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| Fruits of our Labours; Bad Girls Judge John Deed crossover fic | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 20 2009, 05:31 PM (7,175 Views) | |
| terriw1979 | May 9 2010, 05:34 PM Post #46 |
Terriw1979
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once again I'm spellbound by the level of time and effort you put into this fic... so well-researched and thorough, you even consider the time lines at length and it shows... excellent fic as ever |
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terriw1979@hotmail.co.uk | |
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| GG72 | May 10 2010, 02:33 PM Post #47 |
G2 landing
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Great I loved the letter from Tori and Helen telling Rus & jenny the truth. And Congret"s on your LEAF award.
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| richard | May 19 2010, 08:11 PM Post #48 |
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Enhanced
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This is very kind feedback here, especially regarding the LEAF award. Anyway, this next scene moves the storyline on in a new direction, one that I was somewhat nervous about getting right. Enjoy. ........................................................................................................................ Scene Thirty-Four The Friday night celebrations were so perfect in the duasl celebtation of triumph, Helen's acquittal and the charming letter from Tori Amos. It totally blew away all the tensions that had built up over the last couple of months from when Helen was first interrogated by the police and put a line under everything bad that had had happened up till then. Now was the time for their future as the bitter winter days of struggle gave way to a calmer, more peaceful and reflective period of budding spring. This set the tone for a sense of calm certainty. This period saw Karen claim her permanent status as a valued member of St Mary’s nursing staff, freed from the shackles of the impermanence of probation. This made her relationship with Beth bloom all the more as, no matter what inconvenient shifts their work both took them, they finally came home to the bed that they shared. The operation stitches that marked Trisha’s arm gradually healed and faded away to a barely noticeable series of white dots on her skin. She and Sally Anne worked hard in their social Mecca for lesbians and their source of income to keep it centred and focused. George had emerged from her assistance in the Regina versus Helen Stewart trial and the previous high profile cases with a reputation as a formidable criminal barrister along with her proven track record in civil cases. She found that appearing either opposite Jo Mills in court or before John Deed as judge posed no sense of strain and enabled her to calmly and incisively debate her case as did Jo. Alice was her usual imperturbable self and worked away in the more humble estates where dysfunctionality amongst husbands and wives, fathers and mothers and children were her daily experience. Going out on the dance floor at Chix with her lover and amongst her female friends was that vital other half of her existence. In the meantime, John and Jo Mills continued to see each other and danced this formal courtship dance round each other and wove anew a web of mutual understanding and sympathy which his past indiscretions had rent asunder. No longer was Jo instinctively jealous and aggressive when George floated up to him and exchanged light-hearted banter. In the meantime, Fenner was rudely confronted with the daily routine of lockups, being told when to get up in the morning, drinking blue plastic mugs of stewed tea, sewing mailbags amidst the thinly veiled contempt of young blank faced PO’s in that familiar prison officer uniform who had heard that, yes, this guy was once a screw until he went off the rails. More fool him for messing up his pension and not sticking by the book like all the rest of them. Trying to stitch up a fellow screw for something that he did took the guy totally beyond the pale. They didn’t know his past, they didn’t recognize him as he once was. In the meantime, one grey day passed like another, amongst cons who knew him and gave him an equally hard time. ********* For once in their lives, Helen and Nikki started to feel that life wasn’t all struggle as they had once felt . It was time to take stock of their lives after an intense run of legal cases that had all the vivid drama of a roller coaster and to see where they were going. “All right,” Helen said one Saturday evening in April when she and Nikki were curled up together on the sofa.” Now that the trial is out of the way, thank god, we’ve finally agreed that we want to start a family and things are stable enough for us to do so. I remember so many months ago we were talking in the arts block in Larkhall when I first confessed my maternal instincts….” “That’s not all you confessed in your roundabout way,” murmured Nikki light-heartedly at which point an amused smile rippled across Helen’s features. “So now I am relying on your expertise as I remember you said that there were ways of having children together.” “I might have said something like that. It was a long time ago,” answered Nikki evasively. “Don’t try and wriggle out of this one, babes,” exclaimed Helen, tapping her partner on the tip of her nose to emphasize her point.” I have an excellent memory and those were your exact words. If you have been around as long as the gay scene as you say you have, then you must have come across women who have had children together.” “All right, I have a confession to make,” Nikki confessed in a state of comic dismay.” I’ve heard of turkey basters, women who have made use of convenient gay male friends and IVF. That doesn’t mean I’m an expert. I was just bluffing it a bit……” “And IVF means……?” persisted Helen relentlessly. “Intra vitral fertilization,” Nikki said slowly, visibly concentrating on each syllable “Though Christ knows what it means. All I know is that it’s a smart way for lesbians to have babies without a guy really entering the picture. The trouble is that for a fair amount of time I was single and fancy free and when I lived with Trisha, we were either enjoying ourselves too much, were too busy getting ‘Chix’ off the ground and neither of us had any great overwhelming need of children.” “And now…..” “Darling, I’ve thought a lot about it, on and off and, yes, I’m ready for it or at least I think I am. The problem is that I really haven’t an earthly clue what we’re letting ourselves in for. I mean, I could never understand how mystical the Julies got over their kids. I’ve no practical experience. As for my brother and his family, all I saw it as a source of material to be smug, superior and self obsessed about. I’ve never seen them as a family, not even now my parents are on side. They’re just an unreal abstraction to me.” “So you were never Auntie Nikki?” Helen asked in teasing tones. To her amusement, the taller woman contorted her face in total disgust and threw a cushion at this maddening tease. “You must be joking, Helen. I wasn’t allowed to be in the same world as them for years. You know that.” Helen saw at once that she’d hit a sensitive nerve though her remark was said in jest. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. That was tactless of me,“ she said softly, gently stroking Nikki’s cheek and neck.” “There’s no harm, babes. I just remember somehow hearing in a roundabout way of his ‘happy event.’ I remember turning over in bed and groaning that I was too young to be an aunt. When I was a kid, aunts and uncles were impossibly old and stuffy and set in their ways. They seemed like aliens to me and I was the only sane one.” “We don’t have to replay our parent’s mistakes but figure out for ourselves what is right and wrong. As you demonstrated to me, we have choices,” Helen said softly.” We can figure out between us what we want to pass down to our child so the same stupid mistakes don’t happen again and again.” “Thanks, darling,” Nikki said softly, wrapping herself round her lover,” Thanks for reassuring me and reminding me of the most important thing.” “And what’s that?” “We’re in it on this one together same as everything.” “So what it comes down is that I’ve been off the pill a good long while now with no problems. My periods are regular.......we need a good doctor for a start,” Helen said slowly, her mind starting to turn nebulous ideas over in her mind, hoping they would firm up.” Didn’t Sally-Anne go through counselling once from someone Trisha knew?” “Darling, from what I remember Trisha telling us, the guy operates in the psychology field. After all, that’s what Sally-Anne was treated for when she was going through the aftermath of the shit that was laid on her.” “It’s a starting point. Don’t you see, we have one friend in the medical profession? Others may open up for us once we have a foot in the door,” Helen exclaimed excitedly. Nikki sensed fondly that if Helen had been standing, she would have danced excitedly round the room. “Yeah, I see what you mean. That makes it all possible. I mean, how else have we got access to the finest minds in the legal profession,” breathed Nikki, with wide-open eyes, seeing the possibilities. ‘And, of course, finally unstitching you from the restraints of your spell in prison- and Sally Anne’s problems,” said the eagle eyed observer of facts. “Well, that as well,” conceded Nikki gracefully before optimism came shining through,” but don’t let that put us off. We have a foot in the door to find a doctor who’ll work sympathetically for us. That’s what we need.” A silence fell on the room, laden with all their formless desires for their future “What about a sperm donor or am I missing something?” Helen asked out of nowhere. “Oh yeah, I thought I was forgetting something,” came Nikki’s flat reply, her energy and enthusiasm drained out of her.” Jesus, I feel awkward about this. I really want both of us to be involved in having a baby. Look here, if it was up to us, I would want to make you pregnant but the drag is that I can’t. I know that but it doesn’t make me feel any better.” “Nikki, that is exactly what I want,” Helen said softly, looping her arm round Nikki’s neck. “I’d be over the moon if, by some miracle, you made love to me and I’d find myself pregnant by you, that what was growing inside me was the fruits of our love.” “As it happens, we have choices in the matter. I have done some preliminary research on this one and this is what I’ve found. To talk in technical terms, it would be possible for ova, or eggs to be removed from your ovaries, clinically arranging fertilisation outside us and to be transferred to my uterus so that I can carry our baby. How does that sound to you, sweetheart?” Nikki was totally speechless for several minutes. Her mouth was slightly open and her brown eyes shone with deep joy. Everything about her was glowing all over. When she was at last able to focus on her surroundings, her heart went out to Helen who had gone out there and found the answer to a problem fraught with difficult emotions which threatened to swallow everything up. “You’re fantastic, darling. You’ve found the answer and, yes, I do want this more than anything in the world only I never knew it till now.” “We’ve got stability in our lives now and we must go ahead with this. Sweetheart,” Helen added, her large soulful freen eyes looking deeply into Nikki’s brown orbs,”I can’t tell you enough how much I love you for being so understanding about this.” “A child will give us even more to fight for our love than we have already. If other couples can manage it, then so can we.” They embraced and kissed each other deeply. As they disrobed and cast their clothes aside and tasted each other’s bodies, it crossed the minds of both women to physically see each other in a new light even while their desires occupied centre stage . Nikki tenderly ran her tongue and lips along Helen’s hard nipples causing her to moan with delight and run her fingers through the taller woman’s hair. She treated Helen with a loving reverence as her tongue entered into her lover whose thighs were eagerly spread apart waiting to receive her. Helen murmured those endearments and declarations of her love which had a new significance of how enduring their love was. The taste of Helen was good as ever it had been . It was just that their combined sense of the future was heightened. In turn, Nikki felt that equal sense of heightened emotional feeling when Helen lovingly and gratefully made love to her. There was an increased sense of purpose in their lives. Finally, both woman lay together in a dreamy state of completion. Thank God, I summoned up the nerve to pin Nikki down to the idea of starting a family together. I should have trusted to her loving honesty, Helen thought as her fingers trailed down the length of Nikki’s slim flank. Thank Christ, I came clean about how nervous and ignorant about the whole thing of pregnancy and babies. I should have known that two of us would turn up answers when each of us are shit scared, mused Nikki as she buried her head against Helen’s shoulder. “Just as a matter of interest, how do you think your parents will take to this idea if it pans out right?” Helen finally asked, as they lay on the carpet in a pile of discarded clothes. . “I think they’ll both run with this one, Helen. They’ll revel in the thought of being doting grandparents at a distance twice over as they did for my brother. They’ll of course want us to pull our weight as parents and not to unload all our problems on us. My mother in particular thinks the world of you, Helen and my father will stand up for us. They’ll be nervous of what their community think of them and won’t make a big deal of us but I don’t mind. They have learnt to handle the idea of us being a couple and they’ll think that really, we have quite conventional aspirations of starting a family.” “And as for your brother?” asked Helen impishly, leaning her head against her elbow. “That’s another good reason for going for it. He’s so much up his own arse in seeing himself as ‘the provider for his family’, in unselfishly working hard to provide for his children and milking the ‘wife and kids’ angle to Dad and Mum. He’ll see it as moving in on his exclusive territory. He’ll be terrifically jealous and be afraid that Dad and Mum will favour our child more than his. They won’t of course as they’ll play fair. The trouble is that he wants all the ego stroking for himself and can’t share it with me, which he could if he had half a brain. What he’ll do is to cover up all this selfishness by going on his moral high horse and mouth off about the needs of the quote father unquote being left out. He can’t even conceive that two mothers can do as good a job as anyone.” “Wait till we see how it works out first, babes before we gloat,” laughed Helen. “Whatever we put our minds to, babes, we’ll do. I’m that confident in both of us,” came Nikki’s incredibly tender answer. It was her form of profound declaration of love. |
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| richard | May 26 2010, 04:29 PM Post #49 |
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Enhanced
