I set down my fork, "We are becoming friends, Grace." I was suddenly nervous about my aunt confronting whatever it was Lauren and I were doing, it was a fumbling bumbling start to what I thought was a crush, but I could feel it blossoming into something more as Lauren surprised me.

Grace held her tea cup and raised her eyebrows, "Friends, I see." she took a slow sip, "Did I also mention that I have caught the glances you throw her way? Ysabeau, there is something between the two of you that goes beyond friends, co workers and the like." she set her cup down, "You know all I have ever wanted for you is to find happiness, complete happiness unlike what you found in that boy." she smiled as she referred to Dyson. "She is a lovely woman, polite and thinks highly of you."

I smiled as I stared at my plate, "Grace, you are embarrassing me. Lauren and I are, something, nothing? Everything? I haven't figured it out." I leaned over the plate, "All I know is that she is incredible, incredibly irritating at times, incredibly kindhearted, giving, beautiful, gentle and strong at the same time, and there is something about her that just snuck up on me and I am very smitten with her." I looked in my aunts eyes, "She is the first person since Dyson...no, she is the only person I have ever met that makes my heart beat faster whenever she is around me." I bit my bottom lip, "There is an incredible attraction to her, and more than anything she makes me feel safe." I smiled as I looked at Grace, "She came over last night because I did call her, I woke up with Kenzi and was having a bad night with my dreams. I don't know why I decided to reach out to her...but I did."

Grace nodded, "And she arrived." my aunt placed her hand over mine, "She was worried about you but would not tell me much of why she was at our doorstep." she patted my hand, "Dr. Lewis is already very different than your previous interests, but be careful, I don't want you to get hurt again."

I grabbed her hand, smiling, "I know Grace, but there is something different about Lauren that makes me want to try harder within myself."

Grace smiled nodding in a quiet agreement, but I could see on her face the ever present cautionary tale she once told me when I first met Dyson.

I went to the hospital that day to set up the interim instructor that would be teaching my students, I was excited and nervous to be heading to New York city with Lauren as well as the conference. In the back of my mind I knew I should address the letter from Dyson. I walked through the hospital after getting the other doctor set up with what the students were working on. I smiled as I walked past Laurens office, waving to Leeds as she waved with a smile back. As I dropped my hand, I caught a glimpse of Lauren in jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt, standing right inside her office. I stopped as Leeds bustled out down the hall with her hands full of files, I turned to go back and say hello to Lauren. When I reached the edge of the door into her office , I saw a beautiful brunette come from the other side of the office, pulling Lauren into a very intimate embrace, she was smiling as she said something to Lauren, making Lauren laugh. I could feel the jealousy rise as they parted, the brunettes hands resting on Lauren's forearms. I looked away and was about to leave before my jealousy activated my quick temper, I looked back one more time and caught the glimpse of a small blonde haired boy, that looked to be about five years old, run to Lauren and pat at her legs, grabbing her attention. Lauren smiled wider than I had ever seen her as the little boy held his arms up, asking to be picked up.

Lauren bent and scooped him up in her arms, it was apparent the boy and Lauren were close as he latched onto her neck, hugging her and laughing. I watched as the brunette moved closer to Lauren and they interacted in a way that resembled the way Dyson and I would interact, close, intimate, and definitely not just friends.

I swallowed hard and tore my eyes away from the scene and hurried down the hall to my office. Jealousy, confusion and even a hint of anger was running rampant through my body. I was suddenly doubting everything, wondering if I was rushing into something with Lauren. I closed my officer door and dropped down into my desk chair, staring at files trying to calm and justify, even rectify my feelings that were swirling around in my body like a hurricane. I couldn't convince myself that what I saw was family, the way the two women touched and looked at each other, belied that.

I took a deep breath, "Bo. Relax." I as reacting the same way Lauren had when Aaron burst into my house. We both had pasts, pasts that were waiting to be shared and revealed. I had to fight my nature and calm myself down before I reacted, and reacted poorly like I always had. When I told Kenzi everything about the war, i had begun to feel as if i was healing, i wanted to be different and controlling my temper was one way. But I knew though, in that instant, my feelings for Lauren ran deeper than I expected.

