Monday morning. A quiet morning with absolute silence in the Petronski household. The cars were still in the garage, quiet, their hoods cool in the chilly air. The dog was snuffling in her little bed, chasing after dust bunnies in her dreams. The grandfather clock was mutedly ticking away the seconds.

Two forms were wrapped around each other, the smaller one almost completely on top of the larger one. Golden blonde hair spilled across a broad chest. Long, strong arms were wrapped protectively around the one on top.

Warm sunlight spilled in from an unshaded window, letting in the unwelcome morning light. A stray beam trickled over from it's place in the down comforter to shimmer on a pair of shut eyes.

Taylor groaned, warily opening her eyes slowly by degrees. Experience had taught her long ago to never open her eyes all the way all at once. One tended to see white spots for several moments afterwards and staggering around half blind wasn't all that it was made out to be.

The smaller one, Rachelle, growled and impudently turned her head in the other direction, further rousing her companion.

Taylor silently yawned, enjoying the warmth of the covers and her lover before cautiously untangling herself from the blonde land bound octopus and heading into the bathroom. She quietly washed up for the morning, careful not to get water on the mirror. A flick of her wrist and her damp towel was back on it's rack without a single wrinkle or crease.

The German Shepard mix gruffed as her taller mommy woke her from her dreamland. Taylor paused to scratch behind a furry ear before heading into the kitchen with Coco in tow. She flicked on the carafe button and fed the dog before she headed to the fridge.

"Need to go grocery shopping again Coco buddy." her murmur was hushed by a blast of cold air as she checked the freezer.

After pondering her choices for several long moments, Taylor pulled various items out, setting them on the counter. Coco gave her mommy an inquisitive look, complete with a head tilt before deciding that she needed to use the bushes, leaving her human to mutter to herself in the kitchen.

"I can't screw up too bad, right?"

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

A petite form stretched languidly, a smile curling the corner of her lips. Although she was rather put out that she had awoken alone, the smell of coffee curbed her pout. The blonde hurriedly washed up and silently crept down the stairs, heading for the kitchen.

The small radio was on, the clear bass rumblings of Tim McGraw coupling with a rather sexy contralto.

"But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it, I try so hard, I can't rise above it, don't know what it is 'bout that little gal's loving, but I like it, I love it, I want some more of it?"

The sable haired woman was stirring something, clad in the cutest pair of plaid boxers and a sports bra.

"My momma and daddy tried ta teach me courtesy, but it never sank in 'til that girl got a holda me, now I'm holdin' umbrellas and openin' up doors, I'm takin' out the trash and I'm sweepin' my floor, I'm crossin' my fingers and countin' every kiss, prayin' that it keeps going on like this?"

Rachelle Petronski snuck up behind the broad back, intent on jumping upon her unsuspecting victim.

Only to have Taylor whirl around at the last possible moment, turning the huntress into the captive. The bowl of something or other was left for later as they leaned into each other.

"Gotta wash my truck, and dress up, pick her up to watch TV, and she sits down on the sofa, she'll move a little closer, she can't get enough of me?"

Taylor winked as the blonde chuckled, both of them swaying ever so slightly to the rhythm of the song.

"That sure of yourself, aren't you?"

"Mmm?I got you, didn't I?"

Rachelle just shook her head.

The sable haired woman propped her forehead against Rachelle's, the two of them sharing the air between. The blonde blinked, trying to focus on the blurry face before her. She ended up cross-eyed as her lover chuckled under her breath.

A new song came over the radio, a woman's voice this time. The beat and the rhythm was slow, more intimate. Rachelle tucked her head under Taylor's chin, feeling the executive's cheek on hers as they danced together in the kitchen. She felt, rather than heard the resonant voice in her ear, singing to its audience of one.

"If you get out in the driving rain, stand in the eye of a hurricane and never think twice, if you turn your back on selfishness, and your thoughts are for someone else, 'cause they changed your life?"

Taylor twirled her before tucking her back under her chin.

"That's how you know it's love, that's how you know it's meant to be, when the span of forever just never seems long enough, that's how you know it's love?"

