***  Flashback ***

"Where are Rachel and Ella going?" Catherine asked loudly so Elizabeth who was still in the kitchen, could hear it. Elizabeth didn't reply. Catherine got out of the chair she was sitting in and started to explore the house.

"Nice house." Catherine said, she turned around and walked in the direction of the kitchen. "Need help?" she asked.

"No, I'll be fine." Elizabeth said. Catherine smiled and sat down at the table. "Don't expect too much of it." Elizabeth said as she entered the livingroom with two plates full of food.

"Of you or the dinner?" Catherine said. "You look amazing."

"Both." Elizabeth laughed and sat down.

"It looks great, Lizzie." Catherine said.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"I'll have wine, please." Catherine said and Elizabeth went to the kitchen to get a bottle of wine.

"Red, right?" she said as she came back with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"You remember." Catherine smiled.

"Cath, I couldn't forget." The girls laughed.

"Nope, I couldn't either, Lizzie." Catherine said. "Is it alright if I call you Lizzie?"

"I prefer Elizabeth." She said, "But if you insist……"

"No, don't bother, Elizabeth will do." Catherine said.

"Can I call you Cath?" Elizabeth asked.

"I prefer Catherine, but if you insist….." Catherine smiled. "Just kidding, Cath is fine. I don't mind."

Both of them started eating.

"Rachel told me you have a daughter too." Elizabeth tried to start a conversation.

"I do, actually. Yes. Her name is Lindsey and she's 8."

"Well, you've met mine. Ella is 7, but knowing her, she's probably told you that already."

"She did." Catherine said. "Are you divorced? I mean…I don't see much that could belong to a man in this house."

"Mark died about 5 years ago." Elizabeth said.

"I'm sorry." Catherine said.

"What about you?"

"Long story…." Catherine said. "To make it short; he was an asshole, we divorced and he got killed."

"Got killed?"

"He wasn't very popular. Lots of enemies. He once took Lindsey with him, she wanted to be with him, don't get me wrong. He picked up a hooker/slut/bimbo, whatever you want to call her and got shot. Lindsey was still in the car, but she heard it. This hooker drove herself, Eddie and Lindsey into a river. Lindsey called me and I had to go find her. I was in time and managed to save her, but Eddie was dead already."

"Wow, that's a story." Elizabeth said. "Does Lindsey have problems or nightmares or anything?"

"Not a thing, that's so strange. Because I often dream about what could have happened."

"I can imagine."

"What about……"

"Mark?"

"I couldn't remember his name."

"He had a brain tumour." Elizabeth said. "The day I discovered I was pregnant with Ella, he found out about his tumour. On New year's eve we went to New York, Mark had surgery there and his tumour was removed. But a year later it came back and he started chemo again. A few weeks before he died he told me he wanted to quit with the chemo and he took Rachel to Hawaii, the two of them had some problems. He had a seizure there and Rachel called me. I took Ella with me to Hawaii and Mark told me he didn't want to go home. He died in Hawaii a few days after I had arrived." Elizabeth said. "Ella doesn't remember him."

"Rachel is Mark's daughter than?"

"Yes, what did you think?" Elizabeth said. "You know I'm not her mother."

"No, that wasn't very clear to me."

"Want some icecream? Or haven't you finished yet?"

"I'd love to have some icecream."

"Great, I'll go get us some.

Catherine remembered what a great time she and Elizabeth had had in the past. The two of them could really talk and discuss problems, Elizabeth was one of the greatest party-animals Catherine had ever met and she was very beautiful. Elizabeth entered the livingroom with the icecream and saw Catherine dreaming.

"Hey!" she said and she gave Catherine a little push. "What were you thinking about?"

"You." She said and she saw Elizabeth started to blush. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you nervous."

"Who says I'm nervous? I'd like to know what you were thinking about."

"Okay. I was thinking about what a great couple we used to make. We could talk about anything and we loved going crazy at parties." Catherine said.

"And?" Elizabeth said. "That wasn't all, come on."

"That's it."

"Willows, I can see it in your eyes. That wasn't all. Now, tell me."

"Alright, alright. I remembered how beautiful you were."

"Were?" Elizabeth said.

"Are. Do you remember the night we just looked at each other?"

"Ah, I remember that one. You wanted to touch me, but I wouldn't let you. That was funny." Elizabeth laughed.

"No it wasn't funny." Catherine said. "I can fall in love with you all over again, remembering all these things……When will the girls be home, by the way?"

Elizabeth didn't know what to say. This was what she was hoping for. The day she saw Catherine again, for the first time in many years, she knew what love was again. She hadn't felt it for a long time, not since Mark had died. 'Shit' she thought. 'Make a good move, Elizabeth.'

