by Alex Tryst

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Feedback: Drop me a line if you’d like at alextryst@hotmail.com.

Dedications: To my angels, my nephews. Through the good and bad days, the joys and sorrows, the unconditional love and adoration you both exude makes the meaning of life apparently clear.

Copyright © August, 2004 by Alex Tryst. All Rights Reserved.

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"Dara, I'm glad you're here. Elisabeth's upstairs in her room, and she refuses to come out and talk to me."

"She won't say what's wrong?"

"No. She's just been up there sobbing. I didn't know what else to do, so I called you."

"Thank you for calling me, Shelby. That was the right thing," the taller woman said before heading up the stairs to her lover's room. She knocked softly on the door before opening it.

"I told you to go away, Shelby," Elisabeth growled from somewhere under a mass over covers.

"Honey, Shelby called me. She's upset and didn't know what else to do," Dara said, announcing her presence. Suddenly a blonde head appeared from under the pillows. The younger woman could tell her girlfriend had been crying by her red eyes and swollen features. Moving to the bed, she took a tentative seat and inquired, "Do you want to talk about this?"

"No. I just want to be alone. You're the last person I want to see right now," the shorter woman answered, sticking her head under her pillow again.

Trying not to be hurt by the statement, Dara said, "I brought you some flowers. Why don't I go put them in a vase for you? I'll be right back." Vacating the room, she retreated to the kitchen. Putting the roses in a vase, she headed back upstairs, even more curious as to what was so awry that Elisabeth didn't want to see even her. Going back into the bedroom, she placed the vase on the bedside table. "Here you go. Your favorite."

Blue eyes looked at the flowers and then Dara. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

"You're welcome. Is there anything I can do to help you?" The blonde shook her head. "Elisabeth, I'm the one you should be able to count on for anything. Whatever it is, I'll help you through it. That's what I'm here for, but you have to tell me first. You'll feel better if you do."

"It's just awful," the blonde sobbed.

"What is?"

"This weekend. Everything went horribly wrong."

"Is that why you're back early?"

"He sent me back."

"George did? Why?"

"Because I screwed up so badly. I could lose my job, Dara."

"What happened, sweetie? What could have gone so wrong?"

"Well, we were all down at the President's farm as you know. On the way down, he and I started talking about horses since that's a pastime of his as well. He invited me to go on a ride with him this morning."

"And?"

"I should have known something was up when I realized it was just the two of us plus one Secret Service agent. The three of us saddled up and took off for a sunrise ride. He and I rode far in front of his agent. We were just talking about the election, and he was telling me his concerns about the way the campaign was going." Elisabeth paused as she tried to formulate her next few sentences. She knew she had to tell Dara what had happened but that it would be incredibly difficult to admit to her lover. The emotions she was still feeling swarmed around her heart, making it difficult to focus on the facts.

Seeing her girlfriend struggling, the brunette sensed something hurtful was looming. Elisabeth had been forthright with her concerning her relationship with the President as much as she could due to the constraints that surrounded her position in the past. However, now looking at the blonde, Dara could see something was indeed amiss. Trying to lend her support though, she softly stated, "It's okay, Elisabeth. I'm here. Take your time."

"We came to this stream on his property, and he got off his horse, so I did the same. We were just standing there under this oak tree talking, and suddenly things started getting very personal."

"How?"

"He put his arms around me and started nuzzling my hair. I was so uncomfortable."

"I thought you had put an end to that," Dara mentioned.

The blonde shook her head. "There hadn't been any opportunity to talk about it, and he hadn't made any advances of that sort for some time, so I thought he had changed his mind."

"Sounds like that wasn't the case though."

"Not at all."

"So what did you do?"

Shaking her head, Elisabeth pulled the covers up over herself as she admitted, "I panicked."

"What does that mean?" the taller woman asked in confusion.

"I didn't know what to do, Dara. I thought I had it in me to confront him, but in those first few moments I was scared. I kept thinking about my job and the mission."

"So what happened?" the younger woman inquired, suddenly not liking the direction of the conversation.

Knowing she had to confess all that had taken place, Elisabeth's tears began anew. She had never wanted to betray the love she felt for Dara, but she felt as if she had done just that by her failure to act in time. "I can't," she cried.

Those words assured Dara that she wasn't going to like what was coming next. In fact, she had an inclination of Elisabeth's ensuing news, but she still didn't know how much damage had been inflicted to her girlfriend or to her own heart. Recognizing that she had to know everything, she prodded, "Tell me what happened, Elisabeth."

Elisabeth looked at her bedroom door. At that moment she couldn't look into the dark eyes she loved. She didn't want to see the sadness that would plague those eyes when she confessed what she had done. She didn't even want to admit it, but she knew she had to be honest with Dara. It was what the younger woman deserved. In almost a whisper, she began, "He kissed me. In fact, we kissed for quite a few minutes. The whole time I kept thinking about the reason I was there, but then he started unbuttoning my blouse and kissing down the side of my neck. When he touched me, I freaked, Dara. At that moment I realized nothing was worth giving my body to a man I hate. He doesn't deserve me. You're the only one who can touch me, and I quickly let him know he had crossed the line. That's when all hell broke loose."

The thought of someone else touching her beloved shattered her heart, but Dara knew Elisabeth had her reasons. Seeking to be supportive even in her own pain, she quietly asked, "What happened when you said no?"

"We started to argue. I told him that we couldn't have that kind of relationship that my heart belonged to someone else, and I couldn't be with him. He got angry and even more aggressive toward me."

