DISCLAIMERS

1. I DO NOT OWN JURASSIC PARK/WORLD. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

PART 14

Lex stared into the beautiful eyes infront of her, not quite believing what had happened.

Her greatest dream had come true. She was back with Claire Dearing.

As the stunning redhead lightly stroked her arm, Lex sighed, both in an attempt to get air back into her body, and delay fresh tears from falling. But if they did, they would no longer be of sorrow or regret: Lex felt nothing now but contentment and sheer joy. The woman of her dreams, the woman she loved more than anything else, was back with her.

Already holding eachother under the bedsheets, Lex wiggled her body in an attempt to get even closer to her lover. A smile crossed her face: lover. It was hard, and it nearly broke them both, but they were reunited once more. Lex would forever be grateful that Claire returned her love. Lex moved her head closer to claim the lips seemingly made just for her, and grinned against them as Claire gladly returned the kiss. She felt Claire's hand move to her cheek, caressing it tenderly. Not for the first time, Lex wondered how she ever could have survived those months of them apart. With each passing second, Claire was proving her touch, her presence, her love to be as important to Lex as air.

Although, air was sort of the reason they were simply laying in bed right now. Indeed, they had spent the better part of the last three hours reconnecting their bond and affirming their love. It seemed to run the entire gamut: at times slow and tender, others quick and heavy. But at no point did they falter: both were apparently insatiable, only stopping for mere seconds before reclaiming eachother's lips, or moving their hands to another area. They were relentless in their need to be together, to regain what was feared lost forever. More than once both had wept during their coupling, sometimes individually, sometimes together. When one did succumb to emotion, it seemed to just drive the other further. That was certainly the case for Lex: whenever she saw tears in her beloved's eyes, she multiplied her efforts to send her over the edge. Lex needed Claire to know just how much she meant to her, how much she needed her.

Because that was the case. Lex knew now she needed Claire to survive - she loved the perfect redhead with every fibre of her being. Though the situation was still far from uncomplicated, Lex knew with the love of her life at her side, they could accomplish anything. Not for the first time, Lex castigated herself for ever letting this woman slip through her fingers. She intensified the kiss now, wanting to savour the feel and taste. "I love you... " she breathed when their mouths eventually parted. "I'm so sorry... "

Claire stopped her with another gentle kiss. "Sshh. I should be saying sorry... I never should've treated you like that... " When Lex minutely leaned her head back, furrowing her brow, Claire elaborated. "I was so scared... I was so weak, and I wanted to... feel strong again. I wanted to feel in control." Seeing tears form, Lex softly wiped them from her love's face. "I... wanted you to... " Claire stopped, and a sob escaped. She closed her eyes tight.

Lex pawed her cheek. "It's OK, my darling. You can say it. I... deserved to suffer, after the way I treated you."

"No!" Claire suddenly gasped, surprising Lex. "I didn't want you to... God, I could never do that to you." She kissed Lex again, possibly in an attempt to stem more tears. "Losing you was the hardest thing I ever had to do. And I wanted to... protect myself. I wanted you to think... I didn't need... " Claire lowered her head, unable to continue.

"And you wanted me to know how much I... hurt you," Lex extrapolated. Eventually, almost ashamedly, Claire nodded, still looking down. However, Lex placed a finger under her chin and raised her gaze back to hers. "What I said, and what I did, at the end of that week, was awful. But if you give me the chance, I'll spend the rest of my life making it upto you."

Claire smiled as tears trickled free. Their lips met once more, Lex determined to convey just how much she loved the woman beside her. As she gently pushed forward, Lex deepened the kiss and rolled Claire onto her back. She broke the kiss as Claire's arms wrapped around her neck. She was looking up with pure love in her eyes: Lex was awed. Claire Dearing was the most beautiful creature in creation, and she had forgiven her. She had chosen to be with lowly Lex Murphy. In an instant, Lex made a decision - and when she spoke, it was completely with conviction. "Come back with me."

Claire blinked. "What?" Realisation then seemed to dawn on her, perhaps remembering the same words coming from her own mouth during their unforgettable week. "Are... are you serious?"

"Totally," said Lex. "Stay with me." Another thing Claire had said to her before. "In my new house."

"You finally moved in?"

Lex nodded. "And I could do... with a roomie," she grinned. Her smile quickly fell, however, as she framed Claire's face with her hands. "Please, my love... come back... come home with me."

Claire darted her eyes around. "Are... are you asking me... to move in?"

Lex took a deep breath. It was insane, it was impulsive, it was fast... but it also seemed so, so right. Exactly like their entire coupling. "Yes... I guess I am." She knew Claire had no place of her own: the CIA paying for a longterm hotel room made that obvious.

"But... what about my meetings?" Claire asked. "I'm still under investigation... "

For a brief moment, Lex felt a twinge of pain. Thinking of Claire's meetings with the CIA reminded her of the island, but... dammit, not now. This was far, far, far more important. And besides, looking at Claire's flawless face was all the strength Lex needed. "They would've charged you by now," she said. Owen had earlier explained the situation to her: Lex knew the CIA was keeping Claire here mainly to save face. It was Dr. Wu they were after. Lex never met the Jurassic Park/World geneticist - not even in 1993 - but he sounded like a right piece of work. Still, there was another, more obvious reason for Claire's reticence. "Unless... you don't want to come back with m... "

Lex was stopped when Claire forcefully pulled her head down and crashed their lips together. All doubt left Lex's mind as the kiss intensified.

It was a good thing they spent time recovering their strength...

TO BE CONTINUED