#emma a

when the seasons change (or the pure and simple truth is that i love you)

1.Gold

Vanessa chewed her bottom lip as she looked at herself in the mirror. Usually she liked this color, a color that reminded Vanessa of a late autumn evening, with the orange and red sky blanketing the earth. Where the sun is replaced by the moon, and only the light is illuminated around the fading gold ring around a black pupil.

Those colors remind her of something. Or someone. A certain landlady.

Those burning golden eyes.

She pales and recoils at the thought.

“Ness, are you listening to me?”

She shakes her head like she’s coming out of a trance. “Huh, Yeah?”

“I was askin’ if you were gonna’ quit staring off into space and get ready…”, Rhona said, as she looked at Vanessa from where she sat on the bed.

“...Course.” Vanessa smiled. “What time is it, anyway?”

Rhona checked her watch. “It's eight fifty-five,” she said.

10 minutes. She has ten minutes to finish getting ready for yet another blind date that her sister had set-up through one of those ‘perfect match sites’.

“You sure you are up for another one of these?” Rhona stirred her tea.

Vanessa shrugged her shoulders and applied her lipstick. “Think it's’ time to put myself back out there.” She told her was getting tired of her moping and not trying on any of the previous dates that she had.

“Oh…” Rhona watches Vanessa through the mirror. “So that affair you had with Charity is finished?...”

Vanessa flinches and squirms noticeably in her seat. “I don’t even really like her anymore...”

Rhona regards her in amusement. “Interesting.”

“It was just….” Vanessa begins then sighs in relief when a soft knocking sound interrupts.

“Oi! Ness. You ready?...” Tracey calls before she enters the door.

“I’m just heading out...” Vanessa answers as she smoothes down the invisible wrinkles in her black dress and heads out the door in a rush. “See you…”

Truth is. She has no fucking clue what she feels for Charity Dingle.

     2.     Green

It was Friday night and the Woolpack was mostly empty, the evening still too early for the rush of customers it would be receiving later.

Booths were dotted around the edge of the room, mostly empty although some held young couples, single people heading in for a drink after work and in one corner, a group of women stood at the edge in her direction, waiting.

“What can I get you?”  Charity says, plastering a fake smile on her face.

A shrill high-pitched voice sounds near her ear, a pitch too loud that seems to play across the room.

“Oi... five margaritas, with the organic cherry juice from down at the Cafe.”

Charity sighed in frustration, “We don’t carry that...”

“Serving people is your job, innit?,” the redheaded one replied, unfastening her purse from around her waist and holding a load of cash in her hand. “We want the organic cherry juice.”

“Don’t get yer knickers in a twist…” Charity muttered.

“Leave it, will ya” Chas interrupted her as she takes the bills and thrusts them into Charity’s hands. “Just go get the juice, ya..Cool down a bit..”

Charity huffs out a breath.

Rhona and Tracey arrived; just as Charity was leaving, allowing her to catch the ending of their conversation.

“She’s stubborn alright...” Rhona laughs, “But I wonder how Ness’ date is’ going.”

“Well her dating profile said she was into romance and adventure with a love of animals.” Tracey smirks, dropping into one of the vacant seats.

“Tracey... They’ll be perfect....” Rhona exclaims, as she shifted her focus to Charity. “Hey Charity, two pints, please.”

Charity lifted her pint of Guinness as a mock salute, and leaned back against the wall.

“Sod Off.” She replies back before slamming the door and stepping out in the cool crisp air.

“Someone’s in a right mood.” Rhona commented.

Tracey hums in agreement and laughs.  “Charity’s definitely jealous.” Rhona adds, “And the green-eyed monster appears.”

It was raining, it was cold, and it was pitch dark. Which was no surprise, considering it was late November.

But Charity did not care; she could have cared less for the fact that she was thoroughly drenched, or that she was shivering from the cold.

‘Vanessa was on a date with a woman!’ Charity frowns to herself.

Charity doesn’t do pining. She doesn’t. So when it becomes clear that she feels something more for Vanessa.

‘Well’ Charity thinks…‘She has always liked a challenge.’

3.    Blue

“Vanessa?...”

The vet snapped back with a start when she heard someone calling her name. “...Err….Alex...”

