They woke slowly in the morning, still wrapped around each other. Katrina took the time to sift through her thoughts, trying to make a bit more sense of everything that had happened. When Tilly woke up fully a few minutes later, she was feeling a bit more together. Tilly greeted her with a grin and a sleepy kiss which Katrina was more than happy to return.

'Good morning,' Tilly said. 'I didn't notice any nightmares last night, are you ok?' Katrina started.

'No, I don't remember any, and I didn't even think of it until now!' she remarked in surprise.

'That's good,' Tilly replied with another kiss.

'You don't know how good,' Katrina responded, marvelling slightly. 'Listen, I think I should apologise for sending you mixed messages yesterday,' she began, but cut off when the girl went totally rigid in her arms. 'Oh woah no, nothing like that! I didn't mean.. Oh fuck it,' she gave in and kissed her instead. Slowly Tilly melted back against her and Katrina pulled back again. 'Sorry,' she said. 'I didn't think about how that might sound. I just meant I wanted to apologise for telling you I wanted to take things slowly and then jumping your bones.' Tilly laughed out loud, finally relaxing and pulling Katrina back towards her.

'You don't need to apologise for that.'

'No, but I want to. I thought that at the moment I didn't want to be touched, but it's not exactly that. I think I just need to retain a certain amount of control, and using that control to make you feel good reminded me of what human contact should be like.'

'Kat,' Tilly replied gently, 'You really don't need to explain. We said we'd go at your pace and we will.' Then she grinned, 'And if that involves you giving me the best orgasm of my life I really have no complaints.' Katrina smirked.

'The best orgasm of your life.. so far.' Tilly's eyes darkened in response. 'I'm certainly not done with you yet.' Katrina hooked a leg over Tilly's to bring their bodies closer together and kissed her again, more hungrily than before. They pulled apart a few moments later, both breathing heavily. Katrina rolled onto her back. 'Much as I'd like to, we probably shouldn't spend all day in here or we're going to have to do some heavy editing on our mission reports.' Tilly laughed.

'Can we go back to those springs we found a couple of days ago? I feel gross and I'd like to wash before Discovery comes to find us.' It was Katrina's turn to laugh.

'That is probably a really good idea,' she agreed.

Katrina set a faster pace on the walk back to the springs, not wanting to be totally out of shape when she got back to civilisation. It took them less time than they expected to get there and they arrived slightly sweaty and in even more need of a wash than when they set off. Tilly took out her tricorder to check that the pool was still an acceptable temperature, then tested it with her hand.

'Yup,' she announced cheerfully, 'Still feels good to me. I'm going to try to wash my hair this time, if it doesn't stay stuck in place when I take the bands out.' Katrina chuckled and then watched, mesmerised, as Tilly coaxed her hair out of the two buns it had been in for the last few days and fluffed it out. Tilly saw her looking and grimaced. 'I know, there's a lot of it.' Katrina stepped closer to her.

'You're beautiful,' she said simply, before kissing her. When she went to take her clothes off however, she noticed Tilly watching her. 'Oh I get it,' she drawled, 'This was all just an excuse to get me naked again!' Holding Tilly's gaze, she slowly drew the zipper of her jacket down and shrugged it off. She peeled her undershirt over her head, catching the girl's eye again when it was off before pushing her trousers and underwear down her legs and stepping out of them. She stood for a moment on the side of the pool, enjoying the effect her little show had had on Tilly before getting in and beckoning to her. 'Join me?'

Tilly had frozen still fully dressed as Katrina had stripped and now almost tripped over in her haste to get her clothes off. Katrina couldn't help laughing as the girl blushed bright red.

'Shut up, you,' she grumbled as she slid into the water.

'Make me,' Katrina shot back, and Tilly wasted no time in doing so. Both women moaned as their bare skin came into contact under the water and their kisses became more heated. Tilly's hands were resting on Katrina's hips, obviously being careful not to push too far, and after a few minutes Katrina was desperate. 'Tilly,' she gasped, 'Please god just touch me somewhere!' Tilly chuckled and moved a hand up to cup one of her breasts. She moaned and pushed forwards. 'Yes, please, more!' Tilly moved her other hand up to the other side and slid a thigh between Katrina's legs. Katrina responded immediately, rocking against Tilly in search of some friction.

'Easy there,' Tilly whispered, and brought a hand down to touch her. It only took a few strokes before she was coming, shuddering and gasping as her orgasm took her. She clung to Tilly as the shaking subsided, burying her face into her neck as her breathing returned to normal. Tilly pressed a kiss to the top of her head. 'You ok?'

Katrina pulled back far enough to kiss her deeply in a slow sensual meeting of lips and tongues. 'Ok doesn't quite cover it,' she admitted. Tilly chuckled. When Katrina made an attempt to reciprocate however, Tilly pushed her hands away.

'I'm good,' she said gently. Katrina settled back and they stayed in each other's hold for a while.

'Do you need a hand washing your hair?' Katrina asked eventually, disentangling herself. Tilly grimaced.

'I'll let you know.' She stepped back into the middle of the pool and ducked under. Katrina lounged against the side, watching Tilly splashing about and feeling more relaxed than she had done in weeks. Eventually Tilly made her way back over, wet hair streaming down her back. 'I'm all done. Shall we head back?' Katrina nodded and Tilly climbed out of the pool. Katrina followed her, marvelling at the way Tilly's body curved in all the right places. Tilly caught her looking and paused in the act of getting a blanket. 'What?'

'You're gorgeous. You look like that Botticelli painting of Venus,' Katrina replied. Tilly snorted.

'I bet you say that to all the girls.' Katrina laughed. They got themselves dry and dressed again and started back towards their campsite. They seemed to have formed some kind of unspoken agreement not to discuss what would happen when they got back, but instead talked about anything and everything else. The walk back took a lot longer than the walk there, neither woman wanting to rush to the end of their last day out on the planet. They reached their clearing just as night was falling and sat by the fire as the sun set.

'I've actually really enjoyed being stuck on this planet,' Tilly admitted. 'I've never been big on the whole outdoors thing, but you might have converted me.' Katrina smiled.

'It was just shit timing,' she sighed. 'I'm normally much better company, but I'm not myself at the moment.' Tilly squeezed her hand.

'Well, when you're all back to normal we'll go get stuck somewhere else, and you can show me how badass you usually are.' Katrina laughed.

'Deal. Now let's get inside. I want to take advantage of having you all to myself for one more night.'

The two women climbed into the tent and zipped it shut. Slowly they undressed each other, taking their time as they revealed the skin underneath. This time their love making was gentle, hands and mouths exploring each other's bodies as if they had all the time in the world. They came together, sighing and moaning into each other's mouths. Afterwards they dragged the blanket over themselves and fell asleep, still pressed together.