Anyone Ready for a little ass-kicking? old friend plays a big part in this book. it gives me a warm feeling to reintroduce him in this story. Enjoy!-S.K.

Five

The smell of pancakes woke her up. Jade lifted an eyelid and examined the room, its cool, blue walls lit with tiny stripes of sunlight from the blinds. She stretched and regarded the ceiling with sleepy contentment, as subtle sounds from the kitchen indicated her wife's current location.

Mm. Tori's home. A smile spread across her face. I missed her. Jade yawned and stretched again, then rolled up out of the sleep-number bed and made her way into the bathroom, throwing a little water on her face and brushing her teeth. "Mm." She chewed the toothpaste curiously, having picked Tori's up by mistake. "Grape. How did this woman find grape toothpaste?"

"Jade?"

"Hmm?" Jade hastily swallowed, and wiped her mouth off, then padded out of the bathroom and found her brunette wife leaning in the doorway to the bedroom. "Morning… you're up early."

"Not that much." Tori tickled her navel with a finger. "Just long enough to get breakfast started… I wanted to make sure you got something other than coffee and Frosted Flakes before you went out to win trophies."

"Speaks the woman who uses grape toothpaste," Jade responded dryly, watching Tori blush and start to laugh. "Gotcha."

"Weeell.. it was all they had in the airport, Jade… it was that, or that baking powder stuff, and you know I hate how gritty that is." Tori pulled Jade's baseball shirt off the back of the loveseat and handed it to her. "It's a gorgeous day out."

"Oh yeah?" Jade slipped the garment on, then curled her arms around the smaller woman, pulling her into a hug. "It's pretty nice in here, too." She released Tori and followed her into the kitchen, where Chino was patiently waiting. "Oh… I get it.. there must be food somewhere."

"Gruff."

"Mm.. certainly was spotless in here." Tori poked her friend with the end of her spatula. "Did you even make coffee while I was gone?"

Jade looked suitably penitent. "Um…I was out late most nights at the gym." She offered as an excuse. "Just picked up something on the way home."

Tori eyed her. "Chicken wings?"

A faint hint of a grin. "Among other things."

"Jade." Tori turned back to her pancakes and flipped one expertly. "I was worried about you…though that's kind of silly, I guess.. you're a grown person, who can certainly take care of herself."

Jade slid both arms around her and rested her cheek against Tori's hair. "Yes, I can do that." She murmured. "But I'm glad I don't have to." She nipped an ear. "I'm glad you're back."

"Mm." Tori smiled. "Even though I make you eat vegetables?" She felt Jade's head nod against hers and she leaned back. "So what do I do for two weeks? I pig out on tacos and shrimp toasts."

Jade chuckled. "Hotel food is kinda limited."

"Don't make excuses for me… the limited menus included salads." Tori retorted, flipping another pancake, and turning the bacon in the next pan. "You've corrupted me, Gigi."

The chuckle turned into a full laugh, rumbling down Jade's chest and making a pleasant vibration against Tori's back.

The phone rang, and Jade released her, then wandered over to the portable phone and lifted it up. "Hello?"

Tori almost felt the change, and she turned her head to see a dark, still expression on her wife's face. She quickly shifted the pans off the stove and walked over, putting a hand on Jade's belly. "Hey?" She mouthed.

Jade tucked a hand behind Tori's neck and pulled her close. "All right." She spoke quietly into the phone. "Next Friday. I'll be there." A pause. "Goodbye." She set the phone down with deliberate precision and exhaled.

"Who on earth was that?" Tori whispered. "From your face, I thought it was my father."

"Worse," Jade answered, with a sigh. "It was my mother."

Tori looked up at her. "Whoa… that was unexpected."

"Yeah." The blue eyes focused on something Tori wasn't sure she wanted to be able to see.

Tori finished packing a small towel in the gym bag Jade habitually carried, then zipped the bag closed and walked to the double doors, regarding the tall, silent figure leaning against the railing.

Jade was upset and shocked. Tori could tell. Hearing from her mother was difficult, but finding out it was due to the passing of her grandmother was even worse. After not hearing from that side of her family for such a long time, getting news like that was tough, and knowing she'd have to go and face being with those people next week was eating at her.

