I know it's been some time since I updated this story, I apologize for that, but I struggled with this chapter. As always, thank you for your patience and thank you for reading.
Despite the exhaustion she feels, sleep remains elusive for Myka for some time. Helena's grip on her hand is firm, suggesting that Helena is contemplating the events of the evening much the same way Myka is processing it now in the dark of the bedroom, Helena's soft breathing beside her the only sound in the otherwise silent room. She told Helena earlier in the evening that it shouldn't be difficult to convince Immigration Services they married for love, but Myka has her doubts. She loves Helena, but she doesn't know how to convince Ms. Cho of that fact without also revealing it to Helena.
Feeling the hand in hers become slack, Myka realizes Helena has finally drifted off to sleep and she turns her head to observe the steady rise and fall of Helena's form as she sleeps. Myka sighs then and closes her eyes, content at last something feels perfectly right with Helena warm and safe beside her, their hands still entwined she finally allows herself to succumb to sleep.
The room is still dark when the pain in Helena's back surfaces again. She tries to arch her back, realizing too late the movement is slightly prohibited by the weight of Myka's arm draped protectively across her abdomen. Helena is loathe to wake her sleeping companion, and would truly love nothing more than to fall back asleep with Myka wrapped around her, but the pain persists and she tries to adjust her position, unable to restrain a groan as the movement only causes further pain.
"Helena?" Myka says groggily, stirring from sleep at Helena's movement and sounds of discomfort. Helena feels Myka's arm fall away as she uses it to tiredly rub at her eyes.
"I'm sorry I woke you," Helena whispers.
"It's fine. Are you all right? Do you need anything?"
Helena eyes haven't yet adjusted to the dark so she can't make out Myka's features, but she hears her voice. A voice that doesn't sound annoyed or upset by being awoken in the middle of the night from a sound sleep. She hears only concern in Myka's voice, concern for her and it is Helena's undoing.
"No," Helena shakes her head, feeling hot tears begin to prick at her eyes. "My back aches and in trying to find a comfortable position I managed only to wake you. I'm sorry, Myka."
"Hey, it's all right…"
"It isn't," Helena insists. "I hate this…hate that I've become an imposition to you," she says unable to hold back a sniffle.
The sniffle startles Myka, knowing Helena doesn't succumb to tears easily. She quickly turns on the lamp by the bedside to see Helena blink against the sudden light, tears of frustration gathered in her dark eyes.
"Oh, Helena," she breathes, reaching a hand out to touch her cheek, her fingers absorbing the tears she finds there. "You're not an imposition at all," Myka soothes.
Helena looks up into Myka's sympathetic gaze, feels her fingers brush against her cheek so softly and her breath constricts inside her chest.
"You're not an imposition," Myka repeats softly.
Helena actually manages a laugh then, her eyes still intent on Myka. "Really, darling? I've taken your bed, your food, your clothes, and now your sleep," she says raising a skeptical brow.
"And I don't mind any of it," Myka says, her thumb still tracing Helena's cheek.
Helena opens her mouth to argue but closes it again. There is nothing she can say to dispute the way Myka is looking at her now, her green eyes soft with concern.
"You're the most independent person I know, Helena, and I can imagine how you hate having to have to depend on someone else, but we're friends…best friends…wives even," Myka smiles softly. "So just…let me help you, all right?"
Helena's dark eyes search Myka's, seeing only the truth of her statement reflected there. "All right, darling," she nods. "But I am sorry I woke you."
"There's no need to be sorry," Myka answers before she slips from the bed then and Helena isn't sorry at all that she is able to see Myka this way again, her hair wild from sleep, wearing nothing more than the thin camisole and shorts, her lean legs on display. She watches silently as Myka grabs the water glass from Helena's bedside table. "I'll get you some fresh water and your medication."
Helena nods before carefully moving to sit up against the pillows.
