This story is the third in The Homecoming Series. The first two stories, The Homecoming and The Challenge, are both available at: http://www.xenarealm.com/th.html and at this site.

Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve are owned by Pacific Renaissance/MCA Universal/USA Studios. I have only borrowed some of their identifying characteristics for this work of original fiction.

Sexual Content Warning: This is a story of two women who are very much in love – with each other. There are many descriptions of lovemaking, and some are explicit. If you are under the age of consent where you live or have homophobic tendencies, please give this story a miss. Thanks! Reading this story at work is not recommended (smile).

Language/Violence: Imagine Xena in the 1990's – yep, she swears - like a truck driver, though she's working on it (grin). And she's a cop, so there's some violence too.

"New Age"/Religious Content warning: I'm a "new age" kind of girl, so my characters are too. All new age/metaphysical and healing occurrences presented here are actual phenomena that I have personally experienced. By presenting my characters' religious views, I by no means wish to diminish the views of others. IMHO, each person's religious view is the "right" one (smile).

Author's note: Feedback is very much welcomed and appreciated. However, flames and homophobic mail will be joyously burned in a ceremonial cleansing ritual :-) Thanks for reading! – JL, 2001 headgeek@xenarealm.com

Ryan Norden-Zamora negotiated the fog-shrouded avenue carefully, cutting her speed as she turned off the main thoroughfare and onto the smaller, less heavily traveled residential street. The fog was thicker there, the street not having been warmed by heavy traffic, and it billowed around her SUV as Ryan drove through it.

The gray gloom was cut by Christmas lights shining brightly from the porches, rooflines, and eaves of the homes in her neighborhood and the festive brilliance of the multicolored and white lights brought a smile to her face. She checked the digital clock on the dash. 4:30. Still afternoon, but you wouldn't know it in this gloom. Maybe for Christmas tomorrow we'll have a visit from the sun. I've almost forgotten what he looks like.

As she neared her lovely early twentieth-century Victorian-styled home, her face was lit by another smile. In addition to the small but brilliant white lights hung icicle-fashion from the home's eaves, warm yellow light spilled from the front windows, welcoming her. Beckoning her inside, to where her family awaited her. As she pulled her Explorer into the driveway, she shook her head as she thought, every year I swear I won't leave my shopping until the last minute, but every year I find myself out shopping on Christmas Eve.

She exited the truck and stepped into the freezing fog, which enveloped her and attempted to pierce the protective shield of her layers of warm clothing. She pulled the collar of her leather jacket up more tightly around her throat as she pulled the shopping bag from the back seat and then made her way along the side of the house to the kitchen door.

Upon entering the warm house, she dropped her car keys onto the counter and unzipped her jacket, blowing out a breath and physically shaking off the cold. She made her way quietly to her small office at the back of the house, where she deposited her bag, and then proceeded back down the hallway toward the front of the large but cozy house.

Reaching the family room, she stopped in the doorway, struck by the lovely vision of her wife nursing their newborn baby as she reclined on the long sofa. As the tall, dark-haired cop stood quietly gazing at her family, her wife felt her presence through the unique energetic bond that linked their heart centers, and looked up with a smile.

"I'm glad you're home, love. It's getting foggy and dark out there."

Ryan returned her blonde wife's warm smile and replied, "You mean foggier and darker. Yeah, it's a mess out there...lousy for Christmas Eve travel. I feel for the guys working tonight." In her early years on the police force, Ryan had worked many a Christmas Eve and did not envy her coworkers who were working this inclement night.

"I'm glad we're staying in, then." Janna gazed down at their daughter, whose suckling had slowed as she drifted off to sleep.

Ryan approached them, shrugged out of her jacket as she did so, and laid it on the arm of a large, comfortable armchair. She sat beside her mate on the edge of the sofa as she remarked quietly, "Looks like she's done."

"Mm, hmm. She's been awake since early afternoon. I think she may sleep for a while now." Janna smiled down at her infant as she used a finger to break the suction and dislodge the tiny mouth from her breast. Then she gingerly lifted the sleeping baby to her shoulder and hugged her close as she burped her delicately.

Ryan gazed at her wife and child with adoration as she watched the tender scene. She gently reached a long-fingered hand to her wife's forehead and brushed her long bangs from her eyes.

"You need a haircut, sweetheart."

"Mm. I know. I've been a little busy the last few weeks." She smiled at her wife, who leaned forward and kissed her before standing.

"Do you want me to take her, honey?"

"No...I think we'll just sit here for a while. I'm pretty tired. Sit...tell me about your day."