They slowly slid past the cooling plates of bacon and banana blueberry pancakes.

"When you're heart insists you give it all, when you no longer fear the fall, and you just let go, when the past is finally dead and gone, fate leads you to the one, that holds your soul?"

Past the cooling stove and the stainless steel sink.

"That's how you know it's love, that's how you know it's meant to be, when the span of forever just never seems love enough, that's how you know it's love?"

Rachelle let her eyes flutter shut, simply following and trusting her other half to lead.

"That's how you know it's love?"

They stilled as the song neared it's end, the radio turning into background noise as the two women held each other tight. Rachelle was more than happy to remain where she was and let time pass them by.

She shrieked as her world blurred and found herself trusting all of her weight and the unrelenting forces of gravity to her partner's strong arms as Taylor dipped her.

The executive closed the distance between them, bending until her lips just brushed Rachelle's.

An enthusiastic clapping momentarily distracted to two lovers.

Taylor barely had time to straighten and upright the blonde before her arms were full of a freshly awoken, energetic Erica.

"Dance me too Tay!" the adorable four year old bounced, knowing that her other mommy wouldn't let her fall.

Rachelle shook her head as she leaned against the counter. "What do you say Erica?"

"Pwease?"

Taylor chuckled before twirling around and round, much to the little tow headed girl's delight. They moved with complete disregard to the rhythm and tempo of the music, letting the melody in their heads guide their energetic steps.

Rachelle snuck off the grab her digital camera, taking more than a handful of images of her two most favorite people.

Taylor, who never did not like having her picture taken, leaned and whispered something in Erica's ear before setting her down. The two lunged at the blonde, chasing her out of the kitchen and into the den. They ran rampant throughout the house before ending back in the den.

Taylor and Erica had managed to trap Rachelle between them and the coffee table and leather couch. They stood sentry, snickering as they followed the blonde's feints in her attempt to lose her pursuers.

Taylor scooped Erica up before tossing the giggling mass at her lover. Rachelle shrieked as she was caught her daughter, the girl's momentum being enough to trip her onto the couch, making them both flop and sink into the overstuffed leather.

Erica tickled her mother from her perch astride the blonde's stomach, digging her little fingers into Rachelle's side.

"Ack?help?Taylor!" the blonde squealed as she struggled ineffectively from her daughter's grip.

"Heh?" Taylor stuck out her tongue. "Sucks for you, being ticklish and all."

Rachelle's growl was choked off as her lover joined in the attack.

Erica squealed with laughter, delighted with having her other mommy join in the game of tickle bug. It was only on the weekends that she could play with both her parents like this. If Mommy wasn't at work, then Tay had gone to work, or she was at school.

But she didn't mind.

Mommy always came to pick her up from school and they would go home. Then Tay would show up a while later and they would have fun.

Tay was fun. Sometimes, Tay would let her ride on her shoulders and they would go galloping around the house, much to Mommy's displeasure. Then they would go outside and catch light bugs. Tay would reach out and pick one, putting it in her hand and it would flash a few times before buzzing away.

And sometimes, when Mommy wasn't looking, Tay would motion her to be quiet as she crept up behind her. Sometimes Tay would have a feather or a piece of grass or nothing at all, and she would tickle bug Mommy. Mommy would shriek and try to run away.

Other times, Mommy would try to tickle bug Tay, but Tay would only get mad.

But Tay wasn't really mad. Erica would know when was really mad when there wasn't a laughing in her eyes. Then, she knew that Tay was being real mad.

But Tay almost never got mad.

Mommy though, Mommy was something else.

Mommy would get mad lotsa times, but then she would be smiling later on. Mommy never stayed mad.

Erica giggled.

She was glad that Mommy never stayed mad because sometimes peoples that Mommy knew with would get her mad. And Erica wasn't happy when Mommy was mad.

"Come on. All my hard work is getting cold." Taylor scooped her little tow head up and headed for the kitchen, herding her bigger tow head ahead of her.

