ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Family

by Fantasy

Violence Disclaimer: Zip, nada, none.

Sex Language Disclaimer: Absolutely.  Becca and Stace get a severe case of potty mouth, and do the wild thing graphically, and more than once.  There is graphic sex between women in this story.  They have been together for a long time and are very much in love.  They act on their biological urges frequently.  If you are not at least 21 years of age, go away.  If you live in a state or province where this sort of material is illegal go away.  If you are homopho-                  bic let me assure you lesbianism doesn’t rub off, but still you are entitled to your beliefs, just don’t read my stories.  You won’t like them.  By the by, don’t read this at work, your boss will think your ill.

This is the sixth story in the ‘Lost and Found Series’.  You need to read ‘Loss’, ‘Recovery’, ‘A Bad Penny’, ‘Put the Demons to Rest’, and ‘Mom, How Do You Know if You’re in Love?’ or this story won’t make any sense at all.  I really appreciate all the constructive input I have received from my readers, please keep it up.  If you read this, and wish to make comments, you may do so.  My addy is fantasysrealm@home.com or fans91@hotmail.com. Okay, now read away.

Chapter 1: What a Day October 13, 2000

         “Trauma in the unit!  Level 1 priority!  Dr. McGregor to ER stat!  Trauma in the unit!  Level 1 priority!  Dr. McGregor to ER stat!” 

The intercom blasted the request bringing me out of my reverie.  I shot up out of the chair where I was sitting on the verandah.  The late autumn sun was just beginning to make its descent into the Pacific Ocean.  The light haze filtered the sun’s light making the oranges; reds and blues more subdued than usual.  I glanced at my watch: 4:15pm.  Damn I’ve got that dinner party tonight.  Becca’s gonna freak.  I’ve been loath to go to this thing.  Rubbing elbows with the beautiful people has never been my thing.  That’s cause you’re anti-social.  Yeah well sometimes that’s a good thing.  Anyway it doesn’t look like I’ll be going tonight.  A poor excuse is better than no excuse.  Not at someone else’s expense, I’d rather suffer through a boring dinner party than have some poor soul suffer the pain of a major trauma.  I’d better have Deidre call Becca.

All these thoughts were traveling their way through my brain when I reached the ER double doors.  A flurry of activity reigned therein.  My Head Trauma Nurse/Nursing Services Director, Irish Rafferty-Warren was already at work.  The fifty-five-year-old nurse had been on a health kick of late and trimmed her rotund frame down considerably…

“I ain’t getting any younger,” she’d said matter of factly, “and I’m tired of packing around all this excess baggage.  I’m gonna’ lose weight.”  Dr. Rachel Donnovon-Evans, the nurse’s chief antagonist never let a chance to rib Irish go by and couldn’t resist a jab at our Irish friend and colleague.

“Yeah right, like the last diet you went on.  I didn’t think corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and Irish ale was on any diet I ever saw.”  The last diet Irish was on lasted until ‘St. Paddy’s Day’. And then promptly fell apart.

“All right, all right.  I admit the last time I didn’t do very well.  But this time I’m gonna stick to it cause you and Mac are gonna help me.  Besides, now I have more incentive; I got me a new grandbaby and I’m gonna live to see him graduate from college.  It’d be the first Rafferty that made it all the way through school, and I wanna be there.  So there!”  How did I get roped into nurse maiding that cranky Irishwoman?  ‘Cause you’re the boss.  Only when it’s convenient for you guys. 

            It took nearly nine long, hard months but Irish stuck to her guns and lost nearly 100 pounds.  Now at a svelte 150 pounds, Irish was a goin’ concern.  Gil helped out by giving up his ale and going to light beer.  He lost 30 pounds himself.  Gus Garcia’s business suffered mightily until he put in a variety of frozen yogurt flavors just for Irish.  One he dubbed the ‘Irish LaMint’.  It was even green and tasted like mint.  The yogurt went over so well, he added a whole new line in all his stores.  Gus even went so far as to put a picture of Irish in all his parlors.  He kept a running tally of how much weight Irish had lost, and even started a contest for the closest guess to the amount of weight loss and how long it would take to reach her goal.  The winner got a family season ticket to the Laker’s home games.  Irish became a celebrity in her own right and was successful in achieving a healthier lifestyle.

Rachel was out $2500.00 because she bet me against Irish.  I being the good sport and gracious winner I am, rubbed it in every chance I got.  I wasn’t the real winner.  We took the money and bought storybooks and stuffed animals for the Hospice Nursery.  Kylie Johnson’s family won the Lakers tickets, which I thought was ironic since Frank Johnson is a die-hard Clippers fan.  Oh well, it does him good to root for someone different.  The seats were right next to ours.  The McGregors, the Flannerys, the Evans, and the Warrens all go to the games together.  People always knew if there was a trauma at the center, cause all those seats would be empty if there were.  My pleasant thoughts evaporated when I saw the patient resting on the gurney, then I switched to professional mode.

“What do we have Irish?”  The experienced trauma nurse ticked off the patient’s status like a computer downloading software.

“A twenty-three-year-old pregnant female with severe head, chest, and abdominal trauma.  BP is 90/palp, respiration’s 30 and thready, pupils fixed and dilated.  Diminished sounds in both lungs.”  God how could someone do this to another human being, let alone a pregnant woman?  The bruises and cuts on her face indicated someone had beaten her with their fists.  There were bruises on the woman’s upper arms.  Whoever did this was big and strong.  More than likely, she was shaken, then slammed into a wall.  Her left eye was swollen shut and the eyelid was severely lacerated.  Those were the least of her injuries.  In addition to the cuts and bruises, there was heavy bruising on her chest abdomen and sides.  I suspected there would be serious internal damage.  So much so that there was a chance the baby night not make it.

“Who’s responsible for this?”  If looks could kill, Irish would have destroyed the woman’s husband. 

“The husband is in police custody.  Seems he didn’t believe the baby was his, so he’s been trying to get rid of it since she told him she was pregnant.  This isn’t the first time he’s beaten her.  A real sweetheart huh?  But she keeps going back for more.  Their names are Jason and Beverly Jenson.”  Jenson.  Why does that name sound familiar?  Cause the guy’s celebrity of sorts.  He’s the tight end for the LA Whales.  Oh shit, that’s the son of a bitch who was implicated with a couple of assaults on woman in LA nightspots lately. Same one Sherlock.  Well if she loses the baby, not to mention if she doesn’t make it, it’s murder.

“How far along is she?  She looks like six to six and a half months to me.”  Irish looked at me with a wry smile.

“Seven actually.”  Smartass.

“All right, I want a CT scan and radiographs.  Set up the portable ultrasound and get the monitors going.  I want a picture of the baby.  Let’s go people move it.  I want a CBC and cross for five units.  I want two lines.  Hang a 1000ml bag a Normal saline with a dopamine drip.  How’s her breathing now Lil?”