Myka returns quickly with the medication and water, Helena dutifully swallowing down the water, watching Myka over the rim of the glass as she rubs at her bare arms.
"Cold, darling?" Helena asks handing Myka the glass, noting goosebumps dot along her skin.
"A little," Myka shrugs setting down the glass. "Is there anything else I can get you while I'm up?"
"No," Helena shakes her head, watching closely as Myka bites her lip in contemplation. "What is it?" she asks.
"I was just thinking…you didn't have much trouble sleeping last night…maybe you'd sleep better being able to stretch across the whole bed. I could go back to the sofa."
"Why? Do I snore?" Helena asks amused.
"No," Myka shakes her head.
"Grind my teeth?"
"No."
"Am I a notorious blanket thief?"
"No," Myka says, a smile beginning to tug at her lips.
"Drool profusely?" Helena quirks a skeptical brow.
Myka laughs outright. "No, none of that," she concedes.
"Well then, there's no reason for you to vacate this bed. You did say I wasn't an imposition," Helena reminds softly.
"You're not, Helena," Myka reaffirms. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable, that's all."
"I'm comfortable…with you."
Myka nods, brunette curls obscuring the blush that threatens to bloom in her cheeks. "Okay," she says sliding back into bed, pulling the covers over her chest to ward off the chill she still feels. "All settled then?" she asks watching Helena's silent nod before turning off the light again. "Goodnight, Helena."
"Goodnight, Myka." Helena feels the bed dip as Myka turns onto her side to sleep. She lies awake in the stillness for a long time, listening to Myka's breathing, hearing when it evens out as sleep overtakes her at last. Only then does Helena allow herself to fall into sleep, knowing Myka is there, warm and safe beside her.
The sun shines warm across the bed, its light dancing behind Helena's closed eyelids as she slowly withdraws from sleep, becoming aware of her surroundings, feeling a dull ache in her back that has thankfully abated from the sharp pain she felt before. Struggling to open her eyes against sleep, she is keenly aware of the softness of the mattress and the warmth of the blankets. But she is also aware of something else, a familiar weight. Myka's arm is draped across her abdomen once more, holding her close in sleep. Myka is so close to her, turned into her that Helena can feel the steady rhythm of her breathing, hot and steady against her neck.
The ache of her back persists, but it is endurable, and Helena will gladly endure it to allow Myka to continue sleeping, more so that she may remain in Myka's warm embrace.
Helena slowly turns her head to the side to look upon the sleeping woman beside her. She sighs contentedly, observing Myka sleeping so peacefully and she is struck again by how beautiful Myka truly is; her face framed by riotous curls. Glorious curls Helena has longed to catch her fingers in, also spill across the pillow, a few obscuring Myka's face. Needing to see Myka's features in sleep, Helena carefully brushes a fingertip along a strand of hair to move it aside, revealing a small beauty mark high on the sleeping woman's cheek. Gently she reaches a single fingertip to brush over the beauty mark, tracing Myka's cheek until bright green eyes quite suddenly flutter open at her touch.
"Helena?" Myka says groggily attempting to focus, startling when dark brown eyes gaze at her merely inches away. Realizing her arm is wrapped around the other woman, Myka pulls back suddenly. "Oh god, I'm sorry, Helena. Did I hurt you?" she asks panicked, attempting to sit up.
"Relax, darling," Helena says catching her hand before she can completely retreat. "I'm fine, you didn't hurt me."
"Are you sure?"
"It appears all that worry about you kicking me was for naught. You're not a kicker after all but rather a cuddler in sleep," Helena grins, her eyes shining as she watches a blush rise in Myka's cheeks.
"I did warn you I didn't know what I might do," Myka mumbles.
"Yes you did, and I'm delighted to discover your proclivity to cuddle."
Myka clears her throat at the sight of Helena smirking at her, dark eyes shining brightly. "So I take it since you're teasing me this morning you must be feeling better?"
"I am," Helena assents. "There is still some pain, discomfort, but it's not as severe as it was before."
