'Golden Couple Heads Home to Roost for Turkey Day'

The headline called her like a flashing neon sign. All the papers at this newsstand and of course her eyes are drawn to that one. Look at the size of that picture. She would have seen it even if Gerard would not have saved her a copy. He was a nice old man with kind eyes and he handed her the paper with a wink and a sympathetic, knowing pat on her hand. God, he reminds me so much of Myrtle. The attractive brunette sat down the coffee tray and pastry bags in order to pay for the trashy tabloid. She is going to love this. After paying Gerard and leaving him a with a kiss on the cheek and a Mogador, she started making her way home in the bright sunshine of what had been a perfect Paris morning. Home She frowned, as she weaved her way a few blocks down the street.

Stepping off the elevator the petite woman had her coffee tray in one hand while she stood on one foot, paper in her mouth, pastry bags on her knee, so she could free a hand to unlock and nudge open the door. Balancing her haul once again she walked into the large, warm penthouse. Not for the first time marvelling at how much she liked it here, how much like a home it felt.

"Humy eyum ooowwmmm," she chuckled as she stepped up the steps to the main landing and tried to make it to the kitchen without dropping anything.

"Hey shortstuff, that's quite a load. Need some help?"

The look from the petite woman with the paper in her mouth spoke volumes so she quickly stepped forward taking the tray and pastry bags from the younger woman and putting them on the table. Before she even had the chance to turn around and thank her companion for bring breakfast home from her run, the paper landed on the table with an audible thwack.

"Can you believe this shit?", Maggie asked, "look at the size of that picture!"

Under the awful headline, top of the fold, was a huge picture of Bianca with Zoë. Still looks like Zarf to me but what do I know, Greenlee thought.

"Dad said he didn't know if they were coming or not. I guess this answers that question." with a heavy sigh she turned to look at the obviously distressed woman. "I'm sorry, Mags."

Maggie just stood there, lost in thought, uncertainty etched across her beautiful features.

"You know, we don't have to go. I can call my dad, he would understand. We can have a quiet Thanksgiving right here, just the two of us." Greenlee tried to reassure the brunette, laying her hand gently on Maggie's cheek.

"As good as that sounds it isn't fair. It's been so long since you've been home and I know how much you miss your dad. Not to mention the other things you're anxious to put in motion." She leaned into Greenlee's touch slightly then said with a dejected sigh, "but…"

"I don't like the sound of that but…"

Maggie took a step back and walked to the window. Looking out over their quaint Paris neighbourhood she thought back to how simple this decision was just a half an hour ago. Wrapping her arms around herself she suddenly felt cold. So cold.

"You can leave me here. I know I said I was ready, but what if I'm not, Greenlee? What if I'm not?" After a long pause she said, "you should go without me, no reason for you to suffer because I'm a coward."

Stepping closer to the young doctor, Greenlee wrapped her arms around her easing her hands under the smaller, fine-boned ones feeling the bare skin of her stomach and the jolt of scorching desire touching Maggie always seemed to create in her. Wow. I want her so much…even right now. She turned and grazed her nose along the shorter woman's neck and inhaled the unique scent that was Maggie after a run. She felt the younger woman shudder and that desire coiled tightly inside her. We are so good together

"No, Mags. I would never go back to Pine Valley without you or leave you to spend a holiday alone. Especially not now when this is all so…new." She said, placing a lingering kiss on Maggie's shoulder. "So the decision is yours. What do you say?"

Turning in the circle of Greenlee's arms she looked into her eyes, immediately seeing the profound truth of her words, the desire that always seemed to be there and was deeply warmed by both. Maggie leaned forward placing a lingering and heartfelt kiss on her new lover's lips leaving them both breathless. How could she be anything but safe with this woman?

"I say," she smirked, licking her lips and putting their foreheads together, "that we should start packing for Pine Valley."

Tbc?

Mogador - A classic French chocolate genoise brushed with rum syrup and covered with a thick layer of raspberry mousse. Topped with fresh raspberries and shredded chocolate.