"I know the answer, but I still have to ask. Are you sure you don't want to come home with me? Even for a short weekend before you head on to Greece?" Bernie looked up at Serena as she zipped her bag, finding it a lot fuller than when she had come, even though she hadn't bought all that much.
Serena shook her head a little as she glanced down at her phone. Bernie rolled her eyes a little before giving her a winsome smile. "I've already been in contact with the head of the main refugee camp in Athens, and they're expecting me next week. I'm going to be useful again, for a short while. And then, I'll have to see about where else I want to go. There's still so much to explore and wounds that I need to heal."
Her smile turned sad and bitter, and Bernie instantly regretted asking her that question once more. Popping up to her feet, she strode across the room and pulled Serena into a tight hug, burying her face into the crook of her shoulder as she rubbed her back in soft, sweeping, motions. "I always seem to ask the wrong question at the wrong time," she murmured in Serena's ear, feeling her shrug a little as she closed her arms around Bernie's waist, holding her tightly. "This was the perfect weekend, you know, until I cocked it up."
Serena giggled a little, turning her head so that her lips brushed against Bernie's cheek. "We can't cock things up, darling. We don't have the necessary equipment." This caused Bernie to start giggling, too, and somehow, she managed to get them over to the bed and seated before they fell to the floor. Flopping back against the mattress, she welcomed Serena snuggling in close to her, and let out a gentle sigh. "No sighing, Berenice. If you sigh like that, I'll want to keep you here, and you'll miss your flight, and Jasmine will be put out. You know, she's going to want all the details you care to give her the minute you see her."
"That is true," she replied, turning her head and nuzzling her nose against the soft skin of Serena's cheek. "I suppose that I'll have to invite her over to supper, so that I can tell her everything. Well, not exactly everything."
The carnal laugh that poured out of Serena's lips made her smile even wider, and she turned onto her side to look at her one last time before they headed out. "No, there are some things that need to be kept just between us." Pulling out her phone, she held it up and took a few snaps of them. Serena stuck her tongue out a little before turning her face and licking Bernie's cheek. "Like that."
"Exactly like that." She leaned in and kissed Serena softly, making certain to take a picture of that, knowing that it would be her new wallpaper, once she was in the airport. "All right, we need to get moving, don't we?"
"Oh, just a little. The traffic to the airport is going to be a nightmare soon, so hopefully we can beat some of it." Serena was the first to her feet, and she tugged Bernie up as well before pulling her into another tight hug. "I only get a few more of these before you clear security and we'll only be able to see each other over Skype. Take care of my lambs, will you?"
"Of course, Serena." Turning her head, she kissed the first patch of skin she could find before pushing away from her lover and bending down to pick up her carryon bag. "All right, let's go. Before we make this any harder on ourselves."
Serena nodded as she took hold of the strap of Bernie's checked bag before throwing the garment bag over her shoulder and leaving the room. Bernie trailed after her, taking the time to memorise the lines and details of Serena's body. While she had often watched Serena, there was something about this new place that lent itself to a further study of her. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Serena glanced back at her, giving her a soft smile before heading out to the garage.
Bernie tried to swallow her sigh as she placed her bag in the boot, knowing that Serena was listening carefully, but there was no masking the way her shoulders slumped a little. Her lover stepped closer and they wrapped their arms around each other's waist as Serena used her free hand to close the boot with a soft thud. "This was the best weekend, Bernie. Thank you."
"Even if we did almost get caught in a compromising yesterday afternoon?"
Serena swatted her shoulder softly. "You were the one who said that the tree was large enough to hide us making out! And then proceeded to cop a feel."
She blushed a little as she shrugged, stepping away to slip into the passenger seat. Serena hung the garment bag on the hook in the back seat before climbing behind the wheel and starting the vehicle up, backing out of the spot and setting off down the road. The drive back to the airport was familiar, and Bernie took a few more pictures of the way back, making certain to take a few of Serena behind the wheel, capturing the smile on her lips and the way she looked so comfortable as she drove. "I'll make sure you get a copy of some of these," she said as she turned off the camera and slipped it back into her purse.
"Thank you." Serena slid one hand off the wheel and squeezed her thigh softly before returning it to its previous place. The rest of the drive was quiet, as Bernie watched Serena, letting the silence of the car fill her heart as they went along. "Well, here we are," Serena whispered as she started driving down the road to the airport. Bernie tried to nod, but found that the move made her tear up, and so she clenched her hands into tight fists as they came closer and closer to the terminal. "Do you want me to park in short term, and see you off?"
"Yeah?"
Serena nodded a little as she made the correct lane change, taking the ticket from the machine and finding a parking spot close to the crosswalk. Their movements were slow as they pulled out her bags, and she found herself aching for Serena already, and they weren't even parted yet. Unable to stop herself, she reached out her hand for Serena's as they walked across the road, and smiled widely when her partner clasped it tightly, never leaving her side as she checked in and then made her way towards security.
"I can't go with you any farther," Serena whispered as she handed over the garment bag. "God knows that a part of my heart desperately wants to just go home with you, but…" she swallowed thickly, as Bernie looked away from her, knowing she would break into ugly sobs if she watched Serena cry, "…but there are still some wounds in my soul that need time to heal. Forgive me, darling."
"There's nothing to forgive, darling," she murmured as she pulled Serena into a tight hug, breathing in the familiar, comforting, scent of her partner. "I just want you to be whole when you come home. I love you, enough for both of us when we're apart, and that's all that matters. And you're coming home to me some day."
"I hope so," Serena replied, a watery laugh following her words. Bernie chuckled in return before turning her head and pressing her lips to her cheek. "I truly hope so."
"I hope so, too," she whispered before letting go of Serena and stepping away to take one last long look at her partner. Serena was wearing a brave smile, though she could detect the quaver in her lower lip. Bernie gave her own smile in return before shouldering her bag onto her shoulder a little better. "And I'll call you the moment that we land, so that you know I've arrived safely."
"I would expect nothing less of you, Berenice." Serena blinked slowly and then took another step away from Bernie. "Go, before you miss your flight. I love you."
"I love you, too," she replied, turning on her heel and walking to join the line for security. As she wended her way through, she kept glancing over to see that Serena was watching her, as if unable to let her go just yet. As she approached the podium, passport and boarding pass in hand, she gave one last look to Serena, waving a little before taking that next step forward, disappearing from her partner's line of sight.
"Where are you headed today?" the young woman asked, and she gave her a sad smile.
"Home."
"I see," she replied, writing on her boarding pass before gesturing for her to move forward. Bernie gave another nod before joining the line to head through the screening and leaving her partner behind, until they could be back together once more.
