Acoustic guitars chimed loudly as the Indigo Girls serenaded Ryan while she powered through another set of bench presses. She lay on her back on the padded bench, feet planted flat on the floor and pushed the weighted bar up with all she had left.

"Uh..." Ryan groaned and exhaled loudly as she locked her elbows and held the massive weight above her face.

"Yes, babe...that's five!" Janna grabbed the heavy bar and helped to settle it onto the supports in front of her before moving around and standing beside her partner. "Great job, honey!"

Ryan dropped her weary arms to her sides as Michael Stipe joined his friends in the song's chorus, asking, "Are you on fire?"

"Oh, yeah, guys, I'm definitely on fire." Ryan wiped her brow with the back of a hand. "I am feeling the burn...whoo!" She sat up and grabbed her mate, pulling her down to join her on the padded bench. "You are one pushy coach, lady." She said as she nuzzled Janna's neck. Her smile against Janna's soft, warm skin became a gentle kiss.

"Oh, Ryan, don't start that now...we're not finished in here yet." Despite her request, Janna closed her eyes and sighed deeply as she sat straddling the bench in front of her mate.

"Mm, baby, I know...we haven't made love in here yet, have we?" Gentle kisses turned into nibbles as Janna giggled.

"Ry...Ryan...honey...remember, Sara's due any minute...and I want to finish my circuit fir...first...oh, yes..." Ryan was like an incorrigible child who wouldn't take no for an answer. She continued her loving attentions until her mate was breathless and found herself settling into her larger lover's lap. Janna wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck and pulled her close as she captured her lips possessively.

"Mm, God, Janna..." Ryan returned the deep, passionate kiss and wrapped her arms around Janna's back. "Lets finish our workout with our clothes off."

In answer, Janna broke the kiss, and leaned back, pulling her shirt off as she did so. She sat face to face with her mate in a gray sports bra and black running shorts that matched exactly what Ryan was wearing. Ryan grinned widely, brilliant blue eyes sparkling, and reached toward the straps of Janna's bra. She slowly pushed them down Janna's arms, caressing as she did so and had them half way down her partner's arms when the doorbell rang.

"Oh, shit..." Ryan's face collapsed in despair. "Fuck, baby..."

Janna rested her forehead against her mate's, similarly dejected, and sighed. "Later, love...in here...I promise." She sealed her promise with a loving kiss before removing herself from Ryan's lap, and slipped her shirt back on over her shoulders as she left the room.

Ryan blew out a breath and picked herself up off of the bench. She grabbed a towel and wiped her face and neck before settling at the shoulder press machine.

Janna could see her friend through the new stained glass window in the door and pulled the door open.

"Hi, Sara!" She greeted her friend warmly and invited her in.

"Hi, Janna...thanks for having me over."

"Anytime, you know that. Come on back for a minute...we were working out and I need to grab a towel."

"Great...I'd like to see the exercise room that John's been raving about." She followed Janna down the hallway toward the back of the house.

Sara stopped in the doorway next to Janna and followed her enraptured gaze to the vision of beauty in front of them.

As the Girls sang, "The higher the leap, the harder the ground," Ryan powered the bar up, highlighting large, sculpted, biceps, triceps, lats and six-pack abdominals. The bronzed skin above her rippling, bulging muscles was covered with a sheen of sweat and her bangs were plastered to her forehead, making her look incredibly sexy.

"Oh, my God..." whispered Sara. "I've never seen muscles like that on a woman." She looked at Janna, who gazed at her mate proudly, smiling. "So well-defined...but not masculine." She elbowed her friend in the ribs and added with a grin, "If she wasn't taken, I might make a move on her myself".

Janna turned a shocked grin on Sara. "What?" She slapped her friend playfully. "Sara, is there something you'd like to tell me about your college days?" A raised eyebrow matched her jaunty grin.

"There might be!"

Two heads turned back in unison to the strong beauty at the machine who was unaware of their presence as she continued to lift, the beat of the folk rock music accompanying her. They stood admiring the view until Ryan was finished and spotted them.

Noting the admiring, borderline-lecherous grins on the two faces, she grinned and grabbed her water bottle. "Like what you see?" She tilted her head back and took a long drink.

Janna walked into the room, still smiling lecherously, picked up a towel and tossed it at her haughty mate, hitting her squarely in the face.

"Hey! What was that for?" Ryan adopted a mock-injured look.

"That's for thinking a little too much of yourself. We were just admiring the new Nautilus machines."

"Yeah, Ryan...sexy machines...they have beautiful lines." Sara drawled.

"You two are so full of shit." Ryan picked the towel out of her lap and wrapped it around her neck.

Janna stood before her, arms crossed in front of her chest with blonde eyebrows raised. She couldn't hold the mock-stern look for long, however, before she approached her mate and leaned down for a kiss. Ryan pulled her into her lap and ravished Janna's lips with her own, ignoring Sara for the moment.

"Always the stud, eh Ry?" Now Sara's arms were crossed in front of her chest.

"When it comes to this woman, yes...absolutely." Ryan looked up from her prey with glinting eyes and smiled rakishly. Her lips returned to Janna's briefly before she mumbled, "Later, baby."

"Mmm."

Ryan spoke around the small blonde who had wrapped herself around her strong body. "So, Sara, are you guys all settled in the house?"

"Yeah, we are. We love it Ryan...there's so much more room, and it's close to the station...it's perfect for us. We can't thank you enough for letting us move in there."

"Hey, I was more than happy to let you two have it. Who better?"

She stood up, Janna and all, and stepped away from the exercise machine, settling her mate on the floor and leaning down for a gentle kiss. She embraced her soon to be wife and stepped back, to see Sara smiling warmly.

"John's right...you two are amazing." Her eyes held the same warmth that her smile did.

"Thanks, Sara." Janna looked back up at her mate and grabbed her hand. "Wanna come visit with us?"

Ryan smiled down at her mate and squeezed her hand. "Yeah, sounds good. Let me shower off first though."

"Okay, love. We'll be in the kitchen." She grabbed the towel from her mate's neck and used it herself, then turned to Sara. "Have you had lunch?"

"No, actually, I haven't. Are you offering?"

"Sure...if salad's okay. I started one earlier."

"Sounds good, thanks." She followed Janna out of the exercise room and down the hall toward the kitchen. "Let me give you a hand."

Janna glanced over her shoulder and remarked, "I won't turn that down!" They entered the large, sunny room and washed their hands before setting about finishing the large chef's salad.

As they stood side-by-side at the counter and visited, the topic drifted to the upcoming wedding. "So, how are the preparations coming along?" Sara asked as she diced onions.

