April Showers

By Mavis Applewater

Disclaimers: The characters and story are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced posted or sold without the author's permission. So there! If for any reason real or imagined you are uncomfortable with or do not wish to read a story containing graphic descriptions of two consenting adult women in a loving sexual relationship, then do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view this material then do me a favor and stay away until it is no longer a crime for you to read my work.

Thanks to my beta reader Mary.

As always this is for Heather.

Aubrey made her way through the crowded restaurant towards the bar where she knew Colleen would be sitting staring at her watch and wondering if she should order another glass of wine? She found the tall brunette drumming her fingers on the bar just as she had suspected. "Now why can't I meet a woman like her?" She mused as she carefully approached her friend.

Colleen turned to see her trying to sneak up on her. The brunette was frowning as she pointed towards her watch. "I know," Aubrey cut off the smart remark she knew was coming. "I know I'm late. I'm sorry," she apologized as the bartender placed another glass of wine in front of the brunette.

"I don't know why I just don't lie to you about what time we are supposed to meet?" Colleen grumbled. "Thanks to you I now have a healthy buzz going."

"Again, I am sorry," Colleen, professed. "Come on you lush let's get a table and some food into you so you are fit enough to drive me home."

"I never liked you," Colleen muttered as she followed the blonde.

"I know," Colleen quipped knowing that her friend was teasing her.

"So tell me about your date?" Colleen inquired once they had been seated at a table and placed their order.

"Ugh," Aubrey grunted. "Why do they always seem so nice when you are giving them your digits?"

"Another disaster?" Colleen flinched. "You didn't bring Raymond along did you?"

"No," Aubrey laughed at the imaginary friend she and Colleen would use to get out of a bad date. It worked like a charm. All they had to do was suddenly jerk around and say, 'Stop it Raymond' to no one. They both discovered that if you do that enough times their dates would suddenly remember they had somewhere else they needed to be. "I couldn't after I slept with her."

"Wait," Colleen choked on her wine. "I thought the date went badly, so why did you sleep with her?"

"I was horny," Aubrey reasoned. "Big mistake, she wasn't all that in the sack."

"I'll never understand you," Colleen said with a sigh.

"What about your date?" Aubrey threw out in an effort to move the focus off of her.

"Blind dates," Colleen scoffed. "Now what sadist thought up that concept? She was self centered, arrogant, and cleaned her fingernails with her salad fork before she ate her salad."

"She did not?" Aubrey gasped in disbelief.

"Oh yes she did," Colleen confirmed with a horrified look. "I was forced to talk about how I thought Ted Bundy was misunderstood."

"You didn't?" Aubrey clapped gleefully.

"I did," Colleen laughed. Aubrey had to smile as her best friend's rich laughter filled her. "Hey I had no choice."

"Why can't I meet a woman like you?" Aubrey sighed. Colleen's blue eyes lit up as she opened her mouth to say something. "Maybe someday." Aubrey laughed as Colleen suddenly snapped her mouth shut her eyes dimming slightly. Aubrey was confused by Colleen's sudden quietness until the brunette asked about work and they once again fell into the same easy banter they had shared for years.

A few weeks later Aubrey was looking across the table of the coffee shop where she and Colleen were sitting. "Blind date?" The blonde stammered in disbelief. "Why would you be so cruel as to want to set me up on a blind date?"

"I'm trying to be a friend." Colleen offered in a quiet voice.

"I seem to recall your referring to blind dates as sadistic just a couple of weeks ago." Aubrey pointed out.

"There are exceptions to every rule." Colleen argued.

"Well if she is so great then you go out with her." Aubrey suggested eagerly. When Colleen made the suggestion, the blonde had assumed the brunette was teasing. She was floored when she realized that Colleen was actually serious.

"That's not possible." Colleen quickly responded.

"Why not?" Aubrey pressed sensing that there was something her friend wasn't telling her.

"Just trust me." Colleen pleaded.

"No," Aubrey flatly refused. "If this woman was half way interesting you would go out with her. Tell me what is wrong with her?"

"Not a thing," Colleen tried to reassure her. "Come on it is just dinner. What do you have to lose?"

"My sanity," Aubrey reasoned. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Look, she likes you and I think you might just like her." Colleen explained.

"She knows me?" Aubrey asked as an uneasy feeling fell over her. "Then why doesn't she just ask me out? My God, she's a stalker isn't she?"

"No," Colleen laughed. "Please just meet her at Club Café on Tuesday. Who knows you might just be pleasantly surprised."

