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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Grabbing the flowers from the back seat, she gathered her courage and went to the door. At first she had opted not to buy flowers, because she wanted to move slowly, but Lesley had convinced her to in the interest of truly discovering the blonde's feelings. Dara rang the bell and then waited for the moment of truth. For the first time in years she felt self-conscious. Everything was making her nervous from her outfit and the flowers to the limo and dinner. However, she knew she could trust Lesley's clothing advice and that her outfit of black slacks, black turtleneck and classic black leather jacket was a chic choice for the event. She just hoped that heeding the redhead's advisement on what flowers to buy wasn't too much for the blonde to handle.

After a moment the door slowly opened and there before her stood the blonde. She too had on black slacks but a blue blouse that perfectly accentuated her eyes. Around her neck was silk scarf that rounded out the outfit. In her hand she held a long black cashmere coat. After recovering from her shock, Dara finally realized she hadn't said anything yet, so she smiled brightly. "Elisabeth, you look incredible," she admitted.

The blonde blushed lightly. She could tell she was having the effect on Dara that she wanted. "Thank you, Dara. You look nice yourself."

Extending the flowers the younger woman announced, "These are for you."

"Thanks. Would you like to come in while I put them in a vase?"

"All right." Both of them went into the house, and Dara closed the door behind her as to not let any heat escape into the cold night. She stood nervously in the foyer as the blonde traveled into another room she assumed was the kitchen. The TV was on in the living room and another blonde about their same age sat in front of it engrossed so thoroughly she didn't seem to notice Dara's presence. A few minutes later Elisabeth returned ready to go. Curiously Dara asked, "Is that your roommate?"

"No. That's my little sister. I'd introduce you, but she'd kill me."

"Why's that?"

"She's sick with the flu and is in a bad mood. She's better off just left alone. I'll introduce you next time."

Secretly pleased that there would be a next time, the brunette just nodded her head. "Let me help you with your coat," she offered, taking it from the blonde.

Elisabeth indulged in the attention as Dara assisted her with her jacket. Without even asking she then took hold of the taller woman's arm as they left the house. "A limo?" the blonde attorney questioned.

"Well, I did promise you a safe ride home. This was the best way to ensure that would happen."

"I see. Well, tell me where we're going for dinner. You've been so secretive about this whole night."

"You'll see. Don't you trust me?" Dara asked with a sexy grin.

"I'm not entirely sure, Dara," she answered with a smile of her own.

Letting the blonde get into the limo first, the brunette did the same and then thanked the driver as he closed the door. "So, here we are. All alone," Dara mentioned. "I suppose now that it's just us we can stop pretending to hate each other."

Elisabeth laughed her tension away. "I don't know where you got the idea that I hate you, but it's not true. Your politics maybe but never you."

"Well, then I guess that's better than I expected, but let's not talk about the obvious political opposition between us. Let's talk about other things. Tell me about you. What do you like to do when you're not working?"

"I love being outside. I've always enjoyed riding horses. I did that when I was younger, was in major competitions. Hiking, walking, anything to do with nature is something I would be interested in. There is something so freeing about being out where there are no walls."

"That's the truth."

"I also like to write and read. That day we met I was mad, because you had messed up some writing of mine that had taken me days."

"I'm sorry about that. It was an accident."

"I know."

"So, what kind of stuff do you like to write?"

"Poetry mostly. Occasionally I'll write a short story. What about you? What hobbies do you have?"

"Well, like you, I'm very into nature. I love being outside. Sports are my thing really. Of course I like hiking and camping as well. Haven't had a lot of time for that though. Most of the time if I'm free and I'm not playing a pickup game with friends, I'm out logging flight hours."

"You're a pilot?" the blonde questioned curiously.

"Recreational only but yes. I really enjoy it. Being up in the air, especially on a clear day, you can see for miles. It's a neat feeling."

"Do you have your own plane?"

"Yeah. My parents gave it to me as a gift for graduating law school."

"That's quite a gift."

"It is. Maybe sometime you'd like to go with me on a flight. In the spring and summer it can be quite nice."

"I've never been in a small plane before. That could be fun."

"Great. Then we'll plan for it. Tell me about your family. You have a sister. Any more siblings?"

Elisabeth shook her head. "It's just the two of us. She'll be twenty-nine this year, which is so strange to think about. I can still remember her as a baby. Time has a way of flying."

"That's very true. How old are you?"

"I'm thirty-two. What about you?"

"I'm thirty. Just turned it actually last month. I thought it was going to be this big milestone in my life, but it wasn't. I still feel as if I'm treated as a kid at times."

"I know the feeling. I feel surrounded by balding old men or young guys that try too hard to act like the old men. No one ever seems to be themselves where I work."

"Not even you?" Dara inquired.

"Especially not me. I try my best to keep work people out of my personal life. It just wouldn't mix well for me."

"Probably a wise move. What about your parents? What do they do?"

"They're divorced. My mother lives in Atlanta, and my father moved back to Germany after their divorce. She's an accountant, and he's a civil engineer."

"He moved back? Is that where he's from?"

"Yes. He was born and raised in Berlin. He met my mother when he was over here on a business conference."

"Do you look like him or your mom?"

"Both my sister and me look exactly like him, nice Aryan German girls," she stated with a roll of her eyes. "Sometimes that's hard to live down. What about your family?"

"I have one brother and two sisters. Both my parents are doctors. My father is a surgeon and my mother an ob/gyn. They are still married and live in Potomac, Maryland."

"Is it nice to have them so close?"

"It is. I don't get to see them as much as I would like, but when our schedules do coordinate, it's nice to have them around. Go back to what you said before about being Aryan. You sound as if you're not proud to be German."

"Let's just say it's caused me problems in my life. People can be stupid sometimes. With my ancestry being entirely German on my father's side, people sometimes think negative things about that. You know, when I was a kid, other kids would make fun of me. People sometimes blindly believe whatever they're told. You don't know how many times I was called a Nazi just for being German. Of course now as an adult, the fact that the Germans don't support the U.S. war with Iraq doesn't make me any less of a target. I might be German, but I am an American citizen. The ethnic bias in this country can be incredible at times."

"Tell me about it. I'm completely German myself, but with a name like Rosenthal, people see me as a Jew first."

"I don't," the blonde mentioned.

