Disclaimers - Nope… none. These are my characters, it's my hometown, it's my made up not quite real but not quite fictitious company, and it's my insanity to be writing this on Christmas Eve.

A Present Under the Tree

By Melissa Good

The boat bobbed lightly up and down in the gentle surf, the brass riggings clanking softly in the easterly wind. The sky was mostly cloudless, just a few puffy white intruders drifting across it, sending elongated shadows across the blue green water as the sun tilted down towards the west.

The deck of the boat was draped in various types of scuba gear, two regulators hung neatly to dry out, along with webbed belts, buoyancy vests, net bags, and wide, duck webbed fins nestled in the well in the center. On the front of the boat, two figures were sprawled, soaking up the late afternoon sun.

"Dar?"  Kerry kept her eyes closed, as she yawned a little.

"Mm?" Her taller companion merely grunted an answer.

"You know, there's something really off kilter about spending the day before Christmas in my bathing suit, getting a suntan on the Atlantic Ocean."

"Yeah?" Dar lifted one eyelid, exposing a crystal clear blue eye and peered at her.

"Yeah…Christmas is supposed to be about sleighs, and ice skating on the lake, and Jack Frost nipping at your nose..  sweaters…static electricity.. you know." Kerry sighed. "I don't think I can do Christmas at 85 degrees."

"Ah. Not cold enough, huh?" Dar replied, opening her other eye and sparing her blond lover a droll glance. "I think you Northerners are nuts… out there singing in below zero weather…slipping on ice, crashing on the highway, having to have your driveways plowed…suffering with dry heat…" She spread her arms out, then let them drop to the soft deck pad they both were sprawled onto.

"No.. no.. you’re missing the point.. " Kerry objected. "Christmas has to have snow… and cold weather… ice on the lake… snow draped on the roof like in the movies…your nose has to tingle..it's part of the season."

"Okay.. no problem.. here you go.'" A huge handful of shaved ice landed on Kerry's midsection. "How's that?"

"Yeeeeooowww!" The blond flipped over, brushing her stomach off and reaching for a towel. "Dar!!" She yelped indignantly. "That was cold!"

"Wasn't that the point?" The dark haired woman asked, reasonably. "You were just complaining it was too hot, weren't you?" She bit off a grin as eyes the color of the surrounding ocean suddenly were less than a foot away, narrowing calculatedly. "Uh oh."

"Uh oh is right, you.. " Kerry scrambled for the ice chest, and grabbed a double handful, managing to get a good sized portion down Dar's back as she attempted to roll out of the way. "Ah ha… gotcha."

Dar chuckled as she stood up and shook herself off, then stretched lazily. "Well.. it's time to go in anyway.. sun's going down, and I have three status reports to review." She extended a hand down to her friend. "I've been putting that off long enough…c'mon… it's getting a little breezy out here."

"Oh yeah." Kerry accepted the hand up. "It might go down to 80 degrees if we're not careful… that'd be dangerous."  She slid up next to Dar, and ran a hand over the taller woman's body, encased in a striking white bathing suit. "I like this one." She complimented her companion. "Is it new?"

Dar padded over and stowed the cooler. "No.. actually, it's an old one I came across when I was emptying out that chest of drawers the other day." She said. "Found some other stuff I'd forgotten I'd even had.. and some of the things Aunt May left here when she passed on."

"Mm…. Well, it's nice, and I like it." Kerry stepped carefully around the end of the bow, and made her way down to where the steps lead to the cabin. "I'm going to put some dry clothes on…I think I have seaweed in places seaweed really has no business being."

The dark haired woman chuckled. "Make sure you didn't collect any cuttlefish in there again…you scared me half to death when you screamed from that last week." She let her eyes wander over her lover's slim form. "You look pretty nice yourself, by the way."

Kerry paused on her way down the stairs, and threw a glance over her shoulder. "Thanks… but if you're trying to butter me up so I won't pull any surprises on you tomorrow, forget it." Her green eyes twinkled mischievously. "Birthday girl."

One dark brow rocketed skyward. "Oh brother." Dar muttered. "I'm in deep trouble.. how did I let myself get talked into this, anyway?"

"What.. the party, having a birthday, or putting up with me?" Kerry asked innocently, then she came back up the stairs and relented. "I won't do anything horrible, I promise."

Dar took her hand off the throttle control, as she listened for the anchor to finish retracting, and gently cupped Kerry's chin, lifting it and kissing her with sincere passion. "Do your worst." She murmured, gazing into the sea green eyes. "But remember… paybacks are a bitch."

"Ooo… what are you gonna do to me?" Kerry crooned teasingly.

"Mmm… cross dressing full body stripper in the office?" Dar offered, with a full smile.

A momentary pause, while Kerry blinked. "Uh.. you wouldn't… do that… would you?"

Dazzling smile.

"Yikes." Kerry laughed, then leaned forward and kissed her. "Don't worry… I've got nothing planned that will rate me that." She reassured her companion. "I was thinking more along the lines of making your favorite dessert for the party."

"Ah." Dar forgot about the controls, and found more interesting things to explore on the burgundy-suited body in front of her. "I don't know that I have a favorite… " She nuzzled Kerry's ear, and heard the soft sound of approval that trickled from the blond woman's throat. "Well.. not that you could serve at a party, anyway."

"You saying… " Kerry paused a moment to let her breathing catch up with her. "I'm better than Death by Chocolate?"

A low, seductive chuckle answered her,  as Dar slowly eased her left strap down her arm, and ran a delicate finger across her sun-warmed skin. Kerry smiled at the answer, as she nibbled her way up Dar's neck, taking a slow backward step towards the tiny bedroom and drawing the taller woman along with her.

Dar went willingly, already working her other strap down, her hands warm against Kerry's damp skin. She returned the attention, easing the thin fabric over Dar's broad shoulders and tugging it down her body, running her hands over the taller woman's powerful back.

The quilt's warmth surprised her, as Dar caught her around the waist and boosted her up, joining her on the soft surface in one smooth motion, never letting up her nibbling. The windows in the cabin were open, and a rich, warm breeze came in, bringing to her the salt smell of the ocean and brushing lightly over her bare shoulders as a lone gull called overhead.

"Still think we need snow?" Dar's voice purred into her ear, as the strong hands slid over her hip and down her thigh.

"Nu uh." Kerry pushed her companion gently over on to her back, and started a slow exploration downwards, starting at her collarbone, tasting the sea's richness on her body. "Wouldn't wanna try this up north."

The sunlight painted rich golden stripes across them,  in the fading sun of a tropical winter's day.

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

"Well." Kerry leaned against the console, now dressed in a pair of sweatpants and an overly large polo shirt. "I always wanted to see the skyline at night from this angle."

Dar sucked wryly at steaming cup of coffee, courtesy of the boat's small galley. "Lucky I have a position locater on this thing… we drifted a lot further than I thought we would."  She aimed the boat northwest, roaring through the utter darkness of an Atlantic night. "Teach me to remember not to pull the damn anchor up and get distracted."

Kerry muffled a laugh. "I've never heard that many curse words strung together at one time, let me tell you."  She peered ahead into the darkness, spotting a colorful string of lights. "Is that downtown?"

Dar shaded her eyes. "Yeah… that's the damn Centrust tower… " She identified the tall structure, kitted out in blue lights with white bulbs interspersed to imitate ornaments. "And I can see the Metrogonowhere from here."  The people mover, which traversed a downtown that nobody actually lived in was lined with rainbow neon.  The rest of the skyline came into view, tall buildings brilliant with lights.

"Is it still the Centrust tower?" Kerry inquired, enjoying the sight. "I think they went bankrupt, didn't they?"

"Yeah, yeah.. " Dar watched for the southern buoy. "I forget what it is now.. it's changed three times since then.. but I still remember it as the Centrust tower."

"Oh.. there's Bayside… wow.. it's really lit up." Kerry pointed. "Is that a tree on top of the Hard Rock?"

"It's something." Dar replied, with a chuckle. "Hang on.. I'm going to make the turn up Government cut."

Kerry obligingly slipped her arms around the taller woman, hugging her close. "Okay.. I'm ready." She announced, feeling the chuckle go through Dar's body, and the warmth as she circled Kerry's shoulder with one long, sweatshirt covered arm. "It's nice to have a couple of days off, huh?"

It certainly was, Dar reflected, steering the boat into the channel and heading for the island her apartment was on. First time for everything, I guess.. she mused. Prior years had seen her in the office even on Christmas, toasting the holiday with the grumpy cleaning staff who were forced to work. She'd brought eggnog last year, and it had actually turned out to be a little bit fun, coaxing smiles from the immigrant workers who hadn't expected to see any of the office staff in.

Not this year. They'd left work at five yesterday, and didn't have to be back until eight Monday morning, and she'd found herself looking forward to it even with it being her birthday, and having a threatened party thrown for her.  "Yeah… I'm having a pretty good time.. you?" Dar answered, with a grin.

Kerry nodded, stifling a yawn. "Very much so….even if I have to settle for palm trees with strings of pink flamingo lights on them."

Dar cut speed as she entered the marina, and steered between the concrete docks with casual skill. "Hey.. palm trees are naturals for lights." She pointed at the long row of the bushy topped trees that lined the drive coming into the marina. Someone had painstakingly woven tiny white lights between all the fronds on all the leaves. "See??"

Kerry peered. "Hey.. that's not bad looking, really." She sighed. "I like our tree, though."

A real one. Dar had insisted that if she was being coerced into getting a tree, it was at least going to smell like a pine tree, and not like extruded plastic. So they'd gone out, and found one of the seven zillion tents scattered around selling the darn things, trucked from North Carolina packed in snow, and picked out a Douglas Fir a little taller than Dar herself was.

She docked the boat, and they made their way up the winding path towards the condo, waving to various neighbors that Dar hadn't even known she had before the genetically friendly Kerry had started spending most of her time with her.  A soft strain of Christmas carols were playing over the island wide loudspeaker system, gentle hymns that chased them from tree to tree along the path, and Dar found herself humming.

"Sorry.. I didn't catch that?" Kerry bent her head closer. "Did you say something?"

"Um.. no.. I was just.. " Dar flicked a hand at the speakers. "Humming along.. .I like that one." She put a hand on Kerry's back as they walked up the path to her door. "I think there'll be roaming carolers around tonight… you interested in listening?"

The blond woman gazed up at her. "Roaming carolers? Jesus.. I had no idea they knew what that was  down here… sure.. I love listening.. say, Dar??"

"Yes?" Dar opened the door, and stood back to let her enter.

Kerry took a breath, suddenly a little nervous, knowing she was going into choppy waters. "I know you're not a religious person.. but would you like to go to a service tonight?"

The dark haired woman paused, and studied her. "I thought you said there wasn't any of your brand around here?"

"There aren't… really.. I… but my old pastor at home gave me the names of a few he thought I'd be comfortable with.. one's over here on South Beach." She paused. "It's.. not very formal."

Dar cocked her head, and considered that. "You mean it's no big deal if we go and hold hands?" She asked with typical bluntness, holding back a grin at the blush which colored Kerry's neck and face.

"Something like that, yeah." The blond woman muttered. "Um.. never mind.. it's kind of a dumb idea." She hitched her gear back to her shoulder. "I'm going to put up a wash of this stuff.. want me to get yours, too?"

"Kerry?" Dar caught her arm, and swung her around so they were facing each other. "Your.. faith is important to you, isn't it?" She ducked her head to make eye contact with the suddenly bashful woman. "Kerry?"

Reluctantly, the green eyes tipped up to meet hers. "I guess it's kinda silly, huh? After all, the scriptures say God turns his back on people like.. me."

Dar sighed soundlessly. "Kerry, no god worth his salt would turn his back on a loving heart like yours."  She gently rubbed a thumb against her friend's cheek. "I'd be glad to go with you." A tiny smile edged her face. "You're going to have to poke me when I'm supposed to stand up or whatever, though… I don't know much about it."

Kerry gave her a crooked grin. "I think I can do that.. it's not that hard, this kind.. not like we were going to Catholic Mass, or something."

"I watched that on TV last year." Dar commented. "The Pope one. It confused the hell out of me."

Kerry laughed, more at ease. "Yeah… I watched that too, the repeat after we got home from the late service…it's quite a circus."  She let out a relieved sigh. "Okay… well, it's not until eleven, so… you up for dinner?"

"After eight hours diving?" Dar snorted. "I could eat the couch for dinner, if you put a little A1 on it." She glanced outside. "It's beautiful tonight… could I coax you into joining me on a little outside table up at the Mansion?"

"Ooo… starlight, candelight, and you…. I think I can twist my arm." Kerry laughed. "On the single condition that you let me pay."  She raised a finger at Dar's protest. "Ah ah… remember our deal."

A sigh. "Okay."  Dar grumbled. "But the champagne's on me."

"Deal." The blond woman relented cheerfully. "C'mon.. I don't think sweats and polos are the dress code up there for Christmas Eve."

"Certainly not if you're wearing my polo shirt." Dar laughed. "But if you just add a belt to it, you could call it a dress, and that'd pass." The shirt hung almost to the blond's knees.

Kerry stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I like when they fit like this, and none of mine do."

"Well…. " Dar drawled. "Now I know to buy your shirts two sizes too big, and you'll be happy."

"Not the same." Kerry replied, a little shyly.

"No?" The dark haired woman inquired.

"They don't smell like you." Kerry admitted, looking up at her through fair eyelashes.

"Oh." Dar felt the blood heating her face. She cleared her throat. "I see."  She had a sudden, inexplicable feeling of déjà vu, but was fairly certain no one had ever expressed a preference for wearing her clothing due to the smell before. "Well then."

Kerry sighed contentedly.

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

"So… you sure this is appropriate dress and all?" Dar deftly directed the Lexus off the ferry, and through the terminal parking lot. "I'd always thought of church as being a lot more formal.. you know, hats, floral arrangements, that kind of thing."

Kerry brushed a pine needle off her crisply pressed shirt, which was tucked neatly into a pair of dark Dockers, and surmounted by a festive, embroidered vest featuring running reindeer and holly wreathes. "Well, I called the pastor there.. and he tried to get away with the 'whatever you feel comfortable in' line. But I didn't go along, and I told him if I showed up in a bathing suit with a Santa hat on, and everyone laughed, I wasn't going to be very happy."

Dar laughed. "Oh my god.. I'd have paid to see that."

"Dar." Kerry gave her a look. "Anyway, he said most people wore jeans or chinos, and something other than t-shirts, one or two people wore dresses or suits, and there's one guy who comes in a reindeer outfit."

"With antlers or without?" The executive asked, seriously.

"Dar." The blond woman laughed.

"Sorry.. must have been those five glasses of champagne." Dar apologized. "Not to mention that Grand Mariner cake… wow."  She exhaled a little. "I feel like I'm going to explode."

"Mm… tell me about it." Kerry rolled her head to one side, and regarded the dark water stretching away from the causeway they were on. "Should I be driving?" She gave her companion a concerned look. "You seemed okay."

"No.. it's all right." Dar shook her head. "I don't feel it.. I just tend to run off at the mouth when I've had a few glasses of anything."  She gave her friend a light shrug. "Sorry."

Kerry patted her arm. "It's okay.. I think it's really cute." She confided. "Turn left up there, and it's three blocks down on the right hand side."

"I know." Dar muttered, as she navigated through the very busy traffic. "Jesus, it's a mess down here."

Kerry regarded her lover out of the corner of her eyes, approving the deep green sweater she'd put on over a collared shirt, which was tucked into her black slacks. The sweater was plain, but had pretty embroidery around the neck and cuffs, stylized birds chasing each other around and around in bold, clear colors. "I really like that sweater." She commented, reaching over to trace the embroidery. "It looks really good on you." Snug, but not too snug, in fact. She mused.

"Thanks.. you look pretty hot yourself." Dar commented casually. "Here we go." She pulled into a small parking lot adjacent to an old fashioned, two story concrete building. The back half of the structure seemed to have been converted into a church, based on the stained glass windows, and that part faced the sea. "Must look nice inside during sunrise."

"Mm.'" Kerry agreed, feeling a little nervous now that they were here. Was this such a good idea? She really had no idea how to act, given the open nature of the church, or what kind of beliefs or services they'd have. The pastor had mentioned music, and when she'd told him her own denomination, he'd said she'd feel comfortable, but… She exhaled.

"You okay?" Dar studied her.

"Yeah… " Kerry folded her arms across her chest. "I've just never…um… this is really stupid, but I've never been in a place where mostly everyone was gay before."

"Oh." Dar chuckled. "Relax.. just act normally… they don't stamp your forehead when you go in." She got out of the car and twitched her sweater straight, then she waited for Kerry to join her. "You're going to think everyone's looking at you, so just relax, because they are. "

"Comforting. Thank you." Kerry nodded, sighing.

"Just think of what it was like for you the first couple days at work." Her companion reassured her.

"You've been down here… to South Beach before, I take it." Kerry inquired, as they started to walk across the lot, joining a small stream of others.

"Yes." Dar answered readily. "I used to cruise some of the bars down here in my younger years." She returned the appraising glances they were getting from some of the other attendees.

"Did you take your high school ring of then, Grandma?" Kerry poked her gently. "Listen to you.. 'in my younger years… yeah, when we had to walk to school uphill, both ways.. "

"Kerry.. " Dar put an arm around her and leaned closer. "Being a Miami native means you never, ever have to walk to school uphill." She reminded her. "Unless you live under the highway overpass."

They laughed, and entered the building, nodding at the tall young man who was courteously holding the door open for them.

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

It was weird. Kerry found her eyes flicking here and there, her eyes absorbing the collection of assorted couples and singles assembled in the chapel. That, at least, was mildly familiar, being roughly square, with a raised platform at one end, and rows of pews stretching across the floor. The pews were donated from various building projects from other churches, she noticed, and in one case, a temple. They were a mixture of woods and sizes, but no one seemed to mind. Missing were the typical Bibles, but there were hymnbooks, and she took one, thumbing through its well-worn pages to see old favorites and some she didn't know.

She and Dar were sitting about mid way on the left hand side, and as the room filled, she watched her lover's alert and interested eyes watching everything.

Of course, half the room, the female half,  was also watching her. Kerry felt a mixture of pride and consternation at the veiled, and in some cases, not so veiled looks of lust directed at her companion, but Dar seemed oblivious.

Or maybe not. She felt a warm arm slide around her shoulders as Dar leaned closer, on the pretext of studying her hymnbook. "So. What's that?"

The pastor's arrival interrupted her somewhat meandering description of basic holiday services, and they both turned their attention to the man. He was of medium height, with sandy brown hair and pale colored eyes, about their age. He gave everyone a friendly smile, then launched into a short sermon.

It was…interesting.  Kerry got the gist of it being a plea for more tolerance in the world, and she felt it probably was better off directed outside this room, since everyone in here seemed pretty darn tolerant to her. But she appreciated the sentiment, and he made several good points about how people who are persecuted tend to turn their anger outwards, and practice the same kinds of discrimination they themselves suffer.

Then three people got up, two men and one woman, and read some original poems they'd written. Kerry liked them a lot, and also the fact that they were contributing something of themselves to the ceremony. That seemed to her to be a good idea, and something other churches would be better off adopting. Sometimes the over usage of the old traditionals without infusing new blood made a church… well…  she remembered being somewhat bored as a teenager in her own church, feeling that the people in charge really didn't have a handle on what was going on in her world.

These people had a handle - their works spoke of the lonely feeling of standing out in a crowd, of having family turn away from you, and the last, spoken by a short, owlish looking man with horn rimmed glasses and a buzz cut, was about what it felt like to be told that God hated you.

Kerry felt that one, but in a way it helped to hear it, because she understood she wasn't alone. She wondered briefly if someday maybe she'd have the guts to stand up there and mumble a piece of her own, then decided it would be a cold day in Hell first.

Dar leaned over, after the man finished. "That wasn't bad."

"Mm." Kerry agreed softly.

"Stuff you write is better." The dark haired woman confided casually.

Kerry felt like an icicle had suddenly grown in the pit of her stomach. "What?" She put a hand on Dar's arm, and gripped it. A suspicion formed and she felt her heart lurch. "How did you know?"

"Uh… " The blue eyes opened wider, in consternation. "You.. you left a couple pages on the printer, I didn't… um.. "  The crowd was rustling, as the choir arranged themselves up front, and she glanced around. "I'm sorry. .I didn't realize you… uh… " It was very obvious to her that Kerry was very, very upset. "Kerry, I'm sorry."

Very slowly, she released the death grip on Dar's arm. "No… no.. It's my stupid fault… I left them on the printer." She got out. "That stuff is so personal.. I just… " Then she stopped talking, and her brow creased. "Wait a minute…you liked it?"

Dar let out a very relieved breath. "Yeah.. that one about the wind was great." She agreed enthusiastically. "And there was kind of a long one… um.. "

Kerry ducked her head. "That was about you, yes." She peeked at her lover, who was definitely blushing. "You really liked it?"

Dar nodded, then straightened as the pastor resumed his podium. "I guess we've got something to talk about when we get home, eh?"

"Yeah." Kerry smiled. "I guess we do."  She felt a quiet happiness lighten her mood considerably, and she  turned the hymnbook over to the page he indicated. "Okay… this is simple. They sing, you sing." She instructed Dar, holding the book up. "I like this one."

They stood up, and waited for the choir to finish the first section, then joined in when the pastor indicated. Kerry started to sing, then stopped, as a crystal clear voice soared up from right next to her. She felt her jaw drop, and she turned to look at Dar, who was trying very hard not to start laughing. "Jesus!"

The chorus ended, and the choir started up again. "Something wrong?" Dar inquired, a definite smirk on her angular face.

"You can sing!" Kerry whispered incredulously. "I mean, not just sing, but like… that sounded incredible."

A light shrug. "Yeah.. well, I guess we both have hidden talents then, hmm?" Dar commented loftily, as she put her hands behind her back, and gazed around the room. Some of their neighbors were giving her interested, sideways looks, and she lifted an eyebrow at them.

The rest of the hymns went by in a blur, and before she knew it, Kerry found herself in a log jam of people all trying to get out of the small building, and into the cool night air. Hands stopped them, though, and she found herself being introduced to a rapid succession of faces, male and female, most of whom seemed friendly, and they received quite a few invitations to coffee, conversation, and in one case, a psychic reading on the beach.

Everyone seemed fascinated by Dar, who assumed her business face, all cool attention, and brisk politeness, until the pastor caught up to them, and offered a hand.

"You're new." He stated frankly. "Or is this just a convenient place to catch a service?"

"Um… actually, I called here earlier… asking about the church." Kerry answered, a little hesitantly.

"Ah.. bathing suit and Santa hat.. I recognize your voice." The man smiled, and then gave her a wink. "Honey, you could have showed up like that, and I guarantee nobody would have minded a bit." He shook her hand. "I'm David Argnot… the pastor, plumber, and all around handyman of the church."

That forced a chuckle from the mildly embarrassed Kerry. "Nice to meet you.. my name is Kerry.. and um… " She nodded her head towards Dar, who was fending off the choir mistress, a striking redhead almost the same height as the executive. "This is my friend Dar."

Hearing her name Dar turned, and regarded him, her pale blue eyes standing out with startling clarity. "Nice to meet you." She held a hand out.

He blinked. "Anyone ever tell you you've got fantastic eyes?" He took her hand and shook it gingerly. "Not to mention a killer voice."

Dar gave him a brief smile. "Thanks… that was a nice speech you made."

"Ah.. it was nothing." He grinned. "You should hear me when I don't have a major worldwide holiday to deal with… speaking of which… services are on Sundays, in the late afternoons, in case I hadn't mentioned it."

"Late afternoons?" Kerry had to laugh, used to crack of dawn ceremonies at home.

"We're hedonists, and don't pretend otherwise." He told her solemnly. "I have a standing reservation with a beach, a blanket, and a picnic basket on Sunday mornings." He rocked back and forth. "So.. how about it? You guys be back?"

Dar gave him a crooked grin. "Depends.. do you serve refreshments?" Her eyes twinkled with amusement.

His brows waggled. "What..do  we look like Catholics to you? All that wine and cheese.. whoops.. wafers… " He took some joshing from the nearby listeners. "Nah.. just kidding… we usually get together after the service for some coffee over at the café across the street… they're used to us invading, and they make a killer seven layer dip."

"You should drop on by." The choir mistress urged. "There's lots of good talk, and stuff… we have a great time." She turned as a short, chestnut haired woman came up, and rested her chin on the redhead's shoulder. "Right, Anne?"

"Sure." The woman agreed. "As long as it involves orange juice and spanking."  She gave Dar and Kerry a wicked grin. "Whoops.. I'm in church.. sorry about that."

Kerry had no idea if Dar liked, disliked, or was thoroughly freaked out by the group. "Sure. Sounds like fun." She finally said, figuring she could drop by on her own, at any rate. It was strange, and not at all like what she was used to, but…the people seemed pretty nice, and she liked the pastor, who definitely had a good sense of humor.

"Great… we'll see you guys next week, then." Pastor David smiled at them, and exhaled, loosening his collar. "Hey.. surf's up.. who's up for some midnight swimming?"

They edged their way out, and into the emptying parking lot, under the twinkling stars of a clear tropical night.  Kerry waited until they were in the car before she cleared her throat. "Um.. that wasn't meant to agree on your behalf, by the way.. I know… I mean, it's kind of a weird place.. don't feel like you're obligated in any way to go back." She explained. "I can just go back by myself.. maybe talk to some of those people.. two of the women are from the same denomination I am, so.. "

Dar ran a hand through her dark hair, and backed the Lexus out of it's spot, then she reached over and laid an hand on Kerry's arm. "Kerry, you know I love you, right?"

"Um… well, yes." The blond woman agreed, hesitantly.

"Have you ever seen what piranha can do to a cow, in under a minute?" The taller woman inquired, turning onto the main street.

Kerry's brows knit. "What in the world does that have to do with anything?" She asked. "And.. yes, I saw that Animal Planet special, thanks." She made a face. "They almost ate Crocodile Man's parts."

Dar stopped at a red light, and turned to her. "Good.. because that's what that crowd would do to you… if you went back there alone." She grinned, and chucked Kerry's chin. 'They know an innocent when they see one."

"I am not an innocent." The blond woman protested, then she paused. "Am I? I thought they were nice… they seemed okay."

"They were very nice, and I'm sure we'll find some great friends there." Dar reassured her. "But you gotta know the ground rules first, understand?"

Kerry thought about that for a minute. "Oh." She chewed her lip. "You mean the social side of things… yeah, they've got that in our church too, but it's different." She reflected. "They tend more to quilting circles."

Dar muffled a chuckle. "Well, I'm sure some of what this group does involves a quilt, at some point." She muttered. "But it was a nice service.. I'm glad we went… did it make you feel better?"

Kerry leaned back. "Yeah.. it did… maybe it's just the going through the motions thing, I don't know…but the poetry was good, and I liked his sermon.. and that choir is not bad." She reflected. "It was really different, but I enjoyed it."

"Good." Dar gazed out the window at the now thinned out traffic.

They drove in silence for a bit, then Kerry glanced at her watch. "Hey.. it's after midnight."

"Yep.. it's Christmas." Dar commented, as she turned onto the ferry terminal road.

"It's your birthday." Kerry gently corrected her.

The Lexus stopped at the loading ramp, as the deckhands started moving the surface down to meet the just docking ferry. "So it is." Dar leaned on the steering wheel, and regarded the choppy water. "I can't believe I'm thirty years old."

"Given what you've accomplished, I can't belive it either." Kerry admitted. "I feel so inadequate."

Dar blinked at her. "What?"

"Well, Jesus, Dar… you're only two.. okay, three years older than I am.. and look what you've done already.. I mean, you're a vice president, you've got a great career, this fantastic lifestyle… you're gorgeous.. you're successful… " She threw up her hands. "It's incredible."

Her friend regarded her seriously. "I never considered it like that."

Kerry half smiled. "I know."

Dar's cell phone rang, and she sighed, then pulled it out and flipped it open. "Yeah?"

"Good morning, Dar." Mark's voice sounded annoyingly cheerful. "Merry Christmas."

"Yeah yeah.. what's wrong?" Dar growled.

"Nothing." The MIS Chief drawled. "I was just calling to wish my favorite corporate shark a happy birthday."

Dar drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, and gave her blond companion a suspicious look. "And just how did you find out it was my birthday, Mark?"

Kerry peered innocently out the window. "Gee… look at that moon, will you?"

"A bird told me." Mark replied, the grin very evident in his voice.

"Uh huh.. is this bird about five foot six, with blond hair and green eyes?" Dar inquired wryly.

"Sorry, Dar.. that's secured info." The MIS chief clucked at her. "Anyway… you have a good birthday, okay?  I'll see you tomorrow, at your.. uh… Christmas party."

Uh huh. "Thanks, Mark…. I'll remember this." Dar threatened, getting a wicked chuckle in response, before Mark hung up.

Kerry was still peering out the window, apparently fascinated by the reflections off the waves.

Dar reached over and tickled her ribs, making her jump and squeal. "Little bird, huh?"

The cell phone rang again, and Kerry muffled a laugh as Dar sighed, then answered. It. "Yeah?" A pause. "Oh, hi Duks… yeah, thanks… I appreciate that… un huh… nope… what? Oh.. sure… hi Mariana… thank you… no, well, if I have to tell you, okay.. it's thirty." A longer pause. "Stop whining.. it's not my fault… okay, yeah, I'll see you guys tomorrow."  She hit the disconnect, as the ferry docked on the island. "What did you do.. send out a message to MIAHQUSERS ALL?" She demanded.

Kerry whistled softly under her breath. The cell phone rang again.

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

Soft strains of Christmas music intruded itself into Dar's dozing mind, and her mind sleepily identified the song as Oh Tannenbaum as she nudged herself a little closer to consciousness. The other thing that was poking her was the smell of pancakes and biscuits.

"Mm." Her eyes opened, noting Kerry's conspicuous absence, which pretty much coincided with the delicious scents that now had her stomach growling. She rolled over and stretched, extending her arms out and yawning, as the morning light snuck through her blinds, and laid stripes across her bare body. She spared a glance down her length, tracing her recently reemerging abdominal muscles with an idle finger. The workouts with Ken and the almost nonstop swimming, diving, and climbing she'd been doing with Kerry were having an unintended effect, but she wasn't about to complain.

She took a deep breath, detecting the positive scent of the fir tree in the living room, and she remembered the piles of presents tucked under it, all neatly wrapped. God, she'd had fun wrapping up Kerry's… she hadn't played with tinsel and ribbons in years, and she'd gone a little overboard, making little colorful curls and bows. With a grin, she hoisted herself out of the waterbed and padded to the dresser, donning a t-shirt and her flannel boxers. A trip to the bathroom to brush her teeth and splash a little water on her face, then  she poked her head into the living room, hearing a soft humming coming from nearby.

Dar followed the sound, ending up in the kitchen next to a busily flap jacking Kerry, who was dressed in her favorite Tweety bird nightshirt, with her hair twisted back off her face. "Good morning ." Dar greeted her, with a smile, finding it hard to imagine what was like, only two months before, when all she'd have walked out to was the utter quiet, and sterility of loneliness.

Kerry leaned back against her, and tilted her head back, returning her smile. "Happy birthday." She kissed Dar gently. "Merry Christmas."

Dar glanced over her shoulder at the griddle. "Is that my present? I'll have birthdays every week, in that case."

"Chocolate chip pancakes, Eggs Benedict, biscuits, and that godawaful library paste you insist on eating." Kerry agreed. "It's almost done… go on out on the porch and let me bring it out."  She'd only just been argued out of insisting on serving Dar breakfast in bed, curtailed only by the taller woman's demonstration of just how impossible it was to eat in a waterbed.

"Grits." Dar replied, nibbling her ear. "Not library paste.. you just have to add enough stuff to it so it so they taste like something." She protested. "It's kind of like potatoes.. a delivery mechanism for butter, salt, and maple syrup."

"Right." Kerry gave her a push. "Go on… here, take some coffee with you.. I just put it in the carafe."

Dar took the pot, and two cups, and ambled out onto the porch which was drenched in sunlight, and washed with a freshening, cool breeze from the northeast. It was cool enough for the sun to feel good as it warmed her skin, and Dar took a seat, propping her bare feet up on the stone railing, and regarding the blue waters that extended to the horizon before her. Above the beach, a gull soared, banking on long narrow wings in search of a tasty meal. The breeze ruffled Dar's hair, and she smiled in pure, animal satisfaction at the beauty of the day, and how good that made her feel.

The sliding door opened, and Kerry maneuvered her way out with a large tray, setting it on the table and looking out at the water with a smile. "Wow.. nice day."

"Yeah." Her dark haired companion readily agreed. "You sure about this snow thing?"

Kerry pushed a lock of hair back behind an ear, and poured two glasses of very orange juice. "Well.. " She handed one to her lover. "I'm starting to consider alternatives."

They shared breakfast, except that Kerry refused to touch the grits, even at Dar's insistent coaxing. "Sorry… sorry… I just can't… they look too gross, Dar."  She laughingly refused, taking seconds of eggs instead. "Leave me in peace with my hollandaise sauce, please."

"You could put that on the grits." Dar replied, undaunted.

"No." Kerry waved her off with a fork.

"What about if I put chocolate on them?"

"NO…. ugh.. look, I don't force you to eat broccoli, do I?" Kerry complained.

"Yes, you do." Dar replied. "In fact, you sneaked it into the soup the other week, and thought I wouldn't notice."

The blond grinned. "Whoops." She opened her mouth. "Okay.. one tiny taste."

Dar scooped up a forkful of the breakfast cereal, and placed it on her companion's tongue, with a wry chuckle.

Kerry mouthed the substance, then paused thoughtfully. "Dar, all I taste is butter, salt, and maple syrup."

"Yes, thank you." Dar smiled. "Now, what's wrong with any of those?"

"Nothing." Kerry leaned over and took another forkful. "Share."

They wandered inside after breakfast, and settled in the living room, where the tree nestled quietly in one corner, it's twinkling white lights and bright ornaments livening up the room considerably. Kerry stretched herself out on the couch, and pillowed her head in Dar's lap, as the taller woman started up a new CD of Christmas music.

"This is very different."  The blond woman commented, rubbing a thumb against Dar's skin idly. "At my parent's house, the first thing done on Christmas morning is everyone sits in the living room, and my father presides over the gift allocation."

Dar patted her arm gently, but didn't say anything. Kerry had spoken to her family once since Thanksgiving, a several minute long, anger filled, bitter confrontation that had left the blond woman shaken, but resolute, as she acknowledged her part in her father's exposing. There would be no going back there, and she knew it, and Kerry sadly accepted the estrangement, but Dar understood that it was still hard for her lover, even after what had happened, so deep was her innate love for her family.

And it wasn't over - Kerry had been asked to testify at the investigation after the New Year, and it was something she wasn't much looking forward to. Her part in the release of the information was not known to the public, but there were questions regarding her benefit from her father's crimes.

"We.. never really had a tradition." Dar quietly said. "It was.. just whatever was going on at the time where we were… dad would always have a present for me, but we didn't do a lot in the way of decorating, or trees… " She glanced at the colorful tree, which she found appealing, in an odd way. "Too bad.. they're kinda nice."

"Yeah." Kerry smiled a little. "So.. you want to open stuff now, or later?"

Dar grinned like a little kid.

"I guess that answers that." The blond woman laughed, folding her arms over her stomach and gazing up. "Besides, we have to clear some space.. I've got a feeling a few more things might end up under there during the party." Her eyes twinkled.

"Urgh." Dar winced. "Well, if I have to… " She tickled Kerry's ribs through the soft cotton of her shirt. "C'mon.. let's go."

They settled at the foot of the tree, among little stacks of wrapped packages. "I think we went a little overboard." Dar remarked dryly, observing the piles. "Considering that there's only two of us here."

Kerry rubbed her nose. "Well.. maybe.. yeah.. but.. " She paused, and took a breath. "I didn't have too many people to shop for this year, so.. I guess I kinda made up for that with you."

Dar glanced down, and fiddle with the edge of her shirt. "So.. what's my excuse.?" She replied quietly, not thinking about the one, tiny package still tucked away in her dresser, unsure if they were ready for that. Unsure if they ever would be, and having shocked herself almost silly when she'd walked out of Mayors with it. "My usual Christmas morning up till now has been a chocolate croissant, watching videos on VH1, and a run on the beach."

"I don't know… " Kerry pushed her hair back. "Maybe we can make some new traditions…I always looked on Christmas shopping as kind of a chore, especially for my parents, but it didn't seem that way for you."

"Yeah." The dark haired woman smiled a little, regarding the tile floor she was seated on. "I walked out of the mall the other week, and couldn’t believe all the stuff I had." She looked up. "Does that make you feel uncomfortable?"  She knew Kerry felt very strongly about her own independence, and insisted on sharing all their expenses, regardless of the fact that Dar kept telling her she had more money than she knew what to do with.

"Well… " Kerry peered around at the veritable mountain of packages. "I'd probably freak out if you bought me a pony or something.. but I guess I'll survive."  She grinned engagingly at her companion. "Besides…I think I kept pace with you…but I think you know that if you'd gotten me a box of Kleenex for Christmas, I'd have been happy." She leaned over and curled her fingers around Dar's. "You're the only gift that really matters to me."

Dar smiled. "Likewise." She glanced around. "But we'd better get this stuff opened." She squeezed Kerry's hand. "Hey.. the Disney parade is on at ten.. let me put it on."

Kerry laughed, and started sorting the packages, when her cell phone rang. "Oh hell.. " She glanced around. "Can you hand me that? " She'd arranged to have her apartment phone number forwarded to the portable phone., and now she opened it as Dar gave it over. "Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, chica." Colleen's laughing voice boomed. "I knew I wasn't gonna see you around here before the party, so I thought I'd call."

Kerry smiled. "Thanks.. Merry Christmas to you, too, Col.. how did it go at your mom's last night?" Colleen's family opened their presents on Christmas Eve, before they all trooped solemnly off to Midnight Mass.

