Katia

The doctor had come in and made assessments and taken blood. Nurses have been in and out with medicine and tests. I'm grateful for their care but I'm so over it. Elaine left an hour or so after cutting my hair. My parents have been here for a while. My dad called Kandace and asked her to come back. He told her I would apologize for my behavior. I never said that but he's convinced I should. I'm not exactly in the mood to host a bunch of people. I do feel better, emotionally, than when I first woke up but not a ton. I'm still trying to sort my thoughts and memories out correctly. There are some fuzzy details I can't quite work through logically. Part of me is too embarrassed to ask. Like, for instance, I can't remember for sure or not if I actually had sex with Elaine. I know it doesn't really matter now but I feel like I have the right to know. One little game my mind likes to play, and I've affectionately named it, is the domino effect. Someone will say one thing, almost like a clue to my brain, and some of the memories associated with it will fall into place.

The feel of Christine's hand against my head draws me out of my internal monologue. I look up at her. The golden brown honey pots that she calls eyes stare down at me, but not in a way that suggests she feels sorry for me. Not the way everyone else is looking at me. She stares at me like I'm the best thing she's ever seen. It makes me feel not so bad.

"Are you okay?" She asks. Her eyes search my face for some type of answer to her question before I can speak.

"Yeah." I lie. Well, okay, it's not a complete lie. I feel okay under the circumstances I suppose but I much rather not be surrounded by so many people.

She gives me a look. Her features tighten and its as though she doesn't believe me. I guess she can tell when I'm lying or not. She clears her throat. "Hey guys. I think Katia is feeling kind of tired. Maybe you guys should go grab some dinner and come back later." She politely suggests but it sounds more like a demand to me.

"Dinner does sound nice." My mother says looking at my father. I may not remember everything, but I remember enough to know they aren't the friendliest to each other.

He smiles at her. "Yeah. It does. I know a little Italian restaurant not too far. Greatest spaghetti and meatballs you ever had. Pizza for the kid too."

Kristopher hops up from my bed at the mention of pizza. "Yeah!" He shouts.

"Maybe it's best we come back tomorrow, honey." My mother says.

I nod. "Yeah. That's fine." That's even better honestly.

My dad and Kristopher give me hugs and they all leave together. I'm grateful Chris was able to tell I was lying about being okay. I needed the space. When we're alone she turns her attention to me.

"Better?" She asks.

I bashfully nod.

"Good." She runs her hand over my close cropped hair. The motion and warmth of her hand feels good against my scalp summons a deep moan from my mouth. My head involuntarily leans into her hand's embrace. "You know you don't have to lie to me, Katia."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be rude. I know I was being a bitch earlier."

She cringes at my use of the B word. "Seems your accident didn't siphon your affinity for foul language."

"Sorry." I mumble. "Was that one of your rules?" I ask.

My question seems as though it surprises her. "Yes." She answers simply. She starts to stay something but stops herself.

"What?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "Nothing." The smile she offers me is small and weak.

"No, tell me." I say. I reach out and grab her hand. "Please, Chris. I want to remember everything. I want to be the person you fell in love with." I say softly.

"You'll always be the person I fell in love with as long as you're being yourself." That makes me smile and now her smile is more genuine. "But... you don't call me Chris so much."

"What do I call you?" I ask curiously. "Babe?"

She nods slowly. "Yeah or baby or uh..." she swallows and looks kind of nervous.

"Or what, babe?" I use the pet name to ease whatever tension she's feeling. I can handle whatever it is she thinks she can't tell me.

"Or Mistress." She says staring at me. Her eyes look different now. Less golden. More black.

"Oh." I nod. "Right because I am yours." I am her wife. Her submissive. I'm her... good girl. The thought of her calling me her good girl sends all the heat in my body straight to my cheeks. I look away from her but she gently lifts my head up forcing me to meet her gaze. Her eyes have returned to their normal color.

"Or Mama." She says softly.

"Mama?" I ask. "Why would I.. what?"

For a split second she looks kind of sad but she shakes it off and she steels her emotions. "Because you are my little girl."

"What does that mean?" I ask curiously.

"It means I take care of you. I hold you and help you do things you have trouble doing for yourself sometimes. Especially when you're in your little space. I love and protect you from the outside world and from yourself sometimes." She chuckles.

I chew the inside of my lip. "You think I'm a baby?" The thought of her thinking I can't do basic adult things for myself embarrasses me.

"No. I enjoy taking care of you just as much as you enjoy being taken care of. The relationship is mutually beneficial." She explains patiently. "Sometimes you just want to be silly." She smiles and looks past me as if she's thinking about something long ago. "You like to color and draw. You have these onesie pajamas that you love. It's really a whole ordeal." She chuckles again and looks down at her own hands.

I smile. "That does sound fun." I shrug. "And being held or babied or whatever doesn't sound like the worst thing." Honestly, I could really use the affection right now. I think it may be the very thing I'm missing. Ever since I woke up I've felt like I've been ran through the wringer. My mind and body are both exhausted. I need something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe this is it.