"We're all set. Everything is basically ready to go, and everyone is set to meet there around noon on Friday. Ryan's brother is arriving some time on Thursday from New Mexico." Janna looked over her shoulder toward the kitchen doorway, then leaned closer to Sara and whispered, "Ryan asked me not to make a big deal out of her birthday, so I hope she doesn't get upset about the dinner."

"Janna, I wouldn't worry. In her eyes, you can do no wrong...believe me. Besides, it's just your closest friends and family...I really don't think she'll mind."

"Well, we'll see. I have a huge gift for her. I hope she doesn't freak out...at least, not too badly." Janna frowned, worried.

"What on Earth did you get her, Janna?"

"I think I want to keep it a surprise, Sara, if that's okay." She eyed her friend apologetically and added, "It's something that she picked out and has been saving for years to get."

"Then it sounds wonderful, Janna. If she lets her pride get in the way of accepting it, we'll all sit on her for you." They were laughing together as the subject of their conversation entered the room.

"What's so funny, you two?" Ryan asked as she stole a strip of ham from the salad bowl between them.

Janna slapped at the offending fingers and said, "Oh, just discussing an impending ceremony."

"Oh, is that it?" Her eyes twinkled as she addressed Sara. "We really appreciate your helping out with all the drinks."

"We're happy to Ryan...it's the least we can do. Are you sure there's nothing else we can bring or do?"

"Nope, everything's all taken care of. We're taking care of the food and the house, Janna's parents are doing what little catering there is and the flowers, Janna's friend Anna is photographing, and we found a minister. All we need are our friends there to share it with us."

"So, who is the minister?"

"A woman some friends found through their church. She's Unitarian Universalist and they have no problem with either gays or doing gay ceremonies...in fact she's a lesbian herself and sort of specializes in gay unions."

She wrapped her arms around her small mate and hugged her from behind. Janna grinned and covered Ryan's arms with hers. "Hey, why don't you open a bottle of something that goes well with salad?"

"Your wish is my command." She kissed her mate's neck and then stepped away.

"Ooh, Janna, always take advantage of it when they say that!" Sara grinned.

"I do, Sara, believe me!" She watched as her beautiful partner, her hair still wet and slicked back, walked across the large kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She stood perusing the selections before grabbing a bottle of white Riesling. She reached into the nearby drawer for a wine opener and skillfully removed the cork, setting the bottle on the table and retrieving three glasses from a cabinet. After setting the glasses on the kitchen table, she disappeared out of the doorway and a minute later, muted strains of Jefferson Airplane floated in.

Janna glanced at Sara and giggled. "She's living in the past, but I love her anyway."

Sara laughed and offered, "I know...John's the same way. He couldn't care less about today's music. Just let him listen to his Journey, Styx and Rolling Stones and he's happy."

Ryan returned, humming along happily to 'Somebody to Love' and joined Janna, grabbing a hunk of cheddar cheese to grate.

"My, God, Janna...if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it!" She eyed Ryan with disbelief.

"Sara, when did you become so fuckin' funny?" Ryan grumbled, but her eyes betrayed her humor, and she made quick work of the block of cheese, dumping the gratings into the large bowl.

"Yeah, Sara, Ryan helps me out in the kitchen all the time." Janna patted her mate's hand.

"Damn right." Ryan nodded emphatically.

"Well you certainly have trained her well Janna. You're a credit to wives everywhere." She popped a piece of carrot into her mouth and picked up the salad bowl, carrying it to the table.

"Didja ever stop to think that maybe she started out with more to work with than the typical straight woman does, with a man?" Ryan looked pointedly at her old friend.

Sara smiled as she replied, "Yes, Ryan, I have...and you may have a point there."

The three friends sat at the table to enjoy their lunch together. Before they could start, Sara picked up her wine glass. "To my two wonderful friends, who will joined in marriage a week from tomorrow. I'm very, very happy for you."

Ryan and Janna both choked up at the warm sentiment, Janna more visibly so, and smiled their thanks to their friend.

"So, you're all set, huh?"

"All except for the vows. Though, I think Janna has hers done. Right honey?" Ryan took a sip from her wine glass and dug into her salad.

Janna looked skeptical. "I don't know...I keep rewriting them. I want them to be perfect." She shook her head. "For how many years have I been making a living at writing? And here I'm stuck on what to say when I marry the woman of my dreams."

"Same here, babe. It's just so hard to put into words what you mean to me and what I want from a life with you."

"Why don't you both just say that?" Sara looked from Ryan to Janna. "Just declare your love for each other honestly. No one expects any more than that."

"We know, Sara...we know that this should just be for us, but I think we both want the words to be perfect." Janna looked at her mate sitting beside her and they clasped hands.

"It will be perfect, I know it will." Sara sighed. "I can't wait, really. And you know what? John is so nervous!"

"Hah! I'm glad to hear that. The best man is more nervous than the groom...I gotta give him hell for that!" Ryan smiled gleefully and speared a chunk of lettuce.

Janna stared at her mate comically. "Ryan, I didn't realize that I was marrying a man...I thought I was gaining a wife next week."

Ryan stopped chewing and stared at her wide-eyed. "What did I say?"

"You called yourself the groom." Janna grinned.

Ryan returned the grin somewhat self-consciously and replied, "Shit, did I?" She looked thoughtful for a moment and continued, "Well, honestly baby, I feel more like a groom than a bride. I'm not the most feminine woman, you know."

"True, but you're no man, and I intend to consider you my wife."

"Well, that's what I consider myself already, love. So, two brides it is, then!" Her sparkling grin matched her eyes.

"Two brides, baby." Janna's eyes conveyed the enormous love she felt for Ryan.

"You know, it's really a good thing that I'm a girl and enjoy this sappy romantic stuff, or else I'd be barfing on the table right about now." Sara matched her friends' grins.

"Sara, I do believe that your husband is rubbing off on you in unattractive ways. I'm gonna have to speak to him."

Sara poked her tongue out at Ryan and they all laughed.

A short time later, Sara brought up the reason for her visit. "Guys, I'd like some advice, if you wouldn't mind." She looked to each of her friends, who nodded. "I'm counseling a young girl, she's fifteen, who attempted suicide because she's gay."

Ryan and Janna both froze in unison, and dropped their forks to their plates.

"Fuck..." Ryan muttered as Janna nodded, agreeing with the sentiment.

"I feel that I'm relating to her well, and we've established a tenuous bond, but I'd like to better understand where she's coming from...why she could feel so desperate."

Janna asked, "What's her family situation like?"

"It couldn't be worse, I'm afraid." Sara shook her head sadly. "When she came out to them, they kicked her out. Then her girlfriend broke up with her because she didn't want her family finding out. She's in foster care now, in a relatively stable home, but she was basically rejected by all of her classmates and she says she feels like she has no one...she feels completely alone...isolated."

