DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'em. I just like to let them out to play once in awhile. It's not like TPTB are putting them to good use.
DISCLAIMER 2: I'm not making any money off of them; this is a labor of love. You know-- the obsessive kind that you're slightly embarrassed to admit to in public.
WARNING 1: Contains high sentiment and some warm, fuzzy Weaver. I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. Hell, it's not really even my cup of tea so go figure. Nevertheless, don't say you weren't warned.
WARNING 2: It's an "Oh god, not another Weaver/Legaspi reunification fic. As if THAT would happen in real life!" Don't say you weren't warned.
WARNING 3: I've worked in every romance movie cliché I could think of so-say it with me now-don't say you weren't warned. Still with me? Anyone? Hellooo?
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.

Generic Romance Number 3
By Punthesilea

Part One--Surprise Meetings

The doors to the psych ward opened with a welcoming whoosh. A tall, slender blonde approached the front desk where a clerk was busily typing at a computer. He looked up as she approached and broke out into a wide grin of recognition.

"Hey, Dr. K! Welcome back. We've missed you around here. How was England?" The desk clerk was unusually chipper for so early in the day but then beautiful women sometimes had that effect on him.

"Hey Derrick. It's good to be back. Although I'm not officially back `til tomorrow," she reminded him. "I just wanted to check in, take care of a few things." She set a large box down on the counter in front of the cheerful clerk as she shrugged out of her coat. "As for England, it was damp. And cold. The food sucked and did I mention the damp and the cold?" She'd spent the past nine months in London working on a psychiatric fellowship at the Royal Academy of Medicine. She discovered that, cultural differences aside, nuts was nuts.

"And the beer?"

Kim's expression grew wistful. "That was great." `Although not as great as the delightful waitress in the local pub,' she thought. "There was a fabulous pub just across from my tiny, cold, damp apartment. They had the best dark ale I've ever tasted, even if I had to drink it warmer than usual." She grinned at the memory.

Derek laughed. "Is that what's in the box?" he asked hopefully. He and Kim had bonded one happy hour over a love of rich, dark microbrews.

"No, that got confiscated at customs," Kim said sadly. She nodded toward the box. "This is tea and candy and all sorts of other goodies." She rummaged through the box and then tossed him a tin of cookies. "I'm just going to stick the rest in the break room for everybody."

She picked the box back up. "Is the boss in yet? I'm supposed to meet her at 8."

"Yeah, she's already in her office," he said as he tore open the tin. "It really is great to have you back Doc," he said around a mouthful of cookie.

Kim smiled and waved as she headed down the hall toward her supervisors office. She made a quick detour to the break room. She hoped her mug was still there. She could really use a cup of coffee. She'd flown home three days ago and she was still fighting jet lag. And she was sick of tea.

Fifteen minutes later, armed with a strong cup of coffee and a fresh legal pad, she knocked on her supervisor's office door.

"Come in," was the muffled response.

Kim pushed her way in through the door. She was eager to get back to work.

Kim's boss, Janet Peterson, was an attractive woman in her late middle age. She had salt and pepper hair that she wore cut very close to her scalp. She'd been a practicing psychiatrist for the better part of forty years and Kim respected her immensely. Janet scooted around the desk and enveloped Kim in a strong hug.

"Kim, it's great to have you back. And not just because we're short handed again," she joked as she sat down again. "And I'm supposed to invite you to dinner tonight so you can tell us all about your travels."

"It wasn't a vacation; I sent you the study results." Kim pursed her lips in mock prissiness.

Janet laughed. "Yeah, I got them but I really haven't had a chance to look at them. But if I know you, you managed a few extra curricular activities."

Kim nodded with a self satisfied smile. She had managed to get out of the hospital on occasion and there was certainly something to be said for the charms of English women.

Janet continued, "Sharon wants an account of your real adventures in bonnie olde England. She said you mentioned a barmaid named Anna in several of your more interesting emails."

Kim liked and respected Janet but she loved Janet's partner Sharon. Sharon was a real estate agent and had taken Kim under her wing when she moved to Minneapolis five years ago. First she helped Kim get a great deal on a fabulous loft apartment; then she proceeded to introduce her to every eligible dyke she knew. It wasn't Sharon's fault that none of the women had proved more than temporary diversions. Still, Sharon and Janet had been together 25 years and their easy, loving partnership gave Kim hope that such things were still possible. With her recent dating history, she could easily doubt it.

"I'd love to come to dinner but a lady doesn't kiss and tell."

"Good thing you're not a lady, then," Janet shot back with a smile. She rummaged around on her desk for a minute looking for the department's monthly schedule. She found it under the third stack of papers she lifted.

They went over Kim's schedule and the current departmental issues. She briefed Kim on the latest crop of medical students and the new first year residents and then they went over the results of Kim's study. After an hour they were ready for a break.

"Okay, we've covered work now tell me what's really been going on since I left. Did Bob's wife leave him when she found out about the affair?" Kim asked curiously.

They spent another half hour gleefully covering office gossip Kim had missed out on while she was gone. There had been 3 births, two separations and one nervous breakdown. "Wow, a lot happened in nine months."

"Yeah, and those are just the high points. We can cover the rest when you come over for dinner. Sharon's making lasagna tonight," Janet said.

Sharon made the best lasagna Kim had ever eaten.

"Great, I'll bring the wine." Kim stood and gathered up her notes and her empty coffee cup. "Anything else I should know about before I head into battle?" She walked toward the door.

"Oh yeah, the board finally selected a new chief of staff. Not that we see much of the powers that be down here."

"It took them long enough. What's he like?"

"She."

Kim raised her eyebrows. That was unexpected, great but unexpected.

"She's cute but bossy, verging on bitchy."

Kim laughed. "Just the way you like them."

"Pot, kettle. She does have the most darling toddler. Her name's ..." Just then Janet's phone rang. Janet glanced at the caller id. "I have to take this," she said, with real regret. "We'll finish catching up later," Janet promised as she turned to get the phone.

Kim nodded and waved as she headed out the door. She was ready to get back to work.

Eight hours later, Kim was ready to escape work but she was still trapped at the hospital. Two of her colleagues called in sick and Kim agreed to cover most of their appointments. She was really looking forward to a good dinner and a warm bed. She dropped off some paperwork in personnel and now all she needed was her coat and car keys. She hit the elevator call button and leaned against the wall while she waited for the car to arrive. She didn't even realize she'd closed her eyes until the ding of the elevator startled her awake. She moved away from the wall and watched the doors of the elevator slide open.

Her eyes widened in shock. A familiar middle-aged redhead was leaning on a crutch in front of her. Kim's only consolation was that Kerry looked as shocked as she felt. In fact if Kerry's jaw dropped any lower she'd be in danger of dislocating it. Before either woman could react, the elevator swished shut.

Kim smacked the button again but the elevator had already resumed its ascent. When it finally made its way back down to her floor the car was empty. For a moment, Kim wondered if she'd imagined everything. Fatigue could do strange things. She stepped into the elevator and headed back to the psych ward. `Which could be just where I belong,' she thought pessimistically.

She bypassed her own office and headed straight to Janet's. She knocked forcefully and then popped her head in the door. Janet was standing at her desk shoving papers into folders. Kim knew Sharon had a strict `no work at home' rule so Janet always left her desk organized for the following day's schedule. Of course the organization only lasted about five minutes once she got to work.

Janet glanced up. "You still here?" she asked teasingly. "Seriously, thanks for pitching in today but I thought you were leaving at 3. Jet lag or some lame excuse like that."

Kim nodded pensively and rubbed her right temple. "I got side tracked but I'm heading out soon. Janet?"

Janet took note of the strange expression on Kim's face. She was `green around the gills' as her mother would say. "Kim, are you okay? We can always do dinner another night," she said with real concern.

"Janet, who did they hire for chief of staff?"

"Her name's Weaver. Dr. Kerry Weaver. She's in Emergency Med and was the former chief of staff at…"

"County General, in Chicago," Kim finished for her.

Janet appraised Kim carefully. The blonde was pale as a ghost and looked like she might faint. Or vomit. Janet was starting to put two and two together. "That's right, you used to work there. I'd forgotten that. How well did you know her?"

"I'm not sure I knew her at all." Kim hesitated before adding, "Except, of course, in the biblical sense."

"…and that's the last time I saw Kerry Weaver," Kim said as she finished telling her rapt audience a highly edited story of her time in Chicago. They had finished dinner and were sitting on the couch in her friends' living room. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace and two empty bottles of wine on the coffee table.

"Wow. No wonder it threw you for a loop to see her again," Sharon said.

Kim rubbed her temple. "Yeah, it was kind of a shock," she admitted. `And the Grand Canyon is kind of a hole,' she thought.

Janet, ever the pragmatist, tried to be reassuring. "Listen, it'll be okay. You're both professionals and it's not like you'll be crossing paths every day. I think Weaver only works a couple of shifts a month in the ER. To keep up her skills. And you manage to avoid most of the upper level staff meetings." That was a point of contention for the two psychiatrists. Janet thought Kim would be a terrific administrator but the younger doctor refused to channel her energies in that direction.

Sharon didn't really see what the big deal was. It was huge hospital, after all. "You probably won't see her more than once a year at the Christmas party," she offered.

Kim nodded, only slightly reassured. "True but you both know how awkward it can be when you bump into an ex."

"You broke up with …what's her name…Kathy, the surgeon with no sense of humor. And you two still manage to work together," Janet said with irritating reason.

"Oh, and then there was that rad tech," Sharon threw in.

"Yeah, the one with the great tits," Janet said with an unnecessary smirk. "You're still talking to her. Oh and let's not forget…"

"Okay, okay!" Kim held up her arms in surrender. "I get your point." She stared down at the carpet for a moment. She didn't know how to explain her seemingly irrational reaction. `Love `em and leave `em' Legaspi didn't have issues with exes but with Kerry she apparently had a lifetime subscription. "Kerry's different," she finally mumbled.

"Yeah, we're getting that," Sharon said, kindly. She scooted closer to Kim on the couch and patted her hand.

Janet leaned over and refilled Kim's wineglass. Now there were three empty bottles on the coffee table. "What we don't know is why?"

"Kerry wasn't some fling. I really thought she might be the one. Then she ruined my life," Kim said with all the petulant self absorption of a brokenhearted teenager. She glared at her friends.

Janet rolled her eyes at Kim's histrionics and decided somebody had to be the voice of reason and since Kim was a friend and not a client she didn't have to mince words. "It's been six years. Your life is great. Your professional reputation is outstanding and you've recovered enough to date many, many accomplished and beautiful women."

Kim nodded. That made her feel a little better. She even managed a small smile.

Encouraged by Kim's reaction, Janet continued her pep talk. "You should both be able to act like the adult professionals you are. You've moved on; she's moved on."

Kim's right eye twitched. "Back to her life," Kim mumbled to herself bitterly. "I guess she did go back to men," she said more loudly.

"Men? No I don't think so." Janet frowned in puzzlement. At least she hadn't heard any rumors of a husband.

"You said she had a toddler," Kim said. She tried to soften her surprisingly accusatory tone. It wasn't Janet's fault that her past was making an unwelcome reappearance.

"You should know that gay doesn't mean infertile," Sharon said, with a laugh. She and Janet had three children. The youngest, Jessie, was just starting her first year at college.

Janet considered her evidence carefully. "I'm pretty sure she's gay," Janet said. "Her bio didn't mention a husband and she is a member of GLMA."

"She's out," Kim exclaimed with an embarrassing squeak. Her left eye twitched.

"Well, she's not exactly broadcasting the news but it's no secret. She even attended the last few meetings of the hospitals GLBT group."

Kim's right eye twitched again. `Damn jetlag!'

Janet looked at her partner, her face dark with worry. She had never seen Kim so stressed. Not even the time she had twelve schizophrenics with assorted voices yelling at her simultaneously.

"If you're that interested, you could just talk to her," Sharon suggested softly.

"I'm not interested," Kim shot back with feigned nonchalance. "I am sooo not interested," she repeated just in case they hadn't heard her the first time. She leaned back on the sofa and took a sip of her wine. She tried to banish all thoughts of short redheads. `A toddler? Out? Kerry Weaver in her hospital…. Jesus!'

A short time later, Kim took a cab back to her loft. She swallowed a handful of aspirin, drank a bottle of water and then tumbled into bed. She had a late shift the following day so she knew she could sleep off the effects of the wine. She wasn't so sure she could sleep off the shock of seeing Kerry Weaver again. She fell asleep repeating "I can do this. We're all professionals. We won't cross paths."

Kim woke up late the next morning. A hot shower and another handful of aspirin took care of the remaining headache. She felt pretty good. The extra sleep had done wonders but not as much as the late night realization that she'd seen Dr. Jacobson, the last chief of staff, only a half dozen times in the five years she'd worked at the hospital. And that had been in passing. `There's no reason for that to change,' she thought optimistically.

Kim's optimism lasted until she opened the door to her office and found Kerry Weaver standing in the middle of the room looking like she owned the place. She should have known; Kerry seldom shied away from confrontation. `Except when it really matters, of course,' Kim thought bitterly.

Kerry heard the door open and jumped right in. She lifted her arm pleadingly. "Kim, I know you're busy but I need speak to you for a moment. Please?" Kerry asked.

Kim slammed her professional mask into place. She'd spent years perfecting a look of concerned but emotionally distant interest. Professional. "Of course, Dr. Weaver, what can I do for you?" She couldn't resist adding "And please, make yourself at home in my office." She rolled her eyes. Professional only went so far.

Kerry realized this conversation wasn't going to be easy. `But then when has anything ever been easy between us,' she thought. She'd spent the night convincing herself that they would find a way to work together amicably. They had to. She wasn't going anywhere and she'd do everything she could to see that Kim remained there. She was too good a doctor to lose over some personal friction that happened years ago. `Of course by friction you mean nuclear meltdown, don't you, Weaver,' Kerry's little voice prodded. `Damn, she looks good,' it threw in for good measure.

Kim walked further into her office and closed the door. Shrugging out of her coat, she placed her briefcase on her desk. She used the task of unloading it to disguise her shaking hands.

"Kim," Kerry repeated. "I was as shocked as you were yesterday. I wanted to talk to you then but I was on my way to a meeting with the hospital board. By the time I was free you'd already left."

"What are you doing here, Kerry?" Kim's tone was both hurt and accusatory. `So much for professional.'

"I'm the new chief of staff. I've been here about five months."

"Yes, but why here?"

Kerry understood what Kim was really asking. "Better pay, better hours," she answered glibly.

Kim stared at her in disbelief. She raised an eyebrow eloquently, forcing Kerry to continue.

"Okay, Chicago was just too full of memories. I wanted to start over, start fresh. And I have family in this area. When I heard about this job I jumped on it," Kerry said with exasperation. "Honestly, Kim, I didn't know you worked here when I took this job. I thought you were in San Francisco."

"That was temporary," Kim said. She'd gone to stay with some friends while she sorted everything out. Six weeks later she'd taken this job. "Would it have made any difference had you known?"

"Yes…no… I don't know," Kerry said sincerely. She rubbed her forehead in confusion. After the alderman fiasco and then Sandy's death and the custody fight, Kerry had just wanted some peace. And she wasn't going to get that at County. It was too full of memories. `And now this,' she thought wryly.

"Kim, I think we can work together. It'll be a little weird but we'll get through it," Kerry said resolutely. "You're in the trenches. I'm in administration. You won't even know that I'm here. We can do this."

Kim's hurt and confusion quickly turned to hostility in the face of Kerry's optimism. "You're right. It's a large hospital," Kim said softly. "Stay out of my way Dr. Weaver and we'll be fine. We're both professionals."

Kerry remembered the first time she heard Kim say that. She hadn't cared for it much then either. She swallowed the knot of anger that was growing in her throat. Kim had a right to some residual resentments but she wasn't the only one who'd been deeply hurt. "That should be easily accomplished, Dr. Legaspi," Kerry said with false calm. "Now if you'll excuse me I'll get back to work." Kerry turned and stormed off down the hallway.

Kim leaned against her desk and watched Kerry walk away. `Damn, she still looks good.'

Kerry did her best to stay out of Kim's path. It was surprisingly easy to do. She had little reason to visit the psych ward and she was careful about scheduling her ER shifts. She knew that at some point they would cross paths but the longer they avoided each other the better.

Her luck ran out about two months after their meeting in Kim's office.

Kim approached the admit desk of the ER. "Hi Terri, did you page me?"

"Bipolar in 3, Solomon," was the clerk's terse response. Terri handed her the patient's chart and went back to the phone.

Kim scanned the chart. She recognized the precise handwriting. "This is Weaver's patient?" Kim had almost forgotten the other woman worked there. If it hadn't been for an irritating number of hospital memos that crossed her desk with disturbing regularity she would never even think of her. At least that's what she told herself.

"Yeah, she's the only attending on `til ten. Flu's going around. She handling an MVA right now but there's an intern in with the patient."

Kim nodded and headed toward the exam room.

Kim was still writing up her notes as she left exam room 3. It hadn't taken long to determine that Mr. Solomon did indeed need to be admitted. She saw Kerry at the admit desk. She was leaning against the counter and making notations on a chart. Kim took a calming breath and then approached the desk. `Professional,' she reminded herself.

"Dr. Weaver, I'm going to admit Mr. Solomon." Kim held out the chart.

Kerry's head shot up so fast Kim was afraid of whiplash. "Kim…I thought you worked days this week." Kerry's eyes were wide with dismay.

`That explains why I haven't seen her,' Kim thought. The old avoidance trick. "I'm covering for Dr. Peters. The flu's going around you know," Kim said with a smirk. Somehow Kerry's obvious discomfort made her feel better.

Kerry smiled. "Yeah, I know," she said wryly. She took the chart Kim was holding out. "Thanks, we'll send him up in a few minutes."

Kim stood there a beat longer than necessary. She nodded twice and then turned back toward the elevators. `That went well,' she thought.

Kim had been back on her ward for about half an hour when she got another page from the ER. `Damn, what now?' she thought irritably but she headed right down. She wasn't even on call for the ER. She'd only taken the previous call because her third year resident was home puking his guts out. As she exited the elevator, Kim could see Kerry waiting at the front desk.

"What is it now Dr. Weaver?" Kim asked curtly.

Kerry graciously ignored her tone and handed Kim the chart. "This one's actually yours. Looks like a suicide attempt. He asked for you," Kerry said apologetically.

Kim scanned the chart. "Damn!" Harold was back. Harold was a methamphetamine addict. He'd been in and out of rehab for the past year. The last time Kim had seen him, he'd been clean for two months and was living in a halfway house. He'd gotten a job, been in contact with his family. Things had looked promising. Now this. She sighed.

Kerry watched Kim read the chart. Kim's expression moved from irritation to disbelief to resigned disappointment. Not for the first time, Kerry was glad of the ER's treat `em and street `em policy. It was hard to get attached to someone you only saw for a few minutes.

Kim looked up from the chart. "Where?"

"Room 2."

"Thanks, Kerry." She walked briskly to the exam room.

Kerry smiled at Kim's back. Maybe they could do this.

When Kim finally got back to her office her shift was almost over. She couldn't have been happier about it. She was on edge and starving. She debated going to the cafeteria but decided against it. She'd be off in an hour and could get some real food. Still, a snack might be in order. She was rummaging in her desk for change when her pager went off again. "Damn it!" she yelled. It was the ER again. `Kerry what the hell are you doing?'

Kim stormed down to the ER. Kerry was no where to be seen. "Teri, where's Dr. Weaver?"

"Break room, I think," Teri answered. She didn't even bother looking up from her computer.

Kim burst through the door, determined to nip this familiar pattern in the bud. "Dr. Weaver, what the hell's going on?" she asked pointedly.

Kerry, sitting at the table eating, was so startled by Kim's abrupt reappearance that she dropped her sandwich. "What?"

"I'm not on call for the ER. This is the third page today," Kim continued. "What's going on?"

"Kim, I didn't page you," Kerry said, confusion shading into irritation.

"What?" It was Kim's turn to be confused. `Shit!'

"I didn't page you," Kerry repeated slowly. She was beginning to enjoy Kim's predicament. She watched a blush travel up Kim's neck to color her cheeks a most delightful shade of pink. Kerry decided to take pity on her. "I think Dr. Turner is the attending in charge right now," she said evenly.

"Oh, okay." She turned to go but hesitated a moment. "I'm sorry," she said, turning back. "I apologize for flying off the handle like that. Must be low blood sugar. I skipped lunch today," she babbled. She gave a confused little laugh, hoping that didn't sound as lame to Kerry as it did to her.

"It's okay. Hunger always makes you cranky," Kerry said, taking a chance on mentioning the past. She reached in her lunch bag and pulled out a banana. She offered it to Kim carefully. "I know it's not chocolate but it's the best I can do on such short notice."

Kim stared at the banana like she'd never seen one before. A long moment later, Kim smiled and accepted the offering graciously. "Thanks, add a bag of chips and it's a balanced meal."

"Only in your world Legaspi," Kerry teased.

Kim laughed. "I should probably go find my patient," she said waving her banana vaguely in the direction of the exam rooms.

Kerry nodded.

"Thanks for the snack," Kim said. She beat a hasty retreat before the encounter had a chance to deteriorate. `Smooth move, Legaspi.' She shook her head in self disgust.

Kerry could see Kim talking to herself as she pulled the door closed the door behind her. She chuckled and went back to eating her lunch.

Kim didn't see Kerry again for two weeks at which time they passed in the hallway and nodded politely. A week after that, Kim, covering for Janet, sat in on a committee that Kerry chaired. Aside from a brief hello there was no other personal interaction. `This is good,' Kim thought. `Normalization of relations. Maybe we can do this.' And if she noticed how the color of Kerry's suit brought out the color of her eyes, she didn't agonize over it.

A few days later, Kim was in the cafeteria. It was unusually crowded. It looked like several buses full of high school kids had been emptied into the room. She would have taken her tray back to her office but she really didn't have time. Then she noticed Kerry sitting at a table by herself. She was engrossed in a pile of computer printouts. `Why not Legaspi, it's just lunch.' Kim squared her shoulders and walked over.

"Is this seat taken?"

"What?" Kerry asked irritably before looking up. She jumped slightly in her seat when she realized who was asking. Confusion was written all over her face.

"May I join you?" Kim asked. She waved her tray in the general direction of the mob of high school students. "Otherwise I'm going to have to sit with the football team over there and I'm not sure that's a good idea," she joked.

Kerry looked over at the crowded tables. `I'm sure they'd love it,' she thought. Kerry nodded.

"What's going on in here?" Kim scanned the room. She'd never seen it so full. Most of the longtime staff wouldn't be caught dead eating what they served in the cafeteria but Kim had an inexplicable fondness for institutional cooking.

Kerry glanced around. "Field trip," she explained. "Swinson, in community relations, thought it would be a good idea to have local high schools tour the hospital. Then he gives them this lecture about the demand for workers in the healthcare fields. He's an idiot." Kerry felt on the verge of babbling so she finished with, "Let me just move this pile." And then she shut up and shoved some papers out of the way to make room for Kim's tray.

Kim set her tray down and slid in to the seat across from Kerry. She glanced down at the papers strewn across the table. "Why are you working here and not in your office?"

"There was a water leak on the fourth floor. Right above me. Nothing was hurt but maintenance is up there now repairing the pipe and cleaning up the mess." Kerry sighed. Sometimes she felt like Job. She tried to ignore the loud, adolescent voices that threatened to drown out all competing sound.

Kim smiled sympathetically so Kerry continued. "The conference rooms are all booked and the break room tables are too small. So here I am." She stared over at the food fight starting up at the long table in the corner. "In hell."

"Yikes," Kim said. She dug into her lunch. She only had fifteen minutes before her next appointment. "You could always call security; have them tossed out," she said with a grin. "You are the boss after all."

"Nah, they'll be gone soon enough. Besides, I have to leave in half an hour anyway." Kerry hesitated, not sure what Kim's approaching her meant. "I have to pick up my son from daycare."

Kim smiled a tight little smile and uttered a noncommittal, "I see."

Kerry glanced at Kim, her expression growing serious. "Kim can I ask you a question?"

Kim tensed her shoulders automatically but she gave a leery nod.

"Have you seen the budget projections for next quarter? The whole thing is a mess."

With an internal sigh of relief, Kim shook her head. She chuckled at herself and her fears.

Kerry was puzzled. "The budget doesn't usually elicit that response," she said. "I was wondering if you had any suggestions for areas we could cut back or reorganize."

Kerry's pager went off before Kim could reply. Glancing quickly at the number, Kerry said "I've got to go." She drained her coffee cup and started to organize her papers into piles.

"Hey, you!" Kerry yelled at a med student who had the misfortune to pass by the table just then. "Gather up these piles and take them to my office," she ordered. "Room 310. It says chief of staff on the door," she added crankily. "Just leave them with my secretary," she said as she rushed off, leaving a confused student and an amused colleague in her energetic wake.

"I'd do as she said," Kim advised with a grin. She wolfed down her lunch and then rushed back to her office for her 2 o'clock appointment.

An hour later, Kim was writing up her notes when Janet walked into her office.

"Did you hear?" Janet asked as Kim kept writing.

Kim looked up. "Hear what?" She could tell that Janet had something juicy. She clicked her pen closed and leaned back in her chain. "Spill it."

Janet shut the door behind her and pulled a chair up beside Kim's desk. "Well…"

"So Stephenson quit?"

"Or was fired. We're not sure which. He was either dipping into the department's funds or sexually harassing another doctor. Probably both," Janet said with undisguised glee. She'd always despised the misogynistic head of the Emergency Department. She'd knocked heads with him for years and though things had improved over the last six months she was still delighted to see him gone. "Weaver's taking over until they can get a replacement."

"Oh," Kim said noncommittally.

Janet reined in her delight at Stephenson's misfortune. "Are you going to be okay with that?"

Kim gave the question serious thought. After a moment, she nodded. "Yeah, I think it'll be okay. We've established some boundaries."

Janet looked at Kim suspiciously. She wasn't sure she bought that statement but she was willing to let it go for now. Denial could be a very useful coping mechanism. She decided to change the subject. "Hey, Sharon's got someone new for you to meet," she said.

Kim laughed. "I don't know. After last time, I'm not sure I trust her judgment."

"What was wrong with Kelly?" Janet asked. "She was cute."

"She was a mime, Janet." Kim said scornfully. "Besides, I'm not interested in relationships at the moment. Maybe never again," she muttered. Kim picked her pen up signaling the end of that conversation.

"Who said anything about a relationship? It's just a date," Janet said undaunted. "Kelly was really a mime? I thought she just liked to wear black. Don't worry, Helen's not a mime." She thought for a minute. "At least I don't think she's a mime. Maybe I'd better call Sharon." Janet laughed and headed for her own office. "But really, how many lesbian mimes could there be in Minneapolis?"

A few hours later Kim was heading for the exit. She needed to drop off a few forms in the ER and then she was on her way home for a hot bath, a stiff drink and Emma Donoghue's latest novel. She approached the admit desk and tossed her charts in the appropriate basket. She turned to go and ran smack into Kerry. She reached out and grabbed the smaller woman before she could hit the floor. Her arms wrapped tightly around the redhead to keep them both upright. In six years she had forgotten how warm Kerry's body always was but the brief contact brought all those sense memories rushing back.

Kim held on for a few moments longer than absolutely necessary. "Jesus, Kerry, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

Kerry regained her footing and stabbed at the floor with her crutch. An embarrassed blush spread up her neck. "I'm okay, I'm okay," she muttered as she fussed with her lab coat. Kim dropped her hold and Kerry stepped back from the blonde.

Kim reached down and picked Kerry's stethoscope up off the floor. She handed it to the redhead sheepishly. "I really am sorry."

Kerry looked up at the concerned blonde standing so close. "I'm alright," she assured her. Just then a small voice called out, "Mama, Mama!" And a body came hurtling out of no where and ran right into Kerry, capsizing her for the second time in two minutes.

