God, you all are SO spoiled. Also, four updates in four days? High five, me! Lol

Alright, so this is the last update before I leave for my trip, so you actually won't hear from me for a little bit. Maybe take that time that I'm away to read Fae to Fae, alright? Because, DAMN, that story is so good.

On a more serious note, can we all huddle up for a second to discuss lynedele77? Yeah, I know I've done this once or twice before, but seriously, I'm going to stop being stupid and making weird comments for about two seconds (that's all I can manage, this is all very uncomfortable for me lol) and tell you - I went through a huge writing dry spell recently. Maybe you all noticed? I'm sure you didn't, because you were so focused on those frequent once a month updates. Anyway, I wasn't really writing anymore, and knowing myself as I do, had it not been for lynedele77 I would have said to myself "alright, clearly I can't write anymore" and this story would have just ended. Now, maybe you've been reading and think "yeah, it probably should have," but if you're reading and you're happy that this story is still a thing that's happening - that's all lynedele77. So give her a shout out.

Also, encourage her to add more bears to her story. She won't listen to me when I tell her. There is a disturbing lack of bear attacks in her story.

Alright, on with it. Enjoy, see you in a week or so

Lauren woke up the morning to find her arms wrapped around a pillow, the smell of coffee rising in the bedroom. A smile came across her face the comforting familiarity of the moment – the way the sheet smelled like Bo's hair, the warmth of the comforter that was bunched near her chin, the soft sounds of Bo moving around the room.

She opened her eyes and caught Bo standing near the bed, her eyes on her phone. "Morning," she said, causing Bo to look at her and smile.

"Hey, baby, how did you sleep?"

Lauren yawned and nodded. "Really good, actually." Lauren noted Bo's clothes and, with a note of disappointment, asked, "you're getting ready to leave for work?"

Bo stepped closer to the bed and kneeled, bringing her face level with Lauren's without Lauren having to sit up. "Yeah, I have to get ready to go. Sorry we aren't having a morning together, but I really wanted to let you sleep."

Lauren smiled softly. "Okay," she said.

"I did make coffee," Bo offered.

Lauren nodded. "Thanks. Do you think you'll be late tonight?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Bo sighed. "I have to go figure out if anyone did any work while I was gone, or if it's all on my desk. Depending on that, we'll see. I can text you when I know for sure."

"Okay. I was just trying to think of what I should make for dinner."

Bo reached up and brushed Lauren's hair off her neck. "I can just pick us up something. You're supposed to be relaxing."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Bo, I can make dinner. I'm healing, not dying," she laughed.

Bo smiled and gave Lauren a quick kiss on the forehead. "Still, though. I want you to just relax, alright? Don't be the tough doctor for a few days. Just…relax. Heal."

Lauren sighed. "Honestly, I'm fine," Lauren commented.

Bo looked directly into Lauren's eyes, her thumb tracing Lauren's jawline. "Please?" she asked, her voice low.

Lauren rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Cheating."

Bo smiled, knowing Lauren couldn't refuse her, not really. "I love you."

"Love you, too," Lauren answered. She reached up to the front of Bo's shirt and pulled her in to a kiss. It was slow and calm, and when they broke apart Lauren kept her eyes closed, savoring the moment.

"No working today. Take it easy. No cooking, no cleaning. Just relaxing. Alright?"

Lauren sighed again. "I have to do some things, you know."

"No, you don't." Bo glanced back at her phone. "Vex just texted me back. He'll be here in fifteen minutes. I've told him to make sure you're fed and relaxing. You're under strict orders to do nothing, understood?"

"What the hell, you called in a babysitter?" Lauren asked.

Bo grinned and kissed Lauren again. "See you tonight."

Lauren groaned as Bo walked out of the room. When Bo was gone, she sat up and grabbed her coffee off the nightstand, taking a large sip. As soon as she had swallowed she felt more awake, more alert, more clear. Placebo effect? Absolutely. But, hey, it worked.

She crossed the room and pulled out a clean pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt before going to the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair.

A few minutes later she was in the living room, turning the TV to the news, when she heard a loud knock at the door. She walked over and opened it to reveal a very grumpy looking Vex on the other side.

"Your wife is a right bitch," he grumbled by way of greeting, entering the house.