"O My God… " Colleen moaned. "I need a Uhaul to get all the stuff back here.. my mother, bless her Irish little heart, went berserk this year, and got me everything from new towels to underwear."

"Hey.. that's so sweet." The blond woman laughed. "Did all your brothers and sisters show up?"

"Oh yeah.. it was a real Irish circus, let me tell ya.. the blarney was flying like nothing doing…we had a great time, except my brothers got into the usual fistfight, and we ended up dragging Mike to the emergency room after Mass to have a stitch put in his lip."

"Ow." Kerry made a face.

"How was your night?" Colleen asked.

"Well, we spent the day diving yesterday… then we had dinner overlooking the ocean, and we went to a service down here on the beach…it was really nice." Kerry told her, watching Dar pluck at a corner of wrapping, as she waited. "We just had breakfast, and we're about to dive into some unwrapping."

"Trade ya." Colleen sighed. "I had to spend the night listening to my aunts and uncles tell me how it was in the good old days, and ask me when I was getting hitched, and tell me how chubby I am."

Interesting perspective, Kerry thought. "Funny.. that's exactly what I'd have been doing. " She commented. "No trade."  She saw a slow, almost shy smile appear on Dar's face, as she pieced together the conversation. "So, when you coming over here?"

"Weeeell… you said the party started at seven.. but I figure if I show up a little bit early, you'll give me a tour, huh?" Colleen teased. "I want to see this famous fantasy island of yours."

"You got it." Kerry laughed. "See you then." She hung up and folded the phone, chuckling a little, then glanced up at her companion. "She's a lot of fun."

Dar smiled. "Yeah.. she seems very nice.. though I'm pretty sure she has her doubts about me." She handed Kerry a package.

Kerry took it. "Is this invasion going to drive you crazy?" She carefully separated the bow from the ribbon, and set it aside, then started working on the tape that held one end closed. "And Colleen does like you, by the way.. it just took her a while to get past your reputation."

"You can just tear that." Dar observed her. "And… no, I can deal with the party. I'm a big girl."

Kerry patiently unfolded the wrapping, and set it to one side, revealing a large, golden foil box. "I never tear the wrapping." She informed her companion firmly. "Now, go on and open one of yours so I don't feel so self conscious."  She looked at Dar until the dark haired woman rolled her eyes and picked up a box, then she eased the top off her own, and peeked inside. "Ooo." A beautifully embroidered shirt peeked back at her. She had a feeling this was going to be a very interesting morning.

They'd gotten about halfway through, exposing a trade of clothing, and various computer trinkets, when her cell phone rang again. She picked it up, as she opened a box of wonderfully scented bath beads and oils, and answered it. "Hello?"

"Kerry?" The voice sounded strained.

"Angela?" She put down the box and listened. "Is that you?"

"Yeah… " Her sister sighed. "Michael's here too… we've kind of got a situation."

Kerry glanced at Dar, who had cocked her head in hearing her sister's name. "What's wrong?"

"Well… " Angela cleared her throat. "It's been…kind of bad at home this year.. I'm sure you can imagine."

"Sorry." Kerry answered quietly.

"No.. don't be.. I mean… " Her sister hesitated. "You did what you had to do, you know? But anyway…all we've been hearing for the last two days is how you've ruined our lives…and Michael and I kind of got sick of it this morning."

Kerry felt a pair of warm arms circle her, and she leaned back against Dar's comforting presence. "Angela, I'm sorry…I know I screwed things up for both of you… I… "

"No…hold on." Angela's voice muffled a bit, then came back. "Michael says don't you dare blame this on yourself… you didn't do any of that stuff, he did, and it's his fault, not yours." She cleared her throat again. "Anyway… we sort of went off this morning about that… and how if it was anyone's fault, it was his, and he lost it."

Kerry took a breath. "Lost it?"

"Yeah.. he threw us out of the house." Angela laughed weakly. "Richard's on a business trip… Sally's with his mother, because I didn't want her around all the poison for Christmas.. she's too young, and she wouldn't understand."

"Wow." Kerry felt the hold tighten, and she pursed her lips. "Well, you can go by there, anyway…right?"

"Uh.. actually… " Now Angela's voice got muffled again, and Kerry was aware of an echoing sound in the background. "Actually.. Michael had this crazy idea… and before I could stop him, he kinda acted on it… so we're..um… " A slight laugh. "We're about to get on a flight down to Miami… to spend a little time with our favorite sister instead."

She couldn’t speak for a moment. "Angela, that's insane." Kerry finally breathed.

"Eyah… I know… but we're boarding… hope you don't mind." Her sister laughed. "Honestly, we really want to see you… we've got tickets back for tomorrow.. it was easier than I thought, because practically no one's flying today."

"No.. I don't mind." Kerry reassured her. "We're having a big party here.. it'll be great to have both of you.. I'll come pick you up.. we can spend some time before that… " She glanced at Dar helplessly.

The dark haired woman just grinned. "I love spontaneity." She drawled, privately very glad Kerry would get to see at least a part of her family. "The more the merrier."

"Great… gotta go." Angela sounded much more cheerful. "See you in a few hours." She hung up, leaving Kerry to exhale weightily.

"Well, that was a surprise."

Dar chuckled softly. "C'mon.. we'd better get finished opening stuff." She half turned, then scowled as her own cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, Dar!" Gerald Easton's voice boomed over the line. "I hope you got that little package I sent."

Dar held the phone  a little away from her ear. "Yep.. and I hope mine got there all right."

"Sitting out under the tree even as we speak, my friend… we're about to start opening, and I thought I'd call to wish you a merry merry..oh, wait.. here.. all right, don't rip the damn thing out of my hands, you.. "

"Hey Dar!"

"Merry Christmas Jack." Dar smiled. "Got that home leave, I see."

"One frigging day, yeah.. " The pilot snorted. "How're you doing?" How's Kerry?"

"Fine and fine, thanks." The dark haired woman assured him. "And you?"

A bare hesitation. "Busy… hectic…the usual." Jack answered. "Hey.. Alabaster says hello, and wants to know if she can send you a present too?"

Kerry peered at her over one shoulder. "Alabaster?"

"Gerry's Labrador." Dar mouthed. "She has puppies."

"Oooooooo…. " Kerry squealed. "Oh, Dar.. those are SUCH cute puppies… did you get to see them?"

Dar regarded her with a solemn twinkle. "Had eleven of them crawling all over me, in fact."  She assured her lover. "Yeah." She finally replied into the phone. "Sorry, what was that, Jack?" His voice was muffled.

"Oh.. nothing." Jack replied innocently. "So.. how's the weather?"

"Fine… why?" Dar asked suspiciously.

"Just wondering… I have to fly through Homestead on my way out tonight.. thought maybe I'd stop by and say hello." Jack replied brightly.

This party was rapidly getting to be about the size of an inaugural ball, Dar mused. "Sure.. why not.. we're having a get together over here.. I'll put your name on the list."

"Great… see you later!" Jack replied, a grin very evident in his voice, as he handed the phone back.

"Well, that's lovely." Gerald stated, sounding pleased. "You two get along so nicely."

Dar sighed inwardly. "Yeah, we sure do… listen, tell Mom I said Merry Christmas.. and I hope you like the gifts."

"Don't worry, rugrat… anything you send is always good stuff." Gerald chuckled. "Talk at you later." He hung up, and Dar let the phone drop to her knee.

"Rug rat?" Kerry grinned evilly.

"Don’t start." Dar warned jokingly. "He's been calling me that since I was twelve."

"Rug rat.. that's so cute." She leaned her head against Dar's arm. "He's nice."

"He is.. .he tries to be family to me." Dar replied quietly. "His wife's very sweet…and a great cook.. which reminds me." Now a dark brow edged up. "I hear I have a spy in my camp."

Green eyes twinkled. "Whoops… hey, you better be thanking me, because otherwise you'd have been munching on Brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving."

Dar leaned over and kissed her. "Thank you." She murmured sincerely. "For coming into my life and changing it for the better."

Kerry hadn't expected that, and she had to swallow, and take a minute to get her breath back before she could answer. "I did that?" She uttered. "Funny.. here I was thinking about how you'd done that for me."

They kissed again, then Dar gently nudged the wrapping they were nestled in aside, and moved closer, pulling Kerry half into her lap so she could concentrate better. "Damn." She glanced up. "I forgot to hang mistletoe."

Kerry explored her lips. "That would be overkill, I think." She admitted softly, laying a hand along Dar's side and slipping it under the soft fabric of her shirt to the warm skin underneath. Her fingers traced familiar curves, and tickled Dar's navel, which caused the taller woman to muffled a laugh. "It's been quite a month, huh?"

Dar nodded, cradling her gently. "Is it… um.." A shrug. "Working out for you?" She kept her voice light, and casual.

But the heartbeat under her ear picked up, and Kerry winced inwardly, as she realized it would be a long time before Dar would lose her quiet, private insecurities. "Yeah, except for one thing." Kerry replied, gazing up at her wryly.

Dark lashes blinked. "What's that?"

Kerry scratched her nose. "Um… this Tuesday and Thursday thing… I… well, I get really depressed when I wake up and realize I'm not going to see you that night."

Dar's eyes brightened. "Really?"  She produced a smile. "Well, we could fix that." She replied practically. "It would be more cost effective to car pool.. we could trade off, just to confuse people."

Kerry slowly nodded. "We could do that."

Dar reached over to the tree and plucked something off of it, examining it before handing it to her blond companion.

"What's that?" Kerry peered at it, a translucent piece of plastic.

"Your resident's decal." The executive admitted. "I was going kind of nuts when you weren't here too."

"So.. I'm not driving you crazy, then?"

"Nope."

"Good."  Kerry sighed in relief, letting her head rest against Dar's shoulder. "Because I'm so totally in love with you, it should be illegal." She admitted quietly. "I wonder if it's like this for everyone."

"I don't know." Dar found herself having trouble swallowing. "But it's never been like this for me before… ad I doubt it ever will be again, so I hope this lasts a long time." That was more than she had ever planned to admit, and now all she could do was wait to hear the response to a question she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

"Mm… I hate to tell you this, Dar… " Kerry's eyes gentled. "But when I was.. um… eight, I think, I decided if I ever fell in love it would be one of those forever and ever things." She took a breath, as she felt Dar stop breathing entirely. "I know that sounds really…. Um… "

"Perfect." Dar blurted. "It sounds… perfect… forever and ever sounds… just fine with me."

Forever. Something inside Kerry smiled contentedly. "I guess that's settled then." She remarked, snuggling happily down into Dar's arms.

Welcome home.

Kerry glanced up. "Did you say something?"

The blue eyes seemed to deepen a shade, and a faint hint of amusement tinged them. "Nothing you haven't heard before… just that I love you."

Kerry's brows knit. "I thought…' Then she tugged her ear. "Hearing things…I love you, too."

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

The sun made Kerry wince as she turned westward onto the causeway and headed towards the airport. She flipped her sunglasses out of the Mustang's glove compartment, and slipped them on, getting relief from the intense glare.  A Christmas music CD was playing merrily in her CD player, and she hummed along as she picked up I395, then made the exchange to 836 towards the airport.

Traffic was surprisingly light, and she figured she got everyone between those that did a big Christmas lunch and were now half comatose in front of football, and those who had Christmas dinner, and were making last minute preparations. Those people who eschewed the day all together, were probably at the beach, since just about everything else except Walgreens was closed.

The airport, on the other hand, was a royal mess. Kerry sighed, and dodged a number of taxis as she entered the arrival lanes, finding tempers flaring in the heat. She pulled off into short term parking, and grabbed a ticket, hoping to get lucky.

And of course, she didn't, ending up about as far away from the Northwest terminal as she could and still be in MIA, but she figured she was early, and the walk wouldn't hurt her any, not after that breakfast, at any rate.

Kerry ran a hand through her fair hair, and got out, locking the Mustang and squaring her shoulders. She was really glad they were coming, but the sense of guilt she felt for fracturing a good part of their lives was weighing heavily on her.

There was no one else to take the responsibility, after all. Dar had even been shocked she'd released the information, and only the fact that the server sent the documents out anonymously had saved her ass when the recipients received them, and the shit hit the fan.

Dar would have stood behind her, she knew. But resigning would have really been her only option - mixing the company up in business like that would have been something not even her powerful boss could have protected her from.  It was bad enough she'd been called by the judicial subcommittee investigating the matter, to testify. That had caused a wild round of whispers at work, though… now that she thought about it, there had been more looks of veiled admiration than anything else, and Eleanor Anastasia had even slinked into her office, and commented on how much she respected Kerry for coming to work for a company her father hated so much.

One thing, at least, she didn't have to worry about them finding any way she'd benefited from the nasty stuff. She'd been self supporting since college, and she'd had Mark do a trace to make sure there were no hidden bank accounts with suspicious dollars in them under her name.  But the press had been sniffing around anyway, and she'd been glad more than once that she worked in a secure building, and spent most of her time on a nice, inaccessible island in someone elses condo.

Kerry walked briskly across the parking lot, glad she'd chosen a light t-shirt tucked into faded jeans for the trip as she began to feel the heat. The concourse was invitingly cool, and she went inside with a feeling of relief, then she stopped, startled at the seemingly mindless chaos before her.

Bad weather in the rest of the country had forced hundreds, if not thousands of people to camp out in the airport, and there were bodies slumped everywhere, trying to get some rest. The restaurants were working overtime, and it looked like a multinational convention inside. "Wow." She headed off towards Terminal G, where Northwest was housed, and wandered over to a display, searching for the flight. It was one of the few on time, she was glad to note, and due in approximately ten minutes. Kerry assured herself of the gate, then she edged into a cappuccino bar, and ordered herself a double, as she sat down to wait.

She took a sip of her coffee, and enjoyed the strong taste as it entered her system, and perked her up. While she'd seen Angela at Thanksgiving, she hadn't seen her brother since the preceding holidays, and she wondered if he'd changed any. She knew she had,  her hair was shorter, and a lot more sun-streaked, and she was packing an additional fifteen pounds of what was mostly muscle on her slim frame which had broadened her shoulders, and given her a completely different way of walking and moving.

That was all the swimming, diving, running, and climbing she'd been doing with Dar, which required an incredible amount of energy, but which had made her feel really good about the way she looked and felt.  Everyone looked at her when she walked into a room now, and she liked that she'd found, even though she thought that was incredibly egotistical and she'd never admit it to anyone but herself.

Ah. A crowd of people were heading out from the Northwest flights, carrying overcoats, mufflers, scarves, and heavy winter sweaters. Kerry sincerely hoped they'd all take them off before the walked out the front doors, so they wouldn't cause a traffic jam when they passed out from heat stroke.  She spotted her sister and brother as they headed towards the exit, and she stood up, draining her cappuccino and heading towards them, catching Angela's eye as she approached.

Her sister plucked Michael's sleeve, and pointed, and Kerry had to muffle a smile as her brother caught sight of her and his  dark eyebrows jerked up as his eyes widened. Guess I do look different, she decided, as she closed with them. "Hey… "

Michael hugged her, before he stepped back, and held her at arm's length. "Holy shit, Kerry… do I know you?"  Her brother was slightly shorter than she was, and had disheveled brown hair and hazel eyes. He was lightly built, and had a perpetual look of wonderment about him. "Check you out."

"This isn't a library." Kerry answered wryly, before she shook herself loose from his grip and hugged Angela. "Good to see you guys… even though the cause is pretty bad." She exchanged looks with them. "How was the flight?"

"Given the weather everywhere else, it really wasn't bad." Angela told her. "The change in Detroit was on time for once, and even though it was bumpy most of the way, once we'd crossed into Florida, it was beautiful." She glanced around. "This place is a zoo."

"No, that's further south." Kerry replied solemnly. "Actually, everyone's pretty much stuck here, because the weather's so bad up in the Northeast and the Midwest."  She tugged their sleeves. "C'mon.. do you guys have any baggage? Hope not."

Michael shook his head. "Nope.. just these carryons.. we figured one change of clothes would be enough to get us through tonight… we've got a noon flight back tomorrow. Angela's supposed to pick up Sally at five, and I have a flight out to school at seven. "

Kerry deftly guided them through the concourse and towards the doors. "First off, take your coats off." She warned.

"We'll be fine" Angela laughed.

"Okay." Kerry hit the floor plate to open the doors, and they went from 72 degree humidity controlled air conditioning into 88 degree 98 percent humidity.

"Whoa." Angela stopped. "Gotcha.. coats gotta come off."  She stripped out of her heavy jacket and draped it over one arm while Michael did the same, also pulling off his heavy sweater. "Good grief, it's green." She commented, glancing around. "It's so weird."

Kerry smiled. "You get used to it after a while… come on. I'm parked out in south nowhere."  She started across the parking lot, and her siblings followed, with Angela catching up to her quickly. "How much does he know?" Kerry asked softly.

"Well.. he knows about.. um.. you." Angela answered in a whisper. "And about Dar."

"Darn good thing.. since we're going over to her place. " Kerry replied wryly.

"Yeah.. but he doesn’t know about me and Brian.. and he's.. um.. he's got the idea that he's going to make sure Dar can.. um.. as he put it 'take care of my sister.'"

"Oh boy."  Kerry burst into laughter, quickly muffled. "Well, no problems there.. wait till he sees her place." She shot a glance at her brother, who was staring around with interest at the thick foliage.

"How's Dar, anyway? I forgot to ask you before." Angela asked, casually.

Kerry smiled. "She's fine…we just opened our presents to each other… Jesus, did we ever go nuts." She confided. "And it's her birthday today, too, so… "

Angela nodded, and exhaled. "She seemed really nice, just that few minutes I got to meet her.. and you never did tell me exactly how she got involved in that whole thing with you."

"Long story." Kerry muttered, as Michael trotted back over to them. "So.. how's school?"

"A pain in the ass." Michael replied sourly. "I had to tell my statistics professor off the other day."  He kicked a rock, an oddly adolescent behavior considering his age. "It didn't help.. he failed me anyway."

Kerry sighed. "Uh oh… are you in trouble?"  She gave him a knowing look. School had never been Michael's strong point. In fact, she wasn't sure what was.

"Yeah." He peered at her sheepishly. "In fact, I owe you a big one, sis… if it hadn't been for you shaking up the world, I'd have had to tell em I flunked out this semester again, and they'd have cared." He admitted, as they approached Kerry's car. "Hey.. that hotrod yours?"

"Yes.. and no, you can't drive it." Kerry hit the automatic keylock, and popped the trunk for their carryon bags. "I like my insurance low, thanks."  She waited for them to put their stuff in, then closed the hatch and opened the doors. "You'll get to meet some of my friends and coworkers tonight.. we had a party planned, so.. "

"Great." Michael gallantly got into the back seat, and allowed Angela the priveledge of riding up front. "I wanna meet this Dar person, though… you should hear dad talk about her."

Kerry started the car, and put it into gear. "Don’t' worry.. you will." She promised, pulling carefully out of the parking lot and heading for the toll booth. "And Mike.. don't try anything with her, okay? She's out of your league."

Her brother snorted. "I'm wounded… like I would make a move on my sister's sweetie… yeah, right!" He gave Kerry a rakish grin. "I can't help it if girls think I'm cute, though…and what exactly do you mean, out of my league?"

Kerry didn't answer, as she was busy paying for her parking and navigating the exit roads to catch the right highway out of the airport. They talked about inconsequential stuff on the trip back, and Kerry pointed out a few landmarks as they hit the causeway, including the Port of Miami. "The cruise ships go out of there….it's quite a sight on Sunday mornings."  She pulled into the ferry terminal. "You have to ride a boat out to Dar's place."

"Whooo.. now that's privacy." Michael stated, approvingly.

Kerry almost pulled into the guest's lane, then she remembered at the last moment, and diverted smoothing into the special row for residents, getting a smile and wave from the security guard.

Angela glanced at the sign, then at her. "Residents Lane, huh?"  She asked, one eyebrow lifting.  "Looks like they know you pretty well here."

"Hi Carlos." Kerry greeted the deckhand. "Merry Christmas."

"Feliz Navidad, Ms. Kerry." The man waved, the pointed at her new sticker and gave her a thumbs up, as he crossed the deck of the ferry and secured the ramp.

Kerry was aware of the looks she was getting from her siblings, but she waited for the ferry to undock, and start it's way across the cut before she glanced at them.

"So… you live here too?" Michael asked, curiously.

"Pretty much, yeah." Kerry replied. "Dar's got a big place.. five bedrooms.. there's plenty of breathing space there. She asked me after Thanksgiving if I wanted to move in part time.. and I said yes." She was aware of the awkward silence. "She inherited the condo from an aunt of hers.. pretty much rent free. We share expenses otherwise, though."

"Oh.. .like roommates." Angela answered, slowly. "Doesn't that mess you up at work?"

"Not really." Kerry replied, leaning back, and propping  her knee up against the steering wheel. "We don't mention it at work… and we pretty much just do our jobs there." A shrug. "Then we just go home… I was staying at my place most of the week, but that's getting pretty pointless."

Another really awkward silence. "So.. this is.. like, really serious, isn't it?" Michael finally asked slowly. "You two are like.. living together, right?"

Kerry turned her head to regard him. "Yes… this isn't one of your flings of the week, Mike." She felt her temper prickling a little. "Or did you think I was just kissing my bosses ass?" A pause. "Literally."

She shocked both of them, she could tell, and she almost laughed at the expressions on their faces. "Sorry.. that was pretty crude."

Michael scrubbed his head. "Um… it's going to take a little bit to get used to this, y'now…I mean, Jesus, Kerry… of course I didn’t think you were just playing around, or anything.. it just happened so fast."

She snorted. "I remember you going through six girlfriends in four months last year.. .give me a break." She gave him a look. "Double standards, huh?"

"Well.. no.. it’s not that.. " He protested. "I mean.. that's me, Ker…. I've always been a freaking flirt.. we all know it… I had three dates for my senior prom, for Christ's sake.." He leaned on the seat and put a hand on her shoulder. "But you always said when you fell in love, it'd be just the one time, remember?"  A smile. "So…"

Kerry gazed at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's the one time." She replied evenly.

They both stared at her. "Really?" Michael asked.

"Yep." Kerry answered, with a smile.

He digested this. "Well.. all I can say is, she'd better be worth it then." His lip poked out pugnaciously. "She'd better be good enough for my sister."

Kerry bit off a wry grin, and started the car up, as they docked. "You can judge for yourself in a few minutes." She directed the Mustang up the ramp, and through the courtesy spray, turning left and heading towards the condo. They were both quiet on the drive, and while she parked next to Dar's Lexus. "Okay… here we are."  She popped the hatch and got out, hearing the door on the condo open as they walked around to get the bags out.

"Hey." Dar's voice, tinged with amusement floated over them. "Clemente just called and wanted to know if you wanted dark chocolate, or milk chocolate mousse."

Kerry looked up, to see her lover leaning on the stair balcony, dressed casually in faded cutoff denim shorts with a bright red polo shirt tucked into them. "Ah." She grinned. "I'll call him back."  She noticed her siblings glances. "You know Angela.. this is my brother, Michael." She gave him a poke. "Mike, this is Dar. Say hello, and stop staring like a tourist."

"I am a tourist." Her brother protested, then he summoned up a bright smile. "Hello, Dar… it's nice to meet you."

One dark brow lifted, along with the corner of Dar's mouth on that side. "Nice to meet you too." She replied politely. "Hello, Angela.. welcome to Miami."

The chestnut haired woman returned the polite nod. "Nice to see you again, Dar." She looked around. "It's lovely here."

"Thanks.. come on up.. " Dar motioned them forward.

Kerry prodded them both up the stairs, and into the condo, exhaling as she felt Dar's hand patting her back in comfort as the dark haired woman followed them in. "Let me call Clemente.. you guys want something to drink?"

They were both glancing around the condo. "That would be great." Angela said, firmly. "Flying always makes me thirsty."

Kerry disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the three of them alone. Dar finally cleared her throat. "Would you like to sit down?" She asked, politely, indicating the couch. Families, she reflected, were tough. "Nice flight?"

Angela put her bag down and seated herself, glaring at Michael until he did the same, with an abashed look. He'd been studying the painting over the couch in fascination. "Um… it was a good flight, yes…" The woman stated. "The weather's causing a lot of congestion at the airports, but we didn't have any problem."

Dar was about to answer, when she heard the sound of glasses being fumbled in the kitchen. "Excuse me a minute." She produced a brief smile, then escaped to where Kerry was retrieving an errant tumbler. "Hi."

"Hi." The blond woman set the glass down on the counter, and got a pitcher of peach flavored ice tea from the refrigerator.

"You okay?" Dar asked, mildly, as she came up behind her lover, and rubbed her shoulders, feeling the tension in them.

Kerry poured two glasses, then set the pitcher down, and sighed. "They're being weird." She turned and looked up at Dar. "It's just so strange… I feel like I should be apologizing to them half the time, and the other half I'm mad because I feel like they're passing judgment on me."

"Well." Dar nibbled her lower lip. "I don't have any experience in the sibling scene, but I think they're actually passing judgment on me, not on you."  She fondly ran her hands through Kerry's hair. "Give em time… they'll loosen up, and if they don't, I'll take em on a tour and shake em up a little."

That got a laugh from her companion. "Jesus.. they're just my brother and sister… I feel like a first time debater at the nationals." She picked up the glasses. "Come on… let's go face the inquisition."

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

"I'll get that." Dar eased up from her seat and ambled towards the door, glad of the distraction after two hours of desperately clever conversation with her lover's family. She pulled the door open, giving Colleen an amiable grin. "Hello, Colleen."

The redhead nodded back. "Merry Christmas, Dar… this is some island you've got here."

The taller woman chuckled. "Thanks… c'mon in.. Kerry's brother and sister came down.. we're just getting to know each other." She'd gotten a touch friendlier with Colleen the last week or so, at the classes she taught at the gym.

"Oo… " Colleen hid a grimace. "Families.. gotta love em… be glad it's not mine." She stepped inside and moved past Dar, who kept the door open, spotting the catering crew headed her way. "Hello, Clemente… Merry Christmas."

"Feliz Navidad, Ms. Roberts." The sweating hospitality manager wiped his brow. "My people will bring in the tables, and do the setup now, if that is okay with you."

"Great… go ahead." Dar cocked an ear inside, where Colleen's rich tones had been added to the conversation, and things seemed to be loosening up a bit. It was curiously exhausting, dealing with people on this kind of emotional level, she mused, seating herself on the railing and watching as the uniformed busboys and porters brought folding tables, linen, and chafing dishes inside.  It was much easier to stand in a boardroom among business adversaries, because that never touched you, not on the inside, where it counted.

Jesus. She was having a damn birthday party. Dar suddenly realized. And people were coming to it. Dar watched as a waiter walked by, carrying a beautiful centerpiece, bathing her with a sweet, floral scent. She reached out and plucked a small, tightly budded rose from the arrangment, and twirled it between her fingers, sniffing it idly, before she girded her loins, as it were, and returned to the living room.

Kerry was seated on the love seat, facing the couch where her brother and sister were perched. Colleen had captured the chair next to her. Dar stepped around the end of the love seat and settled into place next to her lover, catching her eye and handing her the rose.

It threw Kerry off her balance, and she gave Dar a near breathless, startled look as she took the bloom, bringing it to her nose in pure reflex as the taller woman relaxed and extended her long legs, crossing them at the ankles.  "Thanks." Kerry smiled, forgetting their guests for a long moment.

Dar winked at her, then turned her attention to the raptly watching trio. "Is there a problem?" She asked, in her best boardroom no nonsense voice, one eyebrow lifting up in question.

"Uh… " Colleen fished for a conversation starter.

"You know." Michael folded his arms across his chest, and grabbed the bull by the horns. "Outside the movies, I've never actually seen one human being give another human being a rose before." He cocked his head at Dar. "That is obnoxiously romantic."

Everyone kind of froze, waiting for Dar's reaction. She let them wait a beat, then smiled lazily. "My father taught me to do that." She replied simply.

"What.. to give people flowers?" Colleen asked, curiously.

"To let my actions speak louder than words." Dar answered wryly, feeling the ice breaking a little, as grins went around the room. Kerry moved closer, and leaned against her shoulder, tucking her legs up under her and relaxing. "Now.. someone explain to me the candles in the little paper bags I saw everywhere last time I was up north?"

"Well… " Michael rubbed his hands together. "There's this tradition…. "

Kerry regarded her lover's profile, feeling a warm wash of affection as she reflected on Dar's quiet sacrifice, her giving up of a tiny bit of her cool reserve to smooth the way for Kerry's own comfort. She exhaled a little, thinking about the one gift she'd held back, tucked away upstairs, waiting for her to pull together enough courage to give it.

Maybe tonight.

Yeah.

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

Dar leaned back against the sliding glass door, sipping on a glass of very spiked eggnog and listening to Duks relate a story of his last vacation in Germany.  The party was in full swing, and after the initial shock of having so many people in her usually peaceful condo, she'd actually started having an acceptably good time.

Kerry was seated on the couch, with her brother and sister on the loveseat, and Mariana and Mark next to her, and all five people were arguing about the appropriateness of sports salaries. Dar chuckled, as Mark predictably supported the 'pay em anything as long as they score' view, and Mariana insisted the money could be better used to feed orphans in third world countries.

Everyone had brought presents, and Dar had, using verbal and almost physical strong arm tactics insisted on their being put under the tree and opened at an unspecified 'later'. "I haven't opened presents at a birthday party since I was five years old, damn it.. " She'd told Kerry. "I'm not starting up again at 30."

Colleen was sitting with Duks, Ray and Barbara, and an interested, but mostly very quiet Maria. Dar had been surprised Kerry had invited her, and more surprised that her secretary had attended, but she was glad, and she's spent a few minutes giving the woman a tour around the apartment, mostly to convince her she really, truly, didn't live in her Lexus.

"Dar?"

"Hmm?" She glanced down, startled, as her name was called. "Sorry… just thinking."

"You've been to the Netherlands, haven't you?" Duks asked. "Tell them.. is it not true things are so much more relaxed in Europe?"

"Well… " Dar slipped into the armchair she'd been leaning against and considered. "Yes and no… they're different cultures, and they all have things that they're very strict about.. the French about language, for instance. They hate Americanisms creeping into their speech.. and we get into trouble with that a lot because it's so damn hard to translate a lot of the technology terms."

"Si.. " Maria interrupted shyly. "When I'm having to order things for you, it's hard." She stated. "It is me speaking Spanish, and our salesman speaking Spanish, and we are every third word going to English for 'buses' and 'gigapets."

"Gigabytes." Ray and Duks corrected simultaneously.

Dar nodded. "Right…and you have to be careful of the cultural bias… especially in the Pac Rim countries if you're a woman….I would say that in Europe they're certainly a whole lot more relaxed about sex."

The all laughed, and Maria blushed. "Um.. " Dar laughed herself." That came out wrong… what I mean is, like the Clinton scandal. The French look at us and say  "You must be kidding.. you're spending how much on WHAT?.." She waited for the laughter to die down. "Because there, of course, mistresses are paid for as a matter of course in the government.. no one cares about that. They do care if the person does their job, so they think we're very hung up on sex, and frankly, it doesn't make much sense to them."

"Right.. that's true." Duks agreed. "And Americans can be the biggest as…." His eyes flicked to Maria. "Ah.. the most obnoxious people overseas… we do ourselves no favors a lot of times, and that makes the people view the entire country in a certain way."

Dar smiled, and sipped her eggnog. "There are places overseas I refuse to speak English in, when I'm out and about casually."

Duks rattled off a question in German, and she answered it, with a tolerant smile. "Not bad." He chuckled. "You've even got the accent right."

They all laughed.

Kerry peeked over, and smiled as she saw Dar lean back and take a casual swallow of her drink. The party was working out better than she'd planned, and she was even having a good time, catching up with her brother and sister, and trading techie horror stories with Mark.  The caterers had brought in eight chafing dishes full of things she knew Dar liked, along with a polite bartender who was behind a well stocked mini bar they'd rolled in for the party.  Everyone had done the buffet justice, and now they just had to get through the cake, and she could claim a success.

A soft knock came at the door, and she looked up, to see it open, and Jack poke his crew cutted head in, spotting her. He grinned, and stuck a hand inside, curling a finger at her then putting it to his lips.

Kerry darted a glance towards Dar, who hadn't noticed, and she stood, brushing her slacks off and stepping around the coffee table. "Excuse me a minute." She trotted across the apartment and reached the door. "Hi Jack.. c'mon in."

"Shh… c'mere.. " He tugged her outside. "I've got a present… but if I give it to her, she's gonna say no." He whispered. "But if you're holding it, I bet she says yes."

Kerry's brows knit. "What??" She muffled a laugh. "Aw, come on, Jack..I know she'll love what…" She stopped speaking, as he produced the present, a cream colored puppy wearing a tiny navy sweatshirt. "Oh… my….god…."

"Isn't she cute?" Jack whispered. "She rode all the way in my back seat, and she was such a good girl…" He held the puppy out. "Say hello.."

Kerry took the animal, who squirmed, and sniffed her hair, making a small whining sound. "Jack.. she's going to go bananas.. you know that."  She stroked the puppy's soft fur, and felt it's silky ears. "I don't know if she'll go for this."

"Listen… I got a maybe out of her when she was up by us… and she really likes Alabaster." He paused. "That's the puppy's mother… they're great dogs."

"Oh.. I know.. I know.. " Kerry scratched the puppy's chest, and it licked her,  finding some errant sauce on her chin and searching enthusiastically for me. "But it's a lot of responsibility, and she's not home most of the day.. I don't know if that's fair."

Jacks' shoulders sagged. "You should have seen her face when she was playing with them… I know she really wants one… they're great companions.. you know, she could go running  with Dar in the morning and all… " He looked at Kerry's face. "No, huh?"

Kerry sighed, gazing at the warm brown eyes that seemed to radiate love. "It's not my decision."  She remembered Susie, who had looked at her  with that same trusting gaze.  "Hey sweetie…" She whispered, reliving the memory of that last morning, when she'd said goodbye to her friend, and felt the hurt all over again. She'd never gotten attached to a pet since, for what she thought was good reason. "I don’t'… "

The door opened, spilling light out onto the porch, and a pair of sharp, blue eyes captured them. "What on earth is going on out here?"  Dar asked,  glancing at Jack as Kerry turned to face her. "What are you two…. " A pause. "Oh. I see." Her eyes went from the puppy to her lover, then back to the puppy. "What have we here?"

Jack put on his most innocent expression. "You said I could bring her."

"I what?" Dar's brows shot up. "When was this?"

"When I talk to you today.. I asked if I could bring a special present, and you said "Yeah." " Jack put his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. "So I did."

"Um.." Kerry shifted the puppy, and tried to keep it from chewing on her earlobe. "I … he called me out here.. and I um… oo.. stop that…" She lifted her eyes to Dar's in appeal. "I told him it'd be kinda tough."

"Ah." Dar eyed them both. "I get it.. he called you out here, trying to get you on his side, because he knew.. if you asked me if we could keep the puppy, I'd probably say yes." She paused. "Right?"

Jack studied his flight boots, then glanced up through blond eyelashes. "It was a plan."

"Uh huh.. and what do you think of this plan, Kerry?" Dar inquired, a gentle twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh.. well… I um.. " Kerry watched as the puppy yawned, and put her head down on the blond woman's shoulder. "I mean, I told him I didn't think you'd go for it.. I mean, you're not here a lot, and a dog's a lot of responsibility, and all that."  She stroked the animal's fur. "She's really cute though, huh?"  The puppy nuzzled her. "Maybe I could…um.. " She let the thought trail off. "Find someplace…or …maybe I could…um… " A small tongue licked her cheek. "Aww.. uh.. "

The puppy turned it's head and gazed at her. Kerry gazed at her. Jack gazed at her.

Dar burst out laughing. "Well, to be honest, you just beat me to it, Jack." She informed her pilot friend. "I was actually working on getting a puppy… " Her eyes dropped to Kerry's surprised ones. "A cocker spaniel…as a matter of fact.. but I suppose a Labrador will do."  She glanced at Jack and winked.

He winked back.

Kerry's jaw dropped as she saw the mischevious grin on Dar's face. "Wait.. you mean it's for me? I've been suckered, haven't I?" She asked faintly. "Son of a… "  She turned to look at Jack. "You… "

He chuckled. "Merry Christmas, Kerry." His face crinkled into a smile. "When Alabaster heard what happened to you when you were a kid.. she insisted on personally sending a little gift down for you."

Kerry had to stop, and think a minute. Her heart was beating so fast she could hardly distinguish the beats. This was more than a puppy. It was a commitment, on Dar's part, to her. To them. Kerry took a deep breath, and looked up at her lover. "I guess… with two people.. maybe it won't be so bad." She hugged the puppy a little, and it licked her neck. "Oh.. that tickles.. " Her eyes lifted to Dar's. "Thank you."

Dar looked exceedingly pleased with herself. "Your welcome." She turned her head. "Jack.. you hungry? We've got enough food in here to feed half of Miami." She opened the door, and stood aside to let him enter. "Go on… there's a bar in the back.. you can stay over until tomorrow, right?"

Jack hugged her. "Yep… otherwise I'd have to stick to club soda, and what a waste of your birthday party that would be."  He moved past her, leaving them alone on the porch.

Dar let the door close behind him, and then she leaned on the railing, taking a breath of the cool air and letting it out. "Picked a name yet?"

Kerry walked over and perched next to her. "My brain hasn't stopped spinning yet.. are you kidding? Dar… "  She stroked the puppy. "I don't know what to say… I never thought you'd.. even consider something so much trouble as this into your day to day life."

Dar scratched the puppy's chin, then crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back. "I've wanted a dog for a long time." She answered quietly. "My mother was badly allergic to fur, and we never had one when I was growing up..  but when I went to college, I found this mutt and I adopted him. Damn thing followed me everywhere…waited for me outside my classrooms.. I was his whole world."

