Lawrence and Flo had been taken out for the day by Alan and Celia to a nearby indoor zoo. For the first time in what felt like forever, Caroline and Kate had an empty house -all to themselves. As the bedroom door flung closed behind them, the world was shut out. The pair repeatedly kissed one another passionately, barely pausing for breath. The older woman pushed her wife onto the bed and smoothly removed both of their dressing gowns, throwing them onto the floor without a care.

'I want you C-caroline' stuttered Kate as the other ran her fingers down the darker skin and then finally reaching her must sensitive. Kate gripped her wife's shoulders and in the process marked her territory. The headmistress never tired of seeing her lover's naked body. It had bore a child but yet she still oozed sexiness. Using her tongue she moved from Kate's lips to the top of her right breast and then to her erect nipple. The aroused woman underneath her moaned, unable to contain herself as her partners fingers slipped inside of her; a sensation of utter delight spreading throughout.

The blonde haired woman's actions were eventually reciprocated. Kate took pleasure in watching her wife so turned on from such simple actions and movements. Caroline couldn't remember ever feeling the same way when she and John had previously had sex. In the earlier days she had enjoyed it and sometimes even yearned for it, but in the years leading up to their divorce it was a meaningless activity which she felt obliged to carry out.

'For an old woman, you can sure give me a run for my money' commented Kate as she collapsed onto the bed besides Caroline some time later, her breathing slowly returning to something that resembled normal.

'Less of the old!' she replied, playfully throwing a pillow at the laughing female. Rolling onto her side she looked Kate in the eyes whilst stroking her cheek gently 'You, as always, were magnificently perfect'

They lay together silently for a while longer, musing over one another's bodies. Kate had often thought she could stare at Caroline's body for a lifetime and never get bored of the sight. In the past she had been in relationships but the thought of spending such time with them had quickly become tedious; with Caroline it was different, she knew she could spend an age with her and yet still miss her as soon as she left.

'I love you, Kate' uttered the headmistress, smiling 'I will always love you' pulling her in closer they couldn't resist the urge to once again kiss romantically. 'I've never quite loved anybody in the same way that I love you'

'Oh darling' replied the darker woman, using words that were rare 'You are the one and only love of my life' Caroline's phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking the moment. She reached over and opened the text message she had received. Holding up the phone to Kate, she presented a picture Lawrence had sent through of him and Florence with a rabbit with the caption 'Love Lawrence xx'

'They look as if they're having a whale of a time!' commented Kate, noting the way Flo seemed to be holding the animal's ear whilst smiling her toothy grin 'Lawrence and Flo's relationship is really rather moving'

'I thought it would be so much more difficult than it has been- I thought he would be so much more difficult. He completely adores Florence.' agreed his biological mother, reflecting on the last few hectic months.

'I've caught him several times sitting chatting to her in different voices. Sometimes, when you're late home from work, he'll help me give her a bath and then sit with us whilst I feed her' Caroline couldn't help but grin at the way Kate spoke about her growing son 'And I enjoy the rare times just him and me get to go out alone'

'He's really grown to love you, Lawrence told me himself. These days he's in more of a rush to get home from school to his sister than he is to get onto the rugby pitch'

'You should be proud, he's a fantastic young man; and someday a husband and father as well'

'No, Kate, we should be proud. You have just as much influence as I do. He looks up to you just as much as John or I' Kate loved it when Caroline corrected what she said to include her as well. She loved this ready-made family she had walked into, and who freely loved her as much as she did them.

The pair walked in silence for quite some time. It wasn't the sort of silence that felt uncomfortable or strange, it was the sort that felt naturally right. They walked hand in hand along the leafy footpath and past the free flowing lake, each of them dressed appropriately for the changing weather. It was rare they got to leave the house without a child in tow and the noise that came with having kids, as well as the chaos.

'I think we should get a dog' blurted out the older woman.

Kate, not prepared for such an idea, turned her head sharply to look at Caroline 'Did you just say a dog?'

'Yes, a dog' she repeated herself calmly, trying to suppress the smile that was fighting its way onto her lips.

'Have you gone completely mad?'

'Maybe-'

'Caroline, we both have full time jobs, three children...as well as everything else. A dog?!' Kate rationalised the idea, using her fingers to count just how many responsibilities they already had.