Lauren closed the door behind him. "What? What do you mean?"

Vex dropped onto the couch, huffing dramatically. "I smell coffee. I need coffee."

Lauren rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen, pouring Vex a mug of coffee from the pot Bo had left on. "So why are you upset with Bo?" she asked again.

Vex looked at Lauren with an irritated gaze before accepting the mug Lauren had extended to him. "I was in bed, minding my own business, when your wife called me at this ungodly hour to make me come watch you." Vex took a gulp of his coffee. His face immediately contorted in dislike. "There isn't even rum in this?"

"Um…it's 7:30a…"

Vex sighed dramatically. "I don't understand you people." He set the mug down on the coffee table. "Anyway, I was all comfortable in my bed, not bothering anyone, and your wife called and dragged me over here."

"Stop calling her that," Lauren commented, rolling her eyes. "You're going to say it accidently in front of her one day."

Vex shrugged. "So?"

"So…just, stop, alright?"

Vex shook his head. "Love, she isn't wearing your jewelry, but she's basically your wife. I doubt my noting it would shock her." He reclined on the couch, closing his eyes.

Lauren sighed, dropping down at the opposite end of the couch, grabbing the remote.

"Do you have the Real Housewives?" Vex asked, his eyes popping open as she changed the channel. "And maybe some snacks?"

Lauren just shook her head as she scrolled through the channels.

Vex returned on Friday morning, equally grumpy, despite Lauren's protests to Bo that she was fine. Bo and Lauren spent the weekend at home, with Bo refusing to let Lauren exert herself. Although Lauren appreciated gesture, by Monday she was feeling antsy, jittery.

Bo left before Lauren was awake on Monday. When Lauren got up, she grabbed her coffee where Bo had, again, left it on the nightstand, and headed to the living room. She had just walked into the room when she heard a loud rap at the door.

She walked over and pulled it open to find Vex, looking as pissed off as ever, on the other side.

"Seriously?" Lauren exclaimed. "Again?"

"It isn't my choice, Love, she keeps calling me," Vex grumbled, walking past Lauren into the kitchen to retrieve coffee.

"This is getting out of hand," Lauren commented as she closed the door.

Vex nodded as he poured his coffee. "Seriously, darling, I adore you, but you need to get control of your woman."

Lauren sighed. "She's just been…overprotective."

Vex fixed Lauren with a withering gaze. "Gee, ya think?" he intoned, sarcastically, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Look, you can go home, alright? I'm fine."

He shook his head. "No, she already told me I couldn't leave."

"So? She's at work. It's not like she'll know."

"She'll know."

"Why are you worried about her finding out, anyway?" Lauren asked.

Vex took another sip of coffee. "She may have…some dirt on me."

Lauren looked at Vex, quizzically. "What kind of dirt?"

"It was just a little weed," Vex said rolling his eyes.

Lauren paused. "And…?"

"And some ecstasy."

"Vex."

"It's a party drug!" he defended.

"Why do you have drugs?"

"They weren't mine, someone gave them to me at a club. And she only found out about them because I didn't take them. I left them in my jacket pocket. She found them."

Lauren just sighed, crossing over to the couch and sitting down. Vex took another sip and joined her a moment later.

"Real Housewives?" he asked.

Lauren groaned.

Vex returned Tuesday. By Wednesday, Lauren was irritated. Bo left before Lauren was awake, and, as usual, Vex arrived around 8:00a.

"Go home," Lauren said when she opened the door, blocking Vex's entrance with her body.

"Would that I could, love," Vex sighed, pushing his way in.

Lauren groaned, closing the door behind him. "I'm fine. I haven't had to take pain meds for days. I'm thinking about going back to work soon. I don't need someone to watch me. Everything has been perfect. No infection, no fever, no problems whatsoever. I'm fine."

Vex grabbed a box of cereal from the cabinet and dipped his hand in, bringing a fistful of it to his mouth. "It isn't up to me," he responded with a shrug. "Did you tape Real Housewives? I think the reunion special was on last night." He dropped onto the couch, taking the cereal box with him.

Lauren stood in the kitchen, he fists clenched at her sides. "This is insane."

"I know, these specials are the best," Vex commented, completely missing Lauren's meaning.

Lauren took a deep breath and sat down beside Vex.