"And I haven't thought about you being German since you first told me your name. I was made fun of as a kid too for being Jewish. Kids can be so cruel for no reason."

"They certainly can. I've realized as an adult that it still happens though. It's just more indirect. Instead of saying it to your face, people use ulterior ways."

Dara nodded in agreement. "I know that for a fact. I guess that's one of the reasons I try so hard to make a social difference. I believe everyone deserves the right to existence without prejudice. It would be an ideal place if everyone could just get along."

"I wish for that too, but the reality is it will never happen. There always has to be someone who thinks they are better than someone else," Elisabeth answered.

"That might be true, but it's not going to stop me from trying."

For the rest of the drive to the restaurant, the two of them made idle talk. However, once they were seated and had ordered, Elisabeth said, "I assume Lesley told you that we went to undergrad together. Where did you go?"

"I went to Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia. It's not that far from Washington and Lee actually."

"No, it's not. I love Hollins. I almost went to school there myself. They have a great riding program."

"Yeah. They're always nationally ranked. Why didn't you go?"

Elisabeth shrugged. She wasn't prepared to talk about her college days in depth, so she answered, "I just thought W & L could give me other opportunities that I wanted. It turned out to be the right choice for me."

"Then that's all that matters. That would have been funny though had you gone to Hollins. We would have known each other a lot earlier in life. That school is so small everyone knows everyone. There's no hiding yourself or your business. On the other hand, the sisterhood of being at an all-women's institution is so empowering, but it isn't for everyone."

"Why did you go there?"

Dara chuckled before responding, "Several reasons. It was only a few hours to the beach but in the mountains as well. It was close enough to home that I could drive back for a weekend if I ever wanted, but far enough that my parents couldn't drop by unannounced. However, most importantly to me at that time was the fact that it was all girls. I was about ready to burst with my raging hormones in high school and wanted a safe environment in which to explore the possibilities. Little did I know that women's schools don't have a higher rate of lesbianism in them. It's just that the practice is more accepted, because women tend to be more accepting in general of differences I think. Besides at the very least it had a good academic record."

Elisabeth laughed at Dara's blunt explanation of her desire for women, even in college. "Tell me when you first realized that you were interested in women," she requested.

"Why do you want to know that?" the brunette asked, wondering why the line of questioning had taken a turn.

"Well, you just said you picked your school because of the girls. Did you know early in your life that you were gay?"

"Actually, yes. From the moment I even knew what it was like to have sexual thoughts they were only about girls, but I had my struggle with it the way some people do. My parents and siblings have always been incredibly supportive though. I know I'm in the minority where that is concerned. Too many young people don't have the support to be confident with who they are. Their sexuality doesn't even matter. The kids today have far less support I think than when we were growing up. They have no one to show them the way."

"I would agree with that," Elisabeth mentioned, taking a sip of her red wine. Deciding to ask a question that had been on her mind since Dara had asked her to come to the CF event, she inquired, "May I ask if this Cystic Fibrosis function has personal meaning for you? I'm just wondering, because I've never heard of you being involved with them."

"It is personal. My nephew has CF. He'll be six in May. There's no cure for it."

Hearing the sorrow in Dara's voice, she instinctively reached across the table for the brunette's hand. "Is he doing okay?"

"He hasn't had a good year. He's already been in the hospital for three weeks this year. That's a week increase over his usual stays. They are concerned about him, because he's not gaining weight. He's just skin and bones."

"What are they doing for him?"

"They have a permanent feeding tub inserted into his stomach, so he gets fed at night as well as during the day. To be hooked to a machine every night of your life is no way to live, especially for a child."

"Poor thing. What's his name?"

"It's Justin. They're doing everything they can for him, but he's at an age where he's defiant. He doesn't want to do his treatments or eat properly. He's just like any other kid, but he doesn't realize how important it is to do those things. Those things will prolong his life, and without them..." Dara felt her emotions begin to slip, so she stopped speaking for a moment. She took a deep breath and said, "I refuse to even contemplate life without him. It's hard enough to accept the fact that my brother and my sister-in-law will outlive their son, but I refuse to put him in the ground prematurely with my thoughts."

Seeing the vulnerability on the attorney's face, the blonde felt terrible for bringing up the subject. Trying to be supportive, she squeezed Dara's hand tightly in her own. "I'm sorry for asking, Dara. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's all right. It was bound to come up at some point during the night. The cause means a great deal to me, so it inevitably comes up in conversation. However, if we could talk about something else, it would nice."

"What would you like to talk about?"

"How about your love life?" Dara suggested with a wicked gleam.

"There's nothing interesting on that subject," Elisabeth stated uncomfortably.

"Why don't you let me be the judge?"

Meeting dark eyes with her blue ones she countered, "Why don't you ask on another date? I can't give away all my secrets just yet."

"Is that what this is? A date?" Dara asked in sudden interest.

Shrugging off her slip of words, she replied, "I haven't decided yet." In truth she had wanted it to be a date as much as she felt the younger woman had, but she knew to admit that could have potential consequences.

"Fair enough," the taller woman mumbled as their food was brought to them.

Once dinner was complete and the bill had been brought to the table, Dara pulled out a credit card to pay, but Elisabeth objected. "Maybe this should be dutch, Dara."

"Why? I can hardly ask you to consider this as a date if I don't pay," she joked.

"But you're already paying for everything else tonight, the limo, the tickets."

"So? Allow me to do this. It gives me pleasure," she insisted.

The blonde smiled and nodded her consent. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"It's not often that I am treated so well by my dates," Elisabeth admitted.

"Well, that's about to change if you hang around me. As powerful as women want to be, I know that secretly they also want to be treated like a princess. It wouldn't be a childhood fantasy for so many girls otherwise. The key for most is to find a life somewhere between the two, and with me I always try to give women the chance to do just that."

Elisabeth smiled brightly at her companion for the night. For the first time in over a decade, she felt just as Dara had described, and she realized it was a common feeling whenever she was near the younger woman. "You're incredible, Dara. You know that, right?"

"I do now," the brunette answered with a charming smile.

"Someday you are going to make another woman the luckiest woman in the world. You'd make an ideal spouse."

"I've always thought so, but I'd have to be able to get married legally first."

Deciding to let the brunette see a little of her true self, Elisabeth mentioned, "If it means anything to you, I don't support the President's proposal of a constitutional ban. I think it's ludicrous for him to believe people are that discriminative. It will never be passed."

