A/N: Second chapter for the night. Just FYI there are eight chapters total, then an epilogue. So we're almost to the end. Enjoy and have an awesome day/night!
Disclaimer: not mine.
When Calleigh woke Natalia's breath was dancing across the back of her neck and small lazy circles were making their way down her stomach with Natalia's fingers leading the way. Calleigh did her best to breathe steadily, focusing on the closeness to the other woman. In that moment, in that simple moment between sleep and wakefulness Calleigh was more incredibly happy then she had been in years, she focused on savoring and storing the memory for later days. As for Natalia she couldn't help but get lost in the softness of Calleigh's skin and the scent of her hair. As the morning slowly crept into the tent, the two remained joined in silence and comfort, drawing warmth and an undefined sense of love from the contact.
As they lay there the silence of the morning was slowly shattered by the sounds of the rising campground; the muffled barking of dogs, the laughter of children, bacon frying, and couples walking to the bathhouse, and eventually the steady pour of rain.
Natalia smiled against Calleigh's neck, pressing a light kiss to the skin with no second thoughts, "Sounds like kayaking won't be the best idea today."
"Probably not."
"I have this urge to just stay here until the weather clears up."
Calleigh smiled, watching as her hands, of their own volition, stroked Natalia's lightly. "And how would you amuse yourself?"
"I'm sure I could come up with something." Natalia couldn't help but grin as the early morning atmosphere eased both women into a playful contented place. "There might be a deck of cards in my bag?"
The banter continued on between the women, both offering ideas of entertainment, games to be played, and various other sorts of amusement. The further they became entrenched in the conversation the less willing they were to move out of the safe haven they had found in each others arms.
At some point in the conversation they had switched positions and Calleigh found herself snuggled quite comfortable against Natalia, using her chest as a comfy pillow, while Natalia toyed with Calleigh's hair. Calleigh smiled up at Natalia, "I heard this story once, from a friend of mine who was really big into mythology. Anyway, I think it was this thing by Plato, and if I remember it wasn't offered as a serious explanation, but it always sort of made sense to me." Calleigh looked up at Natalia, and finding nothing there but a comforting smile and a welcoming glint in her eyes continued, "The story goes that there was once three kinds of people in the world, and they were all round and rolled all over the earth. And one kind was male, another female, and the third was a combination. After some time the people angered the gods, and Zeus chose to split each round into halves. As a result we're destined to always search for our other halves, and we'll never be whole again until we find them." Calleigh paused a moment, mulling over her thoughts, "I always sort of looked at love that way, like I was looking for the second half of myself. I always thought that when I met that person I would know, instantly, that I had found my other half. I just…" Calleigh bit her lip thoughtfully and looked up at Natalia, "I felt that the first time I met you."
Natalia couldn't resist the soft look of hesitation on Calleigh's face and leaned down to press her lips gently against the blondes. Neither woman expected the spark and tingle that spread throughout their bodies at that simple loving touch.
As they pulled away Calleigh smiled up at Natalia, reaching up to stroke her cheek softly, "I love you. And I know it might seem quick, I know it might seem rash and illogical, but it's true. It scared me, I didn't understand how I could fall so deep and so hard for you so quickly. I told myself to stop, that I couldn't feel this way, it wasn't allowed. And then I found out about J.R. and it seemed so much more important that I not fall. I couldn't risk hurting you or damaging your memories of someone you love." Calleigh paused for a breathe and looked up at Natalia for a moment before continuing, "I don't expect for you to feel the same, I don't expect you to tell me you love me. I don't want you to. When, if you tell me you love me, I want it to be because you're sure, not because of whatever effect this place and your memories have had on you."
For a brief moment Natalia didn't know whether to be flattered or offended by Calleigh's speech. "Don't let it bother you Tal." "How did you know?' "I'm not an internal voice for nothing. The point is that she knows what this place means to you, and she's not implying that you would intentionally hurt her or confuse past and present emotions." "I know but…" "No buts, she just wants you to be sure, and she needs to be sure. She needs to know that you love her because she's herself, not because she reminds you of me. Just trust her, trust yourself, and give yourselves time. It'll work out, I promise."