Kerry just waited.

"Day after I graduated, he got hit by a car." Dar's voice was steady, and almost resigned. "I spent the whole day at the vet's office, but in the end, there was nothing they could do… I just held him while they put him down."  She shook her head. "It's incredible how much you can become attached to an animal… it felt like it was a brother or sister that was dying."

"Dar… " Kerry's voice ached.

"My father said its because animals give you something humans never do…unconditional love." The dark haired woman concluded quietly. "They don't care how rich you are, or who your parents are, or what you do…it doesn't matter to them."   She looked up at Kerry. "It's no trouble, Kerry… we'll find a way to work it out.. the worst problem is going to be getting someone in to suck up all the little bitty Labrador hairs… or we're going to end up wearing a lot of tweed to work."

"Hm." Kerry regarded the puppy, who yawned, and licked her face again. "I like tweed."

"I hate it." Dar replied cheerfully. "C'mon.. let's go introduce our new friend to the crowd." She reached for the door, and circled Kerry's shoulders with her other arm. "What are we going to call her?"

"You're going to have to give me a little while to think about that, Dar." The blond woman advised her, as they entered the condo. "Wait…she's so creamy colored… how about Cappuccino?"

Dar laughed. "Cappuccino it is…. Hey… " She raised her voice. "C'mere and meet Kerry's Christmas present… Cappuccino."

"Oh… Calinde… " Maria quickly came over, cooing at the puppy, who woke up and looked around in bewildered alarm at the sudden sea of faces.

Dar stepped back, capturing a miniature shish kebab from one of the chafing dishes and nibbling on it as she watched everyone fuss over her lover and the puppy. Kerry was steadily becoming more animated, and she quickly sat down on the tile and let the puppy run around, laughing at it's antics. The animal decided her shoelace was appropriate prey, and tugged it, growling and scrabbling on the slick surface.

"I think I can report back to Alabaster that her daughter has a good home." Jack commented, balancing his full plate on one hand and attacking forkfuls of it's contents with the other. "She'll be happy as hell."

"Yeah." Dar snagged a coconut shrimp and bit it in half. "Thanks, Jack… I owe you another one." She looked at her friend in quiet gratitude.

"No problem." The aviator grinned. "I got me a good plate of chow,  a way comfortable looking couch for the night, the company of two lovely ladies, and a damn fine home for one of  Alabaster's puppies. Can't ask for better than that."

Dar watched the puppy rush Duks fist, which was thumping across the tile. "How are things working out with you otherwise?"

He hitched one shoulder up in a shrug. "I could use some advice tomorrow, if you have a few minutes."

"You got it." Dar patted his arm, then went back to watching the best of her birthday presents.

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

"Close the door."

Kerry took one more quick look around the now quiet, and mostly dark condo. Jack was snugged down on the couch, and she'd settled Angela and Michael upstairs, her sister in her room, and her brother in the spare room on the other side of her newly converted office. She shut the door to Dar's bedroom firmly, then turned and regarded her lover, who was sprawled on the waterbed, eyes closed.

"Whew." Kerry yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I can't belive it's 3am…I haven't talked that much since the debating finals in college."

"Mm." Dar nodded. "It was nice, though… good party."

Kerry perched on the edge of the waterbed. "Yeah? You had fun?"

One blue eye eased open. "Yes, I did." Dar sounded faintly surprised. "I think everyone did…and the picture you got of Duks falling asleep on the chair with that puppy is some of the best blackmail material I've seen in years." She remarked, lifting her arms over her head and stretching. "Killer dessert."

The blond woman's eyes lit up . She'd personally constructed it, a cake with one layer of dark chocolate mousse, and a second of chocolate chip cheescake, separated by a layer of crushed Oreo cookies, and covered in a crispy, hard milk chocolate shell. "You should know.. you had four pieces." She teased. "And I saved you some in the refrigerator."

Dar's eyes brightened. "Really?" She started to get up, only to have Kerry catch her shoulder and stop her.

"You're going to be sick to your stomach, Dar.. come on now." She laughed. "And you'll wake up Jack and the puppy."

The dark haired woman settled back  down. "Yeah.. you're right." She agreed reluctantly. "There's always breakfast."

"Augh." Kerry covered her eyes and winced.

"What… I'll have orange juice with it if it makes you happier." Dar teased, then patted her leg. "Just kidding…we'll have it tomorrow night, after everyone leaves." She relented. "Did you type up the recipe for everyone? I think Maria wants to put it on the company bulletin board." Dar paused. "I hope she calls it something other than my birthday cake, though."

Kerry laughed,  then let herself slide into the waterbed, resting her head on Dar's stomach as she gazed up at the ceiling. "I think my brother has a crush on you."

"Ah.. is that why he was babbling." The executive mused. "Is he prone to those?"

"OH yeah." The blond woman snorted. "No offense to you, or anything.. but he goes gaga over just about every pretty woman he sees… " Her head turned, and she glanced up at Dar. "And you definitely qualify."

The blue eyes warmed as Dar smiled back at her. "He's sort of sweet.. and your sister and I managed to have a nice conversation about the Miami area… she's funny."

"Mm.. she likes you." Kerry found herself a little surprised by that. "I wasn't sure if… Angie tends to be a little on the conservative side."

Dar rolled her head to one side. "But you said she knew about you… right?"

"I said conservative, not blind or stupid." The smaller woman replied wryly. "A lot of people make that mistake… just because someone doesn’t want to see something, doesn't mean they can't."

"Ah." Dar lowered a hand, and gently rubbed Kerry's belly, eliciting a contented murmur from her. 'Thanks for the party."

A green eye rotated up and gazed at her. "Does that mean I can do it again?" Kerry inquired.

"As many times as you like." The dark haired woman assured her.

Kerry rolled over so she could look up at Dar. "That's a lot of birthday parties."

That got a contented smile from her lover.

They gazed at each other in peaceful silence for a moment or two. "I think Maria knows about us." Kerry finally commented, surprised when Dar started laughing.

"Maria knew about us before I did." The taller woman admitted. "I should have realized when she asked me if I wanted one set of tickets or two for Thanksgiving, and whether to put us in separate rooms at Disney."

"Really?" Kerry almost sat up in amazement. "She did that? No wonder she went along with me on….uh… "

A low, sensual chuckle. "On getting us to stay in the park?" Dar's eyes sparkled wickedly. "C'mon, Kerry.. I'd figured that one out at least." She gave the smaller woman a gentle poke.

Kerry blushed. "I was trying to get you to relax." She complained feebly. "If you'd figured it out, why'd you go along with it? " She glanced up at Dar. "You could have stopped it."

Gentle blue eyes regarded her. "I know. But I didn't want to."

"Oh." Kerry murmured. "Well, I'm glad you didn't." She smiled up at Dar. "Because I really like where it's taken us."

"You do, huh?" The dark haired woman idly traced a finger across Kerry's face. "You know you're the best thing that ever happened to me, right?"

Kerry slowly drew a breath in, and let it out, feeling the sudden, almost vibrant intensity between them. "Likewise." She let the word trickle out. "I've only known you for two months… but if it was legal, I'd ask you to marry me."

Dar stopped breathing for a long moment, a look of muted delight crossing her face. "Would you?"

"Yeah." Kerry put her head down on the warm surface and exhaled. "I sure would."

"I'd say yes."  A frank grin appeared, as Dar tangled her fingers in the blond hair spilling across her chest.

"Would you?" Kerry felt happy jolt.

"Yeah..I sure would."  The dark haired woman reassured her. "It'll be legal someday, you know." She felt an idea germinate, and she set it aside for further development a little later.

"I know.. it's just a matter of time." Her lover replied softly. "And we've got all the time in the world." She wrapped her fingers around Dar's, and lifted her hand up, pressing her lips against the back of it, then tucking it against her heart.

I never expected to be living inside a fairy tale. Dar blinked slowly. That's just what this feels like.. no one says things like that in real life, do they? But she could feel the beating of Kerry's heart under her hand, solid and real enough. She lifted her other arm and stroked the smaller woman's face, watching Kerry's eyes flutter shut at the pressure in concert with the perceptible jump in her heartbeat. Just the lightest of touches.. Dar marveled. It's like we're a part of each other. She found that to be a very appealing thought, and a warm, speculative smile took over her face. "Do you believe in..destiny?"

Sea green eyes slid open, and regarded her. "How do you mean?"

Dar hesitated. "Like.. that some things are just meant to happen.. that some people are meant to meet, that kind of thing?"

Kerry worked her jaw a little, thinking. "I don't know." She replied softly. "I'd hate to think we don't have a choice in life.. that things just happen and we have no control over any of it." She paused for a long moment. "But I'm pretty old fashioned.. I guess… and I'd like to believe that God intended each of us to…somewhere out there, have a…um… an other half, I guess.. someone who completes us, and makes us whole." She considered her words carefully. "I think most people never find that person.. but sometimes.. if you're lucky, or.. well, maybe if it's meant to be, now that I think about it, then you do."

"That's an interesting theory." Dar mused. "It sounds like something my father used to say… when he tried to explain to anyone how he and my mother ended up together."

"Really?"

"Yeah…really." Dar replied in a thoughtful voice.

"You think he was right?" Kerry squirmed up towards Dar's head and rested on her elbows, the soft surface of the waterbed shifting under her.

They looked at each other. "I'm beginning to think just that." The dark haired woman answered evenly. "What do you think?"

Kerry felt a gentle wash of utter relief go through her, and she dropped her head, breathing in the clean linen scent from the comforter. "I think I'm one of the lucky few." She looked up, and found smiling blue eyes looking back at her. "I guess I was just in the right place at the right time."

Dar ruffled her hair affectionately. "Even if it didn't seem that way at the moment." She remarked wryly.

"Yeah." Kerry inched forward and kissed her. "Guess we'd better get undressed."

"Oh… sure." Dar replied agreeably, sliding her hands up over Kerry's hips and unbuckling the thin leather belt around her waist. "No problem."

"Well… that wasn't what I had in mind but… " Kerry unbuttoned the top button on Dar's cotton shirt with her teeth. "But I guess it'll serve the right purpose." She felt the cool of the air conditioning on her skin as her pants were eased off and Dar's familiar touch circled her thighs then traveled up to start unbuttoning her shirt.

"Mm.."  Sheehad Dar's blouse open now, and the taller woman lifted her body up a little, letting her slip the fabric off over her tanned shoulders.  Kerry let her hands go flat against the tensed abdominal muscles, leaning lightly against them as she nuzzled Dar's bare neck, then lowering herself down as the taller woman did, letting their bodies touch and slide against each other.

The cool air now hit her back and she shrugged out of her shirt and a trail of warmth followed Dar's hands across her skin, sliding across her shoulderblades, and down her sides, then gently gripping her hips as the shifted, rolling over and tangling their limbs as she forgot the long day, and the fatigue that faded before the insistent nibbling along her neck that dipped to her collarbone, and beyond.

It was, Kerry decided, the perfect end, to a darn near perfect day.

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

The problem with waking up before the sun on the weekdays was, Dar mused. That you very often couldn't sleep any later on the weekends. She found herself easing into wakefulness just as dawn colored the window in her room, spilling soft pearly gray light across the bed and bringing out the shades of blue in the comforter tucked around them both.

Kerry was sound asleep, her back snuggled against Dar's chest, with the taller woman's arms wrapped around her, and Dar knew the blond woman would, if allowed, sleep much later than she herself could. She didn't suspect any of her other guests would be up with the sun either, so she was left to ponder a course of action.

She could just close her eyes and  try to fall back asleep, of course. Or she could get up and slip into her office and catch up on her email. But Dar knew the chances of actually dozing off was pretty small, and she really didn't feel like reviewing her endless inbox.  However, she glanced at the window, a run wasn't a bad idea… it looked like a nice morning, and her usual morning ritual usually allowed her to settle her thoughts.  Dar slipped carefully out of bed, tucking the covers back around Kerry's warm body, and padded to the set of drawers, pulling a pair of running shorts and a cutoff shirt out and slipping into them. Then she went into the bathroom and pushed the door closed, running a light stream of water into the sink as she brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her hair, glancing briefly at her reflection in the mirror.

Her image gazed back, and she cocked her head, noting that the shadows under her eyes and the lines of tension that had characterized her face for the longest time seemed to have mysteriously disappeared. She found herself smiling and almost didn't recognize the person looking back at her.

Well.  She finished her wash and turned the light out before she slipped out the door and padded across the dimly lit bedroom, easing out into the darkened main portion of the condo, and pausing to put on her running shoes. She managed to get out the front door without waking anyone, and she paused on the porch, taking a deep breath of the dewy morning air.

It was a nice morning, with only a very few clouds in the sky, wispy and low to the horizon, making the breaking dawn a smear of pinks and corals across the shifting gray of the water. The temperature was a refreshing sixty eight degrees, and Dar found herself smiling in pure animal contentment as she headed off down the path, and headed for the water.

Her steps against the rough concrete rose lightly over the soft hiss of the waves, and the soft, lonely cry of seagulls circling overhead, and she slowly increased her pace, as she gave her muscles a chance to warm up. As she passed the marina, she waved at the dockhands, who waved back as they went about their morning tasks of washing down the boats, and cleaning the dock area.

Damn. Dar settled into an easy rhythm, feeling a springiness in her step she hadn't had for a while. This feels great. She wasn't sure if it was just the recent changes in her life, or the renewed interest she'd found in her sessions with Ken, but it was almost like she'd shed a few years lately.

Six circuits and she didn't even feel it, which caused a pleased grin to crease her face, and she continued on for several more rounds, only stopping when the sun was brightly warming the air and a healthy layer of sweat covered her skin.

She stopped on the seawall, and gazed out over the Atlantic, the morning light melding the gray waves into a ripple of greens and blues as the northwest wind blew against her back, drying the sweat and cooling her skin. With a satisfied sigh, she sat down, drumming her heels against the concrete, and feeling the erratic spray of the waves as they struck against the wall. The soft hiss of tires behind her made her turn, and she smiled as Carlos tooled up in the Beach Club's cart and hopped out. "Morning." She greeted the server.

"Good morning, Ms. Roberts… haven't seen you out here too regularly lately." He smiled pleasantly. "Would you like your regular?"

Dar considered. "Yeah.. " She paused. "And a glass of orange juice, if you don't mind." A wry grin shaped her lips.

"Valencia or Navel?" Carlos asked, without missing a beat.

"Valencia, please… with pulp if you have it." Dar replied, finding herself developing a liking for the stuff under Kerry's not very subtle prodding. She'd also managed to nudge Dar into trying some healthier snacks, and she'd found herself actually liking the dried fruits and nuts a lot more than she'd expected. Apples seemed to be making an appearance around the condo as well. "And I'll probably be bringing four or five people down for breakfast in about an hour or so."

"Very good." Carlos resumed his cart, and released the brake. "Be right back."

Dar returned her eyes to the horizon and leaned back, extending her legs out and tensing her thigh muscles as she yawned, then turning her head as she heard footsteps approaching. "Hey.. morning Jack."

The pilot jogged up and joined her on the seawall, dressed in a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a tank top with Navy on it in bold gold letters. "And a good morning to you, too." He rubbed his hand over his crewcut and looked out over the sea. "I gave Cappuccino a little kibble.. I will warn you that morning is puppy play time."

Dar grinned. "Thanks… I was going to check  in on her when I got back.. didn't figure I'd be out here this long." She looked over as Carlos returned, bearing her orange juice and café, along with a thermos and a basket, which he set down. "I brought a cup for the gentleman." The server explained courteously. "And a basket of our fresh pastries, which just came out."

Dar chuckled. "Thanks, on both counts." She signed the tab and watched him leave, then investigated the basket. "Here… try one of these.. they're good."

Jack did so, biting into the honey and nut covered pastry. "Mm… that is good." He chewed, then poured himself  a cup of coffee. "It's nice out here."

The dark haired woman nodded. "I had a little trouble adjusting to it." She admitted. "I was so used to the Spartan life… you know what my place in the grove looked like" She gave Jack a wry grin. One chair, one table, and futon to sleep on. The ultimate in no fuss householding.

"Oh yeah.. " Jack laughed. "This sure is different.. frankly, I had a tough time picturing you living out here."

A shrug. "It was hard, at first.. but I've gotten used to it." Dar replied. "Now I think I've developed a distinct addiction to the soft, easy life." She informed him, with a touch of regret. "And this place has it's advantages… privacy, safety.. a nice jogging path… you know."

"That's for sure." He bit into another pastry, as she sucked on her orange juice, chewing the pulp thoughtfully. "If I'm not being a butt in, you seem like your pretty happy, Dar.. a lot more than you have been in a while."

The pale blue eyes gazed out at the water for a long moment, then turned to look at him. "That's a pretty accurate statement." She allowed, slowly.

"Kerry's a real sweetheart." Jack continued. "How's she doing, after all that stuff?"

Dar exhaled, and let her hands rest on her knees. "It's tough." She admitted. "But she's dealing with it…I was glad her brother and sister came down, because I think she was feeling not seeing her family for the holidays a lot."

"Mmm." Jack acknowledged. "That is tough."

"Yeah." Dar stated, quietly, glancing down. "So, what's up with you?" She politely changed the subject. "You said you wanted some advice?"

Jack remained quiet for a moment, drawing a knee up and wrapping his arms around it. "Robbie… his hitch is up after this tour." The pilot paused. "He's decided to get out… his uncle's a project manager at Grumman, and he's been offered a job there."

Dar just listened.

"He's gotten them to give me an offer too.. he wants me to get out, and… " Jack hesitated. "He wants me to move out there with him."

The dark haired woman considered the issue. "I thought you were career Navy."

He looked down at his hands. "I thought I was too… you know I love the service, Dar… goofy as it is, I love the regimentation, the camaraderie…I love walking out to the hanger and seeing my plane waiting… I even love the scary parts, the night landings, and the flights into fire… "

"But?"

"But." Jack sighed. "No matter how good a pilot I am, no matter how good a soldier I am… no matter how many ribbons I wear, or how gilded my wings are… if I tell them how I feel about Robbie, I'll be thrown out like yesterday's garbage."  He regarded the horizon. "They're forcing me to choose."

Dar took a sip of her coffee. "You don't have to tell them." She offered quietly. "A lot of people don't."

He nodded slowly. "I know… but Tony wants to leave, and I… "

"Jack.. this.. is going to sound damn cold of me." Dar inhaled quietly. "But you have to look inside your own heart, and decide what's best for you, not what's best for him." She thought a minute. "He's a RIO… is he going into research and development?"

Jack nodded.

"And your offer.. the same?"

Another nod.

"Would you be happy doing that?" The executive asked softly.

Jack gazed at his knees. "I'm a pilot." It was a quiet, sad admission. "I could do R and D, but… " He looked up into Dar's eyes. "I'd be giving up something I really love." A pause. "What would you do, Dar? Would you give up your job for Kerry? Go off and do something else.. something that you really didn't care about.. if she asked you to?"

Dar thought about that for a while, watching a gull dip and swoop towards the waves, searching for a meal. Finally, she exhaled and turned her head towards him. "Yes." She replied, briefly. "But.. Jack, she's the first person that I've been involved with that I can say that about… usually, my answer would have been no." She cleared her throat. "I would think it really depends on whether you love Tony with that kind of intensity.. enough to give up something you really put your heart into." She gazed at him. "Do you?"

Jack's turn to gaze off into the distance for a protracted period, as Dar sipped her coffee, and munched on a warm pecan roll.  At last the blond head dropped. "No." He admitted heavily. "I like him, we have fun together, he's my best friend.. but…no."

Dar put an arm around his muscular shoulders. "You asked for advice… for what it's worth, I think you should stay where you are, until you meet someone you love more than flying."

He looked curiously relieved. "How will I know?"

Dar smiled quietly. "You'll know." She gave him a rueful look. "Believe me, you'll know." She sat there for a moment, then she glanced up at the sky. "Everyone should be up by now… let's go get em and go down for some breakfast."  She got to her feet, and offered him a hand up, which he took.

"Sounds good." He dusted his sweatpants off, and put his hands on his hips, studying her. "Can I make a non PC, totally sexist, very chauvinistic statement?"

Dar's brows knit. "Sure.. I'm not your petty officer."

"For someone who lives in all this soft luxury, you sure look hot." Jack shook his head and clucked his tongue. "Damn, Dar… where do you find the time to stay so damn buff?"

Startled, she glanced down at herself, then blinked. "Um… just a habit, I guess.." She answered. "Hard to break.. you know how it is."  She motioned him to start walking.

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

The quiet afternoon sunlight drifted gently into the apartment, as quiet finally decended. Dar hitched one leg over the arm of the chair she was sprawled on, and leaned back as Kerry walked in, carrying their new puppy. "Everyone's safely headed home… finally." She remarked, as the blond woman perched on the chair arm, letting Cappucino chew on her fingers.

"Finally." Kerry agreed. "I thought I'd never get my brother to shut up… did you have to come sauntering in this morning practially in your underwear?"

Dar gave her a look. "It's not underwear.. it's what I run in." She objected. "This is Miami, remember? Running in a sweatsuit is an invitation to heatstroke." She let her head rest against the back of the chair. "Damn… I have sixteen pages of email I have to go through before tomorrow morning."

"Don't remind me." Kerry sighed. "I have a position status report on two different accounts due tomorrow at the 9am staff meeting, and I haven't even started it yet." She cuddled the puppy closer to her. "Guess we'd better get started….we have a ton of leftovers for dinner, unless that really bugs you."

"Nah.. that's fine." Dar lifted a hand and stroked the backs of her knuckles against Kerry's bare thigh. The blond woman was wearing a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a tshirt, and Dar could smell the remnants of sun tan lotion clinging to her skin. "I really don’t feel like looking at that goddamned mail." She finally admitted.

"Mm.. well, I don't feel like doing those reports, so I guess we're even. " Kerry told her. "We could be like everyone else, and do our work when we're actually supposed to be working." She reasoned. "As a matter of fact, I can't believe we haven't had a major problem this weekend…that's a first."

"Shhh… " Dar implored her. "Please.. I don't feel like having to scream at people tonight." She tickled the sleepy puppy. "Hey, there girl." A smile crossed her . "She's really a cutie, huh?"

"Yeah… " Kerry smiled. "She was fiercely defending the kitchen from the broom earlier." She chuckled. "Tell you what… let's play with her for a little while, then eat dinner, then maybe we'll be in the mood for work."

"Okay." Dar agreed quickly, moving over. "Here.. squish in here." She removed a cushion from the chair, and tugged Kerry down, grinning when the blond woman ended up half in the seat, and half sprawled over Dar, and the puppy tumbled into her lap. Cappuccino shook her had, her tiny ears flapping and yawned, showing a u shaped, very pink tongue. She climbed up Dar's chest, and put her paws on the dark haired woman's shoulders, chewing on her chin enthusiastically.

"Here… " Kerry offered her a sock, which she mouthed, tugging it and making tiny puppy growls. "That's it… good girl… we'll train you to bring mommy Dar's socks to her in the morning."

Mommy Dar? It was an absurdity jolt to the brain. "Uh… that will probably train her to pull them OFF, Kerry." Dar objected.

"Well, that's okay too." The blond woman grinned at her, then giggled as Cappuccino industriously transferred her teeth to Dar's shirt, tugging open a button. "Hey… that's my girl!!!" She kissed the puppy on the head. "Welcome to the family, honey."

The family.  Dar settled back, and curled one arm around Kerry, and the other around Cappuccino. Her family. She liked that thought. She watched Kerry play with the puppy's paws, exposing the tiny webbed feet.

To hell with her email. "Hey… let's take her for a ride around the island." She suggested. "We could introduce her to everyone.. hmm?"

Kerry dismissed her reports without regret. "Okay… I'd like that.. and we could use a thing or two from the market." She decided. "If I can drag you in there."

"Absolutely. " Dar answered complacently. "Let 's go."

Kerry eyed her. "You don't mind going to the market?" She inquired, mildly surprised, knowing Dar's dislike for grocery shopping.

A grin. "It's right next door to the ice cream parlor." Dar stood up, unthinkingly carrying Kerry with her, and set her on her feet, as she headed for the door.

Kerry blinked at her departing back then she tucked the puppy under her arm, and followed her out into the golden sunset, reflecting that of all the presents she could have received, surely this was the best one possible.

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

Okay, this is really the end… for now.

Ringing in the Year.

By Melissa Good

The office was very quiet, as a late afternoon sun filtered inside, dusting the maroon carpet with soft, golden motes. It was empty, as though waiting for something to happen, the PC on the desk showing slowly pacing panthers, and a small tank on the wooden surface holding two Siamese fighting fish circling each other.

The door slammed open, breaking the silence, and a tall, dark haired woman strode in, carrying a stack of printouts which she tossed on the desk, circling it and claiming the chair with an air of impatient disgust. "Stupid pieces of half assed useless…"

It had been a tough day. Two meetings, and the last one had been mostly her yelling, at a table full of glum looking department heads who were weeks behind in closing their budgets.

"Excuse me, Dar?" A polite, Hispanic voice interrupted her dark muttering.

Dar Roberts lifted pale blue eyes to the door and slumped into her chair. "Sorry… what is it?" She propped her head up on one fist and sighed. It was late, and she was tired, and admittedly cranky.

Maria gave her an understanding smile. "Kerrisita left a message for you.. she said she was leaving, and was going to how you say.. the Bayside.. and the shopping."

Rats. Dar rubbed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah.. I was supposed to… ah, I mean I got stuck in that meeting longer than I thought." She stared at the stack of reports. "Listen.. why don't you get out of here? " The day before New Years Eve.. nothing was going to get done anyway, she reasoned.

"You too, should go home, Dar." Maria chided her. "Is late… so many people are gone."

Dar sighed, and leaned back in her chair. She had a stack of things left undone in her inbox, and a half dozen matters still up in the air. But Maria was right.. getting things done when the rest of the world was on vacation sucked. "Yeah.. I.." A pressure around her wrist made her look down. "Oh.. that's what I was supposed to do… damn it.. I have to get this fixed." She stood up. "All right.. that's it.. I'm out of here. This stuff can wait until next year." She flipped off her pc and stood, grabbing her car keys and thumping the stack of reports into her inbox.

They walked out together, and Dar got in her car with a strange feeling of freedom. An afternoon free was a rare occurrence for her, and she stretched as she settled into the leather seat, adjusting the rearview mirror before starting the Lexus, and puling out of the parking lot.

Well, she considered, as she caught the entrance ramp to the interstate. "At least no one'll be Christmas shopping."  She turned on the CD Player, and let the cool tones of an Enya CD calm her as she navigated the traffic.

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

"God.. did you see that sale?" Colleen tugged Kerry's sleeve, as they wandered through Bayside. "Cept what would I do with men's Speedos?"

Kerry grinned, stretching her arms out in the sun and exhaling. "What a weird week…I'm glad we've got the long weekend off now."

"Hmm…. " Colleen studied her friend. "You staying out at the Island for the weekend? Like I have to ask?"

Kerry looked down at the ground, then visibly inhaled. "Yeah.. I… " She turned and looked at Colleen. "I was hoping you'd help me move some of my stuff."

The redhead gazed at her. "Oh.. wow." Glancing around, she steered Kerry to a table at the small café they'd just been passing. "Here.. siddown.. "

They looked at each other. "So.. you're doing it, then." Colleen murmured. "I thought you were going to see how it worked out."

The blond woman toyed with the table tent. "I did.. I mean…" She glanced up the perky waitress who approached. "Lemonade, please."

"Same." Colleen added, absently, shooing the woman off. "Kerry.. "

"I know.. I .. know." Kerry rested her arms on the table, and turned her head, gazing out over Biscayne Bay. "I said I wanted time.. I said I didn't want to rush into anything… "

"And? So what's this then?" Her friend asked.

Kerry propped her chin up on her fists and produced a wry smile. "Colleen.. I really like being with her.. around her… I'm miserable on the days we're not together." She accepted the glass form the waitress and poked her straw in, slurping up a bit before she went on. "We talked the other day… and she gave me my resident's decal.. she told me she'd been missing me too, on those days."

Colleen sighed. "Ker.. I'm glad for that, honest I am."

A little silence fell. "But you think I'm making a mistake." The blond woman stated softly. "Don’t' you?"

Her friend sipped at her drink for a moment. "You're really stuck on her, aren't you?"

Kerry sucked in a breath of the cool, salty air. "Yeah.. I sure am." She admitted. "I feel really comfortable around her, too… the other night we just sat out on the porch, with our arms around each other, and made patterns out of the stars." She paused, thoughtfully. "It's like I've known her all my life."

Colleen sighed. "Well, I'm gonna miss you." She gave Kerry a wry smile. "And for the record, no.. I don't think you're making a mistake.. I just worry about you isolating yourself out there. "

Kerry considered that, acknowledging that it would be very easy to do. "You're right.. I need to make sure I get out and do things with other people… that place does tend to suck you in." She smiled at Colleen. "Hey.. maybe I can change Dar from being a recluse, to a party animal.. what do you think?"

The redhead rolled her eyes, then chuckled. "Well, that Christmas party was a lot of fun.. maybe you can." She finished her lemonade and pointed. "C'mon… I want some of those candles."

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

The parking lot was surprisingly empty, Dar mused, as she parked near the entrance to Penney's, and walked in the back entrance, making straight for the watch repair department. She stood quietly and waited until the desk clerk was free, then stepped forward and unstrapped the watch from her wrist. "Need to see if someone can do something with this."

The man accepted it, after giving her a friendly smile, and peered at it. "Oh.. you got it wet, huh?"

"Mm." Dar agreed, having rescued the watch from the bottom of Chino's water bowl. "I know it's supposed to be water resistant, but it was in there a while." Not to mention, the puppy had been digging in the water furiously after it, sending a wash of liquid all over the kitchen.

"Okay.. I can have the technician take it apart and clean the movement…see if anything need replacing." He carefully attached a tag to the watch, then glanced behind him. "We're not busy.. I'll give it to him now."

Urk. "How long?" Dar inquired.

"Hour, maybe… is that all right?" He looked behind her. "You can finish your shopping, and it'll be done, if you like."

My shopping was finished. Dar sighed inwardly. Oh well, at least it was an interest….oo. They had a Ben and Jerry's. "Sure.. that sounds great." She gave them man a charming smile. "Be back in an hour."

She headed out of the store and got her bearings, realizing her goal was at the far opposite end of the place. "Figures." Dar sighed, then reflected that at least they'd been under casual dress code for the holiday week, and she wasn't wearing a wool suit. She started out along the upper floor, casting a casually curious eye on the passing stores.

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

"What do you think of these?" Kerry inquired, running a hand over a soft, silky piece of fabric.

Colleen peered over her shoulder. "I think it's a kite, kiddo… where are you gonna fly it?"

"Oh. .I don't know.. " Kerry held out the beautiful construct, a shimmering rainbow of colors that fluttered in the breeze coming off the water. "We've got that golf course in the center of the island.. I bet I could fly it in there." She grinned recklessly, and folded the item up, handing it to the stall's owner along with her credit card. "You going over to your mom's house for New Years?"

"Ehhh.. I don't know… I'm still deciding." Colleen sighed. "They're having a party at the complex.. but Ramon's bragging he's making the drinks, and you know what happened the last time he did that… what about you? I didn't hear your plans."

"Ah.. well, the company's having a get together out at the Sonesta Beach, on the Key… it's a formal dance kinda thing." Kerry explained. "Neither of us really want to go, but Dar says if she doesn’t' show up for at least a while, she'll get all kinds of grief."

"Oooo….a formal? You got a dress?" Colleen asked, then plucked Kerry's crisply pressed cotton shirt. "One that fits you now?"

Kerry blinked, then chewed her lip. "Holy crap…. Well, yeah, I've got two or three I could get away with…." She almost slapped herself. "I can't believe I didn't think of that, though… wow…well, I'll figure out something tonight, I guess."

"Nu uh.. c'mon.. Castellano's is right over there, honey.. let's get you a snazzy Cuban dress to wear to y our dance…you gonna dance with Dar?" The redhead teased.

"Uh." Kerry blushed ."No.. I …that would be a little too much, I think." She gave her friend a wry look. "But you know, a new dress isn't a bad idea… maybe they'll have something more up to date than what I wore to that Viscaya  thing last year."

Colleen made a face. "Kerry, you make darn near everything look good, child, but that.. that you had to really work at, ya know?" She put a hand on Kerry's back and steered her towards the store, an understated place which disgorged the smell of silk, and starch, and money out as they opened the door and entered.

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

Dar strolled around the inside of Sharper Image, peering with interest at the myriad of gadgets the store held. "Electric nose hair trimmer." She picked it up and looked at it, then put it down. "Hope I don't need one of those any time soon." She chuckled softly, and circled the full size massage chairs, gazing at them.

"Nope.. got something better than that." She told the item cheerfully, finding a slightly giddy smile crossing her face, remembering the loving rubdown she'd gotten the night before from Kerry after they'd come back from the island gym.

While they'd discussed Kerry's moving in permanently.

Dar exhaled, then shook her head silently, and moved on to the next row of gadgets, then reluctantly moved on, deciding Kerry probably didn't need a personal electric clock that displayed on the ceiling.

Out in the mall, she stopped and got some cinnamon roasted nuts, and nibbled them as she walked, eyeing the trendy fashions with a jaundiced eye. "Bellbottoms… never liked those the first time around." She muttered disapprovingly, noting that the passing teenagers were dressed in them, along with elevator sneakers and thin, pastel tank tops.

"Yech." Dar preferred her navy polo, tucked into pressed dockers. "My father would have lassoed me before I could have left the house looking like that." She went over the words in her head, then chuckled ruefully. "Dar, you're getting old."  Her eyes flicked to the right, then she slowed, to study the baubles in the window of Mayor's jewelers. "Mm… nice."

A voice sounded behind her. "Ah.. Ms. Roberts! Been a long time."

Dar stopped, and turned. "Hello, Richard.. yes it has." She politely greeted the salesman. "How've you been?"

"Fine, fine thanks.. you're looking well." The tall, immaculately dressed man smiled at her. "I've got some nice earrings.. can I show them to you?"

Dar sighed, then figured she had plenty of time, and she'd just lost one half of a favorite pair of studs anyway.. "Sure." She agreed, following him inside the marble lined doorway and into the jewelry shop.

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

"Let's see." Colleen held out a long dress with frilly lace twirls near the neckline, and a bustle. "What do you think?"

Kerry burst into laughter. "I'd look like Carmen Miranda, is what I think.. get out of here, Col." She shook her head, and browsed the selection, moving more towards some understated, sedately dark gowns with conservative necklines. "This is more the company's speed, I think."

"Oh god." Colleen rolled her eyes. "What's Dar wearing?"

"Um.. " Kerrys' brows knit. "A strapless black thing…very simple.. very drapy… made me drool… why?"

Colleen giggled. "Oh." She gave her friend a look. "She's certainly loosened you up in some ways."

"Huh?" Kerry peered at her, then blushed badly. "Oh… um.. eyah.. I guess she has."

She distracted herself by burrowing deeper in the racks of dresses, then stopped, as her hands touched a soft, deep green silken one. "Ooo."

Colleen was immediately there, peering over her shoulder. "Mmm….. " She lifted the gown out and examined it. It had one shoulder, leaving the other bare, and most of the back and one side was cut out, with a soft gathering at the hip then a straight fall to an uneven, edgy hem. "That's nice, Ker." She nudged her friend. "Try it on."

Kerry hesitated, then grinned. "Okay." She smiled at the hovering attendant, and followed them obediently into a fitting room, closing the door and hanging the dress up as she stripped out of her slacks and shirt.

"Okay." She reviewed herself in the mirror for a moment, then took the dress off the hanger and slipped into it, allowing the silky folds to warm against her skin as she adjusted the fabric. "Hmm."

She blinked, turning a little, and watching the gown's conspicuous gaps reveal her toned body. "Oo… not bad, Stuart… not bad at all." She grinned for a moment, with an unrepentant smirk at herself, then she exhaled and opened the door, assuming  a more serious expression. "What do you think, Col?"

Colleen looked up from where she was leafing through a catalog, and stared, letting a low whistle escape. "Holy Mary, mother of God, Kerry." She chortled. "That looks fantastic…you should wear your hair up, too."

Obligingly, Kerry lifted her pale locks, and pulled them back, exposing the line of her neck. "Think so?" She glanced sideways, and caught her reflection in the mirror, surprised at it's sophistication. "Mm.. I think you're right."

The redhead closed in, and adjusted the shoulder a bit. "Definitely, a good choice… you can wear that old, silver necklace you've got… the one with the emerald?"

Kerry nodded. "Yeah… that'd go perfect… okay." She gave the salesman a nod. "I'll take it.. thanks."  She ducked back into the fitting room and carefully removed the dress, pulling her shirt and pants back on. "Think you'll like that, Dar?" She murmured to her reflection, whose eyes twinkled mischievously back at her.

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

"Here… they're blue diamonds."

Dar took the black display pad, and examined them. "Huh… never seen any like that before." She studied the earrings, lacy platinum surrounding a carat size diamond, in a conspicuous blue shade. "Nice."

"Mm.. I thought of you when I saw them.. they come close to matching your eyes." The salesman smiled. "I was going to call you… but it's been so busy."

Dar nodded, debating with herself. They were expensive, but.. how often did she ever buy stuff like this for herself? She imagined Kerry's reaction to them, and that put a grin on her face. "I'll take em." She pushed the pad back towards the delighted salesman, then let her eyes roam around the display case. "Box em up.. in fact, I've got a company event I have to go to tomorrow night.. that'll work."

She got up and roamed around as he processed the purchase, and found herself looking down at a neat display of rings.

Rings. She wasn't fond of rings, really… she'd tried wearing one or two on occasion, but with her typing all the time, they tended to annoy her, making her take them off, and promptly lose them.

"Would you like to see anything, ma'am?" The girl behind the counter asked, politely. "We've got some new ones in.. they just arrived."

