Good morning! This is a sweet one. ~S.K.

Thirty One

"Two of these divisions aren't showing much profit." Robs pointed to a line on the page. "I think some changes need to be made there.. perhaps you could take a look."

Jade regarded the paper, and nodded. "They're not writing good contracts." She shook her head. "They're just putting in new business, and not really adding to the bottom line." The late afternoon sunlight reflected into the office, and warmed her back. "I'll have their new stuff put under technical review."

"Good.. good." Robs stretched. "So.. how's it feel?"

Blue eyes regarded him in puzzlement. "How does what feel?"

"Being the master of all you survey?" The Finance VP replied, with a twinkle. "Did I hear a rumor you were going to cancel the BrightStar agreement? What happened?"

Jade regarded her desktop. "Mr. Evans didn't think he could do business with us." She replied evenly.

Her phone buzzed. "Jade, is Mr. Jose on numero uno for you."

Jade sighed. "Okay. " She hit the button. "Yeah?"

"What is this I hear, you cut loose BrightStar?" Jose's voice came through, thick with outrage. "What's this shit, Jade?"

"That's right, I did." Jade replied flatly. "He said he couldn't work with us, so I cut him loose. Got a problem?"

"Hell yes, I have a problem with that!" Jose shot back. "What do you think you're doing? We had a business plan in Richmond.. I am having seven major contracts going in there."

"Not with his cooperation. Try something else." Jade answered. "Go around him."

"Mierda…that's a load of… what was his problem?" Jose demanded.

Jade hesitated, then her jaw clenched. "I was."

Dead silence. "You?" Jose spluttered. "Jesu, it figures.. did you tell him off or.. no, I bet he found out you're sleeping with that little slut of yours, and I tell you.. "

Robs got around the desk and grabbed Jade's hand, slamming his own down on the mute button. "Jade!" He called urgently, seeing the pale blue eyes go gray with fury. "Hold it.. "

"Let me go, Robert ." Jade felt the tremors start. "I'm gonna fire his ass."

"Come on… listen to me." The Finance VP stood his ground, speaking softly. "He's an ignorant jerk, but life's full of them, and so's the company.. you can't fire them all, my friend."

Jade sucked in a breath, and released it, trying to keep a lid on the anger. "I can fire this one, and maybe the others will get the message." She finally said, in a low voice. "I am not going to put up with it, Robbie."

"Okay.. okay… but, please, please, my friend.. give him one warning. Just one…. Keep our asses out of the courts, all right?" Robs asked, reasonably. "You know he'll do it again, Jade… please."

The dark haired woman let her hands fall to the desk, and she leaned on them. For a long minute she stared at the wood surface, then hit the mute button. "Jose?"

"Si? I knew this was going to get us into trouble, and I tell you.. "

"Shut up."

Silence.

"I want you to listen to me, all right?" Jade enunciated her words carefully.

"Si?"

"If you ever make a statement like that about anyone who works here ever again, I'm not only going to personally fire you, I am going to come down to your office, pick you up, carry you outside, and beat the living daylights out of you in front of the entire company." Jade stated softly. "Do you understand me?"

Long silence.

"I asked, do you understand me?" Jade requested softly.

"Si." Came back, very subdued.

Jade exhaled. "Good. Now he had two issues. My being gay, and you're being Cuban. I didn't figure either of us was going to change any time soon, so I told him to take a hike."

Long pause. "That cabron had a problem with me?" Jose's voice rose. "My father came over to this country with nothing but a cigar wrapper and six banana leaves, and ended up owning half the real estate in Hialeah, so he can kiss my Cuban ass."

"Yeah, well.. so find another way up there." Jade repeated, then disconnected the call. She stared at the fighting fish as her blood pressure slowly dropped, aware of Rob's close presence. "I think he owes you a thank you."

"Mm." Robs murmured.

Jade glanced up. "I think I do too." She added, quietly.

The accountant shifted a little. "My friend, it's hard, I know….I understand."

"Somehow I doubt the majority of the company consider you and Kitten an abomination in the eyes of God, Robbie." Jade replied, as she sat down, and rested her hands on the desk. "You try not to care, but it gets a bit much sometimes."

Robs turned and sat on the edge of the desk, regarding her. "You know, Jade… I'm sure there are people who feel that way, but I don't think it's the majority."

"No." Jade had to laugh shortly. "The rest of them just hate me because I'm a bitch." She gave Robs a wry look. "They don't really care who I sleep with."

Robs sighed, and patted her on the shoulder. "Some of us are just pathetically glad you're here, and as good as you are, my friend…and I think there are more of us than you would ever have imagined." He paused. "Come.. let's take a walk downstairs.. get some coffee, hmm?"

