Chapter XIII

Randi stood for a long moment at the bedroom door, taking in the absorbed face Gwen wore before she stepped into the room.  She withdrew a single rose from the dozen in her hand and placed the vase silently on the nightstand.  Then she seated herself gently on the bed at Gwen’s side.  The movement of the bed caused a frown to cross her features, but Gwen did not look up until the silky softness and sweet fragrance of the flower assaulted her senses.  At the first brush of petals along her face, she looked up and caught the perfumed smell under her nose.  She looked up into deep, concerned eyes and smiled back.  Without thought she launched herself into Randi’s arms.  Randi reflexively reached out to catch her, holding on and stroking her back for long, quiet moments.

“Hey, Little One,” breaking the silence at last.  “Did you miss me that much?”

“Yep, I sure did.”

“Well. I missed you, too, and I was wondering... would you like to go on a picnic?”  She smiled as green eyes twinkled in appreciation of the idea.  “T said we could use the boat.  I thought a short cruise... maybe watch the sunset?”

“Oh, I like that idea, but what about your doctor friend?”

“I’ll get in touch with her.  She mentioned something about setting up some equipment she’s bringing with her.  We’ll see what she says.”

“’Kay.  Meantime, I’m gonna go take a shower.”

Randi was hard pressed not to stare as Gwen emerged from the bedroom a short time later, pulling a T-shirt over a very brief two-piece swimsuit.  Gwen was secretly flattered, feeling the admiration in those blue eyes warm her to the core.  She hadn’t advanced much farther in her diaries, but she’d decided to go with what felt right, and in her heart being with Randi felt right.  As to where it would lead, well, she wasn’t sure where it was going, but she liked that it seemed to be headed somewhere.  The circular logic was making her head spin though, and she put it out of her mind with conscious effort.

“What did the doc say?”

“Actually she thinks a little R&R would probably be a good thing.  Tommy is going to meet her and bring her over when she arrives, and she will set everything up.  Ella is bringing dinner, and we’ll be back shortly thereafter.  So everything is set.”

“Great!  Now go get changed, and let’s get this show on the road.”  A dark brow rose and then she capitulated and smiled at the enthusiasm.

“All right.  I won’t be but a minute.”  True to her word, Randi re-emerged from the bedroom a very short time later.  Now it was Gwen’s turn to stare, and Randi felt herself blushing and shyly smiling.  She picked up the large wooden basket that had been sitting on the table and extended a hand to Gwen.  “Shall we?”

The day was hot, cloudless.  Randi was thankful for the slight breeze as they pulled away from the boat slip.  “You wanna drive?” she asked.

“Um, no.  Thank you.  This is a little bigger than I feel comfortable with.”

“Okay.  Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

“Is it all right if I stay here and keep you company?”

A big grin was her only answer.

The sky was almost white in the heat, and in stark contrast to the deep blue water that surrounded them.  Randi slowed to a stop.  “Whaddya think?  Look like a good spot?”  Gwen took in the serenity that surrounded them with a deep breath.  Before she could answer though, a chittering off the port bow spoke for her. The two women wandered over to the railing, smiling in tandem when the two dolphins nodded their heads vigorously at their choice.  “Guess that settles it,” Randi laughed.  “Let me go drop the anchor.  Wanna grab lunch?”

Gwen nodded and went below to grab the basket.  Almost as an after thought, she picked up a blanket and headed back to the bow.  Gwen stood for a moment, framed in the doorway, admiring the profile before her.  Randi stood silently, the wind blowing her dark hair back from her face.  As though sensing the regard, she turned and smiled at the sight that greeted her eyes.  She walked to Gwen’s side and removed the blanket, folding it neatly in half and placing it on the deck.  She threw several of the cushions onto it, then took the basket from Gwen’s hands.  Randi knelt and extended her hand.  “Join me?”

Gwen complied, helping Randi spread out the inviting looking lunch and sitting back.  “Wow, nice choices.”

“Actually you can thank Ella.  I had her make it up for us.”  She leaned back and extended her arm, pleased when Gwen relaxed into the curve of her body.  They shared the bits of food mostly in silence, chuckling over the noise the dolphins were still making at the side of the boat.  “You get the feeling they want us to come play?”  Randi turned her head toward Gwen, who chose that exact moment to turn toward her.  She sucked in a breath when she realized just how close they were.  Gwen froze, mesmerized by the deep blue looming above her.  Unconsciously she licked her lips, reaching a hand up to Randi’s lips.  Her hand shook slightly, Gwen noted to herself in some surprise, as she lifted it to Randi’s trembling lips.  The light touch sent a shock through both women, and it was all Randi could do to retain the gasp.  She heard Gwen’s sharp intake of breath and nearly missed her whispered words.

“You had some crumbs....”  She dropped her eyes and the spell was broken.  She cleared her throat and when she spoke this time, it was in an almost normal voice.  Only the huskiness of her tone gave anything away.  “Yeah, I do,” answering the question Randi had posed earlier.  Gwen stood and backed away slightly.  “I’ll put things away and meet you in the water, ‘kay?”

Randi put a hand out to stop her, gently cupping her cheek with a soft touch.  “I’ll do it.  You go relax.”  And without another word, she started picking things up.  Gwen hesitated, torn between a desire to stay and a desire for space.  Now it was her turn to reach out.  Randi stopped moving at the slight touch.

“Thank you for understanding.”  Then she moved to the railing, stripped out of her shirt and made a light dive into the water.

“Oh Aphrodite, give me strength,” Randi muttered before moving to finish cleaning up.

Gwen used the time to regain her composure and was riding on Peanut’s back by the time Randi entered the water.  Laughingly, she challenged the warrior to a race.  It might have been better though, if Pilot had been clued into the whole idea.  When Randi reached for him, he scooted away, causing a serious game of chase between himself and her.  She managed to get her hands on him finally, and then the dolphin just stopped moving.  Gwen could hardly hang on to Peanut she was laughing so hard.  It didn’t help that both of the aquatic mammals sounded suspiciously like they were laughing also.  Randi mock-glared in their general direction.

“Oh, I see what is happening here.  This is all a plot, isn’t it?  Um hmm, yep.  I’m being set up.”  Randi reached over toward Gwen, her fingers moving in a pinching motion.  Gwen squealed when she saw them coming, and the resulting noise caused the dolphins to take off like a shot.  The four of them rode around for quite some time.  Finally tiring and sensing the same from her companion, Randi headed them back toward the boat.

The two women thanked their dolphin friends and climbed back aboard the boat.  Randi had left towels out, and Gwen took one and dried off with a sense of relief.  Then she dropped into the cozy nest Randi had left from earlier.  “That was a lot of fun.”

“Yeah, it was,” Randi commented, draping the towel around her neck.  She disappeared below and then reappeared a scant minute later.  “Here.”

She handed a water bottle to Gwen who accepted it with alacrity.  Half the bottle was gone before Gwen spoke.  “Oh yeah.  That hits the spot.  Thanks, Randi.”

“You are most welcome, my dear,” giving a mock bow.  “I live to serve.”

“Careful there, Marine,” with a teasing twinkle.  “I could get to like that idea way too much.”

The playfulness caught Randi flatfooted once again, and she merely stared with mouth open for a long moment. Then she smiled rakishly.  “I’ll keep that in mind.”  Gwen blushed.

They toasted the sunset with a sparkling honey mead that Tommy proclaimed a favorite of his.  The event didn’t require words from either of them.  They sat curled up contentedly together on the blanket and cushions, content to rock with the gentle motions of the boat and watch the sun sink lower and lower toward the horizon.  The orb was halfway down before Randi reluctantly made a move to rise.  “We need to get back.”

Gwen looked up at the now standing warrior. She sighed.  “I guess we do.  This was a wonderful day.  Thanks, Randi.”

Randi reached out a hand and gently stroked Gwen’s cheek in response.  Then she turned and took the wheel, heading them back toward home.

It wasn’t quite full dark when they arrived back at Randi’s boathouse.  “Oh, this is nice,” Gwen commented.  “We need to see about getting a boat.”  She didn’t notice the slip into plural, but Randi did, and she smiled from her heart outward.

“We’ll talk about it.”

They linked hands and walked up to the house.  Randall was the first one to spot them, and he collided with Randi’s knees at the door.  “WUV!!”

She picked him up with glee and swung him around.  Then she gave the little boy a fierce hug, careful to keep him on the good side of her face.  “Hey there, Love Muffin!  You been a good boy today?”

He pointed a thumb at his chest.  “Good boy.”  Then he saw Gwen standing patiently watching them together, a twinkle sparkling out of her very green eyes.  “Wen!”  He lunged for her, and it was all Randi could do to keep her balance with him.  The boy went into Gwen’s arms, giving her a squeeze and a sloppy kiss before she put him down.  The child ran to his daddy who moved out of the doorway to let them inside the house.  The scent of gumbo was strong in the air, and Randi felt her stomach grumble in protest.

“Lacey and Ella are in the kitchen.”  Randi nodded, able to see them from where she stood.  She took Gwen’s hand again, and led her into the kitchen.  The two women inside turned around when she cleared her throat.

“Well,” Ella commented to Lacey.  “Look at the pair of beach bums the wind blew in.”

Lacey chuckled.  She’d never seen her comrade outside a military setting, and the picture she presented now was vastly different from the neatness and precision she offered as a Sabre.  The sight made her more human. Although just being allowed into Randi’s home made her seem more human.  Tommy and Ella obviously cared for her very much, and Lacey felt she had made a new friend in Ella.  She turned her attention to the diminutive blonde at the Marine’s side.  So much became clear to her even in the first glance.  Her eye for detail caught strength and intelligence reflected back to her from those sharp, verdant eyes.  This was not the same woman she had met briefly at Randi’s memorial service.  This woman was vibrant.  She noted the physical strength of the compact body and the possessive way Randi held on to her.  And then it occurred to her that the possessiveness ran both ways and she smiled.  Oh, Randi, my friend.  You have finally been gotten for good.  I am so happy for you.  Aloud she simply extended a hand and spoke.

“Hello, Randi.  It’s been a long time.”

“Thank you for coming, Lace.  I appreciate it.”  She ignored the outstretched hand and pulled the other Sabre into a brief hug.  Then she reached back and pulled Gwen up beside her, keeping a hand on the slim waist.  “This is Gwen.  Gwen, this is Dr. Lacey Monet.”

The bard’s response was cordial but cool, and it caused Randi to wonder what she’d missed.  “Ella, do we have time to clean up?”  It was funny, Randi mused.  Though it was their house and their kitchen, when Ella took charge it was hers and they all deferred to her.

“Be quick.  Lacey has been a wonderful assistant.  I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Ten minutes later the two were emerging from separate bathrooms, clean, neat and....  “Oh, wow!  Nice sunburn.”

“Yeah,” Gwen grimaced.  “You’d think I’d learn.”

“We’ll be very gentle in our examination of you,” Lacey replied.

Gwen didn’t answer, simply nodded her head.  Randi felt a clue by four smack her in the face.  She’s jealous.  The thought made her smile at the implications it presented.

“C’mon, ya’ll.  Time to eat,” Ella called.  “You,” pointing the spoon at Randi, “get to do the cleanup.”

“Yes ma’am,” Randi replied meekly.  She seated Gwen and took her own.  She could sense Gwen’s frustration and decided to put her at ease.  “You’re looking good, Lace.  I guess things between you and Nicky are going pretty well.”

“Oh yeah.  We’ve even talked about getting married.”

“Wow, that’s great!  Congratulations!”  Randi felt Gwen’s tension ease perceptibly and smiled when a small hand covered her own briefly before she joined the conversation.

“Tell us about Nicky.  I understand that Randi knows, but we’d like to hear a bit too if you don’t mind sharing.”

So the meal was spent with Lacey talking a bit about her beloved.  It turned out that Ella had known Nicky during her growing up and service years and it served to bridge another gap between them.  Time passed swiftly and before they realized it, Randall was nodding off.

“Hmm, I think we need to get someone home to bed.”  Tommy commented.  He had been content to sit quietly and listen. 

“Oh my, yes.  Would you look at the time? Lacey, it has been lovely to meet you.  You make sure to tell Nicky hi from me, will you?”

“Oh absolutely.  The pleasure was mine.  Thanks for the gumbo recipe.  I think I’ve got the trick now.”  Gwen and Randi stared at one another in amazement.  Never in recent memory could they recall an instance where the restaurateur had shared her secrets in the kitchen.  “We’ll be back in touch if you don’t mind.”

“I’d like that.  Been a long time since I talked to my old friend.”  They walked to the door before Tommy spoke. 

“It’s been nice to meet you, Lacey.  I hope you and your girl will come visit us again when the need is not quite so urgent.  You two - I do not expect to see either of you in until the doc here gives you the clearance to come back.  Is that understood?”  Twin nods and hugs all around, and they were gone.

Randi went into the kitchen to clean up and that left Gwen and Lacey in an uncomfortable silence together in the living room.  They sat quietly as the tension grew until finally the Sabre medic could not stand it anymore.  Lacey stood up and faced Gwen.  “Look, Gwen.  I think you need to know that Randi and I are just friends.  That’s all we’ve ever been.  You have no reason to be jealous.”  She held up a hand when Gwen started to speak.  “I know this is difficult and confusing.  But it will work a lot better if you’ll trust me.”  A pause.  “If not on my own merit, then on Randi’s.”

It was quiet again for a while as Gwen considered all that Lacey had said.  She exhaled loudly.  “You’re right. I don’t know you well enough to take you on your own merit, but I trust Randi implicitly.  I’m... I’m sorry for....”  She scratched the back of the neck and tugged on her ear.  “I... oh, never mind.”  She walked to the French doors and stared out unseeingly at the darkness.

Lacey stood in place, carefully considering her next words.  “Gwen, I know you’re confused right now.  A lot of things don’t make sense.  That’s why I’m here... to see if we can help undo some of the confusion.  Or at least get rid of the blocks so you can recognize your feelings again.”

“What do you mean?”

The doctor understood immediately she had revealed more than Randi had.  “The memory block... it’s taken away much more from you then you realize.  I can’t say more.  These are things you’re gonna have to learn for yourself.  But I’m here to help you, help you both, if you’ll let me.”

Gwen caught sight of Randi’s reflection in the glass as she stepped into the room.  She turned and walked over to her, wrapping her up in a tight embrace.  Now that the actual moment was here, she admitted to herself that she was a little scared.  She looked up into ice blue eyes, seeing nothing but love and trust reflected back to her.  She sighed and looked to Lacey.  “Let’s do it.”

“I set the equipment up in your room Randi, per your instructions.  We’ll let Gwen get undressed and settled in, and then we’ll get started.”

“What do you want me to do, Lace?”  Gwen was lying on her stomach in the big bed when the two Sabres walked into the room.  She turned her head in their direction and smiled at Randi.  Randi returned the smile and moved to sit on the edge of the bed.  “You okay?”

“Yeah, just a little nervous.”

“Randi, I think for now you should be Gwen’s pillow,” answering the question Randi had asked of her before.  “Let her put her head in your lap and concentrate on helping her relax.  This will work much better if she’s not uptight.”  Randi nodded and turned, leaning against the headboard and stretching her long legs along the length of the bed.  Gwen slid into place, which put her somewhat diagonal across the bed.  Lacey continued to talk, addressing Gwen directly and telling her each step before she did anything.  “All right now, Gwen.  I’m gonna pull the sheet off from your feet to your buttocks.  I need you to relax and breathe naturally.”

“Little One, relax and look at me.”  Gwen took a deep breath and turned her head, angling her face upwards a bit.

“You have bony knees,” Gwen quipped lightly, bouncing her head against said appendages.  She smiled in reaction, which caused the blonde to smile in response.

“Oh, I do, huh?”

“Uh huh.  Probably from all that exercise.”

“Hmm, well... you exercise with me.  You s’pose your knees are bony too?”  Blonde brows rose into her hairline. 

“I dunno.  I never really looked.”

The desire to look down to where Lacey was patiently working was almost overwhelming, but Randi kept her eyes focused on Gwen’s.  She could feel Gwen relaxing with their nonsense conversation and didn’t want to draw attention to her state of nakedness.

Meanwhile the doctor was patiently making her way up the compact body, the scanner making notes of each pressure point that had been manipulated.  When she reached the small of Gwen’s back, she smoothly pulled the sheet down to cover her lower body and expose the upper.  The two women were so engrossed in their conversation, they never even noticed.  Lacey smiled.  When she finished with the back, the medic signaled Randi.  Randi looked down at the almost sleeping bard.  “Gwen?”

Sleepy green eyes peeked up at her.  “Hmm?”

“Little One, we need you to turn over so Lacey can finish her examination.” The startled look caused her to continue.  “Gwen, you’re a gorgeous woman.  You have nothing to be ashamed of.  Besides, even though Lacey appreciates a beautiful body as much as the next person, this is purely medical on her part.  And I promise not to peek.”  The rakish grin that accompanied this statement earned her a light smack on the thigh before Gwen turned over.

Green eyes locked onto blue, and they were almost able to ignore the doctor’s presence.  “Do you really find me beautiful, Randi?”  The whisper was shy and half hopeful in tone.  Randi’s smile conveyed love and not a little lust.  Talk about your loaded questions.

“Oh, Little One,” tenderly stroking the smooth cheek beneath her hand.  “Yes, you are very beautiful.  Not just of body but of mind and spirit as well.”  Green eyes closed, and tears slid silently down Gwen’s face.  Without a word Randi began humming the melody to the song she’d sung to the blonde on her birthday, a year gone and more.  Gwen never even realized when she passed from the waking to the sleeping world.

Lacey finished her work, then nodded to Randi.  “Let me put the equipment away, and I’ll be back... unless you’d rather talk out there,” nodding toward the living room.

Randi looked down at the now covered woman who had turned over in her sleep and was cuddled up into Randi’s stomach.  One arm was thrown across Randi’s lap, and the other was clutching her shirt at the ribs.  “Um, I think you’d better come back in here.  I don’t want to give her nightmares.”

