Flight of Fancy

by Kumoma

After a chance encounter found them on the same side of a desperate struggle for peace, a friendship has blossomed between Fareeha and Angela. To the surprise of the both of them, it seems to be continuing to grow into something more. They each struggle to come to terms with their own feelings and fears as they each wait for the other to take the next step.

13. The Morning After

Author's note: I owe everyone a pretty big apology this time. This chapter is again a little short, but it was originally intended to post Wednesday morning as a special bonus post before today's regular update. I only just barely managed to finish it in time to get it uploaded this morning. I originally said that I wasn't sure that I would have it uploaded on Wednesday because I was planning on making some drastic changes to my daily routine. In preparation for the changes I mentioned a while back that are coming up in a few weeks' time, I've been trying to get a head start on changing my sleeping pattern to a stable routine of sleeping at night and waking up early in the morning. I expected to have some difficulty with it as I haven't been able to sleep through a night since middle school (yes, literally), but I didn't expect it to be quite this bad. All week long, I've been lightheaded, nauseated and barely able to focus on anything. Even this short chapter has taken me all week to write when nearly every other chapter I've written so far has each been completed inside of a day. I'm starting to feel a bit better, but I may still end up being a little slow to update while I'm getting myself back up to speed and my sleeping pattern more or less stable. For the next few updates, I'm going to ignore the upload schedule and just post chapters as quickly as I can finish them until I'm feeling right again. I know I ask this fairly often, but please bear with me until then. Also, I'd like to give special thanks to the friends that took time to play Overwatch with me while I've been cranky, irritable and having trouble stringing together coherent sentences all week long. It went a long way in helping me sort myself out.

There's surprisingly no music to note this time around, but if you haven't guessed at it already, I'm sure you'll soon understand why nobody wants any loud sounds this morning.

Though she couldn't say with any certainty where she was, Fareeha was sure that she wasn't anywhere familiar. The only thing that was clear that, as usual, she had been sleeping on her back. Through her closed eyelids, she was certain that the sun was shining too brightly to be the early morning that she was used to waking up and seeing. She attempted to make sense of her situation before opening her eyes, but it wasn't without great difficulty; her thoughts were muddled and her memory was largely inaccessible. Her head throbbed slightly, not enough to bother complaining about it but concerning as she couldn't immediately place a reason for it. Her body felt strangely heavy, as though she had been drained of her energy without any muscle fatigue to show for it. Her stomach was uneasy, calm at the moment but threatening to violently resist any sudden movement. The sensation was disorienting, but not entirely unpleasant. It made her want to let go of her consciousness and drift back to sleep. Such a thing was so far outside of her character that she found herself wishing that she had the energy to laugh at the idea as she pushed herself to wake up, but it was tempting nonetheless.

As she waited while consciousness slowly returned to her, the first thing that came to Fareeha's mind was that whatever she was sleeping on was entirely too soft. It was firm but yielding, conforming to every curve in her back and legs. Whatever the material was, it was surely worth far more than she ever would've been willing to spend. Curiosity compelled her to force her eyes open to take in her surroundings, but the light that came to her eyes made her immediately change her mind when she felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her head and her stomach suddenly started tossing violently as if in protest. Shutting her eyes tight and cursing silently, she quickly decided that it would be best to take things slowly despite her growing confusion. Her body seemed to agree with the decision; the pain receded gradually and her stomach soon settled, though it still gave her the sensation that she was somehow in motion. After a minute of slowly breathing and otherwise remaining motionless, her body once again became still and heavy, making her want to do nothing other than go back to sleep.

