They sat soaking up each other's warmth, Bernie being the most relaxed Serena had ever seen her. She kissed the top of her head and her temple, running her hand across the angular cheekbones of her face. The blonde hummed happily as she stroked small circles on the inside of Serena's forearms, joining the dots of her freckles in a random pattern. They both could have stayed there forever. Apart the rumble that broke the silence, making Bernie blush and Serena giggle. Bernie thought it might be the most beautiful sound and reached to tickle the brunette slightly making her squeal in laughter and push the army medic away, begging her to stop.

"Now I know how to get my way!"

"Please don't tickle!"

Bernie couldn't resist leaning back over and tickling the brunettes sides once more and she laughed and squealed again "Please don't tickle!"

Then almost imperceptibly the moment changed. The air got thicker and crackles of electricity roamed around them. Bernie, holding herself up over Serena where she'd moved to tickle, Serena looking back up at Bernie like she was the most precious jewel she'd ever witnessed. The army medics breath caught and Serena surged up underneath her to capture her lips in a kiss so filled with passion, so exquisite that the women both moaned into each other's mouths. That was what woke Bernie up to where she was and what she was doing and panting she moved herself away.

Serena's eyes filled with tears. Was Bernie going to reject her now, tell her it was a mistake? Bernie sensed this, mind-reading accurately and spit out some words "Serena, I want to, but I'll go too fast. I'm not ready to give all of myself yet, and you don't deserve any less"

Serena sniffled but understood.

"Lets go get cleaned up and dressed" she said with a watery half smile.

They climbed the stairs with heavy legs, both wanting to touch and be touched but recognising that they couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't. Serena led Bernie to the room she'd had Jason bring the small amount of stuff up to for her and opened the door, and heard Bernie gasp in delight.

It was a beautiful room, in soft rose pink and the grey of the feathers of a doves wing. A soft bed made in white lined with cushions in the centre, a white wooden dressing table under a large bay window which was framed with silken grey curtains with palest pink tie backs. The room was gentle and feminine and it felt like a haven to Bernie, who's flat was all magnolia and blond wood, impersonal and practical. This was unmistakably Serena and to be given this space as her own was overwhelming. She turned to thank her and noticed that on the chest of drawers along with a pile of towels was a photo of Jason and Serena in a frame. Serena was leaning into the young man as they looked at the camera and they both had wide happy smiles.

She looked at where Jason had neatly packed her stuff and delved into the box while Serena watched. Found her photos of Cam and Charlotte and placed them either side of the photo there. She heard Serena audibly smile and sigh with pleasure and the sounds warmed her heart. She walked over to the other woman and put her hands on her shoulders, leaned down for a simple, chaste kiss. Serena in turn reached up and brushed blonde curls out of the army medics face.

"Do you mind showering in my ensuite? If you move his bottles in the main bathroom Jason will have a meltdown. I know where they go, so I'll shower in there."

"Not at all"

Serena breathed out relief. There was nothing in her ensuite to worry about. She'd checked and triple checked this time.

They gathered up towels and clothes and went to their separate showers to get clean, both, if they were honest, thinking about a day when they might use the same one. At the same time. And then each turning the water just a little colder.