"Did he force himself on you?"

"No. He just grabbed me by the arms and shook me. He knows about us, Dara. He said he's known all along, and he was mad that I lied to him. Then he said that if I didn't want to be outed that I would do what he wanted."

"Sounds like coercion to me."

"I said no, but he still tried, so I slapped him," she admitted.

Surprised at that comment, Dara looked at her lover seriously. "You what?"

"I slapped him."

"You slapped the President of the United States? You're damn lucky you weren't shot on the spot. Did Secret Service see you do that?"

The blonde nodded. "They saw the whole thing. I cut his lip with the ring I was wearing at the time. I told him his behavior was not becoming of the most powerful man in the world and that I would not do anything that would change the way you felt about me. I told him you were my whole world, and there was nothing that could change that. He told me to go home, that he'd deal with me later. I'm scared, Dara. I don't know what's going to happen now."

The brunette nodded in understanding. Her girlfriend has just stood up to the President and now faced an uncertain future. "Well, look at it this way. He can't fire you. If he does he's looking at a huge sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit. He can't really out you, because if he does that he opens the door to your public response, which could be ugly. The election is only two months away, and this could explode in his face."

"Although this is the kind of thing that could land me dead in the Potomac," the blonde added.

Dara nodded. "I won't let that happen, though. Your choices here are limited. Perhaps resigning might be your best option."

"That's the last thing I want to do, Dara."

"Well, he's going to force you out. You've lost his trust, Elisabeth. The game is over. Getting out now hopefully will save you trouble down the road."

"But what would I do? I need a job. Where am I going to find one? And what would I tell people? I'm leaving the campaign before the election is over. That's going to look horrific on my resume, Dara."

"Not if you start working for the other side. Elisabeth, think about this logically. I know it's hard right now, because you're so upset with him but think about your options. Perhaps a deal can be negotiated in which you leave and his secrets get buried under a big pile of money. It would support you at least until you got another job."

"That's blackmail, but maybe I should think about it that way. Breaking this story would almost ensure his downfall, though. That's what I've wanted all along."

Dara shook her head. "I'm not going to let you do it, baby. I won't let you take on that responsibility. Don't put yourself in the firing line like that. It's not worth it. The election is not worth being labeled for the rest of your life."

"Not to mention that it won't look good for your career either," the blonde stated.

"That's not my concern as much as your happiness. You can't ever be truly happy again if you do this. People will always know you, and some people will always despise you for the rest of your life. I know you don't want that kind of attention."

"You're right. I don't, but I'd been willing to do it if it meant the end of him."

"He will meet his end in his own time. Don't sacrifice yourself."

Silence prevailed between them for several minutes. Finally though Elisabeth sighed. "Thank you for being here, Dara. I do feel better. I felt horrible about what happened, and I thought for sure you'd be upset too."

Dropping her head forward, the brunette sighed. "To be honest, Elisabeth, it does hurt. I'm not going to pretend it doesn't. However, I know your heart, and I believe that you love me as much as I do you. This was a job, and you did it to the best of your ability. Yes, it hurts that the man I hate so much has had access to you in ways that only I should, but I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. I'm sure I'll get over this in time." Knowing that was as positive a response as she could expect from the taller woman, Elisabeth held out her hand to Dara. When the younger woman took it, the blonde pulled her over onto the bed, and they curled up in each other's embrace. After another lull in conversation, Dara said, "You know, I've wanted to mention this to you before, but I didn't want to do it until the election is over. However, since things have changed though, it's worth mentioning."

"What's that?"

"A job prospect for you."

"What kind of job prospect?"

"Do you remember my friend Allison Holladay? She was at the CF event we went to."

"Yeah, I think so. You went to Hollins together?"

"Yeah. She's the executive director of an international human rights non-profit. They're based out of D.C. Well, Allison is looking for another attorney for their counsel. It would be a significant raise over the DOJ. I've already mentioned you to her, and she's quite interested in meeting. You would be a great candidate with all your civil rights background."

"So would you."

"Well, I'm not necessarily looking for a position right now. I'm happy where I am at the moment. You, on the other hand, are a free agent, and anyone should feel honored to get you. It's a good fit, Elisabeth, and I think you'd be happy there."

"But the non-profit sector is notoriously bad when it comes to salary. How much of a raise could it really be?"

"Allison brings in six figures as the director. She told me privately that they are looking around the low 90s for an attorney. Of course there are other benefits on the table as well."

"Wow. How can they afford that?"

"Private donation. The Chairman of the Board funds most of it himself. He has money and no family. It's what he wants to do for his legacy."

"And you're sure you don't want that position?"

"Well, we talked about it, but she shared some information with me that makes me want to hold off personally."

"Which is?"

"They are going to move the home office to New York City and have D.C. as a satellite. Right now it's the other way around. The Chairman feels that would help their international exposure, because the organizations they work with most are based out of New York, but she disagrees. She's thinks there is better lobbying opportunity here. Nevertheless, she wants to remain the director of the home office, so she's going to go. However, she wants to make sure the right person is in the director position in D.C. That's where I come in, because she and I would be working extremely close together."

"Would that make you my boss?"

"I suppose, but we wouldn't have to see each other all the time. We'd both be traveling and stuff."

"But what about your career aspirations of being in political office?"

"Well, the way I look at it, I can delay that for a few years. Being the executive director, I would be able to reach out to even more people. I'd make even more of an impact than I am as a counsel member at the HRC. I'd be running my own show. Besides if we're going to have a family, we need a good income stream. We can't live in my parents' basement or share a house with Shelby forever. I'd want a place of our own for our children. It's a good move all around, Elisabeth."