With her body calm but her mind not quite at ease, she started trying to recall her most recent memory. She could vaguely remember getting on a plane and coming to Zürich for a festival promoting world peace as her first act as an unofficial member of Overwatch. She had been dreading it as something about her role in the proceedings was eluding her and nobody seemed interested in giving her more information. Given that it was an event being held for the public, it could only be assumed that she was there to promote Helix more than anything else. Helix had come under fire in recent years as a mistrust of private military organizations steadily grew. While the bulk of the malcontent was aimed at Overwatch before its fall, Helix's public image had also suffered and had yet to recover. With rumors of Overwatch's reforming in a time of need floating around, Fareeha couldn't argue that it was the perfect time to begin reaching out to the public if only to end the wild accusations being directed at them out of a fear of the unknown. It also made sense to her that Helix couldn't afford to pass up the opportunity to publicly align themselves with Overwatch if there was even a chance that they would be accepted again and, as she was being considered to join Overwatch, she was the perfect representative to endorse them. That she would be stuck forcing herself to smile and speak with random strangers, however, was nearly too great a burden to bear. Despite the fact that it meant that her lifelong dream was finally coming true, the thought of enduring a full day of pretending that she had any idea how to relate to people she didn't know was nearly enough to make her argue the point that she should be the one sent on this mission. The only thing making her actually look forward to the ordeal was the fact that Angela was the center of the event, meaning that they would no doubt meet each other there. As hard as it was to schedule a meeting on the same continent, the event was as important to Fareeha as it was to Helix. Thinking about it made her feel the same excitement over seeing Angela again, causing her to immediately start daydreaming of their next meeting and the hopes that this time, things would be different and they would somehow become closer. Endless hours of practice retaining details of their encounters led her to recall their every detail again, from the sound of her laugh to the scent of her perfume. Though it made her stomach churn again in warning, the sudden racing of her heart at the thought of the fragrance was irresistible to not take the time to appreciate.

I can almost smell it...no, not almost. I think I really can I smell it.

As though it were a machine that had been sitting idle for too long, Fareeha's mind slowly lurched into gear when the memory of Angela's perfume seemed too powerful to merely be a memory. She was almost certain that she could actually smell it; not the merely pleasant scent that came from the star-shaped bottle she kept hidden away, but the overwhelming scent of it coming from Angela's skin that made her senses go dull. She was certain that she could smell honey, chocolate, amber and patchouli nearby. Again she struggled to make sense of her situation and attempted to call recent events to memory, but large portions of it seemed to be slow in returning to her. She remembered being at the festival, frustrated beyond words to be surrounded by children that she was afraid she was scaring. It seemed endless until Angela took her arm, all but erasing her concerns with just the touch. She could remember that Lena was there, then something about not waiting for an opportunity to pass her by. Something about dinner plans with Angela followed, then...

Wait...dinner?

With a violent jerk, her thoughts were pulled to the present as her memory of the previous day started to come into focus. She remembered making plans for dinner and, though they had done so many times before, there was certainly something different about it this time. There was a long conversation with Lena and a vague memory of preparing for the evening too uncomfortable to recall completely. Then there was walking into Angela's house...no, a hotel room. Why did she have a hotel room in the same city where she lived? Just as Fareeha was beginning to question her faint memories of the day before, she could remember standing in front of Angela, her breath caught in her throat when she took in the sight of her. She was both stunning in her beauty and looking back with an expression of awe and desire that Fareeha had dreamed of seeing for longer than she could remember. It was as if she had become the center of Angela's world. It wasn't just dinner. It was a date. Memories of senses began flooding back faster than Fareeha could process them. There was the the sight of Angela, then the scent of perfume, the flavor of lamb and red wine, then coffee flavored ice cream and, for some reason, lipstick.

Lipstick? Lipstick...lipstick!

Her mind finally catching up to the present, Fareeha examined the situation again, this time with most of her memory at her disposal. She didn't dare open her eyes in the bright morning light again, but the scent of perfume and the feeling of the soft bed beneath her was enough for her to conclude that she must be in Angela's bed. She patted herself and, feeling the silk covering her thigh, she remembered the dress that she had struggled so much to acquire the day before. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that she was still dressed, though for some reason, the thought still didn't completely satisfy her. She reached around her body and felt the Egyptian cotton of the duvet beneath her, the smooth texture of the high thread count confirming her suspicions that she must be in an expensive bed. Just as she was convinced that she had drawn an accurate conclusion regarding her whereabouts, her hand brushed across something far softer and more inviting than even the mattress. It was then that she realized that, while she was still feeling quite exhausted, all of the weight she was feeling wasn't her own. Her hand froze on the delicate curve that seemed to be wrapped around her, suddenly both thrilled and terrified by the prospect of confirming another of her suspicions. As she considered her situation again and reviewed her options, she reached the conclusion that there was no other choice than to see the scene for herself. She steeled herself against the inevitable pain in her head and slowly opened her eyes, taking her time in allowing the bedroom ceiling to come into focus. Despite protests from her churning stomach, she blinked several times and allowed the bright light to flood into her eyes as she looked around her. To one side, she could see a door that she could only barely remember stumbling through hours earlier. She again froze in place when she looked to her other side and saw a pair of bright blue eyes looking back at her.