At 12:30p Lauren and Vex heard a noise at the door. A moment later, Bo entered, carrying takeout food. "Hey, guys," she said, placing the bags on the counter. "I brought lunch."

Lauren looked up at her, but didn't stand from the couch.

"What are we having?" Vex asked, standing up and walking over to inspect the food.

Bo glanced at Lauren. "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw the look on Lauren's face.

"Vex, you need to leave," Lauren commented calmly, keeping her eyes on Bo.

"What?" Vex asked, still looking through the bags.

"Leave, Vex," Lauren repeated.

Vex looked up at Lauren, and then glanced at Bo. "Um…"

"It's okay, Vex," Bo told him, continuing to look at Lauren. "Thanks for coming by. I'll call you later if we need you."

"Well, this is bloody awkward," Vex noted, looking between Bo and Lauren who continued to stare at each other. He grabbed some food out of the bag and headed for the door. "Try not to kill each other. Ta."

Once Vex was gone, Bo dropped her keys to the counter and turned back to Lauren. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

Lauren stood up, and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Listen, Bo…we need to talk."

A look of worry crossed Bo's face. "Okay…"

"Vex isn't coming over anymore."

"Um…"

Lauren put her hand up, halting Bo. "No. Listen to me. Vex is done. I don't need a babysitter. Nothing is going to happen to me. I'm fine, alright? I know you're just worried but…enough. Stop. No more, okay?"

Bo crossed her arms and looked at Lauren. "No," she said, simply.

"No?" Lauren said, flabbergasted.

"No. You're saying you're fine, but you had major surgery. I know you. If you're here alone, you're going to start cleaning, or working, or pushing yourself too hard. Vex will distract you, and by default you'll get some rest. I know you think you're fine, but you almost died, alright?"

"I didn't almost die," Lauren replied, rolling her eyes.

"You did though. You did. I was there."

"I'm fine, Bo. Seriously. Stop."

"No. Look, I get that you want peace and quiet, I get that you're tired of having Vex here every day, but…Lauren, I remember what happened, alright? I saw Nadia. I saw blood – your blood – on her clothes. I saw you when you were still unconscious. I saw it."

Lauren walked over to Bo, placing her hands on Bo's shoulders. "Bo…I'm fine, okay?"

Bo looked down, not meeting Lauren's eyes. Lauren continued to look at her, seeing a tear weaving its way down Bo's cheek. She reached up gently and brushed it away before curling her finger under Bo's chin and lifting her face back up so her eyes could meet with Lauren's again.

"I know you were scared, okay? And I'm…I'm so, so sorry you went through that. If the situation had been reversed…I don't even want to think about it, alright? I get it. But it's over now. It's a bad memory, that's all. I'm okay. I'm going to stay okay. I don't need a babysitter."

Bo gave no response. Her eyes were set as she held Lauren in a steel gaze.

"I'm okay," Lauren repeated.

Bo shook her head 'no,' turning her eyes down again.

Lauren opened her palms and pressed it against Bo's cheek, raising her face for a second time. When Bo's eyes returned to hers, Lauren leaned in and kissed her deeply.

Bo's hands instinctively moved to Lauren's waist as Lauren moved her other hand to the other side of Bo's face, holding her steady and close to her. She tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth, pressing her tongue against Bo's when Bo responded in kind.

Lauren felt her body relaxing into the kiss; despite everything they had been through together, despite how long they had been together, despite how many times they had been together, kissing Bo still made her feel hazy, and giddy, and like she had butterflies in her stomach. It made her feel like she was home.

Bo's arms snaked around to encircle Lauren completely as the kiss continued, and soon Lauren heard herself sighing against Bo, reveling in the contact. Too soon, Bo broke the kiss and tried to move back slightly.

"Lauren –"

Lauren cut her off by drawing her back in and kissing her again. Lauren wrapped her arms around Bo's neck and shoulders, whimpering when she felt Bo's breasts press against hers.

"Lauren, you can't –"

"Shut up," Lauren mumbled against Bo's lips, kissing her again.

As the kiss continued, Lauren felt Bo relaxing into her more and more as her resolve slipped away. Lauren felt Bo sinking into her, and it ignited her further, pushing everything but Bo from her mind.