Kim reached out and steadied the redhead again. She was witness to the joy lighting up Kerry's eyes.

"Henry," Kerry cried with delight as she wrapped her arms around her son. She picked him up and tossed him in the air a little.

Kim was astounded by the carefree display.

A young woman approached the trio. "Sorry Dr. Weaver, he got away from me for a minute," she apologized.

"That's okay, Carol. Thanks for bringing him down for me." Kerry turned to introduce the newcomers to Kim. She didn't even get the introductions started before Kim said hello.

"Dr. Legaspi, how are you?" Carol asked the psychiatrist. "We haven't seen you in the daycare in months."

Kerry noticed that Carol seemed very pleased to see Kim. She was obviously enamored of the blonde. Kerry's first thought was `who wasn't?' Kerry realized there were things she didn't need to know about her employees.

Kim turned to Kerry. "Sometimes the daycare keeps an eye on the kids whose parents are visiting folks in the psych ward. It's a great help," Kim explained. She smiled at Carol warmly.

Carol blushed and said, "I better get back upstairs. We're a little shorthanded this evening. Good night, Dr. Legaspi, Dr. Weaver."

Watching the young woman depart, Kim felt the weight of a stare. She turned to face Kerry and unexpectedly found herself staring into a set of beautiful, dark brown eyes. Eyes that beamed suspicion and worry, she realized. She smiled at the little boy but he wasn't giving an inch. Kerry's eyes, on the other hand, crinkled in amusement and she looked like she was holding back a grin. "She seems like a nice girl," Kerry remarked with deceptive disinterest.

Kim nodded noncommittally and Kerry turned her attentions back to the toddler now squirming in her arms.

"Kim, this is my son, Henry. Henry this is Dr. Kim." Kerry made the introductions proudly. She clearly adored the boy. "Say hello Henry," she suggested gently.

Kim turned on the charm. "Hi, Henry. It's nice to meet you." She reached out slowly and touched his hand.

Henry turned away from Kim and buried his head in the crook of Kerry's neck. He tightened his hold on his mother.

"He's a little shy," Kerry apologized. "He's also a little tired. I'm late but we're finally on our way home. Aren't we Henry?"

Henry nodded but he didn't look up.

"Me too. Walk you out?" Kim offered.

"Thanks but I've got to get my coat." Kerry sniffed the air delicately. "And probably change a diaper," she added as she started down the hall.

"I heard about Stephenson," Kim admitted as she followed Kerry down the hall. `It's on my way,' she told herself.

"Which version did you hear? I'm sure there's half a dozen by now," Kerry said wryly as she turned toward the doctor's lounge. "Is that going to be… problematic?"

At Kim's confused look Kerry added, "Me. Covering the ER more often for a while?"

Kim considered it for a moment. "I think we'll manage," Kim said as she opened the door to the lounge. She waved mother and son through while she stopped in the doorway. "I'll see you on Monday, Dr. Weaver. Good night Henry," she said with a warm smile.

Henry glared at her over his mother's shoulder.

Kim waited until she was seated in her car before making the call. "Sharon? Hi, it's Kim. Janet told me you had a hot prospect lined up for me."

"Are you going to countermand my orders?" Kim asked belligerently. She and Kerry had spent the last five minutes discussing, loudly, the merits of a single admit. It was their third such run in this week.

Kim's question drew Kerry up short. She looked up at the other doctor. Kim's brow was furrowed in irritation and she was pugnaciously invading more than a little bit of Kerry's personal space.

"Of course not. I'm not sure of your diagnosis but you are the psychiatrist here." Kerry signed off on the transfer without another thought and headed back to the desk to pick up another chart. She didn't have time to second guess her more experienced staff members. It had taken her a while but her final years at County had taught her the benefits of delegation and trust. Still, she could certainly appreciate the fire in Kim's eyes when she was forced to defend her position.

Kim muttered something about tight assed administrators, grabbed a passing orderly and accompanied her new patient upstairs to the relative safety of the psych ward. She was still mumbling when she ran into Janet in the hallway.

"Kim, I was looking for you. Can you serve on the selection committee for the new Emergency department head?"

Kim rolled her eyes. "I really don't think I'm the best choice. Besides, I'm up to my eyeballs in work."

Janet listened carefully and nodded sympathetically as Kim listed more reasons for not serving on the committee. When Kim slowed down, Janet handed her a sheaf of papers. "Great, thanks. I knew I could count on you. The committee's meeting Wednesday, at 9." She rushed off down the hall before Kim could start sputtering.

"Shit!" Kim stormed into her office and slammed the door. She took a few deep breaths. `Okay Kimmie, be reasonable. Maybe this won't be so bad," Kim said as she threw herself into her chair. `Besides, the sooner we find a replacement, the sooner Kerry can get back upstairs where she won't be so distracting." Kim took a deep breath and picked up her pencil. `Wait…distracting?' Kim shook her head vigorously to clear out of thoughts of feisty redheads. She attacked a stack of charts that she'd been avoiding for most of the morning.

Kerry must have been off the next couple of days. Not that Kim was looking for the redhead every time she was called down to the ER. At least that's what she told herself. Oh well, she knew she'd see Kerry at the selection committee meeting on Wednesday. She couldn't tell if she was dreading it or just the opposite.

Kim rushed to work on Wednesday morning. She wanted to get to the conference room early. Before all the good donuts were gone, she told herself. She walked into the conference room and glanced around. She nodded at the familiar faces. There were several doctors from the ER as well as a representative from each of the major departments. But there was no sign of Kerry.

Kim grabbed a cup of coffee and a donut and sat down near the head of the table to wait. Kerry, her assistant in tow, came in a few minutes later. "Just put those down there, John. Thanks."

John set a stack of folders down on the table and then quickly made his escape.

Kerry looked around at the gathered group of doctors. She startled slightly when she saw Kim but she got right down to business. "Thanks for coming in this morning. This is the first batch of CVs for the position. I'd like the committee to take a look at them and weed it out to about ten candidates. When you're done leave the potentials with John. Any questions?"

"Aren't you going to participate?" Dr. Parker from the ER asked.

"No, right now I'd like you to determine the candidate pool." Kerry looked at the assembled doctors. There were no more questions. She nodded and then tapped the pile of applications. "Have fun," she said with an evil smirk as she turned to leave the room.

Four hours later, the donuts and coffee were gone but the committee had worked through the stack. Kim offered to take the results to Weaver. The other doctors were only too willing to let her.

Kim put the most promising candidates on the top of the pile and then headed to Kerry's office. John was on the phone when Kim entered but he saw the folders and nodded his head at Kerry's office. Kim went in. To her surprise and, she had to admit, disappointment, the office was empty. As she put the stack of folders down on Kerry's desk she noticed a framed photograph. The picture was of Kerry, Henry and a beautiful Hispanic woman.

Kim picked up the picture to look more closely. She couldn't help herself. Henry obviously had his mother's eyes. They looked so happy.

Kim jumped as John cleared his throat behind her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snoop. They just looked so happy," she said lamely.

John looked at her oddly. "Yeah, they do. I think Dr. Weaver must have loved her very much."

"They aren't still together?" Kim asked. She'd asked Janet about Kerry's current domestic arrangements but she didn't have any information. Even out of the closet Kerry was still as private as before.

John looked quickly at the door. He didn't want his boss to come in and find him gossiping about her. He glanced at Kim and apparently decided she could be trusted.

"She was killed in a fire. She was a fireman. That's all I know. Dr. Weaver doesn't talk much about her private life. And she wouldn't appreciate any gossip about it either," he added pointedly as he left the office.

Kim smiled sadly. "Believe me, I know." She set the photo down and turned to leave.

Kerry came in just as Kim reached the door. "Dr. Weaver, I left the folders on your desk."

"Thanks, Kim. Anyone look promising?" Kerry asked.

Kim nodded. "There were a couple that looked very good." She laughed, "Of course you can't really get a sense of them just from their CVs."

"Yeah, and we wouldn't want anymore tight assed administrator types around here." Kerry's sly grin took the sting out of her words. She looked at Kim appraisingly for a moment.

"Kim, would you…" Kerry hesitated and then forged ahead. "Would you sit in on the interviews? I know Peterson's your department head but I'd really like your input. You do a lot more work in the ER, you know the personalities down there and you're terrific at reading people."

Kim was surprised and inordinately pleased by Kerry's assessment. That's probably why she agreed so quickly to do it. "Sure, I'd be happy too." She smiled down at Kerry.

"Thanks, that'd be a big help. I'll let you know the details when they're finalized," Kerry said, effectively dismissing her.

Kim nodded. "Great. I'll see you later."

"Later?"

Kim smiled. "Downstairs," she explained.

"Oh, right. The ER."

From the back of the small lecture hall, Kim watched as Kerry entered. It was the monthly meeting of the hospital's GLBT support group and she was there to support a friend. Kerry nodded at a few people as she made her way over to the ubiquitous coffee urn set up on one side of the room. She added a tray of something to the selection of sweet offerings and then poured herself a cup of coffee. Kim saw her take a deep breath and then make her way slowly over to the group at the front of the room.

"Dr. Weaver, hi. I'm glad you could make it," Dr. Henderson, the group's chair, greeted her warmly. Henderson was a surgeon and from what Kerry could tell, she was heavily involved in gay politics throughout the city. Henderson made a few introductions and then suggested they get started.

Kerry found a seat a few rows back from the podium and settled in to listen to the guest speaker, an aids healthcare worker in the local community. Kerry tried to make at least one meeting a quarter. The importance of community involvement was something she'd learned from Sandy. Her partner had been active in both the Latino and Gay communities. "Sending a check is great but it won't ever replace the need for bodies on the street," she used to say. "Besides, they're great places to meet chicks," she'd always teased.

"If I'd known you were coming I'd have saved you a seat," Kim said as she slid into the seat beside Kerry.

Kerry glanced over and smiled politely but she didn't say anything.

"You should try the brownies," Kim said as she bit into her second brownie of the evening.

"I made the brownies," Kerry whispered. "Now shush, I'm trying to listen."

Kim laughed but did as directed. The speaker, Jennifer, was an old friend of hers and she was there to provide a friendly face. She settled into her chair and pretended to focus on the lecture.

After the question and answer session everyone moved over to the snack table. Kerry stood and stretched. She looked at her watch. If she hurried she'd have time to run by the market before she had to be home.

Kim, armed with a fresh cup of coffee, came back over to Kerry. She knew she didn't have a handle on her feelings. There were so many conflicting impulses to sort out. Overriding them all was a sudden desire to talk to Kerry. Seriously talk, without the distractions of work. . "So it's true. You're out," Kim said. Her voice wavered a bit with hurt and an underlying anger. She hadn't really believed it before now, despite the evidence of Henry and his mother.

"Yes, I'm out," Kerry replied. There was no way that those simple words could possibly convey the years of struggle and pain that Kerry had gone through to make them true. `But then,' she thought, `that's probably true for everyone.'

"Kim, I haven't seen you at one of these before," Kerry said, pointedly changing the subject.

"I've been busy," she said tersely. She wasn't going to let herself get side tracked. "How long?"

"What?"

"How long have you been out?"

"About 5 years. More or less," Kerry replied. "Not that it's any of your business."

Kim nodded several times. Despite the rebuke, she was satisfied with that answer. Her expression softened and she reached out for Kerry's arm. "Was it difficult?" she asked gently.

"Difficult?" Kerry snorted in disbelief. Which part? "It was manageable," Kerry finally replied, a grim set to her mouth.

Kim knew there was more to it than that. Suddenly she wanted to hear the whole story. She needed to know how Kerry evolved in to the self-confident dyke standing in front of her. Kim ran her hand gently up Kerry's coat sleeve. "Would you like to go get a drink somewhere and talk about it?"

Kerry laughed outright at that. Kim always did have balls. She jerked her arm away from Kim. "No, I don't want to talk about it," she said harshly. She was doing her best to stay out of Kim's way and keep things professional and now Kim wanted to talk? Damn it, Kim always did send mixed messages. Unlike Sandy. Sandy was always direct. You knew what she felt, you knew what she expected. Kerry loved that about her.

Kim was startled by Kerry's vehemence and her eyes widened in dismay.

Kerry realized she'd been unnecessarily abrupt. To soften the rejection, she added, "I have to get home. I've only got the sitter `til 8." That wasn't exactly true but it did provide a plausible escape.

Kim nodded again and Kerry realized what an irritating earnestness Kim sometimes displayed. Kerry pointed across the room to the woman who had given the presentation. She was obviously watching Kim. "I bet you could persuade her to go for drinks," she said with a forced grin. "She's been eyeing you all night."

Kim turned around casually. Jennifer was waving to her from the other side of the room. "Why not?" she said with insouciance she didn't really feel. But she was trying to salvage a modicum of pride. "I'll see you at work," she said as she started toward the apparently hopeful woman. She didn't look back; she didn't want to watch Kerry walk away.

"Kim, some of us are going out for drinks," Jennifer said. "Want to come?"

"Sure, that'd be great." Kim hadn't come to these meetings in a long time but not so long that she didn't remember the drinking and camaraderie afterwards. She knew she needed some time to sort out her feelings about Kerry's new status as an out lesbian. She was all kinds of ambivalent about it. But mostly she felt raw.

"So Kim, who's the redhead you were chatting up?" Jennifer asked as she poured Kim another beer.

"That was my boss, actually," Kim said. She reached for the bowl of pretzels.

"She's the new chief of staff at the hospital," Dr. Henderson said. "I think she'll work out well. And she's a hell of a lot better looking than Jacobson," she added with an appreciative grin. "More backbone, too."

"She does have that `don't fuck with me' attitude down pat. Kim always did have a thing for authority figures," Sarah teased.

"This from a woman married to a cop," Kim retorted.

"But in my case it's not authority," Jennifer said. "It's uniforms," she added with a snicker. "Police, soldiers, postmen."

"UPS drivers," Kim added helpfully.

"Airline pilots," was Dr. Henderson's contribution.

"Meter maids," an OB nurse threw in. Soon the whole table was laughing.

"So what is it about take charge women that we all find so attractive?" Jennifer asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.

`What indeed,' Kim wondered. She realized she still found Kerry quite attractive, desirable even. The spark in her eyes when she'd summarily declined Kim's offer of drinks was a significant reminder of why. Still, nothing said she had to act on the attraction, right? Wasn't she always telling her clients that impulses didn't have to be acted on? Impulses should be acknowledged and dealt with, sure. But nothing said you actually had to beat your spouse to death with a tire iron, just because he left the top off the toothpaste again. And nothing said that just because you still found someone appealing you had to follow up on it. Lots of people are appealing. `Many people at this table, in fact, and I don't feel the need to get closer to any of them,' Kim thought reasonably. `Yep, impulse control is the way to go.'

Kim got in to work early the next morning. She knew that Kerry was scheduled for days this week and for the first time in a long time she was looking forward to working with the irascible redhead. Or at least she wasn't dreading it. Once she'd admitted to the attraction and decided not to act on it, everything else fell into place. She and Kerry would be friendly colleagues. Finally. Nothing more, nothing less. She was practically whistling as she walked to her office.

She didn't see Kerry for the next three days. She was getting a little pissed about it. She was anxious to try her new policy of admission and restraint. What good is it to have a policy if I don't get to test it, she thought.

Kim wasn't on call for the ER the rest of that week but she did make a few unnecessary trips through the area. She even made a trek up to the third floor where all the administration offices were. Sure she had some forms that needed to go through Accounting but interoffice mail would have worked just as well. She took the long way back to her ward. She told herself she needed to stretch after sitting all day. If the long way went right past Kerry's, office that was neither here nor there.

The door to Kerry's office suite was closed. For one brief moment she thought about knocking and running away. Luckily she remembered she was an adult, not a fifth grader and walked on by.

The ride in the elevator was interminable. Kim had to face the truth. Some how, some way Kerry had wormed her way back into Kim's interest. Back in her office she plopped in her chair and sighed dejectedly. `Damn. And denial had been working so well.' She ran through her personal arsenal of avoidance techniques. `Okay, let's try distraction.' She grabbed her organizer and scanned the listings. After a minute deciphering her coded notes, she picked up the phone. "Hi Cynthia, it's Kim. Kim Legaspi…"

"Well, that was the last one," Kerry said. She looked around at the assembled group of doctors and could almost hear a collective groan of relief.

"Anyone have any immediate recommendations?" They were finishing up the interviews for the new ED chief. They'd only had two in house candidates and neither of them had the experience that Kerry would have preferred. Still, she didn't want to dismiss them out of hand. The assembled group looked shell shocked. They'd interviewed six candidates in ten hours and the last one had been a doozy. He looked great on paper but he had the people skills of a gnat.

"Okay, go home, think it over and give me your recommendations by Friday, please."

The small group of doctors rose from their chairs and filed out quickly before Weaver could change her mind.

Kim stayed in her seat waiting for the crowd to clear the door. She watched Kerry, two seats over, gather up her notes. "Jesus, Kerry did you have to schedule them all in one day?" she asked. "I don't think Miller's worked a ten hour shift in ten years. And on a Saturday!"

Kerry laughed and walked over to where Kim was still sitting. "I thought he was going to bolt when I told him we had two more. But I wanted to do it while most of the candidates were in town for the conference." She was referring to an emergency medical conference that just happened to be taking place in town that weekend.

"That way their travel expenses were already covered. It saved the hospital thousands," Kerry gloated.

"Some things never change," Kim said, shaking her head in mock sadness. She stood up to leave. Kerry reached out and lightly touched her arm, stopping her.

"But some things do," Kerry said seriously. She pulled her hand back slowly. "I want to tell you that I'm really glad we're able to work together. It means a lot to me that we can be friendly colleagues."

Kim leaned against the conference table and looked at Kerry. "It means a lot to me too," she admitted. Kim decided to take a chance. "But I'd like to be more than colleagues."

Kerry was shocked and confused. What did that mean exactly? "Kim, I don't know….I'm not ready… I can't …" she sputtered to halt. She wasn't ready for this; whatever this was. She took a step back, putting some physical distance between herself and the blonde.

Kim realized she hadn't lost her knack for surprising Kerry. "Kerry, I'd like to be friends. Just friends," she clarified. "If you want to, that is."

Kerry stared at her measuringly. She was reminded of a similar moment in a diner, years ago. Then, Kerry had asked Kim for her trust. Now Kim was asking for the same consideration. She had no choice. Kerry smiled and said, "Friends. I'd like that very much."

"Great, I'll even let you buy me dinner," Kim said as she scooped up her papers.

"Let me?" Kerry asked skeptically.

"I figure you owe me that much," Kim said.

"What?"

"You did make me work ten hours on a Saturday. Dinner is the least you can do."

"Should I invite Dr. Miller?" Kerry asked sarcastically.

"Let him find his own friends," Kim said with a chuckle as she ushered Kerry out of the conference room door.

Kerry let Kim choose the restaurant. Her only stipulation was that they not stray to far from the hospital. They ended up at a small, nearby pizza place. While Kim placed the order Kerry wandered back to the quiet of the restrooms to call her babysitter. After assuring herself that everything was fine at home, she walked back to the table. Kim had already helped herself to the all you can eat salad bar and was digging in to a small mountain of vegetables smothered in salad dressing. Kerry smiled fondly and scooted into her seat without comment.

"I didn't know what you wanted to drink so I ordered coke. Is that okay? I can get you a beer if you'd prefer," Kim offered.

"No, a soft drink is fine. I don't drink much these days. It's hard enough to keep up with a toddler without slowing down my reflexes," she explained.

"Henry seems like a quiet little boy," Kim offered. "How old is he?"

"He's two."

"Ah the terrible twos," Kim said, like she knew what she was talking about. She'd had the requisite training in child development and she could do a competent clinical assessment but it really wasn't her field. She just wasn't that interested in small children.

"Kim do you even know anything about kids?" Kerry asked. She could usually tell when Kim was bluffing.

Kim laughed and shook her head. "Is it that obvious?" At Kerry's nod, she added "just don't leave us alone together and we'll be fine."

"I'll keep that in mind," Kerry said wryly. Just then the pizza arrived and the conversation turned to other things.

"So what did you think of the candidates today?" Kerry asked. "I think Sarah Dyson is a strong contender." Dyson had ten years experience as an ER attending. Two of those years were as assistant chief at a hospital in Philadelphia.

"Dyson? You wouldn't just be looking for another lesbian to add to your staff would you, Kerry," Kim teased.

"Dyson's a lesbian? How do you know?" Kerry sounded slightly scandalized. She had no clue. Of course, Sandy had always teased her about her lack of Gaydar.

Kim scoffed. "How could you not? She was giving you the eye during the entire interview," she complained. And it was true. And when she wasn't ogling Kerry, she'd been avidly watching Kim. There was no way she was getting Kim's recommendation.

They discussed the rest of the candidates as they finished off their pizza. Walking back to the hospital after dinner, Kim realized they had spent almost two hours essentially talking about work. "We should do this again," she hinted. "And next time, no shop talk."

Kerry laughed and agreed. It had been great to have someone just to talk to again. An adult conversation. She hadn't realized how much she missed that. "How about the movies next Saturday?" she asked quickly before she could talk herself out of it.

Kim was thrilled. She knew there was a Hitchcock retrospective scheduled for next weekend. "I'd love to. What do you want to see?"

"There's a new Pooh movie. Henry and I are checking it out."

"Pooh? As in Winnie the?" Okay, she was less thrilled. But still game, she realized. "Shall I meet you there?"

Saturday morning, Kim woke up in a strange bed with a strange blonde and a headache; she couldn't remember the name of the woman lying next to her. She stared at the clock. She knew she had something to do but she couldn't remember what.

The blonde rolled over and slung an arm around Kim's naked waist and she pushed up to give Kim a kiss. It would have been rude to refuse so Kim kissed her back.

"Mmmmm. Morning Tiger," the woman purred as she kissed her way over to Kim's ear.

`Tiger…. Tigger….Pooh!' Kim shot up in bed, dumping off the other blonde in the process. She glanced at the clock again. "Shit," she muttered feeling around for her clothes. "I'm really sorry but I've got to go. I've got an appointment." Kim jumped out of bed and slipped her slacks on. She leaned over and kissed the now bemused blonde again. "I had a great time last night, thanks." She shoved her bra and socks in her pocket and slipped into her shirt. She looked around wildly.

"Your shoes and jacket are in the living room," the blonde said, pulling the covers over her head. "Pull the door closed when you leave." She knew a one night stand when she had one.

Kim raced home. She rushed inside and saw the light on her answering machine flashing. The first message was left last night; Kerry called to remind her about the movie. The second message was from this morning. It was also from Kerry. She left the time and theater information and said "hope to see you there but if you can't make it, don't worry about it. I'll tell you all about the Heffalumps on Monday." She sounded amused.

Kim looked at the clock and realized she had an hour to shower, dress and drive to the theater. She'd just have to go with her hair wet. She rushed into her bathroom. Fifteen minutes later she rushed back out, freshly showered and with toothbrush in hand. She threw open her closet doors and stared at the jumble for minute while she brushed.

What does one wear on a date with a mother and child anyway? `Wait, this isn't a date. We're friends. Henry will be there. This isn't a date' she reminded herself. Still it somehow felt like a date. Kim pulled some jeans on and grabbed a sweater. Ten minutes later she was in her car headed for the theater.

She felt a little out of place standing alone in line with all the family groups. She hadn't seen so many small children in one place since she stumbled into the Santa line at a mall last Christmas. She tried to look as if she was attached to one group or another. Finally it was her turn at the window.

"One for Winnie the Pooh," she requested softly as she slid her money through the hole in the window.

"Which film?" was the garbled response.

"The Heffalump movie," she clarified quietly.

The clerk pointed to the speaker and then to his ear

"I want to see Winnie the Pooh, damn it!" There was a gasp of horror from behind her. Kim winced. She grabbed her ticket and her change and then turned around to apologize. The young mother standing behind her grabbed her little girl protectively. "I'm sorry," Kim said to the mother.

"You shouldn't use bad words," she said to the child. She turned around and headed into the theater.

"Jesus Christ," she mumbled under her breath as she looked out over a sea of shorter beings. She felt like a giant. Thankfully, she spotted Kerry in line at the concession stand. She rushed over. She slowed down before she reached them. `First rule of non-dating, you don't want to appear too anxious.' She reached out and touched Kerry lightly on the shoulder. "Hi," she said softly.

Kerry turned. "Hey, you made it. We were beginning to think we'd been stood up."

`We? Oh that's right. Henry.' Kim looked down at the boy, waiting patiently by his mother's side. She waved. "Hi Henry."

The little boy gazed at her suspiciously and tightened his grip on his mother's hand. They finally reached the counter. As always, Kim was awed by the selection of movie candies. "What would you two like?" she asked.

Kerry ordered a cup of coffee for herself and some juice for Henry. Kim got a hotdog, some nachos and a blueberry slurpee. "Oh, and a box of Raisinettes," she added at the last minute. Forty-two dollars later, the trio was entering the theater surrounded by dozens of children and their parents.

Kim hoped that wasn't gum she just stepped in. They found seats and settled in. Kim was sitting on one side of Henry, Kerry on the other. He was looking around solemnly, taking it all in. Kim wondered if he ever smiled.

Kim unwrapped her hot dog and took a bite. Mmmmmm, that was good. Just the right balance of ketchup and mustard. She glanced over at Kerry. She was watching Kim with an expression of bemused horror. Kim looked down at Henry. He was staring up at her hotdog with interest. She stopped with the dog halfway to her mouth. "Want a bite?"

Kerry shuddered and shook her head. Henry, however, nodded. Kim smiled and looked over at Kerry for permission. Kerry nodded warily so Kim held out her dog. Henry leaned in and took a delicate bite. He chewed for a minute and then decided he liked it. Kim laughed and offered him another bite. He reached out and grabbed the whole thing. Kim was shocked but amused, particularly by Kerry's expression as her son devoured the dog like he'd never had anything so good in his life. `Which, given Kerry's penchant for wheat grass, might be true,' Kim mused. The theater lights dimmed as she dug into her nachos. Mmmmmmmm.

Kim got home two hours later. She had a large blue slurpee stain down the front of her sweater, ketchup smeared on her pants and she was desperately afraid she had nacho cheese in her hair since she couldn't shake the smell. After the hot dog, Henry apparently decided that Kim's snacks were much better than the box of raisins his mother handed him. He didn't like the corn chips but he kept dipping his finger in the cheese when Kim wasn't looking. And once he tried her slurpee he wouldn't give it back. They'd been wrestling with it when the lid came off and Kim got splashed with neon blue slush. She popped the lid back on and surrendered the remaining drink to Henry. Kim decided to leave her Raisinettes in her pocket for later.

Back at home, Kim walked into the bathroom for the second shower of the day. `Next time the kid's getting his own snacks,' she thought grumpily. Still, the movie had been pretty good. It provided a sweet lesson in tolerance and the under five crowd seemed to love it. `And,' she reminded herself, `you got to sit next to an attractive redhead so it wasn't a complete waste.' When Henry crawled into Kerry's lap halfway through the movie, Kim moved over into his seat. And right into a puddle of spilled juice. At least she hoped it was juice.

"Kerry, is Henry's…" she hesitated. She couldn't say ass. She finally settled on bottom. "Is his bottom wet?" Kim asked in a horrified whisper.

"No. Why?"

"Because this seat was," Kim said with a longsuffering sigh. Kerry started to giggle annoyingly. So much for suave dyke about town, Kim just hoped she didn't run into anybody she knew on the way out of the theater.

When the trio exited the building into the sunlight, Kerry asked Kim if she wanted to join them for lunch. Kim looked down at her chest and shook her head sadly. "No, I'm going to go home and shower." She sighed and before she could censor herself she added, "I've got a date tonight and I don't think she'd appreciate this particular look."

Kerry looked her up and down and then grinned. "At least the blue brings out the color in your eyes. Besides, you'd look good in sack cloth and ashes," she said breezily.

Kim blushed. "Thanks," she said shyly. "Can I get a rain check on lunch?"