"Good morning, meine Liebe."

The delicate voice sounded as though it were part of a dream. It was only the gradually easing pain in Fareeha's head that suggested to her that she was really hearing it. Angela looked as though she wasn't entirely awake; her eyes were only partially open and she was smiling sweetly as though remembering something pleasant. Her hair had been taken down at some point during the night and it waved slightly where it had been so tightly wound and pinned in place. She was lying on her side with both her arm and her thigh draped over Fareeha's body and her head resting in its now familiar spot on Fareeha's shoulder. Feeling Fareeha's body go rigid, Angela raised herself up just enough to bring her lips to Fareeha's for a moment before settling back into her comfortable position.

"I hope you are not too startled. I admit that I was surprised to wake up this way, myself."

Realizing that she had yet to say anything in response, Fareeha forced her thoughts to catch up to the present. "I...I'm sorry. I'm just a little out of sorts, I suppose."

"It is understandable. Yesterday was a long day and last night was a long night...and we were not asleep for long, all things considered." Angela's smile slowly faded as she realized that Fareeha wasn't relaxing. Nervousness quickly took root as thoughts of regret came to mind, but she pushed them aside quickly, only taking the time to notice how much easier it was to do so this time. "Are...are you alright, love?"

"Y—yes, I'm alright...aside from this headache, at least. And my stomach..."

Despite being determined to not immediately assume the worst, Angela breathed a sigh of relief when she understood the nature of the problem. "I suppose that is to be expected. I am not feeling entirely well, myself. You do not drink often and, well...we may have overdone it a bit last night."

Thinking back to the glasses of Blauburgunder in Maritsa and the now empty bottles of Eiswein in the next room, it suddenly made sense to Fareeha that she wasn't feeling herself. She was no stranger to drinking, but the rarity of the occasions on which she found herself with the time to enjoy it and her underestimation of the wine made for a surprising reaction that she hadn't prepared herself to experience. As she thought about it, though, the hangover wasn't especially bad. As long as she remained still, it was almost pleasant. It was clearly the rest of the situation that had her thoughts scattered now that she was able to process it all.

"Not really. I'm fine as long as I don't move. To be honest, the wine is nothing compared to...well, being here with you. As many times as the thought has come to mind, it's just surprising to see it actually happen. I was wondering if I was still dreaming." Though Fareeha was surprised by her sudden honesty, she was more surprised by the fact that she didn't exactly regret having spoken her mind. When Angela blushed in response, she was thankful that she hadn't taken the time to consider her thought and stop herself from voicing it.

"Well, I do not mind staying like this for a while. As you said, after thinking about it for so long, it is nice to finally experience it. I would like to enjoy it."

Angela held Fareeha a little tighter as she settled in to return to sleep, then groaned when she heard a soft voice coming from the speakers scattered around the suite. Picking up on their movement and conversation, the sensors in the bedroom chose this moment to alert the suite's private network to deliver morning announcements.

"Good morning, Doctor Ziegler. It is currently eight thirty seven and the outdoor temperature is fifteen degrees. You have messages waiting—"

"Not now!" Angela shouted at the ceiling and then buried her face in Fareeha's shoulder, determined to not have her moment of peace interrupted. She sighed heavily when she felt Fareeha shifting slightly and turning to face her. She was more than willing to put the rest of the world on hold, but Fareeha would surely never hear of such a thing.

"You can't just ignore them. They must be important. I should also check mine if it's this late. I'm sure I've got at least one by now that I should be answering."

Feeling Fareeha beginning to rise, Angela held on tighter to hold her in place. She was willing to hear the messages if it satisfied Fareeha, but only on the condition that her perfect morning didn't entirely come to an end. She lifted her head and, though she had an idea to retrieve both of their messages without having to get up, she spoke to the ceiling with a defeated voice.

"Connect all devices present to the local network and retrieve notifications."

"Captain Fareeha Amari: One missed call, two missed messages. Doctor Angela Ziegler: Seventeen missed calls, forty nine missed messages."

Fareeha looked in confusion at Angela, who sighed again and ordered the list of messages to be displayed on the television screen. "I always knew you were popular, but..."