Ryan nodded knowingly. "In this town, that's not hard for a gay kid. There are a few support groups popping up...do you know anything about them?"

"No, I don't...that's one of the things I wanted to check with you about. So, there are some resources?"

Janna nodded. "A few, yeah. Let me get you some numbers." She got up and headed toward her office.

"Do you think the girl will be open to trying to connect with a group?"

"I really don't know, Ryan. She's bright...she has a lot going for her, really...so she might. Yet, she feels that no one could possibly understand what she's going through."

"Jesus, I feel for the kid." Ryan sat back in her chair and ran her hands through her hair, her distress at what the girl was going through evident in her actions. She looked at Sara and continued; "You know, Janna and I would be happy to talk to her, if you think she'd be open to that."

"Ry, that's sort of what I had in mind to ask you." Sara looked at her old friend thankfully. "I think that the two of you, and maybe some of your friends, could be wonderful role models, and even mentors for her. She's become a ward of the State, so she's free, basically, to follow whatever line of treatment I deem appropriate for her. You wouldn't have to worry about angry, narrow-minded parents disapproving of her contact with you."

Janna returned to the table and pushed a piece of paper toward Sara. Grinning at her mate, she said, "Like that would stop Ryan anyway."

"God damn right. Jesus, what kind of fucking losers kick their kid out of the house? I don't care what their reasons are!"

"It's hard to understand, love, but we can't know how other people think, or why they think like they do."

"I really appreciate this, guys, and I'm not asking for a big commitment from you. Maybe I can bring her out to a softball game some time...start out that way?"

Ryan and Janna both nodded in agreement and Ryan said, "Sounds like a good idea, Sara. How about in two weeks when we get back from the honeymoon?"

"It's a date...thanks so much. You two are terrific!" She grinned at her friends, who both returned the smile.

"We know!"

"Geez, Ryan and so modest too!" Sara poked her husband's best friend from across the table. "Hey, Janna, how's the ankle? I forgot all about it!"

"It's fine...I hardly feel it at all now." She glanced conspiratorially at Ryan and added, "I heal quickly...I even played last night. I had it taped really, really tightly, at my partner here's insistence, and I did just fine."

"Good thing for us too...she played her heart out and helped us win again. I think Sharon's gonna want her to sign up again next year. She's even better in the position than Linda was, which I don't think will be a problem for Linda. I've had the feeling lately that she's been wanting to quit."

"I hope so, hon...I want to play but I don't want to step on any toes in the process."

"Don't worry, baby."

"And hey, Ryan, what about those jerks that attacked you last week?"

"They're sittin' in the can, where they belong. One of the guys squealed. Apparently it was the other two of them that were in on the attack on Janna and her friends, and they were basically recruited for this job by the guy who actually beat her." She looked at her mate and knit her brows in concern. "He was pissed at being bested by women and wanted to get back at me...at us." Ryan looked seriously at her friends as she added, "They're just lucky they didn't try to hurt Janna again. If they had, they'd be dead now...every one of them."

"I believe you, friend. And you'd have had plenty of help if you'd needed it."

"I wouldn't have needed it Sara."

Sara nodded and asked, "What about the two guys who beat Janna? What's happening with them?"

"They're both heading to federal prison. They made deals, so there won't be a trial, and they're only getting a few years each." Ryan shook her head angrily. "Fuckin' pricks." She looked up apologetically at her mate and their friend. "Sorry."

"No problem, Ryan. They are fucking pricks." Sara said matter-of-factly.

"Right, love. Don't worry about it. It's over...it's done. Lets put it behind us." She clasped her mate's hand as she added, "I'm all healed, thanks mainly to your love and support."

"Thanks baby."

"Janna, are you about done, honey?" Ryan's voice held a definite note of eagerness, and Janna smothered a grin as she cleaned her equipment. She glanced over to the darkroom's doorway to see her partner's smiling face peeking around the doorjamb. She looks adorable. She's really excited about this little tryst. I'll have to try to make it special for my very special lady.

Janna turned the large trays over so that they could drain and then wiped her hands on a towel. "Yes, love, I'm done." As she turned to look at Ryan she adopted an innocent look and said, "Was there something you needed, honey?"

The expression on Ryan's face dropped so quickly that Janna's heart lurched. She moved to her mate's side and wrapped her arms around the strong waist. "Because you definitely have something that I need." With one hand, she pulled her lover's head down to meet her lips.

Ryan smiled widely through the kiss and responded passionately, caressing Janna's tongue lovingly with hers and pulling their bodies closely together. She tore her lips from Janna's and kissed her throat, murmuring, "I've been wanting you all day, baby."

"Mm, me too, love. I'm sorry I had to finish this photo project first." Janna's eyes closed involuntarily as her lover's gentle lips explored the sensitive skin of her throat. She ran her hands gently up under Ryan's shirt, caressing the soft skin of her back, causing a sharp intake of breath.

"That's okay Jan...Janna. If a gallery wants your work, then by all means finish up...oh, Christ, baby...that feels good." She forgot to finish her thought as Janna's lips and tongue began matching the rhythm of her hands in their caresses. Ryan placed her hands gently behind Janna's head as her eager mouth sought out breasts, their excitation visible through the cotton of Ryan's t-shirt.

Ryan moaned and muttered, "Baby, do you have any idea how much I love it when you kiss me there?"

Janna's soft lips spoke around a mouthful of cotton surrounding a hard nub, "Mm, hmm...I think I do, yeah." She turned Ryan so that her back was against the wall and as she looked her lover in the eye, coyly lifted her shirt above her breasts, pleased that there was no bra to block her easy access to the lovely peaks. She gently kissed the curve above each breast as Ryan wriggled beneath the soft touch.

"Janna, lets go into...into the...um...workout room." She moaned loudly as a talented tongue circled a very happy nipple, leaving velvety bumps in its wake.

"I kinda like it right here." Janna tuned her attention to the other breast as she brought a hand up to caress the first one.

"Oh, baby, no..." Ryan's voice actually held a small pout and Janna smiled, removing her mouth from Ryan's anatomy and looking up into her eyes. "Baby, don't stop...come on...right here's fine." Ryan gently coaxed Janna's face back down with her hands.

Janna smiled widely, still looking up at her mate and ran her tongue roughly over the sensitive nub, where Ryan loved it so much, then smiled coyly again and led her tall lover by the hand to the exercise room.

She sat Ryan on the end of weight bench and straddled it, sitting behind her. "Janna, baby, what're you doing to me?"