Before Dar could answer, she disappeared, and came back with a velvet lined box, which she opened on top of the counter and turned around, to face Dar. "We haven't even had time to really catalog these, but.."

Dar found her eyes drawn to the center of the box, where a brilliant stone was winking. She leaned over, and blinked, then gently picked the small rest the ring was on up, and lifted it.

It gathered the light in, and twinkled at her, a brilliant cut diamond at least two carats that had a definite hint of rose to it. The setting was appropriate, an exquisite tracing of rich gold shaped into a nest of rose petals that cradled the stone, and two smaller stones on either side.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" The woman asked hesitantly.

"Yes, it is." Dar murmured, suddenly grabbed with an insane impulse. "I'll take it."

Dead silence.

Dar looked up, to see the clerk's jaw hanging open. "I'ts for sale, right?"

"Uh.. yes.. um.. um.. " She looked over to her boss, who was busy at the register. "Richard?? Mr. Ellis?"

"Just a moment, Judy." The manager murmured, holding a finger up.

The girl licked her lips. "We can.. um.. I think the jeweler is here now, we can have it sized.. is it for you, ma'am?"

Dar shook her head absently, still gazing at the ring. "No. it's for someone who's about a different from me as you can be and still be a human being."

As if she'd ever, ever have the guts to give it to her, right. Dar exhaled quietly. It didn't really matter.. just by her getting this, she'd know, in her own heart, what it meant, even if she never gathered up the courage to admit that to Kerry.

But wait. "Um.. size…"  Dar chewed her lip, then dug out her cell phone and dialed. It rang three times, then was answered. "Hey."

"Oh. Hey!" Kerry's voice sounded surprised. "Where are you? I just tried to call the office, but I got the voice mail."

"I left early.. had to go get my watch fixed." Dar told her. "And I met .. ah…I met up with that guy who's doing the new handheld inventory counter for the warehouses.. you remember I told you about it?"

There was a pause. "Oh.. oh, right.. yes, I do…they wear it on their hands and just click.. yeah." Kerry answered. "So?"

"Oh..well, we were just spec'ing it out here.. he needs a size range to give the engineers.. and…ah…well, my hand's not a good example for the women.. what ring size are you?"

Dead silence. "Uh.. oh, yeah.. that's true.. yeah.. um… mine's a seven… a bunch smaller than yours, huh?" Kerry told her.

"About three sizes." Dar acknowledge wryly. "Great.. thanks, Ker…. Where are you, anyway?"

"Bayside… I… Col and I are just browsing.. I got a kite, and something to wear tomorrow night."

"Oh yeah? Can't wait to see it." The executive replied blithely. "Thanks, Kerry.. .talk to you later." She disconnected, and looked up at the bemused clerk. "Tell him a size seven."

The manager walked over, and peered over the clerk's shoulder. "What do we have here?"

"She's .. um.. she bought this." The clerk squeaked.

Richard took the ring, and cradled it in one hand. "Um.. Dar… I um.. well, that's spectacular… I'm thrilled, but um. This is a unique cut stone, and I.."

"Shh." Dar held up a hand. "Don’t' tell me how much it is. I don’t' care." She handed over a different card. "This'll cover it, wont' it?"

The manager took the platinum American Express card and glanced at it. "Well, I had someone put a Jaguar on one the other day, so I suppose it will.." He cleared his throat. "Let me have Michael come out and size it for you.. I.."

"She wants it done a seven." The clerk supplied promptly.

"Can I get something engraved on it, while he' sat it?" Dar asked, suddenly. "Will that take long?" She brought out a scrap of paper and scribbled on it, then handed it to him.

He stared at the words, then at her. "No.. no.. a few minutes, certainly.. Dar, can I get you a cup of coffee or something, while you wait?" Richard asked, anxiously.

Blue eyes glanced up. "No.. not unless the coffee shop has double chocolate chunk ice cream.. that's where I was headed."

The manager gave the clerk a significant look, then shooed her towards the door with an almost frantic gesture. "Well, let me just go get Michael to take care of this for you right away.." He disappeared, along with the clerk, leaving Dar completely alone in the store.

She rested her chin on her fist, and regarded her reflection in the small mirror resting on the counter, watching the tiny tugs of emotion at the corners of her lips.

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

"That was weird." Kerry leaned back in her seat, and watched Colleen try on shoes.

"What was?" The redhead asked, looking up from her pink and green sneakers. "Dar calling you? She does that all the time, Kerry.. I think she's got your number plastered on the inside of those snazzy shades of hers."

Kerry chuckled, then glanced behind her. "Oo.. I'll be right back, Col… "

"Oh no.. not another jewelry store." Colleen sighed, rolling her eyes. "Jeez, you'd think you were shopping for the crown jewels of England, Kerry." She sighed. "You didn't find anything you liked in the last six ones we've been in, what makes you think this is the one?"

"Tch.. I'll never know if I don't try." Kerry scolded her. "Is it so bad I want to find Dar a nice present? It has to be just right for her." She got up and trotted out, heading across the mall breezeway to a small, rustic looking store just opposite.

The door tinkled gently as she entered, and a small, gray haired man behind a wooden counter looked up. "Allo." His voice was accented, but not one she readily recognized.

"Hi.." Kerry pushed her hair back off her forehead as she advanced, glancing around. There were wooden trees snaking sinuously about, draped with gold and silver jewelry, and she smiled, liking the place for it's informal air. "I'm looking for something.. um… for a gift..I. "

"Ah." The man got up and spread his arms. "That covers bout everything in here, m'dear.. take yer choice. Anything in particular? Is it a man, or a woman?"

"A woman." Kerry answered, decisively. "Only I'm not sure… she doesn't wear much jewelry, so I don't really know what she likes."

"Mm." Faded gray eyes twinkled a bit. "Them's who doesn't wear much, are usually real particular… I've got some real nice necklaces here.. " He drew her attention to a huge abalone, lined in soft, dark blue cloth with pretty golden chains resting on it. "That there's polished mother o pearl as a setting.. see.."

Kerry leaned on the counter, gazing at the piece. It was a conch shell formed from the abalone's surface, with a double pearl set inside, one black, and one white. "Wow.. that is unusual." The entire thing was mounted on a thin cup of gold, which curled over the edges of the abalone in outline.

Would Dar like it? Kerry cocked her head to one side, and regarded the necklace. Yeah.. I think she would. "Okay.. I'll take it." She grinned at the man. "That was easy, huh?"

He chuckled, and removed the necklace gently, taking back behind the counter and preparing it for her. "Good choice.. it's a local artist.. all this stuff is. I sells it on commission for em.. they do one of a kind pieces, not like what ye find in the big stores."

"Mm." Kerry was scanning the rest of the jewelry, admiring the unique designs. "Yeah.. these are different." She touched a set of earrings made of tiny, dried starfish. "Not sure I'd want to wear those, though."

"Stinks, they do.. ifn they were bigger." The man commented. "But folks like em.. I've got sundials that bitty too."

The blond woman moved on, leaning on the counter to gaze down through the glass. Below her were rings, in all shapes and sizes, and one fanciful oyster shell lined in silk that contained….

Kerry blinked. "Boy.. that's a nice ring." She breathed, startled when the shopkeeper appeared at her elbow. It was a delicate  pale gold ring, with interlacing that formed an intricate Celtic knot. Nestled in the center was a square cut diamond that seemed to gather in the surrounding light and bury it deep in the center of the stone, producing a visible glow.

"Thanks." The man answered quietly. "That un's my work."

She looked up at him. "It's beautiful." And before she could stop herself. "I'd like to buy it."

He looked profoundly surprised. "Well.. all right, then lass…it's a little pricey though.. you might want to.."

"Nope." Kerry made the decision before she could stop and think it out. She pulled out a card and handed it to him. "Go for it."

A delighted chuckle. "Will do… hang on a bit, and I'll measure you for it."

"What size is it now?" Kerry inquired.

"It's a ten.. a bit big, but I wanted to keep the right perspective and I.."

"That's perfect." The blond woman assured him. "Absolutely perfect….thanks."

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

"Here you go, ma'am… all ready." The watch clerk handed Dar her watch back. "We had a heck of a time with it.. what was in that water?"

"Puppy saliva." Dar responded, straight faced, as she took the package. "Thanks." She left the store, and headed for her car, feeling the pavement under her shoes oddly far away.

The doors unlocked at a touch of her remote, and she slid into the leather seat, setting her packages down on the other seat and starting the car. Then she sat there for a long moment, letting the air conditioning blow against her face, and considering what she'd just done.

Heck. It was just a ring. Just a piece of metal and stone, with a couple of words engraved in it.

And yet, in a way, it stood for something far more profound, to her. It was, even if in her own mind only, crossing the line into a commitment she'd once promised herself she'd never again allow. She took out the ring and opened the box, staring at the glittering stone that winked back at her.

Then she removed it, and studied the words, feeling an unexpected sting of tears as she considered their meaning, understanding the truth of them, regardless of whether or not Kerry felt the same of her.

Forever Yours.

She hoped so. She hoped she'd have the guts, someday, to hand it to Kerry, and find out. But for now, she merely tucked it back into it's box, and put it away, taking a deep breath and putting her sunglasses on, as she put the car into gear, and negotiated the parking lot.

By the time she hit the ferry, she'd relaxed, and started looking forward to the evening. Kerry had promised a new recipe she was trying out for the first time, and they'd decided to go to the movie theatre afterward. The aggravations of the day had faded completely, and she stretched as the island ramp clanked down, finding a smile on her face as she headed the car towards the condo.

A smile which grew broader as she spotted the green Mustang nestled into the spot next to hers, and she almost started whistling as she got out, and trotted up the stairs two at a time, keying in her code at the door and slipping through into the hallway with a sense of anticipation.

"Woo woo!" Chino scrambled across the polished marble towards her, soft ears flopping comically.

"Hey girl.." Dar laughed, and knelt down, scooping up the puppy and cuddling her to her chest as she stood.

"Argrrrr" Chino chewed at her chin happily, and Dar managed to avoid being eaten by looking up and spotting Kerry leaning in the kitchen doorway, watching her.

"Hey." She greeted the blond woman, who was dressed in a bathing suit and apron, and holding a mixing spoon. "How'd your shopping go?"

"Great." Kerry told her. "You get your watch fixed?"

"Yep. Sure did." Dar set the puppy down, and brushed the tiny soft hairs off her shirt. "I'm gonna go change." She paused, and regarded her lover. "You know.. that's a really cute outfit you've got on there."

The green eyes warmed, and sparkled, as Kerry tugged at the bottom hem of the apron. "Thanks…I figured I"d get this put up, and we could go for a swim.. how about it?"

"Mm." Dar sauntered over, brushing up against her and gazing into those wonderful eyes. "I got a better idea.. how portable is it?"

Blinking, pale lashes fluttered. "Porta…why?" She inquired, intrigued.

Dar captured the spoon she was holding and sucked the end, then released it. "Picnic basket, boat, ocean, you, me.. ?"

"Oo." Kerry smiled broadly. "For that, I'd make it portable even if it were crepes suzette." She leaned forward and kissed Dar, then bumped her with one hip. "Go change."

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

The stars stretched wide overhead, in a night sky so clear even the usual shimmering seemed subdued. The sounds of the city were far behind them, and only the soft clanking of the boat's rigging, and the soft lap of the water against the hull broke it.

Dar propped a bare foot up against the padded seat, and leaned back, glad of the soft cushions under her on the boat deck. She tipped her head up and gazed at the stars, then looked down as Kerry returned, and snuggled up against her, wrapping an arm around her stomach and letting out a deeply satisfied sigh.

"That was great." Dar told her. "I liked that.. the fish stuff in those pita pockets.. that was a great idea." She wiggled her toes and half closed her eyes in contentment.

"Mm.. thanks." Kerry replied happily. "I was going to put it over pasta, but I think this worked out better." She gazed up at the stars. "They're so pretty tonight."

Dar rested her head against her lover's. "Yeah." She remembered the small box tucked in the dresser drawer and nibbled the inside of her lip. It seemed like a good time to maybe, gently, see if Kerry was at all receptive t the idea.

They sat there in silence for a bit, then Kerry stirred. "I can't believe it's almost the new year." She murmured softly. "It sure doesn't feel like the last week of the year out here."

Dar gazed out over the timeless sea. "No… though if it were summer, the air wouldn't be this clear.. and that breeze would be a little warmer." She exhaled. "Must be a little strange for you though.. not very traditional." She asked, cautiously.

Kerry considered the statement. "No.. it's not…I'm used to the week between Christmas, and New Years being one big round of celebrations…parties… it's cold, snowing usually…we'd have eggnog, and huge roast hams, and lots of champagne."

"Hm." Dar mumbled a sound. "That does sound very traditional." She hesitated, then tangled her fingers with the blond woman's. "Do you… I mean, are you really a traditional kind of person, Ker?"

Kerry glanced up at her curiously. "Well.. I never really thought about it… all that stuff never really meant anything to me, so.. I don't know.. maybe not." She looked forward at the dark horizon. "I never really thought.. that just because everyone did something, that made it good."

"Oh." Dar chewed her lip. "Well, some traditions are good… I mean, I think so, anyway."

"Really?" Kerry blinked up at her. "Like what?"

Dar thought furiously, trying to come up with something innocuous. "Uh.. Thanksgiving." She finally muttered. "That's a good tradition, right? Turkey, and stuffing, and all that?"

"Well.. yeah, I suppose." Kerry admitted. "Except here, we tend to have roast pig and yucca, but yeah." She paused. "Ours were usually used as an excuse to criticize everyone, though."

Dar rolled her eyes, feeling the soft breath against her chest. "Right…um..well, ours were never really successful either.. Dad was usually on duty somewhere.. mom never did get the hang of cooking a turkey. Mostly I ended up with Froot Loops and a bowl of mashed potatoes."

"Augh.. Dar." Kerry winced.

"Yeah, well." The older woman shrugged. "Okay.. okay.. what about.. uh.. well, hey.. all those high school things.. you know, yearbooks, and tassels.. and um.. well, how about class rings?"

Kerry was silent for a moment. "I never got one of those." She shrugged. "It didn't really mean anything to me."

"Oh." Dar murmured. "Sorry."

"High school wasn't a really great experience for me." Kerry went on, quietly. "They had this little competition going.. all that mattered was how much money your parents had, and what kind of sneakers you bought.. I just didn't buy into it.. especially those rings. It was all, 'mines better than yours, a bigger stone, a better cut' ..So I didn't get one at all, and I decided if I ever did get a ring.. it would just be because I liked it, not because it 'meant' anything."

"Mm."

"And then, my parents of course.. I mean, that's all I'd hear from my mother, about whoever it was I was going out with..'just what kind of ring do you think he's going to afford you?'." The blond woman shrugged. "I have a problem with that" She looked up at Dar's profile. "I don’t need a piece of metal to prove anything to me."

"Oh." Dar exhaled. "Well.. sure.. I.. I got a high school ring, but I lost it."

"Mm… it fell off?" Kerry inquired.

"No.. I lost it in a poker game." Dar related, with a faint blush. "I just told everyone I lost it underwater diving."

"Ah." Kerry gave her a tolerant look. "You could have gotten another one."

"I could have, yes." Dar admitted. "But I'd moved past that…seemed silly to me to wear that while I was in college.. and no one there wore anything like that, so.." She sighed. "I guess I'm not very traditional after all."

"I guess I'm not either." Kerry confessed. "I never really believed in symbols."

"Oh." Dar exhaled softly, as she studied a particularity bright star near the horizon. Scratch that idea. "I guess I sort of feel that way too."

"You do?"

"Well, sure.. I.." Dar cleared her throat. "I grew up military… all I used to hear was tradition, tradition, tradition… good grief, there was a traditional way to go to the latrine, if you could believe it." She shrugged. "So me being… well, who I am… I just kinda threw all that out. Don’t believe in it."

"Oh." Kerry seemed pensive.  "Well, you know, Dar…we could make our own traditions."

The long arms settled around her comfortably. "Like what?"

"Well, like spending the night before New Year's Eve out on the water." The blond woman smiled. "Or greeting Christmas Day by watching the sun rise on the beach." She looked up. "In fact, you know, I think I'd like to create new traditions with you."

Dar smiled back. "Would you?"

Kerry nodded. "And who knows.. maybe we'll develop a taste for some older ones."

An unseen grin split the dim light. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Far off in the distance, a horn sounded, and the horizon's line was broken by a cruise ship, it's lit decks flickering off the waves, and scattering a faint, broken dash of noise across the water.

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

About Melissa Good...

Melissa Good is the author of over thirteen Xena: Warrior Princess fan fiction novels. She is one of the most popular fan fiction authors in the Xenaverse. She resides in Florida with her dogs and her computers. Her fans urge everyone to check out her website at

http://www.merwolf.com.

Works by Melissa Good...

Tropical Storm, by Melissa Good

Enter the lives of two captivating characters and their world that hundreds of fans of Melissa Good's writing already know and love. Your heart will be touched by the realism of the story. Your senses will be affected by the electricity, your emotions caught up by the intensity. You will care about these characters before you are far into the story... and you will demand justice be done.

Hurricane Watch, by Melissa Good

Eye of the Storm, by Melissa Good

Copyright © 1999 Justice House Publishing. All rights reserved.

http://www.justicehouse.com

by Melissa Good

"I'm not wearing that." Kerry folded her arms and assumed her most stubborn expression. "I don't care what you say, Dar, I'm not going to the company Halloween party dressed as Dogbert." The blond haired, green eyed woman surveyed the costume. "So forget it."

"Aw." Dar Roberts, her tall, dark haired companion walked over and picked up a floppy ear. "You'd look so cute, Kerry, c'mon."

"No." Kerry scowled. "And I would not look cute as a round, goofy white pooch."

"Okay." Dar wandered down the row of possibilities. "How about this?" She held up an Indian Princess outfit in white leather, with tiny beads.

"Boy. You're into extremes today, aren't you?" Kerry picked out a more sedate outfit. "There. How's Robin Hood strike you?"

"Don't you mean Maid Marian?"

"Heck no. What fun did she ever have?" The blond woman picked up a few accessories and headed for the counter. "And I can't wait to see you in that armor."

"Mm." Dar followed her up, reserving judgment on the heavy chain mail outfit Kerry had talked her into. "Between the two of us, we'll have enough weapons to take the Centrust tower if we have to."

Kerry paid for her costume and they left the store, walking through the setting sun and driving the short distance to the ferry terminal that would take them home.

After dinner, they sat quietly out on the porch overlooking the Atlantic, and watched the stars appear, along with a nice, full moon that painted a creamy stripe across the lightly ruffled waters. "I like Halloween." Kerry commented. "It's fun, and everyone gets to act a little crazy. We used to go out to the lake near my parents' house and tell ghost stories around a little fire."

"Ghost stories? " Dar chuckled.

"Hey, don't laugh. Some of them were really scary. We had this one about a phantom train, where you could hear the horn over and over again, but if you stayed near the tracks, you'd never see it." Kerry told her. "Unless you were about to die; then you did, and the engineer waved at you."

"If all the people who saw that were about to die, how'd you find out about it?" Her companion asked, reasonably. "Interdimensional E-mail?"

"Hah hah." Kerry propped her bare feet up against the railing. "I bet you don't know any good ghost stories, do you?"

Dar was silent for a bit. "Well, as a matter of fact, I do." She nodded. "Not so much a story, but a legend right here on the island."

"Ooh." Kerry wriggled into a more comfortable position. "I can't wait to hear this. Some Miccosoukee tale?"

"Not exactly." Dar laced her fingers around one knee. "This island used to be owned by the Vanderbilts."

"I know that."

"Do you want to hear the story or not?"

Kerry covered her mouth penitently.

"They built a big mansion on the edge of the water, overlooking the Atlantic, and that's where they lived a good part of the year." Dar pointed. "You can see the mansion there, right?"

Kerry nodded.

"They got so fond of the island that those Vanderbilts who died here were buried on the property in two stone mausoleums because digging out here wasn't an option. But the head of the family, Commodore Vanderbilt, was an old Navy man, and he went out one winter and his ship was lost at sea."

"Oh."

"His wife was devastated. She pined away for him, and she waited and waited for him to come home, but he never did. So she died in the mansion, and she was buried here. The mansion was passed down to some of the children, but they didn't come out here for a while."

"Ooh."

"When they did, they started to hear some strange stories from the help they'd left behind. It seems that the maids and the gardeners were saying that on nights with a full moon, they'd seen old Mrs. Vanderbilt wandering around the mansion, calling for the Commodore."

"Really?" Kerry murmured. "Wow. That's sad - and sort of romantic."

"Well, the staff didn't think so." Dar remarked dryly. "A lot of them were talking about giving notice. Anyway, one of the sons said he'd stay in the mansion overnight, just to prove there wasn't anything to be afraid of." She fell silent.

"So what happened?"

"They found him at the bottom of the pool over there." Dar told her. "Seems he was walking in his sleep and walked right into the water and drowned."

Kerry felt a shiver go down her spine. "That's - very strange." She peeked around Dar's body to peer at the shadowy mansion, visible in the moonlight just down the shore. "Guess it's just a story though - or we'd have heard about it by now."

Dar rested her chin on the railing, and gazed down the shoreline. "I don't know. Every once in a while it pops back up again. Clemente was mentioning it the other day; seems one of his maids ran screaming from the second floor and fell down the circular stairs late one night. Claims she saw a ghost."

"Ew." Kerry made a face. "She was probably imagining it."

"Probably." Dar agreed. "Well, I'm going to go for a run. Want to join me?"

"Not this time." Kerry regretfully declined. "I've got a project I've got to work on and two loads of laundry to do." She got up and followed Dar inside, then climbed upstairs to her office and settled down behind her desk. She pulled up her files and started to work, but the story of the Vanderbilts kept creeping into her thoughts until she finally got up and went back downstairs into the very quiet living room. Dar had taken their Labrador, Chino, out running with her, so Kerry was completely alone as she wandered back out onto the balcony and leaned against the railing.

Her eyes found the silent mansion, and she studied the upper floor, where the doors of what used to be the Vanderbilts' bedrooms opened out directly onto the ocean. The stone walls of the old house glowed dimly in the moonlight, with the darkened panes of shuttered windows staring emptily out over the sea.

It was a trick of the light, she was sure, as a shadow moved across the far off railing and disappeared. A bird, or something, right?

Birds don't fly at night, Kerry. She squinted, convinced she'd seen the movement again. What in the world… She hesitated, then made up her mind and ducked into the condo, stopping in the kitchen long enough to grab a flashlight before she opened the back door and went down the steps and out the tiny garden area, closing the metal gate behind her.

The shore was quiet, as she made her way down the sand amidst the wavelets licking up against her bare feet. She walked past the darkened Beach Club, then made her way up the beach and onto the cut coral stairs that led to the vast patio around the old mansion.

The building loomed before her, a two story stone construct with thick, gothic scrollery on the edges and carved statues on the corners that watched her with empty eyes as she moved closer. Her bare footsteps scuffed lightly on the rough coral as she skirted the large heated pool and peered up at the balcony.

Nothing. Only the soft hiss of the waves, and the stirring of the tropical birds in the aviary nearby broke the silence.

Then she heard the faintest, almost only a hint of sound from above her, as though cloth were being drawn over stone. She backed up and looked at the balcony, but saw only shadows.

Spurred on by her curiosity, she went to the back door where the bar was and tested the handle. She was surprised when it moved readily under her fingers, then realized the cleaning staff was probably not finished after the late dinner inside. She pushed the teak door open and entered, a cold blast of A/C hitting her in the face as she stepped from coral to carpet and let the door close.

Kerry moved past the brass and wood bar, where freshly cleaned glasses rested on rubber mats. A black case attracted her attention, though, and she detoured long enough to steal a maraschino cherry from it, sucking contentedly on the lurid fruit as she continued on her way.

The bar led into what had once been the Commodore's library, and was now just a lounge area. It was furnished with overstuffed leather furniture, and lined with books. She moved past them and up the two stairs into the main entrance, where the huge double wooden doors were closed tight. Here in the circular entry, a spiral staircase in marble clung to the walls, and above her, Kerry suddenly heard a sound as though something had been dropped.

Her heart started to pound. "C'mon, Kerry. Don't be stupid," she murmured to herself, as she put a hand on the railing, and started up the stairs. The treads were worn, and the surface felt strange under her toes, half polished and half rough where the marble surface had been rubbed away over the years. She shifted the flashlight in her hand, but didn't switch it on since the moonlight pouring in the many windows made the light unnecessary as of yet.

She came out on the top landing and peered down the hallway, which had doors lining the east side, and fewer ones on the west. A thin strip of old carpet ran down the center, since this part of the mansion wasn't used in the daily club activities; and, in fact, the old bedrooms were used mostly for storing furniture, and to provide office space for the club's maitre'd and the catering department.

But they were all gone now, safely home. The silence pressed in on her and she paused, listening. A soft creak made her jump a little, and she turned, peering into the open doorway next to her. It was a darkened bedroom, and she eased her head around the door, looking around and seeing nothing but dusty furniture. A mirror was mounted on the wall and she crept inside, glancing out the double doors at the sea, then turning to find herself reflected back in the darkly silvered surface.

Something moved. Kerry whirled, but found nothing there, only a tapestry hanging limply on the wall.

Okay. She took a deep breath, and released it. Just relax. She flexed her hands and rubbed her arms, feeling a chill coming in on the night air from outside as a door swung open with the wind. For a moment, she stared at it, then she walked over and gently closed it to, feeling the stiff resistance as the wind and water warped wood settled grudgingly into place.

"I think I better get out of here." Her own voice sounded strange, and far off. She moved to the door and reentered the hallway, intending on heading for the stairs, when she stopped on hearing a loud creak behind her.

Slowly she turned, her heart beating fast, her eyes searching the darkness nervously. The empty hall stretched before her, lit only by the stripes of moonlight coming through the half open doors. Calming a little, she walked forward, feeling her skin start to prickle as she reached the last door, to the last chamber, which was slightly larger and more ornate than the others.

It beckoned to her. She found herself drawn towards it, and before she really knew what was happening, she'd pushed the wooden panel open and entered the room.

The first thing that hit her was the smell. A delicate hint of roses tickled her nose, and she turned in a circle, looking for its source.

There was none.

The door to the balcony was open, and the sea breeze was entering, making the softly draped fabric over the large canopied bed move and brushing over Kerry's skin with a hint of cool moisture. The walls here were covered in old, faded paint, half-worn trellised flowers climbing up their reach to the plastered ceiling. A finely carved wooden dresser took up one whole wall, with a round mirror mounted over it. The mirror had a single, long crack running diagonally through it, but was otherwise intact.

A strong wind blew in, and the door slammed shut behind her. Kerry jumped halfway to the roof and pelted over to it, grabbing the round, worn brass handle and tugging with all her strength. It came off in her hand, and the door remained stubbornly shut.

She was starting to shake.

"Okay." She forced herself to calm down and walked over to the balcony doors, going out onto the cold marble and taking in a breath of clean, salt air. She looked out over the sea, watching the lights go across the horizon, then turned to move to the next window over and reenter that way.

Her eyes fastened on a moving, shadowy form and saw a hand outstretched, coming towards her, and she panicked. "Jesus!" She tore back inside and got to the door, hearing a creak behind her as she grabbed the ancient mechanism in a powerful grip and turned it, feeling a faint click and throwing her body backwards to yank the door open.

Mercifully, it moved, and she bolted through it, running full speed down the corridor towards the steps only to suddenly have the first bedroom door swing open right in front of her. Unable to stop, she slammed into it, knocking herself down and senseless for a long, foggy moment.

A chill came over her and she scrambled to her feet, only to feel a touch on the back of her neck. She shoved the door out of her way and ran, sparing a glance behind her as she cleared the hallway.

Hands grabbed her, and she screamed, struggling against the grip that held her nearly motionless as she wrenched her body to one side in a desperate attempt to get away. Her senses were on overload, trying to feed her panicked brain the sensations cascading around her, until her sense of smell overrode everything else with a single, stark, desperately important message.

Ghosts didn't sweat.

They also didn't generally call her by name, as her ears finally registered the howling sound around her.

They also weren't usually soft, and warm, and taller than she was.

And they didn't bring barking Retrievers with them to lick her shaking knees.

"Oh my god." Kerry collapsed into Dar's arms, burying her face into the sweat dampened t-shirt as the shivers worked their way through her body. "Oh my god." She whispered.

"Easy." Dar's low voice rumbled. "Easy. I got you." She rubbed the poor woman's back and hugged her. "I got you." She glanced over Kerry's shoulder down the dusty hallway and shook her head. "Just relax."

Kerry remained silent for a bit, huddled in Dar's embrace, until her breathing returned to normal and she was able to open her eyes. "Sorry." She patted the surface she'd been hitting. "I think I scared the crap out of myself."

"No kidding." Dar circled her shoulders with a long arm. "You all right? You've got a bump on your head." She checked the lump carefully. "What happened?"

Kerry peeked uncertainly back down the hall. "I don't know - really - I…thought I saw something moving up here from the apartment, so I came down to check it out and…" She looked up. "Did you just come up the stairs?"

Dar nodded.

"Dar, I saw something out there. I swear it." Kerry blurted. "There was something outside on the balcony, and it chased me." She exhaled shakily. "The door in that last room slammed, and I couldn't get out, then it was out side, and I got the door open finally, and then it chased me, and the other door opened and I hit it, and then I got up and it grabbed me and I…"

"Shh." Dar stroked her face gently. "Okay, okay… I can see that something scared you, that's for sure." Her eyes searched the walls and carpet. "I'll go check it out. You stay here."

"Like hell." Kerry latched onto her firmly. "I don't need to see it again. Let's get out of here, Dar."

"Let me just take a look around." Dar coaxed. "C'mon, stay with me then if you want. We'll just walk down to the last room and back." She paused. "That was the master bedroom."

"I think the master's still in it," Kerry mumbled, reluctantly allowing herself to be dragged along. With Dar here, though, the building seemed to lose its menace, any ghosts lurking driven back by her lover's powerful personality. They walked down the hall accompanied by the frisking Chino and stepped into the bedroom, which was now a mundanely drab, sneezingly dusty room completely empty of people, corporeal or otherwise. Kerry shook her head. "I saw something." She sighed. "It wasn't just my imagination, was it…was that just a story, or was it really true, Dar?"

"I don't know." Dar led her out onto the balcony, a bare expanse of marble with curls of hairline cracks in it from years of exposure and holding up under its own weight. She walked to the edge and rested her hands on it, gazing out at the sea. "I… always sort of hoped the story wasn't true." She turned and faced Kerry. "I always hoped that somehow, they'd found their way back to each other."

"Mm." Kerry rubbed her arms, still chilled. "You don't feel creepy around here?"

"Just a little sad." Dar gazed out at the water again. "But then, my father's family's been Navy for god only knows how many generations - maybe I just understand it from a different perspective."

The moon went behind the clouds, and they were left in a brief, almost startling darkness. Kerry went to Dar's side and they looked out, seeing the ship's lights bright and clear on the horizon.

Far off, they heard a ship's bell, soft and lonely in the night.

Behind them, a door closed.

They looked at each other. "Can we get out of here now?" Kerry asked, feeling the chill come over her skin again.

"Yeah." Dar agreed. "Good idea."

They made it out of the mansion and walked out onto the coral deck, still shrouded in shadows and made their way home.

Without looking back.

Unmasked Hearts

The following Dar and Kerry short story happens sometime before the kiss on the beach. Sometime even before the tropical storm, or Disney, but after their first dinner at the little Thai place.

**

It was already getting dark, Kerry noticed, as she drove towards home. Though winter had very little meaning in Miami, the days did shorten, and now, almost November, where it would be crackling cold at home in Michigan, the one visible sign of the season was that it was getting darker earlier.

She pulled into a spot in the lot outside her apartment building, and sat there for a moment, just relaxing. It had been a long, tough day at her new job, and she was still trying to absorb enough knowledge to just get things done while she figured out how to deal with al her new responsibilities.

Sometimes... Kerry sighed to herself. I wonder if I did the right thing.  She opened the door to her Mustang and got out, pulling her laptop case with her and shouldering it before headed inside.

“Hey, Ker!” Colleen’s voice came from the door of her own apartment.

“Hey.” Kerry lifted a hand in a wave. “What’s up?”

The redhead trotted out to meet her. “What’s up with you? Late nights already?”

Kerry shrugged. “Not really... I just had a meeting, and then I was working on some email.” She glanced around. “Guess I lost track of time.”  Had she, really? She wondered briefly. Yeah, there was a meeting, but she really could have left after that, right? Why hang around? “In fact, Dar threw me out. She came back from a client briefing and found me with my head in my keyboard.”  Kerry studied her keys pensively, remembering the little tickle of pleasure she’d felt on hearing her bosses voice.

Well, she did want her new boss to know she was putting in a lot of effort.

“Hm.” Colleen made a face. “Hey, you up for dinner?  It’s two for one night down at the Cuban place.”

Kerry considered the question. “Sure.” She agreed. “But I tell you what; can we go do the mall?”

Colleen pulled her tinted reading glasses down and peered at her. “The mall? Did I just hear you ask me to go to the MALL?”

Kerry pushed her door open, and walked inside. “Yes.” She waited for Colleen to follow her inside, and then she closed the door behind them. “It’s not what you think.”

“Good gravy, I hope not.” The redhead grinned, sitting down on the couch and crossing her ankles. “The last time you asked me to go shopping with you we ended up with those ugly vases I now have to find floofy flowers for.”

Kerry set her laptop bag down, and stripped her jacket off as she headed for her bedroom. “We’re having a Halloween party at work.” She explained.  “Everyone is supposed to dress up.”

“Is that dressing down?” Colleen asked, pointing at Kerry’s business suit. “Whoa... you getting a prom gown for this thing, then?”

Kerry unzipped her skirt and slid out of it, then leaned on the doorframe in just her silk shirt. “Dress up as in a costume.” She gave her friend a wry look. “You know, like a panda bear or something?”

Colleen studied her. “Do you know how many pillows you’d need to fill a panda bear suit, bucko?”

The blond woman rolled her eyes, and ducked back inside her bedroom. “Not as many as I used to.” She called. “I put on three pounds since I started working at that place.”  She slid in a pair of worn jeans and buckled them.

A snort. “Where? Your earlobes?”

Kerry emerged, tugging on a bright blue pullover.  “It’s there.” She walked over and sat down on the couch with her sneakers in hand. “Anyway, I have to find something to wear to the thing. If you help me, I’ll get dinner. How’s that?”

Colleen chuckled gleefully. “You’re on.” She got up. “I’ll go put me boots on, and we’ll be walking out the door.”  She ambled out, leaving Kerry to tie her laces in peace.

**

It was very quiet in the office. The air conditioner cycled on, its fan stirring a single piece of paper sitting in lonely exile in the outbox on the desk. The monitor screen saver painted pacing jungle animals across the dark surface, unnoticed by the figure seated in the plush leather chair.

Been a long time. Dar mused, as she gazed out the floor to ceiling glass windows. A long time since she’d just sat and watched the sun set.   She let her eyes track a small sailboat cutting across the waves, then lifted the cup she held in both hands and took a sip.

Her intercom buzzed.

Dar half turned and glared at it then slapped the button in disgust. “Yeah?”

“Just me, boss.” Mark’s voice emerged. “Got some turnips asking me to let them store crap in our wiring closet on fourteen. Okay?”

“No.” Dar frowned. “What is it?”

“Just some party stuff.” The MIS manager explained. “Black hats, and webs and crap.”

“Oh.” Dar rolled her eyes. “That.”  She released an aggrieved sigh. “Last time we let them store anything in there, they took down half the conference rooms on the floor with the damn wire hangers poked in the sixty six blocks.”

“Yeah. I told em if they came within a foot of the back wall, you’d squash em like a bug.”

Dar snorted softly in wry amusement. “Did they piddle on the carpet?”

“Like newborn puppies!”

Another sigh. “All right.” Dar relented. “I’ll go let em in. I was on my way out anyway.”  She pried herself out of the soft comfort of her chair and stood, stretching her body out and wincing as a kink made itself known in her back.  “Did those servers come back online?”

“Not yet.” Mark said. “Working on it.”

“Keep working.” Dar cut off the intercom and circled her desk, picking up her keycard as she headed for the door.  Most of the floor was silent, its occupants gone home for the day, and Dar found it refreshingly peaceful as she padded barefoot across the carpet.  The closet she was heading for was next to one of the large presentation rooms, where they would have their annual Halloween party the next day.

Bah. Dar wasn’t fond of parties, especially ones that involved her coworkers putting on weird hats and makeup.   With a sigh, she pulled the presentation room door open and stalked inside, finding the setup crew gathered in one corner near the closet in question.

They were all juniors. Dar glowered at them just for fun, and watched as they backed off from the door, nervously watching her as she approached.  Something almost hit her in the head and she barely kept herself from ducking, stopping and examining the large, hairy spider hanging from the drop ceiling.  Then she turned around in a circle and reviewed the room, shaking her head at the lurid decorations.

She swiped her card in the reader next to the door and opened it, stepping back and gesturing to the workers. “G’wan.”

They timidly crept past her into the fairly large size chamber, all of them escaping save the last.

Dar put a hand out. “Whoa.” Her nose twitched slightly. “What’s in there?” She pointed to the bag the woman was carrying.

“Candy.” The woman replied, opening the top hurriedly and displaying it.

Dar peered inside curiously and then stuck a hand in and pulled out a fistful, giving the woman a wicked grin. “My fee.” She drawled, before she retreated, leaving the workers peeking out of the door and watching her go.

Mm. Dar regarded her booty with interest. Peanut butter cups. She unwrapped one with her other hand and popped it into her mouth, chewing it as she sauntered back down to her office.  As she passed a doorway, however, she paused.

Once, it had been an empty room she would never have looked twice at in passing. Now, behind its smooth, oak door was something new and different.  Dar peered at her handful of goodies, then changed direction and swiped her keycard near the door, hearing a light click as the lock released. She pushed the handle open and entered, letting it close behind her as she walked into Kerry’s office.