Tori pushed the door open and walked outside into the warm sea breeze. "You ready, champ?"

Jade turned her head and adjusted her sunglasses, pulling them down a little to regard Tori's face. "I think my focus is off." She told her regretfully. "I wasn't expecting that… even though I haven't seen Gran in… " Jade thought. "Damn.. has it been ten years?" She exhaled. "She was a… a very tough woman."

"Mm." Tori put an arm around her. "I'm sorry, Jade… I... don't remember my grandparents. They died when I was very young." She considered that. "I wish I had… my uncles tell some really great stories about them."

Jade leaned against her. "I never knew my father's parents. When he and my mother got married, they disowned him.. sort of…. The only one who spoke to him at all was Aunt May." She exhaled. "Then there was gran and grandpa... he and my father argued all the time, but I think they liked each other. He died in a car accident, and Gran wasn't the same after that."

Tori pursed her lips, then forged on. "Jade… you know... um... maybe your mother… maybe she's using this as a sort of excuse to get back in touch with you."

Her wife went quite still for a few heartbeats, then straightened and pushed her sunglasses back. "I think it's too late for that. " She answered briskly. "C'mon… I got myself into this contest… let's go watch me make a fool of myself."

Tori took the hint and dropped the subject. "I bet you don't." She followed Jade inside. "Remember, you promised me a trophy."

"Aw…Tori… "

"You promised."

I promised. Jade leaned against her locker, surprised at just how nervous she was. What in the hell was I thinking? I'll be lucky to last the first damn round. She scrubbed her face with both hands, then dropped them, shaking her arms to loosen the tight muscles brought on by the sudden stress.

Okay.

Jade closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she forced calm on herself. Too many outside distractions were hitting her, and she knew if she didn't just push them out of the way, she wasn't going to be able to go out there, or worse, she would, and get hurt because she lost focus.

So, okay. Forget about your mother. Forget about the asshole board member. Forget about Tori's testifying.

Forget about Gran….

Damn. Jade's eyes opened and she gazed at the wooden surface. Wish I'd said goodbye to her.

"You need to find a nice boy, and settle down, honey." Gran's eyes had twinkled at her, as she stood uncomfortably in Gran's small house. "Come here and sit down, and tell me what you've been up to."

Jade had settled her long frame awkwardly on the frilly chair next to the old woman and tried to come up with something she'd find interesting to hear. Programming? Gran had a radio and a TV she never turned on, preferring to use it as a shelf to hold a beautiful creeping ivy. School? Gran had been self-schooled. Personal stuff? Jade had just figured out she preferred girls to boys and doubted Gran would appreciate hearing that. "Same as usual, Gran.. just stuff."

"Oh, come on now.. you telling me a nice-looking young girl like you just sits around all day? What do you do with yourself, JaeJae?"

"Um… work with my computer, do my gym stuff… you know." Jade had answered. "I go to school, I go to work... not much to tell, really."

Gran had looked at her. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No." That, at least, she could answer.

Her grandmother had leaned much closer and lowered her voice. "Do you have a girlfriend?" She'd whispered, with a wink.

Jade had almost swallowed her tongue. "Uhh….. no." Her voice had risen almost an octave. "I um…"

"Ha.. didn't think old grumps like me know what's what, eh?" Gran had poked her in the knee. "Figured you out years ago… had a best friend when I was a girl who went the same way."

She'd turned brick red and had to endure the old woman's chuckles until she finally cleared her throat and muttered something banal.

"What'd the folks say?" Gran had asked, conspiratorially.

"They don't know." Jade had managed to answer. "Yet."

That had made Gran laugh even more. "Figures.. my daughter never could see the darn forest for the trees." She'd patted Jade on the arm. "Don't you worry, honey… I won't say anything... you just be careful now, here? Chicken fights can be a lot nastier than cock fights, let me tell you... they'll peck your eyes right out, and you've got really pretty ones."

Jade had blushed again. "Thanks Gran." She'd muttered.

"Here.. stop putting your head down." Gran had picked her chin up and looked at her. "You got nothing to be ashamed of, Jae Jae, so you keep those baby blues up just like that." She'd paused. "Oh…you're going to break some hearts, you are."

Jade had managed a smile. "Think so?"

