Author's note: Again, I am thrilled at all the kind reviews! I made a few modifications after reading some of them, in an attempt to include things some of you felt I was lacking. I hope you enjoy! On a sad note, this is most likely the next to last chapter. But hey, what's that saying... "Save the best for last?" BTW, I think you'll find this one a little more...exciting. ;-)
Chapter 11: Happy Birthday
It was the day of the dinner and Fiona and Caroline still hadn't had sex. They were both so hungry they could taste it, but something would always get in the way, the most recent being Ginika's presence in the house.
Caroline had been told they would be dining at Carmelo's, the posh Italian restaurant at The Ritz. Everyone else had already gone, for various reasons, leaving Ginika and Caroline to join them later, with specific instructions to arrive by 7:30pm. Caroline had just gone to her room to start getting ready when she heard a soft knock at the door. She opened it to see Ginika standing there.
"Sorry, you aren't busy are you? I'd like to have a quick chat if you have a minute," the warm smile never left her lips as Caroline ushered her into the room. Caroline felt her heart start to race as she considered the topic of Ginika's conversation.
"Caroline, I don't mean to pry and I hope I don't upset you, but there's something I feel I must say." Caroline's heart is now pounding against her ribs; she says nothing, not trusting her voice.
"I see the way Fiona looks at you, and the way you look back at her. I can tell you two are draw to each other, but I can also see your hesitation." There's a kindness to her voice that Caroline notes, but she's still afraid of where this is going.
"Ginika, I really don't know..." Ginika takes Caroline's hand making her lose her train of thought.
"You two make a good team. I know how difficult it must be to take that next step, but I just want to say I think she's good for you, and for Flora too. I know you worry about not honoring Kate, but I know she would want you to be happy…and I think Kate would approve." She kisses Caroline's hand and smiles tenderly.
Of all the words of support Caroline had received from her family, those last five words were the ones she had most needed to hear. Tears of joy and relief fell down her face and she pulled Ginika into a thankful hug.
"I thought you might need to hear that," Ginika said with a chuckle.
"Now get ready so we can head to dinner!" She gives Caroline a wink and walks out of the room.
oOo
Caroline and Ginika arrive at the hotel, the valet takes their car and they walk into the lobby. When Caroline turns toward the restaurant Ginika pulls her and points toward the ballroom. Caroline gives her a confused look, but Ginika nudges her forward. They walk in the ballroom and Caroline gasps at the scene.
The room is full of all of her family, friends and a few colleagues. They all stop their conversations when she enters the room and start clapping and singing Happy Birthday. She looks over at Ginika who beams a wide grin, having known the secret all along. Gillian is the first to approach and throws her arms around Caroline into a big hug.
"I know, Christ, they did the same bloody thing for me. You'd think we were turning 100." She pulls away smiling and leads Caroline to the head table where she's sitting. Flora runs up and climbs into her mother's lap and Caroline kisses her head with a smile. The party guests make their rounds to greet Caroline and wish her a happy birthday before dinner is served. After dinner, Celia takes the small stage that had been set up next to the table.
"Attention! Hello everyone, I'd just like to thank you all for coming to make this a special event for our Caroline and Gillian. I won't keep you long but I'd like to introduce some special guests who will in turn introduce another. So, without further ado…boys, come on out." She steps to the side and gestures to a door in the corner. William, Lawrence and Raff come out and make their way up to the stage. Caroline and Gillian look at each other in shock and exhilaration. Flora squeals with delight as she points to her big brothers on stage.
"We'd like to again thank everyone for coming out to celebrate our mums," William speaks from the stage.
"We've prepared a little surprise for them both and we'd like to present that now for you all. Fiona, could you come up to the stage." Fiona comes up from the center of the room and takes the stage.
"So, the boys have asked me to sing a song for each of our birthday ladies. Gillian, this one's for you." She takes the microphone off of the stand and waits for the DJ to start the music. The track for Meredith Brooks' Nothing in Between plays and everyone in the room roars with laughter as she sings Gillian her song. Gillian laughs hysterically the whole way through, pulling Caroline's arm, drawing her in to the laughter. The song ends and Fiona takes an exaggerated bow.
"Now, this song is dedicated to my dear friend, who's been my saving grace here lately." She winks at Caroline just as the track for Sweet Caroline starts. She sings the song to Caroline, never taking her eyes off of her, like there's no one else in the room. Caroline is in equal rapture and watches Fiona as she sings. Flora sits clapping and dancing in Caroline's lap. Once the song ends Fiona takes another bow, then motions for the DJ to start his set before stepping down to the floor. Caroline, Gillian and Flora meet her at the stage to thank her for her performance. YMCA starts to play over the speakers and the dance floor begins to fill with people having fun. Flora starts dancing excitedly begging her mother and Fiona to dance too.
"Mummy, Fi, dance, dance!" She giggles and pulls the hems of their dresses. The two women give in to her adorable request and the three start dancing and laughing together. The song ends and Tiny Dancer comes over the speakers. Caroline and Fiona take Flora's hands and turn to move off of the dance floor. Flora pulls back on their hands, in a motion to make them stay.
"No mummy, keep dancing. Up, up mummy." She wriggles her fingers up over her head and Caroline bends down to pick her up.
"Sweetheart, I think mummy and Fiona need a break."
"Nooo, dance. Fi, dance with me and mummy." She wriggles her fingers in Fiona's direction, indicating her to approach. Caroline looks at Fiona and raises her arm in a half shrug with a laugh. Fiona steps up and plants a kiss on Flora's head.
"Flora love, how are we supposed to dance. This is a slow song," she talks to her so tenderly it melts Caroline's heart.