Natalia smiled and kissed Calleigh's forehead softly, "I understand." Those words alone were almost enough to soothe and calm Calleigh's fears and anxieties, but she still had her own internal doubts, but she had faith and trusted her heart.
The two laid there, curled together, both lost in their own thoughts, they knew they were close, and they knew that the presence of the other was enough to calm and satisfy any pressing needs or desires. That simple safe presence was enough to lull both women back into a deep and relaxing slumber.
Calleigh opened her eyes and examined the world around her. It was unlike any thing she had ever seen. Every surface, every object looked as if it were made of shattered glass. She walked slowly, tracing her hands over the edges of trees and bushes, careful not to cut her hand, she listened to the crunch of shattered glass beneath her feet and tried to understand where she was.
In another dream, in another world, Natalia walked through a very similar world, but where in Calleigh's dream everything was made of shattered glass, in Natalia's everything was a dull dim color, grays were predominant, marking the landscape and the sky.
"Life is nothing if not short. What you see is the way it would be." Calleigh and Natalia both heard the voice, independent of each other. It continued to Calleigh, "This is the way Natalia's world was after I died, everything was shattered, and if it weren't for you, this might be how it would exist even now. But you're presence alone on the day she met you started to heal and repair her world."
And then to Natalia, "She wasn't broken, she wasn't destroyed, she just was. Calleigh loved her work and she adored those she worked with, but she had little to focus on beyond that. Her world was dull, like you see it now, When she met you that first day you brought more color and shine into her world than she had seen in years."
Then the voice continued to both of them, "Without meaning to, without intending to you altered and forever changed the landscapes of each other's lives. Nothing will ever be the same, but you will both be forever better for having known the other. Explore your dream worlds, wander, realize how deeply and truly you affect each other."
With that the voice tapered off and the ladies were left to their own devices. Calleigh wandered slowly, puzzling over and over in her mind how she could repair and restore the world she was in. She stopped next to a small shattered tree, and placed her palm upon the trunk, ignoring the pain of the glass in her hand. She focused, pushing all her energy and love for Natalia into that tree. She watched in awe as the tree slowly repaired itself and the rest of the world followed.
Natalia experienced a similar occasion, but with her touch and thoughts of love the world became bright and vibrant and colorful. Natalia stood, looking at the world in amazement, continuing to walk and explore, every so often she would stop and see a moment in Calleigh's life lit up in the sky. Each moment showed an interaction between Calleigh and Natalia, each moment was one more color, one more ounce of vibrancy that Natalia added to Calleigh's life.
Calleigh saw similar moments in Natalia's life. And each new revelation and glimpse at the woman she loved allowed Calleigh to understand how shattered Natalia had been, and how much of a difference she had made in the other woman's life.
Unexpectedly the narrating voice boomed throughout the dreams, "Love is not defined by our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers. Love is not defined by what we like, what we hate, what we watch or what we read. Love is not defined by the body, the hair, the eyes or the hands. Love is defined by the soul, and your souls define each other, they complete each other, as long as you trust that, you will never be alone."
Calleigh awoke with a start, noticing first that she was still entwined with Natalia and second that the sun had moved through the sky and into the afternoon without anyone noticing. It took all her will power to disengage herself from Natalia's grasp, but her stomach had begun grumbling far louder than any internal organ ever should. She exited the tent slowly and quietly before busying herself with the preparations of a late lunch. As she cooked her thoughts wandered to Natalia and ways to show her how much she cared. All of a sudden she felt like someone had turned a light bulb on above her head, and she even looked to check. By the time Natalia had woken to join Calleigh for the meal, Calleigh was humming happily and make small notes to herself on a scrap piece of paper.
Whenever Natalia tried to catch a glimpse of the paper Calleigh just smiled and blocked her view. She refused to even hint at what she had planned beyond admitting that it was a good thing they slept so much of the day away.