Angela shook her head, then ordered the end of the speech from the speakers listing the names of all of the people that had contacted her. "They are business contacts, but they do not want anything important. I informed them that I would be taking time away following the festival, so I can only assume that they are calling because they saw us on the news." As the messages scrolled past, her expression grew increasingly more irritated. "As I thought. They just want to know what I have been doing...as though they do not already know. Given that they do know, I am amazed that they would be bothering me right now. It can only be for the sake of being the first to share the details of my evening."

Fareeha, finally able to recall some of the details of the evening before, remembered the people in Angela's story about her past. One of the traits that most of them shared that she seemed to detest was a love of gossip. Fareeha was quick to insist that they attend to business matters because she had assumed that Angela simply didn't want to be bothered; she knew well that Angela wasn't normally easy to wake up in the morning and usually needed at least an hour to herself before she could be troubled for anything. Thinking about her being hounded for fuel for more talk about her made her sudden irritation much easier to understand.

"I'm sorry, Angela. I know how much you hate dealing with things like this."

"Do not worry about it. You were right to say that they should not be ignored." She ordered the screen to stop scrolling near the end of the list. "I see one call here that seems to require my immediate attention. The French embassy is requesting my presence, so I should answer them, at least."

Fareeha glanced at the screen and saw many more messages, all of which appeared to be business letters and other official communications from hospitals and universities. "What about the rest? Are any more of them important?"

Angela's expression turned sour. "Hardly. They have merely taken not minding their own business and presented it as official requests for 'discussion of matters of importance.' If they had anything of significance to discuss outside of my personal life, they would have mentioned it at some point during the request."

"That's...surprising."

Angela's expression was softened slightly by a smile when she took in Fareeha's expression, looking as though she was still attempting to make sense of what she was hearing. "I suppose it would be to anyone not used to dealing with them. You would expect better of doctors and educators, but it is really only formally presented gossip. All of them want something and most of them want something that they do not need. Aside from the embassy, all of it can wait."

"What do you suppose they want?"

"I spoke with them briefly yesterday as I was on my way back here from the festival. From what I gathered, it seems that they want to get a head start on opening negotiations with Overwatch now that we have gone public with our intent to reform. Given that we are breaking international law by doing so, I suppose people are taking us seriously now. I do not want to deal with it today, but I cannot miss an opportunity to make a good impression."

Fareeha smiled, feeling relieved. She was happy that important work wasn't being put aside because of her, but more than that, she was happy to see that Angela didn't seem to be too upset by her insisting that the matter not wait. After seeing how difficult it had been to talk about her past, the last thing she wanted to do was give the impression that she hadn't been listening. They had both endured suffering solely for the sake of being able to understand each other better; Fareeha was weighted by guilt for having already forgotten one of the things that she learned from it. She quickly reviewed everything that she could recall from the night before, determined to not repeat the mistake.

"What about your messages, love?"

Lost in trying to remember the night before, Fareeha had completely forgotten about her own missed messages. She only nodded to Angela, who commanded that Fareeha's messages be displayed in place of her own. As Fareeha thought about where they must have come from, an uneasy feeling in her stomach that had nothing to do with the wine from the night before made it easy to guess before the voice from the speakers announced them.

"Missed phone call from: The office of Lieutenant Colonel Ranim Fawzy. Messages from: Lena Oxton and Lieutenant Colonel Ranim Fawzy."

Angela raised her eyebrows, not bothering to hide her curiosity. "What does Tracer want?" Before Fareeha could do anything to stop it, the message from Lena displayed on the television screen.

PHARAH! Where in the bloody hell have you been? Are you still out with Mercy? Film crews have been crowding outside your hotel all morning. I think they've figured out that you're not here, so I'm guessing they're headed your way by now. It looks like it went better than I thought! (Don't forget: I told you so!) Call me and tell me all about it! And don't you dare leave anything out!

Angela turned to Fareeha with a mischievous smile that was met with only silence and a fierce scarlet blush as Fareeha looked in any direction other than Angela's.

"So...what are you going to tell her?"

"I wish I knew."

Angela laughed loudly at Fareeha's embarrassed response, ignoring the pain it caused in her head. "Come, now...it is not that bad, is it?"

"Something tells me that she really won't let me go without actually wringing every last detail from me." Fareeha thought about every moment they'd spent in each other's arms and every kiss they'd shared and was mortified by the thought of telling anyone else about any of it. Never having had the opportunity to share details of such a wonderful experience with anyone before made the task seem all but impossible.

