"No, everything's fine. Cat had to cover a 3:00 operation, so she's asked me to pick up the kids," she explained.

"All right then, I'll see you tomorrow," Art said. Huh, he thought to himself, there's something she's not telling me.

**********

Billie arrived at the day care at exactly 3:30 pm. Walking into the reception area, she noticed Skylar and Tara waiting for her. Expecting to see Cat, they were surprised and excited to see that Billie had come to collect them.

"Mommy!" Skylar said as she ran into Billie's arms and snuggled in to her neck.

"Hi, Love Bug. Have you been a good girl today?" she asked.

Skylar nodded her head vigorously.

Settling Skylar on her right hip, Billie opened her other arm to accept Tara into a hug. "Hi, Sweetness," she said. "How was your day?"

"Pretty good," Tara replied. "Where's Mama?" she asked.

"She had a late surgery to do, so she called and asked me to pick my girls up," she explained.

Tara looked up at her mother and beamed. "Does this mean we get to eat out?" she asked hopefully.

"Actually, no. I have strict orders from Mama to go home and start supper," Billie replied.

"Ah, Mom! I remember the last time you cooked..." Tara whined.

"Hey! What is this problem everyone has with my cooking anyway?" she asked with mock indignance.

Tara looked at her with an expression that said "Duh, Mom, buy a clue!", causing Billie to laugh out loud.

"Well, I hate to break it to you Rugrat, but I am cooking tonight. I won't poison you -- I promise," she said, chuckling as she carried Skylar out to the car. A pouting Tara following close behind.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of their home. Climbing out of the car, Tara ran into the house to claim the family room TV before anyone else did. Skylar was a little slower. She was pushing the rear passenger door closed just as Billie came around to her side of the car. Lowering herself to one knee, she brought her face level with the little girl's. "How are you feeling sweetling?" she asked, feeling the child's forehead, and noting that it was warm. A frown etched itself deeply into Bille's brow.

"I'm tired, Mommy," Skylar complained.

"C'mere love," Billie said, opening her arms to the child.

Picking her up, Billie carried Skylar directly to her room, and stripped off her shoes and jeans. That's when she noticed that the bruise on Skylar's shin still looked as fresh as the day it happened. Shouldn't this have healed by now? she asked herself as she watched the child yawn, her little hands balled into fists on the pillow on both sides of her head. Skylar closed her eyes, mouth stretched open wide to accommodate the yawn. Skylar's eyes were heavily lidded and closing rapidly while Billie tucked her into bed for a nap before supper. Billie laid down next to the child and hummed an old lullaby her adoptive mother used to sing to her until she was fast asleep. Billie reached over and touched the sleeping child's red-gold hair. Sky baby, I hope you're all right, she whispered in her mind, before rising to go start supper.

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

CHAPTER IV

Billie was pacing around the kitchen nervously by the time Cat got home. The operation she anesthetized had run into complications, and took much longer than expected, making it nearly 7 pm before Cat finally arrived home.

Cat walked into the kitchen, wearily throwing her car keys on the table. "I'm beat," she said, rolling her head around on her shoulders to loosen up her neck. Finally after a few moments of silence, she noticed that Billie was pacing, a worried expression on her face, her fingers to her mouth, teeth working away on her nails. Cat walked over to Billie and stopped her in mid-pace.

"Billie?" she asked. "Honey, what's wrong? Where are the kids?" she asked, looking around for the children.

"Seth is at Stevie's, the girls are in the family room. Cat, there's something wrong with Sky," Billie stated.

"What do you mean?" Cat asked, narrowing her eyes at her wife.

"Cat, do you remember when Sky was hit on the shin with the baseball?" Cat nodded yes. "Do you remember how bruised her leg was, and how much it hurt her to walk on it?" Billie asked.

Cat nodded. "Billie, what's that got to do with anything?" she asked.

"Cat, Sky was very tired when I picked her and Tara up this afternoon. I put her down for a nap when we got home and noticed when I helped her out of her jeans, that the bruise on her leg hasn't even started to heal yet," Billie explained.

Cat frowned. "You said the kids are down stairs?" Cat asked, heading for the basement steps.

"Yes," Billie replied, right behind her wife.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, they found Skylar and Tara sitting on the couch facing each other playing dolls. Cat studied her daughter carefully without speaking, not wanting to alarm the little girl.

"Hi love bugs," she said to both children. "Did you have a nice day?"

The girls immediately jumped into an animated conversation about their day at the daycare center. Cat noticed that Skylar did look a little pale. After listening to both children talk about their day, she reached up to feel Skylar's forehead. As expected, she was feverish. "How are you feeling tonight, sweetie?" Cat asked as she nonchalantly examined Skylar's legs for the bruise she received more than a week ago. As Billie described, the bruise was still there, and very fresh looking.

"Sky, honey, did you bump your leg at daycare today?" Cat asked.

Skylar shook her head no. Billie and Cat exchanged worried looks. Leaning in, Cat kissed her youngest daughter, then remarked, "Sweetheart, you're running a fever again. I'm going to call the doctor, okay? We'll take you in and let Dr. Sorensen look at you," Cat explained.

Skylar looked scared. "Mama, is he gonna to pick me with a needle?" she asked.

Cat smiled. "No, love. I just want him to look at you, that's all," she assured her younger daughter.

Ten minutes later, Cat was tying Skylar's shoes as Billie phoned Jen.

"Hi, Jen. This is Billie. Look, Cat and I are taking Skylar to the doctor's ... she's feverish again, Jen. It's the third time in a week. We need to get her looked at. Seth is still there with Stevie, isn't he?" Billie asked. "We need him to come home to stay with Tara while we're gone."

"Why don't you send Tara over here. In fact, she and Seth can spend the night and the day tomorrow if they'd like. That will give Stevie and Karissa something to do too. I really hate vacations... all they do is whine about being bored," Jen said.

"Jen, are you sure you don't mind?" Billie asked.

"If I minded, I wouldn't have offered. Now pack a bag for both of them and send it over with Tara," Jen instructed. "Don't worry about them ... take care of Sky. Besides, I think she'll like an evening being the center of attention for a change."

"All right, Jen. I don't know how to thank you. We'll drop Tara off on the way ... expect her in about 10 minutes," Billie said.

"No thanks necessary, Big Guy. You'd do the same for me, and you know it. Now drag your tail, or you'll be late," Jen warned.

Billie thanked Jen once more then hung up after promising to call her with the results. Giving Tara instructions to pack a small bag for herself, she went to collect a few things for Seth. Five minutes later, they were pulling into Jen's driveway to drop Tara off. Kissing their older daughter goodnight, they were soon headed to the doctors.

**********

"Damn it, Cat. What is taking them so long? We've been waiting here for nearly a half hour," Billie complained.

"Billie, please be patient. There seems to be a lot of sick kids tonight. We just need to wait our turn," Cat explained.

Skylar shifted restlessly in Billie's arms, where she had crawled the minute they arrived. Billie reached over and brushed the bangs off Skylar's forehead and replaced them with a kiss.

"Cat, she's even more feverish than when we left the house," Billie observed.

Cat reached over to feel her daughter's forehead. She looked at Billie a little worriedly. "You're right, she is. Look, I'm going to see the receptionist. Maybe she can tell me how much longer we'll have to wait."

No sooner had Cat risen to her feet, than the nurse called out Skylar's name.

"It's about time," Billie murmured under her breath as she rose to her feet. She followed Cat and the nurse to the examination room, carrying a very warm and clingy Skylar in her arms.

The nurse measured Skylar's weight and height, then took her temperature, recording the information on the chart attached to her folder.

"The doctor will be right with you," the nurse said, leaving the three of them alone in the room.

As soon as the nurse left, Sklyar held her arms out for Cat, who picked her up immediately. Skylar wrapped her legs around her mother and laid her head on Cat's shoulder. The heat coming from her face was radiating into Cat's skin. Cat looked at Billie nervously as she rubbed the child's back. Billie paced back and forth across the room. Neither said a word.

Finally, Dr. Sorensen entered the room. "Now, who do we have here? Let's see ... Skylar Charland, age 5," he said, reading the chart. Putting the chart down on the examination table, he folded his arms in front of him and said, "Well, Skylar, what seems to be the problem?"

Billie took a step toward the man like she was about to read him the riot act. Cat held her hand up, effectively stopping her. "She's running a fever, Dr. Sorensen. This is her third fever this week. The other two were less severe -- less than 100 degrees -- and were both gone by the next morning. As you can see by her chart, Doctor, this fever is much worse. She has also been listless, and she has a week-old hematoma on her shin that is not healing," Cat explained.

Dr. Sorensen looked at Cat curiously. "Am I to assume that you are a doctor, Ms...."

"Charland. Cat Charland," Cat answered, "and yes, you assumed correctly, Dr. Sorensen, I am an anesthesiologist, now, I would appreciate it if you would examine my daughter and give me your opinion of what the problem is," Cat said.

"All right. Bring her over to the table, if you would," Dr. Sorensen instructed. Laying Skylar on the table, Cat took a step away and allowed the doctor access to the child. Skylar immediately started to cry as the strange man started poking and prodding her.

Billie stepped in and took Skylar's hand. Bending over the child, she talked soothingly to her. "Sky, baby, it will be all right, Mom and Mama are right here with you."

Hearing the conversation between mother and daughter, the Doctor looked oddly at Billie. Billie stared right back at him, daring him to say something. He quickly looked away and finished his examination.

"Well, Ms. Charland," he said, addressing Cat, "she seems to have an ear infection. I'll prescribe some antibiotics for her. She'll be as good as new in a few days," he said, pulling out his prescription pad and beginning to scribble on it.

Cat frowned. "What about the bruise on her shin ... and her paleness? She's terribly pale," Cat asked.

"Well, her weight and height are normal for a child her age, and beside, summer is just starting. A lot of kids are pale from the winter, so I wouldn't worry about it. As far as the bruise is concerned," he said, examining the purplish skin on Skylar's leg, "shin bruises always take a long time to fade. I'm sure it's nothing," he concluded. "Lets give the antibiotics a few days and see what happens, okay?"

**********

"I don't like him, Cat. We need to find a new doctor for the kids," Billie insisted as she maneuvered the car through the city streets.

"You may be right, Billie. He was a little impersonal with her," Cat said, looking down at her daughter, brushing the hair out of her face. Skylar had been strapped into the middle front seat belt and had curled herself up against Cat. Moments after pulling out of the parking lot of the doctor's office, she was fast asleep. "I'm glad the pharmacy was still open," Cat added. "At least we were able to get her prescription filled before tomorrow. We'll wake her up and give her the first dose when we get home," Cat commented.

Moments later, Billie pulled the car into the driveway. Coming around to the passenger side, she lifted Skylar and carried her into the house, directly to their bedroom.

"Billie, where are you going with her?" Cat asked when she saw Billie carry Skylar right past her bedroom.

"To our room, Cat. I want her near us tonight so we can monitor how she's doing," Billie explained.

Cat just threw up her hands. "All right," she said as she stopped at Skylar's room to collect her pajamas.

By the time Cat joined her in their room, Billie had managed to get Skylar out of her play clothes and ready for her pajamas. Between the two of them, they dressed the groggy child and gave her the first dose of antibiotic, finally tucking her into bed between them.

Billie laid on her side, looking at the child, then across her to Cat, catching Cat's eye.

"What are you thinking Billie?" Cat asked.

"I'm thinking that this little angel looks so much like you, and not at all like Brian," Billie replied.

A chill ran through Cat at the mention of Brian's name. A chill so intense that it was visible to Billie. Realizing what she had done, she apologized profusely.

"Cat, I'm sorry," she said, reaching over Skylar to cup the side of Cat's face with her palm. "I'm so insensitive some times. Forgive me?" she asked, genuine sorrow in her eyes.

How can I stay mad at that face? Cat thought to herself before smiling at her wife. Nodding her head, she said, "Yes, I forgive you, love. But say it again, and I'll have to kill you, okay?" she said grinning.

Billie smiled widely. "It's a deal!" she said, lifting herself up onto one elbow leaning over to kiss Cat tenderly. "Good night, my love," Billie said, kissing Cat once more.

"Good night, Billie." she said in reply.

Each of them in turn leaned down to kiss their sleeping daughter. "Sleep well, Kitten," Cat whispered the nickname her father always used for her.

Soon, all three girls were sleeping peacefully.

**********

The next morning, Billie woke up before the alarm clock. Rolling over onto her side, she looked at her wife and child sleeping peacefully beside her. Skylar was wrapped in Cat's arms, her hair strewn across her tiny features, her arms and legs in a state of disarray around her. Billie smiled as her heart lurched at the sight. she brushed he hair away from the little girl's face. Leaning in to kiss her cheek, she noted that it was still warm with fever.

Cat's eyes opened in response to the movement beside her. Billie's eyes locked with hers as she lifted her face away from Skylar's cheek. "Good Morning, love," Cat whispered, accepting a kiss from her wife.

"She's still warm, Cat," Billie remarked.

Cat reached up and felt the child's forehead. Rasing her eyebrows, she said, "You're right. Maybe one of us should stay home with her today."

"Maybe both of us should," Billie suggested. "I'm between cases right now, so I can arrange to take the time off."

"And I'm not scheduled for any surgeries today, so it shouldn't be a problem for me either," Cat said.

"Good," Billie said, smiling. "Go back to sleep, then. I'm going for my run. I'll be back soon." After kissing Cat and Skylar once more, Billie rolled over and shut off the alarm, then climbed out of bed and donned her running clothes.