The medic smiled at the picture the two of them made, then walked out the door.  Her smile turned to a thoughtful frown as she reviewed Randi’s words.  She’d have to take the time to find out more about that later.   It took her a few minutes to store the equipment properly and when she came back down, Randi was dozing.  She watched the two of them breathe in sync for a moment before she reached out a hand toward her fellow. Lacey wasn’t at all surprised to find her hand caught and firmly held.  She met the sleepy blue eyes squarely.

“Oh, damn!  Sorry, Lace.”  Randi motioned to the bed.  “Have a seat.”

Instead the doctor pulled up the rocking recliner that sat in the corner and leaned back.  “You want the good news or the bad news?”

One thing Randi had always appreciated about her comrade-in-arms was her ability to shoot straight from the hip.  She was especially glad for it now.  “Bad, then good.”

“Well, the bad news is he has messed up several very major points and lots of little tiny ones.  The good news is I think I see the pattern.  I’m gonna take a couple days to review the data and then I want Reed here.  It’s gonna take both of us to unlock this right.”

“Ill give her a call tomorrow.  Is Gwen okay to go back to work or...?”

“That’s gonna depend a lot on how she feels.”  The doctor sighed and rubbed her hands over her eyes.  “What seems to be causing her headaches is the fact that she is fighting the block.  She wants to remember.  She’s trying to understand her feelings, and it is going counter to everything he did to her.”

“When you remove the block, will it bring back her memories, her feelings?”

“No.”  Randi’s shoulders slumped and her head fell at the stark answer.  Lacey leaned forward and took the large hand in her own.  “No, Randi, but it will allow her to remember when she is ready.”  She paused.  “You forget that when he removed her memories of your love for one another, she lost a lot of the pain and grief she dealt with when she lost you.  I’m sure, in some subconscious way, she’s not ready to remember that... to relive it.  It will come back.  You just have to be patient and let her remember it at her own pace.”

Randi nodded in comprehension.  “I understand that, but it doesn’t make it any easier for me.”

“I know.  Now,” rising and putting the chair back in its accustomed spot, “Is there anything else I can do for you before I go to bed?  I would like to have some time to catch up with you but later.”  Lacey smiled.

“Yeah, me too.  I’d like for Gwen to get a chance to know some of my Sabre friends as well.”  She frowned at the cocked brow.  “Oh, yeah... can you help me slide down?  I think if I sleep like this my body will be screaming for days.”  She spared a brief thought being thankful that she’d stayed barefooted after her shower.

Lacey noted her cockeyed position and had to agree.  She lifted Gwen slightly, allowing Randi to move into a more reclined position.  Gwen whimpered when she lost contact with Randi, then sighed in contentment when their bodies met again.  Randi realized as they touched that Gwen was naked, and she gave an aggrieved sigh.  There were just some things in life that were totally unfair.  This was one of them.  Lacey chuckled soundlessly at her plight, and the Marine simply glared at her.

“It’s NOT funny.”

“No, I know it’s not, but it is ironic.  Be patient, Randi.  I promise it will be worth it.

Now the glare became a vulnerable glance, before the blue eyes dropped to the peacefully sleeping face.  “As long as she still loves me, Lace, it’ll be worth anything.”

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

“Anything, my dear?” the war god queried.  “You have no idea yet what the price will be.”  Dark laughter followed, echoing through the halls.  It sent chills through the sisters who were watching the same scene unfold in another room.

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

“She will, my friend.  She will.”  The doctor tucked them in, and headed upstairs. 

“Light,” the Marine said.  In the darkness, she kissed the blonde head tucked underneath her chin.  “Goodnight, Love.”

Morning brought an interesting new reality.  The first thing Gwen noticed upon waking was her state of undress and the fact that she and Randi were comfortably tangled together.  Unsure whether to move or stay, she raised a hand without thinking and began to stroke Randi’s smooth face.  She thought of their conversation the night before and smiled.  So strong, yet so soft.  She watched as Randi, even in sleep, leaned into her touch.  Even as she traced sleepy blue eyes opened and smiled at her. 

“Good morning, Little One.”  The voice was low and husky with sleep.  “How are you feeling?”

A flush covered her face.  “A little embarrassed, actually.  I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you last night.”

“It was okay,” Randi responded.   “You needed the rest, and it was quite simply the easiest way for you to relax.”

“Did Lacey find anything?  Can she help?”

“Well, she wants a couple days to study the data she collected, but yes, she does think she can help.  Between her and Reed, they should figure out the key to unlocking the points.”

“And I will get my memories back?”

“Well, you will be able to remember when you are ready.  It should clear up the headaches though.  Um, I’m gonna go for a run.  You want me to tuck you back in?  You could probably use some more sleep.”

Gwen noticed that Randi had glossed over her answer about remembering.  She decided she’d call Lacey on it later. She figured there was something Randi wasn’t comfortable saying.  She doubted the doctor would be as hesitant to be completely honest with her.  “Hmm.  Maybe I’ll get up and shower.”  A concerned frown met her words.  “Randi,” just a touch exasperated, ”I’ll be fine.  There is nothing wrong with me, and I can’t just lay here in the bed.”

Randi clenched her jaw together in an effort not to speak.  She nodded her head and moved to the bathroom, shutting the door with an air of finality.  Gwen scrubbed her hands through blonde locks, frustrated. Then she eased up out of the bed, warily eyeing the closed door.  She’d managed to slip into underwear and shorts when she heard it open.  “You’re right, Gwen.  It’s your decision.  I just....”  Randi’s breath caught at the sight of the bare back.  Gwen had frozen at her first words, and the pause made her finish dressing.  Randi turned her back, closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing.  Sometimes, self-control leaves a lot to be desired.  A picture of that beautiful naked body flashed through her mind’s eye again.  Bad choice of words there, Valiant.  She took a deep breath and cleared her throat.  “Bathroom’s all yours.  I’ll be back shortly.”

Gwen went to the kitchen to start fixing breakfast.  She hadn’t had a chance to start moving her stuff back down and couldn’t really see disturbing Lacey to get her clothes.  She’d wait. 

She didn’t have to wait long.  Breakfast was well underway and sending delicious smells through the house.  The doctor came stumbling down the stairs, scratching her head and yawning.  “Mmm, something smells really good in here.  Oh, man... is that clock right?”  She looked at Gwen who simply nodded her head in confusion.  “Hmph!  Been quite a while since I overslept like this.”

Gwen cocked an eyebrow.  It wasn’t that late, and she wondered to herself what time the good doctor usually awakened.  That wasn’t important but good manners were, and she rose to the occasion.  “Coffee?”

“Oh yes,” Lacey exclaimed with relief.  “You, my dear, are a godsend.”

Gwen poured the medic a cup, indicating the cream and sugar.  The other woman shook her head and took a long sip.  “I drink it black.  I need my caffeine straight.  By the way, this is really good coffee.”

“It’s a special blend Ella made up for Randi and me.”  Lacey raised a brow, but didn’t comment.  Gwen cleared her throat.  “I, uh... I owe you an apology.  Who Randi has or has not slept with is really not my business.  I had no right to be rude to you.  You came to help, and I appreciate that a lot.  So thank you, and I’m sorry for my earlier behavior.”

Lacey sat thoughtfully still for a long moment before answering.  Then she looked at Gwen directly.  “Gwen, you’re in a really bad spot right now, and I understand that.  So I accept your apology and say, ‘You’re welcome’ to the other.  But maybe you should sit down and decide why you were so jealous when you thought Randi and I might have been lovers.  It might make a world of difference in your thinking.”

Gwen stood stunned at the implication, but before she could ponder it further a dark head appeared in the kitchen just slightly breathless.  “Umm, smells great.”  Randi grabbed a carafe of orange juice.  “I’m gonna shower.  I’ll be right back.”  Gwen quickly finished up breakfast while Lacey set the table.  Neither woman exchanged another word, but Lacey smiled to herself.  It was clear Gwen was considering her words carefully.  She hoped they would help make a difference.


Chapter XIV

The next two days passed quickly.  She did go back to work with Lacey’s blessing though she noticed Randi tended to keep a very close eye on her.  Nights were spent talking quietly together.  Gwen grew to like Lacey and found her to be full of interesting tales that featured Randi rather prominently.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you turn quite that shade of red before,” Gwen murmured as they settled in to sleep that night.  Randi turned onto her side, her back facing Gwen.

“I knew this was a bad idea,” she muttered.

“Ah, c’mon, Randi,” Gwen teased.  “It’s been fun.  And Lacey’s a nice person.  I’d just bet she’s holding back some of the best stories in deference to your sensibilities.”  Randi snorted, trying to bite back the bubble of laughter she felt escaping.  Gwen leaned forward to plant a small kiss on Randi’s cheek just as Randi rolled over onto her back.  Their lips brushed and both froze, electrified, staring at the other in startled reaction.  Gwen laid her head down on the broad shoulder beneath her.  “Goodnight, Randi,” she whispered, one hand lightly rubbing her still tingling lips.

It was quiet so long after that that Gwen figured Randi was either asleep or in shock from what had just passed between them.  I liked that.  Wonder if we can do it again, was her last thought before she settled down to sleep.  And she was almost gone when she finally heard Randi’s whispered reply.  “Night, Love.” The words brought a smile to her lips that lasted until she awoke the next morning.

They were just settling in for lunch the following day when Lacey called.  “I think I’ve got it, Randi.  Is Reed...?”

“She’s standing by, waiting for word from you.”

“All right.  I’ll give her a call.  We can get started on the deprogramming tomorrow.”  A small hand reached up to clasp hers.  She covered it with her own larger one. 

“Thanks, Lace.  We’ll see you at home, later.”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna take advantage of this private beach for the rest of the afternoon.  Later.”

Randi looked at Gwen as she shut the comm unit down, more than a little disturbed by Gwen’s lack of color.  “Hey, you okay there, Hon?”  A pause.  “Gwen?”

“Yeah,” she answered, her voice cracking just slightly.  “I’m just a little scared.”

“Can I tell you a secret?”  She waited for the blonde head to nod in agreement.  “It scares me too.  But I wouldn’t have suggested it if I thought it was dangerous.”

“I know.  It’s just....  I have no idea what this is going to do to me.  I don’t know what memories or emotions this is going to evoke.”

“Does it help that I will be here for you?”

“It makes all the difference.”

“Then you take that to heart ‘cause I’m not going anywhere.”

There are definitely some distinct advantages to being a Sabre pilot Reed smirked to herself as she settled the small shuttle on Randi’s private pad.  It sure beats public transportation.  The seer had been very glad to get the vid call from Lacey.  It meant things were getting closer and closer to being back to normal between her two friends.  And as much as their aura burned, it was awe-inspiring and rare.  She didn’t want to see them have to give it up.  She knocked on the door, frowning in surprise when no one answered.  She heard a voice at the back and wandered around to see what was going on.  The sight she got was quite unexpected.  Lacey lay stretched out in a deck chair, naked as the day she was born.  She was on the vid phone with a striking red head who pointed out Reed’s presence behind her.

“Oh, hey Reed,” waving the brunette over.  She returned her attention to the screen.  “Gotta go, Babe.  I love you.”

“I love you too, Beautiful. Good luck.”

They exchanged an air kiss, and Lacey darkened the screen.  “Hey, Reed,” she greeted again.  “Pull off your clothes and have a seat.”

“Why, Lacey Monet,” she teased with a laughed.  “If I didn’t know you better I’d think you were propositioning me.”  She laughed outright at the waggling eyebrows and rakish grin she got in return.  “How’s Nicky?”

The sunset brought the sound of a transport pulling into the garage, and the two women paused in their conversation.  “Hmm, guess this means recess is over.”  Lacey smiled as she grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself.  Reed did the same and the pair headed toward the house.

“Wasn’t like we needed to stay out there after dark anyway.  Glad I took my bags in earlier though.”

“Well now,” Randi drawled when she saw them ambling up onto the deck.  “Don’t you two look all lazy and decadent?  If ya’ll wanna get cleaned up and maybe put on some clothes, dinner’s gonna be about a half hour.”  She turned with a smirk and went back into the kitchen with Gwen.  Sure enough, thirty minutes later found the quartet sitting companionably around the table, eating fried chicken and corn on the cob.

“This is good.  It’s been a long time since I’ve done a girl’s night out.”  Reed looked to Gwen, then Randi.  “Despite the circumstances, I’m glad to be here.”

“Well, we’re glad you came,” Gwen answered.  “And I appreciate it.”

“I’m glad to do it, Gwen, for more reasons than you could possibly understand at this point.”  Gwen cocked her head in question, but Reed had turned her attention to Randi.  “Your face is looking a little better.”  She reached out a hand, then dropped it when Randi flinched away.

“Please don’t.”  She covered it and turned away from them slightly.  “It hurts when people touch it.”

Lacey cocked her head interestedly.  “Yet you are.  That’s odd.”

“Well, all I know is it doesn’t bother me unless another person touches it.”

Now Lacey frowned.  “Nothing else?  I mean... water, fabric, the wind... nothing else makes it hurt?”

“No, only human touch.”  Lacey and Reed exchanged disturbed glances.  This would be up for further discussion later.  “Interesting,” and the conversation moved to other things.

Later that night when they were snuggled up in bed together, Gwen mentioned something that had been bothering her from earlier.  “There’s something here I don’t understand.”

“What’s that, Little One?”

“It bothers you to have anyone else touch the scar,” reaching up a hand and gently tracing it.  “And yet, you lean into my touch as though you find it comforting.  Why is that?”

Shit!  Talk about your old-fashioned hidden minefield.  Truth?  Stall?  Maybe I can get by with a partial truth for now.  “It’s just different with you.”

“But why?” Gwen persisted.  Randi sighed.  Shoulda known it wouldn’t work.

“Because we are part of the same whole.”

It was quiet for so long, Randi was sure Gwen had fallen asleep.  She was startled when she felt a small hand reach for her own larger one and gently caress the ring that still resided there.  “Soulmates,” came the whispered word from Gwen’s lips.  Then almost immediately Randi felt Gwen’s body curl up into hers and relax into sleep.  When the breathing was deep and regular, she kissed the blonde head.

“Goodnight, Love.”

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

“All right, Gwen, I need you to relax.”  She tried for several minutes before Randi slipped underneath her.

“Here,” Randi said.  “Your choice... bony knees or hard thighs,” chuckling.

Green eyes twinkled just slightly before pulling Randi into a more reclined position.  “I’ll take the firm stomach, thanks.”  The other two women looked on in amazement.

“We’ll have to work around it, I guess,” Lacey commented to Reed.  “I don’t think she’ll relax enough otherwise.”

“She won’t because they’re still linked.  We’ll manage.”  They turned their attention back to the duo that was quietly talking together.

“These are the Soulmates’ Rings, aren’t they?  We are the soulmates my grandmother always told me about, aren’t we?”

Randi sighed.  This wasn’t something she wanted to talk about.  It was something she wanted the bard to rediscover on her own.  “Gwen, how far have you made it through your diaries?”

Gwen looked at Randi with a frown.  “Um, I’m just got up to my homecoming... when you weren’t here.  I haven’t had much time to read this week with Lacey being here.” She paused, thinking.  “Though I recognized that song you sung to me yesterday.  It’s the one you sang at our last birthday together.  When we had that big party at the Golden Touch.”  She blinked.  “Wow... I actually remembered that on my own.”  She raised a hand to her head.  “Ow... um... I feel....”  Her words were cut off as she blacked completely out.  Blues eyes rose to meet Lacey’s.

“It’s to be expected, Randi.  She’s on overload with this stuff.  We’re gonna go ahead and get started.  Try to keep her still and calm when she starts coming around.

Gwen kept her eyes closed when she became cognizant again, enjoying the light stroking on her face and hair.  It made her smile though and the low voice rumbling under her ear made her turn toward its owner and open her eyes.  “How ya doing, Beautiful?  You had me a little worried.”

Green met blue, and Gwen saw more than just a little worry staring back at her.  “I remembered, Randi.  And I remember so clearly the wash of emotions....”  She reached for her head again.  Randi clasped her hand.

“Take it easy, Little One.  It’s great that you remember, but we need Lacey and Reed to remove the blocks first.  The conflict is what’s causing you the pain, remember?”  She breathed.  “We can talk about the other later too.  I think it is something you need to discover at your own pace.”

Gwen looked thoughtfully at Randi before nodding her head in agreement.  “Thank you, Randi.”

The dark head cocked.  “For what?”

“For letting me determine what’s truth for myself.”

Randi smiled at her and continued the soothing motions through her hair, lightly scratching her scalp.  “Close your eyes and relax.  I’m not going anywhere, and it’s the quickest way to get through this.”  She waited until Gwen shut her eyes again before beginning to hum.  Randi smiled when Gwen slipped into a light doze.

They had been working for about four hours, and were about a third of the way into the procedure when Lacey frowned.  “Is there a problem?” Randi asked, a little disturbed at the doctor’s expression.

“I hope not,” was the unsatisfactory reply.  “Reed, can you take a look at this?”  She pointed to a monitor off to her right.  “Something very peculiar is going on here.”  The seer moved to stand in front of the flashing equipment, blocking Randi’s view.

“What is going on?”

The two ignored her as they tried desperately to unravel the mystery.  They spoke in whispers, forgetting the warrior’s keen hearing could pick up every word.

“Has this ever happened before?”

“No, system failure of this magnitude is unheard of.”

“And it checked out?”

“Oh yeah.  Four times I made sure it was calibrated and ready.  This should not be happening.”

“No, it shouldn’t.  And it’s not like we can stop now.  We’re committed.”

“I know but without this....”  The doctor looked to the seer in despair.  “I don’t know if we can pull this off now.”

“Would one of you like to tell me what’s going on?”  The low, menacing growl startled them and frightened them a bit as well.

“We have a bit of a problem.”

“Yes, I gathered that.  What kind of a problem?”

“Well, we have an equipment failure.  And this is the one piece of gear we really couldn’t afford to lose.  Unfortunately we can’t stop, and it’s gonna be almost impossible to go forward without it.  Now before you get angry, Randi, I checked it four times before we got started.  It shouldn’t be doing this.”