Sensing that Fareeha was more than merely embarrassed, Angela forced herself to calm her laughter for fear of upsetting Fareeha. Turning back to the television screen, she attempted to reassure her. "Do not worry. I will tell her to go easy on you, though I am certain that she already knows. She only wants to share your moment with you." Fareeha nodded, but seeing that she still looked uneasy, Angela opted to change the subject. "Who is Ranim Fawzy? I believe I have heard you mention that name before."

Grateful for the change of subject, Fareeha looked up at the screen again and started to read the message. "She works for Helix. She's the one that has been in charge of my transition to Overwatch. I had a feeling that I would be hearing from her today."

"You are officially on leave for this event, though. Is this some kind of a debriefing?"

"Something tells me that it won't be quite that easy." Reading the message, Fareeha frowned as her suspicions were confirmed. ".لقد عرفت ذلك"

"What?"

"It's nothing, really...it's just that I should've expected something like this." She saw phrases like "company image" and "proper use of resources" that suggested that, while she had done nothing wrong, someone still had something to say about it. Thinking about the crowds of reporters she'd fought her way through for most of the afternoon and evening before, it wasn't hard to guess what had started it all.

Taking in Fareeha's stern expression, Angela began to wonder if there was something about the message that she wasn't understanding. "Are...are they upset with you?"

"Not exactly. I'm not doing anything to hurt the company image, but they want to make sure it stays that way. In a sense, I imagine that this is the sort of thing they wanted when they sent me here. Everything about the festival and my joining Overwatch was all about painting a pretty picture of Helix for the public, after all. I doubt they were expecting me to end up in the news for something like this, though, so I'm guessing that they just want to make sure I don't waste an opportunity for a positive news story that will have their name in it." Fareeha sighed and considered the conversation that would follow. While she wasn't guilty of anything, she was certain that she wasn't going to enjoy it.

"This...this will not be a problem, will it?" The note of desperation in Angela's voice was faint, but it was unmistakable.

Fareeha looked away from the screen and at Angela, who was suddenly looking apprehensive. She smiled and kissed her tenderly, taking her entirely by surprise. After remembering the difficulty that she'd had the previous evening trying to find the right words, Fareeha was both fed up with the difficulty she had with it and unwilling to risk a miscommunication. This was a point that needed to be made perfectly clear. When she finally pulled away, Angela smiled at her with a dazed expression.

"I'm really going to have to learn to speak my thoughts a bit better one of these days."

"I...do not mind this, actually."

Fareeha laughed as she considered the possibility of speaking through kisses rather than words. As amusing as the idea was, it was also tempting. "Well, I'll certainly consider it. Meanwhile, I should think about returning this call if only to get it over with...but know that this will most decidedly not be a problem. Not for me, at least. Even I hate to think of what may await anyone that tries to turn this into one for me."

When Angela heard the strength of the conviction in Fareeha's response, she felt as lightheaded as she did when she was being kissed. She never intended to admit it, but in light of hindsight, she realized that it must have been obvious that she was worried. A battle of wills between herself and the person she loved and the people trying to keep them apart wasn't one that she was accustomed to winning. This wasn't entirely the same as in the past, however; the battles of the past were against disapproving friends or relatives, but the present concerned Fareeha's career. Despite the fact that the stakes were decidedly higher now, Angela couldn't bring herself to try to change Fareeha's mind. Instead, she focused on how effective Fareeha's words truly were. She is better with words than she gives herself credit for...but I do enjoy her alternatives.

Fareeha gave Angela a cautious look after glancing at the message on the screen one last time. "I really would like nothing more than to stay here in bed today, but I really should return that call."

Angela sighed, finally admitting that she should do the same. "As should I, if I am honest about it." She pouted as she carefully sat up, staring at the edge of the bed as though it were an enemy that she had failed to defeat.

"Well, I'll be free to enjoy the rest of my leave once I'm done with this. We could...do this again."

Angela turned around quickly in surprise. Though a small but sharp pain in her head punished her for the sudden movement, she took no interest in it. "Y—yes! Of course! We could get breakfast—well, brunch. Then we could come back here and...go back to bed." She worried about the potential implications of the suggestion, but Fareeha didn't appear to be at all distressed.