I pushed at the files, thinking of the things I had lingering in my past, the biggest one was Dyson. He would not have been such an issue if it was not for the letter I had received, I knew that he would be aggressive in searching me out in time, that he would want to know more about why I was in the war, and why I left without hearing him out. I sighed hard as I started busying myself with signing off on evaluations and other random paperwork I had let pile up, it took up the rest of my day. It helped in keeping my mind on task, and from running amuck in the pool of jealousy I was so perilously on the edge of.

In my room later that night, as I sorted through the clothes I wanted to pack that were not uniforms, I took a break and pulled out the letter from Dyson, rereading it. I knew I should have written him a reply or replied to him in some manner, anything, but I was too wrapped up in my bad dreams and Lauren to give it a second thought. I sighed, grabbing my phone, I called Lauren.

"Hi Bo." her voice was soft and gentle, I couldn't help but smile as the sound of it chased away the lingering feelings I had from earlier in the day. "Hello Dr. Lewis. I was wondering if you were free to come by later? I kind of want to talk to you."

Lauren did not pause, "I would love too, Bo, but I cant. I have a couple more things to take care of, and..." I heard papers shuffling in the background and I swore I could hear voices mixed in. "I am also about to walk out the door to head to the airport, Colonel Windsor wants me at the conference a day early, and my flight leaves in four hours. I will meet you at the conference hall as soon as you get settled. Leeds will have the updated itinerary for you in the morning."

I frowned, disappointment was creeping in, as well as a few other emotions, but I could tell that Lauren was busy and this was not a avoidance tactic. I took a breath, "I understand, but you must promise to let me take you to dinner at my favorite place in the city."

I could hear the smile in her voice, "I promise, it will give me a perfect excuse to skip some of the administrative budget seminars that was suggested I attend."

"I will see you tomorrow night then, its a date. I should be in the city by at least eight or nine, then we can have dinner."

"i will be there, Bo." I heard her shuffle more papers, and before she hung up, "Bo, if you need me. I will answer the phone, no matter what time it is." I whispered a thank you as both of us hung up.

New York City had not changed in the slightest in the years I had left. I stood outside the terminal trying to find the car that was sent for me. The sights and sounds of the city hit me hard and I felt so many memories flood back into my body, it was fall and nothing could beat fall in the city. The cool city air, mixed with the changing leaves, all amazing to my senses. Small memories of when I was a little girl running around Brooklyn all the way up to the last ones I had before I left the city for good. I was tired, the flight was long and delayed a few times due to the rain back in London. I did not need to call Lauren during the night, but I smiled as she was dead on replying to my texts or calls whenever my flight was delayed.

I fidgeted with my bags as a young woman in her dress blues ran up to me, "Excuse me, ma'am. Are you Lieutenant Dennis?" she looked at me with wide nervous eyes. I nodded, I was not in my uniform. I had packed it away and left putting it on until the last possible minute, "I am." I dug in my pocket and pulled out my identification, "I know you were expecting a uniform, but I hate flying in the thing."

The younger woman glanced over my ID card, smiling with relief, "I thought I was late and I had missed you, ma'am." she reached down for my bags, "I am Ensign Chelsea O'Neil, I will be your driver for the weekend." the woman hustled and placed my bags in the trunk of the plain black U.S. Government sedan. She held the door open for me as I slid in, "Commander Lewis said she will meet you at the hotel, the events at the conference are about to finish for the day."

O'Neil said very little as she expertly navigated the evening traffic and arrived at the hotel in record time. She helped bring my bags into the hotel and handed them off to a bellhop and rushed out of the hotel quickly. The elevator ride was quiet, the bellhop would sneak glances at me and smile whenever I caught him. He set my bags in my room, nodded and told me if I needed anything to call the front desk. I walked towards the window, dialing Lauren as I pulled open the curtain and smiling as I had the perfect view of Central Park underneath me.

"Commander Lewis, speaking."

