Delphine woke up early the next morning. She decided she needed some time to think, to reflect. It was a beautiful day outside so she made the decision to go back to the Golden Gate Bridge. She had loved that morning she spent with Cosima there and wanted to get outside to clear her mind.

She arrived at the bridge, watching the many people milling about, walking, biking, smiling, laughing. She couldn't help but grin at the kids playing in the park. She sat down on the same bench she and Cosima had spent time on, looking out onto the bridge in awe. Even though she had already seen it, it was still wondrous, breathtaking.

She sat for a moment, thinking about that day, when she had barely known Cosima. When Cosima had barely known her. She had felt a connection even then, though she hadn't known how deeply she would feel it as time went by.

She looked out at the bridge seeing the people all the way out in the middle. They looked so tiny from the distance. Delphine made a decision at that moment. She needed to face her fears.

She jumped up, walking swiftly toward the bridge. As she got on the walkway, the wind rushed around her, blowing her curls frantically. She moved her head slightly so her hair was blown back from her face. She watched as people rushed past her, couples holding hands, fathers with small children, friends joking. She kept going, determined to make it to the middle.

When she got there, she stopped and turned. She was about two feet from the edge. She slowly put one foot in front of the other. She was shaking, the wind blowing her back, telling her not to move forward. She didn't listen. She pressed on, placing her hands on the railing. She pulled herself forward, her heart beating fast, her body feeling like lead.

Still, she pushed on. She brought her head over the railing, forcing herself to look down. She felt her stomach do a flip but she held herself there. She saw the beauty of the water, felt the rush of the breeze around her. As she gazed down, she felt tears rush to her eyes. She didn't step back. She didn't surrender to the fear. And all of a sudden, she felt free. She felt like she could conquer anything.

Delphine could enjoy the view for the first time. It was incredible. She breathed in the air and allowed the cool feeling to wash over her. She wasn't afraid anymore.

She finally backed away from the edge, smiling. She took a deep breath as she headed back. She felt at peace with herself. She knew she had done it on her own. She knew she was strong.

She no longer felt like she needed Cosima. But she wanted her. She looked up at the sky with this realization before heading back home.

As Delphine traveled back home, she called Cosima.

"Delphine?" she heard on the other end.

"Hi, Cosima," Delphine greeted.

"Hey," Cosima answered with tenderness, "How are you doing today?"

"Great," she replied. "Cosima, do you want to go to the zoo with me?"

"The zoo?" Cosima laughed. "Um, yeah I do."

"Can I come pick you up?"

"Yes."

Delphine drove to Cosima's apartment. She realized she had never been inside of it as she walked up the stairs, tapping on the door when she reached it. Her heart was pounding. She felt excited, like a kid, ready for the first day of school.

Cosima opened the door, flashing a wide grin.

"Hey, you," she said, her happiness radiating off of her like beams of light. "Come in, I'm almost ready."

Delphine stepped into the apartment. There were things everywhere, stacks of paper, books, so many bookshelves filled from top to bottom. The entire place consisted of one room, with a space for the bed in the corner, a kitchen and a small couch. The bathroom was off of the kitchen, and Cosima headed for it saying, "I have to brush my teeth."

Delphine walked into the living room area, running her finger over the books on the shelf. Her hand came upon an old looking book, and her eyes went wide when she saw it. "Is this a first edition, Cosima?" She picked it up, reading the title, On the Origin of Species.

"Hmm?" Cosima asked as she came out of the bathroom.

"This book? First edition?"

"Oh yeah, it's my favorite. It's what got me into science in the first place," Cosima explained. "Elise got it for me for our five year anniversary."

"Wow, it's beautiful," Delphine admired.

Cosima smiled, walking over to Delphine. She came up close, placing her hand on Delphine's hip. "I'm ready to go now."

"Wait," Delphine stated.

Cosima looked at her with concerned eyes, her eyebrow furrowed.

"I realized something today," she told Cosima.

"What's that?" Cosima asked, playing with the bottom of Delphine's shirt.

"I realized I really enjoy kissing you." She smiled with her mouth closed, her dimples coming into full focus in front of Cosima.

Cosima's lips crept into a smile. "Well, you know, I can help you with that," she smirked.

"Oh yeah?"

Cosima didn't answer. She brought her lips up to gently graze Delphine's, both of her hands on the blonde's hips, pulling her closer.

Delphine felt the incredible swirl of emotions she had felt last night, only this time, it was stronger, it was more real. She was letting herself get lost. She opened her mouth slightly, letting her tongue graze Cosima's gently. Her arms wrapped around the brunette's frame, and she pulled her tight, her hands on her lower back.

Cosima ended the kiss, pulling back slightly, but Delphine held her in place, moving her forehead to Cosima's, looking into her eyes as their noses touched. They both grinned together before starting to giggle.

"Wow," Cosima whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Just...you...wow," Cosima stated, blushing hard.

Delphine pulled Cosima into her chest, cradling her head, rubbing her back with the other. "You are incredible, ma chérie."

They held each other for a moment before Cosima pulled back, her hands sliding to Delphine's hips. "Um, so, I was promised the zoo," she teased.

Delphine laughed. "Let's go."