When Lacey looked up though, Randi wasn’t angry.  The emotion that shown clearly out of her eyes was stark fear.  She realized exactly what the doctor was not saying.  “Do your best, Lace.  I can’t lose her.”

Lacey and Reed nodded in tandem.  “Athena, bless us this day,” Reed whispered in prayer as their attention turned back to Gwen.

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

“Are you sure about this, The?  You know the rules.”

“We let them be separated once, Art, and look where it got us.  You can’t tell me you think that failure is strictly coincidental in its timing.  I’m not gonna let it happen again, not knowing what the stakes are this time.  Besides,” looking at their blonde sister who was at that moment curled up on the bed in a fetal position.  “I can’t see her suffer like that again.  You know what a drain on her it was.”

The huntress nodded as she took a seat near Aphrodite gently stroking her hair.  “I agree with you, Sister.  Something stinks here, and it’s not one of us.”  She glanced down at the small pile of tear shaped diamonds near the sleeping face.  “Do what you have to.”

The goddess of wisdom extended her awareness.

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

Things had slowed considerably and after eight hours of exhausting work, they weren’t even halfway done.  Randi had placed a vid call to Tommy who’d rushed over with Ella to help however was needed.  His father had volunteered to watch Randall for them, and they had graciously accepted before hurrying over to the beach house.  Ella kept them supplied with water and cool cloths since even the cooled air wasn’t enough to keep them from sweating under the strain.  Gwen had been dozing off and on.  She understood why they couldn’t put her out totally.  Reed could easily lose her stream under that kind of blanket.  But Gwen was growing uncomfortable.

“Randi?”

The warrior’s attention was focused on the two other women who were currently deeply in her personal space as they worked on Gwen’s back.  They had become even slower in their movements as they worked along Gwen’s spine and near her neck and head.  “What is it, Love?” distractedly, looking down to meet the now startled green eyes gazing back at her.  “I’m sorry... I mean....”

Gwen felt a warmth travel through her at the words that settled in the core of her being.  She raised their still linked hands and brushed them against her lips.  “It’s all right.”  She flinched as Lacey touched a particularly sensitive spot.  “It makes m....”  Her words broke off as she moaned in pain, and her eyes rolled back into her head.  She went completely limp, and Randi looked to her two comrades in alarm.  She was not comforted by the startled looks on their faces.

“What happened??  Do something!!  Help her!!!”  It was evident that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

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

Green eyes opened to a fog.  She couldn’t see much, but enough to determine she was alone.  Where’d everybody go?  And what is this place?

“This is a place of choices,” came a voice from the mist.  “And the time has come for you to choose.”

Gwen shook her head.  Okay, evidently the treatment finally got to me and I’m hallucinating.  Just fricking great.

A dark haired woman stepped into her line of sight.  “No, you’re not hallucinating. This is very real.  Right now, in real time, you are dying.  You’ve stopped breathing, and you need to choose now whether or not you live or die.”

She didn’t even think about it.  “Send me back.”  Gwen thought of Randi.  “Send me back to her now.”

“No matter the consequence?  No matter the price?”

“Send.  Me.  Back.”

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

Tear filled blue eyes were the first things she saw when she opened her own again.  She was cradled in strong arms, and it was a feeling she cherished.  Here was a place she was safe and cared for and loved.  She snuggled deeper into the embrace even as she reached up a hand to stroke Randi’s face.

“Oh, God.  You’re all right.  I thought for a moment....  We all thought....”  Randi looked down at Gwen in wonder.  “You came back.  You came back to me.”  And she hugged her fiercely.  “Thank you.  Thank you.”  A shuddering sigh.  “Promise me,” she whispered.  “Promise me, you’ll never leave me again.” 

Gwen wasn’t sure if Randi was thanking her or a god or simply talking.  But she savored the warmth that flowed through her at the love and concern she felt emanating from her companion.  This was home.  “I promise.”  Then she fell into a deep sleep.

“You all right?” the doctor murmured to Reed as they stood back and watched the reunion.  The seer was holding her head in her hands, covering her eyes.  She nodded in answer to Lacey’s question.

“Um, yeah.  Just a little overwhelmed by the unexpected energy.”

“Are you gonna be all right to finish?  We can’t stop, and I need you.”

“I’ll be fine.  Besides,” pointing to the piece of equipment that had failed earlier.  “We’re back on track.”

Lacey looked at the recalcitrant system, shocked to find it up and running again.  “Thank you, Athena,” she muttered.  “And thank you for guiding my hands to be able to bring Gwen back to us.”  She looked at Reed.  “C’mon, my friend.  Let’s get this finished.  Then I’m gonna buy you a beer.”

“I believe I’ll have to take you up on that.”

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

“Damnation!” Ares vented.  “Someone is always on their side.  But I’m gonna win this time, Randi.  You belong to me now.”  The laughter that followed sent chills up the sisters’ spines.

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

“It was a close thing, Love,” Ella whispered to Tommy when she came out of the room.  She walked into his open arms and laid her head on his shoulder.  “For a minute there... for a minute, I was sure we’d lost her.”  He was quiet while his wife struggled with what to say, but she felt his heartbeat pick up at her words.  “She stopped breathing.” Brown eyes met in bleak understanding.  “Randi... oh goddess... I never thought I’d ever see her break like this.”  He led them over to the sofa and seated them together.  Ella was still clinging to him, and he was loath to remove her.

“What happened, Sweetheart?”  His whisper broke the silence that had dragged on interminably. 

“Um,” she scrubbed her hand over her face.  “Reed and Lacey moved in immediately to revive her.  Randi clung to her; talking to her constantly; begging Gwen not to leave her.  I’ve never seen her this emotional.  Tommy, the tears were pouring out of her eyes even as she breathed for Gwen.  God, it was awful.”

“Is she all right now?  Are both of them all right?”

“Well, Gwen is breathing on her own, but is in some sort of a coma.  She came to long enough so we knew she was okay and then fell into a deep sleep.  Randi... Randi is a basket case honestly.  I’m thinking she may be staying close to Gwen for a good long time after this.  I just hope she doesn’t smother her.”  She shook her curly head.  “I need to get some juice for the girls and get back in there.  Thanks for listening, hon.”

“Thank you for sharing.  I love you.”

“I love you too.  Will you go check on Dad and the boy?  We’re gonna be here a while longer.”

“Yep.  You’ll call if anything changes?”

“Um hmm, though they expect Gwen to be out at least until tomorrow morning now.  Lacey said she’ll need at least that much recovery time though she wouldn’t be surprised if she sleeps for two days.”  She walked him to the door.

“Ya know... you kinda have to wonder if we’re missing the bigger picture here sometimes.  Because they seem to have more than their share of odd experiences.”  Tommy shrugged his shoulders.  “They attract trouble like bees to honey.”  He stole a kiss.  “See ya later, Love.”

“Bye, Baby.”  She shut the door and returned to the bedroom loaded down with juice and some high-energy snacks.

Seventeen grueling hours later, Reed and Lacey stepped back from Gwen a final time with a sigh of relief.  “That’s it.  Now we wait.” They were thankful Randi had finally fallen into a fitful doze.  This would be something that would haunt her for a while.  “What do you think?” Lacey asked Reed as they leaned back on the couch, feet propped on the table.  Ella sat quietly listening.

“I think Gwen will recover from this faster than Randi will.  She should be up and about in two or three days.  How long things take after that will be up to them.  But given the strength of their bond.... I wouldn’t be surprised if it was that bond that got them through this.”

“You really think?”

“Yeah, I do.”  Reed closed her eyes and laid her dark head back on the couch.  “I felt her essence leave, Lace.  For a very long moment, she was really dead.  It....”  She scrubbed a hand through her hair and peered at the other woman through slitted eyes.  Lacey’s eyes were pinned to her in fascination.  “It’s hard to explain.  I felt her leave, and I felt the physical force of her soul being pulled back by Randi’s.”  She sighed.  “It was almost painful.”

“That’s why you turned so white?”

“Um hmm.  But the relief when she woke up was almost as intense.  We’re gonna need to keep an eye on Randi for the next couple days.” 

“We can do that.  I arranged my schedule to be here through Sunday.  Gwen should be awake by then.”

“Well since Tiny works from home, he can keep an eye on the puppies.  It’s not a problem for me to stay either.  We can watch out for them in shifts.  However, after the last seventeen hours, I’m pretty sure we can all get some rest tonight.”

“I concur.”  Lacey rose, and stretched, groaning when her back popped back into alignment.  “Damn, that feels good.  C’mon... I hear a bed calling our names.”  Ella waved goodbye as she shut the door behind her.  Then Lacey and Reed slowly climbed the stairs, and the house fell silent in the darkness.

It was still dark outside when Randi lurched out of sleep.  She struggled to sit up until her senses recognized the scent and weight of the warmth in her arms that pinned her neatly in place.  She brushed back her sweat soaked hair and greedily inhaled the aroma that surrounded her.

Oh God, Love... that was too damned close.  You can’t leave me alone here, not now.  Not like this.  She gently covered Gwen’s small hand, noticing for the first time that Gwen’s hand was clenched around her Soulmates’ Ring even in the depths of sleep.  It brought a smile to her face.  We will get through this, Love, and be stronger for it.  It was a long time before her eyes closed again in sleep.

Morning was nearly gone before the household stirred.  Randi was the first to awaken, but she was loath to give up her comfortable nest.  It took both Lacey and Reed to convince her to leave Gwen long enough to shower and change.  She nearly broke when Gwen whimpered when she got up. 

“I’ll be right back, Love.  Nothing will separate us again.”  The two Sabres exchanged glances.  This was going to be a long road of recovery.

Randi padded back into the bedroom, combing through wet hair as she settled back into the bed.  She felt justified and not a little gratified when Gwen immediately snuggled up close to her.  She hesitated, then took out her own journal.  She opened it and it fell to a day she had long since forgotten.  She reread the entry and smiled.  Some day, Love, I’ll have to share all this with you.  But I want you to be awake and cognizant when you see the difference you made in my life... years before we met.

She gently turned the paper pages, caressing them with respect.  Finally she found the place where she wanted to read from and cleared her throat and began reading aloud.  “I’m going to Midas for the first time today.  I’m really quite interested to see what Tommy has done.  He’s established quite a reputation in the Artist’s Guild.  I really wish he could have snagged Gwen Goldman, though. She is the most impressive bard I’ve ever heard.”  She laughed retrospectively as she noted the next entry.  “If the news wasn’t so good, I’d have to kill the little twerp for keeping such a secret from me.”  Randi chuckled again in memory.  “You know, I was so bowled over by your presence, by finally getting to meet you that my hand was shaking when I wrote this.  You would never believe how nervous I was when I looked up and caught those pretty green eyes staring at me.”

Lacey and Reed stood in the doorway listening for a long moment, then turned away to give the two women a bit of privacy.  “Ella said she’d bring us some lunch when we were ready.  Whaddya say?”

“I say that woman is a damned fine cook, and I’m not about to let an opportunity like that pass me by.  Let’s see if we can get in touch with her.”  And they went to place the vid call.

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

Two full days passed while Gwen slept, and Randi read aloud from her personal journal to her.  The nights were harder as Randi tended to slip into nightmares when she slept.  Reed happened to be watching when she woke the second time that second night, and she woke Lacey.  It didn’t take much convincing before the doctor gave Randi something to ensure they would all get a peaceful night’s sleep.  Reed cocked her head as they left the two to sleep.  Something in Randi’s aura, now that she was relaxed and resting, was off-kilter.  She shrugged... probably the still unhealed link between them.  With a shake of her head, she stretched out on the couch.  She and Lacey had agreed they needed to be nearby and were taking shifts on the couch.  Both had their fingers crossed for Gwen to awaken on the morrow.

Sunday morning dawned with a haze, and Randi knew when she opened her eyes there was a storm brewing somewhere nearby.  None of that mattered though, as about the time she got a good stretch and opened her eyes more fully, Gwen started moving herself.  First the arm around her waist tightened and relaxed.  Then a sighing breath and eyelashes tickled her neck. Randi couldn’t help it; she had to laugh, albeit silently.  It was the adorable scowl on a sleepy face with two half-opened green eyes that made her laugh out loud though.  But when Gwen reached a hand up and gently started tracing her face, the laughter stopped and she waited.

“Good morning,” Gwen whispered, her voice still hoarse from sleep and non-use.

“Welcome back, Little One.  I’ve missed you.”  A beat.  “How do you feel?”  A serious question on many levels.  Randi knew the procedure wouldn’t give Gwen her memory back.  It would simply allow her to remember and feel again without destroying herself.  Gwen had to be ready to remember before the memories would return, and there was a lot of bad mixed in with the good.  Randi knew she’d have to be patient.

Gwen gave the question due consideration.  “Tired actually.  Sore and I’d really like a shower.”

“I’ll tell you what... I’ll give you a bit of privacy to get your shower while I rustle us all up some breakfast.  I’m sure Lacey’s gonna wanna check you out.  Then we can worry about what to do with the rest of the day.”

“Sounds like a plan.”  She gathered the sheet around her while Randi prudently kept her back turned.  “What day is it anyway?”  Gwen moved to the bathroom door before Randi’s words registered.  “Sunday??  I’ve been asleep for two and a half days???”

“Yep, but Lacey said it was normal all things considered.”  She didn’t mention the brush with death and neither did Gwen.  “This was harder than the original adjustments he did because he set it up over several sessions.  And it took longer to fix than it did to put in place.”  She paused, uncertain about saying more.  “Go get your shower.  We’ll talk more about it when you get out.”

Gwen nodded thoughtfully and closed the door behind her.


Chapter XV

The remainder of the day was spent quietly.  The storm that had appeared so imminent in the morning hours blew itself out to sea in the early afternoon.  Reed and Lacey both stayed for lunch, then took their leave.  Both promised to return again soon with their significant others before Gwen said goodbye.  The doctor made sure Gwen knew to take it easy.  “I know you’ve been asleep for a couple days, but this is a major ordeal to recover from.  Just take it easy and do what you can.  Don’t force and don’t rush.  Everything will return to you in its own good time.”

“Thanks, Lacey.”  A beat while she studied her hands, then green eyes peered into brown.  “You don’t know how much I appreciate your coming here.  I’m sorry....”

“I’m not.  I’m actually a little flattered that you were jealous.  But I assure you it was without cause, and I’m looking forward to coming back with Nicky.  I think you two will get along famously.”  Unexpectedly Gwen engulfed Lacey in a hug, and though startled she returned the embrace fully.  “We’ll be seeing you again very soon.”

“You’ll be all right, my friend,” Reed said to Gwen before she took her leave.  Lacey was talking in low tones to Randi, and Reed took the opportunity to speak to Gwen.  “Already your aura is returning to its normal state.”

“Thank you for coming, Reed.  You seem to have been rushing to my rescue a lot lately.”

“No more than you would have done for me had positions been reversed.”  Gwen nodded her head in agreement, knowing it for the truth.  “We’ll be in touch.  Tiny is anxious for a real visit.”

“You’re welcome any time.”  And the pilot and doctor had left swiftly and silently from the private pad and left Gwen and Randi in peaceful solitude.  Words between them weren’t necessary right now as they sat soaking in the joy of simply being together again.  The weekend had been extremely draining though, and they sat cuddled on the couch together in a half-daze when Tommy and Ella came over to check on them in the early evening.

“How do you feel, Gwen?”  In true motherly fashion, Ella rested a hand on her forehead checking her temperature, then absently placed a kiss there before taking a seat nearby.  She found the fact that she and Randi clung to one another both endearing and heartbreaking.

“Tired, which sounds really stupid given that I was asleep for two days.  But I feel like I ran a marathon.”

“Well, you don’t have to come back to work til you feel ready.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow, T.  Even if I have to take things slow, I’ll be there.”

“But....” Randi cut in.  She stopped speaking when warm fingers lightly touched her lips.

“I need to.  I need to let things get back to normal.”  Blue eyes searched green intently before the dark head nodded in agreement.  Tommy and Ella looked away to give them a little privacy in what their glances had made an intimate moment.  Then he cleared his throat.

“Gwen, how are your folks?”

“Doing pretty well actually.  Talking to them earlier is the one thing we accomplished today.”  She smiled.  “Daddy is hopeful and determined about regaining the use of his legs.  He must have some serious motivation.  And Mother, well... she is supporting him in every way she can think of.  We’ll probably go up again next weekend,” clasping Randi’s hand.  “They both seem to get such a renewal from our visits, and Randi is good about keeping Daddy in line.”  The group chuckled at the visual this description produced.

“That’s too funny.  We’ve talked about going to see them for a day or two.”

“Oh, please do,” Gwen answered Ella’s statement.  “That would do so much for them.”

“Well, I had an idea.  What do you think about getting some of his friends together and making a small party?  It might be a good way to show him support; help them to see they are not alone.”

“Oh, I like that idea.  I’ll bet Reed can get you the names of some of his military buddies, and I know some friends from home that would come, and....”  She chewed her lip in thought.  “It might not be a small party, though.”

“That’s all right.  I only suggested small, because I have no idea who their friends are.  “I’ll tell you what... you give me a number, and I’ll set up the details.  You and Randi can do the inviting.”

An uneasiness crept up Randi’s spine, sending chills skittering back down it.  She thrust the unexplained anxiety away from her, and forced her attention back to the conversation at hand.  Gwen gave her a searching look, before clasping her hand a little tighter.  The bard returned her attention to Ella.

“Okay.  Are we planning this for this weekend?”

Ella and Tommy exchanged looks, then the woman nodded.  “Sure.  Why not?”

“All right.  I’ll give Mother a call.  Shall we plan for Saturday?”  Gwen looked at Tommy.  “I’d like to take half a day on Friday to go up and help Mother get ready.”

“Take the day, Gwen.  We’ll all go up a day early.  We don’t want to make more work for Jill.  This is to encourage, not kill.”  He was startled when she reached out and gave him a short, tight hug.

“Thanks, T.”

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

“Do you feel the darkness approaching, Warrior?”  Ares’ smile was threatening and mysterious. 

