Wow, really chuffed/happy with all the feedback from everyone. I usually write for my own personal edification, and this is my first time ever writing fanfic of any kind. You're all lovely, but I'm feeling the pressure now :)

Ragingscooter: The Buffy pint glasses were a cheeky touch from my own kitchen.

To everyone saying they want me to keep up the fluff and happiness, don't worry – I will. But I also think with a character like Gail, there is bound to be angst. The title of the story is very much about Gail, and her tendency to self-sabotage and the walls she puts up to protect herself. Underneath all that is a sensitive soul looking for the right person. I think these attributes make her a complicated and wonderful character. Just my interpretation. The road to love and happiness is a winding one anyways. Having said that, it's quite obvious I'm going to let these two be happy, so I'm not going to drag out the inevitable for long.

I am very much a fan of the slow burn. Having said that – screw that. Note the M rating above. I wanted to get in another chapter this week, as I am double-shifting at work all next week and wont be writing, so I thought I'd just get to it. If you are bashful about lady sex, maybe don't continue to read.

Let me know what you think. Happy Reading.

Solace Part 2

Gail woke with a start, gasping as her body jolted awake. Her skin was covered in a sheen of cold sweat, and she was momentarily disoriented as she attempted to get her bearings.

I'm at Holly's.

In Holly's bed.

She realized that at some point in the night she had shifted her position and now found her head resting on Holly's sternum, her leg draped over her lower body. Gail snuck a peek up at Holly's face. She was completely peaceful, Gail's jolting body not even seeming to have disturbed her sleep a little bit. Gail envied the ability to sleep so soundly.

The fog began to clear from her drowsy mind, and it was then that Gail began to remember the nightmare that had so disturbed her sleep. She fell back onto the pillow next to Holly, covering her face with her hands. Gail pressed her fingers into her closed eyes, but the images trickled from her subconscious into her waking mind, as nightmares are want to do.

Gail was back in that basement of horrors, strapped down to a table and hooked up to an IV. He was hovering over her, smiling, looking at her like he was going to devour her. But in her nightmares she didn't make it off the table. This time it wasn't just Jerry who died. Chloe and Sam had also come to rescue her. Gail watched helplessly, unable to move, as the life drained from Chloe and Sam's veins. As the light in their eyes extinguished, he came back for her.

Gail shook her head, overwhelmed with negative emotions. She looked over at the woman next to her in bed and felt a desperate need surge through her. She needed to find solace. She wanted to replace all of the damaging emotions she was feeling with something good and pure. She wanted Holly to give that to her.

"Holly, wake up," Gail whispered, as she softly placed her hand on Holly's shoulder.

Gail gently rested her forehead against the side of Holly's head. "Holly, please wake up," she murmured.

Holly's eyes fluttered open and she looked blearily at Gail's form for a moment. As her eyes adjusted, Holly propped herself up on her elbow. Even in the dim light, Holly could see the burning look in Gail's piercing blue eyes.

"Gail, are you ok?" Holly asked, concerned.

In response, Gail grabbed her face with both hands, tangled her fingers into her hair, and crashed her mouth into Holly's. Though momentarily startled, Holly parted her lips and let Gail's tongue enter her mouth. Holly could feel the blind hunger emanating off of Gail, and was feeling herself lose control too, as she wrapped her arms around Gail's hips.

These sneak attacks were starting to become a habit between them. Holly pulled away before she lost her ability to reason. She saw a brief flash of hurt and confusion in Gail's eyes, before the blue irises pinned her back on the bed. This kiss had been different than any they had shared before - ferocious. They stared at each other for a moment, chests heaving for breath.

This wasn't how I wanted this to happen, Holly reminded herself. Gail certainly didn't look vulnerable at the moment though.

"Are you sure about this?" Holly asked, uncertainly. "With everything that's going on…I don't want to take advantage of you."

Gail pulled herself onto Holly's lap, straddling her waist. She kissed her deeply on the mouth. Gail pulled her t-shirt over her head and tossed it aside.

Holly's hesitation went along with the shirt. Her eyes fell to Gail's chest, and she placed both of her hands firmly over her breasts. Gail pushed herself into Holly's hands. She ran her fingers along Gail's ribs and down around her hips and ass, as she took Gail's breasts into her mouth. Gail emitted a low moan and pushed her body harder into Holly's.

Gail tugged on her shirt and Holly lifted her back off the bed, so Gail could pull it off. She found Gail's mouth again and ran her tongue along her lips and into her mouth. She reached her hand into Gail's shorts and felt the aroused wetness, as Gail moaned into her hair.

"Take them off," Holly husked.

Gail stood, pulling her bottoms off, then reached down and drew Holly's off, before dropping herself back onto Holly's lap. Holly entered her then, sliding one finger easily into her wetness. Gail gasped and pushed her hips down onto Holly, kissing her deeply. She pushed another finger into her, and Gail emitted a guttural moan.

