Ryan stretched out on the large towel and luxuriated both in the warmth of the sun and in the feel of her lover's gentle hands as they spread lotion on her back. "Oh, baby. That feels nice."

Janna, sitting beside her, grinned. "My hands are very happy right now too." She squirted another dab of coconut-scented lotion into her hand and rubbed her palms together, then attended to the backs of Ryan's thighs and legs. She thoroughly enjoyed running her hands along the long, muscular legs, and grinned widely as she did so.

"Mm." Ryan turned her head to look at Janna and added, "You know who else is enjoying this?"

"No, who?"

"Those two guys over there." She turned her head back toward the expanse of beach to the south of them. "I'm starting to feel like a piece of meat."

"Honey, they're just guys. I don't think they mean any harm. They probably think that because we aren't wearing wedding bands that we're available." She brought her hands back up to Ryan's shoulders, not because they needed more lotion, but because she wanted to continue her mate's massage.

"Well, baby, we're gonna have to do something about the lack of wedding bands then. Shit, I like to look at women too, but I don't stare like that. It's rude, and I'm just about ready to get up and kick some ass."

Janna laughed. "I'm sure you don't need to go that far. Lets just give them a little hint, shall we?" She glanced around and noted that the beach was relatively uncrowded around them.

"A hint?"

"Yeah, turn over."

Ryan did so and Janna proceeded to lotion her chest and shoulders. As she did so, she leaned down and gently kissed Ryan, lingering just a bit.

Ryan opened her eyes, looked up at Janna and smiled. "Mmm. Did they take the hint?"

"I would say so. One of them grimaced like he'd been shot and the other's laughing. They're walking away."

Ryan laughed deeply. "Great job, babe." She turned back over and laid an arm along Janna's thighs. "I didn't really feel like getting up and kicking ass anyway."

Janna joined in her laughter and lay down beside her mate, linking their hands. She sighed deeply and said, "This is so nice. The sun feels great."

"The whole thing feels great."

"Mm, hmm." As they lay together on the granite beach, a slight breeze picked up, whispering its song through the pine trees that edged the sand and separated the shore from the parking area.

"I love that song." Janna sighed again.

"Yep. Someone ought to record it."

"Someone probably has."

Janna turned her head and rested her chin on her left arm, looking straight out over the brilliant lake. It was a deep, clear blue, many miles wide and bordered by majestic peaks, the highest of which were still capped with snow. She could feel her partner's warmth as she lay to her right and Janna breathed deeply of her essence. She reveled in another of her life's most perfect moments and gave another silent prayer of thanks to the Universe.

Ryan unlinked their fingers and turned onto her side, facing Janna. She reached over and pushed a strand of blonde hair behind Janna's ear. "I love your hair, baby. It's such a pretty blonde. Does the sun lighten it in the summertime?"

"Mm, it does, yeah. It's more golden in the winter." She turned to face Ryan. "I love your hair too." She reached out to stroke it. "So thick and silky...I love to run my fingers through it. Have you ever worn it long?"

"No, not since I was a kid. Long is just too much trouble…too hard to manage, especially when I spend the majority of my day sweating. This is actually the longest it's been in years."

Janna caressed Ryan's locks where they fell behind her neck, nearly to her shoulders. "Really? I like this length on you."

"I like it too…and since it pleases the only two people on the planet who have a say in the matter, I think I'll keep it status quo." She graced her mate with a lopsided grin.

Janna smiled in return. "Good. You're so beautiful, and the way it frames your face accentuates your beauty."

Ryan gave a slight smirk and said, "Beautiful? I wouldn't go that far. You, on the other hand, are."

"Ryan, you've got to be kidding. I've never, in all my life, encountered a more beautiful woman than you are." Her sincere look warmed her mate. She added, "And as for me…I might say 'cute' but definitely not beautiful."

Ryan smiled warmly, but said, "That is bullshit my love…no offense. Do you ever look in the mirror?"

Janna looked down, embarrassed, then shyly back at her mate. "Thank you Ryan."

"Anytime. You know, in those warrior dreams…your hair was shorter. In most of them anyway."

