DISCLAIMERS:

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

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

VIOLENCE: None

KLEENEX RATING: 1 box

TIME LINE/CONTINUITY: This is the fourteenth installment in a modern day Uber-Xena series, starting with "The 'Commitment'" and followed by "A Family in Blood," "Personal Preferences," "Fighting City Hall," "Visions in Paradise," "What's In A Name?," "Promise Me Paradise," "While I Was Gone ...," "Unchained Memories," "Happy Campers - NOT!," "At Loose Ends," "On Solid Ground" and "Sweet Angel." 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... however, I do beg for constructive criticism. Please send feedback to warriorx@together.net. A very big thank you to my wonderful beta readers ... Mom, Ili, Dar, KJ, and my lovely wife, Marni. I really appreciate it. Finally, a big thank you to those who graciously host my stories and provide a forum for my expression.
kd :-)

SPECIAL NOTE: Many thanks to Enrique Iglesias and Bruce Springstein who unknowingly lent their lyrics to this story.

Tailspin

By: kd bard

Started 10/19/2001

Finished 03/25/2002

CHAPTER VI

Cat and Billie entered the kitchen to the sounds of the TV blaring loudly from the family room.

"I'll get it," Billie said as Cat headed toward the cellar door.

"All right ... I'll check on Skylar then," Cat replied as she detoured into the living room on her way to the second story bedrooms.

Billie descended the basement steps quietly, intending to sneak up on Tara to scare her from behind. Reaching the bottom stair, she looked around. The back of the couch faced the cellar stairs, illuminated in stark relief by the only light source in the room - the TV. Scanning the area, she saw no apparent sign of life. The room was seemingly empty. "Tara?" she said.

Two heads popped up quickly from behind the couch, followed by lanky bodies scurrying into a seated position.

"Mom!" Tara exclaimed nervously. "You're home early!"

"Apparently, not early enough!" Billie replied. "Wanna introduce me to your friend?" she said, crossing her arms and striking a pose that clearly indicated her agitated state.

Tara looked back and forth between her mother and her companion. "Ah... ah.... Mom, this is Kevin. Kevin, my mom," Tara said haltingly.

"Kevin," Billie said dryly, reaching out to shake the youngster's hand just a little too firmly. "Nice to meet you ... Now, I think it might be a good idea if you said goodnight to Tara," she added.

Kevin winced as his hand was squeezed between Billie's fingers. Looking up at the imposing woman towering over him, he stammered, "Ah ... yeah ... right. Goodnight. Good idea." Turning to Tara, he added, "I guess I'll see you later."

"I'll walk you to the door," Billie offered.

"Mom... you don't have to do that," Tara blurted.

"Oh yes I do. You wait right here, sweetheart, okay?" Billie replied in a saccharine voice as she patted the side of Tara's face.

Now it was Tara's turn to frown. When Billie used that tone of voice, it usually meant she was in big trouble. The nervous jitters settled in her stomach as she watched Billie, followed by Kevin, ascend the stairs. Kevin looked back at Tara with a look of sheer terror on his face. Tara winced once more.

Cat entered the kitchen at the same time Billie did.

"Sky is sound asleep, love... oh, and Seth isn't home yet," she proclaimed, noticing the young man following closely behind Billie as she finished her sentence. Her eyes flew open wide, then narrowed into slits as her mind registered the situation that Billie most probably walked in on down in the family room. "And who is this?" she asked sternly, placing her hands on her hips.

Billie took Kevin's arm and pushed him ahead of her, toward Cat. "This," she said with emphasis, "is Kevin. It seems he was keeping our daughter company while we were out. Kevin, this is Cat - Tara's mother," Billie said, making the introductions.

Kevin was obviously confused about Cat's title, seeing that Tara had just introduced Billie by the same name. Too terrified to ask, he simply shook Cat's hand and said the expected, "Nice to meet you," greeting.

Before Cat could say anything to the frightened young man, Billie took his arm once more and guided him toward the door. "Kevin was just leaving," she said, glancing back at Cat. Reaching the back door, she pulled it open and stepped aside for Kevin to exit. "Goodnight, Kevin," she said firmly.

"G... Goodnight," he said before making a hasty retreat out the door, breaking into a dead run down the driveway as soon as his feet hit pavement.

Billie closed the door and turned back to Cat. "Looks like we need to have that talk with Tara," she said. "I just hope it isn't too late."

**********

"For crying out loud, we didn't do anything!" Tara exclaimed as she sat on the family room couch, looking up at both mothers, who stood before her, anger radiating from their body language.

"Tara, when I came into this room, the two of you were obviously flat out horizontal on the couch. Christ, I couldn't even see you until you scrambled to sit up!" Billie shouted, throwing her arms up into the air.

"But we didn't do anything! Just a little kissing," she explained.

"You don't need to lay down to kiss, Tara," Billie responded angrily.

"Wait ... wait a minute," Cat interrupted, trying to calm Billie down. "Look, if you said you didn't do anything, then I guess we have to believe you," she said, drawing an incredulous look from Billie. Turning back to Tara, she added, "Tara, do you understand what could have happened? Do you understand that allowing yourself to get into the position Mom found you in could lead to things you are not prepared to handle?" Cat asked while Billie paced behind her.

Tara knew exactly what Cat was getting at. "Gee Ma, even I know you can't get pregnant by kissing! Geesh! I did have sex education in school... I do know how babies are made!" she said sarcastically.

Billie was about to reach forward and strangle her oldest daughter. Cat placed a restraining hand on her arm to effectively calm her. "Tara, we really can do without the sarcasm," Cat scolded. "Look, you're fourteen years old. You're a smart girl. We all know you can't get pregnant by kissing, but you can get pregnant by allowing the heat of the moment to carry you away, allowing yourself to do something you'll regret later," she emphasized.

"Ma... I had no intentions of having sex with Kevin!" Tara said in a raised voice.

Billie stopped pacing and stood behind Cat's shoulder. "But did Kevin have intentions of having sex with you?" she asked sternly.

Tara looked at both of her mothers. "I.... I don't know," she admitted. "Yes... No.... Maybe... Heck! I don't know. I wouldn't have let him anyway," Tara vowed.

Billie looked down into Cat's face, looking for silent approval for what she was about to say to their daughter. Cat read the plea in Billie's eyes as she nodded her head slightly in affirmation, then began her own journey, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

Sitting down next to Tara, Billie took the girl's hand in her own and squeezed it lightly. Tara refused to look her in the face. Reaching over, Billie placed her fingers under Tara's chin and forcibly turned her head so that their eyes met. "Tara," Billie began. "Honey, you do know that if Kevin wanted to have his way with you, he might have succeeded, just because he's bigger and stronger than you. He could have used force to take what he wanted." Billie silenced Tara's emerging protest with two fingers against the teenager's lips. "I'm not saying he would have done that, Tara ... but he could have. Baby, most teenage boys are testosterone bombs waiting to explode. It's foolish to tempt fate by teasing them like that!" she explained.

"I wasn't teasing him!" Tara said, insulted that her mother could even suggest such a thing.

"Tara, you were laying on the couch with him, kissing him and allowing him to run his hands all over you. All the while, you had no intention of putting out.... like it or not - that's teasing. You're lucky we came home when we did, or things might have gotten out of control." Billie paused and looked at her daughter. Tara studied her hands in her lap intently, avoiding Billie's gaze. Billie looked up at Cat, instantly stopping the smaller woman's pacing.

"Tara," Cat said, sitting down on the other side of her daughter. "Honey, look at me," she urged the teenager. When Tara finally met her gaze, she smiled. "Sweetheart, you know I love you with all my heart... we both do - you know that, right?" she asked, receiving a nod in return. "Well," Cat began again, her voice choking with emotion. "Honey, do you understand how you were conceived?" she asked.

Tara frowned. She could never remember having a father figure around. In fact, beside Seth, the only men in her life were her Grandpa and Uncle Dylan... and she hardly ever saw him. She knew there was some mystery surrounding her birth ... she knew her mother wasn't married when she was born.... and she kind of got the idea that she wasn't planned, which really bothered her sometimes, but she had never actually asked her mother about it, so when Cat asked her question she had to honestly answer no.

Billie squeezed her daughter's hand as Cat continued. "Sweetheart, I think you're old enough to remember how I became pregnant with Skylar," she started, seeing Tara nod in agreement. "Honey, you know I was raped... and that's how your sister was conceived," she explained.

Tara's eyes grew wide. She was about five when her mother became pregnant with Skylar. She remembered that a really bad man beat her up, but in her childish innocence, her mind didn't make the connection between the beating and her sister's conception.... until now. Tears filled her eyes as her own realization set in. Taking a deep breath, she looked Cat straight in the face. "So, were you raped for me too?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

Cat braced herself and nodded, then provided Tara with a brief description of how a man followed her across campus and raped her when she was in college.

The dam holding back Tara's tears burst, allowing them to flow freely down her cheeks. Tearing her gaze from Cat's she focused once more on the hands in her lap as droplets of sorrow liberally coated them.

Cat glanced over at Billie and noted tears on her face too, as she reached up to rub Tara's back. Leaning in, she placed a gentle kiss on her daughter's cheek. "Honey... I don't want you to think for one moment that I didn't want you, or your sister. The moment I realized you were growing inside of me, I fell in love with you. Baby, I just want to protect you from the pain, hurt and humiliation that comes from such a horrible violation of one's self. Tara, you'll be a woman soon enough. You'll fall in love, get married and have children of your own some day, but please don't rush it, and please don't put yourself at risk for having it forced on you. Do you understand, sweetheart?" she asked gently.

Tara was on emotional overload. She just wanted to go to bed and sleep ... she needed an escape from all of this. She wanted time to sort it out and to find out who she was. Nodding, she asked to be excused, claiming to be tired. Hugging both mothers and telling them she loved them, she beat a hasty retreat to her room, threw herself across her bed and cried herself to sleep.

**********

Cat sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor as Billie glanced at her from the corner of her eye.

"Cat?" Billie asked.

"W... what? I'm sorry, love, I didn't hear you. What did you say?" she replied.

Billie had been in the process of brushing her teeth, standing within Cat's view, the bathroom door wide open. Spitting the rest of the toothpaste into the sink, She quickly rinsed her mouth and brush then shut off the water. "Cat, are you all right?" she asked, wiping her mouth with a towel as she watched her wife sitting pensively on the bed.

Cat nodded her head in a distracted sort of way. "Yes, I'm fine. I just can't stop worrying about Tara," she answered.

Approaching the smaller woman, Billie sat on the bed next to her and threw an arm around her shoulder. Cat immediately rested her head against Billie's cheek. "Honey, I know you are. I'm worried too... but I think we got the point across to her tonight."

"Billie, it's the way we had to do it that I'm upset about. I guess I should have told her about her conception a long time ago. It just seemed like such a hard topic to broach, you know?" Cat commented.

Billie looked down into Cat's eyes. She never grew tired of looking at those beautiful green orbs. Each glance reminded her of how much she loved this woman. Smiling gently, she nodded her head. "Honey, I know what you mean. I still don't know why my parents didn't tell me about my birth and adoption. Heck, I didn't find out until I was... what.... 36? To be honest with you Cat, I don't know if she would have really understood it until now," Billie reasoned.

Cat rubbed her face with both hands, sighing deeply. "You may be right, Billie, but being a teenager is hard enough without having to learn something like that about yourself," Cat explained.

"Cat, I think you did a really good job of explaining to her that even though she wasn't conceived in love, she was born in love.... and she is certainly being raised in a loving environment." Billie squeezed her shoulder slightly. "She'll be all right, Cat. I'll talk to her about it tomorrow if you think it will help," Billie offered.

Cat looked up at her wife. Every time Cat looked into her eyes, her insides melted at the sight of twin powder-blue orbs staring back at her. She could easily drown in those eyes. She loved this woman so much, it hurt some times. Reaching up, she caressed the side of Billie's face. "Billie, have I ever told you what a good Mom you are?" she asked.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Billie replied as she lowered her face to capture Cat's mouth with her own. "And so are you," she added after a heartfelt kiss.

Once more, blue eyes met green as a spark of desire jumped between them. Without breaking the gaze, Cat reached out with her left hand and gently caressed the erect nipple that was standing out so prominently through Billie's nightshirt. Billie gasped as Cat's deft fingers lightly brushed the sensitive nub. Seeing just how responsive her wife was, Cat caught the nipple between her thumb and forefinger, and gave it a quick squeeze, causing Billie to suddenly arch her chest forward, moaning out her pleasure in a throaty growl.

