Dear gentle readers,
Sooooo, i wasn't content with where this chapter left off, i felt like there was more to experience, and so i extended it. Hope you all enjoy the 'bonus footage', thanks so much for reading and leaving feedback. Thanks to AstronSoul for putting up with me!
Time to pick up where we left off.
Chapter 7 Reach Out and Touch Someone (continued) “What then, do you beautiful ladies have planned for me, your visitor?” Sarai asked, lifting herself off of Trouble’s prone form, her hands lingering to run over Trouble’s side one more time, before she straightened up.
“Food!” Tara exclaimed proudly, as Trouble rolled over onto her back, on the floor in front of Sarai, a sheepish grin on her face.
“There is that.” Trouble agreed, her stomach rumbling loudly, inciting growling in both Tara, and Sarai’s bellies as well. They all looked at each other in surprise, then burst out laughing again, as they slowly, and carefully rose to their collective feet.
Tara found herself caught up in the absolute stillness that fell over the room, as Sarai stood staring down into Trouble’s indigo eyes, with her own rich brown ones, caressing the side of Trouble’s face with firm, lingering strokes. Their first kiss was tentative, delicate. Sarai’s lush red lips pressing ever so lightly against the perfect cupid’s bow that was Trouble’s mouth, her long arms pulling Trouble in against her tall body.
Considering the time they had been apart, the distance they had covered, and the effort expended by all involved in making this possible, it was certainly a chaste kiss. Sarai kissed Troubles lips over and over, smiling broadly between each smooch, laughter bubbling up from deep inside her. “Still mine, after all this time, everything we’ve seen, and done, you are still mine, and mine alone.” She lifted Trouble by her bottom, wrapping Trouble’s legs around her waist, Trouble’s arms instinctively circling her neck, she leaned her head down, claiming Trouble’s mouth in a searing kiss.
Tara was fairly certain the two had set a new world record when they finally came up for air, both women sighing, and holding each other tighter.
“Perhaps it is time for that food, and some time to acquaint me with your dwelling, love?” Sarai suggested, idly running her fingers through Trouble’s long hair. “For so long, your hair was short. This is… different.” She spent a few more moments sifting the silky auburn locks, before favoring Trouble with a warm smile, and a soft kiss on her forehead, returning her to the floor.
Tara cleared her throat quietly, feeling very much like an intruder, or worse, a voyuer, on this amazingly intimate moment.
“My apologies, Tara. But I’m sure you can understand the reason behind our poor manners. Shall we head to the kitchen? That is what it’s called right?” Sarai, face scrunched up fetchingly, looked first to Trouble, then to Tara, to see if she had gotten it right. The pair chuckled, then nodded their heads vigorously.
“Of course, dear, you are right. Very good memory.” Trouble reached herself up on her toes, and placed a loving kiss on Sarai’s neck, as far up as her height would allow.
“All those nights spent watching you, observing you, experiencing a whole different life through your eyes. And now, here I am. I get to experience it with you. “ Sarai pulled Trouble into another tight embrace. “You are the greatest gift anyone could ever receive, my little one. And the Fates gave you to me.”
Sarai pressed her kiss swollen lips to Trouble’s one last time, then effortlessy spun the smaller woman around ,and embraced her from the back, biting down on Trouble’s neck gently.
Trouble smiled reassuringly when Tara gasped. “It’s ok Tara. She’s just giving me a hickey. “
Sarai nibbled, and sucked at the sensitive flesh a few moments longer, before giving Trouble’s neck one last lingering lick, and straightening herself up. “To the kitchen then.” She said nudging Trouble forward to lead the way, Tara tagging happily along behind them, content to bask in the loving energy the pair were giving off.
Wish my ass looked that good in leather…Tara mused, unaware that Sarai had actually came to a dead stop in the kitchen doorway. She collided solidly with Sarai’s back, her face bouncing off of Sarai’s powerful shoulders, she staggered backwards, stunned.
“OH!”Tara exclaimed, shaking her head.
“Damn! Sarai growled, spinning around to face Tara, catching her by the arm to steady her. “Are you ok, Tara? I’m so sorry I stopped. Are you hurt? I’m so sorry. I-” She was stopped by Tara squeezing the hand on her arm.
“I’m ok, Sarai. Just a little dazed. It was kinda like walking into a wall, but a little bit softer, no offense.” Tara had a sheepish smile on her face.
Sarai rose to her full height, smiling broadly. “None taken. I have all the subtlety of a brick wall sometimes.”
“Not all the time,” Trouble added, slapping Sarai’s ass affectionately. Sarai jumped in surprise, then settled down with a pleased smile on her face.
