I know it's been a while since I've updated this story, but I have been working on it, I'm just a slow writer if that wasn't already apparent. Anyway, this chapter kept growing, so I finally decided to split it into two chapters. What is now chapter 8 should hopefully be posted tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Sunlight filters through the window when Myka stirs awake. Blinking her eyes against the soft light, she's momentarily confused as to why she's on her sofa and then suddenly remembers. Helena. Throwing off the blanket she rises from the sofa and immediately gasps at the pain in her neck. Rubbing at her neck, she tries to soothe the soreness, realizing that sleeping on the sofa has done her no favors, but her slight discomfort is pushed aside as she hastens down the hall to her bedroom to check on Helena.

Pushing the door open, Myka tiptoes across the floor towards the bed, relieved to observe Helena still slumbering, her chest steadily rising and falling with each breath, her usually pristine hair tousled from sleep. Without thought, Myka reaches out to gently brush away a strand of dark hair from Helena's face, her fingertips lingering against soft skin as she looks upon Helena's face in sleep, trying to determine whether the woman is more beautiful when asleep or awake.

Definitely when awake, she decides as Helena's eyes begin to flutter open at Myka's touch, revealing the darkest eyes Myka has ever known. She slowly removes her hand then and smiles.

"How are you feeling?" she asks softly as Helena sighs and rubs the sleep from her eyes. Attempting to sit up, she gasps, thereby answering Myka's question without words.

"Okay, just take it easy," Myka says as she gently helps maneuver Helena into a sitting position, adjusting the pillows behind her.

Helena takes in the sight of Myka, her curls more riotous than usual from sleep, wearing only a thin camisole and…very little else. Myka is breathtaking in the most literal sense of the word as another gasp falls from Helena's lips causing Myka to look at her with concern.

"Helena? Are you all right?"

"Yes, it's just your legs…they truly are exceptional…ly long," Helena breathes; her dark eyes traveling the length of Myka's mostly bare legs.

Myka follows Helena's gaze down to her legs, startled into remembering she didn't wear any sleep shorts the night before and is standing before Helena now in nothing more than her underwear.

Cheeks burning, Myka steps back, aware of Helena's intent gaze as she says, "I'll just be a moment," before disappearing inside her closet and quickly pulling on pants, silently berating herself for once more losing her head where Helena is concerned that she can't even remember to properly dress. Finally emerging from the closet, she is met with Helena's amused glance. "Sorry about that," she laughs nervously. "I didn't want to chance waking you last night just to get something to sleep in, and I neglected to slip on my jeans from last night before coming to check on you."

"You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, Myka, I assure you," Helena says with a grin.

"So, did you sleep well?" Myka asks, rubbing at her sore neck, trying to ignore the way Helena's words and stare has set her stomach to fluttering.

"Quite well. Your bed is extremely comfortable; I don't think I stirred at all in the night. Thank you for letting me sleep in it."

"No problem," Myka says still massaging her neck. Helena observes the gesture, sensing it is something more than Myka's usual anxious habit.

"Your sofa didn't prove any more comfortable than mine, did it?" she asks knowingly.

Myka drops her hand away with a shrug. "My neck is a little sore, nothing I can't deal with," she smiles attempting to set Helena at ease.

"I'm so sorry, Myka, for all of this," Helena says glancing away.

"Hey," Myka says stepping close enough to the bedside that she can lay a comforting hand over Helena's. "There is nothing to be sorry for, Helena. Accidents happen to all of us."

"And what of being forced into marriage to keep a coworker from deportation?"

"I'd imagine that's a little less common," Myka says smiling. "But you're much more than just a coworker, you're my friend and I wasn't forced into anything. You proposed an idea, I accepted the terms and we both get what we want, which is for you to stay here."

Helena sighs heavily. "I do want to stay here," she agrees as she adjusts in the bed, the movement causing her to wince.

"I should get your pain medication," Myka says beginning to turn away.

"Before you do," Helena interrupts, "would you please help me out of bed so I may use the bathroom?"

Myka nods as Helena pushes off the covers and begins to slowly extract herself from the bed with Myka's arms around her.

"You okay?" Myka asks when Helena finally stands from the bed and exhales shakily.

