Sapphic Voices Fan Fiction

The Homecoming

Part Two

Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle and Eve are owned by Pacific Renaissance/MCA Universal/USA Studios. I have only borrowed some of their identifying characteristics for this Work of original Fiction.

Content Warning: This is a Story of two Women who are very much in love and there are many descriptions of lovemaking, some of which are explicit. If you are under the age of consent where you live, please reconsider reading this Story. Thanks!

Language: Imagine Xena in the 1990's - yep, she swears. And she's a cop, so there's some violence too.

"New Age"/Religious Content warning: I'm a "new age" kind of girl, so my characters are too. All new age/metaphysical and healing occurrences presented here are actual phenomena that I have personally experienced. By presenting my characters' religious views, I by no means wish to diminish the views of others. IMHO, each person's religious view is the "right" one (smile).

Author's note: This is my first Story. Since I really have no idea just how good or bad this may be, I would welcome comments and constructive criticism. Thanks for reading! - JL, 2001

-13-

Janna's breath came in ragged gasps as she panted, "Oh yes...oh God...Ryan..." She followed up with a breathless, "Thank you," as Ryan crawled back up her luscious body and cradled her in her strong arms while the delightful tremors subsided.

"I love you, Ryan."

"Love you too, baby. So much." As Ryan leaned down for a kiss Janna saw that she had a little chocolate around her mouth and on the tip of her nose. It was too adorable and she giggled.

"Honey, come here. Let me clean you up a little now." She pulled Ryan's face closer and slowly licked the chocolate from her face. Ryan slowed her progress with an errant tongue and they enjoyed the taste of one another for another few minutes.

As they parted again Ryan sighed happily. "That was such a good idea love. I have a whole new appreciation for chocolate now. Not to mention strawberries." She grinned happily and pulled Janna into an even tighter embrace, so glad that Janna had kept the promise she had made at the gym.

"I thought you'd like it. I'll have to make that dessert for you more often," she said saucily.

"Oh yeah, at least once a week, love." Ryan grinned widely as she squeezed Janna.

After their workout they had skipped showers down at the gym in favor of their planned interlude in Janna's tub. They ate a quick, light meal of salads and bread and practically skipped up the stairs to the master suite, both barely able to control their enthusiasm. What began in the tub by candlelight quickly escalated and had to be moved, candles and all, to the bedroom. Both women now lay sated in each other's arms. The nearly full moon shining in through the open blinds bathed them in a warm, silvery glow, as if in approval.

Ryan lay enjoying the feel of contentment that holding Janna in her arms filled her with. "Janna, I've never had such a fulfilling physical relationship before. Is it because we're soulmates, do you think?"

"I guess so honey. This is the best ever for me too. It could be because I love you so very much. I've never experienced love on this level before."

"Yeah, this is new for me too. I never would've thought it possible to love someone this much...to... to feel so completed by someone else. It's incredibly emotionally satisfying too." She kissed Janna's hair and sighed contentedly. "I never want this to end Janna. I don't like being apart from you, even for a little while." She shook her head and grinned self- deprecatingly, "Look at me...big tough cop who never needed anyone before, can't leave her little lady without feeling lost and so lonely that she can't concentrate. But Jesus, I just feel so incomplete without you."

Janna kissed the breast near her mouth and replied, "I certainly know the feeling love. I can no longer imagine life without you. I want to spend every minute of every day with you."

"But Janna, do you know what's cool?" Ryan's excited look charmed Janna.

"What, love?"

"Our link! With it, it's almost like we're not apart. I can feel you even when we're miles apart. I'm even starting to be able to tell which feelings are mine and which are yours. And you know what else? The other day when you met John and me at the café, I felt you before I saw you...I knew you were coming up behind me. God, I love this!" She embraced Janna more tightly and lifted her up so that she could kiss her.

Janna returned the kiss and felt absolutely giddy at Ryan's enthusiasm. "Sweetheart, I know. I've read about these links, but never imagined that I'd experience one of my own. We're very blessed. I wish everyone could experience this."

"So do I. You know, I used to laugh at John. After he met Sara, he never wanted to hang out with me and the guys anymore. And if he did he always insisted on including her. Some of our friends called him, 'Whipped', and I guess I went along with that, but now I understand it completely. I have no desire whatsoever to do anything separate from you... and I don't see that changing, ever."

She looked Janna deeply in the eyes, serious blue meeting enchanted green. "In fact, I want to set up housekeeping with you Janna. I don't want to wait. I want to move in here with you. Jesus, I'd marry you tomorrow if it were legal." She squeezed Janna tightly and a single tear slid down her cheek.

Janna matched her tear with some of her own and answered, "Then let's do it honey. Why don't we do as much, legally, as we can? I mean, like, power of attorneys and life insurance beneficiaries, and such? And I'd like to add your name to the title of this house."

"Okay, yeah, let's do that. I mean, if you're sure about it."

"Oh, I'm positive. I know this is moving fast, Ryan, but I've never felt so sure about anything."

"Neither have I. Hell, Janna I'd be willing to move us to the first State that legalizes gay marriage. Country even. I hear there's talk of it happening in Canada, and Norway, I think."

"Yeah. I've heard that Hawaii is thinking about it. And Vermont. Also the Netherlands. I'd be willing to, love. In a heartbeat."

Ryan's eyes gained an additional sparkle and she grinned as she said, "In the meantime, we can have a good old-fashioned commitment ceremony."

"Yeah...lets do that sweetheart. Um...why don't we talk about it in the morning though?" The sparkle in Janna's eyes matched Ryan's as she turned and lay atop her lover, re-igniting their passion.

Luna watched silently as the two lovers began their now familiar dance of love again, smiling in approval in her own special way.

~~~~~~~~~~

As it turns out, Ryan and Janna were much too busy the next morning doing other, more enjoyable, things to talk about their near-future plans. That talk had to wait until later, as they ate dinner at Ryan's place. Over a dinner of grilled beef and veggie burgers, French fries, salad and wine, the ladies discussed their plans. They sat on the deck under a beautiful sky, the sun still warm as it sank in the west. The edge of the deck was bordered with planters and flowerpots and the sweet scents sat heavily on the warm air.

Over a mouth full of burger, Janna said, "This is really good, honey. And you say you can't cook!"

"I can't cook. But I can grill up a storm!" Ryan replied jauntily as she popped a French fry into her mouth.

"You sure can. I'd be happy with a grilled meal a few times a week if you were so inclined" Janna replied with a grin.

"You got it, babe. I'd be more than happy to do that. I usually grill three or four times a week anyway." Ryan sat back in her lounge chair and sipped her wine, eyes sparkling as she watched her love enjoy her meal. Janna enjoyed few things as much as she enjoyed a good meal, it seemed, and it pleased Ryan immensely to not only cook for her, but to watch her savor a meal.

"So," Janna started, around another mouth full of food, "When do you want to move in to my place?" She washed her food down with a sip of wine and smiled contentedly.

"Well, how about this weekend? Did you have anything else planned?"

"Nope, nothing else planned. This weekend it is." She took another few fries and munched them contentedly.

"Great! You know, unless you want anything in particular, I think I'll leave most everything here. What John and Sara don't want to use I can put into storage. I'll basically just need my everyday stuff: clothes, weights, sports equipment, books, music, and movies. I think I can leave most of the furniture and appliances here. " Then as if as an afterthought she added with a smile, "And I'll bring my R.C. Gorman prints of course."

"Of course! Thank you love." Janna's soft smile melted Ryan's heart just a little bit more and she leaned over and snared a kiss.

"Mmm, good fries...they taste like you."

"Here, love, have some wine with your fries," Janna suggested, then took a sip from her glass and leaned over to share with Ryan.

"Mmm, tastes so much better when you share it. Come 'ere." Ryan beckoned to Janna to sit on her lap and she happily complied. Ryan commenced hand feeding her the rest of her meal and Janna shared a little of each bite with her love. Very shortly they became more engrossed in the meeting of lips than in the sharing of food and soon became breathless.

"God, Janna, I never get tired of kissing you. I can't seem to get enough."

"I feel the same way, so why don't we get dinner cleaned up and go upstairs?"

Ryan liked that idea immensely and nearly dropped Janna in her haste to get up. They got the food and dishes squared away in record time and had lots of time for more intimate pursuits upstairs.

As they lay together in Ryan's bed a few hours later, light from the full moon poured in through the large, open window, accompanied by a cool breeze. The night-cool air felt good on superheated and sweat-slicked skin and Janna sighed. Ryan moaned contentedly as she traced lazy circles on the skin of Janna's back.

"I've always loved the moon", Janna remarked quietly. "I always have the blinds open on moonlit nights...to let the light in."

"Mmm, me too love. I miss her when she's not out." Ryan commented.

"So you consider it a female spirit too, huh?" Janna grinned.

"Yeah, Native American lore. I've never known whether or not to believe in that stuff, but I think deep down I want for it to be true."

"Same here. Only I do tend to believe a lot of it now. I believe there is a consciousness, or a spirit in the moon, and in the sun too, though it's a more masculine energy."

"Yep, so say the Natives. It's hard to argue with information passed down from so many different ancient cultures that all basically agree with each other, you know?" Ryan turned her face toward the window and enjoyed the feeling of the silver light on her face.

"Mm hmm. That's so right. I've studied a number of ancient belief systems and I find what I believe are bits of truth in all of them. That goes for religions too," Janna said as she turned to look into Ryan's beautiful face. She reached up and lovingly caressed a high cheekbone.

"So you're a Christian but you are open to other belief systems?" Ryan looked at Janna with an open curiosity as she grabbed Janna's fingers and brought them to her lips.

"Uh huh. I believe in Christ's basic message of love being the way, but the dogma of organized churches turns me off. I find some truth in Taoism, and in Buddhism and some of the old pagan religions too. It works for me." Janna shrugged and smiled meekly.

"I basically feel the same way, honey. I think that similar information came to the planet in different ways and by different messengers, but that the source was the same. I think that when each bit of information came it was right for the time and delivered in a way that the people of the time could understand and identify with.

"You know", Ryan continued, "I read once where someone said that in the Universe there is only love and fear, and that every negative emotion and energy is just a different manifestation of fear, including what we consider evil. I've given that a lot of thought, because of some of the awful things I see as part of my job. A thing might appear to be evil, but if you really think about it, it could just be a manifestation of fear. It makes sense to me when I look at it that way."

"Yes, sweetheart, that mirrors my belief exactly! Like, anger is the fear of unmet expectations. Someone doesn't do what you expect them to and you get angry. It's better not to have expectations. Or, um... impatience is the fear of missing out on something. I read a whole list of them once and it really made sense to me. I'll have to see if I can dig that up again...I need a refresher if we're going to have a lot of conversations like this." Janna smiled as she caressed the strong arm around her waist.
Ryan replied, "Cool love, I'd like to read that. You know I saw a lot of books on your shelves that looked really interesting. There was one on the use of medicinal herbs that I'd like to take a look at. I've always been kind of interested in that but never studied it. Probably goes back to my great-grandfather who was a shaman."

"Oh, cool. Or it could be a past life thing too. You may have been a healer before." Janna remarked.

Ryan looked interested and replied, "Yeah, I suppose so. That's another thing I've never been sure about...reincarnation...but sort of want to believe in. It would explain a lot of things, especially having to do with you. Like some dreams I've been having lately."

"What kind of dreams Ryan?" Janna became still, waiting for Ryan's answer.

"Well, they're very strange, but also very realistic...not abstract or symbolic like dreams tend to be...but more like real images of my life. Only it seems to be a very long time ago. I'm usually wearing leather and a sort of armor outfit. I have a beautiful tan horse and an even more beautiful companion...Janna, she looks just like you."

Janna took up the story. "But her hair is shorter than mine and she rides a white horse, or else rides behind you on yours. They're warriors, or you are anyway, although sometimes she fights too, either with a quarterstaff or with small dagger-like weapons."

"Jesus Christ, Janna. What's going on here? I've seen the same things."

"I'm not completely sure...how can you be sure about something like this? But I think its recollections from a past life we shared. A very significant past life, apparently. I've had the dreams every night we've been together, Ryan. All of them so far have been different, but the one common element is our love for each other. We were a couple then too, and as much in love as we are now, I think."

"Yep, that's the same impression I get, love. This is very strange but also cool!" Ryan hugged her mate closer as she yawned. "Sweetheart I want to look into this some more, but right now I need to get some sleep, okay?"

"Sure honey. I'm tired too. You wear me out, you know?" She could make out Ryan's rakish grin in the moonlight and laughed quietly just before Ryan gathered her up for a goodnight kiss and embrace. Ryan's grin continued as realization dawned as to just why she and Janna slept so well together...it was always after great sex.

Luna smiled down on her friends compassionately as they drifted off into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

All that Ryan was aware of was a mind-numbing, bone-chilling cold. She was lying in snow, vaguely aware of it falling on and around her. The cold filled her awareness to the exclusion of everything else...except...what was that? Janna's voice, weak, as if miles away, yet she felt nearby.

Suddenly, she realized that Janna was lying not far from her and calling her name. What is she calling me? It sounded like, "Zena". Her mind cleared somewhat at the sound of her soul mate's voice and she realized that they were both strapped by their arms and legs to planks of wood and were surrounded by soldiers.

She looked to her right and saw Janna looking back at her.

Her faced filled with love as she said, "I love you, Zena".

Ryan felt some of the ice melt from around her heart and replied, "I love you too, Gabrielle." As she said this, a soldier approached her soul mate, knelt beside her, and placed a large iron nail against her open palm. In his other hand he held a hammer, which he quickly brought down on the head of the nail, driving it through Janna's (Gabrielle's?) palm. At this, Ryan screamed, "No! Janna!"

Ryan's scream awakened Janna from a sound sleep. She sat up and looked down at her mate. Ryan's face was covered with perspiration as she tossed in her sleep, apparently still in the throes of the nightmare.

She reached for Ryan's face, caressing it gently as she said softly, "Ryan, sweetheart. Wake up. It's just a dream."

Ryan continued to twist on the bed, agony and grief written on her beautiful features. Janna reached down and folded her into an embrace, repeating, "Ryan, it's okay. Wake up now."

Ryan's eyes flew open, terror emblazoned on them. She sat up in a daze, automatically wrapping her arms around Janna. After a moment of confusion, she looked at her mate and relief replaced the terror on her face. She burst into tears as she pulled Janna tightly to her chest. "Oh, God, Janna, they were killing you."

Janna returned the embrace, squeezing Ryan tightly. "Shh, sweetheart. It was just a dream. I'm fine."

Ryan relished the comforting contact with her mate and slowly rocked them back and forth, tears still spilling from her eyes.
"But it was so real. I think you were being nailed to a cross. Oh, God Janna. I know we died together that day."

"It's over Ryan. Long over. We're here now, and we're fine." She kissed the pulse point that throbbed beneath her lips and felt Ryan relax a little.

They held each other in silence for long moments, comforting each other with their closeness and with gentle touches. Ryan broke the silence with, "It was one of those warrior dreams. You called me, 'Zena' and I called you, 'Gabrielle'. I think the soldiers were Roman." Feeling somewhat better, she then remarked wryly, "We musta pissed off Caesar or something."

"We must have", Janna grinned. Then she added thoughtfully, in a quiet voice, "So we lived in the time of the Caesars. I thought it seemed to be around then. I was thinking it was in Greece though, or someplace hot and dry like that."

"It was Greece", Ryan remarked offhandedly, unsure of how she knew that. "And my name was Xena." She shivered as the cool breeze hit her damp skin and remembered the awful pain of seeing her love put to death. She swallowed hard and kissed Janna's hair. "Jesus Christ, it hurt to see them do that to you. I feel it as if it really happened."

"It did really happen Ryan. We carry those memories in our bodies...in our chakras. There's probably a reason why you're remembering that life now. Something having to do with your soul's growth and evolution. It's part of this life's lesson."

"Well, I was doing just fine without that horror, thank you very much. I prefer the other dreams I've had, where we're swimming or relaxing together, or making love. Hell, even the fighting dreams are better, at least we always kicked their asses."

"Yeah, most of my dreams have been happy ones too. Tomorrow, lets talk about what we remember of those dreams, okay?"

"Sure baby." Ryan groaned as she noted the time: 3:15. "Come on, let's try to get back to sleep or I'm not gonna be worth shit tomorrow." Quietly, she added, "I'm glad you were here, Janna. It would've been even more terrifying to wake up alone." Her mate gave her a reassuring squeeze and she lay back down, bringing her Janna with her.

As her mate settled back against her side, Ryan silently asked Grandmother Moon to protect them from further nightmares. Luna complied.

~~~~~~~~~~

Janna awakened as a dabble of warm sunlight hit her face. She could feel a hot breeze caress her mostly bare skin and smelled the scent of sun-warmed grasses. As she stirred and opened one eye she realized that her head was pillowed in Ryan's lap.

Before she could open the other eye she heard Ryan, using the softest voice she'd ever heard, say, "Sweetheart, looks who's finally awake. It's your other mama. Yes, it is."

She was answered by a sweet baby's gurgle and a, "Goo!"

Janna turned to face her mate and the baby she was nursing. Warmed to the core by the sight of her family, she sat up and moved to sit against the tree, next to her partner. She wrapped an arm around her mate's waist and leaned down to kiss their child.

"Hello my sweet little Eve. Is it dinnertime again?"

"Sure is. Didja have a nice nap, love?" her Warrior asked with a grin and a twinkle in her brilliant blue eyes.

"Of course. I had my favorite pillow didn't I?" Equally twinkling green eyes met her gaze.

The Warrior looked down as the infant's suckling slowed. "She's getting sleepy. We might as well just camp here for the night. We made good distance today."

"Mmm." The Bard stretched and then reached into a nearby saddlebag, pulling out a scroll. "Sounds good to me. I want to get this scroll finished while that last adventure is fresh in my mind."

"Mmm". The tall warrior gently shifted the now sleeping infant to her shoulder and softly patted her back. She watched as her mate brought a quill to her mouth, deep in thought. She reached out a long arm and folded it around her partner's shoulders, her mate instinctively moving against her side. The warrior sighed contentedly and leaned her head back against the tree, thinking, I have, right here in my arms, all I will ever need to be happy. I am finally complete.

The Bard, sensing her mate's feelings, put her work down and turned in her lover's embrace. "And I have everything I will ever need. I love you Xena." She reached up and pulled the Warrior's face down to meet her lips.

The feel of the sun on her face and Ryan's lips softly kissing hers awakened Janna. She was greeted by a rich, low, "Morning sweetheart. Were you having a sweet dream?"

Janna blinked and pulled Ryan back down for another kiss. After it ended, she gazed at Ryan and said, "Oh, love, it was a wonderful dream. You were nursing our baby. We were incredibly happy." Her eyes shone with love and she let their link communicate her feelings to her partner.

"That does sound wonderful. Was it one of the Warrior dreams?"

"Yeah. And you know what? I was a writer...a bard, I guess they called it back then."

"Ah, that makes sense. You're still a bard, you know." Ryan rolled over onto her back, pulling Janna down against her, and kissed her cheek. "So, we had a baby, huh? Or I did?"

"Yep, but she seemed to be truly both of ours. I felt an intense love for her. Her name was Eve."

"Eve. I've always liked that name. So, we were Xena, Gabrielle and Eve. I wonder how the baby happened." Janna giggled, so Ryan continued, "Okay smarty, I know how it happened, but there had to be a guy involved somewhere...we were a couple weren't we?"

"Definitely. I don't know...maybe we used some ancient form of sperm donation."

"Honey in those days, there was only one form of sperm donation." She grinned wryly.

"I know. I'm just fooling with ya. We could find out you know. Do a past life regression with a therapist and find out all about that life, and others."

"Or we could just keep sleeping together and have these incredible dreams...visions...whatever you want to call them."

"Mmm, I think I like that idea best. Know what else we did a lot of in that life?" She nibbled on a nearby collarbone to give Ryan a clue.

"Mmm, I think I have an idea, yeah. No wonder we're so compatible Janna. We've been doing this for two thousand years." She embraced her mate and sought out her lips, arms slowly caressing her back. Janna responded with a moan and deepened the kiss, enjoying the feel of Ryan's hard body under hers. She inclined her head and lightly kissed Ryan's breastbone, eliciting a moan and an intake of breath from her partner. Her lips then moved farther down to more sensitive spots and the moaning intensified. "Ohh, baby, we don't have time for this do we?" Ryan groaned. Janna stopped her loving ministrations long enough to glance at the clock.

She groaned and replied, "Uhh, no, actually. It's almost 7:30 already."

"Shit! I'm gonna be late." Ryan gently disengaged herself from under Janna and jumped up out of bed. Janna enjoyed the view as she made her way into the bathroom.

"I guess separate showers are in order then?" Janna asked, disappointment coloring her voice.

A tousled dark head appeared from around the bathroom door, grinned and said, "You can join me if you promise to be good."

"Oh, love, I don't know if I can promise that." Then she added with a grin, "But I can try." With that she jumped up as well and joined her partner, who in turn admired the vision approaching her.

Janna was not good, as it turns out, and neither was Ryan. Ryan made it to roll call just as the Captain began the morning briefing, her stomach empty but her soul fulfilled.

-14-

As he pulled up to his sister's house, Dan Norden noticed that the green Explorer was parked in her driveway again. As he attempted to smother a smug grin, the front door opened and the beautiful cop that he'd seen there previously exited, followed by Janna. He watched as the cop glanced his way before climbing into her truck. Janna walked over with her and leaned in the driver's side window, where the two women shared a short kiss. As the dark haired woman backed out of the drive, Dan caught her eye and waved. She returned the wave with a big smile and returned her attention to her mate, who blew her a kiss. After watching Ryan's truck turn the corner, Janna sauntered over to her brother's pickup and greeted him with a wide smile that closely matched his own.

