Monica hemmed and hawed for a while, like a month. She hadn't gone back to Roni's, and the woman hadn't attempted to contact her in that time. Finally, it was time to rip off the bandage. She sent over a simple text: Call me whenever you have time.

It was an hour after she sent the text that she received the call. "Hey."

"Hey. Been a while."

The grin that spread across Monica's face upon hearing Roni's voice was instantaneous and ridiculous. "Yeah. You told me to think, so I did."

"I assume that means you know what you want?"

"Yes, I do. I want to not make a bunch of promises and end up breaking them. I want to know you more, and have you know me more. I want to share wants. As much as I've been dying to kiss you again, I want it to be right for both of us. I want more than just one night with you. Whether it's just friends with benefits, or a full blown relationship, I want some kind of emotional connection, and I want your input, too. What I want ultimately means nothing if what you want doesn't match up."

"That was a lot more philosophy than I was prepared for," Roni breathed, winded after hearing all that. "If I'm understanding correctly, you want a date to discuss our interests and see if they align?"

"I suppose it would have been easier to just say that..." Monica chewed her lower lip. "Do you think I'm weird now?"

Roni laughed softly. "I happen to like weird." A smile touched her lips. "Business is pretty dead right now. Come to the bar, we can talk in person. I'll kick everyone else out again."

Monica swallowed hard, heart thudding and palms sweating. "Okay. I think I can get there in half an hour."

"I'll be here."

After getting off the phone, Monica hurried to find her prettiest green dress, and emerald ear rings to match. Once dressed, she piled her wavy curls on top of her head in a twisty up-do, letting one tendril hang down alongside her face.

Roni, meanwhile, was wearing a grey tanktop, her R initial necklace, a black leather jacket with rosy floral patterning, and torn jeans. Authentic Roni. She knew all she would have to do is remove the jacket if she wanted to showcase her assets. She did, however, make sure her tables were sparkling clean.

Roni had just finished drying her hands after washing them when she heard the door open, and saw the stunning vision walk in. There was no one to kick out, but she still had to close up the bar. She walked right up to her in order to lock the door, and get the signs switched to closed/off. She smiled, noticing how Monica now towered over her, thanks to heels. Very statuesque. "Pick a table."

Monica made her way to a clearly two-seater circular table that seemed to be positively gleaming. Roni followed, sitting down after her, across from her.

"Well..." Roni couldn't help it. "You are absolutely gorgeous."

"Me?" she asked with a smile, a blush tinting her cheeks yet again. "You somehow got more beautiful since the last time I saw you."

"Again with the flattery." Roni chuckled. She fiddled with one of the cuffs of her jacket, looking down at the table. Again, she wondered how she had gotten herself into this position. She sniffed and looked up at her, catching her piercing blue eyes. "Look, I don't know what I'm doing here. Or why. I've got so much baggage."

"Hey," Monica murmured softly. "I came prepared for everything, but I don't expect anything. I came to talk. Talk to me?"

Roni's eyes were rapidly growing misty. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get this emotional on you right away. I just...well, I'm a mother of bereavement. I just realized today would have been the 5th birthday."

Monica gasped. "Oh no..." She frowned, letting a hand sit palm up on the table in case it was needed.

"While we're on the morbid topic, I'm a widow, twice over. Husband, then wife. I don't have it in me to do that again..."

"I can't get married anyway, so you don't have to worry about that with me," Monica attempted to lighten the mood.

Roni looked at her quizzically, taking her hand to see if there was a ring she had missed. There wasn't. "Why can't you?"

"I'm already married," Monica answered, without missing a beat. "But before you judge – it's only because I can't get a divorce. Remember how I mentioned I've had worse than that guy you banned from your bar? 'Worse' is the husband. He abused me, and I was blind to it at first, but then I saw the light and had to escape. If I try to get a divorce, he'll know where I am. So… You're not the only one with baggage."

Roni covered her own mouth with her free hand, while her other gently squeezed Monica's. She was lost for words, and could only choke on a sob.

"Don't do that..." Monica whispered, wanting to pull the other woman into her arms and hold her close. She settled for returning the squeeze, but more firmly. Seeing her cry was breaking her heart, and she just wanted to take the pain away.

Roni wiped at her own eyes, trying to rein it in. "I'm sorry," she repeated. She cleared her throat.

"We're getting to know each other. Don't be sorry for that. Tragic pasts lead to stronger futures."

A corner of Roni's mouth quirked up. "I believe we have now established marriage is off the table for both of us, at least."

"What about children?"

"Do you have any?"

"No."

"Do you want any?"

Monica shrugged. "Maybe, but I'm certainly in no hurry. I could be perfectly happy without. Would you ever…?"

"I really don't know. Mine only lived one month."

"Sounds like we're, well, not on the same page, but in a similar realm regarding that topic."

Roni drew in a deep breath. Then let it out slowly. "Not that there's anyone else to think about right now, but monogamy or polyamory in the context of a romantic or sexual relationship?"

"My general feelings are you do you, just communicate. Just know that when I fall, I fall hard. Knowing what it is like to be chained to another person, though, I would never try to act like someone can only be mine. Especially sexually. I would prefer to be someone's one and only, but I don't mind sharing."

"Good to know. I also fall hard, but I'm tired of losing people. So I've tried not to make any one person my everything. Even if I can only focus on one relationship at a time, sometimes I need something with little to no strings attached."

Monica nodded understandingly. "Right now you have neither?"

"Correct."

"Which do you need more of right now?"

Roni shook her head. "Don't ask me that. The same person can't start as one, then become the other. People have tried that so many times, it just never works. That's why it's important for you to know which you want to be, because there is no switching."

Monica swallowed, reaching out to gently cup Roni's cheek. "Gun to my head, I want to be all in. I want everything I can get, but in order for that to happen, we have to be sure we really like each other and won't just get bored in a couple weeks."

"You've been thinking about me for a month," Roni pointed out.

"I think you know what I mean."

Roni leaned into her hand, catching those blue eyes again. "You picked the right one, just so you know."

"I-I did?" Monica was stunned.

"I don't like trapping people, either." Roni wrapped a hand around the wrist next to her cheek, stroking her thumb along the skin. "That's why you had to decide what you wanted, because I knew, even without knowing you – I want to be with you. I'll risk everything there is to risk with jumping in too fast, because you want to be with me, too. If you want to go slow, I will woo the hell out of you, learn all your favorite things and remember every detail. But I could also carry you upstairs, throw you down on the bed, and get you out of that dress, if you want. Or anything in between."

The intensity of her conviction had butterflies bursting throughout Monica's veins. "All I know is," she breathed. "Right now, I want another kiss. Whatever happens from there, happens."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Roni asked, tone dropping an octave or two, husky and breathy at the same time.

Monica wasted no time closing the distance between them, claiming Roni's lips with her own, as she had been longing to do for the past month. There was a gentle passion there, as she didn't want to take too much control right then. Roni seemed to be in a delicate state of mind, and Monica wasn't going to have a hand in breaking her.

Roni moaned softly at the exploration that was so different from the alcohol-fueled invasive kiss from the month before. No fireball or appletini involved this time. Just pure adrenaline and passion as their tongues mingled languidly.

The yearning between them was so great, it was as if they had known each other in a past life.