“Well, hello to you too.” the dark-haired woman grinned. She pulled up a chair and sat next to the vet.

“Evening. What can I get you ladies to start with or if you’re ready to order?” The waitress asked, her smile half-hearted.

“I’ll take the Pinot and the fish, please.” Alex responds.

“Just a Chardonnay and the mushroom risotto, thanks.” Vanessa states.

The waitress jots down their order and runs off to the kitchens.

“So Alex...” Vanessa started, sipping her drink, “what is it you do for a living?”

Alex states,  “I’m a nurse. Well, a travel nurse really, but the travel is not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Why’s that?” Vanessa chuckled as the waitress arrives, placing their meals in front of them.

“You’re away from your friends and family in long terms, relationships don’t last due to contracts ending, and constant loneliness from ever-changing, ever-moving…”

Alex explained, her expression solemn. “Your profile said you were a veterinarian…”

“Yes, the patients are the best really.” Vanessa confirms.

“I bet.” Alex laughs and glances sheepishly at the vet before continuing. “So when did you know you were gay?”

“I didn’t.” Vanessa blurts. “ I mean I’m not gay. I’m bi. And it was just recently that I started questioning myself.”

“How’s that?...” Alex questions.

Vanessa smiled weakly, "Well, It's actually more of a whom...Charity was just…”

“So what happened to your Charity?...” Alex asked curiously. Her choice of possessive pronouns did not escape Vanessa.

“She’s in the past...” Vanessa replies too quickly. “..I’ve moved on..”

“You have?...” The dark-haired woman questioned.

“Yes.” Vanessa replies,  she was out ‘enjoying herself’ on a blind date in a sexy dress that feels suffocating all at once and her brain conjures up a mental image of Charity across from her, sipping wine instead of the brunette.

Tentatively, Alex places her hands on the vet’s own. “Can I tell you a secret?...”

Vanessa contemplated the blue fabric of the tablecloth before answering, “Sure.” .

“She’s not good for you, you know.” Alex tells her between a bite of her salmon.

Charity’s got a bit of a reputation. Well, okay, she’s got one hell of a reputation. Apparently she’s slept with half of town and that’s only because the other half isn’t gay or related.

Vanessa stood and turned to leave, placing 50 quid down in a hurry. “Where are you going?...” Her date’s voice asked, standing as well.

“I just remembered someone…”  Vanessa stammers. “Something important. I… have to do.” Vanessa pauses then side-hugs the other woman.  "I hope we can be friends.”

“I’d like that.” Alex smiles, who returned the hug, albeit a little awkwardly,  “Go on, then,” she encourages with a nudge to Vanessa toward the exit.

‘It was all Charity’s fault’…..Vanessa came to that conclusion.

  4.    Red

Vanessa stops in her footsteps, looking up and around at where she is,

  ‘Bloody Hell.’ She swears under her breath.

She’s in front of the Woolpack. With one last glance back at the street, she steels herself and pushes the door to the bar open.

Charity was in a sour mood already, to say the least. A mess. A raw nerve. She was going to go off.

‘The universe has a terrible sense of humor.’ Charity thought as she catches the vet’s eye as she enters from outside the pub.

Oh, for the love of -

Still, she’s a Dingle. She tilts her chin proudly and forces herself to walk, casually, back to the bar to find something to stabilize her nerves.

“How do I look?” Vanessa asks her as she approaches the bar, giving a little half twirl in greeting.

The teasing was just how they were with each other, nothing more.

“You look stunning, babes.” Charity replies honestly.

Then it’s deadly quiet and Vanessa blinks up at her.  “Did you just actually compliment me?”

“For a doctor, you can be a bit daft, eh?......” Charity trails off as she sees Vanessa’s glare.

To most people that would have sounded like an insult, but Vanessa knew better after learning more about the landlady at every turn. Charity was trying to hiding whatever it was that made her feel...

“I was out on a date tonight.” Vanessa begins, pushing ahead.

Immediately, Charity goes tense. “I know.” Vanessa gives her a withering look.

“Your sister and Rhona were all but screeching it like birds earlier.” Charity remarks. “So you’re dating women now, eh?”

Vanessa can't even believe what she’s hearing. And she’s pretty sure her eyes are about to explode. “They what..!..”

Charity ignores her comment and rolls her eyes. “So, how was she..this date?..”