"You cooked?" Rachelle blinked as she noticed for the first time, the breakfast that had been set out for them. Pancakes and eggs with bacon and sausages weren't really extravagant, but with Taylor's level of skills when it came to the kitchen, it was somewhat hard to not think if the fire extinguisher had been used more than once.

"Yeah. It wasn't actually that hard."

"Should we be worried?" the professor trapped her daughter between the armrests and the table. "Does it move?"

"Oh hardy har. You're soo funny." Taylor set the plates on the table, handing Erica her special fork and spoon. "Martha Stewart was good for something for once."

"Eww?" Rachelle wrinkled her nose. "And I thought you had good taste."

She blinked as her partner flicked salt at her.

"What is this, 'beat up on Taylor' day?"

"You're just too easy."

"Calm is the word that I believe you're looking for."

"Yummy Tay."

The executive kissed her daughter's forehead. "Thank you sweetie. At least someone appreciates me."

Rachelle grinned as she headed for the fridge for some OJ. "Yummy Tay."

A shiver ran down her spine as she watched her lover head to the fridge, her hand reaching up to rub the ear that the blonde had nibbled in passing.

"I was referring to the food."

"Well?" Rachelle slid two glasses of chocolate milk to the two other females. "There's that too."

"And to think you were shy once."

"You corrupted me."

Taylor almost choked on a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "ME???"

"Mmmhmm. After that first night, I was ruined for life." Rachelle grinned toothily. "The full moon, you, me, your hand in you know where."

Blue eyes rolled. "That was our first date. The only thing I remotely did to you was stick my hand your pocket. And that was in your jacket, and only because my hand was in yours when you decided you were cold and stuck both our hands in your pocket."

"I had the little baggies under the eyes the next day. I looked horrid, but I was happy."

"Remind me to buy you hemorrhoid crème."

"There isn't anything wrong with my butt."

"For the little baggies under the eyes. It worked in Miss Congeniality."

"The guy didn't put any on her."

"So? He's a beauty pageant makeup person thingie, he's a queen, and he's gay."

"Good point." Rachelle chortled. "I got a lot of flak that day. Everyone thought that I had gotten lucky."

"Oh great, now I have 'easy' stamped on my forehead?"

"Nah, I told them the truth."

"Like they believed you."

The blonde looked over. "They didn't say anything."

"Right."

"I told them I was in love."

Taylor blinked, her fork poised half to her mouth. Her breathing hitched twice before smoothing out, a slow blush rising on her high cheekbones.

"I did." Rachelle smiled quietly to herself as she was gifted that incredulous, breathless, speechless look in those favorite cerulean eyes of Taylor's.

"Love you too."

Collectively, they managed to get their daughter fed and clothed, ready for her half day at school before the bus came to pick her up. They waved goodbye to Erica as the old yellow transport choked and coughed its way down the street.

"What time did we say we would meet our mothers?' Taylor shut and locked the door behind her.

"About one. Why?"

"Mmm?I was thinking?"

Rachelle and Taylor headed to the kitchen.

"Yesss?" the blonde inquired when nothing more was forthcoming from her lover.

"The house is clean and our little munchkin is off to school?" Taylor filched the dishes from the blonde's hands. "It's our day off, together?"

"Mmmhmm?" a shiver ran through Rachelle as she watched Taylor's eyes turn almost violet. It was a nice shiver. Shivers were nice. Nice shivers were good.

"We aren't going to lunch with our respective maternal figures for a few hours?"

A kiss behind a pinking ear as a pair of warm hands slid under Rachelle's sleeping shirt.

"With no pressing engagements whatsoever?"

Blonde hair cascaded back as black curtained forward, brushing the tilted neck.

"What on earth are we going to do with all this spare time, hmmm??"

"I'm sure?you'll?" Rachelle was rapidly losing her ability to form coherent sentences. "Think of?some?thing?"

A hand laced through her hair, tugging her up gently to meet Rachelle's lips, capturing hers. Taylor relented, breaking away only long enough for a breath before she moved on, exploring the blonde's jaw, the ever sensitive point right under her ear before moving right back to her slightly parted lips.

