Shizuru wakes up the morning after her session with Dr. Heinrich, yawns and stretches the remainder of sleep away. She checks the clock that sits on a triangle night stand by the bed. Eight thirty. I haven't slept this long in years, she thinks as she throws on a slip and makes her way to the kitchen. It's a Friday and she's decided to take the day off of work and stay home with her daughter.

She finds her husband, Thomas, sitting in a chair at the table, drinking a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper from his tablet. "Good morning." he casually remarks as she plants a chaste kiss on his cheek, more siblings than a married couple. They had married more out of pressure than out of genuine feelings for the other. After almost ten years of marriage the couple had only had sex once, though this was enough to produce their only child.

Said child comes running down the stairs at full sprint and practically dive tackles her mother. "You were out so late that Nao had to tuck me in and I was worried about you but she said that you'd be okay and I'm so happy to see you." She blurts the entire sentence in one breath, causing both Shizuru and Thomas to chuckle.

"Nao was right, I'm okay now. Speaking of, where is that girl?"

As if on cue, the twenty-year-old runs through the door, half-eaten bagel in her hand and a book bag in the other. "Sorry I'm late, I stayed up studying and time got the better of me."

Shizuru chuckles at the disheveled state of her shoulder length red hair, at the rumpled state of her baggy cargo pants and t-shirt, at the luster of her green eyes, at the beads of sweat on her smooth skin. "It's nothing to worry about." Shizuru was attracted to the girl, she was adult enough to admit it. A strange chill still ran through her spine when she thought of taking the girl to bed, however. "I was actually going to tell you that you won't be needed today. I'm taking the day off work and staying home. I can look after Natsuki."

"Oh. Well I didn't really plan for a ride back. Do you mind if I stay here for a while?" She stands awkwardly, her eyes making no secret of their target, roving hungrily over Shizuru's body. Even at her age, Shizuru is a beautiful woman, her long, chestnut hair falling in light curls down her smooth shoulders left bare by her slip. Her toned body giving way to long legs that seemed to continue into forever. Shizuru is a siren, and Nao is a love-struck sailor.

Thomas stands up to leave, placing his tablet in the satchel he carries, setting his coffee cup in the sink to be cleaned later, giving Shizuru a soft good bye kiss on the cheek. He whispers to her, "It's been way too long, Shizuru. Treat yourself." Shizuru knows exactly what he means. He is aware of Shizuru's preferences and approves, somehow their lack of sex only makes their relationship stronger. He gives his daughter, who is sitting at the kitchen table, a kiss on the forehead. "I won't be home tonight, honey. So you can lock up."

Shizuru pours some cereal into a bowl. "Okay, have a good day, darling." She fills the bowl with milk, grabs a spoon and sets it before Natsuki, who tears into it with gusto. Shizuru pours herself a mug of coffee and sits next to her. She motions to Nao and an empty chair, "Sit down."

The girl does so. She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a book, setting it on the table and opening to begin reading. "What are you studying?"

Shizuru asks with curiosity and Nao looks away from the book only long enough to answer. "Spiritualism."

"That sounds fascinating." Shizuru puts her elbows on the table and leans forward. "What have you learned so far?"

"One of the things that stuck with me is the idea of an afterlife." Nao closes the book so she can look in Shizuru's eyes while they talk. "Every religion and culture has something similar, but it all boils down to the idea that no one truly dies. That our loved ones are always with us, even if we can't see them or feel them. Some cultures even believed it was possible to reach across this barrier. Shizuru?"

Tears had formed in Shizuru's eyes while Nao spoke, but now they stream down her face like a river of pain. "Yes, it does feel like that sometimes." Her voice is choked and Natsuki looks up from her cereal. "Like somehow she's still beside me, watching me and loving me. God, I miss her."

Shizuru's head falls to the table and she is choking back sobs. She feels a hand reach out for her right hand, Nao. She feels a smaller hand reach out for her left, Natsuki. "Mom, are you okay? Please stop crying."

She fights it, bringing herself back to a calm state for her daughter. "I'm okay, Natsuki." She wipes her eyes with her left hand. "Are you finished eating?" Natsuki nods. "Then go to the living room, I'll be there in a minute, okay?"

Natsuki obeys and heads to the living room, leaving only Nao and Shizuru at the table. Nao still holds Shizuru's right hand. "I'm sorry if I brought up something sensitive."

Shizuru shakes her head. "No, it's okay." They're eyes meet and Shizuru feels a fire light inside of her. "Will you watch Natuski for a minute? I need to freshen up."

"Sure. Take your time." Nao heads off to the living room and Shizuru heads upstairs to her bathroom. She puts on a pair of comfortable pants and a t-shirt, then stares at herself in the bathroom mirror. "Is it okay, Natsuki?" She asks the mirror. "Give me a sign that it's okay." She waits a full minute, but receives no answer, so she heads down to the living room where Natsuki and Nao are playing a video game. The object of the game appears to be to jump from platform to platform while avoiding spikes that would come up at random intervals.