“Alex seemed like a nice woman.” Vanessa confessed. “However, we decided it’s best if we just stay friends.”

“Of course you have.” Charity replied, dryly.

Vanessa said, a hint of distraction in her voice, glancing around the bar. “Been busy tonight, I guess?”

“It’s not really been that bad.” Charity sighed in exasperation, waving her hands about vaguely toward the opposite end where the group of giggling women remained, “Except for those five cows.”

“Charming,” Vanessa said, but smiled.

"I'm many things..." Charity winked.

“Oi, Charity. Stop yer flirtin’ with the Doc...and bring us another pint...” old man Fletcher barks drunkenly.

Charity visibly winces, then straightens up and glares at the man.

“If you’ll excuse me….” Charity murmurs with a nod to Vanessa. “Duty calls...”

“Or,” Vanessa begins as Charity pauses her movements to listen, “You could just find someone to fill in.”

Charity’s frown turns into a smile. Her lips shift ever so slightly, her teeth start to show at hearing Vanessa repeat the words, she once used on her.

“One hour at tops..." Charity promised.

Vanessa’s words came out of her mouth before she even processed them through her brain, "Come back to mine. Tracey is keeping Johnny."

“You’ve changed your tune....” Charity gave her a wicked smile in return; and begins to say something further.

Before Charity can respond with a cheeky response, she feels a hand grasp the back of her neck and pull her in. Her lips collide with the vet’s.

Eventually, Charity pulled away from Vanessa slightly, a flare of arousal shoots through her, as she stares at Vanessa’s smeared red lips. “A taste of things to come,” the landlady gasps.

“I’ll see you later...” Vanessa says, grinning widely and slipping out the door.

‘...I’m screwed.’  Charity thinks once Vanessa leaves and she pours another beer and shoves it down the counter toward a stunned (and silent) Fletcher.        

5.    Purple

Vanessa lay stretched out in the tub, her head resting against the tiles of the wall, enjoying the

feel of the warm, scented water and of course allowing her muscles to relax.

The vet can still feel her the tingling from that kiss as she presses her fingers to her lips.

The doorbell rang, jolting Vanessa out of her thoughts.

As she grabbed a fresh pair of scrubs from the dresser, she glimpsed at the clock hanging on the wall.

11:48 PM.

Then a loud banging repeatedly knocking commences.

Vanessa’s damp hair was slightly mussed, and her lips already twitched upwards into a smile as she opens the latch.

Having rushed straight from the pub to Vanessa’s house, Charity hadn't given much thought to her appearance.

“Like what you see, Ness?” the older woman asks, one perfect eyebrow arches. Charity watched Vanessa’s eyes roaming her body,

“You look tired,” the vet answers, as she steps aside allowing Charity to enter.

“Are you this sweet with all the girls?,” Charity says, affection in her voice, pushed herself forward,

“You’d be surprised,” holding the vet’s sharp gaze for a moment as she arches into the other woman which elicits a sharp hiss from Vanessa. “At how much I can handle.”

“Come here... I’ll help you relax...” Vanessa replies.

“Cheers,” Charity quips, as her hands tangled around the vet’s damp hair, yanking her up to a kiss.

Barely pausing for breath, so Vanessa could close the door behind them, and Charity could hear the sound of the dead-bolt being turned as she leaned back into another kiss.

“You’d better stop…”     Vanessa warns, tightening her grip on Charity’s waist, overwhelmed with need.

“And if I don’t want to.” Charity purred and teasingly pulls on the drawstring of Vanessa’s purple scrub pants before reaching inside and squeezing Vanessa’s bum in good measure.

“Fuck…” Vanessa sighed in pleasure.

“How positively vulgar… I swear, you’re a bad influence, Ness,” Charity moaned at the expletive and thrusted into the vet, building up a slow, agonizing rhythm.

“By any means...You’ll be fun to corrupt.”

Charity growls, something inaudible harsh and stuttering as a response.

Soft lips trailed down Charity’s neck, whimpering when she felt the vet run her tongue along the shell of her ear and back to her pulse point, sucking lightly.

Vanessa’s response to Charity’s challenge is immediate and sharp; Rendering her speechless, is merely bonus.