"That sounds like a good idea. I may be awake right now, but I have a hard time imagining that it will take." She moved to the edge of the bed and stood as slowly as she could, fearing more protests from her stomach. She felt as though she was moving through water more than air, but she seemed to be stable for the moment.

"Excellent! I hope you do not mind if we order in. I am not certain that going out would agree with me today."

"I think I know what you mean. I'm not looking forward to it, myself."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to have to go back to my hotel room. I need to put on my dress uniform before I make the call. It probably isn't necessary, but it's the sort of thing that they'll complain about if they're in the mood to find something wrong. Not communicating with video is as good as an invitation to inquire about it. It's not worth letting it come up."

An idea struck Angela that seemed reckless, but she couldn't stop herself entirely. "You should get some things from your hotel room and bring them here." Suddenly regretting her boldness, she quickly added, "it seems like a waste of time to spend time traveling between hotels, especially with the crowds of spectators that we would have to fight through."

Angela added the latter part as insurance. She couldn't help being nervous. She remembered Samia and how things had turned out for Fareeha the last time she moved too quickly. The last thing Angela wanted was to give her the idea that history was repeating itself, especially when she was fighting so hard to convince herself otherwise. If she was honest with herself, though, the last thing she wanted was for things to progress any more slowly than absolutely necessary now that they had finally begun. It is necessary for her, though. I must believe her when she says that she will not leave. If that is true, then I must be patient.

Angela's mention of spectators reminded Fareeha of the crowds that Lena had warned her would likely be coming her way. The thought made her stomach churn in spite of her efforts to keep it calm, but it wasn't enough to keep her from realizing what Angela was suggesting. While they had shared a hotel room on multiple occasions in the past, she couldn't convince herself that the situations were similar in any way. From the moment that she'd accepted the true meaning of the invitation to dinner the night before, she was in unfamiliar territory. The situation had changed entirely and was continuing to do so. She smiled when she realized that the most significant change was that she wanted it to.

"Yes, I think you're right. I'll get some things together and get back here as soon as I can."

Fareeha made her way into the next room and took a moment to look around. She was overcome with emotions that she couldn't quite sort when she remembered how much had passed between the two of them that evening. Their shoes were still in front of the sofa, Angela's placed neatly at one side and her own discarded haphazardly in her haste to be rid of them. Two empty bottles of Eiswein sat in a polished steel bucket now filled with water. A pair of lipstick stained wine glasses were sitting near it, one of them still partially filled and the other resting on its side next to a tablet that was still active and waiting for another song to be queued. Taking in the scene felt to Fareeha like a validation of her memories, assuring her that she wasn't still somehow dreaming. She laughed at herself when she realized that it was still a concern. She carefully slid into her shoes and picked up her phone, then turned when she heard Angela entering the room. She was smiling to herself as she made her way toward Fareeha with a hairbrush in hand.

"What is that for?"

Laughing at the memory of a similar situation as they were leaving Anjou the night before, she replied, "again, modesty. I doubt you will be alone when you reach the front door and people will be making enough assumptions about your departure so early in the morning as it is."

Fareeha found herself growing uneasy when she considered the possibility as Angela started brushing her hair back into place. She was never comfortable with any kind of attention, but Angela might very well be bothered by any rumors that started circulating. "Should I say something to them?"

Angela couldn't resist the urge to kiss Fareeha gently as appreciation welled up inside of her. She really has been paying attention. She shook her head as she started straightening Fareeha's dress and stretching out wrinkles as best she could. "Do not worry about it, love. For once, I do not mind the murmuring."

Fareeha felt her face growing warm. The thought that Angela would be proud of such implications being made was further validation of the changes that were taking place in their relationship. They were certainly no longer only good friends. The more she thought about it, the better the thought sounded to her as well. As Angela took a moment to put one last stray hair into place, Fareeha's heart fluttered when she realized how much care was going into her appearance, giving her a fleeting thought of being sent off to work by a loving wife.

"There. I believe you are ready to go. Let me know when you are on your way back; I will have breakfast ready when you return."

Again, Fareeha thought of being cared for by a wife and, for a moment, couldn't find the words to speak. She quickly kissed Angela one last time and made her way to the door, only just remembering to grab her coat and evening bag on her way out. As Angela watched her carefully walk out of the door, she smiled as more words occurred to her that she couldn't bring herself to say. These words, however, she was willing to enjoy thinking to herself. Please hurry home.