The older woman nodded. "It sounds that way. When are they looking to fill the position?"

"I told her you wouldn't be available until after the election. Your position is open until it's filled. However, they are taking their time and interviewing lots of candidates. However, she's made it clear that she'll wait to talk to you before making a decision. As for the director's position, they aren't moving the office until next fall."

"What's going to happen to the current New York office director?"

"He's resigning."

"I suppose I should at least entertain the idea."

"We both would like it if you did. I wouldn't ask this of you if I thought it was the wrong thing. I know you and Allison would work well together, and you have the skills she wants. When the time comes, if I'm chosen to replace her, you and I will be able to handle working together just fine, I think."

"All right. I guess I'll talk to her about it, but I want to wait until things are resolved with George first. If he wants to keep me, I want to stay, Dara. It would look bad for both of us to part ways now."

"I want you to do whatever you think is best, honey. I'll stand by you."

"Thank you. I appreciate that more than you know."

Later that night once Elisabeth had fallen asleep, Dara quietly got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She took off her clothes and started the shower in order to try to relax her tense frame. The whole situation with Elisabeth and the President had taken its toll on her body. The stress made her muscles and head ache. Standing under the warm spray, the brunette just stood there for a long time thinking about her beloved in the arms of someone else. The image of it in her mind demolished her heart. Even as much as she knew of the responsibility Elisabeth carried on her shoulders, Dara couldn't get past the fact that her girlfriend had allowed someone else so intimately close to her. Dara tried to rationalize it to herself, but her heart refused to justify it. Unable to suppress her pain, she started to cry. The woman she loved, the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with had betrayed her heart, and it didn't matter that Dara understood why. Her feelings couldn't differentiate Elisabeth's devotion to her mission and the violation of her undying love.

Suddenly her heart started to question whether or not the blonde was truly the one she was meant to be with, especially when they had agreed to put an end to the sexual game the older woman and the President had begun. Dara felt misled that such a relationship had not quickly been snuffed before things got out of hand. Knowing she was being irrational about her feelings, she tried to pull herself together, but it was impossible. The damage had been done, and she wasn't sure she would be able to move beyond it. Once her shower was complete, Dara went back into the bedroom. She was restless but didn't want to wake Elisabeth after all the effort it took to get her to relax, so she sat in a chair across the room and watched her lover sleeping until she eventually dozed off herself.

The following morning the older woman awoke alone in bed. Sitting up she looked around her room, but there was no sign of the brunette attorney except for a note saying she had to leave and would check on her later that day. Knowing she had a stressful day ahead of her as well, she reluctantly got out of bed. She knew she would have to face the President who would decide her fate. She only hoped she would be able to win his trust again and stay on the campaign until the end, but she wasn't quite sure if it was possible.

By the time the blonde arrived at her office, there was a message that her presence was requested by the President at noon without exception. Recognizing she had no choice, she made her way over to his office to meet her destiny. When she arrived, she was escorted into the Oval Office where he was sitting behind his desk. When he looked up at her and took off his reading glasses, Elisabeth almost felt sorry for him for a moment. He still had a swollen lip from where she had hit him the day before, but she had been amused when she heard the news report of his riding accident to cover for the cracked lip she had given him in her anger.

"Elisabeth, I've asked you here to discuss your behavior yesterday."

"Yes, sir."

Standing from his chair, he rounded the desk and took a seat on the edge of it. Crossing his arms across his chest, he said, "You were right. I was out of line. I apologize for my behavior."

"Excuse me?" the blonde questioned in confusion.

"Elisabeth, I don't know what possessed me to act the way I did yesterday mornin'. I guess I just let my feelings get in the way of my responsibilities. Contrary to what you might think, I'm not that man. I might run the most powerful country in the world, but I had no right to do what I did."

"Mr. President, I'm not sure what to say."

"Say you'll accept my apology."

Elisabeth shrugged. "It depends."

"On what?"

"What's going to happen now? Am I fired?" He shook his head. "Are you going to out me for your campaign?" Once again he shook his head. "Then what?"

"I want you to resign, Elisabeth, of your own accord and with a generous severance package."

"And if I don't want to?"

"You don't really have a choice."

"Oh, I think I do, Mr. President. You sexually assaulted me, and you're discriminating against me right now, because I'm a lesbian."

"Elisabeth, I don't want to get involved in a lawsuit here, and I don't want my wife to know about this. I'm askin' you resign for both our benefit. I just can't keep you on. You serve no purpose to me now. Now I'm goin' to write a number down and hand it to you. This is my only offer."

Elisabeth watched him move to the other side of the desk and take out a pen. Quickly he wrote something on a plain piece of paper and folded it before extending it to her. "There better be quite a few zeros on this," she commented, holding the sheet in her hand. "I don't take to kindly to being bought, sir."

"Everyone has their price. I think this is yours."

Curious to the amount written, the blonde unfolded the paper and looked at it. "This is outright bribery."

"No. It's your severance package," he corrected. "I suggest you take it."

Sighing Elisabeth weighed her options. She knew she was being purchased at that moment. He wanted her silence, and he was willing to well pay for it. For a moment she thought about the consequences to accepting such an offer. It was true they could both pretend it was severance, but she knew differently. However, if she did take it, the charade would finally be over, and she could go on with her life. She could file her final report with Chad and then spend the time she wanted with Dara. The thought of the brunette made her smile. All she really wanted was to be with the taller woman, and that outweighed everything else. Nodding her head, she said, "Fine. I'll take your severance offer if you do something for me."