Bo started to protest one last time, but before she could, Lauren shifted her hands down Bo's body to cup Bo's ass, drawing her hips forward as she tangled her tongue more aggressively against Bo's a moan rising from her throat.

The kiss continued and soon they were fumbling their way through the living room, stumbling toward the bedroom as pieces of clothes were discarded in their journey. By the time they reached the bedroom, Bo was down to underwear, while Lauren retained only her bra.

They tumbled onto the bed, Lauren landing on top of Bo. Lauren slipped her hand down across the front of Bo's hips, feeling them jerk upward, and as she did so, a whimper slipped from Bo's lips. At the sound, Lauren pushed the underwear aside and dipped two fingers into Bo, feeling her own arousal increase as she slipped against the wetness she found there.

"God, I missed you," she murmured, her mouth still against Bo's.

Bo shifted her hips, her legs opening wider to accommodate Lauren. Her own hands drifted to Lauren's back, unhooking her bra with one hand before pushing her hands under the front of it, caressing Lauren's breasts, dragging her thumbs across her erect nipples.

With a groan, Bo removed her hands from Lauren and reached down, pulling Lauren's fingers from her. Lauren looked at her in confusion, but a moment later Bo pushed Lauren's bra entirely off her arms, dropping it to the floor before adding her own underwear to the pile. She then pulled Lauren back, her own fingers seeking the wetness between Lauren's legs. Lauren's fingers immediately returned to Bo, her fingers writhing as her brain focused on Bo.

"Two weeks is too long to go without fucking you," Bo groaned, her voice raw.

Lauren was rapidly losing the ability to focus on Bo's words as Bo's fingers curled inside of her, pulling against her, turning her inside out.

"Two weeks?" she breathed, her own voice cracking and breaking as the sensations Bo was causing washed over her.

Bo's fingers stilled for a moment and Lauren whined, her hips grinding down, trying to force Bo to resume. When Bo didn't move, Lauren turned to look at her with pleading eyes, only to find Bo looking at her with a slight smile.

"What?" Lauren panted, her hips still angling against Bo, her own hand twisting inside of Bo.

At the movement of Lauren's fingers, Bo's eyes fell closed briefly. "Shit, Lauren," she groaned, her head tipping back, her neck elongating before Lauren. Lauren moved forward, her lips moving against the column of Bo's neck as her fingers continued to press and move.

Bo's hand remained still, and Lauren was grinding onto Bo fully now, making no effort to be subtle. "Bo…please…"

Bo's fingers began moving again and Lauren nearly sobbed in relief, almost missing Bo's voice when she spoke again. "I forgot…you don't remember the last time we did this…"

The words made Lauren pause for a moment, her eyes returning to Bo.

Now it was Bo's turn to squirm. "Lauren…baby…" she complained, using her own fingers to continue pushing Lauren higher. Lauren's eyes closed briefly against the pleasure, but she forced them open again to look at Bo.

"I don't remember the last time we did this?" she asked. At the next twist of Bo's fingers, Lauren's eyes rolled back in her head as she sucked a deep breath, trying to keep herself focused.

Bo used her left hand to reach behind Lauren's head, drawing their lips together, their tongues battling and Bo pumped into Lauren harder, faster. The feeling spurred Lauren own, and soon her own fingers rocking into Bo, both women whimpering in pleasure.

Bo slowed her hand slightly and broke the kiss. "Before you left…we….fuck…we…God, Lauren…"

Lauren moved her mouth to Bo's ear, taking the lobe between her lips. "We what?" she panted out.

"We did this…all night…baby, God…"

"We did?" Lauren groaned.

"Mmm," Bo hummed. She moved her thumb to come in contact with Lauren's clit, causing her to nearly sob in pleasure. "We did."

Lauren moved back to capture Bo's lips, her own hand mimicking Bo's as she stroked Bo's clit, and soon both were writhing against one another, crying out in ecstasy as pleasure broke over them, washing the trauma of the last two weeks away.

Bo didn't go back to work; instead, she and Lauren spend the day in bed, laying against each other, talking, sleeping, touching, and relaxing. By the time night came, Bo felt…healed. She was somewhat surprised to realize just how fragile, how broken she had felt. The realization that Lauren could have died…she hadn't quite realized how it had shattered her.