Jade studied her hands. "Go on down.. I'll meet you there in a minute."

Reluctantly, the accountant left, closing the door softly behind him. Jade rubbed her face and leaned back, as her stomach slowly untied itself from it's knots. "What a completely sucky day." She informed the ceiling. "A few more like this and I'm going to chuck it all and become a diving boat captain."

A moment later, a soft knock came on the door, and she tilted her head towards it. "Yeah?"

The door opened, and Mariela came in, carrying a tall mug, a faint curl of steam visible over it's edge. "Chefa, I know this is so bad for you, but today is not good." She put down the mug, and Jade caught a scent of hot chocolate.

It made her smile. "Thanks, Mari." She sighed. "Yeah… today's been a bitch all right. " She watched the secretary settle in the visitor's chair. "I'm sure the stories are flying."

"Sim." The woman nodded. "They have been, is true." She straightened a little. "You know, Jade... when I came here from my country, in my country I was in the office, the numerho uno, you know? And when I came over to this country, all the people looked at me, and it was.. " She made a tiny, discrete spitting noise. "Imigrante."

Jade watched her curiously. "Hmm."

"It did not matter that I was good in church, or that I was running in this big law office, or that I raise my children…. No, it was just. .. " She made the spitting sound again. "Imigrante.'

Jade steepled her fingers. "That must have been hard for you. We take our citizenship for granted, a lot of the time."

"Si." The secretary agreed. "You do...I had to be studying many hours before I passed this test, you know? And you do not have to take it… but anyway...what I learned from this, Jade… is that what is important is what is on the inside of people, not on the outside."

Jade gazed quietly at her desktop. "A lot of people never quite get that, Mari."

"Si, you are right.. they do not." Mariela agreed. "Even in my church, which is writing that all people must love each other, still, they think that God makes this kind, or that kind better than the other." She folded her hands. "Jade, you are a good person."

The dark haired woman smiled. "Thanks.. I think you're a very good person yourself."

"Obrigada." Mariela smiled. "Vitoria is a very good person."

"Yes, she is." Jade agreed, softly.

"When two good people love each other, Jade, God smiles on them, and he does not care what they are looking like." Mariela said, gently. "That is what I believe... that you have been very blessed."

It was like a warm blanket settling over her, coming from the most unexpected source imaginable. "Thank you, Mari." Jade replied softly. "That means a lot to me."

Mariela looked pleased. "You are welcome, Jade." She hesitated. "One more thing…my youngest daughter, Flavia is having her festa de quinze anos next month.. I would very much be honored if you and Vitoria would come, and celebrate this with my family."

It was a shock. Jade knew enough about traditional Latin American culture to be honestly surprised at the request, but she also knew enough not to refuse. "We'd be honored." She replied, simply. "Thank you."

"Obrigada." Mariela said, in a dignified tone, as she stood, and brushed off her skirt. "How is Vitoria?"

"She's doing all right." Jade answered, quietly, taking a long sip of her hot chocolate.

The secretary glanced at the window. "It is five o'clock…I am to be leaving.. do you not think those herbs would do better if Vitoria gets them soon?"

Jade chuckled softly. "Are you telling me to get out of here, Mari?"

"Sim." The secretary smiled. "I think I am doing that.. it is very bold of me, no?"

Jade stood up and turned her monitor off. "Sounds like a good idea to me." She grabbed her keys and shouldered her laptop. "It's been a long day."

"And there will always be tomorrow." Mariela added. "For new problems."

Jade followed Mariela out the door, and shook her head. "Isn't that the truth."

Tori watched the late afternoon light come in the front windows, and pour across the tile floor, painting golden stripes across the table. She was curled up on the couch, with Chino tucked in next to her, and a cup of hot tea resting on the end table near her head.

She felt pretty good. The drugs had mostly taken care of the pain, though she was feeling a little lightheaded from having to take so much, and she'd gotten quite a few things done, so she wasn't feeling any guilt about simply lounging around, watching cartoons all afternoon. It was nice just to have a day off, she reflected, and spend the time mindlessly relaxing, not having to worry about lines going down, or people yelling, or things like that.

She was a little worried though, since she hadn't heard from Jade since the morning, and a recent call to the office had gone to voicemail. She felt a little uneasy about her friend, in a vague, unsettled way, but resisted the urge to use her phone, because if there was something going on, surely Jade would have called.

Right?

Tori sighed, and put her head down on the soft couch arm, breathing in the scent of the leather as she tugged a soft quilt around her body. Her eyes closed, and she let the warm comfort lull her into sleep.

