Fiona came home from a long shift of surgeries. She stomped upstairs, into the drawing room and collapsed onto her wife.
"Rough night?"
Fiona nods yes into her wife's chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Fiona nods no into her wife's chest.
Alaya giggles, "You want to stay right where you are?"
Fiona nods yes.
"Are you hungry?"
Fiona nods yes.
"Can you breath?"
Fiona nods no.
Alaya pulls her wife up, "My dear breathing and eating will keep you alive."
"I just want to feel your heart."
Alaya places her wife back down.
Fiona turns her head to hear Alaya's beating heart and quickly falls asleep.
Alaya continues to read Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends by Lewis Spence using her wife puffy hair as a stand.
Hours pass when the doorbell rings.
Alaya licks the air, it is a telegram, but doesn't dare move.
Mother Vastra comes into the drawing-room and notices her daughter's precarious position. She whispers to her daughter, "Nice book holder." She smiles and goes to retrieve the telegram herself.
Alaya licks the air, her Mother is anxious. She decides to let her wife sleep a little while longer, if it is important Fiona will understand.
Alaya watches as her mother Jenny reads the telegram on the landing. She watches their interaction as Mother Jenny stiffens up and places her hand on her hip.
They whispered, but Alaya could still hear. They are whispering because her Fiona is sleeping.
"We have no choice?"
"It seems not."
"Are we able to gather reinforcements?"
"I will do my best."
Her mothers take hold of each other in an embrace. Alaya's heart skipped a beat watching her mother love each other after all these years.
They walk towards her holding each other's hand.
Mother Vastra hands Alaya the telegram.
10 03
TP Kitchen Garden Gate
2300
Alaya reads the telegram, nods and makes an attempt to get up.
Fiona adjusts herself and curls tighter around her cool wife's body.
Alaya whispers to her mothers, "Tomorrow?"
The mother nod with a smile.
Mother Jenny covers Fiona up with a blanket and both depart the drawing-room closing the door behind them.
Alaya goes back to her book and playing with the long springy hair with her open hand.
She licks her wife's cheek and can taste love and for the first time peace.
