The next morning Nikki woke, as usual, at 5:30 on the dot, the sun was just starting to peek through the curtains. She rested her head on a bent elbow and gazed lovingly at the beautiful woman who was still fast asleep next to her; her heart fluttered with joy. She gently stroked Helen's arm. The woman stirred slightly and, still asleep, she rolled over and put her arms around Nikki. Nikki grinned proudly, Helen was just as in love with her as she was with Helen. It felt much more than it ever had with Trish or anybody else before her. Knowing that Helen was probably not going to be up for a while (she had never seemed like a morning person), Nikki slipped out of bed to make some coffee. Before returning to bed she picked up a book that she hadn't read before off Helen's expansive bookshelves, deciding that the morning light would be enough to allow her to read in bed. She snuggled back under the covers alongside Helen and sat there reading for over two blissful hours.
When Helen woke she was initially disorientated, there was someone else in her bed. She turned her head slightly and saw a exquisite face illuminated by the early morning light and her heart jumped. Nikki loved her and was prepared to give her another chance. "You're beautiful and I love you." Helen said quietly.
Nikki looked up from her book, smiling, "Morning sweetheart," she said, leaning down to kiss Helen lightly, "You are even more beautiful and I love you too." The two women just sat there, staring lovingly into each others eyes for a good few minutes before, with a kiss, Nikki clambered out of bed.
"Where are you going?" asked Helen, pouting.
"How about I make us some breakfast." Nikki replied, smiling. Helen giggled and rolled out of bed, catching Nikki around the waist and kissing all the way down her neck and across her shoulders.
Helen sat at the kitchen table while Nikki cooked up some omelettes. "I never knew that you could cook sweetheart." Helen said with an almost childish grin, which vanished almost instantly, "But I guess there's a lot that I don't know about you." she added, gloomily.
Nikki looked over and saw Helen's glum face, "Don't worry beautiful, there is plenty of time to get to know each other now." she said, wandering over to stroke Helen's cheek kindly, "I moved into my own place when my parents kicked me out and Trish is hopeless, so I'm used to cooking for myself. It's something I've missed." said Nikki who had gone back to the stove. However, when she turned around she noticed Helen's horrified expression. "What is it sweetheart?" she asked softly.
"What happened with your parents? If you don't mind me asking." Helen said sheepishly, looking concerned.
"Don't worry about it sweetie. They couldn't cope with the gay thing. It tarnished the family reputation. So when I was sixteen they told me to go. I've not heard from them since." Nikki explained matter of factly. Her history with her parents was exactly that, history, and she knew that there was nothing she could do to change their opinions of her.
Helen looked distraught, "Oh darling, I am so sorry. Are you ok?" she asked, standing up and putting her arms around Nikki's waist, nuzzling into her neck. She'd had her own problems growing up but she couldn't bear thinking of Nikki's parents being so cruel.
"Helen don't worry. It was all a long time ago. Breakfast?" Nikki said reassuringly, handing over the plate with another kiss.
While they ate they talked, trying to get to know the little things about each other that any normal couple would have known after almost three years. Favourite food, drink, book, TV programme, film; what sort of things they each liked to do in their spare time. They were not completely alike but there were many similarities which made it evident how well suited they were to each other, even if they wouldn't have thought so when they first met. They also planned what they were going to do for the first few days of Nikki's freedom. Nikki wasn't planning to go back to the club quite yet so neither of them had work to do, and it was almost a week until Helen's first job interview. They knew that going out would be difficult at first so planned several small trips; one to pick up Nikki's stuff from the house she shared with Trisha; another to the shops to buy her some new clothes, shoes, books and a phone; and another to the park so that Nikki could really appreciate fresh air and open space after such a long time in prison. This really was the start of their life, shared.