A wrinkled hand had patted her cheek. "Keep smiling like that, and I guarantee it."

Jade found herself smiling again, in reflex memory, and she wished briefly her mother hadn't gone to live with Gran. That, more than anything, had kept her from calling, and certainly from visiting…

And that hadn't really been fair to either of them.

"Hey, Jade?"

She turned to find Tori slipping through the locker room door. "Sorry… I was just loosening up."

Tori came over and slid up against her, with a barely held-back smile. "Your dad's here."

"Urk." Jade's nostrils flared. "Like I needed more pressure."

"Tch." The brunette woman gave her a much-needed hug "He's lurking back under the seats… I got him some soda and a candy bar."

"I think I need a candy bar...or maybe some ice cream."

brown eyes twinkled. "Trade you a trophy for a cone, how about that?"

Jade turned, and put her hands on Tori's shoulders, her face taking on a serious expression. "Listen."

Fingertips touched her lips. "No… I was just kidding. I don't care if you win anything at all, Jade.. just have fun, and don't worry about it." She pulled Jade's head down and kissed her. "Okay?"

"Just have fun?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Jade returned the kiss, and let some of the tension roll off her. "I think I can manage that." She felt her nerves settle, and she considered the contest. Without question, there'd be some fighters she could beat, and equally, some she couldn't. That was all right. She'd just do the best she could, that was all.

"C'mon." She put an arm around Tori's shoulders and guided her out of the locker room, and into the main area of the gym. A wide open space had been cleared, and covered with mats, and some rows of chairs added around it, with platforms after a few rows to raise the seats into viewing areas.

People dressed like her were all around, warming up and chatting in small groups, or standing alone in fierce concentration. They ranged in age from teens to middle-aged men and women, and Jade felt a little more comfortable, realizing she wouldn't be the oldest person in the room by any means.

Her eyes flicked around and into corners, and found a dark one, with a shadowy form in it. She kept her gaze pinned there, and smiled, holding it until she saw a flash of motion and a hand wave. She waved back.

"This is sort of fun," Tori remarked. "Hey.. did you know they have a novice class tournament too? You think maybe I could take a shot next time?"

Hm. Jade mulled that over. Good question. "I don't know. I think you're too nice." She confessed. "You're not supposed to apologize every time you hit someone."

Tori grinned ruefully. "Hitting people doesn't quite come naturally to me, I guess…but I've been getting better… I didn't scream the last time I flipped you."

Jade rubbed her tailbone in memory. "You grunted.. a definite improvement."

They walked up to the warm-up area, and Jade released her wife as she joined the group of combatants already working there. "Wish me luck."

Tori smiled and tugged her belt. "You won't need it." She backed off. "I'm going to go sit down over there." She pointed at the bleachers.

Jade lifted a hand and watched her go, then turned her attention to the task at hand. After about twenty minutes of light warm-up, a man walked to the center of the mats and lifted a bullhorn.

"All right ladies and gents… let's get rrrrroollling."

The exercises paused, as all eyes turned towards him.

"We'll do this the easy way. Double elimination, one ring for the pros, one ring for the kiddies, the judges picked the matches out of a hat. See the nice lady with the pink shirt to get your slots, and stay the heck out of the way until it's your turn. Everybody got it?"

A chorus of yells.

"Good! Let's kick some ass!"

Tori found herself a nice bench and sat down, resting her elbows on her knees. This was definitely different. The closest she'd ever come to this kind of atmosphere was during her high school bowling days.

"Hey there, kumquat." A low, growly voice made her jump, and she looked down between the bleachers, to see James West perched under them, peering out between the seats with interest. "Looks like a damn bathrobe convention, doesn't it?"

"It's… unique." Tori agreed as she watched some of the younger contestants run at each other, screaming.

James grunted, his head moving back and forth inside his hood as he observed. "My kid looks damned good, you know that?"

Tori obligingly turned her eyes to the tall, dark-haired form running through a few basic warmup drills while she waited. "Does she? I mean… well, yeah, I think she does anyway, but.."

"Yeap." Jade's father nodded. "Lookit that kick… I couldn't get that high when I was getting paid for it."

"She's very flexible." Tori agreed.

"Huh." James chuckled, deep in his throat. "You'd know."

