Posting a day early, because in the mail today I received the Leda clone name list and a couple of Cosima's research/health journals used in the show! So excited to dive into them and read everything!
Much love to my amazing beta, belowthesky!

It wasn't until long after they touched down that the nerves got the better of Cosima. After baggage claim, after stopping in a little shop on the way out and buying a chuckling Delphine a 'Someone in San Francisco (heart)s Me' hoodie, after strange looks from Delphine when they were picked up in a new, shiny black towncar with a driver in a suit that Cosima declined to comment on. "Okay, there's something you need to know."

Delphine cast a quick glance to their driver then back to her girlfriend, her body tensing immediately. Nothing ever good started like that. It was just slightly above the ever-dreaded, "We need to talk." And only just.

"Aw baby don't be nervous." Cosima reached across the seat and took Delphine's hand in her own, bringing it to her lips and placing a few quick kisses to her knuckles. "It's not about us. I think we've done more than our fair share of sharing our feelings the past couple of months." They both chuckled, nervously. "But my family . . . my family has a lot of money. Like...if a lot of money had a lot of money. I just . . ." Cosima sighed and looked out the window as they turned up a long driveway. "It's not who I am. Everything I have, all that I am, is in spite of it."

"Cosima, I am not going to think any differently of you because you have money-"

"My family has money." Cosima corrected.

Delphine offered a small smile in apology and squeezed Cosima's hand. "Nothing I could learn about you will change anything. Not my opinion of you, not my feelings. I know who you really are."

A bright smile slowly came to Cosima's face as Delphine's words sank in. She should have given Delphine more credit, but she was so used to everything changing when people found out about her money. People saw her differently, acted differently around her, treated her differently. They doubted her intelligence and her abilities. Her friends weren't really her friends, even teachers tried to get something out of her. It was insulting and infuriating, but it drove her to push herself harder – to prove herself. Which she did every time.

Cosima was sure that when they got back to Toronto and their life that Delphine wouldn't judge her, but it's hard to see the forest through the trees as they say. She watched Delphine's face as her childhood home came into view. To her credit, Delphine tried to hide her surprise as the massive home came into view, but Cosima saw how her eyes opened just a tiny bit wider. "Whatever happens-"

"Cosima give me a little credit, please." Delphine said with a small smile, looking away from the window as if houses like that were something she saw so often they were hardly impressive.

"Meeting the parents is usually pretty embarrassing so just, whatever happens, picture me naked and think of anything you want and I'll do it to get you to forget whatever you learn."

Delphine blushed slightly, feeling blood rush to parts of her that had been ignored for too long, and shook her head. "Cheeky, cheeky girl."

Cosima chuckled, spotting her mother by the door. "Among other things." Turning back to Delphine she took her face in her hands and brought them together for a passionate meeting of lips and tongue. "Just remember I love you." The driver came around the the side and opened the door for Cosima. "Thanks Dave."

"Miss Niehaus."

"Dude, I've been telling you for years now it's just Cosima."

"Of course Miss Niehaus."

Cosima shook her head as she fist-bumped the man and turned toward the house. "Hi Mom!"

Carolyn Niehaus opened her arms to embrace her daughter, a wide smile on her face. "It's so good to see you. How are you feeling? You look well."

Cosima shrugged off her mother's concern. "I'm good I'm good. Delphine and I might be onto something in the lab. Actually, at the end of the month we're going to Paris to see a doctor who may be able to help."

"Wonderful!" Carolyn's face lit up for a moment before she looked around Cosima. "And where is this Delphine? I would think you made her up if I didn't seen her pictures on your Facebook. Just about every picture and post is about her."

Cosima turned red. Maybe she was going a little overboard with the couples selfies and sappy posts, but so what? She was happy. And they were hot together. "Please Mom, don't embarrass me."

Carolyn smirked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes identical to the one Cosima got. "Wouldn't dream of it sweetheart." With strong hands on Cosima's shoulders she moved her daughter to the side. "She is beautiful Cosima."