"Yeah, I've seen that too. I've been thinking about cutting it...I'm used to it being shorter. Would you mind?"

"Not a bit, love. I've had the opportunity to see how cute it is short. Do whatever you'd like."

"Thanks, love. Your hair is long in all of the dreams. You were stunning...you looked almost exactly like you do now."

"So did you. Is that typical, do you know?"

"Looking the same in other lives? Well, sometimes. But usually, no. The body type stays generally the same, but looks and gender usually vary. Anything's possible though. Maybe we work the best together in this configuration." Janna grinned and rested her arm on Ryan's back.

"Probably so, baby." They both turned back onto their stomaches and linked hands again.

A half hour later, her body beaded with sweat, Ryan announced, "I need to take a dip, babe. You coming?"

"Sure!"

They hopped up and walked across the coarse granite sand, gingerly stepping into the cold water and stopping when it reached their stomaches. Janna shivered and remarked, "Geez, this water never warms up. Once…only once…as a kid, did we come here and find it almost comfortable."

"Oh, but it feels good. That sun is intense. Come on baby, plunge right in…you'll get used to it faster." She held her hand out to her mate, who looked very unsure of the idea. "Come on Janna. Lets swim." Ryan grinned at her encouragingly.

"Okay." Janna gave in and grabbed her mate's hand and they lunged forward into an incoming wave.

"Whoo!" Ryan exclaimed as Janna shrieked.

"Come on baby, keep moving", Ryan said as she swam away a little distance. Janna plunged forward again and followed her. She forgot the cold very quickly as she watched her lover's graceful strokes. Nope, there's not a single thing that she does not do well.

Ryan stopped some distance away, treading water, and waited for Janna to catch up. As her mate approached, Ryan held out her arms and Janna entered them, wrapping her body around her mate. They only held the position for a few moments, as they were aware of the lack of privacy, and they both had to struggle to put down the intense desire to kiss.

"Janna, one day, I'm taking you away to a very private island somewhere." Ryan put what they both were feeling into words, the sincere statement matching the intention written on her face.

"I get you, love. I'm right there with you." They separated and swam a little more, and then played some, before exiting the pristine water and returning to their towels for more sun worship.

A few hours later, the appearance of stormy clouds and an accompanying strong breeze forced them from the beach. As Ryan drove them north on the narrow highway that ran along the western shore of the lake, they admired the beauty of the area with the quaint shops, and bicycle and snow and water equipment rental places that sat interspersed with campgrounds and expensive homes. All set in and amongst thick evergreen forestland.

Spying a cute little gift shop housed in a log cabin, Janna proclaimed, "Lets stop here Ryan. I need to update my t-shirt collection."

Her mate dutifully pulled to a stop at the mock hitching post in front and they entered the little store. Offered for sale inside were items running the gamut from 'Tahoe' inscribed glassware, to clothing, to camping supplies, to framed art prints. Janna made her way to the clothing section while Ryan checked out the glassware. She picked up a shot glass with the charming inscription, "I got laid at Tahoe" and after briefly considering the item (it was an appropriate sentiment after all), shook her head with a small smirk and moved on to the various other offerings.

As she perused the selections and grabbed a tasteful set of antique-styled beer steins she heard, "Ryan, look here."

As she made her way over to her partner, Ryan saw that Janna held up an attractive navy blue tank top with a tasteful "Lake Tahoe" emblem and said, "This looks like you…may I get it?"

Ryan did indeed like it and nodded her acceptance, grinning. She joined her partner at the shirt rack and picked up a tiny tube top.

Grinning jauntily she drawled, "And this looks like you, baby…may I?"

Janna rolled her eyes and held up another, less scanty shirt. "How about this one instead?" Ryan mock pouted but then laughed and smiled her approval. Janna then found several others, as well as matching blue baseball caps and a hiking guide and they made their purchases.

On the road again, and wearing their new caps, they only drove a few more miles before they found Carl's vacation home. On the western shore of the lake are many year-round homes: some are permanent residences while others are rented out full time to both summer and winter guests. Carl, a captain in the department, used his as both a personal vacation home and as a rental for friends and coworkers to use. It had been in his family for more than half a century and was now considered absolutely prime real estate. Had he wished to sell it, he could probably ask upwards of a million dollars for it.

