"What happened?" I whispered, brushing her tears away with my thumbs.

"I'll tell you later." She said, glancing over my shoulder at Sheridan and Tanya, who were watching us with smirks.

"Okay." I said, and moved to kiss her, only just managing to stop myself. Her eyes flashed with something I couldn't interpret and she smiled at me weakly.

"Sorry." I whispered and she touched my nose gently.

"It's okay." Then she stood up, making me almost fall back onto the floor. "Hi Tanya, Sheridan, how are you?"

"I'm good miss."

"Fine miss." They muttered, looking anywhere but at her.

She smiled at me but within seconds tears replaced it.

"Oh sweetie." I said, hugging her tightly and shooting glares over her shoulder at Tanya and Sheridan who were looking at each other and mouthing 'sweetie'.

"I'm okay." Laura tried to convince me but her voice cracked on the last word and her shoulders still shook.

"Can you two go?" I asked, hoping my words didn't sound too harsh.

"Sure, uh, we'll just... leave." Tanya said, the two backing out the room and, after a few seconds, the door closed with a soft click.

"We'll go too." Mum said, gesturing to Tara.

"No mum, I want to stay and make sure Laura's okay!" Tara protested.

"No Tara!" Mum said, grabbing her hand and dragging her out the room.

We sat in silent for a moment, before I pulled Laura onto the sofa, sitting her in my lap. She was heavy, really heavy actually but it felt so good to have her there that I put up with the weight.

"What happened baby? You can tell me."

"She just came to the house, for revenge she said, she was all beat up." Laura broke for a while, overcome by the tears. "She had a knife and- and she threatened to use it and- I didn't know what to do."

I was shocked beyond words but she continued so I was spared the problem of thinking of something to say.

"I didn't get angry though, and without the anger it's all so god damn scary!"

"I know babe, now you know how everyone else feels all the time."

"I understand that more than you know." Laura said and I frowned. She noticed this and said, "it doesn't mean anything, ignore an old woman's ramblings."

"You're not old." I said. "And you're not rambling. You're allowed to be scared babe, it's normal."

"I know but I hate feeling that vulnerable and, god Lilly, I felt like a child!" Her eyes flashed and I hugged her tightly.

"It's okay."

"I know, but because I didn't feel safe I couldn't stay on my own so I came here. I hope you're not getting fed up of seeing me."

"I could never get fed up of you." I said, gently stroking her hair. It was as soft and silky as I'd always imagined and it seemed to relax her.

"Thanks for putting up with me."

"Anytime." I winked and she hit me playfully.

"Seriously though, it means a lot."

"I don't know why, I'm not really doing anything, just listening."

"That's all I need." She said and her eyes caught mine and held me captive. My breath hitched in my throat as she leaned forward.

The door was flung open, making us both jump and pull apart quickly.

"Shit! Sorry!" Tanya exclaimed, her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's fine Tanya." I sighed, "what do you want?"

"I thought I left my bag," her eyes scanned the floor, "nope, not here. Sorry." Without waiting for a reply she turned and half ran out the door, choked laughter filtering back to us.

"Oh Christ." I groaned, hiding my red face in her neck. Laura laughed, making me shake as well.

"Come on, it's not that bad." She said, rubbing my back.

"I'm never leaving this spot again." I said, only half joking. It was warm and I could smell her soft perfume and, underneath that, a smell that was just Laura.

"I can't live my whole life with you attached to my neck." She said but I stubbornly refused to move. "Do I need to tickle you?"

"I'm not ticklish." Her hand snaked down and fingers danced over my stomach, making me squeal and wriggle under her.

"I think you are." She said, moving off me. Her other hand attacked my feet and I shrieked and rolled off the couch and onto the floor with a thump. She didn't cease until I begged her to stop, fighting to keep a straight face because she said if I laughed I was happy and then she wouldn't stop.

I lay on the floor, panting and praying to god my hair wasn't sticking to my sweaty forehead. Laura sat beside me, I couldn't see what she was doing, laughing at me probably.

When I was breathing normally again I sat up and she smiled at me, her cheeks strangely flushed considering we'd been doing nothing for about ten minutes.

"I'm hungry." I announced and stood up. She got to her feet swiftly and followed me into the next room.

I made two sandwiches, one for me, the other for her, but ended up eating both because she didn't like cheese. I love cheese so thought she was a freak and told her so.

"Thanks." She laughed and I grinned at her around a mouthful of my third sandwich.

"You're welcome." I said after swallowing.

"Humph." She pretended to be in a huff, pouting cutely. I winked at her and scoffed the rest of my snack in two mouthfuls.

"Let's go watch a movie!" I said, still exhausted but hyper on her presence.

"Okay." She agreed, and we walked to the open door. Our path was blocked by mum, who was coming in, probably to start making dinner.

"How are you now?" She asked, addressing Laura.

"I'm fine now, thank you."

"Lilly cheered you up did she?" Mum asked, glancing at me quickly.

"Yes she did." Laura replied, looking at me as well.

"You're welcome to stay tonight if you want? I wouldn't want you to go home if it'd make you upset."

"Thank you Mrs Daniels."

"It's Maggie!" Mum said, using the well worn phrase. I laughed and grabbed Laura's hand, pulling her out the door.

We watched 'With Every Heartbeat', one of my favourite movies. If Laura was surprised by my choice she didn't mention it, even reaching over and taking my hand in hers halfway through. I sat in silence for a while, not watching the movie just listening to her breathing and feeling the warmth of her hand around mine. After five endless minutes I squeezed her hand and she tightened her fingers around mine in response.