As was the case every morning, Jen was at the end of the driveway, waiting for her.

"Good Morning," Billie said as she stopped to stretch her hamstrings, calves and quadriceps.

"'Morning, Big Guy. How's Sky's this morning?" Jen asked as she too stretched out before starting their run.

"Still warm, I'm afraid," Billie answered. "I'm really worried about her, Jen," Billie admitted.

"What did the doctor say?" Jen asked.

Billie scowled. "He said she had an ear infection. She had her first dose of antibiotics last night. He wants to wait a few days to see if it helps," Billie explained.

Jen looked at the irritated expression on her friend's face. "Do I sense something else going on here, Billie? Sounds like you don't have a lot of faith in Sky's doctor," Jen observed.

"I don't know, Jen. There's something about him that I don't like. I can't put my finger on it though," she said.

"Well, it's helpful that Cat is a doctor too. I'm sure she'll step in if she thinks the guy isn't doing his job," Jen assured her friend.

"Yeah, you're right," Billie said, shaking her legs out. "Are you ready to sweat?" she asked Jen, a teasing smile on her face.

Seconds later, the friends began their run.

**********

The sound of the shower woke Cat from a light sleep. Looking over, she saw that Skylar was still sleeping, which concerned her a little, considering that the little girl usually rose nearly as early as Billie every morning. Leaning over, she kissed the child on the forehead, then climbed out of bed.

Billie was standing under the shower spray, allowing the warm water to cascade over her face and down the length of her long dark hair. The needle-like darts of water provided a therapeutic massaging action on her forehead, helping to alleviate the slight headache she could feel building in her skull. The rustling shower curtain alerted her to Cat's presence in the shower behind her long before she felt the smaller woman's hands circle her waist and her lips make contact with the skin between her shoulder blades. She instinctively pressed herself back into Cat, who tightened her arms around Billie's mid section.

"Good Morning," Cat said, pressing her length against Billie's back in a full-body hug.

Billie's right hand came down to cover the arms circling her waist, while her left arm reached back to pull Cat closer. "Good Morning yourself, my love," Billie returned. Turning around in Cat's embrace, her body shielded Cat from the direct spray of the shower as she lowered her face for a tender kiss. "I love you," Billie said, kissing her again.

"Hmmmm," Cat replied, reaching her hand around Billie's neck to pull her down for more.

Finally, the kiss ended, and the women stood there in each other's arms, eyes locked in a loving gaze. "Is Sky still asleep?" Billie asked.

Cat nodded her head and kissed the hollow in Billie's neck at the spot where her collar bones met. Billie tilted her head back and closed her eyes. "That feels good," she said, pulling Cat's head closer with a hand behind her neck. Cat began to suck on the skin there, sending shivers of desire directly to Billie's groin. Billie's body shuddered with the intensity of emotion she was feeling. "Cat," she rasped out, "Do you know what you're doing to me?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Cat said, reaching down between Billie's legs and finding the evidence of her actions.

Billie's knees buckled as Cat caressed the swollen nub she found there. Her right hand immediately went to the shower wall, bracing herself against an instant meltdown onto the floor of the tub, as her left hand circled Cat's back, pulling her closer. Her stance instinctively widened to give Cat better access. Cat increased the pace of her caress as Billie's body became more and more heightened by desire. The constant bombardment of the jet spray on her back was increasing the intensity level of the bolts shooting to her groin.

Cat flicked her tongue over Billie's nipples, taking each one into her mouth and biting them gently as her hands made their way behind her tall wife, gripping the firm cheeks of her bottom and pulling her in closer. "Harder," Billie panted as each nip nearly pushed her over the edge. Cat obliged and increased the pressure of her teeth on the hardened projections, biting firmly until Billie moaned in pain. Her entire body was weakened, quivering with pent up desire, waiting to be released. Cat's right hand made its way back to stimulate Billie's love button as her left hand continued to knead the supple flesh of her buttocks. "Cat, I can't take much more of this," Billie managed to say between pants. Releasing Billie's nipple, Cat suddenly dropped to one knee and drove three fingers deep into Billie's core. Billie nearly folded in on top of Cat, the only thing holding her up was her grip on the support bar in the shower. "By the Gods!" Billie shouted as a powerful orgasm ripped through her body, sending it into spasms of desire. Over and over, a tidal wave of heat crashed into her, her abdomen contracting with each wave. Her legs were totally useless as she sank to her knees beside Cat, spasms racking her body for long moments, her upper body leaning heavily on Cat. Cat held her close, whispering terms of endearment in her wife's ear as the after effects of their love making began to subside. Finally, Cat removed her hand, causing one more momentary spasm to escape Billie's body.

Billie reached down and cupped Cat's face between her hands, the spray of the shower coming down heavily around them. Leaning down, she kissed the smaller woman deeply. Moving along her jaw line to her ear, Billie spoke her heart. "Cat, I love you more than life itself. What have I done to deserve you?" she asked to no one in particular. "I am so blessed to have you in my life," she finished, claiming Cat's lips once more in a breathtaking kiss.

Billie gently lowered their two bodies to the floor of the tub, cradling Cat in her arms to protect her from the hard fiberglass surface. Lying completely on top of Cat, she kissed her thoroughly, starting at her mouth and ending in the hollow at the base of her neck between her collar bones ... at the same spot that Cat had started on her. Cat's head was thrown back, her wet hair splayed all around her, eyes closed. Billie looked at her and thought that she was the most beautiful creature on the face of the earth. Reaching outside the shower, Billie grabbed the clean towel that was hanging on the rack, and pulled it into the shower with them. Folding it carefully, she tucked it under Cat's neck and head to cushion them against the hard surface, freeing up her hands for 'other things'.

The exploration of Cat's body began in earnest as soon as Billie's hands were free. Every inch of Cat's skin was caressed with kisses as Billie moved over her, nipping, biting, licking. Each point of contact was met by a moan from Cat's lips. Several times, Billie had to free herself from hands that had clamped themselves to the sides of her head, pulling it in closer, guiding it to that special destination that would provide relief from the building tension and desire. Each time, Billie would release the hands and continue her travels, teasingly avoiding Cat's font of release.

Cat's desires were rapidly escalating out of control. As Billie suckled her breasts, she felt the impending wave of an orgasm begin, only to be quelled as the dark woman retreated to another spot on her anatomy. "Billie, please. I need you!" she panted to her lover in desperation. Sensing that Cat would go over the edge with very little assistance, Billie suddenly moved south and dove into Cat's core, sucking in and gently biting the smaller woman's passion point. That movement, combined with the sudden needle-like spray hitting her face and chest from the shower that Billie was no longer shielding her from, caused her to quickly fall over the precipice of desire. Arching herself upward as she braced her arms against the tub wall, Cat screamed out Billie's name over and over as her body convulsed uncontrollably. For long moments, Billie continued the oral massage until Cat was lying limply and quietly beneath her.

Billie looked up and saw Cat staring down at her with love-filled eyes. Releasing her prize, Billie kissed the inside of Cat's thigh, then made her way up the smaller woman's body, gathering her into her arms and holding her close. "Billie, I love you more than I could possibly describe," Cat said into Billie's shoulder. "Please promise to love me forever," she added.

Pulling away, Billie looked into her wife's eyes, and said, "Forever, my love. Forever. I promise."

"Mama?" came a small voice from the other room.

Cat grinned up at Billie. "Good timing, love!" she exclaimed before climbing to her feet.

"I'll be right there, love bug," Cat yelled into the other room as she Billie helped her to wash the evidence of lovemaking from her skin.

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

CHAPTER V

Three days later, Cat, Billie and Skylar were sitting in Dr. Sorensen's office waiting for him to finish with another patient. When he finally appeared, he rushed through a cursory examination of Skylar and suggested giving the antibiotics a few more days trial.

"No!" Billie said vehemently.

"No?" replied the doctor, shocked that anyone would question his judgment.

"What part of that didn't you understand?" Billie said sarcastically. "Look, my daughter has been ill now for nearly a week. She's feverish, weak, listless, irritable ... she isn't eating, she's stumbles around when she walks, she sleeps all the time. Three days of antibiotics has not helped ..."

"She's not your daughter," the doctor said, interrupting Billie in mid-sentence.

"What did you say?" Billie asked incredulously.

"I said, she's not your daughter -- she's Caitlain's. What part of that did you not understand?" he replied sarcastically.

Billie was on her feet in a second, her hand reaching for the doctor's throat.

"Billie!" Cat shouted while Skylar started to whimper in her lap.

Billie immediately regained control of herself at the sound of Cat's voice. Leaning into the doctor's face, she said with as much venom as possible, "You son of a bitch. I've dealt with bastards like you before. We're talking about the life of a child here, not who her biological mother is. Don't you have any compassion in your heart at all?" Backing off, she turned to look at Cat and Skylar. Reaching down, she took Skylar out of Cat's arms and cradled her gently in her own. "Let's go Cat," Billie said to her wife. Then to the doctor, she added, "You will never get the chance to see one of my children again you bastard."

**********

"Billie, slow down, you'll get us all killed," Cat demanded.

A stone-faced Billie looked over at Cat from the driver's seat. Realizing just whose lives she held in her hands, she immediately slowed the car down and pulled over to stop by the side of the road. She sat there, hands on the steering wheel, elbows locked, eyes staring straight ahead. Cat sat there silently, cradling a sleeping Skylar by her side, allowing Billie to collect her thoughts. Finally, she physically relaxed and tilted her head backward into the headrest. "Cat, I'm sorry," she said, looking over at the smaller woman.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, love. If it wasn't for Sky being there with us, I would have loved to see you deck the son of a bitch. I should have gone with your instincts to begin with, and found another doctor right away," Cat admitted.

"What do we do now?" Billie asked.

"Let's go home. I'll call some of my colleagues and compile a list of good pediatricians that we can choose from," Cat said.

"All right," Billie said, reaching for the gearshift. "Damn!" she said suddenly.

"What is it, Billie?" Cat asked, startled by the outburst.

"My mother is due to arrive tomorrow, Cat. Maybe I should call and tell her to cancel her plans," Billie suggested.

"No, Billie. It's too late for that. No, let her come. I'm sure Sky will be all right in a day or two. There's no reason to cancel her visit," Cat reasoned.

"Are you sure, Cat?" Billie asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Let's go home. I've got a few calls to make," Cat replied.

**********

Cat spent the rest of the afternoon contacting physicians until she found one that had a small enough caseload to accept new patients. She set up an appointment for the following day. Hanging up the phone, Cat joined Billie and the kids in the family room where they were watching a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie. Seth and Tara were lying on their stomachs on the floor, eyes glued to the TV, a bowl of popcorn between them, while Skylar was once again, curled up in Billie's arms, sound asleep.

Cat walked over to her wife and daughter on the couch and bent over to kiss Skylar on the head before sitting down and snuggling in close to Billie. "I found a doctor, Billie. We have an appointment for 10 am tomorrow morning. That will give us enough time to see her, and still be at the airport by 2 pm to pick up your mom," Cat explained.

"Her?" Billie asked.

"Yes, her. Dr. Melanie Holder. She has a couple of young children of her own, so I'm sure she'll be more sympathetic than Sorensen was," Cat explained.

"Good. Maybe she can get to the bottom of what's ailing Sky," Billie said, kissing her daughter on the head.

Cat reached over to brush an errant red-gold lock from Skylar's face. "I hope so, love. I certainly hope so. It breaks my heart to see her so listless," Cat said.

**********

"Hi Sky!" Dr. Holder said to the little girl, squatting down so that she was face level with the child sitting in Cat's lap. "Not feeling so good today, are you sweetie?" the doctor asked, reaching up to feel Skylar's forehead.

Billie liked this woman immediately.

"I'd like to take your temperature and listen to your heart. Is that all right?" Dr. Holder asked. Skylar nodded her head shyly.

"Good," said the doctor, smiling as she extended her arms to Skylar. Without hesitation, Skylar allowed the doctor to take her from Cat's arms and carry her to the examination table. Setting her down on the table, she immediately explained each procedure to the child before carrying it out. Soon, she had taken her temperature, blood pressure, pulse, reflexes and had listened to her heart and examined her ears, all without a trace of fear in the child's face. Cat and Billie traded grins throughout the examination, feeling very comfortable with this warm, kind hearted doctor. When she was through with the examination, she fished a couple of children's books out of a nearby drawer and gave them to Skylar to look at while she talked to Cat and Billie.

Cat and Billie occupied the two chairs in the room, while Dr. Holder sat on the examination stool across from them. Addressing Cat, she said, "Considering she looks so much like you, I am assuming you are the mother, right?" she said with a smile.

"I am her biological mother, yes, but Sky considers Billie her mother as well," Cat explained.

"Fair enough ... then I'll address both of you equally. Okay, tell me about her symptoms and behaviors since she's been ill," Dr. Holder said.

For the next few minutes, Cat and Billie both explained to the doctor how Skylar had been tired, cranky and listless all the time. How pale she was, and the fact that she had virtually no appetite, and basically spent most of her day sleeping. They also explained to her, the origin and age of the bruise on her shin. This piece of information made Dr. Holder frown.

"The bruise happened when?" she asked.

"Almost two weeks ago," Cat answered. "Look, I know it should be faded by now, but her last doctor didn't seem disturbed by the fact that it still looks new," Cat said.

"Caitlain, it says here on Skylar's new patient form that you are a doctor. May I ask what type?" Dr. Holder asked.