Rachelle literally purred as she slid her own hands up the arms pinning her in place, stroking the flexed biceps before trailing up taut shoulders and back down to cover the scant black sports bra.

Taylor growled as she sensed, rather than heard her lover's feline exclamation of contentment. A flick of her wrists, combined with a firm grip, accompanied by a loud tearing sound quickly and efficiently divested her lover of her shirt.

Yet another reason why she loved to sleep in the nude. Torn clothing aside, Rachelle really didn't see the point in wearing something that was going to land on the floor or the TV or the lamp twenty minutes later.

Her train of thought completely derailed as she felt the molten heat from a pair of hands as they skimmed over her skin. Goosepimples rose as Taylor didn't touch her, keeping just millimeters away.

Somehow, they managed a few steps towards something solid, though neither really cared to see where they were actually heading.

Emerald deep eyes flew open as Rachelle gasped from the icy blanket that was now freezing her back. The refrigerator evidently took offense and choose them to kick in and start humming.

"Bed?couch?something?now?"

Taylor nipped her shoulder, just hard enough to show her irritation. Rachelle tugged her along behind her by way of their now linked hands. They stumbled into the master bedroom, Tay kicking the door shut behind her out of habit. She turned, only to let her eyes flicker shut.

Rachelle had closed to distance between, so close that her lips barely brushed Taylor's. She was faintly aware of the trembling tension in her lover's body, knowing full well that if either of them didn't move soon, they would end up on the floor.

The executive evidently thought likewise as she gently guided the both of them to the king sized bed that dominated one wall. She never increased or decreased the distance between her and her lover.

The backs of her knees hit the edge of the mattress, lending a little nudge that eased the blonde onto it. Taylor ran her hand up a tensed forearm, her other hand released from its tender confinement.

It was funny really, how turned on she was. Rachelle sighed. Taylor was barely touching her, just grazing her all too warm skin with her fingertips, her blunt, short nails just brushing her.

Everything was too much and entirely not enough.

Taylor let an irrepressible smile grace her face as she watched her lover's hands clench and unclench, twisting the bedspread and comforter between her fingers. Rachelle's skin was so soft under her fingertips, like chamois skin or a newborn puppy.

Her hand ran up her lover's side, going over each bump of her ribs with maddening slowness, going up to trace across the smooth line of Rachelle's collarbone. She trickled down an arched neck, scratching down her lover's breast, letting the nerves in her fingertips feel the trembling in Rachelle's stomach increase.

It was driving her insane. No matter what she did or how hard she tried to proliferate the contact between them, Taylor would draw back, leaving only her long fingers to linger on Rachelle's heated, sensitive skin. It was driving her crazy.

And she was loving every maddening nanosecond of it.

Rachelle willed herself to stay still, struggling with her body as her lover's fingertips traced the outside of her hip, feathering over the tops of her thighs, caressing the inside of her thighs. A whimper managed to escape her as Taylor's touch skimmed back up to rest right underneath her breasts.

She shuddered as the soft, warm puff of Taylor's breath came intoxicatingly close to her breast. Anticipation made her shiver, every part of her being already on fire, Taylor's light contact and vaporous touches setting off a wildfire that raged white hot under her skin.

A breath was inhaled sharply through her teeth as she felt an indescribable warmth wrap around her nipple, only to be replaced with an incredible coldness as instant later.

It was almost painful as the iciness spread, running a blunt edge down one side, up another to encircle her other nipple. A large hand cupped her other, slightly neglected breasts, warming the chilled flesh.

A touch to Taylor's cheek brought her back up, urging her away and upwards to meet Rachelle's lips. She melted into the kiss, more than willing to let her blonde lover take the prerogative. Rachelle covered her mouth possessively, kissing her lover with enough hunger and force to bruise. Taylor let her lips part slightly in the wake of the onslaught, feeling the professor slip her tongue against hers.