"I think so," she answers as Myka slowly guides her the few steps to the bathroom.

"Thank you, darling. I think I can manage from here," Helena says at the doorway.

"Are you sure?"

"I'll be all right, and if I'm not, you'll likely hear about it," she tries to joke.

Myka nods. "I'll just go get your medication then. I can get you something to eat while I'm at it. Are you hungry?"

"Famished," Helena admits.

"What would you like?"

"Anything you have will be lovely."

Myka pulls the door closed then and hurries out of the bedroom towards the kitchen, but hearing her cell phone ringing, she quickly backtracks to the living room to get to it. She curses when she reads the time on the screen to be eight-fifteen. She's forty-five minutes late to work and she's never late to work without notifying someone at the office first.

Answering the device, Myka says, "Leena, I'm so sorry I didn't call."

"Myka what's happened? I've been calling your cell for the last half hour trying to reach you. Pete was just about to drive over to your apartment to check on you. Are you all right and have you heard from HG? She's late too."

"Helena is with me," Myka says as she makes her way to the kitchen, grabbing a bag of bagels off the counter to place two halves into the toaster. "She called me last night after I'd gone to bed to say she'd fallen in her shower."

"Is she all right?" Leena asks concerned and Myka can hear Pete in the background asking what happened. "HG had an accident, slipped in the shower," she hears Leena explain to him.

"She'll be fine, but the doctor said she sprained her lower back and she's in some pain right now," Myka continues as she starts the coffee maker and sets the teakettle on the stove to boil water. "We've had a long night and we both overslept. I'm just fixing breakfast now, and honestly, I'm hesitant to leave her when she's having a difficult time getting around."

"Oh, Myka, if you need to stay with Helena I'm sure Artie will understand."

"I'm not as sure about that," Myka chuckles, "but will you please let him know the situation?"

"Of course."

"Thanks, Leena. If I decide not to come in, I'll give you a call."

"All right, Myka. You and HG take care."

Myka ends the call and quickly sets about fixing breakfast, spreading cream cheese on the toasted bagels, washing grapes and pouring Helena's tea and her own coffee into mugs. She also fills a glass with water and gathers the pain medication. Lastly, she fills a small plastic bag with ice cubes, wrapping a dishcloth around it.

Carefully balancing the breakfast tray down the hall, Myka finds Helena sitting against the pillows of the bed, smiling tiredly at her as she enters the bedroom.

"You look as if you're ready to fall asleep again," Myka says lightly as she sets the tray on the end of the bed.

"I almost feel as if I could. What time is it?"

"A little after eight-thirty."

Helena's eyes widen. "You're late for work."

"I know," Myka smiles, "but it's all right. Leena called so I explained the situation and let her know I may not make it in today."

"You don't have to stay here for me, Myka," Helena says.

"And if I want to?"

Helena's mouth opens then closes, unable to form a response to that.

"Here, I've brought some ice for your back," Myka says as she carefully helps Helena move forward just enough to rest the ice on her back before she moves back against the pillows. "The doctor said you should ice it remember?"

"Mmm," is all the response she receives as Helena winces, whether from pain or the sudden cold, Myka is unsure.

"And your medication," Myka hands her a tablet and glass of water.

"Thank you, darling," Helena says before taking the medication, watching Myka over the rim of the glass, noticing the way she massages her neck, trying to work out the stiffness.

"I'm sorry about your neck, Myka," she apologizes again when she finishes.

Myka instantly drops her hand from her neck. "It's just a little sore. I'll live, Helena," she assures.

"But if it weren't for me…"

"Helena, I'm fine," Myka says firmly. "Don't worry about me, let's concentrate on getting you better. I brought breakfast," she says grabbing the tray from the end of the bed to place it between them.

"Breakfast in bed, how lovely. Now we really are acting like newlyweds," she grins as Myka sits down beside her with a blush tinting her cheeks.

"Newlyweds eat breakfast in bed together?" Myka questions.

"Of course, darling. Very romantic, don't you think?" Helena smirks.

Myka shrugs. "I don't know, I've never eaten in bed before."

"But you have a breakfast tray," Helena accuses amusedly.

"Tracy received two sets of breakfast trays as a wedding gifts, so she gave me the extra set."