Charity leaned forward and kissed her hard, keeping their lips pressed together as she thrust into her hard, using her hips as leverage, her palm stimulating the sensitive area inside her.

Vanessa tears her lips away to get away to let out a strained whimper, as she collapses on Charity, completely spent and breathing heavily.

“Bedroom..” Charity hissed the words, as Vanessa guided them to the foot of her bed. Vanessa pushed Charity onto the bed, and Charity found herself inhaling as the blonde vet licked a long line up the blonde’s chest.

  “Undress…”

It was a command, and Charity followed it immediately and unbuttoned her pants, as her entire body shudders at the sensation of Vanessa’s tongue.

There are no more words,

  Just an aching need.

              A need to fulfill Vanessa’s desires,

          A need to fulfill her own.

‘She’s in love with Vanessa Woodfield.’ It’s that realization that sends Charity over the edge.

-----    Later    -----

Charity stared at the bedroom ceiling, her body aching pleasurably after that indulgence. She didn’t know how it was possible.

  When the only sound left is the synchronized sound of their breathing, Vanessa nuzzles her face into Charity’s neck. “What are you thinking of?..”

“What does it matter….It’s only temporary, right?”   Charity scowls.

      “Please don't joke about that...” Vanessa murmurs.

“I’m a mess,” Charity replies sadly.    You could do better. Someone easy like…..”

“Someone like Alex, you mean?...”

  “..Or Marlon…” Charity jokes. Vanessa effectively gagged.        

“I get bored with easy in five seconds...” Vanessa exclaims quickly. "I like things to be as complicated as possible.”

  Charity growls, tries once again. “I’m not a good person…”

Vanessa shifts forward in the bed. “And yeah, I know that too... you’ve got a past. So do I. So does everyone else in this sodding town. But I’ve seen the real you....”

  “You don't fucking know me.” Charity interrupts.

“Charity...”

And Charity is so charmed by the way Vanessa’s mouth forms her name that she agrees automatically.

She exhales on a curse.

Charity knew it wasn’t forever. The only thing that’s surprising is that Vanessa is lying about it.

  What a wonderful dream this was.

      6.       White

  Vanessa shielded her eyes from the sun and grinned. Charity was still sleeping beside her. She rose silently from the bed, and headed towards the kitchen, not wanting to wake the other woman.

While the kettle boiled, Vanessa searches her cabinets to see what she could conjure up for breakfast.

--..Meanwhile, in the bedroom..--

“Ness.”, the older woman muttered sleepily, reaching over, and fully sitting up once she feels the empty, cold bed.

Charity should have expected this.

She knew it, knew Vanessa was always in this temporarily.

She just thought Vanessa was different….

      As if on cue------the blonde vet walked back through the bedroom door.

“Thought I left, did ya?” Vanessa says once she sees Charity’s face and gestured to the plate filled with fruit, jam, toast, and two steaming cups of tea. “And I think we both worked up an appetite…”

“I’m in love with you…” Charity admits quietly. Vanessa’s eyes lit up. “Think I’ve been owing you that one for a while.”

“I don’t want you to say it just because…”

“I do feel it...:”  Charity concedes. Of the two of them, she’s never been the quickest to express what she’s thinking.

“Here,”  Vanessa whispers, handing Charity’s tea over then licking her lips and pushing the other woman’s blonde hair away from her face. “And I love you too…”

“Huh…” Charity’s breath catches inaudibly, and searches the vet’s darkening eyes. The look in them is sincere.

  “We should probably talk.”

It was also a bad idea, Charity knew, to suggest that they forego talking about things and instead maybe try that having sex thing again.

Instead, she said, “I would very much like that... But first breakfast...”

The shrill sound of a pager going off interrupts the moment. Vanessa lets out a frustrated sigh. She checks it, 9-1-1.

  “I’m going back to sleep.” Charity laughs, dramatically flopping back on the bed.

“Goodbye, Charity.” Vanessa winked.

Nodding, Charity had to let her go.. “I'll see you, later?..” She hated that it came out like a question.

“Of course,” confirmed Vanessa, as she pressed her lips to Charity’s cheek.         With that she was walking away into the darkness and Charity was left to face her future.

---...Later That Day…---

“Long night?..” Rhona asked, her voice low and concentrating, as she packed up the the surgical tools. Vanessa certainly didn't look like she'd gotten much sleep last night.