And, as rough and physical Rachelle had been a moment ago, she was soft and gentle, almost as if she was afraid that her sable haired lover was about to break. They explored each other's mouths with delicate luxury and in exquisite detail.

Rachelle shuddered as she and Taylor broke for air, twining her hands in strands of raven as the dark haired woman trailed down once more. She gasped as Taylor's lips covered a nipple in encompassing heat, her tongue warm velvet against her sensitized skin, her teeth rasping a sharp counterpoint.

Taylor nibbled a burning trail down her lover's trembling stomach, delving into Rachelle's belly button, inhaling the scent of jasmine and only Rachelle.

She took her time, soothing the irritated skin with tender licks, trailing silken midnight like a balm.

Rachelle whimpered at the feel of Taylor's lips and tongue, of midnight hair trickling down her belly, all coming to nestle between her thighs. A muted hiss escaped her lips as a searing breath proceeded a bolt of sensations.

Taylor groaned as the heady tang of ambrosia and her lover hit her senses as she tasted her lover's becoming softness. She took her time, fluttering light touches with flat, drawn out stokes, carefully nipping her way around the blonde's clit.

"Gods? please?Taylor?"

A hand tangled in her hair, pulling almost painfully. She slipped one arm under her lover, giving her just enough leverage to slide the other hand up.

Rachelle gasped at the welcome intrusion, pressing into the large hand, trying to increase the contact. It was entirely too much, Taylor's fingers moving just right in her, the hot mouth on her clit, the silken tongue playing her just right.

And it was utterly not enough.

Incoherent and inadequate words poured from Rachelle's lips as liquid fire coursed through her veins, filling her entire being with a throbbing sense of lightness.

Taylor felt the surge that washed over her lover, slowing her movements to draw out Rachelle's pleasure, ignoring the ache that was growing between her own thighs. The only thing that mattered now was her Rachelle, her blonde's gratification.

She lost track of place, time, everything. Only the touches that came from Taylor, her lover in every sense. Explosion after explosion ripped through her making her shudder and shiver. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over her, releasing the pressure that had built up inside her. The inconceivable, proverbial fireworks exploded in her soul as she rode out her orgasm on the wings of love.

When the pulsing aftershocks faded, Taylor placed one last kiss on the apex of her lover's strong legs before moving up just slightly to rest her head on a still trembling stomach. A smile grew on her face as her lover's ragged breathing and gurgling stomach echoed in her ear.

A touch to her chin, a light tug at her hair caught her attention, bringing herself back up. Arms slid around her shoulders, pressing down the back of her neck. She complied willingly, rewarded with a kiss for her efforts.

A thigh made itself known, taking advantage of her distraction and slipping surreptitiously in between hers. Rachelle chuckled huskily, hearing the hiss of her Taylor's startlement.

"Ohmygods?"

Every single muscle and tendon in Taylor's arms was flexed, straining with her body weight and the psychosis of what her lover was knowingly doing to her. Her hands were clawing, burying in the pillows as she groaned through clenched teeth.

Rachelle slipped her hands down Taylor's tense, broad shoulders, along her smooth sides, to settle on her narrow hips. She felt her lover's labored breathing stir through her hair as the coolness of the room battled with the liquid desire being painted along the length of her thigh.

She felt nails digging into her backside, trailing up to scratch along her spine, diffusing along her ribs, feathering across her stomach, coming to rest just underneath her breasts.

Rachelle glanced up into violet hued eyes, holding the gaze as she leisurely turned her head, delicately biting the inside of Taylor's wrist.

And that was all that it took to send her over the edge.

She growled and leaned down, burying her face in Rachelle's neck as her orgasm ripped through her.

Rachelle held her lover close, whispering loving nonsense into Taylor's ear as the woman trembled in the safety of her arms. Her lover was mumbling something into her neck, indiscernible to even her nearby ears. Her hands roamed the smooth back, trying to sooth the angry pink lines that were impressed into tan skin.

Taylor shifted so that she was laying on her side, not wanting to smoosh Rachelle under her heavier weight. The blonde readily moved with her, turning so that she was spooned against her lover's chest. Taylor fished around for the covers, drawing them up to cocoon the both of them against the imposing chilly air.