"Fine," Aubrey grumbled. "I do need to get laid."

"Is that all you ever think about?" Colleen muttered.

"Yes," Aubrey brightly responded. "Don't you?"

"Of course I think about it," Colleen answered. "I'm just particular about who I go to bed with. You know every date doesn't have to end with nudity."

"It doesn't?" Aubrey gasped.

"No, it doesn't." Colleen groaned.

"Wait?" Aubrey interrupted the brunette. "Tuesday night? As in the first?"

"Yes." Colleen confirmed.

"April Fool's Day?" Aubrey laughed. "Now I know you are up to something."

"Who me?" Colleen innocently gasped with mock horror.

"Fine, be that way you big goober," Aubrey sighed in exasperation. "So tell me about her?"

"Nope." Colleen chuckled.

"Why not?" Aubrey squealed.

"I want you to be surprised." Colleen explained.

"It's a blind date of course I'll be surprised," Aubrey grumbled. "Fine. She knows me then I must know her, unless she really is a stalker. I don't like this."

"Just show up," Colleen groaned. "And be on time for once."

Aubrey spent the rest of the evening whining and trying to pry information out of Colleen. She finally gave up. Until the next day, and the following few days, when she called Colleen every hour on the hour trying to dig up some clue as to the identity of her mystery date. The more she persisted the more nervous Colleen became. The brunette's pensive attitude made the small blonde even more nervous than she already was.

Aubrey sat at the bar at Club Café, one of the few gay restaurants and bars in the city. She was nursing a Stoli Raz and sprite as she looked around the bar trying to spot her mystery date. "You're late." A familiar voice purred in her ear. She jumped as she felt the hot breath on her skin.

"Jesus, you scared me," Aubrey squeaked as she turned to find Colleen looking at her with a sheepish grin. "So where is my mystery woman?" She became concerned as she watched Colleen's chiseled features scrunch up. She did pause for a moment to take in Colleen's wardrobe. She thought the tall brunette looked stunning in her black slacks and blue silk blouse that brought out her eyes. Then it hit her that Colleen was there. "I'm being stood up aren't I?"

"No it isn't that," Colleen began slowly. "You know this seemed like a really good idea when I first thought about it."

"I am being stood up." Aubrey barked out. She slumped down as she watched everyone in the bar turning and staring at her.

"No," Colleen began shyly as her crystal blue eyes darted around nervously. "Not really. You know how you are always saying, why can't you find some one like me?"

"Yeah?" Aubrey asked with confusion as she stared at the brunette.

"Well somehow I thought that maybe . . .," Colleen began to stammer. "Well, I started thinking that I'm someone like me. I'm your date."

Aubrey blinked in surprise. Certainly Colleen was joking she thought. Then she started to laugh. "Good one," the blonde laughed. "April Fools, I get it. The joke is on me, but you are picking up the check for getting me all excited about meeting some hottie." The laughter died on her lips as she took in Colleen's grim expression.

"No," Colleen sadly muttered. "This time the joke is on me. Sorry." And before Aubrey could understand what was happening Colleen just shrugged and walked away.

"What the hell just happened?" She muttered as her mind began to spin.

"Pardon me for saying this, but I think the lady was trying to ask you out." The bartender interrupted her thoughts.

"No," Aubrey argued as she turned to the man. "Colleen is my friend. Sure she is gorgeous, hell a blind person could see how hot she is, but we are just friends."

"Honey, I'm a gay boy and she turned me on," the bartender chuckled. "So why not go out with her?"

"I couldn't," Aubrey protested. "She knows everything about me. I'm sure she was just teasing. She could never be interested in me."

"Then why did she leave?" the bartender pressed.

"She left?" Aubrey whispered in a horrified tone as she scanned the bar searching for the brunette. She thought that she would spy Colleen giggling in the corner. Her heart dropped when she failed to find Colleen. "Oh crap," She muttered as she hopped off the bar stool and raced outside. She looked up and down the busy street praying that she would find her friend. Her heart was racing as she hailed the first taxi she spotted.

She was confused and exhausted by the time she was knocking on the door. Colleen looked terrible when she finally opened the door. "Can I come in?" Aubrey shyly asked.

"Sure." Colleen offered in an off-handed manner as she stepped aside and allowed the flustered blonde to enter.

Aubrey took a cleansing breath before she turned to face Colleen who was leaning against the wall with a down cast expression and her arm folded tightly against her chest. "You were serious?" The blonde gently asked.