“You have no idea,” sighed Vanessa, who was dutifully focused on the intricate line of stitching across the horse’s shoulder.    

  The horse released a deep noise at the contact, but leaned toward the vet. “Shh.. girl, it’s okay…” Vanessa assured the animal. “Almost done.”

The horse nimbly leaps off -- clearing out to the feeding hall in one easy bound

  “Want to tell me what’s got you smiling?” Rhona asks, once Vanessa finishes cleaning up from the surgery, face partially hidden by her coffee mug.

      “You won’t like it,” Vanessa began tentatively.

“Why?..” Rhona asked, narrowing her eyes.

          “I went home with someone,” Vanessa began tentatively.

“The date went well then..?..’ Rhona asks, clearly intrigued.

      Vanessa tells her “Not exactly. I slept with Charity Dingle, that's who.”

Rhona’s eyes softened, “Oh Ness…”

“It could be a trick…” she adds.  “Are you naïve?”

“I don't think so…”

          “How…”

“I trust her…” Vanessa confesses. “She told me she loves me and I love her.”

      “Vanessa please, I just want what’s best for you.”

“And I don’t need your pity,” Vanessa snaps.

“S’pose so.” Rhona smiled.

Their thoughts are interrupted by a distinctive rumbling from the blonde’s stomach.

“Take you to the pub, grab something to eat?” Rhona cracked a smile.

      The vet blushed. “Yeah, why not.”

It was past three o'clock at midday when the two women walked up in front of the Woolpack.

  “Steady on, mate,” Rhona smirked, as Vanessa blushes.

Chas is behind the bar, balancing three plates of burgers and chips, when she turns around and notices Rhona and Vanessa entering the bar.

"I'll be right with you…” Chas shouts over the length of the bar. “Grab a seat.”

Chas emerged, minutes later, from the back room.  She walked over to the two women, “Hiya, love.” Chas says, in greeting to the vet and nodding to Rhona.

“Hiya.” Vanessa replies. “Can I get the tomato wrap and chips?

      “Burger and chips for me, please.” Rhona add.

Their food arrives fifteen minutes later.

“Anything else for ya?..” Chas implores.

“Chas?” Vanessa questioned.

“Yes, love.”

“Is Charity about?..”

  “Not sure love, she came in bout’ a hour ago and disappeared.”

------...But things do not go to plan...-------

vague, seemingly familiar voices amongst the group of drunken men became louder.

“Oi...Vanessa, I heard ya shagged Charity again.”

   “What was it like for the third time?”    

  “Come on!”

Tell us…”

Taunts, jeers, stares, all directed at the target...Vanessa.

A look of disgust sweeps over Vanessa’s face, as she grows tense.

“Ignore em’.” Rhona offers. “They’re drunk off their arse.”

  The vet scoffs. “Bunch of Tossers.”

  “Shut it, you lot,” Chas warns thus making their insults worse.

“Charity Dingle the daft cow.” one man in particular catches Vanessa’s attention.

“She’s a randy little slag that one, inn’t she?” he slurs, which causes the group to burst into raucous laughter.

  Their laughter and giggling filling the air. The vet straightened, switching into defensive mode. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Chas pick up a phone on the bar.

“What did you call her?” Vanessa hissed with barely controlled rage.

  The men in the group kept shushing him quickly, “Keep your voice down, Harvey…”

“Is there a price to be paid...” Harvey taunts her, voice extremely high. “Or does she give it up for free after the trial run….”

Vanessa rises from the stool, fuming in anger.

The pub descended into silence, the entire room holding its breath as they waited for Vanessa’s reaction.

She quietens.

Her brain shuts down as she turns, striding across the bar and before she even knows what she’s doing, rearing her shoulder backwards.

      Then Vanessa punches Harvey hard in the nose. The man lets out a cry of pain as he crashes painfully to the floor, like a sack of potatoes.

  “I’m calling the police on your friend there…”  Chaz sneered.

A mild protest erupted between the group of now-sober men,   ‘You have no right....’

“It is if you start causing trouble in my pub.” Chas announces to the men. “So if you want to escape the same fate...I suggest you apologize and leave a sizeable tip.”

Their mouths fall open.