"Morning Dan".

"Good morning, Sis! Looks like your day got off to a great start." He enjoyed the mild blush that crept into his sister's features, then added, "This is the second time this week I've seen her leave in the morning. Is there something you feel like sharing with me Sis?"

"Yes, Danny, I guess there is. Come on in for some coffee." As she waited while he gathered his jobsite papers, she took a deep breath of the slightly cool morning air, enjoying the fragrance of roses and iris that hung on the damp atmosphere. Her brother, who was of medium height and build and shared Janna's coloring except for blue eyes, joined her and they walked up the curved paving to the front porch.

Dan sat himself at the kitchen table and said, "Okay, Sis, spill it. Who's the beautiful babe?"

Janna handed him a mug and sat opposite him with her tea. They both added two sugars and two creams in nearly perfect synchrony and grinned at each other. "Do you remember Sissy Zamora from school?" She hid a smug smile behind her mug as he stopped his movement, mug hanging in midair, a look of incredulity sweeping his features.

"No way! Sissy Zamora?"

"Ah, so you remember her then?" Janna's eyes twinkled as she enjoyed her brother's surprised reaction

"Hell, yeah I remember her. Shit, Sis, half the guys in the junior class were hot for her, even though she made no secret of the fact that she was gay. Do you remember when she dated that cheerleader? Half the school was scandalized and the other half was titillated. What was her name...April?"

"Hmm, I don't remember that. In my senior year I was pretty focused on my music, remember? I didn't pay much attention to anything else."

"Yeah, that's right, you were. Sissy Zamora..."

"Actually, her name's Ryan." She met her brother's eyes over the rim of her mug.

"Oh, didn't know that. Yeah, she was a lettered athlete wasn't she? Soccer, softball and track?"

"Mmm, probably, yeah. She's an amazing ball player still. She plays on two teams right now. In fact, I may be joining her on the fast pitch team soon." Janna sat back in her chair and savored her tea. "So, anyway, yeah, we're involved. To be honest, Danny, I've never been this much in love in my life." Her face became radiant as she made the admission and Dan smiled gently at her.

"Sis, that's great. I'm happy for you." He let his brotherly concern show a little on his face and he added, "So it's pretty serious huh?" and waited for his sister's reply.

"Very. Um, she's moving in here this weekend. This is it for me Dan, I'm sure of it. It's like we've been best friends forever. We both feel that we complete each other." Janna's smile warmed his heart and he leaned forward and grabbed her hand across the table.

"That's super, Jan. Congratulations!"

"Thanks Danny!" She intertwined their fingers for a moment, then separated and leaned back in her chair again.

"So, have Mom and Dad met her?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes, briefly, at the hospital last week. They don't know how involved we are though. I thought I might have you all over for a family barbecue soon and introduce her around."

"Sounds good. We haven't all been together since Dad's birthday. I'll bet the kids will like her. You know how into cops Robbie is right now." Janna smiled at the mention of her darling nephew, only three and already the most headstrong member of the family.

"She'll like them too. She interacts with kids a lot as part of her job and loves it. She's one of the new Bike Patrol cops."

"Oh, really? I've seen them around. That's cool. So, tell me Jan, what's she like?" He finished his coffee as he awaited her reply.

How to answer that? She's the most perfect woman on the planet. "Well, God, Dan, she's just awesome in every way. I mean...she's warm, funny, caring, strong, independent, smart, and ethical." Then she added jauntily, "Not to mention gorgeous and sexy as hell." Her slight blush gave away the extent to which she believed the latter and her brother grinned.

"Sounds like you've hit the jackpot, Jan. Way to go!" He smiled as he got up and walked to the sink, placing his cup in the dishwater there.

"Thanks Dan. I really feel like I have. We're talking Publisher's Clearinghouse, Reader's Digest and Super Lotto all combined here!" Her brother laughed and gave her a hug.

"Great Sis. I'm gonna get out there now so when my guys get here they'll think I've been doing something constructive. Oh," he added, "I think we'll be finished with the darkroom early next week. I have the painter set for Monday."

"That's great Dan, thanks. It's really starting to come together. If you need anything I'll probably be in the temporary darkroom down the hall most of the day."

"Okay Sis, have a good day." He grinned rakishly and added, "Hey, don't work too hard...save some strength for that babe of yours."

"You better believe it!" She threw a rakish grin of her own right back at him and saw his face take on a blush before he turned quickly away, saying over his shoulder, "Shit Sis, I do not need that picture in my mind. You're my sister for chrissakes!"

Janna laughed as she dropped her own mug in the sink and then made her way to the family room for her morning meditation.

~~~~~~~~~~

Janna manipulated the tongs, carefully removing a print from the solution. She held it up and examined it closely in the red glow of the room. Yes, I like that tone a lot better. She carefully pinned the black and white print onto the drying line. I will never tire of photographing that gorgeous hunk of rock she mused as she studied the photo of Yosemite's Half Dome. Speaking of gorgeous hunks, I can't wait to take Ryan there. She smiled warmly at the prospect. A large part of the joy, for Janna, of shooting in Yosemite National Park, besides the obvious natural splendor, was the hiking required to attain some of the best shots.

As she turned from the sink and reached for the negative sleeve to choose her next shot, her heart center began to thrum pleasantly and she reached for the cordless phone instead. Clicking it on barely before the first ring had finished sounding, she answered, "Hi sweetheart. What's up?"

"Jesus Janna, you're starting to freak me out, babe" her partner's voice replied cheerfully. Ryan sat casually on the edge of her desk. John sat at the desk backed up against hers and raised his eyebrows in question. Ryan lifted a finger, indicating that she would tell him about it in a minute.

Janna balanced the phone between her ear and her shoulder and picked up the negative sleeve while answering, "Just wait until you get the hang of it. Then it won't be freaky at all."

"I know sweetheart, actually I'm starting to do it too. I think I need to learn to trust my intuition more."

"Exactly, love." She found the shot she liked and slipped the negative carefully out of the clear plastic sleeve, then placed it gently into the enlarger's tray.

"Honey, I'm calling because Jackie, one of the girls from my team, called. She and another teammate, Carrie and their partners are going to the Rainbow tonight and wondered if we'd like to join them. I told her that I'll be there working the Avenue Market but can join them a little later. I said I'd need to check with you first to see if you were up to it. What do you think love? There's no pressure, now" she added, concern coloring her voice.

At the mention of the Rainbow Lounge, Janna's gut clenched in fear as her Power Chakra reacted to her prior experience there. She took a calming breath and answered honestly, "Wow, I don't know Ryan. My Power Chakra is doing back flips at the thought of going back there. But at the same time, I want to go out with you and your friends...very much so, actually."

Reaching a decision, she added, "Yeah, hon, I think I'll give it a try. I feel fine physically and I think going back there will help me to heal emotionally as well. As long as I'm with you I think I'll be fine."

"All right honey, that's great." Pride at her lover's courage filled her heart and her voice and nearly choked her up. She continued, "I'll let Jackie know to expect us around 8:00 then. You want to park at the Starbuck's at the north end? I'll meet you there and we'll walk over together."

"Okay, Ryan sounds like a plan. How's your day going, love?"

"Oh, same ole, same ole. Been pretty quiet today, actually."

"Good. Quiet's good. Quiet's safe." Janna's voice nearly broke and she tried to clamp down on the emotion she was feeling.

Ryan felt her concern however, through their link, and softly urged, "Janna, love, please don't worry about me. I'm very careful out there and I've never been hurt...and I don't intend to be...ever." She looked at her partner and shrugged at his understanding look. "Besides, I have a great partner backing me up." She winked at John.

"Okay, Ryan, I'll try...I promise. This is just taking some getting to used to."

"That's my girl. I love you Janna. I'll see you in few hours, okay?"

"Okay. I love you too, Ryan. See you later."

As Ryan hung up the phone and glanced at her partner, he said, "You know, it helped Sara a lot after we first got married when one of the veteran cop's wives called her and had a talk with her. Why don't I ask Sara to give Janna a call? It might help her work through this."

"I think that's a good idea John, thanks. I appreciate it and I know Janna will too. She likes Sara a lot."

"Sara likes her too. Hey what was that stuff about her freaking you out, anyway?" He stepped in at her side as they made their way back out through the squad room.

"Oh...uh... well we've got this kind of a link thing going. It seems she can always tell when I'm about to call her and she answers the phone in some sort of a cute smart-assy way. Um...we can also feel what the other one is feeling, even when we're apart. It's strange, for sure, but kinda cool too."

"So that's how you knew she was behind you the other day at the café?" As his partner nodded he continued, "I knew there was no way you had seen her. That is cool, Ryan. Kind of like a woman's intuition thing. Sara's that way with me. I can't get a thing past her." He grinned as he glanced at her and put his sunglasses on as they exited back out into the glaring sun.

"Good for her!" Ryan grinned widely as she pulled her sunglasses out of her shirt pocket.

~~~~~~~~~~

By 7:00 that evening, Janna was famished. She had elected to wait to eat with Ryan when she got off of duty. She was not used, however, to missing meals, so she decided to go down to the street market a little early and grab a quick bite from one of the food booths.

As she drove south down the wide avenue and approached the block where the market started, her heart began to pound and her stomach tightened nervously. As she pulled into the lot near Starbuck's she took several deep, calming breaths. She locked her Jeep and headed toward the Market. As she approached the first side street, where the brewpub was located, her heart began to pound furiously and she felt sick to her stomach. She stopped and rested against an old-fashioned lamppost, trying to catch her breath and slow her heart rate. What am I doing? I should have waited for Ryan. I must be an idiot, she berated herself.

A few blocks south, Ryan stood, her bike between her thighs, talking to a man with two young children. As she handed one of the kids a police badge decal, she suddenly felt the pleasant buzz in her heart center that she associated with her mate and smiled inwardly. She's early She reached into her pocket for a second decal for the girl's older brother, but then stopped mid-motion when the pleasant buzz suddenly turned into a gut-wrenching fear. She looked up quickly, her brows furrowing in concern and turned her head toward the north end of the avenue.

Sensing that her lover was in that direction, she quickly said goodbye to the man and kids and called over her shoulder, "John, I think Janna's in trouble."

She hopped up onto her bike and took off at a breakneck speed, down the center of the street, dodging booths and the many pedestrians who found the sidewalks too crowded, her partner following. As she neared the beginning of the market she sensed Janna's presence to her left and looking in that direction, saw her leaning against a lamppost, appearing stricken. When she reached Janna, she fairly flew off of her bike and let it crash to the ground. She ran to her mate and seeing that she didn't appear to be physically injured, scooped her into an embrace.

"Janna, honey what's wrong?" Concern etched deep lines into her beautiful features as she held her shaking partner.

"Oh Ryan, I'm so glad you're here. I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it on my own...I got hungry," she added sheepishly.

Ryan laughed quietly with relief, "Of course you did honey." She patted Janna's back consolingly and added, "It's okay. I'm here now." She kissed the top of her partner's head, not caring who might be watching. John pulled up to a stop and stood nearby.

"It's not okay. I feel like an idiot. Like a six-year old idiot." Janna's face flushed in embarrassment and she turned into Ryan's embrace, burying her face against her mate's shoulder.

"Janna, listen. You had a very traumatic experience here. This is a natural reaction to your returning to the scene of your attack. Attempted murder is a very serious crime...you have every right to be feeling the way you are. Come on now. Don't be down on yourself. I'm proud of you for trying." She kissed Janna's head again and caressed her back through her t-shirt.

John stepped forward and suggested, "Ry, why don't you knock off for the day and take care of Janna. I'll take care of things here."

Ryan started, "John, I don't..." but was interrupted by his upraised hands.

"No Ryan, you go ahead. I mean it. I know you'd do the same for me...hell, you have done the same for me. Go on now. I'll see you tomorrow. Lock up your bike here and I'll take care of it for you later."

"Thanks John. I owe you another one. I'll see you tomorrow then...or Monday rather...we're off tomorrow."

"No problem." He directed his gaze at Janna and said, "You take care Janna."

Janna looked at him gratefully and said, "Thanks a lot John. We both owe you." He waved them off and leaned over to pick up Ryan's bike.

"Well, honey, feel like going on to the Rainbow, or would you rather go home?" Ryan asked with concern.

"I'm feeling a lot better now." Then she added sardonically, "For some reason."

Ryan grinned and turned, wrapping an arm around Janna's shoulders. "Let's go then."

"Oh, wait. I brought a change of clothes for you. Thought you might want to get out of your uniform and relax. They're in the Jeep."

"Janna, that was very thoughtful, thanks. I would like to get out of these grimy clothes. I can clean up at the bar."

After retrieving the gym bag with Ryan's clothes in it they made their way to the bar, deciding to eat there with their friends. They entered the cool, dark bar and stood briefly, waiting for their eyes to adjust. Then they saw Ryan's friends sitting at a table across from the bar and joined them. Ryan reintroduced Janna to Jackie and Carrie and they in turn introduced her to their partners while Ryan went into the bathroom to clean up and change. She joined them just a few minutes later, stopping first at the bar and picking up a pitcher of Foster's.

She reached the table and sat next to Janna, her hand automatically gravitating to her mate's thigh. Janna smiled and reached down, covering Ryan's hand with hers.

As Ryan filled mugs for herself and Janna and refilled everyone else's Carrie said, "Hey Ry, thanks for the brew!"

"No problem. Thanks for the invite." She took a large gulp of the ice-cold brew and enjoyed the fresh coolness of it as it slid down her dry throat.

Janna mimicked her action and sighed contentedly. "Ah, that's good. Thanks honey." Ryan smiled at her warmly and caressed her thigh again. She found that she didn't want to break contact with Janna and could feel Janna's gratitude for that through their link. She momentarily felt overcome with love for her mate and silently thanked the Creator, again, for her great blessing. Janna, not surprisingly, did the same thing at the same moment and then laid her head happily on Ryan's shoulder.

Spying this, Carrie laughed, "Ah, aren't you two cute!" Her partner, Michelle, elbowed her good-naturedly as Ryan, equally good-naturedly, flipped her off, a huge grin lighting her face. Everyone at the table laughed heartily and commenced their good time.

A few minutes later, Ray and Jose, the bar's owners caught sight of Ryan and Janna and came over to the table. "Ryan Zamora", Ray boomed, "Long time girl!"

"Hi Ray, Jose, yeah it has been a while...how ya doin'?" Ryan graced them each with a lazy smile.

"We're doing great girl, but it looks like you're doing better!" remarked Jose, glancing at Janna and smiling. "I didn't know you and Janna were together! Honey, I want to hear all about it" he said as he parked himself next to Janna. Ray joined him at the table and they had a nice visit with their old and new friends.

"So, Ray, how're the burgers tonight?"

"As if you need to ask!" her old friend replied disapprovingly.

"Okay, we'll have two then, with the works, make one of them veggie." Looking at Janna she asked, "That sound okay, love?"

"Just perfect" was the response.

Just as their meal arrived and Jackie's partner, Kathy retrieved another full pitcher of beer, a band took the stage. Ryan and Janna enjoyed the meal, the beer, the camaraderie and the music immensely and finally called it a night after 11:00.

Friday morning was uncharacteristically gray, the overcast holding in the moist, stifling heat. Ryan wiped her brow with the back of her hand for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning and lugged another box of books to her truck. Janna followed behind with a box of clothes and Ryan said, "This will do it for this trip hon. No more room."

"Okay" came the reply and after settling her box next to Ryan's, Janna climbed into her Jeep as Ryan locked the house and then got into her Explorer. Since Ryan had the day off, she and Janna decided to start moving her things into Janna's place. As Ryan drove the short distance to Janna's house, her mate following, she reflected on the lovely morning they had shared.

Even though she had turned off the alarm, Ryan awakened with the dawn, as had long been her habit. She had lain, full of contentment, watching the shifting colors of the new day play over her lover's features. She became filled anew with the tremendous sense of love and completeness that Janna brought to her life. Her mind wandered to their plans for the future and she found herself thinking about locations for their commitment ceremony. She knew that Janna loved the mountains, as did she, so was leaning towards Lake Tahoe as a possible location. She had a friend with a large cabin right on the lake and considered looking into procuring it for a weekend. She felt herself giddy at the prospect of discussing it with her partner. If she ever wakes up, that is.

She grinned, thinking of her mate's typical morning lethargy, until she realized that the habit was beginning to rub off on her. She decided to move the day along a little and bent her head to nibble on a nearby earlobe. This maneuver earned her an indecipherable grumble and her mate shifted slightly in her arms, moving away from the offending lips. Deciding to take another tack, she ran her fingers slowly down Janna's bare back, stopping to caress a smooth buttock. This time she was greeted with a low moan and a clenching of the muscles that rested against her body. She continued the caresses and, without opening her eyes, Janna slid higher up Ryan's body and captured her lips. They explored each other's mouths sensuously for long minutes, tongues meeting playfully, then more ardently until both women were breathless.

"Mm, that's my favorite way to wake up. Thank you, love" Janna expressed lovingly after they parted.

"Anytime baby, I aim to please", Ryan drawled. She then sought out one of her favorite earlobes again and sucked it gently, suggesting, "Why don't we take this into the whirlpool?"

As Ryan's warm breath tickled her ear, Janna gasped, both at Ryan's intimate touch and at her suggestion, and said breathlessly, "Let's go baby."

Ryan rose from the bed and held her hand out to her lover, who grasped it tenderly and followed her tall partner into the bathroom. They took care of their morning needs while the tub filled and then Ryan climbed in and sat down at one end, gesturing for Janna to join her. Janna complied, but instead of taking up her usual position with her back against Ryan's chest, she sat in her lap, facing her. Ryan moaned sensuously as Janna settled into place and she wrapped her arms around her small blonde's body, bringing their bodies close together. Janna leaned forward and licked at Ryan's throat, then nibbled and kissed her way up to the full lips. Ryan's lips met hers hungrily and her hands played slowly up and down Janna's back, bringing forth moans from her mate. Janna broke the kiss and leaned down to caress the curve above a breast with her tongue. Ryan gasped and stiffened, bringing more of her luscious anatomy out of the water, which Janna immediately took advantage of. Ryan straightened and sat taller, bringing her hands gently up behind Janna's head and urging her to continue her devoted attention to her breasts.

She moaned, "Oh God, baby, I love that" and gasped as a talented tongue flicked out and caressed an aroused nub.

Janna spoke around a mouthful of velvety dark areola, "I'm gonna love you like this forever, Ryan." Her mate's sweet voice rumbling against her aroused anatomy sent Ryan careening toward the abyss of pleasure she was beginning to know so well. Janna moved her fingers lower down Ryan's body and caressed her, joining her tongue's rhythm, sending Ryan completely over the edge into ecstasy.

Ryan shivered behind the wheel as she recalled their lovemaking, her skin tingling and center throbbing in remembrance. She realized that they had made love every day that they had been together, usually more than once, and was determined to continue the wonderful habit. Janna had mentioned something about the Tantric practice of connecting sexually every day being very healthy and she decided to look into that idea more thoroughly.

She was dragged from her reverie when she realized she had pulled into Janna's driveway. Janna was already walking up to the Explorer and looked at her comically, saying, "Honey, are you all right? You looked about a million miles away."

Ryan grinned shyly and responded, "Only about fifty feet away, honey...in your bathtub."

Janna grinned radiantly, "You liked that huh? Well, there's a lot more where that came from you know. I picked up some more chocolate and strawberries at the store yesterday too." She grinned back at Ryan saucily and sauntered ahead of her into the house, with Ryan grinning and following like a panting puppy dog. She was sent back to the truck, however, to bring in her boxes first.

Late that night, they lay together in the whirlpool again. The room was lit only by a single candle and by moonlight streaming in through the room's skylight. They had made love repeatedly for several hours and were now content to simply remain touching. Both were unwilling, in fact, to break their contact. They kissed and caressed and washed each other. They talked and made plans. They both felt gloriously happy and complete and tears came more than once with confessions of love.

Ryan kissed the back of Janna's neck and quietly asked, "Sweetheart, would you like to be married at Tahoe? I know someone who has a nice home there, right on the lake."

Janna quietly exclaimed, "Married at Tahoe? My love, that would be an absolute dream come true. But so are you, so I shouldn't be surprised." She turned and faced Ryan, straddling her once more. "Yes, Ryan, I would be delighted to marry you at Lake Tahoe. Overjoyed." She leaned forward and sealed her declaration with a passionate kiss.