“S-so, um, why did we s-stop?” Tara asked, still clearing her head.
Sarai stared at the floor, face red, embarrassed. “I was surprised by the amount of food the two of you have prepared. It is astounding, the sheer number of edible items.”
“And steaks.” Trouble replied, taking Sarai’s hand, and pulling her into the kitchen.
“And steaks?” Sarai repeated, her enthusiasm growing, she raised her head, and began stepping forward into the kitchen.
“And steaks.” Tara added, pushing on Sarai’s shoulders, startled when Sarai’s sword bumped her leg. “Ah! You are armed.” she exclaimed, the other two women turned to look at Sarai’s waist where her belt hung, with sword, dagger, assorted pouches, and pockets, and items attached to it, and chuckled.
“So I am.” Sarai replied, absently. “ In my dimension, one is never unarmed. But here, I shall remove it.” She unbuckled her belt, slid it from around her waist then re-buckled it, and looked around for a place to hang it.
“Might as well hang it on the bedroom door. Leaves it accessible.” Trouble called over her shoulder, as she headed for the sink.
Sarai nodded her head. “Good idea. I like it.” She left the kitchen to hang her heavily weighted belt over the top corner of the bedroom door, as Tara too, crossed the kitchen towards the sink.
Trouble started the hot water, and began washing her diminutive hands. “I’m going to dice the tomatoes quick, could you turn on the broiler Tara?”
As Tara moved to the stove to heat up the broiler, Sarai came back in, rolling up her sleeves, moving directly to the sink to thrust her large hands under the hot water with Trouble’s smaller ones. Trouble, for her part, simply poured more soap in her hand and began lathering Sarai’s hands carefully with her own.
When Tara turned back around to take her turn at the sink, she stopped short at the tender sight of Trouble washing Sarai’s hands, trying hard not to grin too broadly, she waited patiently for the pair to finish.
That’s’s part of what was missing between me and Willow… we stopped doing the little things together. Definitely gonna get that back. She resolved to herself firmly, as Trouble and Sarai stepped away from the sink.
While Sarai attentively dried Trouble’s hands, Tara washed her own, cringing at the amount of dirt that was rinsed away. Damn. That was a messy spell.
Willow would have loved it… Tara gave her head a firm shake.
No more Willowthoughts, not tonight. I’m going to charming, and social, and make friends with a really powerful warrior, admittedly one of the most stunning women I’ve ever seen, Goddess only knows how old…“Hands clean yet, Mouse?” Trouble asked, with a jovial smile.
Tara let out a yelp, and her hands slammed into the faucet when she yanked them back in surprise. “Bloody hell!” she swore, loudly, pulling her smarting hand back, so she could survey the damage.
“Been learning curses from Spike, have you, now?” Trouble asked, giving Tara a serious look.
Tara continued staring at her hand, a blush creeping over her cheeks.
“Spike?” Sarai murmered. “The blond vampire? The one with the… potato in his head?” She ventured hopefully. Tara’s face became a brighter shade of red, and her body began to shake with laughter.
“It’s a chip, dear.” Trouble responded, shaking with silent laughter herself, as she looked over Tara’s injury. “It prevents him from violence against human’s.”
“They use potatoes to make chips…” Sarai began, leaning back against the counter, looking perplexed.
“Yes! They do. T-that’s right Sarai. But Spike’s has a computer chip in his head, it‘s made of plastic, not a piece of deep fried potato.” Tara kindly explained.
“Well, now that we’ve had this lovely lesson in not daydreaming in the kitchen, and the impromptu discourse on which chips to put in brains, I say we eat.” Trouble suggested. When Sarai still looked perplexed, Trouble continued. “We’ll have a chip demonstration sometime later, my love. I promise.”
Sarai, appeased, rose to her full height, handing Tara the towel so she could dry her hands, then turned to face Trouble. “What remains to be done, little one?”
“We need plates, silverware, tomatoes must be diced, and the steaks must be broiled. I think that is all. There may be more, so don’t quote me.” Trouble answered, looking Sarai up and down, appraisingly.
“Damn. Yummy.” she muttered under her breath, before smiling crazily at both Tara and Sarai.
“Ok. Right. Ummm, Sarai, do you think you can handle the broiler? Tara, can you get out the plates, and silverware? Please, thank you, both.”
The three fell in line at the long kitchen counter, Trouble first, next to the sink dicing tomatoes, Tara second, retrieving plates from the cupboard, and Sarai last, at the far end of the counter, in front of the stove, unwrapping the steaks.
Now that they weren’t talking, Tara could once more hear the stereo as it blared Heart’s “Magic Man”, and soon both her, and Trouble were humming along, and had caught up with the chorus.