They stayed that way as they drifted off the sleep, their legs and hands entwined until it seemed like an impossibility to separate them.

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

"What's taking them so long?" Katarine Petronski glanced at her watch for the third time. "They're always on time."

Her table companion, Karen Jameson, said nothing, apparently content to stare at the menu for the umpteenth time.

Just as Katarine was about to get up and call to her daughter's house, a familiar car pulled up.

"Hi Mom!" Rachelle smiled as Taylor pulled her chair out for her. "Sorry we're late."

The older Petronski took one look at her daughter and smiled. "Guess we don't have to worry about you and Taylor getting LBD."

The two lovers glanced at each other, confused.

"LBD?" Rachelle inquired.

"You've never heard of lesbian bed death?"

For the first time in her life, Taylor spewed water at her mother through her nose.

"Are you okay honey?" Rachelle patted her lover's back after offering her mother in-law her cloth napkin.

"Fine?fine. Never been better." Taylor squeaked as she sputtered and hacked up a lung. "Never better."

"Was it something I said?" Katarine blinked.

"No! No...just went down the wrong tube...is all." Jesus Christ on a moped. First Christmas with my mother and we're onto this subject already???

"Where did you hear of this?"

Katarine glanced at her daughter. "On-line. Why?"

"ON-LINE???" the younger women seemed to have acquired a sunburn in the span of two seconds.

"Yes?"

"Find anything else interesting?" Taylor inwardly cringed. Oh dear lord. Did she actually read some of the stuff on-line????

"Yes, actually?"

"Really?" my mother?reading?stories?detailed descriptions?

Taylor thought about hiding under a rock. The sites for guys?

Rachelle was considering moving far, far away. The videos?

The lesbian Kuma Sutra?

Cunniligus?

Toys?

BDSM?

Dungeons?

Whips?

Chains?

Cutting?

Master and slave?

Daddy and boy?

Orgies?

Oh?

My?

Gods...

"Some of them were quite good actually." Katarine forged on. "I particularly like the ones by a Melissa Good and a JLNicky."

Ohmygodsohmygodsohmygodsohmygods?

Karen, who had been silent until now, coughed. "Um?where's Erica?"

"OH?" both daughters chorused. "She's at home?babysitter?."

"Is that safe?"

"Actually, the sitter is a student of mine." Rachelle smiled wanly. "I'm sure nothing's going to happen. Stacy's babysat for us several times already."

"Oh?"

Taylor glanced at her mother. Is she squirming? "Are we ready to order?"

Lunch was going to be interesting?

Erica was probably having a better time?

Ugh?.

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

"You lost my kid???" Taylor exploded, a vein throbbing visibly on her forehead. She took a step forward, sending the babysitter back three. The teenager swallowed hard as she watched the cords in her employer's neck grew taut as a pair of glacial eyes bore into hers.

"I?I?she?"

Rachelle swiftly stepped in front of her enraged lover, hoping to keep their babysitter intact long enough to question her. "Honey?"

"Erica isn't a pet or a glove or a book, Stacy!!! How in the world can you lose an four year old kid??? MY four year old kid???"

"I?but?the?"

"Sweetie?"

And in the midst of all this, all of them missed the doorbell chiming. Three times.

It was only a cry of 'Mommy' that silenced all present. Erica dashed in through the opened door, heading straight for both her parents.

She was immediately swept up in both her parent's arms, squiggling in their ever tightening embrace.

Two fretfully exultant parents checked over their daughter for damages, overwhelmingly glad that Erica was back with them safe and sound.

An Asian police officer had entered the living room, supporting a quickly wilting babysitter, easing her onto the nearby couch. Stacy was wet with sweat and shivering furiously as her jaw was kept clenched tight to keep from chattering.

Taylor swept upstairs with Erica in her arms, much to the urging of her partner, leaving Rachelle to deal with Stacy and their new unidentified guest.

"My apologies ma'am, for coming in without your permission."