Tori stared at him in puzzlement, then blushed. "Oh god." She was saved by the bell, literally, and she turned to watch the first set of matches.

She really hoped Jade did well.

After all, she had a bet on with James about that trophy.

Jade's first match was the third one listed. She spent a moment wishing she was somewhere else just before she had to pad onto the mat and spent another moment hoping she didn't throw up before she got there.

It was really ludicrous, god damn it, she was an internationally known corporate CIO, who ate company managers for lunch, and here she stood, worrying about upchucking in front of a boisterous Saturday night crowd at the local gym.

Shit.

Jade glared at her opponent in pure annoyance, a man slightly her junior, with a sturdy, well-knit body and intelligent eyes.

Which widened a little as they met hers. Jade could only wonder what her expression looked like before the whistle blew and they were circling each other. He dodged towards her and she blocked him, feeling the nervous energy make her reactions sharp, and almost edgy. He tried again, and she evaded the kick, countering with one of her own that, with help from her longer legs, connected and turned him halfway around and almost dumped him.

Okay.

Jade flexed her hands, and watched him, feeling her heartbeat start to settle a little. She tried a little feint of her own, then realized it was going to work and followed through, neatly sweeping her opponent off his feet and taking advantage of that.

One fall down.

Hm. Jade watched him dust himself off, and face her, seeing something in his eyes that sent a shot of adrenaline right through her.

Now, intimidation… that she recognized, and her aggressive instincts flared as she swept in again, this time with more assurance, letting the watching crowd fade out as she dropped him a second time.

The whistle blew a minute later, and she stepped back, clearing the mat for the next match, feeling a little surprised, and a lot less nauseous. She snuck a look at Tori and found a grin waiting for her, along with a little wink.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

"She did okay, right" Tori whispered.

"Damn straight." James had his chin almost resting on the step her feet were on. "Knocked that silly assed punk right on his keester.. that's my girl."

Tori muffled a chuckle. "You are so cute."

One blue eye edged around the corner of his hood and pierced her. "Scuse me there, young lady.. watch yer mouth." He growled. "I am not having no little kumquats calling me stuff like that."

"Ah… I see where she gets that, too." Tori grinned and turned her attention back to her wife, who was getting a drink of water from the blue neoprene thermos she'd developed a fondness for.

Jade's eyes were a little brighter now, she noticed, and she seemed looser and more relaxed. She was talking with Ken, who had finished his own bout just before hers, and watching the action.

Tori wondered if she realized just how many people were actually watching her, instead of the matches. She kinda hoped she didn't.. at least until it was over.

"Who you got next?" Ken craned his neck to peer at the small piece of paper Jade had. "Oh… nice slate." He nodded. "They're all pretty decent fighters…I got lucky with mine. The first three of 'em are strictly hacks."

"Mm." Jade tucked the paper away and took another sip of water. She watched the match in progress and replayed her last one with a sense of mild satisfaction.

Her next match was an easy one, then the third was a little tougher, her opponent a tough, determined woman with a permanent scowl and a feisty attitude that almost made Jade want to offer her a job. The woman used her smaller size to get inside Jade's defenses, but found out, a little too late, that it was a mistake to get caught by the taller woman's powerful grip.

Jade wiped the back of her neck with her towel, clearing the sweat a little, and glanced at the board, where a perky scorekeeper was moving names around. Hers was in one of the upper tiers, and she felt a sense of satisfaction at her accomplishment so far. Six matches, and she'd won half… that was not too goddamned bad for someone who'd been out of competition for as long as she had, and Jade knew she had every right to be completely happy if she lost every single one of her remaining three matches.

Her name was called for her fourth match, and she put her thermos down, flexing her fingers as she entered the circle and stretched on the mats again. This time, her opponent was an older man, with the hard eyes, and callused hands of an instructor, and she felt her pulse pick up as her now warmed-up body scented a challenge.

He eyed her coolly, intent on intimidating, and received a dazzling smile in return, which made him blink in surprise just before he found himself caught in a combination move that knocked him backward almost onto his butt.

"Son of a bitch. "He blurted.

Jade patted her chest. "Nope… wrong gender, and don't you be calling my daddy names like that. " She roundhouse kicked him and sent him flying outside the circle with a thud as he hit the mat. He got back up and they circled each other, trading feints and jabs.