"Please, call me Cat. I'm an anesthesiologist," Cat said a little defensively. "Why do you ask?"

Dr. Holder smiled. "Relax, Cat. You're not on trial here. It's just that when I treat the children of other doctors, I need to make sure that they are open to suggestions and ideas beyond what they themselves have already diagnosed, that's all," she explained.

"Dr. Holder, I ... no, We are open to anything that will help our daughter feel better. I am not a specialist in pediatric medicine. Sky's symptoms are typical of so many childhood diseases, I'm not about to make a misdiagnosis where my own child is concerned. That's why we are here to see you," Cat explained.

Dr. Holder stood and extended her hand to Cat and then Billie. "Good. I'm glad you feel that way. Maybe we can work together to help this little girl feel better again. I'm going to order some blood work. It's just a precaution at this point," Dr. Holder said, seeing the panic on Billie's face. "Like you said, Cat, her symptoms are indicative of a lot of different things. The results of the blood work should help us make a more accurate diagnosis. I'll send the nurse in to draw some blood."

Dr. Holder turned and approached Skylar, who was sitting on the floor looking at her book. Sitting down cross legged in front of the child, she lifted Skylar's chin so that their eyes met. With a smile on her face, Dr. Holder opened her arms to Skylar, who climbed into them without hesitation. Sitting her on one knee, Dr. Holder explained to Skylar about the blood drawing and asked her to be brave when the nurse came in with the needle. Despite the fear written across the child's face, she said she would try not to cry.

"Sweetheart, it's okay to cry if something hurts you. I just want to make sure that you let the nurse do it. We need some of your blood so we can tell how to make you feel better, that's all," she explained.

Skylar nodded her head in agreement and promised to cooperate.

"Good girl," Dr. Holder said, hugging Skylar before and rising to her feet. Facing Cat and Billie again, she promised them the test results by the following day, then left them alone with their child while they waited for the nurse to draw blood.

**********

Laurel's plane was due in at 2:15 pm. Having left the doctor's office by 11 am, they had plenty of time to go home, have lunch, and collect Seth and Tara before heading to the airport. All the way home from the doctor's Skylar raved about the selection of stickers Dr. Holder had given her for being such a good girl.

"What do you think about her, Billie?" Cat asked.

"I really like her, Cat. She seems to have a way with children. I like the way she actually talked to Sky, rather than over her head to us ... and I've never seen a doctor actually get down on the floor with a patient. I really do like her, Cat. You done good picking her out, woman!" Billie said in her best redneck voice.

"Ya think so ma?" Cat joked back.

"Yes Ma'am, yer darn tootin' I do!" Billie quipped.

"Mommy, you sound funny," Skylar giggled.

Billie looked at her daughter. "You, my sweet little angel, were a very good girl at the doctor's - even when they came to take blood," Billie remarked, causing the child to beam with pride.

"Yes, you were, Kitten. We were very proud of you," added Cat, pulling the child in for a hug.

Billie maneuvered the car into the driveway and shut off the ignition. "Okay Rugrat, we're home," Billie announced as she climbed out of the car.

"Mommy, can I have a horsie ride to the house?" Skylar asked.

"Sure, sweetness, climb on!" Billie said as Cat lifted the child onto Billie's back. Billie made a big show of galloping around the driveway before climbing the stairs to the kitchen door, while Cat stood there and shook her head, wondering for the thousandth time, which of the two was the bigger kid. Entering the house, Billie galloped through the kitchen and into the living room, depositing Skylar on the couch, then tickling her until she begged for mercy. By this time, Seth and Tara had heard the ruckus and had come down from their rooms, followed by Stevie and Karissa. Without hesitation, the girls jumped into the tickle war, while Seth and Stevie just stood by the sidelines silently communicating that they thought girls were pretty dumb to be playing such games. Finally, the fun was over as Cat broke it up, dragging Billie away to help her make lunch for the kids.

Sitting around the lunch table, Billie started to explain Laurel's visit to the children. She told them how Grandma Mel was Laurel's real mother, making her Billie's grandmother, and their great grandmother. She explained how Laurel was taken away from Mel when she was born and that Grandma Mel's uncle told her the baby had died.

"Why did they take her away from Grandma Mel?" Tara asked. "Was she a bad mother?"

"No sweetling, she wasn't. Her uncle told her the baby had died because she wasn't married and he was embarrassed about that. He gave the baby to an adoption agency," Cat explained.

"But Mom, you and Mama weren't married yet when Sky was born. Were you embarrassed about that?" Seth asked.

Billie reached over and touched the side of Seth's face. "Sweetheart, there has never been a time when Mama or I have been embarrassed or ashamed of any of you. We love all three of you very much and are proud to be your parents. Don't ever think differently, okay?" she said.

Seth just nodded and smiled.

Cat looked at her youngest child and noticed that she was chasing the food around her plate, but not really eating any of it. "Sky, honey, you have to eat something. Dr. Holder said that you need to keep up your strength if you want to feel better," she said.

The last thing Skylar wanted to do, was to make the nice Dr. Holder mad at her, so she made and effort to eat while the discussion turned back to Laurel.

"If she's your mom, they how come she didn't raise you?" Seth asked.

"Well, she had some problems when I was a baby and she couldn't take care of me, so she let my adoptive mom and dad raise me.

"Why didn't she look for you when her problems were fixed?" Seth continued with the questioning.

"That's a very good question, my love... one that I need to ask her myself. I don't know the answer to it right now," Billie explained.

"Mom, what do we call her when she gets here?" Tara asked.

Billie took a deep breath. "Well, I guess we need to ask her about that. She doesn't have any other grandchildren yet, so maybe you three can help her pick out a grandma name. How does that sound?" Billie asked.

"Cool!" said Tara.

"Mom, is Uncle Dylan coming with her?" Seth asked a little anxious to have another 'guy' around the house.

"Not this time, honey. Uncle Dylan is trying to set up a veterinary clinic and he can't take any time off right now. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to meet him soon," Billie said.

"All right you three, enough with the twenty questions," Cat exclaimed. We need to be at the airport in a about a half hour, and you all need to get cleaned up first. Now off with you... clean hands and face... clean clothes... scoot!" Cat said, shooing them off while she rose to clean the lunch dishes away.

"I'll get these, Cat. Why don't you give Sky a hand, she looked pretty beat at lunch," Billie suggested.

"All right," Cat said, reaching up on tip toes to kiss her tall wife, before disappearing after the children.

**********

The three children waited by the fence, watching the planes land and take off, knowing that their grandmother would be on one of them. Billie waited inside the passenger arrival area, nervously pacing back and forth while Cat patiently sat nearby, reading a magazine. Finally flight 4129 from Flint, Michigan was announced with an expected ETA of five minutes. Billie stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Cat. Cat smiled back at her with a look that said, "Relax, it's only your mother."

While the flight taxied to the gate, Cat went to collect the children, leading them back to where Billie was waiting. When they reached their mother, Skylar immediately raised her arms and asked to be picked up. Billie naturally obliged, placing Skylar on her left hip while the child laid her head on Billie's shoulder. "Poor sweet angel," Billie said as she placed a kiss on Skylar's head. "I know you don't feel well. You can take a nap as soon as we get home, okay?"

Skylar just nodded her head.

Suddenly, Tara spoke up. "Mom, is that her? That lady over there looks just like you!"

Billie followed the direction Tara was pointing, and sure enough, there before them in the distance, was Laurel.

"Laurel" Billie said, waving her hand in the air.

Laurel spotted them and broke into a huge grin as she made her way toward her family. Stopping within a few feet of Billie, she looked directly into her daughter's eyes to see how well received she would be. Sensing this, Billie smiled and opened her one free arm to her mother, who quickly moved in for an affectionate hug. She moved on to embrace Cat before allowing Billie to introduce her to the children.

"Laurel," she said. "This is Seth, he's twelve, Tara, age ten, and Skylar, age five. I'm afraid the little one is sick right now and more than a little shy. We need to get her home to bed," Billie explained.

"What are we 'sposed to call you?" Tara asked bluntly.

Laurel raised her eyebrow to the child in a gesture that was 'sooooo Billie', Cat had to chuckle.

Dropping to one knee in front of Tara, she cupped the side of the child's face and said, "You know, I've been thinking about that all day, and I think I like 'Nana'. What do you think?" Laurel said to Tara before looking at Seth and Skylar.

"I like that," said Tara.

"Works for me!" Seth said with all eyes turned to him.

"What about you, baby doll?" Laurel said to Skylar as she reached over to touch the child's face. Feeling the warmth, she shot a look of concern toward Cat and Billie.

"I like Nana too," Skylar said shyly.

"Then Nana it is," Laurel said. Turning to Seth, she asked, "Do you know where there's a strong young man that might be able to help me with my bags?"

"I'll help you, Nana," Seth said.

"Can I help too? I'm pretty strong," asked Tara.

Laurel smiled at the little girl and reached out her hand. Tara quickly took it as the trio headed to the luggage carousel.

While they were gone to get the luggage, Billie looked at Cat. "Well, what do you think?" she asked the smaller woman.

"I think things will be fine, Billie. It will take some adjustment, but things will be fine. Here they come," Cat commented as she watched them approach, a nearly five foot-six Seth carrying the larger of the bags, while Tara toted an overnight case. "She's managed to charm our son into doing some work... she can't be all bad!" Cat exclaimed chuckling.

**********

The ride home was pretty much uneventful, with Seth and Tara talking Laurel's ear off in the back seat. When they got home, Billie helped Laurel settle into the downstairs guest room while Cat gave Skylar fever medication and tucked her into bed for a nap. Cat was in the kitchen making coffee when Billie joined her, leaving Laurel in the guest room to finish settling in.

Billie walked up behind Cat and wrapped her long arms around her wife. Pulling her in close she nuzzled her face into Cat's neck. Cat wrapped her hand behind Billie's neck, holding the dark head in place. Billie felt a shudder pass through Cat's body. Pulling away, Billie turned Cat around and leaned her back against the counter. Lifting her chin with her hand, she noted a lone tear that had escaped Cat's eye.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Billie asked, wiping the tear away with her thumb.

"Billie, I'm worried about Sky. She's so weak and feverish all the time. It's breaking my heart. Billie, I don't know what to do to help her. All this medical training, and I can't even help my own child. I feel so damned helpless!" Cat explained, tears freely flowing at this point.

Billie placed delicate kisses on her forehead and told her that everything would be okay. "Cat, we're doing all we can to help her right now. Dr. Holder will know what to do after the blood work comes back," she explained, trying to calm Cat's fears. Seeing the pain and uncertainty in Cat's eyes, she opened her arms once more. "C'mere," she said, enveloping Cat in her warmest hug. Cat pressed herself into Billie, wrapping her arms around the taller woman's waist and resting her cheek on Billie's breastbone.

It was in this position that Laurel found them. Walking in on the tender scene, she was again surprised at the warm feeling that permeated her chest every time she saw them together like this. An aura of love surrounded the two women ... an aura so great that is could be felt by anyone who was open minded enough to see it. Laurel walked up to the pair and placed a comforting hand on Cat's back.

"Is everything okay?" she asked the women.

Billie kissed the top of Cat's head before resting her cheek on it and addressing her mother. "Sky has been ill now for over a week. I guess it's starting to get to us," she explained.

Laurel kissed Cat on the cheek. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.

Cat, forced a smile and said, "You're doing it right now. Thank you for caring, Laurel."

"Of course, I care. She is my granddaughter, you know," Laurel said, smiling.

Billie looked at her mother's profile stoically. Why am I having such a difficult time accepting your sincerity, Laurel. Is it too little, too late for me? Billie thought as she closed her heart to the woman's attempt at tenderness. Cat, on the other hand, was willing to accept love from any direction as she reached out her hand to Laurel.

"Yes, you are," she said, forcing a smile through her tears.

Looking on the counter behind Cat, Laurel said, "I see a fresh pot of coffee there. How about I pour us all a cup and we can sit and get acquainted, okay?"

Cat pulled out of Billie's embrace and wiped her eyes. "Sure," she said. The cups are in the cabinet above the pot. I'll get the cheesecake from the refrigerator and we'll sit and have a nice talk."

**********

A half hour into their conversation, the phone rang.

"I'll get it," Billie said as she rose from the table. Lifting the receiver from the wall phone, she brought it to her ear. "Hello?"

Cat watched Billie as she spoke. First, her brow furrowed deeply on her forehead.

"No, I'd like you to tell me now," Billie said.

Billie waited patiently obviously disagreeing with what the caller was saying.

"Look, I don't want to wait until tomorrow," a pause. "I know you don't usually give this type of information over the phone, but I need to know now ... tonight, please," Billie finished.

Another long pause.

"Yes?" Billie said.

.... then her eyes opened wide.

"Are you sure?" came the next reply.

.... intense fear clouded her features.

"Oh my god... no!" she cried.

.... eyes closed, tears escaping.

Cat and Laurel were on their feet immediately as Billie stumbled backward, releasing the phone and blindly walking around the kitchen, her hand covering her mouth, tears blinding her vision. "Oh my god, I'm going to be sick," she said, racing to the bathroom, Laurel right behind her.

Cat picked up the phone.

"Hello? This Cat," she said into the receiver.

"Cat? Cat, this is Dr. Holder," came the voice on the other end of the line.

Cat's heart immediately sank into her feet. She wasn't supposed to call until tomorrow! was all Cat could think.

"Cat, I need you to bring Skylar in first thing tomorrow morning. We need to do more testing," the doctor said.

"More testing?" was all Cat could manage through the heavy haze clouding her mind.