As Ryan drove, Janna watched for the address on the lake side of the highway.

"Here it is." Janna pointed to a home up ahead on their right and they approached a beautiful home of log construction, which sat behind a stand of pine trees and a wrought iron gate, which paralleled the highway. A circular drive divided the home from the front gate and, along with the trees, provided both a measure of security and a natural sound barrier.

The gate was closed, so Ryan pulled the Jeep to a stop on the shoulder of the road. As they exited the Jeep and peered through the fence, both women were astounded at the understated grandeur of the home.

Janna's jaw fell as she gasped, "My God...Ryan...it's beautiful!"

"Shit, Janna...if this is what Carl considers a cabin, I'd like to see his home." Ryan grinned as she shook her head in bewilderment. "He's always talking about his 'retirement home'…now I see what all the fuss is about. Jesus…would you look at this place?"

It was an extremely attractive two-story constructed of golden pine with an attached garage and was quite large compared to the neighboring homes. It sat on a wider than average lot as well, hinting at its construction in an earlier era.

Janna walked to the far edge of the property and craned her neck to see past the trees, around the side of the house to the beach.

"Ryan, it has a private dock and beach too! Oh, my God, it's just gorgeous!" Janna couldn't contain her excitement at the prospect of staying there, much less at being married there.

"Well, babe, I guess I know what to tell Carl then. It just won't do. Way too big." Ryan shook her head seriously as Janna turned and looked at her in shock.

"Ryan, you're not ser…"

Before Janna could finish, Ryan was betrayed by an involuntary smile, unable to pull off the joke.

"Oh, you! You had me going for a second." She approached her naughty mate and swatted her on the behind. "Ryan Zamora, you'd better watch yourself."

Ryan grinned and grabbed her arm. "Oh, yeah…and what are you gonna do about it, huh?"

"You just watch it. I might surprise you sometime." Janna's serious green eyes took on a twinkle, as she couldn't seriously threaten her mate any more than her mate could successfully tease her.

They linked hands as they turned to take one more look at the home.

"Janna, I can't wait, baby." Ryan turned to face her partner. "I absolutely cannot wait to come back here to this beautiful home and marry you."

Janna matched Ryan's sincere look and opened her mouth to speak just as the electric gate they were standing next to lurched open. As they turned in surprise, a car approached from the highway and turned into the drive. As the minivan drove past them, the front passenger waved.

Janna gave a short wave back, though she couldn't see the person's face. They turned to walk back to their Jeep and heard, "Ryan, Janna…hi!"

As they both turned in surprise at hearing their names, they were shocked to see Ryan's coworker, Sam and his wife Georgie, followed by two boys.

"Zamora, what the hell brings you up this way?" Sam laughed as he approached and grasped Ryan's outstretched arm.

Ryan grinned widely as she shook his hand. "I guess we're doing the same thing you are, Cap. We're up here on vacation. We were thinking about renting this place sometime in the next month or so and Carl suggested that we stop by and take a look at it. He didn't tell me you were up here though."

"My what a small world!" Exclaimed Georgie. "Ryan, you know our boys. Janna, these are our sons, Nate and Sammy."

Janna smiled warmly at each boy and said, "Hi guys. Are you enjoying your vacation?"

The older boy, thirteen-year old Nate, answered, "Oh, yeah. It's totally rad here. Dad's taking us parasailing tomorrow."

"Wow, that sounds so cool!" replied Janna, genuinely interested.

"It sure does," piped in Ryan. "You gonna get your Dad up there too?" She smiled crookedly at Sam, mildly challenging him.

"Zamora, do you think I'd let these kids do something that I haven't' already tried out myself?" their father asked, his gruff statement softened by smiling eyes. Sam had married somewhat later in life than most of his friends, and at nearly fifty, his wife and kids were his entire world.

"No, Cap, I don't." Ryan grinned, conceding the point.

"Ryan, Janna, come on in and see the place." Georgie grabbed a bag of groceries from the rear of the van as she beckoned with her head toward the house. Her husband and sons also each grabbed a bag and headed inside.