She perks up and makes very direct eye contact with me. "I would really enjoy that."

"Okay." For some reason I forgot that I am bound to this chair but I am quickly and annoyingly reminded. She notices my embarrassment and frustration. Without a word she picks me up and helps me on the bed.

"Was it okay that I did that?" She asks. "I just noticed you were having a little trouble and I-"

"It's fine." I cut her rambling short. I don't want her feeling bad for trying to help me. "Plus it's not like you got the chance to carry me over the threshold."

She smiles softly. "Yeah."

I scoot back on the bed as best as I can by myself. She adjusts our blanket and climbs in beside me. Her strong arms wrap around me and a sigh of relief escapes my lips. I don't know exactly why I feel so relieved but I do and it feels nice. Her body heat feels good against me. I lean closer to her.

"I missed you so much." She whispers. "Thank you for coming back to me."

"If I can help it, I'll always come back to you." I smile at her.

"My little boomerang." She teases.

I laugh. "Exactly." She kisses me softly and pulls away but I wasn't ready for it to end. Her eyes search my face. "What's wrong, baby?"

"I want another kiss."

A devilish smirk appears on her face. "You can have all the kisses you want."

_______________

Christine

I opened my eyes and Katia was staring back at me. Her curious grey eyes were wide and alert. She almost startled me. That was the best sleep I've had in what feels like forever. For the first time in weeks, I feel rested.

"Good morning." My voice comes out heavy with sleep. It's still raspy.

"Hi." She chirps. She's smiling and it's the most beautiful smile I think I've ever seen. "I told the nurse to come back after you woke up. You were sleeping so peacefully I didn't want to wake you."

I chuckle as I sit up in this too small bed and rub my eyes. "Thanks. I needed it."

"I know."

A few quick knocks rap against the door before it opens. The nurse pokes her head and smiles. "Oh great. Everyone is awake now."

I smile softly and swing my legs over the edge of the bed to get up and give her room to do whatever she needs to with Katia.

"Um do you think I can shower today?" Katia asks. "Don't get me wrong, I love having you guys come in here and sponge me down but I really miss the shower."

I hold in the laughter that bubbles up inside of me.

The nurse looks taken aback by Katia's smart aleck tongue. "Well I suppose so. Let me run it by your doctor it but I don't see why not."

"Great." Katia said. She sat up and let the nurse listen to her heart and breathing. "When can I get out of here?"

"Your doctor will actually be by later on and he'll have a definite answer for you, sweetie."

Katia smiles and nodded. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. You know, keeping me alive and stuff."

The nurse looks touched by Katia's words. "You're welcome." She wraps up what she's doing and leaves us alone again.

"I hope I can go home soon." Katia says. "Our bed has to be more comfortable than this thing."

I stretch my back. "It definitely is."

"Chris..no." Katia hits herself on the forehead, "I mean babe."

I grab her hand and kiss it. "Whatever you call me is okay. Don't force it. I'm just happy to hear your voice again."

She smiles. "Okay. Can you move the blanket so I can see my feet?"

Seems like an odd request but I oblige. She sits up straighter and focuses on her feet. She begins to flex and relax her fingers repeatedly. The concentration painted across her face is reminiscent of the way she used to stare at herself in the mirror while she was dancing. Focused on every last detail of her own body's motion.

"What are you doing?" I ask, breaking the silence and her concentration.

"Willing my feet and/or toes to move." She sighs and leans her head back. The features of her face relax. "I thought I moved my foot today while you were sleeping. I was hoping I could do it again."

"Maybe it was a tremor you felt. You did the same thing when you were in your coma."

She folds her arms and huffs. "This isn't fair."

"I know that." I nod. "But if anyone can 'will' themselves to walk again, it'll be you."

Her pout turns into a small smile and she starts to fidget with the ends of the blanket.

"What's wrong, baby?" I ask.

"It's silly but we didn't get to do our first dance as a married couple after our wedding. I remember I was really looking forward to that." She frowns.

"We did have our first dance as married couple." I smirk.

"What?" She asked.

"The night before the wedding I asked you to dance with me. We danced to the silence of the night." I chuckle. "Technically we were already married. That was our first dance."

She smiles and her eyes develop a thin layer a tears. "Yeah. That was! I love you."

"I love you more." I kiss her forehead.

"I don't think so."

"I do." I say with a smile. "Don't argue with me."

She opens her mouth to say something but stops herself. "Fine."

"Good. Now let's get you ready for that shower."

Katia shakes her head. "The nurse didn't give us the green light."

"Who cares?" I ask. I just want to give her any and everything that could make her happy. I'm certain at this point I'd consider murder if it meant she'd smile.

A wide mischievous grin breaks out across her face. "Yeah!" She pulls me closer and plants a searing hot kiss against my lips. It makes my knees weak. I stop myself from crawling into the hospital bed with her and pull away from the kiss. She smiles at me innocently and neatly folds her hands in her lap. "Ready!" She sings.