-Ooooooooooooooo, She’s a magic woman!- they both improvised on cue with the music, leading the two into a fit of laughter that prevented them from completing their tasks.
Sarai looked up from the steaks she was preparing to tenderize and season, with a confused look, and a raised meat mallet. “Music?” She asked, tilting her head to the side to listen better.
-Yes dear- Tara and Trouble answered as one, doubling over in uncontrollable laughter again, having abandoned any thoughts of weilding knives, or moving plates and silverware. Sarai’s head tilted to the other side, as she watched the two smaller women slump over, and grab their sides in near hysterics. She tossed her lush black hair back over her shoulder, then brought the metal mallet down, hard, on an unsuspecting steak.
Tara and Trouble both squealed, and stood up straight, gasping for breath. Sarai was smiling pleasantly, the mallet still resting on the steak, one hand on her hip. “Care to share the joke, ladies?”
There were two audible gulps as Tara, and Trouble looked at each other, each willing the other to speak with pleading eyes, and mouthed words.
“Um, t-the s-song…” Tara managed, before Trouble spoke up, rescuing her.
“The lyrics of the song are actually ‘he’s a magic man’. We changed them to match our preference.”
Trouble explained to Sarai, who nodded in understanding. “It was funny because we did it at the same time, without trying.” Sarai nodded again, a bright smiling creeping it’s way across her full lips.
“Synchronization of silliness. Got it.” Sarai replied, before starting to tenderize the hell out of the steaks.
Trouble and Tara both involuntarily jumped, and squeaked again, Trouble leaning in confidentially to speak to Tara. “She takes steaks seriously.” She whispered in Tara’s ear.
“I may have noticed that.” Tara whispered in return.
Sarai took several more minutes tenderizing the steaks, during which time all three were focused on completing dinner, after the final thud of the mallet, they all looked to one another, ready to get to eating.
“There’s a broiling pan in the drawer beneath the stove, Sarai. Tara, how about we leave the plates on the end of the table while we make our salads. Oh, wow. Almost forgot the dressings” She said, walking around the center island to the left, to avoid bumping into Sarai on the right side. Tara set the plates on the table, then turned to see Trouble juggling multiple bottles of dressing, as she pulled more out of the fridge.
Tara hurried over to Trouble, taking several bottles out of Troubles arms. “ Here, let me help. Wow. How many do we really need?” She asked Trouble.
“Variety, dear Tara. Variety. That, and I didn’t know what you, and Sarai, would like, so I bought a bunch.” Between the two of them, they managed to wrestle all twelve different bottles to the table.
Tara looked over the selection with an arched eyebrow. “Just how many types of ranch are there?”
“Seven, by my count. Might have missed a variety.” Trouble had moved around the island counter, intent on the bacon bits, and croutons next to Sarai’s work area. Sarai had been busy selecting spices for seasoning the steaks, sniffing, and sampling her way through several dozen bottles and jars, her face changing with each experiment.
When Sarai reached the black pepper, Tara, and Trouble both froze in anticipation, as she flipped open the lid, and raised it to her nose. They both cringed as she took a forceful sniff of the pungent spice.
Sarai’s reaction was instant. Her eyes widened in shock, the pepper fell from her hands, abandoned in the rush to wipe her nose, then the sneezing started. Vicious sneezes, that rocked Sarai’s head forward, and backward, racking her powerful frame.
Trouble, and Tara looked on stunned, helpless to do anything about Sarai’s predicament, except hand her a towel, and hope it would end soon.
Sarai immediately began scrubbing at her nose with the towel, the itching making her eyes water, as the sneezing subsided. “What… was… that?” she managed to croak out, before being hit by one last sneeze.
“Black pepper.” Tara said, quietly.
Trouble moved to Sarai, wrapping an arm around her waist, snuggling into the taller woman’s side. “I’m so sorry, my love. I completely forgot about the black pepper. Are you ok?”
Sarai nodded, rubbing her nose vigorously, then wiped her tear stained face with the towel, bending to retrieve the dropped container of black pepper. She stood slowly, holding it at arms length between her thumb, and forefinger, as though it were deadly. “You put this on food?” She asked, incredulously.
Trouble placed her tiny hands lovingly on Sarai’s hips from behind her, resting her forehead between Sarai’s broad shoulders. “Yes, my heart. It is used to season food, to make things spicy.” Her diminutive hands slid around Sarai’s hips to her flat stomach, resting there lightly, her fingers trailing lazily along the waistband of Sarai’s leather pants.