"Oh, no Georgie…we don't want to intrude. We've seen enough."

"Don't be silly! You have to see the rest…it's just gorgeous inside. Come on!" She smiled her invitation and Ryan glanced at Janna, whose eyes were alight with curiosity.

"Okay. Thanks Georgie…but we'll only stay a few minutes." Janna followed Georgie in to the house while Ryan grabbed a grocery bag.

As Sam reappeared to retrieve the last bag from the car he said, "Actually, we were just going to barbecue up some steaks and burgers…why don't you join us?"

"Cap, thanks...but we can't do that." Ryan smiled apologetically.

"Why the hell not, Zamora. You got other plans?"

"Well, no…Cap, this is your family vacation…we just don't want…"

"To intrude…yes, I know." He looked her in the eye and added, "If it were an intrusion, I wouldn't be inviting you." Then he glanced up at the house to make sure that their mates weren't within earshot and added, "Besides…Georgie's dying to know more about the little lady who's got you so wrapped up. Says she seems real nice. I'm kind of curious myself."

Ryan smiled warmly at the compliment paid to her love and nodded her acceptance of the invitation.

"Alright, Sam. Thanks very much."

"No problem. You can give me a hand with the grill."

Ryan followed the Captain into the house and tracked down her mate, who was gushing over the view out of the picture window that overlooked the rear deck and the lake just beyond.

"Ryan, honey, can you believe this view?" Janna's look of utter joy convinced Ryan on the spot that her idea to hold their ceremony there had been a good one.

"Yes, love, it's incredible. I think this will be perfect." Her eyes spoke the volumes of love that she felt for her mate. Two sets of eyes communicated the love and devotion that they felt at that moment, allowing them to refrain from a more public display in front of the family.

The moment was broken when Sam announced that the ladies would be staying for dinner and they separated: Ryan going with Sam to help with the barbecue, and Janna to help Georgie in the kitchen.

Forty-five minutes later they were all seated at a large table on the deck, enjoying a simple, but delicious meal. The view was one that could be matched by few five-star restaurants in the entire world.

Later, they sat visiting over cold beers as the kids chased around the yard with their large Irish Setter. The threatened thunderstorm never materialized, the earlier clouds having been chased into Nevada by the prevailing winds.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted when they heard a shriek from one of the boys and Nate ran up to his parents yelling, "Mom, Dad, Sammy got stung! It was a huge yellow bee…I saw it."

The adults quickly jumped up and ran to aid the ten-year old who was crying and writhing in pain a short distance away. As his parents reached him and tried to comfort him, Ryan knelt next to him and grasped the already swollen arm. Gently, she flicked the large stinger from the wound with a fingernail and then pressed her lips to the stung skin and sucked the poison from the boy's arm.

As he continued to cry in agony, a look passed between Ryan and Janna, and Ryan nodded, saying with a serious gaze, "Sam, Georgie, Janna knows a technique that can soothe the pain almost instantly. May she use it?" She looked from husband to wife expectantly.

The parents, both looking somewhat confused, but anxious to relieve their child's suffering, nodded their assent and backed away. Janna sat beside Sammy and motioned for his mother to sit behind him, holding him. Janna quickly visualized the symbols and called up the Reiki. She held her hands just above the boy's arm, realizing that direct pressure may not be comfortable at first. Ryan crouched next to her partner and placed one hand on the boy's back, one hand on his mother's shoulder, and also called up the energy.

The Reiki from Janna quickly soothed the acute pain and initiated healing while the Reiki from Ryan comforted both patient and parent. Little Sam's tears slowed and his sobs became less frequent as the soothing energy acted like a balm to his injury.

He looked back at his mother, wonder replacing the pain in his eyes, and said, "Mom, her hands are hot and it stopped hurting." He looked back at Janna's hands, which hovered just above his arm, then he glanced at Ryan and said, "Your hand is hot too."

"Yes, Ryan, it is." Georgie looked pointedly at her friend and smiled, adding, "I'd like to hear more about this healing 'technique', if you don't mind." She looked over at Janna. "It seems like something every mother should know about."