"Loving you, baby." Janna wrapped her arms around Ryan's waist and kissed the back of her neck. Her hands roamed sensuously higher on her mate's torso, finally landing on her breasts. She stroked them in a circular motion, with the taut nipples in her palms, and Ryan's breath began to come forth in ragged gasps.

Ryan felt the desire swirling and building within her body, unable to slow it. "Janna..."

"I know, love," Janna whispered hotly in her ear as one hand left a breast and moved below Ryan's waist, beginning a slow, circular descent. Each hand kept up its circular caress in symmetrical motion, and Ryan tilted her head back against Janna's, moaning loudly. Janna slowed the motion and brought her hands up to lift Ryan's shirt off over her head. She tossed the shirt to the floor and began her caressing again in earnest, suckling at Ryan's neck as she did so. As she felt her partner's body respond to her touch and felt her passion through their link, Janna's own desire began to build.

"God, Janna, that feels so good...I...I never...let anyone else take me...ohhhh...like this before."

Janna murmured her answer against Ryan's soft skin." I'm glad I'm special, Ryan, because you are the sun and the moon to me. You're the earth and the sky. You're my Universe, baby." She punctuated her point by thrusting a hand gently under the waistband of Ryan's shorts, finding slick curls and a throbbing center.

Ryan leaned back against her mate, letting her have her way with her body. Leaving herself in the gentle, loving, yet talented hands of her partner. Janna gently urged Ryan to raise her hips off of the bench and she gently pulled her shorts and underwear off, tossing them aside and leaving her beautiful mate sitting naked in front of her.

Her hands resumed their loving attention and Ryan muttered, "Take your clothes off too, baby, please. I want to feel you."

Janna quickly, silently complied, and sat back down, pulling Ryan against her as her hands took up their caresses again. Her lips, tongue and teeth gently kissed and nipped at Ryan's back and shoulders as her hands brought her to full arousal. Janna's right hand dipped into Ryan's cleft, caressing the hard, ultra sensitive nub there and Ryan groaned her pleasure. As Janna's fingers dipped and stroked more deeply within her lover, her left hand paid continued devoted attention to full breasts and their hard centers.

"Oh, fuck...here I come baby..." Ryan fairly gasped the words as the orgasmic spasms began. Janna kept up the rhythmic stroking as her partner rode the crest of pleasure, calling out her mate's name in ecstasy. As the tremors eased and slowed, Ryan became limp in her lover's arms and Janna held her tenderly. "Oh, God, Janna...oh God..."

Janna felt tears sting her eyes as her heart swelled with love for her mate. "I love you Ryan."

"Not half as much as I love you, Janna." Ryan brought a small hand up from her waist and kissed it tenderly.

"No way, love. You can't possibly love me more than I love you...not possible."

Ryan brought Janna's fingers to her lips again and gently sucked them into her mouth, caressing them with her tongue. Janna swallowed hard and her breath caught in her throat. "Mmm, Ryan..."

"Come 'ere, baby." Ryan arose from Janna's embrace and helped her love to her feet, leading her to the padded, inclined bench of one of the leg machines. She sat Janna against the incline and straddled the bench in front of her.

Janna shivered in anticipation as Ryan leaned forward and gently captured her lips. As they kissed, their breasts met gently and then more firmly as the kiss intensified, and Ryan pressed her body against her mate's. Ryan moved slowly up and down, gently caressing Janna's body with hers, knowing that her partner loved that, and possessed her tongue ardently.

When Janna moaned into her mouth, Ryan bent her head and began trailing kisses downward, down an elfin chin, across a jaw line, down her neck, to the hollow of her throat. She sucked and nipped gently at twin pulse points before moving down again, across a prominent collarbone, bringing large, but graceful, gentle hands against erect nipples at the same time.

"Oh, yes, Ryan...yes..."

Lips replaced hands on soft, full breasts; licking and caressing with a soft tongue, making Janna arch her back involuntarily against the seat back. Teeth gently raked over nubby coral nipples, alternating with a swirling tongue, leading Janna toward oblivion. A skilled hand moved lower, finding Janna's center and gently caressing there in time with her tongue.

When Janna began moaning incoherently, and her inner walls began to contract and clench rhythmically, signaling her plunge into the depths of pleasure, Ryan moved down so that her tongue could join her fingers at Janna's center.

"Oh, God, Ryan, yes...yes...deeper, please...ohh, Jesus, yes!"

As Ryan's tongue alternately licked and stroked deeply at her love's center, Janna wrapped her hands in her dark hair and her legs around Ryan's shoulders. The convulsions came quickly and powerfully, drenching Ryan's mouth with the sweet nectar that she loved so much.

"Ryan!" Janna screamed her mate's name, setting her lover's passion aflame again and Ryan rose and covered Janna's body with hers, straddling a thigh. She kissed Janna passionately and rocked against her lover, prolonging Janna's orgasm and instituting her own. They arched together as one at the simultaneous peak and screamed each other's names in unison.

As the tremors subsided, Ryan slowed her movement and wrapped Janna in her arms. Their sweat-slicked bodies melded together comfortably and they rested.

"Fuck, baby...fuck..."

"God, Ryan...oh Jesus..."

When her breath returned, Ryan laughed quietly and nuzzled her mate. "Honey, have you ever noticed how when we come, I always swear and you always call on God or Jesus?"

"Mm, hmm. What do you think it means?"

"That you're a lady and I'm a fuckin' animal."

"Shut up and kiss me, goddammit. Or better yet, fuck my brains out again."

Ryan laughed as she laid her eager mate on the floor and happily complied with the demand.

As she sat quietly strumming her guitar, Janna watched Ryan try to concentrate on her book. Her mate was having a terrible time staying focused as she nervously awaited her brother's arrival. She's really anxious...I've never seen her so unfocused. Seeing him must mean a lot to her.

"Honey, he didn't think he'd be here before noon. It's just now that...why don't you come over here and relax?" She patted the sofa next to her. Ryan glanced over at her and tossed the book onto the table as she stood up.

"Yeah, okay. I don't know why I'm so unsettled...I guess it's just because it's been so long since we've seen each other. Must be three years." As Ryan sat beside her, Janna set her guitar on the floor against the sofa and reached for her mate's thigh. Ryan scooted close and settled her arm around Janna's shoulders.

Janna rested her head against her mate's shoulder and said, "Tell me about him while we wait."

"Well, babe, you know the basics. He's four years younger than I am and spent most of his teen years in Texas, with cousins who live on Indian land. Before he left, before our Dad died, we were pretty close...as close as could be expected, I guess, with the age difference. After that we basically only saw each other in the summer, when our Mom and I would visit Texas or he would come here. He joined the Army right out of high school and has advanced well. He's an MP and had been attached to the Los Alamos National Lab, but in his last letter said that he'd just been transferred to the White Sands Missile Range, with a high security clearance." Ryan looked down at Janna as she added, "In his letter he sounded happy. I hope he is. His teen years were rough."