Weeks of pushing herself and weeks of sharpening rusting skills now came to bear as Jade loosened up and tried some more advanced moves, which she hadn't bothered with in her earlier matches. Her opponent countered one, then backed off a little, apparently realizing the skill level facing him was higher than he'd expected. He tried a counter, and Jade absolutely nailed him with a block and a throw over her shoulder that made his bones audibly rattle.

The whistle blew, and she stepped back, only now aware of the crowd slowly gathering around the mat, as the other bouts ended. Her name moved up a tier, and with a sense of shock, she realized she was positioned to come in no worse than fourth in the competition.

That was great, wasn't it? Jade was aware now of the growing crowd, most of them watching the match that was just starting, between a tall, aggressive redhead and a smaller, blond-haired man whose quick style, and fluid motion Jade admired. She concentrated on it and was surprised when a voice invaded her close presence, calling her name. She turned. "Yes?"

It was the match coordinator, in all her pink glory. "I'm sorry… you're West?"

"Yeah… what's wrong?" Jade turned and faced the blond woman. "Did I step outside the circle or something?"

"Oh.. no.. no." Pinky shook her head. "No.. the guy you were supposed to fight next just sprained his ankle." She made a mark on the sheet. "He forfeited, so you got that one… so you've only got the one match left." She looked up." Whoever wins this one... so don't wander off."

"Sure." Jade gave her a look. "I was going to see if there were any good nature trails around, but I guess I'll hold off."

Pinky looked up at her. "Hah hah." She turned and left, as Jade merely shook her head.

"What's up?" Ken came over, having finished his day. "Hey… third.. not too damn bad." He slapped Jade on the back. "John over there knocked me on my butt in the fourth round.. so I guess it's between you and him.. he's gonna beat Rusty."

Jade almost snorted her water as the words penetrated. "What?"

Ken stared at her. "You didn't realize? The guy who just conked out was in second place… whichever one of you wins the next one, gets the trophy." He almost laughed at Jade's expression. "C'mon Jade… don't' look like you've been hit by a flying fish, okay? You've been kicking everyone's ass all day long.. you're the talk of the match."

"That last one thar's trouble." James commented, sucking on a straw poking out of his soda.

"Yeah?" Tori had found herself getting excited, as the energy in the room rose, and everyone started gathering around the ring for what was turning out to be the bout to decide the winner. "Well, Jade's doing pretty good anyway, right?"

"Sure.. sure… worst she'll be is second.. but see…I know my kid." James rested his forearm on the bench. "She doesn't like being anything but first."

"Wonder where she got that from." Tori smiled but knew he was telling the truth. "Do you think she can beat that guy?"

"Depends."

"On?" Tori rested her elbows on her knees, her back aching from the long afternoon sitting on the hard benches.

"How bad she wants to."

Tori drummed her fingers on the bench for a moment, then stood up, wincing a little before she carefully stepped down the mini bleachers and made her way through the milling crowd of sweaty, cotton-clad people to where Jade was standing.

Her wife turned as she came up and gave her a smile, stepping back from the clump of people and ducking her head a little against the noise. "Hey there."

"Hi." Tori glanced at the board, then gave her a little pat on the back, a grin taking over her face.

Jade cleared her throat, and shrugged, then laughed sheepishly. "Not too bad, huh? I didn't expect that."

"I did." Tori sniffed, blinking innocently as she peered around. The last bout was over, and the tall redhead, the winner, was resting before the final match started. "Your father's been giving me pointers."

"On the fighting?"

brown eyes slid up her body and twinkled. "That too." She leaned closer. "You know something.. he's really proud of you." Jade merely shrugged in response, but a visible, coral blush colored her skin. "Think we can talk him into going out to celebrate with us afterward?"

Jade looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe… it depends."

"On what?" Tori asked, just before they called Jade's name to come back up to the mat.

"What it is we're celebrating." A faint smile played around Jade's lips. "And right now, that guy's between me, and sharing a sundae with my dad." Her head angled a little as she eased through the crowd, giving her a slightly more predatory look.

"He's toast." Tori put her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels. "I'll get the marmalade."