"That's quite alright. Thank you so much for bringing Erica back to us." the blonde hugged the officer tight, beyond appreciative. "Thank you so much?I don't know what to say."

She released her uneasy victim after receiving a hesitant pat on the back. Rachelle turned to Stacy, immediately crouching at her feet.

"Oh you poor dear. If you had told us that you were sick, we could have gotten someone else to babysit for us. There wasn't any need to overtax yourself like that."

Stacy smiled unhappily at her employer. "I didn't think that it would be that bad, honest. Besides, I need the money?"

Rachelle unzipped her purse, extracting half a dozen twenty dollar bills and tucking it in the teenager's hand. "Here, take this and get on home. It's not worth passing out, whatever you need to money for. Go on home and get something to eat and go to bed."

"But, what about Taylor?"

"I'll take care of Taylor. You just get better, you hear me?"

Stacy peered sadly at the upstairs hallway. "She's pretty mad at me, isn't she."

"Oh don't worry about her." Rachelle leaned forward and hugged the sick woman, whispering conspiringly into her ear. "Just between you and me, under that tough, bitchy corporate face, she's just a little pussy cat."

That earned her a phlegmly chuckle, "Thank you Rachelle."

The topic of discussion floated down the stairs at that moment, heading straight for the babysitter. Taylor shook her head as she took in the bloodshot eyes and shivering shoulders. "Sorry for shouting at you. I know you're not feeling too hot. Want a ride home?"

"With all due respect ma'am I'll be more than happy to take Ms Stacy home."

Taylor turned to officer to thank her.

Only to stop, blue eyes wide and shocked.

"Jessie??"

"Hey Tay." a small smile lifted a corner of a stern mouth, breaking the stoic officer's visage.

"When did?you're a?since?"

"'Bout two and a half years ago, yeah I'm a bobby, no not in a long while."

They stared at each other for a moment before Taylor walked right up to her, her expression unreadable. The officer's face was equally blank.

Both Rachelle and Stacy were taken aback when both dark women engulfed the other in a fierce bear hug.

"Been a while."

Taylor's fingers reached up to trace the white scars that peppered the tanned skin, her eyes roaming from the short shorn hair, to the painfully perfect, immaculate uniform, and back up to the unfathomable depths of old deep brown eyes. "Yeah, it's been a long while."

"Catch up with you later?"

"Here?" Taylor managed to fish out a business card and scrawl her cell phone number on the back. "Call me."

"Right." the officer helped Stacy to her feet after the tucked the thick paper away into her pants pocket. "Later Tay."

"Who was that?" Rachelle asked as she flopped down on the couch beside Taylor.

"A very old friend of mine."

They sat in the gloom and shadows of their den, shaken by their missing Erica scare. Taylor was trying her best to stop the pounding in her chest, trying hard not to let her hands shake. Rachelle was in the calm state of her panic, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that her daughter was upstairs in the bathroom.

"Mommy?"

"Hey munchkin." Taylor let a relieved smile grow on her face as her daughter climbed up on the couch between her and her lover.

"You feeling okay sweetie?" Rachelle kissed the top of her daughter's head, more than glad that Erica was safe and sound.

"Mhmm. The nice police officer brung me back." the little blonde snuggled with her parents. "Gave me a pop."

Taylor shook her head. Jessie was always carrying something sweet and candyish with her in her endless pockets. "Did you have a good time?"

"Mhmm. I got to wear her hat."

"That must have been fun." the blonde smiled as she ran her hand through her Erica's hair. "Was it like the other police hats that you've seen?"

Erica shook her head. "No. I got to wear her cowboy hat. She gave me a horsie ride too."

"Mmm? I know it's fun, but try not to get lost again kiddo. You drove me and Mommy up the wall with worry."

"'Kay Tay."

"Promise?"

Erica nodded and yawned into Taylor's side.

"Looks like it's your bedtime sweetie." Rachelle cradled her daughter against her shoulder, heading upstairs. "Let's get ready for bed."