Ryan grinned. "Okay. I need to pump again anyway." She sat at the other end of the sofa, next to where a large, electric breast pump sat on an end table. She lifted the warm sweater off over her head and unbuttoned the cotton shirt she wore beneath it. She left her shirt hanging open as she unhooked the closure on the nursing bra she wore, uncovering a dark nipple. As she settled the bell of the pump over her areola, she looked up to see her mate watching her intently. She grinned rakishly as she felt her lover's desire for her through their bond.

"Ryan, love, do you have any idea how sexy I find your working so hard to be able to nurse our baby?"

"Yes, Janna, I do." Her crooked smile and raised eyebrows took her wife's breath away and as she felt Janna's emotions and physical sensations through their link, Ryan found that she had to work hard to focus her attention on her task. She sighed inwardly as she thought, Jesus, I'll be glad when she feels up to having sex again. She seems to get sexier every day.

Janna's thoughts mirrored Ryan's almost exactly as she watched her devoted mate affix the pump and flip it on. As she saw Ryan settle back against the chair, holding the pump to her breast with her left hand, she allowed her pride at her wife's desire to share in the nursing duties surface again.

The night they had brought their daughter home, eight days earlier, Ryan had expressed an interest in sharing in the nurturing activity, and a call to the local La Leche League office the next day had resulted in a visit from a warm, friendly representative, who had briefed them on non birth mother lactation. She had set them up with the pump and a supplemental feeding system. The pump was being used to encourage Ryan's body to lactate, while the feeding system allowed her to simulate nursing while feeding her daughter, which in turn encouraged milk production as the baby fed at her breast, receiving Janna's expressed breast milk through a tubing system.

Janna had been thrilled, and not a little surprised, that her tough, rather butch mate wanted to nurse their baby. The depth of her partner's soul and the warmth of her heart would never fail to amaze and thrill her.

Janna lightly caressed Ryan's jeans-clad thigh with a sock-covered foot. "So, how was the Christmas party?"

Ryan grasped the playful foot and gently tickled it. "It was okay. I enjoyed seeing everyone again." She grinned jauntily as she added, "My cigars...both the bubblegum and the Cubans...were a huge hit."

Janna grinned. "I'll bet."

"Yeah...I sort of promised the Lieutenant that we'd smoke some Cubans together after the baby is weaned." She laughed as she added, "I don't think he quite understood just how I'm managing to be breastfeeding, but he didn't pry and I didn't enlighten him."

Janna wrinkled her nose, but grinned. "Ew...okay, love, just as long as you don't smoke them here."

"Absolutely not, baby." She reached a long arm out toward her mate. "Come 'ere, love. I've missed you today."

Janna happily complied, getting up gingerly so as not to disturb the newborn and settled next to her mate. Ryan wrapped her arm around Janna and pulled her two loves close as she kissed Janna's temple. They snuggled together and enjoyed the quiet warmth of their love, as well as the physical warmth of the pleasing fire burning in the hearth.

Janna sighed her contentment, and as she gazed at her mate, gasped, "Ryan...look! You're producing milk!"

Ryan looked down at the large, clear plastic bell she held against her breast and was thrilled to see droplets of thin milky fluid resting inside it.

"Oh, yes! It's working...finally, Janna!" She gazed at her wife gleefully with brilliant blue eyes.

"Your hard work is paying off, honey...I knew it would. You, Ryan Norden-Zamora, accomplish everything you set your mind to. I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks, Janna." Ryan replied warmly.

"You're welcome, babe."

Ryan checked her watch. "Twenty minutes...do you think I should stay on this side a while longer, since it's producing?"

"Maybe for a few more minutes, yeah, then see how the other side does. And I think when Halley feeds next we should put her to your breast first...that should really stimulate lactation." She smiled winningly up at her mate.

"Jesus, it should that...she's a mighty little sucker isn't she?" She gazed adoringly at her daughter. "Our big girl. I think you got the miniature Ryan that you wanted, hon."

"I couldn't be happier about that, my love."

Ryan's warm smile morphed into an enchanting leer as she said, "I know something else that will stimulate lactation...if you feel up to helping me with it later."

Janna's heart rate increased as she both noted the desire written on her mate's face and felt it through their link.

"Anything, Ryan, as long as it doesn't involve penetration...I won't be able to handle that for several more weeks, I'm afraid."

"Of course not, baby." She pulled her wife close and kissed her temple. "I love you, Janna."

"Love you, Ryan. So much."

Simultaneously, they both kissed their sleeping baby's soft, black hair as she rested on her mother's shoulder. Janna sighed happily, feeling utterly content. This is what life is all about. This right here.

