Paula was waiting for her therapist, wanting to talk to her.
"Paula?" She looked up, seeing the woman standing in the doorway. "You ready?"
"Hey Megan." Paula smiled at her, wheeling to the door. "Yeah."
"You seem really happy." Megan smiled, letting Paula into the room first. "Did something good happen? You got some sun, from the look of you."
"Yeah, something did." Paula moved across to the desk. "You know my boyfriend? We took the girls to the beach and had a fun time."
"Really?" Megan smiled at her. "That's good. He seems to be good for you."
Paula nodded. "He is. When I'm with him, it isn't so bad."
"It sounds like an improvement." Megan said, sitting down and turning an hourglass so the sand was flowing dow to the bottom. "So, what did you do? Let the girls bury you in the sand?"
A laugh left Paula. "Heavens no." She smiled. "We walked along the sand."
"You and this boyfriend?"
"Yes." She then clarified, "he lets me walk on his feet. We mainly dance that way."
Megan's eyebrows went up. "You walk and dance with him?"
Paula nodded with a sigh. "Yeah. He's.. Giovanni's such a good man, Megan, and I love him so much. Zatanna too, she's wonderful. Her and Artemis get along really well."
Megan smiled. "That's amazing." She sighed. "So, how are the nightmares?"
"I haven't really had any since we got together. But, I haven't told him about them yet." Paula looked down, ashamed.
"That's normal, Paula." Megan took her hands. "You're making so much progress. You have to remember that. Every day, everything big or small, is progress."
Paula nodded, looking up to her. "Thank you."
"Have you considered.."
"No. I mean, there are days.. but what if it doesn't work? What if it makes everything worse?" Paula shot the idea down, taking her hands back.
"Okay, forget I mentioned it." Megan said, before she smiled. "Tell me about the girls. Or how Giovanni makes you feel."
Paula nodded, mentally reminding herself that this was Megan's job. "Okay. Well, the girls. Artemis is the same as usual. She adjusted pretty well to everything, she's bonded pretty well with Zatanna, and she seems to have taken to Giovanni. I.. honestly feel so bad it took me so long to find a stable person." She paused in her ramblings, before continuing when Megan didn't speak.
"And Giovanni? He makes me feel loved and like I've actually changed and that I'm a person and just.. I've felt more alive now than I have in years." She smiled, a tear of happiness falling down her face.
Megan took note of how happy Paula was. "I'm so happy to see you be this happy." She offered Paula a box of tissues. "This dancing thing? When did it start?" She had noticed that Paula was looking healthier. Was it this dancing?
Paula wiped her eyes. "It started a few months ago, after we got together. We were watching a documentary on dancing, and he asked me if I wanted to. I was skeptical, but gave it a try. We danced, and it was magic. It was wonderful."
Megan nodded, seeing the sand was almost out. "It sounded so." She looked over to see the sand was out. "Well, we've reached the end of our session. This one was good. Keep dancing with him, and don't forget to talk to him, is all I can say." She stood up. "Let me walk you out."
"I intend to." Paula nodded with a smile. "Thanks." The two left the office, Paula seeing Giovanni parking the car to pick her up. "Giovanni!"
Megan turned to see the two as the man leaned down to kiss Paula's lips. "Oh, so this is your 'magic' boyfriend Giovanni?"
Paula blushed as she turned to Megan. "Yes, this is him." She looked back to Giovanni. "This is my therapist, Megan."
"Nice to meet you."
"Pleasures all mine."
They shook hands, before the three left. Megan walking to a coffee shop and Giovanni helping Paula into the car. Heading home to end the day while they waited for the girls to come home.