Janna smiled her agreement and nodded before removing her hands from Sammy's arm.

"There, Sam. How does it feel now?" She looked kindly at the young boy and rested a hand on his head.

"It feels a lot better. It's just tingling now. It doesn't hurt." He looked back at his mother. "Can I go back and play, Mom?"

Ryan answered before Georgia could, "Hold on there sport. Why don't you let your Dad put some ice on that first? It's still a little swollen and you don't want the pain coming back later, do you?"

"No, I guess not."

"Come on buddy. Lets get you some ice." His father helped him to his feet, directing raised eyebrows at his coworker.

As Ryan got up and reached for Janna's hand she smiled and said, "Well, I guess we're out of the closet, huh?"

Janna laughed. "Out of the healer's closet? I guess so, yeah!"

Georgia stood up, brushing the mountain dirt from her pants and said, "Would you two care to enlighten me about what you just did to help my son? A yellowjacket sting is very, very painful, yet he's ready to run off and play already."

Ryan linked her arms through those of her mate and her friend and headed them back toward the deck. "Yes, we'll tell you all about it. Lets get comfortable."

Before returning to their lodge, Janna convinced Ryan to make one more stop. There was a favorite little tie-dye shop that she tried to visit every time she went to the Lake. Over the years, Janna had become friendly with the owner, a friendly, sixtyish ex-hippie who did all of her own work. She colored everything from a full line of clothing, for infants to adults, to rugs, tapestries and flags. The free spirit in Janna had always loved tie-dye and she couldn't seem to ever get enough of it.

Ryan glanced over at her passenger, now clad in her new "Tahoe" cap and matching blue-hued tie-dyed "Lake Tahoe" t-shirt and grinned. "You look great, babe."

Janna looked at Ryan and thought that she looked great in her new cap as well, with her hair tucked behind her ears. Smiling, she said, "So do you, love...of course. That hat is you."

Ryan smiled warmly at her mate and returned her attention to the highway. "Georgia seems really excited about getting an attunement." She shook her head. "You just never know about people, I guess. I would have thought she was a little too conservative to be interested in an alternative practice like that."

"Honey, remember about not judging a book by its cover?" Janna raised her eyebrows at her mate and grinned. "And never underestimate the lengths a mother will go to for her children." She turned toward Ryan and added, "Besides…how conservative could she be, really? She's your friend, after all, and has been very accepting of us."

"That's true. Actually, politically, they're pretty liberal, but they do seem to epitomize American family values."

"Well, we know, possibly as well as anyone can, that the definition of the American family is changing. Quickly. Or we will know in the near future anyway." She caressed her mate's hand where it rested on the gearshift knob, and was filled with love and joy at the prospect of beginning a family with Ryan.

Ryan lifted their hands to her lips and kissed Janna's fingers. "Right, baby. Before too long." Her blue eyes mirrored the love that shone in her mate's green ones. "Um, you know…Georgie cornered me about why we were coming back up to the Lake again so soon. I told her about our ceremony, but said that I thought it would only include immediate family."

She looked back to the road and continued, "I know we hadn't talked about that aspect of it yet, honey, but my feeling is that if we have all of our friends too, it will be just a big drunken party. Or, it would be with my friends at least. I don't want that, Janna. I just want something very small and very special. Is that alright?"

"Yes, honey. It's fine. I understand completely. It would be the same way with my friends too, believe me. I can't tell you how many commitment ceremonies I've been to that were so big they had to be held in Golden Gate Park." She quickly added, "Don't get me wrong…they were all beautiful weddings. But I don't feel the need to ask every lesbian and gay man that I've ever met to share our joy with us. I've been thinking that I'd like it to be just us, John and Sara, my best friends Anna and Terry, my family and your brother. How does that sound?"

Ryan bestowed a radiant smile upon her and said, "Sounds perfect, baby. Just perfect." She sighed happily and added, "Georgie told me that the house sleeps between twelve and fifteen, depending on how people want to double up. So, I was thinking…" She paused and looked at Janna with sparkling eyes.

"Oh no…should I be afraid?" Janna laughed.