"So, babe...what would you like for dinner? Shall we do Chinese take out like we did last year?" Ryan asked as she nuzzled Janna's hair.

"Yeah, let's. Since our families are away...start our own Christmas Eve tradition.

"Okay. You hungry now?"

"Silly question!"

"Right!" Ryan chuckled as she picked up the cordless and phoned in the order. After clicking the phone off, she said, "An hour, babe...they must be busy."

"No problem."

Later, quiet Celtic-flavored holiday music played softly in the master suite as Ryan sat on the bed, warm robe opened in the front, cradling her daughter in the nursing position.

"Okay, Janna, now you know that she's gonna be piss...uh, upset when she doesn't get enough milk, right?"

"Yes, honey, but your milk may be ready to let down...let's wait and see."

"Okay." Ryan lifted the tiny newborn to her breast and the hungry baby deftly sought out the source of her nourishment and latched on. She was accustomed to her Momma's breasts, in addition to her Mommy's, as Ryan had been taking roughly one third of her feedings, using the supplemental system. Little Halley patiently suckled for several minutes before Ryan felt the interesting sensation of her milk letting down, and the baby closed her eyes as she nursed happily. "Janna...it's working, baby!

Janna smiled warmly as her eyes misted. "Wonderful, Ryan! Great job, love." She threw her arm around her taller mate's shoulder and drew her close, kissing her temple proudly.

"Oh, God, Janna...this is so incredible. It feels even better without the tubing there in the way." Ryan gazed with a look of disbelief and love at her tiny daughter, then looked up into adoring, vibrant green eyes.

"It's wonderful, isn't it? It's the most special thing I've ever experienced and I'm so happy that you get to share it with her too, love."

"Janna..." Ryan couldn't finish the thought, as she became too choked up with the emotion she was feeling. Tears slowly tracking down her cheeks betrayed the tough cop's soft heart and her mate's incredible love for her grew even stronger.

"I know, love. I know." Janna laid her head against her wife's shoulder and caressed her daughter's soft head as she devoured her meal. Janna felt fully her love for her mate and their child and became choked up as well, small sobs betraying her, echoing her wife's.

Several minutes later, Ryan shifted Halley to her other breast and the small Norden-Zamora showed only mild displeasure at the disruption, as her Momma's milk had let down fully and was flowing at full capacity.

Ten minutes later, Ryan was burping the alert, content baby as her Mommy readied her bath in the next room.

Ryan carried Halley into the bathroom and set her gently into the small tub which sat on the counter. "Bath time, my little angel. I know you like your bath... just like your Mommy does." Ryan grinned at her wife.

"You'd better believe it..and as soon as my bleeding stops, our baths will take place in the whirlpool, together. You can bathe the both of us."

"Janna, babe, it will be my great pleasure...but I think I'll be joining you more often than not...if that's okay with you two."

"Oh, I think we'll allow that...won't we Halley sweetie?"

A short time later, Ryan leaned over and kissed her baby's soft belly as she changed her. "Oh, you're such a good girl...yes you are." Ryan smiled at her baby as she gazed lovingly down at her. Halley gazed back with still-cloudy blue eyes, but actually seemed to focus on her mother briefly.

"Hey, Janna," Ryan called over her shoulder to her wife in the adjacent bathroom. "She's starting to focus on my face."

Janna walked into the room, folding a baby towel as she approached the changing table and stood next to her wife.

"Yes, I think she is. She'll look at my face and then look away, but then look back again, focusing on my eyes."

"Yeah, she just did that with me, too." Ryan dusted a small amount of cornstarch on her diaper area, then laid a cotton diaper inside the waterproof pants and pulled them closed. She pulled the baby's undershirt down, then gently maneuvered tiny arms and legs into the soft, warm, sleeper, and snapped it closed.

"Okay, we're all ready for bed. And Halley says she's gonna sleep for four hours before she needs to eat again, so her mommies can have some alone time."

"Oh, did she?"

"She did. And she's a woman of her word."

"Just like her police officer momma."

"Dam...darn right, love." Ryan grinned, aware of her near-miss verbal slip in front of the baby, and her wife returned the grin with a playful swat to her behind. She gently lay the baby in her bassinet next to their bed and both mommas leaned in to kiss their daughter good night.

"Night my precious...sleep well."

"Sweet dreams, little puma."

Janna looked at Ryan. "I like that. Who will give her a tribal name?"

"Tribal elders, generally. She's connected to the Navajo and Cheyenne tribes now, in addition to your Cherokee and my Comanche, since her daddy has married into those tribes. We'll have to maintain connections with all of them, love, and see what comes up for her. For her sake."