It was still mostly empty.  Dar acknowledged, as she let her eyes wander over the interior. But Kerry had been adding little bits of her personality to it. She strolled around the desk, approving its neat surface, and leaned on the back of the chair for a brief moment.

Her nostrils twitched again, detecting faint traces of Kerry’s perfume on the leather surface.  It was a fresh, slightly floral scent she found herself liking.

Impulsively, she gave up three of her treats, leaving them in the center of the desk before she turned and headed for the back door that led to her own office.

She paused, with her hand on the latch and turned, leaning on the door and looking back to see the desk’s surface with its little offering.  “What the hell did you do that for?” She wondered aloud. “You don’t even know if she likes them.”

The peanut butter cups nestled in their little huddle, mutely providing no answer to her.

“Well, she can throw em away.” Dar shook her head and went through the doorway, making her way back to her office and closing her inner door as she entered it.  Feeling oddly restless, she decided to pack it in for the day and take off.

To that end, she fastened the catch on her laptop case and slid its strap over her shoulder, regarding her heeled shoes under her desk with an evil eye.

Scandal or no scandal?

Dar reached down and snagged the shoes, then tucked them into the outer pocket of her bag.

Scandal.

With a satisfied nod, she headed for the door.

**

“How about a cat?” Colleen investigated some very lurid makeup as they browsed through Burdines. “You’d look cute as a cat, Ker.”

“A cat?” Kerry leaned on the counter.

“Yeah, draw whiskers on your face...” Colleen took a purple stick and mimed the action. “Put a little tail on you… got a dance leotard? You could wear that.”

Kerry plucked the pencil from her fingers and put it down. “No cats.” She said. “No cats, no bats, no rats, no fuzzy mammals of any kind, thanks. I don’t want to look like a stuffed animal.” She pushed off the glass case and wandered on, searching for some kind of inspiration.

“How about a Scottish look?” Colleen suggested, fingering a plaid skirt.

Kerry studied it warily. “You mean, like a kilt?”

“Yeah. White shirt, plaid skirt, patent leather shoes... you know.”

The blond woman sighed. “I think I’d look like an escapee from a prep school.” She continued on as they came even with a section of frilly, ruffled shirts. Kerry paused and fingered one. “Now, what does this remind me of…?”

“Lemon chiffon pie?”

Kerry chuckled, touching the light tan stitching at the edges of the ruffles. “Fifth grade, actually.” She reminisced. “We acted out the signing of the Declaration of Independence in school. I got to be Thomas Jefferson.”

“Hm.” Her friend considered. “Y’know, the new jackets the guys are wearing for the proms this year are cutaways... you could get away with that, this, and a pair of knickers and go as a revolutionary.”

Revolutionary. One of Kerry’s very blond eyebrows quirked.  She imagined herself in the outfit Colleen was describing, and decided it had possibilities.  Not too outlandish, definitely dignified.  For some reason, that was important to her since the whole company was going to be there. Halloween or no Halloween, she wanted to look…

For no particular reason, an image of Dar flashed in her mind.

Right. She didn’t want to embarrass Dar for picking her as her new assistant, so she wanted to look good. “Okay.” Kerry decided. “We can work with that.”  She sorted through the ruffled shirts and selected one in her size. “Can you find some capris that look something like velvet?”

Colleen snickered. “Honey, this is Miami. I can find capris that *are* velvet, in six colors, with sequins.” She patted Kerry on the shoulder. “Be right back.”

“No sequins!” Kerry called after her.  Linen would have been more accurate, but in Kerry’s mind, if she had to wear short pants, at least she wanted to wear a pair that felt nice. She draped the shirt over her arm, and started towards the area that featured men’s dress jackets.

After a moment’s checking the sizes, however, she chuckled wryly to herself and headed for the boy’s section. They had cooler looking stuff anyway.

Colleen caught up to her there, holding two pairs of soft, colorful pants. One in crimson and one in rich, royal blue.  Kerry took them, and two jackets, and her shirt, and trotted off to the fitting room, the attendants giving her collection of odd items a knowingly wry look.

Inside the room, she shucked her jeans and top and examined her choices. “Blue, I think.” She had to admit, pulling on the velvet capris. The short pants came to her knees, and fit snugly, but not too tight. Kerry surveyed the results critically, then donned her shirt and buttoned it. The tails tucked into the pants, and then she put the rich, silk navy jacket over it all.  The jacket’s soft, but heavy folds neatly outlined her body, and she gave her reflection a faint nod before she opened the door. “Hey, Col?”

Colleen poked her head around the corner, and then stepped out into the hall to examine her friend. “You know, Kerry?” She spoke seriously. “That looks really good on you.”  She stepped forward and fluffed the ruffles of Kerry’s shirt, arranging the frilly cravat. “Need to get you a pin, a belt, and one of those three sided hats, and you’re set.”

Kerry put her hands on her hips and grinned, quite pleased with herself. “I think I know a place to get a hat.” She said. “And it’s right next to that Italian place.”

“She shoots, she scores!” Colleen chortled, giving her thumbs up. “Let’s go, Tommy!”

**

Dar wasn’t sure why she’d ended up down on South Beach.  She’d left work, and headed home but found the thought of just going to her empty apartment unappealing for some reason. So she’d detoured, and kept driving on the causeway instead of turning into the ferry terminal. She’d parked down at one of the public lots and just started walking.

Halloween was definitely in the air.  She found a grin pulling at her lips as she passed the outdoor cafes, strung with lurid skeletons and slightly comical bats, with the odd real pumpkin flickering wickedly at her from its table.

“Hey, pretty lady!”

It took a minute before Dar realized she was being addressed.  She’d traded her business clothes for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt she’d had in her always packed bag, and didn’t particularly think she stuck out in the crowd, but...   Her eyes met the street vendor’s, and her eyebrows lifted in inquiry. “Whatcha got there?”

“Ghool grog.” The man grinned, and held up a plastic mug filled with... something… that was emitting smoke and fog that rolled over the edge of the cup and half obscured his hand.  “Just the thing to hit the spot on a night like this.”

Dar studied the concoction. “Who pays the emergency bill if you swallow a chunk of the dry ice?” She inquired curiously.

“Straw.” The man popped one in, evading the question. ‘It’s safe, honest.”

Ah well, you only live once, right? “Sure.” Dar accepted the mug, shaped like the head of a skeleton and paid the vendor.  “What’s in it other than the obvious?”

“Rum, banana liqueur, coco libre, a little vodka, and lemonade.”

Dar took a very, very cautious sip, and then relaxed as the mixture of unlikely ingredients proved surprisingly tasty. “Not bad.”  She gave the man a grin, and then moved on, looking for more trouble to get into.

It didn’t take long.  She wound her way between groups of laughing skaters, idly looking at some of the trendy stores and boutiques tucked between the cafes.  One caught her eye, and she strolled over to look inside, the tiny store filled with Native American clothing and artifacts.

Dar had always felt ambivalent about the original inhabitants of the state she now lived in. She’d spent a lot of time in high school studying the current local tribes, the Seminole and Miccosoukee, and the prior ones, the Tequesta all of which had, in her private opinion, gotten thoroughly raped by the white colonists who took over the area.

Having the tribes now recouping a lot of their income from running gambling establishments had always seemed to her a bit of poetic justice.  Growing up military, though, she’d found her viewpoints in somewhat of a minority, though there had always been an undercurrent of respect, and intrigue revolving around the native’s warrior culture.

Just as she’d been fascinated with it as a youngster.

Now, she fingered the beautiful tribal war shirt near the front of the store, leaning close to confirm that the substance fashioning it was, as she suspected, the spines from sea urchin. Meticulously cleaned, patiently bored, they clicked together with a faint musical sound she recognized as akin to one she’d heard many times underwater.

“Nice, huh?”

Dar looked up, to find the single salesperson leaning on the counter watching her. He was tall, about her height, and they were built somewhat similarly with long, lanky frames and dark hair.  She figured him for at least part native, though, either by birth of by choice. “Never seen urchins legs used like this.”

The man grinned and walked over. He was wearing well worn jeans and equally worn boots, with an intricately carved belt buckle centered on his midsection. “Yeah, I thought it was a cool way to mix tradition with local resources, you know?”

“You made this?” Dar asked.

He nodded. “Everyone kind of tosses in something for the store. The guy who owns the building gives it to us rent free, cause he makes his money on the café next door.  So everything practically is profit.”

“Nice.” Dar eyed the intricately tooled item, and the pair of well tanned leather pants that were propped under it on the mannequin.

“Usually I steer the girls over to the mini dress area, but that would work on you.” The salesman commented.

Funny. Dar had just been thinking the same thing, quickly followed by a mental slap to the back of her head as she chastised herself for even considering it. “What in the hell would I do with something like this?”

The man shrugged, and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest and regarding her with chocolate dark eyes. “You could wear it to some of the clubs down here... betcha it gets you looked at.”

Dar snorted. “I think you just want to make a sale.” But she glanced at the price tag anyway.

“True.” He grinned. “But you want to buy it, so I’m just doin my job, right?”

A thought wormed its way into Dar’s mind, as she tasted the faintest hint of peanut butter on the back of her tongue. Slowly, a dangerous grin appeared. “All right.” She flicked her eyes to his. “I’ll take the whole getup.”

“Cool.” Not quite stifling a triumphant smile, the salesman carefully unlatched the sleeveless, almost backless vest from its stand and laid it over his arm. “It’s got an underlining, so you can wear it…  “He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. “Without anything under it, if you want.”

“I know.” Dar followed him to the register, quickly browsing and selecting a pair of soft moccasins as well.

He folded the items neatly into a few squares of tissue paper. “You know, we’ve got a pay out plan, if you’re interested.”  His hands paused as Dar’s platinum card landed on the paper. “Then again, who needs compound interest, right?” Respectfully, he lifted the card and glanced at it, before he swiped it and handed it back ‘Interesting name.”

“Not my choice.” Dar tucked it away.  She took a sip of her ghoulish mug while she waited for the receipt to print, trying not to think about how ludicrous it was that she was actually considering not only going to the company Halloween party, a first in itself, but dressing up for it.

“Thanks.” She signed the slip as he presented it to her, and picked up her bags. “Good luck with this place.”

“No problem.” The man smiled at her. “You know, you could almost pass as native yourself, except for those white man’s eyes.” He extended a hand. “Nice talking to you, Paladar.”

Dar took the grip, and returned it, finding a strong, calloused hand clasped in hers. “Same here.” She replied briefly, before she turned and edge out of the small store, wandering over to the seawall and sitting down on it as she regarded the bag in her hands.

Halloween party, Dar? What the hell has gotten into you? Wasn’t it you who told Kerry, just today, that you didn’t do company parties?

Kerry, of course, was going because it was her first one, and the kid was still trying to fit in and all. Dar pondered her shoelace, plucking at it with idle fingers.

Wonder what she’s wearing?

**

Kerry took a deep breath of newly cool morning air as she walked across the parking lot at ILS. It was early, just past dawn, and she was one of the few workers now entering the large building.

“Morning, Kerry.” Duks Draefus suddenly appeared next to her, his large frame popping out of nowhere and almost scaring her.  “What is that you have there?”

Duks was, she knew, relatively a good guy. He was a close colleague of her bosses, and Kerry also knew Dar considered him a friend. Still, she didn’t know him that well, and he was, after all, Dar’s peer. “Oh, just my Halloween duds, Mr. Draefus.”  She told him. “Are you going to the party?”

“Ah.” Duks courteously held the door for her, and followed her inside the building. They both showed their badges to the guard, and were let through, joining a small sprinkling of others heading for the elevators. “I am afraid I have been coerced into participation in this odd celebration of ancient pagan rituals.”

Kerry wasn’t sure what the response should be to that. She prudently just smiled, and joined him in the elevator, waiting for the doors to shut behind them.  At the last moment, a hand reached out and held the sliding panels open. A split second later the owner of the hand eased around the corner and into the elevator car, picking a spot on the wall near Kerry to lean against.  “Morning.” Kerry greeted her boss, adding a smile that was returned when Dar’s eyes met hers.

“Ah, and a good morning as well, Dar.” Duks rocked up and down on the balls of his feet as the car rose slowly. “You are early today.”

Dar was dressed in her gunmetal gray suit, with a black silk shirt underneath. “Meeting at eight.” She replied tersely.  “What’s that?” She indicated Kerry’s suit bag.

“My costume.” Kerry said. “For the party tonight.”

Dar’s brows twitched. “I figured that out on my own. What kind of costume?”

Duks kept quiet, his eyes going from one to the other with interest.

“I think we’re supposed to keep that a secret.” Kerry murmured, as the elevator reached the fourteenth floor. “Aren’t we? Until the party, I mean.”

Dar held the door as they all exited. Duks waved and went the other way towards his offices, while Dar and Kerry moved on towards their own. “Ah, but I’m not going to the party.” Dar reminded her assistant. “Besides, I can keep a secret.”

Kerry surrendered gracefully, slowing as they approached her office door. “It’s… not that much really. I just went out and got some... um... “

Dar leaned against the wall, her arms folded, one eyebrow lifted to her hairline.  “How bad can this be?” She asked dryly.

Why was she so damn tongue tied all of a sudden? Kerry frowned inwardly, and gave herself a little shake. It was just Dar, after all. “It’s not bad; it’s kinda fun, really.  I put together sort of a revolutionary era outfit.”

Dar cocked her head to one side, intrigued. “Revolutionary?  As in George Washington and that stuff?”

Kerry nodded. “Right.”

“Where’s you find the bonnet and apron?”

“Bo…”  Kerry felt herself blushing unexpectedly. “Oh, no... Um...  it’s not the...  it’s the coat, and the frilly shirt, and... .”

“Oooh. The guy’s outfit.” Dar said.  “Right, gotcha.”  She gave Kerry a grin and a pat on the shoulder. “Good choice.”  Then she turned and headed for her own office, leaving a very bemused Kerrison Stuart behind her.

“What on earth did she mean by that?” Kerry wondered aloud.

“Pardonamente, Kerry?” Maria appeared at her elbow. “Did you ask me something?”

“Uh…no.” Kerry cleared her throat. “No, I was just saying I was going to go get some coffee, that’s all.”  She smiled at Maria. “Morning!”

“Buenos Dias, Kerry.” Maria smiled back, and went on her way.

Shaking her head, Kerry went into her office, stopping by her small closet to stash her costume on her way to her desk.  The sun was pouring in the window, and she spent a moment enjoying the view before she pulled her chair out and sat down. Only then did she notice the three foil covered disks.

Curiously, she picked one up. “Peanut butter cups? How did they get here?”  Someone, of course, must have left them, but… “How did someone know I love these things?”  They hadn’t been there when she’d left the night before, and she’d been the last person in the wing to leave except…

Dar.

Kerry studied the cup seriously. Then she unwrapped it, sniffed delicately at the creamy chocolate, and popped it into her mouth. “Mm.”  Peanut butter cups for breakfast, Kerry. How completely, totally awful is that?

Awful.  Cheerfully, she licked her fingers, then got up and retrieved her mug, heading out to get some coffee to wash the treats down.

**

Dar entered her office, glaring dourly at the afternoon sunlight before she yanked her chair out and claimed it, pulling open her desk drawer and retrieving a bottle of aspirin.  “Stupid sons of bitches.” She cursed, shaking out several pills and tossing the bottle back in the drawer. “Don’t have the brains god gave a grasshopper, I swear.”

Her intercom buzzed softly. “Dar?”

“Yeah.” Dar muttered. “What is it, Maria?”  She propped her elbows on her desk and rubbed her temples, trying to ease the throbbing ache.

“I have two messages here for you, from Mr. Alastair.”

“I have a cell phone, and he knows how to use it.” Dar growled. “Anything else?”

“Si. Your lunch is still here, on my desk. Do you want me to bring it in for you?”

Dar winced. “No.” She swallowed bile at the thought of the cold meatloaf. “I’ll pass.”  She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got the ops meeting in five minutes anyway.”  With a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and trudged over to the small executive refrigerator under the credenza in her office, opening the door and removing a small, brown plastic bottle. She took it, and her project folder, and headed for the door.

The rest of her operations team was already there by the time she reached the conference room. That wasn’t surprising, generally speaking no one was ever late to one of her department meetings because that was one of Dar’s pet peeves and they all knew it.

So, she wasn’t surprised to see the table already full when she pushed the door open and made for her seat, the end one near the window.  She was glad this was the last meeting of the day, and she’d already chucked her nascent idea of attending the Halloween party, deciding to just go home and maybe spend some time in the gym instead.

As she sat, she glanced up the table and found her gaze caught and held halfway down by a pair of warm, concerned green eyes. Kerry usually sat in the middle of the group, and now she was leaning on her elbows, watching Dar’s face and waiting for whatever she had to say.

Dar relaxed a little, and took a sip of her chocolate milk. “Other than the fact that I’m gonna have to fistfight Eleanor for our slice of the budget, I’ve got nothing worthwhile to tell you.”

Everyone was silent, digesting that. “Can I sell tickets?” Mark Polenti spoke up, hesitantly. “I figure I can get at least ten bucks a pop, since it’s only gonna last five seconds.”

That got a chuckle from everyone, and even got a smile from Dar.

“Not even.” Cherylee Simons waved a finger at him. “She’ll be screaming “No Mas!’ and running out the building before it even starts.”

“You wouldn’t try to bite her ear off, wouldja, boss?”

Dar acknowledged the banter with a wave of her hand. “All right, all right.  That’s enough.” She rested her chin on her fist.  “Your turn.”

One by one they dutifully reported little items and big ones, successes and failures.  Dar found herself listening with half an ear, though, her thoughts seeming to wander elsewhere.   She made a few notes in her palm pilot, just to keep everyone on their toes, and wished the day was over.

Then her eyes were drawn to a flashing indicator on her palm device, and she glanced at it in puzzlement before she reached out and tapped the square with her stylus.

A tiny pumpkin appeared.

Dar looked up and around the table. Several of her staff carried the palm devices, but only one had theirs out and open.

Kerry folded her hands in front of her Palm and cleared her throat a little. “Not much to report here.” She stated softly.  “The three new accounts we just signed should be ready for integration next week, and we have their site surveys all ready for Mark.”  Her eyes lifted and met Dar’s. “We cleared the problems we were having in customs in Canada. I think the big order you needed is being rerouted through Newfoundland, and it should get to London tomorrow night.”

Dar grinned at her.  “Good work.”

Kerry smiled back, visibly pleased at the praise.  “That’s all from my end.”  She said. “We’re doing the server migration next week for Australia. I think we’re ready.” Her eyes shifted to Mark. “We are ready, right?”

“You betcha.” Mark agreed. “Three hundred servers, two big pipes, six routers, no waiting. We just need a name for the project.”

“How about Pumpkin.” Dar drawled, keeping her eyes on Kerry’s face.  The blond woman flashed a slightly sheepish grin, as her fingers twirled her stylus a touch nervously.  “I like that.”

Mark shrugged. “Sure. Right time of year for it.” He scribbled something on his pad. “Pumpkin is it, boss.”  He shuffled a paper. “For my stuff, we’re mostly okay, except that we’re outta boxes for the sales department.”

“What?” Dar barked. “They just got a hundred. What the hell are they doing with em, using them as planters?”

“I dunno.”

“FIND OUT.” Dar growled. “That jackass Jose is probably letting his little favorites take the damn things home.  I’ll have his cojones on a platter if he is.”

“I’ll see what I can find out.” Kerry interjected mildly. “I’ve got a meeting with them tomorrow morning.”  She cleared her throat again. “But I’ll, um... leave his c…cojones where they are unless you really, really want them.”

There was a moment of honest surprise from the group. Kerry had been with them so short a time, she hadn’t ventured into the familiar language with any of the group, let alone Dar.   They stared curiously at her, and then everyone looked at Dar for her reaction.

Dar exhaled, pursing her lips as though seriously considering the question.  Then she shrugged. “Hell. Even if I petrified them, they’d only be the size of marbles. Why bother?”  Her blue eyes twinkled gently at Kerry. “See if you can get the truth out of him. I know he throws incentives to his best people – and I don’t care, but the replacements have to come from his budget.”

“Okay.” Kerry nodded.

“That’s it.” Dar pushed back from the table. “See you tomorrow.”  She stood up and headed for the door, not looking back.

The atmosphere in the room relaxed palpably as soon as Dar left.  Everyone sat back and stretched, some taking notes and stuffing them into briefcases. “Man, Big D was grumpy today.”  Cherylee sighed.

“Like there’s a difference?” One of her assistants remarked, wryly. “I’ve never seen her in a good mood. How can you tell?”

Cherylee chuckled, and rolled her eyes. “True... true… “She looked at Kerry. “You lucked out, though. She likes you.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Hey, I just do what I need to do.” Kerry held a hand up in negation. “Has nothing to do with luck or like.”

“She’s right.” Mark interjected smoothly. “She knows her shit, and Big D knows it. That’s all it takes, you all know that.”

“You should know.” Cherylee told him. “You’re the favorite boy.”

“I know my shit.” Mark spread his hands out, radiating confidence. “And I never BS her. That’s where you get your ass nailed, Chery.” He said. “She knows every time you try to dump sugar on something.”

“Yeah, yeah.” The woman got up. “Well, I’m going to go get my party hat on.” She glanced at Kerry. “You going?”

Kerry nodded, as she packed up her notes. “Yep, wouldn’t miss it.”

“Oo.. first time in five years we’ll have someone from Ops Exec in there.” Cherylee laughed. “Someone bring a camera.”

**

Kerry decided to relax with a cup of tea before changing into her costume for the party.  She kicked her shoes off under her desk and leaned back, cradling her mug between her hands and sipping from it.

It had been a pretty good day. She’d gotten most of her worklist done before lunch, and she realized she was getting accustomed to the much faster pace of business here at ILS.  Adapting well, in fact.  Kerry found herself really enjoying the challenge most of the time, though there were times when she felt a little overwhelmed.

It wasn’t just her job responsibilities, either. Fitting in with this new, big company had been more stressful than she’d anticipated. Her very visible position put her in the limelight more often than she liked, and she knew herself to be under curious scrutiny even within her own department.

Still.  She opened her drawer and removed her last peanut butter cup, saved from the morning. She unwrapped it and bit into the treat, munching contentedly on it as the light started to fade outside her window.

After she finished, she got up and went to her closet, opening it and zipping open the garment bag she’d stashed her costume in.  A few minutes later, she’d exchanged her business suit and hose for velvet and silk, the soft fabrics feeling wonderful against her skin.   “Mm.” She exhaled in satisfaction. “Much better than a cat costume.”

She buckled the slim leather belt and picked up the case of old jewelry she’d taken from her trunk. Carrying it over to the small credenza under an equally small mirror, she set it down and opened it up. Inside, resting on some old cloth was a family brooch, which she set aside, and an old, time burnished pocket watch.

First, she fastened the fob on the watch to her belt, and then carefully lowered the watch itself into her jacket pocket.  The burnished chain winked against the blue fabric, and she smiled, just a little as she fingered the metal links.

One of the very few things she had that truly, honestly tied her to her family.  The watch had been passed down for generations from father to firstborn son, until her father had decided, for whatever reason, that he was going to give it to his firstborn period.

So when she’d turned eighteen, he’d taken her into his study, and given her a speech about traditions, and handed her this piece of history that had been through at least four wars and countless hands.  She opened the cover and gazed at the engraving.  It was simple, just the family surname, and the date the watch had been created.

Tradition. Kerry sighed, and closed the lid, putting the watch back into her pocket. Her parents had called her last night, and then she’d talked to Angie and Mike.  As much as she loved her life here, she had to admit she missed her family, missed the closeness and intimacy of her siblings and the familiarity of home.

She had friends here, but it wasn’t the same. They didn’t know her, and she didn’t know them, not really.

A soft knock brought her out of her pensive thoughts. “Yes?”

Her inner door opened, and Dar’s head appeared, the startling blue eyes tracking across the office until they rested on her. “Oh, hi.”

“Hi.” Dar entered and shut the door behind her, a smile edging across her lips as she reviewed Kerry’s costume.

“What do you think?” Kerry always felt more relaxed when she and Dar were alone. Maybe their experiences together during the Consolidated integration made her feel that way, but when they were by themselves, out from under the ever watchful eyes, she felt more at ease with her often intimidating new boss.

“What do I think?” Dar walked over to her and folded her arms over her chest, her black silk shirt with its rolled sleeves catching the light.  She reviewed the slim figure before her in its revolutionary garb, and grinned. “Cute outfit.”

Kerry felt a mixture of confusion and pleasure. “Thanks.” She fiddled with the brooch. “Can I ask a favor?”

Blue eyes regarded her warily. “Sure.”

“Could you pin this?” She indicated her cravat, and the brooch. “I’ll never get it centered.”

Dar took the brooch from her and stepped forward, entering Kerry’s personal space. She carefully worked the catch on the jewelry, and pinned it in place, as Kerry stood motionless.

So close, that Kerry could smell the faintly spicy perfume Dar wore, and see the heartbeat pulsing in her throat.

“There ya go.” Dar finished and stepped back, regarding her work. “Good enough?”

Kerry glanced down. “Great.” She grinned. “Thanks.”  Then she looked back up. “Did you need something? I just realized you’re probably not here to give me a hand dressing.”

Dar fidgeted, and then re-crossed her arms. “I... um...” She paused, uncharacteristically. “Really, I just came over to say good night.”  She shrugged. “Have a good time at the party.”

“You should go.” Kerry found herself saying.

“Home?” Dar’s eyebrows lifted.

“To the party.”

“I’m not a party animal.”  The dark haired woman shrugged. “Besides, most of those people hate my guts. I don’t want to sour their punch.”

“Mmph.” Kerry frowned.

“You got a hat to go with that?” Dar changed the subject. “To make you a proper Yankee?” She let a bit of her natural southern accent emerge.

Kerry suspected she was being teased, so she grinned, but retrieved her tri-cornered hat and settled it on her head. “I’m all set.”  She put a hand on the door handle, turning her gaze on Dar. “Won’t you come just for a few minutes? It’s just a party.”

Dar’s eyes dropped, and then lifted again. “Really not my style. Have fun, okay?” She lifted a hand farewell, and retreated to the back hallway door.

“Okay.” Kerry sighed, disturbingly aware of how empty the room seemed without her fascinating if perplexing boss in it. But she put aside her disappointment and checked her image one more time in the mirror, straightening her hat before she left her office and headed towards the presentation room.

**

Dar slumped in her chair, her eyes ostensibly studying the screen in front of her. She had no idea what was on it, but she suspected it wasn’t pleasant, so when a knock came at her door, she abandoned whatever it was gladly. “Come.”

The door opened, and Maria stuck her head inside. The sight of her administrative assistant made Dar grin, if for no other reason than she had a bright red ball stuck on the end of her nose. “Maria... is that you behind there?”

“Si.” Maria entered, and shuffled over to the desk. She was dressed as a clown, with bright red curly hair, a polka dotted outfit, and overlarge shoes. “I am so the ‘it’, no?”

Dar had to laugh.  “Maria, you’ve got more guts than I do, I’ll tell ya that.” She admitted. “I could never pull that off.”

Maria smiled. “It is only for the one night, and my familias does not celebrate the Halloween, so I have fun.”  She clasped her hands in front of her. “Will you not stop by and see the other funny things? I hear Mr. Draefus is coming as the bear.”

What is it with everyone today? “You know I don’t do parties, Maria.” Dar told her. “Besides, with you and Kerry, our office is damn well represented this year.”

“Ah.” Maria nodded. “Si, then Kerry is also going?”

Dar nodded. “Yeah, she’s dressed up as George Washington or something.” She told her admin. “Real cute.”

Maria studied her face intently. “You know, Jefa, I worry about her in this place. I think she is finding it not so easy to get into how we are.”

“What do you mean?” Dar’s brows contracted. “I thought she was doing fine. She does a good job.”

“Oh, no, si, I mean, yes of course she does!” Maria corrected herself. “But I think she does not find the friends here so fast. It is because of what she is doing, I think. The people, they do not know how to be with her.”

“Yeah.” Dar exhaled. “She’s in a lousy spot.” She admitted. “Everyone in our group has to report to her, and everyone outside it won’t go near her because they’re scared of me.”

Maria suppressed a smile. “Si.” She nodded sadly. “It is too bad, she is so nice.”

“Yeah.” That worried Dar, because she did like the kid, and wanted her to be happy at ILS, didn’t she? Kerry was a great assistant, a great employee, had great potential…

“It is too bad she will not have a friend to have the fun with at the party tonight, Jefe.” Maria presented the politest, most gentile Cuban attack Dar had ever felt.  “I think you are the closest to that for her, here.”

Dar looked at her. “I think I’m being bushwhacked.”

“I do not know how to, as you say, whack a bush, Jefe, but I am doing a good one, yes?”

The double meaning of the words almost cost Dar her composure.  She scrubbed her face with one hand, and took a deep breath, then relaxed back into her chair, surrendering with far less struggle than she’d ever thought she could. “All right.”  She let her hands drop to the chair arms, and gave her admin a wry smile. “Besides, I’ve got this damn stupid thing I bought to wear in the damn closet. Might as well use it.”

Maria smiled broadly. “Jefe! You did not!”

“Yeah, I did.” Dar admitted. “So, g’wan.  With any luck, the entire room’ll pass out when I show up and it’ll be a short party.”

“I am going.” Maria looked supremely satisfied, at least as much as someone could with bright pink lipstick circles on their cheeks. “I will see you there, Dar. It is good.”  She turned and marched, or rather, shuffled out, closing the door behind her.

Dar sat for a moment, absorbing the implications of what she was doing. Then she grinned, and threw caution out the window as she jumped up and headed for where she’d stashed her costume.

**

Kerry edged into a place near the wall, letting her eyes get used to the low, odd lighting as she looked around the room.  The decorators had done a great job – there were balloon headed witches, ghosts, goblins and other… things wafting from the ceiling, along with bats and spiders. Someone had a dry ice machine tucked away somewhere because a low layer of fog obscured the floor.

Two large bars on opposite sides of the room were dispensing sodas, beer and wine, and there were two very long tables on the remaining walls that had various goodies on them.  In the center of the room, a large area had been cleared, and around it were small tables where people were sitting and talking.  Two of the tables had been taken over by fortune tellers, and they had a brisk business going around them.

Spooky music was playing, and the lights were low, covered in richly colored plastic that painted everything in bizarre colors.

Kerry decided she preferred it to the way the presentation room looked normally. As she glanced around, she saw several eyes turn away from hers, and felt suddenly very self conscious.

“Hey, Kerry.”  Mark popped up next to her, dressed as a vampire. “Wanna ‘bite’ to eat?” He showed his impressively glow in the dark fangs.

“Yikes.” Kerry chuckled; glad she could at least talk to someone.  “This place is wild.”

“Yeah.” Mark spit out the fangs, and ran his tongue around his teeth. “I hate the taste of plastic.” He commented, tucking the items away for later. “This ain’t bad. I like to just hang out and watch how stupid everyone looks.”

Well. Kerry watched one of the marketing analysts shimmy across the cleared center space heading for the bar. “What’s that supposed to be?” She queried.

Mark looked, then tilted his head sideways and looked again. “I think she thinks its Carmen Miranda.” He said. “Either that, or she’s representing the sausage industry.”

“Wow.” Kerry murmured. “That’s different.”

“But hey, I love your costume.” Mark went on. “Real slick.” He admired the silk jacket. “I knew you wouldn’t do anything... ahm… “

“Stupid.” Kerry supplied, with a wry smile. “No, I didn’t think my first company party would be the time or place for that.” She said. “Anyway, I’m going to go get a cold cup of something.”

“Okay, see ya in a bit.” Mark flourished his cape around him and stalked off, bent on scaring as many unsuspecting victims he could.

With a sigh, Kerry headed off through the growing crowd towards the bar, returning mostly cordial smiles as she approached it.  “Hi.” She greeted the bartender, laboring under a full set of blue makeup and chains. “What kind of beer do you have?”

The man mutely held up two bottles. Kerry pointed at one, and was rewarded with a plastic cup full of her choice on tap.  She took it and turned, wondering where to go next.

“Ah, Kerry. We were just talking about you.” Eleanor appeared at her elbow, dressed as Cruella DeVille, complete with spotted fake fur cape.  “Why don’t you come over and join us?”  She took Kerry’s arm and led her over to one of the small tables, where Jose and a number of their cronies were gathered.

Yippee, my favorite people. Kerry sighed inwardly. But at least it was someone to talk to, sort of.  She allowed herself to be drawn into the group, and returned the various murmurs and smiles of greeting.

“Hey, that’s a nice outfit.” Jose commented. “Mozart, right?”

“Jose, you’re so uncultured.” Eleanor rolled her eyes. “It’s obviously revolutionary period, isn’t it, Kerry?”

“That’s right.” Kerry nodded. “That’s a lovely cape, Eleanor.”

The marketing VP beamed at her. “Thank you! Now, see, Jose? Did you ever figure to hear that out of the mouth of anyone in that office?”

Jose rolled his eyes. “I don’t expect shit from that office. No offense, all right?” He glanced at Kerry. “You are a nice kid, but don’t expect to last long there. Nobody does.”

“Jose!” Eleanor frowned at him. “Please! Don’t scare her off. She’s the only civilized voice we’ve got in that cesspool.”

Kerry didn’t expect the cold anger that suddenly grabbed her.  She suspected it showed on her face, though, because the two women closest to her backed off a step, and Jose had the grace to look uncomfortable.  “Excuse me.” She managed to get out in a quiet, civil tone. “I happen to have a lot of respect and admiration for the person I work for, and I’d rather not be a part of this conversation.”

“Now, I’m sure Jose didn’t mean it quite that way...” Eleanor started, but she found herself speaking to Kerry’s silk jacketed back as she turned and simply walked away, moving through the crowd with an unconscious grace.  “Son of a bitch.”

Jose grunted. “Thought she’d figured it out by now. “

Eleanor sighed vexedly. “She’s intelligent. I don’t understand why she still doesn’t get it.”

Kerry blocked out the words as she headed towards the other side of the room. She was surprised how much her insides were shaking with anger over the insults thrown Dar’s way, and she decided the hell with it. She’d finish her beer and just take off. Had to be something on television she’d be better off watching rather than stick around here.

“Hola, Kerry.”

Kerry slowed, then paused as she came upon Maria standing in a circle of some of her friends. “Hi, Maria. That’s such a cute outfit.” She murmured.

“Muchas gracias, and you, too, look very well.” Maria returned the compliment. “That is so pretty on you.”

Yeah. “Thanks.” Kerry replied quietly, as she glanced around them.  “It’s just something I…” Her words trailed off as her eyes fell on a tall figure that had just entered the room.

Oh boy.  Kerry was startlingly aware of a truth that came home and hit her in the groin so hard her knees shook.

“Ah, good.” Maria seemingly didn’t notice the suddenly stunned speechless woman next to her. “I am so glad el Jefe decided to come, after all. “ She commented placidly.  “That is a very interesting costume, is it not, Kerry?”

Interesting. Kerry blinked. Her boss was wearing a pair of buckskin leather pants, decorated with beading and shells and a halter like top that covered just the front of her and little else.  Her shoulders and arms were bare except for thin bands of beads around her biceps, and her hair had a long, colorful feather threaded through it.

She walked with a catlike grace appropriate to the Indian garb, and her customary attitude of almost feral intensity fit the outfit to perfection.

“Uh. Yeah.” Kerry managed to get the words out. “Very interesting.”  She finally got her composure back, and licked her lips. “I didn’t think she was... she said she didn’t do parties.”

“There is always a first time.” Maria remarked. “Dar is never the predictable.”  She looked at Kerry with bright, twinkling eyes. “You should tell her how nice her costume is. Maybe she will do another party again.”

“I should.” Kerry rolled the words around in her mouth. “Yeah, you’re right, Maria. I should.” She took control of herself and started purposefully towards her boss.   All of a sudden, the party was definitely looking up.

**

Dar paused before she pushed open the door to the presentation room; shifting her posture and glancing down to make sure her urchins were where they were supposed to be.  The air conditioning brushed against her bare shoulder blades, and she was conscious suddenly of the amount of skin she had showing.

Was this a smart idea?  She glanced at one of the mirrored panels on either side of the door and reviewed the outlandish figure looking back at her. Maybe not. She frowned at her reflection, and was about to turn around and go back to her office when the double doors opened and Duks emerged in his bear suit.

It was hard to say which one of them was more surprised. “I cannot believe my eyes.” Duks spluttered. “Dar?”

Oh well. Dar exhaled, seeing the eyes suddenly looking her way from inside the room. Guess I’m going in.  “Yeah.” She plucked at Duk’s furry outfit. “What the hell is this?”

“It was either that, or a cowboy outfit.” Mariana emerged, her eyes taking in Dar’s tall form. “Hm... you two could have come as a pair if he’d worn that. Good heavens, Dar... that’s quite a getup.”

Dar shrugged. “Let me go in there, shock everyone senseless, get a drink, and get outta here.” She started past them. “If they don’t run screaming out the door.”   Fortifying herself with a deep breath, she entered the presentation room, summoning up as much attitude as she could to cover up the embarrassment.

She paused just inside the door to get her bearings, and let her eyes adjust to the dark. Not that it stopped everyone nearby from staring, naturally, and as she moved off towards the nearest bar, she heard the whispers start up behind her.

“Oh, that’s appropriate. Where’s the tomahawk.”

“Savage... yeah, that’s about right.”

“I can’t believe she showed up. Did someone die?”

Resolutely, Dar kept on her path, with each step regretting more and more her decision to come. She’d almost reached the bar when she was intercepted by a short, blond, nattily dressed person coming in the other direction.  Warily, she paused, waiting for Kerry’s reaction, her expression hard to discern in the dim light.

“Hey.” Kerry’s voice was warm. “Thought you weren’t coming.”