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

Monday morning dawned hot and clear.  Gwen found herself wishing for the cooler days of autumn.  She still felt a little tired and was moving a little slower than normal.  She was sure the heat wasn’t helping.  Randi looked at her in concern.  “You okay, Little One?”

“Hmm?  Yeah... just wishing for cooler days already.”

“Me too.  C’mon.  We’re gonna be late.”

Randi walked Gwen to her classroom and returned to her office.  She sat at her desk for a while, trying to concentrate on the work in front of her.  She read the same sentence three times before she growled in frustration and stood to pace.  She tried reading aloud while walking around, but that didn’t help much either.  Finally she thrust her hands into her hair and groaned.  Then she flung her door open with enough force to make it bounce and strode out of the main building, heading for the stables.

Tommy came out of his office at the noise and just shook his head at the expected reaction.  “This is gonna be a tough situation for you to get around, isn’t it, Short Stuff?”  He watched until she came charging out of the barn on Excalibur’s back.  He called an alert to the security team and went back to work.

Gwen noticed the stallion’s hoof beats outside her room several times throughout the morning.  She wondered what was going on, but every time she looked, there was nothing to be seen.  Unsurprisingly though... when the lunch chimes rang, Randi sat right outside the room waiting patiently.

“Is something wrong, Randi?”  They were sitting at the table eating.  Or rather, Gwen was slowly chewing, and Randi sat mostly pushing her food around her plate. Gwen had a very good idea what was bothering her friend, but felt Randi needed to bring it up.

“No,” Randi answered hastily, shoving a bite of food in her mouth.  “Just a mite off my feed, I think.  You had the right idea about the heat this morning.  I’m looking forward to a break from it myself.”  She paused.  “I’m gonna make a few calls to get things started for Geoff’s party.  Anyone special you want me to call?”

Gwen recognized the change of topic ploy but went with it.  Things would come to a head or dissipate in their own good time.  “Yes actually.  Will you invite Sal and his family and also Tiny and Reed?”

Randi’s brow scrunched up at the mention of Sal’s name, then smiled.  If anyone could make Geoff forget about his difficulties, the eccentric talent manager would be the one to do it.  “All right, I can do that.”  A beat.  “You about done?” nodding to the half finished plate.  Gwen nodded.  “Well then, let me walk you back, and I’ll go make some calls.”

Gwen kept an eye out the window the remainder of the afternoon.  She could almost time how long it would be between sightings of the dark head outside her room.  She hoped it would just be for today.  She wasn’t sure how long she could be patient with this kind of scrutiny.

“You up for a walk on the beach?” Randi asked after dinner later that evening.  “It’s a beautiful night.”

Gwen looked Randi and agreed.  “Yeah, it is.  And yes, I would.”  She took the proffered hand and allowed Randi to help her up.  She made no effort to remove her hand and noticed that Randi seemed to cling to the connection.  The walk was nice, and their conversation was light and varied.

They reached the shelter of the dunes, and by mutual, unspoken consent meandered over to them and sat.  Randi sat first, not at all displeased when Gwen sat in front of her and leaned into her for support.  Tentatively she wrapped her arms around Gwen’s middle, sighing silently when Gwen wrapped her own firmly on top of them.  They sat together that way for the longest time, simply listening to the waves crash and looking at the stars.  When the Gwen began to droop in her arms, Randi gently prodded.  “C’mon, Little One.  Let’s go home and get into bed.”

Sleepy green eyes peered up at her adoringly.  “I am home.”

The response took Randi by surprise and stole her ability to breathe for a very long moment.  Then she leaned forward and kissed Gwen’s forehead.  “Me too,” was her only answer, and they trudged through the sand back to the beach house in silence.

Tuesday and Wednesday passed much the same way though Randi noticed Gwen was getting snippier and less patient with her hovering.  They still took walks in the evenings and cuddled up together at night, but the days were becoming unbearable.  Thursday morning, things came to an ugly head.

“C’mon, Gwen.  We’re gonna be late.”

“No, you’re going to be late.  I already let T know I’m not coming in.”

Randi crossed to her side, reaching a hand out to touch her forehead.  “What’s wrong?  Are you sick? Do I need to call Lacey?”  Crossly Gwen swatted it away. 

“No, I’m fine.  I just need some space.  You’re driving me nuts!”

Stung, Randi jerked away from her as though scorched by fire.  Hurt shone out of blue eyes before they shuttered and became cold and impassive. “I see.  I apologize for caring.  I won’t trouble you further.”  She stalked toward the door.

Aphrodite watched, her smacking hand tingling.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Randi.  I’m not going to die on you again.  And you need to accept and get past that.”

Randi froze when Gwen mentioned dying, and she took a shuddering breath. The mask never fell though and when she turned to look at Gwen, her face was expressionless.  “We don’t have time to talk about this now.  I’m going to be late.”  Without another word, she strode out the door.

Gwen stood rooted to the spot in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.  Tears fell from her face as she relived the moment of wide-eyed hurt in Randi’s eyes before they had closed against her.  “Damn!” she muttered.  “That wasn’t how that was supposed to go.”  She scrubbed an impatient hand across her eyes and picked up her journal, falling gracelessly onto the couch as she began to read.

Tommy saw the fire in Randi’s eyes as she entered the building and sent out a quick warning to the security staff. He hadn’t been surprised to hear from Gwen.  He knew things had to break between them soon.  His surprise had come from Gwen’s tolerance of the over-protectiveness.  From the look on Randi’s face, things had come to a head, and it hadn’t been at all pretty.

The morning passed slowly at Midas except for members of the security division.  Each and every member was called on the carpet for an impromptu review.  Mid-afternoon, one of the agents made a comment overheard by Randi that gave her pause into her actions. 

“I’ll be glad when she and Gwen make up.  Every time they fight, we end up with an inspection.”

Is that true? Randi thought to herself.  Do they suffer every time we disagree or fight?  She had several more operatives to speak to, but they were waiting in the outer office.  She was alone at the moment in her inner sanctuary, and she walked to the window.  While she stared out unseeingly at the vista before her and at one classroom in particular, her mind reviewed her time at Midas.  I’ll be damned!  She moved to her calendar, checking dates that went back to her first day.  I have.  Shit... I owe these guys some kind of apology.  The sound of thunder drew her from her musing.  She was torn now... wanting to comfort Gwen yet still allow her the space she needed.

She debated with herself for all of a minute before she stalked to the door and yanked it open.  “Patterson, Jones, Jenkins, Randolph.... you guys are dismissed.  I have something to take care of that will keep me out of the office for the remainder of the day.”  She looked at Beth.  “Make sure Parker knows I’m gone, will ya?”  She was out the door before the other woman could reply.

“Sure,“ Beth answered the closed door.

The bottom fell out of the sky just as she started across the bridge.  The second rumble of thunder caused her to speed up, knowing what the sound did to Gwen lately.  She brought the transport to a halt with a jerk and rushed in the front door.  She came to a blinding halt just inside the foyer, wondering now about the wisdom of her hasty, gut-instinct reaction.  Well, nothing to do for it now, but go in and face the music.  If she still needs her space, I’ll go see Ella for a while.

She crept silently out into the living room, then froze at the tableau she encountered.  Gwen sat on the floor by the French doors, curled up into a tiny ball.  Her forehead rested on the glass and even from where she stood Randi could see the tear tracks on her face.  Randi forced hesitant feet forward until she stood in front of Gwen.  After several long seconds the blonde head turned, and Gwen gave her friend a tentative, welcoming smile.  Randi felt the constrictive bands around her heart loosen and shyly returned the smile.  She started to sit, when Gwen stopped her.

“No, help me up, would you?”  Her voice was still husky from the tears.

Gwen took the larger hand and stood, then led Randi back to the couch, but surprisingly seated her on the coffee table.  The thunder continued to rumble and the rain still fell, but it had been put aside by the two women as inconsequential.  What concerned them now was the electricity between them that Randi could almost see, and she wondered what had happened in the interim she’d been gone to change things so drastically.  She waited though, giving Gwen the opportunity to formulate whatever it was she so obviously wanted to say.

“I was able to catch up on my reading today.”  Gwen drew a shaky breath.  “And when the storm started, I remembered.”  Green eyes looked into intense blue.  Having Randi sit on the coffee table while she stood put them almost at eye level with one another.  “I remembered everything.”  She moved to stand in front of Randi. She spread her legs slightly, and Gwen stepped between them, resting her hands lightly on the broad shoulders.  Of their own volition, Randi’s hands went to the slim waist, gently caressing her strong back.

“Tell me.”

“I remember what meeting you felt like.”  A small hand drew itself through dark locks.  “I remember these intense new feelings I’d never felt before; wondering what they were and where they came from.  I remember being scared when I figured out I was falling in love with you, afraid of what it would change between us.  I remember admitting to myself that it was love and deciding we were worth the risk.  I remember how wonderful that feeling was.”  She looked down, then up again and found herself captured once more in that blue regard.  She moved her other hand to tenderly trace the well-known, beloved face.  “I remember how devastated I was when I knew, I KNEW, it was too late for us.  That you were gone from me.”  A single tear escaped her eyes, and Randi reached up a hand to wipe it away.  Her hand moved into the blonde locks, tangling it gently.  “I remember, Randi, and I’m not giving it up.  Not again.”

Time stood still then.  Gwen looked into Randi’s eyes, then dropped her gaze to the full lips.  Involuntarily she licked her own before bringing her eyes back to Randi’s.  She leaned forward slightly, pleased when the hand at her waist tightened convulsively.  Her lips barely brushed those of the warrior, then she pulled back to look into hooded, darkened eyes.  Randi’s nostril’s flared slightly, and Gwen could feel the tension singing in the hand at her waist and the one clutching her hair.  She realized in that moment that Randi was showing remarkable restraint, waiting for her to lead the way.

She leaned in again, taking the time to savor the senses that surrounded her.  Randi’s spicy scent and her own co-mingled.  The soap and shampoo they shared though it smelled slightly different on each of them.  The clean smell of sunshine and rain.  The sound of Randi’s rapidly beating heart and her own in tandem with it.  The silky smoothness of the skin under her fingertips.  Her eyes followed the path her fingers took and once again fell on the full lips.  This time, the kiss lasted longer. Her tongue darted out to trace those lips, and she was lost.  The taste, the feel and the moan that opened Randi’s mouth to her exploration produced a moan of her own, and she felt herself drowning in the sensations being created throughout her body.

At the first touch of Gwen’s tongue on her lips, Randi groaned and closed her eyes and gave herself over to the feelings surging over her.  She pulled Gwen into her, thrilled when she felt Gwen’s arms tighten around her. For long moments they stayed that way... touching, tasting, rediscovering.  When the need for air forced them apart, they were slow and averse to do so.  Several small kisses before they physically separated and still they remained in each other’s space, breathing one another’s air.

“Oh, God,” Gwen whispered.  “How could I have forgotten this?  How could he take this away from me?”

“All that matters is you remember now, and that is enough.”  Randi stopped speaking when Gwen leaned in again and recaptured her lips.  Banked fires burst into flame, and twin moans merged into a single sound.  With great reluctance, Randi pulled back again.  “God, you’re good at that.”  She smiled tearfully.  “And I have missed you so much.”  She hugged Gwen tightly to her, pleased when Gwen snuggled deeper into her.  “Would you mind... would you be greatly offended...?  I’d like to take things slowly.”  Gwen pulled away from her with a look of disbelief on her face.  “What I mean is... I’d like the chance to court you properly.  And when you’re ready, we’ll move this relationship forward again.”  She looked down, then up into those verdant eyes gazing at her in wondering admiration.  “It’s your call, but I’d really like the opportunity.”

Randi leaned into the small hand that cupped her face.  “It means that much to you?”  Randi’s eyes dropped and she nodded.  The hand moved down her cheek and along the scar to lift her chin.  Blue eyes peeked up at indulgent green, and she had to smile in response to Gwen’s grin.  Gwen nodded. “I’d like that.”  A beat.  “As long as we don’t have to give up the kissing.” 

Randi captured the lips in front of her with a fierce intensity that took Gwen’s breath away and made her respond in kind.  She slid down onto Randi’s lap whimpering.  An answering growl from Randi made her pull back, eyes darkened to an indigo.  “No,” she smiled.  “We certainly do not have to give up the kissing.”

“Good,” Gwen replied, nibbling lightly on the lips before moving her attentions across the jaw line until she reached an ear. She blew lightly into it, then chuckled silently at the quivering she felt chasing up Randi’s spine before she leaned in and whispered.  “Because I think I’m addicted to you.  The way you taste and your scent and the feel of your body in my arms.”

Now it was Randi’s turn to whimper, and she looked at Gwen with pleading eyes.  “You don’t play fair, you know.”

“I’m sorry,” contritely but with eyes twinkling merrily.  “I just love you so much, and to be able to feel that again....  God, it’s like being high, I’m so giddy.”

Randi swung them over to the couch where they landed in a tangle of limbs.  “Sorry,” she said, “But my butt was starting to hurt.”  Gwen started to laugh, and when Randi realized the absurdity of her words in conjunction with their conversation, proceeded to join her. 

Gwen gently traced the well-known and much loved features.  She smiled when Randi closed her eyes and sighed at her touch.  “I love you.”

Randi softly kissed the fingertips on her face.  “I love you too, so very much.”  She turned them so they were sitting front to back, her body encompassing Gwen’s completely.  “And speaking of being high, I have a surprise for you tomorrow if you’re willing to try it.”

Gwen turned slightly in Randi’s arms until she could see into her face.  She studied her for a long moment before she nodded, turned around again and snuggled back into strong arms.  “All right,” was all she said.

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”  She squirmed until her body was being cradled, and she bent her head back to catch Randi’s eyes.  “I trust you.  I always have.”

Tears welled up in the blue eyes, and she placed a chaste kiss on the forehead under her chin.  “Thank you, Love. That means the world to me.  YOU mean the world to me.”  They grew quiet listening to the rain continue to fall outdoors, never realizing when they dozed off in each other’s arms.

The rain had not abated when mutterings and curses quietly emerged from the larger of the two bodies lying almost prostrate on the sofa.  “Ow.”  Pop.  “Damn!”  Pop.  “Stupid.”  Pop.  Snap.  A low groan and the squeak of leather as she tried to stretch without waking her companion.  Several pops this time, and the figure gave a moan of appreciation.  “Oh yeah.  That’s much better.”

She was startled when she looked down into a pair of sleepy green eyes.  “You about done there, Stud?  It’s really hard to sleep with all the moving my mattress is doing.”  Gwen patted the firm stomach beneath her hands and felt Randi’s chuckle rumble through it.

“Yeah, well, yours is more comfortable than mine.”  She lifted a hand and rubbed her neck.  “I think I have a crick in my neck.”

“I’ll tell ya what... let’s fix some dinner, and I’ll see if I can rub it out for you.”

“Steak and potatoes?”

“Sounds good.” 

They worked together in silence for a time.  Then Randi cleared her throat and spoke.  “I think I owe you an apology.”

Gwen quirked her eyebrow in question, confused.  “Hmm?”

“For this morning... this week.  I knew I was being overprotective, but I couldn’t seem to stop.  I just....”  She broke off as Gwen’s hand covered her mouth.

“No apologies unless you accept mine as well.”  Now a dark brow rose, and Gwen had to laugh lightly at their similar reactions.  “Sorry... it’s just....” She traced the eyebrow in question.  Gwen sighed.  “If any one person in the world should have been able to understand where you were coming from, I should have.  And I didn’t.  All I could see was that you were making us both nuts.”  She took the larger hands in her own small ones and led them over to a chair that she eased Randi into before kneeling at her feet.  “I’m not going to die on you, Randi.  Not again.  I made you a promise, and I always keep my promises.  You know that.  You’re stuck with me... forever.”

Gwen leaned into the stroking touch that caressed her face.  “And you with me,” Randi answered.  “I love you, Little One.”

“I love you, too,” Gwen answered, rising to her feet and lightly kissing Randi before moving back to the kitchen.  Randi sat admiring the smooth walk and rolling hips.  She had the good grace to the blush when Gwen turned around, smirking.  “If you’re done staring at my behind, you can come help me finish dinner.”

A rakish grin appeared.  “If we wait for that, we’re gonna starve to death.  ‘Cause I don’t see that happening for a very, very long time.”  The she laughed aloud at the flush of red that suffused Gwen’s face.  “C’mon.  I’m hungry.”  And hand in hand they walked into the kitchen.

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

The chirping and calls of early morning birds was all Randi heard when she opened her eyes to the gray of the pre-morning dawn.  She smiled, knowing that the rain wouldn’t prevent them from doing what she had planned.  This is gonna be so awesome!  I hope she likes this.  She had spent the two weeks of Gwen’s memory loss planning different new things for them to do together.  She wanted to introduce Gwen to some new experiences as well as revisit some old favorites.  Courting wasn’t nearly as easy as it looked.  She smiled again when the body in her arms squeezed and snuggled closer with a sigh before resuming the deep, regular breathing of sleep.  Randi gingerly stretched, trying to decide if she really wanted to climb out of her warm nest and go for a run.  She shook her head and closed her eyes.  The hell with it, she thought.  I like where I am just fine.

It was the gentle touch on her face that woke Randi the second time though the sun in her eyes wasn’t very conducive to sleep either.  She kept her eyes closed, enjoying the soft contact until the fingers traced her lips.  She sighed and kissed them, then bodily pulled Gwen up to meet her lips.  The kiss was warm and sensual, and her hands of their own accord ran up and down the smooth skin of the strong back.  Thank God for T-shirts.  She noticed Gwen’s hands wrapped in her hair and smiled as she drew back slightly.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Love.”  Gwen returned to the lips beneath her for another sampling.  “I like waking up this way.”

“Um hmm.  Me too.  But we....”  A pounding on the door cut her off.  “Let me up.  It’s probably Reed and Tiny.  Tommy and Ella should be here soon too.”

Gwen’s eyes got big when she looked at the clock.  “Oh man... we really overslept.”

“Yep, so come on.”  Another loud knock.  “Go get your shower.  I’ll let them in.”