"That's good. Should I get your medication anyway?" Myka asks, intending to push back the covers to leave the bed.
"No, please stay," Helena says grasping her hand once more to pull her back, not letting go until Myka settles under the covers again, looking at her expectantly. "We should talk…about what we plan to do now." When Myka remains silent, Helena continues. "Perhaps I should confess to Immigration Services the true nature of our arrangement. If I do so now, we can hope there will be no lasting repercussions."
Myka sighs. "Is that what you really want? I thought you wanted to stay here," she speaks softly, her eyes looking everywhere but at Helena.
"I do want to stay here, Myka," Helena answers just as softly, "but not at the cost of losing you."
Myka looks at her confused. "How will you lose me if you stay?"
"I'm afraid you'll grow to resent me for putting you through this ordeal. After all, we have no way of knowing how long we'll have to keep up this charade."
"Yeah, that's probably something we should have asked Ms. Cho about," Myka concedes. "But as for me resenting you or you losing me, it's never going to happen, Helena because I…care about you," she says turning away from Helena's intense gaze. "You know you're my best friend."
"And you are mine, darling," Helena says squeezing Myka's hand.
Myka looks at their entwined fingers before looking into Helena's concerned face. "I guess more to the point, I need reassurance that you really want to go through with this. We married with the idea that nothing would change except a certificate that states we're legally married. Now, to convince Immigration Services we married for…love, and not to avoid your deportation, we're going to have to act the part. Are you really okay with that?" Myka asks nervously.
Helena watches as Myka bites her lip in trepidation and she smiles softly at the sight. "I think the better question to ask is are you okay with this, Myka? I fail to see what benefit this can possibly bring to you. I get what I want, to remain in Denver, but what do you get from going through with this?"
"I already told you that, Helena. You…you staying here is what I get, what I want. I don't want you to leave."
"Are you absolutely certain, Myka?" Helena asks, her dark eyes searching Myka's, imploring her to speak the truth.
"I'm certain, Helena," Myka answers honestly. "I want to be married to you…at least for as long as we need to be married to keep you here," she rushes to say, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks at her near confession.
"It seems we've made our first decision as newlyweds then," Helena smiles.
Myka returns the smile. "I guess the next decision we need to make is what to do about your apartment, since you're going to have to move into my place now."
Helena nods. "I suppose I'll give up the lease for now, considering we have no idea how long this arrangement of convincing Immigration Services of our marriage status will last.
"You're sure you'll be okay living here?"
"I don't think I have much choice in the matter, but yes, I think I'll enjoy living here…with you, Myka," she smiles. "We'll be roommates."
"Yeah, I guess we will," Myka replies, grasping at her neck. "Well, we should probably get up, get some breakfast," she says starting to rise from the bed at last.
"If you insist," Helena replies with a longsuffering sigh as she slowly removes herself from the bed.
"Are you okay?" Myka asks observing her careful movements and stepping closer to assist Helena if needed.
"Yes, I'm fine, just being cautious," she replies as she moves towards the bathroom.
"Do you want any medication now?"
"No, I think I'll try without for a while, see how things go."
"All right. I'll get breakfast ready," Myka says turning to leave the bedroom.
"If you'd like, I can make omelets," Helena offers.
Myka looks at her surprised. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"
"It shouldn't take too long to fix. Dr. Calder did say I should resume my normal activities when possible."
"Yeah, but she also said to rest. I don't want you to exert yourself."
Helena laughs. "I'd hardly consider making an omelet exerting myself, darling."
"If you're sure," Myka says sounding anything but sure, leaving the bedroom for the kitchen where she starts the coffee maker and teakettle.
Helena finds her there moments later, ingredients for an omelet laid out on the counter, a skillet ready on the stove and Myka cutting up cantaloupe and setting the slices onto plates. It's all so domesticated, Helena for a moment is unable to catch her breath at the sight, something within her feeling so content and happy in this moment, especially since Myka looks up at her entrance, smiling in that way only Myka can.