Cosima looked behind her and saw Delphine speak to the driver for a quick moment before turning toward them and smiling. "She's incredible."

The over exaggerated groaning could be heard even over the sound of laughter.

"And here she is buck-naked running around the yard with her underwear on her head." Carolyn pointed out to Delphine which began another round of laughter. And groaning from Cosima. "She was a wild child, even back then."

"Mom, what part of 'don't embarrass me' was unclear?"

Delphine placed a comforting hand over her girlfriend's as she tried to contain her laughter.

"Oh shush sweetheart. This is my right as your mother."

To Cosima's absolute delight, Delphine and her mother hit it off right away. They spoke of academia, of Carolyn's work at the university and Delphine's work at DYAD, about Delphine's upbringing in France and of her parents, but mostly they spoke of Cosima. Of how Carolyn knew from the start how intelligent her daughter was...

"Right from the moment they placed her in my arms, I knew. She looked around at everyone and everything like she was studying it. She's always been like that. In love with the world around her and wanting to know the whos, whats, whys, hows and so forth. I don't think she's ever sat still in her life. There's always been something for her to explore."

...how proud she was of Cosima's achievements, her regrets of missing all those years of her daughter's life, how proud Cosima's father was of her and how proud he would be to see the woman she had become. She showed Delphine the library which also held every single award Cosima ever received, framed and/or proudly displayed.

"Seriously Mom? A participation award for sports day in third grade?"

Carolyn shrugged. "Well when your mind is so occupied with more important things, some aspects escape you. Even you can't be good at everything."

Carolyn briefly asked how their work was going on in the lab, but other than what Cosima told her outside of the house, the brunette refused to talk about it.

"Please Mom, that is all we live, breathe and sleep. I just want a few days where I can forget about it."

"But she is okay, right?" Carolyn asked, instead turning to Delphine. "You are making progress?"

Delphine offered the woman a small smile. "We will know more when we meet with Dr. Duncan in Paris, but it's promising."

Then came the photo albums and the showing of every embarrassing picture ever taken of Cosima and the telling of every embarrassing story.

Delphine wished she could have met Cosima a few years earlier. She never found dreadlocks particularly sexy, but there was something so very...Cosima about them. She looked more confident back then. More sure of herself, less weighed down by circumstance. Delphine would do anything to make Cosima feel that way again.

Then there was a picture of a chubby-cheeked baby Cosima toddling around and Delphine felt her heart nearly burst.

"She was the most beautiful baby." Carolyn said proudly. "Then I don't know what happened." She joked.

"Hey!" Cosima protested.

"Aw pauvre petit chiot." Delphine cooed, putting an arm around Cosima and placing a kiss to her cheek. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," she whispered so only Cosima could hear.

"And on that note" With a sly smile Cosima closed the album. "We're going to do some sight seeing. I promised Delphine the full San Francisco experience."

"That sounds nice. You two have fun."

"Would you like to join us?" Delphine asked as they got up.

"Oh no no. You girls have fun. I have a class to teach in an hour. I'll see you later."

Cosima crossed around to her mother and kissed her cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too sweetheart." Carolyn smiled, pulling her daughter down to whisper in her ear. "I like this one, Cosima. Don't let her get away."

Cosima smiled at Delphine before bringing her lips to the other side of her mother's ear away from where Delphine could see. "I'm going to marry her someday. Do you still have Nana's ring?"

"Of course." Carolyn smiled. "Just let me know when."

"You'll be the first to know." It was something Cosima had been thinking of for a while now. Things hadn't gotten bad bad yet, but Delphine was at her side every step of the way. It was another incentive for them to push and for Cosima to fight. She would never make Delphine a widow, so she had to survive.

Cosima went upstairs to get her camera out of her suitcase that had been put in her room and Carolyn took the opportunity to speak with Delphine alone. "I haven't seen her this happy in quite some time you know."