"Absolutely." They started walking toward the parking lot. Kim felt something pulling at her fingertips. She looked down and Henry was carefully touching her fingers. She smiled down at him and held out her hand. He took it gingerly and hand in hand the trio walked over to Kerry's car.

Kim noticed the rainbow flag on the rear window of the automobile and smiled. "A minivan, Kerry? Planning on being a soccer mom?" Kim teased.

She wasn't expecting a serious response. "We'd planned on more than one. After Henry, Sandy said she wanted a whole baseball team." Kerry said sadly.

Kim nodded in silent acknowledgment of her loss. `Great, Legaspi, just bring up the heroically dead wife and completely kill the mood.' She reached out and squeezed Kerry's hand comfortingly. "I'd like to hear about her sometime." She knew they'd have to talk about Sandy sooner or later. But not today. She wasn't at her best today.

Kerry unlocked the van and Kim slid the side door open. She lifted Henry into his car seat. She looked at the tangle of buckles. "I think maybe you should do this part," she suggested.

Kerry chuckled and without waiting for Kim to move leaned into the doorway. As she fiddled with the buckles, Kim took note of every time Kerry's arm or thigh brushed hers. All too quickly, Kerry popped back out of the van.

"Piece of cake," Kerry crowed. "Can we give you a lift to your car?" she asked as she shut the passenger door.

Kim looked around. "Thanks, but I'm just two rows over."

"Okay, I'll see you at work next week. Thanks for coming with us," Kerry said. "I hope it wasn't too hideous for you," she teased. She touched Kim lightly on the arm.

"I could have done without the wet seat but everything else was fun," Kim lied with a smile. "See ya at work." She waved through the window at Henry and then, anxious to get out of her damp and sticky clothes, she headed quickly for her car.

Kim didn't see either Weaver again for four days. This time she was deliberately avoiding Kerry. The movie experience had scared her. Not because she had a bad time but because she hadn't. Despite the mess and the spills she knew she'd happily go again if Kerry asked.

That's how she knew she was in trouble. It terrified her so much that she had spent a good part of the previous Sunday morning over at Sharon and Janet's trying to talk herself out of it; or into it. She couldn't decide.

After listening to Kim go back and forth for an hour, Janet had had enough. Her exasperation was almost palpable. "Look Kim, obviously you're still attracted to her. Whatever horrible experiences you had the first time `round didn't manage to kill that interest. Now you can either see where it leads or, for all our sakes, end it now."

Sharon was a little less abrupt. "What's keeping you from pursuing Weaver? Whom I have yet to meet," she added pointedly. She was more than a little curious about this woman who had her young friend tied up in emotional knots.

"She hurt me so much. And, to be fair, I hurt her too. Deliberately," she admitted with more than a little bit of shame. "She abandoned me; I abandoned her. I just don't know if it's possible to get passed all that." Kim rubbed her eyes. She was so tired of going round and round with this. "I can't just decide to be okay with everything and have it be true. Can I?" she asked somewhat desperately.

"Why not? When did forgiveness become a terrible thing?" Sharon asked seriously.

"It can be the greatest gift you can receive," Janet said more to herself than to anyone at the table.

"Or give," Sharon added with a meaningful look.

Kim wondered what prompted such a statement but she realized that whatever it was, it was none of her business.

Janet noticed Kim observing her closely. She smiled but it was tinged with regret. "Let's just say that I did something incredibly stupid a few years ago but Sharon had the grace to forgive me."

"After I made her suffer a bit," Sharon said with a laugh. She got up and walked over to the coffeemaker. On the way back to the table she rested her hand on Janet's shoulder. "It was rough for a while but we got through it." She refilled everyone's coffee cup and then headed over to the oven.

"Kim, I don't think Weaver's glibly romantic. I suspect she falls hard so, if you're just looking for a fling you should probably look elsewhere," Janet said. She didn't want to sound harsh but Kim had a lousy track record with relationships and this one had the potential to make things difficult at work. "And if you're looking for more than a fling….take it slow."

Sharon came back to the table carrying a basket of warm biscuits. "Of course, you may be overlooking something. What if Weaver isn't interested?"

Thus Kim had spent most of the week avoiding Kerry like the plague while trying to figure out what she really wanted. Not that Kerry had tried to track her down, she realized. `And it's not like I'm not findable. Maybe Kerry isn't interested,' she thought with an internal groan.

By Thursday, she'd had enough navel gazing. She was really more of an action over introspection kind of girl anyway. She would talk to Kerry and proceed from there. And that's why she was skulking around outside Kerry's office at five o'clock.

After a deep breath, Kim entered the office suite and looked around. John's desk was unoccupied. He must have already gone home. That made things easier. She approached Kerry's door. Suddenly, she heard giggling from the inner office. `Giggling?' She took a moment to gather her courage and then knocked.

Kerry yelled "Come in."

Kim yanked open the door. If she said what she wanted to say quickly, there'd be less chance of her chickening out. She stepped into the room and opened her mouth. She shut it again quickly when she realized Kerry wasn't alone. Henry was sitting in Kerry's lap and it looked like they were coloring in a coloring book.

"Hi Kim. Come to play?" Kerry smiled at her; her son frowned.

"Hi, are you guys coloring?" Kim asked inanely. It was pretty obvious what they were doing.

"Yes. Henry loves to color. And I've found it surprisingly relaxing," Kerry admitted.

"In or out?" Kim asked, fascinated by the sight.

"What?"

"In or out of the lines?"

Kerry laughed. "Well, Henry likes bold splashes of color all over the page." She held up a page covered with purple and yellow scribbles. "While I, not surprisingly, like a more controlled canvas," she said holding up a neatly colored picture of Sponge Bob. "Want to join us?"

Kerry held out a bright red crayon. She grinned and waved it teasingly.

Kim walked over and sat down opposite the Weavers. "Sure, why not?" She took the proffered crayon and Kerry slid another coloring book toward her. Dora the Explorer? Kim looked at the pictures and had a wild idea for a paper--Protofeminist Images in Television Cartoons and the Formation of the Lesbian Identity. At least the research would be fun.

The trio colored in silence for a few minutes. Kim had a hard time staying in the lines.

"Is there a blue crayon?" Kim asked, concentrating on her picture.

Henry handed her the blue. Kim looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, Henry."

He stared back solemnly. They both jumped when the telephone rang. Kerry reached around her son and picked up the receiver. "Weaver," she barked. She gently turned the page in the coloring book.

"No….no." She clinched her jaw. "No….Da..aarn it," she said catching herself. "I'll be right down," she added threateningly. She wanted to slam the phone down but she didn't want to scare her son. She looked up. Both Kim and Henry were watching her with fascinated interest. Kerry picked Henry up off her lap and scooted from behind her desk.

Kim stood up to leave too. This didn't look like a promising time to talk. Maybe next week would be better. She reached the door first and opened it for Kerry.

Kerry turned toward the gallant blonde and leaned in just a bit. "Thank you."

For a breathless moment, Kim thought that Kerry might kiss her. "Anytime," she said smiling down at the redhead. She leaned just a bit closer but instead of a warm redhead she found her arms full of an equally surprised toddler.

"Could you watch him? I need to run to personnel for two minutes. I'll be right back." Kerry handed off her child without a second thought and then rushed out the door. Kim looked down at the horrified expression of the two year old that she was suddenly and unexpectedly holding. His startled outrage would have been funny but she suspected her expression matched his. She, however, didn't break out into howling cries the next minute, although she very much wanted to.

She dangled the screaming child in front of her. She didn't have much experience with young children but how hard could it be? She pulled his small body closer and balanced him on her hip. So far, so good. She made some ineffectual shushing noises. "Don't cry Henry; Mommy will be right back."

He wasn't the least bit reassured. He buried his face in Kim's neck and cried harder. She was sure his howls had pierced one of her eardrums and she could feel his tears soaking into the shoulder of her blouse. Her expensive, new, linen blouse that brought out the blue in her eyes. Not that she'd worn it for that reason, she reminded herself. She wondered if baby snot was hard to get out. `Kerry is sooo getting the bill for the dry cleaning!'

Kim began pacing around the room. She adjusted her hold on the boy and tried rubbing his back gently. She spoke in the soft, reassuring tones that worked well on some of her patients. Henry's howls inched up a decibel in response. `Great, another high strung Weaver!' She looked at the wall clock desperately. It must have stopped. She was sure Kerry had been gone longer than two minutes.

She tried bouncing him gently in her arms. His tears slowed and he lifted his head from her shoulder. She didn't know if that meant he was empty or just gearing up for round two. When he started to scrunch up his little face, she took preemptive action. "If you stop crying I'll buy you a toy," she bargained. He looked interested for just a moment. Then he started wailing again and crying for his mother. He also started squirming.

Kim felt like screaming too. Instead she tightened her hold on the slippery child and decided to beg. "Please Henry, stop crying. Your momma will be right back. I promise. She's going to think I'm killing you in here if you don't quite crying."

"Down!"

Kim jumped in surprise. She looked down. "What?"

"Down," Henry demanded as he pushed away. "Down, down, down!" His sobs turned to demands.

It was like trying to hold on to a cat threatened with bath time but at least he'd stopped crying. Kim was feeling a little better about this impromptu babysitting session. She knelt down and carefully set the toddler on his feet. She held on to him until he found his balance then she stood up.

Henry stood there staring up at the big lady. She followed directions pretty well and she did have delicious snacks. "Cookie?"

Kim stared down at Henry's tear stained face for a moment. Talk about non sequitur. He sniffed once and then smiled up at her. "Cookie?" he repeated.

Kim smiled down at him and nodded. Cookies she understood. "Okay." She knew there were chocolate chip cookies in the vending machine on the third floor and Fig Newtons on the fifth and she thought there might be some Oreos on eight. At last her passion for junk food was paying off. She stooped down to pick him.

Henry backed away quickly. "Me!"

"You want to walk by yourself," Kim clarified. She didn't want to do anything to trigger the crying response again.

Henry nodded.

"Okay, let's go get some cookies," Kim said cheerfully. She walked toward the door and Henry took off after her. She opened the outer office door and stepped through. She looked back to check the boy's progress. He stopped at the threshold and looked around the hallway suspiciously. There were lots of big people he didn't know and no sight of his Mama. He held out his hand to Kim.

Kim held her breath and reached out for his tiny hand. She felt a strange flutter in her chest as he took it without hesitation. `I'm sure it's crying induced stress.' He pulled on her hand impatiently and they started down the hallway. It took a minute for them to find the right pace. One of Kim's steps was equal to three of his but they finally found the right rhythm. Within minutes they were both inspecting the vending machine offerings in the third floor break room. Kim picked him up so he could see all the choices. He banged his little fist on the glass which Kim interpreted as a vote for chocolate chip.

Balancing Henry on her hip Kim dug in her pocket for change. She came up with a handful of quarters and was sliding the first one in the slot when Henry yelled, "me!"

Kim held the quarter up in the air. "You want to do this?"

Henry nodded and reached out his hand expectantly.

Kim handed him the quarter and watched as he carefully slid it into the slot. The tinkle of the coin sliding down the chute made him laugh.

"I think you've been here before," Kim said suspiciously as she handed him another quarter.

Soon they were settled at a table in the break room. Kim opened the bag of cookies and handed it to Henry. He reached in happily as she headed across the room to the drink machine. Soon they were both eating cookies and smiling shyly at each other. Kim built a small tower out of her cookies and Henry thought that was grand. He thought it was even better when he toppled the stack. He started to giggle. Kim thought it was a charming sound.

"Corrupting my son with refined sugar?" asked a voice from behind them.

Henry whirled in his seat. "Mama!" He scrambled down from the chair and flung himself in Kerry's direction. She scooped him up in her arms and brought him back to the table. "At least you bought him milk and not soda," Weaver said wryly.

"Hey, the cookies were his idea, not mine," Kim said in protest.

Kerry laughed. "Yeah, but last time I checked, Henry didn't have any quarters," she said with infuriating logic. Henry laid his head on his mother's shoulder and glared at Kim for ratting on him. Kerry sat down in Henry's chair and picked up a cookie. "I always go to the machine on eight. Oreos," she said as if that was explanation enough. Strangely enough, it was.

"Sorry I was gone so long but it did give you two a chance to get acquainted," Kerry said with a smile. She handed Henry the cookie. "So what did you want to talk to me about earlier?"

Kim looked over at Kerry cradling her now peaceful son and realized that dating one meant seeing the other. She wasn't sure she was ready for that. She knew she wasn't ready for that. `Thank god I haven't said anything.' She gave an embarrassed little laugh and said, "In all the excitement, I've forgotten."

Kerry looked at Kim appraisingly. "Uh huh. Well call me if you remember." Kerry ran her fingers softly through Henry's dark curls and then kissed the top of his head gently. "I'd better go. It's time for someone's dinner," she explained. Henry squirmed out of her embrace but he didn't go far. Kerry stood up and held out her hand. Henry took it without hesitation.

"Thanks again for watching Henry. I'll see you tomorrow," Kerry said as they started toward the door.

Kim watched them make their way slowly across the room. Henry didn't pull at Kerry's hand impatiently the way he had at hers and their gaits were oddly complimentary. For some reason, that made her want to cry. Henry looked back. He stopped for a moment and waved at Kim with his free hand. She smiled and waved back.

"So I've decided to take your advice and take it slow," Kim said to Janet. They were on their way back from a meeting. "If it happens, it happens. Otherwise we'll just be friends," Kim rationalized.

Janet nodded without saying anything. She tried very hard not to analyze anyone who wasn't actually paying her to do so. "Sharon wants me to invite Weaver to the barbeque this weekend. She wants to get a good look at her," she grinned. Her partner was an inveterate match maker. With decidedly mixed results, Janet thought with a grin.

"That's fine," Kim said quickly. "Friendly," she added unnecessarily.

"So you're okay with it?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be? I doubt she'll come though. She's not much for socializing."

"But we'll see you there?" Janet clarified.

"Free food and a backyard full of dykes? I'll be there," Kim said with a grin.

Kim had some trouble finding a parking spot on Sunday. She was late and Sharon's barbeques were legendary. She pulled to a stop a few houses down and grabbed some wine bottles off the passenger seat. She found herself looking for Kerry's van as she walked up to the house. It was no where to be seen. She sighed as she rang the bell. She wasn't sure if it was relief or regret.

Janet opened the door smiling. She smiled even wider when Kim handed her the wine bottles. "I'll put these in the kitchen, go on out back. The food's not quite ready. Want something to drink?"

Kim nodded. "Is there any coffee?"

"In this house? Always. I'll bring you some."

Kim wandered toward the French doors that opened on to the stone patio out back. Kim stood there for a moment just looking at the various women that filled the back yard. There were probably twenty women out there. Most of them she knew. Most of them came in pairs. More than a few had children with them. Sometimes she felt like she was the last single lesbian in Minnesota. Usually it didn't bother her. If she were honest, she reveled in it. But just lately she'd been wondering what, if anything, she was missing.

Janet walked up behind her. "Not much of a turnout but it's early in the season," she said. She held out a mug full of coffee which Kim took gratefully.

"I need to go check on the grill. The brisket should be just about done. Shall we?" Janet held the door open and waved Kim through.

Kim walked out onto the patio and was immediately greeted by half a dozen women. She was quickly drawn into a heated discussion about the most recent episode of the `L Word.' Kim wasn't a fan, she saw enough dyke drama in her life and practice. Still, she recognized the importance of having lesbian images on TV. Especially hot ones.

And speaking of hot, she noticed a seemingly unattached brunette near the food laden picnic tables. An attractive brunette. Near the food. She excused herself from the group and headed over to introduce herself.

"Hi, I'm Kim," she said, holding out her hand.

The brunette smiled and shook Kim's hand. "I'm Sally. I was just trying to decide what to try first." Kim grabbed a plate and started filling it with appetizers.

"First rule of thumb at these things--don't be shy, take what you want." She handed the full plate to the brunette with a flirtatious smile. She grabbed another plate for herself.

Sally, it turned out, was single and new to the city. She'd just taken a job at the university.

"Let me guess, Sharon's your realtor?"

Sally nodded. "How did you know?"

Kim laughed and explained and then offered to show her around the city sometime.

"That would be great," Sally said with a meaningful glance. "Let me give you my number." She pulled out her wallet and extracted a business card. "Give me a call," she said as she stepped closer and handed it to Kim.

Kim smiled and slid the number into her pocket carefully. She leaned a hip against the picnic table. "What would you like to see first?" she asked flirtatiously.

Sally smiled and then frowned.

Kim felt something tugging on her pants leg. She looked down.

"Henry?" She smiled at the little boy. He smiled back and Kim felt like she'd won the lottery. She knelt down beside him.

He immediately eyed her plate full of appetizers. Kim laughed. `I guess it's true about a man's heart', she thought. She held out her plate, the other brunette completely forgotten. Henry grabbed a piece of bread.

"Where's your mom, Henry?" Kim scanned the crowd. Kerry was talking to Sharon but she had both eyes on her son. Kim waved and stood up. She turned to Sally who was looking slightly confused and said "That's my boss. I need to go say hello. It was nice meeting you."

She held out her hand to the boy. Henry lifted both arms in the universal "carry me" sign. Kim laughed; she put down her plate and picked Henry up. She headed over to say hello.

"Hi, Kerry," she said shyly.

"Hi, Kim."

"Kim why didn't you tell me Kerry was in the market for a house?" Sharon asked.

Kim looked from Kerry to Sharon and back to Kerry. "Because I didn't know. I just assumed she had one."

"I'm renting an apartment at the moment. I didn't want to buy without doing some first hand research," Kerry explained. "I also wanted to see how the job went," she added wryly.

"And what's your decision?" Sharon asked pointedly. It hadn't escaped her notice how comfortable Kim was with Weaver's son and vice versa.

Kerry looked at Kim and then at Sharon. "It's going okay. I think I'm ready to look at places."

Sharon practically rubbed her hands in glee. She loved her job. Finding just the right house for a person was so satisfying. "Did Kim mention I'm a buyer's agent?"

Kerry shook her head.

"Well I am, and I will find you the perfect place. Let's go inside for a moment. There's this five bedroom with a huge back yard, two car garage. Built around the turn of the century. It needs some work but the price is fabulous. There's also a great three bedroom that's move in ready. Not as nice but you won't even need to paint. Both are in great school districts."

Sharon practically dragged Kerry into her kitchen. Kim followed along curious to see what she had in mind.

Sharon blocked Kim at the doorway. She wanted some time alone with Dr. Kerry Weaver. "Kim, why don't you take Henry to the swings while I show Kerry a few listings." It wasn't a request. She turned to Kerry, "just preliminary looks," she assured her.

Effectively banished, Kim did as she was told. One corner of the yard had a great wooden swing set/jungle gym and a large sandbox. Both play areas were already occupied with various small life forms. Kim set Henry down. "So, swings or sand?"

"Swing," he yelled, running toward the swings. Kim followed him quickly. She grabbed him just before he ran in front of one that was in use.

"Whoa, that was close!" She lifted him into a vacant seat and made sure he was holding on before she stepped behind him. His little legs dangled a foot off the ground. "Now hold on tight," she reminded him as she gave him a small push. He laughed with delight and pumped his little feet in the air. Soon the occupants of the other two swings were begging for a push. Before she knew it, Kim had three swings in the air and was starting to work up a sweat.

Luckily, fifteen minutes later Henry was tired of the swings. He demanded to get down and Kim happily obliged him. She waved in apology at the little girls still on the swings. Henry ran over to join some other kids in the sandbox. Kim sat down on a bench in some nearby shade. She was watching Henry and another child do the toddler equivalent of the meet and greet when someone sat down beside her.

"Which one's yours?" asked the newcomer.

Kim looked over at the woman. She was an attractive woman that Kim didn't recognize. "None of them actually," she said with an inviting smile.

The woman looked at her suspiciously so Kim quickly offered "But I'm watching him," she pointed at Henry, "for a friend at the moment. Which one's yours?"

The brunette pointed to a little redhead with pigtails. "Julie, she's three. Julie, why don't you build a sand castle," her mother yelled in suggestion. Without taking a breath, the woman started in with a long list of little Julie's recent accomplishments. Apparently you could teach three year olds to read these days.

Kim idly wondered how long it'd be before little Julie was in therapy. Kim looked over at Henry. He seemed pretty happy just pouring sand from one bucket into another. He looked over at her and waved. She waved back with a goofy smile.

"Here's the list," Sharon said, handing Kerry several sheets of real estate listings. "Let me know which ones you want to look at. And I'll pick you up tomorrow at two to go look at the first two, right?" They walked toward the patio.

"Great," Kerry said. She'd loved the specs on one listing that Sharon had shown her. They were going to look at it tomorrow but she didn't want to make a hasty choice so she was going to look at a few other places too. "Now I think I should probably rescue Kim. Henry can be quite a handful."

Sharon glanced out the windows and saw Kim sitting in the sandbox with Henry. "I think she's okay. Let's get you a drink and talk for a minute. How do you like Minneapolis?" she asked leading Kerry into the kitchen.

Half an hour later, Janet rang a bell signaling it was time to eat. She carried a huge platter of brisket and ribs over to a long picnic table. Various women headed to the kitchen to get the pots of potato salad and beans and other side dishes. It wasn't long before the table was swarmed by the hungry crowd.

Kerry came out of the kitchen carrying a sippy cup of juice for her son. She didn't see him in the crowd. She didn't see Kim at first either. She looked around the yard and finally found them sitting in a lawn chair sharing a heaping plate of food. Kim looked up as Kerry approached. Henry waved a rib bone at her and then went back to gnawing on it.

"You better grab some food before it's all gone," Kim warned.

"Are you kidding, there's enough food there to feed half the city," Kerry said. She handed Henry his cup.

"Yeah, but we're almost ready for seconds," Kim said pointing at Henry and then herself.

"Here, you sit down with Henry and I'll fix you a plate." Kim hopped up and dashed back to the food. She was standing in line waiting for a shot at the potato salad when she heard familiar voices talking about her.

"Did you see her? I would never have believed it. The great Legaspi humbled by a two year old."

"It probably helps that his mother's attractive and available."

"I heard the mother was her boss. Wonder if she's aware of Kim's penchant for short term affection."

Kim sighed. The lesbian grapevine-she'd always hated it. And the last few years she'd really given it a work out. She wondered if all gay communities were like small towns.

Sharon approached her at the table. She took one look at the heaping plate in Kim's hand and said, "You can take some home with you, you don't have to eat it all here."

Kim laughed at the familiar teasing. "This is for Kerry. Well, except for the shortcake." She indicated a second plate she was filling up. "That's mine," she admitted. "Did you find her a house?" She turned back to the table and scooped up some short cake for Henry. She needed enough to share.

Sharon leaned back against the table and surveyed the back yard. Everyone seemed to have what they needed for the moment. She turned back to Kim. "We're looking at a few places tomorrow. She has very definite opinions about what she's looking for."

"Kerry has very definite opinions about everything," Kim said wryly. "So what do you think of her?" she asked casually.

"Based on her housing preferences?"

"Based on the forty minute conversation you had while I was designated babysitter," Kim said sharply.

Sharon laughed. "I never expected to see you in the sandbox. That kid must have some charm."

Kim snorted. "Charm? He was about to eat dirt. I had to intervene."

"It's amazing what kids will put in their mouths. When she was two, Jessie swallowed one of my diamond earrings. Janet was on diaper watch for a week." Sharon shook her head at the memory.

"Stop torturing me. What do you think about Kerry?" Kim was getting exasperated.

Sharon took pity on her. She shrugged. "I like her so far. She seems smart and funny and very level headed," she said matter of factly.

Kim's smile lit up her whole face.

`And you, my friend, are a goner," Sharon thought. "How are you coming?"

"What?" Kim was confused with the conversation shift.

"With Kerry. How's that going? Working together, getting along?"

"Fine, good actually. She's a great doctor, tremendous clinical skills. It's a shame to see her stuck in administration. But she is good with numbers, better than with underlings actually."

Sharon sighed. It was like pulling teeth. She always expected psychiatrists to have more self awareness than the average Joe. Of course, twenty years with Janet should have disabused her of that notion, she thought. "And personally," Sharon prodded, "how's that going?"

"Personally?" Kim wrinkled her brow. "We're okay. Friendly."

"Friendly." Her tone indicated her general dissatisfaction with Kim's sudden reserve. She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "So you've decided not to pursue anything more?"

"No, I don't think that's a good idea right now. We're just becoming friends again. That's a lot. Hell a year ago I wouldn't have thought that was even possible," Kim admitted. "And then there's Henry. You know I don't like kids. And we work together so that's a huge complication. No, I think we're better off being friends. Definitely."

"It sounds like you've given it some thought," Sharon said. "I'm not sure you can rationalize away attraction, but if you're certain you're not interested…"

Kim nodded decisively.

"…I know someone who's perfect for her." Sharon walked away, chuckling internally at Kim's flummoxed expression. `Friends, my ass.'

Kim looked over to where Kerry and Henry were sitting. Julie, from the sandbox, and Julie's mom had joined them. As had several other adults with children. `Great. It's turning into the parent's corner.' She decided to deliver the food and then head over to where the single women were congregating. Of course, she'd dated several of them so maybe that wasn't such a good idea either.

Kim walked over and handed Kerry her plate. Kerry looked up and smiled at Kim. "Thanks," she said shyly.

Before she could stop herself, Kim plopped down on the grass beside Kerry's chair. Henry came over to investigate what Kim had on her plate. He stuck his finger in the whipped cream and then licked it clean. He crawled into her lap without even waiting for an invitation. The battle for the strawberry shortcake began; it kept Kim occupied all through the discussion about teething, daycare and the risk/benefits of childhood vaccinations. But when the topic turned to potty training, she'd had enough.

Kim gently lifted Henry from her lap. Kerry, who'd been keeping an eye on the dueling spoons, opened her arms and Kim passed the boy to his mother. She stood up and stretched her legs then started for the kitchen in search of coffee. She found Janet making a fresh pot.

"Make it strong," Kim advised, leaning against the counter near the sink. She rubbed her head like she had a headache. There was a window that afforded her a view of most of the yard. She stared out the window pensively watching as Kerry rocked an obviously tired Henry.

Janet laughed. "Is there any other way to make coffee?" she asked as she heaped spoonfuls of coffee grounds into the machine. She added the water to the pot and flipped the switch. Then she walked over to join Kim at the window.

"The food was great. As always," Kim said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Janet watched the women mingling in the back yard. "You are surprised she came."

Kim didn't need to ask which `she' Janet was referring to. "Yes. Before….when I knew her before she was so closed off. She was terrified of being exposed. And I don't just mean as a lesbian. She was the most self contained, self-sufficient person I'd ever met but she was scared to let anyone too close. Compartmentalized."

Janet looked at Kerry appraisingly. "I think she still is."

Kim nodded. "Yes, of course but she's learned to let people in, at least a little. She's integrating different aspects of her life. "

"And isn't that a good thing?" Janet asked seriously. "Haven't we built our careers on the idea that people can change?"

"Professionally, as a psychiatrist, I think it's a very good thing. Healthy." Kim nodded again.

"And personally?" Janet prodded.

Kim turned to face Janet head on. "I'm ashamed that I abandoned her to that struggle alone. I thought that she'd never be able to come to terms with it." Kim held up her hand to stop the next question. "With being gay, with loving me. So I ran away, figuratively and then literally," she finished. "I regret that."

"So she abandoned you; you abandoned her," Janet clarified. "Have you forgiven her?"

Kim looked puzzled and Janet didn't have time for the niceties. She continued with rapid fire questions. "Does it hurt to look at her; can you converse without recriminations; do you see her and only remember the betrayal; does the thought of her fill you with unease or dread; do you still want to hurt her?" She paused and asked again with emphasis, "Have you forgiven her?"

Kim nodded. "Apparently so."

Janet smiled. "Well done, grasshopper," she teased then added seriously, "now you just have to forgive yourself."