It was a strange dream, full of children's laughter, and the smell of hickory smoke. She was snoozing in what felt like a hammock, wrapped in a soft blanket that bore a hint of woods and leather.

Footsteps came close, and she felt a nearby presence, a warmth that brought a smile to her face, even as gentle fingers brushed her hair back, and she felt a kiss touch her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, to see familiar blue ones looking back at her, framed by a face a little tanner, and a little older than she'd expected.

She reached up and hooked an arm around a powerful neck and drew that face down, kissing her again, and reveling in the sweetness, and the passion, and the sense of belonging to each other that had no match in anything else she'd ever known.

And as she did, the children's laughter faded, and the hickory scent shifted to the tang of wood polish, and she opened her eyes to see those same blue ones looking down curiously at her, as a faint smile played about Jade's lips.

"Oh." A little fuzzy, she reached up and brushed her fingers across Jade's cheek, where a tiny scar had shown in her dream, and now was gone. "You're home." Chino was wriggling up against her and nibbling her fingers.

The lips moved into a gentle smile. "Yes, I am." Jade seated herself on the edge of the couch. "How are you feeling?" She scratched the puppy behind the ears.

Tori glanced at the window, which was darkening into twilight. "Um..better… thanks… I was… I was watching tv, and I guess I dozed off…how long have you been here?" She peered up at her lover. "You look beat."

Jade sighed. "I am... I had a tough day." She admitted softly. "I've got a headache you wouldn't believe, and I gotta tell you, it's just nice to see a friendly face."

"Aww… " Tori tugged her down and pulled her into a hug, feeling the long breath Jade released as she did so. She rubbed her lover's back, feeling the warm skin beneath the silk shirt. "I missed you.. what happened?"

Jade allowed herself a few more seconds of bliss, before she reluctantly straightened, and tucked the quilt back around Tori's t-shirt covered body. She'd been debating with herself since she'd left the office as to whether or not to tell Tori, then she figured that the Tori was probably going to hear sooner or later, so it would be best to come from her. "Nasty stuff… I had to terminate a contract today because the company we contracted with felt they couldn't do business with us." She pushed Tori's very disheveled hair out of her eyes, and reflected on how cute she was when she just woke up. "They didn't like our diversity."

Tori cocked her head to one side. "Diversity…. I don't….what do you mean?"

No way to soften it. "They heard about you and me, and spent some time in the lunchroom and heard the different languages… they didn't like that."

Tori stared at her. One brown brow rose up to her hairline. "What jerks! Tell them to go contract with the KKK."

Jade felt a smile coming on. She should have known better than to worry about Tori's reaction. "It was a pretty ugly scene…and then I had to explain to everyone.. and that got pretty ugly too… Robs kept me from firing Jose outright."

"Wow." Tori murmured. "What did he do?"

Jade bit her lip. "He said something about you, I didn't like."

"Oh." Tori considered that. "I'm glad you didn't fire him for that." She stroked Jade's face. "Sticks and stones, and all that stuff." She felt bad, but not as bad as if Jade had fired him. "I'm sure you handled it in a very professional manner."

Blue eyes glinted in the soft twilight at her. "Um... actually, I told him if he ever said anything like that again, I'd take him outside and beat him silly in front of everyone."

Tori clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh." She muffled a laugh. "Jesus, Jade... to a Cuban man, that was worse than firing him."

"Mm." Jade agreed softly. "On the bright side, we got invited to Mariela's daughter's quinzes."

"We did?" Tori was surprised. "I mean.. we, as in you and I, did?"

Jade nodded. "We... definitely we, got invited." She confirmed. "Mariela said some really nice things to me after everything happened… she's really a sweetheart." She tugged on Tori's t-shirt. "We'll have to go shopping for some really snazzy gowns."

"Uerrg…. I haven't worn a gown since my prom, Jade." Tori made a face. "And you don't want to know what I looked like for that."

"Sure I would." Jade objected, with a grin. "You haven't shown me all your embarrassing pictures yet… tell you what.. how about we get dinner sent over, and we can trade… I was a really dorky looking kid."

"Eek." Tori rested a cheek on her shoulder, and bit her lip. "Okay.. but you have to promise not to laugh… I tried to perm my hair for the occasion."

"I promise." Jade crossed a finger over her heart. "But you can't ever admit to seeing the ones from my grade school play."

Mischief. filled the brown eyes. "Ooo… you got a deal." Tori agreed, curling her fingers around Jade's. "Go get into your jammies… I'll call the beach club."