"I don't know what cheese you usually use for an omelet, I only have cheddar," Myka speaks apologetically. "But if you prefer another cheese, just add it to the grocery list on the fridge and I can get it for you at the market tomorrow morning when I do the grocery shopping."
Helena glances at the block of cheese, eggs, tomatoes and green pepper spread out on the counter. "Cheddar will work fine. I'm quite impressed that you have tomatoes and peppers to add to it."
"I try to keep a variety of food in my kitchen," Myka smiles. "But I wasn't sure what you'd like. I know some people like mushrooms too. If you want mushrooms, I can get those tomorrow, but don't expect me to eat them."
Helena laughs. "Yes, I know you're not a fan of mushrooms, since I always take them when you pick them off your pizza," she says with a smirk as she begins to cut the washed tomatoes.
"I don't know how you can stand those mushy things," Myka shudders as she finishes with the cantaloupe and unwraps the cheese to begin grating it.
"Those mushy things are delicious," Helena declares laughing at the disgusted face Myka makes at her declaration.
They work well together in the kitchen. Helena cracking the eggs, adding them to the skillet, Myka cleaning off the cutting board and putting away the food until finally they both sit down at the table to enjoy their efforts together.
Myka has no sooner finished putting away the dishes than they both startle at the sound of the doorbell, instantly thinking back to last night and the sudden appearance of Abigail Cho.
"You don't think Ms. Cho would come again so soon?" Helena asks incredulous.
"At this point, I think anything is possible," Myka replies warily. "But on the bright side, we're both still in our sleep clothes, so hopefully that will lend some credibility to our marriage," she says walking to answer the door.
Myka couldn't have been more surprised than if it had been Ms. Cho at the door, though she realized too late she shouldn't have been surprised at all.
"Mom! Tracy! You're here…and I…oh god…I completely forgot about the shopping expedition today," she says pushing curls from her face, leaving a hand in her hair as she tries to come up with some explanation.
"That's obvious, Myka, you're not even dressed," Tracy laughs surprised taking in the appearance of Myka still wearing only a camisole and shorts. "What's going on with you? Are you feeling all right? You never forget things," she says, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she studies her older sister who appears to be flustered for some unknown reason.
"You do appear a little flushed. Are you feeling all right, dear?" Jeannie asks concerned, reaching out a hand to quickly cup Myka's cheek before brushing it across her forehead to check Myka's temperature.
"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine," Myka assures stepping back to allow them entrance into her apartment and following them into the living room. "It's just been a hectic few days and…"
"Helena!" Jeannie says surprised noticing the woman sitting on the sofa with wide eyes.
"And Helena's here," Myka finishes her sentence.
"Hello Mrs. Bering, Tracy," Helena smiles. "It's lovely to see you both again."
"Helena, I've told you before, please call me Jeannie," the older woman gently chastises.
"Jeannie," Helena assents with a slight nod, her eyes traveling briefly to Myka before settling on the younger sister.
"Tracy, you look radiant. Pregnancy certainly must agree with you," Helena smiles as the woman gently cradles her stomach.
"Oh, it's had its challenges, but once the baby is here, it will all be worth it."
"I'm sure it will," Helena agrees. "Myka mentioned that you plan to do some shopping for the baby today. That should make for a pleasant day for all of you. A little mother, daughter, sister bonding," she smiles.
"You can join us if you like," Tracy says eagerly.
"Yes, please do," Jeannie adds, "we'd love to have you come with us."
"Well I…" Helena says surprised by their genuine invitation, "that's very kind of you to offer, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be good company today. I managed to injure my back the other night and movement right now is a bit of a challenge to say the least. Myka has been kind enough to look after me these last couple days," she says smiling at Myka who manages a soft smile in return even though the rest of her body language resonates tension.