Gail matched the rhythm of Holly's hand with her hips, pleasure coursing through her body with every thrust. Holly was leaving warm kisses along her collarbone and breasts, leaving her panting for breath, as she entwined her fingers through her dark hair.

Gail was losing control already, and she would be damned if this was going to end so quickly. She slowed the rolling of her hips and pulled Holly's face up, looking intimately into her eyes.

Holly got the message and drew her fingers out, taking firm hold of Gail's ass with both hands. Gail wrapped her legs completely around her waist, and Holly flipped her onto her back.

Thoughts of herself lying under Holly's naked body had been flashing into her mind without warning, since they had shared their first kiss. Gail realized what an absolute crap imagination she had, as the real-thing stared down at her, and her breasts grazed along Gail's stomach and chest.

Holly pulled at her earlobe with her teeth, ran warm kisses down her neck, and her tongue along her collarbone. She worked her mouth along her breasts and stomach, down to her hips. As Holly teased the area around her inner thighs, Gail clamped a hand down on the back of her head, telling the other woman exactly where her mouth should be.

Gail moaned again as Holly's tongue ran over the wetness between her legs, arching her back against the mattress. What the hell is she doing down there that feels that good? Gail thought. Gail pulled her head up so she could look down quickly at the back of Holly's head between her legs. She crashed back down onto the pillows, none the wiser. Whatever she had expected, this wasn't it. She could feel herself coming utterly undone.

"Fuuuuuuuck," Gail moaned, as Holly entered her with her tongue.

Gail thrust her hips towards Holly's mouth, tugging on one of her ears. Waves of pleasure cascaded over her, as Holly's tongue moved expertly. She let herself go this time.

"Oh god," Gail moaned, as she felt herself releasing.

Holly held on tight as Gail's body rocked and shuddered. She would savor every moment of vulnerability Gail had allowed herself to give, and every ounce of pleasure she knew she had been able to give to her in return.

When Gail's body relaxed, Holly dropped herself on the pillow next to her. They rested there for a moment, catching their breath, before turning to face each other. Holly could see a myriad of emotions run through Gail's eyes. She waited patiently for her to tell her just one of them.

"I'm not really sure what I'm doing," Gail finally whispered.

Gail had always been confident sexually. Sex for her was an end goal, not a process. This was different. She was suddenly very concerned about disappointing her partner.

"What should I do?" Gail asked, bringing her eyes back up to Holly's.

"You can do whatever you want."

Excitement coursed through Gail, not only at the words, but the husky way they were spoken. A voice Holly only seemed to use under very specific conditions.

Holly saw Gail's chest heave at her words, and she considered guiding the other woman's hands. No, I want to know.

Gail moved her mouth to Holly's, kissing her slowly, trying to narrow down a very thorough list of wants. She pressed her hand against Holly's shoulder and gently pushed her onto her back. Gail crawled over between her legs, and felt Holly's wetness as she pressed her thigh down. She worked her mouth over Holly's body, noting the perfection and beauty of every curve and dip.

The dull ache had increased in intensity until Holly couldn't take it anymore. She took Gail's hand in hers and folded down three of her fingers. She moaned with desire as Gail entered her. Gail's thrusts became less tentative, and Holly wrapped her legs around her, pulling her in deeper. After an eternal few moments, Gail pulled away and lowered her head down to Holly's waist.

Gail began to lick between Holly's wetness. Am I doing this right? she wondered. Holly wasn't making much sound. Gail lifted her head to see what Holly's face looked like. Holly was clutching a pillow to her face, which she now tossed aside.

"Don't stop," she pleaded down at Gail. Holly was finding it hard to believe that this was Gail's first time with a woman. She was finding it even harder to stop herself from tipping over the edge and ending these agonizing moments of pleasure.

Gail found her body aching in response to every escalating moan that Holly let out, until finally Holly's body tensed, shuddered, and collapsed in orgasm. Holly's responses had been even more exciting than the things that she had done to her first. Gail rested her head, spent, on Holly's stomach and placed a gentle kiss on her hip. She wasn't ready to look at Holly yet.

She finally pulled herself level with Holly's face, but as soon as she looked again into her warm brown eyes, she was embarrassed to find herself tearing up. You've just ruined me Holly Stewart, and you don't even know it. Gail felt a combination of joy and sadness, fear and contentment. She was embarrassed by her emotion and tucked her head down into Holly's shoulder.

Holly saw the tears in Gail's eyes, though she was trying to hide her face. She tipped Gail's face up to hers and gently wiped away her tears. She smiled down at her, but didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure what Gail was thinking, but didn't want to push her too far by forcing her to tell her what she was feeling. Instead she enveloped Gail in her warmth and held her close.

You have no idea what you have done to me, do you? Holly thought, as she clung tightly to the beautiful woman in her arms.

Holly wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep, but when she awoke it was light out, and she was the sole occupant of her bed.

"Fuck, " Holly groaned to the empty room.