"You might, yeah! I'm thinking…we exchange vows just as the sun is rising over the lake."

Janna was speechless for a moment. "Oh, Ryan…that's a beautiful thought."

"Um, I thought it might be significant…you know, symbolic of our love for each other?" She looked almost sheepish at having suggested something so romantic.

"Honey, it's a beautiful idea. I love it."

"Thanks baby. So, um, that would mean, to make it easiest on the guests, everyone should be staying nearby, preferably in the house there."

Janna continued the thought. "Right…it has four bedrooms and the loft. Lets see…there's the master bedroom for us, another bedroom for John and Sara, one for my parents, one for Anna and Terry and then the loft for Dan and his family. Your brother…do you think he could use the loft or maybe one of the sofa sleepers?"

"He probably wouldn't mind either…if he even comes. I can't be sure he will, Janna. Though, um, I did write to him recently and tell him about you...that we're living together and planning our commitment ceremony."

"I hope he does come, Ryan...I look forward to meeting him. If John is your best man, you'll need someone to give you away."

"Do I? Even though I'm basically standing in as the groom?" Ryan laughed, her eyes mirroring her mirth.

"Well, you're the one who mentioned a best man, you know." Janna reminded her.

"Yeah, baby, I know. Actually, that works for me. He's my very best friend, after you. I can't really get behind the idea of having a maid of honor." Ryan shook her head to dislodge the image of herself in a bridal gown which had just entered her mind. "How about you, love? Have you thought about it?"

Janna looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Have I thought about it? You're kidding, right?" She laughed. "It's about all I think about lately, sweetheart." She caressed Ryan's hand again. "Yeah, I want my Daddy to give me away and Terry to be my bridesmaid. I'd ask Anna too, but I don't think she'd enjoy it. She's very similar to you in the butch quotient department. I don't think she owns a dress."

"Butch quotient? Janna, I thought you didn't like labels."

"I don't Ryan, but there is a very definite level of butchness in your identity. It's just an identifier Ryan, not a stereotype."

"Would you care to enlighten me on what my 'butch quotient' is?"

"On a scale of one to ten? Fifteen," Janna giggled.

"So you like butch women?"

"I don't like labels."

"Answer the question."

"I tend to be attracted to strong, nice women who lean in that direction, yeah."

"So you consider me a bulldyke."

"No, I don't. You're more androgynous than that."

"So what would a bulldyke rate?"

"Well, ten or so, but Ry…"

"Janna! What?"

"Ryan, you are one of a kind. Very strong, very independent…so you rate a ten plus, but you also have an incredibly loving soul. And you're gorgeous. Off the scale gorgeous."

"So, bulldykes aren't gorgeous?"

"Jesus Christ, Ryan…"

"Just trying to see where you're coming from babe."

"Yes, bulldykes can be gorgeous. My ex, Joanie, is gorgeous. As far as I'm concerned, every woman is beautiful. It's more than that. There's a softness there too...in you."

"I am not soft."

"You are incredibly soft…but I promise, I'll never tell a soul."

"You fuckin' well better not, baby."

"Ooh, you talk big, don't you?"

"I talk big and I have the power to back it up." She narrowed her eyes playfully at Janna but then grinned, softening her words. "I have complete control over you, my little love."

Janna's voice became very soft. "Ryan, you'll get no argument from me over that particular point." Her eyes filled with tears as she added, "The bottom line, Ryan, is that you are the perfect woman for me. No label does you justice and you can't be pigeonholed…no one really can be…not fairly anyway. That's why I don't like labels."

"And you are the perfect woman for me…my little soft-butch, semi-femme baby."

"Ryan!"

"Hey, it's just an identifier, baby, not a stereotype!"

"I love you Ryan."

"Love you too Janna."

"Mmm" Janna giggled. "I think you're trying to get me drunk, Ryan."

"Janna, I'm not trying, I have succeeded." She added with a jaunty grin, "More champagne, baby?"

"Absolutely!"

Ryan reached for the bottle, which sat in the ice bucket at the edge of the spa. She poured the last bit into Janna's glass and then tilted the bottle into her mouth, capturing the last few drops for herself.

