'It's only for two weeks' she soothed her.

'I know but I want you to come with me' Serena pouted. They both knew that was impossible. Plus ones were not allowed at the conference.

'I'll be right here, waiting for you to come back so you can tell me all about it.'

Serena growled with impatience. She knew Bernie would love Japan. She'd be too tall for the trains but she'd love it.

'So we'll save up and go another time. And you can show me around.'

Serena huffed in resignation and turned back to her packing. She had a pile of suggestions for her spare time and being ordered to see some shrines was at the top of the list. Mount Fuji was another but she knew she'd want to do that with Bernie.

'You won't go to Mount Fuji?' Bernie looked disappointed.

'It'll be there next time.'

Bernie relaxed into a smile. Serena kept making plans for trips for their future and so far, they'd done much of it. That bungalow in Cornwall had been one of the best holidays of their lives.

'Well behave yourself' she instructed her errant partner who had been known to be mildly boisterous at conferences. 'Don't offend the politest people on earth.'

'Well I'll have to. I've got a roommate and I'll never have time to myself.' They knew it meant going gadget free. She did like her gadgets.

'See if you can sneak a minute in the shower' said Bernie, snorting at her partner's need for stimulation. To be fair, things had exploded for them when they had become involved, Bernie had felt the itch so much more these days. Her libido had finally woken up and she'd finally understood what it was all about. Missing Serena for two weeks was no easy task.

'You'll have a great time and you'll be back before you know it.'

Serena reluctantly acknowledged it and threw a jumper in.

She really had to take Bernie here. As she'd thought, Bernie would be almost too tall for the trains but it didn't matter, she would love the peacefulness of the shrines; the bullet train (impeccably timed and equipped with comfortable seats, a rarity in their lives) and the drinks out of the vending machine. Five types of hot coffee from a vending machine, who would have thought? Getting on buses on the back and working out how to pay the ticket at the front with a driver who spoke no English was an experience. And not to be a granny but the toilets with the cleaning buttons were top notch.

If only her roommate wasn't so peppy. Serena could hardly get any time to herself and by day three was getting slightly cranky without Bernie's fingers. Or general presence. She'd never been so attached to someone like this. She laid back and idly listened to the shower, tried to imagine Bernie's warm tongue swiping…oh damn. The most annoying roommate ever was out of the bathroom already. Serena sighed resignedly and rolled over. The conference was incredibly interesting and she was learning a lot. She'd stuffed her suitcase with lemon sake and umeboshi snacks for Bernie, some premium Japanese teas for Henrik, some cute things for Donna and plum wine for Ric. A silky kimono for Fleur of course. She vowed to find a yakitori restaurant when she got home. Bernie would love it. She snuggled into the dressing gown that came with the room. Japanese hospitality was fantastic. Everyone could learn a thing from them. She read Bernie's last loving message but didn't dwell on it. Just as well Bernie was useless at dirty talk and sexting, there was no way Serena could get away with indulging herself right now.

Those plane journeys were killer. Transfer at Beijing, a place of barren swirling dust. Chinese officials unsmiling and abrupt. Give her the Japanese anytime. She bought a perfume and some matcha chocolates in duty free. She watched several foreign films on the way back, not even bothering to sleep. Wearily walking her suitcase down the arrivals walkway, she was greeted by a very welcoming Bernie and her spirits lifted. She practically flung herself into those strong arms and breathed in that elusive scent. You had to be incredibly close to find it. Serena planned on snuggling up all night.

Only once her head hit the pillow, it all went black.

She'd never gone to bed so early, nor slept so long. Bernie left the suitcase and watched over her for a while before skimming a kiss on her forehead and slipping beside her. They had a whole weekend to themselves, jet lag be damned.