Cara entered the house and placed the basket of food on the kitchen table. Her mother and sister were in the kitchen preparing lunch.
"Cara, what happened?" her mother said in a concerned voice when she noticed the bruise on Cara's forehead and her bloody lip.
"Oh, nothing, I'm fine," Cara said absentmindedly, not really caring about the bruises.
"That doesn't look like nothing to me," Grace said, walking over to Cara. "Come with me, you need to get cleaned up."
Cara allowed Grace to lead her to her room, where sat down on her bed. "I'll be right back," Grace said, then left.
Grace returned a few minutes later with a basin of water and a cloth. She began washing the dirt and blood off of Cara's face.
"Cara, what really happened?" she asked after a while. "I promise I won't tell anyone, if you don't want me to."
"I was attacked," Cara said simply.
"By who?" Grace asked, alarmed. "That man who's been killing people?"
Cara smiled slightly at Grace's choice of words. "Yes, it was him," she said.
"Where is he now?" Grace asked.
"Dead," Cara replied simply.
"Dead?" Grace sounded surprised. "You killed him?"
"No, not me," Cara laughed. She thought it absurd that anyone would think she would be able to kill someone twice her size.
"Then who?"
"A Mord'Sith," Cara answered.
"Why would a Mord'Sith help you? Wouldn't she just kill you as well?" Grace asked.
"They're not just cold-hearted killers, Grace," Cara said. "It's not like they kill every person they see."
Grace looked at her quizzically. "There's no need to get all defensive," she said. After she finished cleaning Cara's face, she looked her sister up and down. "You should probably change your dress," she said. "It's quite dirty." She went to the closet and got a new dress out and handed it to Cara.
"Thanks," Cara said, taking the dress.
"I'll do all your chores for you today, if you just want to rest." Grace still sounded concerned.
"No, that's alright," Cara said, "I'm fine. But thanks for offering."
All day Cara couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't wait until the sun set so she could see Dahlia again. Both Grace and her mother noticed this change in Cara. Not only was she constantly smiling, but she seemed to be somewhere else altogether.
"I wonder what's gotten into her," Cara's mother commented to Grace.
"Probably some boy," Grace said. She looked up at her mother to find an alarmed look on her face. She suddenly realized what she had said, and how it must have sounded. "Oh, you know what I meant," she giggled, playfully throwing the shirt she'd been folding in her mother's face.
That night, Cara ate her dinner much more quickly than usual, and rushed off to her room. It was almost dark, and Dahlia would be arriving shortly. She changed into a short, light nightdress, as it was a warm night. After she had laid her dress over the chair in her room, she sat down on the bed to wait.
It wasn't long at all before she heard a knock on the window. She jumped up and rushed to open the window. Dahlia climbed through, and then Cara shut the window once more.
"Hi," Cara said, smiling shyly.
"How was your day?" Dahlia asked.
"Long," Cara said. "Really long…"
Dahlia grinned at this. "Couldn't wait to see me again, could you?" she teased.
Cara mock glared at her, then hugged her. She pulled back slightly, eyeing Dahlia's leather.
"That can't be comfortable to sleep in," she said.
Dahlia raised an eyebrow at Cara. "Trying to get me out of my clothes already?" she laughed.
Cara looked away, blushing. "No, I—I just meant…" she stammered.
"I know what you meant," Dahlia said, smiling.
Cara handed Dahlia one of her other night dresses, and faced the other way while Dahlia changed into it. Dahlia smiled slightly at Cara's modesty, but didn't say anything.
After Dahlia had changed and draped her leathers across the chair next the Cara's dress, Cara climbed into bed, and Dahlia climbed in next to her. Cara tried to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes she was overwhelmed by visions of her attacker. After some time she sighed in frustration, and decided to just give up on sleep.
"Cara?" Dahlia asked, "Are you okay?"
"I just can't sleep," Cara answered. "Every time I close my eyes I see him…"
"Come here," Dahlia whispered, pulling Cara closer.
Cara curled up with her back to Dahlia, the other woman's arms holding her gently.
"It's okay," Dahlia whispered in Cara's ear, "You're safe."
Dahlia tightened her embrace, and Cara moaned slightly in pain as Dahlia's arm put pressure on her bruised ribs.
"Cara?"
"Hmmm?"
"Are you okay?" Dahlia asked again.
"Just sore," Cara answered.
"Let me see," Dahlia whispered.
Dahlia sat up and rolled Cara onto her back. Dahlia gently pushed Cara's dress up to reveal the dark bruise on her side. She lit the candle which sat on the table next to Cara's bed, and held it over Cara so as to get a better look at her injuries.
"If I hadn't already killed that bastard, I'd kill him again for doing this to you," Dahlia said darkly.
She gently ran her fingers over the bruise, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Cara's breathing quickened at the feeling of Dahlia's fingers on her bare skin. Dahlia noticed this, and smiled slightly, but didn't say anything. She let her thoughts drift off, but was quickly brought back to reality by a sharp gasp from Cara. Dahlia looked down and noticed the hot candle wax had dripped onto Cara's bare stomach.
"Sorry," Dahlia said sheepishly, wiping the wax off with her finger. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Cara smiled slightly. "It's okay," she said. "It didn't hurt that much. It was just…unexpected…" she added.
Dahlia replaced the candle on the table and blew it out. She lay back down and took Cara in her arms once again. Cara rested her head on Dahlia's shoulder and snuggled up against her, draping one arm over her waist. Dahlia closed her eyes and rested her cheek against the top of Cara's head, and she heard Cara sigh contentedly. She smiled and held her a little tighter. After a few moments, Dahlia felt Cara shift slightly, and then felt Cara's lips gently press against her own. Dahlia smiled and returned Cara's kiss just as gently. After a moment, Cara pulled away, rested her head back on Dahlia's shoulder, and let her eyes drift closed.
"I always wanted to do that when we were younger," Dahlia whispered in Cara's ear, "But I never had the courage."
Cara smiled. "I know," she said. "I never had the courage either."
Dahlia gently kissed the top of Cara's head. "Goodnight," she whispered. Cara didn't answer, and Dahlia's lips curled upwards in a small smile as she realized that Cara was already asleep.