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Scene Thirty-Five One bright spring April Saturday morning, John and Monty were talking over the breakfast table with that sense of quiet idleness and of time stretching out before them. Joseph Channing, his copy of ‘The Times’ under his arm smiled amiably at them and made his way towards them just as Monty was holding forth on a topic “By the way, I’ve been appointed to organize the next lawyer’s bash. You might think this a radical suggestion but I was seriously wondering about asking Nikki and Helen as guests. We ought to sound out the brethren first though I know that certain reactionaries won’t like it.” “No guessing who you’re talking about,” grinned John, noting with extreme interest Monty’s choice of words. At one time, he had been one of them, himself. “I feel least inclined to humour the bigots right now. I won’t ever forget sleepless nights worrying in case Sir Ian and Sir Alan had a card up his sleeve we didn’t know about. There’s just one point. It might not be Nikki and Helen’s cup of tea so I don’t suppose you care to…..” “……sound them out first, Monty. An excellent idea,” John said in mild tones, reading his friend’s mind. Joseph chuckled loudly at the thought. He had heard from Monty how they had acquitted themselves at Helen’s trial and knew very well that they would handle an event like this with equal flair. “And of course, we haven’t seen George around recently. She might be willing to bring her partner so long as this isn’t going to cause you any embarrassment….” “No, no, Monty. I may well be escorting Jo Mills in any case. This would kill several birds with one stone.” “I have no problem with it either,” rumbled Joseph with surprising aplomb.” I anticipate that they would all behave themselves very decorously and respectfully. I much confess that I surprise myself in not being ‘appalled of Tunbridge Wells’ but George and Alice have talked me round over the past six months. Tunbridge Wells is, in any case hopelessly suburban.” “What about Vera?” John asked, chuckling appreciatively over Joseph’s witty but insightful observations. He was referring to Monty’s wife, the incredibly stupid, very tactless narrow minded archetypal floral hatted Conservative woman with hideous dress sense to match.” That could get a little bit tricky.” “As Joseph says, if they are forewarned for what they’re letting themselves in for, I’m sure they’ll manage. Vera will just have to take her chances,” Monty said carelessly, which made the other two men laugh. ************ The very next day, Nikki had got dug into a library book on women’s fertility and feeling as if she were taking a crash course in a foreign language. Helen was busy scribbling notes of whatever came into her head. Suddenly, there was an ever so polite knock on the door. Helen put her pen down and was surprised to see John Deed at the door, dressed in a smart suit and open necked shirt. His manner was friendly but just a little bit bashful, a quality of which Helen had thought John utterly incapable. “Why John, what brings you to these parts?” she exclaimed, that broad smile instantly warming John’s spirits.” Come in and take a seat. I warn you, you take us as you find us.” “That is very kind of you, Helen,” came the meek request. John came into the homely living room where Nikki, dressed in jeans and a turquoise shirt, cleared her books away and shook John by the hand. They had not seen him for a while. “Not more troubles on the home front?” Nikki enquired in her direct way.” Want a coffee? I’m ready for one myself.” In no time at all, John had a steaming hot mug of coffee at his side and he immediately broached the topic of conversation. “I’ve come partly for a social chat and partly as I have a rather unusual request to make of you, for once nothing to do with my private life,” said John with a wry smile. "You might not know it but ever since your landmark appeals, you have both become something of a ‘cause celebre’ for the judiciary and your run of high profile cases has earned the admiration of progressive minded judges, not just myself. Your support for our strike has never been forgotten either. Your recent trial has sealed your reputation if it didn’t need sealing anyway.” “So where is this leading us, John,” Nikki asked softly, a twinkle in her eyes. “The point is this. Monty’s organizing a party for the legal profession in the near future and both of us and Joseph want you to do us the honour of coming as guests.” The two women’s mouths fell open at the idea. They had retreated into their private existence of going to work and socializing with their friends, including picking up contact with Claire and Peter, which had fallen by the wayside a bit. They were conscious that they had made the news a bit from one trial to another but now they were content to watch the news. Somehow, they hadn’t quite truly believed the mark that they’d made. Accepting this offer would put themselves back into that world but without the reality of someone close to them going up on trial. The thought of all those people in their social life was something that they were trying to get their minds round. “Does this mean all the judges and barristers or anyone else?”Nikki asked guardedly as she started to put her thoughts together. “You refer to the brethren. They have been sounded out and they favour the idea. Of course, Sir Ian may well come along as well as Sir Alan Peasemarsh. Normally the Home Office minister would come but you know as well as I do that he’s ‘persona non grata’ right now. This will be a couples affair. More importantly, George is thinking of coming and she is trying to persuade Alice to come as well. She has a perfect right to come but in the past, Alice had preferred not to make any waves so she has ducked out.” Nikki looked at John’s way of talking with intense interest. He was talking with complete candour and was very precise about Alice accompanying George. As normal, the guy was for real. “We’ll never get a better chance of taking a backstage glance of what we’ve seen in court,” Helen breathed softly. ”I think we could find this an interesting experience.” “Of course, we’ll try to be decorous. We won’t come over as too ‘gay’ if you see what I mean,” Nikki added tactfully.” You’d better clue us into what we’re letting ourselves in for.” John smiled gently. He collected his thoughts and began to speak. From what George had told him, this would tip the balance for Alice. He realised that Helen had got it right. This did promise to be a very out of the ordinary experience and not just for his female friends. ******* On the one hand, the ancient polished mahogany table was loaded with ready poured glasses of the finest Champagne or dry sherry and awaiting smartly suited, languid Old Etonians replicating the sort of social occasions that had taken place back through history. In this world, the idea that nothing would ever change had been an unquestioned fact of life- that is, until John Deed's influence had insinuated itself far and wide. On the other hand, Nikki fiddled with her smartest black shirt nervously and Helen adjusted her makeup yet again while they stood in the antechamber, complete with portraits of famous judges of yesteryear. They agreed to go to this occasion as an act of mild defiance, to possibly confront the likes of Sir Ian but the feeling was growing within them that this meeting was going to be oppressively stuffy and heterosexual. In their nervousness, they wanted to latch onto George and Alice and their friends amongst the barristers and judges. The rest were an unknown quality and it made them nervous. They could hear the anonymous murmuring sounds of many voices the other side of the half open mahogany door while the foyer was as quiet as the grave. “Come on, babes, we have to crash through this barrier. It’s now or never,” Nikki said in a throaty voice. “Then it’s now. Big smile and make an entrance. We don’t slink in anywhere,” Helen answered, consciously buoying them both up. Their heels clicked on the tiles and they were through the door. Instantly, they were aware of faces turning in their direction. This was the moment of decision. “Helen, Nikki. We’re glad you could make it,” Monty exclaimed heartily, automatically shaking Helen by the hand, John’s smile of welcome just behind him. “We’re glad we could come. We’ve seen quite a fair few of you, this time in a more informal setting,” Helen replied heartily, smiling broadly. Nikki thought that all they had to do was to remember the mores of polite conversation that they were brought up in. Rather than being a drag on their evolution as free women, this was now their protective shield. “You must be Brian Cantwell. I remember you from the Karen Betts trial,” Helen said, a little more directly than she intended to this smartly dressed man. “I have certainly not forgotten you. It’s not every day that I’m given such a severe run for my money by you and your partner. It does me good to keep me on my toes and not get too complacent.” It took a second for Helen to realize that the man was actually being gracious towards her. Suddenly they felt the atmosphere start to lighten as they felt a measure of acceptance and, yes respect. They must have heard of us, Helen innocently thought as the man grinned before being collared by Neumann Mason-Alan. “So, Ms Wade, you must be the man of the relationship?” Vera said in loud tones, her bright orange buttoned up suit and reddish hair providing an equal shock to the senses as her words. Too late, Monty saw out of the corner of his eye, Vera Everard make a dead set for Nikki as he broke away from a one sided conversation with Sir Ian and came bustling over from the opposite side of the room. “Pardon?” Nikki said very politely, masking her feelings. Jesus, from which primeval swamp did this Neanderthal woman spring from. "You can call me Nikki if you like.” “Ms Stewart wears the dress and you wear the trousers. I would have thought it was obvious.” “I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, madam. I don’t know of any female same sex couples that have that kind of relationships these days. I wear smart trousers or jeans because I have always felt more comfortable that way. For an event like this, Helen chooses to dress up but at home she might wear trousers or jeans if she feels like it. In our relationship, we work as equals.” “Nikki, I must apologize for my wife. John and I have the advantage of knowing you and Helen a little bit better. Certainly John often talks affectionately of you both,”Monty interjected, cringing with embarrassment. “I was just satisfying my curiosity, Monty,” Vera spoke sharply to her husband who visibly winced.” Surely there’s no harm in that?” “Just treat Nikki and Helen like any human being should be treated. Come, Vera, Sir Ian wants our company.” “So frightfully glad you could make it, Nikki. No need to introduce you to Alice,” drawled a familiar aristocratic tone of voice behind her. To Nikki’s momentary surprise, George and Alice weren’t holding hands till she realized where they were. For the first time ever, Alice looked nervous and unsure of herself. In the meantime, Helen led the way back to her, followed by John and Jo who had been chatting to her in an animated fashion. “It’s very brave of you to boldly step into the dragon’s den, Nikki,” smiled Jo warmly as Sir Ian cast sidelong disapproving signs as he talked shop with Sir Alan Peasemarsh. “Nicola, what on earth are you doing here? Don’t you know that this is an exclusive affair for judges, barristers, solicitors and partners,” cut in a coldly shocked, disapproving tone of voice. Instantly Nikki’s hackles rose and she wheeled round to glare at her brother who had just come into the room. He had turned up with Brian Cantwell, eager to impress all the prestigious barristers and judges, in what he regarded his holy of holies and was devastated to find that his loathsome smart sister had infiltrated even this place. Worse still, he was acutely embarrassed to hear Vera Everard loudly proclaim his sister’s sexual deviance for the entire world to hear. Looks were exchanged, each person silently wondering who was going to step in here until Helen cut in forcefully. Someone had to take charge of the situation and it might as well be her as much as anyone. “I’d better do the introductions around here. This is John Wade, Nikki’s brother who is distinguished by his unthinking disapproval of everything Nikki has ever stood for. Her parents have been perfect sweethearts in accepting us. John, you'll recognise Alice of course who’s George’s partner, the same as Nikki and I are.” “So, you gatecrashed your way in here, Nicola. I might have known,” Nikki's brother retorted sulkily.” You just had to embarrass the family name, even here.” Oh help, Nikki thought, someone control my temper as her brother continued to push his luck. She didn’t trust herself to speak at an occasion like this. “You were asking how Helen and your sister have come to be here? The answer’s simple. Monty invited them here with mine and Joseph’s express approval,” interjected John. He saw a niche open up for him to steam into as he spoke in a precise tone of voice, articulating very consonant with all the force of his personality.” By the laws of civilized behaviour, they should be made welcome here. In any case, I count it an honour to call Nikki and Helen our very good friends and of course, George and Alice which goes without saying.” Nikki’s brother winced at the withering power of the judge’s words. Jo warmed to John for the tremor of emotion in his voice as he spoke up strongly for his friends. George and Alice felt the same and were especially bowled over by his courageous kindness in weaving them into the party ambiance. All of them sensed that John was nobly sticking up for good friends. Sensing the feeling was running coldly against him, John Wade sneaked off sulkily, turning red in the face. He would never understand, Nikki thought, shaking her head in despair at him, and drawing a long breath of relief at the way their friends closed ranks protectively round them. . “So we finally meet,” Sir Ian suddenly spoke in his typical cold superior fashion with a hidden undertone of discomfiture. Sir Alan hovered over his shoulder, looking equally disapproving. They had been standing on the sidelines pretending that they weren’t viewing Nikki and Helen as if they were specimens under a microscope. They had also noticed George and this mysterious dark-haired woman and even they picked up the feeling of closeness between them. Surely it didn’t mean what they thought it meant, the two men thought as John’s words of introduction had horrified them? This wasn't according to club rules surely? “I suppose you’re both feeling very pleased with yourselves.” “At getting justice where it’s due for me and my friends. Yeah, you’re right.” “Is this part of some conspiracy to bring down the government? One might think that all this hot air you spout about injustice might have an ulterior motive behind it?” came the spiteful retort. “Why are you so cold, Ian?” Nikki asked in genuine bemusement, her words slow and reflective, without any anger. She felt as if she had turned over what she’d seen of the man and John’s accurate word picture of him and suddenly a flow of words poured out. “You know, that’s what I find so odd about you. All the women I’ve ever known have some warmth of personality about them, something that makes me like something about them at the very least- at best, fall in love with them, like Helen. It’s not just women. I’ve got to know a number of male friends who have that very same quality about them. Something has made you only half a human being and it’s not because you’ve been born with the silver spoon in your mouth. Was it something that happened in your family or something in your schools? Then again, Monty and John went to Eton and ended up full-blooded human beings who know just who they are. That’s something you really don’t know for all your elevated position. I guess that your friend here are just the same.” Nikki’s almost gentle words momentarily got through that impervious defence. His eyes flitted backwards and forwards and the muscles in his face twitched. Then the suit of armour shut down again. Sir Alan Peasemarsh coloured at Nikki’s gentle reproach. “Highly philosophical, I am sure. You ought to go on a daytime talk show. You have some facility with words,” he coldly answered. It was half a sneer, half a grudging compliment. “You just don’t get it, Ian. I’m not here to pick an argument and create a bad atmosphere at an event which Helen and I are highly honoured to attend. Either one of us or both should back off.” “Does everyone want a drink? Sherry? White wine?” George suggested, briefly slipping back into her conciliatory mode in the same way that she used to operate when Neil Haughton was in a bad mood. Thank God, this is a one off, George thought, and tomorrow night, she’ll take Alice with her to Chix where they can be fully themselves despite John’s best efforts. She was conscious of odd looks being cast in their direction but her mischievousness bade her not to explain Alice away or to justify her. Keep them guessing, she had advised Alice before they set foot in the place. That way, they both had the advantage. “An excellent idea. I’m the host so I’ll help you and Alice,” Monty exclaimed, earning a grateful look from the tall, dark haired woman who wondered what a cold, artificial event this was, except for those real human beings who fanned the flickering flames of warmth and good feeling among the chill in the air. Meanwhile, Nikki marvelled as the way her mother’s traditional gambit of ‘let’s have a cup of tea and forget all this unpleasantness’ was taken up by all sides. What was ironic, she actually approved of it and joined in with it. *********** “Just stick at it, both of you,” Monty quietly advised the two women as he opened each bottle of wine, which the two women took off him. “I can see some of the brethren gawping at the pair of you. Just remember that this is all brand new to them. It won’t last, I assure you. There are enough here to make you welcome just as Nikki and Helen are making their mark. Just look over there.” “Thanks, Monty,” Alice said, smiling warmly at the man’s gruff but genuine encouragement, while deftly pouring out equal measures of wine. ”George and I can rise to the occasion, I’m sure.” George got the measure of Alice’s meaning sideways glance. Their view through the half open door confirmed the truth of Monty’s shrewd observation. Of course the other two were both right. What the hell, she vowed to herself, they’ll face everything out directly and enjoy themselves regardless. “Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to propose a toast,” Monty exclaimed loudly when everyone was served. Nikki, Helen and Alice looked round uncertain of what they might be railroaded into while everyone held their glasses high. “To justice,” Monty exclaimed, grinning broadly. The three women’s spirits rose up inside them in a joyful arc of emotion as they pleasurably intoned their responses. They drank from their glasses with pleasure, as did their friends. Only Sir Ian and Sir Alan Peasemarsh looked uncomfortable and out of place, an ironic contrast that remained throughout the surprisingly pleasurable evening, intriguingly different from their expanding range of experiences. Everyone was starting to get into the swing of the party and be damned to the killjoys. |