"Yeah, well, forget it," Colleen muttered. "I just thought by the way you kept saying that you wanted to meet someone like me, that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. My mistake."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Aubrey asked still reeling by the realization that Colleen was interested in her.

"Look I made a huge mistake tonight," Colleen offered in a weary voice. "I'd be happy if we could just forget about it. I really feel like an idiot right now."

"Colleen . . .," Aubrey began only to be cut off by the brunette holding up her hand.

"Please," Colleen pleaded. "I just want to forget it. I mean what was I thinking? You and me together we'd kill each other within a week."

"Probably," Aubrey responded with a slight smile in an effort to lighten the mood. "But you still owe me dinner Wench."

"Yeah, I guess I do," Colleen offered with a small smile of her own. "Just not tonight. I need a little space."

"Okay," Aubrey felt her heart drop. She wanted to fix this and she was at a complete loss as to what she should do or what she should be feeling. "Later in the week then?"

"I'll call you." Colleen promised as she opened the door.

Colleen never made good on her promise and little by little slipped out of the blonde's life. The brunette's absence left a noticeable space in Aubrey's heart. She tried mending the fences but it was too late. That night hung over them the few times they would get together over the next few months. Over a year later she was looking out her apartment window watching the rain. "Oh no, I know that look," her friend Karen grumbled from the sofa. "Here we go again."

"What?" Aubrey sneered as she turned to Karen and Shelia who had come over to watch the baseball game.

"Colleen," Shelia, who was Karen's lover, informed her. "You've got that I miss her and I don't know what to do about it look."

"That was a long time ago," Aubrey protested despite the fact she had been thinking about Colleen. "Besides she is the one who dropped out of my life after blindsiding me."

"I know," Karen agreed. "But what did you expect her to do?" Aubrey opened her mouth to protest. "Yes, she blindsided you, and she should have sat you down and told you she had feelings for you," Karen agreed. "But you know all of your friends have endured years of you drooling over her and whining about how you wanted to be with someone just like her. For the life of me I could never understand why you just didn't ask out the original?"

"I never drooled over her," Aubrey argued. "Oh okay, yeah when we first met, I thought she was hot and I had a serious case of lust going. But she had a girlfriend. By the time they split up we were good friends. And she didn't think of me that way."

"Apparently she did." Shelia corrected her.

"I didn't know," Aubrey fumed. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Then why do you still bring it up every time we see you?" Karen pointed out.

"I don't," Aubrey grunted knowing her friends were right. "Well I didn't today, you did."

"A preemptive strike," Karen chuckled. "And if you are over it, then why in the past year does every woman you've gone out with look like her?"

"They do not," Aubrey protested as she mentally reviewed her bed partners. Her face fell when she realized that in the past year she had only dated brunettes. "So what do you suggest I do wise one?"

"Nothing you can do," Karen explained. "She is seeing someone." Aubrey's heart fell when she heard the news.

"What?" Aubrey stammered.

"She is seeing someone," Karen slowly repeated. "Did you honestly think someone wouldn't snatch up that girl. Come on Aubrey, granted Colleen didn't approach the subject very well, she tried too hard for something dramatically romantic and got hurt, but if you don't want the girl then let her go."

"And let us watch the game. Shelia added.

"It's Tampa Bay," Aubrey scoffed. "Tell me about her?"

"That is it," Shelia threw up her hands in disgust. "We are watching the game at home."

After her friends stormed out of the apartment Aubrey shut off the television and began to pace around as she muttered under her breath. She knew before that night that she had feelings for Colleen. She had always managed to convince herself that they would never be more than friends. When Colleen tried to change that it frightened Aubrey and she ended up hurting the one person who really meant something to her. "Of course she has a girlfriend," she muttered as she continued to pace. "I never really had a chance with her. The Red Sox have a better shot at winning the World Series," she looked around her empty apartment with a scowl. "I need to get out of here before I start answering myself."

She pulled on a light jacket and pulled her long curly blonde hair up in a ponytail and tucked it into a baseball cap before trudging out of her apartment. She was still muttering under her breath as she walked along the rain swept streets of Boston. She really wanted to blame Colleen for the way she had been feeling for the past year. The few times they did manage to talk about what had happened, Colleen profusely apologized. "She apologized and I accepted so why didn't things go back to the way they were?" Aubrey continued with her grumbling ignoring the curious gazes she was receiving from passers by. "You don't date your friends," Aubrey reasoned. "It is just stupid and wrong."