Delphine blushed, forcing down the guilt at those words. Cosima was happy now, yes, but even just a couple of weeks ago she was happier. It was completely Delphine's fault. She was the one pulling away, not Cosima. Even if she wasn't meaning to. The thought of this disease ending the life of this amazing woman was too much, so she pushed herself as much as she could in the lab. It had been at least two weeks since she and Cosima had had sex and much longer since they made mind, body and soul fulfilling love, a little longer since she was there when Cosima woke in the morning, and it was getting rarer and rarer that she was done in time to meet Cosima for dinner or held her until she fell asleep at night. She couldn't even remember a conversation they had that didn't in some way reference Cosima's illness.

If she didn't learn how to better fulfill all of Cosima's needs, not just medically, she was going to lose her. Delphine knew this, but the doctor in her kept those thoughts away and focused on the science. She kept telling herself that there would be time for them to lose themselves in one another when Cosima was cured, but right now, whether Cosima accepted it or not, she needed Delphine to be her doctor.

"Fuck Delphine, seriously. Stop mothering me! You need to start leaving Dr. Cormier at the lab. When we're here, when we're outside of work, I need my girlfriend. When I need my doctor I'll let you know."

When Cosima was well, when she was cured, they would have all the time in the world. "Your daughter is an incredible woman, Mrs. Niehaus."

"Please, it's Carolyn. And yes she is, but that's not why she's happy."

Delphine smiled at the older woman. She was so warm and open. Like Cosima she was a free spirit and lead with her heart. With her pencil straight ash brown hair tied up in a clip and her eyes the color of the ocean, she looked nothing like Cosima and yet her posture, her mannerisms, the look in her eyes, her laugh, her passion was everything Cosima.

"I know Cosima is a lot to take sometimes, but when she loves she does so with everything she has in her." The older woman spoke warmly.

"I know." Delphine smiled sadly. She would make her emotional absence up to Cosima this trip. Cosima wanted her girlfriend and for the next few days Delphine would give that to her. Without labs to run or results to make sense of, Dr. Cormier wasn't needed here. Delphine was. As hard as she was pushing for answers, for results, she needed Cosima too. Everytime she sent Cosima home alone or she looked over at the clock to see it was late and she missed a goodnight call or text her heart broke a little more. It had been some time since Cosima had even bothered to say goodnight, knowing Delphine wouldn't respond.

The blonde needed this trip as much as Cosima did. Where they could just be Cosima and Delphine. "I have never been loved like this before. I can only hope I make her as happy as she makes me."

"She is happy Delphine." Mrs. Niehaus smiled. "I don't know if I've ever seen her smile this much. Her eyes, they just...radiate love. She looks at you like my husband looked at me. You're soulmates."

Delphine nodded, swallowing thickly. "Mrs-Carolyn," she corrected. "I promise I am doing everything I can to find a cure."

Carolyn smiled sadly and clasped Delphine's hand in her own. "I don't doubt that. Just don't let it make you lose sight of what's right in front of you. She needs you Delphine. As much more than just her doctor. Her heart wasn't in it before and she gave up. I know it's not fair to put her entire life on you, but-"

"I promise. I won't lose sight of her." Delphine took a deep breath, wondering what her girlfriend had told her mother, or if Carolyn was just that good at reading her daughter. "She makes me happier than I ever thought possible. I've never had a relationship as all-consuming as what Cosima and I have. Sometimes I feel as though I don't deserve it - I don't deserve her." Carolyn smiled happily which caused Delphine's own smile to grow. "I feel like I'm in a fairytale."

"Written by the Grimm Brothers, no doubt." Carolyn chuckled sadly. Carolyn spoke with such sadness that unfortunately only came with experience. Watching her husband die was the most difficult thing she ever did and she almost didn't make it out of it, but Cosima kept her going. She may have lost her way for a while, but it was Cosima that brought her back. Now Delphine was in her shoes and her heart broke for her. Her heart broke for Delphine and it broke for Cosima and it broke for herself.

Delphine smiled. Grimm fairy tales were far from fairy tales and far from happy. Cosima was very sick and that hurt more than even Delphine could comprehend, but their love...their love was a fairy tale Delphine was certain of that. A good fairy tale. A fairy tale of which Delphine would fight tooth and nail not to end. Not anytime soon. Not if she had anything to do with it. "I want nothing more than to grow old with your daughter. I will not stop until I make that happen."