Luna shone brilliantly down upon her two faithful worshippers, whom, at the moment were so enormously wrapped up in each other that she might as well have not even existed. She didn't mind, however, as their adoration for each other was obvious. Deliriously obvious, actually, at the moment, and she was nothing if not all about love.

"Baby, how are we gonna top this with our real honeymoon?" Ryan whispered in Janna's ear as she drew her love more tightly against herself. She had managed to coax the swimsuit off of her modest mate and was exceptionally pleased with the situation at the moment.

"I'm gonna make love with you on the beach in the moonlight." The matter of fact response surprised and delighted Ryan.

"But, Janna, what about the 'no sex out in nature' rule?"

"We'll ask permission of the spirits present. We'll do a ceremony. And we'll ask Luna to bless our union."

In her slightly foggy state, Ryan wasn't sure, but she thought that Janna might possibly be completely serious. "Um, sure, baby…okay."

"I'll figure out the best way to do it. And I have a shaman friend I can call…she'll give me…"

"You're serious?" Ryan was incredulous.

"Of course I am…I'm not that drunk, Ryan!" She continued, not the least bit deterred by the interruption, "I'll also find out how to do a protection ritual, to protect us from prying eyes. Oh, lets get married at the Full moon, Ryan! Oh, God…it'll be near the equinox…cool! And right after your birthday too, baby." She threw her arms around her lover gleefully and kissed her.

As Janna's pert breasts caressed her own, Ryan realized that she had already received the perfect birthday present. It sat right there in her arms, in the hot tub, overlooking a meadow, in their favorite mountains, bathed in the light of their favorite goddess.

The mid-morning sun shone brilliantly through the thin atmosphere, illuminating the honeymoon suite of the Strawberry Lodge and the two entwined occupants of the king-sized bed. Even avowed early-morning riser Ryan was loath to leave the warm comfort of the bed, and especially that of her mate's arms. She was wide-awake but had absolutely no desire to get up, thus ending their wonderful vacation.

Suddenly, an idea struck her and she became so excited by the prospect that she sat up in bed, pulling her sleeping mate up with her. The blankets fell away from them, exposing their bare skin to the early morning chill, and Janna mumbled a complaint. Ryan nuzzled her partner's hair and whispered, "Sweetheart, wake up…I have an idea. She kissed Janna's temple to try to speed the pace along.

"Don't wanna…" Strong arms wrapped themselves more tightly around Ryan's muscled torso.

"Baby, listen. I want to do something special before we go home."

"Don't wanna hear the 'h' word, Ryan…please?"

"Sweetheart, come on…wake up. It has to do with our wedding."

Janna's eyes flew open right on cue. "Our wedding? What?" She brought one hand up to rub the sleep from her eyes but kept the other arm wrapped around her mate.

"There are Indian Reservations around here, right?"

"Yeah, all over…um, not too far across the state line, and in the foothills on the way home. Also down south towards Yosemite. Why?" Her interest piqued, Janna was fully awake.

"Did you have anything in particular in mind for our wedding rings?"

"Um, no, actually. But perhaps you do?" Sleepy green eyes gained a sparkle.

"Yeah, it just occurred to me. We share a Native American heritage, Janna. Why don't we celebrate that with Native American styled rings?"

Janna thought briefly, then asked, "You mean with something like silver and turquoise?"

Ryan beamed. "Baby that is exactly what I pictured in my mind, yes!"

"Ryan, I adore silver and turquoise!" She threw her arms around Ryan again and kissed her happily.

Ryan returned the kiss and fell back onto the bed, pulling Janna fully atop her. Strong, talented hands started a sensual exploration of her mate's curves as the kiss continued and deepened, only to be stopped abruptly when Janna sat up and exclaimed, "Ryan! There's a beautiful Native jewelry and art shop in South Lake Tahoe. I think the owner is a member of the Paiute Tribe. He does beautiful silver work." She gazed at Ryan with excited, twinkling eyes.

Ryan's eyes held a sparkle of another sort as she replied, "Lets check it out before we leave, baby. It sounds perfect." Then she pulled her mate back into her arms. "But not for a little while yet."

Part 13

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