Disclaimer - see Part 1







Helena awoke when she felt hair flit across her nose. The ticklish sensation brought her to consciousness slowly, and she lesuirely took account of her surroundings without opening her eyes. She could feel pressure upon her unhurt shoulder, and felt deep, even breathing against her chest. *Barbara*. The hair belonged to her, and it was dancing in the breeze caused by a slightly opened window. It was mid-morning: Helena could feel light against her eyes, making her eyelids seem slightly red. She carefully cracked one eye open, the bright light causing her momentary blindness and a slight headache. Being careful not to move, she watched the woman in her arms in the morning light, feeling calmed by the easy breathing and peaceful sleep of her lover. *Barbara, my lover*. Helena couldn't believe that they had made love the previous night: she had been wanting to do it for so long, and the completeness she felt afterwards filled her with even more love and affection for the woman who had given it to her.



Barbara had been so gentle at first, careful not to aggravate her injuries, and Helena's release had been so powerful that she lost consciousness for a few minutes after forgetting to breathe. When she awoke, she saw concerned, yet amused green eyes, moist with emotion and love. The sensations she felt were overpowering, and Helena knew then that she was completely and utterly devoted to the woman currently sleeping upon her breast.



It was like they fitted perfectly, although their personalities could often be polar opposites. They had had their disagreements in the past, their weak moments, but each had pulled the other through, and both had grown stronger through their partnership. It seemed logical that their friendship would take itself to the next level......or did it? Helena knew that Barbara had tried to deny her feelings for some time, as she herself had, but neither had been successful at hiding their true affections for one another. Barbara felt she was robbing the cradle, while Helena felt that Barbara was too good for her: it was ironic how they perceived the newest stage of their relationship.



However, this was far from Helena's mind that Saturday morning, as she was content to watch the woman she loved sleep. Her arms tightened their hold on the body they surrounded, as if treasuring the person within. No, Helena would never let Barbara go, the woman she would give her life for and feel pain if she were hurt.



Helena was so absorbed in her musings, that she didn't realize that Barbara had woken up.



"Hey," she whispered, noticing Helena's pensive look and not wanting to disturb her thoughts.



Helena jumped at the sound of Barbara's voice breaking through her reverie. "Hey there," she said back, knowing it sounded lame, but trying to sound as casual as she could. She was slightly embarassed at being caught off guard, and her previous thoughts were of the same woman who was looking questioningly at her now. She felt guilty for a second, then realized she had no need to be, and smiled at her lover.



"How's your arm?" Barbara asked, reaching up and checking Helena's bandage.



"S'ok," Helena shrugged. She winced as Barbara checked the patch on her stomach, though, a look that wasn't unnoticed by the redhead.



"Are you still in pain?" she asked, now concerned that her motivations last night had been selfish and had caused Helena discomfort.



"Nah, it's okay. I kinda forgot that was there," Helena said, sheepishly. Neither seemed to want to broach the topic of the previous night, though both realized it had been a momentous occasion, and neither regretted it, either. The only question was, where it would lead.



"So," Helena said, feeling the tension in the air and trying to fill the silence.



Barbara interrupted her comment. "I want you to know that last night was one of the best nights of my life," she said, looking Helena straight in the eye. Her sincerity startled Helena, who was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of Barbara and herself together. Dating. Going to the movies. Holding hands. Kissing. Making love. Having a loving, normal relationship...or at least, as normal could be under the circumstances. She was willing to give it a try.



Finally, she smiled at the woman still nestled in her arms and said, "Me too." The smile still remained when Barbara came up to kiss her, and remained for the rest of the day. She got weird looks from the kid, but she didn't care. She was in love, and she wanted the world to know it.