Dar shrugged. “Had nowhere else to wear this.” She replied tersely.

“Too bad.” Her assistant said. “It’s gorgeous. You look great in it.”

Hm. Dar’s ego pricked its ears up cautiously. Was that genuine admiration or just Kerry’s usual charming good manners?  She decided to be direct. “You’re not just saying that because I’m your boss, are you?”

Kerry’s eyes lifted and met hers, and Dar knew the answer before the blond woman said a word.

“No.” Kerry said, with a warm smile. “I said it because it’s true. It just really fits you somehow.”

Well, then. Dar felt a little better about showing up. She turned and addressed the bartender. “Whadda ya got?”  She reviewed the offerings. “Gimme a wine cooler.”

Kerry handed over her mostly full cup. “Can I get a cold one of these? I’ve been carrying it around for a while.”

They took their drinks and moved to one side of the bar, to a quieter spot near the wall.  Kerry leaned back and sipped her beer, watching the crowd wryly. “Dar?”

“Hm?”

“Everyone is looking at us.”

“Umhm.” Dar agreed. “They’re expecting us to act out the frontier Indian wars. I think I’m supposed to knock you over the head, and carry you out over my shoulder.”

Kerry almost spit her beer out a foot in front of her.  She covered her mouth and managed to swallow, then wiped her face. “Oh, god. That’d make the company newspaper.”

Dar chuckled. “Yeah.” She sipped her wine cooler, waiting for the crowd to find something more interesting to watch.  “Am I interrupting your fun?”

Kerry remained silent for a moment, deciding how to answer. “No.”  She decided on honesty. “I was about to leave. I’m not really comfortable around here yet.” She said. “People still look at me like a cross between a simpleton and a nutball.”

Dar felt vaguely like a somewhat tarnished knight in leather armor.  “That’s okay.” She told her assistant wryly. ‘They look at me like a cross between Satan and the IRS.”  A smile flickered across her face and disappeared. “Want to hang out together?  At least we can talk about the same subjects and understand each other.”

Kerry accepted the compliment with a broad grin.  “Yes I would, thanks.” She indicated the long tables. “Want to see what they’ve got over there?”

“Lead on, Kemosabe.” Dar replied, with a smirk.

**

They found themselves a small table near the back of the room, after they picked up plates from the buffet and sat down. “Is this traditional Halloween food here in Miami?” Kerry inquired, regarding her plate of Southern Cuban Caribbean delicacies with a wry expression.

Dar chuckled softly. “They try to put in a little of everything.”

“So I see.” Kerry inspected her tablemate’s plate. “What is that?” She pointed curiously with her fork.

“Hush puppy.” Dar answered.

“I thought those were shoes.”

“They are.” Dar broke her puppy in half and placed one half on Kerry’s plate. “They grind them up and deep fry them when they’re old and used up.”  She took a bite of her half and chewed it, regarding her assistant’s widened eyes innocently. “You know what they say in the south... good enough batter, you kin deep fry any damn thing and it’ll taste jest fine.”

Kerry put her fork down, and held up both hands, as she peered at Dar with all seriousness. “You are kidding me, aren’t you?” She pointed. “That is not really ground up shoes, right?”

Dar kept her straight face for a moment more, then gave it up and chuckled. “Yeah, it’s just deep-fried cornmeal. Relax.”

“Ah.” Kerry investigated the item, cutting a bit of it off with her fork and putting it into her mouth. She chewed it and swallowed thoughtfully. “That’s pretty good, actually.” She admitted. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have a twisted sense of humor?”

“Shh.” Dar made a show of looking around. “If word gets out I have one at all, I’m gonna have to kill somebody to disprove it.”  She said, casually watching Kerry’s face. The blond woman’s eyes twinkled in amusement, and half grin pulled at her lips.  Dar returned it, enjoying the time with her interesting and intelligent new subordinate.

She liked Kerry, she’d decided.  Both as an employee, and as a person.  The blond woman was not only good at what she did, she was sharp in ways very few other people Dar knew were. Though she appeared good natured, and something of an innocent, there was a very keen, politically aware mind behind the soft green eyes, and it was flexible enough to readily absorb Dar’s sometimes offbeat teasing and give back just as good.

“So.” Kerry finished her chicken breast. “Are you really Southern, or was that accent just a put on?”

Dar played around with her beans and rice briefly, considering how to answer. “It’s real.” She replied. “I grew up down South of here, but I’ve been around a lot so most of it’s worked its way out.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I use it sometimes when I want to piss Jose off.” Dar offered.

“He really doesn’t like you.” Kerry said, giving Dar an apologetic look. “Does he?”

Dar shook her head. “Most people don’t.”

That was, Kerry knew, the truth. She had only to look around them and see the veiled stares to know that. Her political sense told her that her life would be quantum leaps easier if she joined the majority, and got in with Eleanor and Jose’s group, distancing herself from Dar as best as she was able.

Well. Screw that. “I do.”  Kerry stated cheerfully. “Does that make me one of the few and proud?”

Dar looked up in surprise and their eyes met. She took a breath to answer, but shadows looming over them forced them to acknowledge two unwelcome visitors. “Yeah?” A cold shadow dropped over Dar’s face as Eleanor and Jose sat down at the table.

“Why, Dar, darling. We just came over to see if it was really you.” Eleanor smiled at her. “I’ve never, ever seen you at a party.”

“It’s me.” Dar stated. “Anything else you want to know?”

“What kind of god damned costume is that? You think you’re a Peter Pan or something?”

“Peter Pan?” Kerry mouthed silently to herself, her eyebrows contracting in puzzlement.

“It’s... lovely… Dar, really.” Eleanor gave her condescending look.

“Coming from a skunk and a monkey, that’s pretty damn funny.” Dar replied. “Why don’t you both go share fleas over in the corner? You’re making me itch.”

Kerry hastily wiped a grin off her face as Eleanor turned to her, seeking an easier victim.

“So, Kerry. Tell me. What are you and the missing link here chatting about?”

“Multipathed integrated routing tables.” Kerry replied. “And the implementation of the new IEEE specifications... interested?”

Eleanor got up. “You know, dear, I think I was wrong. I think you’re just exactly where you should be in this company.”  She plucked Jose’s hairy sleeve. “C’mon, Jose. I see some wine glasses with our names on them.”

A loud squeal stopped most of the conversation, and then Mariana got control of her microphone and waved.  “Okay, folks. Welcome to the party.”

Everyone cheered and clapped.

“I’m glad so many of you could join us.” Mariana said, making a point of looking right at Dar and grinning. “I think this might be the first time we have our entire executive contingent here, and it’s great to see that.”

Dar rolled her eyes.

“Now.” Mariana held up a sheaf of papers. “I’ve got some pretty nifty incentives here that were donated from our various clients.  As you all know, I can’t just give them out, because if I do, then you all have to pay taxes on them.”

Good natured groaning arose.

“So, as usual, now I have to come up with stupid party games so one of you can ‘win’ these lovely items.” Mariana concluded.  “I’ve decided to have to kinds. One, we’ll give two of these items to the best costumes, as chosen by our panel of distinguished judges... “She pointed to her right, where the two fortune tellers were now seated. The women waved happily.  “And two, we’ll have a contest to see which team of two people can keep a volleyball in the air the longest.”

Dar snorted softly. “Well, it’s fair.” She concluded, resting her chin on her fist. “People who went all out in costumes can’t really do volleyballs, and people who are capable of doing volleyballs probably didn’t go all out in costume.”

“She’s pretty sharp.” Kerry agreed. “What are the prizes?”

“I have no idea.” Dar replied. “Usually day cruises, things like that.”

“Hm.” Kerry watched as two of Mariana’s assistants came out with four volleyballs. “I’ve never been on a cruise. “ She turned to Dar. “Want to give the volleyballs a try with me?” She stripped off her jacket, and slung it over her chair.

Dar was caught seriously flatfooted.

Kerry blushed slightly. “Sorry, I can find someone else to ask. You probably would rather eat nails then get up there. Maybe Mark’ll do it.” She started to get up, and then stopped when Dar put a hand out. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” Dar disagreed. “If you really want to win it. Mark’s got the eye hand coordination of a pelican.” She didn’t stop to think. “Sure, I’ll do it. C’mon.”

And, actually, Dar had to acknowledge, the look on Mariana’s face when grabbed one of the volleyballs made the whole thing worth it.

**

Kerry found Dar’s rhythm quickly, after only a few tosses back and forth of the ball. She lightly tapped the surface with her fingertips with a sure skill learned over many hours of playing the game.  She’d liked volleyball, actually, though she’d been at a serious height disadvantage against her much taller teammates and opponents.

Dar didn’t appear to be that familiar with the sport, but Kerry quickly found that her bosses’ natural athletic skill more than made up for that. Dar’s reach was outrageous, and she could return the ball to Kerry even with her arm stretched out to one side, attesting to the strength of her shoulders.

At first, it was hard, because she knew how many eyes were on her. She suspected Dar did also, but they both concentrated, and after a few minutes she started to have fun.  She heard Mark hooting behind them, and saw Dar’s quick grin in acknowledgement.

Then those blue eyes were turned on her, and Kerry almost missed her hit. She recovered and sent the ball heading towards Dar, who batted it lazily back at her.

A shriek next to her, and she saw a ball go bounding into the crowd from the corner of one eye.  Two of the contestants retired, laughing ruefully.  That cleared a little space, and Kerry edged over, keeping her attention on Dar’s body, shifting under its light covering. She could see the muscles just under Dar’s skin jump and move, and her long torso seemed to have a lot of elastic power in it.

Kerry saw the ball heading back towards her and she moved over a bit, getting under it and popping it back with her fingertips. She was jostled then by the man next to her, who muttered an apology before he frantically tried to return a badly tossed ball from his partner.

“Hey.” Dar’s voice brought her attention sharply back, just in time to get the ball coming right for her face. She frowned at herself and re-sharpened her focus, getting back into the rhythm they’d established.

Dar tapped the ball back, and she went for it, and then found her opponent banging into her again, knocking her off balance. She got one hand on the ball, but it went back in a crazy arc, forcing Dar to leap after it. Her opponent tripped and almost made her go down, but she somehow managed to jump over his legs, precariously keeping her footing while she cast her eyes back in Dar’s direction.

Her boss had followed her motions precisely, getting a hand on the ball just before it hit the ground to give Kerry the most time she could in getting back on her feet. As she lifted her hands, Dar sent the ball back, along with a rakish grin and a wink.

The crowd clapped unexpectedly.

Yeah! Kerry tried to keep a handle on her competitive impulse, but felt it getting the better of her as she realized there were only two teams left.  The prize was irrelevant, she knew.  The winning was what she wanted, the winning, and the fact that it would be her, and Dar that did it.

That mattered most, all of a sudden.

Dar had just the biggest piratical grin on her face now, as they tossed the ball back and forth confidently.  Kerry knew she did too, and as the other team faltered, and their ball went rolling off, she sent a last volley Dar’s way, as Mariana whistled into her mic.

Dar caught the ball and palmed it, then came towards Kerry and met her impulsive high five.

Their eyes met.

“What a team.” Mariana announced, laughing into the microphone.

And for the space of a few heartbeats, those words seemed to echo around them as they bumped shoulders and bounced off each other, Dar reaching a hand out to steady her as Kerry released her excess emotion.

Mariana handed them the slip of paper, still laughing. “I can’t believe you.” She addressed Dar. “What the heck got into you tonight?”

Dar tried to shrug it off. “Long as I was here, might as well do it right.”  She drew in a breath, and addressed the still grinning Kerry. “I don’t know about you but… “

“I definitely need a drink.” Kerry agreed. “And some air.” She fanned herself, the packed room having become stuffy.

And so, they found themselves a few minutes later outside on the fourteenth floor balcony, cups in hand, and the entire sea to the horizon before them.

Kerry leaned against the railing and wiped her brow, glad of the cool on shore breeze at her back. “Wow.”

“You can say that again.” Dar replied, with a chuckle. “We’re gonna be hearing about this for the next fiscal decade.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Kerry took a long swallow of her fresh beer, her eyes watching Dar’s profile.

Dar leaned on the railing, looking out at the sea for a minute. “For me? No.” She eventually answered. “For you it might be.”

Kerry cocked her head in question. “How?”

‘If you wanted to go places inside the company, it’s better for you if you stay as clear of me as you can.” Dar spoke very quietly, and very evenly.  She was surprised when Kerry laughed, and she turned to face her. “I was serious.”

“I know.” Kerry let her chuckles wind down. “But – the only place I want to be in this place is where I already am.”  She told her boss. “So I don’t really care what the rest of them think of me for that.”  Now it was her turn to be serious. “Dar, this may be out of line for me to say, but… you’re brilliant. I want to learn from you, to learn from the best, and the rest of this political bullshit doesn’t mean anything to me. I know more about that then anyone here anyway.”  She glanced inside the open doors to the presentation room, and shook her head slightly. “Amateurs.”

Dar regarded her intently for a very long moment, and then her lips edged into a tiny smile. “You know something?”  She said. “Someday you and I are going to sit down and tally up which one of us learned more from whom.”  With that, she lifted her cup and extended it, and watched as Kerry touched the rim with her own.

They finished their drinks in peaceful silence, just enjoying the night air, and the full moon that lit the ocean with a pathway of lurid silver.  Then Kerry half turned and regarded the noisy party, watching as Eleanor paraded before the judges in her costume. “I think I’ve had enough for one night, but with three beers in me, I’d better chill in the corner somewhere before I think about driving home.”

Dar blinked at the doors thoughtfully. “There’s a little coffee shop around the corner. Want to grab a cup instead of waiting in there?”

There were, Kerry was well aware, coffee machines in two varieties on every single floor of ILS’s office building. It was even free.  It was amazing how happy the thought of paying for a cup of the stuff made her.  “Sounds like a good plan.” She complimented her boss. “I don’t suppose you know a back way out of here, do you?”

“Sure.” Dar replied, pointing towards the other side of the balcony.  “Follow me.”

“Anywhere.” Kerry readily complied, as they disappeared into the darkness. She’d started the night lonely for something she’d hardly realized she was missing, and ended it finding far more than she’d ever hoped for.

Only time would reveal where that would lead her.

***

T’was the Night before Christmas…

By Melissa Good

Kerry carefully hung the last, tiny wooden ornament on the tree, stepping back to inspect her work when she was done. “There.” She turned and faced the dark haired, long limbed woman sprawled on the couch watching her. “How’s that?”

Dar tilted her head to one side and reviewed the tree. “Is that the last one?” She stroked the head of a cream colored Labrador who was snoozing on the couch next to her.

“Yep.” Kerry folded her arms across her chest.

“Good, because I think one more and we’d have an avalanche on our hands.” Dar chuckled, grinning when Kerry gave her a mock glower. “It’s perfect, Ker.” She relented, admiring the eight foot tall spruce adorned with lights, tinsel, garlands, and a plethora of twinkling ornaments. “The only thing missing is chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”

“Well, unless you want to stand in the kitchen with me and hold them over the gas burners…” Kerry walked over and sat down next to Dar. “We’ll just have to cope since we have no open fire to roast them on.”

They sat together, and watched the tree twinkle merrily. “Besides…” Kerry said. “There’s no way that tree’s toppling over. There’s too much holding it up.” She regarded the piles and piles of presents underneath the tree. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“To get your presents?” Dar teased. “Or for our party?”

Kerry stuck her tongue out. “Both.” She admitted. “I love Christmas day, for a lot of reasons.”

Dar wiggled her sock covered toes contentedly. “Me, too.” She said. “So how about we go to bed, so it’ll come faster?”

“Okay.” Kerry pushed herself to her feet. “Let me just put Santa’s treat out, okay?” She disappeared into the large, well lit kitchen. A mitt was lying on the counter, and she picked it up and opened the oven with it. “Hm….  Hey, Dar?”

“Yes?” Dar’s voice sounded right behind her, and her breath tickled Kerry’s ear.

Kerry jumped. “Yipe!”

“Mmmm.” Dar ignored the motion and peered over Kerry’s shoulder. “Those smell great.”

“They’re for Santa!” Kerry pointed her mitt at Dar. “So don’t you get any ideas.”  She slipped the mitt on her hand again and removed the tray full of cookies, setting it down on a divot to cool.

“Ho ho ho?” Dar set her chin on Kerry’s shoulder, sniffing hopefully.

“Darrrr……”

“C’mon. There’s a dozen cookies. He won’t miss one.” Dar protested. “And besides, you know I’ll just end up eating them for breakfast.”

Kerry sighed, then picked up the last cookie on the tray, breaking it in half and offering part of it to Dar. “That’s true. Here.” She watched Dar delicately nibble the hot chocolate chip cookie, then took a bite of the other half. “Turned out pretty good, huh?”

“Perfect.” Dar assented. “Slightly crunchy outside, soft inside, nice warm chips.” She walked to the refrigerator. “Only thing it needs is…”

“Milk.” Kerry chuckled as she piled the cookies on a big plate. “Get me a glass to go with this.”  She wasn’t really sure why she kept the tradition, since it was certainly true enough that Dar would make a beeline for the plate the next morning, and they both knew where the presents under that tree out in the living room came from.  But it was a nice tradition – one of giving back a little for what was given, and Kerry had always taken comfort in it.

So, she carried the plate out into the living room, along with the glass of milk and set it on the dining room table next to the beautiful, fragrant centerpiece. Then she turned and held her hands out to Dar, smiling when her partner crossed over and took them. She drew Dar to her and they kissed in front of the tree, putting their arms around each other and simply enjoying the moment. “C’mon, birthday girl. Time to go… “

“Put me in my birthday suit?” Dar inquired.

Kerry grinned. “Yeah.” She plucked one of Dar’s buttons open, and hooked her finger around a second, tugging her towards the bedroom. “Another reason I love Christmas Eve.”

Dar put her arms around Kerry and they managed somehow to make it through the bedroom door without breaking their kiss.  Chino yawned and trotted after them, going to her basket and curling up in it.

In the living room, the tree twinkled on, throwing colorful reflections against the sliding glass windows and mirroring the starry sky without.

Midnight struck, a soft chiming from the clock on the wall that echoed slightly in the quiet, darkened condo.

The branches of the spruce stirred, waving slightly and producing the smallest of tinkles, and the lights were dimmed as a golden mist wound amongst them. It dipped and soared, dusting the interior of the living room in a blanket of warmth before it coalesced into two distinct figures.

“Oo. I like this one, Xe.” Said the first, smaller one.

The larger drifted over. “Nice.”  Came the answer. “But look at this place. Another box. Why do they all live in boxes?”

“Mm… it’s not really a box. More like a bunch of boxes. Look at the window!”

“Which ocean is that?” The figure extended a hand through the glass, then drew it back. “It’s hot outside.”

“I don’t know.” The little one drifted along the walls. “Oh, Xe, look! Look at this!”

The two gilded forms joined. “Fish.” The larger stated pragmatically.

A wisp of light touched the frame. “How did they put the fish in there? It’s flat!”

A low, soft chuckle rippled through the air. “Still asking questions after all this time, hmm?”

“Well. How else do you learn things?” The smaller darted off in a swirl of light. “Oh, Xe, isn’t that pretty?”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, but look at all the little candles.”

“I don’t think they’re candles. No heat.”

“Whatever. This isn’t that different from our cabin, though. See?”

Two clouds of light descended and perched on the couch. “Ah.” The larger chuckled. “Definitely one of ours. Smell that leather.”

The smaller laughed softly. “I don’t think that’s inherited.”

“Sure it is. They all have it.” The larger retorted. “Leather seats, leather bags, leather clothes…”

“Hush.” The smaller whispered. “Oh, Xe…” A twirl of light spiraled up. “This is a happy place.”

The larger figure extended out along the couch, forming into a long, sleek figure resting on its side. Pinpoints of light followed the other drifting cloud. “How can you tell?”

The smaller cloud expanded, throwing tendrils across the space. “I can feel the love.”  It drifted back over to the side of the room. “Oh!”

“Now what?” The larger swirled over, wrapping itself around the smaller with sinuous grace. “More fish?”

“Them.” A tiny tendril pointed at a square.

“Us.” A deeper voice answered.

“Mm.” A moment of silence. “Boy, that’s weird.”

“Yeah.”  The larger separated, and drifted slowly towards the window. It passed over the table, and stopped. “Hm.”

“What?”

“What have we here?” The larger figure solidified on the table, perching on it. “Ah hah.”

A small giggle. “Figures if there were cookies somewhere, you’d find them.”

“Does that mean you don’t want any? Good.”

“Xena.” The smaller figure swirled over. “You can’t eat their cookies.”

“Sure I can. Watch.”  A cookie disappeared into a golden curl. “Mmmmm…” Another one vanished.

“How did you do that?”  The smaller twined with the larger curiously. “Oh.”

“See? Easy.” A dusting of crumbs rained down.

“Mm.” A light laugh. “Still learning things from you after all this time. You’re right. They’re great. But isn’t this stealing?”

“Cookies don’t count.” A soft slurping sound followed. “Cow’s milk. Been a while.”

“I like the little brown things in the cookie. What do you think those are?”

“Dried grapes?”

“Xena.”

“You’re the cook in the family, not me, Gabrielle.” Another cookie vanished. “I think it’s chocolate.”

“Chocolate?”

“Yeah.”

“Hm. I’ll have to go find some when we get back. There’s got to be some of this stuff  in the Elysian Fields *somewhere*.”

The plate shone empty in no time.  The smaller figure drifted back to the tree. “Time to do what we came for.”  Gold swirls trickled around the tree, and the presents underneath it. “You think they need a gift from us? Looks like they have a lot.”

The larger cloud surrounded the smaller. “Presents are always good.”

“You know what I’d give them if I could, Xe?”

“What?”

“A life together that is as long, and as happy as yours and mine was.”

“Mm.” The golden light intensified. “Never thought we’d end up being able to say that.”

A light, delighted laugh. “Life’s so weird.” A brilliant swirl suddenly arced out. “Oh, Xena. Look.”

The larger figure drifted to the wall, and hung there in front of a piece of hardwood with a twisted bit of metal mounted to it. Hesitantly, a golden hand formed and reached up to brush the battered relic, fingers fitting themselves around what was barely recognizable as the hilt of a sword. “By the gods I miss this.”

The smaller figure floated over, and tucked itself around the larger. “Wow. I can’t believe it lasted all this time.”

Slowly, the golden light extended over the old sword, wreathing it in radiance. Then the tendril withdrew. “A gift.” Xena’s low whisper echoed.

“And I’ll add mine.” Gabrielle replied, forming a bit of her soul into reality and gently laying it over the sword.

For a moment, the golden light spread out, dusting everything with radiance, then it faded back to two single points. “Time to go.” Xena said.

“I know.” Gabrielle said. “Gods be with you, far off children of ours.”  The points joined, and then arced up towards the stars. “Good luck.” A deeper voice trailed after them. “You’re gonna need it.”

“Xena.”

A low, musical laugh dissipated into the night.

Kerry rubbed her eyes as she trudged across the living room, a friskingLabrador at her heels. “I hear you... I hear you... hold on to your tail, Chino.” She opened the back door, and then faced the sea, taking a deep breath of the salty, cool air. “Merry Christmas everyone!” She yelled, despite the early hour, hearing her words taken by the wind.

She smiled at the dawn, and then she turned and reached over to flip the switch on the coffee maker before she ambled back into the living room to watch her tree twinkle.  After she studied it for a moment, sensing something a tad different but unable to discern what, she found her eyes drawn to the table.

One eyebrow lifted. “Jesus, Dar.” She started laughing. “Couldn’t you even wait for breakfast?”

“Wait for what?” Dar inquired, sticking her head out of the bedroom. She had a toothbrush poking out of her mouth.

“To eat those damn cookies.” Kerry continued laughing. “Good grief.”

Dar looked at her, then at the table, then back at her. “I didn’t.” She removed the toothbrush and wiped her lips. “I didn’t touch them.”

“C’mon.” Kerry put her hands on her hips. “Give me a break, Dar. Are you telling me Chino did?” She walked over and picked up the plate, then picked up the glass next to it. “And drank the milk?” She gave her lover a wry look. “It’s okay – you were going to get them anyway, y’know.”

Dar walked over and stared at the plate, her brows creased. “Kerry, I’m telling you, I didn’t touch them.” She said in a curious voice.

Kerry regarded her. “Really?”

Dar touched a crumb lying inside one of the flowers in the arrangement. “Really.” She held up the crumb.” I hope Chino hasn’t learned to sit on the table.”

“Yikes.” Kerry winced.

“Yeah. I didn’t get any cookies.” Dar pouted.

Kerry chuckled, and gave her a one armed hug. “I’ll make you some later, I promise.”  She turned and headed back towards the kitchen, only to be stopped by Dar’s voice.

“Kerry?”

Kerry turned, to see Dar staring at the wall. “Hm? What is it swee…. Jesus.” She walked back to Dar’s side and stood next to her. “How did that happen?”

On the wall, mounted on its hardwood backing, what was once a twisted remnant of an old sword now shone whole, its metal blade gently reflecting the morning light of the sun.

Dar just blinked at it.

“Oh.” Kerry slapped her head. “I bet I know.” She said. “Your dad. He was asking me about getting that thing restored... I wasn’t sure if you…”

“Dad.” Dar’s voice sounded relieved. “Yeah, and that would explain the damn cookies, too.”  She laughed, and rubbed her brows. “Wow. He got me there for a minute. I wasn’t sure what was going on.”

“Yeah, me too. Sneaky guy.” They smiled at each other, and then Dar gave Kerry a pat on the side as she turned and headed for the coffee, leaving Kerry to regard their new adornment.

“Wait a minute.” Kerry walked over and removed something hanging from the sword, unrolling it and examining it with curious eyes. “Hey, Dar?”

“Hm?” Dar glanced up from her task.

“Does Dad speak Greek?”

“Greek?”

A breeze blew through the open door, bringing with it the scent of the past, and a soft, mingled chuckle.

**

V-Day

"So, what are you guys doing?"

Kerry looked up from her computer, pausing in mid-click as she blinked a few

times. "What are we doing what?" She asked, with a little frown.

Mark looked quickly around the office, then back at her, a tiny flush of embarrassment coloring his face. "You know.. like, for the big V."

"The big V?" Kerry sat back and folded her arms. "Mark, what the heck are you talking about?" She asked. "What's a big V?"

"Uh." The MIS manager started backing out of the room. "No biggie. I was just wondering. uh. gotta go. My pager's ringing." He escaped from Kerry's office, and closed the door, leaving his boss to gaze bemusedly at the now empty space.

After a moment, Kerry chuckled and went back to her typing. After a moment, her phone buzzed. She leaned an elbow on her desk and answered it. "Yes?"

"Hey Ker!"

"Hey, Col." She answered amiably. "What's up?"

"That's what I'm asking.. what are you and the dark and dangerous doing tonight?"

"Working." Kerry replied. "Going home. why?"

There was a long, long pause. "On Valentine's day?"

"We don't celebrate Valentine's day, Col." Kerry responded.

"Really?"

"Really."

Colleen cleared her throat. "Oh. Well. okay. I was just wondering. hey, maybe we can do dinner this week.. later?"

Kerry smiled at the phone. "Sure. Give me a call." She answered. "You doing anything tonight?"

"Nah. Me? I'm not the head over heels in love one of us, me deerie." Collen said. "I'm renting a movie and I've got a keg of popcorn waiting for me." She continued. "Well, talk to you later."

"Bye." Kerry waggled her fingers at the phone, then hung it up.

**

"Jefe?" Maria paused, in the midst of taking dictation. "Have you sent Kerrisita flowers?"

Dar scribbled on a sheet of paper with her vicious purple pen. "She doesn't like flowers." She answered absently. "Why would I send them to her? The office smell bad or something?"

"No, Jefe.. but it is a special day, no?"

Dar looked up. 'It is?" She seemed to notice for the first time the small posy pinned to her secretary's shoulder. "Oh, you mean Valentine's day?"

"Si." Maria nodded.

"We don't celebrate Valentine's day." Dar went back to her scribbling. "Tell Jose I'm sending back his entire budget, so he'd better plan on staying late to amend it. "She added. "I'm not okaying any new expenditure for IT in his department until he justifies why his toenail clippers need new laptops." She shoved the paper she'd been writing on across the table towards Maria. "Next?"

Maria took the paper and added it to her stack. "I will do that, jefe, but I am thinking Mr. Jose has already left."

"What?" Dar frowned.

"Si." Maria delicately arranged her papers. "He was taking his senora to dinner tonight."

Dar rolled her eyes. "Great." She leaned back in her seat. "Page him."

"Jefe?"

"Page his ass." Dar replied, unrepentantly. "This is bullshit. That budget was due to Alastair two weeks ago."

"Jefe." Maria gave her a soulful look. "It is so late."

"I don't give a damn." Dar shot back. "Not my fault he screwed this up."

Maria sighed. Dar glared at her for a moment, then sat back. "Ah. He probably won't answer the damn thing anyway. Put it on his desk with a big red sticker and tell him if it's not back to me by tomorrow lunchtime it's going in at zero."

"Si, Dar. I will do that." Maria smiled at her. "Is it not time for you to leave as well?"

"No." Dar glowered. "But you can if you want." She relented. "I've got things to get done before I leave."

Maria quietly gathered her things up and stood. "I will do so. My Tomas is also making the plans for us to go outside." She gazed at Dar. "Will you and Kerrisita be leaving soon also?"

Dar shrugged. "Depends when we finish."

Maria sighed again. "Have a good night, jefe." She turned and left her office. Dar watched the door close, then she picked up her pencil and tapped it on her desk. It hit three taps, then she dropped it onto the desk again and stood, removing her jacket from the back of her chair and sliding it over her shoulders. With a twitch, she pulled the fabric straight and buttoned it, then glanced at her reflection in her monitor, flicking her hair into order with a pass of her fingers through it.

Then she picked up her laptop case and slung it over her shoulder. She waited for the outer door to the office to close, then she walked to the inner one and passed through it.

**

Kerry gently blew out the match she was holding, then she stepped back to survey the results. The candle she'd lit fluttered gently in the warm breeze, and she caught the warm, sweet scent of it as it washed over her.

The sound of the water nearby rushed in a mindless pattern, and she looked out over it just as the moon came out from behind the clouds and painted a silver path right to her doorstep.

She put a hand on the balcony and breathed in the perfection of the night, turning then as a nameless knowledge pricked at her to find Dar framed in the doorway, the light from the condo outlining her tall form as she leaned against the jamb with her arms casually crossed.

Kerry held a hand out, and watched as Dar unfolded herself from the door and crossed to the balcony, taking her hand and kissing it with easy grace. Their fingers then clasped together and Kerry pulled her closer, trading a kiss on the hand for a kiss on the lips that lasted until the moon dipped behind the clouds and threw shadows back over them.

"Hi." Dar rubbed noses with her playfully. "The Valentine's day killer's home."

Kerry chuckled. "You ogre, you." She scolded. "Just for that, you have to suffer me giving you this."

Dar looked down, to find Kerry's fingers nimbly pinning something to her lapel. She ducked her head for a better look, and inhaled in wonder, at the jeweled, faceted fish that winked back at her. "Wow."

"I had it made for you." Kerry acknowledged, with a peaceful smile. "It's as close to what the real thing is like that I could come up with."

"Mmhm." Dar pulled her other hand out of her pocket and set a small box down on the rail. With her index finger, she nudged it towards Kerry. "G'wan."

Kerry picked up the box and touched it's velvet surface with one finger, before she opened it. The candlelight reflected off a shiny, dappled surface and she leaned closer to the table to get a better look. "Oo.. Dar, that's

so pretty!"

"Mm." Dar leaned her chin on Kerry's shoulder and peered at it. "I'm not in the habit of giving you ugly things to wear around your neck, Ker. Just a quirk of mine."

It was a piece of jade, carved into an intricate twisting design. Kerry lifted it from the box and held it up to the light, admiring it. "Put it on me?"

Dar obligingly opened the necklace and slid it around Kerry's neck, fastening the chain at the back. She turned her partner around and studied the result, then smiled. "Nice."

"Very." Kerry's eyes twinkled at her. She took Dar's hands and leaned towards her, as Dar ducked her head and they kissed again.

"I love the fish." Dar whispered. "I can't wait to wear it."

A soft chuckle. "And give everyone blank looks when they ask if it's a Valentine's day present?"

"Heh."

"Me, too." Kerry looked down at her jade piece, it's swirling patterns reminding her just a little of her own eyes. "I love it." She studied it intently, then looked up into Dar's eyes. "It means something, doesn't it?"

Dar nodded. "Eternity." She smiled at Kerry's visible delight. "Happy anniversary."

Kerry gentle laugh was answered by echoes from the sea, a rippling of the ages that faded out into the moon's renewed silver outline. She picked up the glasses of already poured wine and handed Dar hers, touching their edges with a light clink. "And here's to a thousand more just like it."

Their arms intertwined, and they drank from each other's cups, celebrating the joining of two souls as the never changing sea looked on, placidly chuckling.

**

End

Written at Rotorua, New Zealand, February 15th, 2003

A New Year in Miami

Kerry set the emergency brake on her SUV and sat back, letting her hands rest on the steering wheel as she regarded her destination through the windshield.

The Biltmore Hotel rose before her, it's stone exterior lit up by floodlights that ringed the old building, lending it grace and grandeur under the dark sky.   A long line of cars waited for the valet parker's attention, and Kerry reckoned it would take them about ten minutes to get through it. "Pretty place." She remarked, turning her head to address her companion.

"Rock pile that costs a million bucks a month to maintain." Dar replied, her arms folded over her chest and her eyes closed. "But yeah, it's nice." She opened a pale blue eye and peered at Kerry. "Have I told you how nice that dress looks on you?" She jerked her chin towards the light blue and silver mid-length outfit nuzzling up to Kerry's trim curves.

"Mmhm." Kerry grinned. "But you can keep telling me. I don't mind."  She glanced down her partner's long length, currently covered in plum colored silk. "God, I love you in that."  She clucked her tongue several times.

"Uh huh." Dar gave her an unsubtle nudge. "Move up before whoever's in back of us tries to drive over the top of this thing."

Kerry released the brake and eased the Lexus forward. "You think we need to put our jackets on to go in?"

"Dunno." Dar shifted and pressed down on the window control with a fingertip. She was rewarded with a sudden infusion of noise and a gust of the 38 degree air outside. "That would be a yes." She hastily reversed the window, then directed one of the air ducts currently providing heat towards her.

"Southerner." Kerry teased.

"Ah ah.. I see those goosebumps." Dar poked her in the upper arm. "Don't give me that tough Northern bs, Kerrison. You people use heat."

"Uh huh." Kerry directed another nozzle towards her. "Keep talking, Dixiecup."

Dar stuck her tongue out.

"Don't tempt me." Kerry laughed, as she pulled forward another couple of feet. "Boy, what a difference from last year, huh?"

"Mmm." Dar resumed her relaxed pose, twiddling her thumbs as she watched the cars move in front of them. "Oh yeah. We even show up in the same car this time." She reached behind them to the back seat and retrieved two lined, leather jackets, setting Kerry's down on the divider between the seats while she shrugged into her own. "Damn, it feels good."

Kerry skillfully steered into the valet station, giving the young man approaching them a pleasant smile as she put the car in park. She picked up her coat, giving Dar's hand a squeeze along the way. "Let's go party."

They got out, and Kerry hastily shrugged into her coat, pulling the zipper up and tying the belt before she stepped back from the car and let the valet have it. Despite her cocky words, the cold air made her shiver and there was no sense in asking for a teasing if Dar heard her teeth chatter.

She tilted her head back, seeing the stars crisply sparkling as they so seldom did in Miami and exhaled a long stream of breath into the night. They had just gotten back from their weeks' vacation, and the contrast from the warm Caribbean to this startlingly cold weather had been significant.

Kerry hoped they both didn't catch cold.

Dar put a hand on her back and they walked in front of the car, heading up the walk towards the broad stairs in front of the classic old building.  She started whistling under her breath as they approached the entrance, already full of people.

The outside courtyard was being used to serve drinks and hors deouvres despite the weather, and the sight of most of their fellow employees braving the cold in thin dresses and dinner jackets tickled Dar's sense of the ridiculous.  "How long do you figure before they start freezing in place?"

Kerry muffled a laugh as they walked up the last steps to the patio, and they crossed from the relative obscurity of the shadows into the warm golden light of the floods.

They were recognized immediately. "Hey!" Mark Polenti headed towards them,along with Mari and Duks, and several others.  "When did you guys get back?"

"Yesterday." Kerry gave him a hug. "We didn't want to miss the party."

Dar rolled her eyes. "Sure we did." She disagreed. "I'd trade this popsicle stand for a night dive down south in a heartbeat."

"I hear you two had quite an adventure." Mari said.

Mark ducked around them. "Want me to get your coats?" He asked courteously.

"No way." Kerry grabbed her belt and tugged it tighter. "Are you nuts?"

"Ahem." Dar draped her arm over Kerry's shoulders. "Pardon the polar bear, here. She left her fur coat back in Michigan."

Kerry bumped her partner with her hip, and poked her tongue out at her.

A waiter came by with a tray full of champagne, followed by another with assorted tidbits.  Kerry took a filled flute and handed Dar one, then eyed the food tray and decided to wait for the second round.  "No thanks. I"ve had enough chicken liver pate to last me the rest of my life."

"Ew." Dar reviewed her choices, then shooed the waiter away. "Mousse is a terrible thing to do to an innocent salmon."

"So, other than that, how was the vacation Mrs. Lincoln?" Mari asked Kerry. "You got sun at least."

Kerry sipped her champagne, returning a casual wave from Eleanor. "Yeah, the trip back was quiet." She said. "We did some diving, but mostly we just laid around on deck and relaxed."

"Sounds like heaven." The Personnel VP sighed. "Though I find it so hard to imagine Dar relaxing."