“They must have overslept, Tiny.  Give it a rest.  We can always wait in the shuttle.”

“I know, but considering how trouble follows these two....”  He broke off when the door opened, then whirled to face Reed as she yelped and turned away.  Randi moved toward her but stopped when she held up a hand.

“Stay there, please,” the seer instructed her friend.  Reed took a deep breath, relaxing into Tiny’s arms but still not looking directly at Randi.  “You two are back together again.  She remembers.”

“Yes, she does, but what does that....”  Realization dawned on her and Tiny at the same time.  “Oh God, Reed!  I am so sorry.  I completely forgot about the aura thing in my excitement.  She just recovered it yesterday afternoon, and....”  She would have babbled on further had not the other woman put out a hand to stop her.

“Randi, it’s okay.  It’s wonderful that she remembers.  Here,” pressing a package into her hands.  “We’re gonna go wait in the shuttle.  I should have time to get a temporary shield in place... long enough to get us to the capital.”  She and Tiny turned and walked away.

“Okay, Reed.  We’ll be there in a bit.  I’m sorry.”  Reed waved her acknowledgment but didn’t turn around again.  Randi returned to the bedroom and laid the package on the bed before knocking on the bathroom door.  “Gwen, you need to wear what’s on the bed, okay?”  Randi waited for verbal confirmation that Gwen had heard her before she went out to start the coffee.  She’d just gotten it on when Tommy and Ella knocked at the door.  Twin sets of eyebrows rose when they noticed her state of undress.

“You’re going to the capital city in your pajamas?  Kinda informal, don’t you think?”

“Smart ass!” smacking the back of his head.  “We overslept.  Tiny and Reed are here, but they are waiting in the shuttle.”  She would have said more, but Gwen poked her head out the bedroom door at that moment.

“I’m done, Stud, if you want to get in.” A beat.  “Oh - morning, guys!”

Randi couldn’t help the smile, and she headed toward the bedroom.  “Coffee should be about ready if you want a cup, and you know you’re welcome to wait here.  We won’t be long.”  She disappeared inside the doorway.

Gwen looked at the suit for a long time and had just pulled it on and zipped it up when Randi stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.  She didn’t even look at Gwen but disappeared into her closet, re-emerging a few minutes later dressed in an identical outfit to the bard’s own.  “Um, Randi?  What are we doing exactly? I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you wear something like this before, but you’re obviously quite comfortable in it.”

Randi came and stood in front of her, giving her a good once-over before resting her hand’s lightly on Gwen’s hips.  The suit was borrowed from Reed who was closer to Gwen’s size than Randi was.  She smiled and pulled them together, meeting Gwen’s lips in a long tender exploration before releasing her and stepping back.  “We’re going skydiving.”

In answer, the green eyes went big and round.


Chapter XVI

“Breathe, Love,” waiting for Gwen to blink and look at her.  Randi smiled.  “You okay?”

“Skydiving?”

“Um hmm.”

Gwen was silent for a bit, processing.  “Okay, I’m up for trying that, I guess.  Is it fun?”

“It’s incredible.  I promise you’ll love it.”

For her answer, Gwen merely took the big hand in her own and led them out into the living room.  Tommy was still waiting for them.  Ella had taken coffee out to Reed and Tiny.  He took one look at the two of them and grinned from ear to ear.  Then he reached for the duffle Randi carried.  She frowned.  “You’ve got better things to be holding in your arms, I’m thinking.  And I am so glad.” 

Randi took advantage of her now empty arms to wrap them around her lover.  “Me, too.”

“Waitaminute... wait just a damn minute.  You’re telling me the two of you are going to intentionally jump out of a perfectly good shuttle?”

“Yes.”

“Because it’s fun.”

“Yes.”

“You’re nuts.”

“I’ve been called worse, Tommy.”  The trio was almost to the shuttle pad.  “Look, T.  It’s something I did throughout my military career.  It’s a rush I want to share with Gwen.”

“I can think of far better and more interesting ways to get that rush that don’t require falling into the air at fifteen thousand feet,” he muttered, then watched the color rise in the two faces in front of him.  He cleared his throat.  “Ahem.  Sorry.  C’mon, let’s get going.”

A mischievous twinkle entered the bard’s eyes.  “As good as sex, hmm?”

“Well no,” Randi answered with her own twinkle.  “But it makes for a nice feeling anyway.”  They stayed away from the cockpit, trying to give Reed as much space as they could manage in the confined area.  Tiny came out to them when they were airborne with all the straps and harnesses they would need for the jump.

“How’s Reed?” Randi questioned as she began to don the various bits of equipment.

“Better,” he answered tersely.  “She’s got the temp shields in place, and we’ll work on getting a more permanent one once we land.”  He looked Randi squarely in the eye.  “You could have given us a bit of warning, ya know.”

“I’m sorry, Tiny.  You’re right.  I just honestly didn’t think about it.  Gwen didn’t recover her memories until yesterday afternoon, and, well... everything else went to the wayside after that.  I was just so happy that I forgot about how our bond affects Reed.  Especially since it wasn’t a problem last week.” 

His gaze softened at her words, and he realized that her last visit with his partner had been fresh in her mind if not the reason for her lack of reaction to the two of them.  “We both plan to apologize more fully to Reed once she’s able to barrier against us.  We figured she’d need some space until then.”  Gwen had come up alongside Randi during her speech and wanted Tiny to know she felt they were both accountable for forgetting.  He smiled when he realized the truth they spoke, and he handed the bard her gear.

“Let’s get ya’ll suited up and strapped together.  We’ll be over the jump point in about twenty minutes.”  He backed up when Randi reached forward to help Gwen with her apparatus.  He saw Tommy and Ella watching the proceedings in fascination.  Tiny lifted the chute and helped Randi into it, allowing her to adjust the fit for her comfort.  She was strapped and locked in moments, then he watched in bemusement when Gwen slipped in front of her and began to check the lock mechanisms.  Randi just smiled at her bard indulgently.

“You know what you’re doing there, Little One?”

“I’m keeping you safe,” came the serious answer.  “Let me.”

Randi reached out and covered the small hands working the buckles on her chest.  “I love you.”  She moved the hands to a different spot.  “Here... this one first.”  It didn’t take long until Gwen was satisfied that the harness was secure, and Randi turned Gwen away from her, then pulled her back to her chest.  “Now,” motioning Tiny over to them, “We’re gonna be strapped together.”  He handed over the last of the equipment and stepped back.

They stood together quietly, enjoying the closeness while Randi fastened them together at both shoulders and hips.  When the locks were fasten and secured, Randi handed around the electronic deployment mechanism.  Two clicks and it was locked on Gwen’s chest waiting for the moment it would be activated.  The Sabre patted the ripcord, making sure their backup was ready, just in case the EDM did not work.  She had checked their equipment twice, but it never hurt to be sure.  They donned their helmets and proceeded to duck walk to the door.  Tiny slid it opened, then helped ease them into a sitting position at the edge.  Gwen was pretty much sitting in Randi’s lap, clutching at the long legs stretched out on either side of her.  Tiny looked to Randi who gave him a thumbs up, and he responded with a nod.  Knowing he would signal them when it was time, Randi turned her attention to Gwen.

“You okay?”  She spoke quietly into the helmet’s mic.

“Ummm hmmm,” was the drawn out answer.  “Just a little nervous, I guess.”  She took a firm grasp on the shoulder straps.

Large hands found their way between them, and Randi tenderly rubbed the knots out of Gwen’s back.  “We don’t have to do this, Gwen.”

The blonde head turned as much as it could with her shoulders strapped.  “No, I want to do this.  I just....”

“Okay.  I just wanted to be sure.”

At that moment, Tiny got the word from Reed that it was time.  He tapped Randi’s shoulder, giving her the thumbs up, and she nodded and responded in kind.  “We’re at fifteen thousand feet, Randi.  We’ll meet you two on the ground.”

“Here we go, Love.  We’re just gonna fall out, okay?”

“A-a-all right.”  But by the time she’d finished, Randi had rolled them out the shuttle door, and they were free falling toward the planet.  Two seconds of stark terror before the adrenaline kicked in and then she had to cheer.  “Whoo hoo!!”  Randi’s response was a soundless chuckle Gwen could feel at her back.  The feeling of freedom, of absolute awe pervaded Gwen’s psyche, and she felt herself wishing for the moment to last forever.  Then she felt the chute open and found herself pulled upward in a rush of motion.  As they floated planetward, Gwen felt a peace invade her soul, and she began to mentally order her thoughts and feelings, experiencing the first stirring of story composition she’d had in eighteen months.  “Oh God,” she whispered, shaken to the core.

“You all right?”  Randi’s words filtered through her hearing and into her consciousness. Randi couldn’t wrap her arms around Gwen and endeavored to send comfort through the sound of her voice.

The warmth that enveloped her made Gwen gasp again, and she couldn’t have stopped the tears of she’d tried.  But they were happy tears, and she welcomed the release they brought.  She smiled even though she knew Randi couldn’t see it.  “I’m wonderful.  Thanks for asking.”

Randi felt the warmth returned and smiled.  “Good.  We’ll be down in about three minutes.”

“We could stay here forever.  This is incredible.  Being with you is awesome.”

The remainder of their decent was smooth, and Gwen watched in fascination as the stately old buildings of the capital slowly swept into view.  The ground began to come up to meet them faster, and she could clearly see the grassy plain that was their target.  She felt Randi’s legs hit the earth a second before her own did, and they ran a few steps together before stopping.  She stood still, only her knees shaking while Randi separated them and dropped the chute pack.  Without warning she turned and launched herself at the Marine who caught her on instinct and fell backwards onto the ground.  Randi felt Gwen tighten her arms convulsively and responded with a fierce grip of her own.  The hug lasted a couple minutes and when Gwen pulled back slightly, Randi gave her a crooked grin.  Gwen didn’t say a word but leaned down and captured the full lips beneath her.  Randi just closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm tingling Gwen’s touch ignited all along her length.

“I love you,” Gwen whispered, pulling away after a long moment.  “Thank you for sharing that with me.  That was incredible.”

Randi looked back at her with a satisfied smile.  “I’m glad you think so.  And if this is gonna be the kind of reception I get after every jump, we may have to make this a regular event.”

“All right, you two!”  Tommy’s hail startled them.  “Get a room, will ya?”  His good-natured teasing made them both blush.  Gwen slid smoothly to her feet and extended a hand down to Randi.

Her voice dropped to a level she knew only Randi would hear.  “We do this on a regular basis, and the reception will be hot enough to land us both in jail.”  She felt blue eyes burn into her as she made her way to the transport.  Randi swallowed hard before turning to the orderly and giving him a few terse instructions about her equipment.  Then she moved to the waiting vehicle.  Tiny prudently kept his eyes forward when Randi slid inside.  Tommy took one look at her face and shut the darkened window between the front and rear of the transport.  Then he nodded to Tiny, and they started moving away from the field.

Gwen could feel the energy radiating from the dark form beside her and chanced a look in Randi’s direction.  Randi’s nostrils flared from time to time, and she was clenching and unclenching her hands.  The brunette felt the blonde’s regard and turned her head to catch the green eyes.  Gwen drew in a breath sharply at the passion darkened eyes that met her own.  Without thinking, she reached up a hand to stroke the scarred skin.  Randi captured the hand and pulled Gwen into her lap.  “Do you know what you do to me with mere words, Gwen?  With your touch?  With your taste and scent?”  Her low voice growled.  “Can you control the fire you’re starting?”

“I don’t want to control it, Love.  I want to immerse myself in it.”

The growl this time vibrated between them.  Randi captured the soft lips with an intensity that surprised them both.  Gwen wound her fingers tightly into the dark locks, anchoring herself as sensation cascaded through her body at the possessive touch.  Randi leaned over, pushing Gwen onto the seat until she was completely reclined.  Randi pulled her lips away but still loomed over Gwen.

“You, my bard, are a vile, evil woman.”  The fire in the blue eyes banked as she took in the look of pure unadulterated love shining back at her from the green orbs beneath her.  “And I love you so much.”  This kiss was gentle and reverent and as intoxicating for Gwen as the first.  Their breathing was heavy, and their hearts beat in rapid tandem when Randi pulled away again.  Gwen combed her fingers through the dark hair - one hand coming to rest at the base of Randi’s skull, and the other continuing around to tenderly caress the still healing scar.  Randi closed her eyes at the soft touch.

“I love you too, Randi... so much that it hurts to breathe sometimes.”  She pulled Randi back down to her, but before their lips could meet yet again the transport pulled to a stop.  Both men got out without a backward look.  Randi dropped her head to Gwen’s soft chest.

“We have got to work on their timing,” Randi muttered though she was secretly thankful for the reprieve. She’d made a promise she intended to keep, but looking at the kiss swollen lips and passion darkened eyes of the bard, she could feel her resolve flying out the window.  “C’mon,” sitting up and running a hand through her mussed hair.  “Let’s get changed and we’ll go meet your folks.”

They stepped out under the portico, thankful for the shade it provided.  The hotel was the same one they had stayed at only weeks before, and Gwen shivered in reaction.  “I can’t do this,” came the whispered words.  “Not now that I remember.”

Fire and passion melted to tenderness and concern, and Randi gently cupped Gwen’s face in her strong hands.  “All right.  Let me go....” stopping when small hands clenched her jumpsuit in a tight grip.  “Okay, Love.  I’m right here, and I won’t leave you.  Let me call Tiny.  We’ll go over to the cottage.”  The blonde head nodded her agreement, and Randi pulled them over to lean against the transport.  Gwen cuddled in her arms, happy to be in her one safe port.  It took less than two minutes before the large Sabre had their bags in his arms walking out to the transport with a chagrined Tommy in tow.

“I’m sorry, Gwen.  We’ve had a suite here for as long as I can remember, and I just didn’t think when I made the reservation.”

“It’s all right, T.  You shouldn’t have to change your lives for me.  Thank you for understanding why I can’t do this right now.”  He engulfed her in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you for forgiving me.  You’ll get over this, and we’ll be right here with you.”

She brushed her lips along his smooth cheek and pulled back.  “We’ll meet you at the medifac in about an hour.”

“That’s good,” Tiny answered.  “Reed will have some shields in place by then.  We have a couple of appointments with the docs and then we’ll join you.”

Tommy and Gwen nodded simultaneously, and he moved back toward the building.  “I’ll go get Ella, and we’ll head on over.  I’m looking forward to this.”

“We all are.”  Randi, who had stood silently by, now spoke.  She took Gwen’s hand.  “C’mon, Love.  Later, T.”

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

“Waitaminute, Tommy.”  Geoff pulled himself into a more upright position, wincing at the pain the movement caused to shoot through his lower back and legs.  A good sign, the doctors told him.  Comforting, perhaps, but that didn’t make the hurt any less.  “Randi took Gwen up in a shuttle and they jumped out of it??  Tommy, Gwen is afraid of heights.”

“Well, I don’t know, Geoff.  She seemed to have enjoyed it well enough,” thinking of how he’d found them tangled together on the ground.  “Why don’t you ask her when they get here?”

“Oh, I will,” he vowed, and the conversation moved on to other things.

“Where is Randall?  I was hoping you’d bring him.”  Jill and Ella were out in the tiny garden.

“My folks took him for the weekend.  I figured the party tomorrow might be a little much for him.  He doesn’t know most of the people involved, and it’s more for the adults anyway.  Besides, Mama claims they don’t get to see enough of him.  She was glad to get the chance to spoil him a little, I think.”  Ella looked at the beauty surrounding them.  “It is so very peaceful here.”

“Yes, it is, and I will be so very glad to leave it behind.”

“How’s he doing?”

Jill smiled.  “Much better than the doctors ever hoped for.  He’s got the right motivation, and this party will do wonders for him, I imagine.”

“And you too, yes?”

“Yeah, me too.  He’s going to be pleasantly surprised.  I know I was when people started letting me know they were coming.”

“Good, I’m glad we were able to put this together then.  I’m looking forward to it.”

Jill knew by the glow on Gwen’s face that something fundamental had changed again.  She walked right into her mother’s arms and gave her a big hug. 

“I remember, Mama.  I remember everything.”

“Oh, Baby Girl!  That is so wonderful.  I can’t tell you how happy I am for you.  This means the wedding is set then?”

“Oh, yes.  Most definitely.  She is in fact, courting me.”  Jill did a double take at Gwen’s words. 

“You’re kidding.”

“No ma’am.  She actually asked for permission to court me for a while.  Mama, she looked at me with those big blue eyes, and I couldn’t tell her no.  She went out last night after the storm and found me some honeysuckle. You know I adore the smell.”  Jill nodded.  “She brought it in to scent the bedroom for me just because I like it.”

Heated voices from Geoff and Randi broke into their conversation right then and waylaid any more questions or comments that Jill could make.  Gwen, catching the gist of the argument, walked over to put a stop to it.  “That’s enough, Daddy.”

Surprise was enough to quiet him as his daughter had rarely spoken to him in that manner.  “But Gwen....”

“I said that’s enough.  Randi didn’t know about my fear of heights.  I never told her much about it.  And when she invited me.... Daddy, I knew I’d be safe.  Not once has she ever not taken care of me.  And I’m so glad I went.  God, it is such an incredible feeling - the rush, the freedom and the awe.  It’s... breathtaking.  So don’t blame her, Daddy,” taking the larger hand in her own and smiling when the arm continued to wrap around her middle.  “This was my choice and my decision.”

The weapons smith looked at the glow on his daughter’s face and at the link he could clearly see reformed between them.  “You’re right, Gwen.  I apologize, Randi.”

“It’s all right, Daddy.”  She stepped closer and gave him a hug and kiss.  “You were just being the daddy.”

“Yep, that does tend to happen occasionally.  I’ll work on that,” said with a grin.

“Don’t.  I like you just the way you are.”

“Thanks for caring about her, Geoff.”

“She’s my daughter; it’s my job.  And even when I give her to your keeping, Randi, she will still always be my daughter.”

“And I think we’re all pretty grateful for that fact.”  He looked at her, stunned at such an admission.  “C’mon,” ignoring the expression, “let’s get you out into the sunshine for a while.”