"It sounds like he's found his niche. And he was looking forward to seeing you, he said." She rubbed Ryan's bare thigh absently.

"Yeah, and you too, apparently." She smiled, and then looked perplexed. "He made it sound like he couldn't believe I'm settling down. As if he ever knew me that well."

"That's just it, Ryan...he didn't know you well." She smiled up at her mate coyly as she added, "You didn't, um, brag about your conquests a lot back then did you...by any chance?"

Ryan looked a bit guilty as she replied, "Well, you know...maybe some."

"Well, there you have it. He knew you as a womanizer."

"Janna!"

"Ryan!"

Janna took pity and halted the teasing. "I don't care, love...you're all mine now...of that I have no doubt."

"Good...'cause you're right." She pulled Janna into her lap. "You're more than woman enough for me." As they kissed and petted softly, a loud rumbling could be heard from outside, coming down the street.

When the rumbling, obviously from a motorcycle engine, appeared to enter their driveway, Ryan slowly looked up from her kiss and out the front window.

A large smile graced her features as she saw her brother's leather-clad form lift itself from the back of what appeared to be a Harley. "Well, I'll be a son-of-a-bitch! The asshole rides a Harley!" She looked back at her mate and gave her a quick squeeze before Janna got up.

As Ryan made her way toward the front door, dragging Janna by the hand, Janna tried to hide her knowing grin. They burst out the door as the man lifted the helmet from his head.

A face almost identical to Ryan's, with a wide, white smile and piercing blue eyes, though framed with closely cropped black hair, met them. "Hey there, Sis!"

"Zachary Redhawk Zamora, you fucker...when did you get a Harley?" Ryan clasped her brother's arms as she eyed his ride with obvious envy.

Zac pulled his sister in for a proper hug before answering. "It's nice to see you too, Ryan! I got it a few years ago."

"I'm sorry, Zac...how ya doin'?" She stepped back and looked at him. "You look fuckin' great, man."

Zac looked over Ryan's shoulder at the cute blonde standing behind her. "And this must be the saint who's putting up with you." He spoke to Janna, "Does she always talk like a sailor in front of you?"

Janna grinned, "Pretty much, yeah." She approached him and held out her hand. "I'm Janna, Zac...It 's great to meet you."

"It's great to meet you too, Janna," he said as he grasped her hand warmly. His wide smile was so much like Ryan's that she felt comfortable with him immediately.

"Alright...don't even think about it, bro." Ryan grinned as she stepped between them and wrapped an arm around Janna possessively.

"Wouldn't think of it, Sis. Honest!" He held up his hands as he grinned at his sister and her mate.

"Show me this ride of yours, Zac." Ryan walked herself and Janna over to the gorgeous machine and stroked its handlebars. "Sportster?"

"Yep. Have a seat, Sis." He gestured for her to give it a try.

Ryan grinned and eagerly hopped on. She straddled the large bike and grabbed the handle grips, looking completely at home on it. It was black and sported black leather saddlebags.

My God, she looks good on that! Maybe my decision was a good one after all. Janna's wide grin matched her mate's as she gazed at the attractive site. Ryan looked like she was in heaven, as she ran her hands along the handlebars, the tank, and the engine that sat between her legs.

She began asking her brother knowledgeable questions about it's specifications and as they lost themselves in motorcycle talk, Janna lost herself in a vision of a leather-clad Ryan on a bike of her own, with Janna behind her, arms wrapped happily around her waist. She envisioned them joyfully motoring together along a mountain road, both clad in leather. She could actually almost feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. I can't wait!

She returned to the present when she heard Ryan say, "Yeah, I've had my eye on a Dyna Wide Glide...been saving for a few years now."

"Whoa, Sis...going for the big bucks ride, huh? No flies!" He smiled widely, silently agreeing with Janna's assessment of how good his sister looked on the bike.

"Yeah, that's why I don't have one yet. Some day though." She ran her hand longingly along the tank one more time before climbing off the bike. "Nice ride, Zac." She threw one arm around her brother's shoulders and the other around her mate's waist and walked her family into the house.

Ryan sat back against the back of the booth and stretched her long legs, relishing the cool brew as it slid down her throat. She glanced to her mate's lovely face next to her and slid an arm around her shoulders. She watched as Janna enjoyed the conversation with her brother, who was regaling them with stories of his military adventures. She was enormously pleased that the two of them had hit it off so well.

They sat in a downtown Mexican restaurant after enjoying a delicious meal. Mexican music emitted from little table top juke boxes clashed with the loud audio from a large televison tuned to a Mexican station as Ryan looked around at the partly gaudy, partly down home décor and felt very much at ease. This is my kind of place: totally unpretentious, with great food and beer. And these two are my kind of people: warm, loving and down-to-earth. My family. As Janna and Zac continued their laughing conversation, Ryan's mind flashed forward, and she imagined herself and Janna in this very restaurant with their children. The thought filled her with joy and with hope and she had to close her eyes as tears threatened to appear. I'm gonna do it...ask Zac to be a donor for us. I can't wait to start a family with her.

As Ryan's heart center filled with joy, Janna felt it and glanced over at her mate. Ryan sat with her eyes closed, looking as if she were either about to laugh or to cry. She laid her hand on Ryan's thigh and caressed it lightly. Ryan opened her eyes and Janna saw that they were filled with tears.

"Are you okay, love?"

"Great, baby...better than great. Just thinking about us...about the future." She laid her hand on top of Janna's and squeezed it, communicating silently her love for her mate. She felt it return to her and nearly choked up. She sighed and looked across the table at her brother and added, her voice cracking slightly, "I've hit the jackpot here, Zac."

"I can see that, Sis. You two seem very happy." He reached across the table and grabbed his sister's free hand. "You deserve it, Ryan. You're a good lady." He glanced at Janna as well and added, "You deserve each other. I'm glad you told me about your wedding... and I'm glad I could make it."

"We're glad too, Zac." Janna cleared her throat before continuing, "So, how do you feel about giving your sister away to me on Sunday?"

Zac looked wide-eyed from Janna to Ryan before saying, "Really? You want me to give you away, Sis?"

"I do, yeah. Do you mind?"

"Shit no, Sis...I'd be glad to... I'd be honored." He shook his head and took a swallow from his frosty beer mug.

Ryan grinned, enjoying her brother's near-miss emotional display. Jesus, he looks like Dad. She took a gulp from her own mug as memories of her father threatened to overwhelm her.

