Joy was the happiest that she had been in quite a long time. She couldn't remember the last time she was all smiles, or even enjoying herself. The last time she was this happy, she was sure the guy was to be the one. It ended in disaster, when the guy left her at the altar. Joy after that was so heartbroken; she was so incredibly sure that the guy was the one, but apparently he was not. Victoria was the only one who got her, Victoria was the only one who understood her, as they were raised in similar lifestyles. Victoria was raised by her actor father, who could be seen as self-absorbed. The older Chase paraded around in Hollywood with women who were old enough to be her sister. Joy, her mother was a socialite in England. Both were insecure from years of being made fun of for their heights, and their tall, lanky, leggy figures. Victoria always called Joy her 'leggy brunette,' and Joy called Victoria her 'Supermodel', which she adored. It was one of her favorite nicknames. But her favorite nickname of all was 'Princess', as it started with the fact that Joy played dress up in Elka's collection of valuables, which ultimately turned out to be stolen goods her late husband had kept down in the basement. Joy had played with the tiara and some of the expensive beautiful jewelry. Victoria wanted to play with it too, but she knew how much Joy enjoyed dress up, and let her play with everything, watching lovingly as her friend smiled and giggled excitedly as she tried on everything.

"I always wanted to be a princess when I was a wee child," she had said, as she adjusted the tiara. She smiled as she remembered the tiara, beautiful and ornate. But the term of endearment remained a sign of their love and appreciation for each other. Victoria knew Joy loved that term of endearment more than any other nickname she had given her. She smiles, putting her arms around Joy, and leaning in, she presses a few soft kisses against the nape of Joy's neck, that was, after she pushes back Joy's long chestnut brown hair. She looks at her friend, smiling.

'What are you thinking about, sweetheart?' she says, kissing her against her cheek gently. Victoria loved the look on Joy's face that she had when she was daydreaming. It was so adorable, it made her smile.

'I was thinking about the time that we were in the basement, and you let me play with the jewelry and tiara that Elka kept down there. It was a shame that it was stolen goods.'

She smiles at the memory that Joy recalled, and touches her cheek with the palm of her hand.

'I know babe, but you're still my princess—tiara or no tiara.'

Joy smiled. She knew Victoria was being sweet.

'You're just too kind. Why did you let me play with it, without you complaining?'

Victoria holds her in her arms, sighing. 'I let you because I know how much you enjoy dress up and costumes-remember the Halloween parties we used to hold together?'

Joy smiles at the memory. Every year up until Cleveland, they used to hold these extravagant, lavish Halloween parties. Some years, they played Mystery Dinner Party…other years Victoria rented out a haunted house and they partied there. There was always catering, lots of alcohol. It was just the typical Joy and Victoria idea for a good time.

'Yeah, we used to go all out with the costumes, didn't we?'

Victoria smiles and kisses her on the lips. 'We sure did.'

They pause, and then Joy throws her arms around Victoria, kissing her. She only pauses to say, 'I love you'

Victoria could only smile. She missed those days.

'I love you too.'

Joy swings her legs around Victoria's waist, and uses her strength to pull herself closer to Victoria.

'Those were the LA days…let's go and create some new memories.'

Victoria smiles, knowing she was right. They shouldn't live in the past. What they do now affects their future. So far her future was looking pretty good. She had her three best friends; she had someone in her life that she cared about that loved her, flaws and all. That person was Joy.

Joy was not only her best friend, she was her girlfriend, and it took her a while to say it, but it somehow felt right on her tongue.

'I agree, my dear.'

She kisses Joy against her neck gently, and then looks up to watch Joy's reaction to her lips pressing against her bare skin. Joy shudders, as it has been a while since she had any contact, but of all people it happened to be her best friend. Someone she loved more than anything at all. Joy just knew that under that self-absorbed person, was someone who was trusting, caring, affectionate, all the things she wasn't when not tied down to someone. She moans softly as Victoria continues to press kisses against her neck and chest area. How was it that Victoria was so caring and took care of her? It shocked her how much different Victoria was when she was in love.

Murmuring softly, she says, 'you're so beautiful, I could go for a good rodgering right now.'

She subconsciously slips her hand up Victoria's blouse, feeling the coolness of her flesh against her warm palm. It felt good to her; Victoria's skin was supple and smooth. She smiles contentedly as she hears a gasp escape Victoria's pursed lips.

'You enjoy this, don't you?' Joy says, smirking. She knew when Victoria was turned on, she always knew. They had known each other so long that she had the telltale signs down pat, from the moaning to the eyes, the way they displayed Victoria's excitement. Victoria musters a nod, thinking to herself, 'She's really gifted.' Joy smiles and continues exploring with her hands, even going as far as to trace Victoria's spine gently with her index finger, which made Victoria shiver with pleasure. Slipping her hand out, she reaches to unbutton Victoria's blouse, one button at a time, until her bra was exposed. She touches the tops of Victoria's breasts with her hand, and looks up to find Victoria smiling.

'Like what you see, sweetheart?'

Joy smirks, and leans in to kiss her against her cheek. Victoria smiles at the affection she was displaying, saying, 'Try not to forget, Mel and Elka are due anytime, so we can't go too far.'