"You liked that, didn't you, my love?" Cat whispered in her wife's ear, drawing an enthusiastic nod from the older woman. "Good. So that means you'll like this even better!" she exclaimed as she slid to her knees before her wife and pushed Billie's nightshirt up in order to gain access to the full breasts beneath it.

The tall woman braced herself on the bed with both hands as she spread her legs apart to allow Cat closer access. Billie watched carefully as Cat reached up to cup her left breast, running her tongue all around the luscious mound before finally sucking the nipple into her mouth. Billie threw her head back in ecstasy as Cat bit down hard on the sensitive bud.

"Cat... oh my god, Cat!" she screamed. Reaching behind, she grabbed Cat's head with one hand and drew her in closer, encouraging her to feast to her heart's content, which Cat eagerly did, moving alternatively from breast to breast, biting, nipping, licking and sucking.

Within moments, Billie was reduced to a quivering mass of putty in Cat's hands. Realizing she had the upper hand, Cat reached forward and placed one hand flat on Billie's breastbone, pushing slightly until Billie lay flat on her back on the bed, her legs hanging off the end, feet securely planted on the floor, knees spread wide apart. Sitting back on her heels, it took seconds for Cat to realize that Billie wasn't wearing panties. Smiling broadly, she inhaled the heady aroma of her aroused lover, causing her own juices to flow freely from the center of her being. "By the gods, you are beautiful," she whispered, leaning in to run her tongue up and down the sensitive folds, and drawing Billie's pleasure point into her mouth, biting gently. Billie's bottom rose completely off the bed as the intensity of the erotic assault rocked her senses.

With all her might, Billie pushed herself closer to Cat. "Oh my God, Cat! Harder, bite harder!" she demanded, causing Cat to clamp down a little tighter on the swollen nub. "Oh gods! Yes!" she screamed as Cat began to suck the nub in and out of her mouth. Soon, Billie was thrusting her hips forward and back in time with Cat's ministrations, moans of desire continuously flowing from her lips. Cat glanced up the expanse of Billie's abdomen and across full breasts to her wife's face, where she saw such beauty, it nearly took her breath away.

Seeing Billie in the throes of pre-orgasmic emotions always had the ability to bring tears to her eyes, knowing that she was the luckiest woman in the world to have such a beautiful and caring creature in love with her. Realizing that Billie was very near the precipice, Cat released the bud from between her teeth and once more sat back on her heels. Billie's head immediately popped up. "Cat?" she questioned in desperate breathlessness.

Cat smiled. "I'm not done yet, my love," she replied as she raised her fingers to her mouth and liberally coated each one with saliva... not that she needed to, Billie was so wet... but the very act was erotica personified as Billie squirmed more and more with each digit that exited Cat's mouth, glistening with lubrication.

Billie held her breath as Cat spread her legs a bit further, and tensed involuntarily as she was invaded by three moist appendages. Throwing her head back, she covered her screams with a pillow as Cat thrust her hand forward. Soon, Billie was rocking her hips downward with each upward thrust, bolts of heated desire spreading through her abdomen and into her chest causing a flush to rise rapidly across her breasts, shoulders and neck.

During the thrusts, Cat had managed to work a fourth digit into the fray, allowing her to penetrate deeper into the dark haired woman. Billie responded with even louder moans, and more aggressive down-thrusts. She just couldn't get enough of this beautiful woman with hair the color of autumn leaves.

Billie was so close to falling over the edge of desire that she literally screamed out when Cat suddenly stopped. "Cat... gods, no... please don't stop... please!" she begged as Cat smiled, and tucked her thumb inside of the other four digits while she slowly penetrated the older woman. Billie tensed once more as the heel of Cat's hand forced it's way into her opening.

"Relax, my love," Cat said as she stopped all movement. "Please, Billie, relax and enjoy this," she encouraged. Cat remained motionless until she felt Billie's muscles loosen around her hand. "That's it, baby.... just relax," came the soft chant as she once more began to thrust gently in and out of the woman she loved. Within moments, Billie's down thrusts resumed, increasing in intensity and force, absorbing Cat's entire hand into her body and matching Cat's thrusts until suddenly, the dam broke.

"Caaaatttt! Oh my god, Cat!!! Harder! I'm coming!" Billie screamed into the pillow as Cat called upon her reserves, increasing the force of her thrusts until the muscles in her arm felt like they were on fire. Billie thrashed violently on the bed, her hips and buttocks rising and falling in pattern with Cat's thrusts, her chest arched at an impossible angle, her fists clenching the bed sheets for support. For long moments, Billie fell... fell into the pool of desire... buoyant in Cat's love.

Cat slowed her thrusts as the last waves of orgasm rippled through Billie's body, until finally, the dark haired woman was still. Drawing one last orgasmic shudder from the taller woman, she removed her hand and rose to her feet. Climbing onto the bed, she laid herself down next to the long sweaty body and removed the pillow from her wife's face, only to witness the tears falling freely from Billie's eyes.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Cat asked. "Did I hurt you?"

Billie looked up at her beloved wife. Reaching up with one hand, she caressed the side of Cat's face. "Oh gods, no! That was the most incredible... most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. Thank you so much for choosing to love me," she said in a broken voice.

Cat smiled, fighting back tears of her own. Leaning in, she placed a delicate kiss on Billie's lips before whispering, "It wasn't a choice, my love ... it was fate."

Billie smiled and tried desperately to stifle a yawn.

"Come here, love," Cat said, noticing how tired her wife was. Pulling down the sheets, she motioned for Billie to climb in.

"But Cat....," Billie began. "What about you?"

Cat silenced her wife with two fingers on her lips. "Shhh. They'll be time for that later. You're tired, my love. Come," she said again, crawling in beside Billie and pulling the blankets over both of them. Wrapping her arms around Billie, she laid the dark head on her shoulder. Within moments, Billie was fast asleep. Cat smiled into the darkness as she too allowed herself to float into the realm of Morpheus.

**********

BRRRRRRING!!! BRRRRRING!!!

"What the hell!?" Billie exclaimed as she shot upright in bed.

Mimicking her wife's actions, Cat immediately panicked. "Oh my god! What time is it?" she spurted out, reaching for the clock on the bedside table.

"Christ! Who could be calling at this hour?" Billie sputtered as she fumbled with the receiver in the dark.

Looking at the clock, Cat's stomach clenched in terror. No one called in the middle of the night unless it was bad news. Sitting rigidly beside Billie, she clutched the blankets to her chest as she listened to Billie's end of the conversation.

"Hello?" Billie said into the receiver.

"I just thought you'd like to know that we're on our way to the hospital," the voice said on the other end of the line.

Billie's head snapped back. "Jen?" she asked.

"We're bringing Stevie to the hospital for stitches..." Jen began again, only to be interrupted by Billie.

"Jen? Jen, what happened?" Billie said breathlessly.

"Your son happened... that's what!" Jen replied angrily.

"Whoa.... wait a minute. What are you talking about?" Billie demanded.

"Billie, what is it?" Cat asked urgently.

Covering the receiver with her hand, Billie looked at Cat. "Cat, go check on the kids... please," she said, prompting Cat to quickly scurry off the bed toward the door.

"Stevie just got home. Apparently, Seth got him drunk tonight, then pushed him down a set of stairs!" Jen explained, bitterly. "He has a gash three inches long on his backside!" she added.

Billie ran her hand through her hair. "Jen, you must be mistaken. Seth wouldn't do something like that," she insisted.

"Oh yeah? Go check his room. I'd venture to guess he isn't home yet," Jen said sarcastically.

Billie looked toward the glow emanating through the bedroom door, illuminated by the light in the hallway. Fear gripped her insides as Cat ran back into the room.

"Billie, Seth isn't in his room. By the gods, it's after 3:00 a.m. Where is he?" she cried.

Billie closed her eyes and composed herself. "Jen, I have to go," she said into the receiver, not wanting to admit to her friend that her son indeed was not yet home.

"He isn't there, is he?" Jen insisted.

"I'll talk to you in the morning Jen," Billie replied.

"Yeah, well, maybe that's not a good idea, Billie. Maybe our families need a break from each other for a while," Jen remarked.

"Maybe we do," Billie said, anger fueling her response. "Goodbye, Jen," she added before hanging up the phone.

Throwing her long legs over the edge of the bed, she rose to her feet and faced an anxious Cat.

"Cat, that was Jen. She claims that Seth got Stevie drunk tonight, then pushed him down a set of stairs. They're bringing Stevie to the hospital for stitches right now," she explained.

Now it was Cat's turn to be angry as she folded her arms across her chest and started pacing. After crossing the room several times she stopped to look at Billie. "He wouldn't do that... would he?" she asked shakily.

"I don't know, Cat. I hope not. But if he is in the same condition as Stevie, I'm more concerned about him driving his car drunk. I'll kick his ass from here to kingdom come and back if he is!" she stated vehemently as Cat nodded her head in silent agreement.

"Look, I can't just sit here and wait for him to come home. I'm going to look for him," Billie said as she grabbed a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt and slipped them on.

"I'm going with you," Cat insisted. "I'll wake Tara and let her know what's going on. She'll need to keep an eye on Sky if we're not back before she gets up," she added as she too slipped on a T-shirt and shorts before heading to her daughter's room.

Moments later, the ladies were in the car, pulling out of the driveway. The clock on the dash flashed 3:32 a.m.

**********

The tips of Cat's fingers were raw as she chewed at her nails. She and Billie had driven all around the vicinity, looking for their errant son. It was now nearly 5 a.m. and the sun was making it's way over the horizon. Billie herself was a nervous wreck as all sorts of horrible scenario's ran through her mind, including the possibility that he had been in a drunken accident and now lay dead by the side of the road.

Deciding to return home to call the police, they were met by the sight of Seth's car in the driveway as they turned onto their property. Cat let out a muffled cry of relief as anger flooded the features of the tall dark haired woman driving the car. Coming to an abrupt halt just inches behind Seth's car, Billie threw open the door and quickly emerged, slamming the door behind her. In three long strides, she was reaching for Seth's door handle. Unfortunately for Seth, he was passed out across the front seat.

"Billie! Billie!" Cat cried as she quickly made her way around the front of the car, just in time to see Billie pull Seth out of the car by two handfuls of his shirt.

Still in a drunken stupor, Seth offered no resistance as Billie dragged him out of the car and roughly laid him over the trunk on his back. Without releasing the hold she had on his shirt, Billie leaned in very close, the expression on her face clearly indicating her anger. Cat stood by, desperately wanting to intervene, but realizing that Seth had this coming, she restrained herself.

For long moments, Billie held eye contact with her son, who realized, despite his inebriated state, how much trouble he was in.

"Mom...," he began.

"Don't you 'Mom' me!" she spat into his face. "You are sooooo in trouble, young man!" she hissed. "Hand them over," she added as she held out her hand.

Seth looked at her blankly.

"Now!" she nearly shouted.

He was enlightened by Cat as he crinkled his brow, not understanding his mother's demand. "Your car keys, Seth. Hand them over." Cat said.

Looking from Cat to Billie, realization set in as his eyes flew open wide. "No way!" he shouted in disbelief.

"Yes way!" Billie returned, still holding her hand out.

"But Mom!" he whined.

Billie grabbed his shirt front again and pulled him in close. "Look Seth, you violated the Number 1 rule.... no drinking and driving. For Christ's sake, Seth, you're only 16 years old! God damn it! You could have killed yourself and Stevie too!"

Releasing him abruptly, Billie walked away to compose herself as Cat looked on. Turning back to her son, who was busy adjusting the front of his shirt, she again held out her hand for the keys. Seth begrudgingly handed them over. "For the foreseeable future, you drive only to work and back. At all other times, the car is mine. Is that understood?" Billie said sternly.

Seth refused to answer. Instead, he stood there, hands on his hips, looking down at his shoes. Knowing she wouldn't get a response from the young man, Billie continued. "Now, don't think for one moment that this is over. You and I need to have a long talk once you've had a chance to sleep this off. I want an explanation, including where you got the alcohol, and just how Stevie ended up needing stitches," she warned.

Seth looked at his mother. "Steve needs stitches?" he asked, obviously not remembering the events of the previous evening.

Billie just nodded.

Seth stood there, leaning against his car, still somewhat intoxicated, struggling with sketchy memories from his night out with the boys. Hearing that his best friend needed medical attention shook him up.

Seeing the mental distress her son was in, Cat approached the young man and rubbed his back. "Seth, go on up to bed. We'll talk about this later, okay? I'm sure Stevie will be fine."

Looking at his mother through moist eyes, he nodded his head slightly and headed for the house, purposely avoiding Billie's gaze. Billie and Cat stood there and watched their son shakily negotiate the steps. When he was safely inside the house, Cat turned to Billie and raised her eyebrows.