"Definitely, my Puma."

Ryan turned to her mate and grasped her waist, pulling her close. "Janna, I love it when you call me that."

"Mm, do you Puma?"

"I do," Ryan mumbled against Janna's neck. Her warm, soft lips traveled up to Janna's and captured them softly. She reveled in the taste of her wife, and the texture of her lips and mouth before breaking the kiss and pulling back slightly. "Are you very tired, baby?"

"No more than you are, Ryan. You're up with the baby as much as I am."

"Can we play a little?" Ryan gazed adorably at her smaller mate through thick, black eyelashes, her mouth quirked into a cute grin.

"Yes, please. It's been much too long." She untied her mate's robe and pushed it from her shoulders. As it fell to the floor, revealing Ryan's nakedness, Janna's breath caught in her throat. "God, Ryan."

Ryan only smiled and undid Janna's robe, with the same result and effect. "Janna," she breathed as she ducked her head to gently kiss a large, heavy breast.

"Mmm..."

"God, baby, your boobs are huge."

"So are yours, love."

Ryan's eyes clouded over with desire as she mumbled, "There's a lot to be said for breastfeeding."

Janna's back arched as her wife ran her hot tongue gently around her nipple, and as her eyes closed involuntarily, she mumbled in reply, "Mainly that it's best...ahh, yes...best for the baby. Healthiest for...for her."

"Mm, but the side benefits are pretty damn nice." Ryan gently kissed the tender nipple below her lips as Janna sighed deeply.

"Yes, especially for a breast woman...like...like you. Oh God, Ryan."

Ryan laid Janna on the bed and settled beside her. She gently traced a darkened areola with her finger, raising velvety nubs at it's perimeter. She gazed longingly into her mate's eyes as she said, "John told me that Sara made hers off limits while she was nursing. Do you feel the same way, Janna?"

"She did? Why?"

"I'm not sure...I think maybe she was concerned about cleanliness or something." Ryan gently stroked the sensitive area, making her wife smile.

"I don't think that's necessary, do you? If we're careful? If we're diligent about cleaning up after ourselves?"

"I agree, baby. Thank you. I can't imagine not being able to love you here for a year."

"Neither can I, frankly. And remember, babe, you're nursing now too. I'd rather not be prevented from making love to one of my favorite parts of your anatomy."

With that, Ryan hopped up off the bed and retrieved a new box of baby wipes, setting it on Janna's nightstand, right next to a tube of lanolin. Then she plopped back down next to her wife.

"There, baby. We'll make the cleanup part of our lovemaking. We'll finish with a nice lanolin rub."

"Perfect, Ryan." She pulled her dark mate's face down to meet hers. "Now let's play a little, huh? Before our daughter wakes up again."

"Your wish is my command, baby." Her wife's demanding lips muffled the last part of Ryan's statement and the only sound in the room for some time was the muted music still playing, followed by quiet moans of pleasure. Until, that is, their newborn daughter's shrieks pierced the quiet Christmas morning.

Ryan sighed contentedly as she noted the entrance of the first of the dawn's pink rays into the bedroom. She turned onto her side to gaze at her sleeping wife. Their baby lay between them-where she had fallen asleep while nursing, and her mother had quickly followed her into slumber. Rather, both exhausted mothers had. Ryan smiled inwardly...she had mildly chastised Janna the first time it had happened, citing the baby's safety, but she now fully understood how one could be so completely relaxed as to fall asleep with her baby at her breast. I'm gonna have to apologize to her. Actually, I kinda like this family bed thing.

The contentment she felt lulled her, filled her, captivated her. She had never imagined that such happiness was possible. Since marrying Janna, she had experienced mind-blowing happiness, and now Halley's presence was adding to it exponentially. Her gaze rose from her tiny sleeping angel to her wife's angelic face. God, I love her. Jesus Christ...

Her mind drifted to the night before, just after retiring. They had made love for the first time since Halley's birth. It was an abbreviated sort of session, since Janna was still too sore to enjoy any type of stimulation down below, but she had skillfully brought Ryan to an ecstatic climax and had experienced her own, aided by their bond. Ryan sighed as her body remembered Janna's touch and reacted to it anew.

Warm lips had suckled erotically at mildly engorged breasts as skillful fingers stroked slick inner folds. Ryan had succumbed to her wife's loving ministrations very quickly and had then given Janna as much pleasure as she was able to handle.

"Mmm," Ryan mumbled around an excited nipple just before stroking it robustly with her tongue, while her hand caressed its mate.

"Ohhh," Janna murmured. "Yes, Ryan...thank you."

