Note: Sorry this chapter took longer than expected, life got in the way. This is basically just a sap fest and not my best writing, but I hope you enjoy it; our girls get their happy ending, and that's what counts :)

Picking Up:

Chapter 8

"Talia, there's something I need to tell you. I don't want to go back to where we were. I know you said that's what you used to dream about, us picking up where we left off. But that's not what I want anymore." As Susan paused, Talia felt her heart stop; she had felt Susan's anxiety as soon as they sat down, but she had never expected this… This was the end of all her stupid hopes, her dreams of finally having a family. Susan didn't want her. She tried to find her voice, to tell Susan it was okay, she understood, to say anything that would stop the conversation before she had to hear the damning words, but all she could do was sit there in desperation, until Susan continued.

"12 years ago, I was terrified. Yes I was falling for you, but it was the single most frightening thing I had ever done, and I was fighting it every step of the way. I was fighting you, I was fighting us, I was even fighting myself. I was scared of loving you… but what scares me now," she paused again, reaching out to stroke her lover's cheek, "is the possibility of losing you. You see, I don't want to go back to flirting and dating and running from my feelings. I want a life with you Talia. Waking up with you this morning, that's what I want every day, for the rest of my life. And Sofie… Sofie adores you. You fit here, with us, and I want you here, not just for a few days until you go back, or a week here and there when you have time to visit. I want you here with us always, making me—and my daughter—fall in love with you more every day, falling asleep with you and waking up with you and building a life with you. So…" Susan paused and pulled a small box from her pocket. "Talia Winters, will you marry me?"

Talia didn't smile. She didn't laugh or cry or say a word, and for one brief moment Susan feared. Then Talia's lips were upon hers, devouring her with an intensity and need she'd never known.

Talia lay with her head on Susan's chest and traced circles on her belly. The moment was practically perfect, but Susan could tell there was something on her mind, and the timidity in her voice when she finally spoke worried her. "Susan… there's something I want."

Susan placed a gentle hand on her lover's cheek until Talia final met her gaze. "Anything," she said simply, and the love in her voice gave Talia courage.

"It's Sofie. I…" Talia hesitated, struggling to find the words to explain. "I want to be her mother."

"Does that mean you'll marry me then?" Susan asked with a grin cracking wide across her face..

Talia kissed her then, long and slow, and when she finally pulled back she wore a satisfied smile. "I had thought," she teased lightly as she stroked her lover's stomach with the tips of her fingers, "I gave a rather enthusiastic response." Her hand crept lower. "But if you need more convincing…"

Susan grabbed her wrist, stopping Talia's movements and bringing her hand to her, gently kissing her palm. Much as she wanted to feel Talia inside her again, she knew there was more that needed to be said.
"There's something I need to show you," she informed Talia before dragging them both out of bed. Leading her lover into the living room, she continued her explanation. "We got a little caught up before," she observed with a wolfish grin, "but I want you to know… this isn't just about me." They sat together on the sofa and Susan wrapped one arm around Talia's waist while the other reached for the box lying closed on the table. She brought it closer and opened the top to reveal a beautiful gold ring with three small blue stones. The colours were exquisite, and oddly familiar; Talia looked up at Susan and saw the same shade looking back at her.

"This one," Susan went on, pointing at the blue-grey stone in the middle, "matches your eyes. And these two," she pointed to the outer stones, both a deep blue, "match mine and Sofie's." She set the box back on the table and lifted out the ring. "Talia, I love you, and I want to be your wife. I want to come home to you and build a life with you. But my life isn't about just me. This ring is what I want for us. I'm not just offering you a marriage, I'm offering you a family. I heard you and Sofie talking, when she told you she wished you could be her Mama, and the truth is I want that too." She gently grabbed Talia's hand and slipped the ring into place. "Marry me Talia Winters. Help me raise our daughter. We belong with you."

Talia's face broke into a grin and Susan felt her chest tighten. Would she ever get used to the joy she felt each time she witnessed her love's smile, like a ray of light long after she'd given up ever again seeing the sun? She hoped not somehow.

Talia woke early the next day to find Susan half on top of her. She shifted to wrap her own arms around her fiancée's waist and rested her cheek against long brown locks, luxuriating in their softness against her skin. Susan mumbled "Tal," in her sleep and snuggled more firmly against her. Her heart swelled with pride at the nickname that only came from her lover while she slept; it meant more to her that way, hearing the subconscious affection that could never be faked. It hit her suddenly that this was her life now; waking up like this wasn't just for today. She could hear that voice every morning, sleep beside this woman every night. She could be happy.

