Author's Note: I was quite proud and fond of this story, and considered to have had a very satisfactory ending. And quite a few readers also seemed to enjoy it. However, one reader liked it a bit too much and ruined the story for me.

I couldn't let her get away with ruining one of my favorite stories, so I took some ideas I had had at the outset and scrapped, and figured I'd extend the story for a few more chapters. That way, my most recent memories would once again be fond and proud ones.

Chapter 14

Rahne awoke to the very unfamiliar sensation of warm skin pressed against her own, and over a very significant portion of her body. She dared not open her eyes, trying desperately to keep her eyes from confirming what her sense of touch was telling her. The front of her body, from her head right down to between her legs, was snug up against another body. A larger, firm body, breathing slowly, and with one arm around her back, holding her close.

And her hand was touching yet another body, a bit softer, but just as warm. Not to mention a bit of stickiness and slight tenderness between her legs.

It wasn't a dream, then, Rahne had to admit to herself. She and Dani and Sam had... She knew that she should be mortified and horrified, certain to go to Hell for her depravities. She should immediately go confess her sins, and hope that whatever penance she was given would vitiate her sins.

Instead, she smiled softly and opened her eyes to find Dani smiling back at her. "About time you woke up, Carrottop. We thought you'd sleep forever."

Sam leaned down and tenderly pressed his lips to her forehead. "Be nice, Chief. Poor girl plum tuckered herself out something fierce, and it's not like she'd ever done anything like that before."

"Neither had we, Sam."

"You just woke up a couple of minutes ago... and I woke up only a minute before you."

Dani poked him in the chest. "Killjoy." She then looked over Rahne, at the wall. Two clocks appeared. "Huh. We've been gone a whole seven hours Think anyone's missed us yet?"

Rahne turned to see the two clocks. "We've been here seven hours already?" She felt herself of the verge of panic.

Dani giggled. "Remember, Carrottop, this is Haven. We've been gone a whole seven seconds in the real world. Like Illyana said, we could spend the whole weekend in here and be missing for less than a minute."

"So, we could stay a bit longer...?"

Dani picked up on what Rahne was trying not to say. "We could just call it a grand adventure and head for home, or we could stay and play a bit longer. What do you two say?"

Sam spoke up first. "I've certainly had a great time, but I don't have anything better planned for the next few seconds..."

Rahne quickly echoed Sam. "Oh, I'm in no rush, either." She looked at Dani. "What else could we do?"

Dani realized it was time she put her foot down. "OK, if we all agree to stay, then I'm game, too. But from now on, there are going to be a few changes."

"What do ye mean?" Rahne asked, her worry clear in her voice and on her face.

Dani smiled reassuringly. Even after all the three had done, Rahne was still a bit timid. "I mean that, earlier, I was pretty much calling all the shots, and you two went along with what I suggested. And I'm not taking that responsibility any more. We're all grown up enough to be responsible for what we do, and what we want. So for this time, I say we take turns again. But this time, we draw straws. In turn, we each say clearly what we want to do, and the other two do whatever they can to make it happen. If, for some reason, you're not comfortable with what we're being asked to do, think about it very carefully – and if you still don't feel OK, then we don't do it. But it's about time you two started actually saying what you wanted."

Sam considered the terms very carefully – and nodded thoughtfully. "That's more than fair, Chief. I hadn't really thought about it, but we did put all the burden on you before, and you deserve a bit of a break from that."

Rahne then spoke. "I... I dinnae if I can go through with that, but I promise I'll give it my best."

Dani leaned across and kissed her tenderly. "That's all we can ask." She leaned back, held up her hand, and closed her eyes. Three sticks appeared in her hand. "OK, short straw goes first, long last. Who wants to pick first?"

Sam took his, and Rahne then picked hers, leaving Dani with the last one. Dani counted to three, and all revealed their straws. Rahne's was about two inches long, with Dani's about an inch longer – and Sam's an inch shorter.

Dani smiled. "Well, Sam, looks like you go first. What do you want to do?"