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| richard | Jun 3 2010, 04:39 PM Post #50 |
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Scene Thirty-Six As the evening wore on, Sir Ian and Sir Alan Peasemarsh had the peculiar feeling of being more and more relegated to the sidelines. They felt that somehow, their accustomed milieu had been stolen away from them from under their very noses. They had that uncomfortable feeling that insidious forces had infiltrated and had taken over their domain and things weren’t as they used to be. By contrast, a feeling like champagne coursing through the veins overtook the majority at the party where the conversation shifted between light hearted humour, serious observation and a feeling of shared intimacy amongst which the four women comfortably mingled. In the old days, the Attorney General and Home Office minister were the natural centres of conversation in a social event, fuelled by bonhomie and expensive wine. This event was a natural celebration of their smooth working relationship where everyone knew their role in the great scheme of things. In their heart of hearts, both men felt that Neil Haughton had brought down a lot of troubles on them all from an excess of zeal and a shortage of that ability to smooth the way to the objectives they all shared. The really difficult problem was that it was hard to find the right words to phrase this uncomfortable truth to his face. If the point were made too discreetly, the man wouldn’t understand the point being made. If, on the other hand, the approach were too direct, the man would take it personally. This partly explained why he was overlooked in arranging the invitations, the other point being that the aborted bill to restrict judge’s powers still rankled with the brethren. They had to admit to themselves that Deed had grabbed the opportunity offered to him why those two lesbian troublemakers were invited when strictly speaking, they had no standing there. Worse than that, they handled the social occasion with an unexpected finesse, which they hadn’t anticipated. The worst problem that faced them was the potential fallout of the public acceptance of George’s new partner. This was something that was the natural food of gossip, which was bound to find its way back to Neil Haughton. It explained why Sir Ian was deputised to get in there first. After all, he was the smooth-talking civil servant who was ideally suited and trained for this purpose. Sir Ian ran his finger round his shirt collar as he prepared himself to break the bad news to Neil Haughton. After all, as he reasoned to himself, if he hadn’t heard a whisper to date as to Ms Channing’s newfound sexual orientation, it was quite certain that neither had Neil Haughton. “But..but she can’t possibly be a lesbian. I used to have sex with her, dammit. She never complained at what I had to offer. I mean we broke up over personal reasons. I’m sorry, Ian but you must be mistaken.” The man shook his head from side to side repeatedly, as Sir Ian’s words sank home. “Regrettably, people change, Neil. After all my relationship with Francesca soured over a period of years , which finally caused us to separate. After all, consider how conservative George used to be at one time. Her interests were in making money, wearing expensive dresses and aiding the wealth creators with her considerable legal skills. At one time, her sympathies were quite clear cut and her views were sound.” “You, you don’t think she’s trying to wind me up, to pretend to be a lesbian. She’s a mother for God’s sake. She used to be married to Deed.” “Surely, an over elaborate deception, Neil.” “I know why she’s doing this, Ian. Why didn’t I see this before? She’s doing this to humiliate me, to get back at me for some supposed wrong she thinks I’ve done me. She thinks that this will get all the gossiping tongues going, that everyone will be saying that I can’t be much of a man if she breaks it off with me and goes off with another woman, that somehow another woman will satisfy her more than I did. This is typical of her. Underneath, she’s a totally calculating ice cold vindictive spiteful woman who knows how to stick the knife in psychologically,” exclaimed Neil Haughton with a rush of words, neatly ignoring Sir Ian’s careful choice of words. “I see what you mean,” intoned Sir Ian. As a top civil servant, he knew just when to stop trying to correct politicians ravings. Besides, his prim and proper nature was repelled by such extremities of emotion on public display. “Why in hell did they let her in at the party? I should have been there and not that woman and especially, not those two troublemaking lesbians. Somebody’s head’s going to roll for this,” Neil Haughton started to rant, red in the face. After that, Sir Ian didn’t even try to attempt to keep up with the conversation. He was chief whipping boy after all and he let the man rant on and on endlessly to a point way beyond he supposed that another man would have exhausted his word power and venom. But then again, the man was a politician. He made his discreet exit, Neil Haughton still holding forth. When he finally got back to his office, he reached for some strong headache tablets. ****** After George and Alice had got through their front door, both women reached out hungrily for each other. In a flash, George unbuttoned the taller woman’s white silk shirt from top to bottom and kissed her hungrily and deeply. They caressed each other’s faces and hair passionately and then George’s lips and tongue tasted her lover’s neck and her fingers stroked her lover’s exquisitely shaped backside. “The party went fine but there was something missing. I’ve been dying to hold your hand all evening,” murmured Alice as she ran her hand down her lover’s bare back that her low cut golden dress that left exposed. “I think we can do better than that, darling,” murmured George in tones dripping with sexual desire as she continued to kiss her lover’s neck and shoulders.” If what I desire most is dangling in front of me and I can’t have it, I only want it all the more.” Feelings of lust and desire surged through Alice as she moaned wordlessly in sheer ecstasy. It was so like George to express what they both felt so much, she thought, as her delicate fingers started to stroke her lover’s breasts. This was heaven. On unspoken agreement, the two women temporarily parted and quickly discarded their clothes. They both felt gloriously naked in the cosy dim low lights of the lounge. “Race you to bed, babes,” whispered Alice. “Not if I get there first, darling,” came the sultry reply. They both landed on the bed, George on top of Alice, overjoyed that there was no constraint, physical or mental, that lay between them. The blond haired woman started sucking at her lover’s hard nipples, one after the other, feeling those tender fingers caressing her in turn. Faster than she normally did, George’s tongue and lips traced a path down her lover’s flat stomach. Instead of slowly teasing her lover, George eagerly entered her lover, whose hips were already moving in rhythm to her. It was moments like these that reminded George how much she loved the texture and taste of Alice on her tongue and the feel of her delightful curves as her hands caressed her. Alice came to a climax hard and fast, crying out wordlessly as she felt George’s physical neediness and also her own. “I love you, Alice. I love you so very much,” George whispered into Alice’s ear, tenderly running her hand through her lover’s long hair, something that gave her sensual feelings inside her. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me, darling. I feel so complete with you,” the taller woman articulated in reply, placing soft emphasis on every syllable as she hugged her lover close and wound her leg round her. . Both women know beyond doubt as they held each other in their arms that they had a long, ecstatic night of lovemaking in store as they gloriously celebrated how normal they really felt. . ****** Neil Haughton couldn’t wait to spring his secret on John and finally ran into him at an informal social gathering, where the wine was normally as generously dispensed as much as there was a shortage of real emotional intimacy and meeting of minds. In recent times, even that had become suffused by a lurking tinge of humanity. “Ah, John. We’ve not had an intimate talk with each other for such a long time,” he said in his smarmiest tone of voice. This worried John secretly as a cheerful Neil Haughton boded no good for anyone. He bit back his instinct to be provocative and opted to draw him out. “I’m not ever so sure we were ever on intimate terms but you have the manner of someone bursting to tell me something. I’m all ears.” “A little bird has told me about George’s new partner. I must admit I was rather surprised as George is so feminine but you never can tell these days,” smirked Neil Haughton in a particularly gleeful tone of voice. All at once, John was particularly struck by the petty childishness of the man. He was irresistibly drawn back to his schooldays when he confronted a particular sneak who rejoiced in spreading smears round the form room to his cluster of gossiping cronies. He was the one who labelled John ‘Baker’s boy’ behind his back, spitefully sneering at his humble beginnings. That was the case till John caught up with him and a spot of fisticuffs in the boy’s toilets sorted him out. John sighed with a strange sense on nostalgia as, on the one hand, this was typical of the persecution he faced, on the other hand solutions were simpler and more direct then. Nevertheless, these founding experiences had given him that toughness that he had needed all his life. His mind was drifting and he recalled Nikki talk of her difficult experiences of boarding school and he resolved to compare notes at some stage. All at once, John returned to the present and he understood that this worm was sneering at George’s sexuality and trying to wind him up. He grinned broadly in a way that unsettled Neil Haughton who had been mystified by the faraway look in John’s blue eyes. “You mean that George is a lesbian and her partner, Alice is a very warm, sympathetic woman. She and George are ideally suited. We had an interesting conversation at the party,” John said, the words rolling smoothly off his tongue and that most misleading look of innocence in his eyes. “What? Aren’t you offended and astounded by George’s behaviour? You disappoint me, John especially for Charlie’s sake,” came the very sly response as the other man tried his inadequate best to conceal how his attempt to wind up John had failed. No wonder the man made a fortune in advertising, John thought to himself. Part of him wanted to shrink away from the man’s presence in case he might be contaminated by him, but the other combative side was dying to say something outrageous. Finally, he resolved that the simple truth would serve him as well as it had always had done. “I have brought up Charlie to have an enquiring mind and not to be bound down by prejudices. In any case, Charlie has already met her last Christmas when she and George came round. Charlie has definitely taken to her and approves of their match.” Neil Haughton’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. For once in his life, this glib talking politician was speechless. He had so lost his faculties that it took him a long time to work out how to make a physical exit from the situation. “Why thank you, John for sticking up for Alice and me,” that well known aristocratic tone of voice broke into the conversation.”You are a true and generous friend to both of us.” Neil Haughton swivelled round and his jaw dropped to see the familiar sight of George, dressed in that expensive yellow dress that he had bought her, hands linked with a tall, attractive, dark haired woman. His jaw hung open. He could not get his head round the thought of his George being in the same frame as another woman. They were both attractive yet their manner told him that he was redundant to their very existence. To add insult to injury, both women smiled approvingly at John. Even lesbians preferred Deed to him, his outraged mind reasoned. “I won’t say that it’s a pleasure to meet you again, Neil, as that would be hypocritical. We’ll be polite to you but that’s all,” that same voice carried on in glassy tones. Her eyes flicked briefly past him and back to John again. “It’s nice to see you both,”Monty intervened to Neil Haughton’s horror. He was suddenly conscious of being sidelined. Everyone was smirking at him and the circle of conversation closed round the two women, leaving him out in the cold. His humiliation was public and, for that reason, unendurable. ******* “You really don’t think that women together actually do anything together? After all, they’re not exactly equipped to deal with it?” Neil Haughton said a few days later to Sir Ian when he sidled round to halfway apologise. Sir Ian was not to know that Neil Haughton’s abrupt deflation in his sense of self-importance had punctured his anger only temporarily. Even he thought that his temper tantrum was excessive and he didn’t want to alienate so useful a man as Sir Ian. “It’s all outside my experience, Neil. All my circle of acquaintances are perfectly conventional that way. Even Deed and Jo Mills are perfectly normal that way. In fact, Deed goes out of his way to proclaim his normality.” “Don’t I know it,” Neil Haughton shuddered at the memories.” I always got the feeling that Deed was always after George. I always suspected that he was trying to take her away from me.” “I think perhaps he was trying to wind you up. You forget the very strong rumours concerning him and Jo Mills.” “You know, I wonder if I really understand women Ian,” confided a very maudlin Neil Haughton to a slightly queasy Sir Ian.” You wine them, you dine them, you let them have expensive dresses and, and everything. You give them the opportunity to be part of something extraordinary, to be part of the glamorous central stage of politics, you give them your time but there’s always something missing. You know what I mean?” “I’m not really sure what you do mean.” “I think of it this way. I sometimes got the feeling from George that she was never really there. I remember her charming smile and that voice of hers but there was nothing really real about her. I could never get a direct answer from her. It was all masks and appearances.” “I suppose there’s something in what you say.” Neil Haughton drummed his fingers on Sir Ian’s table for a few minutes, deep in thought while Sir Ian thought of his work stacking up. He kept his gaze trained on the other man however. “Well, must dash. I’ve got a lot to do. Thanks for listening to me,” said Neil Houghton, the hearty workaholic man of affairs once again in charge of the situation. “It was nothing, Neil,” came the answer, for once telling the truth. |