Lilli Faraday was in her last year of residency and I offered her a fellowship.  The trauma center was named for her sister Casey who was beaten to death, twenty-five years previously by her stepfather, at the age of fifteen months.  Lilli was older by two years.  I didn’t hold much hope that Lilli would stay on because she wanted to go back east to Baltimore to be closer to her mother and older brother.  But I intended to keep after her.  She had the potential to be a talented and gifted surgeon and had a great deal of empathy for the suffering of her patients.  But as much as I would like to have Lil stay, I wanted her to be happy, and John Hopkins had offered her a fellowship as well, and it was a safe bet she’d go back.  Deftly Lil moved her stethoscope over the patient’s chest listening for the life giving breaths.

“Lung sounds diminished bilaterally.”  Without my having to give the order, Lill grabbed to chest tube kits from the crash cart.

“I want two chest…”  Before I could finish speaking, Lil and Irish set about inserting the chest tubes.

“Were all over it Mac.”  I moved my hands over Beverly Jenson’s abdomen position-              ing the stethoscope so I could check for the heartbeat of the baby.  Before the words were out of my mouth, Rachel charged into the ER.

“Where’s Dr. Donnovon?”  I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a presence leaning over the gurney.

“I’m here Dr. McGregor.”  What’s the patient’s status?  I understand the woman’s pregnant.  How far along?”  Dr. McGregor?  It never ceased to amaze me how quickly our friendship could turn to a professional relationship in a split second.

“Very serious Dr. Donnovon.  She has a closed head injury, acute trauma to the chest and abdomen.  We have her stabilized and we're taking her for a CT scan and radiographs.  From the looks of her side, I’d say she has at least one possibly two broken ribs, one of which is close to her lung.    Have a look.”  Rachel examined the ugly discoloration on Beverly’s left side.  There was an obvious imprint of a man’s large boot on the woman’s side.  That bastard. 

“I agree.  What is the baby’s condition?”  We both looked at the portable ultrasound at the foot of the gurney.  The machine monitored the baby’s heartbeat.  Suddenly, the monitored showed an even more critical condition, and it wasn’t the baby.

“God damn it, she’s throwing PVC’s.  I want a load dose of lidocaine!  Give me 3 milligrams of atropine.  C’mon move! move!”  Irish, Rachel, Lil and I worked feverishly to get Beverly’s heart to beat.  “Dammit asystole!  Irish get me 5 milligrams of epinephrine.”  Irish quickly and expertly injected the drugs into the IV port.  All activity in the trauma room stopped while we watched the monitor praying Beverly's heart would begin to beat in a normal rhythm.  Within seconds, the steady pulsing of the patient’s heart lit up the monitor.  The baby inside its mother’s battered body continued to hold on to life as well, but the hold was tenuous at best.  “All right Beverly!  You hang in there.  We’re going to do our part; you do yours.  Your baby needs you so c’mon and fight!”  We frantically readied Beverly for the CT scan and radiographs.  I wanted everything else ready in the OR.  

“Carly, call Dr. Jefferson and have him meet us in the OR.  Deidre alert OR to have a room ready.  Set-up for an Exploratory Laparotomy with a C-Section.  Also, I’ll want a temporal craniotomy and evacuation set-up.  We’ll know more when we see the CT scans.”  The instructions were given on the run, and in a few harried strides, we were at the double door leading to Radiology.

The CT cans showed Beverly had an acute epidural hematoma and evolving introcerebral hematoma.  She had a small 3cm scalp laceration that looked benign enough, but the underlying damage was tremendous.  In addition to the laceration, she had a temporal pterional bone fracture and the meningeal artery was lacerated in two separate places.  If I don’t go in and repair this damage, the hematoma would expand.  Dr. Jefferson was one of the best neurosurgeons in the world, and together we had a chance to save Beverly.  The plan was simple.  While I performed the left temporal craniotomy and evacuation, Dr. Donnovon and her team would do the exploratory laparotomy and emergency c-section.  It would be a long night.  Rachel and I each worked silently on our respective procedures speaking only to ask for the required instruments.

“How we doing Irish?”  I knew my trauma nurse was on top of both the baby and its mother’s vitals.

“They’re doing just dandy m’girl.  You just get finished with what you’re doing; I’ll let ya know when if we get into trouble.”  I shook my head, and concentrated on the delicate work I was doing. 

“Irish you’re truly a gem.  There aren’t too many people who can talk to her like that and live to tell about.”  Dr. Jeffereson added.  I hate a chatty trauma team.

“Cut the chatter people; let’s concentrate on the job at hand.  Rachel is the neonatal unit ready to accept the baby?”  Dumb question smartass.

“As always, my people know their jobs doctor.”  Damn good thing.  Damage control.

“I know I hire only the best.”  Oooo, good save.  Just in time too cause there’s a new little life to welcome into the world.  In that instant a loud healthy wail filled the OR suite.

“Congratulations doctors, we have successfully delivered a happy healthy baby boy.”  I don’t know.  The jury’s still out on the happy part.  Helluva way to start out life. 

“Check the time Irish.”  Irish wrote the time of delivery down on the chart.

“6:45pm Dr. McGregor.”  The little child was taken away to be thoroughly checked over to make sure he was indeed healthy.

“What else do you have Rach?”  Rachel now had to thoroughly check the abdominal cavity for any bleeders.

“The spleen’s ruptured; I’ll have to remove it.”  Rachel worked quickly and efficiently.

“Irish, I need more suction here.  I can’t see a damned thing with all this blood.  What’s her blood pressure?”  Irish checked the monitor.

“We’re in pretty good shape.  BP is 100/65, respiration’s are 18 and strong.  Just keep at it ladies.”  Dr. Jefferson grunted.

“Sorry Doc.  Present company excepted.”  The atmosphere in the OR was considerab-ly less stressed since the baby was delivered.  At least one life was out of danger. 

“Oh oh Stace, have a look at that.  The middle meningeal artery in cut.”  No doubt. 

“Yeah Bob, I see.  Give me some more suction, I think it’s cut in two places.”  Sure enough, there was a small laceration .5 cm further up the artery. 

“Let’s tack the dura to the bone edges and I think we’ve got it.”  Just to make sure I wanted to do an intraoperative ultrasound to detect any more hematomas.  Everything looked clean.

“Looks good Stace.  Congratulations, you’ve saved another one.”  I wasn’t so sure.

“Let’s not count our chickens Bob.  I want to leave an intraoperative pressure monitor in place to detect any anomalies.”  Dr. Jefferson looked a little unsure.

“Do you really think that’s nec…”  I stopped him in mid thought.

“The patient wasn’t conscious when she was brought in and hasn’t regained consciousness.  How else do you plan to observe any changes in our patient?”  Dr. Jefferson had no more questions regarding my judgement.