"The eagle has landed, late, but I have landed." I pressed my hand against the window, looking over the massive expanse of the view.

"I was beginning to get worried about you." she pulled away from the phone and I heard her issue polite goodbyes, "i am walking out of the conference now, I should be back at the hotel in about twenty minutes, I am in the room next door to you."

I smiled wide, "perfect, I will get cleaned up. You still up for a dinner? I am starving and you can get me caught up on what to expect at this conference."

"I have been looking forward to dinner and seeing you all day, Bo." her voice dropped a little as I felt my smile widen. I hung up, forgoing unpacking anything and going straight to the shower.

A light knock on my door came exactly twenty minutes later, I opened it to find Lauren, in her uniform. I held the door open for her to come in, "you are prompt." I had just gotten out of the shower and was drying off my hair.

Lauren set her briefcase down and grabbed me in a unexpected hug, I wrapped my arms around her as she smiled, "I didn't want to be late." she leaned back in my arms, "I need a drink, as soon as possible. The conference is as boring as doctors can get." Lauren reached up holding a hand against my cheek, "I am glad to see you, Bo."

"me too." I leaned forward and kissed her quickly before pushing her away, "Go, change. Then I can take you to my favorite place."

Lauren nodded and grabbed my hand, pulling me after her, "Come, I will fill you on what to expect as I change, that way it will not ruin our dinner conversation." she walked to the door that joined the two rooms, pushing it open to reveal that the rooms were connected in a way that made it look like a large apartment. Lauren tossed her briefcase in a chair, her desk and bed were covered with files and random paperwork. I walked to the edge of the bed, "I am beginning to think you are a workaholic."

Lauren smiled as she unbuttoned her uniform jacket, pulling it off and laying it over the back of a chair. "I am, I cannot help it. Its something I have always been guilty of, work and loving to work as much as possible." she looked at me as her hands moved to her shirt buttons, "This conference will be interesting as they begin to get into the actual new procedures and techniques. " I watched her as she continued on about this and that about the seminars, and some of the things she was looking forward too. All I could focus on was that she was undressing in front of me and I could not move. She pulled her shirt off to reveal a very toned body, perfect breasts in a dark blue bra, the sight made me shiver, and swallow hard. She was stunning, and I felt a dull ache come over me. I wanted to rush to her, grab her, kiss her and remove the rest of her clothes. Wonder of what she would look like completely nude, was the only thought in my head.

Lauren walked over to the closet and I could not tear my eyes away from her, only breaking my stare as she pulled on a teal, fitted button up shirt, breaking the the haze i was in. She looked at me and suddenly blushed, "I probably should have excused myself...I forget things when I am rambling about medicine and science." I looked past her and out the window, "Um, it's okay, I um." I stopped, having nothing in my defense to explain anything other than that I was definitely staring at her. I smoothed out my own outfit of a grey tank top and tight black jeans, "I hope you are hungry for some of the best new York pizza you will ever have."

Lauren had turned away from me to finish dressing, I could still see her reflection in the window. "I am starving, I barely had lunch today." She turned back around and grabbed her jeans, she smiled and walked to the bathroom, "I'll just be a minute."

I smiled and as she closed the door, I let out the breath I was holding. This was going to be an interesting week, especially if I was this close to her the entire time. Lauren stepped out of the bathroom, she was gorgeous in her dark blue jeans and worn brown boots. She grabbed a leather jacket from the closet and walked over to me, "You ready?" I could tell she was still mildly embarrassed from stripping down in front of me. I nodded, "let me grab my jacket and we can go." I rushed to my room, grabbing my own leather jacket and held open the door for Lauren.

"This is a restaurant?" Lauren looked at me sideways as we stood outside the tiny, run down looking pizza shop I had brought her too. I smiled wide, bumping into her, "This is, one of the best in the world. I used to come here almost everyday after class for a slice, or a whole pie, depending on how bad the day was." I reached down and grabbed her hand, "Trust me."

Lauren raised her eyebrows as she let me pull her inside. We took a seat at one of the small booths near the back, my favorite spot to sit and eat but I could still look out in the restaurant and people watch. The waiter came to the table and I ordered a pizza for the both of us. Lauren smiled as I winked at her, "You will love it, I promise."

