Like she'd even doubted Michelle in the first place. When Carla awoke, she felt comfortable, well rested, protected. She was still bundled up in Michelle's arms, and when she felt a light kiss at the top of her head, she knew Michelle had been waiting for her to wake up.

"How long have I been asleep?" She asked, her forehead creasing as the after effect of too much drinking took over.

"A couple of hours, you didn't move once, you obviously needed it love."

Carla leant further into Michelle, not wanting to move. "I am, I've not been sleeping much recently."

"Because of Frank?" Carla still shuddered involuntarily at the mention of his name.

"I don't know if I can fight him anymore."

"Don't fight him, just don't let him win."

"How?"

"We'll find a way" Michelle assured her, reaching down and resting her hand over the top of hers. "together."

"Michelle?"

"What?"

"We kissed,"

"That's correct,"

"Why?"

"Because we wanted to?"

"Why did we want to?"

This time Michelle was quiet and Carla hoped she wouldn't backtrack and tell her it was some sort of mistake.

"I don't know. Why did you want to kiss me?"

Carla's grip on Michelle's hand tightened somewhat.

"I just did," She left a hanging pause before speaking once more. "and I want to do it again."

"I won't stop you."

This time Michelle's lips were ready and they met Carla's halfway, crashing together almost hungry though there was still that element of care, as if neither wanted to push the other too far. Carla allowed her hand to wind into Michelle's hair inching her closer, if she could be any closer. They were a tangle of limbs as they explored unfamiliar territory and when Michelle parted her lips Carla let herself deepen the kiss. The first touch of tongues seemed to send jolts of electric down Carla's spine and she was quickly becoming lost in the passion. The kiss had quickly become heated between the pair and though neither seemed to want to be the one to end it Michelle started to pull away.

"Wow, Carla," She murmured, her eyes shining somewhat.

"Was it too much?"

"No, it was perfect. I just needed to catch my breath."

"Can we go through to the bedroom? We don't have to continue or anything, I just want to-"

"I want to go through to the bedroom and continue." Michelle insisted. She wriggled from underneath Carla and took her hand so she could tug her up her eyes swivelling to Carla's bedroom door and back. Carla albeit nervous was suddenly excited at the prospect of what could happen if she took the younger woman through to her bedroom and got up to her feet without any hesitation.

Clothes were discarded as the two women made their way into Carla's bedroom, and way they fell onto the bed, Michelle over Carla. They were clad in just underwear. Michelle's kisses pressed down her neck, they were soft and gentle and meaningful. They made Carla tremble. Chests pressed together and smooth thighs brushed against one another, passion exploding between them. Carla gasped at Michelle's gentle touch, stroking down over her chest, stomach, not wanting to leave an inch of her untouched. She wanted to know every part of her, which parts made her whimper, shiver, which parts sent a wave of goosebumps along her skin, her hair standing on end. She learned which parts made her jump to the touch when she freckled light kisses all over her body, leaving Carla unable to do anything apart from lay beneath her and whimper…

The only light from the room came from the dim bedside lamp and it seemed to make her skin glow as she lay there, the comfortable heat from Michelle's chest pressed against her back, an almost protective arm across her stomach, holding her. Carla was seemingly in a state off trance, a blissful trance that she didn't want to break out of. What she had just done with Michelle was something she knew she could never regret. Over and over she went through in her mind how Michelle had taken the time to love her with touches to gentle that no man would ever be able to achieve such softness. Carla casts her mind back and cannot remember once when she had received such a tender display of affection. She recalls how she pleaded with Michelle for more, not to stop, and she replays Michelle's own cry of passion in her head, remembering how she'd cried her name, one simple world, 'Carla', filled with want and longing.

Michelle's still soothing her now, she's stroking gentle patterns across the top of her arm, and when Carla turns to face her, she receives a warm, lingering kiss from those lips she still has so much to learn about.

"It's getting late," Michelle whispered, though she made no attempt to move.

"Don't go, please, Michelle just stay here, I want to stay like this, I want us to stay like this. I need you to be here tonight." She doesn't hide the vulnerability from her voice because she doesn't need to be strong for Michelle. She'll never have to force herself to hide behind her mask infront of her.

"I'm not going to leave you, Carla. I'm going to stay here for as long as you need me." Michelle's gentle voice reassured her, and Carla turned around so they could face one another. She brought her hand up to Michelle's cheek and they cocooned together, their limbs entangled, trying to hold one as much as the other. Michelle's chin rested atop of Carla's head and she breathed deeply, inhaling the unique scent of her.

Carla's eyes began to close, their passionate exchanges having left her in a state of exhaustion once more. Looking up at Michelle, she found that she too seemed to be in the last stage of consciousness.

"Night, 'Chelle," Carla whispered, stroking her finger down her cheek to which Michelle let out a soft sigh.

"See you in the morning," Michelle replied, her voice also soft. The room descended into darkness when Michelle flicked the light off, but Carla no longer felt the sharp stabs of fear, just the gentle rising and falling of Michelle's chest, which she matched her own breath to.

In the warmth of eachother's arms, sleep was inevitable. Though Carla was a little unsure of what morning would bring, she knew Michelle would be there when she woke up. That was one thing she could be sure of, because Michelle wouldn't fail her. She never had before.

She curls into Michelle, further and even subconsciously the younger woman's arms tighten around her, holding her even closer, allowing Carla's head to rest directly above her heart. She was comforted by the even rhythm, the rhythm of the heart of the girl that Carla suddenly wished belonged to her.

Though she blames this thought entirely on her exhaustion, she can't force her eyes open for a moment longer, and so for the second time that evening, allows herself to settle effortlessly into sleep.