“Dr. McGregor I…I…well…you’re right of course.”  The monitor was placed and there was nothing to do but close, take the patient to recovery, observe and wait.  That’s the hardest part.

“Good work everyone.  I don’t know about y’all, but I could use a cup of coffee.”  I looked up at the clock on the wall: 9:36pm. 

Beverly Jenson was wheeled out of OR and into recovery.  Now all we could do is wait and see if she’d regain consciousness.  The first twenty-four hours would be the most critical.  I walked into the recovery room, and found the little Jenson baby boy sleeping peacefully in a bassinets/incubator.  He was small, as one would expect for an eight-week preemie, but all his internal organs were fully developed, and he was breathing well on his own.  He just needed to be kept warm, fed, and loved.  I went over and checked on Beverly Jenson and whispered.

“Mrs. Jenson, you’ve got someone who needs you very much.  You must get better.  You don’t have to worry, you’re safe here, and no one will harm you or you’re baby; you just get better.”  I didn’t notice Rachel and Irish standing near Beverly Jenson’s bed, but they must have heard my one-sided conversation.

“Hey Mac, c’mon I thought you were gonna buy us a cup of coffee?”  My two friends and colleagues wrapped their arms around my shoulders and headed me toward the Recovery Room exit.

“Look you two go ahead, I’m gonna head to the office and call Becca.  I’m in big trouble I’m sure.”  Irish shook her head and hugged me.

“I doubt that very much.  Ya know, ya did nice work in there, I’m proud ta say I know ya.  You’re a credit to your profession.  I’ll see ya in a bit.”  Wow who was that woman?  One of the best friends I’ll ever have.

I walked out into the hall and stumbled to my office.  Once inside, I leaned against the wall trying to get the energy to walk to my desk.  Exhaustion brought on by the tension and adrenaline download hit me like a ton of bricks.  I flopped into my cushy leather chair and leaned my head against its cool surface.  I had left the lights off, purposely and I had a spectacular view of the lights of the City of Angels from my windows.  A soft knock sounded at my door.

“Come.”  Irish appeared in the door tray in hand.  “Whatcha got there?”  Irish waggled her eyebrows.

“Soul food for exhausted doctors.  Just a wee bit of Irish Coffee, nothin’ too dangerous.”  Irish you are too kind.  Kind, you’ve never tasted her Irish Coffee?   I took a deep drink of the warm potent liquid.  I nearly choked.

“My God Irish!  What the hell did you put in that stuff?  This is definitely not for the weak.”  Irish was laughing hysterically.

“What’s the matter Mac, too strong for your tender Scottish palate?”  Palate?  After that, I have none.

“No, not usually.  How much Irish did you put in that coffee.”  Probably the whole damn bottle. 

“Just three fingers.”  Must have been some mighty big fingers.

“Whoooo.  Good stuff Maynard.”  It was good; once I got my breath back.

“Well now Dr. McGregor, would ya be wantin’ just a touch more then?”  Oh what the hell.  Why not?

“Sure Irish.  Hit me again.”  Just as Irish toped off my cup again, there was another soft knock on the door.

“Come.”  My single word response was a good thing, because I could no more have gotten another word out if I tried.  For, I looked up to see the most beautiful vision my tired eyes could have imagined.  For a minute I thought I was seeing a mirage.  But when I shook my head slightly and the vision didn’t disappear, I knew the image before my eyes wasn’t an apparition.  My angel was dressed in a long pale blue, floor length gown.  The right side was slit up the side showing a tantalizing length of tanned thigh.  My lover’s shoulders were bare, covered only by her long raven hair that hung loosely down her back.  A simple gold chain with a diamond heart hung around her neck.

“Hi guys, having a party without me?”  My angel’s soft, but deep sexy contralto voice sent shivers up and down my spine.  God she can reduce me to a puddle with a few mere words.  I looked up at Irish, and it was obvious Becca had made quite an impression on her as well.  No matter a person’s sexual preference, my wife affected everyone equally.  Simply stated, she was devastating.

“Uh…no…uh…we just finished surgery.”  God there’s a first; Becca’s got Irish stuttering.  What?  Uh…oh yeah.  You two are hopeless.

“I see.  The procedure was successful I hope.”  Irish took the opportunity to bolt.

“Um yeah Bec.  As a matter of fact, I’m gonna go get the latest update.  She should be just about ready to leave recovery.  See ya.”  Coward!

“Sure Irish, see you.  Don’t forget you and Gil are invited for Sunday dinner.  Give the new grandson a hug for me.”  Irish beamed from ear to ear at just the mention of the new addition to her family.

“Thanks Becca, I sure will.”  With that, the nurse left my office.

For her part, my angel walked, no slunk over to me, positioned herself between my legs, and placed her hands on each arm of the chair.  She leaned in and brushed her lips against mine, her tongue teasingly slipped out and licked my lips provocatively.  Just as quickly it was gone.  I tried to regain my composure, but that was very difficult, if not impos-sible.

“Hi there baby.  What brings you down here?”  A warm wet tongue began making more than just a tentative foray to my ear, neck, and throat.

“I got stood up.  My wife was supposed to escort me to a long…kiss…boring…lick …stuffy…nibble…dinner party.  Can you imagine that?”  I could only shake my head in re-sponse.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea.   Dr. McGregor how would you like to come home with me and fool around a little?”  Becca let our foreheads touch and kissed me playfully on the nose.

“Fool around?  Hmm, I’m not sure I know how.”  I replied enjoying our playful banter.

“Not to worry, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”  My angel began to rub her body against me again.  Damn is it getting hot in here or what?  My angel captured my lips with hers in a soul-searing kiss I felt all the way to my toes.  The sensation I received from the kiss did more to warm me than Irish’s coffee ever could.  Teeth gently nipped on my bottom lip and  moist sweet lips sucked begging for more.  My angel’s tongue invaded my moist warm cave licking all the inner surfaces.  Our tongues wrapped around each other  and dueled sensually for control in this intimate dance.  But the kiss went no further.  We broke away for air, and I pulled my lover down into my lap, and just held her in my arms.  The peace and contentment I was experiencing felt so good.  I held my world and reflected about the previous six hours.  This time, I won the battle against violence; this time, our side won.  What was my prize for victory?  I was holding her in my arms, and my world was right.  Well almost.

“Hon, I’m sorry I messed up your evening.”  My angel kissed my neck and throat and snuggled deeper into my arms.

“Baby you didn’t mess up my evening.  What you did tonight was far more important than a stuffy old dinner party for a bunch of stogy old men and matrons who want to ogle my work.”  That better be all they were ogling.  For sure.  “I don’t want you to feel guilty for one instant.  But still…if you insist on feeling guilty, I know a way you can make it up to me.”  I think I’m gonna be had.  And your problem with that is what exactly?  Nothing. 

“Um just what did you have in mind?”  Oh punish me please.