Kim gave a half grin and then said sarcastically, "You know, you should get paid for this."

Janet laughed and said, "I think the coffee's ready."

"Thanks, but I think I'm going to head home. I've got some thinking to do." Kim tilted her head in the direction of the backyard. "I'm just going to go say goodbye to Sharon."

Kim walked back to the patio in search of her hostess. She found her over by the swings talking to a group of parents. Kim sat down in an empty swing to wait her turn.

Henry looked over and saw her sitting there. He climbed out of his mother's lap and made his way over to the blonde. He raised his arms.

Kim lifted him onto her lap. He put his legs around her waist and rested his head on her chest. "Swing," he mumbled with a yawn.

"What is it with you Weavers and ordering people around?" Despite her protest, Kim started to swing gently. Before she knew it, Henry was asleep. She felt something damp on her chest. She looked down and sighed. `Oh great, now he's drooling. Kids are so gross."

Sharon looked over and smiled. Kim waved her over. "I need to head home soon. I just wanted to thank you for inviting me. Then I got waylaid by the great dribbler here," Kim said.

"You seem to have found another admirer," Sharon said.

"Yeah, just what I need," Kim rolled her eyes eloquently.

Sharon reached out and ran her fingers gently through Henry's curls. Children were also so appealing when they were asleep. "Is it really so bad," she asked.

Kim glanced down at Henry nestled peacefully in her arms. `No, not really,' she thought. She tightened her hold slightly. She said, "He's drooling, Sharon. There is drool running down my chest. And not in a good way."

"Want me to round up his mom," Sharon offered with a chuckle.

"I'm right here," Kerry said walking up quietly beside Sharon. "I think I should take Mr. Sleepyhead home. Thank you for the barbeque. It was wonderful."

Sharon took Kerry's hand briefly. "It was lovely to meet you, Kerry. I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

Kerry nodded. "Two o'clock."

Sharon turned to Kim, "I'll talk to you later missy. Can you show Kerry out?" She patted Kim's shoulder as she walked away. `You can thank me later.'

Kim stood up. Henry didn't even open his eyes.

Kerry opened her arms. "I'll take him. I think I can find the front door by myself," she said wryly.

"I was heading out anyway. I'll take him to your car," Kim offered, starting for the door. Kerry followed along looking slightly bewildered.

"I'm parked over here. About half a block down." Kerry pointed to the left. They strolled over to the van in silence and Kerry opened the door. Kim stepped inside and gently deposited Henry into his car seat. He whimpered once and then went right back to sleep. She snapped the restraints in place quickly and ducked back out the door.

Kerry was standing there watching the whole procedure with a strange look on her face. "Thanks but you really didn't have to go out of your way."

Kim stepped closer. "It wasn't any trouble and I've wanted to talk to you all day." She took a deep breath and reached out. She ran her hand over Kerry's shoulder. "I'd like to see you again."

Kerry shook her head slightly. "I'll see you at work tomorrow," she said.

"No. I'd like to see you, Kerry." She stared at Kerry willing her to understand.

It slowly dawned on Kerry what Kim meant. She gulped. "You mean like a date?"

Kim nodded hopefully. "Exactly like a date."

"Are you insane? Kim, we practically destroyed each other the first time and you want to try again?" If Kerry's voice got any higher she'd alarm the neighborhood dogs.

Kim wasn't surprised by Kerry's reaction. She couldn't quite believe what she was suggesting herself. "Kerry, I know this is probably a shock and I'm not assuming anything or pressuring you for an answer right now. Just…just think about it," she requested. She leaned in and kissed Kerry softly. She pulled back just as Kerry started to respond. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. "Please, just think about it," she whispered. Then she turned and quickly walked away from the dazed redhead.

Kerry stood there gaping. Once again she'd been the unwitting victim of a Kim Legaspi drive by kissing incident. Of all the things she thought might happen at the barbeque, she'd never even considered that possibility. But then Kim had always been full of surprises.

Kerry was surprised that Kim would even talk to her beyond the minimum required at work. Her offer of friendship pleased but stunned the redhead and she had found comfort in the absolute certainty that Kim was off limits. She always worked better within known parameters. Slumped against the side of her car, she ran her index finger across her lips. They were still tingling from the brief contact. `Damn her!'

Kerry stood up. She glanced over to check on her son. Thankfully, he'd managed to sleep through all the drama. She needed to get him home and in bed. He was her first priority and his life had been disrupted enough. She shook her head clear of all thoughts of soft, warm lips and slammed the door shut. She climbed in the driver's seat, started up her engine and headed home. She'd worry about Kim tomorrow.

Part Two--Feigned Indifference

Kerry got to work early the following Monday. She had a lot to do before two o'clock, including, if needed a half shift in the ER. She walked in through the ambulance bay and checked the board to see how things were running. Everything appeared to be under control. `Damn it, why was it that when you needed the distraction of work, everything suddenly got quiet?'

Still, rush hour would soon be underway and that was always good for some excitement. She hadn't even made it to the elevators when an ambulance came roaring up the driveway.

"Multiple car MVA," yelled the charge nurse. Two attendings came running out of the lounge as Kerry went in. She threw her briefcase in her locker, grabbed her lab coat and headed out into the ambulance bay to make herself useful. It was nearly noon before she made it upstairs to her office and she'd only thought of Kim twice. She thought that was a good sign.

John, her very capable assistant, passed her a handful of messages. "The first two you should probably call ASAP, the others can wait. Oh, and Dr. Legaspi stopped by to see you. She didn't want to make an appointment. She said she'd catch you later."

Kerry's breath caught at the implications of that statement. She pushed it from her mind. "Thanks. Give me ten minutes and then bring me last month's departmental budget reports," she said, heading into her office. If the budget couldn't kill her treacherous libido then nothing could.

She skimmed her messages. John was right; most of them could be ignored. He really was a great assistant. She tossed her briefcase into a chair and picked up the phone.

Two hours later, she'd worked her way through one pile of paperwork and was about to tackle another. She briefly wondered just how many forests were destroyed to keep one hospital running. There was a knock at her door and then John stuck his head in.

"Dr. Weaver, your realtor is here."

"Thanks John, show her in."

John ushered Sharon into Kerry's office. "Hi Kerry, ready to go find your dream home?" she said optimistically.

Kerry smiled. It had taken her six months to find her house in Chicago. She wouldn't just settle for anything. "Let's go take a look," she said noncommittally. She grabbed her bag and the women left the inner office.

"John, I'll be back by five. I've got my phone if there's anything emergent."

"Good luck, Dr. Weaver. The housing market around here can be vicious," John warned. It had taken him eight months to find a place he and his boyfriend could afford.

They were halfway to the elevators when Kerry heard someone call her name. It was Kim. `Shit, I'm not ready to talk to her,' Kerry thought with a wince. Still she couldn't pretend she hadn't heard, even though she really wanted to. She turned and waved half heartedly. Sharon broke out in a big grin.

Kim approached them in the hallway. "Hello ladies. That's right; you're going house hunting this afternoon."

Sharon could sense a tension between the two women. "Yeah, I have a few houses to show off. She looked over at Kerry. The woman looked ready to jump out of her skin. "I could go bring the car `round if you two need a moment to talk," she offered. Something had definitely changed since she'd last seen the two women. And that had only been yesterday, she mused. She'd be giving Kim a call as soon as she was done with the good Doctor Weaver.

"No, I don't think there's anything I need to discuss with Kim right now," Kerry said in a rush. "I'd really like to go look at that house."

Kim could certainly take a hint. But she didn't have to like it. "Of course," she said quietly. The twitch of her jaw muscle belied her calm appearance.

"When you do have a moment, Dr. Weaver, I'd like to discuss the performance of one of your ER residents. Dr. Wilson can't seem to distinguish between manic and high. He also seems to have difficulty with homeless patients. I think some sensitivity training or perhaps an additional rotation in psych is in order. But, by all means, we can discuss it later," Kim turned and stormed down the hall.

"Shit!" Kerry said. She watched Kim disappear around the corner.

"Very succinct," Sharon commented. "I'm not sure I've ever seen Kim that mad."

"I seem to have a gift for pissing her off," Kerry said caustically.

It didn't take a degree in psychiatry to tell the redhead wasn't ready to talk about it so Sharon tactfully changed the subject. "Shall we go?"

Kerry fell in love with the first house Sharon showed her. With five bedrooms, it was larger than she was originally looking for but the price was too good to pass up. "It needs a lot of work," Kerry commented.

"Except for the roof, which needs to be completely replaced, I think it's all cosmetic. Even the floors are in good shape they just need to be refinished. But we'll have a thorough inspection done, don't worry. I know this great inspector."

"I'd need to remodel the kitchen. It's too small." Kerry looked around critically. "And the stove hasn't been cleaned in years." She shuddered at the layers of grease and grime.

"A little paint, some new appliances and this place will be great. And I know a great group of lesbian carpenters," Sharon said.

Kerry looked around again. "Do you know a painter?"

`Gotcha!' Sharon smiled a canary eating smile. "Of course I know a painter. And a plumber, a gardener and an electrician if it comes to that." She took Kerry's arm. "Let's go look at the bedrooms. There are two with a connecting door that would be great for Henry's room and maybe a playroom."

Two hours later Sharon dropped Kerry off at the hospital. Even though she immediately loved the first place, Kerry had insisted on seeing the two others on her list. "I'll fax them the offer and get back to you. I think you've made a great choice and the condition of the house works in our favor price wise."

"At least I've done one thing right today, thanks Sharon."

Kerry straightened her shoulders and stiffened her spine as she approached the hospital entry. It was time to talk to Kim. She'd been thinking about her all day as she went from house to house, room to room. She got to her office and dialed Kim's extension. She got her voicemail. Maybe she was conducting a session. Next Kerry tried the desk of the psych ward only to be informed that Dr. Legaspi had gone home for the day.

"I can take a message or if it's an emergency I can let you speak to someone else on staff," the clerk continued. The caller certainly sounded stressed.

"No, no, that's okay. Thank you." Kerry hung up without leaving her name. Kerry tried calling Kim at home. Again no answer. This time she left a message. "Kim, it's Kerry. I'm sorry about this afternoon. I shouldn't have made assumptions. I do think we need to talk." She hesitated before adding, "And I'd prefer not to do it at the hospital for a change. Give me call when you can."

Kerry looked around at the piles of paper on her desk and her appointment schedule and made an executive decision. She was going home early. Since she'd taken over the ER, she usually didn't get out of the hospital until seven or eight. But if she left now she could pick up Henry, hit the market and have time to make her son a nice dinner before his bath and bedtime. She grabbed her briefcase and headed out.

She pulled up in front of Henry's new preschool and saw the kids playing in the enclosed yard. Ms. Edna, their teacher, was watching the small group carefully. Kerry sat in her car for a moment and watched as Henry and another toddler raced over to the small slide. The little girl was afraid but Henry climbed rapidly to the top. He was fearless, with one notable exception. He was just like his mother. Kerry's breath caught with a potent mix of pride and grief. She held her breath until he reached the ground laughing.

Kerry unloaded Henry and a bag of groceries from the car. They entered their apartment and Henry went running for his room to check on his toys while Kerry headed straight for the kitchen. She was greeted by the annoying blink of her answering machine. Not surprisingly there was a message from Kim. She apologized for being snippy at the hospital and asked if it would be okay if she came by later "just to talk."

Henry heard Kim's voice and he yelled, "Kim, Kim!" and ran into the kitchen to find her.

Kerry rolled her eyes. `Great, that's just what I needed.' "Okay Pavlov, the sooner we nip this in the bud, the better." She picked up the phone and dialed Kim's number. She decided not to notice that she'd already memorized Kim's home number.

She got Kim's machine. "Damn it, does no one answer the phone anymore?" She left a message and her home address and said she'd be home most of the evening. That done, Kerry turned to focus on more pleasant things. "What shall we have for dinner?"

Henry voted for hot dogs. It was his new favorite. Kerry nixed that idea but after some discussion they agreed on grilled cheese. It was Henry's second favorite dish. And made with whole grain breads and served with some homemade vegetable soup it wasn't absolutely horrible for him.

Kerry put one of Henry's favorite CDs in the player and handed him a carrot and a wooden spoon so he could "help" cook dinner. She asked Henry about his day while she took a container of soup out of the freezer. She'd started putting up batches of food in her spare time. That way there was always something nutritious available if she didn't have time to start from scratch. She was throwing a few fresh vegetables into the soup when the doorbell rang.

Kerry wasn't entirely surprised to see Kim when she looked through the peephole. She took a moment to collect her thoughts and then opened the door. "Hi, Kim, come on in."

Kim had barely made it through the door when Henry threw himself at her. "Kim, Kim!"

Kim was startled by his exuberance but she recovered quickly and bent down to greet the boy. Henry grabbed her hand and started pulling her into the apartment. He was babbling away but Kim could only understand about every third word. She looked to Kerry for a translation.

"He wants to show you his room," Kerry explained.

Kim laughed. "Oh, okay." She let Henry pull her down the short hallway and into his bedroom. Kerry took advantage of the break to slip into her bedroom and change out of her work clothes. `Into something more comfortable, Weaver?' asked her snide inner voice. She ignored it and pulled on some jeans and a favorite t-shirt. She glanced in Henry's room as she passed. Henry was showing Kim his collection of stuffed animals.

"That'll teach her to show up unannounced," Kerry thought. She headed back to the kitchen to check on dinner.

Half an hour later, dinner was ready but Kim and Henry still hadn't reappeared. Kerry went looking for them. They were still in Henry's room but now they were reading a book. Well Kim was reading and Henry was sitting happily in her lap turning the pages.

"Hey you two, dinner is ready," Kerry said. "Henry, go wash your hands."

Henry leaped up and headed toward the bathroom.

"Kim would you like to stay to dinner?" There was no point in being rude and besides Kerry thought, `it'll soften the rejection.'

"Sure, that'd be great," Kim said with a self satisfied smile. She'd already eaten but Kerry didn't need to know that. Besides, she figured the longer she got to stay, the better her chances of convincing Kerry to see things her way.

"Then go wash your hands," Kerry ordered with a smile.

Henry was standing on a stool in the bathroom. He'd managed to soap up his hands and half the counter. Now he was rinsing and rinsing and rinsing them. Kim joined Henry at the bathroom sink. "Let's not go all OCD, kid." She held his hands still under the water and then she handed him a towel. She washed her hands and then used the towel to mop up the copious amount of water he'd splashed everywhere. "Let's eat," she said when she was done. "Let's eat," Henry repeated after her. They walked down the hall toward the kitchen.

Kim walked into the kitchen and found the table set with three places. Kim lifted Henry into his high chair and Kerry popped a bib around his neck and then handed him a cup of milk.

"Soup and sandwiches?" Kim was surprised. It seemed a little pedestrian for a woman who owned every cookbook known to man.

Kerry glanced over at Henry. "These days simple is better," she remarked dryly. She dipped up some soup for everyone and then set a platter of sandwiches on the table.

Kim practically moaned when she bit into her sandwich. "My god that's good."

"Nine grain bread and smoked gouda," Kerry said with a smirk.

Kim reminded herself never to underestimate Kerry's cooking again. The soup was equally tasty. "How do you find the time to cook," Kim asked. "I barely have time to microwave.

"Once you give up sleep, it's easy," she said.

"Ah, thank god for take out then," Kim said, taking another sip of soup.

Kim wouldn't give up sleep for anything, Kerry remembered. `Well, anything but sex', she amended, blushing slightly. `Don't go there, Weaver.'

By unspoken agreement, they kept dinner conversation light. Kim asked Kerry all about her house hunting trip and Kerry filled her in on the details of the house. Henry did his part. He kept them entertained with songs he was learning in preschool. Kerry saw Kim wince when he started the ABC song for the fourth time.

Kerry laughed and pushed away from the table. "It's time for someone's bath," she said. She looked meaningfully at Henry.

He started chanting, "Bath, bath, bath."

"Kim, are you sure you want to hang around that long to talk?" Kerry asked. "We could go to lunch tomorrow if you'd rather."

"I'm here, you're here, we need to talk."

Kerry picked Henry up out of his chair, "Okay, but this could take awhile," Kerry warned. "Feel free to turn on the TV." She disappeared down the short hallway.

Kim sat there for a moment considering her actions and then she started clearing the table. She put the food away and loaded the dishwasher. `What are you getting yourself into? This all feels so….domestic,' she thought with a wince. `And you don't do domestic, Legaspi.'

In the bathroom, Kerry flipped on the taps and tested the temperature of the water while Henry lined up his bath toys. Then with a practiced motion, Kerry stripped the toddler and deposited him in the warm water and the splashing commenced.

Forty minutes later, Kerry joined Kim the living room. She was carrying a freshly bathed, pajama-clad Henry. His curls were slicked down and he smelled like baby shampoo. He looked almost angelic. Kerry looked like a drowned rat.

"It's story time," Kerry explained. She set Henry down and told him to pick out a book.

Kim watched as he walked over to a bookshelf and searched through the titles. He gave it serious thought, rejecting several until he'd picked just the right ones. He brought them over to the couch where Kim was sitting and handed it to her. "Weed," he commanded.

Kim looked up at Kerry; she was smirking.

"I think he wants you to read it to him," Kerry explained.

Kim cocked her head saucily and patted the couch next to her. "Okay, boy-o, climb up here."

Henry did as directed. He settled against Kim and opened the book.

Kerry looked at the two of them huddled on the sofa and suddenly wanted to cry. `That should be Sandy sitting there,' she thought bitterly. After Henry was born Kerry had begged her to take a desk job with the department. She'd had several opportunities to go into administration. But she'd refused each time, saying she'd rather be dead than work at a desk all day. That she'd died doing what she loved was little consolation. Kerry started to turn away.

"Don't you want to stay for story time?"

"No thanks, I know how it ends," Kerry said with a catch in her voice. "I'm just going to go clean up the bathroom."

Kim stared after her until she felt Henry tug on the book in her hands. "Weed," he commanded, impatiently. She smiled sadly and started the story.

Kim got through all of a Green Eggs and Ham, twice, and half of Harry by the Sea before Henry conked out. Kim knew when he fell asleep because somehow the weight of his body against her side seemed to increase threefold. She slipped her arms around him and tried to pick him up without waking him. She was mostly successful. He whimpered a few times and then went back to sleep.

Kim carried him through the apartment looking for his mother. She found Kerry in his bedroom. She was sitting on his bed holding a large teddy bear dressed as a fireman. She looked like her heart was about to break.

Kerry looked up as Kim entered Henry's bedroom. She scrubbed at her eyes. "I see he didn't last long."

"Nope, I think he must have had a hard day," Kim commented, rubbing his back soothingly.

"I think when you're two and half most days are hard," Kerry said as she stood up and pulled back the covers on his bed. She gently lifted Henry from Kim's arms and slid him under the blanket. She tucked the bear in next to him and kissed him on the forehead. He didn't even open his eyes. After flipping on the nightlight and the baby monitor she backed out of the room, Kim following close behind her.

Kerry went into the kitchen and immediately started fussing with the tea kettle. "Would you like some tea? Or maybe coffee?" she asked, ever the good hostess. She didn't need any caffeine but she needed to do something calming with her hands. Without Henry as a buffer it was time to actually have a substantive conversation and Kerry knew she was about to disappoint Kim. Again. Kerry flipped on the faucet and held the kettle under the cold stream of water.

Kim came up beside her. She took the now full kettle from Kerry's hands and set it carefully on the stove. She leaned back against the counter. "Just tell me, Ker," she said in a soft voice. "How would you feel about dating?"

Kim was so close that Kerry could feel the pull of her body heat. It was like Kim's body had its own gravitational field. She remembered the comfort of those long arms, the skill of those hands, the softness of those broad shoulders. She longed to give herself over to the comfort Kim offered. But she couldn't do it. Not now, maybe not ever.

"I can't date right now," Kerry blurted out as she forced herself away from the blonde. "My life is too complicated."

Kim nodded. "I see," she said noncommittally.

Kerry continued desperately. "Sandy's only been gone a year. I feel like I'm being unfaithful just considering it." She took another step away from Kim. She needed distance. And maybe a cold shower.

"Wouldn't Sandy want you to move forward with your life, be happy?" Kim asked, reasonably.

Kerry thought about that for a moment. Sandy had wanted her to be many things. Until Henry was conceived, Kerry hadn't been sure happy was one of them. Sandy and Kim were alike in many ways. They were both beautiful and charming; people liked them almost immediately. Kerry certainly had. Unfortunately, they were also willing to walk away when things got rough. Kerry wasn't sure she could handle that again and she sure as hell wasn't putting her son through it.

"There's also Henry. He doesn't need anymore upheaval in his life right now."

Kim nodded patiently. She'd considered this argument at length. "That's true. But he also needs a mother who's happy and fulfilled in her own right. And the more stable adult influences in his life, the better, right? That whole village/child thing."

"And then there's work," Kerry added somewhat desperately. "I'm just getting established at the hospital…' Kerry faltered at Kim's look of disbelief.

"Work? Okay, now you're just reaching," Kim said with a chuckle. She wasn't angry, she hadn't expected it to be easy and Kerry hadn't disappointed her. But she wasn't about to give up. She tried another approach.

"Are you saying you're not interested in dating or you're not interested in dating me?" Kim asked. She was the model of cool but firm. She didn't want any more miscommunication; unfortunately, it was the one thing they excelled at. If Kerry needed time, Kim would give her all the time she needed. If Kerry just wasn't interested in her….well she'd cross that bridge if she had to.

Kerry gaped at her. She wasn't prepared for calm acceptance. Hurt or hostility, those she was prepared for. This unexpected display of equanimity was surprising. She looked at Kim waiting calmly and patiently for an answer. "I'm not interested in dating anyone right now," she answered honestly. "I'm just not ready. I may never be ready. And someone would be foolish to wait for me," she said meaningfully.

Kim nodded in apparent agreement. "That's true but friendship is still okay? We can see each other as friends-dinner, movies, things like that."

Kerry felt she like she was being outmaneuvered. "Yes, as long as we're clear it's not dating."

Kim nodded with internal glee. Potayto, potahto and denial's not just a river in Egypt. "Okay, but Kerry…" She paused until she was sure she had Kerry's full attention. "As soon as you are ready to date again, you'll let me know, right?" It was both a command and a plea.

Nonplussed, Kerry nodded before she could think the whole thing through. She was a little worried by the predatory gleam in Kim's eye.

Checkmate. "Great," Kim said. She bobbed her head and added, "I'll have that tea now."

Part three--Misunderstandings

Four weeks later, Kim was losing confidence in her plan. Patience had never been one of her virtues. True, her friendship with Kerry was stronger than ever. They'd started having lunch together several times a week and they'd been to the zoo and the park with Henry. It was on the romance front that Kim kept getting blocked.

Offers for dinner were demurely deflected. Movies that didn't feature a cartoon character were conveniently ill timed. Kerry even had to work the weekend of the flower show. Despite her subtle attempts at wooing the redhead, she was no closer to the Promised Land. Kim was frustrated but she wasn't giving up. That's why she was spending a rare Saturday morning out of bed and combing the aisles of Home Depot with the Weavers. They were looking for something called a ballcock. While she was strangely aroused by the name, she couldn't imagine why they would find one in a hardware store. Still, something in Kerry's new house required one so here they were.

Kerry closed on the house just five days ago and the renovations were starting today. Kerry just wanted to pick up a few supplies before she met with the contractors again. Kim volunteered to help out and thus found herself pushing the shopping cart that contained Henry and a stack of cleaning supplies. Kerry was carrying the list of needed items and muttering to herself.

"I thought you were hiring painters and carpenters and people like that to do this sort of thing? Didn't Sharon give you a list? She gave me a list when I bought my loft." `And I ended up dating half of them,' she thought with a grin.

Kerry sighed. She'd already explained this once. "Kim, I can't knock down a wall but I can damn well fix my own toilet. Some things are too easy to pay someone else to do. That's why we're here."

Kim looked around at the other shoppers out this early on a Saturday. "Are you sure it's not just so you can cruise the local dyke population?" she asked suspiciously.

"No, that's just a perk," Kerry said crankily. She hailed the next person passing by in an orange vest. "I'm looking for the plumbing aisle," she said. She explained what she was looking for.

The young woman smiled. "Plumbing's three aisles over, on your left. If you can't find what you need, let me know," she said with a wink.

"Ballcock, ballcock, ballcock," Henry chanted, testing the words.

Kim winced and pushed the cart forward. She experienced a rush of disappointment when they located the correct aisle and tracked down the elusive plumbing component. Luckily that was the last item on Kerry's list and soon they were loading supplies in the van.

She winced again when Kerry pulled into the driveway of her new house. Sitting in the drive was an unfortunately familiar van. Florence and Lawrence Construction was printed on the side of the van. They'd installed her new kitchen cabinets and Kim had dated Florence Appleby for a disastrous week three years ago. Maybe she'd let Kerry meet with the contractors in private.

Kerry noticed Kim's response. "Old girlfriend?" she asked pointedly. Despite her abhorrence for gossip, she couldn't stop herself from listening when the topic was Kim Legaspi and she'd gotten an earful at Sharon's barbeque. Kim had been busy in the past few years. Kerry channeled her hurt into irritation.

Kim shook her head. "We never got beyond really bad dates," she confessed. She couldn't decipher Kerry's expression. Disbelief? Dismay? Disinterest? She couldn't tell. "Shall I wait in the car?"

Kerry laughed grimly and opened her door. "I don't think we can hide from all your former paramours, Kim. We'd never be able to leave the house. Could you get Henry?" Kerry didn't wait for a response. She hopped out and stalked over to the construction company van.

Kim didn't know whether to be mad or relieved at Kerry's attitude. She settled on puzzled but she climbed out of the car nonetheless. "Okay, kiddo, let's go see your new home."

Kim unbuckled the boy and he climbed out of his seat. She set him down beside the van and grabbed his hand. She wasn't sure if it was for his protection or hers. She walked over to where Kerry was talking to two contractors. She sighed with relief; she didn't recognize either of them. She really didn't want to involve Kerry in any of her old dyke drama. They had enough just between the two of them to last a lifetime.

"Kim, this is Shirley Howard and Stephanie Steward. They're going to be the supervisors on this job. This is my friend, Kim Legaspi."

Kim looked both women up and down. They did likewise. "Kim Legaspi? The Kim Legaspi? We've heard about you," Shirley, a tall, muscular woman, said with an annoyingly knowing smirk.

Kim smiled, ingratiatingly. "Don't believe everything you hear," she said as she turned on the charm.

Kerry cleared her throat. "If we could get started," she said in her brook-no-nonsense chief's voice. She waved toward the house.

Everyone nodded like good little soldiers and followed her into the structure. Kerry took the carpenters into the kitchen and suggested that Kim and Henry take a look around. They decided to start with the second floor.

It had once been a great house. It was built around the turn of the century; its woodwork and trim reflected the craftsmanship of that era. But years of neglect combined with a leaky roof had left the place in need of a lot of work. Wallpaper was peeling. There was water damage in places and trash and grime everywhere. The place was a mess.

Kim climbed the stairs carefully. She kept a tight hold on Henry's hand. There were four bedrooms on the second floor and two bathrooms. Kim walked into the first one and looked around. The ceilings were at least ten feet high and there was a bank of windows on two sides of the room. A connecting door led into a huge bathroom which led into another bedroom. These three rooms took up the front half of the house. The same layout existed on the back half. If Kerry could whip it into shape, it'd be a fabulous space. It was large enough for a king sized bed with plenty of room to spare. She got a little flushed just thinking about Kerry in a king sized bed. Maybe a four poster or one with a sturdy slatted headboard that would…

"Dirty!"

That brought Kim back to earth. Does this kid read minds? "What?" she asked hesitantly.

Henry looked up at her and frowned. "Dirty," he repeated. He ran his hand along the window sill. It came away black. He looked at his palm for a second and then held it up for Kim to see. He frowned again and then wiped his dirty hand on the wall.

Kim chuckled with relief. "Right, let's check out the bathroom kiddo."