"I think they won't be home till tomorrow. Ella will stay over at Susan's and I think Rachel will be going to her boyfriend."

"Oh, okay." Catherine said and she felt sorry about what she'd just said. Elizabeth probably wanted her out of the house as quickly as possible now. Elizabeth wasn't waiting for her.

"I'm gonna take a shower." Elizabeth said.

"Yeah, I got to be going."

"Really? That's a shame." Elizabeth said and she started smiling a few seconds later.

"What are you smiling about?" Catherine asked.

"Hospital. Me. You. Shower." Elizabeth laughed.

"Oh god, yes. The first time we took a shower together."

"Well, not the first time. Everybody showers in the hospital, together."

"You know what I mean, Liz." Catherine said.

"Yes, I do. I was just joking." Elizabeth said. Nervously Catherine walked away.

"I'm going now, Elizabeth."

"I'll walk you out." Elizabeth said and she walked Catherine to the door. "Do you want another wine or something? My shower can wait."

"No thanks." Catherine said. "Well, I had a great time tonight." Catherine said as they approached the door.

"Me too, thanks for you company." Elizabeth said, she wanted to kiss Catherine but didn't want to take the first step. She'd invite Catherine over, now it was her turn.

"Sure, no problem." Catherine said. Elizabeth opened the opened the door and Catherine stepped outside.

"Thanks, Elizabeth." Catherine said and she hugged her. "Bye." Catherine walked to her car. Elizabeth went inside again, she took off her dress and walked upstairs. She had just undressed herself when the doorbell rang. 'Rachel' Elizabeth thought. 'Towel. I need a towel' She grabbed a towel and wrapped herself in it. She walked downstairs and opened the door.

"Rach, you have a key, why…." Elizabeth stopped. "Catherine."

"I forgot something."

"Oh, alright. Come on in and help yourself." Elizabeth turned around and wanted to go upstairs again.

Catherine grabbed her arm.

"I forgot to kiss you." She said. Elizabeth smiled.

"Yes, you did." She said, "Take off your clothes, we're going to have a shower."

Elizabeth waited for Catherine on the stairs. "You can take them off upstairs, just take of you shoes there." Catherine was getting nervous, so was Elizabeth. It had been a long time for both of them.

"Okay." Catherine said and she followed Elizabeth.

"Here we are." Elizabeth said and she showed Catherine the bathroom

"It's huge!" Catherine laughed. "You have a bath, too!"

"Don't you?"

"No, we just have a shower."

"We can take a bath too, if you like."

"I'd love to take a bath."

"Also with me?"

"Especially with you." Catherine took of her jeans and top.

"Sorry." Elizabeth said. "I'll give you some privacy."

"Don't be ridiculous." Catherine said and she took of her underwear.

"You're quick." Elizabeth said. "It'll take another 5 minutes to fill the bath."

"Come here." Catherine said. Elizabeth slowly walked towards her. She stopped a few inches away from Catherine. Catherine wanted Elizabeth to sit with her. She took Elizabeth's hand and she touched it gently. Elizabeth slowly moved forward again. "Sit down." Catherine said. Finally Elizabeth took the last step and sat down next to Catherine. She was shaking.

"Are you cold?" Catherine asked.

"No." Elizabeth said. "Nervous." Catherine took her hand again and kissed it.

"You'll be alright." She said. "This DOES take a long time." She said looking at the bath which wasn't even half filled. She started feeling rather uncomfortable, sitting on the bath, naked with a nervous Elizabeth next to her. Elizabeth saw she wasn't feeling comfortable.

"You can go in already if you want." Elizabeth said. "I'll join you."

Catherine stepped in the bath. "It's hot."

"I know, but I like that. Especially for the bubbles."

"A bubblebath?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth turned around and took off her towel. She didn't move for a few seconds.

"Shy?" Catherine smiled.

"I guess so. It's….well, it's been a while for me."

"Same here, come on in." Elizabeth turned around and joined Catherine in the bath.

"You're still as beautiful as I remember you." Catherine said. Elizabeth smiled a little bit and looked down. "What's up, Lizzie?"

"It's nothing. Really. Don't worry." Elizabeth said and she moved closer to Catherine.

"Can I finally kiss you?" she asked.

"Alright." Elizabeth reply and moved even closer. Catherine gave her a long passionate kiss.

"You still kiss the same." Elizabeth said. "Could you move to the back of the bath, so we can lay down?"

"No problem." Catherine moved over and Elizabeth laid down, with her head on Catherine chest. A few minutes later she turned herself around and kissed Catherine again. "I can't wait no more, Cath." She said and looked Catherine in the eye.

"Neither can I." Catherine said. "You want to go out and find the bedroom?"

"No. I want to make love here." Elizabeth said and she kissed Catherine again.

*** End Flashback ***