"You never know for sure, but I'm going to do my damn best to keep it from happening."

"Believe it or not, even more than opposing him, I'm for the work the HRC does. I think gay people should have the same rights as straight ones."

"Then why are you a Republican?"

"Because there are so many more issues than just that one, Dara. The Republican party has always firmly stood on what it believed. It's the Democrats who have the evolving party. You never know what you're going to get in a leader."

"It's an evolving party, because we want to keep pace with the changing times. We want to be on the pulse of the people, not some political dinosaur who refuses to see the changes facing our nation."

"You know what? I'd really rather not talk politics tonight. Can we just drop it for now? We can debate later, but I don't normally like to start arguments on a first date," the blonde teased lightly.

"Neither do I. It doesn't always make for a good first impression, so we'll keep politics out of it. Let's just go get ourselves drunk instead. Sound good?" Dara bantered, as their waiter came back to the table with her card and a sales slip. Signing it quickly she ushered the blonde back out into the night.

Once back in the limo Elisabeth questioned, "So, where is this event anyway?"

"At the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria."

"We're going all the way to Alexandria? That's a bit of a hike."

"True but it's worth it. I forgot to tell you that Lesley and her girlfriend at going to be there as well as some of my friends. I hope that's okay."

"It's fine. It'll be nice to meet some of your friends. Maybe they can give me some dirt on you," the older woman answered, lightly touching Dara's arm.

The brunette didn't say anything, but she did notice the elegant hand resting on her forearm. Elisabeth had a habit of touching her, but she couldn't deny the shorter woman the pleasure, because she felt it just as greatly. The pull to be close to the blonde was more than she had experienced in a long time. Going with her instincts, Dara slowly maneuvered her arm until her hand was touching Elisabeth's. Not seeing any rejection, she enclosed the older woman's in her own and held her breath, but the blonde attorney didn't say anything, and they rode the rest of the way in that position.

However, Dara felt Elisabeth's openness for physical contact change once they got out into public. The taller woman didn't let it bother her though, figuring her assumptions about the blonde's confusion regarding her sexuality were true. The brunette had considered the fact that the older woman might truly be gay but unable to be open about it. Their night out together so far had bolstered her theory. Not one to ever out another person though, Dara just shrugged off Elisabeth's uneasiness, knowing it was not her but the situation that made the blonde anxious.

Almost as soon as they got inside, they found Lesley with Dara's other friends. "Well, it's about time you got here," the redhead stated with a smile. "We were beginning to wonder if Elisabeth had stood you up."

"I would never do that to Dara," the blonde mentioned, smiling in return.

"Elisabeth, let me introduce you to everyone," the younger woman said. "You already know this obnoxious redhead. This is Callie, Lesley's girlfriend."

"Hi. Nice to meet you," the blonde attorney said, extending her hand to Lesley's blonde girlfriend.

"You too. I've heard so much about you from Les. I feel like I already know you."

"I hope most of that was good," the attorney remarked uneasily. Privately she wondered if Lesley had shared any information to anyone about their college days.

"Of course it was. Not only that she happened to mention how lucky Dara was at this chance to take out the most attractive woman she's ever known outside of me," Callie joked.

Dara and Lesley both blushed, but Elisabeth took it in stride. "Well, that certainly is a compliment."

"Moving on," Dara cut in, deciding to move the blonde away before any other embarrassing comments could be made about her. "These are some more old friends of mine, Allison and Deborah Holladay. We went to Hollins together."

"It's nice to meet you both."

"The pleasure is all mine," Allison said lightly as she shook the blonde's hand.

Deborah just rolled her eyes and laughed under her breath. "Get over yourself, honey," she quipped before shaking Elisabeth's hand. "Don't let these two gang up on you," she mentioned, pointing between Dara and Allison. "They'll flirt and flatter you into annoyance if you allow them, especially this one," she mentioned, curving an arm through Allison's.

"I'll bear that in mind," Elisabeth stated with a smile at the couple before her. It was obvious that even with Allison's playful flirting, Dara's friends were deeply in love with each other. It was refreshing to see such commitment, and instantly her thoughts turned to her own date, making her wonder if Dara wanted what her friends so visibly had.

Once formal introductions were out of the way, Dara suggested, "How about we go sample some beer now? We can catch up with the rest of the group later."

"Sounds good. Lead the way."

For the next two hours both women consumed beer from every available vendor. Even though the alcohol was affecting the way she was feeling, Elisabeth knew she had to maintain control around Dara. To slip and do something contrary to her image would be damaging to her political mission, so she took care not to insinuate anything by her words or actions toward the brunette. In her mind though she was spinning fantasies of what she would have rather been doing with the taller woman.

As the night grew later, Dara realized the closeness that they had shared at the beginning of the evening was gone. The brunette was disappointed in that, but she knew there was nothing she could do to persuade the blonde to act differently. Her theory that Elisabeth was still on her team sexually never left her mind as she watched the older woman's behavior, but she was simply an observer for the rest of the night instead of initiating any contact.

Around midnight Elisabeth mentioned that it was getting late, so Dara took the cue and bid her friends goodnight. Going back out to their limo, they both got into the back seat for the ride back to the blonde's house. During the ride the shorter woman made absolutely certain not to even touch Dara. She knew one caress could potentially compromise her will, so she sat as far away as possible from the brunette without seeming distant and cold. However, the younger attorney noticed the cool reception she was getting in the car and wondered what was going through the blonde's mind.

Neither spoke much on the way back to Elisabeth's house. Upon arrival Dara dutifully walked her to the door and lingered while the older woman unlocked her house. Looking down into blue eyes, the brunette could tell something was bothering Elisabeth. She hoped she hadn't scared the blonde attorney away that night. After all, she had enjoyed her company immensely, but she wasn't quite sure what Elisabeth was feeling as she gazed into her eyes.

Knowing the moment of farewell was at hand, the blonde knew she should just go inside her house. However, her body had other ideas. It craved to seek out the brunette's touch, but Elisabeth remained strong. She thought of the President and her career, which quickly impeded her passionate desires. Smiling at Dara in the most friendly way she could, she said, "Thank you for the terrific night, Dara. I had a lot of fun."