"Thank you, love" Ryan replied graciously and added, "You are my dream come true Janna. Thank you for agreeing to be my wife." Then she showed her gratitude with an adoring kiss. When the kiss ended Ryan suggested that they retire to the bed and Janna happily complied, eager to curl up against her favorite body and to be held within Ryan's loving arms until morning.

~~~~~~~~~~

They spent the rest of the weekend moving Ryan in and getting her settled. Though she had thought that she wouldn't be bringing much with her, Ryan was surprised at how much stuff she actually did want to bring. Janna's house was large however, so they had no problem finding a place for everything. Janna really wanted to add an exercise room, for both their benefits, and they decided to put it in the spare room closest to where she would spend most of her time while working: the darkroom.

On Sunday morning, Janna announced that they were going down to the athletic equipment supplier and outfitting their exercise room. This led to their first tiff (albeit a very small one). Janna wanted to make a gift of it to Ryan, but Ryan wanted to contribute to the cost, which was no small amount. Ryan already had a bit of a problem with the fact that Janna would not accept rent from her, since there was no mortgage payment to contribute too. Being a very self-sufficient and proud woman, Ryan said that she didn't want to feel "kept". Janna found the notion ridiculous: she had plenty of money and didn't see the problem with sharing it with Ryan. So, instead of going down to the athletic store, they found themselves sitting at their kitchen table hammering out the details of a mutually equitable financial plan.

It was decided that since Janna was providing the home, Ryan would pay all utility costs. Their shared salaries would provide for groceries and all other needs. Any large home improvements and renovations to come would be paid for with funds in an account which Janna had already set up for the purpose and which Ryan would also begin paying into. They would also open up joint savings and checking accounts. Actually, Janna had insisted on converting all of her existing accounts to joint accounts, and Ryan finally gave in and agreed. They sealed their agreement with a kiss and tender words of apology and decided to go out for lunch to celebrate, before Ryan's game at 2:00. After the game they would go down and order their exercise machines.

Ryan's Peace Officer game was again held at the large County softball complex. Janna took her seat and watched Ryan throw warm up with a tall man. As she sat on the sun-warmed bleachers watching her mate she felt a curious sense of being right where she belonged. It was a sensation that she had never quite grasped before. Even though she had felt at home in the City, in rock bands, and in activist groups, that sense of belonging never quite approached what she was feeling now. She wondered if it had everything to do with finally being with her soul mate. A cop's wife. A photographer and a cop's wife. If anyone had told me that's how I would end up I would never have believed them. And Ryan. Wow. I'll bet she never ever, in a million years, thought she'd ever be married. The Lone Wolf. A warm smile lit her pretty face.

As she sat lost in her musings, several people, apparently wives and husbands of Ryan's teammates joined her on the bleachers and she was startled out of her reverie. Two women approached and sat near her. She looked over at them and smiled as they greeted her. Cops wives? Indeed, one the women introduced herself and her friend as wives of cops on the SCPD #1 team. She asked Janna if she was there watching anyone in particular and she thought Well, here goes. Let's see just how accepting these people can be.

Janna replied, "Yes, I'm here with my partner, Ryan Zamora. I'm Janna Norden." She was surprised; indeed almost startled at the pleased look both women's faces took on.

"You're with Ryan?" the first woman asked, incredulous. Before Janna could do more than nod, the other woman remarked, "That's wonderful! Welcome to the team!"

"Thank you. Actually, I came out to watch last week too, but I was the only one here."

"Oh, we had a charity event last Sunday. The rest of us were all there. Pat, we'll have to introduce Janna to the rest of the ladies." Her friend nodded her agreement.

The first woman, Georgia, sat next to Janna and began a pleasant dialogue, pointing out players and telling her their names and ranks within the department. She also added funny little tidbits about each person and Janna found herself liking the older woman. The other woman, Pat, sat on Janna's other side and when her friend had finished she casually inquired as to the status of Janna's and Ryan's relationship.

"Pat! That's her business, not ours" scolded her friend.

"Oh Georgie, I know, but it must be serious-Ryan's never brought a girlfriend out before. I think our stoic friend may have finally fallen in love...wouldn't that be wonderful!" She looked so pleased at the prospect that Janna decided to take a leap of faith and confide in the women.

She began, "Ryan and I are serious...um...in fact, we're living together."

"See! I knew it! That is good news. Honey, we've been trying to fix her up with nice women for years and she would have nothing to do with it. Now she's gone and done it on her own." Pat seemed beside herself with pleasure.

Her friend Georgie added, "So how are you doing, honey? It's not easy living with a cop, we know."

Janna blew out a breath and replied, "Yes, I'm finding that out. I nearly drive myself crazy with worry every day when she leaves for work."

"I think you might be interested in the spouses' group, Janna. When I first married Sam I found it very useful at helping me to cope. We've been married fifteen years and I still feel the need for support from time to time."

Pat nodded her agreement and added, "I've been with Mike almost twenty-five years. Being a cop's wife doesn't get any easier but our coping skills improve, mainly with the support of our friends. I hope you'll consider joining us."

"I will. I've definitely felt the need to talk to someone about what I'm feeling...about my fears mainly."

"Well, we meet for lunch every Wednesday, usually at a restaurant downtown, near the station. Please join us when you feel ready." She retrieved a business card from her purse and handed it to Janna. If you'd like to give me your number, I'll let you know where we'll be meeting each week. Janna nodded and gave the woman her phone number.

"I would like to join you for lunch. Thanks so much."

Just then their mates returned from warming up and entered the nearby dugout. Janna's mate, however, came to join her in the stands. "Hi sweetheart. These ladies aren't giving you any trouble are they?" She grinned as she faced her old friends.

"No honey, as a matter of fact they've been giving me some good advice on how to live with a cop." Janna grinned widely.

"Oh, God, I'm in trouble then." Ryan mock-groaned.

"Yes, you are! Now, go have a good game." She gave her partner a warm smile and a loving pat on the arm and sent her off.

"Okay, bye love. Georgia, Pat, watch what you say to her please? I don't want to lose her when I've only just landed her."
Ryan smirked before she turned and sauntered back to the dugout.

"Oh, she's awful!" Pat pulled a mock frown.

"Janna, you've got your hands full with that one, I hope you know." Georgie laughed.

"Oh, I know. I definitely know." Janna smiled warmly as she watched her mate take the mound. She added quietly, almost to herself, "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

The SCPD #1 team played well against the firefighters, winning a close game and maintaining a slim lead in the league standings. Janna enjoyed watching Ryan play, of course, but also enjoyed seeing the camaraderie that the police officers enjoyed, not only with each other, but also with their friendly rivals in the fire department. Regardless of the sporting rivalry, it was obvious that the city police, county sheriffs, firefighters and paramedics all considered themselves members of the same large family.

After the game, the players and their families sat around for a long time laughing and visiting with each other, many with a beer in hand. It was evident that these dedicated public servants made the most of their time off and were enjoying themselves. Ryan sat behind Janna on the seat above her, with Janna leaning back between her partner's legs. They endured, or rather Ryan did, much ribbing about their obvious devotion to each other. The kidding was much more intense than what Ryan's other teammates had thrown at her the week before but Ryan was a good sport. Janna figured (correctly) that Ryan had probably doled out her share of teasing in the past and was just now receiving her due. Janna was surprised to find herself blushing more than once at some of the comments being made, including some of Ryan's own. She smiled inwardly as she thought, she is truly just one of the guys.

She took a swig from the beer bottle and handed it back up to her partner. Ryan caressed her shoulders lovingly as she joked with Georgia and her husband, Sam, a Captain in the department. Janna lay back against Ryan and enjoyed the pleasant day. A prevailing Delta breeze was moderating the intense heat and the sky was dotted with beautiful white, puffy cumulus clouds. Her partner's low voice rumbled pleasantly through Janna and she felt their link not only binding them, but also surrounding them, wrapping them in its loving energy. At that moment, life was perfect.

-15-

Ryan removed another pair of jeans from the moving box and laid them in a drawer. Her mind was only partly on her task, however: the majority of her focus was upon the small woman downstairs cooking their dinner. She felt so connected to Janna; it was as if their souls had merged. It was an incredible feeling, making her feel bubbly and joyous. The delicious aroma wafting up the stairs wasn't helping her concentration any either. Ooh, smells like Mexican. She nearly rubbed her hands together in glee as she left the half empty box sitting on the bed and made her way downstairs to see what smelled so good.

As she descended the stairs she heard the Indigo Girls singing about Galileo. Love that song. She hummed along with the tune as she rounded the doorway into the kitchen. She was greeted with the site of her mate singing and swaying to the music as she stood in front of the stove. Ryan stood watching Janna for a moment, enjoying the sensual sway of her slim hips. Quietly, she crept up behind her mate and wrapped her arms around her waist.

At the contact, Janna nearly jumped out of her skin as she exclaimed, "Jesus Ryan! You nearly scared me to death. How do you do that?" Without turning, she relaxed back into Ryan's embrace; enjoying the touch so much that she forgot her startlement.

Ryan nuzzled her neck and mumbled, "I'm sorry baby. It must be an Aikido thing. What's cooking? It smells great." She delicately kissed the soft skin under her lips. "Mmm, and so do you."

"Chicken fajitas and Spanish rice," replied Janna, smiling.

Ryan continued to nuzzle Janna's neck while softly caressing her stomach through the t-shirt the blonde wore. "I love the way you smell." Janna moaned softly at the tender caresses and arched back into her mate, dropping the large spoon into the pot of rice and turning the burner off.

"Oh, and what do I smell like?" she murmured, nearly overcome by the sensations playing across her body.

"Like a summer breeze, with just a hint of flowers." She nibbled an earlobe as her hands began to roam both above and below the firm abdomen where they had rested. "Oh, baby, I can't get enough of you. What are you doing to me?"

Janna moaned as Ryan's hands caressed her more fervently and turned in her embrace, meeting her lips. She kissed her mate deeply and then pulled away and went for Ryan's neck, licking and then kissing her pulse point. She moved lower and nipped at Ryan's breastbone; which was easily accessible above the tank she wore. Ryan gasped and moaned, then quickly turned them around so that Janna's back was against the island countertop in the center of the large room. Janna threw her arms around Ryan's neck as Ryan tightened her grasp around the small blonde's waist and gently lifted her onto the island. Ryan laid her mate down on the counter, kissing her neck and moving down toward her breasts as she did so. Janna wrapped her legs around Ryan, bringing her partner even closer to her. Ryan's breath caught as her center was brought into firm contact with Janna's. She nipped at Janna's breasts through her shirt before bending her head and grabbing the bottom of Janna's shirt with her teeth, pulling it up.

Breathless, Janna moaned, "Oh, God, Ryan..."

Ryan's deep voice rumbled against her abdomen, hot breath tickling fine hairs, "Tell me what you want baby."

"Ohh, mmm..." Janna mumbled incoherently. But Ryan needed no words. She instinctively knew what her partner wanted most at the moment and reached up to caress a breast with skilled fingers. At the same time she moved her head down to the waistband of Janna's running shorts and grabbed at it with her teeth, pulling the shorts down.

Janna brought her hands up and tangled them in Ryan's hair. "Oh, Ryan, yes...please..." but she was interrupted by a knock at the kitchen door.

"Fuck!" Ryan hissed against Janna's underwear.

Janna, suddenly realizing who it must be at the door, pushed Ryan away and jumped to the floor, exclaiming, "Shit...it's my Mom!"

Ryan suddenly looked stricken, completely forgetting her dashed libido, and she tried to help Janna pull her clothing back into place. "Jesus, baby I'm sorry...I shouldn't have..."

Janna interrupted her with a quick, "It's okay love. Let's finish this later, okay?" She gave her partner a warm, somewhat embarrassed smile as she reached for the kitchen door, then terror struck as she saw her mother's concerned face, eyes wide, looking at her through the small leaded window in the door and realized that she had witnessed the erotic display. Her face drained of color as she turned to look at Ryan, whose face was also now devoid of color.

Janna opened the door for her mother, cleared her throat, and squeaked, "Hi, Mom".

Her mother replied cautiously, eyebrows raised, "Hello honey. I'm sorry for just dropping by, but I have some fruit for you."

"Um, it's okay Mom...you know you're welcome any time...uh, do you remember Ryan...uh, Officer Ryan Zamora from the hospital?" She weakly gestured towards Ryan, who was standing right behind her.

Ryan quickly pulled herself together and stepped from behind Janna, offering her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Norden. It's good to see you again. Let me apologize for that uh...display of affection. I happen to be very much in love with your daughter and I sort of lost control there for a minute." She stepped back next to Janna and wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulder.

Beth Norden could see the obvious devotion in the tall cop's manner and her look softened as she replied, "I see. Well, let me apologize for barging in. I should have called first."

At that point Janna stepped forward and grabbed her mother's hand, saying, "No, Mom, you don't need to call first. We should have been more discreet. Come on in, have some coffee. We need to talk to you." She took the large grocery bag from her mother as she gestured her toward the kitchen table, and she and Ryan busied themselves making a pot of coffee.

When they were all seated around the table with mugs in hand, Janna began, "Thanks for the plums Mom. Looks like you had another great crop."

The attactive, silver-haired woman replied, "Oh, you're welcome sweetie. You know your father and I can't possibly eat them all, and I've made all the pies that I intend to this year."

"Mom, I'm sorry I've been out of touch the last week or so. I've...um...kind of had a lot going on."
"I can see that honey." She smiled at her daughter and offered Ryan a smile as well.

Janna smiled shyly and Ryan laid a warm hand on her thigh in encouragement. "Yeah, Mom, um...Ryan has moved in here." She looked lovingly at her mate and Ryan leaned over and kissed her cheek. She moved her hand from Janna's thigh to her shoulders.

Janna's mother knew that her daughter didn't give her heart away easily, so she realized that their relationship must be very serious. She smiled warmly at her daughter and her new mate and said, "Honey, I'm happy for you. For both of you. I can see that you're very close."

Janna reached up and intertwined her fingers with Ryan's, which rested on her shoulder. "Yes, we are Mom...and we're very happy. Um...I thought that maybe we'd have you and Dad, and Dan, Kris and the kids all over for a barbecue soon, so you could all meet Ryan properly. Maybe next weekend?" She looked at Ryan, who nodded her assent.

"Oh, honey that sounds like a wonderful idea. We're available either day. What can we bring?"

"Oh, I don't know Mom...oh, wait, how about one of those awesome plum pies?" Her eyes sparkled at the prospect and Ryan shook her head lovingly. Janna elbowed her good-naturedly and looked to her mother expectantly.

"Sure, sweetheart. I'll be happy to. Are you sure that's all?"

"Yes, Mrs. Norden, that will be plenty." Ryan spoke up.

"Please Ryan, call me Beth." She smiled pleasantly at the attractive, dark-haired cop.

"I will. Thank you Beth."

Janna turned to Ryan and asked, "So honey, which day is best?"

Ryan thought for a moment and answered, "I have to work for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. How about Sunday? I have an early game and we should be home by 2:00."

"Okay, Mom, how about Sunday afternoon, around 3:00 or so?"

"That sounds good, Janna. We'll see you then." She finished her coffee and stood up. "I have to get dinner started. Ryan, it was good to see you again." She smiled somewhat devilishly.

Ryan, blushing mildly, replied, "Yes, well...it was nice to see again too. Please give Mr. Norden my best."

"I will Ryan, thank you. Sweetheart, you take care. I'll talk to you in a day or two."

"Okay, Mom, bye." Janna walked her mother out and to her car, where they shared a hug.

Upon returning to the kitchen, Janna made a beeline for her partner and they collapsed against each other, laughing.

"Shit, Janna, we are so busted." Ryan laughed.

"How much do you think she saw?"

"Judging by her expression, I'd say a hell of a lot."

"Oh, God..." Janna groaned.

Ryan wrapped her in a warm embrace and kissed her head. "Sweetheart, she's an adult and so are you. Don't worry about it. She knows we love each other."

"Ryan, she knows a whole lot more than any parent wants to know about their kid's love life, and way more than I'm comfortable having her know. Jesus, I could have crawled into a hole."

"Come on baby. Let's have some of that wonderful dinner you made and then we'll take the lovemaking discussion upstairs, huh?" Twinkling eyes accompanied her trademark rakish grin and Janna's heart melted just a little bit more at the sight.

"You got it love." Suddenly, Janna's complexion paled again and she looked at Ryan wide-eyed.

Ryan's brows knit in concern and she caressed Janna's check as she exclaimed, "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Oh my God, Ryan, what if my Mom had come just a few seconds later...think of what she would have seen."

Ryan's face suddenly became as white as Janna's, not an easy task with her complexion, and she gasped, "Oh, shit Janna..."

"Yeah, oh shit." Janna smiled up at her mate.

Ryan pulled Janna back within her embrace and declared, "Baby, the first thing I'm gonna buy for this house is a blind for that window." She raised her eyebrows sexily and continued, "I wanna be able to love you in every room of this house."

"Okay, love. It's a deal." Janna kissed the collarbone below her lips and suggested, "Um, how hungry are you Ryan?"

The answer came in a sexy drawl. "It depends on what kind of hunger you're talking about Janna...hungry for food or hungry for you?"

Their dinner required reheating a few hours later.

-16-

Late that night, the rich scent of myrrh incense and the light from the waning gibbous moon lent an air of magic to the candlelit bedroom as Janna gave Ryan a relaxing Reiki treatment. She sat Indian-style on the bed, next to her mate, who was stretched out on her back. Ryan was the very image of relaxation as she lay in shorts and bra with her hands resting lightly on her stomach, her face a calm mask.

Janna slowly drew her hands back from Ryan's chest and gracefully rose to her knees and moved around to sit at the crown of her head. If Ryan noticed Janna's change of position, she gave no indication of it. Her peaceful visage remained unchanged and Janna wondered if she had fallen asleep. She reached down and gently laid her hands on each of her partner's shoulders. Janna took a deep breath, enjoying the feel of the energy flowing through her. Reiki is as calming and healing for the practioner as it is for the recipient.

"Mm, honey...your hands are so warm," Ryan murmured contentedly.

"I thought you might have fallen asleep...you were so quiet," Janna replied softly.

"Just about. This is so relaxing."

"I'm glad you enjoy it. It's a beautiful thing to be able to share it with you." She leaned down and gently kissed Ryan's brow.

"What's not to enjoy, love?" Ryan smiled as the warm, loving energy soothed tightened muscles and left behind a gentle tingle.

Feeling that Ryan's shoulders had received all the energy they required, Janna gently removed her hands and placed them on either side of Ryan's head, covering her ears. After a few minutes she felt complete in that position and gently removed her hands. She then placed one on Ryan's forehead and one on the top of her head.

After a moment, Ryan giggled and remarked, "Oh, that's so nice. It's a pleasant buzz. What do you feel hon...while you're giving the Reiki?"

"I feel the same pleasant buzz all through my body, starting where the energy comes in at the top of my head, through my crown chakra. Plus, my hands feel hot and my palms tingle where the energy comes out."

"This is so cool. I'll bet you've done it in other lives, haven't you?"

"I think so, yes. I think you have too." Janna, feeling the session was complete, pulled her hands back and sighed deeply. Then she stretched out next to her partner on the bed and Ryan folded her into her arms.

"Thank you sweetheart. It feels wonderful. Could you teach me to do it?"

"Sure. Anyone can do it. That's the beauty of Reiki. All you need is an attunement and then you can start using it."

"So what does an attunement involve?" She ran her fingers gently along Janna's back and the touch felt as good to her as it did to her partner.

"Mm...um...an attunement? Oh, it's basically just a simple little ritual where a Reiki Master places the ancient symbols into your aura. Only takes a few minutes. It actually feels very nice, similar to what you're feeling now," she smiled at her partner's obvious state of bliss, and added, "And afterwards you have a period of adjustment. Usually for about a week afterward, your body detoxifies and becomes used to the increased energy flow.

Honey, if you're serious about becoming a practioner I'll give you a book to study so you'll understand what it's all about and also so you can learn the beginning symbols. If after about six months you feel that you'd like to advance your knowledge, I'll teach you the more advanced symbols and give you a second level attunement...after which you'll be able to do distance healing. If you want to advance even further and get a third level attunement you will have reached the master level...that's my level."

"Yeah, babe, I think I'd like to go all the way with it. I'm really fascinated by it, especially after experiencing it last week over a distance. That was amazing!" She squeezed her blonde mate and kissed her head.

"I know, it's great...you know, the first day after I moved in here, my Mom was helping me bring boxes in and she wrenched her back. It was so bad that she couldn't move...couldn't straighten up or bend over or twist, and she was in agony. She asked me to drive her to the doctor and I convinced her to let me give her some Reiki first...I was sure it would relieve the worst of the pain. Well, she wasn't sure about it but she let me try it.

I stood behind her and applied the energy all along her spine...Ryan it was so cool! I gave her Reiki in about four different places and as I got to the base, her spine, from the top all the way down, popped. Pop...pop...pop...pop...pop...right back into place. We could both hear it and I could actually see her vertebra moving back into place." Janna giggled as she remembered the scene. "Honey you should have seen her, she was going, 'Oh, wow...oh, my...goodness!' and her face was just precious. The pain was almost completely gone right away, and the next day completely. She never needed to go to the doctor for it." Janna sighed with pleasure and added, "She was so grateful and has been asking me for an attunement ever since."

"Honey, that's awesome. Jesus, it's like having a doctor in the family!"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far! Although my teachers and their teacher have cured every possible human condition, I think. Including cancer. Their teacher, Diane, has reportedly mended broken bones on the spot." Janna grew somewhat reflective and continued, "It's truly an awesome gift and I feel blessed that it came into my life. I'm more than happy to share it with anyone who wants it. Especially with those that I love." With that she snuggled more deeply into Ryan's embrace and kissed the collarbone next to her lips.

"Mm. So Janna, can you give Reiki to yourself...I mean when you're sick or hurt?"

"Yep, sure, although I prefer to get it from someone else if I can. Sometimes it's hard to place your hands correctly on yourself. Although as a practitioner, I have lots of energy in my body all the time. I hardly ever get sick any more."

"Is that why your injuries healed so fast?"

"Mm hmm, yep."

"Cool babe. Tell me Janna, what other cool little 'new-age' type secrets do you have?" She smiled devilishly, her eyes glowing in the candlelight.

"Hmm, I don't know. What'll you give me for the information?" She matched Ryan's wicked look with one of her own.

Ryan rolled over on top of her mate as she drawled, "I think I have something you want, baby" and leaned down and kissed Janna passionately. Which was all the negotiating she needed.

~~~~~~~~~~

As Ryan buttered her toast, she remarked, "I feel really good this morning, even though you didn't let me get a lot of sleep." She glanced slyly at her mate in the chair next to her and grinned.