Billie immediately became defensive. "Now don't tell me I was too hard on him, Cat. He could have killed himself or someone else. This is one mistake he will pay for dearly with his freedom," Billie explained.

Stepping into her wife's personal space, Cat raised herself on tip toes to place a gentle kiss on Billie's lips. "I agree," she said, causing Billie to look at her with a shocked expression on her face. "Now," Cat added, "We have about two hours before Sky gets up. What do you say we try to get some sleep now that all three of the kids are home, safe and sound?"

Billie smiled and returned Cat's kiss. "Let's go," she said, taking Cat's hand and heading toward the house.

**********

"Hello?" a masculine voice responded.

"Fred? Fred, this is Billie. Is Jen home?" she asked

"Ah..... yeah, but I don't think she wants to talk to you," Fred replied.

"Fred, this is bullshit and you know it," Billie replied. "Fred, we can't let our friendship go to hell over something our kids have done. Now let me talk to her," Billie demanded.

"Billie, let me have the phone," Cat suggested as she stood by and listened to Billie's end of the conversation.

Billie reluctantly handed the receiver over to Cat who brought it to her ear.

"Fred, honey, this is Cat. How is Stevie this morning?" she asked as Billie silently berated herself for not asking about Stevie's health before asking after Jen.

"Stevie will be fine," Fred replied. "He has a gash in his backside that required about a dozen stitches. He'll be sore for a while, but it's nothing debilitating".

"Good. Give him our best, okay?" Cat asked before continuing. "Look Fred, Seth is still in bed, so we haven't had a chance to hear his side of the story. Has Stevie said anything about what happened last night?"

"I'm afraid Stevie wasn't making a lot sense himself last night. He was pretty much incoherent. He said something about the graveyard, and whiskey, and then something about a boat.... I don't know. I'm sure it was the alcohol talking," Fred explained.

"Graveyard?" Cat asked. Looking at Billie with raised eyebrows, she added, "I knew I saw something last night!"

"You saw them?" Fred asked.

"Coming home from dinner last night around 10 p.m., Billie and I passed the graveyard, and I was sure I saw some movement in there. If we had known it was the boys, we would have stopped," Cat explained.

"Well, its water under the bridge at this point. Look.... Jen and I think the boys need some time apart. We need to send the message that this kind of behavior is unacceptable," Fred stated.

"I agree that this behavior is unacceptable, but keeping the boys apart isn't necessarily the answer Fred," Cat replied.

"Look Cat, we've made our decision. I've got to run....," he replied haltingly.

"Fred... please let me talk to Jen," Cat pleaded.

"Good bye, Cat," came the final reply before the line went dead.

Cat stared in disbelief at the receiver in her hand. "He hung up on me!" she said incredulously to Billie. "I can't believe he hung up on me!"

"I'm going over there, Cat. Something else is going on here that they're not telling us about. We've had spats before over the kids and they haven't led to this kind of hostility. Heck, remember that disastrous camping trip several years ago?" Billie asked. "The kids fought like cats and dogs nearly the whole time."

"Billie, maybe we should let them cool off for a while. I can understand them being angry at Seth if they think he's caused Stevie harm. Anyway, we need to hear Seth's side of the story before we confront the Swensons," Cat reasoned.

"Did I hear Stevie's name?" came a husky voice from the doorway.

Billie and Cat turned to look at the source of the question and saw a bedraggled Seth half standing, half leaning against the kitchen door frame, obviously not feeling up to par.

Billie's eyes narrowed at her son, who winced under the scrutiny. "I think you have some explaining to do," she said.

Seth walked across the kitchen, dragging his feet along the way, and dropped heavily into a chair. Propping his elbows up on the table, he lowered his head into his hands and massaged his temples. "Where would you like me to start?" he asked dryly.

"Try from the beginning," Cat responded, sitting in a chair opposite Seth as Billie paced the floor behind her son.

Seth sat back in his chair and folded his hands on the table in front of him. He hesitated, picking the imaginary dirt from beneath his nails, and avoiding his mother's gaze.

"Well?" Cat said, prompting the reluctant teenager.

Seth made eye contact with Cat. "I didn't want to do it, but I was afraid I would look like a wuss if I didn't," he said. "It wasn't my fault."

Billie walked around the table to stand behind Cat. With hands on her hips, she leaned in to address her son. "I don't want to hear about fault, Seth. You are most definitely at fault. You chose to drink.... you chose to drive. I'm sure no one twisted your arm," she stated angrily.

Seth dropped his chin to his chest and digested his mother's words.

Billie resumed her pacing, this time behind Cat.

Cat reached out and touched Seth's hand, drawing eye contact once more. "Seth, where did you get the alcohol?" she asked.

"You know my friend, Timmy Rabidoux?.... Well, his older brother got it for us," he confessed.

"What's his name, Seth?" Billie asked in mid-stride.

"Randy," came the reply.

Billie continued to pace. Silence prevailed except for the sound of footsteps crossing back and forth. Long moments later, Seth was at the end of his rope. Breaking the unbearable silence, he spoke.

"So, is Stevie all right?" he asked.

"No thanks to you, yes he is. He needed a dozen stitches," Billie said before she stopped once more, placing her hands on the table and leaning toward her son. "Seth.... what where you thinking? What in god's name were you thinking? You are only 16! You could have been killed! You could have killed Stevie as well!" she shouted, causing Cat to wince.

Seth hung his head once more. "I know," he replied softly.

Billie just stood there, arms crossed over her chest, anger brewing deep in her chest. It took every ounce of restraint she had not to blow up at her son. Seeing the obvious distress her wife was in, Cat reached up and took Billie's hands in hers.

"Billie, honey, come sit down and let Seth explain his side of the story, okay?" she said soothingly.

Billie's eyes met Cat's. The tenderness in them defused her anger almost instantly, snapping her back to awareness. She took a deep breath and thanked the gods that she had Cat to help calm her. Silently, she chided herself for violating the primary rule of her trade - innocent until proven guilty. She realized that she wasn't giving Seth an opportunity to defend himself. Closing her eyes for a moment, she regained her composure, then pulled out a seat at the table.

"Okay," Billie said to her son. "Explain yourself."

Seth cleared his throat and looked from Billie to Cat, and back again. "Well, Timmy suggested to Steve and me that we have a guys night out and drink a little whiskey. He said his brother could get us the stuff. I really didn't want to do it. I warned them that our parents would kill us if they found out, but they teased me and called me a mama's boy, so I went along with them," he started to explain.

"They called you a mama's boy?" Cat asked.

Seth just nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of tough living in a house full of girls... with two moms to top it off. I get teased some times, but I try to ignore it," replied.

Billie frowned. "Who is teasing you, Seth?" she asked in her best 'I'm gonna kick their asses' voice.

Seth threw his hands up. "Gee, Mom, are you gonna fight all my battles for me? It's bad enough that I get teased.... I don't need you beating their Dads up too!" Seth exclaimed.

A tiny smile crossed Cat's face as she watched her son back her tall wife off. Billie was taken back by Seth's directness. Sitting back in her seat, she crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows at the boy.

"So go on," Cat urged. "How did you end up in the graveyard, and how was Stevie hurt?"

Seth leaned his forearms on the table. "We went to the graveyard because Timmy said it was one place no one would look for us," he explained, "and Steve cut his butt when he slid down the stairs onto a broken bottle."

"So you didn't push him?" Billie asked.

Seth's eyes flew open. "Push him? Why would I push my best friend down the stairs?" he asked unbelievably.

"That's what Jen told us last night when she called," Billie replied.

"Where would she get that idea?" Seth asked.

"She must have gotten it from Stevie," Billie said. "Or at least, that's what she understood Stevie to say."

Seth stood up and pushed his chair back. Throwing his arms out to the sides, he tried desperately to defend himself. "I did not push Steve down the stairs," he said. "If he's telling his mom a lie to shift the blame to me, I'm gonna pound him!" he exclaimed, heading toward the door.

"Get back here, Seth.... you're not going anywhere," Billie commanded.

Seth stopped at the door and turned to look at his mother. "Mom.... I can't let him accuse me like that. I didn't do it!" he stated adamantly.

Cat rose from her chair and approached her son. Reaching up, she cupped the side of his face with her palm. "We believe you, Seth, but the fact is, Jen and Fred want to put a little distance between themselves and our family for now," Cat explained.

Seth narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying that I'm not allowed over there any more?" he asked.

Cat just nodded.

"Seth, come back here and sit down. We're not finished with you yet," Billie said.

With the trio once again seated around the table, Billie cleared her throat and delivered the punishment. As stated the night earlier, Seth's driving privileges were suspended except to go to work. In addition, he earned himself an 8 p.m. curfew for the next two weeks.

"How am I gonna get to school?" Seth asked, dreading the answer.

"If you don't have your car back by the time school starts, you'll take the bus," Billie replied.

"Oh man!" Seth whined. "I'm gonna look like a real loser to the guys," he complained.

Leaning forward, Billie tapped her forefinger on her son's chest. "Anyone who breaks the law and does something as dangerous and stupid as drinking and driving is acting like a loser. I would have never put you in that category, Seth. You are a very good kid who made a very bad choice. I don't want to see that happen again. Understood?" she said, demanding a reply.

"Don't worry.... it won't," Seth replied sadly.

Feeling sorry for her son, Cat rose and circled the table. Wrapping her arms around the boy, she hugged him tightly, then kissed him on the head. "Go get your shower. I'll whip you up some pancakes for breakfast before you go to work. Okay?" she offered.

Seth nodded. Rising to his feet, he headed toward the door. Stopping, he turned back to look at his mothers. "I'm really sorry for this," he said. "It won't happen again." Turning, he retreated to the bathroom for his shower.

Cat turned to Billie. "First Skylar and her disappearing act, then Tara and her horizontal mambo, and now Seth. I think it's a conspiracy!" she exclaimed.

Billie chuckled and rose to her feet. Coming around the table, she folded Cat within her arms and squeezed her tight. "I'm going to get on line and add 'Miss Clairol' to our stock portfolio. I have a feeling it's going to do well this year," she joked.

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

CHAPTER VIII

Billie's long frame was stretched out on the couch, her head resting upon the overstuffed arm, left arm thrown up over her head, right knee bent and pressed into the back of the couch. Lying on her side between Billie's legs was Cat, her long golden red hair spread out across Billie's breast. Her left arm was squeezed between the couch and the warm body beneath her... her right hand resting between her cheek and Billie's abdomen. With left leg straight and right knee thrown over Billie's thigh, she sighed deeply and enjoyed the feel of Billie's free hand running up and down her back. "An Affair To Remember" was playing softly on the television across the room.

"I love this part," Cat said, pointing to the TV. "Watch his face when he realizes she's paralyzed. See.... right there.... he sees the portrait he painted of her on her wall. Remember the salesman sold it to her when she came into the gallery in her wheelchair? He's just realized that she didn't stand him up..... she couldn't meet him at the Empire State Building.... she was in the hospital!" Cat explained in detail. Looking up to her wife's face, she found an amused look peering back at her. "Billie! I can't believe you've never seen this movie!" she added excitedly.

"Nope! I never had the patience to sit through one of these old shows.... or maybe I just never had anyone I wanted to watch them with," she said, tracing the end of her finger along the side of Cat's face.

Cat smiled up at Billie. "Have I told you yet today that I love you?" she said softly.

Billie smiled back. "Once or twice, I think.... but I never tire of hearing it," she replied, cupping Cat's face in her palm.

Cat inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, leaning in to Billie's touch. Opening her eyes, she looked once more into her wife's face. "Listen," she said, suddenly looking off into the distance.

Billie stopped and concentrated on her environment. Frowning, she looked back to Cat. "I don't hear anything," she said.

"Exactly! Gods, Billie. I had forgotten how quiet the house can be," Cat remarked.

"Well it won't be for long. Seth should be home from work in a few hours," Billie replied while lazily playing with Cat's hair.

"It was nice of Mom and Dad to take the girls for the night," Cat said. "I think Tara is still a little preoccupied with what we had to tell her about her conception last night. I hope Mom can get her to open up and talk to her about it. Gods knows she won't talk to me. Besides, she was at loose ends this afternoon without Karissa," she added. "Spending some time with Mom and Dad will do her some good I think."

"I know what you mean. Missy is spending the weekend with her Dad, so Sky is on her own as well," Billie replied, referring to Skylar's friend who lived across the street. "Sometimes I wish there were fewer years between Tara and Sky. Tara's at the age where Skylar is just a pain in the ass to her. Poor Sky adores her sister, but Tara doesn't have time for her. I feel really bad for the little rugrat sometimes."

