Summer is finally here and Louisa no longer visits Fiona for sessions.
The last session Louisa said to Fiona, "Samson girl, You can take it from here."
Fiona did not move after Louisa left the library. Alaya sat in the corner beaming. Fiona has made it this far and it was a rough ride.
In the past many months Fiona has yelled, cried and begged Louisa to let her leave. Alaya would sit there watching Fiona come undone. Louisa would talk Fiona to into putting herself back together. Alaya was taking mental notes.
Soon the sessions were calm and over the next few months Fiona talked to Louisa like a friend; with sharing and talking about her ups, downs and how she figured her way out.
At first, the end of each session, when it was just Alaya and Fiona it would be quiet. But soon it ended up a quasi session between Alaya and herself. They talked about the past and future; Fiona eyes finally had their spark back. Now with the sessions ended it would be Fiona and Alaya to solve their own problems.
During afternoon tea Fiona told Vastra and Jenny about this being the last session and Louisa's last words.
Vastra asked, "Samson girl?"
Jenny kindly informs her wife, "Biblical mythology of a man whose strength was in his hair. A woman betrays him and has his head shaved while he slept. He was weak but longer his hair grew the stronger he became and defeated his enemies."
Vastra tilts her head examining Fiona as if for the first time, "I like that, it fits. You are Samson Girl. What are you plans now?"
"I need to study. My tests will be in the fall, not much time to cover over all necessary information. I must be diligent."
Alaya gently reminds Fiona, "If you want help, please ask."
"I ... Yes, I will need help. If you wouldn't mind quizzing me, it will be helpful for retention." Turning to Vastra and Jenny "I would love to discuss topics I am reading."
Vastra eyes widen, "Most tempting, I will accept."
Jenny cringes her nose a bit, "As long as the topic is anything other than cricket, I too would like to read your studies."
"No, cricket will not be on my exam. I will gather books that I have already read. We can discuss at your own time."
The doorbell rings. Jenny gets up to answer the door and returns to the drawing-room with a package.
Vastra puts out her hand to take the package. Jenny swats Vastra's hand. "Madame not everything is about you. There are other occupants." Jenny hands a package to Alaya while looking at her wife with a cocky smile.
Vastra gives a sinful look back.
Alaya opens up the package and pulls out an envelope, she opens the seal. "Fiona to celebrate your ability to 'take it from here'..." she hands over two tickets stubs to Fiona.
Fiona takes them, reads quickly and jumps up to hug Alaya. She turns to Vastra and Jenny, "We are going to see Gypsy Love at Daly's Theatre tonight? Yes, tonight.! What am I going to wear?" Fiona calms down and then turns asks calmly, "Is it safe?"
Alaya getting excited for their first outing, "We will take a cab to dinner and then to the theatre. There will be a crowd and hopefully, if we are diligent, we will be as anonymous as possible. Do look your best, a hat would be appropriate to hide your red hair, it will stand out." Fiona nods in agreement.
It was a wonderful night. Alaya surprised Fiona with a private room at Alan's Tea Room on Oxford and box seating second tier at the theatre.
Alaya and Fiona glide into the foyer of 13 Paternoster Row after midnight. Fiona spins around slightly tripping forward. Alaya is there to catch her. "Thank you for such a wonderful evening. I appreciate you making arrangments and monetary expense. I want you to know for the future that a lecture and tea is most acceptable. If we need entertainment there is always the cinema."
Alaya pulls Fiona close to her, "I know, but I wanted to spoil you once in a while, am I allowed?"
"Of course, it has been a long day. We should get to bed."
"Yes, it is late."
They walk in arm up the stairs. Alaya walks Fiona to her room and says good night. Fiona grabs Alaya's hand, it is shaking. Alaya looks up worried and notices Fiona's face is blushing, "What is it my Samson Girl?".
Fiona leans in and kisses Alaya, tenderly on the lips. Fiona backs up and analyses Alaya.
"I was not expecting such a wonderful gift."
"I would like to continue kissing. Do you?"
"I want that," she moves into Fiona's body.
Fiona's lips are warm while Alaya's are cool; it creates a sensation between their bodies. It shocks Fiona and she pulls back.
"Your kiss is cool."
"Your kiss is warm."
"I want to let you know something, I am kissing you not because you took me out. I wanted to for so long but my heart and mind were constantly at battle. When Louisa told me I could take care of myself I felt amazing. I felt like myself. I want to thank you for your patience." She grabs Alaya's hands, "It is me saying the words. I do not want to play with your heart. I ... I ... "
"You can never hurt me if you are honest."
Fiona is blushing and her nervous hands are shaking, "Tonight you took me to the private room I planned for our first outing. When you took off your veil off in that room all my feelings flooded back into me. You have been my companion, my trusted friend, but you are so much more than those things. You are my Alaya. I love you."
"I will not leave you in suspense. I love you too. I have for a very long time."
"Go get your night-gown on and join me. Please. Let us hold each other tonight?"
Alaya teasing, "No kissing?"
"Of course, but we do need our sleep."
Alaya kisses Fiona and scuttles downstairs to her room. Fiona quickly looks over her room for any clutter and changes into her nightgown and slips into bed.
A knock at the door.
"Please come in."
Alaya comes in and immediately gets into bed with Fiona.
They kiss and caress for almost two hours. They sleep peacefully with Alaya holding her Fiona tight.
The sun comes beaming into the room and disturbs Fiona. She gets up, spite the half-Silurian protests, closes the curtain and rushes back to bed. They instantly fall back to sleep.
A knock on the door.
Fiona body is agitated, Alaya holds her close.
Another knock on the door.
Fiona attempts to get up, but Alaya holds her tight and hides her head under the sheets. Alaya says with command, "Come in."
It is Mother Jenny, "It is almost noon, are you going to stay in bed all day?"
Alaya smiles, "Maybe."
Fiona from under the sheets, "May I ask what was Alaya's current room before I resided here?"
Jenny responding to the voice under the sheets, "It was my office and personal study adjoined with Vastra's."
"Where is office and personal study furniture currently stored?"
"Some of it is in Alaya's room, the master bedroom, Vastra's office and library. Why do you ask?"
Fiona still from under the sheets, "As of today, take back possession of the space. Thank you for your sacrifice."
"Finally," Jenny exits and closes the door.
"Are you sure?"
Fiona poking out her head, "I am."
"We will have to tell your mother. She will be visiting tonight."
"I will tonight. I do have a request ... When the time comes when we are intimate, I don't want to get pregnant, yet. I want to finish medical school and then we talk. I don't know how to keep myself from getting pregnant like your Mother Jenny?"
"What about waiting until marriage?"
"I would want that very much. How will that be possible?"
"Leave it to me. Until then, I will hold you tight. Also, your hair is not quite down to here," marking an invisible line on her neck.
"Short hair is soon the fashion, do you want me unfashionable? Your future wife?"
Fiona and Alaya caress and kiss the afternoon away. They do not leave their room until supper time when April arrives.
Fiona bravely told her mother how the relationship has progressed.
"How or when do you plan on getting married?"
"I am not in charge of the marriage specifics. If you want information please ask Alaya. I do want to wait until I finish my examinations. I truly need to think about my ... our future. Alaya does have her family business. My goals of medicine has not changed nor will I falter."
April leans in to her daughter and pleads, "Please, please stay the course."
Fiona nods.
"Tell me about yesterday. What happened?"
Fiona recounts Louisa's words, the musical, the private tea room and new sleeping arrangements.