"I'm glad. It was a pleasure to be with you, Elisabeth. I hope we get another opportunity to spend some time together again in the near future."

"I would like that," answered the shorter woman.

"Then I guess I'll call you later this week and see what our schedules look like for any future endeavors."

"All right. Next Sunday night I'm going to the local Yale Law Alum cocktail party at the National Museum of Natural History. Are you going?"

"Yeah. I said I would. I guess I'll see you there then."

"So it would seem. Well, I should probably go inside. Thanks again."

"It was fun."

With a smile and nod, Elisabeth turned and went into her house. She closed the door behind her but curiously then gazed out the peephole to watch the brunette disappear down her stairs and back to the limousine. Suddenly a voice startled her. "She's attractive."

Yelping lightly Elisabeth turned to see her sister standing there in pajamas. "Shelby, you scared me. What are you doing up? I thought for sure you'd be passed out."

"I was earlier but got up for a drink. So, tell me. How was the date?"

The attorney shook her head. "I blew it. Things started out great. We had lots to talk about, and the chemistry is there. However, then we went to the CF event, and I started to feel self-conscious. As much as I wanted people to know that I was with Dara, I didn't. I've just got this image to uphold for the sake of the election campaign. I can't be seen as getting cozy with the opposition."

"But you like her. I can tell. Why does it have to be either or? Why can't you find a happy medium?"

"You wouldn't understand the complexity of the situation. Dara is an up and coming social leader for the Democratic Party. As a member of the President's re-election staff, that wouldn't sit well with anyone who knew about it. I do like Dara immensely, but my career is also extremely important, Shelby."

The younger blonde shook her head. "I think you're selling yourself short, Elisabeth. You've always been so afraid of anyone finding out about you. Now you have the interest of an attractive successful woman, and you're not giving it a chance. When will you ever? I don't want to see you go through life alone, because you're too busy with your job. What about a love life? Don't you want a relationship, maybe even kids someday? I know you do. You talk about it all the time. You're thirty-two, which means the clock is ticking."

"Thanks for that terribly depressing thought, Shelby. I know how old I am and where I stand on kids. After this election I am planning on re-evaluating my professional situation, but until November I have to remain committed to the cause. People are counting on me. If Dara and I are meant to be, it can wait for a few months."

"Ten months, Elisabeth. Heck, you could have a baby in that amount of time. Just think about what you're doing. A woman like her doesn't come around often."

"Don't I know it," the older blonde mumbled, looking back outside to the empty street. "Well, I guess only time will tell how tonight went over. I'm seeing her next weekend at a Yale function. Hopefully by then we will have both regrouped."

When Dara returned to her apartment, she noted that her own sister with whom she shared the space was gone. Figuring that she would be out late, the brunette made herself comfortable on the sofa and picked up the phone to call Lesley. The redhead answered on the third ring out of breath.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?" the attorney joked.

"Why are you calling me? I thought you would be with Elisabeth still," Lesley mentioned.

"Yeah, well, the night didn't end as well as it started."

"What went wrong?" the agent inquired through bated breath. It was obvious she was being distracted by someone.

"Maybe we should just talk about this after you and Callie are finished," Dara suggested.

"Oh, come on, Dara. We'll both listen to every word. I'm putting you on speaker, so Callie can't ignore you," she teased. After a moment she continued, "Now you were saying?"

"Well, I thought I had her when the night began. She was being open and physical with me. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was making a move. However, once we got to the beer tasting, she backed off completely. It was almost as if she didn't want people to think we were together. I don't get it. After tonight I am almost positive the woman is in the closet and with good reason professionally. It has to be difficult given who she works for, but at the same time, the brush-off hurt more than I expected."

"Because you're interested."

"Of course I'm interested. Who wouldn't be? I just don't know what to do from here. I mean when we said good night we agreed to see each other again, but I don't know if that means as friends or more."

"What happened when you said good night? A hug, kiss, what?" Lesley inquired.

"Nothing. It was awkward. I really wanted to kiss her, and the vibes she was giving me early in the night made me think she would have liked that, but when we were with you all, it was totally different."

"Do you think maybe we're the problem, Dara? Maybe she's not comfortable being around your friends yet. We can be hard to take for someone new. We're an acquired taste," she teased lightly.

"Maybe. I don't know. She started acting weird before we ran into you, so I'm leaning toward no. My inclination is that she did not want anyone to think that we were on a date or involved in any way other than friendly. That point was clear to me."

"I don't know, my friend."

"Me neither."

"So, what now? You said you agreed to see each other again."

"Yeah. I promised I'd call her this week at some point to make plans. She's going to be at the Yale thing next Sunday too. You're going, right?"

"Sure am. Never hurts to schmooze."

"Well, then you'll be able to see her again and maybe shed some light on this situation. I mean, I know I asked her out as a dare to see which side of the fence she was really one, but now that I am fairly sure, it's painful to my ego to think she's not interested in me," she admitted.

"Well, any woman in her right mind would fall for you, Dara. You're perfect. Just give it time. There might be other issues that you don't know about. I mean, she might think being with you is a conflict of interest with her career. There aren't many gay Republicans left supporting the President after his gay marriage ban proposal. She might be lying low until that blows over as to not seem on the opposite side of the President. Although I will admit that any self-respecting gay person would have ditched him for what he's trying to do."

"Well, she confessed to me that she doesn't believe in the ban or that it will pass Congress. She further stated that she believes in gay marriage."

"I'm sure that's private information, Dara, and not what the President wants the world to see. She's probably going through some emotional turmoil here. I mean, she's been in the closet for over a decade and working for a group of individuals that hate what she is, even though they don't know that she is that way. I think I would be scared too of making any sort of movement. Her job is a stake, so maybe it's not you after all. I say you give her time. Let her get comfortable with you and the idea of being together, and see where that gets you."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do that. Well, I'm going to let you two get back to your activities now. I'll give you an update when I know something."

"All right. Keep your head up. I think you're closer with her than you realize. Talk to you soon."

"Good night, you two. Keep the noise down. I don't want to hear you all the way over in my neighborhood," the attorney joked with a laugh.

"Shut up. You're just jealous, because you're not in Elisabeth's bed right now. Make do. You know how to use your imagination. Now leave us lovebirds alone."

"Good bye."

"Night, Dara."

