A/N: You're in for a double treat again, because I didn't want to risk getting killed at the end of this chapter, so please hit 'next' when you are done reading, just don't skip the warning at the beginning. :P

I'd like to thank shelovesshoes for the dish idea. 3

Chapter Twenty-One

Elle couldn't have been more grateful for everything Diane has done for her in the last two days. She ceased to be her boss and she's more like a friend and a mother combined, something her own mother was rarely capable of.

Their dinner went well the previous night. It made Elle happy that Diane enjoyed the butterflied chicken she'd cooked for her. Glazed with pesto, stuffed with sundried tomatoes, olives and cream cheese, rolled up, cut in even sizes, and oven-baked in tomato sauce, with some parmesan, just like her grandmother had taught her. She even purchased a bottle of Italian Chardonnay that goes best with it, to make their evening more agreeable.

Diane couldn't stop praising her cooking abilities and Elle was glad she could finally prepare this exquisite dish for someone special. After dinner they watched a movie together and didn't even mention work, the conversation was flowing nevertheless. They stayed up until midnight having a wonderful time.

In the morning Elle could sleep in again and the memories of the unfortunate incident at the subway station started to fade away and gave their place to the happiness she felt due to spending time with Diane like that. They had breakfast together then arrived at the spa where Elle experienced something she won't forget anytime soon.

She's never felt more relaxed in her life than sitting at the side of the pool after the various treatments she went through. With her legs in the water she's waiting for Diane to arrive, like they agreed on before and waves to her when she finally enters the door.

"How was it?" Diane asks when she steps next to her.

"It was marvelous, I wish I could come back every weekend."

"That would be perfect. Did you swim?"

"No, I've only been here for a few minutes."

"Then let's go."

Elle slips into the water and she turns back just in time to see Diane take off her robe. It's the first time she sees her boss's body like that, with only a pair of bikinis covering certain parts and she actually has to pinch herself not to let her jaw drop at the sight. That's when Diane ceases to be a friend slash mother probably for forever and goes back to being the object of her desire more than ever.

Elle can only hope Diane didn't notice anything as she tries to gather herself while the other woman arrives in the water next to her.

"How about twenty laps or is that too much?"

"Sounds good," Elle replies and hopes that by the time they're done she'll be able to look at Diane without feeling anything inappropriate, otherwise spending two more nights in her house will be too much of a temptation to deal with.

o-o-o

Elle welcomed the idea of a short work session before their second movie night, concentrating on the facts of the case, makes it easier to deal with Diane's company, because she's sitting within a proper distance from her.

But only until Diane decides to end the professional part of their day far too early and Elle doesn't know how she's going to survive the rest of the evening with the desire she's been feeling for the other woman ever since she saw her at the pool. She cannot possibly act up on it, it would ruin everything, starting with the perfect time they've spent together, not to mention their whole work relationship.

But she wants nothing more than to kiss those lips until she feels that she returns her kisses, to touch her wherever she wants and undress her to feel her naked body all over hers. She wants to make love to her, hear her moan into her kisses, scream her name. She wants it all and she wants it now and it kills her that she cannot do anything about it.

"Would you mind if I called it a night? I'm feeling extremely tired," she stands up, using the only excuse she can think of, she knows she needs to get away from Diane right now.

"I was hoping we could watch a movie together," Diane seems disappointed and Elle hates herself for it even more, but she cannot stay.

"I'm sorry."

"Is everything all right? You don't look too well," Diane stands next to her and places her palm over her forehead to check if she has fever and Elle's pretty sure she does, even though it's a different one than she'd think. Not to mention that Diane standing so close to her is not helping at all, it would be so easy to grab her and not let go.

"I'm fine," she replies, but her voice almost fails her.

"You're shaking, we need to get you to bed," she hears the worry in Diane's voice and she has no idea what to do. Sure she'd like to go to bed, but not in the sense Diane's referring to.

But she lets Diane walk her up the stairs right into the guest room and seat her on the side of the bed.

"Do you need help with anything, should I bring you something?" Elle doesn't like seeing Diane so worried, but it shows how much she cares for her and it just makes it easier to fall for the woman.

"Maybe a glass of water," she says, just to get a few seconds alone, while Diane goes into the guest bathroom and pours her a glass of water.

"I'll bring you an aspirin too," Diane offers and Elle wonders why she didn't think about that earlier.

While Diane is away she tries to breathe deeply, drinks all the water and even goes for a refill and when she sees herself in the mirror her own face startles her. She cannot go on like this. She has to accept that she has feeling for this woman and either she returns them or not, but she has to know the answer. She might ruin their whole relationship if she makes a move on her, but there's a slight chance that Diane feels the same way. There have been signs and she thinks she has been pretty good at reading them.

They are alone now, somewhere safe, who knows if there will ever come another chance like this? If they can act upon their desire anytime it's now. She could probably leave if Diane let her leave at all and see her on Monday again, it wouldn't change a thing. She's been hiding her desire way too long, it can either be stilled by Diane or rejected. She probably has to say good bye to her either way, but she doesn't want to think about it now, she'll think about it tomorrow.

"Elle?" she hears Diane call her name, but she is unable to move, Diane enters the bathroom and finds hers shaking even more, this time for a slightly different reason.

She's made up her mind, she's just trying to gather the courage to ruin a long time harmonious relationship with something that will only cause them temporary pleasure, if she gets lucky.

Or pain if she doesn't.