Jade smiled. "Okay... " She stood up and walked towards the bedroom, then glanced over her shoulder. "Could you have them send..."

"A chocolate milkshake?" Tori supplied, dialing the phone. "Sure."

Jade's eyes twinkled, as she disappeared. Once she was in the bedroom, she could hear Tori's low voice , and looked down to see Chino tugging on her shoe, and it made her smile.

Home had such a different meaning now. Jade tossed her jacket over the chair near the mirror, then quickly changed out of her suit, feeling a sense of relief as the soft cotton of her favorite sleep shirt draped over her shoulders. She sat down for a minute on the edge of the bed, and picked Chino up to play with her. "Hey there girl… whatcha up to??"

The puppy nibbled at her chin, then licked her face. Her brown eyes gazed adoringly up at Jade as her paws scrabbled for a good hold on her neck. Jade glanced around, then hugged the puppy to her, feeling a silly grin take over her face. Then she stood, and tucked Chino under her arm, as she made her way back out into the living room. Tori was standing by the coffee table, having just lit two sturdy, scented candles and dimmed the lights. Her lashes caught the candlelight, which threw interesting shadows up her body as she turned towards Jade and smiled. "Dinner's on it's way."

Jade gazed at her, imagining what it would have been like, to come home from a day like today, and not have Tori or Chino there. A sigh trickled out of her, and she put the puppy down, then went over and enfolded Tori in a hug that came right from her heart.

"Urk.. " Tori was surprised, but obligingly slid her arms around her lover and hugged her back, loving the feel of the strong body pressed hard against her own. "Mm…. What was that for?"

"I'm just glad you're a part of my life." Jade answered, with a sigh.

"Really?" Tori murmured.

"Of course. " Jade released her, and leaned back a little.

"Funny you should say that." Tori sat down on the love seat, and pulled her down as well. "I've.. um… I've got something to ask you.. and before I do, I want you to know it's okay for you to say no."

"It is?" Jade responded faintly, unsure of what to expect.

"Yes." Tori took both her hands and held them. "I got a call today." She took a breath. "It was from Pastor Erwin Sikowitz… I told you about him.. remember?"

"Yes." Jade answered.

"He's in town." The brunette woman told her.

"Oh.. that's nice.. you .. um.. want to have him here for dinner?" Jade offered, hesitantly.

"No…well, I mean, sure.. but that's not the question." Tori squared her shoulders. "He offered to um.. " She stopped, then took a breath. "He said he'd perform a ceremony for us, if I wanted… I mean, if we wanted him to."

Jade blinked at her.

"Listen, I know you're not into that, Jade… I know.. it's not been something you had growing up, and I know it doesn't really… mean….oh." Tori shut up as Jade pulled her hands loose, and cupped her cheeks, bringing her closer for a passionate kiss.

They broke apart. "I'd love that." Jade stated sincerely. "I mean.. you're right.. I don't know much about it, and I've never been into stuff like that, but I know it's important to you… and that makes it important to me."

Tori smiled gently at her. "Wow." It felt wonderful. "Great… now.. you can figure out a place to do it, because I don't know… if I want to have it inside a church down here.. even the one on North Beach."

Jade grinned. "I know a place." She cradled Tori's face in her hands, stroking her cheeks with gentle thumbs. "It's a little short on amenities, but it's got a killer sunrise." Tori's requested had delighted her, in ways she'd hardly expected, but she couldn't pretend she hadn't been considering the same sort of thing lately.. in fact, a dawn run out to that little spot had been on her 'list' of Valentine's Day things anyway. 'Thank you for asking me."

Tori found herself smiling, just because Jade was. "Sorry you had such a lousy day."

Dark brows knit. "Huh?" Jade asked, honestly puzzled. "What day? Oh… " She laughed softly at herself. "Yeah.. right.. that…ah… " She studied Tori's face. "Mari was right."

Tori leaned into the touch, simply feeling the love. "Mm?"

"I have been blessed." Jade stated softly. "I've found my soulmate."

Breathe. Tori heard a voice, remotely resembling her own reminding her. Breathe, Tori. Her chest moved, and sucked in air, making a soft, almost sob. She was crying, and she had no idea why, except that just that word made her feel so…

Complete.

Tori smiled. "Yes, you have." She reached up and curled her fingers around Jade's hand, then turned it a little and kissed the palm. After all this time. The thought echoed gently.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get that." Jade said, softly.

"I'll get the pictures." Tori answered.

"We've got a lot of catching up to enjoy." The dark haired woman said, with a smile.

Her soulmate smiled back. "Yes, we do." And suddenly the dream she'd just had seemed even more real.