By the time Henry and Kim made it back downstairs they both had dirty hands. They found Kerry in the kitchen alone. She was looking over some rough plans she'd drawn up a few days before.

"Where'd they go?" Kim asked.

"Supplies and reinforcements," Kerry answered tersely. She looked her son over carefully. "Henry what have you been getting in to?"

"Dirt!" he yelled happily.

Kerry sighed and pulled out a baby wipe from somewhere. Kim didn't know where it came from as Kerry didn't appear to have any pockets. She watched Kerry kneel down and start to clean Henry's hands.

"We tried to wash up but there's no water upstairs," Kim explained.

Kerry nodded. "Downstairs either. The plumber's coming out this afternoon. The roofer should be here in a few minutes." She looked around in dismay. "I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew here."

Kerry's rare moments of vulnerability were like catnip to the blonde. Kim smiled reassuringly. "It's going to be a beautiful house when it's done. And you said you had six months left on your apartment lease, right? You can do it," she said. "I'll help."

"You can do it," Henry parroted as if he had a clue what they were talking about. He held out his other hand to be cleaned.

Kerry's face reflected her delight. She smiled up at Kim. "With such ringing endorsements, how can I fail? Now I just need to find Henry a sitter before the roofer shows up," she said. Kim held out her hands to be cleaned.

Kerry stared at them warily. No way was she running her hands over Kim's long and talented fingers. Not to mention her palms--soft and warm with that fleshy part at the base of her thumb that Kerry loved to nibble just before she ….Blushing, Kerry handed Kim the baby wipe without making eye contact. She had to get these sense memories under control. Being around Kim was getting harder not easier.

"I can watch him for awhile," Kim volunteered before she could stop herself. "How long do you think you'll need?"

Kerry stood up. "A couple of hours," she admitted warily. "Are you sure you're up to it?"

Kim laughed. "Trust me. Besides, how hard can it be? We'll go grab some breakfast and maybe hit the kid's section at the bookstore down the street." Kim looked down at Henry. "How `bout it kid? Want to come with me?"

Henry looked up at Kim and bravely lifted his arms. Kim smiled cockily and swaggered over to pick him up. This kid thing wasn't so hard after all. She bounced him a little bit and he started laughing. Then she turned to Kerry. "Can we borrow your car keys?" She held out her hand; Henry held out his hand too.

When Kim drove up two hours later, Kerry was sitting on her front porch steps waiting for them. She'd talked to the roofers, the plumber and the team of carpenters and painters that had shown up. Walls were coming down in the kitchen, the roof was coming off on Monday and the plumbing repairs were already under way. `It's amazing what you can accomplish with some planning and a hefty checkbook,' she thought.

Kerry watched as her van pulled up in the driveway. She was startled when Kim practically leaped out of the door. Kim threw open the back door and Kerry could hear Henry crying from where she was sitting on the porch. She rushed down the stairs as Kim lifted the boy from his car seat. Kim rushed to meet Kerry half way.

"He's okay," Kim said. Despite this assertion, she was almost hysterical. "Just make him stop crying," she begged as she thrust Henry toward his mother.

Kerry took him from Kim. She checked him out carefully. He wasn't bleeding anywhere. He wasn't bruised. He didn't appear to be injured. "What's the matter baby," she cooed as she pulled him into the comfort of her body. She reached up and wiped the tears gently from his cheeks. The crying slowed but didn't quite stop. "It's okay, sweetie," Kerry continued. She shifted him to her hip and walked slowly toward the porch, still speaking softly to him. Kim followed them at a safe distance.

Kerry sat down on the top step. Henry, nestled in her lap, hiccupped a few times and then slowly stopped crying. Kim approached them carefully and sat down a few steps away. She looked as shaken up as Henry.

"What happened, Kim?" Kerry asked, keeping her voice as low and as calm as she could.

Kim put her head in her hands. "It was awful Kerry," she said tremulously. "We had breakfast. He loves cinnamon rolls, by the way," she said stalling for time. She wasn't sure how to explain how it had all gone so horribly wrong.

"And then?" Kerry was trying not to jump to any conclusions but she was on the verge of hyperventilating.

Kim took a deep breath and lifted her head. Staring off into the middle distance she began. "We went to the bookstore. We found a couple of books. We were having a great time," she said, bewilderment evident in her voice. "And then HE showed up." Kim shuddered.

"He?" Flasher, groper, who exactly was she going to have to kill?

"Clifford… the big red dog. Well, someone in a Clifford costume, anyway. He was making the rounds of the kids and they were having a great time. But when Henry saw him he just started screaming." Kim shuddered again. "Kerry, he wouldn't stop," she said desperately. "I tried everything."

Kerry reached out and squeezed Kim's shoulder. "He's afraid of dogs," she said. "It didn't occur to me to warn you. I'm sorry."

Kim swallowed convulsively and nodded a few times. She tried to slow her racing heartbeat. She was an accomplished professional, a doctor, and she'd never felt as inadequate in her life as she felt in the middle of that bookstore. How did parents do it?

Kim moved up two steps to sit next to Kerry. She looked over at Henry, now sitting calmly in his mother's lap. "I'm sorry Henry. I didn't know you were scared of dogs." She reached over and ran her hand gently down his arm. Henry smiled at her but he didn't let go of his mother.

`At least he wasn't mad at her,' Kim thought. In the car driving home she was sure the kid would never speak to her again.

"Bad dog," he said with a sniffle.

"Yes, he was a bad dog for scaring you," Kim agreed emphatically. She wondered if they'd ever let them back in that bookstore.

To Kim's surprise, Kerry started chuckling. Now that everyone was okay the humor of the situation was surfacing. "I wish I had a picture of your face when you drove up."

"You try driving with a banshee in the back seat, Weaver. See how you like it," Kim said defensively.

Kerry slid her left arm around Kim's waist. "It wasn't that bad, was it? Everyone survived. You're okay, aren't you Henry?"

Henry nodded. "I'm okay."

"And you're okay, aren't you Kim?" She squeezed the blonde's waist for emphasis and then left her arm in place. She didn't want this one setback to sour Kim on spending time with Henry. Trusted sitters were hard to find, she thought deviously.

The warmth of the contact was seeping into Kim's body, offering a comfort that words couldn't come close to. When she felt goose bumps climb her arm, she knew she was experiencing a whole different kind of heat. Without warning Henry climbed over into her lap. She forcibly squelched all libidinous thoughts brought on by her physical proximity to a certain redhead as she turned her attention to the junior Weaver. "We're going to have to work on that phobia, kiddo," she said. She tickled him slightly for emphasis and he broke out in giggles.

This was the tableau that greeted Janet and Sharon as they walked up the front walk toward the porch. They waved at the trio.

"So any bets on how long it'll take Kim to move in?" Janet whispered to her partner.

"The house won't be ready for six months so my money's on six months," Sharon said with a smirk.

"Did I tell you I caught her reading Dr. Spock the other day? She shoved it in her desk drawer but not before I saw the title." Janet chuckled. "I offered to giver her a list of more contemporary child development experts. She told me to mind my own business and email her the list."

Sharon's prediction was wrong. With Kerry in charge, the renovations only took three months to complete. Despite Kim's help. Kim spent many Saturday afternoons over there ostensibly helping out but actually keeping an eye on Kerry and the carpenter dykes. She knew just how appealing a woman in a tool belt could be with her shoulders and biceps developed through years of swinging a hammer. When you added in tight white tank tops and kick ass, steel toed boots that made the wearer swagger whether she wanted to or not those women became downright dangerous. No way was she leaving Kerry alone with them. They were too good with their hands to be trusted.

For her part, Kerry felt guilty that Kim was spending so much of her free time helping her out with her new house. At least she felt guilty until the weekend she walked in the kitchen and caught Kim ogling Stephanie as she was replacing an overhead light fixture. Kim was helpfully holding the ladder in place and checking out the carpenter's ass at the same time. Kerry felt a sudden rush of jealousy which she crushed mercilessly. She had no right to be jealous. She'd rebuffed Kim's interest weeks ago and now they were just friends. Close friends. If Kim wanted to spend her weekends doing home repairs just to get closer to a few, admittedly, hot craftswomen she'd do what she could to help her. She conveniently forgot that Kim didn't need any stratagems to attract women.

Kerry was surprised that Kim continued to drop by to help once all the major reconstruction and repairs were completed. All that was left was the interior painting and Kerry hired Mark and Ben to complete the job. Kerry knew Kim wasn't stopping by to flirt with them but she kept stopping by anyway. Finally, the place was almost done and Kerry invited her over to see the final results. Kim brought a bottle of champagne and she and Kerry went room-to-room inspecting the work. The place was stunning.

"Kerry, it's beautiful," Kim said, her voice quivering with awe.

"It is, isn't it?" Kerry couldn't quite believe it. "I never would have guessed it would look this good."

"When are you moving in?" Kim ran her hand along the smooth, stainless steel surface of Kerry's new stove top.

"There's another day's worth of touch ups to be done but it should be finished by this weekend." Kerry spun around in the kitchen. She was extremely pleased at the way things had turned out. She'd already increased the home's resale value by at least twenty percent and probably more.

"You're moving in this weekend?" Kim sounded disappointed.

"No, I'm actually not moving in until week after next. I'm going to a conference this weekend in Chicago. I won't be back until late Saturday."

"The women in medicine conference?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"I'm going too. I have to take advantage of conferences close enough to drive. Since someone, who shall remain nameless, cut the staff's travel budget," Kim teased. Kerry's cost cutting measures ranged from the obvious to the arcane. Kim was most pissed about the increase in vending machine charges. `Why should the hospital subsidize the unhealthy eating habits of the staff,' had been Kerry's argument.

"If you're staying at the Marriot, we could save the hospital some money," Kim suggested, trying to appear helpful and not manipulative.

Kerry nodded warily. She really didn't want to share a room with Kim. Or maybe she wanted to share a room too much. She couldn't decide. Either way, it was a bad idea.

"Want to carpool? No sense both of us driving down alone."

"Carpool? Sure," Kerry agreed in a rush. She tried to convince herself she was relieved. "But I won't be alone. Henry's coming."

"Won't he be a little bored?" Kim figured he'd be going that's why she hadn't suggested sharing a room.

"He's spending most of the time with his grandparents. He loves to visit. He has a couple of cousins just a little older and the family spoils him rotten. I bring him to visit as often as possible. We're leaving Wednesday night, driving back Saturday evening. Is that okay?"

Kim smiled a canary eating grin. "That's perfect. Now let's check out the rest of the house. How did the master bedroom come out?"

Four days later Kerry pulled into the driveway of her in-laws house. At least she thought of them as her in-laws. They weren't quite family but they certainly weren't strangers. And they genuinely loved Henry; that made them okay in Kerry's book. They actually got along fairly well and Kerry took great pains to include them in Henry's life. Kerry thought, not for the first time, how strange it was that they got along better since Sandy's death than they ever had before.

Kerry pulled to a stop and cut the engine. That woke up Kim and Henry. They'd both been asleep for the past two hours but only one had been drooling. She handed Kim a tissue.

"Are we there already?" Kim asked, confused by the strange neighborhood. She yawned and stretched. She was startled by the squeal from the back seat.

"Papa! Papa!" Henry was yelling for his grandfather whom he saw coming out on the porch of the modest home.

"We're at the Lopez residence," Kerry explained. "Henry's grandparents."

"Oh, I didn't realize we were stopping here first," Kim said. She felt a bit out of place but she was determined to make the best of it.

"Who's that?" Kim asked, pointing at a tall, dark and handsome younger man. He'd just stepped out on the porch and was waving at Henry.

"That's Eduardo."

"Henry's father?" Kim asked, based on the remarkable resemblance. She felt strangely resentful. They hadn't discussed the circumstances of Henry's birth. Not that it mattered really. `Except as tangible proof that Kerry had built a life with another woman,' Kim thought darkly.

Kerry laughed. "No, his father was donor 3274B. Eddie's his uncle. Sandy's younger brother."

The passenger door slid open and Mr. Lopez said hello. Kerry made the introductions while Papa was lifting his delighted grandson out of his car seat. He smiled benevolently at Kim and invited everyone in to the house for coffee. Then he carried Henry up to the porch where a short, older woman waited impatiently.

"That's Florina. Sandy's mother," she explained as she climbed out the van.

Kim took a deep breath. She really hadn't planned on this but she'd have to make the best of it. She grabbed Henry's bag from the back seat and walked around the car to where Kerry was talking with Eduardo. She stuck out her hand and turned on the charm. "Hi, I'm Kim Legaspi, a colleague of Kerry's."

Eduardo looked puzzled by Kim's presence so Kerry added, "She's a doctor. She's attending the conference too. We just drove down together. To save money."

Both Kim and Eduardo grinned at Kerry's babbling. Eduardo took Kim's hand suavely. "It's very nice to meet you, Dr. Legaspi."

"Please, call me Kim."

Eduardo tucked Kim's hand into the crook of his elbow and escorted her up the short sidewalk to where his parents waited on the porch. Kerry followed them. She didn't know whether to be amused or offended by Eduardo's blatant gallantry. She settled on amused; it was safer for everyone.

Kim and Kerry didn't stay much past the introductions. It was getting late and they needed to get to the hotel. Kerry handed Mrs. Lopez a list of phone numbers and then walked over to where Henry was playing with two of his cousins Jake and Amanda. She kissed him goodbye and told him to be a good boy. He was so interested in his older cousins that he barely noticed she was leaving until she reached the door. He ran over and threw his arms around her and kissed her goodbye again. Then, much to the surprise of everyone in the room, he did the same to Kim.

Kim hugged him tightly and then kissed the top of his head. "See ya in a few days kiddo," she said around the lump in her throat.

"See ya!" Henry yelled and then ran back to his cousins.

Kim and Kerry scooted quickly out the door. Twenty minutes later they were signing in at the hotel. Kim scooped up her credit card and her room key and stepped out of the line. "Want to go get something to eat," she asked as she waited for Kerry to finish signing in.

Kerry yawned. "I don't think so. I just want a hot shower and a warm bed." She was tired from the drive.

"Sounds good," Kim agreed, trying hard not to picture Kerry in the shower. Or in bed. She sighed. She could always order dinner for one from room service. They joined the line at the elevators. While they were waiting Kim skimmed the conference schedule. When the elevator doors opened everyone piled in. Kim managed to snag a spot next to Kerry. Actually, up against Kerry would be a more accurate description. She stood a little closer than necessary but the cramped elevator provided the perfect excuse to seriously invade the redhead's body space. She kept her eyes on the schedule trying to appear casually unaware of the closeness. Then she noticed Kerry's name in the line up of speakers. "Hey, you're in here," she said with surprised pride.

Kerry preened. She'd worked hard on that paper. "Yep, two o'clock tomorrow." The elevator reached her floor. "Be there or be square," she said as she stepped out of the elevator, leaving Kim to ride to her floor alone but for her many frustrations.

Kim didn't see Kerry the next morning. She'd called Kerry's room to invite her out to breakfast but there was no answer. Kim headed out to her own workshops. She wasn't too concerned. After all, she knew where Kerry would be at two.

Kim was late for Kerry's presentation. She was hurrying to the main conference room when she was surprised by the sight of Henry running toward her. Eduardo was close on his heels.

"Kim, Kim," Henry yelled. He threw himself at her and she picked him up without hesitation.

"Is everything okay?" Kim asked.

"Kim, I saw wions and helefants," he said, his eyes alight with excitement.

"We were out doing a little male bonding at the zoo and Henry said he wanted to come see his Mama," Eduardo explained. "I called Kerry and she said to meet her here but we're a little early," he added.

"Kerry's still presenting her paper. And I missed it," she said. She shook off her disappointment. She could always ask Kerry for a copy of her speech or, better yet, a private showing. "Shall we wait for her in the coffee shop? You can tell me all about the zoo," Kim said. She started to walk toward the restaurant that was just off the central lobby of the hotel.

"I'll meet you two there," Eduardo said. "I need to run to the little boys' room."

Kim nodded and turned her attention back to Henry. "What else did you see? Were there gorillas?"

Henry nodded. "Biiiig gorillas." He made some monkey sounds for emphasis.

Kim smiled and said with a laugh, "I think someone's been watching too much Animal Planet."

Eduardo spotted Kerry on his way back from the restroom.

"Where's Henry?" she asked. Her concern was immediate.

"He's in the coffee shop with this tall blonde he's apparently charmed," Eduardo said with a smirk. He pointed Kerry in the right direction and they pushed through the crowd. As they approached the restaurant they could see Kim and Henry sitting at a table inside. Well, Kim was sitting at the table; Henry was sitting happily in her lap. It looked like they were sharing an ice cream sundae.

"He said he wanted to see his Mama but I guess Blondie's almost as good," he said looking slyly at Kerry. He couldn't quite keep the grin off his face. He'd always liked the redhead. She'd been good for his sister. "Way to go, Kerry," he said with a smirk. "Maybe you could give me some pointers?"

`Did he just elbow me? Are we twelve now?' Kerry thought. "She's my friend, Eddie. It's not what you think."

Eduardo didn't buy that for a minute. He'd seen the way the blonde looked at Kerry and Henry didn't warm up to just anyone. "Why the hell not?"

"Your sister, remember? She's only been dead a year," Kerry protested. "I'm not ready."

"It's been almost two years," he corrected. "And Sandy would want you to be happy," Eddie said seriously then he looked at Kim and grinned wolfishly. "She'd certainly make me happy."

Kerry slapped him on the shoulder. "Cut it out, Eddie," she ordered in her most authoritative big sister tone. She'd never had a brother and she was beginning to understand why Sandy had called her lucky

Eduardo wasn't fazed a bit. "Ma wants you to come to dinner. And she said bring the blonde. I think she likes her."

Kerry groaned. "What is this? A Lopez conspiracy?"

"She's gay isn't she?" Eddie asked.

"Yes, she's gay." Kerry didn't hesitate to out her. "But she isn't interested in me. We're just friends," Kerry said adamantly, as much to herself as to Eddie. The smile on Kim's face when Kerry entered the coffee shop belied that protest.

"You know all that sugar isn't good for him, don't you?" Kerry asked as she approached the table. She was stuck somewhere between cranky and affectionate.

Kim was undaunted. "Yep, that`s why we're sharing one. Want a bite?" She held out a spoon full of ice cream and was completely surprised and delighted when Kerry accepted her offer. Her temperature spiked when Kerry licked her lips.

"Mmmmm, hot fudge. My favorite." Kerry's smile faded when she caught sight of Eduardo's knowing smirk.

"Mama want bite," Henry said, offering up his own spoon to Kerry. Everyone laughed and Kerry and Eduardo sat down.

They spent the next half hour eating ice cream and listening to Henry's zoo time adventures.

Finally, Kim pushed back from the table. "It's been fun kids but I have another presentation to attend this afternoon," she said regretfully. She picked Henry up and passed him to his mother. "I'll see you later, kiddo." She ruffled Henry's dark curls. "It was nice to see you again Eduardo."

He nodded and started to invite Kim to dinner but Kerry kicked him in the shins.

"I'll call you later, Ker. We can compare notes on the conference." Kim said before she rushed out.

"Hear that Kerry. She wants to compare notes," Eddie teased.

Kerry shot him the death ray glare she reserved for recalcitrant medical students and interns. He paled slightly and decided that discretion actually was the better part.

"So we'll see you for dinner at six?"

"I'll be there."

"Bring the blonde," he ordered bravely. "If not for you, then for me," he said with a grin.

The drive back to Minneapolis was quiet. Henry was asleep in the backseat. He was completely worn out from his exciting weekend with the family. Kerry was in the passenger seat trying to figure out a way to apologize without making the situation worse. Kim was driving. She needed something to keep her mind occupied and off the multiple disappointments of her weekend.

`Things had been fine until that damn dinner at the Lopez's,' Kim thought. Actually, dinner was great. The food was terrific and she had charmed the multiple members of the family. It was after dinner that things deteriorated.

Kerry and Florina were standing at the porch railing watching Henry and several of his cousins playing ball in the yard. Kim had been chosen by the kids to referee.

Florina was an observant woman, with six kids you had to be, and it hadn't escaped her notice that Henry adored the tall blonde. She'd also noticed the blonde watching her daughter-in-law when Kerry wasn't aware of it. Never one to avoid conflict, Florina dove right in.

"I think Dr. Legaspi is in love with you," she said, matter-of-factly.

Kerry was startled. "What? No, we're just friends," she protested. She wasn't sure how to interpret Florina's statement.

Florina shook her head in disbelief. "She acts like she's known you a while."

Kerry still couldn't read Florina's motivations and decided on a partial truth. "We were involved. A long time ago, long before I met Sandy," she confessed. "Now we're just friends. It's too late for us to be anything more."

"Are you dead?" Florina asked, more harshly than she intended.

"What? Of course not," Kerry sputtered.

"Then it's not too late. When you're dead it's too late," the older woman said. A heavy weight of guilt and bitterness made it come out harshly. She'd spent a year after Sandy's death regretting lost opportunities. She'd counted on having years with her daughter, years to repair the rift that had grown steadily since Sandy was a teen. The fire department, her outspoken lesbianism, a white girlfriend--these were all choices that put them at odds until Sandy's untimely death made reconciliation impossible. Florina was determined not to let that happen again. Her withdrawal from the custody suit was the first step in a healing process that was both long and painful.

Florina watched Henry running after Kim and decided to switch tactics. "Henry adores her and he needs two parents," she said.

Kerry turned away from the railing, exasperated. "Yes, but he only has one and she's not ready to start dating. Kim or anyone else," she added.

"The longer you wait, the harder it becomes."

Kerry sighed. She hated justifying herself to anyone, even a woman she'd grown reluctantly to respect. She tried to explain what she didn't fully understand herself. "I can't just decide to love Kim. Yes, Henry needs another parent," she said vehemently. She started to tear up. Being in Sandy's childhood home, surrounded by her family always pushed Kerry's emotional buttons. Eduardo's eyes, Florina's hands, her father's smile--they all reminded her of who and what she'd lost. "He needs Sandy," she cried. "I need Sandy but she's not here, damn it." She wiped futilely at the tears on her cheeks. "Why did she have to be so stubborn; why did she die, Florina?"

The older woman moved in and enveloped Kerry in her arms. She could feel the sobs wracking Kerry's slight frame but hardly a sound escaped. Florina held her while she cried. She looked over the railing into yard. Kim was standing with Henry in her arms and they were both staring intently at the scene on the porch. She wondered how much of it they'd overheard. If Kim's wounded expression was any indication, they'd heard all of it. To her credit, the blonde turned away and distracted Henry, allowing Kerry time and privacy to grieve.

A few minutes later, Kerry was drying her eyes when Eduardo came out on the porch to announce that dessert was ready and "anyone not in the kitchen in two minutes isn't getting any." He stepped out of the doorway to avoid being trampled by the junior Lopezes. Henry ran to keep up with his cousins. Eduardo and Florina followed the brood into the kitchen leaving Kim and Kerry alone on the porch in the dimming light.

Kim approached the other woman slowly. She could still see faint tear tracks on her cheeks.

"Last in line for dessert? That's not like you Legaspi," Kerry said with a wan smile. She was obviously trying to find her equilibrium again.

"Sometimes survival's more important than flan." She chuckled half heartedly.

"You've never had Florina's flan," Kerry said. "It's worth a few bruises." She was entirely serious.

Kim looked longingly at the door. First things first, she decided. She stepped closer to Kerry and reached out but she didn't quite touch the other woman. "Kerry, I overheard what you said to Mrs. Lopez about Sandy and not wanting…"she paused. She couldn't bring herself to say `not wanting me' so she settled for "not wanting to date."

An embarrassed flush spread across Kerry's cheeks. "Kim, I'm sorry…"

Kim interrupted her nascent apology with a curt shake of her head. "Don't worry about it; it's okay. We've been out of synch since the beginning," Kim assured her. "Our timing's always been off; it's almost funny," she said but her grim expression belied the humor.

In that instant Kerry realized how serious Kim was about renewing their relationship. Despite the time they spent together she hadn't let herself believe it before. She wasn't sure she wanted to believe it now. Love was so complicated and it opened you to so much pain.

"At least we've salvaged our friendship." Kim's voice was marked with muted resignation, as if she'd come to some sort of resolution. "Listen, I'm going to grab a cab back to the conference," she said, turning away suddenly. "I'll talk to you later." She rushed into the kitchen leaving Kerry standing alone on the porch in the growing gloom of twilight.

They successfully avoided each other for the rest of the conference; they didn't see each other again until they met to check out of the hotel. Kim loaded their bags in the van in silence. She offered to drive. Kerry handed over her keys passively and walked around to the passenger's side.

Henry was happy to see them but he was sad to leave his grandparents. He cried softly as his grandfather buckled him into his car seat. `I know how you feel, kid,' Kim thought as she backed out of the drive.

It was late on Saturday night when Kim pulled the van to a stop near the entrance to her apartment building. Henry didn't even wake up. She hopped out and went to grab her bags. Kerry rushed around to the rear of the van to meet her. She couldn't leave things like this.

"Thanks for driving," was all Kerry could think of to say. Even she thought it was lame.

Kim smiled a little. "Not a problem. I'll see you at work next week," she said reaching in quickly. She picked up her luggage and turned away.

Kerry couldn't let her leave it like that. "Kim," she called out.

The blonde turned back expectantly.

"Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow?"

Kim gave Kerry a long, serious look. "No. Thank you, but no that's probably not a good idea." She was going upstairs to try and forget this weekend ever happened.

Kerry nodded her acceptance. She couldn't do anything else. "Okay, I'll see you Monday," she said. Kim waved and turned away. As the blonde disappeared into her building Kerry suddenly wanted to cry.

Part Four--Hostility and avoidance

Kerry arrived at the hospital bright and early on Monday. She had a lot she needed to do and not enough time in the day to do it. She dropped Henry off at preschool and headed in to her office. A quick call to the psych department revealed one Dr. Legaspi had called in sick. Kerry made a note to call Kim later and check on her then she got down to work. There was one piece of good news. There was an email from the HR department. Dr. Dyson had accepted the position as ER chief. She could start in three weeks.

Kerry crossed that off her list of things to worry about and pulled up her personal calendar. She looked it over carefully. She had no idea when she was going to find time to move into her new house. `Who needs sleep anyway,' she thought grimly. Most of her household stuff was still in storage in Chicago. That would be fairly easy to arrange to move. As for the rest, she still had two months on her apartment lease and a department full of med students and interns that needed her approval for professional advancement. She pushed that thought aside as an unethical use of her authority. She'd only use it as a last resort, she thought with an almost evil grin.

Kerry attacked the stack of paperwork that had been building while she was out of town. She didn't look up until 9 when John came in and brought her a fresh cup of coffee. She stretched for a minute and then picked up the phone. There was no answer at Kim's house so Kerry left a concerned message and immediately got back to work.

She had meetings scheduled for most of the afternoon but she checked her messages in between. Kim never called. This was starting to feel disturbingly familiar. She headed into her second meeting feeling cranky and put upon. She tried not to take it out on the committee but she was only partially successful. By the end of her final meeting she was in full blown bitch mode and everyone else was glad to get out of there alive.

Kerry stormed back to her office to check her messages before heading home. One was from Dr. Dyson, thanking her for the job opportunity. The second message was from Kim explaining that she'd caught some sort of bug over the weekend but she was feeling better and expected to be in the following day. Kerry sighed with relief. Maybe she hadn't totally screwed things up. She'd been honest with Kim from the beginning but she still felt bad about hurting her feelings.

Kim got to work on Tuesday to find a tasteful bouquet of flowers and an envelope on her desk. The flowers were from Kerry and the card was from Henry. Kerry had written get well soon on the card and Henry had colored it for her. He used the most garish colors in the box but she loved it anyway. She hung the card on her bulletin board where she could see it from her desk. The flowers she put on the shelf behind her desk. She didn't want to throw them out but she really didn't want to think about Kerry Weaver for a while. She wasn't covering the ER so she would be safe for a few days. She turned on her computer and pulled up her schedule ready to start the day.