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| richard | Jun 10 2010, 08:48 AM Post #51 |
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Scene Thirty-Seven Karen was climbing the final dizzying heights of desire as Beth’s hips thrust against hers and finally she loudly called out one last ecstatic shout of desire and love, as moisture streamed from her. She loved moments like this as she felt Beth’s sleek body urgently pushing between her thighs and deep inside her as she called out her feelings of ecstasy to her lover. Although that part of Beth that was inside her wasn’t made of flesh and blood, it felt as physically real and exciting as anything in her life. She wrapped her arms hungrily round her lover and her fingers ran down those sleek lines that she loved so much and went on to caress her shapely backside. Beth looked down on her lover as they finally came to a shuddering climax together and felt her own hard nipples against her lover’s body. She pressed her lips against Karen’s and slipped her tongue deeply into her lover’s mouth. Both women luxuriated in the feel of their tongues caressing and playing with each other’s, their mouths wide open and hungry for each other. They had that blissful knowledge that each was desired as much as they desired. Karen had that wonderful feeling within her of the sheer perfection of Beth’s lovemaking. In turn, the dark haired woman marvelled once again that a woman whose experience had been with men for so many years could have been transformed into an expert lover of women. They had been together for over six months and their emotional commitments had twined round each other as much as their legs were at this minute. “My God, darling,” said Karen in a hoarse breathy tone of voice as she struggled for air to fill her lungs after her lover had taken her up to the top of a frenzied climax.” I never knew what sex was about is till I met you.” “Amazing though you might think it, you’ve taught me a thing or two, darling,” smiled a blissfully dishevelled Beth, gently stroking her lover’s cheek. “The same goes for love. That’s what makes you so special, Beth,” murmured Karen, gently shifting the conversation sideways as her fingers traced a trail down the exquisitely carved lines of her lover’s back. It seemed to stretch a long way until she found the curves she was searching for. “I get strength and sympathy from you, darling. That’s not as common as you might think.” “This feels so good. I as happy as I’ve ever been since we found each other,” murmured Karen as she stared upwards at the beauty of her lover. She could spend a lifetime looking at Beth’s carved straight nose, her parted full lips and her incredible eyes of her lover as she propped herself up above her. “You’re totally gorgeous, babes. I wonder you’ve never been snapped up by another woman. I guess that makes me feel really lucky.” “Keep saying that to me, Beth. I really love to hear you say that to me.” The dark haired woman’s sharp ears picked up Karen’s shifting tone of voice in veering away from frankly exposing her true feelings. She sounded as if she was halfway attempting to be flip and casual. She guessed that, in the past, Karen had tended to play it cool with previous partners and she was the lucky woman for whom Karen was letting it all hang out. Karen really made her feel really special in letting down her natural barriers and this intimacy was all for her. She tenderly caressed her lover whose knowing smile was a sure sign of the stirrings of desires within her. “I know what you really want to do with me, babes. Go on. You know you want to do it,” Beth murmured seductively. The two women separated their bodies from each other and shuffled around in the near darkness. When Karen had finally got ready, she felt so free and good about herself. This physical accessory for lesbian lovemaking felt perfectly natural as she stared down at her naked lover, sprawled out with that ‘come hither’ air about her. Beth tingled all over in the prospect that soon that very forward lover of hers would be uninhibitedly making love to her in turn. This was one of the many things she loved about Karen. The fair-haired woman didn’t disappoint. Soon Karen was stroking and kissing the other woman’s breasts while Beth’s legs were wrapped round her. Her hips were already moving rhythmically moving and all her senses were deliriously alive as she felt the strength and passion in her lover with all her senses. “God, Karen, you are so good but you can’t hold out on me like this,” Beth moaned. She ached for her lover to enter her so she could soar to perfection. “Don’t worry darling. I’m all for you,” that husky voice answered as its owner slithered up the length of Beth’s body and she kissed her deeply. To Beth’s intense joy, it felt as if Karen’s tongue was halfway down her throat and even more so as she could feel her lover start to press gently at the centre of her desires. Karen had never felt so free in her life to be the woman she wanted to be, with no artificial restrictions as she started to physically excite her lover in the way that she knew best how it felt. Deep feelings of finally consummated longings caused both women to moan with pleasure as they became linked as one. This felt inexpressibly good to both women as they were similarly one heart and soul with nothing to divide them. Beth loved the feeling of hardness of Karen inside her as she felt the way she was loved. In turn, Karen was up high with those feelings of accomplishment as she drove her lover fiercely towards her climax with perfect assurance and trust. Finally, both women poured out their intense feelings of love and desire for each other as Karen passionately laid kisses on her lover’s neck. Their final climax took them to that perfect pitch of a long sustained gorgeous flow of sensations. When they slid down the other side, they lay against each other, gasping for breath and feeling incredible tenderness for each other. The night was so peaceful and nothing existed except for the feelings of their skin against each other as their breathing gradually returned to normal. “It feels so good to get past the hard slog of a week’s work. This is what it’s all about,” Beth said as she tried to regain her breath. “I was brought up to give as well as to receive,” answered Karen in that low, husky tone of voice that Beth loved to hear. “Oh darling,” murmured the dark haired woman with all the affection in the world as she slid her arms round her lover and lovingly caressed her. “I love you, Beth,” Karen said in sudden fierce passion, her strong arms clasping her lover.” You make everything in my life feel so easy, so natural and so right.” “You really know how to let go emotionally and come out and say it,” whispered Beth admiringly.” I can feel it anyway whenever you’re around me.” “Believe me darling, that’s entirely down to you to bring that out of me. I talk easiest when I’m naked and next to you.” Beth’s slim hands drew her lover’s face down close to her so that her full lips brushed Beth’s eyes in turn, the tip of her straight nose, her own lips and finally the fair haired woman smuggled down against her. Both women had that profound sense of peace with themselves and in that heightened sense of awareness and emotion that was not often enough experienced in life. Each knew that whatever happened to each of them, the other would be right by her side, whether physically or in her thoughts. That’s what each of them had said in not so many words. It was a little later after a living daydream that Beth felt Karen’s lips and tongue softly caress her neck in a way that made delicious feelings insinuate their way into her consciousness. Almost automatically her hips started flexing ever so gently and she was sure that her fair-haired lover was sliding ever so gently inside her. She murmured something wordlessly and her fingers ran through the long fair tresses. There was no mistake that the night was certainly not over. “Babes, you are such a demanding lover……” “Darling, is that a problem?” that husky voice drawled, adding to her unmistakable desires welling up inside you. “Only if I can’t kiss your nipples,” moaned Beth desperately. Obligingly, the other woman moved around and Beth almost swooned as the fullness of her lover’s breasts brushed her cheeks and her lips and tongue captured that hardening shape and lovingly caressed it. Karen moaned in uninhibited pleasure as the dark haired woman’s slim fingers and lips felt the curves that she loved so much. It was the way that Beth moved around in bed so as to pleasure her as much as being pleasured, thought Karen dazedly as their desires were freely flowing. She found herself starting to kiss and caress her lover’s shapely breasts and as her tongue and lip gently massaged the nipple that they had captured, she felt as delightfully as far away from her old self as it was possible to be and the more she wanted to be. “You can’t keep me out of you for ever babes,” Karen said throatily, insatiable desires racing through her as she finally came lay on top of her lover. It was at moments like these that she had problems in deciding in what way she ached to pleasure Beth. “I don’t want you to, Karen darling,” came that desirous command. "You know much I badly want you to penetrate me.” Everything felt sensual to Karen, the luscious feel of the night air on her back as the dark haired woman’s legs brushed her own. Karen paused only briefly until she finally touched the centre of her desires. It didn’t cross her mind that she had to figure out how that part of her would best excite her lover, not when those slim legs were wrapped round her and as her mouth finally pressed against Beth’s soft lips. It felt like hours later when the two women faced each other, sleepily exchanging gentle kisses when Beth finally murmured into her lover’s ear. “We’ll have one last goodnight kiss, darling and then we must sleep.” “I suppose we have to, babes,” came the mumbled reply. Instead of the gentle pressure on her lips, Karen was pleasantly surprised to feel her lover gently ease her onto her back and slip her tongue into her mouth. This is what they both really wanted, Beth knew, as she straddled her lover Both women started kissing each other deeply, feeling the soft texture of each other’s tongues and the delightful aftertaste of their earlier lovemaking. Both women loved the feel of being deep inside each other and sighed into each other’s mouths. While Beth’s fingertips softly caressed those much loved high cheekbones and long blond hair, Karen’s hands reached out for those delicious womanly curves beyond that sleek back that she adored so much. The dark haired woman loved the feel of Karen’s hands possessing her as much as her own legs rubbed up against her lover. Sleepily sensuous feelings pulsed lazily through both women. “Sweetheart, I love the feel of you in my arms,” sighed Karen when their mouths had disengaged at last. They may have temporarily dozed off at that point but neither of them were sure of this. It was utter bliss to Karen to run her fingers along her lover’s skin. Long since abandoned was any sense that she needed to hold back and aim for futile security that way. “Darling, I love it as much as you do but I also love the feel of you between my legs,” came the loving and sultry reply. Karen gave Beth a questioning, doubtful look. “I’m not letting you down by saying that the spirit is willing but the flesh is, well, totally shagged out.” “Relax.,darling,” laughed the dark haired woman into her lover’s ear which she quickly caressed with her tongue,”I feel the same. That passing sexual fantasy will wait till next time.” Beth tenderly ran her fingers through her lover’s long fair hair, in blissful recognition of what she had been so lucky to find. She had to vocalize it. The moment demanded it. “I guess you know by now that I’ve always been sexually, well adventurous and dominant no matter how much I’m a femme, clotheswise,” she started to say and then stopped. “Go on, babes,” Karen said, looking up at the perfect features of her lover. The idea of an intimate conversation with her friend and lover seemed the perfect way of rounding off the evening. ”I’m interested in what you’re saying, what you’re thinking.” This reassured Beth. This intelligent woman never ceased to amaze her. “All my exes made the mistake of letting me dominate them and I see now that they all made that mistake of letting me do that. You’re so different, babes. As soon as you found your feet so to speak, you’ve done the right thing by never letting me do that. That’s what I mean when I said that I’ve learned from you.” “I love you Beth,” Karen said simply without the slightest trace of artifice, something she would never have been capable before. Beth knew it, too. “I love you too, sweetheart. More than I can put into words. It isn’t just sex talking for me though you know how much I lust after you.” “It makes a woman feel really wanted- really,” came the answer with a soft laugh with an undertone of seriousness. “When I’m not with you, you wouldn’t believe the sexual fantasies I have of you.” “Tell me darling. I’m eager to know what’s on your mind, impure or otherwise.” “Oh you know, of feeling you being up inside me, hearing and feeling your orgasm as I’m licking you.” “I know I’m a noisy lover. That’s one of my habits,” the dark haired woman wryly confessed. “Nothing wrong with either of us. We’re both enthusiastic….and I’ve never had such a loyal friend as you. I’ve never felt that before in a lover, not remotely.” “I love the strength in you,” Beth said softly. She loved the feeling of emotional intimacy of talking with her lover, of hearing her husky tone of voice wrap itself round her. “I remember our first night together, darling,” Beth dreamily heard herself saying a little while later as she tenderly kissed Karen on her full lips. “Mmm, how could we forget it,” the blond haired woman murmured returning the kisses. “I still can’t get over how you knew how to kiss another woman from the word go.” Karen shrugged her shoulders as her lips brushed the other woman’s soft cheek. “I really don’t know, babes. Desire and instinct? Live and learn as the saying goes.” ”Absolutely, babes,” murmured the dark haired woman as her lips brushed her girlfriend’s neck. It was later than they planned that they finally curled up together in the blissful afterglow of their love. Truly these Friday nights were so magical in their lives as a sign that life had opened up so many possibilities.. |
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| richard | Jun 16 2010, 04:48 PM Post #52 |