Susan woke to a strange dripping falling on her forehead. As she struggled to drag herself out of her usual morning fog, she realized what she was feeling was tears and slammed into wakefulness as she jerked her head up, fear coursing through her.

Her anxiety turned towards confusion when she found Talia smiling at her. "I'm sorry I woke you," Talia croaked, voice thick with sleep and tears. Susan shifted so she could look into her lover's eyes, forcing Talia to let go of her; not ready to relinquish the feeling of waking in her protective embrace, as soon as she was settled she guided Talia's arm back to her waist. The blonde's smile deepened and Susan gently wiped a tear from her cheek. She noticed no more were falling, but Talia's eyes still shimmered.

"What is it Talia?"

"I just realized, I'm home. Growing up, the Corps was the only family I had, and the last few years I haven't even had that. And now… I have you. I have a family and a home, and I don't have to go." She stared deeply into the blue eyes she adored, seeing tears forming there as they had in her own. "I'm happy my love."

Susan reached out a hand to steady herself, needing the feel of her beloved grounding her before she spoke. ~I love you, my Talia. And you will always be home here.~

Talia's smile shone brighter than ever; Susan's fear at speaking into her mind wasn't lost on her, but it meant everything that she wanted to overcome those fears. For her. For them. ~I love you too, my Commander. And you will never get rid of me,~ she added with a tickle to Susan's abdomen.

The brunette couldn't help but laugh, and soon a full-on tickle fight ensued until Talia fell on top of her, both women exhausted from their playful struggles but unable to quell the last of their childish giggles. Chests moving against each other as they laughed, it wasn't long before their minds turned to different matters and they found other ways to exhaust each other.

"Hey sweetheart," Susan greeted her daughter with a grin, bending down to give her a hug. Sofie returned the gesture happily, feeling joy radiate off her mother, but the uncertainty of the woman standing beside Susan wasn't lost on the girl. It had been weeks since she'd felt such hesitance from Talia, and it was made more confusing by the fact she could tell the blonde was far from unhappy. Despite her curiosity, Sofie's instinct to reassure won out over her desire to interrogate at least for the moment, and she gave Talia a warm hug. She could feel a little of the woman's tension ease and pulled back with a smile. "I had so much fun! Wanna see my drawing?"

"Of course," Talia agreed with a warm smile. Sofie led them to the kitchen, where her art was displayed on the fridge much as it was at home.

"I hope you don't mind if I keep this one," Chris commented as the women looked closer, a twinkle in his dark eyes, "it's some of her best work."

By the looks of things, Sofie had used every colour she could get her hands on. The whole sky was varying shades of pinks, oranges, and yellows, as if it were set on fire at sunset. Below was a sea of grass, ranging from emerald to teal to seafoam green. Against this background were four figures. The tallest had dark brown hair, drawn in many thin lines falling over her shoulders; her mouth was a thin pink smile and her eyes small circles of bright blue; one arm fell down at her side, hand a small bump resting against her leg, while the other was at a slight angle, reaching out to the woman beside her. Their hands met in the space between them, forming a circular blob with fingers drawn on meticulously. The figure forming her other half of the hand-hold was nearly as tall as the first but drawn in greater detail. Her hair was a mix yellows and golds, swirling down to brush her shoulders; her lips were a deep red shaped in a thin smile like that of the woman beside her, and her eyes were a stormy blend of greys and blues. The hand not linking to the other woman was resting on the shoulder of the third figure. She was smaller than the first two figures, but was otherwise almost identical to the first, with hair a slightly lighter shade of brown and falling just a little farther past her shoulders. Standing in front of her was the final piece, a large white dog with small pointed ears and a bright pink tongue hanging from its mouth. Its paws were laughably large, unlike the people's feet which were quite small for their bodies, but it was rather cute all the same, with a thick collar Sofie had seemingly drawn as an excuse to use every colour she hadn't yet employed.

Susan realized she was growing more attuned to Talia all the time when she felt the woman's heart flutter; she didn't need to look to know happy tears had once again sprung to her lover's eyes. She reached out a hand and laced her fingers with Talia's, just like in the picture. Talia turned her head to meet her gaze just for a second before looking back at Sofie, but that one moment was enough to see all the love flowing from Talia's smile.

"It's beautiful Sofie, but who's that?" she asked pointing at the dog.

"I named him Salenn. Mommy always said we couldn't have a dog cause she's gone too much, but I thought maybe if you stayed…?" Talia melted at the hope she saw in Sofie's upturned face, and she didn't have to be a telepath to know it was about more than a pet.

"He's a very cute dog," Susan cut in, wanting to be alone with her family before they followed that line of conversation. "It's a great picture Sofie. Are you okay with it staying here with Chris?"