Aubrey continued her nonsensical muttering as she felt her feet becoming colder as her shoes filled with water. "Why didn't she talk to me about this?" Aubrey wondered as she continued her aimless wandering. "Maybe if we had talked I would have dated her. But no! She decides we are going on a date and then she is the one to call it off. Granted I did laugh, and that must have hurt, still . . . ," The words died on her lips as she looked up and realized that she was standing outside of Colleen's building. She began to pace up and down in front of the brick building.

Her tension grew as she tried to sort out her feelings. It was true she did find Colleen attractive, but still was it worth throwing away their friendship? "Doesn't matter now," Aubrey reasoned as she continued to pace up and down instead of moving on or heading home to her dry warm apartment.

"Are you trying to make yourself sick?" A familiar deep voice called out to her.

Aubrey's head snapped around and she gasped when she discovered Colleen standing in the doorway dressed in a rumpled t-shirt and jeans. "No coat or shoes are you insane?" Aubrey blurted out as she took in the brunette's attire. 'No bra either, damn she is making this hard.' Aubrey mentally noted as her gaze drifted to the brunette's chest.

"This coming from a woman who is wading in puddles in the middle of a downpour?" Colleen quipped. "Come on inside and dry off."

Aubrey quickly approached the woman whose unexpected departure left her with an aching need she couldn't understand. Her footsteps faltered as she recalled the information Karen had revealed to her earlier that afternoon. "I don't want to interrupt anything." Aubrey apologized suddenly feeling very awkward.

"No worries," Colleen shrugged. "I was just watching the game."

"Well, I'll let you get back to it." Aubrey offered as she felt her heart hammering against her chest.

"Aubrey, stop acting silly." Colleen responded as she opened the door. "Come on inside. You look like a drowned rat."

"You mean I don't look gorgeous?" Aubrey teased as she followed the taller woman into the building. "Damn and here I was going for that sexy wind blown look."

Colleen chuckled in response as the dripping blonde followed behind her. 'Damn I really miss her laugh.' Aubrey stumbled as the thought hit her. Aubrey blushed when Colleen turned back towards her and gave her a curious look. "New feet," Aubrey lamely offered as they continued up to Colleen's apartment. She felt her body warming as she watched the gentle sway of the brunette's hips as she followed along behind her. "So how badly are the Sox beating up on the Devil Rays?" she threw out quickly as they stepped into the apartment.

"They lost." Colleen responded with a groan.

"No, really?" Aubrey asked scoffing at the notion.

"Really," Colleen snarled. "I'll get you some towels and something dry you can put on."

"What do you have that will fit me?" Aubrey laughed as Colleen headed off towards the back bedroom.

"I'll find something," Colleen shouted out from her bedroom. "You are not going to drip all over my apartment."

Aubrey grunted at the comment before she looked down at her body. "Drowned rat is right," she chuckled as she shed her coat and went into the kitchen and hung it on the back of a chair. She stripped off her shoes and socks as well and carefully placed them by the back door. One thing about the brunette that drove Aubrey insane was her anal-retentive nature. She shuffled back into the living room to find Colleen with a thermometer. "What is that for?" Aubrey sniffed as she brushed her damp hair from her brow.

"How long have you been wandering around in the rain?" Colleen asked ignoring the blonde's scowl.

"Not long," Aubrey shot back as she mentally tried to determine just how long she had been roaming the streets?

"Right," Colleen responded with disbelief as she shook the thermometer. "Open." she demanded.

"I'm fine," Aubrey whined as Colleen glared at her.

"Aubrey, I'm a doctor." Colleen tried to reason with her.

"You're a pediatrician." Aubrey corrected her.

"True," Colleen conceded. "And if you are a really good girl I'll give you a lollipop. Now open."

Aubrey rolled her emerald eyes in disgust as she opened her mouth. She grunted as Colleen shoved the thermometer in the blonde's mouth. "This isn't really necessary." Aubrey protested in a garbled tone as Colleen checked her pulse.

"Keep still or I'll stick that in a different orifice." the brunette threatened.

"Hmmf . . . .flipping bully . . . ," Aubrey protested in a muffled tone.

Finally she gave up on her tirade and tried to be patient until Colleen removed the thermometer from her mouth. "Just what I thought," Colleen chastised her. "You are taking a hot shower and climbing into bed."

"Excuse me?" Aubrey whined.