"Cat, the blood work came back early. Now, we need to do a few more tests, but indications are that Skylar has leukemia."

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

CHAPTER VI

"What do you mean, Skylar has leukemia?" Cat asked.

"Cat, you're a doctor. You know what leukemia is. She has all the symptoms and her red, white and platelet counts support it. There are several more tests that have to be done to confirm it and to determine treatment. Now, I need you to bring her in first thing in the morning. Can you do that?" Dr. Holder asked, feeling bad that she had to take such a firm approach, but in her experience sometimes it was necessary with parents who have just learned shocking news about a child's illness.

Cat was in a daze. "Tomorrow? Tomorrow is Saturday," was all Cat could say.

"I know tomorrow is Saturday, Cat, but unfortunately, diseases can't tell time, nor what day of the week it is. Now, I need you to bring her in by 9 am, all right?" Dr. Holder instructed.

"All right," Cat said, hanging up the phone, leaning her back against the wall. Within seconds, she had sunk to the floor in a heap, staring straight ahead, but not seeing anything.

Suddenly the backdoor swung open. "Hey neighbor!" Jen said, making her usual grand entrance into the room. Seeing Cat on the floor, she went immediately to her side.

"Cat! Cat, honey, what is it?" Jen said in a panic.

Cat looked at Jen blinking her eyes several times before finally recognizing her friend. Taking several gulps of air, Cat began to cry.

Wrapping her arms around her friend, Jen tried desperately to calm the crying woman. "Cat, sweetheart, please tell me what's wrong. Where's Billie?" she asked.

"Sick," Cat said.

"Billie's sick?" Jen asked for clarification.

Cat just nodded.

"I'll be right back," Jen said as she rose to her feet and went to look for Billie, finding her and Laurel in the bathroom.

Standing in the doorway of the bathroom, she saw an older version of Billie, whom she assumed to be her friend's mother, holding Billie's hair and rubbing her back as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Laurel looked up at Jen.

"Is she all right?" asked Jen?

"She will be in a few minutes ... ?" Laurel said, questioning Jen's identity with her voice.

"Jen ... I'm Jen, I live a couple of doors down. Look, Cat's pretty much a wreck in the kitchen. I'm going to go see to her. Do you have any idea what happened here?" Jen asked.

"All I know is that they received a phone call that seemed to devastate Billie ... and Cat by the sounds of it." Laurel explained.

Just then, Billie sat back on her heels, holding her stomach and looked at Jen, her eyes red rimmed from crying and from being sick. "Jen," she said, reaching out her hand to her friend. Jen immediately stepped forward and took it.

"Billie, honey, what is it? Why are you and Cat is such a state?" Jen asked?

"Jen, Sky is very sick. My baby has cancer, Jen. Sky has cancer," Billie cried.

Laurel gasped audibly.

Jen felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. "Oh my god, Billie, no!" Jen said, feeling the tears spilling onto her cheeks. Then, suddenly remembering Cat sitting crumpled on the kitchen floor, she reached out to touch Billie's face and said, "Billie, Cat needs help right now. I need to go to her, okay? Do you want to come with me?" she asked.

Billie shook her head 'yes' as Jen and Laurel helped her off the bathroom floor. Together, they made their way to the kitchen where Cat was still sitting against the wall. Billie fell to her knees and gathered Cat into her arms, where they clung to each other and cried agonizing tears of pending loss, while Jen paced back and forth across the kitchen, her gut in knots. Laurel sat at the table, trying very hard to keep her emotions in check.

Jen stopped pacing and reached for the phone. "I'm calling Doc and Ida," she said. "Cat needs their support right now."

Moments later, Jen hung up the phone and knelt down to wrap her arms around her friends, rocking back and forth with them as she shared their pain and tears.

**********

By the time Doc and Ida arrived, Billie and Cat managed to regain some control over their emotions. They had moved from the kitchen floor to the couch in the living room, where Cat sat tucked under Billie's arm, both women clinging to each other for support. When Jen called Doc and Ida, she had no details other than the fact that Skylar had cancer, so when they arrived, Ida was in quite an emotional state, and Doc had pulled his professional mask over his features.

Laurel greeted them at the door when they arrived. Doc and Ida knew that Laurel was visiting this week, but they were unprepared for just how much Billie looked like her mother, and how much Laurel looked like Melinda. Ida walked into the kitchen and locked eyes with her sister as Doc went to seek out his daughter.

"How are they?" Ida asked awkwardly, not knowing what to say to the sister she was meeting for the first time. She found herself wishing their first meeting was under more pleasant circumstances.

"Not very good, I'm afraid. They're devastated at what this could mean," Laurel replied.

Ida reached up to wipe an errant tear from her eye. "That poor baby," she said. "Do they know what kind of cancer it is?" she asked.

"Leukemia," replied Laurel. "They have a 9 am appointment tomorrow to take her in for more testing."

Ida reached out to touch her sister's arm. "You look so much like Nona, Laurel," Ida commented before hastily adding, "I'm so glad you're here. I'm sure Billie will appreciate your support."

"I'm not so sure about that, Ida. I'm afraid Billie is still having a difficult time forgiving me, although I can't say that I blame her," Laurel replied.

"Do you plan on staying long?" Ida asked.

"I had originally planned to stay for a week, but considering what has happened here, I'll stay for as long as they need me ... that is, If they want me to stay," Laurel explained.

"Laurel, Billie and Cat need us right now, but please, we need to take the time to know each other before you leave," Ida said. "We missed an entire childhood together, let's not waste the time we have now."

Laurel nodded her head. "Yes, we do. Ida, I have so many questions ... so much I don't know about my mother ... but you are right. Now is not the time. Our daughters need us," she observed.

Ida nodded as she locked arms with her sister and led her into the living room.

**********

"Okay, explain the symptoms to me again," Doc said to Cat.

Doc and Cat were sitting on the couch together, Doc holding his daughter's hand. Billie and Jen were standing near the fire place, Billie's arm resting on the mantel, her head resting on her forearm. Jen was standing next to her, rubbing her back and talking to her in low, soothing tones.

"Daddy, I've told you already. Sky has been listless, tired, she sleeps constantly. She isn't eating, she's pale, cranky. All she wants to do is be held. She's been running a low grade fever for over a week. Thank goodness she isn't fighting the liquids ... they're the only thing we can get her to take without a fight," Cat explained.

Billie turned from her position at the mantle. "Tell him about the bruise, Cat," she said.

"Oh yeah, two weeks ago, she was playing baseball with the kids and was hit in the leg with the ball. The bruise refuses to heal," Cat explained as she looked back over at Billie. By the gods, Billie, you look like hell. I just want all these people to go home so we can hold each other and work this out, Cat thought.

Seeing the look on Cat's face, Jen leaned in to Billie's ear and whispered to her that Cat needed her. Looking back and forth between her wife and friend, Billie nodded and went to sit by Cat, opening her arms and accepting Cat's small body into them.

Doc stood up and started to pace. "So Melanie has the blood tests back already, huh? Do you mind if I call her to discuss the results?" Doc asked.

"You know Dr. Holder?" Cat asked.

"Yes. She was one of my residents several years ago. A fine doctor if I should say so myself," he said.

"No, go ahead. We're willing to do anything if it will help Sky," Cat said.

"Mama?" a small voice was heard from the stairs.

Six pair of adult eyes turned toward the voice.

Cat forced a smile onto her face. "Sky, sweetie. C'mere love," she said.

Skylar stumbled her way across the floor and into her mother's arms.

"How are you feeling, angel?" Billie asked as the child settled in between her and Cat.

Skylar just shrugged. "Why is everyone here?" the child asked.

Doc knelt down in front of the little girl. "To see you, Kitten," he said, causing Cat to blink rapidly in an attempt to hold back the tears. Billie squeezed her shoulder slightly in a show of support.

Doc looked closely at the child, taking in her puffy eyes, pale skin and listless appearance. He kissed her on the forehead and noted that she was, indeed, feverish. Standing up again, he turned to address Cat and Billie. "I'm going to drop your mother off at home, then head to the office to make a few phone calls. I'll let you know if I find out anything new. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?" he asked.

Cat wearily shook her head 'no', then rested it on Billie's shoulder. It was clear that these ladies needed time alone to begin dealing with this problem. Luckily, their mothers were keenly perceptive as Ida turned to Laurel and said, "How would you like to come spend the night with us, Laurel? Doc will be at the office for god only knows how long, and beside, we need a chance to get acquainted," she suggested, taking Laurel's hand in hers.

Cat looked at her mother and thought, Real subtle, Mom ... real subtle, as Laurel answered her. "That sounds like a lovely idea, Ida," then turning to Cat and Billie, she added, "You girls don't mind, do you?"

Billie looked at her mother and thought, You two are about as subtle as bird shit on a black car, but replied by saying, "No, not at all. Go ahead. We'll call you tomorrow when we know more."

A short time later, the three parents left, leaving Jen, Cat and Billie alone with Skylar, who once again, had curled up and fallen asleep in the corner of the couch.

Cat rose to her feet and hugged Jen. "Thank you so much for being here for us, Jen. You know we love you very much. I can't imagine what we'd do without you," she said.

"Well, I don't plan on giving you a chance to find out," replied Jen. "Look ... Fred should be getting back from the ball game with the kids soon. Why don't I keep Seth and Tara for the night and let you two have some time alone with Sky, then you won't have to worry about telling the other two about this until you know more. Okay?" she suggested.

Billie too, rose to her feet and embraced their friend. "Thanks, Jen. We'll call you tomorrow after Sky's appointment," she said before leaning down to kiss Jen on the cheek.

Soon, they were alone with their sick child.

**********

"Billie?"

"Yes, love?"

"Billie, I can't bear the thought of losing her."

Billie took a deep breath to choke back the threat of tears. "Cat, I'm afraid of losing her too," she said as she reached over the small form sleeping between them to touch Cat's face.

Cat started to cry.

Billie started to cry.

Getting up from the bed, Billie walked around to the other side and climbed in next to Cat, gathering the smaller woman into her arms while they cried out their torment together as the frail wisp of a child slept beside them.

*********************************************************************************************** CHAPTER VII

"All right," Dr. Holder said as Cat and Billie sat facing her. "Billie, for your benefit, I will explain exactly what leukemia is and how it is usually treated. Okay?"

Billie nodded as Dr. Holder pulled out a flipchart explaining the basic facts about leukemia.

"Leukemia is a disease that affects the bone marrow. There are only three major types of blood cells -- red, white, and platelets. All three are produced in the bone marrow, and enter into the bloodstream in a liquid called plasma.

Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. When the bone marrow is functioning normally, the red blood count remains stable. When it isn't, anemia occurs. Anemia is characterized by a shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue. There is a protein in red blood cells called hemoglobin. In a person fighting leukemia, blood transfusions are usually warranted when the hemoglobin level drops below 8.

White blood cells protect the body from germs, manage the immune system, and help the body fight infection. The Absolute Neutrophil Count, or ANC, is used to measure the amount of white blood cells available for fighting infection. If the ANC falls below 500, there is an increased risk of infection. If it falls below 100, there is an extremely high risk.

Platelets are cells in the blood that cause clotting. If the platelet count is less than 20,000, the risk of bleeding substantially increases. For this reason, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and motrin must be avoided.

Stop me if you have any questions along the way, okay?" Dr. Holder said, pausing to catch her breath, and to turn the chart.

Billie and Cat both nodded their approval of the lesson so far, so Dr. Holder continued.

"All right. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bone where blood cells are produced. All blood cells begin in the marrow as blasts or stem cells. Blasts are very immature cells. In a normally functioning immune system, the blasts mature into red or white blood cells or platelets, depending on the need, which travel through the body to carry out their mission. In a leukemic person, the blasts look normal, but they are unable to differentiate between red, white or platelets, so they end up accumulating as islands or mounds in the bone marrow.

So, in a nut shell, a leukemic person will appear tired and listless because their body is not producing enough red blood cells, causing them to become anemic; they are prone to infection and disease because there is a shortage of white blood cells; and they bleed easily, because of a lack of platelets. All of these shortages are due to the blasts' inability to determine which type of blood cell the body needs, thereby accumulating in the bone marrow."

Dr. Holder paused to see if her audience was still with her. "Any questions?" she asked.

"Yes, I have one," Billie said. "I guess I can understand what leukemia is, but what I don't understand is how Sky caught it."

"Well, Billie, first let me say that leukemia is not contagious, so it isn't a matter of whether Sky contracted it or not. Scientists really don't understand exactly what causes leukemia. Some leukemia in animals are caused by viruses, but in humans, there is only one rare virus that can cause it. There might be some genetic predisposition to leukemia, but this requires the presence of certain chromosome damage. Certain environmental factors can cause it, like exposure to high-dose radiation, such as the survivors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. There is even the belief that people with certain immune deficiencies are predisposed to it, but overall, the examples I have given you account for a very small percentage of all the leukemia cases. For the majority of people with this disease, the cause is completely unknown."

"Great! That's just great!" Billie said, standing up and starting to pace across the room. "Our daughter develops a disease and we don't know how or why." Stopping in front of Dr. Holder, she looked pointedly at her and said, "Please don't tell me the treatment is as unknown as the cause."

"Billie, please sit down," Cat said irritably.

"No Cat, that's a good question," Dr. Holder said patiently. "Fortunately, Billie, for most patients, there is a good possibility that the disease can be brought into full remission. Unfortunately, the treatment is not a pleasant one, usually involving chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplants," the doctor explained.