Janna missed none of the proceedings and smiled with an internal shake of her head at the supposed toughness of the Zamora siblings. They're just a couple of big, mushy, softies.

Zac cleared his throat. "So, Sis, what's the plan for the weekend?"

Ryan tried to surreptitiously wipe at her eye but was unsuccessful, as a tear escaped. Her mate reached up and wiped it away for her. "Um, yeah...well, we leave tomorrow morning. Everyone plans to gather at the house around noon. Are you taking your bike or do you want to ride with us?"

"Since I have a week and a half before I have to report for my new duty, I thought I'd travel around a little...so I'll take my bike and leave Tahoe on Sunday or Monday." He grinned and added, "You don't need your younger brother hanging around for your honeymoon, do you?"

"Absofuckinlutley not, bro. And it's little brother." Ryan's eyes sparkled a challenge.

"Younger."

"Whatever. Then tomorrow night, since its someone's birthday, Janna has a dinner planned." She looked askance at her mate and mock-frowned, but Janna just grinned coyly at her.

Ryan continued, "Saturday is do whatever you want until dinner: hike, swim, gamble, laze. Janna's parents have something nice planned for dinner and that's when we're meeting the minister and rehearsing. Then..." She looked at her mate and nearly choked on her words and had to swallow, "Sunday at sunrise I marry this woman of my dreams."

Janna gazed at her with adoration and didn't bother trying to choke back the sob that rose from her throat. Ryan wrapped her in an embrace and kissed her head, not caring about where they were. She held her mate for a minute and let the love flow between them.

"Then after the ceremony, we're having a big breakfast/brunch type thing and celebrating. After that everyone will stay or leave as they want. There's room for everyone there at the house, and you're all welcome to stay as long as you'd like. We'll be there until Thursday." She adopted a rakish look as she glanced at Janna. "Just so long as no one plans to see much of us after the wedding. We are gonna be honeymooning big time...aren't we baby?"

Janna blushed mildly but answered, "Yes, love, we are."

Zac laughed. "I'll bet you are! Okay, Sis, I can take a hint...I'm outta there Sunday night."

"Zac, that's not what I meant..."

"I know, Sis, I'm just yanking your chain!" He grinned at his older sister.

"Hey, we're just meeting up again...I'd like to see some of you before you leave." Ryan matched her heartfelt statement with a look of sincerity.

"Why don't you guys come out my way soon? It's beautiful down there and I'd love to have you there."

"We'll do that, Zac, thanks. I do want to take Janna down there. She's into spirituality in a big way and I want to share some things with her." She looked at her mate. "She's part Cherokee and has never visited the res."

"No shit...part Cherokee? That's cool Janna. Then you definitely need to visit the res. Do you know your ancestor's roll number?"

Janna frowned. "No, we haven't been able to track that down. My Mom is till trying though. I'd love to be able to join the tribe." She looked from Zac to Ryan. "Are you guys tribal members?"

Ryan answered, "Yeah, though our tribe isn't nearly as well organized as the Cherokee. There isn't even a res. left. Though that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Zac continued, "Right, though the members are starting to pull together a little more now. There's even a government compound in Oklahoma now. But, I guess, historically, the Comanche and Shoshone were a pretty fierce, independent people."

"I can see that in their offspring...and I mean that in the best possible way." She picked up Ryan's hand and kissed it.

"Hey, we're only one quarter Comanche, you know." Ryan returned the gesture and kissed Janna's hand as she winked at her small mate.

"I want you guys to plan to come out for sure, okay? I'm getting a nice little place, with a few horses...I think you'll like it there."

"Jesus, Zac, the military's done well by you, huh?"

"Well, I guess success has its perks, yeah. But, you know, I've worked hard. Been a damn good solider, I think." He finished his beer and poured himself another, offering to refill the ladies' glasses as well.

"What's your rank now, Zac?" Ryan nodded her thanks at the refill and lifted the mug to her mouth.

"Lieutenant Colonel."

"Shit! Zac, you're barely thirty, for Christ's sake."

Zac shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, I've done alright there."

"You like it a lot, don't you?" Ryan asked sincerely.

"I do. At first..." he shook his head in remembrance and laughed, "I never thought I would make it through boot camp...much less my first tour. I was one angry Indian kid." He looked up at Ryan and Janna. "But I settled into it and made it my home."

"What about personally, Zac...any special ladies in your life?" Ryan smiled warmly at her brother.

"Well, Sis, there just might be. I, uh, met someone interesting a while back when I was doing an orientation at White Sands." He grinned, adding, "Lets just say that we're both looking forward to my transferring there."

"Alright, Zac...that's super!" Ryan pounded her brother's fist with hers. "What's her name?"

"Marty. Captain Martha Greyeagle." His look of pride was unmistakable.

"A native woman? Jesus, that's awesome, bro!"

"Thanks, Sis."

Janna sadly interrupted the moment. "Hey, guys, why don't we continue this at home? I still have some packing to do. Do you mind?" She looked at her soon to be wife and brother-in-law. "We've got plenty of Corona at home..."

Ryan laughed. "Sounds great baby."

Later that night, Luna's partial face sent faint light in through the bathroom skylight, adding it's gentle glow to the candlelight as the lovers reclined together in their whirlpool.

"It was a great night, Janna." Ryan squeezed her mate tightly from behind and rested her temple against blonde hair.

"Mm, yes. It was. Zac is really a great guy, Ryan." She dipped her hands in the still-warm water and gently rinsed the bubbles off of Ryan's arm. "Um, sweetheart? Do you think he'd consent to be our donor?"

Ryan smiled against her lover's hair. "I'm hoping he will Janna. I plan to ask him this weekend. I have a feeling that he'll be okay with the idea."

"Me too. I think that maybe the Universe brought you two back together for that reason. I mean right now. You probably would have reunited at some point anyway, but it seems synchronistic that it's happening now. Don't you think?"

"Mm. Yeah. I do." Ryan cupped water onto her mate's arms and back. "Do you realize that this is our last night together here as an unmarried couple?"

"I hadn't thought about it that way, no." Janna picked up Ryan's arms and wrapped them around her torso. "God, love, it's wonderful." She sniffed. "Jesus, here come the tears again."

"Baby, don't cry, please...every time you do, I do too, and I'm too tough for that."

"Oh, you are? You could have fooled me, you big softie. Both you and your brother were getting a little teary at the restaurant tonight."

"Hey, watch it!"

"I'd rather watch you." Janna turned in her lover's embrace and sat in her lap. "I'd rather watch you make love to me on our last night at home as an unmarried couple." She leaned forward, pressing her body against Ryan's and kissed her deeply.