"Aubrey just do it," Colleen instructed her as she pushed the smaller woman towards the bathroom. "Once you are all warm and dry you can tell me why you are here."

"I can shower at my own place." Aubrey protested as she slumped her way over to the bathroom.

"It is a mess out there," Colleen argued as she continued to lead the blonde towards the bathroom. "I don't want you getting any sicker than you already are."

Aubrey blew out an exasperated sigh as she finally stepped into the bathroom. "I'm not a child," Aubrey muttered bitterly as she began to undress. "If she thinks she can just boss me around then she's sadly mistaken." she continued as she turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm.

"I heard that!" Colleen shouted from the other room.

"Of course you did." Aubrey grumbled as she stepped into the shower.

Aubrey had to admit that the shower and dry pair of sweats did make her feel better. As Colleen guided her into the bedroom she felt weak as she sniffled. "Damn it," Aubrey muttered once Colleen tucked her and left. "I am getting sick."

"No kidding," Colleen said as she leaned against the doorway. Aubrey was pouting as Colleen crossed the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed. "So, what brings you by?"

"I'm mad at you." Aubrey clipped as her pout grew.

"Me?" Colleen asked in confusion. "What did I do? We haven't hung out in ages."

"That is why I'm mad at you," Aubrey tried to explain. "You just dropped out of my life."

"I'm sorry," Colleen apologized in a shy voice. "I didn't know what else to do. I feel like such an ass over what happened. It just seemed easier to stay away from you."

"Very mature doctor," Aubrey grunted. "You should have talked to me. We've never had secrets."

"Yes, we did," Colleen softly replied as she diverted her gaze. "I should have just told you I was attracted to you. I thought it would be romantic."

"On paper it was romantic," Aubrey offered gently. "It was just so sudden. And then you were gone before I had a chance to catch my breath."

"I'm sorry," Colleen whispered as she picked imaginary lint from the comforter. "I missed you."

"It is over," Aubrey said with relief as she smiled. "Can we get back to being friends again?"

"I'd like that," Colleen said with a smile as she lifted her gaze. "So do you think you could handle some soup?"

Aubrey felt herself falling into Colleen's crystal blue eyes. "No," she finally mumbled in response. "I should go." she added as she tried to sit up.

"No," Colleen bluntly informed her as she placed her hands on the blonde's shoulders and guided her back down onto the pillows. "Just rest."

Aubrey nodded mutely as she relaxed into the pillows. She felt her body shiver as Colleen brushed back a strand of hair that was still matted to her brow. "Sleep." Colleen offered tenderly before she got up and left the confused blonde nestled in her bed.

'Did I always feel this way?' Aubrey wondered as the realization of what she had allowed to pass her by hit her. 'And now it is too late.' Her heart sank at the cruel reality. "Weenie." She chastised herself as she felt her eyelids grow heavy. Aubrey slept peacefully for the first time in months. She awoke feeling better. She frowned when she discovered Colleen fast asleep on the sofa. She felt a little silly as she stood there lingering over the brunette's sleeping form. What disturbed the little blonde the most was this wasn't the first time she had watched her friend while she slept. 'I'm an idiot.' She mentally noted once she decided she had been spying on Colleen long enough.

"Hey wake up!" she shouted. Aubrey covered her mouth in an effort to stifle the laugh as Colleen's eyes flew open. The brunette's arms started flailing as she fell off the sofa.

"I hate you." The brunette moaned from her position on the floor.

"Fine," Aubrey shrugged feeling a slight sense of relief that, at the very least, they fell back into the same friendly banter that they had once shared. "I'm hungry. Feed me."

Colleen glared up at her as she fumbled to get her long body up off of the floor. "Feed me." Aubrey repeated in a whiney tone. "I think I liked it better when we were barely on speaking terms," Colleen grumbled as she stretched out her limbs. Aubrey bit down on her bottom lip in an effort to stifle the moan that was threatening to escape. "It will have to be something quick. I need to get my tired old butt to work."

"What no omelet?" Aubrey whined.

"No." Colleen snorted as she shuffled into the kitchen.

"I want something more substantial than pop tarts," Aubrey babbled on as she followed the brunette into the kitchen. "You know eggs, bacon, and maybe those banana nut muffins you use to make."

"I need coffee." Colleen said as she glared down at the blonde.

"Coffee too," Aubrey taunted the brunette. "And don't forget you still owe me dinner."

"How is it that I owe you dinner?" Colleen protested as she began to make coffee. "Isn't there a statute of limitations on something like that?"