The afternoon was well spent.  The friends enjoyed their time together going to one of the many museums while Geoff was in his afternoon therapy.  The doctor had given Reed’s eyes a clean bill of health, and the group was in a celebratory mood.

Final plans for the morrow were gone over and adjusted.  Jill had been quick to realize that her small rented cottage with its tiny yard would never accommodate the number of people who were coming.  “The park will be perfect,” Tiny said.  The others agreed.  It was going to be a good day.

Saturday morning came earlier than Gwen was prepared for.  They’d had a late night and a little too much to drink, and she winced at the pounding headache and cottonmouth she woke up to.

“Ugh!” she moaned, then winced again in reaction.  “Ow!”  And she slowly lifted a hand to her face.  Then stiffened in reaction when the surface under her cheek began to shake with laughter.  “Please don’t move.  I’m close enough to being sick without any help here.”  Her voice was a mere whisper, but it got the results she needed. 

“Here,” came the equally quiet voice from above her.  “Ease up and drink this.”

Gwen grimaced and did as she was told, swallowing the mixture down with a shudder.  She handed the empty container back to Randi and gently placed her head back on the warrior’s shoulder.  The light stroking on her back coaxed her into a doze, and the two lay that way for some time before Gwen stirred herself again.  Finally she lifted a hand and tenderly ran her fingertips over the soft face.  When they crossed her lips, Randi brushed a gentle kiss across them and murmured, “Morning, Love.”

“Good morning, Beautiful.”

Another soundless chuckle.  “You must feel better.”

“I feel wonderful, thank you.  And thank you for that awful mixture.  My head has stopped pounding as well.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

“Well, not as much as being here in your arms, but it did enough.”  She felt the blush crawl up the warm skin she was laying on.  She decided to bring things down a notch.  “However, now I have this desperate desire to brush my teeth and take a shower.”  Randi laughed without a sound again.  Gwen rose up and peered at her.  “Wanna join me?”

Randi had them out of bed and on their feet before Gwen was through with her invitation.  “Well,” indicating the bathroom, “what are we waiting for?”

Okay, so maybe I kicked things up a notch instead and smirked as she sauntered into the bathroom, feeling those intense blue eyes focused on her every movement.  “Coming, Stud?”

“God, I hope so,” was her muttered answer as she followed Gwen and shut the door behind them with a firm click.

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

The medifac was quiet when Gwen and Randi entered.  Geoff was very glad to see them.

“Hi, girls.”

“Hi, dad,” they answered in tandem.

“Listen, I have a favor to ask.”  He was looking at Randi, and she nodded for him to continue.  “Jill just called and said the transport is giving her some sort of problem.  Could you...?”

She gave the request some serious thought.  “I’ll tell ya what,“ she responded finally.  “You let me take you and Gwen over to the park and then I’ll go get Jill.  We can pick up some supplies and have us a nice little cookout.”

Geoff shrank back at the thought of meeting people, then scoffed at himself.  You presume you’d even be a note of interest, old man.  God, what an ego.  He smiled, and the two women wondered where his thoughts had taken him.  He nodded.  “All right.   Let me call in an intern to help me get ready.”

Warrior and bard left and went to wait in the sunroom.  “This is gonna be so awesome.”

It hadn’t taken long really for him to get dressed though to him it seemed like forever.  He somewhat resented the fact that he needed help, but his logical mind accepted that truth and he allowed the young man to help him without much fuss.  His eyes closed instinctively against the bright sunshine, and it took a long minute before he opened them again. Then he was settled into the transport, and they headed to the park.  His eyes were closed when the vehicle halted, and he left them that way.  He was surprised at how drained he felt just trying to get into the transport.  It didn’t take long to lose the stamina, especially with the treatments he’d been going through.  He sighed, a bit upset that he could doze so easily and seemed to need it so badly.  He felt the depression creeping up on him again.  Then Gwen was gently shaking him and he lifted heavy lids.

“Sorry, Little Girl.  I may need to nap awhile while Randi goes to get your mother.”

“That’s okay, Daddy.  I know this has got to be terribly hard for you.  You do what you need to, but first,” looking back at Tiny who had come up behind them, “we need to get you out of there.”

The hover chair sat conveniently at the door of the vehicle.  It was simply a matter of reaching in and lifting Geoff out.  Tiny stepped around Randi and came into Geoff’s line of sight.  “C’mon, Geoff,” Tiny said softly.  “Let me help.”

“Tiny?  What are you doing here?”

The Sabre didn’t answer but gently cradled Geoff as he lifted him from the vehicle.  Then he set him into the hover chair and stepped back a pace.  Randi straightened his legs, and Gwen adjusted the built-in pillow.  Then they moved so he could guide the chair to the shade.  And they waited.  It took him all of two seconds to see that one, they were not walking with him; and two, the park seemed to be inordinately crowded.  It took another five full seconds before the reality of the scene entered his conscious thought, and he realized the truth of this outing.  He turned to look at Gwen who simply pointed toward the figure that was rapidly approaching.

“You did this?”  He pinned his wife with a stare, motioning to the hundred plus people waiting for him.  She was quick to note the tears in his eyes, and she knelt by his side.      

“No, Love.  They and they and they,” pointing to Randi and Gwen, Tommy and Ella, and Reed and Tiny in turn, “did this.  All I did was give them a list of people.  They did the rest.”

“It was Ella’s idea.  We probably would have gotten more folks here if we’d had more than two days to plan.”

He swiveled his head in Gwen’s direction at her words.  “Waitaminute.  You’re telling me this many folks dropped everything and came on two days’ notice?”

“Yep.”  This from Randi.

“Well I’ll be damned.”  A solitary tear rolled down his face before he brusquely wiped it away.  “C’mon,” he finally said briskly, “let’s find us some shade and get the party started.”  The small group smiled.  It was going to be a good day.  A cheer rose from the large gathering as Geoff approached, and things settled into a comfortable rhythm.

It was early afternoon, and the party had been going strong for several hours.  Randi was bothered by a burning sensation in her scar that she couldn’t seem to shake.  She and Gwen were separated momentarily as Gwen was talking to some of their Midas friends.  Randi came up behind her.  Gwen excused herself immediately and turned to her, sensing her distress.  The twitching in her jaw made Gwen wince in sympathy, and she raised a hand to stroke it.  Strange, it feels almost cold to the touch.  “Love?”  Randi placed her hand on top of Gwen’s, and held the soothing contact in place.  “It’s really bothering you, huh?”  The dark head nodded once, but Gwen could easily read the pain shining in those blue eyes.  “Would one of the medifac doctors be able to give you something for it?  I know there were a couple grumbling about being stuck on duty instead of being here today.”

“I’d thought about going.  The two I talked to said there is a cream I can put on it that might help.”

“You want me to go with you?”

“No, Little One.  You’re a hostess.  It won’t take me but about ten minutes total.  If I walk, I can cut through instead of going around like we had to with your dad.  I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Yep and then you can rest a little til it works.”

Randi leaned down and brushed her lips lightly.  “I love you.”

Gwen smiled.  “I love you too so hurry back to me.”

“Yes ma’am.”  And received a smack on the butt as she turned and walked away.  “Heh.”

That was the last clear thought Randi remembered until she woke in Gwen’s arms nearly an hour later. 


Chapter XVII

Jerry scrubbed at his eyes and looked at the clock.  It was mid-Saturday afternoon.  His new second was working out better than expected, and his return from the field yesterday provided the Commandant with the excuse to work.  Not that he intended to completely miss Geoff’s party.  He would never dishonor his comrade so.  But he found it hard to be in the man’s presence any more.  The guilt and shame he felt over recent events had left him feeling old and disillusioned.  Only twice since the incident had he visited.  He would go today.  HYe would just be late and leave as early as possible.

“That’s everything, sir.”

“Very well, Russ.  Let’s call it a day.”  The younger man smiled and bounded back to the outer office.  Jerry smiled sadly, remembering a time when he had been as enthusiastic about the Sabres and his life.  Now....

“Do you need a lift, sir?”

“No Russ, thanks.  We’re getting together at the park.  It’s not far, and the walk will be good for me.”

The commander looked seriously at his superior.  “Well, be careful.  You have to move through some territory, and remember what I told you earlier.  Things are unsettled there.”  A beat.  “I wish you’d let me take you.”

Now Jerry chuckled.  “You worry like an old woman, Russ.  I’ll be fine.  I’m still a Sabre, you know, despite the gray and the stars.”

“As you say, sir,” was the grave response.  “I’ll see you on Monday.”  He closed the door quietly behind him.

The general was glad he’d chosen to wear civilian clothing and didn’t have to change.  Locking the door, he stepped into the outdoors and stood soaking in the sunshine for a moment.  Then he turned his steps to the nearby park.  He understood what Russ had been telling him as he began to pass through what was clearly marked to his trained eyes as gang territory.  How did this happen?  When did they get so close?  And then he didn’t have time to worry about it as he found himself pinned to the nearest polymer wall with a twelve-inch blade through his middle.

Wha... This isn’t supposed to happen.  I’m not supposed to die this way.  Because even his fuzzy mind recognized the fact that he was going to die.  He closed his eyes trying to center himself, then reopened them and tried to focus.  There was nothing but a black-clad form in front of him, and blearily he realized this was his attacker.  And then the figure spoke in a whisper, and he shuddered at the sound.  “You owe me, Jerry, and the time has come for you to pay up.”  He saw the light reflected off his own blade just before it cut off his head in one fell swoop.  Then the assassin picked up the decapitated head and with a single thrust pushed the sword through his forehead and into the wall.  “The scavengers can have what’s left now.”  It took a moment to strip off the outfit that covered the attacker from head to toe and another to dump it into the nearest incinerator.   The entire incident had taken less than two minutes.

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

“The pity of this is,” Ares spoke to the scrying bowl, “you’ll never remember any of it, Randi.  A shame too because that has to be some of your finest work.”  He laughed, and the chilling sound echoed throughout the halls.  “Very soon, my dear.  Very, very soon.”

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

Randi opened confused blue eyes, disoriented with her surroundings.  What the hell?  She looked up into worried green eyes that peered down at her with hawk-like intensity.

“Are you all right?”

She tried to sit up, realizing she was lying cradled in Gwen’s lap, but she found herself held firmly in place by the gentlest touch.  “What happened?”

“The cream the doctor gave you apparently had some sort of narcotic in it that knocked you out like a light.”  A dark brow rose, and Gwen rushed to explain.  “Do you remember leaving here to walk over to the medifac?”

“Yeeessss,” came the drawled answer.  Her brow furrowed.  “It’s the last thing I remember clearly before waking up.”

Gwen took a deep breath.  The whole tale was just... bizarre.  “When you got there, the doctor got you some of this cream,” holding up a tiny jar.  “Apparently you put it on, and shortly thereafter it knocked you out.  We were just lucky you had gotten back here when it happened.”  Gwen didn’t tell her about how she’d stumbled into the park and collapsed.  She’d had been frightened out of a year of her life when that had happened.  The doctors that were already there called the attending physician.  It was an unusual reaction but not unheard of.  She suggested they settle Randi somewhere until the sleep wore off.  Still shaking, Gwen directed them to a large shade tree.  She sat leaning against it and directed them to put the Sabre across her lap.  And she spent the next hour stroking the dark hair, trying to calm her racing heart.

“I guess so.”  Randi sat up slowly.  “At least my face doesn’t hurt any more.”

“How do you feel otherwise?”

Randi scrubbed a hand over her face.  “Not bad.  A little tired.”

“C’mon, Stud.  Let’s get you something to eat.  That might help.”

The sun was setting when folks started leaving.  Geoff was exhausted, but happy and refreshed at the same time.  When only the eight of them were left, he turned to Ella and extended his hands.  She took them in her own with a questioning look.  “Thank you, my dear.  I can’t tell you what this day has meant to me.”

She squeezed his hands lightly and smiled at him.  “It was our pleasure, Geoff.  I hope it helps.”

“More than you know, young lady.  Much more than you know.”

Randi and Gwen were curled up together much later that night.  Gwen was tenderly touching the scar that ran down Randi’s jaw line.  She looked and sat up frowning as something occurred to her.

“Gwen?”

“Randi, how does your face feel?  Any residual pain?”

“No, it’s fine.  Why?”  She leaned up on her elbows.  “Love?”

“I don’t know, Randi.  Something’s not right here.”  She paused, gazing unseeingly out the window while she formulated her thoughts.  Randi waited patiently, giving Gwen time to organize her ideas.  When Gwen’s gaze returned to her, the green eyes were dark with worry.  “I didn’t realize it at the time, but today when it was bothering you, it was fiery red.  It didn’t dawn on me then I guess because I rarely see it at all anymore.  I was focused on the pain you were in rather than its cause.”

Now it was Randi’s turn to frown.  “How does it look now?”

Gwen took her face in her hands and gently tilted Randi’s head.  “Almost normal.”  She probed lightly.  “And the temperature is almost normal as well.  It was cold earlier.  Maybe we should go talk to the doctor tomorrow before we leave.”

“I’d rather not.  I have the cream if I need it.  And we already know there is nothing they can do for my face.  Otherwise it would already have been done.”

Gwen looked at Randi for a long, hard minute.  “All right,” she finally agreed, pushing Randi back and resuming her place on the broad shoulder.  “But if it happens again we go together to have it seen about, okay?”

Randi’s answer was initially silent, wrapping Gwen in a fierce hug.  “I love you,” she finally whispered. “Thank you for caring.”

“It is my joy and my privilege to do so.  And we’re still gonna go to the doctor together if it happens again.”  Randi chuckled silently at Gwen’s persistence.

“Yes, mom.”

”Grr,” Gwen growled, eyes darkening again.  “Not even close,” she muttered.  Then left Randi with neither chance nor breath to reply.  “Do you know how hard it is...?” she said on an uneven breath as she pulled back from the kiss.  Randi stroked the smooth cheek as she concentrated on calming her own racing heartbeat.

“We don’t have to wait.  I just thought....”

“Oh no, Stud.  I intend to enjoy every moment of this courtship.  We’ve got time.  I just love you so much it’s hard sometimes.”

“It’ll be worth the wait, Little One.  I promise.  I love you.”

“It most certainly will,” thinking ahead to her own tentative Blessing Day plans.  Hoping she could survive another two months.  “I love you, too.”  Blue eyes widened at the sultry tone and darkened eyes, but Gwen merely replaced her head on Randi shoulder and began her tracing.  “Happy dreams, Randi.”

“You are those dreams, Love.”  Gwen felt the bubble of joy well up until she felt like she would burst.  Her only response though, was a fierce hug.  Randi’s words had robbed her of speech.  She kissed the soft skin under her lips and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Sunday morning found them at the medifac waiting for Geoff to awaken.  The previous day’s activities had exhausted him, and the staff was glad to see him sleeping peacefully without pain for the first time in the weeks he’d been with them.  Jill met Gwen and Randi in the sunroom with coffee.  The three had hardly sat down to chat when Dr. Litzer poked his head into the room.  The women welcomed him, and they made small talk for several minutes before an orderly came to let them know Geoff was awake and ready for visitors.  They stood as one and moved toward the door.  Before she’d taken two steps however, Gwen felt the doctor place a restraining hand on her arm. 

“Gwen?  You got a minute?”

She looked at him, then turned her attention to Randi.  She waited patiently, knowing Gwen needed her support but understanding the medic wanted to speak privately to her lover.  Gwen found the strength and reassurance she was looking for, and she leaned forward to peck Randi on the lips.  “Go on.  I’ll be there in a minute.”  Randi held her gaze for another long moment, then nodded.  Without a word she turned and followed Jill down the short hall.

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

“I see you followed your heart, Gwen.  I’m very happy for you both.”

“Thank you, Doctor.  I did what you said.  I put myself in her place.  I would have done the same.”  She paused and looked down at her hands.  “It makes a difference, especially knowing... trying to understand how she’s had to live with that sort of burden for all of her adult life.”

The doctor smiled, remembering the difference Gwen had made for Randi through the years even before they had admitted their love for one another.  “Someday, Gwen.  Hopefully someday you will understand the difference you made for her.”  Dr. Litzer squeezed her hands and departed before Gwen could formulate any one of the questions floating around in her mind.  She shook her head, then moved down the hallway toward her father’s room.

“That is peculiar,” she heard Randi comment as she walked in the door.

“What is, Love?”  She wrapped her arms around Randi’s waist, putting the strong heartbeat under her ear.  She smiled when the muscular arms cocooned her gently.

“Jerry never showed up yesterday,” Randi answered.  “I spoke to him Friday, and he assured me that though he’d be late, he would be there.”  She looked at Jill and shrugged.

“Maybe he was just uncomfortable.  You know he’s only been here twice,” said Jill, turning her attention back to Geoff.

“I know.  But it’s....” Geoff started.

“Yeah,” Randi agree.  “It is.  Especially since he swore to me that he would be here.”  She turned to Geoff.  “You think maybe something came up?”

Geoff looked thoughtful.  “It’s possible.  I’m sure we’ll hear from him sometime later this week.  Meanwhile let’s get out and get a little fresh air and sunshine together before you leave.  Jill tells me it’s nice out right now.”  The three women looked at him in some surprise.  This was the first genuine enthusiasm they’d seen from him without someone encouraging him.  They smiled at him and each other and readied him for the trip outdoors.

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

The next week passed pleasantly for the couple.  Every morning, Gwen found a different flower on her desk.  They took long walks in the evening and talked about everything and nothing again.  She really did feel like she was being courted once more and she reveled in the knowledge.  She appreciated it immensely, knowing that Randi was making a concerted effort for her.  It was wonderful.

When Saturday came Randi said to Gwen, “Pack an overnight bag.  It’s time you learned about being a card carrying Amazon.”  Verdant eyes widened in delight, and Gwen scurried away to get packed.  They missed the frantic vid call from Geoff by a mere thirty minutes.

It was early when they started out, and it wasn’t even mid-morning when they stopped at a graceful old Victorian house.  Randi hadn’t even shut off the bike when the proprietress stepped out onto the porch and froze at the sight in front of her.  Then she clapped her hands and squealed, rushing down the steps and throwing her arms around Randi’s neck.