“Stop yer gawping before I change me mind…”

Then, for good measure, Chas shakes the ‘tip jar’.

Chas carefully watched the four men as they quickly stood, each of them stepping to the blonde vet and apologizing, before dropping all of their spare change into the glass jar and running out the door.

  “Hero of the hour, defender of womankind from intoxicated gits,” Rhona announces, coming to stand beside Vanessa, giving her a light squeeze.

  “Three cheers for Vanessa, everyone!..” Chas cheered behind them, holding the nearly overflowing jar, full of cash in her hand.

And then a chorus of applause echo from each of the bar patrons..

Vanessa blushes in reply.

“I think I’ll take a walk…” Vanessa says to no-one, holding her aching hand.

  A soft voice replies from the doorway.  “I’ll join you…” Charity’s words barely crackle past her lips and carry a heavy rasp, but it's the most beautiful sound Vanessa has heard all afternoon.

“Charity…”     Vanessa breathes out. Vanessa said her name with such reverence and love, it was like there was no other word in existence that meant more to him.

“Hello, my love..." Charity smiles, slips her hands over Vanessa’s waist, ‘round her back, and pulls her closer.

“Chas, man the bar for me tonight?” Charity asked.

“...‘Course, love.”, Chas said, with a warning look that read ‘don’t mess this one up.’

“I don’t plan to….,” Charity replied aloud as she reached for the door.

“You defending’ my honour, was kinda hot.” Charity jokes, once they are outside the bar.

“As is...that weird wounded toughness thing you’ve got going on.” Vanessa begins and Charity raises her eyebrow. “You’re my friend…”

       “We’re not friends.” Charity whispers, any protest is cut short by the the vet’s lips on the her own. “But...I don't want to rush into anything…”

“What can I do to convince you?”  Vanessa asks.            She’s so calm. Charity can’t quite fathom it.

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Charity clicks her tongue.

“Will you be my girlfriend…” Vanessa bit back, hoping she would get the very clear message

  “Yes....” Charity’s response was immediate.

“Come on…” Vanessa said, with a growl of frustration. “I have an idea…”

Charity watched her go, and felt a surge of something in her chest.

  “You are something else, Ness....”

“Regardless,” Vanessa begins, stopping in front of the flower shop. “We’re together...Partners now…”

Charity remarks dryly. “Partners in crime…”

Vanessa grins. “Which involves talking…    

“It leads to nothing but fightin’ in my experience…” Charity snorts.

“It’s just how healthy relationships go.” Vanessa inserts.

“You’re not going to give up on me, so easy…are ya Doc?”

Vanessa assures her. “Never…”

“Everyone. Fucking. Leaves. ” Charity snaps.

  “Yes, well…” Vanessa clasps their hands together, one hand nervously grabbing at her fingers. “I won’t bloody do it.” Vanessa swears.

“It’s a fine line between…” Charity says, as she brings Vanessa’s bruised hand to her lips and presses a kiss onto her knuckles. “...love…”

  “And… hate…” Vanessa silenced that thought, capturing Charity’s lips in a searing kiss.

“Wait here…” Vanessa insists, removing herself reluctantly from Charity’s side.

The other woman seems reluctant to leave her side.

Charity whines in protest, leaning against the back of the building, tapping her foot impatiently.

  A second later, a voice calls.

          “Enjoying yourself?” Charity turned her eyes towards the soft voice.

Vanessa was standing there, her hands behind her back.

  "I wanted to surprise you," Vanesa offers a coy grin, as she slowly approached her.

“These are for you…” Charity’s eyes dropping to the flowers in her hand.

In her hand, there was a beautiful bouquet of daisies, lilies and roses. Each held the same color, of white. If but a few shades lighter.  

“Flowers?...” Charity questioned, as she accepted the flowers with a soft kiss..

  “You’re very observant...”  Vanessa replies, while she wrapped an arm around Charity.

“What’re you after?” Charity asked, though it was a redundant question by this point.

“Not obvious yet?” Vanessa hums her reply.

Charity shakes her head.  “Show me…” she finally whispered.

      “I love you…” Vanessa declared in a soft voice.

Charity’s answering smirk told Vanessa it had gone over her head.