It was all mostly a blur. Jade stood on the edge of the mat, after the bell rang, and sucked air into her lungs, trying to catch her breath. She clearly remembered going into the match, but now that it was over, the details were fading rapidly.

Her body was covered in sweat, though, and she was starting to feel the beginnings of bruises that were going to make waking up the next morning a little less than comfortable. She was hot, and sticky, and wanted little more than a cold shower and a nice, large, dripping, oozing with caramel and chocolate with maybe, maybe a cherry on top sundae.

After all, she deserved it.

She'd won the god damned meet, and this last match had been a toughie, since John, the tall redhead was the local I-am-the-great-American-hope-pseudo sensai that every decent-sized martial arts community seemed to spawn like unwanted weasels, who terrorized the lighter belts and had more testosterone than sense.

Well. Jade caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned, to see the organizer heading towards her, with a completely obnoxious-looking trophy that she realized she was going to have to accept, and carry home.

"I think you should keep it on your desk." Tori slipped in next to her and gave her a slap on the butt. "Jade, you rock."

"Ohhh.. no no no no…. I think you should keep it on your desk." Her boss corrected her. "Since you wanted one."

"Hey.. congratulations." The match organizer reached out a hand. "Haven't seen you around before… but I hope I will again… you really stirred up some excitement around here." He was in maybe his mid-twenties, and had cute freckles and almost orange hair, and sported a slim, muscular body. "I'm Richie Ryan, by the way."

Jade returned the handshake. "Thanks… it was um… fun." She accepted the trophy with her other hand. "I used to compete around ten years back… I was just sort of getting back into it."

His eyes opened wider. "Yeah? Wow… well, you're hot, let me tell you.. it was a pleasure watching… you do sports for a living, or… "

He sidled a step closer, and Jade realized she was being flirted with. "No… I'm in the computer business."

"Who isn't?" Richie laughed. "Hey, listen… you got any plans? A bunch of us… " He gestured towards a group of the competitors, regular cronies apparently. "Are going over to Chevys.. you interested?"

"No thanks." Jade gave him a brief smile. "I've got a date.. but thanks for asking."

"No problem.. no problem.." Richie held up both hands. "Maybe next time… and hey, congratulations again, okay?"

Jade watched him rejoin the group, and by the regretful shrugs, and glances in her direction, gathered she was the topic of conversation. The man she'd beaten wasn't part of the group, she noticed then, as he walked off with four or five of the others, apparently their own little clique.

"A date?" Tori elbowed her. "He liked you."

Jade gave her a look. "Here." She thrust the huge trophy at her wife. "I believe this is yours… and stop looking at me like that."

Tori snickered. "Like what? I don't know what you're talking about, Jade." She gave the black belt tied around the taller woman a tug.

"Yeah, yeah." Jade sighed. "All right.. let me go shower, and I'll be right out. You owe me ice cream, if I recall." Her eyes went to the stands, finding an inconspicuously hidden figure in one dark corner. "You think he'd… "

"He already said yes," Tori murmured. "Go on… we'll wait for you over there."

Jade nodded and headed into the locker room, which was mostly empty. One or two women were just finishing up their changing, and the nearest looked up and gave Jade a little wave as she came in.

"Hey... great job." The blond woman smiled, offering a hand as Jade passed. "I'm Sheila… and you're… Jade, is it?"

"Yep..thanks" Jade briefly clasped her hand and went to her locker, opening it and removing her towel. "You did pretty well yourself… you a regular in this bunch?"

"Eh." Sheila waggled a hand. "When I'm into it… you know how it goes. I cycle through this, triathlon, blading… I'm in the chop-socky phase right now."

Jade chuckled. "Yeah… I'm just getting back into it myself." She slung her towel over her shoulder and started towards the shower.

"Hey… that your girlfriend out there with you?" Sheila called out, unexpectedly.

Jade hesitated briefly, then nodded "Something like that… why?"

Sheila gave her a double thumbs up. "She's a babe… nice job." Then she walked out, whistling.

Jade chewed her lip thoughtfully, then resumed her trek. "I think so." She commented to the minute fungus on the wall as she turned the cold water on, waiting a moment to achieve lukewarmdom before stepping into the shower's path. Cold showers really didn't have much meaning in Florida, naturally, where the water took on the temperature of the pipes, which by necessity were near or aboveground, but this felt refreshing, and she stood for a moment, just letting it run over her body before she started scrubbing the sweat off.