"Like Fiona and Shrek! Hold mummy's hand!" Fiona and Caroline look at each other a moment, not exactly sure how to proceed. Flora keeps up her urgings and so finally the two women reluctantly give in. Fiona steps up and takes Caroline's free hand, Flora still in her other arm. They sway to the music as Flora smiles and keeps looking between them.
"Mummy, I love you. Fi, I love you too." The statement surprises them both as Flora had never said it to Fiona before. The two women exchange a bashful smile.
"I love you too my sweetheart," bending to plant a series of kisses across Flora's curls.
"That is very sweet Flora, and I do love you too." Fiona says before placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Mummy, do you love Fi too?" Flora's bright innocent eyes look up at her mother.
Caroline feels her cheeks flush and her heart race a little. She had never allowed herself to think about that particular L-word when it came to Fiona. She knew others L-words that came to mind, but she had always put up a wall when her mind had wandered to love, her apprehensions about moving forward after Kate had prevented any analysis of feelings about that. But now those apprehensions had gone, and her beautiful sweet daughter sat waiting for an answer, an answer that she now recognized she could give, the light switch having just gone off in her head. She looked at Fiona with a smile then down at the sweet bundle in her arm.
"Yes Flora, mummy does love Fiona." The words sent a wave of joy through her body and she looked up at Fiona, a huge smile on her face, giving a slight nod of her head. Fiona looked back with tears in her eyes and squeezed Caroline's hand. She wanted to kiss her, but she didn't know how Caroline would feel about it with Flora so near.
"Then you should kiss her mummy. Fiona and Shrek did after they said they loved each other."
The two women laughed softly, both now crying and they leaned in slowly for a gentle kiss. Flora leaned in and kissed their faces where their mouths were joined. They pulled apart and giggled and then each kissed Flora's cheek. The three stood there dancing for another song, pure happiness and joy filling their little bubble.
oOo
Caroline sat at the head table drinking her third glass of wine and talking to her boys. She thanked them for coming and for the spa weekend that started after the party, which they had all pitched in to give her and Gillian. They talked of university and she told them how proud they had made her, praising the fine young men they had become.
Fiona sat chatting with Celia, Alan and Ginika, with Flora now asleep on her lap. The older three decided they would take their leave and offered to take Flora with them. Fiona consented and handed her over gently to Ginika. They said their goodbyes then proceeded to head over to say their goodbyes to Caroline and the boys.
Caroline thanked her mum, Alan and Ginika for throwing the wonderful party and then kissed her sleeping daughter before seeing them off. There was still a crowd of people, good music and plenty of wine. She returned to the table and sat listening to the conversations around her. She smiled to herself as she thought of the kindness and love of her family.
oOo
Gillian and Caroline sat chatting at the table. Caroline looked up from her wine to see Fiona crossing to the toilets across the room. She set down her drink, excused herself from the table and headed to the toilet a few yards behind her. Gillian laughed softly as she saw the reason for Caroline's hasty departure.
Caroline walked into the room just as Fiona stepped into the last stall. She moved to the vanity and looked at herself in the mirror, straightening the fringe across her face. A saucy smile breaks her lips as she hears the toilet flush and she crosses to the door just as Fiona opens it. Fiona jumps when she sees Caroline within inches of her face. Caroline smiles seductively, placing her hand on Fiona's chest, pushing her back inside the stall. Fiona's breath caught in her throat as Caroline pinned her against the back wall. She can see the fire in Caroline's eyes and felt highly aroused already.
Caroline leaned forward so slowly Fiona felt she might faint before she reached her. Finally Caroline's lips made contact with Fiona's neck and a white hot desire tore through her. Her hands flew up to grab Caroline's hips, pulling them hard into her body. Caroline's tongue traced small circles as she kissed up Fiona's neck to her ear. She slid her tongue down Fiona's earlobe, breathing hot breath in her ear. She hears Fiona gasp and feels the shiver run through her body.
Her left hand moved deftly to the hem of Fiona's dress, pulling it up and then slipping underneath. Her right hand stayed firmly on the wall, just next to Fiona's head. She moved her hand slowly up Fiona's thigh, basking in the sensations of her journey. They were kissing now, eager tongues invading each other's mouth, teeth biting each other's lips. Fiona moaned loudly into Caroline's mouth when her hand slipped into her panties.
Caroline moved slowly through Fiona's dense curls before dipping her fingers down into her wetness. She moaned with delight when she touched it and felt her own body get wetter with anticipation. She rubbed small circles against Fiona's sex as Fiona drove her hips in closer. Fiona's arms reach up around Caroline's neck, seeking support to keep her on her feet.
They pull their lips apart and press their foreheads together as Caroline rubs Fiona faster. As Caroline feels Fiona's grip tighten, her breath growing ragged, she dips her fingers down and slides two deep inside. Fiona practically screams in ecstasy as she comes hard into Caroline's hand. Her legs begin to shake so Caroline presses her body against her, holding her up, so she can ride out the orgasm.
Fiona stood motionless as she came down from the high; Caroline slipped her fingers out and pulled Fiona in for a long, slow kiss. They stood there in silence, breathing heavily together, exchanging passionate looks between them. Their breathing finally slowed and Caroline stepped back, freeing Fiona from the wall.
"Oh my god, that was…..mind-blowing," Fiona finally spoke, exhaling loudly with a laugh.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've wanted to do that for quite a while," Caroline smiles, biting her bottom lip.
"I'm certainly glad you just did. Now I need to return the favor." She moves to kiss her, but Caroline places a finger across her lips, stopping her advance.
"Not yet, I want to go back to the party for a bit, but you will most certainly be staying with me tonight." She smiles coyly and begins to straighten her dress and smooth her now messy hair. Fiona steps forward and kisses Caroline deeply, biting her lip as she pulls away.
"As you wish birthday girl, but I'm in charge later," she says with a wink as she exits the stall.