“Come home with me and make sweet passionate love with me for the rest of the night.”  Oh yes.

“My angel, I love you so much.”  Our lips joined in another passionate wet kiss.  It would have gone on had not still another knock sounded on my office door.

“Damn, you’re right, let’s go home.  Come.” 

Rachel came into the office carrying a precious little bundle.  The tiny Jenson baby had a healthy pick glow that all new babies seemed to have.  Because he was taken by cesarean he didn’t have the red blotches on his face from the trauma that sometimes occur during a natural birth.  The small five-pound little boy was at least healthy, and even if he couldn’t feel his mother’s touch right away, he would be loved and well cared for until she could hold him and love him herself.

“I thought you might like to see the little guy before you left.”  The tiny baby slept soundly totally oblivious to the swirling activity that surrounded him.

“Oh isn’t he cute honey?”  To Becca all babies were cute, even though sometimes, newborn babies can be really ugly.  But in this case, she was right.  The Jenson baby was quite cute indeed.

“Ya done good there Dr. Donnovon-Evans.”  Rachel beamed.  She was just as happy to deliver these little beings, and fix and take care of other children than she was to have her own.  She was never able to have children, some long drawn out medical reasons that I won’t go into.  Suffice to say she was happy.  Gary, her husband, Becca, Syd, and I, and all our friends were enough to give her happiness and she was contented.

“Hey, I didn’t do much.”  No not much, just gave him a chance at life he wouldn’t have had otherwise.  Sometimes Rach was too self-effacing.

“Yeah right.  You’ll never convince me of that Rachel.”  Becca kissed Rach on the cheek, and the blush traveled quickly, giving the Pediatric Director a healthy pink glow. 

“Um, well thanks.  I was just going to take this little tyke to visit his mom.  Ya want to come along?”  Yes I’d better.

“How is Mrs. Jenson’s condition?”  Becca asked while stroking the little boy’s cheek softly with a long slender finger.

“Well it looks like she’s gonna be okay.  Of course I’m no famous all knowing brain surgeon, but that’s my guess.”  The little jab at me could not go unchallenged.

“Yes well, then we should reserve comments until the omniscient being has a look see shall we?  I’ll be back shortly babe, then we can go home.”  I kissed my angel softly and walked down the hall with Rach.

“See you and Gary for dinner on Sunday right Rach?”   The pediatric specialist turned and nodded.

“Absolutely, we are really looking forward to it.  See ya.”  Both of us entered the elevators to the ride to ICU and little Master Jenson’s mom. 

We entered Beverly Jenson’s room, the monitors, IV lines, and NG tubes aiding her ability to live and ultimately heal.  I walked to the bedside; penlight in hand and began my examination.  The woman’s head was heavily bandaged, and her left eye was completely covered by the white bandage as well.  I opened her right eye, and moved the penlight back and forth to see if there was any response.  The pupil dilated and contracted appropriately.  Gerry Connell, the ICU head nurse stood by ready to carry out any instructions I had.

“Well things look good so far.”  Although somnolent, she was responding to complex commands.  The latest CT scan showed resolution of the mass effect and the lobectomy cavity.  We had actually had to remove a portion of the brain because of necrotic temporal tissue.  She showed marked improvement just in the past couple of hours, and if we made it through the next crucial twenty-four hours, she should make a full recovery.  I hoped.

“You gonna introduce the new one to his momma?”  Rachel moved forward and talked softly to Mrs. Jenson.  I motioned for Nurse Connell to follow me to the door.

“I want an incubator brought in here.  Keep the baby in here at all times.”  Nurse Connell wasn’t happy with my orders.

“Dr. McGregor, I don’t thin…”  I held up my hand to forestall any arguments.

“That’s right Nurse Connell.  Don’t think; just follow my orders.  I want the first thing Beverly Jenson sees when she wakes up to be her child.  I have enough to do to keep this woman alive without dealing with the anxiety caused from her thinking she lost her child.”  Light started to dawn on the ICU nurse.  “Do you understand me?”

“Yes of course Dr. McGregor.”  Damn straight.  God I like it when you put the fear of the Lord in some of these pompous old nurses.

“Good.  Now I’m going home.  Maintain the meds as they are.  If there are any changes in her condition, call me immediately.”  With that, I turned on my heel and walked out of the room.  Nurse Connell was a damn good nurse, but she could sure be a pain in the ass sometimes.  I found Becca lying on the couch in my office.  I bent down and kissed her lips.  God they tasted so good, she tastes so good all over.  Oh how I love this woman.

“Hey babe, let’s go home shall we?”  Sleepy azure pools blinked trying to focus on my voice.

“Mmm, what time is it?  Is Mrs. Jenson going to be okay?”  I kissed my angel again, and nuzzled her cheek, ear, and neck.  Oh baby, your scent drives me wild.

“ Yeah hon, I think if she doesn’t relapse in the next twenty-four hours, she’ll be fine.”  I returned to my former position, and buried may face in Becca’s thick luxuriant, sweet smelling raven locks.  God I could stay like this forever, but…

Let’s get home, so I can take you to bed and cuddle and snuggle and love you all night long.  I love the comfort and peace I find in your arms.  You complete me ya know that?”  Becca kissed my nose playfully.

“Right back at ya.  Let’s go.  I have a lesson or two to teach.”

Chapter 2: The Weekend

       I awoke to the sensation of little nips and licks over my chest, breasts, and belly.  A warm wet tongue invaded my belly button briefly and then made little lazy circles around the edges.  Mmmm God what that woman can do with her tongue.  But I wanted her much lower.  I placed my hand on a raven head and gently pushed her south.  One word voiced my desires.

          “Please.”  Azure pools met azure, and my angel leaned down and kissed my curly brown patch reverently.

          “Yes my love, anything.”  Gentle kisses fluttered lovingly down my abs to the place where my thighs met my center.  Tender erotic kisses covered the inside of one thigh brushing my aching center, but never giving me relief.  My lover licked the crevice between my thigh and mons.  Becca knew exactly how to prepare me for the exquisite pleasure that was to come.  I moaned in pleasure.

          “Mmm that feels nice, but please baby don’t tease me.  I want you so much.  Love me please.”  My baby took pity on me and changed her tactics slightly.  She lay her head down on my belly, but not before she kissed my center once more.