"Well, you know honey, most people have to pay for Reiki sessions...you're just lucky you have something valuable to barter with." She smugly took a sip of her tea and watched Ryan's eyebrow's rise in surprise.

"Well, babe, if that's how you care to conduct Reiki transactions, I think I'd like do business with you on a daily basis." She grinned rakishly as Janna's face was transformed by a huge smile.

"Sweetheart, need I remind you that we conduct that business daily anyway?"

"Mmm, we do don't we?" She leaned over and stole a kiss. "How'd I ever get so lucky?" Her eyes shone with love as she gazed at her mate.

"We've discussed this before...I'm the lucky one." Janna grasped her hand and brought it to her lips, then to her cheek.

"Okay, why don't we agree that we're both lucky?" She smiled and returned her attention to her breakfast. "Seriously, Janna, I feel like I spent yesterday at a spa or someplace like that. I feel renewed."

"That's the idea love."

"What does 'Reiki' mean, anyway?"

"I think the literal translation from Japanese is 'universal life force energy'."

"Ah, I thought it sounded Japanese. It has 'ki' in it...like in 'aikido'."

"Mm, hmm. Although it's origins are most likely ancient Tibetan, it was rediscovered by a Japanese man in the 1800's and brought to the west by his students. 'Ki' means energy. Aikido uses the movement of energy for defense doesn't it?" Janna took another sip of her tea as she gazed at Ryan.

"Yeah, it does. I guess the two disciplines are connected some how, aren't they?" Ryan's brows rose in thought.

"Yes, everything is connected. Literally. By energy. By the ki. It's how the Universe works." A thought occurred to Janna and her face lit up. "Hey, I've been wanting to learn aikido for years...how about I trade you Reiki treatments and attunements for aikido lessons?"

Ryan's face fell in a mock pout. "But I like the trading that we've been doing." She looked up expectantly at Janna through long, dark lashes.

Janna grinned and said, "Okay honey, you can still throw in the other stuff too if you want." She reached over and ruffled her mate's hair.

"Thanks baby!"

"Don't mention it love. So, will you consider teaching me aikido?"

"Yeah, as a black belt, I could. Actually, the owner of the dojo where I work out has asked me to consider teaching a beginner's class in the fall. I hadn't given him an answer yet, but now that I already have a prize student, I think I'll tell him yes."

"I'd rather be teacher's pet."

"Oh, you are baby. You are!" Ryan's sexy drawl nearly stopped Janna's heart, as usual, and she let herself be pulled over into Ryan's lap for a long, deep kiss.

As they parted slightly, Ryan rested her forehead against Janna's and sighed before asking, "How did I ever get along without you?"

"I ask myself the same thing my love." She pulled Ryan into another embrace and held her there.

As they sat holding each other, a sunbeam slowly played across the room and illuminated them, almost as if it were a physical manifestation of their glowing bond...or perhaps the Universe spotlighting their union. At least that's how Janna would have interpreted it. Ryan probably would have noted the dust motes floating in it and determined that she had done an imperfect job of dusting the previous morning.

Oh Janna, that hug is gonna last me all day...thanks baby." Ryan kissed her forehead as she settled her mate onto her feet. She drank her last swallow of coffee and got up with her dishes.

Janna sighed as she gazed at her mate. "Me too love, but I'll still miss you."

"I know baby, but we'll still be together, won't we?" Her sparkling eyes lifted Janna's spirits immediately.

"Yes, Ryan. We will." She followed Ryan out into the hallway where she picked up her gym bag and car keys.

"Would you like to go down to the dojo later? I'd like to introduce you to the owners, Joe and Ellen. They're good friends of mine." She added with a smile, "And they share a lot of your metaphysical interests. They're both healers and sell incense and that aroma stuff."

"Aromatherapy? Cool. It's hard to find decent supplies in a town with not a single metaphysical shop." Janna frowned her displeasure at her hometown's seeming resistance to leave the dark ages.

"Okay. You can get an introduction to aikido too. Maybe I'll take my gi and work out some...I've been neglecting that part of my workout lately. Would you mind?" Her eyebrows rose expectantly.

"Mind? Honey I'd love that...thanks!"

"Great. We'll get something to eat afterward, so you may want to grab a late afternoon snack." With that she patted her mate playfully on the rump and got a swat in return.

"Have a good day, love. Please be..."

"I know, Janna. I'm always careful...especially now. Please try to remember that baby. I love you."