Sofie nodded, though Susan noticed her eyes dimmed a little at the evasion. "I can draw more pictures," she asserted with a half-hearted smile.

"You most certainly can," Talia agreed, "and I bet they'll keep getting better. You're quite the artist already." Sofie's smile turned genuine at that. "Your Mommy and I were talking about going for a walk since it's such a nice day. Why don't you gather your things and tell Chris goodbye and we'll head to the park?"

"Okay!" the girl agreed with excitement, running full-speed to the spare bedroom she regularly occupied.

Susan noticed the smile on Chris's face as he watched Talia. If she hadn't known him to be a happily married man, she might have felt a flare of jealousy; as it was, Susan knew that his expression was one of approval, and her chest swelled with pride.

Sofie returned a moment later with her backpack and a stuffed animal, and after a quick goodbye they strolled towards the creek where they had gone for Rosh Hashanah a few days before. The day was warm and sunny, but an autumn breeze danced around them and before long Sofie was running and twirling in delight, making circles around Susan and Talia but never straying far. As they happily watched their daughter, Susan's hand found Talia's; she couldn't resist the chance to feel the cool metal around her lover's finger against her skin, a physical reminder that she was going nowhere. The stalwart Colonel found herself grinning once more, and thought ruefully that she would have to stop the habit before she ruined her image; what kind of commanding officer would she be if she didn't instill fear in her soldiers?

As they finally reached the water's edge, Talia gracefully sat down on the dirt. Susan was surprised to see her lack of concern for the dress she wore; another sign that the telepath wasn't quite the same woman she'd known back on Babylon 5. The longer Talia was with her, the more Susan found she liked seeing these little changes, the details that reminded her of how far they'd come and of all the little things she would continue to learn about the woman she loved as they passed the years side by side.

A small smile on her face, Susan sat beside her, entwining their fingers once more, and a moment later Sofie joined them, pulling off her shoes and slipping her feet into the water.

Talia reached out and stroked Sofie's hair, and relished the feeling when the girl rested her head against her shoulder. "Hey Sofie?" she murmured, feeling her anxiety rising again foolishly. A gentle squeeze from the warm hand still held in hers helped calm her. She wanted to be the one to say all this, but that didn't make her any less nervous, especially when quizzical eyes locked on to hers. "Mommy and I had an idea. We thought, maybe you could call me Mama?"

Everything happened in a moment. Blue eyes grew wide as saucers, and then Sofie was upon her, squeezing her so tight she could hardly breathe and squealing in delight. A grin spreading across her face, Talia returned the hug for a moment before pulling back. "You're making it hard to breathe, little one," she told the girl with a smile.

Sofie beamed at her and shifted her gaze back and forth between the women before her –her mothers—as a flood of questions fell from her both. Did this mean Talia was staying? Would they keep their house? Were they getting married? Could they get a dog? Could they get a baby? Would Talia live with them forever and ever?

A slightly panicked look came into Susan's eyes at the barrage, but Talia just smirked at her fiancée, enjoying seeing her squirm; there were a few of those questions Talia wondered about herself, and even though she knew now wasn't the time for all those conversations it was delightful to have someone else ask for her.

Finally the questions slowed, and to save her bewildered love Talia once again took over the conversation. "We are getting married, and if it's okay with you I would very much like to stay with you forever and ever and ever." Sofie beamed at her. "The rest," she added with a glance at Susan, "we'll figure out as we go."

Sofie hugged her again, and she felt Susan's arm slip behind her as she joined the embrace.

~Yes, my love,~ Susan murmured into her mind as she pressed a kiss against her forehead, ~we'll figure it out, together.~

That night as Talia lay wrapped around the love of her life, she thought back over the last 14 years, all the twists and turns that had brought them here. She'd spent so many years alone, thinking she could never have a life like this—never have love or safety or home. So many years spent missing the past, missing the woman who was finally beside her once more, hating the Corps and even the universe for ripping them apart. For so long all she wanted was to get back the life she'd had, but as she pulled the sheets more tightly around her and felt Susan snuggle more firmly against her she knew she wouldn't go back for anything. Picking up isn't so bad, but nothing is as good as starting a new life with the one you love.

Author's Note: I had an idea for an epilogue, but I'm now thinking I want to eventually write another story in this series. It may be a while, as I'm realizing I need to spend more time on Uni and less on fandom, but there might someday be another installment in the lives of Susan, Talia, and Sofie J For now, THANK YOU to anyone and everyone who came along on this journey (and especially anyone who left reviews!). I know this story isn't really a masterpiece (and towards the end I fear I lost the "feel" of Susan and Talia), but I'm proud of it and I hope someone out there has enjoyed it.