"You really never eat in bed?" Helena asks astonished now.

"I've never had a reason to eat in bed…before now," Myka defends.

"Oh darling, you don't know what you're missing. Food in the bedroom, depending what it is of course, can be quite sensual," Helena smirks.

Myka clears her throat, her eyes darting away from Helena as she contemplates what Helena is telling her. An image comes to mind of Helena enjoying chocolate covered strawberries with some past lover. She shakes her head at the thought, not wanting that particular vision to come to mind, but nearly chokes on a grape at the sound of Helena's appreciative moan as she takes the first bite of her bagel.

"Are you all right, darling?" Helena asks concerned.

"Yeah…I'm good," Myka says gasping for breath. "I just swallowed that grape too soon," she says taking a sip of her coffee, hoping to wash it down and feeling her breath hitch as Helena licks at her lips where cream cheese has spilled. "So I…I have your bag of clothes for you if you want to wear something a little more substantial than your robe. Or you can just borrow something of mine if you want."

"Thank you, Myka, but I think I'll just stay in my robe for now. I'm still quite tired, I think after breakfast I'll probably go back to sleep, if that's all right?"

"Of course it's all right. You need your rest," Myka says stifling a yawn at the mention of sleep.

"It appears you could use some more sleep as well, darling, it was a long night. But you must sleep in your bed, I don't want you to risk further pain to your neck," Helena insists.

Myka briefly contemplates the idea of napping in the same bed with Helena, the soft sunlight filtering through the window as they sleep under blankets that keep them warm and comfortable. Being so near to Helena is tempting, too tempting.

"No, I probably should go into work, at least for a little while, so Artie doesn't throw a fit that both his editors are missing in action," Myka says standing from the bed. "Are you sure you'll be all right on your own for a few hours?"

"Perfectly all right."

Myka nods. "I'll come home at lunch to fix you something to eat."

"You don't need to do that," Helena protests. "I can manage on my own."

"Are you sure?" Myka asks skeptical. "You'll rest as the doctor told you to do?"

"Yes. Your bed is so comfortable, I don't have much inclination to leave it at the moment," Helena smiles. "I'll sleep for a while and when I awake, I'll be sure to call Immigration Services to notify them of our recent marriage so they won't have cause to deport me."

"Our marriage," Myka repeats the words, tracing the wedding ring on her finger, suddenly reminded of its presence. "I suppose I should take this off now before I forget and wear it to work," she says with a nervous laugh.

"Yes, I suppose so," Helena concedes softly as she watches Myka remove the ring and carefully place it on her dresser.

Myka expects to hear Helena make an excuse for removing her own ring, but an excuse isn't voiced and Helena doesn't remove her ring either, instead gently tracing it with her thumb as she silently looks at Myka who feels an unaccountable surge of happiness well within her that Helena still wears her ring.

"Well, I should shower and get ready for work then," Myka says turning away to grab clothes from her closet.

"Take care that you don't slip, darling," Helena warns. "It would be terrible for us both to be so indisposed," she says before Myka disappears into the bathroom for a much desired and soothing shower.


Myka's thoughts are still centered on Helena as she waits for the elevator to carry her the twelve flights to her office, reflecting how quickly her life has changed in the span of hours. Yesterday she had fretted over the wedding ceremony. Today she technically had breakfast in bed with her wife. She smiles at the thought. It certainly wasn't quite the breakfast in bed most newlyweds would share, and Helena is still struggling with pain, but they were together. And when she returns home from work, Helena will be there.

"Myka, hi," comes a voice from beside her, startling Myka from her thoughts to look up into a familiar face.

"Hi Sam," Myka nods at the tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed man.

"Just getting into work now?" he asks appraising her. "Seems a little late for you."

"Yeah, I sort of had an interesting morning," she laughs as she steps into the waiting elevator.

"Yeah? Well, by the look on your face, it must have been a pleasant start to the day. You look really happy, Myka," he smiles kindly.

"Yeah, I guess I am, all things considered," Myka smiles wider as she thinks of Helena. "But what about you? You're getting to work late too aren't you?"

"No," he shakes his head. "I've already been to the office, then to court, now back to the office," he laughs.

"Ah, I see," Myka smiles.

