Part Six

Delaney watched Sharki open the door to the café and head towards her table.

"Hi," Sharki said as she sat down. "I went by your apartment and Mr. Salts said you headed down here."

Delaney laughed at the name Sharki had given her neighbor. "Came down here for some breakfast."

"So I see," the taller woman pointed to Delaney's chest and smiled.

The blonde looked down and the front of her shirt was covered in small flakes of her croissants. "Wasn't paying any attention while I was eating."

Sharki nodded, "it looked like you were off in lala land when I walked up. What were you thinking about?"

Delaney took a sip of her coffee and smiled. "My Grandma."

"Where does your Grandma live?" Sharki asked as she waved the waitress over. "I'd like a cup of coffee."

"She died a few years ago." Delaney answered sadly. "She was the most important person in my life."

"God, I'm sorry." Sharki reached out and held onto Delaney's hand.

Delaney sat her cup down and rested her hand on top of Sharki's. "Thanks."

After sitting there talking small talk and drinking a few more cups of coffee they decided that they better get going and see what was on the agenda for today. They didn't notice until they opened the door that while they sat there it had started to snow and rain. Making the short trek harder to walk as they started to slip and slide.

"Careful," Sharki held onto Delaney's elbow but it didn't do any good because her next step had her flat on her back with Delaney laying on top of her.

"Oh, my, are you okay?" Delaney brushed dark hair off the beautiful face below her. Blue eyes fluttered open and held green as the snow continued to fall and the rain soaked their clothes.

"Delaney?" Sharki whispered.

"Yes?" Answered Delaney as she caresses her fingers over the soft skin.

Sharki wrapped her arms around Delaney's waist making sure the woman on top of her wouldn't move. "Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?"

"No," Delaney answered honestly. "I hope it is the same thing you did to me last night."

Without thinking that they were on the ground, in the middle of an approaching snowstorm Sharki raised her head and placed a soft kiss on Delaney's waiting lips.

"Get a room, before you catch yourselves a cold." Someone yelled as he passed by in a hurry.

"He does have a good idea," Delaney whispered.

Sharki nodded and smiled. "I am getting all wet."

Delaney's eyebrows shot. "Really?"

Sharki closed her eyes and rested her head against the cold wet cement. "That is so not what I meant."

"I know," Delaney laughed as she stood up. She offered her hand down to the brunette. "I was just teasing."

Sharki gladly excepted the offered help and pulled herself to her feet. She brushed off some of the excess snow that still clung to her back. "You are so funny."

Delaney grinned and started off towards her apartment. "Yep, I sure am."

Sharki laughed out loud as she quickly caught up with the shorter woman. "By the looks of this weather I don't think we are going to get much done today."

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"Did you call Esta?" Delaney asked coming out of her bedroom with a pair of sweats and a large shirt.

Sharki turned around from looking at some pictures on the wall. "Yes, she told me that I better not even try to drive back. So it looks like you have company for a while."

Delaney held out the clothes. "I figured she would say that so here are some clothes. They might be a little small but at least they are dry."

"Thanks, I think I'll take a shower too." Sharki ran her hands over the soft material of the clothes in her hand.

"Sure, you will find everything you need in the bathroom." Delaney walked into the kitchen. "You want some tea or hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate would be great." Sharki said before she closed the door to the bathroom.

Delaney smiled as she poured some milk in a pan to heat up. When that was done she reached up into her cupboard and found the cocoa mix. Wheels who had been sleeping on one of the kitchen chairs jumped down and rubbed his head on Delaney's legs.

"Hey, big boy." Delaney picked up her cat and hugged him to her chest. "We have got ourselves company today. What do you think of that?"

Wheels, purred louder and meowed.

"I think it's a good thing too." Delaney kissed Wheel's head and sat him back down. As she was putting the cocoa mix in the cups she had to stop because it hit her what had happened earlier.

"She kissed me," Delaney gasped as she felt her heart start to beat double time.

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Sharki stepped into the warm spray of the shower and let the heated water run over her body. "That feels good." She mumbled as she stood under the spray for a few seconds.

After soaping up and washing her hair Sharki got out and dried her body. Wiping the moisture from the mirror above the sink she looked into her own eyes. She ran a fingertip over the spot Delaney had caressed and then lightly over her lips. "I kissed her."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Esta stood at her front door and watched the snow fall. She couldn't help but smile to herself when she thought of her granddaughter and their new friend Delaney.
She knew that given lots of patience and time they would find out that love sneaks in when you least expect it.

"Looks like the beginning of love is in the forecast along with a hell of a lot of snow." Esta laughed as she walked away from the door towards her living room. "It's a good day to watch old movies."