Tracy notices her sister's tension and the soft looks shared between the two women. "What's going on with you, Myka?" she asks. "You look nervous."
"I'm not nervous," Myka replies grasping her neck.
Tracy rolls her eyes. "Myka, you're my sister, I've known you all my life. I'm pretty sure I can tell when you're nervous about something," she laughs.
"Ah, Tracy, do you know what you're having?" Helena breaks in her line of questioning, glancing at Myka who smiles at her, grateful for the diversion.
"No. Kevin and I decided we wanted to be surprised," she laughs.
"And make it difficult on the rest of us to shop for gender-neutral clothes," Myka complains.
"I know you don't really mind, Myka," Tracy says, "especially considering you spent the better part of a weekend painting the nursery for me."
"You did?" Helena asks surprised. "You never mentioned that to me."
"Why would I? It wasn't anything," she shrugs off.
"Except it was," Tracy explains to Helena. "Kevin was supposed to paint the nursery the weekend before some of the baby furniture was to be delivered, only he was called away for work. And me, in my hormonal state, thought it was the end of the world," Tracy laughs. "I must have cried over the phone to Myka for an hour about it. So, that Saturday morning, there she was on my doorstep, ready to paint."
"Mom and Dad were there too," Myka quickly points out, crossing her arms, flustered yet again by the inscrutable way Helena stares at her as though she has somehow unearthed a secret.
"Yes, but you did most of the work," Jeannie says. "Incidentally, that was also the last time you were home for a Sunday dinner. If manual labor is what it takes to have you come home once in a while, I should have you repaint your father's study."
"Mom," Myka says aggrieved. "You know I've just been busy."
"You're always busy, Myka. I just don't like to see you so overworked that you forget to make a life. Find someone…be happy."
Myka meets Helena's eyes, feeling her heart beat erratically within her chest as she palms the back of her neck nervously.
Tracy watches her sister closely, notices the way she grasps her neck in her usual nervous habit. She notices something else as well. "Myka…is that…you're wearing a ring. It looks like a wedding band. Did you get married?" she asks with wide eyes.
Myka's eyes grow wide as she quickly pulls her hand away to glance at the yet again offending ring before she turns panicked eyes on Helena.
"Oh my god, you are married," Tracy says startled that she guessed correctly.
"Myka? Is this true?" Jeannie questions and Myka can only silently nod, not trusting her voice at the moment.
"Who?" is all Jeannie can ask.
Myka looks at Helena, uncertain whether she should say the words aloud. Helena stares back equally uncertain, allowing Myka to decide their fate. Their stares don't go unnoticed however and Myka doesn't have to say the words aloud at all; Tracy does it for her.
"You're married to Helena," Tracy laughs giddily.
Myka, Helena and Jeannie all stare open-mouthed at Tracy who rolls her eyes at them all. "It's so obvious in the way you two keep staring at each other," she explains gleefully watching as her sister and Helena glance at each other embarrassed.
"Is this true?" Jeannie asks first looking at her daughter and then at her apparently new daughter-in-law.
Myka takes a deep breath before exhaling, "Yeah, Mom, it is. Helena and I are married."
"Oh, Myka," Jeannie says sitting down on a chair, looking at her eldest daughter with bewilderment before shaking her head. "Myka I…" she doesn't finish her sentence, suddenly overcome with silent tears.
And now Myka is the one bewildered. She understands that this new information of her sudden marriage to Helena is surprising, of course it is; but she didn't expect her mother to succumb to tears of…disappointment? She's not sure how to process this development, torn between wanting to comfort her mother and angry that she would need to. Myka looks at Tracy who looks back equally bewildered, shrugging her shoulders.
Myka meets Helena's eyes only briefly before Helena drops her gaze away, but not before Myka sees the hurt reflected in their depths.
Sitting down beside Helena, Myka takes Helena's hand in hers, waiting until dark eyes look up before offering a soft reassuring smile. With Helena's hand gripped in hers, Myka turns to face her mother, a subtle anger flashing in her usually serene green eyes.