"You know that's perfectly normal," Cat replied. "Drew was kind of an afterthought, so she was a little younger than the rest of us. I was the next oldest, so I got stuck playing with her all the time. I love her to death now, but I can remember how angry I was when Mom made me take her everywhere with me."

"Maybe being any only child gives me a different perspective," Billie observed. "I would have loved to have had a little sister to tag along with me."

Rolling onto her stomach, Cat braced her hands on the couch on both sides of her reclining wife and raised herself above the prone woman. Lowering her face to Billie's she stopped a hair's breath away from her lips. "I'll bet you were a beautiful child," she breathed into Billie's mouth before devouring her lips.

Billie responded in kind as she wrapped her arms around Cat and pulled her down, placing one hand behind Cat's head to assure deep penetration of her tongue into the smaller woman's mouth.

BRRRRRRING! BRRRRRRING! Sounded the phone.

"Damn!" whispered Cat as she pulled her bruised lips away from Billie's.

"Let it ring," Billie urged, pulling Cat toward her once more.

"Billie, I can't. What if it's one of the kids?" she asked regretfully.

Billie buried her head deep into the cushion of the couch. Frowning, she relented. "I guess you're right," she admitted as Cat climbed off the now-heated woman and went to answer the phone.

"Hello?" she spoke into the receiver.

"Hi! Is Billie home?" replied a female voice.

"Yes, she is. May I ask who's calling?" Cat questioned.

"Shannon Nash," came the answer.

"Just a moment Shannon," Cat replied cordially as she handed the phone to Billie.

Billie's eyebrows arched into her hairline when she heard Cat repeat Shannon's name. Covering the receiver, she whispered, "What is she doing calling me at home on a Saturday?" before bringing the receiver to her ear. "Shannon.... this is Billie. Is there a problem?" she asked.

"Hi Billie!" Shannon chirped cheerily. "No... no problem at all. I just wanted to call to thank you for last night's dinner. Julie and I had a really good time.... and we both thought Cat was just a doll," she explained before hastily continuing. "Billie, Julie and I enjoyed your company so much that we would like you to join us for an afternoon on the lake. We have a pontoon party boat with lots of room for both of you and your kids. What do you say?" she asked hopefully.

Billie was taken aback by Shannon's unexpected invitation. It wasn't often that clients wanted to socialize. "Ah.... let me run that by Cat. Can you hold on a minute?" she asked into the receiver.

"Sure.... take all the time you need," Shannon replied.

Covering the receiver once more, Billie looked at Cat. "They want us to join them for an afternoon on the lake.... can you believe it?" Billie said to the surprised red head who stood impatiently by, hands on hips, wanting to know why this person was intruding on their weekend.

Cat narrowed her eyes. "Do you really think we should?" she asked. "You don't usually like to socialize with clients, Billie," she added.

"You're right - I don't. But they won't be clients for very long... their case is basically open and shut," Billie explained. "So, what to do you think? A boat ride does sound nice," she said.

"I thought you didn't like Shannon," Cat commented.

"I don't dislike her, Cat. I just don't appreciate her being nicey-nicey with my wife. I'll just keep an eye on her, and if I don't like what I see, I'll throw her overboard. How's that?" Billie replied with a lopsided grin.

The child-like look of excitement on Billie's face was something Cat just couldn't resist. Smiling in her motherly way, she reluctantly agreed to the boat ride. "You know, you're awfully cute when you smile like that," she said to her tall wife. "If you really want to go, then let's."

"Cool!" Billie responded before bringing the receiver back to her ear. "Shannon.... sounds like a date," she said, drawing a slap on the arm from Cat. "No.... it will be just Cat and I. Seth is working, and the girls are doing an over-nighter with their grandparents. Yeah, it is too bad. You're right - Skylar is pretty close to Kacie's age... well, I'm sure between us, we can think of ways to entertain her..... as long as there are no paper dolls involved, I'm in!" she said laughing. "Okay.... ah huh.... all right. We'll see you in about 20 minutes then. Okay. Bye!" Billie said after giving Shannon their address.

After hanging up the phone, Billie turned to Cat. "They'll be here to pick us up in about 20 minutes," she said.

"Well then, I guess we'd better change our clothes. I wouldn't want Shannon and Julie catching us still in our night-shirts at 2:00 in the afternoon!" she chuckled.

Billie threw her arms around Cat and hugged her tightly. "Well, it's not everyday we get a chance to laze around and not get dressed. I was kind of enjoying it," Billie explained.

"So was I, love... so was I... but I don't think this is proper attire for boating," she pointed out, referring to their bra-less states.

"Ah.... you may be right," Billie remarked before taking Cat's hand and heading for the stairs.

Moments later, dressed in shorts, tank tops, deck shoes and baseball caps, they were ready to go.

"How do I look?" Cat asked as she turned around in circles for her wife to see.

Billie wrapped her arms around Cat and nuzzled her neck. "Good enough to eat!" she replied.

Cat caught Billie's face between her hands. "I don't think so, Big Guy. You had your chance. You passed it up for an afternoon on the lake! Remember?" she asked jokingly. "You'd better have some good bait if you want fish for dinner tonight!" she added with a wide grin on her face.

Billie's eye widened. "That was really, really bad, Cat!" she exclaimed.

Cat threw her arms out to the sides. "Hey... I never said I was a comedian!" she quipped just as the sound of a car horn reached their ears.

"They're here," Billie said, stating the obvious. "Let's go."

"Wait! Let me grab the sun screen," Cat said as she rummaged through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. "Here it is. Okay.... I guess we're all set."

By the time they made it to the front door, Shannon had already exited the car and was heading up the front walk. Throwing the door open, Billie stepped out onto the porch and shook Shannon's hand.

"Thanks for the invitation," Billie said as Shannon offered her arm to Cat, who took it willingly - earning herself a questioning look from her dark haired wife.

As they approached the car, Julie also climbed out, followed by a little girl with blonde ringlets who glued herself to Julie's side. Cat was immediately smitten with the little tike.

"You must be Kacie," she said, releasing Shannon's arm and bending over to address the little girl.

Kacie smile shyly and half buried her face in Julie's shirt as she nodded 'yes'.

Julie tried to shake her daughter loose, and urged her to be more social. "Kacie, sweetie, this is Cat," she said, pointing to the red head, "and Billie," she said, directing the child's attention to the taller woman. "She's pretty shy until she gets to know you, then she'll talk your ears off," Julie added, making motherly apologies for her daughter's behavior.

"Well, what do you say we head for the lake?" Shannon suggested as she held the door open for Cat, much to Billie's chagrin. Just before stepping one foot into the car, Cat noticed another vehicle approaching them from down the street. "Billie, isn't that Jen?" she asked, drawing Billie's attention to the car.

"Yes, it is," Billie replied, taking a couple of steps toward the sidewalk.

As Jen's car approached, Billie and Cat waved cheerfully. As Jen glanced at them, she took in the situation with Shannon and Julie, a disturbing frown crossing her features as she passed by. Turning her attention sharply back to the road, Jen stepped on the gas and sped away, never looking back.

Billie and Cat looked at each other sadly, Billie shaking her head back and forth, and Cat nearly on the verge of tears. Climbing into the car, they held hands tightly and communicated their sorrow to each other silently as they conversed with Shannon and Julie on the way to the lake.

**********

"Julie, Shannon, thank you for a wonderful afternoon! We really enjoyed ourselves," Cat exclaimed as they pulled into the driveway.

Throwing the car into park, Shannon quickly climbed out of the driver's seat and opened Cat's door for her. You are entirely welcome, Cat," Shannon replied. "It's just too bad Billie got a little wet!" she added as Cat stepped out.

Billie exited through the door on the opposite side of the car in time to see Shannon gallantly open Cat's door. Billie had to consciously remind herself that Shannon was probably just being a gracious host. "A little wet?" Billie said incredulously. "Try soaked to the bone!" she exclaimed.

"Kacie didn't mean to knock you overboard, Billie. She just gets a little rambunctious sometimes and doesn't know her own strength," Julie said, trying hard not to laugh through her explanation.

"I've told her a million times not to run across the deck of the boat, but you know kids! They've got a knack for acting first and thinking later," Shannon chimed. "Isn't that right, Kacie?" she added, looking into the car at the girl who sat sheepishly in her seat belt.

Billie looked over the roof of the car at Cat. "Don't we know it!" they said in unison, breaking down into laughter at the timing.

"Well, we hope it didn't spoil the afternoon for you," Julie said apologetically.

Billie smiled. "Not at all," she replied, "after all, what's a little water between friends?"

"I'm glad you feel that way," Shannon observed. "So.... considering Kacie and Skylar didn't get a chance to meet today, how about a cookout at our place tomorrow?" she suggested.

Billie experienced an odd feeling of being invaded.... rushed into a relationship she wasn't sure she wanted. Not wanting to disappoint Cat, who had thoroughly enjoyed Julie's company that afternoon, she reluctantly accepted the invitation, on the condition that they held the cookout at their own house. "That way Seth can join us as well when he gets off work," Billie reasoned.

"Sounds good to me!" Shannon replied happily. "Why don't we give you a call tomorrow morning and set up a time and figure out a menu?" she suggested.

"Sure," Cat jumped in. Then, turning to Billie, she added, "Maybe Jen and Fred would be willing to join us as well."

Billie's thoughts flew immediately to the nagging sensation that had been plaguing the back of her mind since Jen's dismissal of them earlier that day. "We can certainly offer Cat.... but don't get your hopes up," the tall woman warned.

Cat nodded her head repeatedly. "I know, but like you said, we can certainly offer." Turning to Shannon and Julie, she added, "You don't mind, do you?"

"No.... please.... the more the merrier," Shannon responded quickly, all the while wondering what was going on with this friend of theirs, 'Jen'.

"Good! Then we'll hear from you tomorrow morning?" Cat reiterated.

"Tomorrow morning," Shannon repeated. "Well I guess we'd better get the little one home... it's nearly dinner time," Shannon added as she climbed into the driver's seat.

"See you tomorrow!" Julie piped in cheerfully, waving to the ladies over the top of the car.

Moments later, they were on their way, leaving Billie and Cat to ponder this new force that had wiggled it's way into their lives.

Approaching her tall wife, Cat wrapped her arms around the woman's waist and laid her head upon her breastbone. "Did we just commit our entire weekend to your clients?" she asked in an awe struck voice.

"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Billie replied as she wrapped her arms around Cat and laid her head atop the shorter woman's golden tresses.

"I hope we're not making a mistake, Billie," Cat said softly.

"That thought has crossed my mind as well, Kitten.... but somehow, I don't think so. You know, maybe it's time to develop new friendships. It could be that Jen and Fred are becoming tired of us. Who knows what's motivating Jen's behavior of late," Billie mused.

Cat looked up at Billie. "I'm worried about her, Billie. Something besides the situation with Seth and Stevie has got to be wrong. For the life of me, I can't figure it out."

"Well, maybe we need to give her some space. Hopefully, she'll come around soon. If not, then we'll confront her directly. If the friendship is truly lost, then we'll have nothing left to lose by trying," Billie reasoned.

Cat's eyes teared up. "I hope the friendship isn't lost, Billie. I truly love Jen.... like she was one of my sisters.... maybe even more - in a different way," she explained.

Billie nodded her head. "I know, Baby.... I know. I don't want to lose her either. We'll work it out somehow," Billie said, giving Cat a gentle squeeze before taking her hand and leading her toward the house, stopping briefly to note that Seth's car was in the driveway. At least he's cooperating, Billie thought as she continued into the house.

**********

"Hello, Fred? Hi, this is Cat. Is Jen right there?" Cat asked hopefully as she paced the living room, the portable phone held tightly in her nervous white-knuckled grasp.

"Cat, Jen can't come to the phone right now. She isn't feeling well," Fred explained.

"Isn't feeling well? Is there something I can do?" Cat asked hastily, the doctor in her coming immediately to the forefront.

"No... just a little upset stomach. She'll be fine," he explained.

"Well, can I come over to see her?" Cat suggested.

"Cat.....," Fred said haltingly. "Cat, she really doesn't want to see you right now.... neither of you," he informed her.

"Damn it, Fred! Billie and I have no idea why she.... why both of you are so upset with us! How can we defend ourselves.... how can we make amends when we don't even know what we did wrong? This isn't fair!" Cat protested.

"I'm sorry, Cat, but now isn't the time to discuss it. Look, I've got to go.... okay?" he said stoically.