"Oh my god, look how close it is!" Cosima squealed, pulling Delphine by the hand toward the giant giraffe standing just behind the fence.

Delphine looked at the animal for a moment, bringing her gaze to the adorable woman next to her. Cosima's eyes were wide, her mouth agape. She had a sense of wonder on her face. Delphine imagined that Cosima must've been such a curious child.

"It's beautiful," Cosima stated.

"Yes, you know giraffes are the tallest of all the land mammals," Delphine spouted, "And they have purple tongues."

"Are you a giraffe expert too?" Cosima joked.

Delphine grabbed Cosima's sides, tickling her as the smaller girl giggled.

Cosima curled her arm around Delphine's waist. "Come on, I want to see the otters."

"The otters?"

"Yeah, they're so cute!"

Delphine followed Cosima as they entered the building where the otters would be.

"Look, look, Delphine!" Cosima said excitedly as she pointed toward the two otters floating in the water below. "Aww, they're holding hands."

"They do that so they don't float apart," Delphine pointed out.

"Or maybe it's because they're in loooooove," Cosima teased, giving Delphine's hand a gentle squeeze, catching her eye briefly and blushing.

Delphine bit her lip, feeling her heart skip a beat as Cosima looked at her with those eyes.

Cosima leaned in to kiss Delphine sweetly on the neck. She lingered there and Delphine felt shivers run all the way down to her toes.

"What's next?" Cosima asked suddenly, pulling away.

"Hmm?" Delphine responded, not even realizing that her eyes were closed. She opened them to see Cosima staring and smiling.

"Where to next?"

"Oh, well, we have to see the flamingos of course," Delphine giggled.

"Oh, of course!" Cosima agreed, laughing along with her.

They walked outside for a while, finding the flamingos, and walking past a host of other creatures. They strolled, arms around each other's waists, taking in the view, enjoying each other's presence.

After a while, they both found they were getting tired.

"Delphine," Cosima began, "would you want to come over and have some dinner? We could get take out."

"Ok," Delphine answered. This had been an incredible day, and she didn't want it to end.

"I'm so full," Cosima moaned as she laid back on the couch, grabbing her stomach.

Delphine was up, having put the dishes in the sink, and she was now walking around Cosima's apartment, admiring all the little things she found on the shelves. She came across a picture of Cosima and a woman with short blonde hair.

"Is this her?" she asked Cosima.

Cosima nodded.

"She was beautiful," Delphine stated.

"Yes, she was," Cosima said through a half smile. "Come over here?"

Delphine watched as Cosima opened her arms. She obliged, walking over to the couch. "Here, get up for a second," she told Cosima. She did, and Delphine sat against the armrest at the end of the sofa, beckoning for Cosima to sit in between her legs and lean back into her. As she felt Cosima's warmth, she wrapped her arms around her small frame, dropping her head down to kiss Cosima just under the ear.

She felt Cosima's body relax into hers, her dreadlocked head resting against Delphine's shoulder. She found the weight of her body comforting against her and she closed her eyes, her cheek brushing up against the brunette's head.

She felt Cosima sigh. "Delphine?"

"Hmm?"

"I…" Cosima whispered, before bringing Delphine's hand to her lips and letting them linger as she kissed gently. "I…" she mumbled something into the blonde's hand.

"What?"

"Nothing. I…I'm just really really happy."

"Really really?" Delphine teased.

"Shush," Cosima grinned.

They sat for a moment more, Delphine stroking Cosima's arm lovingly with her finger, her eyes closed. She felt more relaxed than she had in years and she slowly felt herself drifting, her eyelids heavy. It had been a long day in the sun and it was catching up to her.

Cosima could feel the weight of Delphine's head. She whispered, "Hey, you should go to bed. You're falling asleep. Are you ok staying here with me tonight?"

Delphine let out a groan, nodding.

"Come on, cutie," Cosima giggled, lifting herself up to lead Delphine into the bedroom.

She helped her remove her pants and slide into bed. Delphine grabbed Cosima's arm gently as she started walking away. "Don't leave," she pleaded.

Cosima smiled. "I'm not, silly. I'm just going to the bathroom."

Delphine rolled over onto her side as she heard Cosima close the bathroom door. The next thing she knew, she felt Cosima's arms around her, spooning her from behind, the touch startling her slightly in her half dozed state. As soon as she felt Cosima pull her tightly, her body relaxed again and she let the warmth seep into her skin. She felt Cosima lay a gentle kiss on the back of her neck.

Delphine was about to fall asleep again when she heard Cosima whisper into her skin, "Delphine…"

She was too tired to answer, so she lay silent, drifting...drifting…

"I love you."

Delphine's eyes shot open. She felt a burst of energy as she rolled over to face Cosima.

Cosima looked at her with a shocked face. "Oh, my god, Delphine, I thought you were asleep."

"Cosima, I—"

"Shh," Cosima whispered, bringing her hand to Delphine's face. "You don't have to say anything...I just...I couldn't hold it in anymore." She stroked Delphine's cheek with her thumb over and over, soothing her back to her dreamlike state.

"Cos…" Delphine tried to say, but she was too tired. She let her body relax again as sleep overtook her.