"Mom, I really don't think…" but the words of anger die on the tip of her tongue when her mother interrupts her, a smile breaking out on her face, her tear-filled eyes shining.
"Oh, Myka, I'm so happy for you…for you both," she reaches to grasp Helena's other hand in hers to offer it a gentle squeeze.
"You're…what?" Myka asks suddenly dazed, meeting Helena's eyes to see her own confusion echoed there.
"This is all I ever wanted for you and Tracy, ever since you were little girls. To find someone you love that you could share a life with, someone who would make you happy. And that your someone is Helena," Jeannie says offering another squeeze to the hand in hers as she looks at the woman beside her, "I couldn't be happier," she laughs, wiping tears from her eyes.
"So…you're actually happy…that I'm married to Helena?" Myka stutters.
Jeannie nods. "Of course I am. I'm ecstatic," she laughs. "You two are perfect for one another, we all knew that the first time you brought Helena home with you."
Myka gapes at her mother. "What? It wasn't like that…we were just friends."
"Yes, dear, but Helena is the only person you've ever brought home to meet us," Jeannie points out.
"Is this true, darling?" Helena asks, grinning, any hurt she felt a moment ago having vanished. "I'm the only one?"
Myka wants to make a reply to refute the insinuation, but her throat is suddenly dry, realizing that of course she loved Helena even then, despite all her efforts to deny the fact.
"It's true," Jeannie affirms. "The fact that Myka continued to bring you home with her over the years, well…Warren and I knew it was only a matter of time before this would happen," she gestures between the two women, smiling at the sight of the gaze shared between the newly married couple, Myka looking bashful and Helena looking amused.
"Though I should be angry with you both," Jeannie continues. "First by not telling us you were finally dating and then not even to let us know you were getting married. Why, Myka?"
And now Myka truly does want to comfort her mother who looks so hurt to have missed her child's wedding. "Mom…I'm sorry…everything just sort of happened so fast," Myka tries to explain.
"It's my fault, Mrs. Bering, Jeannie," Helena quickly interrupts. "Myka and I only started officially dating a little over a month ago," she says, remembering what she told Ms. Cho the night before. "It was so new, we just wanted some time all to ourselves…to get used to the new dynamic of our relationship. Marrying so suddenly, that was also my fault I'm afraid. I neglected to renew my work visa and was subject to deportation. Not wanting to be separated and…in love as we are… Myka and I decided to get married," Helena finishes, squeezing Myka's hand that still rests in her own.
"Aww, that's so romantic," Tracy gushes. "Where were you married and was it a nice ceremony?" she asks interested.
"We married at the courthouse," Helena answers. Remembering Judge Miller and Ted and the soft kiss she shared with Myka, Helena smiles. "Yes, it was a very nice ceremony. Wasn't it, darling?" she asks leaning closer to Myka.
"Yeah," Myka agrees a little breathlessly, feeling Helena lean into her as she too recalls the kiss they shared that night.
"Are there any pictures?" Jeannie asks hopefully.
Myka shakes her head apologetically. "We didn't think to bring a camera, but the judge did take a few photos that he said he would send to us."
"Oh, Myka, I wish I could have been there," Jeannie says wistfully. "You must have made such a beautiful bride. Both of you," she amends with a soft look at Helena.
"I assure you, Mrs. Bering, Myka looked exquisite," Helena says softly.
Myka rubs at her neck, feeling another blush working its way across her body as she meets Helena's intent stare. "You were the exquisite one, Helena. You were breathtaking," Myka says quietly and Helena can feel her breath catch in her throat at the soft way Myka looks at her.
"Oh yeah, you two are so married," Tracy says drolly, effectively breaking the stare between the newlyweds. "Since you are married now, you'll have to let us give you a reception…or a bridal shower," she says excited at the thought.
"That's really not necessary, Trace," Myka says. "Once we get Helena's things moved into my…our apartment, I really don't think there's anything we'll need."