"I love you Ryan." She reached up and embraced her mate, who in turn scooped her into her arms and held her tightly. They shared a loving kiss and Janna followed Ryan out to her truck. As was now her habit, she watched the truck turn the corner, sighed, and went back into the house to begin her morning meditation.

~~~~~~~~~~

"The Tribe", with Janna on lead guitar and background vocals, sang sarcastically about the joys of being a teenaged queer as Janna drove them to the dojo in her Jeep.

Janna took another admiring glance at her partner. She looked as wonderful in her bleached-white gi as she did in her dark cop's uniform. The stark white of the gi accentuated her deep tan and Janna loved the fact that Ryan wore only a sports bra beneath it. As she sat turned slightly toward Janna, her gi opened partially, revealing some cleavage. Janna leered gently as she refocused her eyes on the road, trying to ignore the gentle throbbing beginning between her legs.

"Honey, did you write that song?" Ryan asked with disbelief.

"Um, yeah...is it that a good thing or a bad thing?" Janna glanced sideways at Ryan and wrinkled her nose.

Ryan laughed and said, "Oh, it's good! I love it! It's very sardonic...captured what the teen years were like for me anyway."

"Whew, I was worried there for a minute." She grinned and looked at Ryan again, adding, "Honey, if I remember correctly, you seemed very together in high school. You appeared to be comfortable with your sexuality anyway."

"I wasn't Janna. I mean, I knew I was gay, but the bravado was an act. I had lost my father a few years before and it hit me hard. He had been my best friend and biggest supporter. I felt very alone after he died...my mom and I weren't that close and my brother was four years younger. I became the 'big man on campus' basically out of insecurity. That's when the promiscuity started too. What I really felt, deep down inside is exactly what you wrote about in that song: very alone, very insecure, like a freak. Hell, I never even dated gay girls...I didn't want to identify with them. I only went out with straight girls. I didn't really come to honest terms with who I was until I was at the police academy."

She looked at her mate and touched the hand that rested on the gearshift knob. "Jesus, Janna, why didn't we hook up then?"At Janna's perplexed look and timid shrug she looked away and swallowed hard. "I had a crush on you but I just couldn't handle it." She caressed Janna's hand and added, "I'm sorry."

"Ryan, don't apologize. We were kids. I know I wasn't ready for a serious relationship then...with anyone...and I was attracted to you too. Anyway, I was so focused on my music by then that I noticed little else. I think it filled the lonely, painful void for me. Helped me not to face the truth. I could go on stage and get so high on the music that it had the effect of a drug for me. It removed me from reality."

She looked at her mate and smiled. "It was only later, after I'd gone to the City that I began to really come to terms with my sexuality. That's when I started writing the songs that specifically dealt with being queer and that's when I learned to value the company of people like me."

"Yeah, but honey, we could've been friends at least. That would have helped both of us. We could've skipped a lot of the painful shit."

"No honey, I don't agree with that. Neither one of us was in a place to be able to deal with a friendship on those terms. And that 'painful shit' was a crucial part of our growth...and of this life's lesson. It helped to shape who we are today. I agree that it would have been wonderful to have your friendship, but it just wasn't in the cards for us. I think that what we have today is so special because of some of the things we lived through. It's like a great big beautiful, awesome, happy, warm, loving reward. Which we've both earned, by the way." As she turned to check for traffic she noticed Ryan's adoring gaze and her heart lurched.

"You're right Janna. Absolutely right."

The music continued, and Janna sang along quietly.

"Did you ever sing lead Janna?"

"Oh my God, no!" Janna looked almost stricken. Then she grinned and added, "I can't carry a tune to save my life."

"That's not true!" Ryan protested. "You sound fine to me" she added petulantly.

"I do all right, but only as a background vocalist and only after many years of practice." She grinned at Ryan and continued, "In fact, at some of my earliest shows, the rest of the band had the sound guy turn off my mike. I'd be singing my heart out and not even realize that my mike wasn't on." She laughed, "God, I never knew it until my girlfriend at the time ratted them out." She smiled and shook her head fondly in remembrance.

"Christ, baby, I'm sorry!" Ryan grinned despite her sincerity.

"Oh it's okay. Live and learn right? I went out and got voice lessons." She grinned and drove on as the music continued.

Ryan listened to the music with half an ear and began to fill her mate in on some of the history and philosophy of aikido. Janna was somewhat surprised to learn just how seemingly metaphysical in nature the art was. The martial art didn't simply theorize on the existence of ki within the body, it embraced the concept wholeheartedly. In fact one of the basic concepts of the art is learning to harness that energy for defense.

Ryan instructed Janna to pull the Jeep to a stop at the curb in front of the old building that housed the dojo. At the small city park across the street, figures in white judo gi's could be seen practicing graceful movements with staves, or jo's, as Ryan pointed out they were called.

Janna watched for a moment, impressed, and felt something else as well. She identified that feeling as familiarity and remembered one of the recent "warrior" dreams that she'd had. Yes, I've used that weapon before. Ryan touched her elbow and guided her toward the front door.

As they entered, a wind chime jingled, announcing their presence. Janna immediately noted the scent of incense. Sandalwood. The foyer was clean and spare, with only a single Japanese-styled art print on a wall. As Ryan led her straight ahead down a hallway, pleasant new age-styled music could be heard. Sounds like Gabrielle Roth.

As they passed a small office they heard, "Hey, Ryan!" and a compactly built, handsome middle-age man popped out of the office.

"Hi Joe, how are you?"

"Just fine. What've you been up to? I haven't seen you around here in a few weeks." As he spoke he gestured them into the office, out of the way of a class of young people that were exiting the mat area en masse.

"Oh, I've been busy, you know how it is. Joe, I want you to meet Janna Norden." She turned and put her arm around Janna's shoulders, smiling proudly. "Janna, this is Joe Swift. He and his wife Ellen run this place."

Janna extended her hand and the friendly man grasped it warmly. "Hi Joe, it's nice to meet you. This is a lovely dojo."

"It's nice to meet you too, Janna. Thank you. Come on in and see the rest of it though. Do you practice aikido?"

"No, but I intend to start. It seems fascinating." Her eyes sparkled a vibrant green, proving her sincerity.

"Joe, Janna shares some of your more interesting hobbies. She's a healer and into incense, crystals, candles, you name it, just like you are." Ryan grinned as Janna slapped playfully at her arm.

"Oh, I see...a very intelligent woman. And she's with you?" His warm smile softened his words.

"Yes, she's most definitely with me." Ryan grinned warmly and pulled Janna closer.

"Ryan, that's super. Congratulations. I see she's a saint as well." The three of them shared a laugh as he guided them back out into the hallway. He continued, "Janna, what kind of healing do you do?"

"Reiki."

"Oh, wonderful. My wife and I are Reiki Masters."

"Wow, so am I. I had no idea that there were any others here in town."

"There aren't many yet, but the word is spreading. You know how it is here. A few of us have to act as trailblazers." He smiled and shrugged.

"Yep, so true." Ryan had kicked off her sandals and placed them on a shelf so Janna did likewise. Joe was already barefoot.
"Whom did you study with, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Some good friends in the Bay area who were trained by Diane Stein."

He nodded his approval. "Diane is super. She's revolutionary, but I think it's a long time past due. That's a good lineage to be associated with."

"Well, thanks, I agree, though many people don't. I intend to carry on her tradition of sharing the symbols openly and not charging for training" Janna said, sincerity filling her voice.

"That's our philosophy as well. It's a small Universe isn't it?" He smiled warmly at the both of them and gestured them through a doorway.

Upon entering the mat room, Janna was struck by three things: a gentle, pleasing aromatherapeutic scent filled the large room; the pounding beat of one of Gabrielle Roth's more energetic songs; and the twenty or so graceful figures on the mat who were moving separately, but also seemingly as one in time to the music. All of the participants wore black belts and some, like Joe, wore wide black, skirt-like pants.

Ryan leaned close to Janna and quietly explained, "Janna this is aikido-mai. We feel the energy in our bodies and move it around as we let it move us around the mat." Janna was transfixed by what appeared to be a modern dance. Every person was moving as if to a song that only they could hear, but all were keeping time to the beat. It was almost magical.

Ryan pointed across the room to some chairs. "You can sit over there sweetheart. If you need to walk on the mat, bow first to either the Sensei, Joe, or to the altar. She pointed to an altar against one wall. It consisted of a table which held a large framed picture of an elderly Japanese man, a vase of flowers, and an incense burner. Next to it, on the floor, stood a large ceremonial gong.

Ryan continued, "Also bow as you leave the mat. Like this", and she demonstrated a low bow, facing the center of the room.

"Okay Ryan. Have a good session."

"I will sweetheart." Her face glowed with love as she added, "I'm so glad you're here." With that she stepped onto the mat, bowed to the Sensei, and joined in the dance.

Janna took her seat against a far wall and soon became entranced watching her partner. She had thought that Ryan had looked graceful on the softball diamond, but that didn't even approach her beauty and grace here. She swirled and swayed and turned, her flowing movements at one with the music and with the ki within her body. It was almost like a ballet and she was breathtaking. Her appearance was of one at peace with the Universe and that is what Janna felt through their link. She has found it too...balance...peace...the meaning of life...the other half of her soul.

The realization brought tears of joy to Janna's eyes and a lump to her throat. She reached out through her link to Ryan and communicated her love to her mate. At that instant Ryan faltered almost imperceptibly in her movement and looked at Janna, her eyes mirroring the love showing in Janna's, and she smiled radiantly. The love surged through their link and was solidified permanently. It became indissoluble and the rest of the Universe, for just an instant, faded away, leaving the two lovers alone, but as one.

The timeless moment passed, but not before Ryan's friend and Sensei became aware of it. His soul was warmed at the sight of the wide, glowing cord of energy that he could see linking the two women, it's power surrounding and engulfing them as their auras blazed and merged across the room. It was a memory that would remain engraved on his mind and in his heart for the rest of his life. He had only ever seen such a link once before: his own, which he shared with his wife and soul mate.

The dance music slowly faded and was replaced by peaceful Japanese flute music. The students stopped their movements and lined up in the center of the mat, each facing the Sensei and bowing to him. Then they moved as one to the far edge of the mat and Joe gestured for two of them to join him in the center of the mat, while the rest of the class sat, hands resting on their knees, and watched.

Ryan and another woman joined Joe in graceful defensive movements, effortlessly ducking, rolling, blocking, pinning. It was almost a dance in itself. In reality it was attack and defensive countermoves, the participants often using the ki within their bodies to force the opponent off balance. It was a beautiful art and Janna became thrilled with the prospect of learning it with Ryan.

At one point Ryan gracefully brought her hands up in front of her body and brought them closely together, as if she held an invisible ball, and then gracefully lunged at the Sensei, throwing the "ball" as she did so. Joe went to the mat, as if he'd been thrown and Janna, who was directly in Ryan's line of attack, felt a gentle surge of energy hit her. She looked up, startled, to see Ryan grin and mouth, "Sorry!" Janna just sat, momentarily dumbfounded until a silly grin crept onto her face.

Later in the session, the Sensei gestured to Ryan and instructed her to pick up a bokken. Ryan gracefully rose to her feet, walked to the equipment shelf and grabbed a wooden practice sword. Her opponent, a very large man who even towered over her, picked up a wooden knife, or tanto.

They met at the center of the mat and respectfully bowed to each other. Her opponent quickly went on the offensive but Ryan feinted and dodged him expertly, spinning and swinging the sword gracefully as she did so. My, God...she looks like she was born with that sword in her hand. As they continued to parry and feint for several more minutes, Janna was awestruck at Ryan's skill and grace. Before she knew it, Ryan's opponent was flat on his back on the mat, grinning up at his conqueror. She returned the grin and reached down to help him to his feet.

"Beautiful Ryan, George, thank you. Okay, Cheryl, take tanto and Bill, bokken" the Sensei instructed.

For the rest of the hour Janna sat completely transfixed and in awe of the skill of the black belts. Most particularly that of her partner.

Before they left the dojo that evening, Janna had purchased a gi and signed up for the new beginning class which would be starting in about a month, and which would be taught by her mate.

As she drove them to the restaurant, Janna couldn't stop her excited chatter about what she had witnessed. "Honey, why didn't you tell me that aikido was so metaphysical?"

"I've never looked at it that way Janna. It just is...what it is." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Honey, you were throwing balls of ki at each other...I'm afraid you don't get much more metaphysical than that!"

"Oh, I can think of some pretty off the wall things that I've heard of that are way more metaphysical than goshin-mai."

"We'll have to discuss that in depth, because I find very little that is not within the realm of possibility" Janna declared matter-of-factly.

"It's a deal then...I look forward to having my mind opened by you." Ryan's sincere statement was accompanied by a warm smile.

Janna returned the warm smile and a feeling of gratitude passed through their link. "You know what else I was struck by? It seems very non-violent...as if only used for self defense." She glanced at her partner.

"That's exactly what it is honey. You know, a lot of cops are starting to learn it too. There were four other cops in that black belt class tonight. It's been a great help to me personally. When disabled non-violently with aikido, perps are usually so stunned that they give up willingly." She looked thoughtfully at Janna and remarked, "I think I'll put some flyers up at the station...try to get some cops signed up for my class in the Fall."

"Sounds like a great idea love. " Janna pulled into the parking lot behind a small café on the Avenue, a few blocks from the Rainbow Lounge. "Come on, I'm starving!"

Ryan laughed, "Why am I not surprised?" She took her mate's arm as they made their way inside. The growing twilight had receded to a quiet darkness by the time they exited and made their way home.

Many, many thanks to the kind souls who have offered me feedback. I can't express how much I appreciate it!

-17-

A few days later, on a breezy, partly cloudy Thursday afternoon Janna oversaw the completion of the installation of her mate's long-awaited spa, complete with gazebo. It sat on the rear deck just outside the French doors. She hadn't told Ryan that it was arriving that day, wishing to surprise her. They had planned to have a relaxing evening after Ryan's extended shift was over, with Janna giving Ryan her first Reiki attunement, and the new spa could be worked into those plans beautifully.

After the installer showed Janna how to operate it and handed her the owner's manual, he began filling it with water. She could barely contain her excitement at the thought of bringing Ryan out there later and showing it to her. Even the weather is cooperating: it's not too hot. Too bad there won't be any moon until very late.

After the installation men left she stood back and admired the new structure. It was a large, white, octagonal building with built-in decking up to the edge of the spa. It had removable lathe privacy screening on the sides and on the top, allowing the occupants to view either the yard or the night sky if they wished but also afforded complete privacy if that was desired. Janna had a very strong suspicion that the complete privacy option would be exercised more often than not. She blushed mildly as a vivid picture entered her mind. Fanning herself, she went back inside to try to complete more work on her latest photo project.

Ryan and John finally extricated themselves from the scene of their latest altercation. Ryan looked at her watch and noted that it was nearly time to get over to the Avenue Market. She blew out a breath, wishing she didn't have to work the extra shift tonight. She wanted to be home with her mate, relaxing. Plus, she was looking forward to receiving her attunement. They had decided that tonight would be a good night to do it because she didn't work the next day.

As Ryan stuffed her notebook back into her pocket she shook her head in disgust and looked at her partner, "Jesus Christ, John, didn't the full moon end two days ago?" She spoke into the uniform radio on her collar and cleared them for further duty.

"Yes, but you'd never know it would you? Fourth day in row we've had way more than the usual number of wackos." He reached down and snapped the catch on his weapon holster.

"I am so ready for my three days off, John, I gotta tell ya." She ran her fingers through her hair and put her helmet back on.

"Uh, I hate to break it to ya buddy but we're working Saturday, remember...the music festival...2 to 6?"

"Aw, shit...that's right." She shook her head in dismay then added, "Well, it shouldn't be too bad. It's a short shift."

"Hey, Sara plans to come out...maybe Janna would like to hang out with her?"

"She might. She's certainly into music." Ryan flashed a wide grin...the mere mention of her soul mate had dispelled her sour mood. "Let's get over to the Avenue, John." She looked over her shoulder, checking traffic, then added hopefully, "Hey maybe the threat of rain will keep people away and we can knock off early".

"What's the matter bud, you got plans for later?" He smirked, but then thought better of the remark and added, "What am I thinking, of course you have plans."

"Yep, you should be so lucky." She smirked at him and took off, forcing him to play catch up.

As The Cranberries' Delores O'Riordan serenaded her with a lilting song about dreams, Janna put the casserole in the oven and set the timer. Good, it should be done just about when Ryan gets home. After cleaning the kitchen she turned the family room stereo off and returned to her new darkroom.

She stood in the doorway for a few moments, admiring the new space. The workmanship was pristine and she admired her brother's handiwork. One wall was lined with built-in cabinets for all of her supplies. The opposite wall had a built-in countertop with shelving above it and more cabinets below. Here the enlargers, both color and black and white resided, as well as a set of large light-tight paper drawers and a compact stereo system. The third wall had formerly housed a window but now sported more shelving and cabinets above and below a long, divided sink. To the left of the sink hung a drying line and in the corner sat a tall drying cabinet. In the center of the room was a large, square worktable, which held large paper cutters and sported more cabinetry in the base for matting and other mounting supplies. There were several lovely matted and framed landscape photos on the walls, examples of Janna's handiwork.

She entered the room and pushed the play button on the sound system. Bad Religion blasted forth with a diatribe against television as Janna, head bobbing to the beat, flipped the light switch and the yellow incandescence was replaced by a warm red glow. The smell of fresh paint still hung faintly in the air, soon to be replaced, however, by the acrid aroma of developing chemicals. I should bring an aromatherapy diffuser in here.

Janna, still moving to the beat...always moving to the beat...flipped the light on the enlarger on and checked the image projected onto the base. Before she could focus on her work, however, her mind wandered to her partner. I wonder how her day has been? I haven't heard from her.

She sat back on her tall work stool, closed her eyes and focused on their link, reaching out over the miles to her partner. She immediately felt the rich, loving warmth that she associated with her mate. She concentrated further; detecting what seemed like irritation. Ooh, I don't think she's in a great mood. I'll have to see what I can do about that. She brought her love for her mate into focus, and then projected it outward through their link. After a few moments she felt the irritation evaporate, to be replaced by a loving warmth and then by a sharp pang of erotic desire that shot straight to her groin. She swallowed hard as her eyebrows rose in shock. Well, I guess she showed me huh? She's a quick study. She smiled at the evidence of yet another of her partner's many skills. She is absolutely amazing.

While she sat contemplating that revelation her telephone rang and she answered (seriously this time), "Zamora-Norden residence."

The business-like female voice on the other end said, "This is SCPD dispatch with a message for Ms. Janna Norden."

"Speaking." Janna held her breath, more in confusion than in fear, as she would certainly have felt if anything were wrong.

"Ms. Norden, I have a message for you from Officer Ryan Zamora. It reads: 'Message received. Thanks'."

Janna released her breath and chuckled. "Thanks. May I give you a reply?"

"Go ahead."

"Return message received. Don't be late." She thought she detected a slight chuckle on the other end of the line but couldn't be sure.

"Thank you Ms. Norden. Good evening."

"Good evening Officer."

Janna clicked off the phone and sat on the stool in front of the enlarger station, smiling and shaking her head in disbelief. I have a strong suspicion that life with her will never be boring. She said another silent prayer of thanks to the Universe; about the one thousandth she had uttered in the weeks she had known Ryan.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ryan and John quickly locked up their bikes and made their way into the station. As they strode purposefully down the brightly lit cream-colored corridors Ryan informed John that she would take care of her portion of the day's reports at home. He tried (unsuccessfully) to hide a grin and told her it was fine with him. She ignored his glee and headed for the exit. "See you Saturday John."

"Later Ry."

She strode with long, quick strides across the parking lot to her truck, beeped the security system from twenty paces and quickly hopped behind the wheel, dropping her gym bag on the seat beside her. It was a pleasant evening. The cool breeze and partial cloudiness had kept the temperature down and the sky in the west still held a hint of red from the sunset and was bisected with black lines of clouds. She noticed none of that however. Her mind held a single- minded intent at the moment and nothing would deter her progress toward home and the reward that awaited her.

Within three minutes she had pulled into their driveway and quickly exited and locked the truck. She nearly jogged into the house, the gym bag containing her utility belt and holstered weapon swinging with her arm's purposeful motion. As she reached for the kitchen door, it swung open and her mate, who had a cold bottle of Corona in one hand, greeted her. Ryan stepped inside, closed the door behind her, drew the new aluminum blind, set her bag carefully on the floor, and swept her mate into her arms.

Janna threw both arms around Ryan's neck as their lips met passionately. Ryan lifted her off her feet with the force of her embrace and told Janna, with her lips and tongue, just how much she had missed her all day. Janna moaned and nearly lost her grip on the slick beer bottle in her left hand. Ryan gently set her down, parting from her slightly and Janna took the opportunity to press the bottle to her partner's lips. Ryan threw her head back and downed half the bottle in one gulp. Then she set the bottle behind her on the counter and returned her attention to Janna, scooping her back into her arms.

With lips pressed against Janna's she said, "Hi honey I'm home."

Janna's response was a moan and a demanding tongue prodding Ryan's lips apart.

Ryan's response to that was to pick Janna up and set her on the kitchen table, still kissing her deeply as she did so, with both hands working the buttons open on her mate's blouse. Janna wrapped her hands around Ryan's neck, forcing their mouths into even deeper contact. Ryan pushed the now unbuttoned shirt off of Janna's shoulders and covered her breasts with her large hands. Janna arched at the contact and wrapped her legs around Ryan's waist. Ryan's lips left Janna's and migrated down to her neck, sucking and nipping lightly at the sensitive skin while her palms caressed hardened nipples through her bra.
Janna panted, "Ryan..."

A deep, desire-roughened voice answered, "Yes, love?"

"What about the kitchen window?"

"I'll get a blind for it tomorrow." Her hands pulled the bra down off of Janna's breasts, freeing and lifting them temptingly and bent her head to taste them hungrily. Her freed hands moved around to Janna's back and pulled her closer.

"Ohh, God...ohh, but Ry...Ryan it's a guh...garden window" she panted breathlessly.

With a mouth full of delicious coral-colored nipple Ryan grumbled, "Then I'll fuckin' have one custom made and put a rush on it."

Her tongue resumed it's stroking and Janna gasped, "Oh...kay...good...ohh Ryan, I love that..."

"Good" was the mumbled response and Janna felt her hips lifted slightly as Ryan attempted to pull her shorts and panties off. Janna impatiently pushed Ryan's hands away and removed them herself, unlinking her legs from around her mate's waist just long enough to allow the clothing clearance to drop to the floor.

Ryan moaned and moved down from Janna's breasts, trailing kisses along her abdomen, down across the top of a leg and down the inside of a thigh. Janna gasped and writhed, using her hands to gently guide Ryan's face to where she desperately wanted it. Ryan tenderly kissed the thigh where her lips rested and pulled away, straightening just long enough to pull her own shirt off, followed quickly by her bra. Then she undid and dropped her shorts and underwear and stepped back against her lover, removing the rest of her clothing as well and explaining, "I want to feel all of you baby." Then she embraced Janna and kissed her lovingly, deeply before returning to the precious area between her legs.

"Oh, God Ryan, yes, right there baby..." Janna implored as Ryan bent to her task with loving devotion. Ryan delighted in the sweet nectar of her soul mate and nearly cried as Janna's release came quickly and powerfully, accompanied by a piercing scream. She continued to kiss her lover tenderly as the spasms continued, and then finally faded and she rose to embrace her. She kissed Janna deeply and then buried her face against her neck as they held each other close. "God, I love you Janna. So very much."

"I love you too Ryan, more every minute. Thank you." As Janna tried to catch her breath, Ryan gently caressed the sweat-slicked skin of her back.

As soon as her legs would support her, Janna slowly moved off of the table and turned Ryan so that her backside was leaning against the rounded edge. Janna stepped between Ryan's legs and kissed the pulse point throbbing visibly at her neck. The kiss ended in a gentle nip as she brought one hand up to a hardened nipple and bent her head to tend to its companion with her mouth, her left hand caressing and stroking in time with her tongue. Ryan threw her head back and moaned loudly, leaning back on her hands to support herself and pressing the center between her legs firmly against Janna's stomach. Janna felt her lover's moist need and slowly lowered a hand, caressing soft skin as she circled lower and lower. Her fingers lovingly caressed Ryan, soothing her swollen need while her lips and tongue continued their loving devotion to both breasts. When she felt her lover's velvet-smooth inner walls begin to tense and clench she brought her mouth and tongue down to join her fingers, matching their rhythm. Ryan gasped and tangled her hands in Janna's hair, hanging on for dear life as she tumbled over the precipice in rapturous release, screaming incoherently. Janna kept her mouth firmly in contact with her mate and lovingly tended to her as the spasms went on and on and then finally, slowly ceased.

As Janna rose to embrace her, Ryan's legs buckled and she slowly collapsed to the floor, bringing Janna with her. They curled up on the cool tile together, both completely spent and unable to move for long minutes. Neither of them could communicate their intense feelings...not with words at any rate. As they held each other, their devotion passed between them through their bond, both Ryan and Janna understanding completely the depth of the other's feelings. The silent communication bordered on telepathy and Ryan gazed at Janna in awe as she held her tightly in her arms.

As they basked in the afterglow of their love, tears slowly trailed down both women's cheeks. Ryan regained the power of speech first and said, "Janna, what just happened? That was without a doubt the most intense orgasm of my life. And I thought all the others with you were fuckin' awesome."

Janna tried to answer, though she was feeling faint and tingly, "I don't know Ryan. It just gets better and better every time. If it keeps up at this rate I'm afraid I'll die in your arms one of these times." She nuzzled Ryan lovingly before adding, "Intense is not even the word for it. I have no explanation for it, except that it must have to do with our bond."

"Jesus."

"Right."

-18-

"Honey, let's get off this cold floor, huh?" Ryan stretched uncomfortably, dislodging Janna from her comfortable nest.

"Okay. Follow me. I know the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the aftereffects of whatever that was that we just experienced.
Come on." She stood and beckoned to her life mate, green eyes still dark with passion but sparkling again.

Ryan's eyes, also still dark with passion, took on a glimmer as she stood and faced her mate with a sly grin. "What are you up to Janna?"

"Just come and see. And leave your clothes where they are."

She took Ryan by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and down the hallway to the utility room, where she grabbed two towels from a folded pile. "Here, better cover your beauty up for a minute. I need to turn the light on in back." Ryan looked perplexed as they wrapped themselves in the large, soft towels. Then Janna flipped the light switch next to the French door, illuminating the deck area and the beautiful gazebo that now sat to one side.

"Fuck, Janna!"

"Mmm. Again?" She giggled and Ryan blushed.

"I'm sorry, I mean, oh my God, the spa is in?" Ryan looked at her incredulously and then burst out the door, forgetting to secure her towel, which dropped to the deck. She picked up her mate and spun her around gleefully. "Oh, baby it's beautiful. I love it!"

"I'm glad Ryan. Consider it yours." She gazed at her partner with such obvious devotion that Ryan's eyes misted.

"Oh Janna, not mine. Ours." She kissed Janna's head tenderly then turned to look at the spa, wiping her tears away with her hand. "Can we use it now?"

"Absolutely. It should be ready...I've got it set on warm...so it's not too hot. After you, love."

Ryan entered the gazebo and climbed slowly into the spa. She moaned with pleasure as the comforting warmth bathed her skin and she immersed herself in it. She quickly found a very comfortable corner and settled back, motioning for Janna to join her.

Janna lit the four candles that she had strategically placed around the spa decking earlier and stepped back into the house to turn off the deck lights. After securing the privacy screen in the gazebo's doorway, removing the roof panel, and shedding her towel, she stood before Ryan, warm candlelight glinting softly on her skin.

Ryan's blood began boiling anew at the sight of the naked beauty before her and she gasped. Janna slowly, seductively lowered herself into the water and joined her mate, sitting back against her chest. Ryan wrapped her arms tightly around Janna and kissed her neck, mumbling, "Jesus, Janna, what you do to me. I just spent my self completely loving you, but I want you again already."

"Mmm, I feel the same way. Why don't we relax for a while and then see what happens?" She inclined her head and arched her neck as Ryan continued her soft kisses. "Dinner's ready too. In case you're hungry."

"I'm always hungry, baby," Ryan drawled as she began soft, slow caresses of Janna's abdomen and delighted at her partner's sharp intake of breath.

"I'm...um...I'm...oh, Ryan." She sighed as Ryan's hands began roaming more fervently. "I'm talking about food sweetheart and you kn...know it...oh God, Ryan!" At that moment she forgot her empty stomach completely and turned around in Ryan's lap, meeting her lips hungrily.

They made love again, this time slowly and gently in the Tantric position, face to face. Janna showed Ryan how to feel their connection and her body's responses in each of her seven major chakras. The Tantric practice served to lengthen and intensify their climaxes and Ryan resolved to make a deeper study of the ancient tradition. If they ever left the magnificent, bubbling comfort of the spa, that is.

Later, they both lay against the side of the spa, Janna's head pillowed against Ryan's shoulder. They gazed up at thousands of stars in the dark sky, which glittered and twinkled gently through the warm summer air. Empty dishes and half-full wine glasses sat nearby on the decking.

"Janna what is it with you and tubs," Ryan asked lazily.

"It's a fish thing...Pisces. I find water to be the most soothing of all the elements. I hope to add a pool back here some day too."

"Huh...so what would my element be?" she asked as she idly traced shapes in the bubbles on her mate's chest.

"Virgo? Let's see, that would be Earth. You like to keep your feet firmly on the ground. You're stable and practical."

"Oh, right on! And you're a fish...and what else?"

"A dreamer...a visionary." She grinned shyly at her mate and added, "I've certainly got the 'dreamer' part down pat. Reality seldom lives up to my dreams. Except where you're concerned that is. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine something as wonderful as this happening." She kissed the inside of the arm that was wrapped around her shoulder.

"I never would have believed it either Janna. If anyone had told me this would happen to me I would have told them they were nuts." She chuckled quietly and added, "John says that the 'Lone Wolf' has been captured and tamed."

"Well, domesticated possibly, but never tamed."

"Oh, you tame me Janna, believe me. I've always had this restlessness in me. I always had to be doing something, and the more productive the better. But now I'm content just to be with you. I feel complete now...like I'm not searching for something anymore. I feel like I've finally come home."

Ryan turned slightly and brought a wet hand up to run though Janna's hair. "You know, I always thought it was absurd when I heard people, especially women, say that their mate completed them. I wondered why in the hell they felt that they needed someone else in order to feel complete...I thought it was sad. But now I realize that they weren't necessarily invalidating themselves or their own worth, some of them were simply acknowledging that there is another human being that complements them completely. Like being two sides of the same coin...or the light needing the dark and vice versa."

"Yin and yang."

"Yeah. I totally understand that concept now." She warmly wrapped her arms around Janna again and kissed her hair.

"Cool, love. Yeah, it's my favorite esoteric symbol, I think. I used to have a yin/yang decal on my guitar and kids would often ask me about what it meant."

"Yeah, I like that t-shirt you have...the psychedelic one." She leered gently at her mate who smirked at her.

"That's because it's short and tight. I know you Ryan...you are a wolf. That I will never tame."

"Oh, but baby, you're welcome to try. I respond to pleasurable stimuli."

Janna laughed quietly. "Oh, God, don't I know it!"

They kissed gently for a few minutes, until Ryan pulled back, sighed and said, "I'm sorry we didn't get the attunement done tonight love."

"That's okay Ryan. We'll do it tomorrow. It will be better then anyway. You had a rough day and it's best to be rested and relaxed." She glanced up at the sky." We should think about getting some sleep. It's pretty late."

And late it was, as the last quarter moon was just rising above the trees in the yard. The lovers each greeted their friend silently and thanked her for watching over them so well. She smiled her light down upon them as they rose from their pool of bliss.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ryan sat in a straight chair, her hands quietly resting on her knees and feet flat on the floor as Janna circled her with a smoking smudge stick. Several candles burned throughout the family room, adding a soft warm glow. Janna had partially closed the vertical blinds, cutting the glare from the bright sun and enhancing the relaxing atmosphere. On the table near where Ryan sat, a large cluster of rose quartz held a small candle in its center, suffusing the vicinity with a soft pink glow and a gentle, loving energy. Ryan thought that she could feel the warmth from the crystals gently nudging her heart center, but was unsure about it.

After smudging Ryan, Janna set the still-smoking wand of sage and sweetgrass in an abalone shell on the table. The acrid-sweet scent filled the air and cleansed the space and it's occupants of all old and negative energy. Janna approached her mate and gently took her hands in her own, bending and bringing them to her lips and kissing each one tenderly. She gazed deeply into her love's eyes and let her love for her pour out of her heart center. Ryan's eyes filled with tears and she swallowed hard. Janna smiled warmly and then she stepped back and closed her eyes, visibly centering herself. She opened her eyes and instructed Ryan to take a deep breath and relax. She then began the short, ancient ritual that would give her partner the ability to conduct Reiki through her body to use for healing, for herself and others.

The attunement, or the placing of the knowledge of the ancient symbols into Ryan's aura, only took a few minutes. When it was finished, Janna instructed Ryan to keep her eyes closed for a few moments. As she did so, Janna silently asked the Reiki Masters if they had a message for Ryan. She could feel the presence of the ancient ones in the room with her and let her love for them and her gratitude for their support of her fill her being. In answer, they surrounded her being and suffused it with the loving energy from the Other Side.

In answer to her question, a thought, clear and distinct, popped into her mind: "She has always known to trust in her instincts. She should now extend that trust to include her psychic intuition. If she does, nothing will be hidden from her." Janna thanked the Masters and felt them leave the space, leaving behind an intense feeling of love.

Janna instructed Ryan to open her eyes when she felt ready to, and after several more minutes she did. Ryan's eyes opened slowly, blinking as if trying to clear them. She looked up at Janna somewhat fuzzily and grinned weakly.

"How do you feel, Ryan?" Janna's voice was gentle and warm.

"I'm not sure. Strange. My whole body is buzzing and...it's like my soul is vibrating." She shrugged and grinned lopsidedly, "It's hard to explain."

"No need to love. I've been there. I'm there now, actually, through our link." She added, "And your observation about your soul vibrating is right on target. You are literally now vibrating at a slightly different frequency than you used to. A slightly faster frequency."

She kneeled before Ryan and added, "I have a message for you from the Ancient Reiki Masters...the ones who brought the gift to the planet millennia ago. I'll share it with you verbatim and let you work through it's meaning on your own." She did so and watched Ryan's eyes widen in surprise.

"Janna, I know that. That idea has been nagging at me for about a week now. How did you know?" She looked at her partner with disbelief.

"I didn't. The Masters did. See, they were right, weren't they? Think about the message Ryan. Give it time and digest it thoroughly." She smiled gently at her partner and held out her hands. "Wanna try to stand?"

Ryan got up, wobbling a little and Janna grasped her by the arm.

"Whoa, that kinda hits you hard, doesn't it? But feels really good", she added with a grin.

Janna matched her grin and nodded her head in agreement. She picked up a large glass of water and handed it to Ryan. "Here love, drink this. It will help to ground you. You'll need to drink lots of extra water for about the next week too...to help your body detoxify. The Reiki now in your system is purging it of impurities."

Ryan, throat parched, downed the entire glass as Janna held on to her. Then Janna led her mate to the French doors overlooking the backyard. As they stood together gazing at the lovely view, Janna asked, "Take a look around for a few minutes, Ryan and then tell me what you notice."

Ryan gazed at the attractive yard, which was ringed with flowerbeds that were alive with summer color, the small lawn separating them from the deck.

After a few moments, Ryan responded, "Janna, the colors are so intense! Is it possible that I'm seeing shades that I never saw before?" She looked at Janna, the question knitting her brow.

"Yes! That's it Ryan! That was the first thing that I noticed too. In fact, I had been mildly colorblind before that...now my vision tests are perfect."

Ryan continued to gaze out the windowed door with wonder, her head turning from the grass, to the flowers, to the trees, to the sky, and then to her mate's gentle face beside her. Her face gained a look of wonder as the stared a little beyond Janna's head.

"Janna, um...you're surrounded by colors." She drew her bewildered gaze back down to Janna's face just in time to see a tear slide down her mate's cheek.

"Oh, Ryan, that's my aura! I was hoping the Reiki would open that up for you, like it did for me." She embraced Ryan and wrapped her arms tightly around her, sobbing quietly.

Ryan returned the embrace and felt tears leave her eyes as well. "Janna, what an incredible gift this is. Thank you so much!" She rubbed her cheek against Janna's hair and reveled in their shared warmth.

Janna pulled apart from her slightly and wiped Ryan's tears and then her own, saying, "Come on. Lets go sit and I'll answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about this new gift you have." She took Ryan's hand and led her back to the peaceful quiet of the family room.

-19-

Ryan sat on the edge of the bed as she lit the large pillar candle that sat on the nightstand. The wick sputtered into flame and added it's light to that of the several others nearby; it's rich scent of ylang-ylang adding to the romantic ambiance of the room.

Her task complete, Ryan stretched her long frame out on the bed. She was a vision of loveliness as she reclined, naked, against the large, soft pillows with her hands behind her head and her ankles crossed. The candlelight shone on her bronzed skin, highlighting her sculpted muscles, and her light eyes shone with a fire and a brilliance of their own. She could hear her mate puttering around in the adjacent bathroom and eagerly awaited her appearance.

It was Monday and she and Janna had overslept that morning. Someone had forgotten to set the alarm the night before (someone whom Ryan wished to remain nameless) so they had not had the time to make their daily intimate connection.

Their habit of making a sexual connection every day had become so much more than simply having sex, or even making love: it had become an important part of their daily affirmation of their love, and usually occurred as soon as Janna became fully awake. Some mornings it didn't include intercourse at all, but simply a gentle touching and sharing of their bodies and their energies in the ancient tradition of Tantra Yoga. More often than not, though, intercourse was involved and Ryan found herself on this night with a physical need, which only her mate could provide relief for.

As Ryan relaxed on the bed in quiet anticipation, a gentle curse reached her ears. Before she could get up to investigate, Janna appeared in the doorway, a look of regret marring her pleasant features.

"Janna, what's wrong?"

Her mate's voice mirrored her face's dejection as she said apologetically, "Oh, honey, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I've got my period."

Ryan looked somewhat bemused but grinned as she said, "Well, then bring a towel, love." She patted the empty place next to her on the bed, raised black eyebrows and crooked grin beckoning to her jauntily.

Janna's brows knit in mild concern. "Are you sure honey? I won't be hurt if you'd rather not."

"Sweetheart, get your gorgeous naked bod over here right now please!" Her face became a little more serious as she added, "Nothing is going to prevent me from loving you, Janna. Ever." She patted the bed again. "Come on. Please?"

Janna, still standing in the doorway, reached over and pulled a large towel off of the rack next to the shower and then made her way uncertainly to the bed, where she stood before her partner.

Ryan's face took on a look of concern as she reached up and took Janna's hand. "Honey, are you in pain? If you are then we'll save this for another time."

Janna shook her head. "No, I feel alright. It's not that...I'm just not used to making love during my cycle, that's all."

Ryan kissed the hand that she still held and quietly said, "I don't mean to sound demanding, Janna. I just want you to understand that it really doesn't bother me. Not with you." She looked into her partner's eyes. "Does it bother you?"

"No, I don't think it does. But, um, do you think it's safe?" She set the towel on the bed next to Ryan and sat on it.

"You mean STD-wise?" her partner asked. Janna nodded, after which Ryan added, "Honey I think we've shared enough body fluids already to make that a moot point, don't you?"

Janna's face took on a slightly embarrassed grin as she shrugged and nodded.

"As far as that goes," Ryan added, "I get tested about every three months when I donate blood."

Janna added, "And I get tested every six months."

"And, I was celibate for two years before you came along", Ryan added matter-of-factly.

"And I was celibate for one." Janna smiled. "I guess I see your point."

Ryan opened her arms as her rich voice drawled, "Well come 'ere then, baby!"

Janna happily fell into her embrace and her partner kissed her tenderly. Then Ryan gently laid her mate down on the bed and lay above her, soft black curls brushing lightly against golden blonde. She gazed down at her soul mate lovingly.

"What?" Janna quietly asked.

Ryan reached down and pushed a wayward strand of blonde hair behind an ear. "Just thinking about how much you mean to me. There aren't words for it Janna."

"Then show me, love."