"What's that?"

"I want a glowing letter of reference. Then once I have that, I want us to pretend we don't even know each other. All relationships are severed."

"Agreed. You'll have your reference letter by the end of the week as well as the severance payment as promised pending a few legal documents."

"Very well. I'll remain in my office until everything is settled."

"No. You will pack up immediately. You'll be paid your salary through the end of the campaign plus what we discussed, but I want you gone today."

"Fine. I want to make one more thing clear, sir. This is never to be spoken of again. I don't want this to see light if Dara or I ever run for office. If it does, I will make you suffer."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a fact, Mr. President."

"Fine. Dara's and your careers are safe. They fall under the agreement. Now there's somethin' I want to know, Elisabeth. Why did you lie to me about Dara?"

"Because I wanted privacy. Contrary to your political policy, who shares my bed has very little to do with the way I perform my job. All the gay Republicans have left you, sir, because of the initiative for the Constitutional ban. I stayed, because I needed the opportunity, but I didn't want to be used by you as a campaign ploy." He nodded. "Now answer something for me, sir. There are other ways to resolve my dismissal. Why choose this one?" she questioned, waving the paper with her severance offer on it.

"Because I like you, Elisabeth, always have. You've held a soft spot with me since we met. You remind me of my wife when we were younger. You have a brilliant future ahead of you, and I want to see you utilized for the good of the Republican Party. I can't see that come to pass if we don't end it this way."

Realizing that he had never figured out her true intentions, Elisabeth just nodded. "I suppose that's true."

The President moved around to the other side of his desk again and opened the top drawer. "Here. Take these with you. I don't need them any more," he stated, thrusting an envelope at her. "Now it's time for you to go. I want your resignation at the same time you sign the papers."

Knowing her time was over, the blonde nodded her head and without a word retreated from his office. She waited until she was on the street again before opening the envelope he had handed her. Seeing photographs of Dara and her, she gasped in surprise. She recognized where all of them were taken and wondered just how long he had really known about her involvement with Dara, because many of the pictures dated back to the early summer. Quickly stuffing them in her briefcase, Elisabeth sighed. She had been fired, and yet she still had gained quiet a bit financially in the process. The thought of being bought off put an ill feeling in her stomach, but she realized she had been spared much more painful things by taking the money. She could have met a grim fate, but instead she left him with the impression she was still on his side even if she no longer could work with him. The ultimate ruse had been successful even if it had come to a premature end. She only hoped that by taking a deal with him, she had not sabotaged any of Dara's or her future career prospects. That was her main concern. She was letting the President go after having tried so hard to catch him, and she would have no recourse should he ever come back with accusations against Dara or her. However, she knew she would have to believe in his word just as he apparently believed in hers, but if there was any solace in that, it was that he had never gone back on a promise that she had known.

Heading back to her office Elisabeth packed up her belongings. She could see other employees eyeing her curiously as she did so, but she didn't pay them any mind. Instead she just focused on her task, placing all her personal effects into a box that had been lying around the office. She hadn't put much in when she started, so she was ready in a short amount of time. With her belongings packed away, she left her office, closing the door behind her. As cheerfully as she could she said good bye to those co-workers that were around before stepping out on the street a free woman.

The first thing she decided to do was to tell Dara what had happened, so she hailed a cab to go to her girlfriend's office. However, when she arrived she was told that Dara had not come to work that day due to a family situation. Wondering what was going on, she called up to her lover's house. Leah answered the phone. "Leah, hey, it's Elisabeth. I was looking for Dara. She's not at work."

"No. She's up in Philadelphia actually. Justin's in the hospital."

"What? When did this happen?"

"He went in this morning."

"Was this planned?"

"We found out about it late last week. Dara went up to help out at the hospital for a few days, because Tom was going to be in New York on important business until Tuesday. It's her turn."

"When will she be back?"

"Probably not until Thursday or so. That's when I'm planning to go up."

"What hospital is he in?"

"Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. You want the number?"

"Can you tell me how to get there? I want to go up."

"Yeah. Sure."

"Great. I'm not in a place where I can take directions down now. Will you call and leave them on my voicemail at home?"

"Yeah. No problem. She'll be glad to see you, Elisabeth. Something was wrong with her when I saw her this morning, and I don't think it was Justin."

Dara spent the entire day with Justin and her sister-in-law at the hospital. "Are you sure you're all right, Dara? You don't seem like yourself," Clara asked.

The brunette shrugged. "I'm not quite myself, Clara, but I don't really want to talk about it now."

"Does it have to do with a certain blonde?" Dara nodded. "Problems?"

"Yeah. A big problem actually and I don't even know if I can get past it," she admitted.

"What? How can that be? You two looked so in love when we last saw you."

The brunette looked over at the bed to make sure her nephew was asleep. Safe in the knowledge that he was, she said, "I can't even tell you the details, because it's just so complicated. However, she did something that really hurt me. I know why she did it, and I can accept why she did it. If I were her, I probably would have done the same thing. My mind can come to grips with the incident, but my heart is a completely different story, Clara. She did the right thing for her career, but it still hurt. My head tells me it's nothing and my heart says otherwise."

Taking her by the hand, Clara gave it a supportive squeeze. "I'm sorry, Dara. What's going to happen now?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I thought she was the one. I wanted to marry her, Clara. My head still does."

"But your heart?"

"It's not as sure."