When she was finished, she let the water run again, as she leaned back against the wall and allowed the reality of what she'd just done to seep in.

Not too damn bad, West. She grinned at her reflection, seen through the water's distortion. Not too damn bad… especially that last one, where for a few minutes, she'd felt herself go all out, and push past her normal caution, letting loose a wild energy that had both surprised and delighted her.

With a chuckle, Jade finally shut the water off and toweled her body mostly dry, wrapping the fabric around her as she padded back out to the locker, her sweat-soaked gear hanging over one arm.

Funny. She mused idly, as she changed. I thought this place had emptied out... guess there were a few stragglers left after all. Certainly, the locker room's attendance had grown, as various women busied themselves earnestly about the place. Whatever.

Jade folded her gear neatly and tucked it inside the gym bag, then coiled up her belt and added that, as well, before running her fingers through her damp hair and shouldering the bag's strap. As she headed towards the entrance, she saw a familiar brown head poke in, and she cocked her head at the half-amused, half-outraged look on her wife's face. "What's up?"

"Are you done being the center of attention?"

"Huh?" Jade looked behind her in puzzlement. "What are you talking about? C'mon.. let's go…. I hear that ice cream calling my name." She put a hand on Tori's shoulder and steered her towards the exit, where her father was waiting, none too patiently.

"Oh.. so.. you didn't hear the blond with the crew cut come out here and yell for everyone to come look.. that you were naked in the shower?" Tori inquired archly. "Wow.. gotta check for.. careful there, Jade.. don't' trip."

"She didn't."

Tori pulled down her sunglasses and peered over them at her wife. "You're their new poster child, Gigi."

Jade groaned. "Just get me to some ice cream, please?" She covered her eyes and allowed Tori to lead the way.

They ended up raiding the local Safeway, and escaping back to the island, when three possible ice cream parlors turned out to be packed with people or, in one case, a huge children's birthday party.

So now they were home, and Jade was sprawled comfortably on the couch with a huge bowl of ice cream resting on her stomach. James had taken over the loveseat with a similar dish, and Tori was seated on the floor next to Jade, sucking contentedly on a root beer float.

Chino, of course, was roaming from human to human hopefully, the tip of her black nose already white and sticky with ice cream. The large picture frame TV was on, but mostly silent, with scenes of ancient Asia playing across it.

"Mm… this is a nice way to end a really disgusting week," Tori commented, around her straw.

"Yeah?" James looked up. "What'cha get into, kumquat? More of that jibberish you two are always talking about?"

"Not really." Jade sucked on her spoon, as she remembered the phone call she'd gotten the previous day. Her father hadn't been exceptionally close to her grandparents, but she thought he might want to know about it. "I heard from mom."

There was an awkward silence, and stillness before James went back to his ice cream. "Didja now?"

"Yeah… um… Gran passed on. She wanted me to come up for the service." Jade exhaled softly.

"You gonna go?" Her father asked.

Jade considered the question. "I… I should."

"But you don't wanta."

"Not really, no." The dark-haired woman answered, honestly. "I haven't seen any of them in damn near ten years… I don't know."

"Mmph." James slid a little lower in the cushions. "The old lady was always partial to you, Gigi…." He messed around with the ice cream a minute. "And it's a… it's not a bad thing for you t' see your mother. … I'd um… I'd like to know how she's doing."

Tori tipped her head back and let it make contact with her wife's arm in mute comfort, feeling Jade's hand come to rest on her shoulder in silent response.

"All right… I'll go." Jade took a spoon of ice cream and mouthed it, able to convince herself easily that her father wanted her to do it was reason enough. "I was surprised she called."

James put his bowl down on the table, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Gigi, I'm sorry about that." He told her softly. "It's so damn hard on everybody."

Jade shrugged it off. "Old history… I am what I am… a chip off the old block, and that's never going to change."

A faint, pained smile crossed James's scarred lips. "Squirt, that's some true, but there's more of your mamma in you that neither of you realize." He exhaled audibly, and changed the subject, which was making them both very uncomfortable. "That all what made it a bad week?"