“Oh, Sweet Artemis!  It’s true!  You’re really alive again!”  She turned to Gwen.  “How wonderful to see you again, Child.  And so nice to see you so happy.  Such a difference from our first and last meeting.”

“Hello, Kate.  Allow me to introduce you to my fiancée, Gwen Goldman.  Gwen, this is Kate Thimble.  Kate is an Amazon staff maker.  She crafted yours.”

“Fiancée?”

“Amazon?  Staff maker?”

Both women spoke at once looking at each other, then turned to Randi simultaneously.  She smiled.  “Can we get a cup of tea?  We have some catching up to do.”

Kate jumped into motion then.  “Of course!  Where are my manners?  Archie’s gone to Mama’s.  Ya’ll come on in.”  She led the way into the house, ushering them into the quaint living room.  She proceeded through the hall to the kitchen.  Minutes later she started back out to the living room only to be stopped by the two bodies standing in the doorway.

“Thought we’d save you some work.  Besides, we always took tea here before.”

“I was hoping you would.  Have a seat.”

“Are you a card carrying Amazon, too?” Gwen asked Kate while the tea was steeping.  The other woman blinked dark eyes before turning to Randi.  Randi shook her head slightly, and Kate just smiled.

“I am indeed,” Kate answered.  “I was born and raised an Amazon and learned my crafting skills when I was still very young.  When Archie and I fell in love, I left the community to join him here, but I still participate in all the ceremonies and rituals.”

“She loves a good party,” to Gwen.  Then Randi turned to Kate.  “Aren’t you going?” 

“Yes, but I am only going for the celebration tomorrow.  I can’t compete anymore.  You know that.”

Randi looked back at Gwen who was listening to the conversation with absorbed interest.  “Kate was the longbow champion four years running til a broken hip threw her balance off.”  Her attention moved back to the Amazon.  “You should still go watch the contests.  They still rely on your support, you know.”

“I know.  It’s just so hard sometimes.”

“So what is a card carrying Amazon, anyway?”  Gwen’s question broke the pall of silence that had settled over the group.

“Hmm, well basically, it’s indicative of membership status in the Amazon nation.  I was born an Amazon and received mine after my ritual right of passage.  It is a sigil of adulthood.  Those not born to the Nation can earn it or have it bestowed for different reasons... valor, merit, achievement.  It depends.”

Green eyes focused on blue.  “You’ll share this with me one day?”

“Yes.”  That was all Randi said, but it was enough.  Gwen accepted that as her answer and moved on.

“I have to tell you,” she commented to Kate.  “I absolutely love the staff you made for me.  It’s an amazing piece of craftsmanship.”

“Well, Randi chose your symbols, Dear.  I just carved them out.”

“But you made that staff itself, right?  Because it is so well balanced.  I spar with Randi with it.”

Dark eyes swung to Randi’s face.  “Ya’ll spar?”  A nod.  “Can she hold her own?”  Another nod.  Gwen had become quite proficient, and Randi was proud of the hard work she’d done.  The added muscle she’d put on during her walkabout was only enhanced by their morning workouts.  “You should enter her in the competition.”

“Kate, if she wants to compete, I will.  But I’m not gonna force her into something she doesn’t want either.”

“Excuse me....” bitingly.  “Could the two of you not talk like I’m not sitting right here, please?  It’s rude.”  Two heads dropped with muttered apologies.  “Now. Would one of you like to clue me in?”

“This weekend the nearby tribe is having an athletic fair.  There are competitions in all sorts of events - running, archery, wrestling, gymnastics, marksmanship, swordplay and staff.  If you can hold your own against Randi, you should consider competing.”  Kate forestalled Gwen’s question by holding up a hand.  “You can compete as a guest of the Nation.  You’re a woman so you qualify.”  She paused.  “Just something to think about.”

“Well, she’ll have to think on the road.  We need to get moving.  We’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Maybe tonight.” 

Randi nodded, accepting the answer for the promise it was.  “Good.  Thanks for the tea.”

They arrived in the little town Gwen had stopped in her second night out of her walkabout in the early afternoon.  She sat stock-still on the bike, taking in the changes to the village.  The sporting events had already begun, drawing a huge crowd and producing a lot of noise.  Streamers flew from rooftops and light poles, and vendors lined the main street.  Randi got off the bike, removing her helmet and stowing it in.  She watched Gwen with twinkling eyes.  It wasn’t til she lifted Gwen’s helmet that the wide green eyes tracked to her own.  A brilliant smile lit Gwen’s features and Randi extended her hand.  “C’mon.  Let’s go play.”

Hand in hand they walked down the street, headed for what was today, the arena area.  It was a large field to one side of the town with tiered seating all around.  Many of the seats were filled with cheering, happy women. A number of things were going on at once, and the two walked around taking in bits of the different events.  They came to the area where the staff competition was going to be held and slowed.  Randi watched Gwen as she watched the contestants warming up.  Randi didn’t say a word, waiting for Gwen to turn and look at her.  She did finally, eyes shining.  “Can I really compete here?”  The dark head nodded once.  “Then I’d like to try.  I can do this; I was trained by the best.”  Randi grinned, feeling satisfaction in the bard’s self-confidence.  Then she led her over to the registration table and started the process of getting her listed as a competing guest.  “You’re not participating?” Gwen asked when her companion didn’t add her name to the roll.

“Um, no.”  Her voice dropped to a level where only Gwen could hear her.  “Given my occupation, it really isn’t fair to the other competitors.”

“You think you’re that good, huh?” asked with a twinkle shining out of very green eyes.

“No, Love,” complete with a cocky grin.  “I KNOW I am.”

“Hmph.  Well, I think I can take you.”  Gwen had to wonder where the words were coming from.  She knew good and well she couldn’t beat the warrior.  She’d never even come close in their sparring sessions when Randi went at close to full speed and strength against her.  She had improved a lot but still....  Still the truth was she wanted Randi to get involved and play and enjoy herself.

Twin brows rose into a dark hairline.  Her competitive nature was screaming to come out and play, and Randi was hard pressed to keep it under control.  “Excuse me?  Would you like to try?”  She smiled evilly, teasing.  “C’mon... right here... right now.  I’ll even give you the first shot.”

“Oh no,” came Gwen’s firm answer.  “You wanna play, you gotta pay.”  She pointed to the roster.  “You can earn the chance to kick my butt into the ground.”

Randi looked at Gwen for a long moment before she let her competitive spirit out to play.  She put her name on the list much to the surprise of the elder sitting there.  “One thing, Bard,” she said with a grin.  “You’d better be around for me to beat.”

“You keep dreaming, Stud.  I’ll be waiting for you.”

The preliminary heats were easy, and Gwen found she could more than hold her own.  For the most part, the other competitors were pleasant even though they found themselves losing to an outsider.  One or two were obnoxious until they found themselves looking into a pair of stormy blue eyes.  They were quick to mumble apologies and move on.  As the event progressed, the bouts became more serious.  The women had learned to admire Gwen’s skill and training and approached her with a bit more respect.  She was determined to meet Randi in a match now though, and was focused on winning.  Apparently Randi had the same idea because she approached each round with single-minded determination, eliminating each of her opponents with seemingly little effort.

It was in the semi-final round of their respective categories when things turned nasty.  Randi groaned mentally upon learning who her opponent was going to be.  It had just moved from harmless fun to personal vendetta.  Corky DeValle was the antithesis of what her name implied.  She wasn’t petite, personable or polite.  She was instead a hefty, obnoxious individual with a chip on her shoulder and an ego bigger than she was.  She snarled when she stepped into the arena, anxious to settle an old score.

Gwen’s bout was over, and she moved to Randi’s side.  Randi stiffened then relaxed, recognizing her lover’s soft touch at her back.  “You all right?” Gwen murmured.

“Yeah.  Just some old history here.  She has issues with me.”

Green eyes caught blue with intent.  “Then you’d better kick her ass.  Or I’ll give her issues.”

Randi couldn’t help the grin that blossomed on her face at the fierce defense.  She placed a finger on Gwen’s nose and tapped it twice.  “Oh you will, huh?”

“You bet your sweet bippy I will.”

“I love you.  Let me go take care of this, and then we can go have some fun.”

“I’ve been having fun.  Besides I still have to beat you.”

Randi laughed.  “Uh huh.”  She leaned down for a kiss, melting into Gwen’s arms and taking her time exploring.  Gwen’s eyes widened at the behavior, then closed as she reacted to the sensations the touch was causing in her body. 

The world faded away for a timeless moment until they separated.  They pulled back, gazing into one another’s eyes, and Gwen whispered, “Wow.”  She cleared her throat, trying to remove the husky note in her voice.  “Good luck.”

“I don’t need luck, Love.  I’ve got you.”  Green eyes widened at the casual declaration, and words deserted her.  So she watched in silence as Randi entered the ring.  Randi tensed again when she entered the arena.  Corky’s bone with her was old and well gnawed, and the woman actually growled at her. The Sabre smirked.  Some people just never learned.  She stood patiently, waiting for Corky to attack.  She did, and Randi easily deflected the strike.  This went on for several minutes with Randi remaining on the defensive and making no move to engage Corky in any real fight.

Smack went the staves together.  “Whassa matter, Valiant?” the larger woman taunted.  Smack... thwack.  “Don’t have what it takes anymore, huh??”  Smack.  Thwack... smack... crack.  “I knew you were nothing but a fraud.  You thought you were so hot coming in here and showing off.  Disrupting our traditions and way of life.”  The staves crossed, and Randi stood in place impassively holding the woman at bay.  Corky was getting frustrated and angry, and that made her more careless.  It also made very stupid things come out of her mouth.  “Ya know, Valiant... I like that little piece you got out there.  She’s cute.  I think once I wipe the floor with your ass, I’ll take her ba....”

Corky saw the change take place in the visage before her and began backing away instinctively.  Randi felt the scar begin to burn and let the rage flare. Now she went on the offensive, taking vicious swipes at the Amazon, and knocking her staff from her hands.  A crack to her ribs and a sweep of her feet, and Corky found herself flat on her back with a furious Marine kneeling on her chest.  Her airflow was cut off when Randi’s staff pinned her at the throat, and she looked up into the eyes of death itself.  “Now, you listen good, you piece of shit.  You even think about disrespecting her again, and there won’t even be a grease spot left of you.  I ever hear anything like that come out of your mouth again, and I will make you pray for death.  Do we have an understanding?”

By now Corky’s face was turning a conspicuous shade of blue, and she merely nodded, hoping for a respite.  At that same moment, Randi felt a gentle touch on her back and the rage abated.  Gwen had seen the change come over Randi and had struggled to get to her.  The officials wouldn’t let her in the ring until a winner was declared, but when she’d seen the woman’s face turning blue, she’d escaped their clutches and ventured in.  Corky lay on the mat, coughing a bit and rubbing her throat.  Randi stood without a backward glance and moved into Gwen’s arms.  “You all right, Love?”  Gwen gently combed her fingers through the dark locks.  She put a cool hand on the red scar almost unconsciously, smiling a little when Randi leaned into the touch.  They became lost in their own world, never even realizing when they were left alone in the ring.

“Yeah.  She just pushed the wrong buttons with me.  Old history... long story.”

“You’ll share this with me one day?”

“Yeah, one day, but not today.  Let me get some water.  I think our bout is next.”

Concerned green eyes looked up into still-darkened blue.  “No, it isn’t.  I’ve had enough.  I forfeit to you.”

“But you can’t do that!”

“Yes, I can.”

Profound hurt peeked out of very blue eyes.  “You afraid of me?”

“No, Love.  Never.  But I am afraid for you.  I won’t see you hurt yourself, and that could very easily happen right now.”  She moved her hand to cup a planed cheek.  “It is my privilege to take the best care of you I can.  So c’mon,” reaching out her other hand and clasping Randi’s firmly.  “Let’s go play.  There is shopping to do!”  A chagrined expression crossed Randi’s face.

“Hey!” a voice called out to them as they were leaving the ring.  “You can’t go yet.  We don’t have a winner.”

“We’re done here,” came Gwen’s firm answer.  “Find someone else who wants it.”  Hand in hand they walked out of the arena, leaving a bewildered crowd staring after them.

The remainder of the day they spent walking around, watching the different events and doing some shopping.  Several of the merchants were left with heads reeling by the time Gwen finished bargaining with them.  The fury had dissolved, and all Randi felt now was drained with a residual anger coursing through her veins if she let herself think about what had happened too very long.  So Randi concentrated on her lover’s joy.  She couldn’t help but smile at the happiness and contentment on Gwen’s face.  Except for Corky, it had been a nice day. 

The games wound down as dusk settled in to darkness, and the women drifted away back to their residences.  “Where’s everybody going?”  Gwen asked as they headed to the small bed and breakfast she had stayed at during her previous visit.  They entered; the proprietress greeted Randi like an old friend and nodded politely to Gwen. 

They took the stairs together and entered a small, comfortable room.  Gwen looked around approvingly.  Randi set down their backpacks and watched Gwen absorb the atmosphere.  She sat on the bed and pulled off her shoes, curling her toes into the carpet in relief.  Green eyes came back to hers, and she arched an eyebrow in question.

“What’s next?  I know something is coming; the atmosphere fairly tingles with expectation.”

“The party starts at moonrise.  So we have an hour or two to simply relax and rest.”  She lay back and groaned. “God, this feels good.”

Gwen came over and sat next to the prone body, riffling her fingers through the unruly dark hair.  “You okay, Stud?  I was a little worried about you.”

“I’m fine.  Better than fine actually, with you here.”  She pulled Gwen back into a reclining position, half sprawled on top of Randi’s body.  “You make my life worth living.”

Robbed of words, Gwen said nothing, but let the love shine out of her eyes as she leaned down and captured soft lips.  They lost themselves for a bit, touching and tasting.  Then Gwen pulled back slightly and breathed, “As you do mine.”  Then focused on the kissing again as strong hands came up to gently cradle her face.

“I love you, my bard.”

“I love you too, Warrior.  Always.”


Chapter XVIII

The necking session quickly turned into cuddling time, and both women, exhausted by the day’s activities, fell into a light doze.  The moon was just beginning to rise when Randi opened her eyes again.  Whoops... didn’t mean for that to happen.  But looking down at the relaxed, peaceful face on her chest, she didn’t begrudge a moment of the time they’d slept.  Gently she began to nudge Gwen toward wakefulness.  She combed long fingers through short blonde locks.  “C’mon, Love.”  Scratching her back.  “We need to get up and get ready for the party.”

“Don’t wanna,” came the mumbled answer.  “Wanna stay here with you.”

Randi’s chest moved with silent chuckles.  “How ‘bout we go out together?”

“Nope.  Wanna stay here and snuggle with you alone.  Don’t wanna share.”

Blue eyes looked down at the blonde head and closed eyes.  Obviously the day had upset her bard more than Gwen had let on.  “You’re serious.”

Green eyes opened and peered up at her.  “Yeah, I am.”

Randi thought solemnly about this for a moment.  “I’ll make a deal with you.  We go and share one dance, then we grab some food and come back up here and snuggle up together.  Sound like a plan?”

It occurred to Gwen then that Randi had mentioned dancing.  “This has something to do with that card carrying thing again, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, and the fact that I’d really like to dance with you again.”

Gwen considered all the angles, trying to find a downside to dancing with her partner even to Artemis under a full moon.  Especially with a promise of more snuggle time.  She couldn’t find one.  “All right,” she said rising slowly from the bed.  “A dance of thanks on the fall equinox, then some snuggling time.”  She looked down at the still reclining warrior.  “I’m gonna get cleaned up.  You wanna join me?”

Randi flushed to the roots of her dark head.  “Uh, no.  The last time we tried that, I almost broke my promise.” She looked down, faintly embarrassed, then back up again to meet green eyes squarely.  “When we make love again, I want it to be special.  Something we can take our time with.”

Gwen stepped close to the bed, and tilted Randi’s face to brush her lips lightly with a kiss.  “When we make love again, it will be special, but all our time together is special to me.  I am enjoying this courtship, and when we’re both ready we’ll move forward, ‘kay?”  The dark head nodded.  “I love you Randi.  And what you make me feel... and the fact that you love me enough to take the time and effort to court me....”   She leaned in again and caught the Randi’s lips in a fiery kiss, not pulling away until they were both breathless.  “Whoo... think I’d better make it a cold shower.”  She walked into the bathroom, turning to look at the still-seated Marine before she shut the door.  “I’ll be out in ten.”

It was closer to an hour later before they walked out of the room and made their way out toward the field that had been converted again to hold the party.  Several large campfires were spaced around the perimeter, and tables of food were placed between them.  There was a large area set aside for sitting and another cleared space for dancing.  Sounds were muted at this distance and as they walked toward the gathering, Gwen looked up.  “It’s nice out tonight, huh?”

“Um hmm.”

“It’s so clear.  Reminds me of the nights I spent out under the stars on my walkabout.  I’d look up at them, and think of you and just talk to you about stuff.”  She paused and swallowed hard.  “Do you think we could maybe do that together sometime?  Just go out somewhere and sleep under the stars?”

Randi couldn’t keep the grin off her face.  “You leave things to me, Little One.”  And then they were welcomed by Kate into a group of nearby women.

“I hear you two caused quite a stir this afternoon.  Leave it to Randi to rock the boat.”

“But....”

“No Gwen, it’s all right,” Randi broke in, then turned to Kate.  “Anne knew better than to put Corky in that ring.”

“Yeah, well maybe Corky learned something this time.  However,” before it could get serious or ugly, “this is a party, and I’m starving.  I’m gonna get something to eat.”  Several of the women excused themselves and went with her.  Gwen just looked around with bright eyes, taking in all the details.

“There seem to be so many more women here than I remember from before.”

“There are.  Many women come from the surrounding communities to participate in the festivals.  There are a lot like Kate, who marry men and live outside the tribe confines.  There are some who, like us, simply have lives too far away to live here actively.  But everyone here is either an Amazon or an Amazon guest.”