"Fine... have it your way, Fred.... but know that this isn't over yet. You'll have to talk to us sooner or later. Goodbye," she said firmly, and slammed the phone down before Fred could voice a response.

"Aaarrrggghhh!" Cat screamed into the room. "That man!" she added as she began to pace the room. Stopping, she threw her arms out to the side and faced Billie. "You know, most of the time Fred is carefree and quite easy to manipulate, but all of the sudden, he's become this stubborn, obstinate..... Aarrgghh!!!"

"He's defending what's his, Cat. I'd do the same. The tamest animal will turn wild in defense of its family. I sure wish I understood what's behind it.... but I can't say that I blame him," Billie observed.

During Cat's rampage Seth emerged from his room upstairs. Making his way down the stairs, he reached the bottom just as Cat let out her last frustrated scream. "What's up?" he asked.

Billie and Cat turned toward the stairs at the sound of their son's voice. "Hey Scout," Billie said, greeting her son with his childhood nickname. "We were just discussing how Jen and Fred seem to be angry with us all of the sudden.... and we really don't understand why."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," he said, making his way from the stairs to the couch, where he dropped heavily onto the cushion. "Steve stopped into the store today to talk to me.... against this parents wishes. Oh, by the way, he's gonna be fine. His butt is a little sore, but he's okay," Seth added.

"So, what did Stevie have to say?" Cat prompted, coming around to sit on the coffee table in front of her son. Billie joined him on the sofa.

Seth look back and forth between his mothers. "Well for starters, they're pretty upset with me. They think I pushed him down the stairs on purpose. Steve was too drunk to remember any of it to tell them what really happened.... and they're also mad at me for driving him home drunk," Seth admitted.

"I can't say that I blame them there, Scout," Billie interrupted. "You're paying for that with the loss of your car.... we were none too pleased about it either."

Seth had the decency to look ashamed as he continued. "Anyway, Steve said something about you and Mom having 'better fish to fry'," he said to Cat. "That made absolutely no sense to me," the teenager complained.

Cat sat up straight and looked at Billie, a frown on her face. "Better fish to fry? What the hel..... I mean, what on earth does she mean by that?" she asked, confused.

"I have no clue," replied Billie, just as dumbfounded. "Did Steve say anything else, Seth?" Billie asked.

"Only that his Mom wasn't feeling too good today and he had to get back home to help his dad rake the yard," Seth answered. Looking back and forth between his bewildered mothers, he added, "I'm hungry.... is there anything to eat?"

Cat snapped out of her daze and smiled broadly at her son. "Just like a kid!" she joked. "The whole world could be coming to an end, and all they think about is eating! Come on rugrat.... let's raid the cupboard and see what I can whip us up for dinner," she said as she rose to her feet and extended her hand to her son.

Feeling wicked, Seth quickly rose to his feet and scooped Cat into his arms. She wiggled, giggled and screeched as he carried her into the kitchen, a chuckling Billie following in their wake.

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

CHAPTER IX

"Hey there! Are we too early?" Julie asked as she crossed the yard carrying a bag full of picnic goodies.

Billie looked up from behind the grill where she had squatted to turn the propane gas on. "Hi Julie! Your timing is perfect," she replied. Standing, she looked back toward the driveway where Shannon was struggling with something in the trunk.

"Where would you like this?" Julie asked, indicating the bag in her arms.

"Well.... you can put it on the picnic table over there," she instructed. "Is there anything that needs refrigeration?"

"Not in here. The salads are in the cooler," Julie replied. Looking back over her shoulder, she added, "I think Shan is trying to get it out of the trunk right now."

Seeing that Shannon was indeed struggling, Billie excused herself and ran to help. "Can I give you a hand with that?" she asked.

Shannon looked up at Billie. The distress that was resident on her face quickly dissolved into relief. "Phew! You sure can! Julie has a habit of packing the cooler after it's already in the trunk. This thing weighs a ton!" she exclaimed.

Together, the ladies were able to heft the cooler out of the small trunk and place it on the ground behind the car.

"What have you got in this thing?" Billie asked.

Shannon chuckled and opened the lid. Inside, neatly packed, were several cans of soda, beer, a bottle of wine, macaroni salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and an assortment of condiments - all on ice. "Julie believes in coming prepared," she remarked comically.

"I'll say!" Billie replied. "Well I guess we'll have plenty of food even if I do murder the burgers on the grill!" she joked.

Shannon grinned ear to ear. "You too, huh? Julie say's my cooking is the best remedy for obesity.... no one would dare eat it! She won't let me anywhere near the grill!" she explained.

"The last time I grilled, Cat called the morgue to take the burgers and dogs away! She and our friend Jen...... ah.... ah.... well, anyway, it was pretty funny," Billie said haltingly, a wave of sadness washing over her at the mention of Jen's name.

Shannon noticed the change in the tall woman by her side. Placing a hand on Billie's arm, she expressed her concern. "Are you all right, Billie?" she asked.

Billie shrugged it off. "Yeah... I'm fine." Changing the subject abruptly, she shoved her hands into the back pockets of her cut-offs and looked around distractedly. "Maybe I should give Cat a hand... she's in the house making hamburger patties."

"Thanks for the offer sweetie, but I'm finished," Cat said as she approached the two ladies carrying a large plate of jumbo burgers ready for the grill. "Have you started the grill?" she asked.

Billie's hands flew out of her pockets and into the air. "Damn! No, I was side tracked! I'll do it right now," she said apologetically as she headed in the direction of the grill.

"My fault! She was giving me a hand." Shannon confessed as she hefted the cooler and walked beside Cat toward the picnic table. "So where are the kids?" she asked Cat.

"They should be on their way home right now," Cat replied. "At least the girls are. Seth is working. He should be home in a couple of hours. We'll have to save him some of these burgers or we'll never hear the end of it!" she chuckled. Then looking around, she directed a question to Shannon. "Where's Kacie?"

"Asleep in the back seat of the car. She was so wound up after our day on the boat yesterday, it took hours for her to settle down. I don't think she finally crashed until about 11 o'clock last night," Shannon answered.

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but she's bound to go home again today all wound up!" Cat remarked, smiling.

"Who's that?" Julie asked the duo as they approached the table where she had laid out place settings for all eight of them.

Shannon dropped the cooler heavily on the bench then went to embrace her wife. "Our daughter, dear heart. Cat was just remarking that yesterday's frenzy will probably be worse tonight!" she said before placing a kiss on Julie's nose.

"Heaven help us!" she exclaimed.

"If it's any consolation, we'll have a wound up rugrat on our hands as well.... speaking of which, I believe they're home," Cat observed as she heard a car door slam in the driveway.

"Mama!" shrieked a high-pitched voice as a golden haired child ran across the yard and into Cat's arms, nearly knocking her to the ground.

"Goodness, Sky Baby! One of these times you're going to find us both in a heap when you do that!" Cat exclaimed.

"Sky Bird!" came a shout from the grill area. "How's my girl?"

"Mommy!" Skylar shouted as she threw herself into Billie's arms, only to be hoisted up and swung around in a circle.

"Did you have a good time with Grandma and Grandpa?" Billie asked the child, only to be met with vigorous nod. "Where's your sister?" she added.

"She went to the house. She said she hates being cursed, whatever that means!" Skylar complained.

Billie grinned at the other ladies, who with knowing looks, conveyed they knew exactly what that meant.

Whispering that she had to pee, Skylar wiggled out of Billie's arms and scurried into the house.

A scuttle from across the yard drew their attention back to the driveway once more.

"Mom! What happened?" Cat said worriedly as she saw her mother hobbling toward her on a pair of crutches... her father following close behind, hovering like a mother hen.

"Kitten, maybe she'll listen to you. She wouldn't let me bring a wheelchair home from the hospital," Doc said.

"For Heaven's sake, Doc. I not an invalid, you know!" Ida complained.

"Mom... what happened?" Cat asked again.

"She twisted her ankle stepping off the porch last night," Doc explained.

Billie took charge of the situation and led Ida to the closest lawn chair. "You know, Mom, you didn't have to keep the girls last night.... had we known about this, we would have come after them," Billie said.

"Nonsense!" Ida replied. "It's just a sprain. I'll be fine. I'll not let something so trivial get in the way of spending time with my grandchildren," she said stubbornly as she allowed Cat to examine her ankle.

Doc looked at Billie. "Now you know where Cat gets it!" he remarked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cat asked Doc pointedly.

"You know what it means.... your stubbornness - that's what!" he said sternly.

Cat glanced up at Billie with a "who me" look on her face, then grinned, easing the tension hovering over the group.

"Well, now that you're here, you're staying for the cookout.... and I won't take no for an answer!" a still-crouching Cat said to her parents, displaying some of her inherited character traits.

"No dear, you have company... We wouldn't dream of intruding," Ida said coyly.

Shannon shot Julie a look of sheer enjoyment as she absorbed the interaction between mother and daughter.

At her mother's remark, Cat suddenly remembered that she did indeed have guests. Bolting upright, she exclaimed, "Where are my manners? Shannon, Julie, these are my parents, Ida and Doc O'Grady. Mom and Dad, this is Shannon and Julie Nash."

After introductions were over, Ida looked around the yard. "Where are Jen and Fred, dear?" she asked her daughter.

Billie and Cat exchanged a nervous look. "They won't be joining us today, Mom. I'm afraid Jen isn't feeling well.... some sort of stomach bug," Cat explained the half-truth... which was in fact, the only truth they knew.

"So what's for eats?" came a voice from behind the group of people. All eyes turned to see a spike-haired Tara standing there with hands on her hips, baggy jeans spilling down over her shoes an oversized T-shirt hanging loosely on her shoulders.

Shannon looked at Tara then back to Julie. A smile crossed her face... a smile that was quite obviously hiding a knowing thought. Julie caught the thought and smiled back.

"Tara, come over here and meet our guests," Cat suggested as she held her hand out to her daughter.

Tara sauntered over to stand next to Cat and waited to be introduced.

"Ladies, our daughter, Tara. Tara, this is Shannon and Julie Nash," Cat said.

Tara reached her hand toward the ladies and greeted them one at a time. "Nice to meet you," she said politely, then, impatiently, she turned to her mother. "When do we eat? I'm starved!" she exclaimed.

"The grill is heating now. We'll throw the burgers on in a few minutes," Cat answered.

Tara gave Cat a knowing look. "You aren't gonna let Mom cook, are you?" she said cautiously, sending Shannon and Julie into fits of laughter.

"I heard that!" Billie called from across the yard while busily scraping the grill.

"Don't worry, daughter.... I'll give you a hand," Doc said as he headed toward his daughter-in-law.

A look of relief cross Tara's features as she realized her meal would be edible. "Thank you Grandpa," she whispered under her voice, drawing a smile from Cat.

"Why don't you run into the house and get the chips and deviled eggs for me, love?" Cat suggested to her daughter, who immediately turned and headed toward the house.

"She's a lovely girl," Julie commented as they watched Tara walk away.

"I like her look," Shannon added. "She looks like she's very confident in herself."

"At that age, they all think they're invincible," Cat replied. "She used to have beautiful, long golden blonde hair until a couple of weeks ago when she came home from a month with our grandmothers in South Carolina. Thanks to Grandma Jan, her hair is now classified as a dangerous weapon!"

"Your daughters look a lot like you, Cat," Julie observed. "I can imagine you looked exactly like your little one when you were that age."

"I suppose Seth looks just like Billie?" Shannon asked.

"In a way. He's tall like his mom, and he has finely chiseled good looks.... kind of how you'd think Billie would look if she were a man, but that's where the resemblance ends. He's quite blonde, and his personality is more like mine than Billie's," Cat explained. "On the other hand, even though Tara looks like me, she is all fire and brimstone like Billie. Sky is pretty much a mixture of us both," she added.

Julie laughed. "Sky sounds a lot like Kacie. As you saw yesterday, when she first meets you, she's calm, shy and reserved... a lot like myself, but when she's wound up, she's all Shannon!"

"Hey! I resemble that remark!" Shannon joked. "You know, I should go check on her. She'll be pretty upset if she sleeps through the cookout." On that note, Shannon headed across the yard toward the driveway to collect her daughter.

Cat looked over to the array of lawn chairs where her mother was fanning herself with her hat. "Hey Mom.... how about a glass of lemonade?" Cat suggested, receiving a grateful nod of acceptance from her mother. "Sound good to you?" she asked, turning back to Julie.

"Sure does!" Julie replied.

"Okay! If you don't mind giving me a hand, we'll go fetch enough for everyone from the house," Cat said.