"Myka, would you…" Sam starts but quickly quiets as the elevator stops at the twelfth floor, its doors opening and Myka stepping off into the hallway.

She looks back at him expectantly. "Did you say something, Sam?"

Sam takes in Myka's shining eyes and wide smile. She had been thinking of someone when he interrupted her thoughts in the lobby. Someone who had put that undeniably happy look on her face. "Just, have a good day, Myka," he says.

"You too," Myka nods as she watches the elevator doors close, relieved that Sam didn't finish his question, which she is almost certain was going to be an invitation to coffee or maybe dinner this time. She likes Sam, and had she met him before Helena, she would have willingly accepted such an invitation from him. But knowing now she's in love with Helena, and married to her, Myka knows there is no one else for her, only Helena.


"Mykes, what happened?" Pete pounces the moment she steps through the publisher's office. "Leena said something about HG having an accident?"

"Yeah," Myka sighs as she begins the short trek to her office.

"Myka!" Claudia jumps from her chair at sight of her, joining Pete's parade. "Is HG okay?"

Myka stops walking when she notices Steve and Leena also looking at her with concern, Artie appearing in his office doorway at the commotion amongst his employees.

"Seeing as you're all gathered, it'll be easier to tell you at all at once," she smiles at her little family. "Helena is fine, but she had an accident last night. She slipped in her shower and injured her back making it painful for her move around right now. The doctor says she'll be fine, but no work for a few days. In the mean time, she's staying at my place so I can take care of her."

"Man, those back injuries are nothing to mess with," Pete says shaking his head in empathy. "I've suffered a few from my wrestling days. Oh, and there was this one girlfriend I had who…"

"Pete! I'm begging you not to finish that sentence," Claudia interrupts, Steve nodding his head in agreement.

"Is there anything we can do for HG?" Leena asks.

Myka shakes her head. "There's nothing really to be done, Leena. Helena just needs to rest, keep still for a little while."

"And we all know how well HG likes to keep still," Leena laughs. "Maybe the better question is what can we do for you, Myka?"

Myka laughs at that. "I've already had a few challenges this morning," she concedes as she rubs at her still sore neck, "but I'll manage."

Myka begins to shift from the group to walk towards Helena's office.

"When exactly can we expect Ms. Wells to grace us with her presence again?" Artie asks sarcastically.

Myka sighs. "Likely by Monday, Tuesday at the latest, but I want you to know, Artie, she insisted I bring her laptop home with me because she doesn't want you to worry about her missing any deadlines."

"How professional of her," he says wryly. "Meanwhile, I'll get to enjoy few days respite from her. It'll be like a vacation."

"Don't get used to it. She will be returning," Myka insists turning away then to enter Helena's office. Shaking her head fondly at the sight of papers strewn all across Helena's desk, Myka reaches for the laptop, careful not to touch any papers. It may be chaos, but it's organized chaos and Helena knows exactly where everything is, as long as nothing is moved.

She does take a moment to look at the pictures lining Helena's desk, for though Myka spends an inordinate amount of time in this office; she is rarely afforded the view from behind Helena's desk.

There are a few framed photographs sitting along a corner, one of her older brother, Charles, whom Myka met for the first time last spring when he visited Helena for a couple weeks. There is a picture of Helena with Claudia at the younger woman's first band gig at a club downtown. Myka smiles as she recalls how she and Helena had cheered and yelled their voices hoarse that night. There is another photo of the entire staff, including Mrs. Frederic, to commemorate Endless Wonder Book Publisher's fifth anniversary. And the last photo is a picture of Myka and Helena together. It's a simple photo of an everyday occurrence. Myka is sitting at her desk with Helena leaning over her, into her, as they look over a manuscript. Myka smiles at the sight of it.

With the laptop in hand, Myka is about to leave the office when it occurs to her that she should also find the power cord that goes with it so the computer can be charged. Pulling open the first side drawer, she finds the cord easily. She also finds another photo. The middle is slightly torn, as if someone intended to tear it in half before thinking better of it. In the photo, Helena is smiling, and so is Giselle beside her. Their cheeks are touching as they lean in together and they both look so…happy. Myka purses her lips and tries to ignore the way her stomach drops at sight of the photo, quickly closing the drawer and hastily leaving the office behind her.

