The Hidden Encounter

Pair: Maylene (ie slash)

Quotes: "Did you mean it when you said you loved me?"

Words: crying or tears, dream, and smile

Must: Midnight Encounter

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I don't own anything it belongs to Cloud Nine and whoever else owns it

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(Series 5)

May said she loved her- her… but did Salene? That was the question. The one she had wrestled over weeks. Up until now she had liked men- Pride… Ryan… Bray… but none of her relationships had lasted. She thought it was because they either went missing, died, or found someone else. Was she wrong though? Did she actually like women all along- or just May? Did she really like?

She did like her- but did she LIKE her? May was her friend. They had been so much together. Being with the Chosen. Helping her through her hard time when she was pregnant. Listening to her rant and rave about Ryan, and the baby she never had. Being there when she cried over Pride, the baby, and Ryan.

Sure, Pride had been there rough patch- the thing that went wrong in their friendship but it was restored- renewed- or was it? Did it go deeper than that? This was the question- and Salene feared above all- that it was true it did go further.

It's not that she was ashamed or embarrassed by it but that she feared what it would make her. She was a suicidal drunk- now she was a suicidal drunk that was a lesbian- could this day get any better? Wait! When did she start to consider herself gay? Wasn't she just wondering if this was temporary or a joke? Apparently it wasn't. Apparently- her fears were real- she liked women- well not women- she liked May. She really liked May.

So now how to tell May. Why was this so hard? May told her no problem- or did she? Had May struggled with this as much as her? She hoped so- then she wouldn't feel so misplaced. Well, a good start would actually be to find May. That would be the best idea.

It was the middle of night- she was probably in their room but then when she got there was no May. So where was May? Salene started to walk around the silent Mall trying not wake anyone up. There was Ebony and Slade… Ruby… Darryl… Amber and Jay… but wait- no May… why would she think May would be a room anyway? It wasn't like she was sleeping with anyone else- not that Salene knew anyway.

That left the kitchen- but that was empty too- and so was the living room- so where was May? Well, it was summer maybe… Salene headed towards the roof- and sure enough, on the top floor was May. Crying. May was crying on the roof.

Salene paused- maybe she should go… but then she was stopped when May's head turned to the sharp noise of the doors closing. May looked at her tears streaming down her face.

"Salene!"

Salene just stood there… 'what to say…' and 'how to say it?' were the only thoughts on her mind. So instead of beating around the bush- deciding for once to take the short way instead of the cowards way proving that she had grow stronger in her years since the virus'- she'd take it head on.

"Did you mean it when you said you loved me?" Salene said after a minute looking at her.

"What?" May said suddenly.

"When you wrote the letter… and you said you loved me… did you mean it?" Salene said almost a in pleading tone as if not knowing would kill her.

"Of course I meant it. Do you think that I would just say it to say it? Or that I'd just toss that around like it was nothing!" May demanded- her tears temporarily stopping it appeared.

"No…. I-I just had to know," Salene said in a quiet voice.

"Well now you know! As if you didn't already. God! I must have been so stupid. I mean you already said you didn't feel the same way. How stupid was I? Go ahead- say it. Tell me that I'm confused- or that I'm crazy or that this is wrong- go on. I know you want to. Or better yet- come out with some of that psychological bull about how I'm projecting my feelings onto you because you were the only one here that didn't ignore me or treat me horribly," May said in a snippy tone hurt still very evident in her voice.

"No! May- I…" Salene began but she was cut off.

"Go on out with it already- go on say I'm a crazy freak," May pressed nearing tears again.

"May! You are not crazy. You are not freak. You are none of things you think I'm going to say to you. You're a great person- whose been my friend through everything. Okay, so you made a few mistakes but so did I… and yea, a psychologist in the old days might have accused you of thinking that but May- I'm not. I think what you're feeling is very real," Salene informed her.

"You do? You don't think I'm confused, or crazy, or lying?" May replied shocked.

"No- I don't," Salene answered firmly.

"But still you don't feel the same way. It's totally unrequited love isn't it?" May said depressed as if unwilling to hear it… as if she knew it when in reality she was way off base as she tilted her head away from Salene- and hung it down.

"May…" Salene started this time trying to think of what to say or better yet how to say it.

"Don't Salene- just go. I need some time," May commanded.

"No… May, I have to say this- I'm just not sure… how to say this…" Salene began again.

"Not sure how to say what?" May asked turning to look at her.

"That… that… May… I feel the same way too- so if you're crazy then so am I… though considering my record maybe that wasn't the best thing to say," Salene said after a minute but in a rather fast voice.

May's eyes nearly popped from her head- she felt the same way! May thought she was dreaming. That this was all an illusion- she didn't… she couldn't have just said that.

"You feel the same way?" May shocked.

Salene nodded slowly now tears starting to form in her eyes- would she be rejected- would May think she was lying? Had May felt this way?

"You really feel the same way? This not a dream?" May asked her edging closer.

"Only if we're both sharing a dream cycle," Salene responded.

With that a huge smile broke onto May's face….

