Stefania was sitting on the couch when Danielle got home from work, clutching Jeff in her arms and rocking her back and forth. Her eyes were sore from the tears she hadn't been able to hold back, and she felt a wave of relief when she heard Danielle unlock the door with her spare key. Looking at the clock, Stefania was surprised that it was already six in the evening. That meant she'd been crying for nearly half an hour now.

Danielle's sunny smile faded as she walked into the apartment and met Stefania's eyes.

—Stefania?— She walked over to the couch, clearly concerned. —Honey?—

Almost against her will, Stefania felt her lower lip poke out and fresh tears gather in her stinging eyes. —I had a bad day,— she whispered.

Immediately Danielle dropped her briefcase and sat down on the couch close to Stefania.

—What happened, honey?— She drew her eyebrows together, studying Stefania's face. —And why didn't you call me?—

—I...lost my first patient today,— Stefania whispered. Her face screwed up in pain at the memory, and she looked away from her lover's stare. —I didn't call you because you were working. I knew you were coming over tonight, so—

—Oh, no,— Danielle said. She wore her sympathy plainly, and Stefania felt a slight easing of her grief at the sight. Wrapping her arm around Stefania's shoulder, Danielle tugged her closer. —Do you want to talk about it?—

Stefania shook her head, but started talking anyway. —I can deal with euthanizing an animal, you know? When an animal is old or diseased, and it's suffering, there's a reason for it, and I can deal with it. But today— She pulled Jeff closer, burying her face in her silky fur. —They brought in this all-black cat. Three years old.—

—What was wrong with her?—

Stefania felt a sob threaten to tear from her throat. —I'm not sure. She was poisoned somehow. We...don't know, exactly.—

—Poisoned?— Danielle dropped her eyes to Jeff, then looked up at Stefania. —How?—

—Her owners said she was an outdoor cat. She was out overnight and when she came back, she was having trouble breathing. They brought her into us and we basically fed her drugs while we watched the poison work its way through her system.— Stefania let out a sob, scaring Jeff into leaping from her lap onto the floor. With a glance backward, the cat loped away from the couch, down the hallway.

Danielle scooted closer and pulled Stefania into her arms. She went willingly, collapsing into a desperate hug.

—There was nothing you could do?—

Stefania shook her head, burying her face in Danielle's shoulder.

—I just watched her die. Nothing we gave her seemed to have any effect. She went into respiratory failure and she was having these horrible seizures.— She shuddered at the memory. —It was the most awful thing I've ever seen.—

Danielle shushed her and began a gentle rocking motion, soothing Stefania with soft caresses up and down her back. —I'm so sorry, honey.—

Sniffling, Stefania mumbled, —I know I'm a professional and I should be able to handle this, but—

—Handle this?— Danielle frowned at Stefania. —You had to watch an animal die an ugly death today. Why should you be able to handle that?—

—She looked a lot like Jeff,— Stefania whispered. Fresh tears spilled from her stinging eyes. —That's all I kept thinking, the whole time. How much she looked like Jeff.—

Danielle laid back on the couch and settled Stefania on top of her body.

—Jeff is just fine, honey. She's inside and she's safe.—

Stefania sniffled and rested her ear on Danielle's chest. She closed her eyes, lulled by her lover's heartbeat. —I get so mad when I see bad things happen to cats because they live outside. I know some people believe cats belong outdoors, but I can't even imagine.— She looked down the hallway where Jeff had disappeared, wishing she had her within view. —She's my little baby and I can't even imagine letting her out and putting her at the mercy of nature, human or otherwise.—

—I understand,— Danielle murmured. She stroked Stefania's back. —You should have called me, honey. Even if you didn't want to do it at work, you didn't need to suffer alone. I could've tried to leave earlier——

—I didn't want to bother you.—

Danielle sat up, dislodging Stefania from her place in her arms. —Bother me?—

Stefania turned at the sound of distress in Danielle's voice, and her stomach dropped at the crestfallen expression that greeted her. —I didn't mean—

—You thought it would bother me if you called and told me you were having a bad day?— Danielle kept her hands on Stefania's , but it felt like some distance had grown between them. —I want to be the one to make you feel better when you're sad. I want the first thing you do when you're upset to be to pick up the phone and call me. I thought——

—Danielle,— she interrupted. —Please, bambina.— She gave Danielle a helpless shrug. —I'm sorry. It's not that I didn't think you would want to be there for me. It's just that I felt silly.—

—Nothing that makes you upset is silly,— Danielle said. —No matter what it is.—

—But—

—And you never need to feel silly with me. I love you, Stefania. When you're hurting, I hurt. And knowing that you're choosing to hurt alone makes me want to cry.—

—You're absolutely right,— Stefania said after a few seconds. —I would want you to call me if you were upset about something. Of course you would want the same thing.—

—Of course I would.— Danielle pressed her lips against Stefania's, holding the sweet contact for a number of breaths. Drawing back, she asked, —Do I not tell you well enough? How I feel?—

—You tell me just fine. Maybe sometimes I just don't listen well enough.—

—Maybe I need to tell you more.— Danielle hugged her tight, stroking up and down her sides. —Stefania, you're the most important thing to me. I want to know everything about you. I want to be with you when you're happy, and I especially want to be with you when you're sad. I want the chance to make you feel better.—

—You do make me feel better,— Stefania whispered. From the moment Danielle had walked in the door, her heart had been healing from her long, stressful day. —Believe me, you do.—

—How can I make you feel better tonight?—

Stefania's mood shifted almost immediately and she started to smirk, then thought better of it. For once, she truly didn't feel like .