Joy nods silently, and then says, 'Second base work for you?' She smiles, twirling a curl in her hair, then bites her lip in a seductive manner. Victoria glances at her, eyes sparkling with excitement.

'Oh, what the hell. Let's go for it, and see where it takes us, alright? No holds barred?'

Joy smiles, adding, 'No holds barred. Now shut up, and kiss me!'

Victoria giggles and kisses her against her lips. She could admit that it felt so nice being with Joy. Joy knew all her flaws, inside and out. Did she judge her? No, she remained friends and was very supportive of her. She feels the smooth gloss across Joy's lips. A mental note was taken to ask her what she used on her lips, because to her, it felt so smooth and soft, like riding on a cloud of silk…literally. Joy pauses, admiring Victoria's beautiful toned body. That gym membership they had really done wonders for her. She leans in, kissing Victoria against her breastbone, and then brushing a few soft kisses against the tops of her breasts. If there wasn't a time limit on tonight, she would have unhooked her bra, but with Mel and Elka returning home sometime soon, she decided against unhooking her bra. She looks up at Victoria and Victoria smiles, whispering softly, 'I know you wanted to go farther, but let's just go with what we are able to do and satisfy ourselves in a different way, alright, sweetheart?'

Joy smiles, and kisses her against her cheek, then whispers softly in her ear, 'I know, my love…let's just go with what we can…then maybe later, you can drop by my room…after the others are asleep.'

Victoria smiles, knowing the only other person in the house would be Melanie. Elka stays in the guest cottage, and she knew they'd have to be really loud for her to hear them. Melanie on the other hand, was a deep sleeper, so she knew that it wouldn't be too much of an issue for her and Victoria to share a bed…not in a friend sense, but more than that.

They did that quite often. One would show up, quietly slip into the queen sized bed Victoria had, or the other one which was Joy's. They'd hold each other as they slipped off into blissful sleep, and when dawn came, the other would slip out quietly, but remain long enough to share a kiss. The intimacy between them both, it wasn't much farther than fondling and making out. She smiles at the thought, and kisses Joy right behind her ear.

'Will it be yours or mine, my dear?'

Joy whispers huskily, 'How about your bed dear…after all you have the largest.'

Victoria nods, and proceeds to continue kissing Joy behind her neck. She could smell that perfume Joy enjoyed, it smelled of flowers and vanilla…hints of vanilla.

'God, Joy…you smell so amazing.'

Joy smiles kindly, pressing her friend into an amorous hug.

'Thanks…so do you.' She had a tinge of red in her cheeks.

'You're blushing, babe.'

Joy giggles, touching Victoria's cheek. 'Thanks for noticing.' They glance at each other, and Victoria smiles, and proceeds to unbutton her blouse further.

'Look, I know you want more, I do too. It's just so hard to get past second base without having Mel or Elka catch us in the act.'

Joy nods, and sighs. 'But can't we try exploring just a while longer—please babe?'

Victoria thinks for a second. She doesn't want this to end either, but she worries the reactions from Mel and Elka wouldn't be possibly accepting of them…if they were to catch them in the act tonight.

'I think we can give it a try, sweetheart. This whole thing between us will take a lot for both of us to become accustomed to.'

Joy presses Victoria into another hug. 'Alright then my lady. So let's continue where we left off, shall we?'

Victoria finishes unbuttoning her blouse, and Joy smiles.

'I'll keep my blouse on for now, that way only one of us has to worry about clothing.'

She smiles at Joy, nodding in agreement. Joy eyes her upper part of her body and bites her lip.

Victoria smirks,' Six long glorious months at the gym got me these babies.' She takes Joy's hand and brushes it over her abs—chiseled and rock solid. Joy smiles and allows her fingers to trace against them.

'Beautiful,' she says…and Victoria grins. Joy pushes Victoria against the couch, and proceeds to make out with her. She grabs her, holding her close to her, her arms wrapped around her waist, feeling the smoothness of her skin. Running her hands along the sides of Victoria's hips, she smiles, noting that her friend's figure was quite beautiful. She leans down, arching her back like a cat, and brushes a few kisses against Victoria's stomach. Reaching to touch the tops of her breasts, she smiles, whispering, 'If we didn't have to worry about people walking in, I'd probably have gone even further.'

She smiles, and takes Joy's hands and grasps them firmly.

'It's alright, sweetheart, now help me up won't you? I want to get myself ready just in case we get a surprise entrance from the others. Joy pulls her up, and she smiles.

'Thank you, dear. I'll make it up to you later, I promise. What time are you coming to bed?'

She smiles, and touches Victoria's cheek lightly. 'Eleven. Melanie goes to bed usually around ten, and Elka usually goes to her guest house around then. So won't you come by then?'

Joy grins, knowing that later, she'd be in Victoria's arms, and who knows what else happens. She smiles, and Victoria looks at her, returning her smile.

'I love you, princess. We'll tell them, someday, when the timing is right. But, for now, it's our little secret.'

Joy smiles coyly, knowing that she and Victoria had a secret between the two of them.