Hanging up the phone, Dara's thoughts strayed to the blonde of discussion. She idly wondered what Elisabeth was doing at the moment. She imagined her getting prepared for bed. Closing her dark eyes, the brunette let her mind wander, fantasizing what the older woman might look like under her clothes. She envisioned pale, soft, kissable skin, the curve of the shorter woman's shoulder under her lips. Dara pictured her hands moving over the buttons of Elisabeth's blouse, slowly freeing the blonde from its confines as her mouth took in the landscape of her elegant neck. Those same hands quickly found the clasp of the older woman's bra and released her from that imprisonment as well. Gazing down her eyes were met with the most perfect set of femininity she had ever had the pleasure of viewing. The crests were fair but quickly responded to her soft touch. Elisabeth emitted the tiniest of moans, signaling her consent. Looking back up to the blonde's face, she saw pink lips parted in anxious anticipation. Gently and reassuringly Dara met them with her own mouth, allowing them to meld together slowly into a deep exchange.

Just then the sound of the phone invaded the attorney's unfolding fantasy. Displeased that she was being interrupted from the only activity she was going to have for the evening, she grabbed the phone to check caller ID to see who it was before deciding whether or not to answer. Seeing an unfamiliar number, she grumbled a greeting.

"Dara?" the female questioned on the other end.

"Yeah."

"Hi. It's Elisabeth. Sorry if I caught you at a bad time."

"No, no. I was just getting ready for bed actually. What's up?"

"I just realized as I was getting into bed that I forgot to get my driver's license back from you. I had asked you to hold it when we were at the beer tasting, and I didn't get it back."

Reaching into her pants pocket, the brunette retrieved the blonde's license. "Oh yeah. It's right here. I'm sorry. I totally forgot."

"It's okay."

"Did you want me to bring it to you tonight?"

"No, that's okay. I'm not sure you're fit to drive, and it's late. Why don't I just get it tomorrow?"

"Fine. What time do you want to meet?"

"Around 11:00 if that's okay with you," Elisabeth stated.

"Fine. I'll come by your place."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come to you?"

"No. It's fine, really. I'm going to be over that way anyway. I'll just bring it by your house."

"Great. I really appreciate it."

"No problem."

There was a momentary pause in conversation. Elisabeth didn't know quite what to say. She hadn't intended on seeing or speaking to the brunette so soon after their disaster of a date, but she was faced with at least another short encounter the following day. "Well, I'm going to go to bed now. Thanks again for the wonderful time tonight."

"My pleasure. I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well, Elisabeth," Dara said in almost a whisper. She couldn't help herself. After her vivid imagination, she was picturing the blonde just then in nothing but a bed sheet, and her hormones were getting the better of her.

The brunette's low voice stirred the older woman's desires. She shifted nervously on her bed. Her thoughts automatically turned to the vision of Dara being there with her. However, she didn't vocalize that. Instead she answered as evenly as possible, "You too, Dara. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Elisabeth."

"Good night." Once the line went dead, Elisabeth placed the phone back in its cradle before sitting for a moment. Just the tone of the attorney's voice was making her stomach quiver. She knew she had consumed far too much alcohol to be thinking clearly, but she let her body override her mind. Getting under the covers and extinguishing the light, the older woman closed her eyes and envisioned Dara there with her. She could almost feel the weight of younger woman's body on top of her own as her blue eyes met dark ones. Elisabeth craved the intimate attention that could only be fulfilled with another woman. It had been eleven years since she had felt the touch of woman's hands against her body, and she knew she wanted Dara's against her skin. The Younger attorney fascinated her. The way the taller woman held herself, her confidence just made her all the more alluring to the blonde. She fantasized that the brunette's body was lean and toned just as she appeared in her suits. In her mind she let her hands run through that dark hair and pulled the younger woman's head down to her own to meet in a greedy kiss. The bare skin of Dara's frame pressed tightly against her own. The brunette's muscular legs entwined with her own as the taller woman's hands trailed over all the places that needed attention.

Elisabeth moaned as her body instinctively squirmed to the images in her head. She wanted the other woman so desperately that she wasn't sure she could manage to keep her carnal hunger at bay. It was in that moment she truly realized the extent of Chad's words from a couple of weeks prior. She was giving up so much in her pursuit of a career. She was not only gambling with the most powerful man in the world, but she was also potentially forfeiting the best thing that had happened to her since Suzanne. Briefly Elisabeth left her fantasy to consider her options. However, she quickly realized that the best one was to stay on course.

She had the President's trust. It was the spot she had been angling for since taking a position at the DOJ, and now serving as a part of his re-election campaign, it had become even more important. The President was finally starting to open himself up to her, and she could not afford to blow her chance. He believed in her, and whether or not she felt the same towards him, she knew this was her one chance to make a difference in politics and the November election. She knew she would pay just about any price to see her mission come to fruition, but she never considered that a love interest would ever enter the picture.

Her only love interest was supposed to be a surmised relationship she had fostered with the man she had hoped to topple. So far the plan had worked well. The President, although faithful to his wife, had extended her some affection, albeit not sexual, which relieved Elisabeth greatly. She knew there was always a chance things could progress to such a level, but she was confident that unlike some Presidents of the past, this one would at least stay committed to his wife while flirting with the blonde in a casual manner. Elisabeth had made herself comfortable with the idea of such a relationship, even though under it all she knew she was trifling with someone's feelings and trust. The information he had bestowed in secrecy had far outweighed any objections she could imagine to cease such a course. She knew it would be the intelligence she garnered that would be most beneficial to stopping the monster of a man that had been placed into office four years previous.

With a sigh Elisabeth reconfirmed with herself that this was the best way to help her people. Even though Chad had tried to dissuade her from the beginning, she wanted to do this for the party in which she placed full faith. When she had first proposed the idea of spying to the DNC Chairman, Chad was reluctant to allow the daughter of a personal friend to take on the President alone. Their families had a long relationship, and he didn't want to see anything happen to Elisabeth professionally or personally, but she had managed to convince him that she could help in ways others couldn't. After all she was a trusted member of the Republican Party and an attractive woman who knew how to use her wiles as a weapon when necessary. Finally after much discussion, Chad compromised and stated he would take any information she could provide and pass worthy parts on to the right people but that he would not solicit her for any intelligence. He didn't want to be caught in any kind of scandal such as Watergate, because the course of the nation was too dependent on the outcome of the November election. They further agreed for the benefit of the Democratic Party that she would be solely responsible for her own actions and never accuse him or any other member of requesting her to spy. This was her own venture. She stood alone and perished alone should she be discovered.