"Well, there's always a possibility you'll get over this in time. She's a great woman, Dara."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any better right now."

After a few minutes of quiet between them, Clara looked at her watch. "Why don't you go back to the house now? It's after five already, and you're going to need to be fresh for in the morning."

"Are you sure? You're going to be here all night. I can stay a little longer."

"No. Go home. There's a good bottle of wine in the refrigerator. Open that and then sit out on the porch and enjoy the evening."

Dara nodded her head. "All right. If you need me though, just call. You know I'm here for you."

"I know, Dara."

Getting up from her chair, Dara went to the bed and kissed Justin on the forehead. She smiled at her sister-in-law and then left the room. Heading back to Tom and Clara's house, she went into the kitchen to find that bottle of wine. Opening it she took a glass from the cabinet and settled herself on the front porch. She wasn't ready to talk to Elisabeth just yet even though she was curious as to how her lover's day had gone. She felt as if she needed some time to gather her thoughts before making that call.

When Elisabeth arrived at the hospital, she took a deep breath when she got off the elevator at Justin's floor. She hadn't called ahead of time, so she wasn't sure how her presence would be received. However, she knew that Dara would need her whether she admitted it or not. With that in mind, she headed down the corridor to Justin's room. She could hear him talking to someone as she approached. Peeking her head through the crack in the door, she knocked.

"Miss Elisabeth!" he exclaimed when he turned toward her.

"Hi, Justin. How are you?" she questioned with a smile even though she could feel her heart tearing at the sight of him there. He was in pajamas with a large IV attached to his arm. However, he appeared to be in good spirits. "Hi, Clara."

"Hello, Elisabeth. This certainly is a pleasant surprise. Come on in."

Going into the room, the blonde extended a wrapped box to Justin. "Here. I brought you something just in case you got bored."

Excitedly he ripped into the present. "Cool!" he exclaimed at the GameBoy. "Thanks, Miss Elisabeth! Show me how to play it."

Doing what was requested of her, the blonde took a tentative seat on the bed next to him and placed a game cartridge into the slot. He watched intently as she played the first round to show him how it worked before relinquishing the game to him. Once he was rapt by it, the attorney turned to Clara. "Sorry I didn't call first. Leah told me today that Justin was here, so I just came up. I hope that's okay."

"It's wonderful. He's always glad to see you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. I know it must have been difficult with the campaign and all."

Elisabeth nodded as she moved from the bed to a chair. "I'm not working on the campaign any more," she confessed.

"Really? Why not?"

Cracking a smile Elisabeth answered, "He's not the man he used to be. I'm starting to realize that Dara might be right. Politics is like driving a car. If you want to go forward, you put it in D, and if you want to go in reverse, you put it in R. We've been in reverse for four years too long."

Laughing lightly Clara said, "That sounds like a classic Dara quip."

"Speaking of her, where is she?"

"I sent her home to get some sleep. She looked exhausted. I can give you directions to the house if you want to go over."

"Maybe later. Right now I just want to visit with Justin if that's okay."

"It's fine by me. If we can tear him away from that game, maybe he'd like to give you a tour. That's his favorite activity to do with visitors," she mentioned.

The next several hours Elisabeth stayed at the hospital with Clara and Justin. The little boy was enthralled by her company and showed her all around his hospital floor, including the game room where he would sometimes play during the day. Elisabeth did her best never to let her smile falter, but it was difficult to see all the sick children and their families who resided on the floor. It made her heart ache for them and at the thought of Justin ever being so ill. That evening when it was time for his physical therapy, Clara and Elisabeth just chatted while it took place. As usual though he fell asleep, leaving the two women just talking.

"Will he be asleep for the rest of the night now?" the attorney questioned, consulting her watch.

"He should be. Why don't you go back to our house now? It's starting to get late, and I'm sure you're tired."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stay here until Dara relieves me in the morning. Someone has to stay here overnight. Tom and I usually alternate, but since he won't be back until tomorrow morning, I thought it best to take the night shift. Let me get you directions to the house now. I'm sure Dara is still awake."

The brunette was still sitting on the front porch that night just staring at the stars when a car pulled up in front of the house. Instantly Dara recognized it, but she was baffled at the sight of the gray Honda. Seeing the driver's door open, she gasped as her girlfriend emerged from the car. The blonde pulled a bag from the backseat and then started up the walk. Her eyes quickly found the brunette's.

"Elisabeth, what are you doing here?" she asked, standing and moving down the sidewalk. She took her lover's bag and shouldered it.

"Leah told me Justin was in the hospital. I wanted to come help," she answered. "Why didn't you tell me he was going in?"

"I wanted to, but you were so upset last night. I didn't want to make you worse. I was going to call you. Come in," she suggested as they went into the house. Leaving Elisabeth in the living room, Dara said, "Let me just drop your bag in our room. Be right back."

The older woman watched her girlfriend go. She could tell something was bothering the taller woman, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was, so she decided to wait and see if the brunette would reveal it given some time. Taking a seat on the sofa, Elisabeth just waited for her lover's return. A moment later Dara was taking a seat next to her.

"So, I take it you saw Justin," the younger woman stated.

The blonde nodded. "I went by the hospital. It was harder than I expected."

"I know. It's never easy when you start thinking about why he's there. And the other children are enough to rip out your heart. That's the floor for the terminally ill children. Most of them don't go home," the younger woman whispered. "It's hard to see him there, because you realize that he really is sick, but you have to remain strong."

"I felt the same way. I just wanted to cry the whole time I was there."