By midnight, Lauren was laying with her head on Bo's naked chest, her breathing deep and even, while Bo sat awake, her fingers idly running through Lauren's hair, taking deep breaths of the smell of clean cotton that surrounded her.

As she laid there, her mind momentarily drifted back to the night in the hospital, when she had spoken to Lauren in her sleep. She smiled, vaguely, realizing that Lauren had echoed some of her words from that conversation earlier in the day, when she had told Bo that she was okay, and that it was all just a bad memory…for a moment, Bo let herself believe that, somehow, some way, Lauren had heard her.

"Lauren?" Bo said, her voice barely above a whisper. Lauren didn't move, and Bo continued to stroke her hair.

Bo was quiet for a moment as Lauren's breathing remained unchanged.

A moment later, Bo spoke again. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know I've been crazy, Lauren. But…you have to understand…the idea of losing you…" she took a deep, steadying breath. "I love you, Lauren. I adore you. To think that something as stupid as a cab could take you away from me…" She paused again, her fingers still trailing through Lauren's hair.

"Thinking I could lose you, that you could be taken away from me…it's terrifying. I don't ever want to let that happen." Her voice was still only at a whisper as Lauren's breathing remained steady against her chest. "Without you…I don't really know what I am without you. I do know that I'm…less. You make me better. You make me want to be better. You make me whole."

Bo fell quiet another moment, her fingers gliding through the softness of Lauren's hair. "I always thought love made you lose something, or that it changed you. And it does. But I was wrong – I didn't lose anything. I gained something. I gained more of myself. I'm more myself with you." Her own words surprised her slightly, as she realized how true they were.

She took a deep breath, drawing the smell of Lauren deeper into her, and closed her eyes, her fingers still moving. "This is it, Lauren. For me, this is it. I want this, you, forever." Her voice was still low as she continued to relax, feeling the edges of drowsiness tugging at her. "I don't care what happens. I don't care what life throws at us, as long as we're there to catch it together. I want us, this, forever."

There was no change from Lauren as Bo's fingers continued to move, slowing almost imperceptibly as Bo continued to relax. "I've never been happy like this before. I've never felt at home like this before. And I thought, I don't know, maybe that would fade. But it hasn't. It's just gotten stronger. I kept waiting for that switch to flip that told me to run. But it hasn't happened. All that's happened is I've realized I've fallen more in love with you."

Her breath was deepening, her voice getting slightly lower, as she continued. "I've never wanted a relationship like this, but I want it with you. I've never wanted kids, but I'd have them for you. I'd do anything as long as I got to be with you. I love you. I want to marry you."

Bo's eyes were closed but she opened them when she felt Lauren move. When she opened her eyes, she found Lauren looking at her. "What?"

Bo froze. "Um…hey…I thought you were asleep…"

Lauren didn't say anything, continuing to stare at Bo.

"So…how much of that did you hear?" Bo asked, realizing that, if nothing else, Lauren had definitely heard that last comment.

"I woke up around 'I'm more myself with you'," Lauren answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Oh," Bo replied, quietly.

They sat for a few moments in silence, before Lauren broke it. "Did you…do you mean that?"

Bo looked at her, knowing what she meant, but waiting for confirmation.

"About…about wanting to get married?"

Bo took a deep breath. "Yeah," she said simply. "I do."

Lauren was unmoving, her heart hammering against her ribs.

At her silence, Bo shifted so she was sitting up in bed, drawing Lauren up slightly with her. "Listen…I don't think…I know you weren't expecting to hear that tonight. I mean, I wasn't even really expecting you to hear that tonight. But…well, it's true. I do want that. I don't mean now, or today, or…I just mean…yeah. One day. Without question. I want to be married to you."

Lauren remained silent.

"Does that…um, is that…" Bo's voice trailed off.

Lauren was silent a moment longer, and then she was kissing Bo, the tears she didn't realize were in her eyes dropping down her cheeks and pressing into Bo's skin.

Bo pulled back slightly, swiping the tears away from Lauren's eyes, a slight smile tugging the corner of her lips. "So…is that a good sign?" she inquired, referring to the kiss.

"Yes," Lauren whispered against Bo, pulling her back. "Yes, it's a good sign."

Thoughts are encouraged