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Scene Thirty-Eight Saturday morning had a similarly refreshing feel for Alice as she snatched that weekend’s release to turn inwards on her own feelings of satisfaction with her own life, as opposed to her concern with the lives that she dealt with as a social worker. She told herself that she had a perfect right to be as selfish as such a warm-hearted woman would ever let herself be when she was off the job. George knew that very well and this, above all else was why she loved Alice. The other reason that came to mind was that somehow, Alice’s presence freed George to be the woman she wanted to be. Right now, Alice lay stretched out in their double bed and saw her beautiful girlfriend brush her hair in front of the mirror. She loved the elegance of the way her arm arced up to run the silver brush through the shoulder length blond hair and the lines of her shoulder blades. Her statuesque figure was barely concealed by her skimpy nightie. In the mirror, Alice could see the broad smile of self-satisfaction on George’s face. In that second, Alice’s mind was decided. She slipped out of bed, delicately took the brush out of George’s hand and carried on the rhythmic motion between them. “I thought you’d never come, darling,” she murmured in her most seductive tones, tilting her head back. With infinite gentleness, Alice gently stroked the brush through that fine gold hair and the other woman luxuriated in the feel of being ministered to. Alice loved the feeling of being so up close to her partner that she couldn’t help the fingers of her left hand from caressing George’s shoulders. Eventually, it dawned on Alice that her partner’s hair was brushed to perfection and she placed the brush on the table, moving alongside George. “Is this how you like it, babes?” Alice asked in a husky tone of voice, the delicious feelings of desire rising up inside her. “Why don’t you finish off what you’ve been starting, darling?” came that exquisitely seductive invitation from her lover. That was enough for Alice as she drew George up to her level and kissed her deeply. This was what they both really wanted, their murmurous voices were saying as they gently caressed each other, Alice ruffling her lover’s hair. “It doesn’t matter darling. I’d far sooner make love to you than worry that much what I look like. I’m not that narcissistic.” George laughed softly as she ran her fingers around the contours of her lover’s breasts. They disrobed what little they were wearing and soon, Alice lay at angles across her lover while her fingers trailed down her lover’s stomach, gently working downwards. Already George’s hips were starting to move as Alice’s skilful fingers teased her with the prospect of what was to come. The fair haired woman ran her hands through her lover’s long tresses with joyful feelings of desire and tasted her lover’s soft skin. Heightened feelings rippled through George as she felt her lover’s fingers slide into her and expertly coax her to her first orgasm of the day. This was one of life’s delightful starters to the day. The rest of the weekend promised whatever they wanted it to. “So how do you think your ‘coming out’ event worked out, darling, because the brethren’s event was partly about us, wasn’t it,” Alice whispered into George’s ear as they lay curled up in bed together in a moment of blissful relaxation. “You chose your timing well, sweetheart,” George said tenderly, divining that Alice knew that George needed to mull over the whole experience for a few days before before being certain of her perceptions.” As it happens, I think that at least those who are our friends, accepted me as who I am, who we are together. Those who looked at us as a freak show don’t matter. We did the right thing.” “And some of your lawyer friends are actually pretty accepting of us. If you’re up for it, I’d certainly enjoy being flaunted as your partner next time.” “That’s the ultimate object of the exercise,” drawled George as she slid on top of Alice. She stared down at her lover and figured out that they really couldn’t leave their bed without making love one more time. From the look in Alice’s eyes, she knew that the dark-haired woman felt the same. ****** “I can’t believe I’ve earned enough money to splash out on some clothes and makeup after all this time,” said Karen breathlessly later on that day. What was surprised her was she didn’t feel at death’s door after last night’s strenuous and lengthy love making but then again, Beth looked pretty perky. She shrugged her shoulders in acceptance of life as she lived it right now.” I’ve felt better in my mind in working at the hospital and getting back to what I’m good at.” “It’s about time you treated yourself, darling. You’ve every right to,” Beth said softly as she got into Karen’s green MG sports car. She knew that giving a little control to Karen in this way would do her good. Certainly, she had a satisfied grin on her face as her shoulder length hair flicked back in the wind as she turned the wheel to get their car on the road. It felt like fun to Beth as it seemed to lie snug on the road so Karen powered it all the way into the town and manoeuvred it smartly into a parking space. It took them no time at all to enter the precinct, which displayed a bewildering array of shops of all kinds and shapes. The blond haired woman blinked in bedazzlement. She was only half sure that she really belonged here and had only really determined to buy some makeup. Splashing out frivolously on a range of clothes seemed strange to her. At that moment, Beth slid her hand into her lover’s. Beth felt her nervousness for her. “We’ll take it slowly, babes. No need to rush it.” Karen squeezed her lover’s hand back, feeling a rush of relief and tenderness. She had the feeling that she’d been through this movie before except then, she had been less nervous for some strange reason. “Could we check out the makeup department first? That’s my best way of dipping my toe into the water. I definitely need a few things.” “Whatever feels right for you, darling,” came the soothing reply. It hit the mark. A rush of memories came back to Karen, how her financial world had fallen in on her after she lost her job at Larkhall and how she had had to leave her comfortable flat behind. She had gone through months of grinding poverty when she'd been out of work when the only spare money left over went on cheap spirits and cigarettes. She'd avoided shopping malls like the plague and only trudged to the little neighbourhood superstore at the end of her terraced street for whatever she needed. When she was unemployed and waiting for the trial, she had strongly felt that she didn't belong to the human race, on top of being swallowed up by feelings of total horror and despair as to her future. She now saw that Beth had kindly prefaced her rightful reemergence into the human race by initiating their phenomenal lovemaking the night before. All her horrible experiences were consigned to the past now that new horizons were opening up, and she was back where she belonged.Tears in her eyes formed for everything that her darling Beth had been steadily working for them both over the past months. She wasn't just the sexiest babe imaginable but also an incredibly kind-hearted friend as well. “You lead the way, sweetheart. I’m ready for it now,”Karen breathed. Immediately, she was thrown into a world of luxury and excess which threw her for a second until she strode purposefully towards the counter that she wanted and she made her purchases deliberately while Beth followed suit. At the checkout, she clutched her purchases proudly. This represented the fruits of her labours from her struggles from the past nine months since she’d left Larkhall and well before then, when she came to think of it. When they entered the next shop, she felt more ready to deal with it and came to enjoy browsing round the store with Beth and casually discussing what they both saw. “Hey, you two,” called out the familiar warm tones from behind them both.” We’re really glad to find you.” “Why Alice and George, so lovely to see you,” Karen answered, her eyes lighting up at such welcome company as she hugged and kissed each woman. “We’re here to help Karen spend some of her money. A bit of retail therapy would do her good,” contributed Beth, good humouredly “In which case, I’ve just seen the ideal outfit for you. You’re sure to love it,” sparked back George, a persuasive gleam in her eye. The other three women let George lead the way and relied on her good choice. Karen was secretly worried that, knowing George’s expensive taste, it would cost the earth. They threaded through the crowds of women of various ages until George zoomed in on her find. “Here you are. What did I tell you?” the blond haired woman said triumphantly. Karen gazed at it in awe. To describe it as a pair of black trousers and matching top was to make it sound like a power dressing outfit. It was nothing of the kind. It emphasized Karen’s height and curves in a very feminine and alluring fashion. “You’re fantastic, George. I must try it on,” Karen breathed with that desire to possess. “You must of course help Karen see whether it is right for her,” murmured Alice with that little twinkle. Of course, the dark-haired woman was right, thought Karen gleefully. She went into the conveniently large sized changing room and put on the outfit. When she appeared again, Beth’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “Do you like me in this outfit?” Karen said with a small smile on her face, looking to Beth for approval. “You look gorgeous, babes,” she said breathlessly as Karen did a little twirl, placing her weight on one foot with the heel off the ground.” I would never have spotted it.” “It’s a shame to change out of it in a way. Still, we’ve got all our lives together.” Beth had to remember that the average shop wasn’t that open to overt displays of affection. She couldn’t keep her hands off Karen but reminded herself that this is the first visual taster of the main feast to come whenever they are on their own at nights. Karen changed back into her normal clothes and passed the security counter back to the assistant “I’ve chosen this outfit,” Karen said unnecessarily to the assistant “I think it suits me.” “I’m sure your fella will like it,” came the automatic answer. In her eyes, the dark haired woman was being very patient watching her friend doing her shopping. “Er, yes,” Karen said in uncertain tones.” I know my partner will like it.” They rejoined George and Alice and Karen proudly paid for the outfit at the counter and they headed off to the next shop. It was with feelings of timeless joy that they meandered their way from shop to shop and the four women each helped the other to make their choice. It was a revelation to Karen that she could once be the centre of attention to what others saw in her and to consider carefully an outfit that would suit another woman. Like everything else in her life these days, this came to her easier than she might have once thought possible. |
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| GG72 | Jun 21 2010, 07:43 PM Post #53 |
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Well done Richard, I hope you can get back to Helen having Nikki's baby, maybe the others will get the same idea, all but George. Greatgrandma(GG72)
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| richard | Jun 23 2010, 07:55 PM Post #54 |
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Hi GG72 (Greatgrandma). Lovely amusing comment here and your wish in this strand of the fic is to be granted. Enjoy. ........................................................................................................................ Scene Thirty-Nine “OK, this is the theory,”Nikki joked nervously as they waited in the archetypal hospital waiting room. “I reckon I’ve done the really smart thing in being a lesbian all my life. It’s meant that I’ve had great sex and not had to go on the pill and risked my ability to conceive. Here’s hoping that it works.” “You know, I’ve not seen the inside of a hospital on my own account since I don’t know how long. I once saw Zandra Plackett when she’d just had her baby,”said Helen, long ago memories floating before her eyes.She took in the look of the clear surfaces, the antiseptic smells and the others in the waiting room on a row of black formica chairs, all waiting their turn. “God, that goes back a long way,” mused Nikki.”I wondered at the time why Zandra had to live for the sake of her baby but I never had any idea of what it meant in personal terms. It was all very abstract …I’ve always stayed pretty fit and healthy except, of course, I accidentally stabbed my hand after a stupid argument with you in the garden- that is, I was being stupidly jealous of Dominic, I blush to admit it….Jesus, why do they have such junky magazines like Heat magazine? Even in the roughest times in prison, I steered clear of reading crap like that.” Helen laid her hand gently on Nikki’s as she could tell that the dark haired woman’s volubility in all directions was simply her nerves talking. “Hey, don’t worry, Nikki. Just for once in our lives, we have to place our destiny in the hands of the professionals. You’ve heard Karen talking about her nursing experiences. We have to trust that they know what they’re doing. We have to imagine that they’re like her.” Helen’s soft lilting accent and the warmth of her personality did the trick. Nikki grinned somewhat uncertainly and leaned her head affectionately on the other woman’s shoulder. Perhaps it was all this biology jargon that was throwing her. She hated the thought that anything in the written word couldn’t be understood by her. After all, they had picked up the groundworks of how the legal system worked so why should medical matters throw them?. “Treatment cycles are typically started on the third day of menstruation and consist of a regimen of fertility medications to stimulate the development of multiple follicles of the ovaries. In most patients injectable gonodropins are used under close monitoring. Such monitoring frequently checks the estradiol level and, by means of gynacolic untrasonography, follicular growth. Typically approximately 10 days of injections will be necessary. Spontanenous ovulation during the cycle is prevented by the use of GnRH agonists or GnRH antagonists, which block the natural surge of luteinising hormone.” Nikki was rereading the book on IVF and, for once in her life, every word she read went straight into her head and out the other side except the word ‘injection.’ That, she understood. The thought of it had made her queasy. The first month or so of her imprisonment had come back to haunt her when she remembered sharing a cell with a heroin addict who mainlined every night on her bunk. Her tactful attempts to look away hadn't really worked for her so that image had been burnt into her memory. Nevertheless, she submitted with grim determination to what she had to do. If it took her to push through this barrier of her aversion to needles to get Helen to finally carry their baby, then so be it. It meant that she wasn’t watching from the sidelines and seeing someone else get maternal. When follicular maturation is judged to be adequate, human chorionic gonadotropin is given. This agent, which acts as an analogue of luteinising hormone, would cause ovulation about 36 hours after injection, but a retrieval procedure takes place just prior to that, in order to recover the egg cells from the ovary. The eggs are retrieved from the patient using a transvaginal technique involving an ultrasound-guided needle piercing the vaginal wall to reach the ovaries. Through this needle follicles can be aspirated, and the follicular fluid is handed to the IVF laboratory to identify ova. The retrieval procedure takes about 20 minutes and is usually done under conscious sedation or general anestenia. As Nikki clawed her way through the medical jargon, she grabbed certain aspects of what it meant and this defined pretty closely what was to happen to her. She wasn’t sure if it reassured her or not. Finally her mind cleared and it came down to this. She had to trust in the judgment of another professional. This gave her a familiar feeling and it crossed her mind that Helen had once been that professional with that similar mindset. “Ms Wade, the doctor is ready for you now,” the nurse intoned suddenly as she suddenly materialised out of nowhere. Nikki jumped inside her skin. “Take it easy, sweetheart. Let’s face it, if we get lucky, you’ll be the concerned, caring parent-to-be for nine months while I go to pieces,” Helen murmured, kissing Nikki gently on her cheek. Nikki suddenly smiled and relaxed a little. She was ready for what must happen. Later on, Nikki found herself lying flat on her back, staring up at the intensely bright light that was shining down on her. At the corner of her vision, masked professionals clustered around, wearing the same green surgical gowns. What pleased her was that the one in charge talked to her directly as a human being and didn’t treat her as a medical specimin. She explained very clearly in layman’s language just what was going to happen, stage by stage and soothingly reassured her. Once that connection was made, Nikki smiled broadly in relief. This woman had gained her trust. Once that happened, Nikki was well away and she let everything flow around her. It was almost therapeutic lying back horizontally