Ryan had responded by sucking the hard nub gently into her mouth, tasting her wife's milk in the process. She had been unsure as to how she would handle the taste, but was surprised to find it quite pleasantly sweet, and didn't mind it's presence at all. She suckled and stroked energetically, bringing Janna intense pleasure and it was at that point that they switched, and when Ryan quickly reached orgasm, Janna accompanied her. They had held each other tightly for long minutes, both grateful to the other for the blissful sharing, and then fallen into deeply restful sleep. Before sleeping however, they had each lovingly washed her wife's breasts and spread lanolin on sore nipples to prevent drying.

As Ryan gazed happily at her peacefully sleeping family in the light of the Christmas dawn, the baby stirred, and stretched, her tiny pink face almost immediately scrunching into a scowl. Uh oh...another non-morning person, I see. Ryan grinned. God, she's a lot more like Janna than she realizes...I'm glad of that. Ryan smiled as she picked up her daughter and hugged her to her chest.

"Shh, sweetheart. Momma's here. Are you hungry?" Ryan whispered quietly. The baby's scowl deepened and Ryan could sense an oncoming squeal. "Let's check your diaper, and then have some breakfast, sweetheart."

Ryan rolled out of bed adroitly and walked naked to the changing table, cradling Halley to her chest, calming her in the process. After cleaning the small, surprisingly sweet-smelling little mess, she returned to bed and lay facing Janna. She settled Halley between them and guided her breast into the tiny mouth, feeling immense satisfaction when her daughter began to suckle in earnest. She sighed and closed her eyes as she thought, Thank you, God, for this incredible gift. For all of it. For Janna, our baby, our life together. What an amazing journey this has been...and it's only just beginning.

On Christmas morning, Janna awoke to the incredibly heartwarming sight of her wife nursing their daughter. She reached out and caressed her mate's cheek before leaning close and kissing her tenderly. They both lingered over the kiss, enjoying the first of the day's gifts.

"Merry Christmas, Janna."

"Merry Christmas, Ryan."

"Merry isn't the word for it, baby." Ryan reached over their baby and grasped Janna's hand, bringing it to her lips.

"You're right. Has she been eating long?"

"No, she's still on the first side...in fact, it's about time to switch." Ryan gently reached down and disengaged the voracious little mouth. Halley made her displeasure at the interruption known, and quite loudly. Ryan and Janna glanced at each other with raised eyebrows, each thinking that the baby took after the other, but not voicing the opinion.

"Whoa, little one, just a second, huh? You're drinking Momma dry...I need to switch."

Janna helped Ryan to lift her as she turned over onto her other side. When the baby was settled and happily suckling again, Janna scooted up against Ryan and threw her arm over her waist.

"Mm, you feel good there, Janna."

"You're nice to hold onto, Ryan." Janna rose onto her elbow and kissed the strong shoulder in front of her as she watched Halley nurse. "It's also nice to have help with the nursing, love. I appreciate it."

"So glad to do it, babe." Ryan gazed down at their daughter, whose sucking was slowing noticeably. "She's still sleepy...should I wake her?"

"Why don't you, yeah...I think she should take more."

"Okay." Ryan gently tickled her baby's cheek with a long finger and in a low, soothing voice said, "Halley, wake up, sweetheart. Time to eat."

The baby startled awake, flinging all four limbs out as her eyes flew open and she began sucking again.

"That's my good girl." Ryan leaned down to kiss her hair and nuzzled her lovingly with her cheek. "Should we do like last year, Janna? Stay in here for Christmas morning?"

"Yeah, love, let's. That was really nice."

"I agree. As soon as Halley finishes, I'll make a fire."

"Okay, and she and I will go get breakfast and bring it in."

"Sounds good, baby."

A short time later, Janna and Halley were busy in the kitchen, assembling juice, pastries, and fruit on a large tray, Halley from the comfort of a carrier on her Mommy's chest. All the while, Janna spoke to her animatedly, telling her what she was doing and why. As Janna turned from the counter with the large tray in hand, she saw her mate standing in the doorway, watching her with a huge grin plastered on her face.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to hear all about what we're having for breakfast." She stepped into the room and grabbed the tray, trading a kiss for it. "Come on my angels, time for breakfast."

"Did you hear that, Halley? Momma says we're angels." As she followed her wife down the hallway to the garland-bedecked stairway, Janna remarked, "Ryan, Halley and I have discussed it and we concur: you're an angel too...when you want to be."

"That's right, baby...when I want to be." Ryan looked back at her with a devilish smile, which had the intended effect on her mate and Janna found herself wondering how long Halley would nap.