          “You smell so good baby.  The scent of your arousal is driving me crazy.”  Her fingers now came into play as she began stroking my slit from anus to clit.  My engorged pink lips opened to my angel.  I was hers to do with as she saw fit.  “You are so wet my love.  Your juices are flowing like a river.  God I love how you respond to my touch.”  She played and stroked in my warm folds, occasionally dipping into my love hole withdrawing more of my creamy love nectar.  “Look my love.”  My angel withdrew her wet fingers and held them for me to see.  “Look how my fingers glisten with your ambrosia.”  Slowly and sensually, Becca licked and sucked each of her fingers into her warm mouth enjoying the taste of my cum.  God it was so erotic, I almost came then and there.  When she had cleaned her fingers sufficiently, she leaned up and kissed me tenderly.  Her tongue slipped into my mouth, and I could taste myself on her.  She broke the kiss and whispered.  “This is your taste my love.”  She left my lips and moved near my ear, and nibbled and sucked my neck leaving a purple love bruise in her wake.  She whispered again.  “I want you to taste this too.”  She took my hand and brought it down to her sloppy wet pussy.  She drew my fingers up and down the length of her sex, collecting her musky juices.  Then she removed my love digits and brought then to my waiting mouth.  I licked and sucked her slender fingers enjoying the taste of my wife’s juices.  All the while I was sampling my love’s ambrosia, my fingers were playing in my wife‘s cunt, and the fingers of her other hand were fucking me as well.  Her deep lust filled voice was telling me how good it felt.  “Oh God baby ungh, oh yes your fingers feel so good, please go inside.  Feel how tight and warm I am.”  She guided my hand until my fingers were positioned at her entrance.  “Oh baby yeah, do it.  Fuck me now.  Take me.”  How could I resist, and I plunged three fingers deep inside my lover’s steaming cunt and began a strong finger fucking.  My lover’s fingers weren’t idle either, and she slipped four fingers deep inside my hot pussy. 

          “Aaaahhh, my God Becca that feels so good.  God I love you so much.  I want this to go on forever.”   Matching my wife’s rhythm, I thrust another finger inside my love and began stroking her to our mutual satisfaction.  Each of us was drenching the other’s hand with our love juices, each stroke bringing us closer to the inevitable climax.  Groans and moans of pleasure filled the room.  Bodies were writhing and thrusting as the stroking and thrusting increased, as did our passion.  Still I wanted; needed more.

“Baby, I want all of you inside me.  Please baby, I need more.  Fist me.  Fuck me hard and make me cum.  God do it!”  My Becca was so into loving me, she was oblivious to her own passion.  God yes she felt so good.  My angel changed her position slightly so she could get better leverage and do as I begged.

“Are you sure my love.  God I don’t want to hurt you.”  I nodded my head back and forth, frantically begging for her loving touch.

“Yes baby I’m sure.  Ungh, ungh yes you feel so good.  Do it baby, God fuck me with your whole hand.  Fist me dammit, do it!”  My baby folded her thumb into her palm and gently pushed forward until she was deep inside of me.  She curled her fingers until she made a fist, then stopped momentarily to allow me to adjust this new intrusion.  The feeling of being filled to the hilt with my lover’s hand was indescribable.  “Oh yeah baby I’m so full, feels so good.  Fuck me now baby, love me as only you can.”  My lover withdrew until the heel of her hand was just at the entrance of my cunt, and then she pushed back in.  She set up a slow masterful fucking, and my cunt muscles began to tighten around her pleasuring fist.  My juices were pouring from my steaming honey hole. 

“Ummm, baby you feel so good, so tight around my hand.  Can you feel how deep I am?  Feel it baby, this is me fucking you.  You love it don’t you?”  Oh yeah baby.  What I couldn’t voice with words, I let my actions say.  I pulled my fingers out of my lover’s sex chamber a little until I could fold my thumb into my palm and thrust up into my lover’s hot twat.  I folded my hand into a fist and started giving my wife the same loving treatment she was giving me.  Becca shrieked out her pleasure and we both launched into a fierce fist fucking of each other.

“Oh yeah baby, God you feel so good.  Yes, oh yes, God Becca do it baby, I’m so close.  Cum with me baby.  I want to feel you orgasm with me.”  I could feel my lover’s cunt muscles pulsing and contracting around my hand and I knew her completion was at hand.  I knew also Becca could feel me as well.  

“Hold me!  God Becca hold me!  I’m afraid I’m gonna explode!  Baby I’m gonna cum, need to cum!”  My world put her arm around me and I wrapped my arm around her.  We continued to fist each other, our hips slamming against each other.  The force of our coupling was slamming the bed against the wall.

“God Stace, baby.  Yes!!”  A burning sensation began in my gut and slowly worked its way out until my whole body felt like it was on fire with exquisite pleasure/pain.  Then all movement stopped; my eyes were closed to the colors that exploded behind my eyelids.  I lost consciousness briefly; my world was holding me close.  Our sweating bodies heaved with the exertion of trying to pull air into our nearly collapsed lungs.  My lover straightened her fingers and gently pulled her hand from my straining sex.  The slurping sound attested to the amount of juices I produced during our love session.  I too removed my love digits from my wife’s equally wet love nest.  I simply could do nothing other than lay there and hold my lover.  Our sweating, cooling bodies entangled together in our love nest.  With what little strength I possessed, I pulled the silk sheet up to cover our nakedness.  I brushed black damp bangs from my wife’s face and kissed her moist forehead.

“Babe are you okay?  That was certainly intense.  We haven’t done that in a while.  I didn’t hurt you did I?”  My angel’s silence was beginning to worry me, and so I gently lifted her chin so I could look directly at her face.  What I saw gladdened my heart and relieved my fears.  My wife was asleep with a smile etched on her face.  She was breathing the breath of peaceful, deep sleep.   Well maybe she has the right idea, and I joined my love in Morpheus’ realm safe in our love.

I love sleeping in on the weekend, especially because I get to lay with the most beau-tiful woman in the world.  My world: two little innocuous words that explain more about my life than any two words in the English vocabulary ever could.  I lay here watching my angel sleep, and I wonder how I could ever make anyone understand how she makes me feel, how much I love this woman, how lost and empty I would be without her in my life.  How do you explain to anyone what is the pure essence of love?  I guess that maybe I can’t; it has to be experienced.  And I suppose no two couples ever experience the same feelings.  But one thing I do know.  If people feel only one tenth of the feelings I have at this moment, then they would die very happy people indeed.  “I love you my angel, so very much.”  With that testament, I kissed my lover’s lips lightly.  That slight touch roused my baby from her slumbering.

“Mmm, that was nice.  Wanna try that again?”  My angel and I loved kissing. 

You never have to ask twice.  I lowered my upper body toward my Becca until our breasts touched.  I rubbed against my lover’s nipples sensuously and took her lips in a soul-searing kiss.  I found myself encased my two strong muscled arms.  Becca’s moans drove me to deepen and strengthen the kiss.  Our lips and tongues sampled and tasted each other.  I love wet sloppy kisses with lots of tongue.  Our mutual groans attested to our building passion.  One kiss led to two, then three.  Finally, I managed to pull away long enough to catch my breath.  I brushed unruly black locks away from my lover’s beautiful face, and kissed her eyes, her cheeks, jaw, chin, and neck.  Our bodies were now touching over their entire lengths. I loved the feel of my angel’s soft skin.  Two women touching, loving each other is so sensual, so full of feeling.  Of course, I’ve never been with anyone else, but it seems to me for a woman to be fully satisfied only another woman can fully understand and meet her needs. I’m sure there are many men who would argue that point.  Many women too.  Yeah, yeah, yeah each to his own I guess.  My angel took that instant to brush my equally unruly curls over my shoulder, and kissed the exposed flesh there.