"Nope," Aubrey quipped. "And it better be a nice restaurant. I'm not settling for feel free to super size it."

Aubrey continued to prattle on and on while Colleen begged her to stop. After breakfast Colleen rushed around to get ready for work while Aubrey kept on with her running dialogue. She didn't stop until Colleen dropped her safely back at her own apartment with a promise to take the blonde out for dinner.

Aubrey was cursing the rain as she hurried into the restaurant. She smiled at the irony of where she had chosen to have dinner with the brunette. "Oh crap," she muttered as she glanced down at her watch. "Late again." She found Colleen sipping a glass of wine while she waited at the bar. "I know I'm late."

"That's okay, I made the reservation for an hour later than I told you," Colleen smirked. "I assumed that your punctuality hadn't improved in the past year."

"And if it had?" Aubrey gasped.

"I honestly didn't think it would be a problem," Colleen teased her. "Come on our table should be ready."

"Brat."

"Goober."

"Why don't you pick out the wine?" Colleen suggested as she handed the wine list over to the eager blonde. "You're better at it than I am."

"I do so love spending your money." Aubrey teased as she selected a nice yet moderately priced Bordeaux. Once the wine was delivered along with their salads Aubrey decided it was time to finally clear the air.

"This is nice." Colleen complimented her as she took a sip of wine.

"Glad you like it," Aubrey smiled in response. "Now that I have you all liquored up, I need to ask you something?"

"Okay?" Colleen responded curiously.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Aubrey carefully began. "I just want everything out in the open so I can go back to tormenting you like I use to do."

"Fair enough." Colleen agreed.

"Why did you decide to ask me out?" Aubrey inquired gently.

"I began to realize that you meant more to me than just a friend," Colleen responded with sincerity. "And I mistakenly thought you felt the same way."

"You weren't mistaken," Aubrey confessed in a need to let Colleen know that she wasn't imagining things.

"Excuse me?" Colleen choked on her wine.

"Careful that will stain," Aubrey teased her. "I've always had a little crush on you, but I just never thought you could ever be interested in me. That night I really thought it was a joke, because why would someone as fantastic as you find me attractive?"

"Are you kidding me?" Colleen asked. "Why wouldn't I be attracted to you?"

"Thank you," Aubrey blinked in surprise. "Well it doesn't matter now. It is just nice to have you back in my life."

Colleen raised her glass at the sentiment and they toasted one another. "You're right it wouldn't be worth losing our friendship over," Colleen agreed. "I'm just sorry I caused it to happen once. You really do mean a lot to me."

"Well water under the bridge," Aubrey concluded as she scanned the menu. "We will just agree that the both of us have excellent taste in women. Speaking of which when do I get to meet your girlfriend?" Aubrey offered in an effort to prove to her that she really was okay with everything.

"My what?" Colleen asked in bewilderment.

"You're girlfriend," Aubrey repeated. "I heard you were seeing someone."

"No," Colleen corrected her. "I was seeing a nurse from the hospital. But we didn't really click so it didn't last very long."

"Oh?" Aubrey sputtered thinking that the night had just taken a very strange turn.

"Is that why you showed up at my place the other day?" Colleen asked. "Because it is safe to hang around with me again?"

"No," Aubrey argued. "I was jealous."

"Jealous?" Colleen choked as her eyes widened. "Please with all the women you go out with?"

"I was," Aubrey asserted. "Trust me it came as a complete surprise to me. I found it really annoying."

They stared at one another in disbelief as the tension grew steadily between them until the waiter thankfully approached with their entrees. "Aubrey, no." Colleen cautioned her.

"You don't even know what I was going to say." Aubrey snickered.

"This is not a date," Colleen directly informed her. "I made that mistake once."

"Okay so you do know what I was going to say," Aubrey conceded. "We could try?" She offered as the wheels in her head started spinning.

"No." Colleen refused.

"Why?" Aubrey asked.

"Because," came the brunette's flustered response.

"It could be." Aubrey suggested.

"No." Colleen refused once again.

"We'll see." Aubrey threw out confidently as she noticed the brunette's resolve slipping away.

"I said no," Colleen growled. "This is just dinner."

"I bet I get a kiss goodnight," the blonde teased despite the growing nervousness brewing inside of her.

"In your dreams." Colleen groaned.

"Nope, you are going to kiss me goodnight," Aubrey pushed.

"No I'm not," Colleen argued vehemently. "Fine you are so confident then we will make a bet on it."