Carolyn smiled and gave Delphine's hand a pat before releasing it. "Okay sweetheart. Okay."

It did not instill the confidence Delphine was looking for. She was being placated. Delphine knew that look in Carolyn's eyes. It was resignation. Carolyn couldn't handle false hope any more than her daughter could and Delphine respected that. Maybe she was foolish in thinking she could cure Cosima, but she would try. She would try with every ounce she had in her, with every cell in her body. Whatever it took.

Despite being up before dawn and spending hours at airports and a five hour flight, Cosima and Delphine made use of every second they had. They started Delphine's introduction to San Francisco with a stop at Fisherman's Wharf for a typical seafood lunch of which Delphine noticed Cosima barely touched. Her appetite was a hit or miss these days. As much as she could, when she left the lab in time for dinner, Delphine tried to cook foods she knew Cosima couldn't resist. Once a week she stayed up late after she let herself into Cosima's house and stocked the fridge so there would be some healthy, already prepared meals for Cosima to grab. She would cook with real butter and heavy cream, whole milk and full-fat yogurt for added taste and calories. If there were things ready, Cosima was more likely to eat rather than if she had to prepare food herself, but even at that she rarely finished a meal anymore.

After lunch they wandered around the shops, saw hordes of barking sea lions, took some pictures and found a little French bakery. They wandered through Madame Tussaud's and took pictures with fake, but unbelievably life-like, celebrities. There was a show starting next door at the San Francisco Dungeon right when they exited that of course they went and saw.

And it was amazing. What they did didn't matter so much as just being able to spend some uninterrupted time together with this disease momentarily put on the back burner. It felt like before Cosima told Delphine the truth, but without the pit of lies burning a hole in her stomach. Just walking down the pier hand-in-hand was more healing than any treatment.

The smile on Delphine's face made Cosima push through the exhaustion she was feeling. The day had already taken a lot out of her, but they only had a few days here and so much to do. There was so much she wanted to share with Delphine and the blonde was eating it all up, but Delphine put her foot down when Cosima couldn't stop coughing.

"Delphine I'm fine," she protested weakly, trying to hide the crimson she was coughing into the tissue.

"You are not fine, Cosima. We've done too much for you today."

"I cough when we've done nothing all day. Coughing is not synonymous with doing too much. It's just part of this disease."

Delphine sighed. Cosima was right. How many lazy days or nights had they spent just watching movies for Cosima to cough more than she was now?

"I know you worry about me." Cosima looked up at her girlfriend with a smile and laced their fingers together. "But I promised to let you know when I couldn't handle things and I promise you I'm okay." A little tired, she thought. But okay.

Delphine nodded, leaning forward to brush her nose against Cosima's before softly pressing their lips together. "I'm sorry. I can't help but worry."

"I know. And I appreciate it, but please leave the doctor-"

"Cosima!"

Cosima peered around Delphine and saw a familiar blonde running over to them. Her lips curved up into a smile. "Bobby!"

Cosima ran to her friend and laughed as the other woman picked her up in her arms and spun her around. "Holy hell girl how long's it been?"

Cosima released her friend and reached her hand back for Delphine, who was soon at her side. "Too long dude."

Bobby looked from Cosima to Delphine, slowly raking her eyes up and down the blonde before turning back to Cosima.

"Shit, sorry, Delphine this is Bobby. Bobby, Delphine. Bobby and I go way back." Cosima explained with a big smile on her face.

Delphine held her hand out to the other woman and shook her hand. "Enchantée."

"Pleasure." Bobby smiled before tilting her head toward Cosima. "You lucky bastard."