~~~~~~~~~~

After the busy weekend that they had shared, the beginning of the workweek was almost a relaxing break for Ryan. Not quite, as the realities of semi-big city life soon set in, but almost.

On Friday, after receiving her Reiki attunement, Ryan and Janna had talked for hours about the nature of the healing gift and about its applications. Janna had shown her the ancient symbols and coached her in their use. Ryan then spent the rest of the day practicing her new craft: giving Reiki to her partner, to herself, to their house plants and even to her car, which had been running a little roughly for several days. Ryan delighted in her new ability and showed an almost childlike wonder at its magic, which in turn delighted Janna.

Later that evening, during her game, Ryan had a bit of a hard time maintaining her focus, but her skill pulled her through. She and Janna had to once again turn down her teammates' invitation to share pizza and beer with them, because Ryan's body was in a heavy detoxification stage and alcohol consumption wouldn't be prudent.

Saturday morning they had taken delivery of their exercise machines and had spent the rest of the day setting up their home gym. Janna started her conditioning program in earnest, including some light upper-body work. She had casually remarked to her coach that she might not need to use the department gym after all, but was reminded that a well-rounded workout routine included free weights, which they had not yet purchased. So it was decided that the Tuesday workouts would take place down at the station for the time being.

On Sunday, after Ryan's Peace Officer's game, they had hosted a family barbecue. Ryan found, to her delight, that every member of Janna's family was as warm and genuine as she was. Even though they were unused to seeing their loved one behaving in an intimate manner with a woman, they didn't seem bothered by it. Janna's parents, brother and sister- in-law could clearly see how devoted the two women were to each other.

Ryan had worried beforehand, not at whether or not they would accept her, but at how their lack of acceptance of the relationship could hurt her partner. Ryan found herself surprisingly relieved at her new family's attitude and was able to relax and have a good time. Had the family not been supportive of their daughter's situation, they would have had to deal with her very angry and protective mate. An angry Ryan Zamora is not someone that a mere mortal human would care to have to contend with.

Janna had been warmed beyond measure at Ryan's interaction with her six-year old niece, Brittany, and three-year old nephew Robbie. The children had gravitated to her immediately and Ryan treated them warmly and graciously, even spending a lot of time playing with them. The end of the long day had found the family spread around the large family room relaxing over coffee and dessert, Ryan in one of the large chairs with a lap full of small, sleepy towheads.

Janna was so happy to see Ryan enjoying the kids, not only because she loved her niece and nephew dearly and wanted Ryan to do so as well, but also because, since becoming involved with Ryan, she had begun to feel some definite maternal leanings. As she sat in the chair across from Ryan and gazed fondly at the warm scene, Ryan flashed her a brilliant smile. Janna knew at that moment that Ryan would make a wonderful parent one day. A silent communication passed between them through their link and Ryan smiled knowingly and nodded slightly.

Then earlier that evening, they had gone to the dojo and Janna had watched Ryan's class again. She enjoyed herself as much as she had the week before, and felt at times that her mate might possibly showing off a little for her. She denied it vehemently afterward though.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ryan did indeed show Janna just how much the small blonde meant to her. She made one final, slow thrust and then slowly pulled out, eliciting a long, low moan from her partner that matched her own. She lay briefly atop her lover catching her breath, then lifted up on one arm and with the other deftly unsnapped the harness she wore, pulling it and its appendage away from their bodies and dropped it to the floor.

When she recovered her breath, Janna said, "I'm so glad you didn't leave that particular appliance at your place for John and Sara."

Ryan, lying fully atop Janna again, chuckled, the deep tone reverberating through her partner, and replied, "Sweetheart, I seriously doubt that they'd have much use for this particular appliance. At least I hope not," she added, eyebrows rising above her bangs.

Janna giggled as she wiped damp bangs from Ryan's eyes, saying, "Too true!" She wrapped her arms tightly around her love and relished the contact that she just couldn't get enough of. Ryan burrowed her face against Janna's and kissed her neck, mumbling sweet nothings. After a moment she pulled back and rolled off of her partner and onto her back. Janna immediately assumed her favorite position and they basked quietly together in the afterglow of their love.

"God, that was nice honey. You truly have many skills." She sighed and let out a long, contented breath.

"I aim to please, baby. Anything for you." Ryan smiled crookedly as she pulled her love more tightly against herself.

Janna broke the comfortable silence a few moments later when she asked, "Ryan, have you ever thought about having a family?"

Ryan smiled, having been expecting that question. "Yes, I have. Growing up, I always figured I'd have a few kids. I knew I wasn't marriage material so I figured I'd adopt." She glanced at her partner and grinned. "Why do you ask, sweetheart?"

Janna bit her lip, as if not knowing how to begin, but decided to just dive in. "I've been thinking about it...for us. I've always wanted kids too. How would you feel about talking about it?" She turned her head slightly and looked expectantly at her mate.

Ryan creased her brows as if deep in thought but then quickly grinned as she said, "I thought you'd never ask sweetheart!"

Janna's look of shock became a radiant grin as she hugged her partner tightly. Ryan kissed her mate's brow as she gently rocked her in her arms. "Janna, I would love for us to have a family together."

"You don't know how happy that makes me Ryan." Janna's voice broke slightly and she looked at her mate with misty green eyes.

"Yes, I do sweetheart," Ryan replied sincerely, rubbing Janna's arm lovingly. "What kind of timeline are we talking about here?"

"Well, I'm thinking not real soon. Call me selfish, but I want quite a bit more time for just the two of us."

"That's pretty much what I've been thinking too."

"So you've actually been thinking about this too?"

"Yep."
"Cool! So, have you worked out the technical details yet?" She looked up at Ryan, eyes sparkling.

Ryan laughed. "Um...no. I guess we have several options available to us though." She thought for a moment and then suddenly stiffened and swallowed before asking, "Um... we are talking about your carrying these kids aren't we?"

Janna giggled at her mate's discomfiture. "Yes, I did figure that love. Are you sure you don't want..."

"No!"

Janna rubbed the arm that circled her waist. "Okay, honey, no problem." She smiled inwardly at her mate's reluctance to become pregnant. Her big tough partner. Maybe that's the problem.

"Janna, are you sure. I mean...I just don't think I...I mean I hate hospitals and..." she stammered.

"Yes, I'm sure Ryan. I actually want to experience pregnancy...very much so. I'm fine with it."

Ryan's sigh of relief was palpable and Janna grinned again. "So, do you want to talk about options?"

"Okay. Um...there's the donor question and then the method." Now that the extremely uncomfortable possibility of Janna wanting her to be the one to get pregnant was a moot point, she warmed up to the discussion, her practical mind kicking into gear.

"Honey, if it's at all possible, I'd like them to look as much like the both of us as possible. Um... a friend of mine used her partner's brother as a donor...so not only does the baby resemble both of them, but she's also related to both."

"Huh, that's a really nice idea. But, honey, I'm really not close to my brother. I don't know how comfortable I'd be asking him to do that, or if he'd even consider it. I'm sorry."

"I realize that could be a problem. There is another option. It's sort of a newer idea and I don't know anyone personally who's done it, but I've read about it. In this procedure, eggs are harvested from one partner, fertilized in vitro, and then the embryo is implanted in the other partner. That way there is the added benefit of both partners being the biological mother, so to speak. Legally, it seems to be a strong way to go. Plus, I'm pretty certain that my brother would be more than happy to help us out."

"Wow, you're kidding! That's seems like a great idea. I know I'm most concerned about custody issues cropping up." She looked at her mate and smiled. "Plus, it would be related to both of us. I think I like the idea Janna." She squeezed her partner affectionately. "And who knows, maybe one day my brother will be a viable possibility too. I wouldn't rule anything out."

"Ryan, I wouldn't agree too quickly. That procedure is much more complicated and invasive than simply borrowing some semen and having an intimate encounter with a turkey baster would be. Not to mention very expensive. We should gather all the information about it and make an informed decision."

Ryan laughed. "An intimate encounter with a turkey baster? Oh God, Janna!"

"Well, that's basically how it would be you know."

"I don't know. I think I'd rather trust my most precious gift to the hands of a capable doctor."

"Well, I kind of like the idea of my most precious gift impregnating me herself," Janna replied smugly.

"I can still do that in a doctor's office. I know people who have. The other partner pushes the plunger or whatever it is, on the needle."

"Okay, the method can be agreed on later, right?" Janna conceded. "The important thing is that we both want this." She kissed the breast under her face.

"Yes, love. That it is. Janna, I would want to wait until after we have had a commitment ceremony. Is that okay?" She kissed the blonde head below her chin.

"Yes, I would too. I guess we should start planning that first, huh?"

Ryan grinned widely. "Yep. I'm already working on it."

"You are?" Janna looked so pleased that Ryan laughed aloud.

"Yes. I told you that a friend of mine... a guy I work with actually...has a cabin on the lake. I've already asked him if we can borrow it. He said we could have it anytime after the season ends...after Labor Day...for as long as we'd like it. How'd you like to take a ride up to the Lake, maybe this weekend and take a look at it?"

"Oh honey, that's great! I'd love to. And actually, I need to get up that way for some good shots before summer ends. I've been thinking about our taking a few days and going together. Think we can?"

"Yeah. You know what? I have a ton of vacation and sick time saved up...why don't we go during the week when it's not quite so crowded?"

"Cool! How much notice do you need to give before taking time off?"

"A week should do it. Maybe less. There's a young guy on the bike squad, Micah, who's getting married and is looking for all the extra shifts he can get before then. John likes him, so I'm sure there'd be no problem with him subbing for me."

"It's settled then. As soon as you can get the days off, we're gone. Ryan, there are some very special places up there that I'd like to share with you. May I?"

"Absolutely Janna. I'd love that. Shall we make it a backpacking trip? Biking? Do you want to camp?" Her enthusiasm was catching and Janna fell right in with her. They didn't get to sleep until much later and the next morning Ryan barely made it to the roll call on time. Again. She did, however, find time for some intimacy with her wife-to-be. Of course.

-20-

The guard strode down the blue-carpeted hallway of the ultra-modern County Jail complex. He stopped and spoke to another guard who sat at an electronic control console. The second man pushed a button and a large door thirty feet ahead swung open with a swishing sound. The first guard strode through it, waited for it to click shut again, and entered a roughly octagonally shaped room, where a dozen or so guards shared the space with about fifty inmates.

The room itself was lined on all but one side by tiers of cells. The cells were enclosed by windowed doors, rather than by bars. The jailer walked straight ahead and ascended a staircase, which curved around to the left. He walked about half way around the level and stopped at an open door.

He called gruffly to one of the men sitting on a bunk within, "Simpson. You have a visitor."

A disheveled looking brown haired man in his late twenties looked up as the guard called his name. He stood cockily and stated, "'Bout fuckin' time that bitch came to see me."

"Put it to her hard, Joe," laughed his cellmate.

"Yeah, she won't know what hit her." He swaggered toward the doorway, the guard following him.

"Alright, calm down Simpson. This ain't no lady come to see you," corrected the guard.

"Then it's for damn sure my woman!" The inmates from the surrounding cells laughed as he exited the block.

They left the unit and made their way down the same blue hallway that the guard had walked down minutes earlier. They approached another control desk and the guard there buzzed them into a large room which was divided down the center by a polyethylene partition.

As he made his way to a partitioned section and sat down, Simpson was disappointed to see his buddy Billy sitting there, waiting for him.

Simpson sat on the hard chair and faced his friend. A small hole cut at face level allowed for conversation.

"Aw, fuck Billy. Get the hell out here. You got a lot of nerve, asshole. If you and Adam hadn't run off and left us we wouldn't be in this shit hole." Simpson shook his head with disgust and looked as if he needed to spit.

"Don't look like much of shit hole to me Joe. Looks pretty plush in here if you ask me" replied the twenty-something with stringy brown hair.

"Trade places with me then asshole. What do you want?" Simpson snarled angrily.

"I just thought you might like to know that me and Adam saw that little blonde queer woman you beat up. She was with the dyke cop that arrested you...hanging all over her like a slut." Billy puffed out his chest and adopted an air of importance that he really didn't feel.

The bored, angry look on Simpson's features was replaced by a look of interest. "Oh yeah? Where was this?"

"At the ball diamonds out by the port. The cop plays on one of them all-dyke teams. I checked and she plays every Friday night. We seen her again last week."

Simpson's face lit up in a sneer. "Now ain't that interesting? The blonde there too?"

"Yeah. I figured maybe Adam and me could give her a little payback for what she done to you. Teach her and her little queer girlfriend a lesson."

"Yeah. You guys owe me that much. I'd say if you do that we could pretty much call it even."

"Sure. Hey, how long you gonna be in here?"

"Shit, I don't know. Those queer-loving liberals got some kind of new law passed where you get more time for queer bashing...it's a federal crime or something. My lawyer wants me to plead out, cop to assault instead of attempted murder and get two to five. But I figure maybe I could get a jury with some decent jurors on it and beat this fuckin' charge. I don't wanna go to fuckin' San Quentin or some real shit place like that."

"Oh, I don't know Joe. It seems like the queers are getting more and more people on their side. You better listen to your lawyer."

"Yeah, maybe."

The door clicked open and the guard entered the room, announcing, "Okay Simpson, time's up."

As Simpson stood up he said, "Yeah, okay Billy, you let me know how that goes, huh?"

Billy, ever the intelligent one, responded, "Yeah, okay Joe. I know where to find you!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Ryan and Janna entered the kitchen, laughing, and Ryan deposited her gym bag and truck keys on the tile countertop adjacent to the door.

Janna sidled up next to Ryan and wrapped an arm around her waist as she asked, "How about chef's salads and wine out in the gazebo?"

"Mmm, sounds great. Why don't we grab a quick shower first and then I'll help you fix it?" Ryan replied as she turned and wrapped both arms around Janna.

"Ooh, that sounds even better. I'll make a chef out of you yet, won't I?" Janna smiled warmly at her as Ryan brought her hands up to her partner's shoulders and rubbed them gently.

"Yeah right!" Noting how tight her partner's shoulder muscles were, Ryan remarked, "You worked hard tonight Janna. You're gonna be ready for some extreme softball real soon at this rate."

"Mmm, I feel like I worked hard. My arm and shoulder muscles aren't too happy right now." She raised her shoulders and tried to stretch the kinks out of them as she spoke.

"Why don't I give you a little Reiki in the spa then?" Ryan leaned forward and kissed an earlobe.

"Oh, I won't turn that offer down. Thanks love."

"Okay, I'll pass on the wine then and have tea."

"I'll do the same so I can give you some Reiki too." She smiled fondly at Ryan, her pride in her mate's newfound healing prowess written all over her face. "You're a wonderful healer Ryan...definitely a natural." She looked thoughtful for a moment, then smiled as she asked, "Is there anything you don't do well, honey?"

"I don't exist well without you." Ryan's sincerity warmed Janna's heart and they made their way arm in arm upstairs to the master suite.

Ryan stood behind Janna, the pulsating stream of water from the showerhead hitting her back, and poured lavender-scented soap into her palm. She gently rubbed the soap onto her mate's silky skin. "How's the injury feeling honey?" she asked as she ran her hand over the mostly faded bruise on Janna's shoulder.

"It's a little sore tonight actually. I may have overdone it on the overhead press machine."

"I'll concentrate the Reiki there then." Ryan leaned forward and kissed the top of her partner's shoulder. As she did so her breasts caressed Janna's back and her mate leaned back into her.

"Mmm, baby, you feel so good."

"Janna, don't get me started. We'll miss dinner again, and I know you don't want to do that." She kidded her perennially hungry mate good-naturedly, a wide grin gracing her striking face.

"You know good and well, Ryan Zamora, that I'll gladly miss a meal or two in favor of playing with you." She turned seductively in Ryan's embrace and smiled coyly just before she leaned forward and nipped at her mate's collarbone, her hands dropping to Ryan's firm buttocks and caressing them gently. Ryan found her absolutely gorgeous with her hair wet and slicked back and felt a surge of warmth spread outward from her groin.

Ryan closed her eyes and moaned. Jesus, this woman has complete control over me. Powerless to resist her little dynamo, Ryan wrapped long arms around Janna's torso and pulled her close. She searched out Janna's lips and kissed her thoroughly, causing Janna to moan.

"God, baby, why are we so hot for each other? What is it that we do to each other?" She mumbled as her lips moved from Janna's lips down to find a pert breast.

"Ohh...Jesus...um, pheromones?" came the muttered response.

"Gotta be more than that." Large hands found Janna's buttocks and pulled their bodies closer together. Despite their difference in height, or perhaps because of it, their bodies fit together perfectly: as if they had been molded for each other. Janna's face fit flawlessly into the crook of Ryan's neck and her breasts rested just under her partner's.