"What exactly is remission?" Billie asked.

"Complete remission occurs when all signs and symptoms of the disease disappear and abnormal cells are no longer found in the blood, bone marrow, or cerebrospinal fluid," Dr. Holder explained.

Billie was pacing again.

Cat leaned toward the doctor. "You said for most patients there is a good possibility of remission. Define 'most'," she said.

"Seventy-two percent of children with childhood leukemia survive with proper treatment," Dr. Holder replied.

Cat sat back and pondered the statistics. Looking up at the doctor she said, "So that means there is still a 28% chance that our daughter will die."

Dr. Holder looked at Cat and said softly, "Yes."

A muffled curse was heard coming from the corner of the room as Billie tried very hard to control her temper. Finally, she couldn't take it any more. Choking back a sob, she reached for the door handle and paused to say over her shoulder, "Cat, I have to leave before I hit something. I'll be outside." Then she was gone.

Cat looked at Dr. Holder. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be, Cat. Actually, Billie's reaction is normal. At least she is expressing her anger. I'm more concerned about you. It's okay to be angry about this Cat. After all, this is your child we're talking about. The injustice of the situation is very difficult to understand," the doctor explained.

Cat just nodded. "So what do we do now?" she asked.

"Well, the blood work we did the other day provided us with Skylar's complete blood counts. What is missing to make the final diagnosis of the type of leukemia she has, and thereby the treatment she'll need, is a bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy," Dr. Holder paused before continuing with her explanation.

"Unfortunately, these are very unpleasant procedures, especially for a child to endure. They require the insertion of a needle into the bone marrow of the hip bone to withdraw marrow fluid. The biopsy actually requires a small piece of bone to be removed. These procedures can be made more tolerable by putting the child under anesthesia, but the discomfort of recovery from the procedures can not be avoided." Finishing her explanation, Dr. Holder sat back and took a deep breath, watching Cat carefully with a trained eye.

Closing her eyes, Cat dropped her chin to her chest, sitting there for long moments without moving a muscle.

"Cat, are you all right?" the doctor asked.

Cat opened her eyes and looked at Dr. Holder. She looked down at her hands folded in her lap, then at the wall behind Dr. Holder's head. Finally, returning her eyes to the doctor, she said, "What happens if we do nothing?"

"The disease is already affecting Skylar's immune system. The fever is indicative of some type of infection. The persistent bruise on her shin is a sign that her body lacks platelets. Her fatigue, pallor and listlessness are signs of anemia. If we do nothing, she will continue to decline. It won't be long before she develops an infection that her body won't be able to fight. In her already weakened state, it would not take long for it to overcome her. Cat," Dr. Holder said, in a tone that demanded Cat's attention, "if we do nothing, she will die."

Cat dropped her head into her hands and started crying. Billie I need you, she thought as her shoulders shook under the weight of the emotional burden.

Dr. Holder quietly rose from her chair and left the room. Several moments later, the door opened and Billie entered. Walking over to Cat, she pulled the smaller woman to her feet and wrapped her in the circle of her arms. "I'm here, Cat. I've got you ... I've got you," she said as she held the sobbing woman close to her heart.

**********

Cat and Billie spent the rest of the day at the hospital while Skylar underwent the remaining diagnostic tests, including the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, spinal tap of her cerebrospinal fluid, and a chest X-Ray to detect any potential infection in her lungs prior to the start of treatment. The procedures were grueling and painful for the parents as well as the child. Skylar spent most of the time during the procedures, clinging to Billie, and crying out for Cat. Many tears were shed, not all of which came from Skylar's eyes. By the end of the day, the child lay exhausted in Billie's arms as she carried her to the car and gently laid her in Cat's lap for the ride home.

Cat was defenseless against her own tears as she cradled her baby daughter in her arms, holding her tight and whispering "I love you" over and over. Billie had all she could do to keep the tears out of her own eyes as she watched her wife and daughter in the seat next to her, straining hard to see the road through the mist, as she maneuvered the car through the streets to their home.

Cat insisted on carrying Skylar into the house herself and putting her to bed, after cleaning the insertion wounds from her tests. Billie stood by and watched, feeling deposed and ousted in her position as Sky's protector. If truth be know, I don't feel much like a protector at the moment, she thought. I can't even protect my child from this hideous disease.

Billie turned and left the room while Cat finished preparing Skylar for bed. Cat looked over her shoulder as Billie walked away, feeling guilty that she had shut her out of this nightly ritual. Dropping her chin to her chest, she sighed deeply. I'm sorry, Billie, but I don't want to waste one precious moment with her, she thought as she pulled the blankets up to the child's chin and kissed her on the forehead.

Billie had retreated to the living room to call Jen.

The phone was answered on the first ring. "Billie? Cat?" the voice asked frantically from the other end.

"Is that any way to answer the phone, Jen?" Billie asked.

"Billie! Thank god you called. I have been worried about Sky all day. How did things go?" she asked.

Billie took a deep shaky breath. "Not so good, Jen. The doctor spent a great deal of time explaining the ins and outs of leukemia to us this morning, and everything fits ... the behavior, the fever, the bruises ... everything fits, Jen," Billie explained, her voice choking up near the end. "Gods, this is hard," she said, trying to continue. "Uhmmm, they spent the afternoon putting my sweet little angel through ... gods, Jen ... I'm .... ahhh .... I'm sorry," Billie said as she fell apart verbally on the phone. "I'm sorry ... I'm having a tough time talking about this ... damn!" Billie took a deep breath to compose herself. "They, ah ... they took bone and fluid samples ... gods, Jen, she cried so hard ... she clung to me like I could save her from all of it. It tore my heart right out of my chest. She begged us to make them stop. She cried, 'Mama, Mommy, make them stop.' Jen, I have never been so heart broken in my life." Billie took a large gulp of air before continuing. "My baby girl needed me and I couldn't do anything to help her. Gods, Jen, I would give my life if I thought it would save her from all this." Billie was sobbing openly, torturous cries ripping from her chest, her head leaning against the wall next to the phone. "Jen, what are we going to do? I can't bear to lose her?"

Little did Billie know, Cat had been standing near the foot of the stairs, just a few feet away during the agonizing phone call. The pain in Billie's voice struck raw nerves in Cat's heart. Walking down the remaining few steps, she approached Billie and placed a hand on the small of her wife's back. Billie turned abruptly and saw Cat standing there, tears running freely down her own face. Cat held out her hand for the receiver, which Billie handed over to her.

"Jen, Jen, honey, this is Cat," she said into the mouthpiece while maintaining eye contact with Billie.

"Cat. Is there anything I can do? Billie told me about the horrible day you had at the hospital. Cat, she's a mess. She really needs you right now. Are you all right?" The questions seemed to pour out of their friend nonstop.

"Jen, there is one thing you can do for us," Cat said, sniffling slightly.

"Anything, Cat, you know that." Jen vowed.

"Can you keep the kids for one more night? I don't think either one of us is in the best shape to deal with them right now," Cat observed.

"Sweetheart, they can stay here for as long as you need them to. Don't worry about Seth and Tara. Fred and I will be there for you and them," Jen said.

Listening carefully, Jen could hear both women softly crying. Her heart was breaking with the pain these people were going through. She loved these women so much. They owned a large piece of her heart and now she could feel it breaking for them under the agony of knowing their child was critically ill.

Cat came back on the line after taking a moment to compose herself. "Jen, I'm sorry. I'm afraid Billie and I are in quite a state right now. It's been a difficult day ... the first of many more to come, I'm afraid," Cat said. "We really appreciate you keeping Seth and Tara, Jen. You are a true friend, and we love you dearly," Cat finished.

"Cat ... Cat, please take care of yourself, and take care of Big Guy, okay? She's not as strong as she looks. You know that, don't you?" Jen asked.

Cat smiled slightly at the truth of her friend's words. "I know, Jen. I've known that all along, but thanks for pointing it out to me. Sometimes I forget and expect her to be stronger than what is reasonable," Cat said into the phone as she reached up with her free hand to touch the side of Billie's face. Billie caught her hand and kissed the palm.

"Take care, Cat. Kiss Billie for me, okay?" she asked.

"Only if you kiss Seth and Tara for us," Cat replied.

"It's a deal, my friend. I love you both. Goodnight," Jen finished before hanging up the phone.

"We love you too Jen," Cat said into a dead phone. Taking a deep breath, she let it out heavily as she replaced the receiver in its cradle.

Cat looked up at Billie, her red rimmed eyes mirrored in her wife's face.

"Is Sky sleeping?" Billie asked, still holding Cat's hand close to her heart.

Cat nodded her head yes.

"Good. She's had a rough day. The poor little angel is worn out," Billie said, trying to force a smile she didn't feel.

"We'll stop in and kiss her goodnight on the way to bed, okay?" Cat suggested.

Billie just nodded her head and led Cat toward the stairs by the hand she was still holding. As suggested, they stopped at Skylar's room and said their tender goodnights to the sleeping child, both promising to do their best to help her get better soon, before moving on to their room.

Stripping out of their clothes, they climbed into bed together and wrapped themselves around each other's nakedness, both needing to feel close and connected to the other. No merging of bodies or blending of souls occurred on this night, just an attempt at closeness and unity in their sorrow. Soon, sheer exhaustion and overloaded emotions drove the women into a deep sleep, away from their torturous world, if only for one night.

**********

The next day was Sunday, and the rising sun found Billie standing in the window, head leaning against the pane, traces of tears having etched tracks in her cheeks. Billie's thoughts tormented her as she imagined a small casket being lowered into the ground. Looking into the sunrise, she offered herself in place of Skylar. Take me, her mind pleaded silently, Sky is just a baby, she has so much life ahead of her ... please take me instead. Lowering her chin, she cried softly, unaware that Cat had also risen, until she felt the small arms of her wife circle her waist, and her face press against her back.

Billie turned around and took Cat into her embrace, their naked bodies pressing up against each other.

"Billie, what time did you get up?" Cat asked.

"I don't know. A few hours ago I guess," she said, placing her cheek on top of Cat's head.

"I couldn't sleep either," Cat said. "I kept praying to whichever god would listen, to take me instead. Billie, she's just a baby. It breaks my heart to think that she may never grow up. Gods ... Billie, what are we going to do if she dies? I will surely die with her, Billie, I know I will," Cat cried.

Billie kissed Cat's head and held her tighter, her own tears of intense sorrow mingling with Cat's. "We have to think positively, Cat. We need to give her all the love, support and care we can. Dr. Holder said there is a 72% survival rate, love. We need to hold on to the belief that Sky will be one of those survivors," Billie said passionately.

Cat just nodded. "Billie, we need to do something special with Sky today. No tests, no hospital, just something special," Cat said, "and, we have to tell Seth and Tara about this," she added.

"I know we do Cat, but I don't know if I can do it ... I don't know if I can keep my emotions in check long enough to tell the kids," Billie feared.

"We'll do it together, Billie," Cat said.

**********

Cat and Billie were sitting at the kitchen table having coffee when the kids came home, Jen right behind them. Tara went immediately into the living room and turned on the TV to her favorite cartoon, while Seth stopped and looked at his mothers, sensing something was wrong.

"Mom, is everything okay?" he asked.

Billie looked at Cat and then at Jen, before turning her eyes to her son.

"No, honey, everything isn't okay. Mama and I have something very serious to tell you and Tara in a few minutes. Why don't you go on into the living and watch TV with your sister while we talk with Jen, then we'll be in to see you," Billie suggested to her son, who did as he was told.

During the exchange between mother and son, Cat had bowed her head and struggled to hold back her tears. With Seth out of the room, she looked up at Billie and allowed the tears to escape down her cheeks. Billie reached over and wiped the tears away with her thumbs. "Don't cry, Cat. We need to be strong to talk to the kids," she said.

Cat just shook her head and wiped the remaining tears from her face.

Billie looked at Jen and saw their own torment mirrored in their friend's eyes. "You didn't sleep much last night, either, did you, Jen?" Billie asked.

Jen took a deep breath and shook her head no. Coming around to stand between her friends, she threw an arm around each of them and pulled them into an embrace they gladly returned. For the next several minutes, all three women shared their pain through the common bond of motherhood.

Several minutes later, Jen broke the embrace and addressed her friends as she wiped the dampness from her face. "Cat, Billie, I want you to know that I will be here for you and the kids. Anything you need, anything -- please ask. Please let me help you through this. I love you two so much, it tears my heart out to see you in such pain, and the thought of losing a child ... well, it is more than this heart can handle. I can only imagine what its like for your right now," she said. "Tara and Seth will need a place to go when things get rough. Let them come to me. My house and my arms are open to them, okay? I love them, and Skylar too, like they were my own," Jen added. Looking at her friends, she realized that she had just reduced them both to a puddle of tears. She once again, pulled them into an embrace and said her good-byes, extracting promises from them both that they would call when they needed her.

As Jen was leaving, she passed Laurel, who was just arriving from her two day visit with Ida. "Good morning, Girls," Laurel said as she embraced both women. Neither woman was in any condition to answer coherently after Jen's visit.

Looking back and forth between her daughter and daughter-in-law, she said, "Wanna talk about it?"

Billie looked at her with an expression bordering on hatred, "Our daughter may be dying, Laurel. What's there to talk about?" she said.

"Billie! That was uncalled for!" Cat exclaimed as Billie lowered her gaze to the coffee cup in front of her.

"It's all right, Cat. I understand that Billie is confused about how I could possibly care about my granddaughter when I didn't care about her all those years ago," Laurel said.