We sat beside each other at dinner and I spent the whole of it grinning madly. Anne wasn't present, having chosen to stay in her room, crying. I felt bad for her but, due to the events of the day, my mind was on other things.

After dinner we watched another movie, this one her choice. By the end of it her head was in my lap and I was gently sifting her hair through my fingers. It was soft and smooth, the sensation of it between my fingers was of silk or feathers.

When I moved to turn off the T.V. she grumbled and wrapped her arms around me, effectively trapping me. I smiled and leaned back, letting her warmth seep into me and slowly send me off into the land of dreams. ()

***

The light burned my eyes and I blinked, groaned and quickly covering my eyes.

"Sorry baby but it's almost twelve and you need to go to bed... both of you." Mum said softly and I realized that Laura and I were wrapped around each other on the sofa, Laura half on top of me due to the lack of space.

My face didn't turn red, for once I wasn't embarrassed. It felt too good lying here, warm and comfortable for me to want to move, but as I was sure I was making my mum uncomfortable I wriggled myself out her grip and jumped onto the floor.

I sat on an armchair that was close to hers and she raised her eyebrows at me in a way that indicated 'explain!'.

"Mum, there's something I need to tell you." I started.

"Damn right there is!"

"It would be better if dad was her too." I said and she stared at me then went and got him.

When they were both sitting and watching me expectantly I found myself unable to speak, my throat constricted with fear.

"It's okay honey, you can tell us anything." Dad reassured me.

"I know." I nodded, picking at my fingernail.

"Why don't you start with the day you found your soul mate?" Dad suggested and I grinned at him gratefully.

"I searched all day, like you instructed and it was sixth, the last one, and I was getting pretty fed up, thinking I'd never find him and that it was pretty pointless." Mum and dad glanced at each other and my stomach clenched painfully. "We were watching a movie and I took the opportunity to try everyone. I got round all the kids and was just about ready to give up when I tried Laura."

"Let me guess, she lit up." Dad said, and I nodded, my hands shaking like leaves.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Mum asked.

"I was scared." I admitted, my head hung low.

"What of?"

"That you'd treat me differently, that you wouldn't accept me, you know, the usual."

"We talked about this and have decided it didn't bother us, you're still our daughter, no matter what, and we'll always love you."

"You knew?" I asked, only half surprised.

"Of course, you didn't do a very good job of hiding it."

"Oh." I said, my heart swelling.

"How long have you known?" Mum asked and I shrugged.

"I suspected for ages but thought I was just going through a stage or something."

"Were you surprised when the crystal picked... who it did?" Mum asked and I debated it a moment.

"No."

"Then you knew that it wasn't just a stage."

"I guess." I shrugged again. "Why does it matter?"

"I just thought you would tell us." Dad said. "Were you planning to?"

"Of course," both of them raised their eyebrows, "I was... waiting for the right time..." I trailed off weakly.

"Well now you've been saved the trouble." Dad said, smiling and I nodded, not looking at them. "I know you must be embarrassed but all we want is our children to be safe." Mum shot him the usual look, which I ignored, as I had done since I first noticed it when I was seven. It had made my stomach churn then and it's impact hadn't changed over the years, yet I learned to deal with it.

"I know dad, I know."

He stood up suddenly and mum followed his lead. They pulled me into a quick hug, sandwiching me between them.

"Don't mess this up." Dad whispered and I replied that I would try not to.

They left and I went over to wake Laura so she could move to a bed only to find that she was awake and watching me with a smile.

"Hey, uh, did you hear all that?" I asked self-consciously.

"Only the end." She grinned up at me, her hands clasped behind her head.

"What are you so happy about?" I asked, my words coming out a little harshly.

"I'm glad you told them."

"Why?"

"Because it means you're serious about this relationship. Also it shows that you're not ashamed of me." She said.

"Why would I be ashamed of you?" I asked, shocked.

"Well you're not out and proud or anything so I didn't think you wanted people to know you were dating a woman."

"Well that isn't the case." I said, "I promise I'm not ashamed of you."

"Good." She smiled and I pulled her up by the hand and led her to bed.

***

The next morning, after breakfast Laura decided she had to go home. She said she was spending so much time here that her bed was crying for her to sleep in it. I laughed and walked with her to the door, extending the little time I had left in her company.

I stood in the doorway and grinned at her.

"Should you even go home?" I asked, only half joking.

"Maybe not." She whispered, leaning in and quickly capturing my lips with hers. Her lips were soft, and tasted of sugar and cinnamon. They moved against mine, soft as a feather, and I responded immediately. I got lost in the taste, the feel of her lips on mine and the feeling that grew inside me.

When she finally pulled back, gasping for air I saw her expression, her eyes wide with shock and the memories came rushing back.

The bus bumped down the hill towards the school. I was sitting up the front, beside Miss Hart, as Tanya had been sick on my seat during one of the stops. She unclasped her seat-belt and asked me to get by. I undid my own and stood up, pressing my back against the chair to let her pass.

The bus jolted and she fell against me, her body pressing against mine, her lips hitting my own.

She jumped away immediately, her eyes wide and her mouth open.

"I'm so sorry!" She said and I nodded, sitting down again, my lips tingling.

She didn't meet my eyes again until we were off the bus but I caught her watching me when she thought I wouldn't notice.

The feelings that had started inside me then were back, this time with a fury that caught me off guard. Only now I wasn't so scared of it, I didn't try to hide from it. Now I could kiss her again if I wanted to, and I did want to, badly.

She grinned at me and winked quickly before turning and walking away, her hips swaying sexily.