As one of Ryan's talented, long-fingered hands migrated around in front of her and sought out soft golden curls, Janna once again became lost in the sensations that her mate so expertly coaxed from her body.

~~~~~~~~~~

The brilliant turquoise sky offered them just enough natural light to see by as Ryan leaned forward to take the bite of salad from Janna's fork. "Mmm, that's good. Sweetheart you're as good a cook as my Mom was."

"Honey, there's nothing to making salad." Janna accepted the morsel offered her from Ryan's fork and savored it.

"You must be right 'cause I helped make it. If it were actual cooking I would have screwed it up somehow."

"Oh, you're not that bad!" Janna fed Ryan the last bit of julienned ham from her plate and then took a sip of her sweet, lemony iced tea. She pushed her plate farther back on the decking and turned back toward her mate." Okay, who's first?"

"Let me do you first, since you're hurting." Ryan pushed away from the side and got behind Janna. "Lean back against me, baby." As Janna complied, she took several deep breaths and calmed herself before visualizing the symbols, then placed her hands on her mate's shoulders. Ryan felt the energy start to flow immediately and experienced her usual excitement at what she still considered an amazing gift. She let the energy enter her being and flow through her into her partner's body.

Janna moaned softly and settled more deeply against Ryan, feeling the warmth in her mate's hands grow and spread to her shoulders. "Mmm, your hands are very hot tonight Ryan."

"Yeah, it feels like it's flowing really strongly."

"I must need it then."

"Mmm, yeah. I feel like you do. Hey, did you notice that the truck is running better?" Pride and wonder filled Ryan's voice as she spoke softly.

"Mmm hmm, I did. Nice job honey. It's cool isn't it...that Reiki works on basically anything?" Ryan could hear the smile in her voice. "I used to have an old clunker and once when I was driving home to see the family on Christmas Eve, the transmission went out about halfway here...it went down into like first or second gear and wouldn't change...made the engine race loudly. So I stopped and gave the car Reiki for about five minutes. When I started on my way again it was fine. It lasted another few months before I had to get a new transmission."

"God, that's cool Janna!" Ryan moved her hands down to Janna's deltoids.

"Oh, good Ryan, I'm sore there too." She sighed and smiled.

"Yeah, I felt I should do there next. It's true that the Reiki enhances my intuition. I definitely feel it."

"That's super Ryan, because that's one of the hardest concepts to grasp. You're actually channeling information from your Higher Self and probably also from some Reiki Guides that you have. When we channel, it's very easy for doubt to creep in and we wonder if the wisdom is truly that or if it's just our imagination." She tilted her head back and rested it against Ryan's. "You're doing so well with this. I'm very, very proud of you."

Ryan kissed the temple resting against her face. "I had a wonderful teacher."

"Thanks, love." They enjoyed a quiet stillness for several minutes.

"How's that baby? Good?" Ryan spoke softly into Janna's ear.

"Mmm, yeah. You got all the sore spots and I'm nice and buzzy now." She moved away from Ryan and turned toward her. "Come on, your turn now."

Janna centered herself and looked Ryan over briefly. "Hmm, upper back and neck tonight?" She looked at her mate expectantly.

"Exactly!"

Janna scooted in behind Ryan and placed one hand on her back and one on her neck. She felt the tension start to melt from her mate's shoulders almost before the energy started to flow, as if her touch alone had the power to heal her soul mate.

"Oh, Janna, that's nice. Your touch all by itself feels great." Janna smiled knowingly and enjoyed the feel of Ryan's soft skin. After a few minutes Ryan added, "Oh I got my time off all set for our trip next week. Monday through Thursday. Sound good?"

"Sounds awesome. I'll make the reservations at the lodge tomorrow. I can't wait to get up there honey!" Feeling that Ryan had received all the energy she needed, she squeezed her shoulders and massaged them gently.

"Shit, Janna, you could make a living at that. It feels incredible." She rolled her head from side to side and reveled in the soft touch.

"Thanks, Ryan. You don't mind that we're not camping do you?"

"No, not at all. I usually only camp when I do long treks. I'm looking forward to having a relaxing trip with you."

"Great. We should have a nice moon too. Between first quarter and full. The nights should be beautiful if it's clear."

"Cool babe. It will be great being with her out there." Ryan looked somewhat sheepish. "Um, does that sound silly?"

"No Ryan, not at all. Remember you're talking to a fellow moon worshiper here!" She caressed Ryan's cheek. "Don't be embarrassed about your beliefs, Ryan. Embrace them. We know they have substance...we've seen the proof time and again, haven't we?"

"Definitely babe. Thanks." She pulled Janna into a hug. "I love you baby. You are so perfect for me. Thank you."

"No, thank you Ryan." She pulled back a little and gazed seriously at her mate. "I know it wasn't easy for you to trust again...to give your heart away again. Thank you so much for taking the chance with me. I feel like the most blessed woman on the planet." Her voice cracked and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Ryan reached forward and wiped her tears lovingly then pulled her into an embrace. "Thank you for the same things baby...my destiny." She kissed Janna's forehead. "Come on, I'm prunin' here. Lets go to bed, huh?"

Janna laughed. "Sure. Lets go."

Though she wasn't visible to her two worshipers, Luna felt their love for her and smiled, sending loving energy into their souls.

~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of Ryan's work week made her very glad that she was taking the next week off. It seemed that she and John had way more than the usual number of drunk and disorderly calls, domestic disturbances, traffic accidents and all manner of other altercations. The previous night at the Street Market there had been an abnormal number of brawls, and arguments between vendors and buyers as well.

The city seemed to be in minor chaos, nearly approaching the lunatic fringe feel of full moon days and nights. John blamed it on the heat, but Ryan sensed that here was some sort of underlying energetic cause: perhaps something astrological. She reminded herself to ask Janna's opinion when she got home that night.

They talked about it on their way to Ryan's game. The only thing Janna could come up with was that Mercury might be retrograde, causing all manner of communication breakdowns.

The game was way out at the big complex so they had the chance for much conversation during the drive. Janna drove the Jeep and as per usual she had her music playing quietly as she drove and they talked.

Ryan remarked, "Janna I like your music. It's really melodic. I thought all punk rock was screaming and cacophony, but yours was enjoyable. Almost poppy."

"Thanks. There are a few groups playing that style now. Some old buddies of mine have a huge album out right now. Here, let me play it for you." She popped her cassette out and fished around in the tape box for another. "Ah, here it is." She slid the cassette out and handed its case to Ryan as she inserted the tape into the player.

"Dookie?" Ryan asked incredulously, grinning. "They named their CD 'Dookie'?"

Janna laughed, "Yeah. They're just a bunch of crazy young guys. I love them though. They're a lot of fun. I think you'll like a lot of the lyrics too. They remind me of some of mine. Irreverent yet socially relevant; sarcastic. Though I don't have quite so many songs about masturbation." She grinned and glanced at Ryan, who raised her eyebrows.

The first song began. The beat was pounding, driving, yet there was a definite catchy melody and the singer had a unique style that made you want to picture him with a happy snarl. Ryan found herself bopping along to the music, just as her mate always did.

Ryan laughed above the loud music and exclaimed, "I do like this Janna. God, honey, you're rubbing off on me!"

Janna grinned at her rakishly and drawled, "As often as I can baby!"

Ryan rolled her eyes and groaned. "Oh, Janna don't do that to me now. I've got a game to play and I can't be feeling all horny on the mound."

"Horny on the mound?" Janna smiled impishly at her mate and got a playful slap on the thigh.

"You are a bad girl...stop that!" Ryan had to bite her lip to keep from laughing and encouraging the imp.

"Now you know how I feel, babe. Payback's a bitch huh?" Janna's playful grin excited Ryan even further and she groaned and leaned her head against the cool window. She tried to focus her attention on the farmland passing by, but the very proximity of her mate was foiling her. Jesus Christ, she turns me on!

Janna soon took pity on her mate and decided to change the pace. She popped Dookie out and put a new tape in. A loud, but very melodic and lilting song began. "This is a newer group that I like a lot. They're not punk, but when they play live they have a punk-like intensity. They're really cool...from Ireland. Their music has an almost Celtic flavor to it, even though it's undeniably rock."

Ryan read the cassette jacket, "The Cranberries. Oh, yeah, I like them too. What's that song? 'Dreams'?"

"Yeah, that was their first big hit a year or so ago. It's on this tape."

"Do you know them?"

"No, I've never met them. But I've heard good things about Delores, the singer. She seems really cool."

"Mmm." They enjoyed the music together as they made their way down the highway.

It was still early evening, so the mid summer sun was quite intense and still high in the sky as Ryan took the mound.

The sun's heat, it turned out, had nothing on Ryan's arm and she absolutely smoked the other team. So her team was in very high spirits as they sat around after the game, joking around. Ryan soaked up the accolades heaped on her by her teammates and decided to take them up on their offer to take her and Janna out.

As the happy group made their way out of the complex, they didn't notice the two young men who seemed to be watching them intently from a short distance away. As they reached the parking lot however, Ryan felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck and stopped and looked behind her. She didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but still didn't dismiss the feeling. She let a wariness seep into her consciousness and drew a little closer to Janna, instinctively wanting to protect her.

As they got into the Jeep and drove away, Ryan relaxed and reached out with her aikido, and now Reiki-sharpened senses, and determined that whatever had bothered her momentarily was no longer a threat. However, she resolved to stay on guard because that was what her intuition was nudging her to do, and she was now comfortable with listening to her inner voice.

She drove on, relaxing more fully with her mate, and decided that they would have great time at the Rainbow Lounge with their friends. And so they did.

-21-

As she descended the stairs with a suitcase in each hand, Ryan slowed as she heard a beautiful melody being gently strummed on an acoustic guitar. She paused at the foot of the stairway and quietly set the bags down.

From where she stood she could see her partner sitting on the loveseat in the family room, playing her guitar. The song was hauntingly beautiful but Janna was even more so. As her right hand expertly plied the strings and the fingers of her left hand danced over the neck of the instrument, she quietly nodded her head to the beat, eyes closed. Her partner's talent struck Ryan deeply and her heart filled with pride. Janna looked serenely beautiful and as if the music had carried her to another realm.

In reality, Janna was feeling very grounded at that moment. The haunting chords of the medieval-era song seemed to evoke ancient, long buried emotions. It reminded her, at a very primal level, of how connected she and Ryan were and of how strong their bond was. Her heart center began thrumming then and she realized that Ryan was nearby, watching her.

As Ryan gazed at her in adoration, a tiny smile crept onto Janna's face and she slowly looked up and opened her eyes, meeting Ryan's gaze. She smiled warmly at her mate and inclined her head, inviting her into the room, as she continued to play.

Ryan joined her mate on the loveseat, leaning back against the arm so that she could observe Janna. Her lover was dressed comfortably in running shorts and a clean white t- shirt, her bare feet up on the coffee table, gently tapping out the beat. Her hair danced lightly on her shoulders as her head swayed to the rhythm of the song.

Ryan relaxed against the upholstery and closed her eyes, letting the lilting melody carry her away. As she listened to the almost melancholy song, she was reminded of a recent dream, forgotten until that moment.

In the dream, she was the warrior woman again. She was aboard a ship and as it slowly made its way out of port, she could see her soul mate on the dock, waving goodbye. She felt an acute sense of loss, and a painful emptiness filled her heart at leaving her friend. The feeling she had as her partner faded from view was that she would never see her again. She felt hot tears slowly travel down her cheeks and a painful lump form in her throat as her heart was gripped by an icy cold. She could feel her mate through their bond and knew that she was feeling the loss just as deeply. Yet, the small blonde's pain was tempered by a glimmer of hope. This glimmer of hope, in turn, warmed the warrior's heart some and lessened the cold constriction infinitesimally.

Ryan swallowed hard as she recalled the dream and experienced the pain that her counterpart had felt. How many times had she and her love parted in that lifetime? She shivered at the remembered pain, feeling it as if it were her own, in this life. As she opened her eyes, she realized that the music had stopped, and Janna was gazing at her, a look of concern in her eyes.

"Ryan, what is it? She asked softly.

Ryan bit her lower lip as her brows knit in confusion. "I'm not quite sure. I was enjoying your beautiful music when I was reminded of another one of those warrior dreams that I had recently. In the dream, I was leaving on a ship, leaving you, and feeling an intense pain because of it. I was in agony, and I could feel your pain too, through the link. Just now I was experiencing the pain again." She shook her head as if to clear it.

"You were leaving me behind?"

"Yes. I had the sense of there being something important that I had to do and that you couldn't help me with it. I don't understand that Janna. I could never leave you like that. Nothing could separate us." She gazed intently at her partner, her brilliant eyes serious.

"It doesn't seem likely, I know, Ryan, but those were very different times. Very dangerous, I think. If you were anything then like you are now, I can imagine that you would do almost anything necessary to protect me. Including separate from me." Janna set her guitar on the floor next to the loveseat and scooted closer to her mate.

Ryan shook her head. "I don't know Janna. It seems to me that I would be best protecting you by staying by your side. I can't believe that there would have been anything more important than staying with you. I really can't. Especially since I've felt how deeply the warrior loved the bard: it's like what I feel for you."

"Well, we must have been reunited, right? Since in another dream you experienced our deaths?" Janna suggested.

"Yeah, that's true. And I guess we had a baby after that too. It's strange...I think the warrior thought she wouldn't be returning, but her mate felt that she would." She leaned forward and pulled her present-day mate into her arms. "I'll bet that little blonde had the warrior wrapped around her little finger just like you do me." Her blue eyes twinkled as her mate's green ones took on a look of disbelief.

"What? Oh boy is that not true!" She poked a firm abdomen.

"Shit, Janna, one look from you and I melt, and you know it. Come on...admit it. And you love it too." She grabbed the offending finger and brought it to her lips.

Janna's lips curved into a warm smile. "I do. And I love you." She stretched up and captured her protector's lips, not releasing them for long minutes.

Breathless, Ryan asked, "Is it time for bed yet?" Her darkened eyes gazed hopefully into her mate's.

"Almost. I just need to finish packing my cameras. Everything else is ready." She looked coyly up into her mate's eyes again. "You wanna help me? I'll be ready for bed sooner if you do."

"Lets go." Ryan was on her feet in one lightning fast movement.

Janna grinned widely as she followed Ryan into the studio. I really do have her wrapped around my finger!

When they reached the studio, Janna pulled open a large cabinet and grabbed three camera bags, two tripods and a monopod, setting them on a worktable.

"Three different cameras, love?"

"Yes. A 35mm for color and one for black and white, and a large format camera." As she checked the contents of the bags she explained, "I like to be prepared." She made sure each bag had plenty of the correct film and that the cameras were packed safely and then closed them up. "Okay, all set. You want to grab those two, hon? I'll get the other bag and the 'pods."

Ryan followed her out of the room and down the hallway, a bag in each hand, and they set them by the front door with their other luggage.

Ryan turned to her partner and said, "Looks like we're all set, baby. All we need to do in the morning is get up and go." Her eyes gained a twinkle as she added, "'Course that's easier said than done for some of us."

Janna took exception to the comment and chased her playmate up the stairs, tackling her on the bed, both of them breathless from laughing. The small blonde soon gained the upper hand as she straddled her larger mate and began tickling her mercilessly.

Ryan finally panted, "Okay, I give...I give! I'm sorry!"

Janna accepted Ryan's apology by leaning down and kissing her. Ryan's arms quickly came up and enfolded her, pulling her down on top of her. Their kiss intensified and within minutes all of their clothes were strewn about the room haphazardly and the two lovers were once again completely lost within each other.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ryan opened one eye lazily as a pink-tinged shaft of light entered the room through a crooked vane of vertical blind. She frowned and turned her head slightly, gazing at the errant blind to see why it wasn't properly closed, and noted that a shirt lay against it. Near the shirt lay a pair of panties and near them, a bra. She grinned as she remembered the previous night's gymnastics and gazed down lovingly at the small woman sprawled across her.

She decided that if they wanted to get an early start and make it to their destination by mid-morning, she'd better wake up her sleepyhead. She slowly drew the sheet off of her partner's lithe form and ran her hands up along the small body, starting with the backs of her thighs and moving up toward her smooth back. The roaming hands stopped to caress firm, round buttocks on the way. At this, her mate shifted and mumbled something against Ryan's chest.

"Sweetheart...morning...time to wake up. We have a long drive today." Her low voice rumbled pleasantly through Janna but did not have the desired effect.

Okay, on to plan 'B'. She gently rolled her mate off of her body and onto her back, then leaned down and kissed her soundly. As she did so, Ryan reached down with a hand and stroked Janna in a very sensitive place.

At the tender touch, her mate stiffened briefly, then relaxed and returned the kiss, rolling back into Ryan's embrace.

"Mmm, you don't play fair Ryan."

"Just trying to wake you up sweetheart." Ryan grinned as she continued to caress her mate tenderly.

"Well, it worked...now what're you gonna do about it?" Janna asked as she nipped at Ryan's neck.

"How about this?" came the low reply as she pulled Janna more tightly against herself and connected with her, using fingers and mouth simultaneously.

"Mmm" was the only reply that was forthcoming.

They lay together, gently entwined, and passed loving energy to each other through mutually connecting fingers and mouths, creating a closed circuit through which their shared energy could flow. The loving ministrations went no further than that. Their love was reaffirmed in this gentle, loving, ancient method every morning and often did not evolve into more strenuous lovemaking. After about ten minutes of sharing, they kissed again and parted; ready to begin their day.

A long, pleasant shower followed, which, as was usually the case, involved additional loving affirmations. By 8:00 they were on the road in Janna's Jeep, heading toward their beloved mountains, Ryan behind the wheel.

The pounding, chiming guitars blended and rose in a crescendo, creating a fluid, melodic wall of sound. As the singer's New York-inflected voice smoothly delivered the words to one of Janna's favorite songs, she felt as if she were flying, aided by the scenery rushing by.

** Sinking into the stars
Diving in for a swim
Soaring like a super hero
Past the end of Disneyland

Through dragon mist
Above alpine peaks
To the cloudy lace
To the highest trails above

I feel so safe
I feel content
Send you all my love...

Every wish comes true
Most desired dreams
Happy endings too
Finally you find love

I feel so safe
Flying on a ray
On the highest trails above...

That song never failed to transport Janna, and now, heading into the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains with her beloved by her side, its magical effect on her was intensified. She sat with her head back against the headrest, bobbing to the beat, eyes closed, her face rapturous and graced with a huge, contented smile. She gave every appearance of being about to leave her body and launch into ecstatic flight.

Ryan glanced at her and grinned. She could feel Janna's joy through heir bond and gained a small measure of understanding of Janna's love for her craft. The song ended and Janna came back to Earth, leaned forward, rewound the tape a ways, and repeated the song.

When it finished playing once again, Ryan said, "I like that, Janna. Who are those guys?"

Janna took a deep breath and sighed, replying, "The Ramones. That's my all-time favorite song of theirs. It absolutely transports me very time I hear it. I'm surprised I haven't worn this tape out yet: I recorded it off of vinyl, must have been more than ten years ago."

"I've heard of them. They haven't had a lot of hits though, have they?"

"Um, no! And I don't think they care all that much...though they really do deserve the recognition. They were the original punk band, in my book. The punk explosion in England in the mid-seventies just happened to take place right after the Ramones toured there. I have every one of their albums, mainly on vinyl." She sighed again.

"I love these guys...they're the masters of three-chord rock and roll. I think they were my biggest single influence, after Joan Jett...from my playing style to my stance to my attitude." She mused silently for a while, then added, "They have inspired so many of today's bands. I used to dream about being the first female Ramone...heck, I used to want to be Johnny Ramone." Janna grinned as she shook her head in remembrance.

Ryan smiled at her mate. She became extremely enthusiastic when she talked about music and it was almost excruciatingly cute.

Ryan glanced over her left shoulder to make a lane change and then looked back at Janna. "Why don't you hit rewind again? I like that song."

Janna grinned widely at her and pushed the button. "Okay, but then we'll listen to some of your favorite music."

"Oh, honey, I don't really have a favorite: just classic rock and some of the lesbian artists. You pick the music. I like hearing the music you love and that inspired you." She favored her partner with a sincere smile.

Janna smiled her thanks and picked up Ryan' s right hand. When the Ramones were finished, she returned to her body and inserted Melissa Etheridge's first album, knowing that Ryan loved it as much as she did. Ryan squeezed her hand in acknowledgment and drove on, enjoying the company and the beautiful landscape rushing by.

As they traveled east, the dry valley slowly gave way to rolling golden foothills dotted with oak trees. As the road rose in elevation, the landscape that it cut across gradually appeared less dry, revealing more and more hints of green. The scrubby, drought tolerant native plants and trees diminished in number, making way for manzanita and pine as the land became increasingly rocky and the soil turned a rich red color.

As the highway climbed toward the clouds, the temperature dropped steadily. At two thousand feet elevation it was a relatively mild eighty degrees, ten degrees cooler than the valley floor.

Ryan smiled as the sun glinted off of her Ray Bans, glad beyond measure that she wasn't working today...it would reach one hundred five degrees by the end of the shift. Poor John. Up near Lake Tahoe, in the cool forest where they would be staying, it might reach seventy-five. If they were lucky, there would be a late-afternoon thunderstorm too. Ryan and Janna both loved summertime rain.

The two lovers shared a simultaneous shiver of delight in anticipation of their little vacation together and both turned toward each other and smiled, then laughed at their synchronicity.

"Jesus, Janna, this link is something else!" Ryan shook her head as she grinned and brought Janna's hand to her lips.

Janna fed her an adoring look and replied, "I know...it's incredible. I've heard of such things, but never imagined it happening to me. We are so blessed Ryan." She brought their linked hands to her lips and returned the kiss.

At the touch of her mate's soft lips, Ryan felt a now very familiar stirring within and asked, "So, uh, what're we doing first when we get there?" She tried to look innocent as she gazed expectantly at her mate.

Janna knew fully what her partner's motivation was, thanks to their link, and after waiting a moment and smiling, replied, "You mean after we make love?"

Ryan looked guilty as she grinned weakly. "Busted huh?"

"So busted babe! But I'm feeling the same way, so don't feel bad." Blue eyes met green yet again in silent communication before Ryan returned her attention to the highway, which was growing increasingly curving as they ascended the mountain.

** Song lyrics are copyright Joey and Dee Dee Ramone, 1983

-22-

Forty-five minutes later Janna exclaimed, "Oh Ryan, look there to the right...that cabin with the green roof was ours." She pointed out the right side window, directly across the highway to a redwood-stained cabin with a metallic green snow roof and a large porch, which sat high above the raging white water of the American River below.

"That belonged to your parents?"

"My grandparents...my mom's parents. I grew up spending my summers here. It was magical. When my grandpa got really sick with cancer they had to sell it. It was just like losing a part of ourselves...for all of us. That was just before I left home." She gazed fondly at the rustic home as they quickly passed by and Ryan squeezed her hand.

"Okay, the Lodge is just a quarter mile or so up the highway at Strawberry, on the right."

Ryan slowed somewhat as they approached a small town...actually not much more than a wide spot in the road. It consisted of a gas station/garage, a general store, a horseback riding and cross country ski business, the lodge and a handful of cabins. Janna instructed Ryan to turn in and park in front of a large rustic-looking building that had a long, covered porch.

As they exited the Jeep they were hit with a breeze of refreshingly cool, pine-scented air and they both stood and breathed deeply of the fresh air.

"Oh, God, Ryan. Smell that air will you?" Janna took another deep lungful as Ryan grabbed her hand and did the same.

"Awesome, babe. Lets go check in," she said and pulled Janna behind her to the front door.

As her mate led her into the inn, Janna nearly giggled at Ryan's impatience to get to their room. They entered a dark but pleasant lobby. The surrounding tall pines, besides adding a beautiful ambiance to the site, also cut down on the available sunlight. The room was done in a tastefully rustic décor, with beautiful knotty pine paneling on the walls, which sported paintings of scenic mountain vistas.

As they approached the front desk, a pleasant older woman greeted them cheerfully, "Welcome to the Strawberry Lodge".

"Hi. It's great to be here. We have a reservation...Norden-Zamora."

The woman took care of their registration, handed Janna a key and directed them down a hallway to their right, but not before wishing them a happy stay with a little wink of her eye. Janna led them down a hallway of the same pine paneling and they stopped at the room at the end, which was set a bit apart from the surrounding rooms.

Janna unlocked the door and opened it into a large, beautiful room with a large picture window looking out over a meadow and the river beyond. Next to the window was a sliding door, which opened onto a deck, complete with a hot tub.

"Shit, Janna, this is a suite!" Ryan gaped wide-eyed at the luxurious suite.

Janna giggled and responded, "Yep...it's the honeymoon suite. I thought it was appropriate."

Ryan blushed and rolled her eyes, groaning, "Oh Christ...that's why the woman winked at us!"

"Oh my God, you're embarrassed! I never thought I'd see that." Janna wrapped her arms around her mate and hugged her.

"I am not embarrassed. I'm just..." she stammered, not completing the sentence.

"What?"

"Shit...I'm gonna go get the bags." Her clearly not-used-to-being-embarrassed partner quickly turned to leave the room.

"I'll help you and we can make it in one trip." She followed Ryan out and locked the door.

After returning with their bags and checking out the rest of the suite, which included a large master bath and a small kitchenette, Ryan commenced their "honeymoon" by picking Janna up and carrying her back to the main room and depositing her on the bed.

She fell onto the bed, straddling her mate, and slowly leaned down to kiss her. Janna's arms went around her neck and pulled her fully down on top of herself.

Ryan laughed, saying, "It looks like you're just as anxious to begin this honeymoon as I am."

"Oh, yeah!" Janna grinned as she pulled Ryan's face back down to meet hers. As she kissed her mate deeply she heard the Ramones singing in her head.

You could make my life complete
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Baby, you're my kind of a girl
~~~~~~~~~~
After a quick, but very intense and satisfying romantic interlude, Ryan and Janna left the lodge and Janna led them through the meadow that surrounded the building. It was just after noon and Ryan carried a backpack with a lunch and one of Janna's camera bags in it. Janna carried the rest of her equipment in her backpack and in a fanny pack. She wore the camera loaded with color film around her neck, anticipating using it the most.