"No, Laurel. Regardless of what unfinished business there is between you and Billie, there is no excuse for rudeness," Cat explained.

"Really, Cat, I understand ...." Laurel began.

"No, Laurel, Cat is right. I'm sorry. I had no right to make that comment," Billie said. "Look, we need to put this aside for now and concentrate on getting Sky well," she added.

"Mom? Sky is dying?" Seth asked from the doorway, tears coursing down his cheeks. Tara was by his side, holding his hand tightly, fear written across her face.

**********

"Damn, me and my big mouth," Billie said. Turning toward the children, she opened her arms to them, gathering them into her embrace. "I'm sorry you heard that. Look, let's go into the living room. Mama and I have a lot to talk to you about. Okay?" Billie asked. Rising to her feet, she followed the children into the other room, leading Cat by the hand. Laurel followed, making herself inconspicuous in a corner of the room.

Cat sat between the two children on the couch, holding each of their hands, while Billie paced back and forth. The children looked expectantly between their mothers for an explanation.

Cat began. "Seth, Tara, you know your little sister has been ill lately, right?" she asked, seeing both children nod. "Well, Mom and I took her to the doctor's, and they discovered that she has leukemia," Cat explained, sounding more controlled than her emotions belied.

"What's that?" Tara asked.

"Sweetheart, leukemia is a blood disease. It's a type of cancer," Cat said, barely able to choke out the 'C' word.

"Cancer!" Seth exclaimed. "Sky has cancer?" he asked incredulously. "Mom! People die of cancer!" he said in a panic-stricken voice, his eyes wide with fear.

Billie knelt on the floor in front of her son. "Not all people, Scout," she said, taking his hands in hers. "A lot of children develop this disease and survive. We have to hope and pray that Sky will too," she finished, hoping she had given her son something to hang on to.

"Is Sky in the hospital?" asked Tara.

"No, sweetheart, she's still sleeping. In fact, I should go check on her," Cat said, staring to rise to her feet.

"I'll go, Cat. You stay with the children," Laurel said from the corner of the room.

Cat sat down again and placed and arm around each child beside her.

Seth looked up at Cat. "Will Sky need an operation, Mama?" he asked.

"I'm not sure yet, honey," she said, running her index finger down his cheek. "I imagine they'll try medicine first and if that doesn't work, then maybe she'll need an operation. Mom and I have to meet with her doctor tomorrow to discuss what to do to help Sky get well again," Cat explained.

"If she needs an operation, can I help? Can I give her part of me, like a kidney or something?" Seth asked.

"Me too!" added Tara. "I can give her a kidney too!"

Billie and Cat's eyes met and welled up with tears immediately. Billie took her son and daughter's hands in hers and brought them to her lips, allowing her tears to spill over onto them. "Seth, Tara, that is the most unselfish and loving thing I have ever heard. Sky is so lucky to have a brother and sister like you. And I think Mama and I are very lucky to have such wonderful kids. We love you two and Skylar so much," Billie said.

Cat was too choked up for words. She just wrapped her arms around her children and held them close, whispering 'I love you' to each.

Just then, Laurel came down the stairs, carrying a very groggy Skylar in her arms. "Here she is," Laurel said. "She was just waking up when I walked into her room."

Skylar reached out for Billie when she saw her. Taking the child into her arms, she mouthed the words 'Thank You' to Laurel and went to join Cat and the kids on the couch.

Billie placed Skylar on Cat's lap as her parents and siblings fussed over her, asking how she was feeling and about what she wanted to do that day.

Watching the scene from the far side of the room, Laurel smiled sadly then inconspicuously slipped away, down the hall to her own room.

Billie raised her head and watched her go, a look of intense sadness on her face.

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

CHAPTER VIII

"Well," Dr. Holder said to the two women sitting across from her. "We now know what type of leukemia we are dealing with. Sky has what is commonly referred to as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, ALL for short. It is the most common of childhood cancers and represents about 75% of all childhood leukemia cases. It is characterized by an overabundance of immature blood cells, which in turn causes a shortage of mature white and red blood cells and platelets," she explained.

Cat and Billie were holding hands as they listened to the diagnosis, while Skylar sat on the floor a few feet away, putting a puzzle together.

"What are her chances of survival, Dr. Holder?" Cat asked.

Dr. Holder smiled. "Look ... We're gong to be seeing a lot of each other over the next several months. Why don't we drop the formalities. I'd like you to call me Melanie, or Mel, if you'd like," she said pleasantly.

"My grandmother's name is Mel," Cat said absently.

"Mine too," Billie added. Seeing the confused expression on Melanie's face, Billie raised her palm to the doctor and said, "Don't ask".

"All right then, like I said the other day, there is a 72% overall survival rate with the right treatment, and if the disease is treated early enough in its cycle. Survival also depends on the individual person's ability to tolerate the treatment program," Melanie explained.

Billie frowned. "What do you mean, tolerate the treatment program?" she asked.

"Well, some would argue that the treatment is worse than the disease. The most effective treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy, although alternatives such as surgery and radiotherapy do exist," the doctor explained.

Cat's head dropped at the mention of chemotherapy. She had seen the results of the so called cure on some of it's innocent victims. Her medical mind told her that chemo was the best shot Skylar had, but her emotional mind was giving the demolition team directions to her heart as she thought of the potential side effects of the treatment.

Billie noticed the gesture. "Cat, is there something wrong?" Billie asked, grasping her hand tighter.

"No ... Well, it's just that I have seen what chemo does to some people. It is a very difficult treatment," Cat said.

"Difficult, how?" Billie asked.

Melanie answered Billie's question. "There are several side effects to chemotherapy," she began. "The risk of infection is very high. Unfortunately, chemo affects healthy blood cells as well as abnormal ones, so there will be a drop in the white blood cell count almost immediately after starting the treatment. Some of the symptoms she is already displaying will continue for a while. These may include fatigue, paleness, listlessness, and general crankiness. There may also be some bleeding. As I said, chemo affects healthy blood cells, including platelets, which clot the blood. It would not be unusual for Sky to develop unexplained nose bleeds, or bleeding gums." Dr. Holder paused to let the information settle with the women before continuing. "Unfortunately, that is just the beginning. Most patients develop nausea and vomiting from the drugs. There may be bowel irritation, including diarrhea or constipation, sores in her mouth, and weight loss. Probably the most visible side effect with be hair loss. She will probably lose it all relatively early in the process."

Billie released Cat's hand and ran her fingers through her own hair, remembering how she felt to lose all her hair to the brain surgery operation more than a year ago. Propping her elbows up on the armrests of the chair, she formed a teepee with her fingertips and rested her chin on them as she intently eyed the doctor and listened to the horrors that her daughter would have to endure ... all without a guarantee of survival.

Cat gave Billie's hand a gentle squeeze.

"So how and when do we get started?" Billie asked.

Dr. Holder rose from her chair and walked around to the front of her desk, sitting on the edge of it in front of Cat and Billie. "Well," she began, "for phase one of the treatment, we'll need to admit Sky to the hospital for a while so that we can start treatment and monitor her blood levels on a daily basis."

"How long will she be in the hospital?" asked Cat.

"Depending on her progress, I'd say a couple of weeks," Dr. Holder answered. "Maybe more, maybe less,"

"A couple of weeks?" Billie asked. "By the gods."

Cat reached again for Billie's hand, shooting a sideways look at her emotional wife. "Why such a long stay?" Cat asked.

"Well, we'd like to keep her at least through one course of treatment. A course begins with the start of chemotherapy, and goes until the blood and bone marrow cell counts are back to normal. As I said earlier, when treatment first begins, her blood cell counts will dramatically reduce. Chemotherapy basically empties both normal and abnormal cells from the bone marrow. When the bone marrow begins to recover, the blood counts will return to normal levels, however, during this process, she will be extremely vulnerable to infection. Its best to have her here for that reason, and to make it easier to take her daily blood counts," Melanie explained. "In addition, we found traces of abnormal blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid sample we took, so she will also require a treatment called Central Nervous System Prophyaxis, which consists of injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid to overcome the natural blood/brain barrier that exists in the body. That treatment will have to be done here at the hospital," Dr. Holder added.

Billie rose from her chair and started to pace. Melanie watched her walk back and forth a few times, before stopping to ask a question. "What happens then? Will she be cured?" Billie asked hopefully.

"After the first course is complete, and her blood counts are back to normal, she'll be discharged and phase two of the treatment starts. Phase two can be done on an outpatient basis. Basically, she will be given new combinations of drugs to prevent the reappearance of the disease. At this point, if all traces of the abnormal cells are gone from her blood, marrow and cerebrospinal fluid, she'll be in remission. If all goes well during this phase, she'll enter into maintenance, during which she'll receive daily low doses of chemo drugs to kill any remaining cancer cells. This maintenance period could be as long as two or three years," Melanie explained.

Cat sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap and her eyes glued to her hands, while Billie stood in front of Dr. Holder, hands on her hips and pointedly asked "Are you telling us that our daughter will be ill for the next two or three years?"

"I am saying that she will be in treatment for the next two or three years, Billie. Will she be ill for that entire length of time? No, I don't think so ... not unless she has a relapse," Melanie said.

Cat looked up. "Will she suffer the side effects of chemo throughout the maintenance period?" she asked.

"Generally, the dose is low enough during maintenance, that the side effects are minimal, if they exist at all," the doctor explained.

Billie walked over and reached down for Skylar, who went into her arms eagerly. Kissing her cheek, she held the child close to her heart, feeling the heat of her fever permeate her clothing.

Skylar put her head on Billie's shoulder and said, "Mommy, I don't feel good. My belly hurts."

Cat and Melanie both rose to their feet to look at the little girl. Lifting Sky's shirt, they noticed that the child's abdomen was somewhat extended.

The two doctor's looked at each other knowingly, then at the worried expression on Billie's face.

Melanie spoke. "Her liver and spleen are enlarged. We need to admit her today."

**********

"Art, this is Billie. Look, I have a problem that I need to arrange for a couple of weeks off to deal with. I'll take vacation if I have to," Billie said to her boss over the phone.

"Billie, where are you?" he asked.

Billie hesitated. Art really didn't need to be worrying about her.

"Billie, I won't agree to the time off unless you tell me what you're up to. Look, I'm not just your boss, I'm your friend. Let me help you, Billie," he insisted.

"I'm at the hospital, Art," Billie said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Are you hurt?" was the first question out of his mouth, remembering the two times he had rushed her to the hospital for beatings she had endured at the hands of anti-gay activists, and a would-be rapist.

"No, Art, I'm fine," she said.

"Is it Cat? The kids?" he asked, his voice laced with panic.

"Art, it's Skylar. She ... ah ... she's real sick." Billie cleared her throat, obviously having a difficult time speaking.

"What is it Billie. You can tell me. Take your time," he urged.

"She has cancer, Art. My baby has leukemia," Billie managed to get out before covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the tears.

"I'll be there in five minutes, Billie," he said, hanging up the phone before she could object.

Moments later, Billie joined Cat who sat in the waiting room near the hospital's admissions area. Skylar was sitting on her lap, facing Cat, her head resting on Cat's shoulder.

Billie sat down next to her wife and child. Reaching over, she stroked Skylar's hair, then leaned in and kissed her cheek, which was flush with fever.

"What did he say?" Cat asked.

"He said he'd be here in five minutes. He didn't give me the chance to discuss the time off once I told him about Sky," Billie said.

"He's a good friend, Billie," Cat replied.

"Yes, he is. I don't think there'll be a problem with me taking a short leave. I will spend my days with Sky here, and you can spend the nights. Then I can be home with Seth and Tara at night," Billie reasoned.

Cat just nodded her head, then looked at her wife. "Did you call your Mom?" she asked.

"Yeah. She said Seth and Tara are worried about Sky, but everything else was fine. She said not to worry about them ... that she'd be here for us as long as we needed her," Billie explained.

"Mrs. Charland?" the nurse asked.

Both women looked up at her. "Yes," Cat said.

"Mrs. Charland, come with me. We have Skylar's room ready," she said.

Following the nurse down the hall they passed the main desk and saw Dr. Holder there, talking to a nurse and writing notes on the paper attached to her clipboard. She smiled when she saw them coming. As they approached, she put the clip board down and reached out her arms to Skylar. Skylar went to her willingly.

"Hi Sweetness!" she said to the little girl. "Ready to go see your room?" she asked.

Skylar started to cry and rub her eyes with balled fists. "I don't wanna stay in the hospital," she whined.

Billie started to step forward, but was restrained by Cat's hand on her arm as they watched Melanie walk away from them, still holding Skylar in her arms. "Sky, honey," she said, walking toward the little girl's room, "you need to stay her for a little while so we can make you feel better. You want to feel better, don't you?" she asked the child.

Skylar shook her head yes.

"Well, then, let's make a deal. You be a good girl and stay here with all the nice nurses and I'll get permission for your moms to say with you. Sound good?" she asked.

Skylar's face lit up. "Can Mama and Mommy sleep here too?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, they can," Melanie said as they entered Skylar's semi-private room.

Skylar looked at the single bed. "I think we need a bigger bed, Dr. Holder," she said in all seriousness, "'cause me and Mommy and Mama can't fit in it," she observed.

Melanie threw back her head and laughed. Turning around, she looked at a blushing Cat and Billie before commenting on the child's observation. "Sky, honey, Mama and Mommy will have to take turns staying with you. I'm afraid this is the biggest bed we have. Is that okay?" she asked.