"You can do it. Last jump." Nao is encouraging Natsuki, who misses by inches and her character falls to his death. "Oh, so close." She hears Shizuru sit on the couch and looks up. "Are you okay?"

Shizuru smiles and nods, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you."

Natsuki turns to her mother with a grin that spread across her face, "Mom, you can play the third player, if you want."

Shizuru shakes her head, "No, sweetheart, I'm terrible at those things."

"Why don't play a couple by yourself, kiddo." Nao gets up and sits next to Shizuru. Very close to her. "Are you sure you're okay?" Nao puts her hand on Shizuru's thigh, stoking the fire.

"For the last time, Nao, I'm okay. I just got a little emotional." The hand stays for longer than just comforting and Shizuru feels a bit more sure of her decision.

"I called a cab home, if that's okay. They should be here any minute."

"You don't have to leave."

"I need to study and there are too many ... distractions here."

A loud honk comes from the driveway and both Shizuru and Nao stand up. Natsuki turns her head, but quickly returns to the game. "That should be my ride."

"I'll walk you out." She looks at Natsuki, "I'm going to walk Nao to the door, say good bye."

"Bye, Nao." Nao gives her a big hug from behind, which she tried to shrug off. "Stop, it's embarrassing."

Nao chuckles as she walks past Shizuru and to the hallway that leads to the front door. She is turned around suddenly, and before she is aware of it she is pressed against the wall with a warm body pressed up against her. Lips that she had longed to kiss meet hers and the fire rages. The kiss lasts a full minute before Shizuru pulls away. "Be here at eleven o'clock. Don't be late. I'll be in my room."

Her voice is low, breathless and sounds like heaven to Nao, who has longed to hear those words since she discovered her crush earlier in the year. "I thought you'd never ask."

The front door closes behind her and Shizuru leans up against the wall to catch her breath. She doesn't know if it was the right thing to do, but god dammit it felt good to do it.

She walks back to the living room where Natsuki has bested the level that had previously stumped her. Shizuru sits down on the floor behind her, wrapping her in her arms and pulling her into her lap. Natsuki cuddles with her and Shizuru runs her fingers through her dark hair, her red eyes returning to the screen and the new level she is challenged to defeat. Shizuru kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, Natsuki."

"I love you too, mom."

Shizuru grips her tighter. She is taking the plunge and, just like the water in a swimming pool, she is feeling very cold. So very cold.

-IPR-

It's ten thirty now, and Shizuru is putting Natsuki to sleep. She tucks her into bed and kisses her forehead. "Goodnight, sweetie."

"Goodnight, mom. I love you." She slides deeper into her blankets and lays on her side.

"I love you, too."

Shizuru stands and watches her sleep for a few minutes before closing the door gently behind her and returning to her room. She takes a quick shower, letting the hot water run along her body for a little longer than necessary. She puts on some perfume she keeps in a medicine cabinet then puts on a sheer slip and sits on the end of her bed and waits. She doesn't wait long.

She hears a car pull into the driveway, then pull away. She hears the jingle of keys in the lock and the closing of the front door. She hears footsteps on the stairs and each one sends a chill through the floor, up her legs and down her spine. Her bedroom door opens and a red haired goddess entered. She is wearing a pair of creased slacks and a long sleeved shirt. Shizuru gets up from the bed and Nao is in awe of her. "Am I late?"

"No, you're right on time." They stand three paces apart from each other. At first neither wants to breach the distance. "You look really handsome, Nao."

"You're stunning, Shizuru." They take a step towards each other. Nao pulls at her shirt. "I didn't really know what to wear. I've never been this excited for anything before."

"I've never been more anxious. It's been a long time, Nao." Nao takes a step towards her. "I haven't been with a woman since Natsuki died."

"We don't have to do this, if you don't want to."

Shizuru closes the distance between them and answers with a deep kiss, putting her hands on Nao's neck. "No, this is what I want."

Nao returns the kiss with fervor, wrapping the taller woman in a tight embrace. She slowly slides the strap of Shizuru's slip off her silken shoulders until it falls off, leaving her naked. Nao drinks her in, her smell, her smooth, olive skin, her red eyes asking everything of her.

Shizuru pulls at the buttons on her shirt. They're lips never part, even when Shizuru has finished unbuttoning and tosses her shirt to the side. Even when she starts undoing her pants, letting them fall to the floor. Even when she undoes her bra and leaves her standing in only her panties.

The temperature in the room rises at least ten degrees as they move to the bed, exploring, probing, learning each other's secrets. Their bodies move against each other in a rhythm that only they can hear, to a beat that only they can feel, to a melody that they write with their cries of pleasure.

Afterwards they lie in each other's arms, Shizuru on her back with one arm around Nao who presses up against her. Her hand runs lazy circles over Shizuru's taut stomach. Neither speaks, neither wanting to break the magic of the moment.