Kerry indulged herself in a moment's memory of a few long afternoons spent snoozing in the sun. "Oh, you know, when she puts her mind to it, Dar can do just about anything, even that." She replied. "I hear it was quiet at work?"

"That is true." Duks agreed solemnly. "And now everyone can please stop of the holding of their breaths since you are both back and there is no disaster occurring."

The small circle of people around them chuckled. Dar lifted her glass and acknowledged the somewhat backhanded compliment, then she pointed towards the open doors to the hotel's grand ballroom. "I vote for going inside before this turns to white grape sherbet."

They walked together across the stone patio, filtering through groups of fellow employees and gathering up a following as they headed for the warmth. Kerry felt Dar's hand come to rest on her back again as they neared the door, and as she looked around them, the nicest thing she could imagine happened.

No one noticed.  Or if they did, it didn't matter.

What a difference. Kerry grinned, reaching for her jacket belt as they crossed the threshold and a gust of warm air hit her. She untied and unzipped the front, then was surprised as the weight of it was lifted off her shoulders and removed. She turned to find Dar laying the coat over her arm, along with her own. Her tall partner winked at her, then she pointed in the direction of the bar as she turned to find some place to store their coats.

"Thanks!" Kerry called after her, twitching her dress a little straighter and moving out of the doorway so everyone else could come in.

"I long suspected our friend of chivalry." Duks commented wryly, turning as Eleanor and Jose arrived.

"Oh yes, Dar.. the original knight in shining armor." Eleanor cracked. "Kerry, that's a killer dress. Where do you shop?"

"Wal-mart." Kerry responded readily. "You?"

Everyone laughed. Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Jesus, you've been spending too much time around Dar. You're catching her sick sense of humor."

They walked through the ballroom, passing the round tables set with gold and silver decorations that surrounded a wooden dance floor. On one side of the floor was the requisite band, which seemed to have enough instruments in enough varieties to possibly satisfy the age range the party represented.

"What's the seating this year, Mari?" Dar caught them up. "Nice decorations. We actually paid for this?"

The HR VP chuckled. "Sales paid for it." She said. "You made their lives wonderful this year, and this is what we get for it."

"Ah." Dar paused at a table and lifted a party favor. It was a gold frog, whose tongue extended when blown. Dar blew it experimentally. Not only did it extend a lurid red appendage, it croaked.  "Killer." The CIO approved. "I like it."

"You would." Eleanor covered her eyes. "The guy we had ordering didn't speak Spanish. They're actually leftovers from a Budweiser convention."

Kerry clapped her hand over her mouth and nearly convulsed in laughter, along with everyone else. Even Dar cracked up, tucking her frog through the low slung leather belt around her waist and giving Eleanor a nudge. "Have him order every year. They sure beat the ones last year that spit glitter over everyone."

"Hey, my cousin made those!" Jose objected.

"Figures." Dar rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised arroz con pollo didn't come spitting out."

They got drinks at the bar, then wandered around to find their tables. Dar located hers without difficulty, and sat down at her place, noting Kerry's placemarker right next to her.  "No buffet this year?"

"No!" Jose had followed them, sitting down at his table right next to theirs. "We do things right in Sales. We sit down, and let them come to us."

Dar rolled her head and gave him a look. " You're paying, Mr. Pastalito."

"You give me a year again next year like this, and I will have them bring it to your hacienda with white gloves on." Jose told her. "I have so much sales coming in the pipe Mercedes had to have a new order of contracts delivered."

Dar accepted the compliment with a grin. She extended a hand palm up, and after a brief pause, Jose slapped it with his own.  "Gracias, Senor."

Jose nodded. "We fight like animals, but in the end, it is good."

"Hey." Kerry caught Dar's attention. "I found something you like."

Something turned out to be a pig in a blanket.  Kerry offered it to her, and Dar took it neatly from her fingers, chewing it with frank enjoyment. "Thegrandmother of all hors deouvres."

The dark haired woman licked her lips. "Mm. more where that came from?"

Kerry produced a small plate, and set it down on the table along with two frosty mugs of beer.  She sat down next to Dar and tucked her heels under her, looking around the room as it started to fill with people. "This is nice."

"Delicious." Dar agreed, popping another tidbit into her mouth.

The band began to play. Kerry listened to the music for a moment, letting the memories of the past year run through her mind. Then she grinned. "Hey Dar?"

Dar leaned on the arm of her chair and gave Kerry a completely inappropriate look. "Yeeess?" She purred. "What can I do for you, Kerrison?"

Kerry held her hand out. "Dance with me?"

Dar's eyes twinkled. "I thought I told you I was a lousy dancer."

"You lied." Kerry wiggled her fingers. "C'mon."

In a single graceful move, Dar rose and took her partner's hand, stepping neatly around the chair as Kerry joined her.  "This is going to be front page of the employee newsletter, y'know." The dark haired woman remarked, as they walked together towards the dance floor.

"Hope they take a good picture." Kerry replied.

There were already a few couples on the floor,  but they had plenty of space as they joined them. Dar put her arms around Kerry as the music slowed, and they picked up the rhythm together. "Been an amazing year."

"They say the first year's the toughest." Kerry replied, with a grin. "Boy, we've got it made now."

Dar rested her forehead against Kerry's and looked into her eyes. "Know what?"

Kerry glanced around, accepting the tingling thrill as she realized despite the friendly atmosphere, they'd become the center of attention. "What?"

"Life rocks." Dar kissed her.

Right there, on the dance floor, in front of every single person in the company whose eyeballs, Kerry was positive, were now rolling on the carpet and probably halfway out the door. She kissed Dar back. "Love you too." She whispered. "Happy new year."

**

"Hon?" Kerry idly watched Dar's profile as she turned to face her.  Dinner was over, and much dancing and drinking had been accomplished. "Think you better drive home."

Dar's face creased into a grin. "Little too much champagne?" She guessed, watching Kerry's eyes half close.

"Little too much beer." Kerry shook her head, but grinned back. "I'm drunk."

"You can't be." Her partner objected. "You're not hanging from the chandeliers singing Dixie."

No, she probably really wasn't drunk, because she was lucid enough to think she was. Kerry decided to just stay where she was, her chair pushed up close to Dar's and her aching feet shed of their shoes and tucked underneath it.

The roast beef had been excellent, she'd enjoyed the baked potato, and she and Dar had exchanged spoonfuls of chocolate mousse.  It was one of the few times she'd had a 'convention' dinner and thoroughly liked it. They'd danced several times together, and all in all, they'd so far had a very good time.

At a company party. Who'd have thunk it?

Dar was talking to Duks about some of the upcoming projects for next year, but Kerry found she'd rather study her partner's tanned, muscular shoulder than join in.  Dar had nice skin, smooth, with just a few scattered freckles distributed over it's surface.

Pretty.

She was still in vacation mode, she decided. Though a lot had happened to them in a week, it hadn't seemed nearly long enough to her now that it was over. The last day in on the boat she'd found herself wishing it was only the first day out, no matter how much trouble they'd gotten into.

Maybe it was the candelight dinner Dar had treated her to, there on deck, with fresh caught lobster and a bottle of wine, just them and the stars and the music of the sea.

"Ker?"

Kerry propped her fist against the chair arm and rested her chin on it.  "Hm?"

"Feel like going home?" Dar asked, in a low voice. "I've had about enough socializing."

"Have you been reading my mind again?"

Dar chuckled. "C'mon. Let's say our goodbyes."  She turned to the table and straightened. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's been fun."

"Yes, it has." Mari agreed, with a smile. "It's time for me to get going as well. Early start tomorrow."

A groan went around the group. "That is true." Duks said. "Tomorrow we start the filing torture."

Dar stood up, and the rest of the table did as well, pushing chairs back and saying farewells as they edged through the still partying crowd heading for the door.  As she walked across the room, her eyes caught the looks of people she passed, recognizing that for one of the first times ever since she'd started working for the company, there were more friendly expressions

than not.

She felt Kerry reach for her hand and clasp it, a glance showing that the blond woman had done it unconsciously.  Dar folded her fingers around her partner's, rubbing her thumb against Kerry's knuckles. She was aware of just how precious it was, here she was the notorious Ice Bitch strolling through the ballroom holding hands after all, but she'd gone past caring what other people thought about her and Kerry.

What she cared about was what Kerry and she thought about each other.  She gave Kerry's hand a squeeze, and felt her ease closer and return the gesture with a shoulder to shoulder bump. They stopped by the cleaning closet pressed into emergency service as a coat room and reclaimed their leather, then strolled outside and across the now empty courtyard.

"Brr." Kerry exhaled, watching her breath fog. "Need more antifreeze, I guess."

Dar blinked her eyes in the dry air, scowling a bit as she turned the collar up on her jacket. "Yeah. This is ridiculous."  She watched Kerry puff more little clouds as they waited their turn at the valet stand. "You want to stop for a.. um.."

Green eyes peeked at her from under long, blond lashes. "Nightcap? Dixiecup, the last thing I need is more alcohol."

"Cup of coffee." Dar amended, with a smile. "That stuff they had in there wasn't worth drinking."

Kerry considered. "Yeah." She decided. "Pick someplace nice."

"Got your ticket?"

The blond woman offered her pocket to Dar, stifling a yawn as the taller woman slipped a hand inside and retrieved the valet stub. Then she leaned against Dar's conveniently warm, sturdy form as they waited for the car.

Her cell phone rang as they got in. She waited for the valet to shut her door before she answered it, glancing at the caller id as she opened the flip. "Hey, Angie."

"Happy new year, sis." Angela replied, with a chuckle. "Where are you?"

"In the car." Kerry leaned back as Dar adjusted the driver's seat all the way back before she put the car into drive. "We're just leaving our company party. What about you?"

"Family's all here at the house.' Angie said. "The usual, you know."

"Mmhm. How's mom doing?"

"Better." Her sister replied. "She's going to take dad's seat."

Kerry's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

"Yes, really.  It's been pretty wild around here. But I think it'll be  okay." Angie said. "Hold on."

"My mother's taking my father's senate seat." Kerry informed Dar, as she listened to muffled sounds on the phone.

"Hm." Dar turned out of the hotel parking area and started east.

"Hey, sis!" A different voice came on the line.

"Hey, Mike." Kerry smiled in reflex. "How are you?"

"I've got a girlfriend!"

"Another one?" His sister laughed. "That was fast."  She kicked off her shoes again, and wiggled her toes, glad of the heat in the Lexus. "Hope this one lasts longer than the rest of them."

"Well, I'm not the monogamist you are." Her brother admitted. "But we'll see. Anyway, happy new year, sis. have fun!"

"Thanks, you too. Tell everyone I say hi." Kerry responded.

"Will do. Bye!"

Kerry folded the phone and tucked it away. "That's so weird." She said,after a moment of silence.

"About your mother?"

"Yeah."

They both were quiet for a little while, as Dar navigated the traffic filled streets.   Then, as they were about to turn onto Biscayne Boulevard, Kerry turned suddenly to her partner. "You know, Dar, now that I.."

At the same time, Dar started speaking. "Maybe we should just go."

They both looked at each other.  "Couch, pj's, hot chocolate, us." Kerry supplied succinctly.

"Watching the ball drop on the big screen." Dar concluded. "Yeah."  She neatly turned the car in a big U, and headed for the causeway. "Much better plan."

Kerry wiggled her toes again in contentment.

**

Half an hour later they were undressed and lying together on the couch in a comfortable snuggle of flannel covered bodies. "Jesus." Kerry examined her sleeve. "I haven't worn these since I was in college back home."

"You look adorable in them." Dar assured her. "Doesn't she, Chino?"

The Labrador lifted her head and perked her ears up. "Growf."

"See?" Dar chuckled.

"I look like a dorky prep in them." The blond woman corrected her. "Look.. they're even plaid."

"Better that than an overgrown elf." Dar lifted the hem of her Christmas green flannel nightshirt. "Shoulda come with a tassel hat."

Kerry put her head down on the padded couch arm, relaxing into its comfortable surface as Dar wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.  Times Square was being displayed in all its frenetic, crowded glory, and the thought foremost in Kerry's mind was one of utter relief that she wasn't there.

"You ever do that?" Dar asked, idly riffling her fingers through Kerry's hair.

"Be in Times Square?" Kerry asked. "Yeah." She watched the screen. "Year before I went to college.  Whole family was in New York for some political thing or other. I ducked out of a function and went down there."

"And?"

Kerry was silent for a moment. "And it was incredible how completely alone you could feel in a crowd like that."  She laid her hand on Dar's thigh. "I' ll take this view anytime."

Dar kissed her on the curve of her neck, then repeated the act on her lips when Kerry turned her head. "How about this view."

Kerry gazed up into those blue eyes. "Bite me, Big Apple." She turned her back on the television and indulged in a festivity much more to her liking.

The ball dropped, the fireworks crackled, and Dick Clark cheered, all in vain, paling before a celebration as old as time itself.

Happy New Year, Ya’ll!

Ghosts of the Past

Missy Good

The small eight seater prop plane buzzed over Blackwell Field, coming around to the end of the runway and lining up to land. "Be down shortly." The pilot said. "Got your seat belt on?"

"Yeap." His passenger responded. “I done buckled up.”

The pilot glanced at the bit of silver mirror fastened to his console, studying the man behind him. "You from around here?" He asked. “Y’sound local.”

"Yeap. Just outside Ozark."

The pilot nodded, making a last adjustment before he aimed for the strip and slowed the props, pulling the nose of the plane up as the wheels touched down lightly, bounced, then made a more confident touchdown.

As they taxied towards the small building that serviced the regional field, the trees on either side bent and rustled, the smell of pine flushing through the plane as the pilot jacked the windows open to let some air in.

He parked the plane near a rusted hanger, and shut the props off, running through a short checklist on a clipboard that had seen far better days.

He glanced behind him, to find the tall, broad shouldered man in the back peering out one of the small oval windows. "Need a ride somewhere?"

"Ya'll got a car rental place round here?" His passenger asked. ‘Ain’t been in these parts in a while.”

"In town." The pilot said. "I go through there I can drop ya."

The man smiled briefly. "Thanks. That's all right." He extended a hand. "Name's Roberts. Andy Roberts."

The pilot took his hand in a brief clasp, then released it. "Josh Blackwell." He said. "For you ask, yeah, somebody's great great something to do with this here field." He studied his passenger's face. "You all part of old Duke's family? I heard Sally's getting married this here weekend."

"Yeap." Andrew turned and popped the door open, pushing the step out and letting in a cool breeze. "That's mah sister. Promised I'd see her get hitched." He climbed out and stretched, blinking into the golden sun starting to set over the trees. "So here ah am."

Josh climbed out and opened the boot, removing a duffel bag he handed over, glancing at the patches on it as he did so. "Oh hay. You're the one went for the navy huh?"

"Yeap." Andrew shouldered his duffel and waited for the pilot to lead the way. "I done went for the Navy."

"You been overseas?"

"Yeap."

The pilot merely nodded in response, and headed for an old pickup truck parked on the edge of the field.

**

Andrew pulled his wallet out of his jeans and removed a credit card from it, handing it over to the single clerk behind the counter at the one desk car rental agency. The rest of the building was a mishmash of a rural supply and liquor store.

Behind the hardware desk a man was seated, tipped back to lean against the wall with a ball cap tugged forward over his eyes, apparently fast asleep.

The clerk took the card and went over to a stamping machine, putting a form in it and pressing an imprint. "Two hundred dollar on the card for gas an damages."

"All right." Andrew agreed. "What if ah don't damage it and put the gas in?"

"Put the charge back." The man handed over the card and pushed a set of papers over the counter. "Sign."

Andrew did, and picked up the set of rusty keys on the desk. He turned and walked out, carrying his duffel over to the blue pickup truck and tossing it behind the driver's seat. Then he got in and adjusted it all the way back, giving the stick shift a waggle before he closed the door.

He paused, and leaned on the steering wheel, looking out and down the dusty street with storefronts on either side. "Lord." He sighed and shook his head, starting the truck and putting it into gear. "Place aint' changed a damn bit."

He pulled out and started through the town, twilight already starting to dim the details as faint lights sprung on behind old glass windows. After a few minutes driving, his cell phone rang.

Keeping his eyes on the road, he pulled it out and answered it. "Yeap?"

"Hey sailor boy."

Andrew smiled in pure reflex. "Hey there pretty lady." He responded. "I done got here."

"So I imagined. Changed any?"

"Naw."

"You know, I would really like to have gone with you." Cecilia's voice sounded a touch peeved. "It's been how many years, Andy? They might have grown up."

Her husband snorted. "Enough I came." He said. "Ain't going to put you through mah whole family of assholes and mules. Aint worth it."

"Well, I hope they don't make you miserable." Ceci said. "If they do and Dar hears about it she'll send their welfare checks to India."

Andy chuckled wryly. "Ya'll are something."

"You know she would." Ceci said. "She doesn't mess around."

No, Andy thought, his daughter didn't mess around. If Dar said she was going to do something, you could take a safe bet on it.

Dar had wanted to come with him, along with Ceci, and then Kerry had chimed in too. He could readily imagine the reaction on both sides and while he felt the hoohah would be fun to watch, he really had no desire to mess up his sister’s wedding for it.. "Ah'll be fine. Just going to see that hitching then head back."

"Well, be careful." His wife said. "Call me tomorrow, okay?"

"Ah will." Andrew said. "I done love you."

The smile was very audible in Ceci's voice. "I love you too. Stay away from those snake handlers, okay?"

Andrew chuckled and closed the phone. He drove out of the town and into the dark roads around it, only a few lone drivers coming the other direction. He glanced to the side as he passed the high school he'd gone to, and the church right near by, it's white clapboard siding almost reflective in the isolated streetlights.

Small houses were scattered along the road, with ramshackle fences and the odd silhouette of a car up on blocks, or a truck in pieces. Then the road was plunged into darkness, and he was passing the cemetery.

Wrought iron gates, and the hint of starlight on tombstones, and then Andrew slowed, turning his head and looking into the shadows, sure he'd seen a figure there. But on second look, the path was empty, and with a shrug he drove on, turning right off the paved road and onto the dirt one that would end up in the driveway of the house he'd been born in.

He saw the barrel fire before he got to the end of the road, dark figures around it holding cans in front of the two story looming house behind it. He parked the truck in the cluster of other ones and paused, letting his hands rest on the steering wheel.

His arrival had been noted, and he could see male forms moving towards him, one holding a flashlight. "Wall, this is gonna be fun." With a sigh, he opened the door, then slid out from behind the wheel and straightened just as the first figure arrived next to him.

"Whoin the hell... son of a bitch it is you." The man said, pointing the flashlight beam on Andrew's face. "You little motherfucker."

Andrew regarded him. "Lo there Jon"

"Who is it?" Another voice came closer. "Ah, crap. I can't believe it." A lanky, tow headed man came into the circle of light. "Candy Andy."

"Lo there Stu." Andy responded mildly.

Both his brothers were shorter than he was, and slighter, and as the eldest Andrew didn't feel he needed to respond to their jackassery. 'Ya'll want to move out of the way? I got people to see."

"Yeah? Be glad the old man's gone. He'd have blown your head off if he'd caught you here." Stu said. "You ain't wanted."

"Stewy!" A younger, female voice cut through. "Is that Andy? Get the hell out of my way you idiot."

Stu was shoved aside and he backed up as a woman appeared. "You had to ask him, huh Sally? Daddy's wishes didn’t mean nothing to ya?"

"Andy." The woman threw herself into Andrew's arms. "Thanks for coming. Ignore these assholes." She turned. "Get the hell out of here. This is my marriage and I say who's coming to it."

"Bitch." The two men retreated, back to the oil drum, joining a group of others standing there. Laughter rose as they all stared pointedly at the truck, but Andrew had already dismissed them.

"Lo Sally." He regarded his sister. She had dark hair and eyes, and a sturdy body, her features bearing just a hint of the same angular planes as his own. "You done stirred up a nest here ddn'cha"

"Oh forget them." Sally said, gazing up at him. "I'm glad you're here. You got a bag? C'mon let's get you settled down before I have to get mah gun and shoot one of those a holes"

Andrew grabbed his duffel and followed her, getting a lungful of moss and dirt and old wood as he climbed up onto the porch and into the house.

"Daddy's ghost's gonna whup your ass, Sally!" Stu called in after her.

"Jerk." Sally closed the door behind them. Then she turned and faced Andrew, studying him in the light for the first time. "Can't believe your here."

"Me neither." Andrew smiled briefly. "Y'all are looking well, little sis."

"You too." Sally smiled back. "Retirement's done you good." She held a hand out to him and drew him back through the winding hallways to a back bedroom, opening it and standing back. "Figured you'll like this one."

Andrew glanced inside, at the room he'd grown up in. There was a bed, and a dresser, and not much more. He threw the bag on the bed and turned, bracing his arm against the wall. "Been worse."

Sally came in and sat down. "I know coming here's hard." She said. "But I needed you here, Andy." She said. "Jasper and I need you."

"Sa''llright." Andrew sat down next to her. "Been worse." He repeated. "Them jackasses outside don't bother me none. I been in places would chew them up for fish food."

"I know." Sally touched his hand. "How's Ceci?"

"She's real good." Andrew responded. "Said to say hi." He added. "Got you an arty thing of hers in mah kit for you all for a present."

"Oh, that was sweet of her." Sally said. "Not sure this old place is worth something nice though."

"Sallright." Her brother said again. "She made a pitcher would fit here. Flowers or somesuch.."

"So she's still doing her painting stuff?"

"Yeap. Got her a show thing in South Beach next week." Andrew said. "Them people out there do like her pitchers a whole lot."

"And.. your daughter? I can't believe she's grown up already Andy." Sally said. "Last time I saw her she was just a baby.."

Andrew drew out his wallet and removed a picture, handing it over. "She sure enough growed up."

Sally studied the photo. "Oh, Andy." She looked up. "She's beautiful!"

Andy grinned proudly. "She is that." He agreed. "Inside, outside, all over."

She looked back down. "She's your spitting image." She sighed. "Damn I wish her grandparents coulda seen her. She's the only grandkid they had."

Andy took the picture back. "Woudlln't a worked." He said, briefly. "She's got my cussedness and Ceci's smarts. Old man'd blown a pipe with her and she don't take crap from nobody, specially not some half assed redneck like he was."

"Don’t take no guff. Like her daddy." Sally clasped his hand.

"Yeap." Andy agreed. "Anyhow, where's that feller of yours?"

Sally got up and closed the bedroom door. "Andy I need your help." She sat back down. "Jasper's afraid to come here." She glanced around. "It's this crazy thing... everybody's got him set on Daddy's still being here."

Andrew looked round, then back at her. "Sally Mae Roberts." he said. "That man's dead."

"I know." His sister nodded. "I done buried him. And mama."

"Dead's dead." Andy said. "I seen a lot of dead. Been in places if there were ghosts, I woulda seen em. Aint' none."

"Andy, I know. But Jasper swears he's seen Daddy outside and with a gun." Sally said. "You know he didn't get on with Jasper."

Andy knew. Jasper Collins was a grade school teacher with nothing more going for him than the ability to talk to kids and the old man had hated him just as he hated pretty much everything else around him.

He'd never met Jasper. Sally had cottoned to him after Andy had abandoned the family, his only contact her infrequent letters and now, lately, email. The letters had followed him all over the world in his deployments until the last one.

They didn't know about the capture. He'd seen no need to tell them. "Wall."

"I know." Sally twisted her hands. "It's all this old house. I should get loose of it, but Andy it was all mama had. She left it for me."

"Yeap. Old man was some pissed about that."

"So are Stu and Jon." Sally said. "I told em they needed to leave once me and Jasper are married. I'm not having their shiftless ugly asses around my house."

"Ah see."

"But he wont' come here." She finished. "He says daddy's ghost is gonna git him."

Andrew put his big hands on his knees. "Jest what is it you all want me to do, Sally? Can't make a man take his fear out."

"Well." Sally took his hands again. "I figured this. If you stay here, and nothing happens.. he'll see there ain't nothing to the whole ghost thing." She watched Andy's face intently. "Please don't be all mad at me Andy. He can't help it."

Since the task at hand wasn't anything more than he'd planned to do in any case, Andy wasn't in fact mad. "Guess you figured the old man'd come after me more'n him. Had a hate on me for sure."

"Yeah, kinda."

Andrew shrugged. "S'all right." He said. "That why you all decided to get hitched on that night?"

"You mean on Halloween?" Sally grimaced. "Not exactly. That's the day the church had free this week. "

"Lord."

They were both silent for a few minutes. "Pastor Gray remembers you." Sally said, finally. "He asked me if you were gonna be here."

Andrew snorted. "Lucky man ah did not bring mah pagan wife here to tweak his short pants that old piece of thinks he knows gods work."

"Andy, he likes you."

Andy made a face. "He liked having somebody round who could dust that damn altar and wrestle that old hog of his."

Sally stifled a laugh, then she cleared her throat. "You go to church down there, Andy?"

"Naw." Her brother shook his head. "Sunday mornings ah wash mah boat down, and Cec makes us up some aigs and we take a ride, sometimes." He looked down at her. "Ah don't miss it."

Sally got up. "Let me let you get yourself settled. Mary Allen's in the kitchen making us up fixins for after the ceremony. Got some extra, you hungry?"

"Had me some lunch at Mobile." Andy said. "But I'll take a sandwich if you got."

She patted his shoulder and went to the door. "I'll holler when we're ready." She smiled wistfully. "Thanks, Andy. I mean it."

"No problem." Andy watched the door close. Then he laid back on the bed and put his hands behind his head as he regarded the worn, bowed struts in the ceiling. "Lord. What did I get mah ass into?"

Ghosts.The Old man. His jackass brothers. That timid weenie Jasper. "What in the hell am ah doing here?" He addressed the room. "Ah should haul my ass back to Miami and figure out how to put that damn hat on that dog for that party."

**

The house felt old. Andrew sensed the floor boards shifting and giving way a little beneath his weight as he walked back over to the bed where his duffle rested. It hadn't seemed as worn when he'd lived in it, but that had been a long time ago and he'd been a much different person.

He remembered it seeming lighter, full of children’s laughter and his mother’s voice singing, and the sound of banjos from the porch on summer evenings. Now it was mostly silent, the rooms largely unlived in.

Andy finished sorting out the things he'd packed, setting aside what he planned to wear to the wedding and putting his spare shaving kit on the one wooden shelf in the small bathroom next door.

Everything was a little offset, a little patched, not quite even , not quite aligned right. The house had been built and rebuilt and modified by generations of his family so far back it precluded modern building techniques, or even electricity.

The bathroom he'd just been in had been added by his grandfather experimenting with all this newfangled plumbing hoo hah and in the corner of the kitchen had stood an old hand water pump he remembered his mother using on cold winter mornings to get water to wash.

Lot of years. Andy looked around, seeing the worn walls, and feeling a touch sad for the place. It had known a lot of family, kids running round and all, and now it was empty, and old.

He remembered some very early years of his own life, when he and his brothers and sister had played in the house, when it had all been just as simple as bread and milk for breakfast, and wooden blocks on the floor.

They'd just been kids. Too young to know anyplace but home,, family and the neighbors around who'd been more or less just like they were, living in slowly deteriorating houses on land that had been homesteads for long generations.

Andrew reached into the duffel and removed a padded case, unzipping it and taking out the black metal automatic pistol inside. He took a clip and seated it, pulling the action back and chambering a round. Then he checked the safety before he stuck the gun inside his belt at the small of his back, pulling his hooded sweatshirt over it.

It hadnt' been until later, until hed' growed some and gotten to understand things better that his daddy had started in giving him lessons.

Hate lessons. Andy zipped the duffel shut and closed the light, emerging from the room into the hallway. They hadn't worn white sheets by that time, but the old titles were still there, and all the old hate that went along with it.

He had been a prime candidate, by his daddy's way of thinking. He was Duke's oldest, he was big, even as a teenager bigger than his brothers and nearly as tall as Duke himself, brought up right, raised in the churchyard, taught to shoot, given all the right ideas by daddy and his friends.

Andrew walked along the hall, looking at the pictures. Old lithographs stained by oil and smoke, of men in stiffly formal coats and women in hoop dresses, of children with carefully licked down bangs, of the homestead.

Then there were the ones with the soldiers. Frame after frame of serious men in uniform from the Duke in his army fatigues back to faded clusters of gray clad figures draped in the Confederate flag.

Back in that time, the house had been full, with family and servants and slaves outside working the land and cropping enough from it to make them, in those times, well off.

But by Andy's time, that had been all long past save the memory of it, and the resentment, and the hate.

"Andy?" Sally came around a corner. "There ya are. C'mon in the kitchen we got some chicken on and coffee."

She led the way through the big dining room and around the corner into the kitchen, a big open hearth space with windows and plenty of working counters. It was brightly lit, and with all the bustling motion and voices coming from it was the one place in the house that seemed fully alive.

Andy could remember his mother in the kitchen, usually alone or with one of his aunts making biscuits in the morning.

Right now, it was full of women set at different tasks of getting ready for the wedding - most of them looked up though, when they entered.

'You all remember my brother Andy, right?" Sally said. "He was the only one I wanted to invite to this wedding."

There were murmurs of hello, and mostly averted eyes. Sally led him over to a tray of cornbread and cut him a piece, ignoring the sudden awkwardness. "Here. Start on that."

Andy sat down on one of the stools at the counter and took the cornbread. He returned the furtive look from the woman nearest him with a faint, grim smile. "Lo there."

"Hello, Andy." The woman replied. "Been a long time."

"Yeap, it been that." Andrew took a proffered cup of coffee and waited, as Sally brought over a plate with several pieces of fried chicken on it. "Been a long time since I done sat in this here kitchen."

"Thought you might have come back for your daddy's funeral." The woman said. "Lot of people did."

Andrew chewed his cornbread and pondered the question in silence. "Wasn't round these parts." He finally concluded. "Didn't hear about it till later. After I got back to the States."

"Yeah for a while he stopped answering me." Sally said. "I guess it just took a while for the letters to catch up."

"Something like that." Her brother said. "Didn't figure he wanted me round here then anyhow."

"That's probably true." The woman agreed. "Had no use for you."

"Andy turned out all right." Sally said, defensively. "You should see pictures of his daughter. She does something with computers, right, Andy?"

Andy was busy with a piece of fried chicken. "Mah kid." He said, after he wiped his lips. "Has done right well for herself. She pretty much runs that there company and I do believe she's the one Jesus Christ calls when he has problems with the software for the pearly gates."

"Andy." Sally looked scandalized, but Andy just chuckled and continued to decimate his chicken thigh.

The door to the kitchen opened, and Stu came in. "There's the little motherfucker." He pointed at Andy. "C'mon out here and drink with the rest of us."

Andy regarded him mildly. "Do not make trouble in this here kitchen." He said. "These ladies are workin hard and do not need your fussing."

"Aw cmon." Stu pushed his way through the crowd of women and approached his brother. "Dont' be a prick."

Andy got up as he arrived. Stu had been a scrawny tow headed young adult when he'd last seen him, and he'd grown into a wiry middle age with a goatee and a short cropped buzz cut. "Leave it." He said, quietly.

"YOu think you can come back in here and tel me what to do?" Stu rasped, the smell of corn whisky strong on his breath. "Fuck you, you pansy asshole I'm gonna."

"Stu." Andy lowered his voice. "You will get your ass hurt if you keep up."

'Yeah? What ya gonna do?"

Andy put his hand around his brother's throat and shoved him against the wall, closing his fingers around Stu's windpipe and leaning his weight against him. "Kick you all's worthless ass."

Stu grabbed at his arm as his face turned bright red, his breathing a tortured gasp.

"Andy!" Sally rushed over.

"Stay back." Andy turned his head and barked the command at her.

She stopped.

He turned back to Stu. "I aint' got no patience for the likes of you." He told him. "So behave or you all will find your pitiful self in that there graveyard down the way."

He released Stu, and stepped back, cocking his fist in warning.

. His brother dropped to one knee and grabbed his throat, rubbing it. "I was just fucking JOKING you asshole."

Andy relaxed and put his hands on his hips. "We aint' seen each other in twenty some years. Let it go, Stu. I ain't that kid you knew."

"Fuck." Stu got to his feet. "You're just crazy as you ever was."

"Ah have found that a useful thing in mah life too." Andy said. "If you'all'd go on outside, ah will be out there shortly to say hello."

Stu looked at him. "Yeah well I'm gonna go take a dump first." He edged towards the inner door and slunk through it giving a distinct impression of having his tail tucked between his legs.

Andy watched him go, then turned and sat back down on his stool, resuming his attention to the chicken. "Lord." He shook his head. "Got stupider for every damn year I aint' seen him."

Family. He sighed inwardly. He'd been the oldest, with Sally next, the two of them a bare 9 months apart in age. Then Stu, two years younger, and Jon the baby. They'd gotten along as well as most siblings did until he'd broken with the old Duke's wishes and decided to make his life go a different direction.

Then they'd dropped any lies about liking each other.

"Sorry about that Andy." Sally finally spoke up after several minutes of uncomfortable silence. "He's been drinking."

Andy finished up his chicken. "Man sells moonshine for a living. Ain't nothing he's ever done but that." He stood. "Least I hear he makes a good jug."

"What are you doing now, Andy?" One of the women asked. "Still in the Navy?"

He shook his head. "I done my hitches. Retired for a while now, but ah do some work on the side sometimes for Dar." He said. "Cec and I live down by South Beach."

"Aint' that a ritzy place?"

"Yeap. Something like that." He eased between the women and went to the kitchen door. "Ah thank you ladies, that was some real good stuff."

He could see the grudging return smiles, and he returned them as he pushed the screen door open and emerged onto the small side porch, letting the spring held panel shut behind him.

A faint sense of motion to his right made him turn his head, but the dusty side yard lit by the porch light was empty. He walked down the steps to the ground, taking a walk around where he vaguely remembered his mother having a kitchen garden that was now filled with a couple of wooden tables piled with junk.

He walked around the side of the house and headed towards the still burning oil drum fire, where he could smell the essence of liquor and grilling something drifting from.

Jon spotted him and broke away from the group, ambling over to him. "I ain't a dumb ass like Stu, Andy. We all right?"

It almost made Andy laugh. Jon had always been like that, following Stu's lead with little ambition of his own, but always ready to roll over and be friendly to whoever had the upper hand.

He had straight brown hair, now silvered on the sides, and puppy dog eyes and Andy had never found it easy to be mad at him. "Sure." He said now, dismissing Jon's earlier greeting. "What all's goin on out here?"

They reached the barrel. About a half dozen men were hanging around it, and there were strips of some meat grilling on a makeshift iron grate sitting over the wood fire. "Lo there." Andrew greeted the group.

"Hey Andy." Several of the men answered. "How's it goin?"

Andy was pleased. He had no illusions their benign mock friendliness was anything but that, however, it had only taken him a minute and a chokehold to achieve. "All right." He said. "How are you all?"

Mutters.

Andy leaned against a second barrel, which was unlit. "I heard somewhat about some crazy story bout ghosts. What's that all about?"

The men quickly glanced at each other, then at Stu, who was sucking on a plain brown bottle just to one side of the fire.

"Aw." Jon answered. "Yeah you heard that huh?" He laughed. "Scaredy cat Jasper wont' come near here cause he thinks daddy's ghost's gonna cut him up."

The men also laughed. "Candy assed pansy." Stu spoke up. "Aint no idea why Sally's wasting her time with him."

"He really believe that?" Andy asked.

Jon shrugged. "Some folks talkin crazy stuff." He admitted. “Jackass is stupid enough to believe it.”

"Old Josh down by the store swears he saw Duke walking round here at night." One of the men said. "We been telling Jasper it's cause he's fixing to make sure his little girl's not gonna marry him."

Andy folded his arms over his chest. "Why would you all do that?"

"Cause he aint' worth her." Stu spoke up again. "Hay. Why don't you talk to her bout it, big bro? She done likes you so maybe she'd listen."

The sarcasm was very evident, but Andrew took the question at face value. "I do not know this feller." He said. "And ah am not one to go messin with folks who want to get hitched when people aint agreeing to that."

"You still hitched to that hippy chick?" One of the men asked, curiously. "From the North?"

"Ah am." Andy agreed. "So if Sally's stuck on this here feller I'm not the one to say nothin." He paused. "Where's he anyhow?"

"Church" Jon said. "Prayin with the pastor."

"Huh." Andrew straightened up and circled the barrel. "Maybe I will have me a word or two with the Lord myself."

He walked off towards the road, the darkness quickly swallowing his tall form.

Stu whistled between his teeth, a soft sound that slid down in tone to a click.

Jon picked up a piece of the meat, hissing and shaking it in his hand when it burned his fingers. "Hay." He looked at them. "You all don't really think Daddy's ghost's round here do you?"

"Jackass."

"Moron."

Stu spit a mouthful of whisky into the fire, causing it to flare. "Wall." He said. "If he wasn't, he probly is now with him around." He jerked his head in the direction Andy left. "Either that or the old man's rolling so hard in th' earth he's kickin hogs up out their pen and everybody thinks all that noise's ghosts."

"We could kick his ass." One of the men said. "Have us some fun."

"Don't fuck with him." Stu said, abruptly serious. "He's got our mama's crazy." He took a swig on the bottle. "We got other things to do anyhow."

**

Andy walked along in the darkness, not in a rush. The moon had risen and there was plenty of light to see by, and he took the time to look to either side of him as he headed slightly down slope towards the church.

It was quiet, in a way that Miami never was. Even in the wee hours, even in the Marina where he and Ceci made their home there were always sounds of the nearby city, and the sea so close nearby.

Here, though crickets were softly buzzing, it was quiet enough for his footsteps to sound loud, and the wind moving through the trees was sharp and faintly startling. The road was empty, and off in the far distance he heard the faint whinny of a horse, and a dog barking.

Then he caught the sound of soft footsteps behind him, and he turned, walking backwards as he scanned the road, his hand going to the small of his back in reflex motion.

The road, half lit in the moonlight, seemed empty. As he continued to look, the sound of the steps faded.