Jade slowly let her eyes open, aware of the early morning hour even in the strange place she found herself.

Well, not really strange, it was, after all, her couch, but strange enough to jog her lightly out of her sleep, as Tori shifted and burrowed closer to her. It was still dark out, and as such, she couldn't see anything but vague shadows in the living room, where books of pictures and scattered memories surrounded them. They'd stayed up until almost 2 am peering through both Tori's neatly bound volumes, and the ragged eared folders Jade had reluctantly but good humoredly dragged out of her closet.

She hadn't been able to prevent Tori from kidnapping the one of her dressed as Tigger, and she just knew that was going to come back and bite her in the butt someday. Oh well.. could have been worse… she could have been Pooh.

And that was okay, because she'd snatched not one, but two pictures of Tori… one of her as a wide eyed, beruffled cherub, and another of her taken off guard, as a teenager with her back against a tree trunk, and a book open on her knees. In the second, there was something so gentle, and so wistful in her expression, with her hand spread across the page, and her head resting against the bark, it tugged at Jade's heartstrings irresistibly

Her soulmate. Jade smiled, and stroked the soft pale hair . The word had delighted Tori, and it really did fit how she felt towards the Tori, as though they really were part of each other.

Maybe they were. Jade pulled Tori a little closer. They certainly fit together, like a well made wooden puzzle, despite their different heights. Tori was nestled up against her left side, with one arm wrapped around Jade's stomach and her knees between the taller woman's. Jade could feel Tori's warm breath against her collarbone, and….Jade smiled. They were breathing in the same rhythm.

It was a nice feeling.

Loving Tori was a nice feeling. Jade smiled contentedly, and relaxed, thinking about the weekend. More specifically, early Saturday morning, when they'd go out and greet the sun, and tell each other..

Pale blue eyes popped open in mild alarm. Tell each other what? Could they use the standard vows?

Uh..no.

Jade's mind started working. What in the hell could they…okay, okay.. how about something simple like…. I'll love you forever.

She winced. Not that it wasn't true, but…

Hmm…

You are the light of my life? Augh.. Jade… you sound like a bad seventies hit parade. You make my life worth living?

Well, that was true too. You came into my world, and turned it upside down? Not so flattering, but…

"Jade?" Tori's sleepy voice interrupted her studied musing. She glanced down, where the Tori was still nestled against her.

"Hmm?"

"What are you muttering?"

Jade sighed. "Sorry.. I didn't realize I was."

"Mm… so… what was it?" Tori persisted, curiously.

"Umm… nothing.. really." Jade cleared her throat gently, and snuggled back down. "Go Back to sleep." She firmly closed her eyes.

"Okay." Tori murmured obediently.

Peaceful silence fell.

"Am I really the light of your life?"

Jade made a noise halfway between a groan and a whine.

"I'm not?"

"Of course you are." The taller woman spluttered hastily. "You weren't supposed to hear that."

"Oh." Tori's voice seemed disappointed. "Okay.. sorry."

Jade gazed down at her, unhappily. "Tori.. you're all those things… and so much more I can't even begin to tell you.. I was just trying to figure out what I was going to say to you on Saturday morning."

"Oh." The inflection was totally different. "You don't have to say anything." Tori told her softly. "Just your being there's enough for me."

"Oh." Jade's turn to murmur.

"I thought… maybe… I could just… sort of..um… I mean, I have this poem….that I wrote…I thought maybe I could have Pastor Erwin use that."

Jade exhaled in relief. "That'd be perfect." She kissed Tori's head gently. "Thank you."

Silence fell.

"I turned everything upside down, huh?"

Jade rolled over onto her back, pulling Tori up on top of her. "Yep."

"Awk.. Jade… c'mon.. you're gonna be squished." Tori laughed.

Jade rubbed her back, working the strong muscles with her fingers. "Nope..I like this feeling."

"You like not being able to breathe… Jade, you're demented." But Tori's body slowly relaxed completely against her, melding with her own in boneless completeness.

"Mm…. " Jade savored the feeling.

"Goofball." Tori nuzzled her neck, nibbling the underside of her jaw "I love you." She felt the muscles of Jade's face move as she smiled. "It's almost time to get up."

"Uh huh." Jade agreed lazily. "How are you feeling?"

Tori considered the question. "Like I don't want to get my lazy butt up and go running.. but I don't have a good excuse not to." She admitted. "So, c'mon, tiger.. let's hit the Frosted Flakes and get moving."

Jade laughed softly, and pinched her on the specified bodypart. "I'll put the coffee up.. you let the puppy out?"

It was just the start of another day.