Shizuru looks over to her vanity, which had gotten fogged over in the heat of their lovemaking, and could make out three words in perfect script. 'I love you.' Her mind is immediately whisked away to a time over twenty years ago. She lay in bed with a blue haired woman after making love. The smell of her is intoxicating, the feel of her is divine. Only two words come through the vision. I promise.

She comes to sharply, her back arced, her breathing heavy. She falls back to the bed and Nao holds her tighter. "Are you okay?"

She looks back over at the vanity, the letters have begun to fade as the temperature in the room returns to normal. Shizuru rolls over and Nao throws an arm over her. "I didn't exactly make plans to get back. Can I stay here tonight?"

Shizuru closes her eyes. "Sure, I won't kick you out of my bed."

"What if your husband returns? Will be be upset?"

"He has his bed, I have mine, and no, he won't be upset."

They fall asleep in each other's arms and the trepidation that Shizuru had felt all afternoon was gone, replaced by something warm and inviting. Something she thought she had lost.

-IPR-

Shizuru wakes up in the familiar warmth of another woman's arms. She smiles before slipping out of her grip and off the bed. Nao rolls over and her eyes crack just a bit. "Is it morning already?" Her voice is heavy and drowsy. Shizuru thinks it's cute.

"Yes, it's nearly seven."

"A.M." Nao whines. "I didn't even know there was a seven A.M."

Shizuru leans over the bed and kisses her on the neck. "Then date someone your age."

Nao laughs. "No one my age could have done even half of that. You're an angel."

Shizuru throws on her slip from the previous night and stands in front of the vanity, brushing her hair. She feels arms wrap around her waist and a body press up against her back. "So, when can we do this again?"

She kisses Shizuru's bare shoulder. Shizuru continues to brush. "You have a key, and you're welcome in my bed any night."

Nao lets go of her and reluctantly starts to dress herself. She puts on her shirt as her phone buzzes and she checks it. "My ride is here. I should go."

She gives Shizuru an 'I'll see you later' kiss and heads down the stairs and out the door. Shizuru brushes her hair out for another three minutes before she makes her way down to the kitchen. As expected, Thomas is waiting for her. "I just saw Nao leaving, you cougar."

Shizuru smirks. "You're one to talk." She kisses him on the cheek and whispers in his ear. "What was his name?"

"I don't kiss and tell, honey." Shizuru is aware of his preferences and approves. It makes things much easier. "What are your plans today? Going shopping or out to the movies?"

Shizuru pulled two skillet out of a drawer near the stove and flipped two burners on. She pulled out a dozen eggs and a package of bacon. "Want some bacon and eggs?"

"Sounds lovely, but what about today?"

She cracked an egg over the side of the pan and let it drip into it. "I was planning on staying home, maybe watch a movie with Natsuki."

"I think I'll join you. It's been a while since I've spent time at home. It might be nice to just relax." The bacon sizzles as it hits the pan and fills the whole house with it's aroma.

Natsuki comes bounding down the stairs as Shizuru is getting plates ready. She sits down at the table and pronounces, in a loud voice. "I'm hungry."

Shizuru smiles as she places the plate on the table in front of her, then kisses her forehead. "Then you're just in time, sweetie. Eat up."

She sets a plate down for Thomas, who thanks her, then sits down herself. They eat together as a family, then make their way to the living room to watch Finding Nemo for the eighth time this month. It's Natsuki's favorite. She sits on the couch with her daughter and laughs with her husband and for the first time in twenty years she doesn't think about Natsuki. At least until she feels cold hands on her neck and hears a soft whisper, as if on the wind, "I love you."

-IPR-

Shizuru sits in the lobby of Dr. Heinrich's office trying to remain awake. Between spending the night with Nao and working all day she is a bit drowsy. She is about to fall asleep when the receptionist steps forward. "Ms. Viola? The doctor will see you now."

She makes her way into the pine graveyard and shakes the hand waiting for her. "Shizuru, welcome back. I see you didn't need an escort this time."

She sits in the plush leather chair and gets comfortable. "No, I'm here of my own free will."

Al pulls out a slip of paper with sloppy handwriting over it. "Do you feel that talking about this has helped you?"

Shizuru nods her head. "Yes, it feels really good to talk about it. I've carried this weight for twenty years now, but I'm starting to feel like I can let it go."

"Excellent. Now I've come up with a list of questions concerning your relationship with your husband."

Shizuru sighs. "He is a Certified Public Accountant, he is gay, and we have slept together only once in order to conceive our daughter, and neither of us really enjoyed it."

Al gives her a somewhat cross look then crumpled the paper and tosses it into a nearby waste basket. "Well, that was the first fifteen minutes. Why don't we continue the story you were telling."

"Sure. I would like to talk about the first time that me and Natsuki made love."