13th of August Monday

Sara packed her backpack for the day with plenty of water. It was supposed to be a hot day and she had no idea, if she could get to one of the water fountains. With a gallon in the backpack and one in her car she should be fine.

"Ready to leave?" She asked Sofia, who came with the dogs into the kitchen.

"Sure, we're ready to leave."

"Good. Me too. You drive?"

"As we take my car, I will drive." The blonde held up her keys. "But we have a few more minutes, don't we?"

"I thought we're ready to leave?"

"Yes…but…can we talk?"

"Sure…and we can't talk in the car because?"

"Okay, forget lets get you to work." The blonde sighed, turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Irritated Sara starred after her girlfriend before she followed her. When she sat in the car and Sofia was about to start the engine, she took the hand of the blonde.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Sofia."

"You wanted to talk while we drive, didn't you?"

"What would you like to talk about?"

"Nothing that can't wait until…some time else."

"Why not now?"

"You don't want to talk."

"Okay, lets cut through the crap and tell me what's wrong."

The blonde leant back. "Why don't you tell me? I mean…since Friday night you barely touch me, leave alone have sex with me. Why?"

Sara's face got dark and she swallowed hard. Not a topic she wanted to talk about, not here, not today, not at all. The problem was, it was the topic and she couldn't ignore it, that wouldn't be fair. And she had hurt her lover enough. "Because…I overstepped a limit."

"Honey, that's bullshit. Yes, I was scared, but not because of what you did, but because of how my body reacted, that I had no control anymore. I'm used to be in control all the time, or if I lose control it's because I chose so and know exactly when I get back control. Friday, I was surprised, I had no control, no idea when I get it back. That was scary but it was worth it. You did nothing wrong Friday night, you never hurt me. On the other hand, since Saturday morning you hurt me by acting like the way you do. You withdraw yourself, you keep me out, barely want me in your arms. I feel like I destroyed our relationship."

"No, you didn't. I did."

"You didn't. But you will damage it when you don't stop doing what you are doing. I love you and I want to feel you, have you in my arms, sleep with you."

"I don't want to hurt you again."

"Then stop acting the way you do now."

Sara took Sofia's hand, fought with her tears. It wasn't as easy as it should be. Not for her. She had seen too often how people got hurt in their own house, by people, who were supposed to love them. She overstepped a line and felt like she physical abused her lover, the same way like she had slapped her. A good intension didn't make an act good. "I'm scared."

"Darling, how often did we sleep together?"

"Uhm…I don't know."

"A lot of times. How often did you hurt me?"

"Once."

"Never. And don't you dare to say anything else. You never did anything wrong. I must know if you hurt me because I'd feel it if you do. Or do you know better what's going on inside me than I do?"

"No." Sara swallowed.

"Good. Now, one more time and I hope you will understand my words, which shouldn't be a problem, considering you're a damn smart woman. You never hurt me, you did nothing wrong. It was the moment, that scared me, the new experience and a lot of excitement. Yes, I was unstable for a moment, yes there were tears, no it wasn't because you hurt me or did anything wrong. It was a physical reaction. My first roller coaster ride made my cry and scared me to death too, but after ten minutes I was back in there again, enjoying the thrill and what this thing could do to me. I love what you do to me, I love experience new things with you. I trust you with all my heart and soul and as long as you love me, you can never hurt me. And if you don't want me to get out of the car and stay home, you better get over yourself, pull me in your arms and kiss me, because I deserve a kiss." Sofia crossed her arms and looked provoking at her lover.

Sara grabbed the collar of the Sofia's shirt, pulled her over and kissed her, still pulling the blonde over so that she almost ended up on her lap.

"You deserve more than a kiss." The brunette whispered.

"I know but we don't have the time for more."

"Do you think we can make up later? After we come home, take the dogs for a walk? Have the evening for ourselves?"

"My parents are gone, Don, Tony and Sally can entertain themselves, we should be fine." Sofia smiled.

"Sounds like we have a deal. I might have some champagne hidden, want to drink it?"

"From your bellybutton?"

"If you want."

"I do."

"Then my bellybutton will be your glass. Can I have my champagne from your lips?"

"Whatever you want."

"I want you." Sara kissed her lover again. This was better than fighting. She didn't want to fight with the woman she loved. Like she didn't want to hurt her.


"I hate to say this, but I've to cancel our date." Shane said to Sara.

"We had a date?"

"Yes, late lunch date today. Just got a text from my chick, she wants to go to the beach with me. I upset her yesterday and should be nice today otherwise I will have another lonely Christmas."

"You upset her?"

"Boys night out…too much alcohol…I took the guys home, we partied there, she wasn't impressed to find half a dozen drunken men in the living room - some dressed up like cartoon characters, decorated in empty beer bottles."

"I can understand her."

"That's why I've to be nice today, go with her to the beach and invite her to dinner. Sorry."