Skylar looked over at Cat and Billie who were grinning and nodding their heads at the child. Looking back at Dr. Holder, she said, "I guess that's okay."

"All right, little one," she said, placing the sick child on the bed. "Why don't you get out of those clothes and into this hospital gown so I can examine you," she finished, giving the gown to the child.

Cat made a move to help her, but Melanie motioned for her to let Skylar do it herself.. Cat looked a little put out at the doctor's instruction. "Look, Cat. I know its a natural instinct for a mother to want to help a sick child, but too much of that, and she'll become dependent on you, then pretty soon, she'll expect you to do everything for her," Melanie explained.

Billie came up behind Cat and wrapped her arms around the woman, pulling her back against her chest, in an effort to soothe hurt feelings. Bending over, she whispered in her ear, "She's right Cat. I know it goes against your nature, but let her keep her independence." Billie placed a light kiss on Cat's cheek and whispered "I love you," to the smaller woman before releasing her.

Moments later, Melanie was finished with her evaluation. Excusing herself, she left the room to order an IV for the child and the insertion of an implanted catheter.

Cat climbed onto the bed next to Skylar and sat with her back against the headboard. Skylar immediately tucked herself in against her mother, while Cat's arms instinctively wrapped around the small child. Billie half-reclined across the middle section of the bed, facing her wife and daughter. Reaching over, she rubbed Skylar's leg.

"Sky, honey, Mama and I have been talking about our work schedules, and if I can take the time off from work, I will stay with you during the days, and Mama will stay with you at night," Billie began.

"You've got it, Billie," came a voice from the doorway.

"Uncle Art!" Skylar exclaimed in a weakened voice at the sight of the big man.

Art walked over to the bed and scooped Skylar up into his arms. "How's my favorite girl?" Art asked the child, hugging her close and kissing her feverish cheek.

"I gotta belly ache," Skylar said.

"Boy, that's too bad," Art said. "Is that why you're here?" he asked.

"Dr. Holder says I have 'kemia and I haveta stay in the hospital for a little while, but Mama and Mommy can stay here too if they want, and they can even sleep here!" Skylar explained, wide eyed.

"Oh really?" Art asked. "Cool. Sounds like Mom will be spending some time with you during the day for the next couple of weeks, 'cause I don't want to see her at work until you feel better," Art said to the child, but looking sideways at Billie.

"Thank you," Billie mouthed to her friend and employer.

Art looked over to Cat. "Cat, are you able to get time off?" he asked.

"As a matter of fact, I can. I have asked the hospital only to schedule me for surgeries on an emergency basis, at least until Skylar is released and is being treated on an out-patient basis," she explained.

Just then, the technician came in to insert the implanted catheter and start an IV. The minute Billie saw the tray of needles and tubes, she turned green and clutched her stomach.

Seeing her wife's reaction, Cat excused herself for a moment and took Billie aside. "Sweetheart, why don't you go to the cafeteria and get us each a coffee while they do this. I'll stay with her, Okay?" she suggested.

Billie looked down at Cat, a worried expression on her face. "Cat, I feel like I'm deserting her," she said.

Cat reached up and touched the side of Billie's face. "Billie, its okay, really. I'll tell you what," she said, grinning, "Why don't you stop at the gift shop downstairs and bring something back for her, all right?"

Billie lowered her head and placed a tender kiss on Cat's mouth, receiving shy grins from the technicians who were readying the equipment for the procedure. "All right, love. Can I bring anything else back for you?" she asked.

"Just coffee, and yourself, Billie. That's everything I need," Cat replied.

Billie smiled and kissed her once more before kissing Skylar and promising the child that she would be back in a few minutes.

Handing Skylar over to Cat, Art excused himself and followed his friend out for coffee.

**********

Billie walked with determined strides toward the elevator, Art right behind her, struggling to keep up.

"Charland, will you slow down?" he said irritably.

Billie stopped when she reached the elevator and pushed the down button. She kept her back to Art the whole time.

"Billie," Art said.

No reply.

He tried again, this time placing his large hand on her shoulder. "Billie, talk to me," he said.

Billie lost it. Dropping her chin to her chest, she covered her face with her hands and started to cry.

Oh Great! This is just great! Art said to himself as Billie cried. He was just no good when women cried. Whenever his wife Marge wanted her way with something, all she had to do was cry. Art didn't know what else to do except open his arms to his friend and hold her. Billie cried in the circle of Art's arms, clinging to him in silent desperation. Realizing they made quite a spectacle standing there, he gently nudged her into the stairwell near the elevator, where they sat side by side on the stairs, Billie tucked comfortably under Art's arm, her head leaning on his shoulder. Art said nothing as he held her and let her cry out her sorrow.

Finally, when she had exhausted her reserve of tears, she lifted her head off his shoulder and looked at him, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Art," she said.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Billie," Art said. "Your child is sick. If that isn't reason enough to be upset, then I don't know what is. Tell me, Billie, is there anything Marge and I can do for you, or Skylar?" he asked.

Billie covered her face with both hands and wiped her tears away. "I don't know what anyone can do, Art, short of hoping and praying that the treatment works. Gods, if she dies....." Billie couldn't go on.

"She won't die, Billie. You're giving her the best medical attention possible. She has you and Cat and the kids praying for her, not to mention your other friends and family. She'll make it, Billie, I know she will," he said, hugging her once more.

Billie looked up at him through misty eyes. "Thanks, Art. I don't know how to thank you for your support. You're a good friend," she said.

"No thanks are necessary, Billie. You'd do the same for me. By the way, you take all the time off you need ... no questions asked, all right?" he said.

Forcing a smile, Billie thanked him once more and kissed him on the cheek, causing an attractive blush to spread across his handsome brown-skinned features.

Rising to her feet, Billie extended her hand to her friend. "Let's go, Big Guy. I've got to go buy my kid something ... not to mention a coffee for her mother ... she'll have my hide if I forget that!" Billie joked, trying to lighten the mood.

**********

"Sky, honey, you have to sit still," Cat instructed the child as the technician tried to numb the skin prior to inserting the needle for the implanted catheter.

"Mama, he's gonna hurt me. I don't want that needle!" Skylar cried.

"Sweetheart, after this tube is in, they can give you your medicine through it every day," Cat explained. "Would you rather they gave you a needle every day instead?" she asked.

Skylar's eyes grew wide. "No!" she exclaimed.

"Then, honey, please cooperate. They need to do this to help you feel better, okay love?" Cat asked.

Skylar had no choice but to cooperate, however, she clung to Cat, crying hysterically during the entire procedure. Cat's heart was both breaking for the child, and unreasonably angry at Billie for leaving her to deal with the situation alone. In her hurt and sorrowful state, she had forgotten that it was she who urged Billie to leave the room during the procedure.

By the time the procedure was over, and the technicians had left, Cat was a total wreck. Tears were flowing down her cheeks, as she held the sobbing child in her arms, rocking her back and forth, trying to soothe her fears. Skylar was crying over and over that she wanted to go home. In was in this state that Jen found her when she entered the room.

Approaching the chair, Jen knelt on the floor next to her and placed her hand on Cat's arm. Cat looked over at her and allowed all the sorrow, hurt, anger and heartbreak to show in her eyes. Without saying a word, Jen opened her arms and took both Cat and Skylar into them. Cat sobbed violently as Jen held them, rocking back and forth ever so gently.

Finally, the sobbing stopped as Cat repeatedly caught her breath in hiccuping gulps. Skylar had fallen asleep in her mother's arms while being rocked by Jen. Cat pulled her head off Jen's shoulder and looked at her friend.

"Let me have her, Cat. I'll put her to bed," Jen said, lifting the small child out of Cat's arms. Cat sat there in a daze as she watched her friend tuck her sleeping daughter into the hospital bed.

"Cat, what is this tube coming out of Skylar's chest?" Jen asked.

"It's called a Hickman catheter. It allows the chemo drugs to be administered without repeated injections," she said distractedly.

"Good idea," Jen said as she finished tucking the blankets around the child. Returning to Cat, she once again knelt on the floor and placed her arm around her friend's shoulder. "Wanna talk about it?" she asked.

Cat rose to her feet and walked to the window. Jen followed, wrapping her arms around her friend's waist from behind and pulling her in close. Cat let her head fall back to rest on Jen's shoulder. "Jen, I'm so afraid," she said. "If she dies...." Cat was too choked up to continue.

Jen kissed the side of Cat's head. "She won't die, Cat. We won't let her. You're giving her the best medical help available. She'll make it, my friend. I know she will. Look, she's got you, Billie, the kids, and the rest of your friends and family rooting for her. She can't help but make it," she finished.

Cat took a deep shuddering breath. "You think so?" she asked.

"I know so," Jen replied determinedly.

*********************************************************************************************** CHAPTER IX

Skylar's chemotherapy treatments started later that evening, after dinner, with the injection of four drugs into the implanted catheter. Cat and Billie stood by, Billie wrapped around Cat, as they watched the technician administer the drugs. Dr. Holder sat on the edge of the bed next to Skylar's as they all waited to see if there would be any immediate adverse effects from the treatment. Skylar was looking at a comic book that had been brought in from the nursery, nearly oblivious to the worried and strained expressions around her.

Dr. Holder motioned for Cat and Billie to meet her at the other end of the room by the window.

"How long before we know if she's tolerating the treatment?" Cat asked.

"It varies person to person, Cat. We'll have to keep an eye on her to see," Melanie explained.

"Maybe she won't have any side effects," Billie said hopefully.

Melanie took a deep breath. "That's possible, of course, but not very probable. At the very least, all her blood cell counts will drop dramatically as the chemo drugs take effect. This will put her at high risk for anemia, infection and bleeding, but as you know, in order to kill the cancer cells, the healthy cells have to go as well. If the treatment works, the healthy cells will multiply and repopulate in a couple of weeks, but the cancer cells won't," she explained.

"Mommy!" Skylar exclaimed as all eyes turned to her. "My belly hurts."

Before any of them could reach her, or the container on the night stand, Skylar vomited all over herself and the bed. Seeing the mess she had made, she started to cry as more spasm wracked her small body.

Cat and Billie reached her at the same time as the small child climbed into Billie's arms, but continued to wretch into the container that Cat was now holding under her chin. Before she was done, she managed to soil Billie's clothing as well as her own. Billie lifted Skylar into her arms and brought her over to the chair, holding her trembling body close as the interns came in to change the soiled sheets.

Melanie retrieved a basin of warm water and a cloth and handed them to Cat who proceeded to clean Skylar up and dress her in a clean hospital gown as she sat in Billie's lap. Then taking the sick child from her wife, Cat laid down on the bed, wrapping a weakened Skylar in her arms as Billie did her best to clean the vomit off her own clothing.

"Cat, I need to go home and change. Is there anything you'd like me to bring back?" Billie asked.

Cat reached her hand out to Billie, who took it and brought it to her lips. "Just yourself love," Cat answered.

Billie kissed Cat gently, then repeated the gesture on her baby daughter. "I'll be back soon, Sweet Pea. Is there anything you want from home?" she asked.

"Petey," replied Skylar, referring to the worn out, beat up teddy bear whose fur she had effectively loved off. Billie smiled and kissed the child again. "Okay, love bug. I won't forget. I'll bet Petey would love to come sleep with you here. I'll be back soon," she finished before placing one more kiss on Cat's forehead, then heading out into the hall.

Dr. Holder caught her before she headed to the elevator. "Billie," she said. "Why don't you have your other two children put together a 'care package' for Sky, you know, a collection of her favorite books and toys, and maybe they can make her get well cards to bring back and hang in her room. She's going to be here for a couple of weeks at the very least. She'll be more comfortable surrounded by some of her personal things," Melanie finished.

Billie smiled. "That's a good idea. Thanks!" Turning, she was soon on her way home.

**********

When Billie arrived home, she was greeted by two children, very eager to see how their little sister was. As habit dictated, Tara ran and threw herself into Billie's arms the minute she saw her, that is, until she realized what was all over her mother's clothing.

"Ewwwww, let me down, quick!" Tara exclaimed as she scrambled out of Billie's arms as fast as she could.

"Sorry, squirt. Your sister threw up on me. That's why I'm home - to change my clothes and pick up a few things," Billie explained.

"Is Sky gonna be all right Mom?" Seth asked.

Billie reached down and caressed the side of her son's face. "I sure hope so, sweetie." Then, remembering what Melanie had suggested, she said, "Look, Dr. Holder thought it might be a good idea for you two to put together a care package for your sister. You should include some of her favorite toys and games, stuffed animals ... you know the things she likes to play with. Oh ... and if you hurry, you have time to jump on the computer and make a couple of get-well cards for her while I get out of these smelly clothes and take a shower, okay?" Billie said. The kids were off in a shot, racing to see who would make their card first.

Billie turned to head for the stairs and encountered her mother in the doorway to the living room. "Laurel," she said.

An awkward pause.

"Laurel, I want to thank you for staying with Seth and Tara today. We didn't realize when we took her to the doctor's this morning that they would admit her today. We really appreciate it," Billie said.

"Billie, look at me," Laurel said.

Billie hesitated at first, but finally met her mother's eyes.

"Billie, I know you have every reason in the world to be angry with me. I know I denied you a real mother, a real family, but please let me make that up to you now. I want to help you. Please don't thank me for trying to fit into your life and the lives of my grandchildren," Laurel finished.

Billie just looked down at the floor and nodded her head. Meeting Laurel's eyes again, she said, "Look, I have to take a shower. I need to get back to the hospital. I'm not sure what time I'll be home tonight ..."