“This is amazing.  Wonder why I’ve never heard of them before now.”

Randi just smiled enigmatically and took the bard’s hand as the music started.  “C’mon... you owe me a dance, and I owe you some snuggle time.”

The beat was kinda fast, and they wound in and out of the other dancers with grace.  The music paused, and Randi went to lead Gwen from the dance space.  Then the music returned with a slow erotic beat, and Gwen just held on and pulled Randi to her.  “I want a slow dance,” Gwen whispered.  “Please.”  The warrior nodded, closed her eyes and wrapped Gwen in her strong arms.  Nothing existed in this time and space except for the beat, the movement and each other.  They were not aware of the many eyes focused on them; only the almost visible bond that could be seen between them.  And when the music ended again, the two came back to the present to cheers and whistles.  They blushed faintly and moved off the floor toward one of the laden tables.  Kate walked over to them.

“Enjoy it, my friend.  It is wonderful to see you so happy.  What you have together is a beautiful thing.”

Randi looked down at her flushed lover and smiled into eyes that twinkled merrily back at her.  “Yeah, it is,” eyes never leaving Gwen’s.  “And if you’ll excuse us....”

“Oh, yes.  Certainly.  By all means.”  The staff maker realized she was babbling and simply stopped talking.  Gwen and Randi finished filling their plates and edged out of the fire-lit plain.  They slipped out into the quiet darkness of the town and the privacy their room afforded them.

Sunday morning was beautiful and cool.  The awards ceremony was fun with the staff championship being conspicuously left out.  But all in all, it was a very pleasant experience.  After a celebratory luncheon, many of the women went their separate ways, headed for home.  It wasn’t long before the town became the sleepy little hamlet it was most days of the year.  “This was a lot of fun.  Maybe we can do this again,” Gwen said with enthusiasm.  “Even with that other woman’s issues, I still had a great time.”  Randi eyed the many sundry boxes that she was going to have to have delivered for lack of room on the bike.

“We’d have to have a bigger house first.  Oof!” mock flinching when Gwen slapped her in the stomach.

“There’s not that much here.  Besides most of it isn’t for us.”

“Well, that’s a relief.  It’s not gonna get home until tomorrow, anyway.”  Randi picked up her helmet.  “Speaking of which... you ready to go?”

“Yep.”  Gwen pulled the warrior to her, giving her a light peck.  “Thank you.”

Randi just smiled.  They waved their goodbyes to folks as they rode out of town headed back to the beach house.  The day was nice, and they took their time.  Randi even circled around the long way so they could stop and pick up barbeque for supper that night.  They stopped and chatted with Rosie for a bit, and she watched their interaction carefully.  The shamaness smiled grimly.  Gwen was the key... of that she was now sure.  Their bond was a visible connection to her, and it was of a strength she had never seen before. The question was... what would they have to endure before they emerged on the other side of the challenge that had been set before them?  The old woman shook her head as they rode off together. 

It was twilight as they crossed the bridge that lead them home, and they stopped just to enjoy the serenity of the moment.  Randi smiled when she felt Gwen’s hands tighten around her waist.  “I love you,” Gwen murmured.  Randi squeezed the small hands in response. 

“I love you too.”  Then they finished the short trip to the house.  No sooner had Randi shut the bike off and stood up, than Tommy’s voice came through the comm link.  He sounded frantic.

“Randi!  Thank God you’re home!  Where’ve you been?  Are you okay?  What’s going on?”

“Tommy....”

“Did you hear?  Is Gwen with you?  Have you talked to Geoff?”

“TOMMY!!”

She heard his jaw snap shut audibly and had to bite back a smile.  “Are Geoff and Jill all right?”  His distress warranted the question, and she felt Gwen’s relief when he answered positively.  “Good.  Now you can either come over for a conversation in person, or you can give me ten minutes to get in the house to the vid phone.  Your choice.  But I am not going to stand in the garage and talk to you about whatever has gotten you so upset.”

“I’ll be over in ten minutes.”

Gwen’s face scrunched up in concern as Randi cut the connection.  “Wonder what happened?”

“Guess we’ll find out pretty soon.  You wanna take stuff in while I clean up the bike?  I’ll be there in a few minutes.  Leave the bag,” when Gwen went to grab too much.  “If you’ll take the food in, I’ll bring the rest.”

“I’ll come back and help.  No reason you should have to do it all either.”

Randi reached out a hand to gently stroke Gwen’s cheek, then leaned down for a kiss.  “Thanks,” she said simply when she pulled away.  Gwen smiled and walked to the house.

They were just settling in when Tommy came flying in the door without so much as a knock or a by your leave.  Gwen wordlessly handed him a glass of water, and he gulped it down as he tried to catch his breath.  Finally he was able to speak.  “Have you talked to Geoff?”

“T, we just this moment walked in the door.  You know that.  Now,” glaring at him, “what’s wrong?”

“Um, okay.”  He sighed, trying to marshal his facts together.  “You remember last weekend that your friend Jerry never made it to the little get together we had for Geoff?”  He waited for her agreement.  “Well, he didn’t show up for work Monday either.”  He swallowed.  “And they didn’t find what was left of him until Wednesday.”

The Sabre sat up straight on the couch and pinned him with a baleful stare.  “What exactly are you telling me, T?  Just spit it out.”

“Apparently from what they have been able to piece together so far, he left his office Saturday afternoon headed to the park.  He passed through some rough territory, and from the looks of things was executed gangland style.  Like I said... there wasn’t much left.”

“So why are we just now hearing about this?  And what took them so long to find him?  And are there any suspects?”  Gwen leaned in closer as the Marine shot off her rapid-fire questions, lending her unspoken support.  Randi smiled and pressed back into the comforting hand stroking her back.

“Well, you’ll have to ask Geoff about the first two.  As for the third, um, no.  Not that I’ve heard of.  I think it’s being put down to a case of wrong place, wrong time.  But you’ll have to get the details from Geoff.  I just got the bare facts.”

“Okay,” rising from her seat.  “Let me call him and see if we can get the whole story.”  She moved over to her comm unit and began the security overrides to get in touch with Geoff.  Gwen stood and walked over to Tommy.

“Thanks, T,” seeing Randi’s gaze go introspective as she tried to figure out this new puzzle.  “How are things otherwise?”

“It’s been great.  It was a very quiet weekend until your dad called this morning.  He was getting panicky, I think.  He’s been trying to reach ya’ll since Friday.”  He turned and smiled at her.  “Speaking of which, how was your weekend?  I knew ya’ll were gone, but she wouldn’t tell me where.”

“It was a lot of fun.  Met some new people; did some shopping.  Had a great time, in fact.”

“Geoff, calm down,” Randi’s voice cut into their conversation.  “Now take a deep breath and start over.”  Gwen swallowed a gasp, seeing the stress that seemed to have aged her father years in just a few days.

“Okay... Monday morning he didn’t show up for work, and his second got concerned.  You know the man was notoriously punctual.  Bureaucracy being what it is, it took until mid-afternoon before Russ could start a search.  The house was clean.  No signs of forced entry or any indication that Jerry had been there recently.  So they started a street to street hunt.”

She interrupted him.  “The Sabres did the legwork?”

“Yes, no one else is involved at this point.  And given where they found him, the logical consensus is he was on his way to meet us Saturday when this happened.”

“So we’re just now hearing about this because....”

“Last in the loop?  I dunno unless it’s because they think we just don’t know anything.  So many people were in and out that weekend.  I think they’re all being contacted, but I can’t say for sure.  They were looking for information that I doubt they’ll find.  Especially since it looks like a random, gangland execution.”

“So no suspects then?”

“As of this morning, no.  I spent the weekend trying to remember who all was with us at the park.  There were a lot of Sabres, and it’s possible they saw something unusual, or maybe their contacts heard something.  But it’s going to take a while to sort it all out.”

“Okay, Geoff.  Keep me posted.  I’ll let you know if I hear anything on my end though....”  She trailed off.  “Let me see what I can find out, all right?”

“Thanks, Randi.  I’ll be honest.  This has me a little spooked.”

“You focus on getting better.  We’ll see what we can see.”

“Yeah, Daddy.  You heard what she said.  Focus on getting better, okay?  You’ll be walking me down the aisle before you know it.”

“I love you, Baby Girl.”

“I love you, too, Daddy.  We’ll see ya’ll again soon.”

He exchanged a look with Randi even as he nodded his agreement to Gwen.  “Bye, girls.”

“I need to get back to the house.”  Tommy spoke up as Randi closed the connection.  “I’m glad ya’ll had a nice weekend.  Sorry it had to end so badly.”

“Thanks for coming over, T.  Give Ella our love and Randall a kiss, huh?”

“Will do.  See ya’ll tomorrow.”

It was quiet for a few minutes while they stood together in a comforting embrace. “C’mon,” Randi said easing back.  “Let’s get something to eat, then I want to call Tiny.”  As it happened, she didn’t have to call Tiny because they had no more than sat down to eat when the vid phone chimed for their attention.

“You’ve heard, I take it,” was his greeting when he saw the set look on her face.  “Before you ask... we decided to keep you out of the loop for a reason.  You’re not a Sabre anymore, and it’s not fair of us to continue to rely on you to take care of things for us.  Besides, unless you know what happened, there’s really not much you can do right now.  Everything points to a gang killing... except....”

“Yes?”

And he told her in graphic detail how the Commandant was killed, and how his body was pinned and left for the vultures.   And how little the scavengers left of him.  Gwen excused herself rather quickly, and Randi glared at the screen.  “Next time ask before you get so visual, will ya?  Damn, Tiny!  Just because we’re immune to the ugliness doesn’t mean everyone is.”  But the pictures his words had created in her mind caused her to swallow the bile a couple times before she continued to speak.  “Are they sure it was his sabre?”

“Yeah, that is what is making this complicated.  Otherwise it looks like a case of wrong time, wrong place.”

“Hmm....”  She looked up as Gwen returned.  Randi held open her arms, smiling when Gwen slid into her embrace without hesitation.  Gwen cuddled up into her, and Randi ran a comforting hand up and down her back.  “Well, do me a favor and keep me posted, will ya?  I’d like to know if this was random or targeted.  And if it’s targeted, was it directed at the Sabre population or at Jerry alone.”

“Those are valid issues.  I’ll see if we can get someone looking at those angles.  I’ll let you know what we find out.  Reed sends her love as do Ditto and the puppies.  When do you want her to bring them out?”

“She’s welcome anytime this week, until midday Friday.  Gwen and I have a date Friday night.”

Randi didn’t see blonde eyebrows rise into her hairline, but Tiny did.  He swiftly hid the smile that still twinkled out of his eyes and focused on Randi.  “All right then.  How ‘bout if she comes out tomorrow morning?”

“That’s good.  I can be here if you give me a time to expect her.”  She loosened her arms when Gwen patted them, smiling absently when Gwen touched her face briefly before moving away.

“She can be there before lunch.”

“That works.  I’ll be glad to get Ditto back.  And I’m looking forward to giving Carbon to the boy.  Every boy needs a dog.”

“Yep,” remembering the talk he and Reed had had about the shepherd’s odd reaction to both bard and warrior on their last visit.  “Expect them in the morning then.”

“Will do.  Ya’ll have a good week.”

“You too, my friend.”

Randi sat quietly in the dark thinking for a moment before realizing that Gwen had moved into the bedroom. She got up and secured the beach house, noting the moonlit path on the sea that lent a faint glow to the room.  Then she moved into the bedroom, stopping short at the sight that met her gaze.

The bard was dressed for bed, sitting up against the headboard.  She was wearing her glasses, and in her lap sat her open diary.  She held a pen in her hand and was engrossed in whatever thoughts she was putting down.  Randi smiled in pure happiness.  It was the first time Gwen had written in her journal since just before the late unpleasantness.  Her mind shied away from that experience, and she moved to the bathroom.  A very short time later she stepped out and picked up her eBook.  She wanted to give Gwen the time and space she needed to write.  Randi moved to go back out into the living room when a firm hand on her wrist clamped down and pulled her tumbling into the bed.

“You going somewhere, Stud?”

“I thought....”

“Park it and stop thinking so much.”  Now vulnerable green eyes looked up.  “I need you here with me.”

“All ya had to do was ask.”  Randi set down her book and cradled Gwen’s face.  She said nothing, their souls communicating with a look alone.  She leaned forward, brushing her lips against Gwen’s, moaning when Gwen’s tongue touched her lips seeking entrance.  Randi felt hands wind into her hair pulling her closer.  She reached up one hand, removing the glasses and setting them aside somewhere as she felt Gwen slowly pushing her onto her back.  She went with it, thrilling to the feel of the woman filling her arms. 

Gwen actually had the presence of mind to set her diary off her lap.  Then she crawled on top of the firm body, setting her hands free to roam.  Their eyes locked as Gwen’s hands began to trace up Randi’s shirtfront, pausing to lightly tease hardened nipples.  Randi groaned at the sensations the touch caused, her eyes darkening and fluttering shut.  Her body arched into the contact, and she reached down to cup Gwen’s buttocks, pulling her tighter into her still.  Now Gwen moaned and leaned down to aggressively capture full lips.  Something in the contact made Randi blood rage, and she felt the need to simply consume Gwen.  Confusion swept through her and caused her to pull back.  This wasn’t simply desire or longing or lust.  This was something more... much more frightening and much more intense.

Gwen felt the change and peered up into passion-charged eyes.  “You all right?” a bit breathless and flushed.

“Um, yeah... um....”  She reached out a tentative hand toward Gwen’s face.  Gwen closed her eyes at the feather light touch and leaned into it.  Her smaller handed covered the larger, and they simply sat that way for a very long moment.  Randi blew out a shaky breath.  Gwen felt the multitude of roiling emotions that were flowing from Randi and looked at her in concern. 

Something is going on with her.  Do I call her on it?  Green focused on blue and saw the frank pleading to let it go for now.  She gave an almost imperceptible nod and asked slyly, “So we have a date on Friday, hmm?”

Randi smiled in gratitude and relief.  “Yep, we do,” she answered and waited.

Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.

“WELL???”

“Well what?” chuckling at the almost little girl demeanor.  Sometime her bard was just too cute for words.

“What are we doing?  Where are we going?  What should I wear?”

“Courting.  Out.  Clothing.”

“Augh!!” pounding on the soft, firm chest beneath her.  “You’re trying to make me nuts, aren’t you?

“It is something you’ll love.  We’ll be up visiting your parents.  And your mother should have that all taken care of by the time we get there.”

Gwen groaned in frustration and dropped her head on Randi’s shoulder.  She slid off the warrior’s body and burrowed herself into the warm body, mewling softly in the sheer sensuality of the experience.  The Sabre tightened her hold, kissing the top of the blonde head.

“Lights,” she called softly.  Then into the darkness, “I love you, Gwenevere Goldman.  You’re the very best part of me.”

“I love you too, Miranda Valiant.  You are my heart.”

Reading and writing was forgotten as quiet settled over the room.  Two sets of breathing slowed and became one.  The only other sounds were those of the wind and the waves and the soft hissing of rain.

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

Ella and Randall came over in the drizzle the next morning, eagerly awaiting Reed’s arrival.  Gwen came around the couch and handed Randi a cup of coffee.  “Would you like more, Ella?”

“No thank you.  I can’t tell you how glad I am that the shepherds are coming home.  I never thought Randall would miss Ditto like he has, but he’s asked about her everyday.”  Randi got an uneasy feeling in her gut again, but let it pass.  And then they heard the shuttle land and walked out into the rain to meet them.

Ditto sat majestically in the door of the shuttle, awaiting Reed’s command to step out into the elements.  When Reed spoke, the shepherd leaped to the ground, coming to stand in front of Randi.  She gave the large hand a solitary lick, then dashed to the boy’s side, knocking him down and proceeding to give him a thorough face washing.  “O!”  The child squealed, giggling and laughing at the dog’s antics.  Randi smiled sadly at the picture they made together.  She’d had a feeling things might fall this way, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear when the reality set in.

Reed stepped down from the shuttle, holding an umbrella in one hand and the squirming Carbon in the other.  He howled on seeing the Marine and jumped from the seer’s grasp.  Only Randi’s quick reflexes kept the puppy from a mud bath.  “Looks like you’ve got yourself a new friend, Love.”

Indeed the tiny puppy was avidly licking away the rain from Randi’s face.  Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away.  “It sure does.  Let’s see how Ella feels about this.”

They smiled a bit at the picture in front of them.  Randall was sitting on the ground much to his mother’s chagrin, hugging Ditto’s neck.  She looked up at Randi with a mixture of consternation and embarrassment.  “I’m sorry, Randi.  We should have thought about this.”

“I did, Ella.  It’s to be expected really.  They grew up together while I was gone.  It’s not fair for me to demand either of them to give the other up.”  She swallowed hard.  “If you’re okay with keeping her, Gwen and I will take Carbon home and make him ours.”

Ella nodded.  “I’m betting Ditto keeps an eye on ya’ll.  She seems to think the island is her territory.”

“Ya’ll get in out of the rain.  Randall,” kneeling down to the boy’s level.  “You take good care of O for me, ‘kay?”

“Wuv Wuv.  Wuv O.”  He nestled his face in her neck.  “Good.”

“You and Ditto take mama home and get her in out of the rain, all right?”

“Puppy!” he squealed when he spotted Carbon.  The tiny pup sniffed and licked him gently but made no effort to move out of Randi’s hands. 

“We’ll bring the puppy over to visit soon.  But O wants to go home and play with you.”

“Tay.  Go pway.”  He gave her a hug and a sloppy kiss, then slid from her lap and took the dog by the scruff of her neck.  “Go, O.  Go pway.”

Gwen came up behind Randi and laid a comforting hand on the small of her back.  She pressed back into the touch, enjoying the warmth and consolation she could feel emanating from the gentle stroking.  She smiled a bit when the puppy yawned and snuggled down in her arms closing his eyes firmly.  “Let’s take the little guy home and get in out of the wet.  C’mon, Reed.  Let us feed you a hot meal at least before you head back home.”  The trio fell into step as they made their way back to the beach house.

Part 4