Ryan mumbled into the kiss, "Your wish is my command, baby."

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ryan, happy birthday to you!" The crowd of friends and family shouted, "Hurray!" as Ryan blushed even more fiercely and threw Janna a look the likes of which the small blond had never received from her partner.

"Ryan, for God's sake stop glaring and blow out your candles before they set the cake on fire," John urged vehemently.

Ryan sighed, sucked in a breath, called up the reserves of her dignity and blew out the thirty-four candles with one irritated breath.

As her friends clapped and Janna began cutting the cake, eying her mate warily, John grabbed his friend by the elbow and led her away from the table and into a hallway.

With an air of irritation, he asked, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Shit, John, you know what's wrong...don't give me a fuckin' hard time about it. You know I never celebrate my birthday, and you know why...why didn't you clue her in?"

"Why didn't you?" He eyed his friend pointedly. "She's your girlfriend."

"Because I love her, that's why. She was all excited about this and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Besides, I thought I might be able to handle it, but now that it's happening, it's making me nuts...I can't handle these things John."

"You love her? You could have fooled me tonight. You've hurt her Ryan, with this childish behavior, and she fucking well doesn't deserve it." He grabbed his partner's arm and made her look him in the eye. "She's only doing this because she loves you and wanted to make this day special...look at her family...this is what they do...and they're your family now, so you'd better get used to it. Now you get in there and enjoy the party she's put so much effort into and then you apologize to her, or I swear to God, Ryan, I'll kick your ass." He stood in front of her, refusing to back down, and she saw how serious he was.

"Jesus Christ, John...you know why this is so hard for me. I didn't intend to hurt her... God, it just all kinda caved in on me. All of a sudden I was thirteen again and my Mom was getting the phone call during my birthday party." She leaned back against the paneled wall and slid down to the floor, cradling her head in her hands as tears began to flow. Her friend crouched beside her and laid a comforting hand on her back.

"I know, Ry, I know. But she doesn't. You should have told her. You need to tell her now. She has no idea why you're acting this way...she thinks you're mad at her."

Startled red-rimmed blue eyes looked up at him. "I'm not mad at her, John."

"You need to tell her that. Ryan, she's terrified. You two have never fought before, have you?"

The question was met only by a sullen shake of the dark head.

"Shit...Do you want me or Sara to talk to her? Someone has to Ryan, you owe her that."

Ryan blew out a breath and ground her palms into her eyes, willing the unwanted tears to stop. "No, I'll talk to her. I just wish she'd listened when I asked her not to make a fuss."

"Jesus, Ryan, she's not a mind reader...despite that special bond thing you two have. You blew this Ryan, not her, so face up to it, or your whole wedding will be ruined. I know you don't want that."

Ryan looked up into John's face, terrified. "No! I don't want that. She's everything to me and I want to marry her on Sunday." With a voice filled with pain and self-loathing she added, "Christ, John, why am I such a fuckin' asshole?"

"You're not, Ryan, you're just acting like one. I know how bad you're hurting but you have to suck it up, partner, and participate...and talk to her."

In the next room, Janna swallowed the pain that had formed as a lump in her throat as she handed out the last piece of birthday cake, and went looking for Ryan and John. As she rounded the corner into the hallway, she saw her partner sitting on the floor in tears, with her best friend crouched beside her, speaking softly to her.

Suddenly, she felt Ryan's pain...the pain that had been blocked by her own...and she rushed to her mate's side.

"Ryan, sweetheart, what's wrong?" She knelt beside Ryan and laid a gentle hand on her head.

Ryan looked up with tear stained eyes and sobbed, "Oh, Janna, I'm so sorry!"

Janna sat and wrapped her mate in her arms as John quietly stood and left.

As Janna held and rocked her love, she whispered, "Shh, it's okay...I've got you. I love you Ryan, it's okay." She kissed her mate's soft, dark hair as her own tears began to flow. "Ryan, please tell me what's wrong. Please let me help. I'm so sorry that I've upset you, please..."

In a small voice, Ryan croaked, "Janna, it's not your fault. I should have told you. This is all my fault." She sighed and was racked by another sob. "Janna, my father died on my birthday when I was a kid...it was the worst day of my life and I haven't been able to celebrate it ever since." She looked up apologetically at her mate as she added in a small voice, "I usually get shit-faced drunk."

"Oh my God...Ryan, love, I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Janna's tears were renewed and fell vigorously. "You asked me not to make a fuss, but I didn't listen...I thought you were just being stubborn...you can be you know." She met her mate's eyes and saw the faintest hint of a smile.

"I know I can be...sometimes I have the hardest fuckin' head on the planet. Janna, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this. I didn't mean to keep it a secret, it was just too painful to talk about, and I thought that maybe this year, with you, it would be different. Plus, you were so excited about it." She pounded a fist into her forehead. "But I had to blow it and ruin everyone's night. Fuck!"

"Ryan, stop. I had to go and make a big production of it. Maybe if it had been just the two of us, you would have been fine."

"I think I might have. It's the party...my Mom got the call during my thirteenth birthday party. But Janna, how could you know? I wasn't big enough to share it with you." She wrapped her arms around her mate and kissed her hair. "I'm so sorry, Janna. Your friends must think I'm a complete asshole."

"Who cares what they think? You're not an asshole. Here, I'll go put an end to this and we'll go to bed. Okay?"

"No, Janna. I need to go out there and apologize."

"No you don't honey...you don't owe anyone anything..."

"Janna, come with me and help me?" Ryan implored Janna with big, blue, tear-stained, red-rimmed eyes that melted her heart.

"Whatever you want, Ryan." She stood and helped her tall mate to her feet.

Ryan stood and pulled Janna into an embrace. "I love you so much, Janna...I'm so sorry, baby."

"It's okay, Ryan, I'm sorry too."

They walked hand in hand into the large family room where their friends were eating cake and ice cream. As they entered the room, the conversation died. At the sight of an obviously distraught Ryan, her best friend and her brother rose and stepped in behind her, offering their support. Janna dropped her mate's hand and wrapped her arm around her waist.

"Um..." Janna began.

Ryan smiled weakly, interrupting her partner. "No Janna, let me. This is my mess." She looked at their gathered friends and family, two of whom she had only just met earlier that day.

"I want to apologize for my behavior tonight. I'm afraid I don't handle my birthday well, and neglected to be honest with Janna about that." She glanced at her mate and added, "We have no other secrets from each other, so I'm not sure why I didn't share this with her, except that it was very painful." Ryan's voice cracked and she faltered.

Janna squeezed her and kissed her cheek, sharing her strength.