"I do so love a challenge." Aubrey purred hoping that Colleen was wavering. She had always wondered what it would be like to kiss the brunette's full lips.

"Fine," Colleen offered. "If I don't kiss you goodnight, then it is not a date and next time we go out you are picking up the check."

"Ouch," Aubrey played along. "And if I do win and you kiss me tonight, then I want breakfast in the morning."

"You are such a pig." Colleen grumbled.

"No, I just . . ., " Aubrey's words drifted off. "I just want the past year back," she finally admitted. "When I lost you I had to face the way I was feeling. That and I bored the crap out of all of our mutual friends whining about how much I missed you."

"You whine?" Colleen teased. Aubrey didn't miss the warm look in the brunette's eyes. "Sorry," Colleen suddenly said. "I want the past year back as well. But this still isn't a date." She quickly added.

Aubrey simply nodded and smirked in response. The rest of the night they fell back into the warmth they had once shared. Only now there was a current flowing between them that was threatening to tear Aubrey apart. After dinner they walked around and then went dancing. More than once during the night, Aubrey had wished that she hadn't challenged Colleen. Now if anything did happen, it was entirely possible the brunette wouldn't take her seriously in the future.

Despite how much fun Aubrey had that evening as Colleen walked her to the door she was a bundle of nervous energy. A million thoughts and doubts were bombarding her over active mind. "Well, goodnight," she shyly offered in an effort to erase the awkwardness that had suddenly sprung up between them. By the way Colleen was shifting from one foot to the other, Aubrey understood that the brunette was just as uneasy as herself.

Each of them was shy as they lifted their gaze. Aubrey's throat went dry as she found herself locked in a fiery gaze. She briefly wondered if she really could go back to being just friends with the tall brunette she had been hiding her feelings from. "Ah hell," Colleen said softly as she closed the gap between. "I knew I was going to do this." The brunette confessed as she cupped the smaller woman's face in her hands.

Aubrey felt helpless as she leaned into Colleen's touch and their lips brushed against one another. The blonde's eyes fluttered shut as she quickly reclaimed Colleen's lips. The second kiss lacked the shyness of the first as it quickly deepened and Aubrey felt her body pressed against the wall. She clasped the brunette's hips and drew her closer as she felt Colleen's tongue tracing her lips. She parted her lips and invited Colleen in. Soon their tongues were fighting for dominance as Colleen's body pressed against Aubrey's trembling form.

Aubrey refused to think about the after effect as her hands glided up the brunette's back. Colleen moaned deeply from Aubrey's touch as any space between their bodies vanished. Aubrey fought to remain standing as the kiss came to an end. She quivered as she felt Colleen's breath on her skin. "You don't have to stay," she managed to stammer out. Colleen stepped back and looked down at her with confusion. "I want you to, but you don't have to." she clarified.

"What do you want?" Colleen asked as her eyes clouded over with desire.

"You," Aubrey confessed. "But not just for tonight."

Aubrey felt a sudden rush of panic as the enormity of her words struck her. Her fears slipped away as she looked deeply into Colleen's eyes. "Invite me in." Colleen requested in a breathy tone.

"Would you like to come in?" Aubrey quickly asked as she began to search her coat pocket for her keys.

"Yes." Colleen sincerely answered her with a brilliant smile as she brushed the blonde's face with her fingers.

Aubrey felt her pulse racing as she struggled to unlock the door. Her nipples hardened as she felt Colleen's hands on her hips. For years she had managed to convince herself that they would never be more than friends. Now she was willing to risk everything to simply follow her heart. They stumbled into the blonde's darkened living room. Colleen kicked the door shut as she wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and began to nibble on her earlobe.

Aubrey released a needy whimper as she melted into Colleen's touch. She covered the brunette's hands with her own as she tilted her head back in an effort to offer more of her flesh up to her lover's mouth. Colleen eagerly accepted her offer. Unable to cool the fire burning inside of her, Aubrey turned in her lover's arms. "I want you." she boldly confessed before she reached up and drew Colleen's face back down to her. She captured the brunette's warm inviting lips as their bodies began to sway.

Aubrey could no longer control her hunger as she tugged the brunette's blouse from her slacks. She shifted her arms as she felt her own coat being removed. Their kisses grew deeper as they began to undress one another. 'We'll never make it to the bedroom.' the blonde's mind screamed as she felt her lover's hands cupping her breasts. In a need to sate her desire she removed the brunette's blouse and bra, and then allowed her hands to roam across the newly exposed flesh. She lowered the zipper on Colleen's pants as she felt the brunette's lips moving down her neck and across her shoulders.