Ryan fed Janna another morsel of flaky pastry and her wife sighed with pleasure. Halley sat between them, still awake, in her little bouncy seat, apparently trying to figure out the contraption with black and white designs that hung above her face.

"Look, honey...she's looking at the mobile."

"She is...cool, Janna! I told you she's smart, Janna. She's gonna take after you in the brains department."

Oh, and what are you, Ryan? Chopped liver? John told me how high you scored on all your exams at the academy."

"How the hell does he know that?"

At Janna's furrowed brows, Ryan winced and said, "Oh, Christ, sorry." Addressing her daughter, she said apologetically, "Sorry little sweetheart. Momma forgets her mouth." Gazing back at Janna, she repeated, "Sorry, love."

"It's okay, honey. You really have been doing remarkably well. That's the first slip in several days."

"Anyway, how the heck does he know what I scored?"

"Apparently he's friendly with one of the instructors. He told him that you were the most talented student he's ever taught and he expected great things of you. You've proven him right, Ryan."

"Wilson. It must have been fuc...um, that Don Wilson. I'm gonna have some words with him."

"Honey, he was very proud when you got the commendations...everyone was...and it reflected positively on the academy instructors and on the entire department."

"Yeah, Janna, but anyone would have done as well. John did. I'm tired of still being singled out for it. It was half a year ago now, for fu...for Christ's sake." She turned her pointed gaze from Janna to her daughter and made the funny pictures move for her. Halley's eyes tracked one particular image for several seconds before she had to look away, but quickly looked back at the strange moving device and focused on another one.

"She likes this, Janna."

"Mm, yes. In a month or so we should change to bright, primary colored images."

"That soon?"

"I think so...depending on how interested she stays in these. But she's showing abilities a little ahead of her age."

Ryan grinned proudly. "Of course she is!"

"Look at you, proud Momma! Could you puff your chest out a little more, Ryan?"

"Why, baby, you hungry again?"

"Oh, you!"

"You love it, Janna...admit it!"

Janna shook her head, but said, "I do. I really do. Kiss me."

Ryan complied and as the kiss lingered and intensified, Halley had something else of interest to gaze at.

Later that day, as Halley took another nap, her mothers took full advantage of the opportunity to play again.

"Mmm, Janna...you can do that all day, baby." Ryan murmured happily as Janna's tongue did very pleasant things to her breasts. The mid-day, surprise appearance of the sun had brightened the room, even through the closed blinds, and illuminated the two figures writhing happily on the bed.

"I just may, Ryan. I love these new toys of yours."

Ryan chuckled. "I like yours too, Janna, though we both had pretty good sized sets before. Neither of us were what you'd call flat."

Janna giggled. "True, love. This proves that we're both breast women, doesn't it?"

"Mm, yeah. Is this my Christmas present, Janna? I thought you gave me that last night."

"I did. This is your Christmas bonus."

Ryan's answer was a soft moan and, "Mm, God, Christmas can come every day if it wants to."

"It does, Ryan and so do you. Halley notwithstanding."

Ryan moaned again, then muttered, "That's true. Will we...oh, yes, Janna. Um, will we ever get back to...to loving every day again, do...do you think?"

Janna murmured against an erect nipple, her lips tickling it pleasantly, "That's the plan, baby."

"God..."

"The baby's asleep, Ryan. Let me love you."

"Yes," was the panted reply.

"How do you want it, love?"

"Mmm."

"Okay, my mouth it is." Janna grinned as she slowly moved down the length of Ryan's long body, trailing warm kisses all along the way, and began planting kisses in her most sensitive spot.

"Oh, God, Janna, yes!" Ryan threw her head back against the pillow and writhed uncontrollably as her wife delivered the intense pleasure to her body. "Janna," she panted. "I can swear in here, right? As long as...oh, fuck...as long as the baby's asleep?"

Janna mumbled against her inflamed anatomy, "Yes, baby."

"Yes! Thank you ba...baby. Oh, God, Janna, you love me good...shit, baby."

"Glad you like it, love."

Ryan's response was unintelligible as she plunged into the depths of pleasure that she knew so well. Her moans quietly filled the large room, and uncharacteristically quietly so, as the happy day wore on. She then bestowed a similar gift upon Janna and they enjoyed each other's bodies until the baby awoke for her next meal.

"Oh, my God, Ryan! How cute! Where did you find this?" Janna gasped as she held up a tiny leather jacket, just like hers and Ryan's.

Ryan grinned widely as she replied, "At the Harley shop. They have them in toddler and kids' sizes too, so she'll always have one just like ours."

"Oh, honey, I love it! I can't wait to put it on her."