Ryan continued, clearing her voice. "Um, my father died on my birthday when I was thirteen and I was devastated. He had been my world. My, uh, my mother got the call about his accident during my party and I haven't been able to celebrate this day ever since." She looked at their gathered loved ones. "I'm really sorry that I broke down and acted like such an assh...um, like such a jerk." She looked at her mate. "If I had been honest with Janna when she first mentioned the idea, you all wouldn't have been subjected to this. I'm sorry." A single tear that tracked down her cheek marked her sincerity.

Janna's mother, Beth, suddenly stood and approached Ryan, embracing her, and was joined by Janna's sister-in-law Kris and by Sara. They stood in a circle and embraced both Ryan and Janna, sharing their tears and supporting them with their love. Then one by one, starting with Janna's best friends, Terry and Anna, all of their guests approached Ryan and offered words of comfort and support.

Ryan was so heartened by the outpouring of love that the dark, painful shard of ice that had been hidden away in her heart on that terrible day twenty-one years before, began to melt. Her tears of pain became tears of release and of love. Janna held her mate tightly and as their friends returned to their seats, she led Ryan to a loveseat and sat beside her.

Zac remained where he had been standing behind Ryan. "I think that, thanks to your love and support of my sister, she can begin a new tradition of celebrating the day of her birth with her wife. Maybe now she can remember it not so much as a day of loss but as a day of love. I want to thank you all." A lump formed in his throat and he walked over and kissed first Ryan, and then Janna. "Happy birthday, Ryan. I love you."

"Love you too, Zac, thanks." Ryan's eyes communicated the love and appreciation she felt for her brother.

Marv, Janna's dad, stood, then, with an upraised glass. "To Ryan...happy birthday."

The chorus of voices repeated, "To Ryan."

A short time later, after even getting Ryan to share a piece of cake with her, Janna quietly asked, "Honey, how do you feel about presents?"

Ryan looked down at her lap and then back up at Janna, a smile forming on her lips. "How many presents are we talking about, Janna?" She looked expectantly at her mate, some expression finally returning to her normally expressive features.

"Only a few...from me. I told everyone else no presents, because, well...I knew you wouldn't want that." She laughed, "I knew that much at least."

"Thank you, Janna. I appreciate that. If there are only a few, then I'll be happy to open them now." Ryan knew that it was bound to be an embarrassing experience, but she didn't want to let Janna down any more than she already had that evening.

"Only if you're sure, Ryan. They can keep until we're alone."

"Nah, I think I owe it to you all. It's okay." She squeezed her partner's thigh reassuringly.

"Okay, I'll be right back." Janna returned a minute later, carrying two large, flat boxes.

As she set them in front of Ryan, her mate exclaimed, "How did you get those up here without my seeing them?"

"Mom and Dad brought them." Janna's smile further warmed Ryan's heart and she sent a silent thank you to the gods for her precious mate. "Here, this one's first." Janna placed a box wrapped with golden paper on Ryan's lap.

Ryan looked around at the assembled faces and grinned, then carefully tore at the paper.

Her brother's voice spoke up, "Come on, Sis, rip it open!"

She looked up at him and replied, "But it's so pretty...I don't want to tear it."

At which John exclaimed, "Oh, come on, Ryan...this is no time to start acting like a girl!" The room erupted into laughter, led by Ryan herself and she gave the lovely paper a hearty rip.

She removed the top half of the garment-sized box and pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a woman's white tank top with a small Harley Davidson logo above the left breast.

"Janna, thank you, I love it!" She kissed her mate on the cheek, genuinely pleased with the shirt.

"Keep going, honey, there's more." Janna grinned.

Perplexed, Ryan pulled away more tissue paper to reveal black leather. She glanced at Janna before pulling the item completely out of the box. It unfolded into black leather riding chaps. Her jaw dropped but she remembered to smile as she said, "Sweetheart, these are great...I had planned to get some just like this when I get my bike...um, thanks."

"Now you already have them. Here, this one's next." She removed the chaps from her perplexed mate's hands and set them back into the box, setting it on the floor at her feet and setting the other box in her lap.

The second box was wrapped in silver paper and Ryan tore right into it, extremely curious as to the contents. She could feel Janna's seemingly inordinate amount of excitement through their link and knew that something was up.

The second box revealed another white tank top, identical to the first, but smaller...Janna's size. Ryan held it up and eyed her mate suspiciously, smiling but saying nothing. Under the shirt, sat more black leather and she picked it up to reveal a shovelhead-style leather motorcycle jacket, size small, identical to the one she already owned.

"Alright Janna, what's going on here?" Her curiosity and confusion were beginning to get the best of her, but she retained her good humor.

Janna simply smiled and pointed to the box, saying, "There's one more."

Ryan removed the last bit of tissue paper to reveal an envelope. As she picked it up, she glanced sidelong at her mate with raised eyebrows. She opened the envelope and pulled out a card. As she did so, and saw the image on the card, her breath caught in her throat and tears sprang to her eyes. She closed her eyes and swallowed, holding the card to her chest.

"God, Janna, you didn't..." she breathed. She opened her eyes to see her mate's brilliant green eyes shining with love and a wide, beautiful smile on her face.

Janna nodded as tears began to flow from her eyes.

Ryan took a deep breath and looked again at the card, reading it for the first time. Her voice cracked as she read the card aloud. "Congratulations! You are the now the proud owner of a 1995 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide Motorcycle." The image was of a gorgeous machine with candy blue paint and a double bucket seat with a small passenger backrest.

Ryan's vision blurred as tears filled her eyes and she tore them from the image and suddenly threw her arms around Janna, embracing her tightly. "Oh, Janna, thank you! Thank you so much, baby. I love this more than I can say." She pulled back slightly and looked at her mate, shaking her head as confusion knit her brows. "It's exactly what I wanted, right down to the seat and the color...how did you know?"

"I found the brochure on your desk when I was cleaning...you had conveniently circled everything that you wanted!"

"That's because I've been saving for it...Janna, I was only about halfway there...are you sure you want..."

"Yes! Ryan, it's been ordered. It will be delivered in about three weeks. Happy birthday, my love!"

Ryan clutched the card to her breast again before giving Janna another huge hug, which then became a long, loving kiss. Their friends let them have their moment but as soon as their kiss ended and they had torn loving eyes from each other, all the men jumped up to get a look at the card.

As Ryan's loved ones congratulated her, Janna sat back and enjoyed the moment. The evening had started out horribly, but through love and understanding, had become a beautiful event and Ryan was visibly extremely moved. She reached through the arms of her surrounding friends and found Janna's hand, grasping it tightly and sending a strong burst of love to her mate through their bond. The evening ended magically, setting the stage for the rest of the magical weekend to follow.