"I'm at your service... lead the way," Julie replied as she followed Cat to the house, passing Shannon, carrying a still sleepy Kacie, along the way. "Lemonade....," she said to her wife as they passed.

"Sounds great!" Shannon shot back as she headed toward the lawn chairs to introduce Kacie to Cat's mother.

On their way up the porch steps, Cat and Julie were nearly bowled over by Tara, who's arms were laden with bags of chips, and Skylar, who was in a hurry to see who the little girl was she saw Shannon carry across the yard.

Julie grinned at Cat. "I'm not used to such traffic!" she exclaimed as they continued on their way into the house.

**********

The cookout was a wonderful success. The afternoon was spent visiting, playing lawn games and enjoying good food. Even the burgers were good, thanks to Doc's careful monitoring of Billie's cooking. Skylar and Kacie spent nearly the entire day playing with Skylar's dolls in the tree house. When Seth arrived home two hours into the festivities, Shannon and Julie fawned over his tall good looks. Not one to shirk off compliments, he hung around and made himself as charming as possible, even going so far as to play catch with his sister... something he normally had no time for. Little did he know, Shannon and Julie were more interested in Tara's athletic abilities as she smoothly fielded Seth's throws than they were in his.

By late afternoon, it was obvious that Ida's foot was swelling and quite uncomfortable. Finally, after much scolding, Ida listened to her husband and daughter and allowed herself to be taken home. By early evening, the ladies had cleared away the dishes, put away the left over food and retired to the lawn chairs in front of a blazing campfire Billie had started in the cinder block fireplace. The kids had all gone their separate ways.... Tara to the office to e-mail school friends, Seth to the family room to play video games, and Skylar and Kacie to Skylar's room to play paper dolls... all leaving the four ladies to a peaceful evening in front of the fire.

As dusk settled in around them, Shannon opened the bottle of wine they had brought and poured drinks for everyone. An easy camaraderie had fallen over the ladies as though they had known each other for years. It was this easiness that prompted Shannon to ask her question.

"So how long has Tara known she's gay?" she asked.

Wine spewed from Cat's mouth straight into the fireplace, sending the red haired woman into a coughing fit. Billie patted her back repeatedly as her airway recovered, and her mind absorbed what Shannon had said. "What did you say?" Cat demanded.

Shannon looked back and forth between Cat and Billie, and then at Julie, an ashen hue covering her features as she realized they had no clue. "Ah.... I'm sorry... I thought you knew," she said apologetically.

Cat was speechless. All she could do was look at Billie... searching for any evidence that she agreed with Shannon. "Billie?" she asked.

Billie looked at Cat, thoroughly confused... not knowing how to answer her wife's questions. Having no answers to offer, she turned to Shannon. "What makes you think Tara is gay?" she asked.

Shannon couldn't believe they didn't see it, and she said as much. "I'm surprised you don't know. Julie and I saw it almost immediately. Her boyish look, the spiked hair, baggy clothes, athletic ability.... even her handshake was firm," she explained. "Cat, does she have a special girlfriend? Does she have a boyfriend?" Shannon asked.

"Yes on both counts," Billie replied in Tara's defense. "Karissa is her best friend, and I would assume Kevin is a boyfriend, considering the position I caught them in two nights ago," she added, looking at Cat.

"What is Karissa like?" Julie asked.

"Karissa? Well.... I guess she's a normal 14 year old. She's a pretty girl... she looks like her Mom. Curly blonde hair, blue eyes. I wouldn't say she's overly feminine, but she's certainly not butch either," Cat answered.

"Does she seem to compliment Tara?" Shannon questioned.

Billie didn't like where the questions were going. "Wait just a minute. Are you suggesting that Tara and Karissa are a 'couple'?" she demanded.

Realizing that things were getting tense, Shannon did her best to diffuse the situation. "No! Not at all. It's just been my experience that even as teenagers, butch girls tend to hang out with feminine girls... that is, unless they're really hard core butch, then they usually form gangs.... not a group of kids you want your daughter associating with," she explained. "Look, I'm not saying that Karissa is gay.... hell, I'm not even 100% sure Tara is gay - especially after your comment about this boy.... Kevin?" she said to Billie. "It just that gaydar is pretty accurate, and I felt it around Tara."

Cat sat silent throughout this exchange, shaking her head back and forth.

Julie reached over and touched Cat's hand. "Cat, why does the possibility of Tara being gay upset you so?" she asked sincerely.

Cat looked at Julie. "Julie, when did you realize you were gay?" she asked.

"In hind sight, I guess I always knew. In reality, not until after Kacie was born and Shannon came back into my life," she replied.

"Shannon?" Cat asked, leaving the implied question hanging.

"I knew pretty early on.... probably around Tara's age," she answered.

"And did you act on it?" Cat continued to question.

"No. It wasn't until I was in college that I had my first same sex experience," she supplied.

"Billie didn't act on it either until after her divorce," Cat volunteered. "I myself, on the other hand, came out pretty young. I was raised in a house under a blanket of unconditional love. My parents made it clear from my earliest memories that there was nothing we could do to lose their love. Coming out to my family was very easy for me.... coming out to the world was not." Cat took a deep breath to control her shaky voice before she continued. "I too was about Tara's age when I realized my orientation... and I came out immediately. Life was wonderful at home, but an absolute nightmare at school.... and I don't see that the situation is any better today than it was twenty years ago. I don't want my daughter to feel the pain and humiliation I did. I don't want my daughter to become another Matthew Shepard." Cat finished, the last sentence said through a broken, tear filled voice.

Billie immediately rose from her chair and knelt in front of Cat, enveloping her in arms of love. "Shh.... it's okay Cat. We don't know what the truth is at this point. Tara will decide that for herself. All we can do is be supportive - either way. Tara won't become another Matthew Shepard.... we won't let that happen, love," she assured her distraught wife.

Julie reached out for Shannon's hand and squeezed it tightly, indicating with a nod that it was probably time to leave. As they rose to their feet, Cat sat back in her chair, once again composed.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "Please don't feel that you have to leave."

Billie led Shannon into the house to retrieve her daughter as Julie walked over to Cat and hugged her. "It's getting late, Cat. We've got to get Kacie home to bed. Look... don't fret over what we said about Tara. For all we know, she's a straight girl who is just trying to act tough. Believe me, we're no experts.... Okay?"

Cat nodded. "Truth is, Julie, that thought has crossed my mind. I guess it was a shock to hear it voiced by someone else," she commented.

"Just because we think it, doesn't make it true, Cat.... just remember that. Like Billie said, Tara will decide for herself," Julie said.

Cat stood up and embraced her new friend. "Thanks, Julie."

"You're welcome. Now we really need to get going. If Kacie is as wound up as I think she is, it will take the next couple of hours to settle her down and get her to bed!" Julie laughed. Hugging Cat again, she added, "Thanks so much for having us over. We really had a good time."

"Thanks for coming. We'll have to do this again," Cat replied as she walked Julie through the yard toward her car where Shannon and Kacie were waiting.

After saying good-bye to Shannon and Kacie, Billie and Cat turned to each other and searched familiar eyes for reactions to the day's events.

Cat was the first to speak. "The truth, Billie. Has it ever crossed your mind that Tara might be gay?"

"Has it crossed yours?" Billie replied as they both nodded their heads.

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

CHAPTER X

BEEP... BEEP.... BEEP Sounded the alarm clock at 5:00 am.

Reaching over, Billie silenced the alarm then rolled back into the warm indentation vacated by her body just moments before.

Cat stirred when the alarm so rudely interrupted her sleep. "Why?" she asked sleepily.

"Why what?" Billie replied without opening her eyes.

"The alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. every morning. Why does it seem earlier than normal on Mondays?" she croaked out.

Billie rolled over and opened her eyes, only to be met with green orbs just barely peeking out behind partially closed lids. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest at the sight of this golden haired angel. If she had only moments to live, she would want to spend them just like this.... lying side by side with Cat, nose to nose, breathing the same air.... sharing the same heart beat.

Billie smiled. "Monday morning comes early because the weekend is much too short," she finally replied to Cat's earlier question.

Cat nodded. "I agree." Leaning over, she placed a delicate kiss on Billie's lips. "Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Not bad," Billie said, smiling. Reaching up, she traced the tip of one finger along the side of Cat's face. "It took a while to drift off," she began, "especially after that conversation with Shannon and Julie last night," she confessed, "but once I was asleep, I was out for the night."

Cat reached up and took Billie's hand from her face. Bringing it to her lips, she kissed the palm. A broad smile spread across Billie's face. "I know what you mean," Cat said. "I must have laid here for nearly an hour before falling asleep."

"Have you got a busy day ahead of you?" Billie asked.

"Two surgeries this morning.... one in early afternoon. I'm hoping to be home by four o'clock or so," she replied. "How about you?"

"Well, we have the preliminary court hearing on Shannon and Julie's case this morning.... and I've got a ton of paperwork to catch up on. I could always bring that home though," she mused. Propping herself up on her elbow, she looked down at Cat and continued. "Maybe we can take the crew out to dinner tonight if I can get home at roughly the same time you do. How does that sound?" she asked.

"A night off from cooking? It sounds great!" Cat exclaimed.

"All right.... it's a date," Billie quipped. "I'd better get my butt in gear and get into the office early. Maybe I can get a jump on the paperwork," she said as she rolled out of bed. "Wanna join me for a shower?" she asked, reaching her hand out Cat.

Cat smiled and stretched lazily. "Wash my back?" she asked wickedly.

Billie knelt on the bed and slowly crawled toward the reclining woman until she was straddling her victim. Leaning in, her lips lightly brushed Cat's ear lobe as she whispered, "I'll wash anything you'd like."

Cat's eyes flew open as she suddenly placed her hands on Billie's chest and pushed. Not expecting the move, Billie was easily thrown off balance onto her back on the bed, while Cat quickly jumped up and tore off her night shirt. "Last one in is a rotten egg!" she said as she ran into the bathroom.

"Aarrgghh! Cat, you are gonna pay for that!" Billie threatened light heartedly as she scrambled into a sitting position.

Cat stepped into the doorway and shook her naked butt at Billie.... "Promises, promises!" she teased, shrieking as Billie jumped off the bed and chased her back into the bathroom.

**********

As it turned out, Cat did not make it home early that evening, as a bus load of high school kids was involved in a near head-on collision with a trailer truck, filling the Emergency room and creating a need for the OR staff to remain beyond their scheduled shifts. Luckily, there were no fatalities from the accident, but several young people required emergency surgery, thus creating a very long work day for Cat. Such set the pace for the remainder of the week. Between Billie and Cat's late hours and unexpected caseloads, they barely saw each other. It seemed that just as one of them managed to get home early, the other had to work late. By the end of the week, they had each spent a significant amount of time with the children, but very little with each other. When they crawled into bed together in the evening, they barely had time to cuddle and exchange loving words before exhaustion took over and passed them into the world of unconsciousness. By the time Friday rolled around, they were missing each other terribly.

"Cat, regardless of what happens at work today, I am leaving at noon," Billie said firmly, looking at Cat over her shoulder as she threw her legs over the side of the bed to get up. "We haven't spent more than 10 waking minutes together all week. I miss you," she confessed.

Cat smiled into the pouty face of her tall lover. "Me too, love." she replied. "As of late yesterday, I didn't have any surgeries scheduled for this afternoon, so if my luck holds out, I'll be home early too!" she explained.

Billie smiled crookedly back at Cat. "Good. I'm looking forward to spending time with you. I also want to get to the bottom of whatever is ailing Jen. Do you realize she hasn't spoken with us in over a week?... and she's refusing to return our phone calls. I don't like it, Cat. Something is up and I intend to find out what it is," Billie declared as she rose to her feet and headed to the bathroom.

"I feel bad for the kids," Cat observed, rolling over to her side and cuddling Billie's pillow. "They miss Stevie and Karissa. I don't think it's fair for Jen and Fred to punish the kids like that," she added. "If her gripe is with us, then she needs to let us know and leave the kids out of it."

"You're right, Cat," Billie called from the bathroom. "We'll give her a call this afternoon when we get home, okay?"

"Sounds good," Cat replied as she finally crawled out of bed. She went into their closet to retrieve a clean pair of scrubs, which she threw on the bed before stripping off her night shirt and heading toward the bathroom to shower.

Billie was leaving the bathroom just as she entered. "Will you be joining me?" Cat asked hopefully.

Billie smiled, then leaned in and placed a kiss of Cat's lips. "Just as soon as I start the coffee pot, love," she replied as she headed toward the bedroom door. "I'll be right back!" she quipped just before she disappeared.