like this……….. “Trisha, Sally Anne, it’s marvellous to see you,” Helen exclaimed as familiar voices greeted her in the waiting room. “Nikki has gone in, hasn’t she?” Sally Anne asked in a breathless tone of voice.”Trisha and I did our best to get here on time. I guess the hospital fooled us in wheeling her in on time.” “Yeah, she went in fine. You know Nikki. When push comes to shove, she always rises to the challenge. Mind you, I oughtn’t to shoot my mouth off. If everything goes well with her, it will be my turn,” laughed Helen shakily. “I guess you must have always had a strong maternal streak in you. I certainly admire you. You must really want to have a baby and bring it up,” Trisha said in easy tones. “I talked about this with Nikki on the one occasion we had a chance to talk of our feelings, of our future going beyond busting Nikki out of prison," explained Helen. ”The women around Chix find it easy to steer clear of the whole family bit. I admit Sally and I are in that group,”Trisha admitted frankly.”Still, we’re happy to cheer you on from the sidelines.” Helen warmed to these two generous hearted women. She knew from her experience with Nikki of standing in for them last December that daytime was precious to them in terms of recharging their batteries. She also half suspected that they would become more actively involved over time. “Nikki and I would love any help you care to give. My problem is that I haven’t grown up in one of those large extended families where you get roped in to help older sisters and cousins. My feelings are entirely instinctual. At the end of the day, I can’t analyse my feelings. I admit I’ve bullied and badgered Nikki into sharing my point of view.” “I know Nikki well enough to know that she never agrees with anything she fundamentally disagrees with. She also operates on instinct. Nikki’s with you, trust me, or she wouldn’t be on the operating table right now.” If it wasn’t the warmth and sincerity in Trisha’s voice that reassured Helen’s own lurking fears, it was Trisha’s acute observation of her lover. Somhow, she knew that if a situation were to arise that was beyond them, they need only reach out for help. This was a sign of the times. Finally, Nikki appeared before them wearing a cautious smile with a ‘thumbs up’ gesture. Helen flung her arms round her and Nikki beamed as she spotted her two friends. She hadn’t expected this and she embraced the two other women. “Do you want to come with us for a coffee at the Starbucks round the corner?” Helen asked, hospitably enough. The two other women exchanged glances and concluded that they could place pleasure over duty for a little while yet. Sure enough, they found themselves sitting around a table in a snug corner of the café. Helen ordered the drinks and, for herself, chose a chocolate drink with a dab of cream on top. Outside, sunlight alternated with sudden squalls of rain which beat on the windows. It gave them a cosy feeling of being out of the way of the elements which were beating down on those below. In their time, they had had their metaphorical share of gales and hostile elements. “So how optimistic were the doctors, Nik?” Trisha enquired. “You know doctors, Trish. They never committ themselves in public. As far as I could gather, they were ‘as optimistic as far as they could judge at this moment.’ You work that out.” “I suppose I might have to learn how to knit bootees and romper suits,” Sally Anne said in slightly embarrassed tones.”I’m good at moving furniture and running clubs. I used to be good at laying down the law but I was never that great at this sort of domestic stuff.” “I’m sure you’ll do fine. I mean, we’ll all have to learn as we go along. How else did we get to be where we are now? I mean there's never has been any A level course on how to be a lesbian,” Trisha volunteered. The four women cheered up considerably at the thought. In the wider sense, all of them battled with the thoughts of anxieties of whatever was new, that challenged their experiences, the fear of the unknown and their native thought that somehow, they could figure out a solution. It made Trisha and Sally Anne feel that, though they were total beginners, it didn’t mean that they had nothing to offer. “So let’s drink a toast on this even if this is alcohol free,” Nikki said cheerily, feeling a comfortable glow within her. “To the future. “Cheers,” the four women proclaimed. ******* Much later on, Helen and Nikki were curled up together on the sofa and shared the book they were reading. Rain was pattering down the window at the side of them, leaving small trails down the length of the window. Inside, everything was cosy and warm. Their eyes lighted on a particular passage which they were now ready to read. Take it a step at a time, they mouthed to themselves. If semen is being provided by a sperm donor, it will usually have been prepared for treatment before being frozen and quarantined, and it will be thawed ready for use. The sperm and the egg are incubated together (at a ratio of about 75,000:1) in the culture media for about 18 hours. By that time fertilisation should have taken place and the fertilised egg would show two pronuclei. In situations where the sperm count is low, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg using intracycoplasmicsperm injection (ICSI). The fertilised egg is passed to a special growth medium and left for about 48 hours until the egg has reached the 6-8 cell stage. They were positive that this side of the operation would be carried out with scrupulous certainty. They had been promised this by someone in whose good word they had the utmost confidence in. They couldn’t help smiling at the thought of him actually procuring the sperm in question but knew how resourceful the man was, having seen him in a diverse range of situations. “So this is the start of it all, babes. A bit more deliberate than getting drunk in some nightclub over Christmas and a one night stand. We have to find our way, same as anything else we do,” Nikki said dreamily, her gaze fixed on far horizons. “It think that whatever you really have to work at in this world has its reward. Look how far we’ve come already,” Helen pronounced with confidence and her lover squeezed her round her waist in confirmation. |
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| Carissa | Jun 27 2010, 12:43 AM Post #55 |
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Richard, Thanks for continuing this. It's wonderful to watch the characters evolve. ![]() Carissa |
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| richard | Jun 30 2010, 05:28 PM Post #56 |
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Hi Carissa- thanks for that kind thought, especially nice as managing changes convincingly isn't easy, Shed being a real inspiration that way. Hope you all like this next scene. ........................................................................................................................ Scene Forty “Do we let your parents know what we’re doing,” asked Helen turning to Nikki as she was about to turn the ignition. It was Saturday June 6th 2002, a glorious sunny summer’s day when the trees outside were in full bud. All the flowers in their back garden were thrusting forth their shoots after all Nikki’s careful tendering of the flowers. The bitter winter chills of Helen’s trial seemed a long way ago, gone but not forgotten as a new chapter in their lives seemed likely to open. “Good question,” Nikki said, her forehead furrowed with contemplation.” To tell you the truth, I don’t know the limits of my parents’ understanding and tolerance. I know that it had changed out of all recognition since I was in my teens. They’ve both backed us to the hilt with anything we've thrown at them since we made contact. OK, sometimes I get a run for my money from Dad but I know that it’s his way of making sure I know what we’re letting ourselves in for. I really don’t know how they’ll react.” “What if we didn’t tell them and they find out later?” “Dad would go spare with us, probably me most of all. I know and he knows that we’re duty bound to be honest with him. He doesn’t want daily report backs of every detail on our lives but doesn't like being kept out of the loop in anything major and important. We’ve played ball up till now and nowadays I can put myself into his head so easily. Basically, they trust us and we can’t, we daren’t screw that up.” “Your dad sounds like you, sweetheart.” “Yeah. Strong personalities for a start,” Nikki said with a wry smile as she turned the ideas over in her mind before reaching a decisive conclusion.” Behind his sometimes crusty exterior, perhaps we are rather alike. The point is that neither of them will have the foggiest idea what IVF is about,” and here Nikki grinned slightly.” I guess that if my parents get the message that they’re going to be grandparents again and we keep the details conveniently vague, they might just go for it. They like you very much and I think they can see you being maternal and they know that we’re capable enough. That’s it, we go for it and tell them.” “I agree, babes. We’ll go through this one together.” There was a sudden pause as they both sat in the car and neither of them made a move. Everything was packed for the journey so why weren’t they moving? “I hope you don’t mind but I’d sooner drive us down. It’d give me something to preoccupy my mind,” Nikki said unusually diffidently. Unhesitatingly, Helen got out of the driver’s seat and stepped round to the other side and let Nikki take the wheel. The taller woman drove off fast down the road while Helen grabbed the roadmap and the journey passed unusually silently for them. Normally, the rhythms of the sense of travelling sparked conversations. ******** Mr Wade was as pleased as always whenever his daughter and her charming partner came to visit them. He found their company intellectually stimulating and, by contrast, was severely bored by the everyday neighbour conversations, although he made his dutiful responses. He and his wife now floated in a comfortable state of normality where there was nothing lurking on their horizons to fear. They had only been concerned when Nicola and Helen had engaged in a serious of dangerously risky high profile trials. He couldn’t fault their reasonings, which were well thought out and he had been highly indignant when Helen had been singled out for a particularly vicious campaign of persecution. Not for one minute did he believe any of the reports in the copies of the Times that he had bought. He had seen straightaway that Helen had a high dedication to duty, everything about her manner spelling that out to him. Indeed, he had written a letter to the Times in support of her, name and address withheld, in typical ‘disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’ style. He chuckled to himself when he read it. Just because he had lived a life in the Navy didn’t mean that his old fashioned education stopped him putting pen and paper together. According to their unspoken agreement to put the years of separation behind them all, he thought fondly of his beloved daughter Nicola. She was so vibrant, so challenging and intellectually she gave him a good run for his money. The way she had completed her degree while in prison and had landed her present prestigious research job with the Howard League of Penal Reform told him that she was making a success out of her life. What’s more, the love that flowed between her and Helen was very real. In her way she had settled down into a quite conventional lifestyle though he would never say that to her.He knew very well how she would react to that one. “Hiya, dad,” his daughter said to him, shaking his hand firmly. Instantly he could tell that this visit struck a subtly different note with him. They did the usual preliminary chitchat and came into the smart, comfortable, highly polished front hall before Nicola finally spoke. “Er. Dad, we’ve got a bit of an announcement to make,” Nicola finally said to them, her eyes flitting back and forth between him, his wife, Helen and back to him. For the first time ever in his house, they held each others’ hands. He knew immediately that his daughter and Helen were reaching out to support each other, especially as a silence fell upon the air. His eyesight zoomed in on his daughter who looked really nervous and strangely pleased at the same time. “So what’s this announcement you wanted to make to us? It must be very special.” “Er, I’m not sure how you’re going to take to this idea, dad. It was Helen’s idea originally but I must tell you that I’ve been totally convinced and you just have to be the first ones to know,” his daughter rattled out at breakneck speed. “Good news or bad, Nicola? You know I hate being kept in suspense.” He saw his daughter swallow nervously and then she cut to the chase. His wife looked bewildered, wondering what on earth was going on. “You’ll know that Helen and I have settled down after slaying the odd dragon here and there. We’ve thought that we ought to consolidate our family in a surprisingly conventional way and it’s like this. Helen and I are trying for a baby. We thought you’d want to be the first to know." “What?” he said. This was a total shock to his system. He couldn’t get his head round this. His first instinct was to be dragged back to the moment that he had heard the truth about his daughter’s sexuality and her being expelled from boarding school in one go. He had hoped so much from his clever daughter, which is why he paid up the hefty fees uncomplainingly. “Obviously we can’t conceive a child between us in the normal way, much though we would have liked to. There’s a perfectly legitimate process called IVF which has been used also for straight couples where one or both are infertile,” Helen slid in, her voice shaky, highly attuned as she was to disapproval from the next generation up. “Do the pair of you know what you’re doing?” he heard himself saying. The air had turned icy cold and, once again, his wilful headstrong daughter was scaring the hell out of him. Deep down, he had that frightening sense of helplessness, that the world that was normally within his control was slipping out of his hands. “Did you and mum know what you were both letting yourselves in for when you first started a family? Just how familiar was the idea of babies to you when you were our age? Think about it, dad,” his daughter Nicola said with a part pleading, part reasoning tone in her voice. “It was expected of us,” his wife said stiffly, when he tried to catch her eye. This time, he silently warned her, they would think before they spoke. “Mum, dad, I can read on your faces what you’re thinking. We’ve been through this one before. I remember coming home in disgrace from boarding school, my trunk sent on ahead, carrying nothing but a holdall. I felt that I’d done nothing wrong. You felt I’d done everything wrong and we both flew off the handle and blew it. We can be both too proud for our own good , that’s our trouble. Do we really want to go through all that again?” Nikki called out, an edge of fear in her voice. This time around, he spotted that subtlety in Nikki's manner, something which he’d missed all those years ago. He’d been too close to his military environment years ago, which hadn’t provided for sensitivity. He breathed in and out and somehow the parental nightmare that had locked him in started to ease. He looked closer at his daughter and gradually felt her desire for their approval that she was trying to communicate. Finally, he carefully found the words in which he had some measure of confidence. “You’re right. We can – and must - both do better than before. Besides, we’re forgetting Helen.” It was now that the atmosphere eased. Everyone wore cautious smiles on their faces wondering who would make the first move and what it would be. “Let’s all go through to the living room and sit somewhere more comfortable. We need to talk this over. You will excuse us, Nicola and Helen,” he added in his inclusive manner,” that we had been accustomed to think of you both as a couple with no plans beyond that. We make no effort to keep up with modern developments as you should know very well by now.” “We can’t ask more of you than that,” his daughter said earnestly with a trace of a smile on her lips.” Take all the time you and mum need to get your heads round