"The worst part about it is that it doesn't get easier," Dara murmured. "Each time he's there, it's like we lose a little bit of him, and we'll never get it back. He'll never get it back. He spends more time in the hospital in a year than most people spend in their life."

Sensing that her lover was struggling and knowing she was as well, Elisabeth slipped her arms around Dara. Instantly the embrace was returned. "He's going to be with us a long time, Dara," she said.

"I know, and we're lucky for that. I just don't like seeing him suffer, and I don't like seeing those other children suffering."

The blonde nodded in agreement before they both fell silent. Minutes passed before she decided to share her own news with her lover. "I saw George today."

"What happened?"

"I resigned. We both thought it best, and he gave me a generous severance package. It's over, Dara. I'm a free woman."

"Finally he did something smart," the younger woman commented.

"Yeah. I can't believe it's over. This is the moment we've been waiting for, and it's finally here. I was so excited about it until I found out about Justin. That kind of knocked the wind out of my sail."

"It has a way of doing that," Dara agreed.

"Of course it didn't change the fact that the first person I wanted to be with was you. It's only in your arms that the world feels right," Elisabeth confessed.

Hearing those words, Dara contemplated their meaning. She too felt that way about the blonde. It was the shorter woman's embrace that made her feel safe and loved. She wished that Elisabeth had not hurt her with the sexual encounter with the President, but the mistake had been made. Dara tried to focus on the fact that her girlfriend had put an end to his advances and admitted her feelings for the taller woman. Even more, the blonde had just done something that no other women she had ever dated had. She came to Justin when he was in need. Elisabeth had immediately come to his side out of her love for the little boy, and that simple act made the brunette realize that nothing else mattered. The older woman had proven her worth through her actions, and it left Dara with the conclusion that Elisabeth Gunter truly was the woman she wanted to be with the rest of her life.

Cupping her lover's face, Dara titled it up until their gazes met. Gazing deeply into blue eyes, she sighed. "Thank you for being here, Elisabeth. I love you."

"I love you too, Dara," the blonde whispered before their mouths met gently.

Moaning into the kiss, Dara let the feeling of love wash over her. Several moments passed with them trading tender kisses, but then the brunette pulled back slightly. Meeting blue eyes again, she whispered, "I need you, Elisabeth. I need to be close to you tonight. I need to touch you."

Elisabeth's heart sped up at the admission. The thing she wanted most was about to come true. Dara was asking to make that final physical commitment, and she was more than willing to surrender to the pleasure she knew would soon follow. Giving a small grin, the shorter woman seductively murmured, "I'm yours, Dara." The simple submission to her desires by the older woman further fueled the dark-haired attorney's passion. However, Dara knew this moment shouldn't be rushed. She needed a tenderly methodical pace to be sated. Trying to show that, she leaned in to catch her lover's lips again. Elisabeth sighed into the exchange. It was so gentle, but she could feel the fervor just underneath the surface. Breaking away slightly she questioned softly, "Do you want to go to bed?"

"Desperately," Dara admitted. "But I don't want to rush this. Could we just stay here for a little while? Just let me touch you. I promise we'll make it to the bedroom soon enough."

"Fine. Whatever you need, baby," the older woman answered, giving herself to her lover's want.

Dara felt her desire grow at Elisabeth's willingness to accept her wishes. Gently maneuvering her girlfriend across her lap so they were face to face, the younger attorney leisurely began to kiss along her lover's neck as her hands found the buttons on the blonde's suit blazer. She worked them open slowly before pushing the black jacket from Elisabeth's shoulders, revealing a cream-colored camisole. Her hands roamed lightly over the silk garment, taking in the feel of her girlfriend's body trembling slightly under her hands. Dara smiled into the blonde's neck at the sure sign of Elisabeth's desire. She loved how much this woman craved her touch. It always spurred her own ardor even more. Dipping her head, the brunette licked a path down her lover's chest into her cleavage as her hands came to her breasts. Instantly Elisabeth clutched to the back of her head as she cried out lightly.

"Dara, that feels so good," the blonde moaned, raking her hands through dark hair. She had imagined this moment so many times before, but all her fantasizes failed in comparison to her lover's caress. Everything she ever wanted from the younger woman, she was finally going to get, and the thought of their bodies being one started a fire in her that was quickly flaming out of control at the gentleness her girlfriend was showing.

Going with her emotions, Dara leisurely pulled the camisole from her lover's skirt and over the blonde's head, leaving her in only a white lace and satin bra from the waist up. Immediately her head was pressed back into the older woman's chest. "Elisabeth," she murmured. "You are so beautiful."

Elisabeth could feel her heart respond to those words. She felt beautiful right then, more than she ever had in her life. "I love you, Dara," she said softly.

"I love you too, darling, more than I could ever say." The taller woman's hands ran over the contours of the blonde's back until they reached the zipper of her skirt. She began to undo it, but her girlfriend stopped her.

"Here. Let me help with that," she offered, slipping off Dara's lap. Elisabeth stood in front of her lover as she let her skirt fall to the floor. She could see the brunette gasp at what she had on under her conservative business attire. She smiled devilishly. "Do you like that?" she inquired needlessly as she resumed her position straddled across Dara's lap.

The brunette could only nod as her hands went to her girlfriend's legs. Her hands traced over the garters that were holding up the blonde's thigh-high hosiery. "You look so sexy," she acknowledged. Her hands ran around the older woman's outer thighs and then up the back of them. She squeezed the shorter woman's bare backside gently as her fingers played with the thin material of her girlfriend's white thong. "I never expected this."