Cat leaned her cheek against the bathroom door frame and sighed, contemplating their lives. She loved Billie with all her heart, and heaven knows, she still had the power to turn her knees to Jell-O, but lately, something was missing. She didn't know what it was, but she felt like their lives had become so distracted. Life seemed so hectic lately that they rarely had time to concentrate on just them.

She couldn't believe how much their lives had been thrown into an upheaval of late by the kids. Ever since they returned from their one-month stay with the grandmothers in South Carolina, all hell had broken loose. Between Seth coming home drunk, having to break the origin of Tara's conception to her after her encounter with Kevin in the family room, the possibility that Tara might be gay, and Skylar and Missy disappearing, sending the whole neighborhood out on a search and rescue mission, she was sure she'd lose her mind. Then there was Jen and Fred. For some reason, Jen had suddenly broken all ties with them. Cat was at a loss as to what had caused it.... and Jen wasn't talking.

Resting her forehead on the door frame she closed her eyes and fought the urge to cry. She felt like her life was out of control. Is was in this state that Billie found her when she returned from making coffee.

"Cat, honey are you all right?" Billie said, approaching Cat and stroking her long red-blonde hair.

Cat looked up into Billie's face and sighed, not saying a word.

"That was an awfully big sigh, my love," Billie observed. "Wanna talk about it?" she asked, feeling like someone had punched her in the stomach after seeing the look of utter despair on Cat's face.

Cat just shook her head no and allowed herself to be enveloped in Billie's arms. Standing there for long moments, she allowed the taller woman to hold her, humming softly to her, surrounding her in a blanket of love, her own arms wrapped tightly around Billie's waist.

Finally, Billie planted a firm kiss on the top of Cat's head. "Are you all right, Cat?" she whispered tenderly.

Cat nodded. "Thank you for loving me, Billie," she said into Billie's chest.

"That is oh, so easy to do, my love," Billie replied, kissing her once more. After a few more moments of silence and a quick squeeze, she added, "We'd better get into the shower if we're going to make it to work on time, sweetie."

"Okay," Cat whispered back before releasing her tall wife and heading for the shower.

**********

As promised, both ladies were home relatively early that afternoon. Billie had made it home first, and was lounging on the couch watching the local news when Cat arrived. Throwing her keys on the kitchen table, she dragged herself into the living room and dropped heavily down onto the couch beside Billie. Kicking off her shoes, she curled her legs beneath her and burrowed into the larger woman's embrace. Closing her eyes, she let out of sigh of contentment.

"It feels sooooooo good to be home," she exclaimed.

"Hmmmm.... yes it does," Billie replied, holding Cat tightly.

"Where are the kids?" Cat asked, looking up into Billie's face.

"Sky went to the beach with Missy and her mom...,. Seth is working..., and it appears that Tara has a new friend. She's gone to the mall with a girl named Kelly," Billie replied.

"Kelly? Was she here with Tara?" Cat asked.

"No. Tara was on the phone with her when I got home. They're meeting at the mall," Billie explained.

"Oh," Cat said distractedly.

Billie noticed the far away look in Cat's eyes, but decided not to question it. If she guessed correctly, the same thoughts had crossed her mind earlier when Tara announced she was meeting this new girl at the mall. Pushing the anxious feelings aside for the time being, she looked back to Cat cuddled up again against her side.

"How was your morning, love?" Billie asked.

"Okay," was all Cat said in reply before falling silent once more.

Feeling the anxiety return at Cat's detached behavior, she changed the subject. "Hey, why don't we give Jen a call and see if she'll talk to us today," she suggested.

Cat sat up and looked at Billie. "All right," she said.

Billie rose to her feet and retrieved the portable phone from the coffee table. Sitting back down, she turned to Cat and looked at her intently. Reaching forward, she traced the side of Cat's face with her fingertips. "Are you feeling okay, kitten?" she asked.

Cat locked eyes with Billie. "I'm okay, love," she replied. "Just a little distracted.... I'm worried about Tara.... and Jen," she explained.

Nodding her head, Billie squeezed Cat's knee. "I know.... me too," she confessed, "but worrying won't solve anything, my love. Like Shannon said, Tara's sexuality will be her own choice... we can only be there to offer advice and support," she mused. "As for Jen.... well, hopefully she'll talk to us today, then we can finally find out what we did to offend her."

"Let's give her a call," Cat suggested.

Billie nodded and punched Jen's number into the phone. Moments later, a male voice greeted Billie cheerfully.

"Speak to me!" the voice said.

"Fred?" Billie asked, a little taken aback by the unusual greeting.

"No, this is Steve. Sorry... I thought you were my girlfriend. Do you want my dad?" he returned.

"No! Actually, I'd like to speak to your Mom, Steve.... this is Billie," she said.

"Mom's not home," Steve said quickly. "She's at the grocery store. Hey, is Seth home?" he asked.

"Seth is working, Steve. He should be home in a few hours. So, your mom is grocery shopping?" she repeated.

"Yeah, she just left about 10 minutes ago," he replied. "Hey, I've got another call coming in... it might be Melissa. Can I let you go?" he asked urgently.

"Sure Steve. Tell your Mom I called, okay?" she requested.

"All right, Billie. Later!" he said before hanging up.

Hanging up her own phone, she returned it to its cradle and turned to Cat. "She's shopping," Billie explained. "We just missed her."

"No we haven't," Cat said, raising to her feet. "Let's go - we'll intercept her at the store."

"What? Cat, are you serious?" Billie asked.

"I sure am. Look... you wanted to put an end to this, right? Well, she isn't returning our calls, she snubs us when she drives by, she's keeping our kids apart.... I don't know about you, but I getting tired of it. She owes us an explanation, and I intend to get it - even in the grocery store," Cat exclaimed. "Are you coming with me?" she asked, extending her hand to Billie.

Billie grinned ear to ear. When Cat was determined, there was no stopping her. Reaching for Cat's outstretched hand. she rose to her feet. "Lead the way," she said, gesturing toward the kitchen with her hand.

Moments later, they were pulling into the parking lot of the town's largest super market.

"Look, there's Jen's car," Cat said, pointing to the vehicle parked two spaces away from theirs.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Cat?" Billie asked.

"The alternative is to let things continue as they are, Billie," she observed.

Billie nodded. "You're right, Cat. Let's go," she said, reaching for the door handle.

Walking across the parking lot, Billie grabbed a shopping cart and pushed it in front of them into the store. Cat looked at her with eyebrows arched into her hairline.

"Hey, we might as well get a few groceries while we're here," Billie reasoned.

Throwing her hands up into the air in exasperation, Cat shook her head from side to side and led the way into the grocery store.

"What?" Billie said innocently while following Cat into the store.

Cat and Billie scanned each aisle as they passed through the store, looking for any sign of their friend.

"She's gotta be here somewhere," Cat said, "her car is in the parking lot!"

"Look! There she is.... in the frozen food aisle," Billie said, pointing excitedly.

Cat pointed their shopping cart in Jen's direction and hurried toward her. Jen was lazily browsing the aisle, when she caught something rapidly approaching her. Looking up, she immediately recognized the determined look on Cat's face.

"Shit!" Jen said under her breath as she turned her cart around and quickly walked away.

"Jen! Jen!" Cat called out loudly to Jen's retreating back. "Wait! We need to talk to you."

"Leave me alone, Cat," Jen replied over her shoulder.

Knowing Jen was liable to run, Billie circled around and detoured down the next aisle, intercepting Jen at the end, and trapping her between herself and Cat.

Stopping short, and realizing she had been ambushed, Jen looked back and forth between Cat and Billie. "Do you two always tag team the underdog?" she spat out vehemently.

"Jen, we didn't tag team you.... we just need to talk," Cat explained, placing a hand on Jen's arm, only to have it shaken off.

"There's nothing to talk about," Jen said, trying once more to get past them and continue on to the register.

"Well, we think there is," Billie said, stepping in front of her cart to stop her.

"Billie, please let me by. Don't make me call for the store manager," she warned.

Billie raised her eyebrows. "What's wrong with you Jen? What have we done to warrant such treatment?" she asked.

Jen narrowed her eyes and tried to pass once more. Again, Billie blocked her way.

Looking around frantically, she spotted a store worker stocking shelves at the other end of the aisle. "Excuse me!" she shouted, waving to the young man. "Could you please fetch the store manager for me? I seem to have a problem here," she said. The young man immediately jumped to his feet and went in search of the manager.

Billie placed one hand on her hip and ran the other through her hair. "Jen... now why did you have to do that? We only wanted to talk. Cat... come on, let's go.... this is useless," she said, extending her hand to Cat who took it willingly.

Together Cat and Billie exited the store and walked toward their car. Little did they know, Jen nearly followed them, stopping at the large glass windows at the front of the store to watch then walk across the parking lot. Upon reaching the car, they opened the doors and climbed in.

Billie was seething with anger. "Damn her! Why does she have to be so stubborn?" she asked to no one in particular.

Cat just sat there in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, silent for long moments.

Taking a deep breath, Billie brought her emotions under control and reached to turn the key in the ignition.

Suddenly, Cat's hand flew over and covered Billie's. "No, Billie," she said. "This isn't over yet. We came here to find the truth, and we're not leaving until we have it." Then, reaching for her door handle, she was out of the car in seconds and heading toward Jen's car.

Billie rolled down her window. "Cat what are you doing?" she asked loudly.

"She has to come out of there sooner or later, Billie. I told you I'm not leaving until she talks to us," Cat explained. leaning against Jen's car and crossing her arm in front of her.

"Jesus Christ!" Billie exclaimed, also climbing out of the car. "You're going to get us arrested, Cat," she added, joining her wife by Jen's car.

Cat scanned the front of the store just as Jen exited, pushing her cart before her. "Here she comes, Billie," Cat said, pushing herself off Jen's car to stand erect, her body language making it clear to Jen that she meant business.

Jen stopped in mid-step, just as she spotted Cat. Then, with determination, she continued toward her car, intending to put an end to the blonde woman's harassment once and for all.

Stopping behind her car she opened the trunk and proceeded to place her groceries inside. Billie stepped forward to help her while Cat stood there with her hands on her hips. Once the groceries were loaded, Jen turned to the ladies and reached up to adjust the unruly yellow ringlets that covered her head. "Okay," she said. "Let's get this over with. What do you want from me?" she asked.

"We want to know why you're so angry with us, Jen. We want to know what we could have possibly done that would cause you to throw away our friendship. We want to know why you think its necessary to punish the kids by keeping them apart," Cat began before reaching the point of mute frustration.

Billie watched the play of emotions fly across her wife's face as she stated her demands. Jen's reactions were equally as interesting, as she wore her heart on her sleeve. It became obvious to Billie at that moment that this was just as hard on Jen as it was on Cat and herself.

"You really don't know, do you?" Jen said incredulously.

"Know what?!" Cat shouted, her hands out to her sides.

"Well, it sure didn't look like a business meeting to me! You were having waaaayyy too much fun for business!" Jen started. Seeing the confused look on Cat and Billie's faces, she continued. "Hello!!!? I was there.... two Friday's ago.... Trader Dukes at dinner time? I SAW you.... laughing and joking with those women.... remember - you broke our date? If you didn't want a night out with Fred and I you could have said so instead of pulling that bullshit on us!" Jen started pacing... her ranting continued. "Of course I can't blame you.... why would you want to be friends with me.... look at me! I'm fat! My face is breaking out!....."

Suddenly, the dam broke and Jen started crying. Billie immediately wrapped the distraught woman in her arms and looked frantically at Cat who was also pacing back and forth, one hand on her hip, the other hand worrying her bangs, trying desperately to understand what Jen was telling them. Finally, it all began to make sense. Cat looked at her friend wrapped in her wife's arms and it suddenly became clear.

Cat was fighting tears as she approached her wife and friend, adding her arms to the fray as she joined them in a group hug. Then, stepping back, she took Jen's arm and encouraged her to lean against the car. Billie joined her as Cat once again took up pacing back and forth in front of them.

"Jen, believe it or not, we were in a business meeting that night at Trade Dukes. Those two women you saw us with were Billie's clients. They couldn't make a day time meeting so they invited us to dinner. Somehow, our signals got crossed and Billie agreed to the dinner meeting, not remembering that we had already accepted your dinner and movie invitation," Cat tried to explain.

"It's true, Jen. My screw up, I'm afraid," Billie piped in.

Cat approached Jen and reached forward to cup the blonde woman's cheek in her palm. "Jen, we would never blow you guys off. We love you, don't you know that?" Cat stated, making Jen cry even harder.

Cat opened her arms to Jen, who went into them willingly. After several long moments of soft whimpering, Cat held Jen at arms' length and smiled broadly. "So when are you due?" she asked.