Tori cleared her throat. "No… I was at an account that went pretty badly… and I finally got subpoenaed to testify about my mother. "

James made a face, and recaptured his bowl, resuming his aborted attack on the melting treat. "Sorry to hear that, kumquat… that means you'll be mixing with your folks soon, eh?"

"Yeah. That'll be pleasant." Tori agreed ruefully. "My sister says I'm a persona non grata in their house…I don't get mentioned." She paused. "They took all the pictures out of albums.. that sort of thing." Jade's arm moved, and surrounded her suddenly, in a very welcome hug. "Fortunately, Trina got a hold of most of my stuff there.. she's shipping it down."

James scowled. "I thought she didn't know you spilled the beans?"

"She doesn't," Jade interjected.

"So she's just doin' that because…"

"Of us," Tori told him. "Yeah… you know, something… that's one of the things I like most about you - it was never an issue." She smiled at James.

"Wall… I like to think I'm as liberal as the next Southern Baptist career military type." He answered, with a totally straight face. "Went out and got me a rainbow sticker to fit between my NRA poster and my pitcher of Stormin Norman the other day."

They all laughed, and the tension that had been building relaxed perceptibly. "Did you really?" Tori suddenly asked.

"Damn straight.. I walked right on into that little place up in Lauderdale…scared the bejeezus out of them two little boys kissin' behind the counter and bought me a sticker, and one of these." James pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it over. "Got me a nice cuppa coffee, too."

Tori handed Jade the tiny rainbow-striped keychain. "You're so outside the box sometimes… I never know what to expect from you, Dad."

"Do what I do, Tori... and what you find out is, doesn't much matter what kinda packaging people got. They all bleed the same, damn, color." James replied, with quiet meaning. "Then you stop seeing people as this kind, or that kind… just they're either a friend, or they're not."

"Yeah.. well, I wish that attitude was contagious." Jade sighed. "My other bad news was a new board member that's making more trouble than he's worth… Alastair's worried he's going to start digging in the wrong places."

"Again? Damn, that company's a pain in mah butt." Her father complained. "You should jest cut out, and start yourself another company that does whatever the hell it is you do… put them all the hell out of friggin business."

They were all quiet for a moment, then Tori turned her head and looked at Jade speculatively. "You know…"

"It's crossed my mind," Jade spoke at the same moment.

"What's WesTrek's Valuation? You could make a Killing ..." Tori spoke up eagerly.

"A lot." Jade munched on a spoonful of ice cream. "My company's valuation is damn near a Billion. Not to mention my personal assets."

She could feel the waves of utter shock beating against her. Jade glanced up, right into Tori's astonished brown eyes. "Which you, by the way, are heir to. Just thought I'd mention that… I've got some guy at Smith Barney who's been investing, and reinvesting everything I've gotten from them in fifteen years… he's pretty damn good, and thanks to Aunt May, I don't really spend much."

"Jesus," Tori whispered. "Good lord, Jade... I knew you were rich, but…"

"Wow," James muttered, for once at a loss for words. "I never done expected to be related to no billionaire, that's fer damn sure."

Jade shrugged. "Anyway…maybe after I finish this network project… we'll do some research on it… would you come work for me?" She asked Tori.

"That's not a serious question, is it?" The brunette woman laughed in delight.

"What about you, Dad?"

"Hell yes," James answered immediately. "I want to get me some of those hot shot corporate executive perks I keep hearing so much about… it ain't bad working for Uncle Sam, but let me tell ya, you don't get no leather chairs."

They all laughed, then Jade put her bowl down, for Chino to finish off, and stretched, easing out strained muscles and then relaxing into the leather's soft, inviting surface as Tori gave James a humorous run down on Peak Media.

Start a new company. Would she want the headaches? What the hell.. she had them now, didn't she? Cutting out and starting over… a little scary. A little intimidating, because she was, she knew, much better at organizing and designing things than selling them.

Well, okay.. so she'd hire a furking salesman for that… and maybe Sinjin would come to work for her…. Yeah… maybe Mariela…

Aw, c'mon Jade.. that's been a daydream of yours for years.. who are you kidding? You don't want to be responsible for the entire damn thing.

Right?

Huh. You already are…