Kerry called Kim around noon to see if she was feeling up to having lunch.

"I can't today, Kerry. I'm swamped from last week. Maybe later in the week," Kim said noncommittally.

"Kim you've been sick, you need to eat," Kerry said in full protective mode. "If you can't leave the office now, I'll have something sent down. You have to take care of yourself." Kerry hung up and called her favorite Chinese delivery.

Kim sighed. Flowers, food, concerned phone calls--she wondered if Kerry could really be that clueless. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course she could, this was Kerry Weaver after all. Kim wondered if she should just kiss her in the lounge again. She still had trouble believing she did something so inappropriate. But effective, she reminded herself.

Kim managed to successfully avoid Kerry for the next three days. Then her luck ran out with a vengeance.

Kerry was working a night shift in the ER. She wanted to watch a few of the residents who were up for review. She set up shop at the admit desk. She could work on paperwork and keep an eye on everyone. She looked at Steve, the intake clerk and wondered, not for the first time, what Randi Fronczak was doing these days. Steve was good but he lacked Randi's flair. `Of course, most people lack Randi's flair,' Kerry thought affectionately. Kerry tried not to miss her old staff but sometimes it was hard. She sighed. `At least Kim is here,' she thought. `Not that I've seen her much this week. Or at all,' she realized with a start. She'd talked to her briefly on the phone but they hadn't been able to even get together for lunch.

"Steve, who's on call in psych tonight?" Kerry asked.

"Legaspi's covering for Bradford tonight," the slim clerk answered without looking up from his filing; it was safer that way. Weaver and Legaspi were like oil and water in their approaches to patient care.

"Page her for me, please," Kerry said just before she walked over to see what was causing the commotion in a nearby exam. She found two of her residents wrestling a nude patient into a hospital gown. Every time they got him clothed he'd manage to slip out of their grasp and flash whoever was in the hallway. He, at least, seemed to be having fun.

Kerry noted a few critical remarks on their efforts and then headed back to the admit desk to wait for Kim. The blonde showed up a few minutes later.

"You paged me Steve?"

Steve pointed to the end of the counter where Weaver was sitting. Kim slowed her pace but eventually she had to reach the redhead. "Hey Kerry, you paged me?"

Kerry looked up from her chart review. "Hi Kim, I realized I hadn't seen you in days and I wanted to see how you're doing?"

"You called me away from the ward during a full moon to check up on me?"

Kim's raised voice drew the attention of several near by staff members. They realized there hadn't been a Weaver/Legaspi bout in weeks and there was a collective increase in activity around the admit desk.

Kerry could tell Kim was pissed. She just didn't know why. "Last I heard you were sick. I was worried," she added hoping the personal concern would lessen Kim's growing ire.

She was wrong. It was like throwing gasoline on a fire. Kim's face flushed but before she could get started Kerry cut her off with a wave of her hand. "But now that you're here there's a flasher in exam two that could use your professional services. Johnson and Bricker are already in there to help." Kerry hadn't planned to page psych, but what the hell.

Kim nodded curtly and headed down the hall. Kerry headed into the staff lounge to cool off. When she came back the crowd at the desk was watching the door to exam two. As she approached the group from the rear she heard someone as the rest of the group "what does Weaver have against Legaspi, anyway? She's a great doctor."

"Dyke drama," said one of the orderlies, succinctly.

"Weaver's gay?"

The group nodded.

"It's unrequited lust," added one of the nurses.

"For Legaspi?" asked a student whose name Kerry could never remember.

The group shook their collective heads. "For Weaver," explained another nurse with calm certainty.

"Legaspi's gay?" His disappointment was clearly written all over his face.

The group nodded sympathetically. Many of them had the same initial reaction.

"What a waste," he muttered.

There were knowing looks all around and someone piped up "believe me, it's not wasted." The whole group cracked up.

Kerry cleared her throat and there was an audible collective gasp that she might have found amusing under different circumstances. "Get back to work," she barked harshly. The nurses and students scattered like roaches in the sudden flare of a light bulb.

A few minutes later, Kim came strolling down the hall with the patient's chart in hand. "Kerry, I'm not admitting him to psych. He's drunk. With his blood alcohol level I'm surprised he's still able to stand, much less drop trou."

"Are you sure there's no underlying psychopathology?"

"Maybe, but until he sobers up I can't really tell, now can I?" Kim said pointedly. "In fact, you might have waited until he was sober before calling me the first time, Dr. Weaver."

"As long as it's my ER, it's my call," Kerry said with infuriating logic.

"I guess it's a good thing you hired Dyson, then isn't it," Kim said, practically spitting the name. She turned on her heels and marched to the elevator.

Kerry stared after her wondering what the hell she'd done now to warrant such hostility. She shrugged her shoulders to loosen the knots she'd developed arguing with Kim. She'd never understand women. "I'll give her `til the weekend to calm down and then I'll call her again."

Kerry called on Saturday to see if Kim wanted to go to the movies but there was no answer. She hung up the phone a little more forcefully than required. She tried again that evening-still no answer. She left a message. "Kim I'm not sure what I've done to upset you. If you'd like to talk about it that'd be great. If not, I'll see you at work."

Kim spent Sunday morning with Janet and Sharon. They'd been getting together for brunch every few weeks for years. Kim was slicing fruit at the counter when Janet got back from the bakery with fresh breadstuffs.

Kim looked in the bag. "Mmmmm. My favorites."

"Really? I heard you were partial to redheads," Sharon teased, as she pulled plates down from the cabinet and started to set the table.

"I heard some interesting gossip the other day," Janet said to Sharon as she grabbed the glasses. "Something about a scene in the ER."

Kim rolled her eyes and set the fruit salad on the table. "It wasn't a scene. And it wasn't personal; it was a slight disagreement about a patient. You know how things get distorted by the gossip tree."

Janet nodded; Kim was right. But she'd also noticed that Kim was off her game the past week so she knew something was up. As an administrator and a friend it was her job to find out what. "Seriously Kim, is working with Weaver getting to be a problem? Do I need to step in here?" Janet was only half kidding.

Kim sighed with resignation. "No, as soon as Dyson takes over things should normalize. I shouldn't let her get to me, that's all. It isn't even really her fault." Kim went on to explain everything that happened at the Lopez dinner.

"So what are you going to do?"

Kim bounced up in her seat. "About what? Kerry's cluelessness or my pigheaded pursuit of the possibly unattainable?" Kim asked her voice shrill with frustration. She sagged back down in her chair.

"Janet, what's your opinion?" she asked quietly.

"Of this twisted little dynamic you two have?" Her lips curled into a sardonic smile.

"Yes," Kim said, smiling at the teasing tone. "Is it just me? Am I deluding myself that Kerry might be interested, that a relationship might be possible?"

Janet leaned back in her chair. "Grief is a tough one. People spend their whole lives processing grief. You know that as well as I do. I don't think Weaver's the type to fall in love with her grief but I don't really know her that well."

Sharon piped up, "Well I know that you and Kerry send off enough sparks to endanger several national forests. So, the attraction's there and it's definitely mutual. The question is-- do you really want to play with that kind of fire?"

Kim was reassured by this observation. She knew it was easy to believe something just because you wanted it to be true. But if it was evident to a disinterested third party then maybe, just maybe, there was a chance Kerry eventually would see it too. "Just call me Prometheus," she said with a cocky grin. She reached for another croissant.

"And we all know how well that turned out," Janet said, dousing Kim with a cold dose of reality. "The question is how long are you willing to put your life on hold?"

Kerry was getting ready to leave her apartment when the phone rang. She debated not answering it but when she heard Kim's voice on the machine she knew she had to. She headed for the phone.

"Hi, Kerry, I'm returning your call. I won't be home this evening but if you get in before six, give me a call. If not, I'll see you at work. Bye."

Kerry stood staring down at the phone. `Won't be home this evening? Where the hell was she going on a Sunday night?' Damn. Instead of being relieved that Kim was talking to her she was irked. And she couldn't even formulate why.

The following Monday, when Kerry called and asked how her date went, Kim was puzzled. `Date?' She'd gotten together with some friends for drinks and dinner but she kind of liked the worried undertones in Kerry's voice so she didn't explain. She just said she had a great evening and left it at that. Then she asked Kerry out to lunch. She almost chuckled when the redhead leaped on the invitation.

Kim exited the exam room. She'd just spent thirty minutes at Kerry's request going over the clinical signs of depression with a group of ten medical students. 'Was I ever that callow,' she thought as she wrote up some recommendations. She approached the admit desk slowly. There was a crowd gathered round the desk. It looked like they were all watching the TV in the waiting area.

As she got closer she realized it wasn't the TV they were watching; it was the waiting area. Specifically it was Kerry in the waiting area. She was talking to a stunning young blonde woman. Suddenly, the blonde swept Kerry up in a fierce embrace. She kissed her on the cheek before letting her go.

Kerry stepped away from the young woman but not before the blonde handed Kerry her card and said "call me." Then the blonde twirled around and headed out the exit.

Kerry looked after her for a moment then she walked back toward the group at the admit desk. She approached the counter in a daze. She must have been stunned because she didn't even yell at them to get back to work but they did it anyway just to be safe.

"Kerry."

There was no response.

"Kerry?"

Finally Kim yelled "Dr. Weaver!"

Kerry jumped and noticed the blonde for the first time "Kim...are you all done?"

Kim felt her blood pressure spike and she lifted her clipboard like a shield. "Yes, I just need your signature." She shoved the clipboard toward the clueless redhead.

Kerry signed on the dotted line and handed it back to her. Kim clinched her jaw and spit out "Thank you." She started to turn away but turned back impulsively; she couldn't help herself. "Isn't she a little young for you? She's what..23, 24?" She didn't wait for an answer before storming off toward the elevator and the beckoning safety of the psych ward.

Kerry was halfway to her own office before she processed what had just happened. She finally caught one of the clues Kim had been lobbing her way for weeks. She understood that Kim was jealous and that she was glad that Kim was jealous. It made her so unreasonably happy that she realized she'd been kidding herself with the whole `friends' thing. It was a feeble attempt to protect her battered heart and alleviate the guilt of surviving Sandy's death.

Kerry went into her office and shut the door. She wasn't very good at introspection and the effort was making her hyperventilate. She sat down and held her breath for a moment. She noticed the picture of Sandy and Henry that she kept on her desk. She reached out with a finger and caressed the photo gently. She realized that if Sandy were alive, they'd still be together. But Sandy was dead and Kim was alive and here and wanted her. She didn't have to feel guilty about anything.

Kerry hit the intercom button. "John, call Dr. Legaspi. Tell her that the chief of staff of this hospital wants her ass in my office in ten minutes." She slammed the phone down before John could even say okay.

Fifteen minutes later Kim knocked forcefully on the door to Kerry's office. She pushed her way in. "You wanted to see me, Dr. Weaver," she said angrily to the woman behind the desk.

Kerry set aside a report she'd been pretending to read and looked up at the antagonistic blonde. "Yes, please sit down," she said calmly.

"I prefer to stand and I won't be staying long," Kim sputtered. "I was in the middle of a session.

Kerry nodded, still calm. "I'm sorry about that but there's something we need to clarify." She took a deep breath and continued, "For the record, Laurie Kingsley is 25 years old. She's a grad student at U of M. She's also my sister."

"What?" Kim plopped down in one of the chairs in front of Kerry's desk.

"Laurie…the blonde downstairs, she's my sister." Kerry said it with a strange air of self satisfaction.

Kim leaped up, waving her arms angrily. "You were an only child Kerry. Or did you forget that you told me that." She started pacing in front of the desk chastising herself, as much as Kerry.

"Here I am--waiting patiently--again! For you to get your shit together--again! And you're off blithely kissing other blondes. I am such an idiot!"

"Kim!" The yell startled both Kim and Kerry but it did get Kim to shut up. "She's my birth sister. I found my birth mother several years ago. At first she didn't want anything to do with me but eventually she changed her mind and tracked me down. You'll love this--she's a born again Christian, some luck I have, right? Still, she didn't absolutely freak when I told her I was gay. And now she's told her daughter about me and suddenly I have a sister."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We've been kinda busy," Kerry said wryly. "We've spent most of our time lately comparing paint chips or avoiding each other."

Kim shot her a look of disbelief.

"Between work and the house, it just never came up. I'm sure we'd have gotten around to it sometime." This millennia. The truth was that Kerry wasn't sure how she felt about the whole thing. For so long she'd felt as if a huge part of her past was missing. And in that missing space she could weave tales that met whatever need or fear she had at the moment. When she met her mother she realized that she wasn't an ogre or a princess, just a scared kid who didn't have any other options. The ordinariness of the situation gave Kerry a small measure of peace; but it was still complicated. And now she had a sister.

Kim shook her head in fond exasperation. She could see the conflict mirrored in Kerry's face. She knew this was a huge deal for the other woman and she didn't want to pressure her. Kim softened her tone. "Thank you for telling me."

She sat back down primly. "So tell me about your sister. This woman you barely know who kisses you in the middle of the ER." That last bit came out more sharply than Kim intended but she was still a little miffed that Kerry hadn't told her. If she was honest she'd admit that she was also more than a little frustrated by her jealous reaction. She didn't do jealous, damn it!

"I didn't call you up here to talk about my sister," Kerry admitted.

"What?"

"Well, I did but there's something else. Something more important," Kerry said as she got up and walked around in front of her desk.

"Something more important than finding your sister?" Kim was confused.

"Kim, I think I'm ready to try dating again." She stared down at the blonde.

Kim almost got whiplash trying to follow the conversation. "You're ready to start dating again?" Kim sat there looking confused. Finally, Kerry's meaning registered with her.

"Oh….ohhhh, you're ready to start dating again."

"I promised you'd be the first to know," Kerry said with a flirtatious smile. At least she hoped it was flirtatious; it'd been so long she was probably rusty.

`Hallelujah!' Kim's smile lit up her whole face. "I'm free Saturday night," she said smoothly. She stood up and stepped directly into Kerry's personal space but she didn't say anything more. After all this time she was going to make Kerry ask.

Kerry didn't hesitate. "Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

"On a date?" Kim clarified.

"Yes, if you'd still like it to be," Kerry said hopefully.

"Oh I'd like, Weaver, I'd like," Kim assured her. Her inner Romeo was doing victory laps. Finally! She propped a hip up against the desk. "What did you have in mind?" she asked with forced nonchalance. She reached out and fingered one of Kerry's buttons suggestively.

A jolt of arousal followed immediately by a jolt of fear shot through Kerry's body. "Not that," Kerry exclaimed, backing up half a step. Kim didn't let go of her shirt. "I'm sorry Kim. I think I need to take this slow."

`Slow! It's already been eight months,' Kim screamed internally. Aloud she said, "Damn, and I had big plans for the table in the conference room on three this afternoon. Not to mention the janitors' closet on two. And then there's your wonderfully large…desk," she said with a suggestive glance at said object that they were both now leaning against.

A look of panic raced across Kerry's face. `Oh god.' She hadn't thought this through. She hiccupped unexpectedly.

Kim laughed. She loved that she could still make Kerry lose her cool. Still, they were in the hospital so she toned down her teasing. But she didn't remove her hand. "Don't worry; I can control myself. Sometimes…maybe."

"You're past behavior would indicate otherwise," said Kerry, completely underwhelmed by Kim's response. Kerry tried to explain her need for more time. "It's just; I haven't done this in awhile. And I really don't want to screw it up," she said earnestly.

Kerry reached out and gently cupped Kim's cheek. "I really want this to work."

`Damn.' Kerry said the one thing that would convince Kim to agree to such a painful delay. Kim took a deep breath and let it out dramatically. "Okay, you have my word. Slow it is." She pulled her hand away from Kerry's shirt slowly.

Kerry looked at Kim suspiciously. "Why are you being so agreeable?" It was nice but unexpected.

`I'm hopelessly in love with you and I that terrifies me,' Kim thought but didn't say. She thought it would be too much too soon. For her, for Kerry.

"Maybe a slight delay would be for the best." Kim emphasized the word slight. "The first time around we missed all the fun parts of dating. We went right from, `would you like to have dinner' to `Oh my god, I don't think I'll be able to walk in the morning.'" Kim said it somewhat proudly.

Kerry grinned, lost in memories. "The sex was great, wasn't it?" Her voice was husky and low.

"It's the one thing we did absolutely right," Kim agreed, leaning in just a little closer. "So exactly how slow do you want to take this," she whispered, her breath warm in Kerry's ear.

Kerry's gulp was audible but she moved forward bravely and rested her forehead on the slope of Kim's chest. She breathed in the scent of the other woman. It wasn't fair; Kim always smelled good. Kerry remembered that even after her morning jog Kim still smelled fabulous. The mix of sweat and perfume and deodorant always made Kerry's mouth water. This close to Kim, she suddenly doubted the wisdom of waiting. "A few months?" she suggested half heartedly.

Kerry felt as well as heard Kim's groan. "Months? Are you trying to torture me?"

"This is going to be hard, isn't it?" Kerry said with a sigh. She lifted her head to look at Kim. She was glad the other woman felt the same way.

Kim slid her arms around the redhead and pulled her in tight. "It's going to kill us," she said with honest desperation but she placed a surprisingly gentle kiss on Kerry's forehead. "But if we manage to survive, it'll be worth it," she said with a certainty that she almost believed.

Kim dropped her arms and forced herself to step away from Kerry. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever done but if she didn't keep some physical distance the whole waiting thing was going to go right out the window and they'd be having sex on the couch in Kerry's office. Great sex, mind blowing sex. `And what exactly would be wrong with that,' her little voice screamed. If Kerry's shallow breathing was any indication Kim wasn't the only one who felt that way. Someone had to be strong. She took another half step back.

"So, we're officially dating. Is that right?"

Kerry nodded, already missing the physical contact.

"Exclusively?" Kim wanted to make sure everything was clear. She didn't want to fuck up because she didn't know the ground rules.

Kerry's head shot up and she stared at the blonde in confusion. "What?"

"Are we only dating each other? Are we talking about a monogamous, non-sexual, dating relationship?" Tired of miscommunication, Kim wanted everything spelled out.

Kerry was floored. Monogamous? It hadn't even occurred to her that there was any other way. Did Kim want an open relationship? If she did, that was just too bad. "I'd prefer that, yes," Kerry said bluntly.

Kim nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then the next time I see you in an embrace with a beautiful stranger I'll know she's another long lost relative," she said only half teasing.

The knock on the door surprised them both and reminded them that they were still at work.

"Come in."

John stuck his head in. "Dr. Weaver, your three o'clock is here." He noticed both women were breathing deeply and their cheeks were flushed. They must have been arguing again. He was afraid that one day they'd kill each other.

"John, give me five minutes and then show Dr. Cliburn in, okay?"

He nodded and then backed out of the tension filled room gratefully.

"Duty calls," Kerry said. She was actually somewhat relieved by the interruption. Things were getting a little heated despite their agreement to wait. `Note to self-don't be alone with Kim at work.' No time like the present to set the ground rules.

"Kim, wait," she said as the blonde started toward the door.

"There's one more thing, I think we need to be circumspect while we're here at work," Kerry suggested.

"Everyone knows we're lesbians Kerry." Kim was surprised. She was also disappointed that Kerry's diffidence would surface so soon.

"No, I know that. But I am technically your boss," Kerry reminded her. She stepped close to the blonde.

Kim looked at her in disbelief. "Puleeeaze," she scoffed. "You're worried about sexual harassment charges?"

Kerry reached out and ran her hand along the blonde's silk covered shoulder. Her palm came to rest against the back of Kim's neck. She tugged firmly, pulling Kim closer. "Well…I would expect certain sexual favors. Eventually, I mean," Kerry said suggestively, her lips now inches away from Kim's.

Kim leaned in further. "So would I, Dr. Weaver," she said, her voice low and throaty. "And I believe the definition of sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances."

"So you'll sign a waiver?" Kerry whispered.

"What!" Kim pulled back quickly. Her face flushed with incipient outrage.

"Gotcha," Kerry said slyly. What she wouldn't give for a camera right now. She stood on tiptoe and chastely kissed Kim on the cheek. Before the blonde could react, Kerry stepped back to relative safety behind her desk.

Kim walked to the door. She turned just as she twisted the knob. "Remember, Weaver, payback's a bitch," she threatened with an evil smile. Kerry's laugh followed Kim down the hall.

Kim came in early on Friday. She wanted to see Kerry before she left the hospital. She'd seen her only briefly and in passing the last two days. But she had several phone calls from the redhead including a message waiting for her when she got back from that first fateful discussion about dating.

"Kim, it's Kerry." Kim smiled, like she'd not recognize that voice.

"I just wanted to say thanks for giving me another chance." Kerry paused and Kim could hear the underlying excitement in her voice when she added, "And I'm really looking forward to our date on Saturday."

Kim replayed the message several times. She had what she feared was a stupid grin on her face but she was just too happy to care.

Then the fates started conspiring against them. Dr. Braun, a colleague of Kim's broke his leg skiing. He was going to be out for a few weeks. In an effort to maintain her Saturday off, Kim agreed to cover Braun's shifts for the rest of the week. That put her on nights while Kerry was on days.

Kerry was quite understanding about the whole thing. "In a way it's fortuitous. It'll help us be good," she'd said when Kim called to explain.

"You've always been good, babe," Kim said with a leer. She was rewarded with a bashful laugh.

"Still, it's ironic that when were doing the avoidance thing we kept tripping all over each other and now..."

"And now the fates are conspiring against us," Kim finished for her darkly.

"We still have Saturday, babe," Kerry reminded her just before she had to hang up and go see to an emergency.

And that's why she was headed in early on Friday night. She pushed through the ER looking for an errant redhead. She finally caught up with her in the doctor's lounge. Kerry was tossing her stuff in a backpack when Kim pushed silently through the door. The blonde sidled up behind the redhead and put her hands over Kerry's eyes.

"Guess who?" She knew it was childish but she hadn't seen Kerry in days and a quick glance revealed they had the place to themselves.

"Sylvia? I told you not to do that at work."

"Ha, ha," Kim said tonelessly. She slid her hands down Kerry's sides, pinning her arms in place. She pulled the redhead backwards into a full body hug. She couldn't believe how good a hug could feel. Then Kerry turned around in the tight embrace and kissed her; that felt even better.

"I've missed you, you know," Kim said.

Kerry slid her arms around Kim's waist. "I've missed you too." They stood there for long moments simply appreciating being in the presence of the other. Then a commotion from the hallway alerted them to a group of incoming interns and they stepped away from each other slightly.

The interns grabbed their books and sat down at the bench farthest from Drs. Weaver and Legaspi. They didn't know much but they knew they didn't want to get fragged in the crossfire.

Kim sat down on a bench near the lockers and watched as Kerry loaded her pack to head home.

"What, no paperwork," Kim said with a smirk.

Kerry shot her a look loaded with possible meanings. "Not this weekend," she said simply. She snapped her bag closed and said, "This weekend I have other plans."

Kim smiled with delight and then looked over to where the interns were pretending to study. She suddenly hated interns. Kerry smiled like she could read Kim's mind and motioned toward the door. Kim hopped up and followed her out into the busy hallway.

At the doorway Kerry grabbed Kim's hand and squeezed it lightly. Kim was surprised by her daring and rewarded her with another smile. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said softly.

"Yes you will," Kerry said with a firm nod of her head. "Get some sleep when you get off. I'll call you tomorrow afternoon and I'll pick you up at six."

They stood there staring at each other, neither wanting to be the first to turn away. Kim's pager made the decision for them. She glanced down at the display. "Damn, I gotta go," she said. She started down the hall toward the elevators.

She turned suddenly and called out, "I'll see you tomorrow." She walked backwards for a bit, not wanting to lose sight of the redhead too quickly. She waved one last time and then turned and sprinted for the stairs.

Kerry waved and smiled again. She couldn't help it, she was happy for the first time in a long time.

Driving home the next morning, Kim was as excited as a kid on Christmas eve. She wasn't sure she'd be able to sleep but a warm bath and the thought of a warm redhead persuaded her to try. She was asleep minutes after crawling in bed.

The phone rang while Kim was in her closet searching for the perfect outfit. They were just going to dinner and the movies but Kim wanted to look nice for their first date. Hell, she wanted to look irresistible. If Kerry wanted to go slow, they'd go slow. But she didn't have to make it easy on her.

Kim checked the caller id box. If it was the hospital she wasn't answering it. She sighed with relief and picked up the bedside phone.

"Hello," Kim purred into the receiver.

"Hi Kim, it's Kerry."

Kim chuckled. Kerry sounded more nervous and distracted than she did. "I know, babe. I've been expecting your call. I've just been trying to figure out what to wear tonight."

"About tonight…" Kerry started and Kim knew she was about to be disappointed again.

"Henry's sick. He's got a fever of 102 and he's throwing up. I can't leave him with a babysitter," she said firmly.

`Shit!' "No, of course you can't. Poor Henry. Do you know what it is?" Kim asked.

"There's a stomach flu going around school. It's probably that but I need to keep an eye on him."

Kim could hear the distress in Kerry's voice. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No, I've got it under control. I'm just sorry about ruining our first date," Kerry said tearfully.

Kim murmured sympathetic reassurances. "Oh honey, don't worry about that," she said softly. "We'll do it next week. You just take care of Henry. Okay?"

"Okay, I'd better go. I'll call you tomorrow."

Kim stood there looking at the phone in her hand. `Damn the fates, anyway,' she thought as she headed back into her closet. She slipped into her favorite jeans and hooded gray sweatshirt. She put on her running shoes and grabbed her keys and her wallet on her way out the door.

Kerry was gathering up all of Henry's soiled clothes, as well as the one she'd been wearing just before his last bout of nausea. His fever had diminished somewhat but Kerry knew that could change at any minute so she had to work fast. She rinsed the vomit out of several sleepers and then threw them all in the laundry basket with the soiled towels. She was headed toward the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

She dropped the basket and rushed to the door. She didn't want whoever the hell it was to ring the bell again. She'd just gotten Henry to sleep. She yanked open the door, intending to chastise whoever was out there.

Kim stood in the doorway. She had bags in each hand, one from the video store and several from a restaurant down the street. "I believe we had a date, did we not?" she asked with a smile. She held the bags aloft. "I brought dinner. I got chicken soup for Henry if you think he can handle it."

Kerry looked at Kim framed in the doorway. Her hair was still damp from a recent shower and she was wearing well worn jeans and sneakers and a baggy gray sweatshirt. She had never looked more beautiful. Kerry stepped through the doorway and pulled Kim into a fierce embrace.

Kim, still holding the shopping bags, lowered her arms around the slender form of her…what exactly? They were beyond friends but not yet lovers. And girlfriend sounded so high school. She finally settled on intended. She had a lot of intentions where Kerry was concerned, she thought with a chuckle.

Kerry tightened her hold on the blonde.

"Not that I'm not enjoying this very public display of affection, but I'm about to drop dinner," Kim said after a while.

Kerry finally released her hold and stepped back slightly from the younger woman. "We can't have that, can we?" She took hold of the bags from the restaurant and slipped her hand into Kim's now empty one. She tugged it slightly and said "come on in."

She didn't have to be asked twice. Kim followed Kerry into the kitchen. "How's Henry?"

"He's finally asleep." Kerry set the bags down on the table. "Are you hungry right now?" she asked as she pulled out the carryout containers. With Kim the question was rhetorical; she was always hungry.

"This looks great. Could you get the plates out, third cabinet from the right," Kerry directed. "I'll be right back."

Kerry went in to check on her son while Kim set the table. `Now where does Kerry keep her wine glasses?'

Kerry returned a few minutes later carrying the laundry basket she'd dropped earlier. "He's still out. Let me just throw these in the wash and we can eat."

Kim looked over at the mound of soiled clothes. "Yikes," she said emphatically. "Don't you need a hazmat license for that?"