this. Don’t forget, we’ve got the advantage over you as we’ve been thinking and talking about this one for some time now.” “Just what does this involve, Nicola? Having babies, well, I had you and John in the normal way but this development is something I’ve not come across before,” his wife asked, feeling more on home territory. “Right,” Nikki said earnestly.” First of all, we have arranged a sperm donor who we know and he understand and accepts exactly the limits of his involvement. All I can say is that we trust him implicitly. I have had a course of injections where, to put it as technically, an ultrasound-guided needle has been inserted into me under anaesthetic to extract eggs, which will be fertilised, and to be placed inside Helen who will carry our baby from then on in the normal way. We’ve got to the halfway stage so now it’s all up to Helen to deliver the rest. I hope this makes sense.” “You must really both want a baby that badly,” his wife said softly and tenderly as she started to assimilate the details. Everything was starting to fit together in her mind.” Of course, my husband had his duties to keep him away from being with me when you and John were born. I can still remember lying in the hospital bed thinking how beautiful you looked with your big brown eyes.” “They didn’t let expectant fathers go into the labour ward and hold their partner’s hands in my day so I ducked out of all that stuff,” he grinned. “So where do we fit in?” his wife asked while Mr. Wade went to fetch glasses from the drinks cabinet. “Strangely enough, I’ve never talked babies with you, nor has Helen,” Nikki started in a hesitant fashion when Helen came to the rescue. “As you know, I’m an only child and my mother died when I was young. We certainly don’t know everything we’re letting ourselves in for so I for one would be mighty grateful for any advice you can give us. Believe you me, we won’t be stupidly proud not to ask for advice come the time,” Helen said in a rush of words. What still seemed to be very nebulous and unclear was starting to take shape. “What about John? If this comes off, this will put his nose out of joint. I get the feeling he really won’t like it,” Nikki queried. “You leave this to me, Nicola,” he said with swift decisiveness.” I can’t expect him in all fairness to understand what IVF is, but that’s a minor detail. The most important thing is that should everything work out right and I pray that it does, he’ll just have to live with it and graciously get used to being an uncle.” He was pleased to see that his daughter broke into a hearty laugh at his little joke. Helen joined in with her and both women’s eyes were shining with delight and pure gratitude. This was a family event worth having. “Between ourselves, I for one am beginning to look forward to this. If us old fogies can welcome a happy event, then so shouldn't he? Drinks everyone? I know what you all like.” “You are both stars. I don’t know what to say,” Nicola said, her eyes brimming over with emotion. Helen was obviously dumbstruck for the same reason. “What about cheers for the future?” Mr. Wade said brightly and cheerfully. They were the exact right words. Four glasses clinked together in celebration. It seemed to permit the future to unfold itself right. |
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| Carissa | Jul 2 2010, 12:57 AM Post #57 |
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So, what do you say Richard...Helen's eyes and Nikki's coloring? |
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| richard | Jul 7 2010, 04:56 PM Post #58 |
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That's an interesting one, Carissa in terms of heredity let alone upbringing and temperement - have to think on that one. Anyway, I've got this next scene, the last but one in this fic. Enjoy. ........................................................................................................................ Scene Forty-One In some other world, this nightmarish row with George seemed to happen out of nowhere. John couldn’t understand the situation but it felt real enough. The trouble was that the man that was speaking with his lips, his tongue felt utterly divorced from the way he now felt. “As I’ve said before, you never liked Alice and I being together, John.” George urged with controlled anger, her hands betraying her suppressed tension. John had a sense of looking down on the scene and, even from his distance, felt vividly how George just barely restrained herself from exploding with anger. For some reason, John felt like a stranger to his own emotions. This bewildered him as his sense of narrative events was acutely developed from training to become a barrister and then a judge. “It seems inappropriate. You aren’t the real George that I know,” John heard himself say. He cringed at how unfeeling he was but couldn’t stop these words coming out of him. “God knows why Jo and I bothered with you all these years, especially when you betrayed first me and then Jo without a second thought.” “It’s different.” John saw that his mouth was set tight like a trap and was clearly nettled by George’s last verbal thrust. Observing the scene, John saw what a ghastly mistake he had made. That wouldn’t help George get them back to the friendship that they needed to for all their sakes. “How?” “I love you in my own way and I love Jo. You’re both important to me,” came his own smooth tones in his best style of reading romantic poetry. “Meaning Alice really doesn’t love me or I don’t love her, John?” “She’s only known you for five minutes in comparison with the three of us. We all go back a long way,” came his reply in his loftiest and most magisterial tones. John felt that George was on the right lines in reining in her anger and maintaining an appearance of calm. As he watched the scene, all his sympathies went out to George and he really didn’t like himself one bit. “You and I only knew each other for a short time before we fell in love. We were young then. You once fell head over heels in love with Jo and now you’re back with her if you don’t stupidly wreck the one thing that could be going for you in your life. So what are the difference between that and Alice and I?” “You are taking the whole matter entirely out of its context of time. The love that has existed between the three of is much deeper, more profound, more spiritual, born of long knowledge of each other.” As soon as he said these words, John could tell that he had maddened George. It sounded to his waking ears that his words were a smokescreen of words of which this was the first cloud wafting over. John was acutely conscious that George stuck to short, terse sentences to get through that impenetrable suit of armour, which both protected and trapped him. It embarrassed John to see how inept, how unfeeling he could be for all his intelligence. It made John despair of himself. “You feel threatened by Alice and I being together.” “You make me sound like a jealous adolescent.” The words were hurled in a contemptuous and disdainful fashion. He’s given the game away, John’s waking mind thought in a blinding flash of revelation as he could see the two of them as if on high. It was painfully obvious that his anger was directed at himself. “The trouble with you, John, is that you suffer from intellectual pride.” George began and stopped short. He saw a fleeting look in his eye that George had never noticed before.” When you find yourself having done something wrong, you won’t let yourself climb down.” John saw him turn abruptly away and agonised how, when push came to shove, he turned away rather than face himself. He was sure that he knew much better than that to acknowledge his humanity rather than just compartmentalise it in his pronouncements and judgments in court. ‘No, John. You really don’t see it. Just open yourself up for once in your life,” he yelled in desperation. John wanted so much to wake himself up, to grab himself by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. Surely, he couldn’t have stupidly ignored what Nikki and Helen had patiently urging on him all these months. Was nothing in his life worth anything? He prayed so hard for that light of illumination to dawn on him. He was totally surprised that it actually came, his eyes blinked at that table lamp shining in his eyes. This was totally real thank goodness. ****** “You must be having a really bad dream. Don’t worry, I’m here to protect you,’ came that soft tone from the other side of the double bed. Thank God it was Jo. This illumination brought home how much he needed her. At that moment, John became aware of his surroundings. He was lying flat on his back, a disturbed duvet crumpled around them and he was sweating. The bedside light was switched on and the soft glow angled sideways at them, casting huge shadows. On the other side, Jo ran her fingers down his arm to comfort him. She laid her hand on her head and gently stroked his hair. The bed contained them and the plain white high ceiling all did their best to reassure him. “It’s all right George, you can be with Alice whenever you want,” John mumbled incoherently as if half in a dream. “What on earth are you talking about, John? You’re here in the present, John, in bed with me. What were you dreaming about anyway? Your tossing and turning sounded like a pretty bad nightmare.” John instantly collected his thoughts and unloaded his feelings without hesitation. He couldn’t help thinking that Nikki and Helen would have been proud of him, not to say George. “I was in this nightmarish situation of watching myself rowing with George for being with Alice and somehow wanting to own both you and George without giving anything back to either of you, except with my dangerous charm and facility with words. I was really trying to pretend to myself that I wasn’t a frightened little boy and failing miserably. You know that I’m perfectly happy for George and she’s a really good friend of mine. In that dream, George was urging me not to wreck a potentially brilliant relationship I could have with you with my stupidity. Worst of all, I saw myself as I used to behave in private life. I tried to wake myself up only I was powerless. It showed me how badly behaved I used to be. I’m really sorry for what I’ve ever done wrong, with you, to everyone who tried to get close to me. I mean it.”” “You aren’t the man you used to be, using your intellect to keep your feelings at bay.” “You don’t know what a blessed relief it is, not to be acting a part after all these years,” John said slowly.” Helen and Nikki did such a good job on me, knocking all that nonsense out of me. You don’t know how it feels not to be afraid of losing someone and in doing that, that the reassurance that you need will come without the need for subterfuge.” “You’ve really changed,” Jo breathed having trouble in believing that what she was hearing was really real.At least for this night, she was able to just accept what John was saying when she knew that it came from a friend. It struck his mind that once, his close friends were male, but the arrival in his life of the Larkhall circle had shifted that balance to the good.He was steering his life into some unknown orbit and, so far, it felt good. “I’ve just realised how insufferable I must have been once.” “Just for once, you took the words right out of my mouth,” grinned Jo. “You weren’t supposed to say that,” John said with a lopsided smile. “You should know by now that if you ask me an honest answer, you’ll get an honest reply, no matter how much it might bruise your ego, as if that were possible,” retorted Jo, teasingly ”I’ve noticed the changes in you in the months we’ve been going out together. I’ve been surprised and delighted that there has been no sense of strain.” Jo wrapped herself around John and gently rocked him. John drew a deep breath of relief right through his system. He smiled at the affectionate way this remarkable woman teased him. He knew exactly where he was and it felt good. He put his arms round the woman that was most dear to him and drew her close to him. He was safe after all. ******* In the morning, John quietly busied himself with making toast and coffee in Jo’s house with a sense of unobtrusive naturalness, which made Jo look fondly at him. She had recalled that previous occasions had seen her angry with herself, angry with John and totally unnapproachable. Not all the past guilt lay on John’s side, she concluded. “You know that if we become an item, I won’t be able to sit in front of you again?” Jo said in tones that were superficially playful. “That would be a shame but something we could learn to live with. In these politically dangerous times, we dare not hand our enemies a stick to beat us with. There’s more riding on our present positions in the judiciary than our own egos and own salaries. We have the chance to continue to do some good in the world. It doesn’t stop you coming to me for advice if you want it. Mind you, you know your mind very well by now. You don’t need me perpetually hovering over you as your teacher. Those days have passed.” Jo smiled at John’s depth of emotional maturity. “It doesn’t stop George from sitting before you. I would find that comforting,” Jo said in musing tones, as she nibbled at her triangle of toast in a meditative fashion. “Do you know what feels so delightfully strange at this moment,” Jo said as she smiled up into John’s blue eyes as he looked away into faraway distant horizons. “I couldn’t possibly imagine. I’m the world’s worst guesser. Give me facts ..and feelings..and, well, that’s different.” “This is the first time I’ve slept with you and I haven’t felt angry and guilty the next day and you know why?” John gestured to her to let her continue. The floor was Jo’s. “We have spent months in an intimate friendship without you forcing the pace and now that we’ve slept together, the morning after feels better than ever. This was the way it was always supposed to feel. No guilt, no insecurity and we're feeling closer to each other.” "So where do we go from now on? This is unknown territory for both of us." John asked. Jo remained silent as she did her best to clear her thoughts and seek inspiration so that they didn't make the same mistakes that they'd made previously, causing there to be bitter discord, especially knowing John's past infidelities.Instinct told her to be cvareful getting close to John too quickly. "I think we need to take things slowly," Jo said at last."We've been here before and things have gone wrong. I want us to be sure that everything will work out fine and that we communicate with each other in every way possible. it seems foolishly romantic but for the first time, I do believe that it's possible." For once in his life, John could find no words to frame his feelings of intensity that at last he was coming home after all his strange journeys.What Jo was mapping out for them felt tenuous but promised a future between them. He laid his head on Jo’s breasts and let himself be held and gently caressed. This was where he had always wanted to be. He felt so good about both of them and the morning dreamily passed through sunlit streams of light, utterly divorced from time. “I hope you don’t mind but I’ve got a very curious request to make of you,” John said in diffident tones as he finished off a cold cup of coffee, ages later in time.. “That sounds ominous,” Jo said playfully yet she spotted the look of panic in his eyes.” Go ahead and tell me. After all, we’re old friends.” “I, er, I was thinking of phoning Nikki and Helen to tell them of our good fortune,” John said at last in sheepish tones.” I know they’ve always known that I haven’t been as happy as I should have been while they’ve found each other as soulmates.” “Of course you can,” Jo said, a warm smile spreading across her face as she kissed him.” Sorry, excuse the breadcrumbs. I’m glad that you’ve been direct with me and come out and said it. You’re learning, John.” Thus it was that on a sunny May morning, Helen’s mobile rang just at the point when life carried on quite as normal. “John here, I hope I’m not disturbing you?” “That’s brilliant news, John,” Helen exclaimed loudly down the phone as John told her the good news. She relayed the news briefly to an instantly excited Nikki.” Nikki and I are so happy for you. You’ll both get the chance of some happiness in our lives. God knows, you’ve given so much to others.” “I have?” John asked questioningly. Images of the private hurt he’d inflicted on those dearest to him collided with the consciousness within him that, yes he had fought hard for justice and people had benefited from his mercy. It seemed unreal to him that he would get some of the mercy he handed out to others. . “Of course you have. You’re Superman and even us lesbians that hang out at Chix see you that way. Now John, you’re not going to forget everything Nikki and I have ever told you?” Helen said in almost stern, nannyish tones with a lurking note of affection in it. “No mum, I wouldn’t dream of doing it. I think that I’ve just scraped through the extremely exacting Nikki and Helen course in human relationships.” Jo could hear the conversation perfectly clearly from where she was standing and she laughed out loud at the bantering exchange while sensing the depth of human warmth and affection emanating down the phone. “You’re going to be all right from now on. Trust me, John. I can’t say how happy I am for you and Jo. You both deserve everything you’ve worked for.” “Which means that all your friends will hear the good news in double quick time. Don’t get me wrong, Helen, I don’t mind in the least,” John retorted, his tone of voice veering between the playful and heartfelt. “Of course, John. Did you expect anything else? They’ll all be pleased as well.” Jo put her arms round John from behind and embraced him. At last after all these years, John had the feeling that at last they had finally found each other |
