When Bernie woke the next morning she felt alive, properly alive for the first time in a long time, able to feel that every part of her body was relaxed. Stretching her arms above her head, Bernie began to smile.

"Well, don't you look like the cat that got the cream."

Bernie couldn't help her smile widening as her eyes opened before it turned into a pout at seeing Serena already dressed and currently stood over her sipping a cup of coffee, sparkling eyes surveying the uncovered torso of the woman below her.

"I don't think I've ever slept past 6 in my life." Was the first thing Bernie offered, reaching out to tug at the hem of Serena's shirt until she finally gave in and bent down to give her a rather too chaste kiss on the lips.

"Well, I guess I bring out the lazy in you." Serena mused, placing her cup on the bedside table where it was quickly seconded by Bernie, eyes shutting at the silky perfection that was coffee.

"Oh, it's not the lazy you bring out in me, Serena Campbell." Bernie practically purred, smiling into the cup when Serena blushed and turned away to busy herself clearing away her make up things.

"I got a call from the fire department asking me to go back to the house this morning, and I also need to speak to the insurance company. I've spoken to Hanssen and he's aware I'll be in a little later, but I was hoping you might be able to take Jason in with you." Serena's words were mostly whispered as she watched Bernie climb from the bed and pull on the t-shirt she herself had worn to bed the night before. A blush began creeping up her neck at the very thought of the night before.

"Are you going to blush every time you look at me?" Bernie asked curiously, a smile twitching on her lips as she watched Serena's in the mirror, the smile widening when the blush immediately moved to Serena's cheeks.

"I...it's just...never been like that before." Serena muttered, looking everywhere but at the woman she was talking to. "It was…intense and...perfect, and I can't quite believe I thought I enjoyed sex before."

Bernie gave a quiet laugh, dropping a kiss to her shoulder. "I guess we'll have to just keep repeating last night until the blushes stop, then. I'll take Jason in, and I'll have a coffee waiting for you when you get into work." Bernie dropped another kiss to Serena's shoulder before walking into the bathroom.

Serena was quite sure those short shorts were as burned into her memory as deeply as the microwave was burned into her kitchen.


Bernie stood, taking in her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was sticking out at all angles, and in addition to the traces of Serena's smudged lipstick she still wore from the night before, she had a new, fresh coat from this morning's far too chaste kiss. She couldn't keep the grin from her face if she tried. She wondered how long it would take for it to sink in that she had spent the night with Serena Campbell in her bed. Had been allowed to love her, to say it out loud, even. And Serena had said it back. Said it first in fact. Trust the woman who had once felt ten steps behind to now be two steps ahead. Moving to turn on the shower, she began to peel the clothes from her body, smiling coyly to herself as the soft fabric of the t-shirt fell from her fingers, recalling the sight of Serena wearing that and very little else. And then of her wearing nothing at all.

As much as she had teased the brunette that morning for her blushing, the blonde felt her own cheeks reddening as she recalled the night before. She had always been rather sensitive, but if she was honest, had never really believed it was possible to find release without even being touched. Apparently, when it came to Serena, however, the mere sight, sound and feel of her was enough to send her hurtling over the edge into her own blissful state.

Turning the shower cold, she stepped under the spray. How on earth was she ever meant to survive the woman actually touching her?

Pulling in to the hospital car park, early for once, Bernie brought the car to a halt. Jason had been quite content to be taken into work with her, and had mainly filled the journey with questions of when he and Serena would be able to return home, and what would happen until then, only giving up when Bernie patiently explained for the dozenth time that those were questions he would have to wait and ask Serena once she had had a chance to speak with the fire brigade and her insurance company. The best she was able to offer was that it would likely be the case that they would have to spend at least few nights at the blonde's. Rather surprisingly, this hadn't been met with any objection.

Slipping off her seat belt, Bernie realised Jason hadn't yet moved. About to ask if he was okay, she hadn't quite been prepared for the full on performance evaluation of her driving that came next. Apparently, she had sped on 7 separate occasions, and had been rather sluggish at pulling away at 2 sets of traffic lights. Despite, this, Jason informed her, he had felt quite safe and would happily share a car with her again. She had simply nodded and thanked him. She had certainly had worse comments on her driving.

Parting ways with Jason at Pulses, Bernie wished him a good shift, and promised to let him know when Serena arrived in AAU.

"No Serena today?"

She turned to find Dom standing behind her.

"I was starting to think you two were joined at the hip!" he chuckled.

Bernie merely bit her lower lip, a memory of her nipping the soft flesh at the curve of said brunette's hip coming unbidden to her mind. She was brought back to the moment by Dom waving his hand in front of her face.

"Are you all right? You've got an odd look on your face?"

She merely chuckled. "Oh, I'm fine. More than fine, actually." She shook her head sharply, blonde curls bouncing as she tried to snap herself out of her reverie. "No, Serena is coming in later. Bit of an incident with Jason and a microwave. She's currently at hers doing a daylight inspection with the fire brigade."

"Ouch!" winced Dom. "Was she okay? And Jason?"

Bernie waved off his concern. "Oh, yes. Yes. Both absolutely fine. Just without a house for the next few days at least." She paused to give the barista her order. "So, they're staying with me for a bit."

At this, Dom raised an eyebrow, something about the blonde's attempt at a flippant tone telling him there was more to this. "Why Ms Wolfe, is this your way of telling me that look on your face comes from something more than friendly concern?"

The army medic tried to keep the grin from creeping back onto her face. She really did. "I don't know what you mean." She was thankful for the distraction of her coffee being placed in front of her. Quickly handing over the cash, she grabbed the cup and made a hasty retreat.

Dom merely laughed as he watched her go, calling out. "I have a feeling out next rooftop rendezvous could be very interesting!"

Bernie simply rolled her eyes as she cast a quick glance back at him on her way to the lift, grin still firmly in place. That same grin didn't leave her face all the way up to AAU, and indeed, at the sight of Robbie still laid up in bay 3, only grew. Serena's Robbie. Not anymore, he wasn't.