18 months…

18 months of hard work. Hard work… it is what delivered her to her current status - high flyer in the field of forensic medicine. Dr. H. C. Stewart - the goto person for research, professional opinions and peer reviews. She was sought after in every respect of the word.

18 months of dedication to the contract she had signed. Not a single sick day had been taken. Not to mention a holiday. No, she had worked 6 day weeks for the past 18 months. She was dedicated.

18 months of living in the city by the bay. The city with blue skies, the city with blue water, the city with blue…everything was blue…baby blue. Everything was baby fucking blue.

18 months of and the weekly FaceTime calls with the blonde in Toronto. Her blonde best friend, confidant, former lover. Her blonde. They had fallen into the weekly calls comfortably. They started after Gail's heart was shattered by the social worker advising of a willing family member taking Sophie in. Gail never stood a chance against someone who shared the little girls DNA. Holly tried her best to comfort the blonde from the virtual connection that they shared. Eventually Gail moved on from the moping and life loathing. It had taken almost 6 months though.

She was homesick.

She wanted to see the Blue-Jays. The Raptors. The lake. The blonde…Her blonde.

Here she was, the contract was nearly up. She was offered everything her professional life could ever ask for. That was it though, her professional life. She loved her job in SF. But she could not physically sign on the dotted line for another term. She pondered, the upgraded contract made sense to her. It offered more research, an attractive salary and benefits for her and her immediate family. She stared at the contract, she had read it over at least 5 times. The part that always gave that feeling in her stomach however, was where the benefits were listed to the spouse and children of the employee. She couldn't help but think of taking care of the blonde and give her all of those things. But the blonde wasn't in SF.

It was sunday night. She was settling into the old brown chesterfield in the lounge room. The lounge that she and the blonde used to snuggle on. Used to cry on. Used to….Enough was enough. She sighed as she opened the screen on her Mac. She was about to look into those baby blues and it would tear her in two again - SF, Dr. H. C. Stewart. Or Toronto, Dr. Stewart and Mrs. Gail Stewart. That damn dream kept coming around. Mrs. Gail Stewart, damn that sounded attractive! She wanted it to be a reality.

She was knocked from her reverie by the beeping of the machine on the coffee table. Sheer excitement overcame her. She was about to tell Gail about her contract and pending decision. Decision…Who was she kidding, her mind was made up. Toronto was where she belonged.

But they didn't even get to discuss the contract. The blonde was exhausted. A typical 12 hour shift took all energy from her. So they laughed about the hijinks and mixups that the blonde always excitedly explained. The call ended with an apprehensive 'see you soon' from the blonde. There was definitely something on her mind. But that was for another time.

She closed the screen to the Mac. A contented sigh filled the room. Tomorrow she would send the email that would send her back on the correct life path…her email to decline another position in SF. She was headed back to Toronto. She was headed home.

It was two weeks later that her colleagues farewelled her at a dinner that was worthy of only the finest diners. No expense was spared, the food was amazing, the champagne flowed and goodbyes were said. She decided to let herself enjoy the evening. She was already packed and ready to head back home. Her flight left the following afternoon. She was prepared to surprise Gail tomorrow evening. She was prepared.

She boarded her flight with an extra skip in her step. Her iPod playing Gails favourite classic rock tracks. She was excited. She was almost home. Home. The Blue-Jays, The Raptors, The Blonde.

Customs and immigration took forever. The hire car paperwork was a breeze. She was sitting in the car on her street. Her street. She couldn't rip the smile from her face. she was about to hold Gail in her arms again. Kiss those lips. Smell that Gail smell. Just get lost in that blonde with those baby fucking blues…

So here she was. Knocking on the front door of her town house…the blonde leased it from her when she left for SF. it was supposed to be the first home for Soph when the adoption was complete…That point however was only discussed if the blonde bought it up.

The door opened quickly and she was met with an unfamiliar face. This woman, woman….looked like her. Long flowing brown hair. Glasses, kind of nerdy. Albeit slightly cheaper than those that adorned her face. A slightly toned figure…was she looking in a mirror?

"Can I help you?" came from the woman's mouth, a slightly confused look on her face. "Gai…Gail?" She stumbled. "You're after my gorgeous Gail…let me grab her" the woman spoke. MY, she said my….Holly's brain went into hyperdrive. Before she could even move, the blonde appeared. Her jaw essentially on the ground. As the two stood looking at each other, Holly kept stumbling with her words. She was prepared for this…Or so she thought. She was ready to come home. She just wanted that blonde in her arms. But her eyes caught the brunette with her arm around Gails waist. WHAT?

"Hols…Lunchbox, what are you doing here?" Gail excitedly asked. Holly however, couldn't take her eyes from the arm around Gail's waist…She kept stumbling in her mind….Home. Home, where Mrs. Gail Stewart lived. Was this a Joke? "I'm Home" she spoke softly. At this, her eyes levelled out and connected with those baby fucking blues. For what seemed like days, the eye contact was held…this time, broken by a clearing of the throat. "Ahem" coughed out of the woman beside Gail. "Oh, sorry…Tee, this is Holly" gail spoke looking from one to the other. Tee held out her hand and shook Holly's enthusiastically. She looked at holly and spoke to her, "Nice to meet you, I'm Gail's girlfriend. Please come in, you probably know that Gail is a terrible host." Holly nodded and crossed the threshold. Removing her coat and hanging by the door, an act of habit.

As Holly hung her coat, Tee shrugged into her own. "Well, hello, goodbye Holly. I need to open the cafe early tomorrow. Nice meeting you" She just smiled at Tee. A half wave gesture awkwardly given to the woman. Tee kissed Gail on the cheek and left the town house.

10 minutes later she found herself on a stool by the kitchen bench, directly opposite Mrs. Gail Stew…NO, Ms. Gail Peck. Bourbon in hand and not breaking eye contact with those baby fucking blues. "I'm back…For good" finally spilling her surprise to the blonde. It wasn't supposed to be like this, they were supposed to be tangled in one another by now. Not awkwardly starting into each others eyes. Gail had a look of sheer disbelief on her face. "I guess we need to talk about some stuff Lunchbox" she sighed while gesturing towards a black leather sofa. Holly slumped down and swallowed the amber liquid…She needed another.

Gail flopped down a few moments later and handed her a fresh drink. She placed it onto the coffee table and opened her arms. Gail scotched into her lap and wrapped her arms around her. Considering they were supposed to be talking, Holly was taken aback as brown orbs met blue again…Baby fucking blue. The room suddenly felt hot. "fuck I missed you" Gail whispered while leaning toward her…Then it happened. Lips crashed together. It had been 18 months…