"This will be a first for me, I have not had a proper New York pizza in my life."

I opened my mouth in mock shock, "Dr. Lewis, you cannot be serious."

Lauren shrugged, "this is actually my first time in New York City."

I reached across the table and grabbed her hands in mine, pulling a smile from her, "Well, then I better show you around my hometown." I looked at her hands in mine, "I would love to show you were I grew up, Lauren." I took a breath as I felt her hands squeeze mine, I opened my mouth to tell her about Dyson and maybe ask her about what I saw in the office when the waiter came back with the massive pizza, setting it between us, forcing us to break our handhold.

Lauren looked at the food and at me, "This is a cardiac arrest waiting to happen, Bo."

I laughed, "It will be worth it." I pulled a slice off and held it out to her, "Take a bite and tell me what you think." Lauren was hesitant, then took a bite. I watched as she chewed, her mind working on the tastes, when finally she smiled, "it is amazing."

I threw my fist up in victory, "America one, England zero!"

Lauren shook her head, "I had no idea we were in a competition."

I smirked at her, "Winner gets a kiss from a lovely doctor." I blurted it out, I was being bold and had wanted to kiss her again for days. Lauren smirked back at me, standing up out of her chair, she leaned over, her face inches from mine, lips almost touching, "Then I forfeit immediately." she smiled closing the gap between us, kissing me. I half stood up from my seat to increase the contact, my hand going to the side of her face holding her as we kissed, slowly. I ran my tongue over her bottom lip, her mouth opening wider for me, our tongues gliding together as I felt my heart racing. We kissed until the waiter cleared his throat, "Uh, how is the pizza ladies?" Lauren pulled back, blushing as I laughed, looking at the waiter who was beet red and trying to look anywhere but at the two women kissing. "Excellent, thank you."

the waiter nodded and left us. Lauren fidgeted with her napkin, looking at her plate, "I could not help it, I have been wanting to do that for a little while now." I reached over and found her hand, "Me too." Lauren looked up and met my eyes, smiling bashfully, "You said there was something you wanted to talk to me about?" she picked up her pizza and took a bite. I shook my head, still caught up in the feeling of her lips against mine, "Later, after we eat and I show you some of the city. We can talk then." I didn't want to ruin the moment with drudging up pasts, I just wanted to enjoy dinner with the beautiful woman in front of me.

I stood in line at the corner drugstore, two cups of New York's finest coffee in my hands. Lauren was waiting outside, watching the city nightlife. The rest of dinner went amazing, we talked about our first years in med school, then we drifted into conversation about our favorite things, leading to me standing in the drugstore buying two cups of coffee from the same place I had bought a coffee everyday at on the way home from class. Lauren had never had American coffee like this and I was adamant to change her ways and thoughts on how a good, strong cup of coffee was the perfect thing on a fall night in the city.

I stood patiently as an older woman in front of me was buying her lotto tickets. I glanced out at Lauren, my smile stuck on my face as she was visibly enjoying what new Yorkers were like at night and knowing her, comparing them to Londoners. I also was enjoying the view of how beautiful she was when she didn't think anyone was looking. Her hair flowed around her as there was a slight wind, she pushed strands back, and smiled as a police officer stopped and chatted with her lightly. I could tell the police officer was thinking the same thing I was, and attempting to flirt with her. I turned back to the older woman in front of me, hoping to god she would hurry up or I would throw money over her shoulder and run out. I sighed hard and was about to say something to the slow moving barrier between me and the clerk.

"Bo? Bo is that you?" the deep, smooth voice made my heart stop. I kept my eyes on the woman in front of me, until I felt his hand on my shoulder, gently pulling at me, "It is you." I turned to look in the blue eyes and the wide bright smile that once had me so captured, Dyson looked at me as if I was a ghost, "Bo, I never thought I would see you here."

I swallowed hard and stared at the man I once loved standing in front of me, as the woman I was falling for, stood right outside.