Jen's eyes flew open, as did Billie's. "Due?" Jen asked breathlessly. "What do you mean?"

Cat frowned. "Jen!" she said excitedly, "You've been ill for a while now. You're an emotional wreck! You said you were putting on weight... honey, all those things to me indicate that you're probably pregnant!" she explained.

Jen shook her head side to side. "No... it can't be. I had a tubal ligation years ago.... it can't be," she said in disbelief.

Once again, Cat reached up to hold Jen's face in her hands. "Sweetheart, tubal ligations have been known to fail... they aren't foolproof," she said.

Jen continued to shake her head. "No.... it can't be," she said again.

Billie was bubbling with joy on the inside, but unsure about expressing it, considering her friend was in denial about the possibility. On the outside, her logical self took over. "Well, there's one way to be sure," she said. "I'll be right back." With that, she headed across the parking lot and back into the store.

While Billie was gone, Cat once again took her friends into her arms. "Sweetie, we missed you so much!" she said, tears filling her voice.

Jen wrapped her arms tightly around Cat. "I'm sorry I've been such a bitch," she said. "I thought you replaced Fred and I with your new friends."

Cat was dumbfounded. "Jen, how could we ever replace you? Don't you know you hold a special place in our hearts? Honey, that night at Trader Dukes.... why didn't you come over to the table? We would love to have shared you with Shannon and Julie," she asked.

Jen wiped the tears from her face. Sniffing loudly, she replied, "We didn't want to interfere, Cat."

Cat shook her head side to side. "What am I going to do with you, my friend?" she joked.

"Okay ladies, let's go home - we've got some work to do," Billie exclaimed as she approached the ladies carrying a bag.

"Work?" Jen said.

Billie reached into the bag and pulled out a box. "Home pregnancy test," she said, smiling ear to ear.

A crooked smile crossed Cat's features as a look of trepidation crossed Jen's.

"Billie, I'm going to drive Jen's car home for her... I think her emotional state is a little too fragile right now to handle it. Okay?" Cat said.

"Okay.... I'll meet you at Jen's," Billie replied as they jumped into their respective cars and drove away.

**********

Billie, Jen and Cat were all lined up and bent over in front of the bathroom sink, waiting very impatiently for the results. Finally, they came.

"But.... but..... but the tubal..." Jen said, her voice trailing off in disbelief as she looked at the "plus" sign on the dip stick.

Billie and Cat looked across Jen's back at each other and smiled. Tears welled up in blue and green eyes.

Jen stood erect and looked back and forth between her friends, her eyes wide with something close to fear. "I.... I... I'm pregnant!" she exclaimed. "How can that be?"

"How? Jen, this is your third child! Don't tell me you don't know how it happened!" Billie joked.

"No! I mean... yeah, I know how... but... but.... you know.... how?" she asked again. "This can't be happening," she added, one hand flying to her forehead, fighting off the lightheadedness she was feeling.

Cat noticed the pale hue to her friend's face. "Jen, are you all right? Maybe you should lie down for a while," she said.

"No... I'm okay. I'm just a little light headed," she explained.

"Have you eaten today?" Billie asked.

"A few crackers this morning," Jen replied. "It was all I could keep down."

"Okay! Time to eat!" Cat said, taking her friend's hand and leading her to a chair at the kitchen table.

Jen sat there at the table, staring straight ahead. While Cat busied herself throwing lunch together, Billie sat across the table from Jen and reached over to cover her friend's hand with her own. "Jen, honey, how do you feel about this?" she asked.

Jen broke out of her daze and looked at her friend. "Billie, it scares the shit out of me," she replied.

"How so?" Billie prompted.

Looking down at her hands, she tried to find the words to express herself. "I love Stevie and Karissa.... I really do, but I had a very difficult time through their pregnancies and deliveries. They were both very big babies. When Stevie was born, I swear I was giving birth to a baby centaur! He split me end to end.... it was horrible. I was sore for weeks," she began. "The pregnancies were rough. I had morning sickness for the entire nine months with both babies. I gained a ton of weight, and with Karissa, I developed toxemia near the end and almost lost her. Those two pregnancies were the most terrifying 18 months of my life."

Cat delivered bowls of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches to the table as she listened to Jen's story. "Jen, maybe this one will be easier on you," she suggested.

Jen looked at Cat. "I don't know Cat. Damn!" she exclaimed, nearly breaking down into tears. "I feel horrible about this, but I don't really know if I want this child. I'm afraid, Cat!" she confessed.

Cat reached out to comfort her friend. "Afraid of what, Jen?" she asked.

Jen sat back and breathed deeply before answering. "After Stevie and Karissa's births, I fell into post-partum depression. It was hell! I felt so out of control. I was afraid I would hurt myself or my babies. I was on antidepressant medication for months after each birth. One of the primary reasons I had the tubal ligation was to prevent this from happening again. I am scared to death," she admitted.

Cat and Billie exchanged concerned glances.

Jen propped her elbows on the table and dropped her face into her hands. Moments later, she began to cry. Looking at Cat and Billie, she poured her heart out to her friends. "My youngest is in high school for crying out loud! I am supposed to start of new job in a few weeks. I'm at a point in my life where I can finally enjoy some independence, and now this happens!" she cried, breaking down once more into an incoherent heap.

Cat rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Jen, who now had her head resting on her arms crossed in front of her on the table. Her shoulders were shaking with the waves of sobs that plagued her body. Looking at Billie across the table, she mouthed the words, "Call Fred," then talked soothingly to Jen as Billie rose and carried out her chore.

**********

Fred came home immediately after he received the call from Billie. She was intentionally vague about what the problem was.... only offering that Jen wasn't feeling well, so Fred was quite a nervous wreck when he arrived home. When he entered the house, Jen was in the bathroom, trying desperately to compose herself. The minute she opened the door and laid eyes on a very worried Fred, she once again broke down and cried, flinging herself into her husband's arms.

Moments later, Cat was fanning Fred with the phone book as he slouched limply in the overstuffed living room chair mumbling, "I can't believe it.... I can't believe it!"

Jen was standing in the circle of Billie's arms, whimpering softly on her friend's shoulder.

Before long, Fred regained his senses and sat up, a "deer in the headlights" look on his face. Throwing his hands out to the sides, he simply asked, "How?"

"I don't know how, Fred. I... I....," Jen tried to speak, collapsing once more into tears as Billie walked her over to the couch and sat her down.

"Fred," Cat began. "It wouldn't be unusual for a tubal ligation to fail."

Fred rubbed his face hard, then dropped his hands between his legs. Looking over to Jen, who was huddled on the couch, he grinned, rose to his feet and joined his wife, pulling her into his arms. "Don't worry, love, it will be okay," he purred.

Jen looked at Fred through a veil of tears. "Ho....how can you s....say that?" she asked, gulping air between words. "You're not the one who has to get sick, fat and depressed," she whined.

"Maybe this one will be different, sweetie," Fred suggested. "You know I'll be there to help as much as I can."

Jen was incapable of replying. Pulling her feet onto the couch, she burrowed into Fred's side and sobbed faintly.

Billie and Cat watched the touching scene from across the room. Looking down to her shorter wife, she motioned toward the door with her head, then followed Cat out of the house.

"Wow! That was quite a surprise about Jen, huh?" Billie asked as she and Cat walked hand in hand back to their house.

"Yeah!" Cat replied. "I'm really concerned about her though. I didn't realize she had such a difficult time with Stevie and Karissa." Walking a short distance further, she stopped and looked into her wife's face. "Billie, maybe this baby isn't the right thing for Jen," she suggested.

Billie furrowed her brow. "What are you suggesting, Cat?" she asked.

"I'm not suggesting anything," she replied, continuing once more toward home. "It's just that Jen's right.... she's at the point where she should be enjoying her freedom. She's worked hard raising her children and now that they're relatively independent, it's almost a pity that she'll be tied down again," she explained.

"What would you do if it were you?" Billie pointedly asked.

"Without actually being in her shoes, I don't know," Cat replied. "I would probably grow accustomed to the idea over time.... as I'm sure Jen will. Still - it's just bad timing."

Billie nodded as she held the swinging gate open for Cat to enter their front lawn. As they approached the house, the sound of loud music permeated the door. "What the heck?" Cat exclaimed as she pushed the door open.

Inside, was Tara, and another girl, dancing wildly to "Old Time Rock 'N Roll" by Joe Cocker. Billie and Cat exchanged wide eyed looks before a grin broke out across Billie's face.

"You wouldn't!" Cat said incredulously.

"Oh yeah!" Billie replied as she began gyrating to the beat, joining the girls in the living room as Cat stood there, her arms crossed in front of her, her head shaking back and forth in disbelief.

As the strong beat vibrated through the living room, the trio danced, grinding and bumping hips and stomping feet. Finally, the song was over and the three collapsed side by side on the couch.

"Kelly... my mom.... Mom.... Kelly," Tara said, introducing Billie to her friend who was sandwiched between the two.

Kelly reached over to shake Billie's hand. "Nice to meet you, Mrs.....," Kelly said.

"Billie," replied the dark haired woman. "And that beautiful angel by the door is Tara's other Mom, Cat," Billie offered, pointing to Cat.

Kelly's eyes flew to the door, surprise written all over her face as she realized the family structure. Looking back to Tara with raised eyebrows, she visually chastised her friend for not warning her.

Tara shrugged her shoulders in apology.

Getting to her feet, Kelly walked over to Cat and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too, Cat," she said cordially.

"Welcome to our home, Kelly," Cat replied, taking in the girl's appearance.

Kelly was no more than 15 years old.... very tomboyish, with short sandy brown hair and an almost military-like air about her as she stood respectfully erect while shaking Cat's hand.

Tara was becoming bored with all this nicey-nicey stuff. "Kel.... wanna go play video games in the family room?" she suggested.

Turning around sharply, Kelly grinned. "Sure," she replied. "Lead the way!"

Jumping up from the couch, Tara led her new friend into the kitchen as Cat and Billie exchanged looks. Still sitting on the couch, Billie reached her hand out to Cat, who finally closed the front door and joined her wife. Cat sat with her feet under her.

"So, what do you think of her?" Billie asked.

"She seems nice enough," Cat answered, "a little boyish, but nice."

Billie threw her head back and laughed. "Not all our 'sisters' are foo-foo's like you, you know," she teased.

"Foo-foo?!" she exclaimed. "I'll show you who's a foo-foo... take this!" she warned as she grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and starting whacking Billie with it.

Billie could do nothing but protect her face with her arms. Suddenly the attack ceased. Peaking from behind her defenses, she saw a confused look on Cat's face. "Cat?" she asked.

"Who said she was a 'sister'?" she asked.

Billie shrugged, embarrassed at being caught stereotyping the girl. "Well, I just assumed..... I mean, like you said she's kind of boyish.... and she acts like she's in the Army or something," Billie explained, a red flush covering her face.

"Well, I'm not going to jump to conclusions until she admits it to me directly," Cat replied.

"Does it bother you that Tara is hanging with someone who might be gay?" Billie asked.

Cat propped her elbow up on the back of the couch and rested her head on her hand. "I'd be a hypocrite if I said yes," she reasoned. "No, it wouldn't bother me if she had gay friends, but I guess I would be a bit concerned if she confirmed that she was gay herself," she confessed.

Billie looked at Cat questioningly. "Cat, how can you say that?" she asked.

Cat reached forward and cupped the side of Billie's face with her palm. "Honey, we went through this with Shannon and Julie the other night. You know how difficult life is for most gay people," she began. "We were lucky.... our families are supportive, we have great friends.... and great employers, but things are different for kids today.... harder. Hell, if I were Tara's age today and gay, I would be scared to death about starting a relationship. I mean.... AIDS is pretty scary stuff," she explained.

Billie nodded. "I know what you mean. AIDS is a pretty scary threat, gay or not," she responded. "In any case, Tara's a little young to be thinking about a physical relationship just yet... at least I hope so."

"Living a gay lifestyle is tough - even for the strongest of us, Billie, " Cat said. "Overall acceptance is growing, but we have so far to go yet. I'd just hate to see any of our children have to live with that," Cat added, pausing to reflect. "Well, regardless of how our children turn out they will know they are loved and accepted unconditionally. And, we need to teach them how to protect themselves... that is the least we can do for them."

"Well, it would certainly change the nature of "the talk" we still need to have with Tara... don't cha think?" Billie observed.

"Ugh!" Cat exclaimed, throwing herself back onto the couch. "Don't even mention "the talk".... I've been dreading it ever since she started her period!"

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

Continued in Part 3.