“Good morning my love.”  Then she glanced at the clock.  “Or should I say good af-ternoon?”  Our hedonistic streaks and subsequent lovemaking had demolished the entire morning.  1:00pm, yeah I’d say we pretty well took care of most of the day.  My lover must have noticed my far away look.

“Where did you go just now?  What were you thinking about?”  I can’t hide anything from you can I? 

“I was thinking about you and me and love.  Plus I was wondering why Margie hasn’t been in here yanking us out of bed.”  Our housekeeper and general all round ‘zookeeper’, as Syd calls her, usually has chores to do Saturday mornings that don’t allow us to wallow around in the sack all day.

“You don’t suppose she stayed home today do you?”  Hardly, that woman hasn’t taken a Saturday morning off in eight years.  Now Becca had me perplexed.

“Naw she would have called, and I didn’t hear the phone earlier.”  How could you?  With the noise you two were making, you couldn’t have heard a sonic boom.  God ya knocked the paint off the wall.  Aahh we did not.  Bet me; take a look smartass.  Sure enough the paint was scuffed where the headboard had slammed into the wall during our lovemak-       ing. 

“Shit, Margie’s gonna have our hides.”  Becca looked at me confused.

“What are you talking about?”  I directed Becca to look at the damaged wall.

“Ooops, I guess we got a little carried away, huh?”  Mmm, mmm.  Yes we did.

“Yeah, but it was worth it.  Now we’d better get up, get cleaned up, before Margie comes a lookin’.”  I kissed my wife’s nose playfully and crawled over her to get to the bathroom.  I got a swat on my bare butt for my effort.

“Ow!  What’dya do that for?”  Becca’s eyebrow arched and disappeared into dark bangs.  Her version of the look a certain dark-haired television beauty made famous.  The resemblance was startling.  Bet she’d look great in leather.  Shut up you lecherous thing you.  But yeah she does.  She does…hey wait a minute where was I?  Umph, snooze ya looze!  Becca’s remark was equally as stoic.

“Cause it was there.”  I barely made it into the bathroom before the door flew open and two huge Rottweilers charged into the room and on top of our king sized bed.  I glanced into the hallway to see Margie holding her sides, with her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.  Becca’s screams of laughter rang through out the entire house.

“You big moose’s, get off me!  Stace, help me!  Get your pedigreed pets off me!  Stacey Lynn McGregor, HELP!!”  Nip and Tuck were making a total disaster of our bed.  Becca tried to hide under the covers, pulling the blankets and pillows up over her head.  But the two canines would have none of that.  They simply burrowed under the bedclothes or grabbed them in their teeth and pulled.  But when cold wet noses made contact with warm bare skin that was the final straw.  Becca’s screams and shrieks hit a crescendo and I’m sure she could have shattered crystal.

“That’s it!  That’s enough!  Get your fat butts outta here now!”  All motion stopped.  My dogs had finally stopped their torture.  They looked at Becca, stuck their noses in her face, and gave her one last wet sloppy lick before they jumped down.  They trotted over to me where upon they sat down at my feet.  They were panting slightly, but alert.  They were the pictures of well-behaved, well-trained watchdogs.  Becca’s eyes shot daggers in my direc-tion.

“What?  Shit, let’s go guys!”  Two pillows flew through the air and slammed against the wall just as Nip, Tuck and I ducked into the safety of the bathroom. 

Chapter 3: Up and at ‘Em

       Fortunately for me, there is a private entrance/exit from our master bath to the patio.  I decided, discretion being the better part of valor, the dogs and I would have a better chance to get outside in one piece if we didn’t go through the bedroom.  Becca just might have a little surprise waiting for us.  When I arrived poolside, I found Sydnee René sitting in a lounge chair studying.  Our daughter achieved good grades; in fact she had challenged her sophomore classes and was promoted to junior status.  Becca and I were very proud of her to say the least.  I walked behind her chair, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head.

          “Morning baby; whatcha studying?”  Syd gave we a wry look.

          “It’s afternoon mom, and I’m studying Ancient Greek Mythology.”  Jeeze Syd; you’re gonna quibble over a couple of hours?  A couple hours, smartass it’s damned near 2:00pm, ya lazy butt ya.  Lazy, I worked hard this morning for your information; I was exhausted.  Unh huh?  But what a way to exhaust myself.

          “Hey I’m an old woman; I’m entitled to sleep in every now and then.”  My daughter’s snicker couldn’t be contained.

          “Mom is didn’t sound like you were sleeping at all.  What the heck were you doing anyway?”  How ya gonna explain this smartass?

          “Well…uh…honey…your mother and I…we were…”  My wife entered the conversation just at that moment.

          “Sydnee, what do you think we were doing?”  Enough said.  Even Sydnee didn’t want to put words to what Becca and I were doing.

          “I guess that’s your way of saying it’s none of my business, right?”  My angel kissed Syd’s cheek and nodded.

          “That’s right sweetheart, but I will tell you we did enjoy ourselves very much.”  Sydnee’s face instantly turned beet red.

          “Okay, that’s enough, the three of ya.  Here get your minds out of the gutter and think about something else, like food.”  Oooo, now that brings to mind all kinds of possibilities.  You’re depraved ya know that?  Oh c’mon, tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing.  The glare Margie turned on me could curdle milk.

          “Yes of course, food and Ancient Greek Mythology, how’s that?”  Margie sat the tray of homemade stew and baking powder biscuits on the table.  “Wow Margie this looks and smells great.  You lady are a great cook!”  Margie looked at me like I was trying to suck up.  I tried to reassure her my praise was genuine.  “No really, I love your cooking; it’s always good isn’t it guys.”  C’mon help me out here.

          “Mom’s right Margie this is really good.  With the weather starting to turn cooler, this stew really hits the spot,” Syd mumbled around a mouthful of the thick delicious stew.   Becca nodded enthusiastically, but added.

“Syd, don’t speak with your mouth full.   Stace and Syd are right Margie; you’ve outdone yourself as usual.”  Syd and Becca could always convince our cook of their sincerity, I on the other hand never seemed to be able to get the job done.  So, I let my actions speak for me and dug into my lunch like a starving woman.  That earned me a slap upside the head.

“You needn’t eat like a pig; slow down.  No one is going to take your food from you ya know.”  Damn, I just can’t win.

“Yes ma’am.”  Margie simply grunted.