Laurel took Billie by the shoulders. "Billie, I said let me help. It doesn't matter what time you come home, or even if you come home. I will be here with Seth and Tara. I won't leave until you tell me to, okay?" she said.

"And what about Jim, Laurel. Won't your husband object to you spending so much time with your gay daughter?" Billie asked, venom lacing her voice.

Laurel sighed deeply. "Billie, I won't allow Jim, nor you, to force me to choose between you. There is room in my life for both of you. If you can't accept each other, then that's just too bad. I'm not asking you to accept Jim, nor for Jim to accept you. All I am asking is for you to accept me," Laurel stated.

Billie locked eyes with her mother for several moments, then said, "I have to go shower, excuse me." Brushing past her, Billie headed for the stairs.

**********

When Billie arrived back at the hospital, she found Skylar asleep in Cat's arms, both of them curled up on the bed. Cat was lying there stroking Skylar's red-gold hair, remnants of tears evident on both their face. Billie leaned over and kissed Cat gently on the cheek, prompting her to roll onto her back and pull Billie down for more. Several kisses later, Billie asked how things were going.

"She just barely fell asleep. The poor baby threw up for another hour after you left," Cat said, new tears springing to her eyes as she relayed the events.

Billie fished Petey out of the bag she brought and placed him under one of Skylar's arms. Leaning down, she kissed her daughter affectionately, then climbed in behind Cat, spooning her frame behind her wife, and wrapping long arms around both her girls. Cat snuggled into Billie, eliminating any space between them.

"Billie, tell me we'll get through this intact," Cat said pleadingly.

"We'll get through this, love. We will. All of us. I just know it," Billie said, kissing the back of Cat's head. "Sleep now, Cat. Tomorrow will be another long day."

Soon, all three were sleeping soundly in the hospital's biggest bed.

**********

Skylar tossed and turned all night, alternating between sweating profusely with fever, to vomiting what little remained in her stomach from dinner the night before. Billie and Cat slept very little after their initial nap, spending most of the night trying to convince Skylar to drink water or juice to re-hydrate her depleted system. A great deal of crying was done by all three, Cat and Billie's during the short periods when Skylar did sleep, not wanting to cry in front of their daughter. Knowing the night would be long, the ladies took turns sleeping when Skylar slept, tending to her when she woke crying or vomiting, and watched over her through the night. When morning came, all three were exhausted. Melanie said as much when she came in bright and early to check on Skylar while she was eating breakfast.

"You two look like hell," she said, looking back and forth between the two ladies. "Don't tell me you both stayed with her last night," she said in a voice that indicated she already knew the answer. Looking at two guilty faces, she added, "Remind me to talk to you two about this later." Then, turning her attention to Skylar, she reached down and picked the child up, cradling her in her arms and said, "Didn't sleep very good last night, huh Pumpkin?"

Skylar shook her head no, a pathetic look on her face.

Melanie felt Sky's feverish forehead and frowned. "Still feverish, kiddo. I'm going to order some children's chewables for you to take it down, then we'll need to give you more medicine for the leukemia, okay?" she said to Skylar.

Skylar's bottom lip started to quiver. "I don't wanna frow up no more," she whined, looking at Billie who was leaning with her backside against the window sill. "Mommy, do I haveta?" she asked.

Billie closed her eyes and sighed. Opening them again, she saw all three of the room's occupants looking at her. Cat and Melanie warning her with their eyes to say the right thing, while Skylar looked at her hopefully. Damn it! she thought to herself, Why do I have to be the one to break her heart? Looking at Skylar, she said, "Sweetheart, if Dr. Holder says you need the medicine to make you feel better, then we have to do it. I'm sorry, love." Billie was fighting the tears in her own eyes that matched the ones that were now escaping Skylar's.

"But Mommy, I don't feel better when I frow up. It hurts my belly," she cried.

"I'm sorry, baby, but you have to," Billie said again, feeling lower than the belly of a snake.

Skylar dropped her chin to her chest and pouted, crossing her arms in front of her and refusing to look at any of the adults. Billie usually found this behavior in her daughter amusing, since it reminded her so much of Cat when she pouted, but today, she didn't feel like smiling. Looking over at Cat, she saw that her wife too was struggling with the image, biting her lip to prevent the tears. Billie opened her arms to Cat as they stood there and watched the technician administer another dose of chemo drugs to their daughter through the catheter. Cat buried her face in Billie's shirt, not wanting to see the hurt in her daughter's eyes for their betrayal.

Again, they watched her for several minutes, and were surprised when she laid down and drifted off to sleep rather than lose what she had eaten for breakfast.

Melanie took this opportunity to talk to Cat and Billie. Cat was still enveloped in Billie's arms, and remained as such during the lecture. "First, let me say that if both of you insist on staying with her at night, neither of you will make it through the first week. The best scenario would be for one of you to take the day shift, and the other the night shift, sleeping on the shift you're not here. At the very least, take turns so that each of you has every other night off to get some sleep." Melanie paced back and forth in front of the ladies as she continued. "Now, I told you earlier that we found traces of abnormal cells in Skylar's cerebrospinal fluid, and that we would have to do a Central Nervous System Prophyaxis. I'd like to do that today, preferably as soon as she wakes up. Administering the drug as soon as possible after the dose she just received will allow the side effects to happen all at once, giving her some relief later in the day." Melanie finished, continuing to pace.

"Melanie, what is it you're not telling us?" Billie asked, sensing Dr. Holder's hesitation to continue.

Melanie stopped and looked at the ladies, anxious expectation on their faces. "We need to implant another catheter between two vertebrae in her spine to tap directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. Remembering her behavior when the first catheter was inserted, I fully expect her to resist, so I'm nervous about doing this procedure without putting her under anesthesia," Melanie explained. "I would hate to see her trashing about while we were tapping into her spine," she added.

Cat could feel Billie tense behind her. Turning around in her wife's arms, Cat reached up and placed two fingers on Billie's mouth to silence the tirade she knew was coming. Billie looked down at her, a frown etched into her brow, not understanding Cat's intentions.

Turning back to Melanie, Cat said. "I agree. We can't have Skylar thrashing about during the implant, however," she paused to get Melanie's full attention, "I'll agree only if I administer the anesthesia myself," she declared.

Melanie looked at her long and hard for several moments, struggling with the medical ethics involved in this decision. Finally, she spoke. "All right, Cat, I'll agree to that."

Cat smiled as Billie visibly relaxed behind her. "Let's do it then," Cat said.

**********

With Skylar under anesthesia, insertion of the spinal catheter went quickly and successfully, with Cat sitting at the head of the operating table, keeping close tabs on her daughter's vital signs as she administered the anesthesia. A short time later, Skylar was returned to her bed and a dose of chemo drugs injected into the spinal catheter. Again, they waited and watched for adverse effects. They didn't have to wait long.

Within minutes of administering the new drugs, Skylar woke up screaming. Seeing Cat, she reached out to her and clung for dear life as her mother gathered her up into her arms. "Mama, it hurts," she cried. "My head hurts."

Cat looked to Melanie, who indicated that the pain was a normal reaction.

"Mama, it hurts, make it stop," she cried again.

"Sweetheart, calm down, please. Crying will only make it hurt more. Sweetie, please calm down," Cat begged the child.

Skylar was sobbing violently. "Mommy," she said into Cat's shoulder. "I want my Mommy," she said again.

Billie took a step forward, but stopped short when she saw the angry look in Cat's eyes. She was totally taken back by Cat's reaction. What did I do? she thought. By the gods, she looks ready to kill. Cat, what's wrong?

"Mom .... Mom ... my," Skylar cried again, sobs interjected between syllables.

Cat consciously quelled the green eyed monster dwelling within her chest, and handed her daughter over to Billie. Skylar clung to the taller woman, burying her face deep into Billie' shoulder, a death-lock around her neck and she sobbed out her pain and confusion in her mother's arms. Another look passed between Cat and Billie before Cat excused herself and left the room. Billie watched her go with pain and confusion of her own written across her face.

Melanie approached Billie and placed a hand on her arm. "Billie, this is very hard on all of you, but especially on Cat. I know you love Skylar like your own, but Cat is her birth mother, and to hear the child beg so desperately for you instead of her, is breaking her heart. Do you understand?" she asked the tall woman.

Billie looked at Melanie and swallowed hard. "I understand, Melanie," she said, "but what's important right now, is what Sky wants and needs. I won't turn my back on my daughter ... our daughter ... Cat's and mine," she explained.

"I'm not asking you to turn your back on Sky, Billie. What I'm asking is that you try to understand how Cat feels," Melanie explained.

Billie looked at Melanie and then at the empty doorway that Cat had just retreated through. "I'll try," she said, "I'll try."

**********

Skylar spent the entire morning vomiting up her breakfast and alternately being held by both her mothers. Cat had returned about an hour after she had left, curtly apologizing for leaving so abruptly, but not apologizing for her reaction. Billie tried to distance herself from the situation to give Cat more time with Skylar, but the child would have none of it, begging to be taken and held by the taller woman.

By lunch time, Sky was too weak and tired to eat, although she did eat a little applesauce and juice for Cat as she sat in Billie's lap. Cat laid across Skylar's bed as Billie sat back in the chair with the child sprawled across her lap when Melanie came in with her blood work result from that morning. As she entered the room, she could feel the silent tension permeate the atmosphere as she looked back and forth between the ladies.

Melanie perched herself on the end of the bed and addressed both women. "Well, Sky's ANC is at 500. Normal is 1000. this means that the chemo is doing its job emptying the bone marrow of cells. When it reaches a level between zero and 200, it should start to climb again, and if all goes well, over the next two weeks, it should be back to normal, then we can start the second phase of treatment," she said.

"And if all doesn't go well?" Cat asked.

"Then we give it more time ... and if more time doesn't work, we try an alternate approach," she said, "but we're being a little premature with this discussion. Let's think optimistically," she encouraged. Walking over to Skylar, she leaned down and kissed the child on the forehead, noting yet again that she was still feverish. "We'll have to do something about that fever real soon, little one," she said before standing erect again and promising to return later in the day.

Dr. Holder passed Jen on her way out of the room. "Hi!" Jen said cheerfully to both women as she entered the room. She immediately noticed the tension and gave Billie a questioning look as she bent down to kiss Skylar. "How are you feeling, Rugrat?" she asked the child.

Skylar, who had been lying with her back against Billie's chest, smiled weakly and said, "My belly hurts."

"Well, I'm sure you'll start to feel better soon, love," Jen told her before placing another kiss on her cheek. Then, looking up at Billie, she said, "and how's Mom and Mama doing?"

Cat sat up on the edge of the bed and sighed deeply. Billie just sat there silently, holding Skylar in her arms.

"That good, huh? Wanna tell me what's going on here?" she asked, looking back and forth between the women. Receiving no response from either, she said, "Okay, Cat, in the hall, NOW! Since Billie's tied up at the moment, I'll talk to you first," she demanded.

Cat obediently got up and went out into the hall, followed by Jen, who locked arms with her and walked her down to the solarium before starting to talk.

"Okay, spill it," Jen said once they reached the end of the hall.

"Spill what, Jen?" Cat asked innocently.

Jen backed Cat up against the wall and pinned her there with a hand on either side of her. "Don't mess with my head, Cat. You know damned well what I'm talking about. I walked into that room and had to fight my way through the tension, its so thick. Now, what's up? ... and I want a straight answer!" she said firmly.

Cat locked eyes with Jen for several moments before they misted over too much for her to see. Closing them, she allowed the tears to flow down her cheeks. Jen instantly melted and took Cat into her arms.

"Cat, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so gruff," Jen apologized.

"No, Jen, it's not you. It's me. I can't help it. Jen, she's my wife, I shouldn't feel this way. She's Sky's mother too. They've always been close. Oh, Jen, I don't know what to do. I can't help feeling this way," Cat cried disjointedly.

"Whoa... wait a minute. Cat, slow down and tell me again. This time, give me just a little more detail, okay?" Jen asked, leading Cat over to the couch at the far end of the solarium.

Cat sat down heavily, with Jen beside her. Jen took her hand and held it between her own as she talked. "I'm jealous, Jen. Jealous of my own wife and child," she said. Seeing the look of confusion on Jen's face, she continued. "Every time Sky is in pain, every time she has a bad reaction to the chemo, every time she wakes up screaming, she calls out for Billie. If I'm the only one there, then she is satisfied, but as soon as Billie enters the room, she wants nothing to do with me. Gods, Jen, why do I feel this way. Billie is a wonderful mother to all of our children. I have no right to be jealous," Cat explained.

Jen was staring at the floor, nodding her head up and down. Looking at Cat, she said, "You can't help but blame Billie for this, can you?"

Cat nodded her head. "No I can't. I know she's not doing it on purpose, but damn it, Jen, Skylar is my daughter. I gave birth to her. I endured the heinous rape which conceived her. She's mine, Jen," Cat said passionately.

"Cat," a voice said from a few feet away.

Jen and Cat both looked up to see Billie standing there.

"Uhmmm, Skylar is sleeping. I put her to bed. I .... uhmmm ... I'm going home for a while, okay? I'll spend some time with Seth and Tara," she said as she turned to walk away. Stopping after a few feet, she turned around and said, "I'll come by tomorrow morning to see Skylar. Goodnight."

Jen and Cat sat there paralyzed with regret. Neither of them knew that Billie had been standing there for the better part of Cat's explanation. Neither of them knew until it was too late.

Continued in Part II