III

Now, looking back at all we had
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we see
How said the answers to those questions can be?

Four Years Later

This time, Jo Polniaczek was truly upset with Blair, and didn't understand her reluctance to do what Jo had proposed.

"Blair, I don't get it", Jo said, red-faced and stomping around the living room of their upscale Manhattan apartment. "We can't get married, so why not have a Commitment ceremony?"

As usual, Blair remained calm as her girlfriend of a decade put all her heart and soul into her point of view.

"Why do we need a ceremony? My parent's won't be there", Blair reminded her, "and your parents, while not hating us as a couple, have certainly kept me at arm's length since we came out. We can just go get rings, maybe take a pseudo honeymoon. What's wrong with that?"

"So our folks won't come, big deal", Jo shot back. "We can invite Mrs. Garrett, Beverly Ann, Tootie, Nat, George, Andy, Boots, and anyone else we've gone to school with over the years, and I know a lot of the cops I work with would come to it. I wanna tell the whole world that we're together forever, Princess."

Very seldom did Joanne Polniaczek cry, but when she did, it was because her emotions had just become too much for her to handle. She turned away from the love of her life, and quietly moved toward the large bay window overlooking the city below.

Blair came up behind her. "Joey...honey", Blair began softly, putting her hands on both of Jo's shoulders. "I love you more than anything or anyone in the Universe. That's never going to change. I just don't see, at least right now, trying to plan such a thing. My caseload is overwhelming right now, and you've been so damn busy with becoming a Detective doing undercover work. I would take us several months to plan this out so everyone could come. Can we wait until things ease off just a little?"

Why, oh why, just once, can't I put my foot down to Blair,Jo thought to herself. Why can't I get my way once on one of these differences we have?

Jo knew the answer-it was part a matter of love, and part a matter of fear. The love part was obvious-she'd do anything for Blair Warner, give anything to her, lay down her very life for her lover and best friend. The fear was that if she did put her foot down, she would drive Blair away. In her heart of hearts, she knew that was nonsense, but for the life of her, she could never figure out what Blair saw in her-a Bronx tomboy, former gang member, who grew up in a world so alien from what Blair had grown up with. The love Blair had for her-and the intensity of that love-often frightened Jo to no end, not wanting to lose it.

"Okay, Princess", Jo said with a sigh, "you win-again."

"Jo", Blair said forcefully, turning the slightly taller brunette around, looking deep into to her eyes. "This isn't a competition of winning or losing arguments. I also want to shout out to everyone that your my lady, and you will always have my heart. But there are some practicalities that we have to face."

"Being an adult sucks sometimes, you know that, Princess?" Jo still looked a bit forlorn, but her eyes and lips both held a glimmer of humor in them.

Blair lightly laughed. "Truer words have never been spoken, my love." She deeply kissed Jo again. "We'll do this, and I'm not talking years here. We're laying the groundwork to have kids in a few years, remember, and before we do that, I promise we'll have a commitment ceremony."

"It scares me how much I love you, Blair", Jo said with stark honesty. "I'm so afraid you'll realize one day what a fraud I am, and just leave me."

"It'll never happen, baby", Blair assured her. "Never."

2001

Blair Warner was working in the Manhattan office of the law firm Bryant, Singer, Mannix, and Warner, Blair having become a full partner earlier that year. She was proud of the work she did, and that more often than not, she was helping real people with problems, not protecting corporations or the rich and powerful. Growing up in the jungle of such power and wealth, with her Father running Warner Industries, Blair had decided long ago she didn't want to be a part of that cut-throat existence. Being with Jo had taught her there was more to life than the pursuit of power and wealth.

It was a beautiful morning in New York City, a late Summer day, holding off the approach of Fall and the long, cold months of Winter beyond it. Blair wish she could spend this splendid day with Jo.

Jo and Blair had finally set the date for their Commitment ceremony for March of 2003, over at Eastland Academy in Peekskill where they had met so many years ago. Almost everyone they had invited would be there to celebrate with Blair and Jo as they exchanged rings, but still hoping for the day where the law could be changed and they could marry legally. Until that day, this Commitment ceremony would have to do.

Blair dug into her pile of work right at 8 am, a fresh pot of coffee near her desk that would keep her going through the morning, knowing there would not be a break until at least Noon, and only then for a quick lunch. She and Jo had left the house at the same time, sharing a warm kiss with each other before facing their days.

It seemed as if only a few minutes had passed when Blair heard a commotion in the outer offices of the law office. Her secretary, a younger woman name Janine Shafter rushed in, her face bone-white with fear in her eyes.

"Ms. Warner...you...you won't believe what's happening outside."

Blair looked quizzically at her secretary. She could now hear the sound of many sirens close by. Blair hadn't heard a thing, so deep into her work she had been. She raced next to her secretary, and they both went outside. Everyone was looking to the south, as a steady steam of police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances streaked southward.

Then she looked up.

"Dear God", Blair breathed. Thick, black smoke was pouring out of one of the World Trade Center buildings.

"What the hell happened, Janine?"

Her secretary turned to her. "I'm not sure, but there are reports a plane crashed into the building."

"A plane?" Blair snorted. "It's clear as day out. What fool could hit any building on a day like this?"

Twenty minutes later, that became clearer.

As the emergency vehicles raced by, Blair thought about the fact that Jo was at work today...