"Well, I like to dress like this sometimes. I was in a sensual mood this morning, because I was thinking about you. On the way up here today, I kept thinking about your hands on me, and I was getting so excited at the idea of you finally making me yours," she murmured sexily, nipping her lover's ear. "I can't wait any longer, Dara. Please. Make love to me. I want to feel you inside of me."

Dara groaned loudly at the admission. She had never heard anything more inviting in her life. She desperately wanted to give Elisabeth what she desired, because it was what she yearned for as well. Knowing she would do what the older woman asked, the brunette allowed the shorter woman to start undressing her. Her cotton dress shirt was unbuttoned with methodical care as Elisabeth kissed along her jaw. When it was open, she sat up enough to let the older woman take it off. Her black bra was next. Both of them groaned as Elisabeth dipped her head to Dara's left breast, taking the crest of it into her mouth as her hands continued to undress the taller woman. Her belt was out of its loops within moments, and then her pants opened. Feeling the blonde's manicured fingers slip between her legs, Dara shuddered. "Oh God. Elisabeth, please," she begged.

"Dara, take me to bed now," Elisabeth demanded softly.

Just as the brunette was about to do as what was asked of her, a surprised yelp broke them out of their reverie. Both of them jerked their heads towards the sound to see Dara's brother shielding his face. "My eyes. They're melting," he teased.

Instantly Dara took her shirt and managed to cover as much of Elisabeth's bare body from her brother's sight as possible before asking, "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be home."

He waved off his sister's comment, stating, "I can't even talk to you right now. I've just been blinded by a sight I never wanted to see," he quipped. "Please get decent before you try to talk to me. How much therapy do you really want to pay for?" he joked, scampering from the room.

Dara laughed off her uneasiness before cupping the back of her girlfriend's head. Elisabeth had ducked into the crook of her neck when Tom had appeared, from embarrassment of being caught by family, the brunette guessed. "It's okay. He's gone."

"I can't believe this. Clara said we were going to be alone tonight."

"I know. He certainly knows how to ruin a mood, doesn't he?" The blonde nodded, not quite meeting her lover's eyes. "I better go do some damage control. Why don't you get ready for bed? I'll show you to our room," she suggested. With a nod the older woman slid off her lover's lap and quickly put on Dara's shirt to cover herself. The taller woman retrieved the rest of their belongings from the floor and then led the way to the guestroom where they were staying. Grabbing a t-shirt for herself and then leaving the blonde there, Dara went to the master bedroom and knocked on the open door.

Tom looked up from where he stood at the dresser and gave a crooked grin. "What? You're finished so soon?" he teased.

"How do you expect me to carry on now that you're home?"

"Sorry to have broken the mood there. You two looked so cozy, not that I ever needed to see that."

"I could have lived without it as well. Hopefully you weren't too scarred by that," she jested.

"Fortunately for the both of us, I only got a glimpse of that fine looking woman of yours. However, what she was doing at that moment, I want to try to forget. No brother needs to see that much of his sister's sex life." Dara nodded in agreement. "Could I ask you something?" he questioned after a brief pause.

"What's that?"

He gave a mischievous smile. "How in the hell did you get her to dress like that for you? Talk about hot. Lingerie, stockings, heels and nothing else. Men would die for a woman dressed that way. I don't think I could get Clara to do that for all the money in the world."

Dara laughed lightly. "If I tell you a secret, you have to be able to keep it."

"You know I will."

"She dresses like that, because she wants me badly. It's an enticement to get me to sleep with her. It's just a seducement that will probably fade in its own time. I'm sure two years from now after we're married and have had kids, she won't do that. However, for now I'm enjoying the ride and putting her off as long as possible. That's my secret, Tom. You get the women to come to you. You make them so desperate for you that they'll do anything."

"You mean, you two haven't done the deed?"

Dara shook her head. "Trust me, Tom. Postponing things makes it so much better. It's hotter that way."

"Damn. The restraint it takes to resist a woman like that. Are you sure you aren't straight? I mean I wouldn't be able to do it," he teased.

"Did I look straight when you walked in on us?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Definitely not. You looked like you had given in to her desires," he said.

"And I had. Had you not come home, I'd be in bed with a beautiful woman right now. As it is, I'm stuck in here talking to you. Sometimes life just isn't fair," she pouted playfully. Changing the subject she inquired, "What are you doing home anyway? You weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow."

"I didn't want to stay away from Justin. I prefer it if I did nights at the hospital. I never can sleep when Clara is there overnight. Just something about it makes it hard. I'm actually going to go up there tonight. I just need to pack some new things."

Dara nodded. "Well, since I'm here you'll only have to have an eight-hour shift."

"Good, because I'm going to be tired tomorrow. I just know it. Why don't I take the night shift? Clara can have the morning, so she can be there for all the usual tests, and then you and Elisabeth can take the evening."

"That sounds fine to me."

"How long is Elisabeth going to be here?"

"I have no idea. We hadn't talked about that. Personally I'm just amazed she came at all."

"Me too. That says something about her, Dara."

"It certainly does. It just reconfirms that she is the one for me."

"Well, now that you know that, when do you think you're going to ask her the big question?"

"I'm not sure. Soon though. I guess that means I need to do a little ring shopping."

"Mom helped me when I did it for Clara. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to go with you."

"I'll ask her when I get back then."

Giving her another smile, he suggested, "Why don't you go back to that blonde of yours now? I'm sure she's counting the minutes you've been gone. You two have some fun. Just keep the noise down, so I can't hear you."