'Come on, Kate, it'll be fun. Lawrence has always wanted a dog. I know our life arrangements aren't exactly ideal but I think it's completely plausible, and I happen to think that Florence may benefit from a furry four-legged friend'

'No-no, you can't use the children as a way to get around me' she insisted, visibly melting into the thought. She herself had grown up with dogs throughout her children and admittedly they had taught her how to love freely and selflessly. Caroline didn't have as much experience with dogs; her parents always refusing to own one and then the time never seemed right with John, no matter how much the boys had previously begged. 'What sort of dog?' sheinquired, not wanting to seem as if she was giving into her wife's suggestion.

'I hadn't thought that far ahead'

'And how do you suppose we look after a dog whilst you're managing a school and I'm teaching?'

'Ah, now that I can answer!' she chirped, pleased with herself 'I've done a little research and you can leave a dog crated for up to five hours. So whilst we're at school it could be shut away in a decent sized crate, then one of us could come home at lunch to let him out to relieve himself'

'By one of us, what you really mean is me?' insisted Kate. The other woman didn't have to reply, her face said it all but her wife couldn't be angry; instead she just laughed.

'I'll do my bit, and I'm sure Lawrence will be happy to walk it'

'Right, so if I do say yes do I get to choose the breed?' Caroline's faced tightened a little at the suggestion so the Nigerian lady put her out of her misery 'Relax, Caroline- I'll leave that largely down to Lawrence'

'So that's a yes then?!'

'It's a 'if you clear up its mess from the house' yes' she joked. At the words, Caroline did a small jump on the spot clapping her hands and then through her hands around Kate and kissed her.

Caroline received a phone call not long after that had returned from their cold but eventful walk. Kate was in the kitchen putting the kettle on to make the pair mugs of steaming hot tea. The headmistress walked into the kitchen with the phone pressed firmly against her ear, a glimmer of a smile gracing her face.

'Mum...yes? No we're both here...No, we've just got back from a walk... No we are not in the bedroom!...We're adults mother, we can control ourselves... right-right see you shortly then. Bye,bye-bye' she hung up, laughing a little.

'What was that all about?' requested Kate, handing the hot mug over to her giggling wife and then taking a seat at the kitchen island.

'Mum-mum' she replied, straightening up and joining Kate at the kitchen bench to drink her tea 'She was phoning up to see if we-erm we were decent and ready for them all to come back'

'Decent?'

'I presume she thought we'd have been busy in the bedroom all day considering we seemingly can't control ourselves' Caroline placed her hand on Kate's lap and gave it a squeeze whilst still laughing. Kate joined her, laughing loudly and freely.

'I'm never going to be able to look her in the eye again! So she thought we had been having sex all the time they've been gone? She does realise her daughter is forty eight, not twenty, right?'

'Don't be so rude!' the older woman pretended to look hurt, but instead ended up kissing the darker woman.

Having been left with the kids again, and her parents vacating their family home after having around a little too long with Celia enquiring about their day, Caroline lay down on the sofa with a glass of wine. Having switched on Kate's iPod, the room was filled with smooth classical music; a thing of beauty the woman had become so used to in recent months. A hand slipped down her back and along her side before a kiss was placed on her cheek from behind. The sensual movement was repeated several times, each time lasting longer and longer.

'Get a room!' jibed Lawrence as he entered the room and set his eyes upon both women kissing. It was a sight he was more than used to. He was more used to it than he had been to his mum and dad kissing which had rarely happened in their last years of marriage. Placing himself in the leather armchair and throwing his legs over the arm he rolled his eyes sarcastically and pretended to throw up. For his troubles, Caroline and Kate continued to kiss for longer just to irritate the boy.

Once they had pulled away from one another Caroline sat up whilst Kate lay on the sofa with her head in her wife's lap, holding onto her free hand. 'So, if you had a dog what would you call it Lawrence?' she questioned, watching her son's expression change.

'Pardon?' he asked, taken aback.

'What would you call a dog?'

'Are you letting me have a dog?'

Kate and Caroline looked one another in the eyes; the younger woman gave a look to indicate she should probably give in and spill the beans 'Kate has agreed that as long as you walk it then we can get a dog'

'Really?!' he shouted, leaping out of the chair and hugging both his parents until they nearly couldn't breathe. 'You're the best!' The pair could hardly wait to see how he reacted to the actual presence of an animal in their house. 'Can we get a border collie? Please-Please-Please' he begged endlessly. Instantly the adults knew their predicament over which breed to go for was over and that Lawrence had already decided. Such simple things made for the best links to paradise.