One of his brothers? Andy stepped to the unlit side of the road and found a tree, relaxing his body against it and almost becoming part of the trunk as he stilled and became motionless.

His breathing slowed and his senses heightened, the moonlight losing a bit of it's silver lustre as he forced his vision to flatten and pull tiny details out of his field of view.

He focused on nothing, concentrating on seeing everything, the outlines of the trees, the two parked cars, the garbage pile of old packing crates.

Only the leaves and branches moved in the wind, a puff of it blowing a tin can along the road in a rambling rattle.

Andy was patient. He stood quietly against the tree for a quarter hour, but nothing else came down the road and after that, he slipped around to the other side of the tree and continued on, this time staying on the shadowed side of the dirt road until it met the blacktop, and he could see down the slope to where the church was, lit from inside and out in a blaze of internal fluorescent and external orange streetlamp.

First he had to pass the graveyard though and as he did, he paused to look again through the gates. It was an old place, hundreds of years old with tombstones bearing dates in the 1700’s. Somewhere in there lay countless generations of his family he knew he'd never join. With a shake of his head he moved on, ambling quickly across the grass edged parking lot into the adjoining one of the church.

It was part full even this late and he could hear the sounds of singing inside as he climbed up the wooden steps and pushed open the old oak door.

The smell of wax, and old wood hit him first, and he paused to look around. The inside of the church was clean and spare, long rows of pews set out on either side of a wide aisle that was now lined with posts topped with baskets of flowers, green vines strung between them.

To one side a small group of women were singing hymns, the once familiar sound almost making him smile. Near the altar, three men were talking, and they looked up and spotted him.

Pastor Gray he recognized, though it had been decades since he'd last saw him. Aside from being a little thinner, and a little grayer, it seemed to Andy he hadn't really changed that much at all. The two other men he didn't know, but he figured the younger man next to him was probably Jasper.

Hm. Andy used the time he was walking towards them to study Jasper. He was a man of middling height, with chestnut brown hair that fell in curls to his slightly stooped shoulders. He wore glasses, and now, his eyes were blinking as he looked nervously at him as he approached.

Wall, THere weren't no accounting for tastes. "Lo." He gave the pastor a brief nod.

"Andrew." The pastor hurried down off the altar steps and approached him. "Sally said you would be coming. I'm glad." He extended his hands out . "It's good to see you."

Andrew gripped his hands and released them. "Did promise her I"d be here if she done ever get hitched. Here I am."

The pastor smiled at him, a little sadly. "Here you are." He turned. "I'm sure... well, i'm not really sure if you do know each other. Jasper? Have you met Sally's brother Andrew?"

Andy extended a hand out. "Lo there, Jasper."

The brown haired man approached and took his hand. "Ah've heard so much about you, sir."

Andrew tilted his head and gave the man a very droll look, one eyebrow hiking sharply up. "Ah jest bet you have."

"And this is Jasper's brother Edgar." The pastor said. "He's going to be Jasper's best man tomorrow."

"Lo." Andy took the man's proffered hand.

Jasper smiled nervously. "Have you been out to the house? Ahm sure Sally's glad to have you."

"Yeap." Andrew agreed. "Ah have been there." He eyed them all. “Long enough to hear all kinds of crazy damn things.”

Pastor Gray frowned. Jasper and his brother looked uneasy, and they shifted, moving a little bit away from him.

Andy didn’t have much patience for it. "Now, y'all tell me what all this is ah hear about mah daddy's ghost being round." He planted himself squarely in front of them and folded his arms over his chest.

There was a prolonged, awkward silence once he stopped speaking.

He waited.

"Wall?" He finally said, as Jasper looked quickly around and the other man did as well. Pastor Gray looked pained, and he glanced over to where the choir was practicing, as though making sure they weren’t listening.

"Ahm' sure somebody round here knows." Andy said. "Cause you all look like you just wet your shorts."

Pastor Gray held a hand up. "Ahm. Let's go talk about this in my office." He pointed towards a small door in the back of the church. "Please."

He led the way and opened the door, standing aside to let them enter. It was a small office, with a plain white table and chair, several bookcases with stacks of old, tattered books in them, and on the wall behind the desk a mahogany wood crucifix had been hung as if to keep watch.

Andrew faintly remembered being in the room once or twice. There were three or four hard backed wooden chairs before the desk and he took one and sat down.

The pastor went behind his desk and sat in his own chair. "Well." He rested his elbows n the desk and rubbed his hands together. "Hard to know where to start, really."

"See, uh." Jasper spoke up, looking uneasily at Andrew. "I wasn't real popular with the o.. with your father."

"Sa'llraight. Me neither."

"He banned me from the house." Jasper said. "Said he'd shoot me if I caught me there." He admitted. "Ah aint' sure if it was that ah... well, I've got schooling and all. Think he figgured cause that, and cause my pa.. well our pa...he quit out the army and all and maybe he thought I wasn't a real man."

“Or something.” Edgar muttered.

Andy studied them. "Less somebody done castrated you, you got all you need to be a real man." He commented dryly.

"Well..."

"It dont' take no more than that, rally.." Andy interrupted him. "But anyhow, the old man'd think like that, probably. Didn't have much tolerance for nothing."

The wind drove the branches outside against the window at that moment, and they paused and looked at it. The branches moved again, and pressed against the glass, making an odd, scratching sound. "Have to get those trimmed." The pastor said. "Gave me such nice shade though over the summer."

Jasper turned back to face him. "He just never took a shine to me, even from the first."

The pastor sighed. "I tried speaking with Duke. I know Jasper here and Sally are sincerely attached, but he was set that he didn't want Jasper to marry her."

"All right." Andy said. "But he aint' here no more." He said. "That house belongs to Sally. Up to her who she wants in it."

The other three men nodded. "That's what we thought too." Jasper said. "And it.. " He stopped. "I went back there first time after the funeral and.. it felt funny."

'Yeah." His brother added, then fell silent.

"Felt like someone was watching me." Jasper said. "Coulda gotten used to that, but then i started hearing things, boots coming after me wherever I went in that place and I would turn and look and nobody's there."

One of Andy's brows lifted.

"Ah know, you all think I"m crazy." Jasper said. "But I heard it."

"Then we started hearing people talk." The pastor said. "People starting say they saw old Duke walking down the road, tween here and the house." He shook his head. "I tried to explain to them... I mean, you know, ghosts don't really exist."

Jasper looked skeptical. "Something was making them noises." He turned to Andy. "Did you hear anything in there?"

"Naw." Andy said, after a pause. "Just an old house."

Jasper looked relieved. "I was figgering.. maybe after we was married, it'd be all right, you know? I mean, the lord's blessing our hitching like."

"I'm sure it will." The pastor reassured him. "Now, Jasper why don't you and Ed go get some rest, and read over those passages of scripture I gave you. Tomorrow's going to be a big day."

Jasper nodded and got up. "Ah'll do that, sir." He nodded at Andrew. "Be seeing you tomorrow too, I guess."

Andy raised a hand in farewell, watching the two brothers leave before he let his hand drop. "Huh."

Pastor Gray folded his hands. "I am glad you're here for Sally." He said. "She said you'll be walking her down the aisle?"

Andy didn't recall agreeing to that, but he didn't mind. "Yeap." He said. "Do that, then head on back to mah family."

'Yea, I don't blame you." The pastor sighed. "Life's hard, and getting hard here. I feel for Sally. Hard keeping up that place with just her bookkeeping job, and what she can get from your brothers."

"He make a living?" Andy jerked his head towards the closed door.

"He's a teacher at the school. Steady job, but you know they don't pay much." The older man said. "I think with the Lord's help they'll do all right. They're not kids, after all."

'No they aint. Not like me and Cec were. But we did all right too." Andy said, with a faint smile. "Life's got a way of working out like that."

"Sally said you'd retired from the service. You all still living in Florida? How's your daughter doing?"

"Yeap. We live on a boat down near South Beach in Miami. Dar done have a place out on a little island just cross from there." Andy said. "She's done real well." He removed the picture from his wallet and passed it over.

"Oh my." Pastor Gray studied the picture. "What a lovely girl. You must be a very proud father."

Andrew took the picture back and grinned, his entire face lighting up from it. "Like to bust most times." He admitted. "Proudest daddy you ever did see."

"Oh that sounds so nice." Pastor Gray smiled. "I'im so used to hearing parents disappointed in their kids.. Anyway." He stood up. "I hope this whole ghost thing fades off once the wedding's done. I don't like talk like that. It's not really right. You know we don’t believe things like that down here."

"You think there's something in it?" Andy asked. "Feller doesn't seem like a kook to make that up."

The pastor frowned. "Do I think your daddy's ghost is walking around Ozark? No. I'm a man of God, and I know better."

Andy pondered if believing in ghosts and believing in men walking on the water and rising from the dead were all that different, but didn't mention that aloud. "Wonder if somethin aiin't behind it." He said. "Some body, ah mean." He got up.

"Well to be honest." The pastor lowered his voice. "It did make me wonder if it wasn't your brothers having a gag." He looked apologetic. "They're good men, but they don't much care for Jasper either."

"Uh huh." Andy preceded him out the door. "Wall, see you all tomorrow."

"Good night Andrew - really good to see you."

**

Andy stood outside the church for a few minutes, thinking. The parking lot was now mostly empty, and the outside lights were off except for the one in front of the door and the windows of the attached house around the back where Pastor Gray had long made his home.

After a while, he pulled his cell phone out and hit one of the three speed dials on it, holding it to his ear as it started to ring.

On the second ring it was answered . "Hey dad." Dar's voice sounded rich, and vibrant. 'How's it going?"

"Jackass."

His daughter chuckled softly under her breath. "I told you we should have come with you."

Now, honestly, Andy wished he had let them. 'Wall, it aint but a day more. Listen Dardar... what do you all think about ghosts?"

Long silence. "What do *I* think about ghosts?" Dar finally answered. "As in... do I think they exist?"

"Yeap."

"Kerry does." Dar said.

"What do I do?" Another voice echoed softly, lighter and warmer and lacking Dar's drawl.

"Believe in ghosts" Dar said. "Dad's on. He wants to know what I think about them."

"Hey dad!" Kerry's voice got a lot closer. "I do believe in ghosts. I don't think Dar does though. I never seem to see them when she's around."

"You all seen them, Kerry?" Andy asked. "For real?"

"I really think I did." Kerry replied. "Oo.. Dar, stop tickling me." She scolded. "I saw them in the old mansion here, and then... we went to an haunted house thing one year and let me tell you i saw SOMETHING there."

"Yeah, except that you saw them in the mansion after I told you stories about ghosts there and the haunted mansion was supposed to make you see them." Dar argued. 'Besides you have a crazy imagination."

That was true, Andy thought. Kerry was a lot more of a dreamer than his daughter was. He explained briefly what the situation was.

"Huh." Dar said. "Sounds more to me like someone's jerking him around."

"Trying to get them not to get married?" Kerry wondered. "Ew. Creepy."

Andrew thought so too, and was somewhat relieved to have his ideas validated by his kids.

"But you know Dad, you never know." Kerry said. "Be careful, okay?"

"Ah surely wlll." He agreed. "Ahm going to head back to Sally's and get me some shuteye. You kids be good."

Dar chuckled. "No promises. Mom invited us over to join her for her pagan party on the boat."

"Lord."

"I was reading about it." Kerry added. "There was a lot of naked stuff. I hope we don't end up on Panic Seven with the hang gliding Pokemon."

"Oh mah god."

Both of them chuckled, making Andy aware he was being kidded. "Good night you all." He said. "And some body better be taking some pitchers."

Andrew closed the phone and slipped it into his pocket. He started down the road, turning over the possibilities as he walked. This time he didn't look in when he passed the graveyard - he just kept walking.

And yet, the minute he passed the gates, he felt a prickling at the back of his neck, and a distinct sensation that he was being watched. Instead of turning to see, he continued walking, crossing the blacktop and continuing along it until the turn off for the dirt road. The feeling got stronger though, with every step he could sense the oppressive attention beating down on the back of his head and it took all his will power not to either turn, or run, or both.

He'd been in enemy territory so many times when ignoring this kind of warning just meant you were dead, real quick. But this wasn't foreign soil. There weren't shadows in the darkness with guns looking to kill him.

He kept his pace steady, a gentle amble that brought him up even with the trunk he'd rented faster than he'd expected. He could see the lights still on in the house, but the oil barrel fire pit was empty and there were no signs of his brothers, or their friends.

It was very quiet. He went to the oil barrel and slowly went around to the other side of it, resting his hands on the edge and looking back the way he'd come, past the edge of the yard and the parked cars, to the dirt road leading off into the distance.

He wasn't sure what he'd expected to see. He knew himself to be a pragmatic man, but he'd seen enough in his lifetime to know there were things out there he sometimes didn't understand.

So the empty road didn't surprise him. Seeing a figure coming down it wouldn't have surprised him. He knew the sensation of being watched was real.

And yet the quiet, and the empty space persisted. He could feel the residual warmth under his hands and glanced down, to see the faint glow of the dying wood fire at the bottom of the barrel. As he watched it, the embers flared a little, and he blinked, lifting his hands and stepping back as a face seemed to form in the glow.

Then he moved closer again and looked, this time only seeing dim cracks in the burned out log at the bottom.

A faint sound made him look up sharply, and his body stiffened in reflex as he caught sight of a shadow from the corner of his eye. Instinct took over and he turned and moved toward it, his arms lifting into a ready posture.

Then he blinked, and the shadow was gone. THe place where it had been was empty, full of nothing but leaf dappled moonlight.

He stood still for a long moment and stared at the spot, then swept the area with his eyes looking for motion.

Nothing.

"Wall." He spoke aloud. "Aint that special."

"Andy?"

He turned at the voice, and saw Sally heading down from the porch towards him. "Yeap?"

Sally quickly came to his side. "Where on earth did you go?"

"Down to the church. Met your sweetheart." Andy said. "Somethin going on?"

Sally looked around. "You should come inside. It's almost midnight." She took hs arm and started urging him towards the house. "Got some cocoa on.. share it with me?"

Andy allowed himself to be tugged up to the door and into the house, but he paused and looked back before he closed the door, studying the yard.

Empty.

He closed the door and paused. The front of the house was now empty save the two of them, all Sally's helpers having gone home. He crossed the front parlor and entered the kitchen.

"Stu and Jon are upstairs." Sally said. "Said they'd see us tomorrow."

"Uh huh." Andy sat on a stool. "Sally."

She peered over her shoulder at him.

"What in the Hell is going on in these here parts?"

Sally stirred the milk and chocolate in the pan slowly. "Funny you should put it that way." She said. "If I tell you you'er not going think I'm crazy, are you?"

"Ah don't call no body crazy." Andy said.

Sally poured the chocolate into two cups and brought them over to the big, scarred wooden table. She put them down and then sat down across from her brother. "I was raised in the church, Andy. I don't like thinking about things like ghosts, you understand?" She studied Andy's face.

"Yeap."

"But since daddy died, I swear, I seen things that made me wonder."

"You all seen him?" Andy asked, bluntly.

"I don't know." Sally replied. "I seen shadows. Like I'll be bringing something in to the pantry and see someone come past that door there, see?" She pointed." But no one's in the house, and when I go into the dining room it's empty." She shook her head. "I thought at first it was Stu playing jokes on me. I told them I was marrying Jasper not a week after we buried daddy, and they started in about how he'd hate that and all.. "

"Uh huh."

"So I figured maybe he was messing with me. I know he doesn't like Jasper either." Sally said. "But... I was seeing things when I knew for sure Stu or Jon was around." She glanced past Andy's shoulder to the steps that led to the 2nd floor. "So I don't know what's going on. I just hope it stops after we're married. Daddy told Jasper he'd shoot him if he ever caught him in the house again and Jasper's afraid that's exactly what's gonna happen."

"Huh." Andy grunted.

"I know you think it's crazy." Sally said. "Jasper and I talked about it... Hell Andy we even talked about running off and going to live someplace else.. but we aint' got no money for that everything I've got is tied up in this house and I.."

She stopped speaking, as they both heard a scratching at the window and turned, to find a face looking back at them.

Sally screamed.

Andy got up and launched himself at the glass, his hands coming to rest on either side of the sill with a solid thump as the face vanished.

"Oh my god!" Sally covered her mouth, as footsteps upstairs turned into a thundering on the staircase as Stu and Jon erupted into the kitchen in a tangle of bare chests and boxer briefs."What the hell?" Stu managed to get out. "Hey!"

Andrew turned his head. "Seems like somebody's outside fussing with us." He said. "Ya'll want to put some clothes on and go hunting?"

"Oh Andy no." Sally threw her hands up. "Don't go out there. It's after midnight!"

Stu shifted his weight from one bare foot to the other. "WHat'd you see?" He asked. "I aint' shooting nothing I don't know what it is."

"A face." Sally pointed. "Right there in the window, all pressed up against the glass. It went away when Andy hit the wall."

Andy pulled the automatic from the back of his belt and headed for the front door. "Ya'll jest stay right here." He opened the door before they could protest and walked through it into the darkness outside.

It seemed to have grown colder in the few minutes since he'd been out there. Andy walked down off the porch and headed for the kitchen side of the house, aiming for the window he'd seen the face in.

He held the gun in one hand with the muzzle pointed upward, his gentle amble morphing into the silent careful foot placement of a hunting cat. He kept his eyes shifted to the side of the window, waiting for his night vision to kick in. He could hear wind in the leaves, and the soft patter of some small animal off to his left, but so far nothing appeared large enough to be a person.

He slipped past a pair of old oak trees, reaching out to pat them with his hand as the old friends they were then he ducked around the side of the house and searched what had once been the kitchen garden.

He could see Stu inside the house, his hands pressed against the glass around his eyes as he looked outside, but that flushed from his mind when he heard, far off, a terrified scream.

He turned, sweeping the yard in a rapid movement of his head, then he heard another scream and started towards it at a run.

He passed the oil barrel, catching a faint glimpse of something from the corner of his eye, feeling a bare tug at his shirt as he left the yard and hit the road.

Midnight? He wondered at Sally's fear, then realized it's source. Midnight of Halloween, she meant, something to be afraid of.

He heard another scream, hoarse and terrified, and he ran towards it, glancing around him as he did. The moon had tipped behind the hills and he was now in real darkness, the spaces between the houses and trees full of shifting shadows.

His imagination? Andy allowed it might be, He reached the blacktop and now he could see down the street - spotting a green flash of light coming from the gates of the cemetery.

"Wall, sure." He muttered. "Had to be that there place."

The road was completely empty. The church no longer was lit, everything around seemed to be blacked out. A strong, cold wind blew across his face, and it occurred to him he might should feel nervous a bout it all.

He didn't. Too much dark water'd gone under his bridge, he reckoned. He bolted towards the wrought iron gates and looked through them, seeing through the trees a faint outline of a man struggling and a flash of ghostly white.

The gates were padlocked. Andy took a step back and then lunged against them, his body weight sending the portals sharply inward and breaking the chain with a brittle snap. He shoved his way through and bolted down the long, tree lined avenue leading to the gravesides.

He could hear thrashing, and then, the sound of a whip, and as he rounded the last corner of hedges he spotted five ghostly figures surrounding a figure on the ground, accompanied by thuds and curses.

He never slowed down. He plowed into them at full speed and used his forward motion to send the figure closest to him sprawlling full length in the dirt.

Without a sound, he attacked a second figure, his hands feeling real flesh as he broke an arm, and body slammed the figure into a tombstone then went on to the next. He roundhouse kicked a third, and slammed his elbow into the jaw of a fourth, by now hearing yells of panic and consternation as he got hold of the fifth man by the white sheet draping over him and wrapped it around his throat, choking him.

The man dropped to his knees and Andy slammed his knee into his face, feeling bone crunch as the man flipped over backwards and landed flat on his back.

Now he stepped over the victim and stood spraddle legged over him, pulling his automatic out from the back of his belt where he'd stashed it to fight, and letting off a round into the air. "S'all the warning you all get."

The six men started to scramble to their feet but then froze.

Andy sensed something behind him. He watched the men's faces carefully and decided not to turn around as he felt a cold draft against his back, penetrating the shirt he was wearing and chilling his skin.

The figure under him cried out, and covered his head with both hands.

A cold wind rose up again, and when it did, a raspy, hollow voice came with it. "Wall. Looks like theres at least one man here."

Andy knew that voice, despite having not heard it for twenty some years. Instead of fear, though, the voice stirred up a far more potent surge of anger.

The men in sheets curled up on the ground, covering their eyes. "Jesus save me!" One of them yelled. "Jesus!"

Andy could hear Jasper, crouching under him, praying. He lowered the hand he had the gun in, and exhaled.

"Andrew. You gonna turn around and face me or run off like the last time."

Andy turned. Behind him, rippling over the top of what he realized was his father's grave, was a gray/white mist, in a bare outline of cloak. The only vivid thing bout it was the eyes, which were cold,and gray and bright. "You all have them do this?" He indicated the shivering Jasper.

"I'm not having my sweet daughter marry the likes of that." The spirit responded. "If I'da known how much more powerful I'd be on t'other side, I'da died sooner, tell you that." A hint of a laugh echoed off the gravestones. The mist got more distinct. "Now move, boy. I got work to finish here."

Andy looked steadily into those gray points. "Ah dont' think so."

The laugh sounded again. "Wall now Andrew." The spirit said. "You have any idea what the dead can do to the living?" It drifted up a bit, taking on more substance.

"Naw." Andy said. "But I know right well what the living can do to the living and it cain't be worse." He stated. "You drove mama to death and you all made Sally's life Hell for all them years. Leave her be now."

Another laugh. "You never did give me respect." The spirit rose up and spread its arms. "Never mind the boy. I'll get me some real satisfaction."

"You never did deserve any respect." Andrew said. "Ya'll were just a hate filled bag of horse shit."

"Boy."

"Aint but the truth. Ah'd rather tell folks ah came from mama's taking the postman to bed than you."

A rush of cold, dank air came over Andrew and he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe as it filled his lungs with useless press sure. He threw up his hands and tried to take a step back, but found himself rooted in place as he was being pulled rapidly towards the earth.

Under the earth. He smelled dirt, and decay, and a layer of darkness flowed over him as he lost view of his surroundings, and could only hear the scrape of cloth against stone and his own heart hammering.

“Ahm gonna make you into worm food, you little skunk of a son.” The harsh voice filled his ears. “Walking out on your family like you done… there’s a special place for git like you where ah am now.”

Andrew couldn’t speak to answer, but he tried to gather his strength up, making himself ready to turn it on, and let the anger in him loose before whatever it was that was holding him could do whatever it was they were threatening.

“Scared? Boy?”

He shook his head with great effort.

The gray mist overwhelmed him, and he felt a burning in his eyes as something fastened around his neck and started to constrict. He lunged and struggled, as his vision went dark and sound faded out, only the dank, fetid smell and the moist, clammy touch remaining.

Hell no.

Then an even colder rush of air blasted him, a sharp, clean smelling chill that made him gasp, drawing in a breath of it as the mist suddenly cleared, and a rush of energy went up his spine.

He heard a thumping sound, and then the rattle of feather, and a thin, overarching scream as his vision cleared and he saw his father's shade rippling in front of him.

A voice erupted behind him, rich and powerful and somewhere in it's echos a bit familiar.

"Boo!" The voice growled, and the sound of feathers sounded again, blasting him in the back with very cold air that hit his father's ghost and dispersed it explosively into tatters, that fluttered off into invisibility before his eyes.

Then there was absolute silence. Andy felt his heart pounding and he felt a sense of awe and of fear that made his legs shake under him because he knew, without a doubt,that whatever was behind him was far more significant than a mere ghost.

It felt savage and powerful, a shifting sense of dark energy he could feel tingling against his skin, strange and potent and like nothing he’d ever experienced before.

Now, he was afraid. Whatever this was, he felt, should be feared.

The voice spoke again, making him flinch. "Go home." It said.

Andy nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead, staring at his father's headstone.

"I'll clean up the mess." The voice said, with a hint of a dark chuckle. "They wont be missed."

"All right." Andy managed to answer, very softly, finding it a little hard to breathe, and feeling for the first time in a very very long time like he wanted to cry.

A sudden pressure, and he felt a hand on his shoulder, and then a dark shrouded figure was leaning past him to look at his face.

He couldn't see the features. The darkness and shadows shifted across where a face might be but the eyes were distinct, and visible and as he unwillingly met them he suddenly felt a rush, and a prickling down his spine.

There was something in them he knew. A knowledge of him, and a sharing he scarcely understood but knew was real.

One of the eyes winked at him, then the cold washed over him again and a swirl of clean air blew his clothing hard against his body as the thunder of beating wings blasted through him then was gone.

A motion before his eyes made his hand come up automatically, and he plucked a long, black feather out of the air.

He stared at it, then he slowly looked around him, finding himself alone in the graveyard with only Jasper on the ground between his boots, no sign of ghosts, or men in sheets, or ..

He looked at the feather. Or anything else.

His knees slowly stopped shaking and he felt his muscles relax. He dismissed the recent terror, and focused on the here and now, looking down at his sister’s fianc_ still crouched on the ground.

"Dear Jesus, Dear God." Jasper was whispering. "Deliver me from evil."

Andrew wasn't really sure what had delivered them from his father's ghost, but he was pretty sure it wasn't either God, or Jesus. "Git up." He ordered, gruffly. “S’all over now.”

Jasper uncovered his head, and looked timidly up at him. "Oh the good Lord sent you! I thought I was going to die!" He got to his knees, then lifted his upper body and clasped his hands, raising his face up to the sky. "Thank you Lord."

"C'mon." Andy tugged him to his feet. "This aint no good place t'be." He pointed to the gates. "Lets head on back to Sally's place. You'll be all right there now."

Jasper looked around the graveyard, quiet and dimly starlit. “Where’d they all go? Those men?”

“Aint here no more.” Andrew said, gruffly. “Ah don’t know what you all heard, but there aint’ nothing here now so get a move on.”

Jasper wiped his eyes. "I was walking home from church and the next thing I knew, I got hit on the head then I was here." He touched the back of his skull. "I didn't think ghosts would have to dot hat."

"Weren't no ghosts anyhow." Andy said. "Just plain ordinary jackass KKK."

"K..." Jasper fell silent. THen he looked behind them at the empty graveyard. "Why'd they hurt me?"

“What?” Andrew stared at him.

Jasper extended his arms, turning his palms over. “Ahm as white as you are. Why all did they want to take after me? I ain’t done nothing against them.”

"Why? Cause you're fixing to get hitched to a grand dragon's daughter." Andy answered, grimly. "She never tell you?"

Jasper stared at him.

"Lord."

**

"Jasper!" Sally rushed for the door and they entered. "Sweet Jesus!"

Andrew closed the door behind him and stood quietly, regarding his sister, her fiance, and the two brothers in the room who refused to meet his eyes. “That all was not funny.”

“What happened?” Sally asked. “Are you all right?”

Jasper looked very uncomfortable. “I think… I think it was just some guys having a joke. For Halloween.” He said. “Anyway, it’s over.” He put his arm around Sally. “Right?” He looked at Andrew.

Given his pick, Andrew would have been glad to just go sleep in the truck. He walked past them all and went down the hallway to his old bedroom, going inside and sitting down on the bed.

It creaked under his weight, and he leaned back against the wall and studied the feather he was still holding, lifting it and twirling it between his fingertips before his eyes.

It was perfect, and glossy, a blue sheen along it's curve highlighting it's darkness. He touched it with his other hand, running his fingertips along it and remembering that touch on his shoulder, and that wink. Those eyes. The sense of overwhelming power.

Wild. Amoral. Awesome in every sense of that word.

Just. Andrew considered that. "Ah do not know what you were." He addressed the feather. "But I do believe ah like you. If we ever do meet again, ah believe I would buy you a beer."

He heard no sound at all, but suddenly the air vibrated slightly around him, almost as though something was laughing.

Someone.

Andrew raised the feather in salute, then he got up and carefully put the feather away in his bag, zipping it up just as his cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID, then flipped it open. "Hey there pretty lady."

"Hey Andy." Ceci's voice was atypically urgent. "Everything okay?"

Andrew sat down on the bed. "Sallright now." He said. "Had us some excitement a bit ago."

"Excitement?"

"Ah'll tell you when I get there." Andy said. "Some folks given mah sister's sweetheart a hard time. I settled it."

“You sure? I had a funny feeling you were in some kind of trouble.” Ceci said. “And you know how much I hate all that psychic stuff.”

‘Ahm sure.” Andy said. “Aint wasn’t nothing but some fellers in white sheets in a graveyard.”

"Ah." Ceci's tone relaxed. "That kind of trouble. Well, happy Samhain and all that. You're gonna miss a great party here."

"You all doing them things?" Andy asked.

"Am I doing some pagan ceremonies on the bow of the boat and scaring the living crap out of all of our marina neighbors? Why yes, I am. Having a great time too." His wife sounded smugly satisfied. "I was going to have the kids start kissing on the fantail and complete the festivities. I figure I could at least get four of those damn stuck up nitwits to fall in the water with that."

Andy started laughing.

"I'll save you some incense." Ceci said. "You'll be back tomorrow right, right?"

"Yeap. I sure will." Andy let the chuckles wind down. "Soon as ah can." He said good bye and closed the phone, tapping it on his chin and lapsing into thoughtful silence.

**

Andrew stood on the front porch of the church, gazing out over the short cropped grass as the sun poured down over the trees. He turned as he heard the door open, to find Pastor Gray there.

"Andrew, we're ready" The pastor stood back to let him enter. "That's quite a collection you have there."

Andy glanced down at his dress uniform, half covered in medals and campaign bars and the Lord only knew what else. "Ah done a few things for the gov'mint." He allowed, as he followed the pastor inside to the small waiting room just to one side of the chapel entrance.

Inside, Sally was just picking up her bouquet, looking beautiful in her buff white wedding dress, and veil. "Oh Andy, you look wonderful!

"You look real pretty yourself." Andy replied. "Evrybody ready to do this here thing?"

"Hell yes." Sally answered. "What a day!" She tucked her hand inside her brother's elbow. "I can hardly believe it - getting that call from that company in Mobile? Andy, it's a miracle! They're gonna pay me three times when I'm making here at the dealership."

"Amazin." Andrew shifted his shoulders inside their wool casing. “Aint’ it something.”

"And Jasper fnding that training job with the same company? He's so happy!" Sally gave Andy's arm a pat. "It's all the Lords good work. LIstenin to our prayers and all that. I just can't believe it."

"Sure nuff seems like a miracle." Andy agreed. "You all gonna like living up near the city?"

Sally sighed. "It's gonna be hard. I never lived nowhere but here, Andy. I don't know what mama would say, me leaving this house here behind." She glanced up at him. "But when this sorta thing comes at you, it's the lord's will, don't you think? Happening like that?"

"Wall." Her brother cleared his throat gently. "Ah do think things do happen for some kinda reason."

The heard the organ start to play. "It's time." Sally said. "Andy, I'm so glad you came. I think everything's going to work out great."

"Ahm sure." Andy led her to the door and they waited for the music. He could see the church full of people, and they started forward as they all stood and turned to watch their entrance.

He remembered sitting in these pews, listening to the words of the Bible and knowing the men and women on either side of him only gave lip service to them, that adulterers and bigots sang those pretty hymns with all the conviction in the world - and soon as they cleared the door they were beating their kids, or stealing money or whatever.

Like the old man. Telling him not to marry no northeastern woman while he was having sex with every girl too scared to say no to him and figuring out ways to beat them others who only had different color skin.

He could see all the eyes on him, and he walked with his head high, glad as hell he'd put his money where his morals had been, cut the cord and never looked back. He could still remember the old man's face when he'd put his duffel on his shoulder, told him to fuck off, and left - letting the Navy become his family until he'd gone and met Cec.

Until he'd held his own child in his hands, and known a moment of perfect rage at how old Duke had treated his kids, and his wife, and neighbors around him who just so happened not to be just like he was.

Never went back after that. He knew he'd have killed the old man and ended up in some rancid ass Alabama jail cell for it and the bastard wasn't worth that.

"Wish mama was here." Sally whispered as they walked between the pews.

Andy didin’t. He wasn’t sure how their gentle mother would have coped with the world they were in now. “Ahm sure she’s watching you and saying hay.” He told his sister.

Sally smiled. “You know what, I think you’re right.”

Jasper was waiting up near the alter, in his gray morning suit that looked like it'd graced the grooms in his family for the Lord only knew how many generations. Andy deposited Sally next to him, then he took a step back next to Edgar and stood with his hands at his sides as Pastor Gray performed the ceremony.

He watched the crowd, looking around in the corners to see if there were any shadows, or mists but the inside of the church was full of people and light and music and nothing more.

Outside, his rental truck was waiting with his bag already in it. He listened to the end of the ceremony, watched his sister and her new husband kiss, then he shook Jasper's hand and gladly followed them out of the church.

Everyone was heading over towards the house. Andrew sorted his way through them and went to the truck instead. He sensed motion behind him and turned, to find Jon there. "Lo."

"You all leaving?" Jon said. "Hay, food's not that bad."

Andy opened the door and leaned on it. "Told Cec I'd be back fore dark." He said. "Gotta go."

"Ya'll want me to drive you to the field? Take this back? Gotta walk to the airplane otherwise." Jon offered.

Andy studied him, then he indicated the other door, and settled behind the wheel. He headed off towards the field, leaving the party behind them.

He'd done what he could. Maybe the change would give Sally a better life. Maybe it wouldn’t. But at least it was change. He suspected, though, his sister and her husband were in for a surprise when they had them their new employee talk at that new company of theirs.

He’d enjoyed his, specially when they got to talking about the big shots in the company and showed pictures.

They drove in silence for a several minutes. Then Jon shifted, loosening the tie around his neck. 'You all gonna say what all happened last night?"

"Nope."

Jon nodded. "Stu figured." He said. "You kill them boys, Andy?"

"No ah did not." Andy replied. "But I done saw what did, and ah will tell you that you all need to stop messing around in these here parts for your get yourselfs into some real trouble."

Jon blinked a few times. "Was it really a ghost?" He finally asked.

"Ah do not know what it was." His brother said, firmly. "But It aint' something you all want to fool with."

"They was just trying to scare Jasper." Jon said. "Keep him off, y'know? Dind't mean nothing by it."

Andy didn't say anything.

"Figured he'd run off." Jon went on. "Stu and I aint' got no place to go, Andy. Sally was gonna throw us out in the road. Didnt we growed up there too? Our house much as hers no matter what mama said."

"Wall." Andy paused, waiting for a truck to pass before he turned downt he road that led to the airfield. "Ya'll got it now."

"Yeah. That's real weird how that happened, huh?"

"Ain't weird. Just took some phone calls is all.." Andy muttered as he pulled the truck into the parking lot. "Got to find me that pilot feller."

"Hay. That's a sweet lookin plane. Wonder what it's doing here?" Jon was looking out the window to the field, where a sleek Learjet was parked, looking sadly out of place.

Andy parked the truck and glanced at the plane, pausing when his eyes fell on the logo painted on the tail. "Huh." His brows lifted. "Ah do believe that there might be my ride home."

Jon stared. "Y'all are going in that?" He hopped out of the truck. "Get out!"

Andy got his bag out and closed the door, as the pilot who'd been waiting near the plane started towards him. "Yeap."

"Commander?" The pilot greeted him. "Ms. Roberts asked me to pick you up."

"Now did she?" Andy smiled. "Imagine that."

"Yes sir, she did." The pilot took his bag. "I'll stow that for you." He went to the planes luggage hatch and opened it.

"Mah kid." Andy looked at the plane with a sense of wry satisfaction. "They done got one of these here things and parked it down by us for her to use since September. Didn't want her flying in them big ones."

"Huh." Jon followed him over to the plane and looked inside. "Boy that's sweet." He said. "I aint never seen the inside of one of these."

Andy settled into one of the big, comfortable leather seats and extended his legs, crossing them at the ankles. "Ah have."

Jon shook his head. "Well, anyhow. See ya, Andy. Too bad you didn't want o stay for the party."

"So long" Andy lifted a hand and then dropped it as the pilot climbed aboard and shut the hatch behind him.

"Sir, there's cold beer in the fridge there, and some ice cream." The pilot said. "Ms. Roberts said she wasn't sure which one you'd need first."

Andy started laughing.

"And I need to get out of here before the winds come up again." The pilot said. "So please, sir, hold on and we'll be out of here before you know it."

Andy folded his hands on his lap and looked out the window. He could see Jon standing there next to the truck, watching the plane with a sad look on his face. Wasn't for him, he reasoned. Maybe he and Stu had been looking forward to another night of harassment.

Or maybe he'd miss Sally. Andy didn't think either of his brothers could cook. Maybe getting what they wanted would turn out to be a hell of a lot worse than they thought.

"Ready to go home sir?"

"Hell yes." Andy settled back as the engines turned over. "Can't go fast enough."

The plane started to roll and he watched out the window as the field flashed by, grass turning to trees as the jet lifted off and soared above the ground. "Bah bah." He waggled his fingers as the town dropped off into the distance.

"Did you enjoy your vacation, sir?" The pilot asked, after they leveled off and were heading southeast.

Andrew looked up from his bowl of ice cream. One eyebrow hiked sharply.

"Guess not!" The man said, turning back to his controls. "You can watch outside for witches though, it's Halloween after all. "

Involuntarily, he looked out the window, seeing nothing more than the expected clouds and sky. With a shake of his head, he turned back to find a surprising dent in his dish, as though someone had swiped a forefinger through the scoop to taste it.

He stared at it, then peered around the inside of the plane. Aside from the pilot, and himself - it was empty.

He set the dish down and got up, going to the refrigerator and removing the ice cream, dishing up a second portion and setting the bowl down on the table between the seats. Then he sat back down and picked up his bowl, turning his back on the table and resuming his spoon.

He seriously hoped it would be empty by the time they landed.

**

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