—We could order pizza and watch a movie on the couch.— Wiping damp strands of hair away from her eyes, she said, —You could let me choose the movie. Something nice and happy and romantic.—

—Done.— Danielle reached into her pocket and drew outa slim cell phone. —Usual place?—

—Yeah.— Stefania leaned back on the arm of the couch and gazed at her. —I'm glad you came over tonight.—

—Me, too,— Danielle said as she dialed. —Same thing? Small pizza with green peppers, onions, tomatoes, and no cheese?—

Stefania gave her an enthusiastic nod. There was such comfort in having someone who knew her pizza order by heart. Realistically, it was close to the bottom of the long list of reasons she adored Danielle, but it warmed her heart nonetheless.

—Yes, I'll hold.— Danielle smiled at her. —You're weird, you know. Pizza without cheese? Blasphemy.—

Stefania wrinkled her nose. —I started eating it like that when I was stripping. It was my way of justifying having something like pizza as long as the shape of my body determined the size of my paycheck. Turns out it's actually very good that way.—

As Danielle recited their standard order into the phone, Stefania retreated into her bedroom to change. Now that she knew they were staying in, she was determined to be comfortable. When she returned to the front room in her pajama bottoms and a tank top, she found Danielle on the couch with Jeff curled in her lap. Even from her spot across the room, Stefania could see Jeff kneading her oversized paws in contentment as Danielle stroked her fur. Surprised, she stopped in the doorway and watched in amused silence. It was the first time she'd seen Danielle choosing to cuddle with her cat.

—Thanks for taking care of her until I got here,— Danielle murmured to the lounging Jeff. —And I'm telling you right now: you are never, ever allowed to go outside. I don't care how much you beg me once I'm living with you, I'm going to be firm on that one.—

Stefania raised her hand to her mouth and tried to hold back her smile. That Danielle was holding a serious conversation with her cat made her entire body feel warm; that her lover had so casually mentioned living together to Jeff, of all audiences brought joyful tears to her eyes.

She was determined to go at Danielle's pace, but in this instance, she couldn't resist giving her a little nudge. Stepping into the room, she cleared her throat. —You know, Jeff was asking me about that.—

Danielle jumped, apparently startled at Stefania's entrance. —Asking you about what?—

—When you're going to stop leaving for extended periods of time.—

Stefania crossed the room and handed Danielle the pajama pants and T-shirt she kept at Stefania's place for overnights. Sitting down next to her, she said, —I tried to explain to her that you have your own place, but she thought it was kind of silly. We spend almost every night together, and having two places means that she just gets left alone on occasion.—

—And she doesn't like being alone,— Danielle said. —I guess it is pretty silly. When you put it like that.—

—Well, Jeff thinks so, anyway.—

Danielle looked down at the black cat, scratching behind her ear.

—You'd really share your mom with me?—

Jeff didn't respond.

—Jeff,— Stefania cooed, in the voice she knew would get a response from her chatty cat. —What do you say?—

Blinking sleepy golden eyes, Jeff raised her head and meowed.

Danielle looked from cat to human, raising an eyebrow. —What did she say?—

—I think it was "if you're having pizza, I want tuna fish.. "— Stefania moved closer to Danielle, slipping an arm around her shoulders. —Either that or stop anthropomorphizing me..—

Danielle tipped her head back and laughed out loud, which once again sent Jeff scurrying out of the room. Stefania took advantage of the vacant real estate on Danielle's lap and scooted closer.

—I love your sense of humor,— Danielle said, still chuckling. —I mean, I just love you.—

—Would you love to live with me?—

Danielle's eyes lit up, and she didn't even hesitate. —In a heartbeat. I don't know why we've left it this long. What's it been? Eight months?—

—The best eight months of my life,— Stefania said.

Danielle paused on a smile, as if delighted by a secret thought.

—I think the best is still to come,— she said.

—Count on it,— Stefania said. —Your place or mine?—

—How about ours?— Danielle said. —I wouldn't mind finding a bigger place than either of us has. And...I guess I'd really like someplace where we can start fresh together.—

Before she could get too excited, Stefania felt obligated to give her proper warning. —You've never lived with someone before. I've probably got some bad habits.— I have a feeling we could be the lesbian Felix and Oscar here.

—You've got a lot of great ones, too,— Danielle said. —Like loving me.—

Squeezing Stefania in a tight hug, she whispered into her ear. —Oh, and licking me.—

—Is that it?— Stefania teased. —The extent of my great habits?—

—I doubt it. But those are two of my very favorites.—

—Do you feel ready for this, bambina ? I mean, I know I just came out of nowhere with this, and I don't want to feel like I'm pressuring you—

—Are you kidding?— Danielle asked. —I hate it every time you leave. Or I leave. I hate being away from you.— She gave Stefania a serious look.

—If I hadn't already been planning to come over tonight, would you have called and told me that you were upset and needed me here?—

Stefania couldn't lie. —I don't know. Probably.—

—If we live together, you promise you'll always call me if something bad happens to you? Or if you're unhappy?—

—Whether or not I live with you, yes,— Stefania said. —I promise.— She tucked her head under Danielle's neck and breathed in her scent. —I've learned my lesson. I'm feeling one hundred percent better now that you're here.—

Danielle pulled her close, running a gentle hand over the side of her . —Want to start looking for apartments this weekend?—

Stefania blinked in happy surprise. The day had just turned around, and in grand fashion. —Definitely. And I want to do something else very soon, too. Maybe after we've moved. I don't want to be distracted.—

—Sounds interesting.— Danielle nibbled on Stefania's earlobe, and nuzzled into her neck. —What do you want, sweet girl?—

—My third fantasy.—

Danielle released a low, rumbling noise from deep in her throat. —I was hoping you'd say that.—