Setting Helena's laptop on her own desk, she falls into her chair and slowly brushes back curls from her face, trying to convince herself there is no reason to feel this…hurt. Giselle is in the past, Helena said so herself. Still, earlier this morning, she shared breakfast with Helena, her wife. She had been happy with a faint hope that perhaps things between them could develop into something more. How foolish she is to think Helena will ever feel about her the way she must have felt for Giselle.

"Hey, Mykes, you okay?" a voice breaks into her thoughts.

Myka straightens at the question. "Yeah, Pete, I'm fine," she says noticing him in the doorway.

"You sure? When you came in this morning you seemed pretty happy and now, not so much."

"I'm fine, really," she sighs, offering him a smile she hopes is reassuring. "Just worried about Helena," she finally answers truthfully.

"Ah, don't sweat it, Mykes. I mean, back injuries can be a pain, sure, but she'll bounce back from it. I always have," he grins.

"Thanks, Pete. You're probably right, she'll be fine."

"So, where did you two kids get off to last night?" he asks taking a seat.

"Why do you ask?" Myka asks with narrowed eyes at the question.

"Well, I couldn't help noticing, you wore a skirt yesterday. And HG, she was wearing a dress when you two left the office…together."

"You never mentioned anything about me wearing a skirt yesterday, why the sudden interest now, Pete?"

"All right, I didn't notice the whole skirt and dress thing, Claudia did. But it is an interesting observation, don't you think?" he persists.

"No," Myka laughs. "It's just clothing, Pete. If you're so interested in women's clothing, ask Amanda."

"Ah, come on, Mykes, it's more than the clothing. It's the reason behind wearing that clothing; dresses and skirts when we all know you and HG are more slacks and vest kind of women. Where did you and HG go last night?"

"We went to dinner…"

"Ah-ha!"

"To discuss business, Pete. And why are you asking all these questions?" Myka asks annoyed.

Pete raises his hands in surrender. "No reason. It's just…there's been some…talk around the office."

"What kind of talk?"

"You know, talk, speculation, scuttlebutt, that you and HG are…dating."

Myka laughs heartily. "I'm not dating, Helena, Pete," she says. The words, 'I'm married to her,' threaten to spill from her lips just to see the look on Pete's face at the statement, but Myka refrains.

"Okay, Mykes," Pete says. "But you know, if you did decide to date her…we'd all be for it."

"You would?" Myka asks her voice suddenly choked at the sentiment.

"Yeah, Mykes. You know we all love you. Love both of you. Just promise me I'll be your best man at the wedding," he grins and Myka really does choke at the request, coughing uncontrollably as Pete quickly runs around the desk to pound her on the back.

"You okay? I didn't think my request was that shocking. We are best friends, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Best man. Got it," she says reaching for her water bottle and taking a long sip. "But Helena and I are not dating, Pete," she says again when she finishes.

"Okay, you're not dating. So, HG's staying at your place, huh? I can only imagine what that must be like. You're so neat and tidy and HG, if her office is anything to go by is more like me in the organizational department," he laughs. "She must be driving you crazy."

"No, she's fine. I mean, yes, when she's working, things can become cluttered, but her apartment is just as tidy as mine. It's only when she's working that things can become…chaotic," she laughs affectionately. "Anyway, she hasn't been at my place long and she may decide she'd rather go back to her place tonight depending on how she's feeling by then."

"I can bring over my DVD of Top Gun and we can all watch it together, that always makes me feel better," Pete offers.

"Thanks, Pete, but on Helena's behalf, I think I'll have to pass. She really just needs to rest. Top Gun might prove too exciting for her," Myka grins.

"You have a point. Good ole' Maverick and Goose can have that affect," he agrees seriously.

Myka just laughs. "Don't you have work to get back to?" she quirks a brow at him.

"Probably," he shrugs unconcerned.

"Pete!" they both hear Artie shout then. "Where are my reports for sales this month?"

With an easy grin, Pete makes his way out of her office. "Now, Artemis, don't get your panties in a twist," Myka can hear him say before she immerses herself in her work, trying to put away the image of Helena looking so content with Giselle by her side and trying not to think about the secret she's keeping from Pete and the rest of her family.