“I’ll be going now; your dinner is already.  Becca just pop the lasagna in the oven for an hour @ 350 degrees.”  Almost as an afterthought, Margie turned and ruffled my still damp curly brown hair.  Yeah I know, I love you too Marge.  Becca smiled at me.

“Thank you Margie.  Enjoy your weekend; see ya on Monday.  You know you could bring your family over tomorrow and share our barbecue.  You’re always welcome.”  Since my mouth was full, I figured I’d just nod, in agreement, rather than risk another slap on my noggin’.  Even though Margie had a standing invitation to spend her Sundays with our friends and family, she always begged off.

“Thank you both, but we’ll be going to church tomorrow and then to Denny’s soccer game later in the afternoon.”  Denny was Margie’s grandson, her daughter’s youngest boy.  At eleven, he was a holy terror, but with Margie and Hank’s guidance, along with two strong parents, the young boy would grow to a fine young man.  Or Margie would know the reason why.  With a wave of her hand, our housekeeper left.

We finished our meal, and I had eaten so much I felt like a beached whale.  Becca and Syd both must have had a hollow leg because they seemed to be able to eat twice as much food as I could and never seem to be affected by over indulgence.  Syd hopped up and began to clear away the dishes.  I started to move to help, but Syd just shook her head.

“No mom. Let me do this, you and mother just sit and relax.  Maybe later we could go for a drive up the coast?  Do ya think?”   Our daughter turned her eyes first to me, then to Becca in expectation.

“What do you think babe?  Sound like fun?”  Becca nodded.

“Sure let’s do it.  I need to go to the market anyway to get a few last minute things for tomorrow.  We can spend the day together and just relax.  It’s about time don’t you think?”  Damn straight.  Do I get to come along?  Could I keep you away?  No.  Then you might as well come along.  Oh goody!

“All right!!  Nip and Tuck can come too right?”  My two mutts looked up at the mention of their names.  “They’re family too.”  Of course, just don’t say that too loud, Margie might not agree.

“Definitely.  Just make sure we have their toys.”  Syd scurried off to clear the dishes and get them in the dishwasher.

“C’mon guys, were gonin’ to the beach.  We got things to do.”  The joy and exuber-ance the blonde teenager displayed warmed my heart.  God I pray she never has reason to lose her love of life.  Becca took my hand and raised it to her lips and kissed the knuckles fondly.

“I love you, you do know that, don’t you?  You are so good for us.  Sydnee simply adores you, and so do I.”  I pulled our joined hands toward me and returned the kiss.

“I couldn’t or wouldn’t want to survive without both of you in my life.  I thank God everyday for you both.  And I love you too baby.  Now let’s go have some fun, ‘kay?”

Chapter 4: The McGregor Private Playground

Everyone piled into my Black Chevy Blazer 4x4 and headed up the Pacific Coast Highway.  Our journey took us past our favorite seafood restaurant, ‘The Lobster Tail’.  Bernie Lowenstern owned and operated the restaurant for the past ten years, and we spent many an evening stuffing our faces with his seafood delicacies.  Bernie also operated a catering business, and was constantly busy.  He even provided the meals for the Oscar and Emmy awards show parties.  His five star restaurant was world renowned, and fortunately for us, we had a table reserved for us any time we wanted to eat.  Our private beach wasn’t much further up the highway, and wasn’t actually our beach.  But for some unknown reason, very few people frequented it, and usually we could have the huge sandy area all to our-selves.  And on the off chance there were people there, all I had to do was turn my two part canine wrecking crew loose, and they would usually clear the beach in nothing flat.  Becca was embarrassed during those times, cringing at my gauche behavior.  I admit, it is kinda mean, but what the heck.  People, who don’t know us, are usually pretty uncomfortable a-round us, once they find out we are lesbians anyway.  So I figure I’m doing them a favor by letting my dogs do the dirty work.  They don’t have to hang around and be subject to our PDAs. That is the most cockeyed inane logic I have ever heard in my life.  That’s what Becca says too.  Well that should tell you something then huh?   We pulled off the highway and down to the edge of the beach.  Syd and the dogs flew out of the SUV like they’d been shot out of a canon.

“C’mon guys, lets go for a swim!  Mom look!!”  I looked up from the back of the SUV where I was digging out the dog’s toys.  I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“What babe, I don’t see anything.”  I think that’s what you’re supposed to see.  Ooohhh. 

“That’s just it mom!  We have the beach to ourselves, isn’t that too cool?!  C’mon mom, mother bring the stuff let’s play.”  It was simply amazing! 

“How can a fifteen year old kid find such joy in an empty stretch of beach?”  I just shook my head.  Becca swatted me on the butt and ran down to the beach.

“It’s simple; the beach is fun!  C’mon woman let’s go build a sandcastle.”  I stopped dead in my tracks.

“Why?  So the tide can just come in and wash it all away?  Where’s the fun in that?”  Listen smartass, you build the sandcastle further up the beach away from the water.  Duh!  Oh yeah, that would work.

Becca had staked out a section of beach where we could lean back against an old log that had washed up there long ago, and sat far away from the surf.  We had come here many times, just the two of us.  We’d played here, cried here, and loved here.  I think I’m still digging sand out of places where sand shouldn’t go.  Did I tell you I hated sand?  Becca had finished laying out all our goodies, when Syd and her canine playmates came charging up kicking sand all over our blanket. 

“Hey cool it you guys, you’re getting sand all over.”  I thought a good sulk would help my cause; I was wrong.

“Oh mommie, I’m sorry.  Did me and my big bad doggies get sand all over your little blankie?”  All right kid, that’s it.  You’re not too old to get an impromptu bath.

“You’ll think sand on my blankie!  You’d better run kid, otherwise you’re gonna get a very, cold, very wet come upins’.”  Syd looked at the dead seriousness in my eyes, and started back peddling away from me.

“Mom, c’mon.  I was just kidding.  What’s the matter?  Can’t you take a little joke?  Mother, help me out here.  Make her stop.”  Becca got up slowly, and started slowly toward the two of us.

“What makes you think I can stop her?  What makes you think I want to?”  Becca’s voice was at its best, lowest contralto, challenging our daughter to put up or shut up.  “After all, you were taught to respect your elders, not back talk them.  Just where do you think my allegiance would be?”  Oh shit!  You’d best be running kid; you fell in it with both feet.

“C’mon guys, let’s run for it.  They’re old, we can out run them.”  Old, that does it.

“Stace did you hear that?  Now we’re old.  Let’s get the little shit!”  Now you’re talking.

“I’m with you babe.  Syd, you’d better be saying your prayers girl cause you’re gonna get a saltwater bath.”  Syd’s eyes were as big as saucers, and as for the dogs, they did what any intelligent self-respecting mutt would do; they switch sides.  When Syd saw her allies desert, she used the only recourse she had, she ran.