Elisabeth had felt confident that she would never be discovered until she had met Dara. The brunette attorney was incredibly astute, and she sensed immediately that the woman was on to her deception. She figured Dara couldn't quite place the pieces together yet, but she knew there wasn't much time before she did, especially if their relationship turned intimate. That was why it was imperative the blonde not get involved with the younger woman. She did not want to jeopardize her mission for the feeling of the taller woman's body against her own. Elisabeth knew her cause far offset any sense of loss she might feel at the absence of Dara's touch.

The following morning Dara rose later than normal. The alcohol from the night before had taken its toll on her head, and she awoke with a pounding headache. Luckily, though, after taking some aspirin, she was feeling better, especially after a shower and light breakfast. She was just sitting at the kitchen table, finishing her meal, when her younger sister came in.

"Morning, Dara. How was your date last night?" she asked inquisitively.

The brunette attorney shrugged. "Well, I came home alone, so I suppose it could have gone better, Leah," she joked. "Are you just getting in?"

Her sister nodded. "I spent the night at a friend's place."

"Hope you and that friend had protected festivities," Dara mentioned. She knew her sister was promiscuous, leaving her with some concerns about her safety.

"Not that kind of friend," she stated. "Although I've always wondered it what it might be like to jump the fence. You seem to like it pretty well."

"Sure do but I don't think you'd feel the same way, Leah. You're too interested in the boys to give them up permanently, and being a switch hitter isn't an easy life from what I've been told."

"Probably true. So, anyway, tell me about this girl. You promised you would. What's her name?"

"Elisabeth Gunter. She's a thirty-two-year-old attorney. She's one of the hottest women I've ever known. What else do you want to know?"

"How the date went. You took her to the CF beer tasting. Then what? Did you get her drunk and put on the moves?"

"No. We both did get a little drunk, but she didn't seem to want to have anything to do with me. It was weird actually. At dinner I was getting the vibes that she was into me. She kept touching me constantly and smiling. I was getting a clear signal, but then we went to the event, and she acted like we were barely even friends. I mean, we talked and stuff, but she didn't touch me any more and she shied away from my advances. It made me very uncomfortable actually, because I thought I was reading her right, but I suppose I wasn't."

"Sorry to hear that. I know you were looking forward to spending time with her. You seemed so excited about the prospect before you left last night."

"Yeah, well, I misjudged her," the older woman mumbled into her coffee cup.

"Doesn't make it any easier, does it? I can tell you're still into her."

"Of course I am. She's really incredible, but sometimes these things just aren't meant to be."

"Or maybe they are, and you're just giving up to soon. She wouldn't have said yes in the first place if there wasn't interest on her part."

"That seems to be Lesley's take on it as well. She thinks Elisabeth is just too afraid of making a move."

"Why would she be afraid? Is she straight?"

"I don't think so and neither does Lesley, but Elisabeth hasn't confirmed or denied anything. She's a Republican, Leah, and not only that, she works in that environment. To be seen with me can be a scary career prospect. From that standpoint, she has a lot to lose by being in a relationship with me. I'm the sworn enemy. Not only that, if she truly is gay, the chances of her co-workers knowing about that are slim to none. It would be difficult to come out of hiding unless she was sure of herself, which obviously she isn't."

"Still you shouldn't give up so easily. I know you like her."

"I do like her, Leah. We'll see, I suppose. I'm not ready to give up quite yet, but you know I'm not used to having my ego banged up like this by women. The mixed messages are hard to take. It would be easier if she would just tell me how she really felt. I could take it better than trying to guess."

The younger woman nodded. "I suppose you're right. Well, good luck with her. Sounds like you're going to need it. So, anyway, what's up with you today? I thought you had a basketball game this morning."

Dara's eyes popped open wider at the mention of that. "Oh, I totally forgot. What time is the game on the schedule?" she asked as her sister went to the refrigerator.

"Says it starts at 11:00. It's just after 10:00 now. You still have plenty of time to get there."

"Shoot. I have to get going. I promised Elisabeth I would drop something by her house at 11:00. I forgot about the game. I need to go there first."

Leah smiled at her sister. "Good luck. And if you like her that much, give her a chance."

"I will. See you later. Have a good day."

Rushing back to her bedroom, Dara threw on some workout clothes and a coat before hopping in her car. Heading off towards Bethesda, she figured she should call Elisabeth ahead of time to let her know she'd be early but then realized she had left the blonde's phone numbers at home. Shrugging it off, she figured it wouldn't be a big deal to show up early unannounced.

At 10:40 the attorney pulled up in front of Elisabeth's house. Jumping out of the car, she quickly made her way up the walk and rang the bell. It was only a moment before the door opened and the older woman's sister answered.

"Hi, you must be Elisabeth's sister. I'm Dara Rosenthal. Elisabeth forgot her driver's license last night, and I was just returning it."

"That's sweet of you. Come on in. Elisabeth's in the kitchen."

With the invitation, the brunette made her way into the house and then followed Shelby toward the kitchen. As they made their way through the living room, Dara noticed the blonde in the kitchen standing at the sink. Her back was to them, allowing Dara a moment to view her. The blonde's hair was in a ponytail, exposing the back of her neck to the younger attorney. She was wearing a sleeveless blue tank top and a pair of blue and green flannel pajama pants. Dara thought she looked adorable. Just then Elisabeth turned to pick something up off the table. Immediately Dara's eyes took note of the way the tank top gapped down as she leaned over, exhibiting the items of the brunette's fantasy the night before for a brief moment.

However, before she could advert her dark eyes, she met blue ones. "Dara, hi. You're early," Elisabeth stuttered, standing up straight.

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I remembered that I had a basketball game at 11:00, but I wanted to get this to you before then," she mentioned, placing the blonde's license down on the table.

"Thanks. I appreciate that," the older woman answered.

"No problem. Sorry I came by before you were ready."

Looking at her sister a moment, Elisabeth realized she hadn't given them an introduction yet. "I assume you've met my sister Shelby by now."

Dara nodded. "You were right. You two look a lot alike."

"So you think I'm cute, do you?" Shelby teased lightly, putting a hand on the brunette's arm.