She yanked Colleen's pants down as far as she could reach. She cried out as she felt her lover's teeth nipping at her skin. She pulled the brunette's panties down until she could fill her hands with the smooth flesh of the taller woman's ass. She massaged her lover's cheeks as Colleen circled her nipple with her tongue.

Aubrey arched her back and pressed her nipple against her lover's lips. "Please." she pleaded as her hands continued a sweet exploration of Colleen's backside. She released a deep moan as the brunette's lips captured her nipple. The blonde pulled Colleen's body closer as the brunette licked and teased her nipple as they both trembled against one another. Aubrey's hand moved across her lover's hip as she felt her body being lowered down onto the sofa.

She gasped as her fingers brushed the damp curls of her lover's triangle as Colleen continued to remove the blonde's clothing. As she felt her skin being exposed to the cool night air she traced her lover's slick folds. She was naked as Colleen covered her body and began to suckle her breasts. She could feel the brunette's clit pulsating against her fingers as she stroked Colleen urgently. Aubrey felt her own desire pouring from her as Colleen's knee pressed against her center. She rocked her body against her lover's thigh as she entered the brunette's warm wet center.

Colleen's body jerked against her touch as Aubrey wiggled her fingers inside of Colleen's warm wet center. Aubrey's flesh felt cold as Colleen lifted her body up slightly so she could pull her pants further down her body. It was all the invitation the small blonde needed as she began to slide her fingers in and out of her lover. Her breath escaped her as she watched Colleen's body swaying above her.

She pulled the taller woman down for a lingering kiss. Her body trembled as their nipples brushed against the other's skin. Colleen nudged the blonde's thighs apart and cupped her mound. Aubrey grinded her hips against her lover's touch as she continued to plunge in and out of her. She was gasping for air as she felt Colleen entering her center. Soon their bodies were rocking against one another in a wild rhythm.

Aubrey cried out as the waves came crashing down upon her. She couldn't still her body as she felt Colleen kissing her way down, until the brunette was kneeling on the floor. Aubrey ran her fingers through her lover's long silky hair as she draped her legs over the brunette's shoulders. She watched as Colleen lowered her mouth and began to drink in her wetness. Aubrey shamelessly rocked her hips against the brunette's face as Colleen suckled her throbbing clit.

She clung to her lover as Colleen's teeth grazed her clit and her fingers slipped inside of her once again. Dark blue eyes twinkled up at her while her hips thrust wildly as Colleen feasted upon her. She could feel Colleen trying to hold her as she exploded against her lover. Colleen continued pleasuring her as she cried out in ecstasy. She was quivering as her body collapsed. She whimpered as she felt Colleen's touch slipping from her body.

Aubrey's body arched once again as she felt Colleen's tongue cleansing her passion soaked skin. "Stand up," Aubrey stammered out. "Take off your clothes." She watched as her lover complied with her wishes and stood and removed the remainder of her clothing. Aubrey couldn't breathe as she drank in the beauty standing before her. She stood and ran her hands up along her lover's smooth flesh as she kissed her shoulders. She could feel her lover trembling as she traced the swell of her breasts with her tongue.

Colleen was pleading for more as Aubrey captured one of her nipples in her mouth while she trapped the other between her fingers. She continued to tease the brunette as she felt Colleen's hand running along her back and down to her hips. As she continued to suckle her lover's nipples one of her hands drifted down the brunette's body until she felt her wetness coating her fingers.

She paused for a moment to gaze up into her lover's eyes. There was no mistaking the intense emotion she saw reflected in those crystal blue orbs. Over come with an aching need, Aubrey sank to her knees. She ran her tongue along her lover's sex as she felt Colleen's hands resting on her shoulders. She looked up and watched her lover as she feasted upon her until she felt Colleen's body climaxing against her touch. "Come here." Colleen softly beckoned her.

Aubrey smiled as she stood and they wrapped their arms around one another. She realized that at that moment it had never felt so right just to hold another woman. "Bed?" she softly suggested as she took her lover by the hand and led her into her bedroom.

As she guided her lover and best friend down onto the bed she understood why they both were willing to risk everything as she said a silent prayer that it was the right thing to do. Only the morning would bring the answer. "No matter what happens," Colleen offered as she pulled Aubrey down to join her. "This was right."

"I know." Aubrey agreed as she nestled her body against her lover's.

The End

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