Erica compliantly brushed her teeth and washed her face, the excitement of her day catching up with her quickly. Her bath time wasn't quite as splashy as it usually was, her water playtime being contented to bobbing and dunking her rubber duckies and her fishes.

Taylor had set her daughter's pajamas on her bed and was waiting with a big soft Tigger towel to dry her sleepy kid with. Erica was dry, dressed, and ready for her bedtime story by the time Rachelle had the bathroom cleaned up and back in order.

Rachelle and Taylor climbed into bed with their daughter, bracketing her much like oversized bookends. Taylor laid back, content to listen with Erica as Rachelle weaved a story for her audience of two. It was a nightly ritual for all three of them. Rachelle would spin a tale from the depths of her never ending imagination, calming Erica to a half asleep state. The Erica's eyes would drift shut as Taylor's low voice lulled her to sleep.

Tonight however, both women stayed, even as their daughter slept.

"Remember when she went in to have her bath on the night of her fourth birthday?" Rachelle's voice was nothing more than a soft whisper. "When she saw the little ocean you painted in the tub?"

"Mmm?I could hear the squealing all the way downstairs."

A smile graced both parents' faces.

"It took me forever to wipe up all the water. I have no idea how your kid gets makes so big a mess with so little water."

"Oh, now she's my kid huh?"

"Oh come on Taylor. You're the one she goes to when she's scared."

"And Mommy is the one that makes everything okay."

Blue and green eyes met, seeming to glow in the low light.

Rachelle gently brushed a strand of soft blonde hair back, her head propped against her fist.

"I remember the first day after we brought her back from the hospital. You were holding her like she was some sort of biohazardous material or something."

Taylor chuckled. "I was so afraid that I was going to break her. She was so small."

"Honey, most babies start out small."

"Well, I know that?now."

With great reluctance, they cautiously rose and headed for their own bedroom. Both stopped in the doorway, simply standing there and staring at the little girl that both women had raised.

"How do you know Officer Jessie? I've never heard you mention her before." Rachelle asked as she changed for bed.

Taylor spat out her mouthful of toothpaste and wiped her face off before joining her lover.

"I met her in college. We went to UC Berkeley together." she slid in under the covers beside the professor. "We were the best of friends."

She was sitting in her biochemistry class, in the front row of the combo desks. The professor wasn't there yet and she was early for class. Her notebooks and pens were all arranged neatly in front of her, pencils settled in the little groove in the desk to keep them from moving. There were other students all around her, grouped together and chattering with each other.

Leaving her completely alone.

"Hey."

Taylor looked up to meet twinkling brown eyes staring at her from an Asiatic face.

"Hi."

"Name's Jessie."

"Taylor."

They shook hands, checking each other out.

"You new here?"

"Yeah." Taylor smiled nervously. "First time here."

"Want some coffee?" Jessie nodded to the silver thermos that she had set down on the desk that she now occupied.

"Sure."

They sat together, side by side, sharing coffee from the inverted cap of the thermos.

"You been to Avalon yet?"

Taylor shook her head. "King Arthur?"

Jessie let out a chuckle. "No, the club."

"No. I haven't really had the time to go exploring yet."

"I'll take you there sometime."

"Anything special about it?"

"Nice place, music's okay, beer's good."

"Oh."

"Nice place to pick up girls too."

Taylor blinked.

Jessie groaned. "Don't tell me I guessed wrong."

"No, you didn't." blue eyes looked over at the Asian skeptically. "Do I have it tattooed on my forehead?"

"Nah." Jessie sniffed. "I saw the black triangle on your key chain."

"Oh."

Finding out that they were dorm mates was a pleasant surprise. She and Jessie got along well, helping each other study for their courses, sharing stories about life, holding back the other's hair as they worshipped the porcelain goddess.

Jessie helped her carry around her books when she broke her ankle. Taylor put salve on Jessie's tattoo of a winged dragon on her back. Jessie was there to cheer her on and keep her sane during finals week. She was there to cheer Jessie on during the basketball and volleyball tournaments.

And it was like that throughout all four of their years together.