"Believe me, after what happened, I'm not going anywhere near Elisabeth while you're in vicinity of this house, but I am getting tired. I'll see you tomorrow."

He nodded. "Good night, Dara. Sleep well."

"You try to as well."

Heading back to the guestroom, the tall woman found her lover in bed already asleep. Dara figured the emotional day had taken its toll on Elisabeth and that she should let the older woman be. Gathering her pajamas, she went into the bathroom to change and get ready for bed. When she was finished, she came back to the bedroom and gently slipped under the covers as to not wake the fair-headed woman next to her. The brunette just looked at her girlfriend for a few minutes, admiring her beauty even in a state of sleep. With feelings from earlier not completely gone, the sight of her beloved began to stir her passion again. She couldn't help but imagine what might have happened had Tom not walked in on them. She envisioned the feeling of Elisabeth's bare frame pressed closely to her own. Just that one thought put her body in sexual frenzy. She needed alleviation in a way she hadn't known it in a long time. Pondering her options for a moment, she figured she could bring herself the relief she needed without waking her sleeping companion, so she softly turned over facing away from the blonde. Carefully Dara began to touch herself in an effort to appease her fervor as her mind conjured up visions of her and the blonde together. The younger woman was so involved in her own fantasy that she didn't realize the shorter woman was awake.

Blue eyes opened at the soft yet heavy breathing. Elisabeth was confused for a moment before realizing that her lover was actually touching herself in their bed. Turned on by the sound, the older woman just listened as Dara tried to hold back a whimper. The sound echoed through her own body. Even though she had already done the same thing before her girlfriend had joined her in bed, the sounds of Dara brining herself pleasure settled in her heart, especially when she heard the brunette softly whisper her name. Unable to control herself from touching her lover, Elisabeth rolled onto her side toward the younger woman. Dara seemed oblivious to her. Scooting up to spoon behind her, the blonde placed her hand on top of the brunette's on the outside of her pajama shorts. Instantly the taller woman panted in surprise. However, any protest was silenced when the shorter attorney bit Dara's earlobe and she asked, "You need help with that?" She didn't wait for an answer, instead pressing harder, forcing her girlfriend's fingers deeper.

Dara moaned. It felt so good to have the blonde assisting in the process. Deciding to take the offer, the brunette maneuvered the older woman's hand, taking it from between her thighs and placing it on her breast. Instantly Elisabeth seemed to take the unspoken direction and began to fondle the taller woman with a firm but tender touch as her mouth continued to explore the side of the younger woman's neck.

"Tell me, Dara. What are you thinking about right now?" she inquired seductively.

"You," she confessed breathlessly.

"And what am I doing?"

The dark-haired woman groaned at the thoughts running rampant through her head. Conceding her fantasy to the older woman, she admitted, "You're inside me."

Elisabeth moaned at the confession. She hadn't expected it, but it made her heart palpitate harder. In response she groped her lover more firmly, eliciting a small cry from Dara. "I know you're going to feel so good," she murmured. "I can't wait to touch you, Dara. I can't wait to taste you."

The taller woman called out the blonde's name in growing need. It was only moments before Dara reached the summit under their combined efforts. She wanted to scream loudly, but knowing her brother would hear them, she turned her head and sealed Elisabeth's lips in an intense kiss. Her whole body shook from her peak before settling. Pulling away from the shorter woman's mouth, Dara panted for air. "Oh God," she muttered in a shaky voice.

"Are you all right?" Elisabeth asked sweetly, curving her arm around her lover's waist and placing her head on her shoulder.

"That was intense," the brunette admitted.

"Yeah. You seemed to need that," Elisabeth said, softly caressing her beloved's arm.

Turning to look at the blonde in the dark, Dara asked, "Is there something I can do for you in return?"

Elisabeth shook her head. "I already took care of myself while you were talking to Tom."

"Damn. I wanted a chance to please you."

"I am pleased just by being close to you. That's all I need right now."

"Are you sure?"

The blonde nodded. "Just hold me while we fall asleep," she requested.

Dara complied, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman and pulling her closer. They were silent for several minutes until they drifted to sleep. For the next several days Elisabeth stayed with Dara helping take care of Justin and enjoying the time with her girlfriend's family. Finally on Thursday though, it was time to go home. Since they had separate cars, Dara and Elisabeth caravanned together until the blonde turned off on her exit for home. Driving the extra few minutes to her own, the brunette went straight upstairs to her parents' house after dropping her bags in her room.

Her mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner. "Dara, hi. How are you? How's Justin?"

"He's all right. I'm great myself. You'll never believe who came to visit Justin and help out for a few days? Elisabeth."

"Really? I always knew there was something special about that girl. That's so sweet of her."

Dara nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah. She really is something. Listen, Mom. I want to ask a favor of you."

"What's that?"

Smiling at her mother, the attorney said, "I want you to help me find a ring for Elisabeth."

"A ring? You mean an engagement ring?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, an engagement ring. Tom said you helped him with Clara's. I need some help with Elisabeth's."

Throwing her arms around her child, Emma hugged her tightly. "Oh, of course I will. This is so exciting! Do you know when you're going to ask yet?"

"Not yet but I was hoping soon. Now that I know this is right, I want to do it as soon as possible."

"Well, just tell me when you can go, and I'll go with you. I already know lots of great places to try."

"I knew you would."

"Oh, my little girl is getting married! I'm so happy for you."

"She has to say yes first, Mom."

"She will. There's no doubt about that."

Continued in Part 12

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