"It's not about necessity, Myka," Tracy rolls her eyes. "It's a way to celebrate you both. Plus, you know, food and gifts, who can say no to that?"
Helena laughs. "When you put it that way…" she grins.
"Helena, you're a woman…a sister," Tracy amends with a smile, "after my own heart."
"Actually, it's Myka's heart I'm after," Helena quips earning a laugh in return from Tracy and Jeannie, Myka trying hard to regulate her breathing at Helena's words.
Myka rises suddenly from the sofa. "I should get dressed so we can actually go baby shopping; you know, the reason you came here."
Myka makes a hasty exit then, ready to get away from further questions and implications. She feels a little guilty for leaving Helena alone with her mother and sister, but even the guilt diminishes when she's able to spend a few moments quietly by herself, trying to process the fact her family not only knows now she's married to Helena, but they support it, even expected it. She's not sure what to do with that knowledge, even more at a loss as she considers what that will mean when she and Helena eventually annul the marriage. Myka sighs heavily at the thought.
When she returns to the living room, Myka is relieved to note that she had no reason to feel guilty for leaving Helena alone with her family. She and Tracy are talking animatedly about the nursery and how Helena will have to see it when they come to dinner.
"What dinner?" Myka asks interrupting their conversation.
"Oh, Myka," Helena smiles, "your mother has very graciously invited us to dinner next weekend to celebrate our recent nuptials."
"Yeah and afterward, you're going to stop by my house so Helena may see what the nursery looks like," Tracy says happily.
"Great," Myka smiles halfheartedly, knowing dinner with her family, all of her family, will certainly mean more questions. "Ready to go?" she asks her sister and mother who both nod and rise from their seats.
"Enjoy your time together," Helena tells them.
"If you need me for anything, call me," Myka tells her.
"You'll only be gone a few hours, Myka, I'll be fine," Helena says.
"Need I remind you what happened yesterday?" she says giving Helena a pointed look, receiving a dramatic eye roll in response.
"Yes, darling. I promise, I won't take another bath without your assistance," she smirks, anticipating the reaction her statement will cause. She's not disappointed when Myka blushes and the other Bering women look on wide-eyed.
"Can we leave now?" Myka pleads, hoping her blush goes unnoticed by her family.
"Yes, let's get going girls," Jeannie speaks moving towards the door followed closely by Tracy.
"Myka, I believe you've forgotten something," Helena cheerily calls after her.
Myka narrows her eyes at the smirk on Helena's perfect lips and the mischievous glint in those dark eyes. "What?" she asks cautiously.
Helena gives an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "Really, darling, only married two days and you're already forgetting to kiss me goodbye."
"What?" Myka gasps startled as her mother and sister laugh happily.
"Yeah, Myka, go give your wife a kiss," Tracy encourages, giving Myka a gentle push in Helena's direction.
Myka turns to glare at her. "Ah, would you both mind waiting in the hall for just a moment while I say goodbye to Helena?"
"Aww, don't be shy, Myka," Tracy teases. "We're all family now."
"Yes, we are," Helena readily agrees, still smirking.
Myka tilts her head back and sighs, contemplating her options. Convince her family to step outside into the hall so she can pretend to kiss Helena or actually kiss Helena to convince her family that they are a couple.
Helena is still smirking when Myka turns to look at her but it falters as Myka moves away from the door to stand near Helena still seated on the sofa. There is no hint of a smirk on Helena's lips when Myka leans down, her hand cupping Helena's cheek in her palm. There is only a sharp intake of breath when Myka leans forward to place a soft kiss at the corner of Helena's mouth, a mere promise of a kiss.
"Goodbye, Helena," Myka whispers.
Myka is nearly at the door to leave with her family before Helena finds her voice again. "Hurry home, darling," she says, her heart fluttering at the sight of Myka's answering smile before she pulls the door closed behind her.