Janna gazed at the adorable jacket for a moment longer before carefully folding and replacing it in its box. She and Ryan sat amongst multi colored gift-wrapping that nearly covered the large bed. They had decided not to exchange gifts amongst themselves, as they felt that their greatest gift to each other was their daughter, but both had bought the baby many things.

Halley's Mommy had bought her mainly clothes, of a very cute variety, while her Momma's only clothing concession had been the leather jacket and a tiny San Francisco 49'ers football jersey. All the rest of Ryan's gifts to her had been toys, appropriately so, since her Momma was basically a big kid herself. Janna noted with great humor that all of the toys appeared to be things that Ryan herself would enjoy playing with too.

The afternoon sun, so pleasing after nearly two solid weeks of fog, streamed into the room through the open blinds, and Halley seemed fascinated by it. While her mothers happily opened her gifts, she was content to sit in her bouncer and watch the play of the sunshine across the room.

A few hours later, the small family arrived at Halley's grandparents house for Christmas dinner. After everyone had appropriately made over the ten-day old guest of honor, they sat down to a lovely meal of both ham and roast turkey and all of the trimmings.

Noting that both Ryan and Janna were drinking sparkling cider, their sister-in-law Kris remarked, "Ryan, I thought that you were only abstaining from alcohol while Janna was pregnant."

"Well, that was the plan, Kris, but I've decided to help out with the nursing, so I still have to watch what I drink."

"What? Ryan...that's amazing! I didn't know that was possible!" Kris remarked, wide-eyed.

Janna smiled proudly at her mate and answered, "Yep. We had a visit with a woman from La Leche League, and she showed Ryan how to induce lactation. She's been working very hard at it, and last night was able to nurse Halley for the first time. She takes every other feeding now."

"Ryan, that's wonderful, honey! I'm so proud of you!" Her mother-in-law said as she gazed warmly at her daughter's tough wife.

Janna's dad said, "That's quite impressive, Mrs. Norden-Zamora," as he gazed pointedly at her before a small smile appeared on his handsome face.

"Yeah, Sis...great going!" Added her brother-in-law with a wide smile.

Ryan blushed brilliantly under all of the praise and waved them off as she buried her face into her plate of food. Janna grinned at her family and leaned over to kiss her wife's temple. Just then, Halley, asleep in her carrier a few feet away, awakened and made her presence loudly known.

Ryan looked at Janna and grinned as she said, "My turn, love."

"Want some company?"

"No, honey...you finish eating. I'll check her diaper and take her into the living room to feed her."

A few minutes later, Ryan settled comfortably on the couch with her daughter and used a light receiving blanket to preserve her modesty as Halley fed. The preserving of the modesty, was, of course for the benefit of Janna's family, as Ryan would have happily whipped out a breast at the dinner table and seen to Halley's need.

Several minutes into the feeding, Janna appeared and sat beside the two loves of her life. Ryan wrapped her free arm around her wife and pulled her close.

"Finished eating, love?"

"No, I missed my two girls."

"I love you, Janna. It's been a great Christmas, baby."

"Love you too, Ryan. And it's been the best Christmas ever. I thought last year was wonderful, but this surpasses it."

"It does. And yeah, last year was incredibly wonderful. Think we can repeat the lovemaking in front of the fire later?" Ryan's eyes sparkled the question at Janna.

"Even though we've made love twice in the last twenty hours?"

"Just making up for lost time, babe. I went...I mean, we went almost four weeks without, remember? We did better than that even when I was laid up after the accident."

"Okay, baby...as much as you want. I'm there." Janna leaned into her mate's warm embrace, relishing the closeness as she did nothing else.

"Thanks, Janna. Merry Christmas, baby."

"Merry Christmas, my love.

Their friend, Luna, the spirit within the moon, smiled later, though her friends couldn't see her, as they made beautiful love in the shadow of their Christmas tree, in front of the warm fire. As their daughter slept in her nearby bassinet, they shared ecstatic touches and blazing strokes in the giving of intense pleasure. It was their final gift to each other on that Christmas of 1995 and their friend, as she was accustomed to doing, wrapped the three of them within her warm, loving energetic embrace.

Ryan smiled in her sleep as the dream/memories flashed across her subconscious mind. She sat astride her horse as she and her companion made their way leisurely down a dusty road. She smiled as she gazed at the small blonde-haired woman's lithe, compact body as she walked ahead of her. She felt her desire for the young woman begin to build again, pooling in her groin and she sighed. Gods, I want her. I don't believe I've ever loved anyone so much. She shook her head. I know I haven't.