The next moment, Charity had one hand on Vanessa’s hip, the other behind her neck, and their lips were clashing together. Vanessa moaned into the sudden, hard kiss, nipping gently at Charity’s kiss-swollen lips.

Charity licked her lips. “I think I may be rubbing off on you....”

  Vanessa said, looking brave. “Someone has to…”

      “You’re stuck with me then…” Charity breathes between kisses.

They rest their foreheads together, catching their breath.

Vanessa nudged Charity’s shoulder.

“It feels like yesterday I was trying to sneak out of a cellar after having a drunken night with you.”    

“Couldn’t believe you didn’t regret... that night...regret me,” Charity admitted, a voice full of years of doubts and worries and fears. “I still can’t....”

  “I could never regret you…” Vanessa says. “All those weeks of longing….”

Vanessa noticed the sad expression on Charity’s face and tried to lighten the mood.

   “The Emmerdale Post is going to have a field day with this, you know.”

The thing was, Vanessa liked it. She liked those inquisitive, wary looks people had been giving her and Charity ever since the landlady herself had ‘outed them’ back at The Woolpack.

Charity laughs. “I don’t give a damn….”

There’s a touch of amusement in Vanessa’s voice. “Liar….”

Charity stares at her for a moment, before her lips curve into a piercing smile. “Just you, love…”

“Yours...”    Vanessa professes.

She’s pleased to see Charity briefly flustered.

Charity’s smile turned predatory. She thinks as kissing Vanessa’s neck., ‘Yes, mine….’

      “I want you...” Vanessa says, voice hoarse.

“You’re evil….” Charity said in a low tone.

“I think we should go away on holiday…” Vanessa jokes with a grin.

      “Someplace with sun...” Charity replies in a quiet voice.

Arousal thrummed through Charity as she pictured Vanessa.

‘Vanessa clad in a bikini, kneading sunscreen into her sun-kissed skin, licking her way down, tasting a slight hint of papaya from the sunscreen she had eagerly helped her apply…’

Her eyes close as she gives herself over to the indecent thoughts that swirl to life.

“Where did you go just now....” Vanessa murmured like she was reading her thoughts.

“I can’t help myself….” Charity chuckled, opening her eyes and momentarily looks away to gather her thoughts. “I guess I’ve been caught…”

Vanessa’s eyes darken. “It relieves sexual tension to fantasize....” Charity didn’t deny it.

“How about we go back to mine.... and you have your way with me?...” Charity whispers.

Vanessa, however, had other plans. “I’m knackered, it should be easy…”

Charity falters in her steps, as her jaw drops to the floor. “That’s so unfair...”

Vanessa smiled shyly at her... “Charity... I want to know every part of you…”

“Every part…”  Charity’s eyes spark.

“Even the bad bits…” Vanessa confesses, openly.

“It really means a lot to me that you are interested in my past…” Charity comments.

To emphasize her point, Charity draws Vanessa’s hips forward, discreetly urging her to move them apart.

“We’re in public…” Vanessa cries.

“I feel the same about you..." Charity laughed, with a cheeky wink.

“So much to know…Every inch waiting to be discovered...again and again...”

“You’ll have to wait and find out...” Vanessa yelped as the blonde pinched her through clothed skin.

“Fancy coming back to mine? Charity asks, with a suggestive smile.

“Lead the way....”  Vanessa sighed.

“Maybe sneak into the cellar and grab a bottle of wine…”  Charity spoke with a seductive tone.

“Where it all began…” Vanessa agrees. “Start off the celebrations…”

“What’re we commemorating...” Charity asked, with a curious smile.

"To our future..." Vanessa replied as she gazed shyly at the woman.

‘Matching gold wedding bands, You may now kiss your bride……….’

   Charity muses, silently to to herself. ‘Has a nice ring to it…'

Charity took a deep breath before proclaiming. “To new beginnings….”

“Darling…” Vanessa stresses. “..If you don’t get a move on, then I’m afraid I’ll be starting the festivities off by myself….”

Charity’s eyes widen at the hidden innuendo; and lets out a deep laugh. “Come, lover...we’ve got some celebrating to do...”

Vanessa smiles and silently swears she can feel Charity’s laughter carve itself into her bones.

END.

Notes: I hope you enjoy this as much as I did writing it. Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I did not proofread it. ;-)