A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Glad that you are liking the character progression. I think they are both growing and maturing together. Maryrose59 – Thank you!

Chapter 44 – Girls Night

Liz took her bag upstairs to Tess's room. "Hey girl," she said walking over to the king-sized bed.

"Are you guys ready to have fun?"

Liz grinned. "Yes, but we do have a surprise for you."

Tess looked at her curiously. "What's that?"

Liz went to the door and called Claudia's name. She held it open and Claudia walked inside with someone.

"Tess, this is Tammy, she's going to give you a mani-pedi."

Tess's face lit up. "Get out!" she yelled. She had been stuck in the house for what seemed like forever and God knows she missed getting some pampering.

Liz chuckled at her response. They helped Tammy bring in some things and then got Tess situated in a chair.

Claudia turned on some music and brought up some snacks.

Liz took a picture of Tess and sent it to John. He texted her back, "thanks for taking care of my girl," which made Liz smile.

Once the lady was finished with Tess, they walked her out and Claudia made some popcorn.

"So, how are things with your man going?"

"Great. I'm really happy," Liz said smiling.

"Good. I think we're going to wait to get married until after the baby comes. John doesn't want me all stressed out by having to rush it. Will you help me?"

"Of course, I will. I would love to. My mom planned most of mine, so I'm sure she can answer a lot of questions as well," Liz said.

"I have another request."

"Sure."

"By the time the baby is born, your house should be back in order. Claudia said that you have beautiful gardens. Do you think we could have the wedding and reception there?" Tess asked tentatively.

Liz grinned. "I would absolutely love that. After all the bad that happened there, I need something really good to take its place," she said giving Tess a hug. "Now, I'm really excited. There's a big open area that we can put a tent on for the reception. This is going to be so much fun."

Tess is happy that she is so excited. "I'm not sure how much of my crazy family I'm going to invite."

"You don't really talk about them." Liz had always been curious due to some of the comments Tess had made in the past.

"We have our ups and downs. I'll call my mom. My dad has been overseas for a while with one of my brothers and believe it or not, I have a twin sister."

"Get out. Are you identical?" Liz asked.

Tess almost choked on her water. "Hell no. Actually, we have two different fathers," Tess said before laughing at Liz's expression. "Girl, you don't know the half of it."

"Well, this is going to be more interesting than I thought."

Claudia joined them. "What did I miss?"

"Tess was telling me a little bit about her siblings."

Claudia grimaced. "Must we darken this room with her siblings from hell?"

Tess laughed. Claudia and Tess had gotten to know each other a lot better since the younger woman was staying with him. Claudia finally understood Tess's reaction and gave her some good advice about dealing with her family, but most importantly, she encouraged Tess to not live in the past and let go of some of the baggage she carried around.

"What movie are we going to watch?" Liz asked.

"I was thinking The Wedding Date," Claudia said.

"I love that movie," Tess said.

"Me too."

They got Tess back in bed and then they all piled in and watched. Liz thought about how lucky she is to have such good friends. Everything is finally falling into place.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

They were interrupted halfway through the movie by Carlos.

"Sorry to interrupt, but there is a lady downstairs that said you are expecting her?"

Tess grinned. "You two aren't the only ones with surprises," she said before looking back at Carlos. "Send her up."

"What are you up to?" Claudia asked.

"I thought we needed some spice in our lives," Tess said wickedly.

Liz is totally confused. "Spice? Please don't tell me it's some pampered chef thing."

Tess laughed. "Hell no."

Carlos and the woman appeared with some boxes and bags.

"Carlos, there's a card table next door. Can you bring it in?" Tess asked.

He ducked out of the room. He had gotten a glimpse of what was in one of the bags and chuckled. The men are not going to know what hit them. After grabbing the card table, he set it up for them and left.

"Hi, my name is Amber. I am the host of your Passion Party."

Liz glanced at Claudia whose mouth was hanging open. "You didn't," she said looking at Tess.

"Oh, but I did."

Liz is still a little lost. When Amber took the dildo out and put it on the table the look on her face was absolutely priceless.

Tess couldn't stop laughing and even Claudia was doubled over.

Liz stared at Tess as she turned beet red. "Oh my God, I can't believe you," she said watching Tess wipe the tears out of her eyes. "You could have at least warned me."

"And what fun would that have been?"

Amber finished setting up and started talking. "I know all three of you are in committed, loving relationships, but I'm here to help you spice it up a little. There is nothing dirty about using products to enhance your lovemaking. It's all about having fun and learning to trust your significant other. Hold out your hands," she said grabbing a tube. She put some product on each other their fingers and encouraged them to taste it.

"That's good," Tess said tasting it first.

"You're pregnant," Claudia said. "You'll eat anything."

Tess laughed. "Just try it."

Claudia and Liz tried and it had to admit, it tasted just like strawberries.

"That can be applied anywhere on the body you choose," Amber said smiling. "We have flavored powder, crèmes, gels, and nibblers."

She grabbed another product. "We also have various warming body lotions to really turn up the heat."

Liz tried not to smile, but she still couldn't believe this was happening.

Amber put some on the back of Liz's hand. "Blow on it or rub on it."

Liz blew on it and it definitely got warmer.

Tess smiled. "John loves that one."

Liz blushed and Claudia made a face. "TMI," she said as Liz giggled.

Amber picked up a small purple gadget. "This is called a bullet and it's used to enhance your pleasure. It has varying speeds that you and your man can use on each other." She turned it on and Liz's eyes grew big.

"You're getting that," Tess said.

Liz turned towards her. She was speechless.

"Come on Liz, you should try some things," Claudia said smiling. While this is a little out of Elizabeth's comfort zone, something told her that her friend just needed a little confidence boost and she could be a wild one.

Liz was surprised that the two women were ganging up on her.

"I think I'm too embarrassed." She honestly is a bit intimated.

"Put on something sexy and just pretend you're playing a character. Be bold and adventurous and have fun with it. I don't think your man is going to complain," Amber said. "In fact, I'll guarantee he will be completely turned on by it all."

"I don't know. I can't see myself just whipping out the bullet," Liz said waving her arms.

Claudia laughed. "You don't. Hide it under the pillow and then bring it out when the time is right. If you feel more comfortable, tell Jason before you get intimate that you were at a Passion Party and tell him what it was about."

"And then let him know you bought some toys," Tess added.

"I guess I could do that," she said blushing.

"That's the spirit. I think that you should start out with some of the aromatherapy and edible lotions, then, add the bullet. There are also ones that can be strapped on and he can control the level of the vibrating. Men seem to really like that one too," Amber said.

Liz smiled. "Okay."

"Really?" Tess asked.

"Why not? I guess we're going to be practicing a lot since I'm going to try to get pregnant. I might as well make it fun for him."

Amber clapped her hands together. "I knew you had it in you."

They purchased a few things and then Amber packed up. She gave them each a bag and added a free gift in them.

"I still can't believe that you did that," Liz said to Tess.

"I thought I'd give you some more options."

"Well, I'll get back to you on the results."

Tess smiled. "Let's finish watching the movie."

They finished and then got settled in for the night.