As they walked through the lush green meadow of thigh-high grass, they could smell the wildflowers and sage that were growing liberally in the space. There was still a bit of morning dew on the blades, which tickled and caressed their bare legs as they passed through it.

"Lotta snakes around here Janna?" asked Ryan as she followed her mate on the narrow path.

"Yeah, there are. Several kinds. I've seen garter and king snakes in this meadow and rattlesnakes up on the mountain. Right about now there are probably rattlers sunning themselves on the granite up where we're going.

"Just checking. Glad I brought my snake bite kit." Ryan grinned as she turned to look at her partner.

"Oh, yeah, I never come up here without that." Janna returned the grin and then stopped to point out the peak above them. "Would you like to hike up there tomorrow?" she said as she pointed to the cliff that loomed above the small valley they were in.

Ryan craned her neck to peer up at it. "Sure! How high is that?"

"Well, lets see. We're at about 6500 feet right here and I think up there at the top it's around 8000. It's called Lover's Leap."

Ryan stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to face her lover. "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope. It's from an old Native legend. Apparently a brave and his maiden jumped off together because they weren't allowed to marry."

"Jesus!" remarked Ryan as she gazed at the tremendous height of the craggy face. "How long does it take to get to the top?" She started walking again when Janna put her hand on her back.

"About three hours. It's strenuous in a few places, but overall not a bad hike."

"Sounds cool, babe. I'll bet the view from the top is fantastic."

"Oh, God, yes...it's beautiful." Janna stopped and considered the cliff. "Hold up a minute honey. I think I'll get a few shots here." She swung her pack off of her back and set it on the trail at her feet.

As her partner set up her equipment and started taking pictures, Ryan gazed around at the splendor around them. They were in a cleft between two large peaks that had been cut eons ago by the American River just below them. She could hear the water raging, even this late in the summer and imagined without seeing it that it might make a good rafting trip some time.

Ryan gazed at her partner, who had walked out into the meadow and was snapping pictures. She looked gorgeous in khaki hiking shorts and a white tank top. The sun shining through her hair brought out golden highlights and created almost a halo effect around her head. Am I seeing her aura again? Well, whatever, it's appropriate...she is definitely an angel. My angel. She smiled and was still gazing at Janna with wonder when her mate dropped the camera back down around her neck and approached her.

"See something you like, babe?" her imp asked, and Ryan answered her with a swat on the fanny. "Just checking!" Janna said as she removed the camera from around her neck and handed it to her mate. "Will you hold this for a minute, hon? I want to get some shots with the large format...the light's great right now."

"Sure. Would you mind if I snapped a few of you while you work?" Ryan asked, almost hesitantly.

Janna looked a little perplexed but shrugged and said, "Sure, if you'd like. Um, I'd like to get some of you too while we're up here."

It was Ryan's turn to look perplexed but she shrugged her agreement as well. "How do I work this thing?" she asked as she examined the camera she held.

Janna approached and reached around her to show her the controls. Ryan enjoyed the proximity of her mate and her mind wandered briefly, conjuring up a hot tub scenario for later.

"Ryan, are you listening?"

"What? Oh, sorry. Mind wandered off there for a minute." She grinned and then leaned into her mate and added, "God, you smell good."

"Honey, you are incorrigible." But as she spoke she noticed Ryan's alluring scent as well. Mmm, there's that sweet, spicy musk I love so well.

"Janna, are you listening?"

"Hm, what?" Janna looked up into her mate's grinning face, then scowled as she added, "Alright, so we're both completely lost in each other, so what?" Her half growl only served to turn Ryan on even more and she pulled Janna in for a hug. They enjoyed the closeness, and each other's scents, for a few minutes, relishing their bond and the beauty that surrounded them.

They parted and Janna set up the larger camera and proceeded to take some shots of both the meadow and the mountain that loomed above it. Ryan enjoyed the view from where she stood. She was not looking at either the meadow or the mountain, however.

About an hour later they sat together on a large granite boulder, looking out at the valley below and the peaks that stretched out beyond it. The cool breeze felt good on sun-warmed skin and the lovely sound of the wind in the pines lulled them with its almost musical quality. Janna sat back against Ryan and they both felt both completely at home and completely lost in each other at the same time.

As she rested against her mate, feeling an intense sense of peace and belonging, Janna quietly commented, "I used to come up here and sit for hours. The peace would just envelope me and no matter what was happening in my life at the time, I could regain my equilibrium. I could come up here and feel totally complete and at peace."

Ryan sighed and quietly said, "Baby, for me, this is what life is all about." She kissed the blonde head that rested against her and pulled her lover closer.

Janna sighed as well, before answering. "Yes, love. This is my idea of perfection. It was already one of my favorite spots on the planet, but now, with you here, it's like heaven. Thank you for coming here with me."

"Thank you so much for bringing me. I can't wait to see your other special places."

"Cool, Ryan. This is where I grew up, in the summers. Dan and I owned this mountain! At least we felt like we did. We jokingly called it 'Norden's Mountain'. I don't remember what the actual name is. But the peak across the way over there is Pyramid Peak." She pointed to the beautiful triangular peak to their right. It sat across the highway from the Lodge, now some distance away and lower than they were. "Just down from this ledge is the cabin. We can take a look at it if you'd like."

"Oh, I would like. Can we see the river from there?" Ryan spoke of the river that she could still hear, though now they were high above it.

"Yes, for sure. The cabin sits practically right on it. We can swim in it if you'd like. There's a nice calm area just downstream. It's ice cold, even in the summer, but so refreshing after hiking."

"Oh, so that's why you had me wear my suit under my clothes?" Ryan grinned and kissed the back of her mate's neck.

"Yep! Hey, I'm hungry. Wanna eat?" Janna half turned so she could see her mate.

"Anytime, baby" Ryan drawled and nipped lightly at the spot she had just kissed.

"Yep, you are definitely incorrigible! I'm talking lunch, honey, not me."

"You're dessert."

"If you're good, maybe."

"Mmm, I'm the best."

Janna, knowing she had lost the verbal duel, could only mumble, "Yes, you are", because her lover had captured her lips. They parted after several wonderful minutes, before things could get entirely out of hand.

Ryan stood and reached down for Janna, helping her to her feet and Janna led them back to the tree where they had left their packs. They shared a log under the tree and sat side-by-side enjoying the sandwiches that Janna had made that morning.

"Janna, did you ever notice that sandwiches taste best when you're on a hike?"

"I have! And also at the Lake. I have the best memories of packed lunches up here. I still can't make a salami sandwich at home that tastes like the ones my mom and my grandma used to make up here." She sighed contentedly and took another bite. Overhead, an eagle soared majestically on unseen thermals of air. Hm, what's the message of eagle? I need to remember to look that up when we get home.

Ryan finished her lunch and pulled her mate against her side. Janna munched happily in that position for a few minutes, then cleaned up their trash. They sat and enjoyed the peace and quiet - the only sounds were the wind whispering through the trees and the river rushing below - for several more minutes. Then Janna led them back down the mountainside to the road that curved up its side and in the other direction led down to the tract of summer cabins along the river.

They walked hand-in-hand along a dirt lane. Rustic-looking cabins were spaced sporadically along either side of the road amongst the pine forest. Tall, majestic pine and cedar loomed over them on every side.

Janna looked around as she walked, memories flooding back. She and her brother had played there as children, amongst the rocks and trees, pretending they were Indian braves - never cowboys - always Indians. They had honed their outdoor skills there: hiking, fishing, tracking, climbing, and swimming. It was here that Janna had also felt most at home. She felt a connection to the mountains and the forest that she had never experienced any other place. Later, through her metaphysical studies and journeys, she would learn the reason for that, but as a child she knew simply that she loved it there. More so there than anywhere else she had ever visited.

They approached a lot that had a small brown cabin sitting at the back of it. There were so many pines in front that the cabin could only just be glimpsed through the trees. Janna pulled Ryan toward a pathway leading to the front door.

"This is it. Our cabin. God, how I loved this place." She looked wistfully around the small space of forested land. "I had thought that I would raise my kids here some day."

Ryan instinctively pulled Janna closer and kissed her head.

"It looks like a wonderful place to have grown up sweetheart." She turned Janna toward her and continued, "Maybe we can get a place like it one day. A special place for our own kids."

A tear slid down Janna's cheek and she hugged her mate tightly. "Oh Ryan, that would be wonderful. Lets put some thought into it okay? It would mean a lot of hard work, but I think it would be so worthwhile."

"Sure baby. Lets do that. I love the mountains too. I can't think of a better legacy to present to our children than a home in a place like this." She grinned and rubbed Janna's back, adding, "We can raise a coupla' little environmentalists. Just like their momma."

"Just like both their mommas." She gazed up at her partner, who leaned down and gently captured her lips. They stood there, amongst the Ponderosa and Sugar pines, embracing and kissing for long minutes, their already incredibly strong bond growing stronger still.

Janna pulled back and smiled fondly at her mate. "Come on, I'll show you around and then we'll go down to the river."

They walked, arm-in-arm this time, down a gentle slope toward the river. The ever- present roaring of the river grew louder as they approached it.

"Janna, did the constant roaring of the river take some getting used to?"

"Not that I recall. I guess coming here from birth, before that actually, I was just used to it. Friends occasionally mentioned that it was hard to get used to, especially at night, but they eventually found it as relaxing as we did."

"Hmm, I guess it would be relaxing. They make CD's of this stuff now and sell them for sixteen bucks."

"Yeah, that's right, they do!"

They reached the edge of the rock face and could see the river below, tumbling and coursing over boulders, between the granite walls of the narrow river canyon. Directly in front of the cabin, there was a small, picturesque waterfall, created by boulders that had lodged together, possibly millennia ago. About thirty yards downstream, a massive tree had fallen across the canyon and nearly bridged the river, it's sides covered with moss.

Ryan stopped, stunned, and gasped, "Oh, Janna...this is beautiful! Like something out of a painting, or a postcard." She gazed in awe at the pastoral scene and felt a semblance of the love that her partner felt for the place.

"I know, isn't it? Can you imagine how many photographs I've taken here?" She chuckled. It probably numbered in the thousands, as she had been bitten by the photography bug as a very young girl.

"Sweetheart, I think I can imagine it. I've seen the incredible number of negative books you have!"

Janna grinned and looked quizzically at her. "But you know what I don't have?"

"No, what?" Ryan returned her quizzical look.

"A picture of you here." She looked at her partner matter-of-factly with lifted eyebrows.

"Ah, yes. That would be true. Okay, but can you do one of the both of us too?"

"No problem!" She smiled and grabbed Ryan's arm, leading her to where she wanted her to stand.

"Okay, love...just act naturally...look at the river, then at me...whatever makes you comfortable." She lifted the camera to her eye and Ryan did as she had been instructed. Her beauty in this natural setting took Janna's breath away. Jesus, she could be a model. She's absolutely gorgeous.

Ryan tolerated the attention for as long as she could stand it, but then returned to Janna's side and removed the camera from her hands.

"Okay, now it's your turn."

"Oh, Ryan, I'm the photographer, not the subject."

"Tough. Pose for me", came the gruff reply that was softened by a smile.

Janna scowled but complied, not quite lasting as long as Ryan had however.

"Okay, give it back and I'll put it on a tripod and set the timer."

With the camera set and aimed correctly, she and her partner stood together in several different poses, the river providing a breathtaking backdrop. After that they made their way down the rest of the way to the river, to a small, sandy patch of beach, where they deposited their backpacks and began shedding their clothes.

Janna watched, stunned, as Ryan pulled her shirt off over her head, revealing a black one-piece swimsuit. The dark, form-fitting suit accentuated her hard body and sculpted muscles under bronzed skin. Janna swallowed hard as warmth shot in every direction from the vicinity of her second chakra, setting every nerve ending in her body on fire.

She shook her head and blew out a breath, making her own plans for later that evening. She kicked off her shorts and pulled her own shirt off; unaware of the similar effect she was having on her partner. She wore a pale green bikini that left very little to Ryan's imagination. Ryan was, at that moment, however, imagining removing it from Janna's body. With her teeth.

Janna glanced up to see her partner, desire clouding her blue eyes, advancing on her. Before Janna could react, Ryan had swept her in her arms and pulled her in for a hungry kiss, running her hands sensuously down her sides. Janna returned the kiss just as hungrily but quickly came to her senses and pushed slightly away.

"Honey, it's not exactly private here," she said weakly, her resolve fading as Ryan's hands and lips roamed further.

"I don't give a fuck. I want you, baby," was the half-growled response. Ryan's lips responded further by nipping and sucking a prominent breastbone.

"Oh...God. Ryan, stop. Please."

The seriousness of Janna's voice halted her in her tracks and she looked her mate in the eye, confusion clouding her features. "I...I'm sorry Janna. I...you just turn me on so much. I thought you'd like it here..."

"No, baby, I'm sorry. I just can't make love here. It's not so much that's it's not private...it's my beliefs. Um, I believe it's disrespectful. From a Native American standpoint...they believe it bothers the nature and animal spirits when humans have sex in their realm. I believe it is too. Can we save this for a little later?" She implored Ryan with a look so sincere that it tore at her heart.

"Yes, baby, yes. Of course we'll wait. I'm sorry, Janna. I don't know what happens to me sometimes...I can look at you and have the most primal reaction and it just takes control of me." She brought Janna's hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. Apology filled her eyes and lined her face.

Janna caressed her cheek saying, "It's okay my love. I understand how you feel, believe me. It took all of my willpower to stop you just now. Lets make it a very special night okay?" Looking coyly into her mate's eyes, she added, "I brought the chocolate."

Ryan closed her eyes and swallowed hard, "Oh, God. Yes...okay, baby...later it is then." She took a deep breath and blew it out. "I don't know about you, but I can really use a dip in this ice cold river right now." She raised her eyebrows expectantly and received the affirmative nod that she had anticipated.

Taking Janna's hand, she led them carefully out into the current, staying where it was relatively shallow.

"Oh, shit, Janna, you weren't kidding. This is like ice!"

"It's snowmelt, babe."

"Jesus! Come 'ere and keep me warm."

"Ryan! You are the most hot-blooded woman I know...you keep me warm!" Ryan gladly met her small mate's demand, pulling her against her body.

They carefully sat on a large rock together, with their legs in the water up to their thighs. The strong current buffeted them, the cold quickly numbing their skin. Hot, tired feet were quickly and thoroughly soothed.

"Well, my libido has been shot to hell, what about yours?" Ryan remarked comically.

"That may be true now Ryan, but I'll bet it doesn't last long," her partner responded wryly.

"I'll bet you're right about that baby," she drawled, presenting her mate with another of her famous rakish grins. Janna's libido returned with a vengeance and she had to look away, clearing her throat.

A few minutes in the icy stream was plenty and they retrieved towels from Ryan's pack, laying them on a large, flat, sunny rock and lying down on them to sun. They lay side-by-side on the rock, enjoying the sound of the river rushing around them as well as the warm sun on their skin.

After only a few minutes, Ryan spoke to Janna and didn't receive an answer. Glancing at her mate, she saw that she had fallen asleep. The term "sleepyhead" doesn't nearly describe her...my little sleeping beauty. Ryan's soul was so filled with warmth and love for her partner that tears filled her eyes. It just keeps getting better. Thank you, God.
~~~~~~~~~~
After a delicious dinner in the inn's dining room, the ladies retired to their suite. Ryan poured champagne into glasses while Janna readied the hot tub on the rear deck.

The deck overlooked the moonlit meadow and as Janna settled down into the warm water, she looked up and saw two deer standing gracefully on the path. They stood stock-still for a minute and then bent their heads to the succulent green grasses. Janna watched them in awe, their beauty and grace captivating her. When she heard Ryan approaching she motioned for her to be quiet and pointed toward the meadow.

"Aren't they beautiful?"

"They are. Looks like a doe and a fawn. God, that's cool, babe." Suddenly, the pair looked up in the direction of the river and as one, bounded out of the meadow.

"Wow, that was awesome." Janna looked after them.

"You know what I think is awesome?" Ryan entered the tub and handed a wine glass to Janna.

"What?"

"You. And me. Here." Ryan's eyes sparkled as she tilted her glass towards Janna's. "Here's to us babe. Happy honeymoon."

Janna grinned and clinked her glass against Ryan's. "Happy honeymoon to you too Ryan. Maybe we can do this once a year or so?"

"I'm there, baby." Ryan slipped in behind her mate and wrapped her arms around her, gently caressing her stomach. They both wore their swimsuits, feeling that the location of the hot tub didn't quite offer the requisite privacy, despite the fact that a roof covered it.

"Mmm. I love it when you do that."

"Then I'll keep doing it. Forever if you want." She kissed Janna's ear.

"Oh, you know I want." Janna took another sip of champagne and set down her glass so that she could cover Ryan's arms with hers.

Ryan brought her legs up and wrapped them around Janna's waist, intertwining them with her legs. She began kissing Janna's neck, starting at the back and working around to each side. While her lips caressed Janna's neck and throat, her hands began an exploration of their own. Her hands and fingers burned trails of fire along Janna's skin.

As her hands met resistant material she mumbled, "This suit has to go, baby. It's in the way."

"Then lets go inside" was the unhesitating response.

Ryan was up out of the water, hand extended down to Janna, seemingly before her mate could blink. Janna grinned in amazement as her partner gently leered at her, and stepped out of the tub. Ryan wrapped a large beach towel around them both and walked her mate inside, closing and locking the door behind them. She didn't close the drapes however, in favor of letting the beautiful silver light of the moon enter the room.

Ryan left the room lights off as she stood in front of her partner and removed the towel from her shoulders. The moonlight was bright enough for them to see by and provided a romantic ambiance. She leaned in and lowered her lips to Janna's, taking them gently, savoring their sweet taste and silky texture. Janna moaned into her mouth and wrapped her arms around Ryan, responding to the kiss more fervently. As they kissed deeply, slowly, Ryan gently pushed the bikini straps off of Janna's shoulders and reached around, undoing the clasp in the back. As the top hung open, Ryan pushed it down off Janna's arms and it fell to the floor.

Still kissing her lover, she then reached long arms down and slipped her hands under the bikini bottom, gently pushing it down over her mate's slim hips, caressing as she did do. As the article of clothing joined its mate on the floor, Ryan's hands cupped Janna's smooth behind, softly kneading. Janna moaned into Ryan's mouth again and moved her hands to Ryan's swimsuit straps. In one smooth motion she pushed the suit down off of Ryan's torso, letting it settle at her waist.

As soon as her mate's lovely breasts were freed, Janna bent to suckle them, first one and then the other. Ryan moaned loudly and brought her hands up behind Janna's head, encouraging the loving contact.

"God, baby, I love that," she moaned. "Your touch feels like fire..."

"Mmm...and I love doing it. You taste so good..." Janna swirled her tongue around a hard nub as she gently rolled its twin between her fingers.

"Fuck, baby..."

"Anything you want love..."

"On the bed, now," came the gentle demand.

Janna backed up and fell onto the bed, pulling Ryan with her. As they lay on their sides, facing each other, Janna pulled Ryan's suit all the way off and gently caressed soft, black curls as she hungrily resumed her attention to her mate's breasts. Ryan arched her back and threw her head back at Janna's intimate touch, the fire within starting to burn uncontrollably. She wrapped her legs around Janna's, forcing their bodies closer together.

"Oh fuck, Janna, please, baby...now." Janna's loving fingers, three of them, complied, stroking and fondling her mate intimately until, just moments later, she cried out her release. Janna continued stroking and Ryan's tremors continued for several more minutes, until she cried Janna's name over and over, ending breathless and spent.

Janna held her for several minutes, until she regained the ability to move and her breath no longer came in ragged gasps. Ryan rolled away from her lover and lay on her back, listless.

"Goddamnsonofabitch, baby. What did you do to me?" she gasped as she glanced over at her partner, who wore a very smug grin and shrugged innocently.

After several minutes, Ryan took a deep breath and pushed herself up onto an elbow, enticing Janna with a luscious close-up view of two gorgeous, dark-nippled breasts. "I hope you're ready baby, 'cause I'm coming for ya'," came the cocky drawl.

"I thought you just did that baby...numerous times." Janna grinned wickedly.

Ryan's response came from her lips, but not in the form of speech. Before Janna knew what was happening, her partner had turned and buried her face between her lover's legs, quickly robbing Janna of intelligent thought and of her ability to speak. Fingers, tongue and lips worked flawlessly as one to bring Janna to an ecstatic release that matched that of her partner and left her similarly listless and spent.

They decided to save the chocolate for the next night.

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Click here to continue on to "The Homecoming - Part Three"

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