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| richard | Jul 14 2010, 04:39 PM Post #59 |
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Enhanced
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Scene Forty-Two The next day, the ever-observant Coope saw John Deed come into his chambers with a spring in his step and phone the florists to order a special bunch of flowers for Mrs Mills. She saw the peace and contentment written all over his face and was glad for him. Unknown to him, his lack of fulfilment in his life had long worried her as she hovered protectively yet discreetly round him. ********* “Fenner’s dead,” Nikki said flatly out of nowhere as she put on her seat belt on and Helen’s mouth opened with horror.” I heard it this afternoon. Do you want to hear the details, Helen?” “Yes, I definitely do,” came the emphatic reply. “Then switch off the engine,” Nikki said in a controlled tone of voice. Helen had picked Nikki up from work and they were about to head on home. It was a blazing hot June day and the car was slightly shaded by the canopy of leaves from the tree. “This hasn’t hit the press yet as I’ve heard it on the grapevine from a mate of mine that deals with men’s prisons. We divide up prisons that way, not because either Pete or I are sexist but we’ve figured out that men’s prisons and women’s prisons pose a completely different set of problems so we specialise. The word is that he hanged himself in his cell late last night. Pete reckons – and I’m sure he’s right- that being an ex-screw, pardon my expression, was the top and bottom of it.” “My God,” Helen exclaimed as she put her hand over her mouth. "There but for the grace of God and all that.” “And justice, babes,” insisted Nikki, laying her hand comfortingly on her partner’s shoulder.”I know what you are thinking. You got picked on by the establishment partly out of vindictiveness and partly as they were too dumb to consider that an ‘ex con’ might be smart. Fenner got justly sent down after years when his abuses had been protected and covered up by the insular and corrupt prison service regime.” “You’re right, Nikki,” Helen said at last after a long silence during which she mulled things over. Part of the problem was in dealing with the feelings she was expected to have as opposed to her gut instinct of goodbye Fenner, good riddance and rot in hell. “How do I feel about it? I’m as shocked as anyone that a life has got trashed like this but think about it. The bastard had always managed to use the system to protect himself. He trashed himself a long time ago and anyone who got caught up in his schemes. In prison, he was right out in the open with nowhere to go.” “I don’t want to think too much about him,” Helen said in determined tones. She couldn’t help thinking that Nikki had been in the same boat once and held up better than this, only she was too modest to mention it. ”He was the bane of my life, your life and Karen’s. This is the end of a chapter. He’ll stop haunting us now. We’ve got our moment of destiny now. Let’s head on to the clinic for the moment of truth.” ******** Those words drove away any lingering thought of the past as possibilities of the future started to beckon. The grim reality of death and the promise of burgeoning life coexisted side by side for no clear purpose. After months of thinking and hospital appointments, Helen was going to have a pregnancy test. Both women much preferred the wisdom of the medical profession to pronounce judgment rather than use a ‘test yourself’ kit. Very unusually, they didn’t want that kind of responsibility and input into their lives. Finally, Helen swung their car into the small, enclosed car park. They fumbled around with locking up the car and taking their papers with them and clattered down the corridor to their destination. They held each other’s hand nervously, their throats dry. Finally, they were both called into the consulting room by the white-gowned professional. They took their seats, their eyes fixed on her eyes. “I have the best news possible. The pregnancy test is positive. You’re about to be mothers. I give you my heartiest congratulations.” Both women’s mouths dropped and their eyes shone like stars. They clutched each other’s hands, shot up from their chairs and gave out a loud simultaneous squeal of pleasure. They couldn’t believe their good fortune to have struck lucky first time. “We’re really, really grateful for all the hard work done by your hospital. This means the world to us,” Helen said, her voice trembling with emotion. “It’s as if we’ve been going through these operations and never believed that Helen would conceive a child this way,” breathed Nikki.”It’s something we’ve read about but never thought possible until it’s happened.” “You’ll need to spend a few days getting used to the idea but you can guess that there will be ante natal classes. I suppose that both of you will want to consider going to them.” “Yes, yes,” both women said excitedly, very much touched by the kindness and consideration being given to them. “I can see that you’re really committed to having a baby together and it helps make my job worthwhile. Too often, I get to see young single woman who’ve come here after a Saturday night out getting drunk and encountering some random stranger.” The two women became suddenly aware of the human being behind the professional mask. She really was giving them all the encouragement they needed. They floated on cloud nine, with intense blue sunny skies above them and nothing to interfere. Time stood still for both women at this point. ********* A few miles away, Bodybag was gloomily looking forward to a day of public humiliation. That Atkins woman had finally served her sentence, astonishingly with no loss of remission. Right till the end, she had been apparently well behaved but with a twinkle in her eye as if to know that there was nothing she could do to stop her getting out. She heaved a long weary sigh. Jim had been the only one who could keep her in line and she bitterly regretted that he hadn’t foolishly thrown away his career and his pension by going off the rails. They went back a long way and, even with everything that had happened, she still missed him. Di was all right, good company, but she hadn’t got his common sense. She was too likely to go off on one. She was starting to go through the inventory of goods that had been stowed away when she first came to Larkhall and that was a job and a half. It was almost as if she was doing it to spite her. “Now Julies, when I’m no longer here, you know what I’ve taught you to keep everyone in line. Now Denny’s in an open prison, Babs has got out to marry her fella, there aren’t too many of the original ‘gang of six’ still around, not counting Nikki of course.” “We won’t forget, Vonne,” Julie Saunders said firmly.” You get out there and you enjoy yourself for us.” Yvonne’s brash veneer showed signs of crumbling. She was all choked up at the thought of who she’d be leaving behind. Now she knew how Nikki felt, all that time ago, when she first got her release.” Thanks, Julies,” she finally said in hoarse tones. “What about me?” Kris demanded with a touch of aggression. Yvonne and the Julies rolled their eyes but Yvonne patiently explained. “You’re coming on, Kris. You’ve learnt not to shoot your mouth off. You’re tough enough, agreed, but you see how the Julies handle things and keep learning. Who knows what head case gets landed here, after all.” “We won’t let you down,” Julie Saunders said firmly though she and Julie Johnson thought for some daft reason that she was preparing for her funeral. She wasn’t of course but was going to get reunited with her Lauren. “Yvoone, Yvonne, Yvonne,” the whole wing chanted, women looking down from the railings on the twos and the threes, beside the assembled crowd. Everyone’s attention was grabbed by the medium sized woman, dressed in her habitual brightly patterned T shirt and black leathers and her smouldering eyes cast their gaze kindly on her friends and fiercely on her enemies. The Julies walked behind her, carrying her two plastic bags while Yvonne hugged her friends and acquaintances. Everyone knew her in Larkhall. Finally Frances Myers and Colin Hedges shook her hand and exchanged compliments. At this moment, the gates swung wide open for her while the Julies stood there. This was as far as they would get. This was an emotional moment and they hugged their friend and held them for a long while. Bodybag glared and watched this all contemptuously. Suddenly, Yvonne had a bright idea. “My Lauren’s out there by the gates. Seeing as none of mates can give me a hand, might I have some help? These bags are bleeding heavy,” Yvonne called out loudly “Sylvia, you can help,” Frances Myers said promptly. “You mean me? What about my back?” “You’ve had back trouble for years. It won’t hurt you,” came the snap reply while all the prisoners hooted and cheered. This was a real send off in style. Going through the gates, a complaining Bodybag trailing after her, huffing and puffing. Yvonne sensed for the first time, the wide-open spaces and the sunshine. Lauren’s wide-open arms and smiling face awaited her, together with her car that she’d almost forgotten about. God, there was so much waiting for her, she thought in the haze of sentimentality that had been denied to her for so long. She didn’t know where to begin. ************ “So John,” rumbled John Channing with a sharp look in his eye and a broad smile.” You are going to settle down to respectability after all these years, are you?” Both Monty and Jo Mills laughed loudly at this witticism and John smilingly rode with the joke at his own expense. “I shall, of course, continue to be a thorn in the flesh in the establishment. Why should I give up such a pleasure after all these years? Both Jo and George will, in their separate ways, watch over me and try to ensure that I don’t push things too far.” “At which they will fail of course,” laughed Monty. “I’ll regret Jo not appearing before me in court but I have to recognise that after all these years, the pupil teacher relationship is dead and buried. She is quite capable of holding her own. Of course, I shall have a harmonious relationship in court with George.” “So she will be the blue eyes girl in future,” laughed Monty. “Both George and I have blue eyes,” Jo cut in pertly.” It’s just that we’ve realised that we have more in common than we ever thought we had. We’re both pretty relaxed around each other these days.” “I feel that for years, I’ve simply overlooked someone who’s been under my eyes for years and, worse, I’ve been pretty insensitive in relationships close up. I must give Nikki and Helen a lot of credit for sitting me down and getting me to see things right. Somehow, they’ve both had the knack of pitching things just about right, of offering strength and sympathy. It’s taken me a lot of listening to them to finally get things right so that I think I’m ready for Jo right now.” Jo leant against John, resting her head on his shoulder. It wasn’t normal for her to publicly admit such feelings of anything that might smack of emotional dependency but she knew that the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with wasn’t the man she had known for so long. All she could think of aty that moment was that everything felt right. After John returned to his chambers, his mobile bleeped a text message. A broad grin split his face when he read the good news from Nikki. A wave of benevolence radiated through his system towards Nikki and Helen for their marvellous good fortune to start a family of their own much as he and George had done many years before. He couldn't help reflecting on one of life's ironies of was actually doing the right thing in strictly curtailing all future responsibility for one of his deeds. ********* “You’ll do fine, Nikki,” commented Paul Armstrong when she bashfully admitted to him the splendid news. “You and Helen will be great mothers. Anything you both turn your hands to, you’ll succeed at.” He was touched that Nikki came to him so quickly to give him the good news. Nikki had let drop odd hints of her and Helen’s plans for a family and he had waited for Nikki to tell him in her own good time. “Thanks, Paul. Thanks a lot,” Nikki said with heartfelt emotion at the plain and simple way he expressed himself before proceeding more cautiously. “We’re still both up high in the air. We’ve got nine months to figure out how it will change our lives. This is the biggest commitment we’ve ever made in our lives.” “Doesn’t any prospective parent go through the same concerns? You think that every other parent is super confident and naturally maternal?” Paul asked in easy tones. “You keep saying that to me from time to time in the next few months, Paul. I’d appreciate that,” Nikki said in joky tones “Your baby will give you and Helen that bit more to fight for, that he or she will emerge into a better world that we can create. You’re certainly doing fine right now.” Nikki smiled more freely. She had settled down into her daily routine of research since the high drama of the last two trials. “Come on, Nikki. Let’s grab some fresh air outside,” Paul said in kindly tones. They walked out through the solid old wooden doors and faced the street, The area of cobblestones in the courtyard sloped down slightly to the pavement. Nikki leant against a large ash tree just outside their building which cast welcome shade in summer. The warm summer breeze blew around them. Everything around them was calm and tranquil. “How long have you lived in London now, Nikki?” How long indeed? She had come here when she was sixteen to seek her lifestyle and her fortune. Now, nearly twenty years on, she felt she had got what she wanted. Along with Helen, she was about to be a mother. She had a circle of friends of all descriptions, who would queue up to, help usher in a new life into this world. Over her head, the fresh green leaves seemed to encapsulate her mellow mood. They made a shifting vibrant pattern through which pierced shafts of illuminating sunlight. A golden glow of well being and a sunny summer afternoon bathed her in a sense of well-being and centred on where her life should go. Life felt good to her now and, not least, she mentally blessed that remarkable principled man who yet again gave Helen and her that chance of fresh life. She did think she, Helen and their child to be deserved some good breaks out of life. Surely it was not much for them to ask for. THE END |
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| GG72 | Apr 22 2011, 02:57 AM Post #60 |
G2 landing
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Read this again I still love that you ended it on a happy note with Helen an Nikki becoming MOM's
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8:47 AM Jul 11