"You'd think as an ER doc I'd be used to projectile vomiting by now but a wino with the DTs has nothing on Henry." She reached in the basket and held up a shirt of hers. "He nailed me from halfway across the room," Kerry said dryly.

Kim grinned. "That's our boy," she said with a strange sense of pride. She turned back to light the candles on the table.

Kim's use of the possessive startled Kerry for a moment. That was something she needed to consider. She looked at the blonde who was obliviously searching a drawer for the corkscrew. `But not tonight', she thought. She went into the laundry room and put the wash on. When she came back into the kitchen Kim had the candles burning, the wine poured and, when Kerry sat down, she flipped the lights off.

"Ta da! Who needs a fancy restaurant anyway," Kim said as she made her way back to the table. All she needed was Kerry by candlelight. She plopped down in her seat and picked up her glass. "Here's to second chances," she said seriously.

Kerry raised her glass in acknowledgement. "And here's to beautiful women who aren't afraid of the stomach flu. Thank you for this," she said sincerely. It had been so long since she'd had anyone looking out for her, she was a little self-conscious. But she took one look at the softly smiling blonde across the table and realized it was unnecessary. Suddenly her stomach growled.

Kim laughed. "That's usually my line," she teased.

Kerry blushed. "I'm sorry; I haven't eaten since this morning. There's something about being barfed on that just kills the appetite."

"Then let's get you fed. You have to keep your strength up; if only to dodge," Kim teased. She passed Kerry the salad.

They kept dinner conversation light and well away from hospital topics. They were just finishing up when they heard crying coming from down the hall. Kerry jumped up and went to check on Henry. Kim blew out the candles and flipped on the kitchen light before clearing the table. She'd just put the last dish in the dishwasher when Kerry walked into the kitchen with Henry.

He had his head on her shoulder and he was flushed and sweaty but when he saw Kim he smiled a little.

"Hiya kiddo, how are you feeling?" She walked over and rubbed his back tenderly.

"I'm sick," he said pitifully and he tightened his hold on his mother.

"His fever's back up. Kim could you hand me a can of ginger ale from the fridge," Kerry directed.

Kim got out the drink. She saw a sippy cup sitting in the drainer and filled it half full. After wrestling the lid on it she handed it to Kerry. "Here, you two go sit down in the living room. Is there anything else you need?"

"Damp washcloth," Kerry requested as she headed into the living room.

Kim went into the bathroom. There was a thermometer on the counter as well as several over the counter children's medicines. For a minute, it took her back to her childhood. With four siblings, someone was always getting sick or injured, she remembered. For the first time she had a clear picture of what her mother must have gone through. `I should call mom tomorrow and thank her,' she thought.

She dampened a washcloth and grabbed a fresh towel and headed back to the living room. Kerry was sitting on the couch with Henry in her lap. Kim made a detour to Henry's bedroom and grabbed his pillow, his blanket and his teddy bear. She started to leave but turned back and grabbed the bucket that was standing guard by his bed as well.

"Here we go," Kim said. She handed Kerry the washcloth and set the pillow and everything else on the couch and the bucket nearby. She grinned at Kerry. "Better safe than sorry."

"I think you've done this before," Kerry said, impressed with Kim's foresight.

"Four brothers, remember."

While Kerry was wiping Henry's face and hands Kim retrieved the bag of videos she'd brought. She came back to the couch and pulled out a copy of The Incredibles. "Want to watch a movie, kiddo?"

He nodded halfheartedly and went back to drinking his soda. Kim dimmed the lights and turned the TV on low. She set up the DVD and came back to the couch and sat down next to Kerry. "I haven't seen this but the clerk at the video store said it was great," she said just before she hit the play button.

Kim grabbed Henry's pillow and put it in her lap so he could stretch out if he wanted. After a few minutes, he did just that. After a few more minutes, he was asleep.

Kerry started to get up. "I'll go put him in bed," she said.

Kim reached out and stopped her. "He's okay. Let's let him sleep." She gently pulled him further onto her lap to take some of the pressure off Kerry's hip. "Let's just watch the movie," she whispered. She slid her arm around Kerry's shoulder and felt the redhead gradually relax. After a few minutes, Kerry put her head down on Kim's shoulder.

Kim pulled her in a little more closely. After a few more minutes Kerry's breathing deepened and Kim knew she was asleep too. Kim wasn't insulted; Kerry looked exhausted. A strange sense of peace washed over her. She wanted to laugh at the irony but she was afraid she might wake someone. She'd spent days worrying about this date and now, here she was, watching a cartoon and being used as a human pillow. And she couldn't have been happier about it. `Life is weird,' Kim thought as Kerry burrowed in a little closer. `But definitely good.' She settled in to watch the movie.

When the movie ended, Kim carefully extracted herself from underneath Kerry. She picked Henry up and carried him to his room. After tucking him in, she felt his forehead. He felt a lot cooler than he had earlier and his skin wasn't as flushed. She tucked his bear up beside him and went back into the living room. She knelt in front of Kerry and shook her gently. "Come on, Ker, let's get you to bed," she said softly.

Kerry's eyes popped open and she sat up. "Henry?"

"I put him to bed. His fever's down; he's still asleep," Kim reported. She sat down next to Kerry, who again rested her head on Kim's shoulder.

Kim turned and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then one on her cheek and finally one on her lips. Kerry twisted slightly and ramped that kiss up a notch. Kim turned and slid both arms around Kerry's waist pulling the redhead onto her lap. Before she knew it, Kerry had climbed astraddle her thighs and was kissing her like there was no tomorrow. After a few blissful moments, Kim pulled away and rested her forehead against Kerry's. "Come on Ker, let's get you in bed," she said huskily.

Kerry's eyes flew open.

"To sleep," Kim clarified, both to Kerry and herself.

"Damn," Kerry protested. It would have been a more convincing objection if she hadn't yawned in the middle of it. Still, it was enough to restore Kim's studly pride.

Kerry kissed her again softly and then climbed off Kim's lap. She pulled the blonde to her feet.

"I need to head home," Kim said reluctantly. "I have to work tomorrow evening. I'm on nights again next week. Call me tomorrow?"

"Of course." Kerry held Kim's hand as she walked her to the door. "Thank you for tonight. It was wonderful," she said. "I'm really sorry I fell asleep on you."

Kim waggled her eyebrows. "You can make it up to me next time," she said with a comic leer that melted into a sincere smile. "I completely understand. I hope Henry feels better soon." She opened the apartment door and was about to step through.

"Kim?" Kerry tugged Kim's hand until the blonde turned around. Kerry pulled Kim close and kissed her gently but thoroughly. "Good night."

"Does Janet hate you?" asked the familiar voice on the other end of the phone line.

"What? No, Janet is a friend of mine. Why do you think she hates me?" asked Kim.

"Because she's scheduled you to work nights for the past two weeks," Kerry said, seething frustration. "Doesn't she know you have a new theoretical girlfriend who would like to see you for more than a few minutes between shifts?"

"Maybe she hates you," Kim offered with a laugh. She swiveled around in her office chair and put her feet up on her desk. She'd only been at work a few minutes when Kerry called. "Wait, what do you mean theoretical girlfriend?"

"I think you have to see each other for at least a few hours a week to qualify as an actual girlfriend. At least if you both live in the same city. And there should probably be kissing involved," Kerry explained.

"Kissing-I like the sound of that." Kim got lost in thoughts of kissing for a moment. "I'm sorry, Ker. We've been really short handed. What with Braun's accident and both Sam and Bernadette on maternity leave. Things should settle down soon…So, you miss me?" Kim asked, shamelessly fishing.

"Of course, I miss you," Kerry huffed. "We just started dating."

Kim found Kerry's obvious disgruntlement greatly reassuring, although she was starting to chafe at the separation too. She hated using her friendship with Janet to ask for professional favors but she would if she had to.

"Luckily, Dyson started this week and she's been very distracting."

Suddenly Kim wasn't feeling so reassured. "What does that mean?" Kim asked. She still didn't like Dr. Dyson but at least she seemed competent the few times Kim had talked with her.

Kerry completely missed the underlying annoyance in Kim's voice, but her bad mood seemed to be dissipating. "I've been busy showing her the ropes. You know, she's really quite sharp; she's picking things up very quickly."

"Bully for her," Kim said petulantly.

"And for me, it's great that Sarah could start so soon. And the sooner she's up to speed, the sooner I can go back to my cushy 9 to 5 shifts. Plus, it'll give me more time to work on getting moved into the new place."

"Sarah? You're on a first name basis now?"

"I'm on a first name basis with all of my department heads," Kerry said blithely. She lowered her voice a little. "And one very alluring psychiatrist that I hope to see again some day," she added. "Which actually is why I called, I'm off tomorrow and I wondered if you'd like to go out."

"Kerry, I'm working two to midnight. Isn't that a little late to go out," Kim asked evenly. She didn't object to the idea. In fact, now that she thought about it she kind of liked it. They could go to this little club she knew not far from the hospital. There could be dancing involved. She started spinning fantasies about dark corners and fevered embraces that were effectively dashed when Kerry said something about breakfast.

"What?"

"Would you like to meet for breakfast before your shift," Kerry repeated. "I'm dropping Henry at preschool and then I'm going to spend the day packing. You could come over or we could meet somewhere," she offered. She was silent for a moment as if considering what to say.

"I just miss spending time with you, Kim," Kerry finally confessed. "Does that make me codependent?" She sounded a little worried.

"No, honey, that makes you human. And for the record, I've missed you too." Kim could actually feel the lump in her throat. "What time should I come over?"

"Whenever you want, I'll be there all day."

Kim's pager beeped. "Damn, I've got to go. I'll see you in the morning. Early. And I want pancakes. I'm not covering the ER today so I probably won't see you." She hesitated. "Unless you'd like to meet for dinner? Around 6?"

"In the cafeteria?"

"It's where I take all my theoretical girlfriends," Kim teased.

Kerry considered her schedule. If she could just rearrange it a bit…"That will work, I'll meet you at 6."

Kim's pager beeped again. "Damn, now I really do have to go. I'll see you later."

It was half past midnight. Kim had been watching the clock for the last hour. She was going home, getting a few hours sleep and then heading over to Kerry's apartment. If her replacement ever showed up, that is. Dr. Tillman was late; he was always late.

Kim was pacing in front of the admin desk when he finally showed up at a quarter to one. He started right in with the apologies but Kim cut him off. She shoved a clipboard at him and started filling him on what was happening on the ward. "Any questions?" she asked with an intimidating glare.

"No, no," he stuttered. "I've got it."

Kim turned on her heels and stormed out of the ward. She rushed to the elevator and just missed a car going down. "Damn it," she muttered, punching the button vigorously. After what seemed like forever, another car arrived and she rushed in. She pulled up short when she saw Dr. Dyson leaning against the back of the car. Kim nodded graciously. She did have to work with the woman after all.

"Burning the midnight oil, Dr. Dyson?"

"Yes, there's a lot to learn and I wanted to get a sense of all my staff members. There's no better way than pulling a few odd shifts every once in awhile," the new administrator admitted.

Kim smiled in recollection. That had always been Kerry's policy too. She remembered she was in a hurry to get home and hit the button for the ground floor. As the elevator took off she leaned against the back wall. "How is that going?"

"Very well, thanks," Dyson said, bobbing her head emphatically. "Kerry's been extremely helpful in that regard. I think I'm going to like working under her."

"And with you," Dyson added with a smile. "Although we haven't seen much of you in the ER this week." Dyson's expression conveyed her disappointment at this situation.

"Our department's a little short handed this month," Kim explained.

"Yeah, Kerry mentioned something about that earlier tonight," Dyson said offhandedly.

Kim's eyebrows rose. She couldn't help herself; she had to ask. "Oh really, in what context? Has my department been deficient in some way?"

Dyson laughed. "No, no, nothing like that. Your department's been very responsive. We were just having drinks and discussing staffing problems in general."

"You and Dr. Weaver went out for drinks?" Kim asked with a disbelieving squeak. She was immediately irritated by Dyson's grinning response.

"Yeah, she's great, isn't she?" Dyson moved a little closer to Kim. "You know, we should go out for drinks sometime."

Kim was flabbergasted at the woman's audacity. "I'm sorry, but I'm involved with someone."

"And she doesn't let you go out with colleagues?" Dyson asked with a superior smirk.

Kim was saved from a response when the elevator doors opened on her floor. She settled for a simple goodnight and then stormed her way out to the parking garage. She wondered just how early she could be at Kerry's without waking Henry.

Despite having the day off, Kerry was up early. She'd dropped Henry at preschool and run by the market and was now on her way home. She was approaching her apartment when a figure rose from the floor in front of her door. "Kim, you're here early," Kerry said as she rushed forward. She was delighted; she hadn't expected the blonde for a few more hours.

Taken with Kerry's enthusiasm, Kim grabbed her round the waist and leaned down to kiss her eagerly. Kerry dropped her grocery bags and slid her arms firmly around Kim.

"Wow," Kim said when she finally came up for air, "good morning to you too." She was tremendously reassured by Kerry's enthusiastic greeting.

Kerry laid her head down on Kim's chest and squeezed her tight. "I'm so glad you're here." She lifted her head. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved," Kim said seriously just before she leaned in for another kiss. Within seconds, Kerry found herself pressed against the wall as Kim's hands worked their way underneath her shirt. They might have stood there necking all morning if Kerry's eighty year old neighbor, Mrs. Schmidt, hadn't left her apartment a few minutes later. It was Mrs. Schmidt's gasp of disapproval that persuaded the two doctors to take it inside.

Kerry laughed and grabbed Kim's belt and tugged her toward the door. Kim picked up the grocery bags and carried them into the apartment. "What's for breakfast?" she asked, one passion temporarily giving way to another.

"I think someone wanted pancakes." Kerry said, heading for the kitchen. She pulled out her favorite mixing bowl and began to assemble the ingredients on the counter.

"Can I help?" Kim asked, coming to stand behind the smaller woman. She loved helping Kerry in the kitchen. In the past it had led to some very creative play. Not to mention, fabulous food.

Kerry pointed toward the grocery bags on the counter. "You can wash and slice the strawberries and stick the cream in the freezer for me, please. Oh and set the table," she added as an afterthought.

Kim slid her arms around Kerry from behind. She knew what cream in the freezer meant. "Yes, ma'am," she whispered just before she kissed Kerry on the cheek. She pulled away slowly and started sorting out the contents of the bags.

They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes. "Anything interesting happen during your shift?"

"Funny you should mention that," Kim said. She put down the knife and the strawberry she was working on and turned toward Kerry. "I ran into Dr. Dyson as I was leaving the hospital."

"Oh, really," Kerry said as she moved to the sink to rinse some blueberries for the batter.

"Yeah, she was very complimentary toward you," Kim said with feigned nonchalance. "She said you'd been very helpful." This elicited a smile from the redhead. And that just pissed Kim off.

"She also said she was looking forward to working under you and that she'd enjoyed spending time with you last night," Kim practically snarled. She knew she was losing her temper but she couldn't seem to stop.

That got Kerry's attention. Her shock was palpable. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you and Dyson going out for drinks, Kerry. Is that what you meant by a monogamous relationship?"

Kerry took a second to get her temper under control. "Kim, I ran into Sarah last night at the GLBT meeting. A group of us went out afterwards and she came along. That's it," Kerry said evenly.

"Oh." Kim wondered how it was possible to feel so relieved and so stupid at the same time. "Kerry…" she started.

Kerry cut her off. "Furthermore, I stayed for one drink, a coke, and then left to pick up my son."

Kim reached out and touched Kerry gently on the arm. "Kerry, I'm so…"

Kerry jerked her arm away and walked to the other side of the kitchen. She whirled and Kim could see the anger and hurt on her face.

"How could you possibly think that I would do that? I'm not going to jeopardize what we might have by going out with another woman," she said furiously.

Might have? Kim didn't like the sound of that. "What was I supposed to think? The woman is obviously interested in you," Kim rationalized.

"So I indiscriminately reciprocate? That's more your style, isn't it?" Kerry asked nastily.

"What?" It was Kim's turn to be surprised. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I'm not the one with the history of philandering," Kerry shot back.

Kim was getting angry again. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Kim you replaced me less than two months after we broke up. Since then you've apparently slept your way through half the lesbian population of Minnesota. What am I supposed to think?"

Kerry started pacing. "I can't really blame you; you're so damn beautiful and charming you can have anyone you want." Why would you want me, was left unasked. "You move in; you move on. And we mere mortals are left to deal with the wreckage."

Kim snorted derisively. "That's hardly fair, Kerry. You know why I left. I didn't leave you for another woman. I left because it was too painful to stay." Kim crossed her arms angrily. She knew they were getting dangerously off track but she didn't know how to stop. She wasn't sure she wanted to stop.

Kerry stopped pacing and stood up straight. "Actually I don't know why you left, you wouldn't talk to me, remember? You ignored my calls, my letters. We could have handled Romano. We could have found a way for you to stay."

"Romano!" Kim spit the name. Kim couldn't believe how dense Kerry could be. "It was never about Romano," she said fiercely. "I've dealt with Romano's my whole life."

She threw her arms up in defeat but continued. "It was about you, Kerry. It was about feeling abandoned by you, again and again. Do you have any idea what that's like?"

Kerry took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She blew her bangs out of her eyes. "Are you serious? Kim, I'm the poster child for abandonment issues," she said with a grim smile.

Kim chuckled mirthlessly and shook her head. She didn't want to fight. Not about Dyson and certainly not about something that happened so long ago. She thought they were through with all this. She took a step toward Kerry. "Look at us, what are we doing? Why are we fighting about this now, after all this time?" she asked. Her tone was conciliatory.

All the air seemed to leave Kerry's body. She pulled a chair out from the table and collapsed down into it. She sat there deflated and deep in thought. Finally she looked up at Kim and offered, "Maybe because it didn't matter as much before. But now we're jumping back in and…"

"It's been ten months Kerry, we're hardly jumping into anything," Kim said the combative tone back in her voice.

Kerry shrank back. Kim realized she'd sounded harsh. She toned it down. "Okay maybe you're right. We are about to take another step forward," she agreed. "At least I hope so," she added under her breath. "Maybe that's got us both spooked," she speculated.

"I think so," Kerry agreed. "And we've never really talked about it."

She didn't have to explain what it was. The disastrous end to their first relationship was always there, Kim realized, in the back of her mind. Everything was measured against it. They hadn't really dealt with any of it. "No wonder it just exploded." Kim shook her head. "And I'm a psychiatrist for god's sake," she said bitterly.

Kim sat down beside her; Kerry picked up her hand. "Don't beat yourself up about it. It had to come up sometime. Better now than later, I guess." She stared at Kim, willing her to believe what she was about to say.

"Kim, I've done some horrible things in my life and abandoning you was one of the most shameful. I just…I wasn't ready for you. On any level," she admitted.

She waited for Kim to indicate that she heard. After a slight nod from the blonde, she continued. "But I'm not that woman anymore. I swear to you that we're in this thing together. I will never abandon you again. Not to shame, not to fear, and certainly not to another woman. I love you." She kissed Kim's palm, a promise and a prayer.

Kim closed her eyes in tearful acknowledgment. She was suddenly exhausted but she felt at peace in a way that had eluded her for years.

"Which isn't to say I won't find completely new ways to screw up," Kerry said, with another kiss to Kim's hand.

Kim laughed. "You and me both, babe."

Kim tightened her hold on Kerry's hand and looked down at the table. "I'm sorry I ran away from Chicago, from you," she clarified, looking up at Kerry.

"I was wrong to push you so fast, to expect you to just be okay with things. I should have taken more care." She hesitated then decided that honesty was essential if they were going to be successful at this relationship thing

"Kerry, I set us up to fail. I've done that a lot in the past. I don't want to do that anymore," Kim said. There were tears in her eyes but she cleared her throat and continued. "And I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions with Dyson."

Kerry was astonished at Kim's admissions. She knew they had more to talk about but for now it was enough. She decided to lighten the tone. "I never knew you were the jealous type," Kerry said. She was amazed.

"I didn't either but apparently I am," Kim admitted with equal surprise. "At least where you're concerned." She pulled Kerry into her lap and slipped her arms loosely around Kerry's waist. "I'll try to keep it under control," she promised.

Kerry chuckled. "Honestly, under other circumstances, it'd be kind of hot." She put her arms around Kim's neck. She grabbed a handful of hair and pulled Kim's head back, forcing the blonde to look her in the eyes. "So are we okay?" she asked tremulously.

Kim stared at Kerry for a seemingly endless moment. "We had a major blow up and neither of us ran off or shut down so I'd say we're making real progress," Kim answered with breathtaking smile. She leaned up and kissed the redhead lightly. "Now, I believe someone was making me pancakes."

Kerry leaned down and gently returned Kim's kiss. This caress had a fraction of the heat of their initial greeting but it was full of forgiveness and the promise of love.

Kerry climbed off Kim's lap and went back to working on breakfast. Kim got up and resumed slicing the strawberries.

"Kim?"

"Yeah, babe."

"Would you accompany me to Janet and Sharon's anniversary party next week?" Kerry asked hesitantly.

Kim's face lit up with excitement. "I'd love to. You do know it's a costume party?" Kerry nodded and Kim continued, "It's always a blast. And they set up a section just for kids so Henry will have fun too." Kim had been planning her costume for weeks.

"I should tell you that there will be a lot of hospital folks there. If we arrive together, it'll be all over the hospital in twelve hours," Kim warned. She held her breath waiting for Kerry's answer. She wasn't disappointed.

"I know. That's the point. It lets everybody know--hands off, Legaspi's mine'. You're not the only person with a green eyed monster and it's a lot more effective than sending out a hospital wide memo. Nobody ever reads those anyway," Kerry groused.

`To hell with breakfast.' Kim dropped her knife and kissed Kerry hard.

Kim groaned. "God Kerry, nobody does that like you do. That was soooo good." She took a deep breath. "I don't think I can move," she whined.

Kerry chuckled, completely unsympathetic. "I told you not to eat that second stack of pancakes."

Kim whimpered. "I'll have to run 20 miles to work this off."

Kerry wasn't impressed with the pitiful act. "There's a great park with a running trail near the new house," Kerry said. She stood up and started clearing the table. "You can always come over and run there."

"You're not gonna cut me any slack, are you babe?" Kim asked with a laugh. She lolled back in her chair.

"Not in this lifetime Legaspi." Kerry put the plates in the sink and came back to the table with a fresh pot of coffee. She sat down and leaned close. "Interested in a way to work off that food?"

Kim sat up, interested in whatever Kerry might have in mind. "I'm always interested in working up a sweat with you, babe."

"Good, I could use some help moving this Saturday, if you're not working," Kerry said. "That should be better than running." Kerry laughed at Kim's crestfallen look.

"You're a tease, you know that, Weaver? What's in it for me?"

"A grateful girlfriend?"

"Guess again."

"A grateful girlfriend with a queen sized bed, whose son is sleeping way, way down the hall in her new house," Kerry said with a knowing smile.

Kim leaned back in her chair again. Her smile matched Kerry's. "What time should I be there?"

"Okay, that's the last one for the top floor," Kim said as she climbed down the stairs for the hundredth time that day. Her back ached, her knees ached and she had a knot in her shoulder the size of a baseball. She'd spent the past two days helping Kerry move after working a full shift at the hospital. They were both ready to drop but Kerry was finally moved in.

They looked around the living room. It was stacked full of boxes, most of them from a storage facility in Chicago. Kim had spent the past three hours shifting boxes from room to room while Kerry was unpacking the immediate necessities.

Kerry walked over to where Kim was slumped tiredly against the wall. She pulled the blonde in front of her and started to rub Kim's shoulders. Kim groaned as a particularly tight knot caught the redhead's attention. Kerry worked it carefully.

"You need some aspirin and a warm bath ASAP," Kerry ordered.

"Is that an invitation?"

"If you'd like it to be," Kerry said shyly. She was tired of waiting for them to find time to date. They could always date later, she thought.

Kim turned around surprised. "That'd be terrific. Good thing I brought a change of clothes."

Kerry looked startled and Kim started to backtrack immediately. "Not that I expected to spend the night," she said quickly. "I just thought we might go out to dinner."

"Uh huh," Kerry said dubiously.

"Or something equally innocent," Kim continued.

Kerry laughed with delight. "Don't worry, Kim. I'm sure your intentions were honorable."

"Well mostly, anyway," Kim confessed with a smirk.

"Luckily mine aren't," Kerry said, surprising Kim. She was completely serious. She'd spent the past two days watching Kim move around her new house, helping out with the movers, working up a sweat shifting boxes from place to place, handling Henry with patience. But it wasn't until she caught sight of Kim's ass as she bent over to pick up a box of books that she realized her need for more time was over. She was ready to take the next step. `Really, really ready,' she thought.

"Why don't you go upstairs and try out the new tub. I need to go pick up Henry at the sitter's. I think I'll pick up dinner too; I'm too tired to cook. Is pizza okay?"

"Sounds great," Kim said, and she wasn't talking about dinner. She stood there with a silly grin on her face until Kerry leaned up and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"Upstairs Kim," she ordered. "I put out fresh towels, soak as long as you like." Kerry pivoted and grabbed her car keys off a stack of boxes. "We'll be back in hour," she promised.

Kim stood there until Kerry shut the door. Then, still wearing a grin, she raced out the door and grabbed her overnight bag from her car. She congratulated herself on her foresight. Or optimism, she wasn't sure. Not that it mattered. She raced up the stairs two at a time.

Kim threw her bag down on the bed in the master bedroom. She noticed the bed wasn't assembled. She went into the adjoining bathroom and turned the water on in the new spa tub. She left the tub to fill and went back into the bedroom. She dug through a couple of boxes before finally uncovering a box labeled "linens." She dug out some sheets and blankets and tossed them on the bare mattress. She'd make the bed after her soak.

On the drive home, Kerry explained to Henry that the new house was ready. He'd already spent part of the past few days over there helping put things away in his room. Kerry wanted to make the transition as seamless as possible. It helped that he was excited about having a yard.

"Henry?"

"Yes Mama?"

"Kim is going to spend the night in the new house too," Kerry explained.

Henry was puzzled. "Where's her room?"

Kerry smiled. "We're going to share."

"A jamaparty," Henry said like that explained everything.

"Where did you hear that," Kerry asked curiously.

"Uncle Eddie."

"I'll have to remember to thank him appropriately," Kerry muttered under her breath. She drove toward the pizza place planning ways to torture her brother-in-law.

Kerry pulled up to her house and saw Kim's car in her drive. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of Kim waiting at home for her. She freed her son from his seatbelt and grabbed the pizza. As they headed inside, Henry ran ahead of her calling for Kim.

"Kim! Kim!"

Kerry followed after him. "I think she's probably upstairs, Henry. Let's go put the pizza in the kitchen and then we'll find her."

They found her in the master bedroom. She had made the bed and was now sprawled across it, deeply asleep. Henry tiptoed to the side of the bed and peered at the blonde. He turned to his mother and whispered, "She's asweep. Ssshhhhh."

Kerry reached down and pulled a blanket from the end of the bed. She draped it carefully over the t-shirt clad blonde then she and Henry went back downstairs to eat. They spent the rest of the evening in Henry's room unpacking and organizing. After his bath and a few stories, Kerry tucked him in and turned off all the lights but one. She didn't want him to wake up in a new place and be scared. She flipped on the baby monitor and with a deep breath she started down the hall to her room and her sleeping blonde.

She looked in on Kim; she was still dead to the world. Only now she was burrowed under the blanket and snoring lightly. Kerry couldn't bear to wake her; she'd worked so hard over the last couple of days. So she headed into the bathroom for her turn in the tub.

After an hour of hydrotherapy Kerry climbed out and dried off. For a moment she thought about just walking in and waking Kim. Instead, she slipped on a t-shirt; made sure the baby monitor was on and crawled into bed. She slid under the covers and slowly moved toward the center of the mattress. Kim's body heat drew her like a magnet. She scooted as close as she could without actually touching the sleeping woman. She didn't want to take liberties while Kim was unconscious.