"It's okay, you get a second chance."

"Good. Stephen can eat my burger, when I was his age, I was hungry all the time. Especially when there were burger."

"That hasn't changed."

"True." He grinned. "See you tomorrow. When will you leave?"

"As soon as Sofia is back with the dogs, she took them to another walk and should be back any second."

"Hi, I'm ready to leave. Sorry I let you wait." Stephen said when he came out of the hut.

"We're still waiting for Sofia."

"And I leave you alone with the girls, my better half requests me at the beach and I'm in no position to deny her wish. I tell you, Stephen, girlfriends are work. Make sure you pick an easy one."

"I keep that in mind."

"Good. See you tomorrow. Say hello to Sofia."

"Will do." Sara sat down.

"They wanted to do trail number four, should be back any minute." Stephen sat next to Sara.

"Probably the dogs found interesting traces and needed a minute more. We're not in a hurry, are we?"

"No, the children's home won't run away. Unfortunately."

"Did you tell them why you come back later?"

"No, I told them you take me home when we're done, they never questioned that. Where will we go to?"

"I'm not the burger person, you have to discuss that with Sofia." They decided it was better to ask Stephen where he wanted to go instead of taking him to a place without asking.

"What will you eat?"

"Fries and salad."

"Doesn't sound very exciting."

"Fast food is never exciting."

"Burgers are."

"You can't convince me to eat meat, Stephen. No chance."

"Leave her with the salad, this way there'll be more burgers for us." Sofia came with the dogs back. "Sorry, Scooby had the idea he could catch a squirrel. He actually tried to jump up a tree."

"Stupid dog, you can't climb up them, you're not a squirrel." Sara hugged the dog. "Come on, time to leave. Sofia, Stephen asked where you want your burger."

"I thought of Triple Burger when that's fine with you?"

His eyes became huge. "Triple Burger? Seriously? There's only one Triple Burger in Los Angeles, in Malibu. It's like burger heaven."

"Yeah, have you been there?"

"No, some of the older guys have been there, with friends from school, when they were supposed to be at school, but preferred the burger. Must be the best of the best. You really want to go there?"

"As you said, the best of the best."

"But it's in Malibu. Not even close on our way back, it's a big detour."

"Is that a problem for you?" The blonde smiled.

"No…I never thought adults would drive this far only to eat a burger."

"Adults don't do that, Sofia does." Sara grinned and blinked at her lover.

"My girlfriend doesn't allow me to have burger so often, when I have one, I want the best." The blonde started the car.

"You're not allowed to eat burger whenever you feel like it? Welcome to the club. I didn't know Sara is a prison guard too."

"No, she isn't, she's a loving partner, who worries about me. Honey, you are aware I will order a triple burger with triple cheese and extra sauce?"

"I am and you are aware that I will eat your fries while you get a side salad to your burger."

"What? No fries? A full burger experience includes fries. Extra large fries with three different dips."

"No, the burger has enough fat, you don't need extra fat with fries. Any problems with that?"

Sofia sighed. So much for her perfect burger dinner/late lunch. "She destroyed my combo. Burger with salad…am I allowed to drink Sprite? Or must I drink water?"

"You can have your Sprite or Fanta, as long as you don't drink Coke."

"Am I allowed to have the combo with coke?" Stephen asked carefully. When Sara was this strict, maybe there were rules for him too. His whole life was filled with rules.

"You can eat whatever you want." Sara smiled. "If you want everything in extra large, it's fine."

"Thanks. Shane is right, girlfriend are difficult."

"No." Sofia laughed. "It's not like this all the time. Usually I can have fries and coke with my burger, at the moment it's different because caffeine is not on my food and drink list anymore. Same with alcohol. And I have to eat more healthy stuff, less fun stuff."

"Why? Are you ill?"

"No."

"Sofia is pregnant, remember? The doctor gave her a list of things she isn't supposed to do anymore. Fast food was on the reduce or leave it out list."

"Right, I forgot, Sara told me about it. How do you feel? Do you feel pregnant?"

"No, not at all. I do have side effects, but I don't feel like there's a baby in me."

"Must feel strange the first time it kicks you…but how did you get pregnant? You're with Sara."

"And I never didn't sleep with a man, never betrayed her. I had an IV treatment, Sara is the mother of the baby, it has her DNA, the father is a friend of ours, I'm the surrogate mother. This way I've some impact of the baby too."

"But you are still working?"

"So far neither the doctor nor Sara have forbidden me to work - and if they get to this idea before I'm ready to stay home because I can't move anymore, they'll get in trouble with me."

"Great, we'll fight in a few months…good to know this in advance." Sara sighed. She hoped doctor Blumfield was on her side. The idea of a very pregnant Sofia in the field was nothing Sara liked. Her girlfriend and their baby were better off when both stayed at home, or at least in the lab.