She gently nudged her horse and the mare responded, bringing her alongside her friend.

"Gabrielle, you've been walking all day. Why don't you ride this last stretch before we reach the village?"

The cute blonde bard stopped and leaned on her staff, shielding her eyes from the sun with her other hand as she looked up at her strong warrior friend. Xena's warm smile beckoned to her, stirring a warmth in her soul, and she nodded.

"Okay. Thanks, Xena," she said as she returned the warm smile.

"No problem," the strong, low voice murmured. The tall, dark warrior reached a long arm down to her companion and deftly lifted her up onto the saddle behind her.

As her smaller friend wrapped her arms around her waist and settled happily against her back, the warrior's desire for her mushroomed and she had to call up her considerable reserves to stave it off. Gods, I hope she's ready for me soon...

As the sun set ahead of them, they reached the good-sized village, and Xena guided Argo to the small inn. They both dismounted and Gabrielle entered the warm, inviting tavern ahead of the warrior. She approached the wooden bar and smiled at the innkeeper, a relatively well-kept man of middle age.

"We'd like a room, please. Do you have one with a bath?"

He answered honestly, "I have one room with a bath left, but it's a big one and it'll cost you."

"We'll take it," responded the deep voice behind her, and the bard turned toward her friend in surprise.

"Um, Xena, we don't know how much it is."

"Doesn't matter. Let's go, huh?" She started toward the back of the room, leaving her friend standing at the bar.

The bard shrugged and smiled at the innkeeper. "I guess we'll take it."

"Five dinars."

Gabrielle frowned, but dug into her pouch for the coins and handed them over to the man. He handed her the key and directed her down a hallway that exited off the large main room.

"The room at the end of the hall."

When Gabrielle reached the doorway, Xena was waiting there for her and the bard inserted the key into the large lock and let them in.

The room was quite large, holding two beds and a big, round, wooden bathtub, which sat next to the wide hearth.

"This is nice, Xena."

"Mm, I've been here before. They keep a clean inn."

The warrior immediately started shrugging out of her armor as she said, "I'll make a fire so we can start heating the water."

Gabrielle approached her and began unhooking the various parts of the warrior's armor, as had become her habit...and her pleasure.

"Okay...a bath sounds nice. While you do that, I'll go down and get us some dinner."

The dark woman turned to her and laid her large hands gently on her shoulders. "Thanks, Gabrielle." Then she pulled the younger woman into a hug and held her closely.

"Mmm...you're welcome, Xena." The bard enjoyed the strong warmth of her almost-mate and felt the older woman's love for her through the tenuous link that they shared. She pulled back slightly and looked up into the warrior's piercing blue eyes. "I'd like to make this a special night for us."

The former warlord's eyes softened as they reflected the young woman's love and she replied, "Whenever you're ready, Gabrielle," before she leaned down and kissed her softly.

The bard returned the kiss and sighed deeply into her warrior's sensuous mouth. "I'm very ready, Xena. Thank you for being so patient."

"I love you, Gabrielle."

"Love you too, Xena. So much."

Sometime later, the full moon illuminated the two women as they sat entwined in the large tub. The love that they were sharing fairly lit the room with its energy, and was aided by the warmth of the silvery moonlight, the many candles that were glowing around the room, and by the warm fire in the hearth.

"Xena," the young woman panted. "Love me, please."

"My pleasure, Gabrielle."

The strong warrior kissed her mate deeply once more and then rose from the lukewarm water, bringing Gabrielle with her as she adeptly stepped from the tub. She carried her partner to the bed and laid her down gently, covering her body with hers and capturing her lips lovingly.

One week previously, soon after the warrior had miraculously (with the help of the food of the gods) returned from the dead, the two women had shared their first kiss and both had revealed their love for each other. But since the bard was so young, barely nineteen, the warrior had not wished to rush into a physical relationship with her. She wanted the young woman to be sure it was what she wanted, because she knew that once they became lovers, there would be no turning back for them. Her love for Gabrielle was that strong...she knew in her heart that they were soulmates and would be united forever.

The night of their first kiss, they had begun sleeping together, curled around each other happily, reveling in their blossoming love. But the warrior had always let the bard take the lead and the young woman had always stopped their affections before her warrior's desire cascaded out of control.

Now, as their bodies entwined, their love was sealed by a passion that would not be denied, and the young blonde called out into the night, her soul soaring and her heart racing as her lover brought her to delirious, ecstatic release.

"By the gods, Xena..."

Ryan moaned in her sleep as she relived the passionate night from their long-ago life and hugged her wife closely to her. Her mate responded and snuggled more deeply into her embrace.

Part 2

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