Cosima looked up at her girlfriend with a bright smile. "Don't I know it."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm..." Cosima smiled at the concern on her friend's face. Bobby was one of the few friends who visited her when she was in the hospital all those months ago. Cosima was unconscious more often than not, but Bobby made sure to stay until she woke and saw her, even if it meant she sat in that room for hours. She would crack a joke or just sit there and hold Cosima's hand, and make sure she stayed up to date on the goings on in their circle of friends. It made Cosima feel like she still had a life. Like she wasn't wasting away in a little sterile room. It meant more to Cosima than she ever told her. "I'm okay." She answered honestly. "There's good days and bad, but we're working on it. We've got some promising leads, so..."

"Good, good!" Bobby smiled. A chirp from her cell phone interrupted them. "Listen I'd love to catch-up, but I'm on my way to pick up my girlfriend. Why don't you come to SHEer HEat tomorrow night?"

Cosima's face lit up. "It's a club," she explained to her confused girlfriend. SHEer HEat was a well known gay club in the area. Her favorite around actually. The people were friendly, the music an eclectic mix, strong drinks, big dance floors. Lots of happy memories. "Surprised that place is still around."

"Oh yeah. They have a killer drag show on Saturday nights now. Jamie's performing."

"No shit?! Oh dude, we totes have to go." Cosima turned to Delphine with big, pleading eyes.

Delphine laughed at how Cosima's sayings and mannerisms were getting more pronounced the more time they spent in her hometown.

Bobby chuckled. "You still have my number?" Cosima nodded. "Cool. Text me and let me know. I'd really like to catch up. Hear how all of this" She motioned to Delphine with a sly grin. "Happened. Even if you can't come tomorrow we have to get together."

Bobby hugged Cosima and gave Delphine a wave before continuing along her way.

"How do you know her?" Delphine asked.

"Old friend." Cosima said which earned her a sceptical look from Delphine. "Old girlfriend," she admitted. "We were absolutely terrible together and realized we were much better friends. I've known her for years, but I totally get if it makes you uncomfortable-"

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable. Everyone has a past and I trust you."

Cosima gave her girlfriend a quick kiss before grabbing her arm and leading her down the Wharf to the nearest cable car stop. It was, after all, a part of the San Francisco experience. "What do you think about going to the club tomorrow night?"

"It sounds like fun. I do love a good drag show."

"Yeah?" Never in a million years could Cosima picture her, mostly, straight-laced girlfriend ever sitting through a drag show. You learn something new everyday. "Awesome! I haven't seen Jamie in forever but he was always really good at that sort of thing. I doubt we'll be disappointed."

"But," Delphine began seriously, turning Cosima to face her. "Only if we take it easy tomorrow."

"Yeah." Cosima bit her lip. "Not gonna happen." Delphine had never been to San Francisco and they had five days for Cosima to show her everything she could. She just wanted to share it all with Delphine. Show her around the city that raised her. Show her what got her through the tough times, where she ran to when she needed to get away, all of it. Her mother was free Sunday and Monday so Cosima wanted to spend a good chunk of those days with her, but she had classes today and some kind of workshop all day tomorrow so these two days she and Delphine could explore to their heart's content. Their flight didn't leave until late on Tuesday so whatever they didn't see they had time to get in then before their flight.

"I know you said you would tell me if you're struggling, but that doesn't mean we should push and find out what your limits are." Delphine said tensely. The last thing Cosima wanted was to be reminded of her disease, but for as much as Delphine tried, she couldn't ignore the doctor within her.

"I'll tell you what" Cosima began as she stepped up onto the cable car, pulling Delphine along behind her. "For the rest of tonight we can take it easy. We can go down to Baker Beach which, has a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and watch the sun set. Get some ice cream? Sadly they don't have eskimo pies, but I know this little place that is totally great. And tomorrow there's a lot I want us to do, but I promise that we can go home and take a nap before we go out for the night. Deal?"

Delphine bit her lip as she pretended to consider Cosima's proposal. Truthfully Cosima seemed so genuinely happy and carefree that she could probably ask for just about anything and Delphine would agree. There was nothing quite like seeing Cosima in her element. This city made Cosima who she was and Delphine wanted to experience it all through Cosima's eyes. With a smile she nodded. "Deal."