"This isn't a dream- you really feel the same way…" she said as she got closer but she really only had said to herself by way of confirming it.

Salene nodded slowly as brushed the tears.

May was now in her face- Salene tried to speak.

"May…"

"Don't… just be quiet," May commanded suddenly.

Salene went to shut her mouth but before she got the chance May leaned in and kissed her slowly. Salene could not have been more nervous in her life- she was being kissed by her best friend who a was a GIRL and she felt- she felt- like it was best kiss she had ever had.

And without warning May moved her tongue into Salene's mouth- shocked as ever- she at first did not know what to do but then what shocked further…. She not allowed left her room for more access but then she got her own tongue involved. Now that was ironic- and shocking.

There they were at midnight- outside- in the middle of a hot summer- on roof kissing… just months after Pride's death… years after Ryan's and her baby and now she was with a woman- and Salene could not be happier. This was so… shocking- there was other word for it.

Then, it broke and they just stared at each other. Each saying nothing… Salene looked at May and May looked at Salene totally free of anything.

"So…" Salene said slowly.

"So…" May said in agreement.

"That was amazing," Salene confessed.

"Yea? I thought so too- so this might be a little forward but do you… want go to the bedroom?" May asked her.

Salene paused and looked at her nervously- was she asking what she think May was asking?

"May… are you?" Salene replied slowly.

"No! No… okay, so yea- but you're right it's too soon. I'll just go to my bed- and you go to yours- and I'll forget I ever opened my big fat mouth," May replied going to turn away.

Salene just stood there at first but then when she saw that May was trying to leave, "No! Wait..!" Salene exclaimed racing over to join her.

May just looked at her as she opened the door for them both.

"I- well- it's just…"

"No, don't- I know… it was too much to ask," May replied.

"It wasn't… really… I just shocked is all but I want to… I do," Salene said after a minute as they climbed down the stairs.

"Are you sure?" May mouthed shocked as they began to walk through the halls.

A still very shaken Salene nodded her head.

May looked at her skeptically as they turned to enter their room, "I don't believe you," May said, "You're so sweet, and innocent- and you've never rushed into anything- ever," May told her.

"Well maybe sweet and you're right. I haven't but I'm not innocent! I'm not. I've lost a baby, a husband, and a boyfriend. I've been drunk- many times… and I've tried to kill myself. I'm far from innocent May. I'm a big girl and I can handle it. I can," Salene insisted.

May looked at her with less skeptism this time, "Okay... if you're sure…"

"I am- I'm sure. Really," Salene confirmed once in their room and now both sitting on May's bed.

Without another word but a few glances of confirmation- May moved in to kiss Salene and then tugged at her top- Salene nervously helped out- and then after May's.

She couldn't believe she was really doing this but she told herself- she was an adult or as adult as they came in this world- it was time to start acting it- and she really liked May like she thought she liked May then she could do this! Sure, it wouldn't be easy but life wasn't easy. It was just that life. Living. Breathing. And moving on in the world.

She could- can- and would do this- and with that she leaned down the bed and removed her pants and May did the same- the last thing Salene remembered was the two of them naked on the bed kissing- and the loud moans the heat that followed them through the night.

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(The next morning)

Not much was said afterwards- May had wordlessly taken Salene's bed for night after Salene had fell asleep on hers- and then both got up and got dressed without a word passing between them- but smiles did- confirming there were no doubts, or upset feelings following their night together.

That this would indeed continue- one step at a time but they both had mutually agreed before going to bed that they weren't going to rush into that again. They were going to take this much slower from now on- now that they had gotten it out of their system. The feeling, the frustration, and the confusion. Both had admitted they had neither expected it or wanted it at first but it was now a welcomed surprised.

Salene felt much better knowing that May had the same doubts- proving that it had not just been here that felt them. So, that only left what was next- okay, so maybe defeating Mega and his forces would be direct next event but what was next for them romantically? Neither were sure but after this war was over- they had full intentions on finding out.

Salene and May then headed to kitchen standing side by side but far in distance so not attract any attention but the smiles had yet to disappear from the night before.

As they walked in and say Gel, Sammy, Trudy, Brady, Ruby, and Lottie at the table- Salene went to help with the breakfast.

Gel then looked at her with a smirk, "So what were you up to last night?" Gel asked.

"Nothing…" Salene said slowly.

May looked a bit alarmed but quickly pushed it from her mind.

"Really? 'Cause I could have sworn I heard loud noises last night. Admit it! You were with some guy last night," Gel exclaimed.

Salene let out a surprised laugh to cover up the sudden feeling of nerves she felt but a laugh nonetheless- Gel didn't suspect them- well she did- but not her and May- just her and a guy.

"No Gel. Trust me. I wasn't with any guy last night," Salene replied seriously.

Gel just rolled her eyes and gave her a look, "Sure- whatever… but I know you were- I saw May go to the roof- you have thrown her out last night to time with secret lover- but don't worry- I'll find out soon enough- and then we can talk you know woman to woman," Gel replied.

"Yea… sure Gel… so who wants breakfast?"

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The end