Laughing loudly at the younger blonde, the thirty-year-old played along for the fun of it. It was obvious to her that Shelby had no real interest in women anyway. "Extremely. Maybe I asked out the wrong girl."

"Well, you can always correct that mistake," Shelby answered.

Glancing at Elisabeth, Dara tried to read her for a moment but couldn't. Figuring there was no harm, she said, "Well, how about it then, Shelby? I'm about to head over to the gym and put the hurt on some friends of mine in a game of hoops. You want to come and drool over me for awhile? I could always use a good ego stroking."

Playfully the twenty-eight year old gave Dara the once over. "I'm already drooling, hot stuff. Just let me grab a coat." Looking at her sister, Shelby inquired, "Lis, you want to come?"

"Well, I'm not exactly dressed yet."

"We've got a few minutes. Just throw on a sweatshirt. You already look great," Dara commented.

Unable to stop herself, the older blonde flushed lightly. "All right. I'll be ready in a few minutes."

When she was gone, Dara looked at Shelby. "What was that all about?" she teased.

"Just making a point to Lis. That's all. It's a sister thing."

"Whatever you say, Shelby."

The younger woman smiled at the brunette. "Dara, you just never know. This could be the start of something," she joked.

"True. You two look so much alike, and you are younger."

"Fewer hangups as well," the blonde mentioned.

"Just maybe I can score with one of you after all," Dara jested.

"You'd have to fight off that awfully big boyfriend of mine, but I'd root for you."

Dara laughed. "You're all right, Shelby. Now if I could just get your sister to lighten up."

"Give it time, Dara. I know she likes you, but it's complicated."

"Tell me about it. Last night I first thought she was going to jump me in the limo, and then at the end of the evening, I got the cold shoulder. That does things to someone's psyche. At this point I'm not sure which way I'm going with her. I mean, she's never even confirmed if she's a lesbian or not. I'm putting my heart into someone, but I don't even know if she shares my interest. Come on, Shelby. You have to tell me if I'm just living in a fantasy land on this one. I feel like she's into me, but she's scared of me at the same time."

Putting a hand on the brunette's shoulder, Shelby leaned up to Dara's ear. "Trust me. She's into you. I heard just how much last night," secretively she declared.

"What do you mean? What did she say?"

Putting her mouth against the brunette's ear again, she whispered erotically, "I believe the exact phrase she used was, 'Fuck me, Dara. Please, baby.'"

The attorney took a control breath at the thought of Elisabeth actually saying those words and the blonde's younger sister's body brushing into her seductively. "Are you trying to kill me, Shelby? Did she really say that? Why would she say that to you?"

"She didn't say it to me. I overheard her. She thought I was already asleep, but I can actually hear quite a lot of her bedroom activities out in the hallway."

"Are you saying she was..."

"Listen, Dara. My sister might not have had a lot of the one-on-one horizontal tango, but she does have the most active solo sex life I have ever known. She's a tomcat just waiting to be discovered." Feeling her legs start to weaken at the thought, Dara lowered herself into a kitchen chair. "What's a matter, Dara? Too much for you?" Shelby joked.

"I think you've told me quite enough. I'm not sure I could handle anything else."

"Oh, come on. It's not like it's a big deal. People do it all the time."

"No, it's not a big deal. It's just that her doing that and thinking about me is huge. It's almost too much to comprehend."

"Dara, she's thirty-two-years-old. Her clock is ticking. Her hormones are raging. These are supposed to be some of the best years of her sex life, but she's alone, because she's scared. She obviously wants you, and I think it's pretty clear the feeling is mutual. Go for it. Please. I'm begging you. Give my sister what she's been wanting her entire life."

Shaking her head, Dara answered, "I can't unless she's ready, Shelby. If she's not ready to accept the life she's been denying for so long, then it won't meet her expectations. I will have failed her miserably. I only have one shot at this. Whether you choose to believe this or not, I don't want your sister for a cheap thrill. She's got the hottest body I've seen in years, but it's about more than that. I want to be the one to show her the way, and that takes time and understanding."

"Well, she'll be all the better for it if you succeed," the blonde mentioned.

A few moments later Elisabeth returned in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Dara smiled at her as she tried to push away the intimate things Shelby had said to create havoc in her mind and body. However, it was difficult considering how lovely the brunette thought the older woman looked. "I like your hair like that," she complimented. "You should wear it that way more often."

"Thanks. I usually don't wear it up, but I haven't even showered today. You're extremely lucky that I agreed to even go out like this. Thankfully it's just to the gym."

"Nevertheless, I think you look terrific." Dara waited to see her blush before turning to Shelby and joking, "Come on, beautiful. Let me go show you off in front of the girls."

Quietly Dara drove the three of them to the gym where her game was taking place. When she arrived, she got some grumbles about her being late, but for the most part everyone was more interested in the two blondes that had accompanied her.

"Where did you find them?" one of her teammates asked.

"On the corner. Thought I'd pick them up to lift our team's spirits a bit," she jested.

"Well, you certainly did that. Which one is yours?"

"They're both mine, so don't get any ideas."

"They're so hot. Are they twins?" curiously another teammate asked.

"Yeah, right. Lesbian twins, everyone's favorite fantasy. No, they are just sisters."

"Close enough. Man, you sure are lucky, Rosenthal."

"I know, so make me look good today. I've got some showing off to do."

As Shelby and Elisabeth sat in the bleachers, the two sisters idly chatted about the brunette. "I have to hand it to you, Lis. She's one of a kind. You know how to pick them."

"I told you this morning, Shelby. We can only be friends. I just can't deal with that right now. The election is more important."

Her younger sister shook her head. "You are so going to miss the boat on this one, Lis, and you're going to regret it for the rest of your life."

"Don't tell me how I'm going to feel, Shelby. I know what I'm doing."

"No, you don't. Dara is totally into you, and you're going to put her off for so long, she'll finally get the hint and go away. That's not what you want happening. You want that woman. You want her to love you. You can't deny it," the younger blonde pressed.

Elisabeth took a deep breath. "I'm not denying anything. I just know that my career is more important to me at the moment. I'm needed by other people."

Shelby shook her head. "You know what, Lis? When this blows up in your face, I'll still be there to comfort you, but I am going to say that I told you so."

