A/N: This is the shortened version. As you can guess, I took out the MA content. You can find the MA version already posted over at AO3.

Rachel moaned deep in her throat as she slowly began surfacing from what had been an unusually deep and heavy sleep. Her eyelids tightened. There was light in the room. It wasn't that annoying light that creeped slowly through the curtain every morning. Bathroom. She turned over. Caitlin's pillow was dented but empty.

Blinking she tried to get her brain to bubble.

"Caitlin?" she called in a sleep roughened voice. Her eyes slowly took in the bedroom shadows still heavy in most of the room, the only light coming from the direction of the bathroom. The shower started. Rachel's brow knit as she looked at the clock in confusion. "It's 3:30 in the morning, Cait. A little early for a shower isn't it?" She rolled back over and started rolling herself up to a sitting position.

Rachel slid feet into slippers and stood. She moved toward the bathroom, concerned about what could cause her love to be showering at such an hour. "Did you have a nightmare, Caitlin?" she asked as she rubbed her hand over her eyes, willing herself more awake. She tugged off her night shirt and pulled her feet out of her slippers. She slid the shower door back and slipped in behind her fiancee. Facing the spray of the shower, she closed her tired eyes and cleared away the last of the sleep. She smiled as she felt the woman in front of her turn and slide arms around her as a warm body pressed into her own.

"Naughty."

"Am I the one that jumped into an occupied shower?" she heard asked jokingly.

Rachel's eyes popped open. This was not Caitlin. Her fingers shook as she raised them to touch the woman holding her. "Alex? Is it really you? Are you really here?"

Alexandra laughed. She pushed wet hair from Rachel's face. "Who else would be in our shower, silly?" She leaned close and kissed Rachel's shoulder. Rachel's heart was a pounding trip-hammer. Her heart didn't know whether to break, heal or explode. Her fingers brushed slowly over Alex's face, her lips. She leaned her head against the older woman's and breathed in her scent.

"You are pale as a sheet, Rach."

Rachel surged forward and wrapped her arms around Alexandra. "Don't ever leave me Alex, not ever," she said in a desperate voice.

Alex stroked her back. "I would never leave you. I'll always be with you baby." She kissed the top of Rachel's head. "What's wrong, Rachel?"

Rachel shook her head and kissed along Alex's shoulder. "Nothing... it's nothing. It was just a bad dream. You're here now."

Alexandra pulled back and cradled Rachel's face in her hands. She looked at her for a long moment. "Are you sure?"

Rachel smiled and blinked against the water still falling in the shower. Her hand brushed Alexandra's stomach. It quivered under the pads of her fingers.

Alex laughed breathily. Her fingers curled around Rachel's wrists. "Now, now." She leaned in and kissed Rachel hungrily slowly turning her to stand under the shower head. "Let's see if we can't make this more real for you." She reached for the bath pouf and using the large loop of thick string that usually hung it from a small hook, she slipped the thing over the shower head. Rachel looked up and smiled. Her arms stretched up placing her hands in the space left in the loop. She bit her lip and looked at Alex. "And is this where you want me Ms. Udinov?"

"Why Rachel, how did you ever guess?" Alexandra leaned in and kissed Rachel, her teeth nipping at her lover's lower lip. She pulled back to look at her with dark eyes. "How could you ever dream that I'd be away from you? You belong to me." she growled. She kissed and nipped at Rachel's throat. "You are mine forever."

"Yours," Rachel whispered feeling fingers slide down her body and pressing her back against the tile wall. Her skin was hot and wet from the steam and the shower and her need for Alex. It felt as if a lifetime had passed since her body was possessed so perfectly.

Alex slid her hands, spread and firm up Rachel's torso. Her eyes stared into those of her lover. She smiled slowly, as she drew nails over the wet skin of Rachel's abs. "Please Alex, don't tease me. I need you," she whispered.

Alex's fingers moved gently over her before their eyes met again. "For you, Rachel, anything," she whispered.

Her lips and teeth moved slowly over Rachel's throat as her hand gripped Rachel's hip. Their bodies slid against one another. Alexandra's nails teasingly raked lightly over Rachel's thigh.

Rachel's eyes flew open. She blinked as she caught her breath. She was not looking at Alex. There was no steam, no tiles... no Alex. A tear rolled out of the corner of her eye as she heard Caitlin's voice in the next room talking to Parker. Alex was gone. Just when her heart had mended, her brain came and kicked it to pieces again. Her knuckles slammed into the headboard. Caitlin came in. She saw Rachel staring up. "Did Parker's little adventure getting a glass of milk wake you too?" Caitlin asked, grinning.

Rachel looked over. "No," she whispered, still a little shell shocked.

A look of concern fell over Caitlin. She slowly lowered herself beside Rachel on the bed. Her hand rested lightly on Rachel's stomach. "Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

Rachel blinked her eyes clear. "I just... Hard night."

Caitlin leaned forward and kissed her gently. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."

Rachel smiled tremulously. "I'm okay...really." She stroked Caitlin's cheek. She sighed as she let go of the mists of the dream. "Will you hold me Cait?" she asked. "Until I fall asleep?"

"Hold you forever Rachel," Caitlin responded gently.