Kerry stared at her freshly painted ceiling. Despite her exhaustion, she was finding it hard to go to sleep. It was weird having another body in bed after so long alone. That coupled with the strange shadows and noises put Kerry on edge. She could hear Henry moving restlessly in his bed down the hall but he didn't wake up.

She rolled over on her side and stared at the wall of boxes across the room. She couldn't believe she was still awake. She watched the clock for a moment. She heard a soft groan and felt the mattress shift as Kim rolled over and suddenly a long arm snaked its way over Kerry's waist.

Kim pulled Kerry back towards her; she kissed the nape of the redhead's neck. Then, murmuring something unintelligible, Kim tucked her knees behind Kerry's and slid her hand under Kerry's t-shirt. It rested warm on her bare belly but it didn't travel any farther and Kerry realized Kim was still asleep. She lay there for a moment and then it hit her; Kim remembered which side of the bed she preferred. That warmed something deep inside her heart. Safe in Kim's embrace, she was asleep in minutes.

Kerry woke up before Kim the next morning. She'd been getting up early for so long she was used to it. In the night, they'd shifted positions. Kim was now on her back and Kerry was sprawled half on top of her. She had her head on Kim's shoulder, a leg thrown across her thighs and an arm tucked securely around her waist. She could feel the reassuring rise and fall of Kim's chest as she breathed and if she held her breath, Kerry could hear the beat of Kim's heart; she felt tears forming in her eyes.

There were times, after fires, that she'd slept with one hand on Sandy's chest, just to make sure she was still breathing. That fear never quite went away. She and Sandy were well suited physically. `Everything well within reach,' Kerry thought with a smirk. She'd been amazed that anyone so small could even be a fireman but Sandy was like a coiled spring just waiting to explode. She thrived on the physical challenges of her job. And when she wasn't working she expended that energy on a variety of sports teams. Softball, soccer, even basketball, thought she really didn't have the height.

Kim, on the other hand, certainly had the height. She was all long, lean lines and supple grace. But she didn't go in for team sports, Kerry remembered. Kim was a runner, solitary, disciplined. Kerry ran her palm lightly down Kim's side. Two women, vastly different, and yet she loved them both.

Kim's breathing changed and Kerry knew she was about to wake up. She also heard Henry stirring over the baby monitor. She started to slid off the blonde but Kim's hand reached up and clamped her in place. "Where do you think you're going?" she asked sleepily.

"To make breakfast," Kerry said with a smile, leaning up on her elbows to look at the blonde.

"Breakfast?" Kim looked around the room, now visible in the obviously morning light.

Kim whimpered.

Alarmed, Kerry started to move off Kim, "Are you still sore?"

Kim tightened her grip on the redhead, not letting her move. "No, I fell asleep," Kim whined. "I can't believe I fell asleep on our first night together. I am such a loser." She flung her arm over her eyes in embarrassment.

Kerry laughed and removed Kim's arm from her eyes. "You are not a loser. You worked damn hard yesterday. And the day before and I, for one, am extremely grateful." She slid over on top of the blonde fully and wiggled suggestively.

"Yeah, I was counting on exploiting your gratitude last night," Kim said wryly.

"It's not a one time deal, sweetie. I'll always be grateful to you. Besides, maybe we should wait `til you're fully rested." Kerry leaned down and kissed Kim gently.

"If you want to wait you better stop doing that," Kim said, her voice husky but not from sleep. "Tonight?" she added hopefully.

"Tonight's Janet's party," Kerry reminded her.

Kim whimpered again. "We could always skip it," she said desperately.

Kerry kissed her lightly on the sternum. Kim closed her eyes, concentrating on the gentle caress.

"No we can't. They're your friends and we've already accepted," Kerry said just before she slid her lips teasingly up Kim's neck. "Besides, after today we have the next three days off. Together."

Kim's eye's popped open. "How did you manage that?"

"I'm the boss, remember. I just checked your schedule and adjusted mine accordingly.

Kim chuckled low in her throat. "I do love a devious woman." She stretched up and captured Kerry's lips in a kiss.

The door burst open startling both women. Henry came running into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed. He crawled over to where the two women were lying. He jumped on top of the pile.

"Ooof!" Kim's breath whooshed out. "Hey you two, a little consideration," she mock growled. She rolled over and dumped both mother and son on the other side of the bed. She started to tickle Henry.

"Do you give up?"

Henry laughed and shouted "I give up!"

Kim stopped tickling him and he snuggled down between the two women. Then he looked over at his mother. "Bweakfast?"

Kerry said gruffly, "I see how you two are. You're the tickle queen and I'm the scullery maid." But she leaned over and kissed her son on the cheek. "I'll go get Henry dressed and start breakfast. Come on down when you're ready."

Half an hour later Kim came downstairs in her running gear. She did a few stretches at the base of the stairs just to work out the kinks. Then she went searching for the Weavers.

She found them in the kitchen. Henry was eating oatmeal at the table while Kerry was slicing some fresh fruit. As she approached the counter Kerry handed her a cup of coffee which she accepted gratefully. "I'm so sorry for falling asleep last night," she apologized sheepishly.

Kerry waved away her concern. "I'm sorry for working you so hard," she said. "Want some breakfast?"

"Not right now, I need to go run a little bit, work out the knots. After?"

"Of course. What time do you have to be at work?"

"I'm working nine to six today," Kim said, taking a careful sip of hot coffee.

"Great, we have plenty of time."

Kim took that as an invitation. She leaned in and kissed Kerry soundly.

"We don't have that much time," Kerry complained, when she was could catch her breath.

Kim sat down on the bottom step to put on her running shoes. Henry came running out of the kitchen to watch. "Me go too," he said. He ran to the foyer and grabbed his shoes and ran back to Kim. "Me too," he repeated. He sat down on the stair beside Kim and tried to put on his shoes.

Kerry came in from the kitchen. "No Henry. Kim's going running. You can't go. Come finish breakfast."

Henry stuck out his bottom lip stubbornly. "Me too," he yelled. He looked at Kim beseechingly.

Kerry could see Kim's resolve faltering in the face of aggressive toddler pouting. "No, Henry," she repeated firmly. "You can't go today."

Frustrated, Henry threw his shoe down and then started to cry. Kerry picked him up and carried him back into the kitchen.

She came back a few minutes later. Kim was still sitting on the step. She looked like she wanted to cry too. "I thought you were going running?"

"I could just take him for a walk," Kim said.

"Kim, honey, go run. He's okay. He can't always get his way, you know."

"But Kerry…"

"Kim, go run." Kerry's patience was wearing thin. She didn't need two tantrums this early in the morning.

Kim nodded. She didn't need two Weavers mad at her, not this early in the morning. She hopped up and kissed Kerry before she headed out the door. She'd run two miles when she got a brilliant idea. Now, if she could just find one in stock somewhere on her lunch hour.

The phone rang as Kerry was getting ready to leave work. She looked down at her caller id. It was Kim's extension, which explained why Kim wasn't in her office where she was supposed to be. She grabbed the phone "Hey babe, where are you? We're supposed to leave at 6."

"I know; I'm sorry. I'm stuck here for at least another hour. And then I have an errand to run."

Kerry could hear the frustration in Kim's voice.

"You wouldn't believe the day I've had. It never fails, the one day I need to leave on time and I can't," Kim said plaintively. "And today started out so terrific. Waking up under a warm redhead is my favorite way to wake up."

"I'm pretty fond of it myself," Kerry said.

"I know we were going to go together but do you want to just meet at Janet's?" Kim asked. She didn't want Kerry waiting for who knows how long for her to get off work.

"I don't mind waiting for you."

"I know, but I don't want Henry missing the fun. Sharon always hires a magician for the kids. I'll run home, change and meet you there as soon as I can get away."

"Okay, we'll see you there," Kerry said. "Oh, and Kim?"

"Yeah?"

Kerry hesitated a moment. "I love you," she finally said. "I just needed to tell you that. I wanted to tell you this morning but you rushed out so fast."

Kim held her breath as a jolt of pure happiness rushed through her. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I love you too, Ker. I'll see you soon."

Almost three hours later, Kim was finally walking up the sidewalk to Janet's house. The place was lit up like a Christmas tree and there was music spilling over from the back yard. Cars lined the street on both sides and Kim saw Kerry's van halfway down the block. Her heart skipped a beat and she realized she was well and truly smitten if the sight of an American car could do that. She wanted to run up the front steps but her three-inch, spike heels kept her pace slow and steady. Maybe it was for the best, her rigidly conventional girlfriend might not appreciate it if she rushed in, picked her up and kissed the bejesus out of her in the middle of a party full of their colleagues.

Kim was chuckling at that image as she let herself in the front door. She was immediately pulled into the costumed crowd. She said hello to several people she knew but she didn't stop to talk. She was a woman on a mission.

Kim heard Kerry before she saw her. She was talking to Dyson, damn it. Still, she could appreciate the subtle humor of Kerry's costume.

"Wicked witch of the west? Aren't you afraid of being typecast?" Kim asked wryly. She strolled leisurely up to the redhead in the green makeup. She planted herself squarely in front of Kerry deliberately invading her personal space.

"Kim, honey, you're here," Kerry said with a breathtaking smile. She reached out for Kim's hand. "Everything okay at the hospital?"

Kim pulled Kerry closer. "Yes, everything is fine with your precious hospital," she said with a slightly grumpy pout that lasted until Kerry reached up and kissed her gently on the cheek. Her good humor restored, Kim turned to Dyson and said hello.

Dyson appeared slightly shocked and more than a little disappointed. Kim gloated internally and made hospital small talk until Dyson went off in search of more available prey.

Kerry leaned on her crutch, which was artfully disguised as a broom, and gave Kim's costume the once over. "And you are?"

"Can't you guess?"

Kim was wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her in all the right places. It was sleeveless, virtually backless and just short enough to display an inspiring length of leg. She'd pinned dozens of small notes all over the dress.

Kim fingered a note pinned just above her left breast. She slowly slid open the fold. Kerry leaned in for a better look. "Undermine western civilization." Kim didn't miss Kerry's lingering glance at her décolletage before she focused on the note.

Kerry ran a finger under her collar. Was it hot in here? "I think I need another clue."

Kim arched an eyebrow provocatively and then lifted the flap on the note above her right breast. Kerry gulped and then carefully focused on the note. "Recruit your wives, sons and daughters."

Kim could tell that Kerry still didn't understand. Of course, if the glazed look in her eyes was any indication, all her blood wasn't going to her brain.

Kim pivoted slowly. She had more notes on the back of her dress, what there was of it. She smirked when she heard Kerry's small gasp of appreciation.

"Get it now?" she asked.

"What?" Kerry cleared her throat.

"My costume, do you get it now?"

Kerry cleared her throat again and forced her focus away from the smooth expanse of Kim's bare back. Her fingers itched to touch the tantalizing display of flesh. Instead, she read a few more of the notes. She started to chuckle. "Look fabulous. Ask and tell. You're the gay agenda."

Kim pivoted again, laughing. "Yep." She loved the way laughter brought out the green in Kerry's eyes. Or maybe it was the green face paint. Either way she looked lovely.

"Trying to win best costume?" Feeling daring, Kerry fingered a note on Kim's dress. "It's funny and yet topical," she complimented.

"And sexy, don't forget sexy," Kim with a smile.

Kerry jerked her eyes up from Kim's cleavage again. "Don't worry, I won't," she mumbled under her breath.

Kim smirked at that response but changed the subject. It was a little too early to bring out the big guns…so to speak. "So where's Henry Lopez Weaver, Esquire? What's his costume?" She looked around for the little tyke. There were some great kid's costumes this year. She was little disturbed by the sheer number of Sponge Bob's but they all seemed to be getting along.

Kerry led Kim over to the children's area. She pointed out Henry's small form. He was having trouble walking in his elf slippers.

Kim looked at Kerry dubiously. "You dressed him as a munchkin?"

Kerry laughed. "Well I considered a flying monkey but thought that might lead to therapy in later life." Kim rolled her eyes at that.

"Besides, the munchkins are his favorite characters. Maybe because they're small?" she said speculatively.

Off duty, Kim seldom considered the psychological ramifications of identification with movie characters and she wasn't about to start this evening. She had other plans. `I'll get you my pretty! And your little boy too!' She chuckled. If only it were that easy.

"I'm going to go get a drink. Can I get you anything?" Seductions were easier with liquor, although she knew from past experience that Kerry could drink her under the table. She also knew that seduction was unnecessary. Maybe she just needed a shot of liquid courage. She was nervous and she wasn't sure how she was going to work around Henry but he had to go to bed sometime, right?

"Some juice would be great, thanks," Kerry said.

"Okay, don't move I'll be right back." Kim kissed her lightly on the cheek and then waded into the crowd. She made her way over to the bar detouring briefly to say hello to Sharon and Janet. She grabbed a glass of wine and an orange juice and headed back to where she left Kerry. She wasn't there. "Damn!"

Kim wandered around a minute before she thought to look in the kids section. She wasn't surprised to find Kerry with Henry. Henry had obviously been crying.

"Hey you two, what's going on?"

Kerry looked up from where she was kneeling. "He and a little ghost got into a tiff but they're both okay."

Kim set the drinks she was holding on a nearby table. She knelt down beside Henry, which wasn't easy to do in her tight dress and high heels. "Are you okay, kiddo?"

Henry nodded tearfully.

"I think someone's overtired. It's well past his bedtime," Kerry said. "We should probably head home."

Kim nodded and stood up carefully; she picked Henry up. He put his arms around her neck and rested his head on her shoulder. "You ready?" she asked Kerry.

"Kim, you just got here. Don't you want to stay for awhile, spend some time with your friends?"

"Nope," Kim said with certainty. "I'd rather spend some time with my loved ones. You ready to go home?"

Kerry nodded.

Kim started forward and then stopped suddenly. "Wait a sec." She kicked off her high heels. "That's better, not to mention, safer," she said.

Kerry bent down and grabbed Kim's heels. "I'll just take these. They might come in handy later," she said flirtatiously. "Have I mentioned how fabulous you look in that outfit?"

Kim smirked and held out her elbow. "Thank you, now I believe you said something about making a statement." Kerry took the hint and looped her arm through Kim's and they started to wend their way to the front door.

Kerry stepped aside for a moment to say good bye to their hosts. Janet shot Kim a knowing grin; Sharon settled for a wink. Kim rolled her eyes at the both of them and soon they were in their cars and headed toward Kerry's.

Kerry pulled her car into the garage and Kim pulled up in the driveway behind her. She grabbed her overnight bag and strolled into the garage before Kerry closed the door. She wanted to make sure they entered the house through the garage entrance. She opened the back door of the van and quickly unbuckled Henry's seat belts.

He leaped out of the van and into Kim's waiting arms. "Is this a jamaparty?" he asked.

Kim blushed but answered truthfully. "Yes Henry, it is."

Henry nodded and smiled happily. "Good."

Kim set him down safely on the ground and picked up her bag. She followed the Weavers inside.

Kerry flipped on a few lights and started up the stairs with Henry in tow. Kim looked around; some the boxes were gone. "Wow, Kerry, you've made some progress in here."

Kerry looked a little sheepish. "I had some nervous energy to work off after you left this morning," she admitted. It was the first indication that Kerry might be nervous too. It soothed Kim's anxiety which had been growing exponentially since they left the party.

"I'm going to get the munchkin ready for bed; make yourself at home. There's wine in the fridge if you'd like some," she said over her shoulder.

Kim nodded and watched as mother and child climbed their way to the top floor. She kicked off her shoes for the second time that night and set her overnight bag at the foot of the stairs as she made her way to the kitchen.

She had to search through three boxes but she finally found the wineglasses. Now if she could just find a corkscrew. After another fifteen minutes spent fruitlessly searching, she pulled out the pocket knife attached to her car keys and used the corkscrew on it. `Low tech, but effective,' she thought.

She gathered up the wine bottle, the glasses and her bag and started up the stairs. She peeked in the master bedroom. It was empty. She dropped her bag inside the door and set everything else down on the dresser. Suddenly nervous, she sat down on the bed. She was surprised when Henry came dashing into the room. He was wearing superman pajamas and looked unbelievably cute. He hopped up on the bed and threw his arms around her and kissed her soundly on the cheek.

Kerry popped her head in the door. "Say goodnight Henry. It's time for bed," she said pointedly.

"G'night," he said. He gave her a big hug but he didn't let go.

"Henry, let's go to bed," Kerry said again.

Henry looked up at Kim. "Story?"

"You little schemer," Kim said with a laugh. "Okay, I'll read you a story. But just one," she said firmly. She stood up and carried Henry over to where Kerry was standing in the doorway.

"I'll tuck him in," she offered as she leaned down and kissed Kerry gently on the cheek. Henry leaned down from his perch in Kim's arms and kissed his mother just as Kim had.

"G'night Mama," Henry said.

"Good night baby," Kerry replied. She kissed Henry again and then watched as Kim carried him off to bed.

She saw the overhead light go off in his room but the soft glow of his nightlight spilled out into the hallway. She could tell when Kim switched on the baby monitor and she walked into her bathroom listening to Kim reading to her son.

Kerry bent over the sink and slathered on cold cream. The green make up had been a bitch to put on; she hoped it came off a lot easier. She walked back into the bedroom and saw the wine. She poured them each a glass and then took hers when she went back into the bathroom. She rinsed off the cold cream and looked in the mirror. Damn, she was still green in places.

`Great, nothing says sexy like Kermit the frog,' she thought. She put on more cold cream and went back into the bedroom to take off her costume. She reached behind and tugged on the zipper. It slid about halfway and stopped. She tugged harder. It didn't budge. She tried to lift the gown over her head, it wouldn't come off. `Damn it,' she thought. `So much for smooth and seductive, let's hope she goes for green, greasy and pathetic.' She sighed and gave in to the inevitable.

"Hey Kim could you give me a hand?" Kerry called down the hall before she walked back into the bathroom.

Kim was congratulating herself on successfully putting Henry to sleep with just one story as she walked into the bedroom. It was empty. She heard Kerry muttering in the adjoining bathroom. She strolled into the room and sized up the situation immediately. Kerry's zipper was stuck. She was bent over wrestling with it.

"Hey babe, need some help?" Kim asked.

Kerry shot upright and nodded. Kim approached slowly, determined to take her time. Unlike their first-first encounter, when they'd ended up having sex on her couch on their first real date, she wanted to savor this experience.

Kerry turned her back to Kim and the blonde reached out and ran her fingers very slowly down the small area of skin that was already exposed. She could see the goose bumps as they formed and she felt Kerry shudder. When her fingers encountered the defiant zipper she tugged firmly. As if aware that Kim wasn't to be denied, the zipper gave way easily and Kim lowered it slowly. The teeth parted revealing inch upon inch of warm, soft skin. The zipper ended just above the enticing curve of Kerry's ass. Kim reached out to touch the tempting display; she realized her hands were shaking.

She paused for a moment and flexed her fingers to regain some control. She slid a hand under each side of the parted fabric and skimmed her palms up Kerry's sides. Sliding her arms around Kerry's waist, she pulled the redhead back toward her. Kim bent her head and kissed the now exposed skin of Kerry's shoulder. Kerry tilted her head, offering more of her skin for Kim's attention. Kim nuzzled the nape of Kerry's neck and worked her way up to the soft spot just underneath the redhead's ear. She suckled that spot lightly; it was a mutual favorite. She was rewarded with a breathy moan.

Kim smiled, delighted that some things hadn't changed. She nuzzled Kerry's hair and then gently turned the redhead around. More than anything Kim wanted to look at her.

Kerry smiled up at her. Even through the film of cold cream, Kim could see the love in Kerry's eyes.

"If you give me a moment, I'll clean this off," Kerry said.

"Allow me," Kim requested. She reached for a washcloth and dampened it lightly. She gently and thoroughly wiped off all traces of the cream, kissing each area as she finished. Task completed she tossed the cloth over her shoulder into the sink.

Kerry grabbed the thin straps of Kim's dress and pulled the blonde closer; it was her turn to take the lead. She slid her hands lower and cupped Kim's breasts firmly. Through the sheer fabric she could feel Kim's nipples harden. "Do you have any idea what this dress is doing to me?" Kerry asked hoarsely.

Kim tilted her head back, enjoying the sensation. "No, what's it doing?"

Kerry brushed her thumbs over Kim's nipples. She welcomed the shudder that followed. "It's driving me crazy," she whispered desperately. She stretched up and kissed Kim roughly. Breaking the kiss abruptly, she slid her tongue down the cleft of Kim's breasts. While Kim was distracted Kerry slipped her hands around Kim's body and found the zipper low on the back of Kim's dress. She forced it down as she slid her hands under the impossibly tight fabric. She thought she heard a seam rip but she didn't care. She gripped Kim's ass and pulled the blonde in tighter. Freeing one hand she tugged the already low front of Kim's dress even lower and then, bending slightly, she began to devour one of Kim's now exposed breasts.

`So much for slow.' Kim thought, `Just like the first time.'

Kerry teased Kim's nipple with her teeth. Kim moaned and, for a moment, she lost the ability to form a cogent thought. When it returned she said, "Kerry, I need to lie down."

Kerry switched her attentions to Kim's other breast.

"Bed, Kerry. Please," Kim said almost frantically. She didn't know how much longer she could stand up.

Kerry inhaled sharply and pulled away from the blonde. "I could fuck you right here," she offered with feral intensity. Recognizing the blonde's distress, she switched gears, "but you're right, bed would be more comfortable. Especially since we're going to be there awhile," she predicted with a telling glance down Kim's lean frame.

Kim gasped at the implication and wondered when exactly she'd lost control of the encounter. She decided she didn't care as Kerry spun her around and gently pushed her forward. She tried not to rush into the bedroom, it would be so undignified. Instead, she slowed her pace and added a deliberate sway to her hips as she moved toward the bed.

It worked. Before she even reached the bed Kerry had a hand on Kim's ass. She stopped the blonde before she could sit down on the mattress. "Take your dress off," she ordered. Kerry stepped back a step to watch.

Kim blushed but did as she was told. She slipped a finger under the right strap and pushed if off her shoulder slowly. She did the same on the left side. She shimmied out of the tight dress and smiled at Kerry's gasp of appreciation for her lack of undergarments. "Now you," Kim requested.

It took Kerry two seconds to climb out of her costume and toss it blindly toward the chair in the corner. Kim was impressed with her speed but before she could fully appreciate the sight, Kerry was moving toward her with determination. Kim met her fully and minutes later she found herself on her back, in bed and she couldn't remember how she got there. Kerry's mouth on her breast was making it decidedly difficult to think. And when Kerry headed south, Kim gave up trying to think completely. She was too busy concentrating on just drawing breath.

"God, Kerry, nobody does that like you do. That was soooo good. I don't think I can move," Kim said, gulping air half an hour later. The redhead was sprawled on top of her and Kim pulled her even closer.

Kerry chuckled and nuzzled Kim's chin. "Haven't lost my touch?"

"God no!" Kim wrapped her arms around the sweat slippery body atop her and squeezed.

"So I don't need more practice?" Kerry asked archly.

Kim inhaled again deeply and then rolled Kerry over. She pushed up on her elbows and peered down at the redhead. "Practice is always good but if you get any better it may kill me," she said with a smile.

"But what a way to go," they both said simultaneously then they broke into giggles.

Gazing down at Kerry, Kim slowly stopped laughing. She carefully examined the face of her beloved; it bore the subtle changes of the passing years. There were a few more lines around those expressive green eyes, eyes shining with joy at the moment. But Kerry's expression also bore the trace of some ineffable sadness, a deep and abiding wound that might never completely heal.

With deliberate care, Kim set aside lingering jealousies and embraced the fullness of Kerry's life to this moment. Kim knew that while there was so much she'd missed there was so much still to come. And she knew without doubt, without fear, without regret that she would be the one sharing the rest of the journey. Kim kissed her like they had all the time in the world.

Kim lay her head down on Kerry's chest and said, "She was right."

"Who?" Kerry asked with a throaty growl, "who was right?" She was starting to lose herself again in the physical sensations. She needed to find some solid ground. She pulled Kim's head back roughly to look into her eyes before diving back in for another kiss.

When they finally broke away to breathe, Kim explained in a throaty whisper. "Dorothy…Dorothy was right." She trailed kisses up Kerry's neck. The smell of Kerry's cold cream, shampoo and perfume was driving her crazy but she restrained herself. When she got to Kerry's ear she whispered, "There's no place like home."

Epilogue--And They Lived Happily Ever After

The next morning, Kim was sitting on the steps putting on her running shoes. Henry came out of the kitchen and sat down beside her, pout already in place. "Why so glum, kiddo?" she asked.

Henry just stuck out his bottom lip. Kim bumped him gently with her shoulder. "Want to come with?"

Henry looked up at her. "Please."

Kim smiled. "Let's go." She stood up. "Kerry, we're going jogging," she yelled down the hall. She wasn't surprised to hear the rapid beat of a crutch on hardwood as Kerry rushed into the hallway.

"What?"

"Henry and I are going jogging." Kim smiled her canary eating smile and opened the front door. Sitting on the front porch was a brand new, top of the line jogging stroller.

"Kim?"

"It's never too early to learn the value of regular exercise. Not to mention the benefits of fresh air and vitamin D," she said reasonably. The strange look on the redhead's face made her suddenly fear that she'd over stepped some boundary. `Maybe I should have cleared this with her first,' she thought just a little late.

"That's true," Kerry responded dubiously.

"Let's go!" Henry was growing impatient. He tugged on Kim's shorts.

Kim looked at Kerry for permission. The redhead nodded slowly so Kim grabbed the helmet hanging from the handle. "See, we have all the important safety equipment."

She stooped down in front of Henry and held out the helmet. He grabbed it eagerly with both hands and put it on his head. Backwards. This made Kerry laugh; she couldn't help it.

Kerry stooped down and adjusted the helmet. She pulled the straps tight and buckled it under Henry's chin. She thumped him on the helmet lightly. "Ready?"

He nodded eagerly. Kim manhandled the stroller down the steps and then Henry climbed in. Kerry buckled the seatbelt.

Henry waved at his mother and Kim took off down the sidewalk. She walked for about half a mile and then gradually increased her speed. She wondered how long she'd have to run before the redhead forgave her.

Kerry was waiting anxiously on the steps for them when they got back. Kim pushed the stroller up to the edge of the steps and Kerry unbuckled her son and lifted him out of the stroller. His face was glowing. He'd obviously had a great time.

"Okay, boy-o. That was the fun part. It's time for your exercise now," Kim said. She grabbed his hand and they ran around the front yard together. Henry was watching Kim carefully and tried to match everything she did. They made three full laps before Henry got tired. "Now we can stop," she said, leading him back to where Kerry was waiting.

"I jogged, Mama. Didja see me?" Henry was so proud Kerry couldn't help but be delighted too.

Kim was hovering with a worried look on her face but Kerry smiled up at her and suddenly everything was okay. Kim plopped herself down by Kerry and tried not to drip sweat on her. Pushing that stroller added quite a bit to her workout. Not to mention she didn't get much sleep last night. She grinned to herself.

Kerry reached backwards and pulled out a towel and a bottle of water. She handed them to Kim and was rewarded with a brief kiss. Too brief, Kerry decided, leaning in for a slightly longer and more rewarding connection. She nuzzled Kim's neck briefly. "Mmmmm, sweaty blonde," she whispered in Kim's ear. "My favorite."

Kim flushed, and not entirely from the exercise. She wanted to take Kerry upstairs for another sort of workout but there was Henry to consider. He was now sitting at her feet, playing with her towel and drinking her water. She wondered what time he took his nap. She leaned back on the steps, content to wait. Kerry was always worth the wait.

Kim nudged the stroller with her toe. "We can also use it for walks. Down to the park, the little market on the corner, the bookstore two blocks from here. You know… family stuff," she said with passably faked sang-froid.

Kerry looked at Kim and smiled brilliantly. "Family stuff, huh? I love the sound of that."

The End

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