"Fair enough," the attorney conceded as her eyes followed Dara along the court. She watched as the brunette played with her friends. She wondered if the younger woman could read her as easily as her sister. She hoped not, because she had a lot to lose when it came to her career. Nevertheless, she privately enjoyed watching Dara's athletic prowess for the next hour.

When the game was finally over, the brunette came over to them and smiled. "Glad to see you stuck around. I'm sure it was pretty boring."

"Boring? Far from it, Dara. You certainly know a thing or two about spanking your competition," Shelby teased, immediately laughing at her own remark.

Dara chuckled as well as she got the deeper meaning of not only the basketball game but Shelby's sister. However, Elisabeth did not seem at all amused at the comment. "Well, could I convince either of you in a casual lunch? I'm not exactly appropriate for anything fancy, but I'd love to take the best looking blondes here out for a bite."

"Actually, I need to get to work at some point today, but thank you anyway," the eldest woman answered.

"Work? What's so important at work right now?" she asked Elisabeth.

However, Shelby beat her to an answer. "Ever since she started working on the re-election campaign, she's been working non-stop. The woman is crazy."

"You're working on the re-election campaign? I thought you were still at the DOJ," Dara inquired with confusion and hurt. She couldn't fathom that the woman she was interested in would actually work to get the man she hated re-elected to office.

Seeing the look on the brunette's face, Elisabeth wanted to smack her younger sister. She intentionally hadn't mentioned that piece of information to the taller woman in fear of the rejection that could ensue. Nevertheless, it was now in the open. "Yeah, I am working on the campaign. I'm still with the DOJ, just on a leave of absence."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? You know how I feel."

"That's why I didn't tell you. It's a job, Dara, and it'll look good on my resume."

"But you're trying to get a man re-elected who hates me. I thought I knew you a little better than that."

"You don't know anything about me, Dara," indignantly Elisabeth commented as she stood. "And as far as I'm concerned, you never will."

"Lis," Shelby rebuked.

"Stay out of this, Shelby! It's none of your business!" Looking back at Dara, she held a firm face. "Look, Dara. This isn't going to work. We're too different. I thought I could have a gay friend, but you will not let go of the fact that I'm on a different political side than you. I've done my best to not make it an issue between us, but it's clear you can't get over that, so as far as I'm concerned, we have nothing left to say to each other."

Taking the sharp retort with a strong countenance, Dara swallowed the pain at the stinging remarks. "I'm sorry, Elisabeth. I apologize. You're right. I haven't been able to get over it, and I'm not sure I ever will. It probably is best that we not associate any longer." Turning to the younger blonde, Dara smiled. "Shelby, it was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for your company. You could teach your sister something about manners. I'm going to head for the showers now. If you'd like me to take you home, just wait for me in the lobby. I should only be about half an hour."

The younger blonde nodded. "You know, it's not far. I think we'll just walk, but thank you for the offer." She leaned to hug the brunette for a moment. "Perhaps you should focus your attentions on the other Gunter girl. I'm a much better companion for you than my sister, I think."

"Is that an invitation?" Dara asked in confusion.

"It sure is. Call me sometime?"

"Of course. How could I turn down such an offer?"

"Good. Thanks for today. I'll talk to you soon."

"Great. Bye, ladies." Dara watched as the two of them left the gym. She wasn't sure what had just taken place, but she knew two things. Elisabeth had just kicked her to the curb, and the blonde's younger sister was up to something.

Walking out into the cold afternoon, Elisabeth glared at her sister. "What in the hell were you doing, Shelby?"

"Saving your ass, Lis! I don't know what you're problem is! She likes you. She really likes you, and she's trying so hard. You're the one who lied about what you were doing. Why did you give her the brush-off just now?"

"It's for the best."

"You're just too scared! Lis, I know how you feel about her."

"No, you don't! You don't know anything!"

"Oh no? Then just tell me what the hell you were doing last night."

"What are you talking about?"

Shelby rolled her eyes and then affected her sister's raspy voice from the night before. Spewing the vulgar commentary she had heard through the door last night, Elisabeth's younger sister faked the peak she had overheard. "Now tell me, Lis, I don't know what I'm talking about. You were fantasizing about her in your bed!"

"You bitch! You were spying on me?"

"I wasn't spying, Lis. You're louder than you think you are. Damn, woman, by the sound of it, you wanted her badly last night."

Shaking her head, Elisabeth began to cry. "Did you tell her?" she asked. "I'll never forgive you if you did."

"Lis, you like her. Why won't you let yourself be happy?" Shelby inquired, ignoring the posed question.

"You wouldn't understand," the older blonde answered.

"Try me."

Before Elisabeth could offer any sort of reply, her cell phone rang. She recognized the number and tried to compose herself quickly before answering. Hearing the President on the other end, she stated, "Sir, I will be in as soon as I can, but it's going to be at least two hours." She listened for a moment to him before saying, "I understand the imperative nature of the meeting with you, and I will try to get there as soon as I can."

Shelby just listened quietly as the two of them walked toward their house. However, when Elisabeth was off the phone, she inquired, "Who was that? I've never heard you talk to anyone like that before."

Sighing the attorney figured she could tell her sister the truth. "It was the President," she responded.

"The president? What president?"

"Of the United States, Shelby."

"You just spoke to the President?" the younger woman asked in surprise.

"Yes."

"Holy shit! How long have you known him?"

"We met over the holidays in December. I was invited to a dinner at the White House, and we started communicating. I'm responsible for a part of his campaign, Shelby."

"I didn't realize you two were on friendly terms."

"Well, we are. That makes things complicated with Dara. Do you see that now?"

Shelby nodded. "I'm sorry, Lis. I guess this political opposition is more serious than I realized."

"It's true I like Dara. I'll admit that to you and only you, but this is a chance of a lifetime, and I can't let anything get in the way of that. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. I understand."

"Thank you. Now promise me that you will not try to lure Dara back for my sake. If you want to be friends with her, that's fine, but just know a relationship between us is impossible right now."

"Will you at least be friends with her?"

"I'd like to be, but I'm not sure it's going to work," Elisabeth admitted.

"Just leave it to me. I'll get her back. Don't worry."

Laughing lightly at her sister, Elisabeth replied, "You're powers of persuasion can be scary, sis. No one can really resist them."

"That's what I'm counting on."

Continued in Part 3

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