“Thanks a whole helluva lot!  Ingrates!  Son of a bitch!”  Man now I’m outnumbered and out classed.  Syd took off down the beach as fast as her legs could carry her.  Syd was quick and resourceful, but that wouldn’t make up for genetics.  Becca’s long legs and easy stride churned up the sand and made up the distance between mother and daughter in a flash.  The expletives weren’t lost on my wife either.

“Now you’ll need to have your mouth wash out as well, potty mouth.”  Just as Becca was about to grab our irreverent daughter, Syd collapsed to the beach.  Becca’s momentum carried her over the top of our laughing daughter.  Then 200pounds of boisterous, barking dogs entered the fray, and the wrestling match was on.  I stopped dead in my tracks deciding to watch the show rather than become an active participant.  I flopped down into the sand to watch the two woman and dogs.  As soon as the older woman got the upper hand the squirming teenager would entangle her legs with Becca’s thus taking away the taller woman’s advantage.  Soon the daughter had the advantage and Becca found herself flat on her back with Syd straddling her stomach.  Syd’s premature celebration was her downfall.

“Yes!!  I won!!  Ha!  Youth over age wins every time!”  The fist pumping teenager was about to learn a valuable lesson: With age comes experience.

“Yes but darlin’,” my wife cooed, “don’t ever underestimate the value of experience.”  Just as quickly as Syd was on top, she found herself on the bottom and this time, Becca had her secured to the beach.  With Nip lying on Syd’s feet, Tuck on her thighs, and Becca sitting squarely on her stomach, Syd was toast.

“All right!  All right!  I give.”  But Becca wasn’t quite finished.  She slobbered big time on her index finger, and curled it to the second knuckle.  She zeroed in on Syd’s left ear.  “No mother don’t, not that!  Please?”  But the teenager’s repentance was too little too late.  The finger contacted her ear, and smeared Becca’s slobbers all over the oral organ and the side of her face as well.  The to add insult to injury, the two four legged traitors got up and licked Syd’s face liberally.  The uproarious laughter from their play echoed across the beach and filled both human and canine with tremendous joy.  God life is good!  Becca climbed off our daughter towering over the fallen, sand covered teenager.  She extended a hand down to the defeated little blonde to help her up.

“Pax?”  Sydnee Renee grasped her mother’s hand and hoisted herself to her feet.

“Pax,” she replied.  Both women looked at each other and Becca pulled her daughter into a warm loving hug.

“I love you kiddo.”  She brushed unruly blonde locks from Syd’s eyes and resumed the embrace.  Syd broke the embrace and gazed seriously up into the taller woman’s limpid pools with equally brilliant hazel orbs.

 “I love to too mother.” My pooped pups had trotted over and plopped down next to me with a thud.  They had flopped over onto their backs waiting patiently for their expected belly rubbing, which I administered promptly.  Becca and Syd sat down on either side of me still breathing heavily from their exsursions.

“Thanks for the back up there old girl.”  Hey what’d I do?  I think you’re about to be chastised for your passivity.  Passivity?  Yeah, impressive ain’t I?

“What?  Me?  Hey I knew you could take her.  You didn’t need me.”  Becca pinned me with cerulean pools.

“I’ll always need you, for everything; never forget that.  But still your indecision needs…retribution!  Let’s get her Syd!”  Without warning, two women and two suddenly revived dogs attacked without warning.

“Way cool!  Tickle fest!”  Syd yelled, and attacked with even more fervor than she had against her mother.  Becca knew all the most ticklish spots on my body and confined her attack there.  Syd tore off my sandals sat on my legs and began to torment the bottoms of my feet.  Of course, the dogs couldn’t be left out, and they responded to Syd’s command and began licking the bottoms of my feet as well.

“Guys…stop…stop…please…I give…not fair.  Okay I quit!  You win!”  I sputtered between peels of laughter.  God it felt good to let go like this.  How long had it been since just the three of us…oops sorry…the five of us had so much fun, and not spend a dime doing it?  Becca still wanted her pound of flesh.

“I wanna know who rules around here.  Say it.”  Oh like there has ever been any doubt of that?  Never!

“You do,”  I said softly.

“What?  I didn’t hear that.  Syd did you hear that?”  Syd shook her head.

“Nope.” 

“Repeat that please?”  Two long slender fingers on each hand were poised to resume the attack.

“I said, YOU DO!!!  Okay!?”  Becca leaned down and kissed me sweetly, yet passionately.

“No, WE do.  I love you.”  I kissed my angel tenderly.

“Ditto.  Hey if you guys will get off me and we go over to the blankie, I’ll start a fire and we can roast marshmallows and drink ice tea.  How’s that?”  Becca and the troops climbed off me and hefted me from the ground.

“I’m for that.  Let’s go guys.”  The kid and the dogs were gone in a flash.  Becca and I moved considerably slower.

“Ya just about got beat back there.  That was close.”  Becca nodded.

“No doubt.  Either I’m getting too old for this kind of stuff or our daughter is getting stronger.”  We looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

“Syd’s getting stronger!”  We both laughed simultaneously.

“Okay, let’s get organized.  Syd would you see if you can find some wood.  Take those mangy animals with you too.”  Syd looked at us suspiciously. 

“You guys just want to fool around while I’m gone.”  Becca's head snapped up and around in Syd’s direction.

“Hey now there’s an idea!  Why didn’t we think of that!”  Syd dropped her head in shame.  The realization that this was a serious issue with Syd hit home, hard. 

“Honey, you’re really serious aren’t you?”  Syd nodded slightly. 

“Babe were not trying to get rid of you; we’d never do that.”  I couldn’t believe Syd was serious about this.

“Oh mother, mom, I’m sorry.  I just sometimes…I think…you two don’t really…you’d be just as happy without me…”  I was totally shocked.

“My God Syd!  Is that what you really believe?  You think we don’t need you?”  Syd knew she’d open a can of worms she hadn’t intended to.

“No mom, it’s not that.  I know you both love me and I’m proud you’re my parents, but I look at both of you together and I see total commitment between the two of you.  I feel like, if you didn’t have me, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.  But if something happened to either one of you it would be.”  Sweet Jesus, our baby thinks we don’t need her!  God how could we have let her think that?  Becca and I reached out to touch and reassure our little girl.

“My little angel.  I am so sorry we let you think for one instant our love is more important to us than you, because that is so not true.  Oh sweetheart we wanted you so much.  We begged and pleaded with every state government agency we could think of to allow us to adopt you.  You couldn’t be more a part of us if your mum and I would have given birth to you.  Sweetheart you complete us.  We take so much pride and joy in you and the things you do.  Our home would be empty without you in it.  We love you and all your friends coming and going constantly.”   My angel held Syd to her breast and kissed and stroked her fine blonde hair.

“Baby we know one day you’ll have to go out on your own and make a life for yourself.  The day you leave will be the saddest day of our lives.  Please