“I’m terribly sorry, love. I should have warned you about the effects of black pepper.” Trouble murmured against Sarai’s back. Sarai set the pepper container on the counter, then reached her long arms behind her to return Trouble’s embrace, pulling the smaller woman closer.
“It would make a nasty weapon.” Sarai noted, sniffling.
Trouble turned her head, resting her cheek against Sarai’s back, and hugging her tighter. “Funny you should think of that… I do believe it’s used in weapons.”
“Tear gas, pepper spray…” Tara wracked her brain to come up with more examples, but ran out of ideas. “It’s pretty disgusting. Your eyes sting, and water, your throat, and lungs burn. It feels like your skin is on fire, you throw up. Eeeeyah. Oh, man it sucks.”
As Sarai stared at Tara, mildly stunned, Trouble bent her body around Sarai’s, poking her head out under Sarai’s right arm. “Damn. Personal experience talking?” She asked, glancing up at Sarai, whose expression asked the same question.
Tara’s face turned crimson, her head dropping, hair flowing forward to obscure her face. “When I was younger… My b-brother found a can of p-pepper spray. H-he used it on m-m-me.” She murmured, hands fidgetting in front of her.
Sarai relinquished her hold on Trouble to step forward, and embrace Tara in her strong arms, stroking Tara’s flowing golden hair, and rubbing reassuring circles on her back. “I am sorry you have suffered this, daughter of Light. But it is over, never to happen again.”
Tara buried her face in Sarai’s neck, letting the big woman cradle her as she cried. Several minutes passed while Sarai consoled Tara, during which Trouble finished moving the food around, and cleaning up the spilt pepper.
Soon Tara ran out of tears, and sniffling, she pulled back from Sarai, her eyes red, and swollen, she looked bashfully up at the formidable woman, smiling tentatively. “Thank you so much Sarai. I… I feel so much better. Thank you.” And she did. She felt the pain from that old wound melting away under Sarai’s influence.
Sarai released Tara with a warm smile, and gentle expression, returning to her place by the stove, where she slapped a steak onto the broiler pan with determination, and a loud bang. “We will have dinner!” she announced, loudly. “Now let us make some salads.” She walked purposefully around the island counter to the sink.
Trouble nudged Tara’s shoulder, then whispered in her ear. “She’s serious.”
“I see that.” Tara whispered back.
“I think she likes you.” Trouble whispered a moment later.
Tara nodded her head slowly, as she watched Sarai wash her hands in the sink. “That’s really good to know.” she answered quietly.
The imposing, raven haired warrior dried her hands, then picked up the salad bowls, giving one to each Tara, and Trouble, who responded with broad smiles, and cheerful ‘thank yous’, as they accepted the oversized bowls. “Now then, how does one make a salad?” Sarai asked, looking eagerly from Tara, to Trouble, repeatedly. Tara and Trouble looked to each other, then back to Sarai.
All three women turned to look over the sea of salad ingedients covering the counter, not sure where to begin.
“W-well,” Tara ventured, uncertainly. “You p-pretty much stack all the things, or whatever ones you like, in your bowl. Then you mix all of it together, after which you pour on salad dressing, then mix again. Then you pretty much, um, eat it.” Tara looked questioningly at Trouble, who nodded in confirmation.
“That about sums up salads. Oh, and use the lettuce minimally, it’s flavor is almost not existent, it really just takes up space.” Trouble added, helpfully, as they all reached for the bowls of lettuce. They all created small beds of lettuce in their bowls, then began tossing in handfuls of the various vegetables on top, creating generous heaps of plant parts.
Tara, and Trouble had settled on adding everything but the spicy peppers, while Sarai was nibbling her way through the collection of bowls, sampling all the flavors, before she added any of them. “All of these things taste good together?” She asked, peering at the sheer number of bowls.
“Yes. All of these items taste good together, that’s why I chose them, my only one.” Trouble said, kindly. Sarai looked skeptically at her, then shrugged, and started throwing vegetables into her bowl, occasionally popping morsels in her mouth.
When Sarai reached the hot peppers, Trouble stilled her hand. “These are the spicy ones, sweetie. Be careful. They may be too much.” Sarai picked up a rather large habanero, studying it carefully, then looking from Trouble, to Tara, back to the pepper. She shrugged once again, then bit off half the pepper, chewing it with gusto.
After a moment, Sarai’s eyes went wide, and began to water. With a smile, and a shake of her head, Trouble walked to the fridge, and retrieved one of the gallons of milk inside. As Sarai was making odd faces, and gesturing wildly with her hands, Trouble handed her the now open, jug of milk. “Drink as much as you need.”
Sarai brought the container to her lips, and began taking long swallows, the jug tilting ever higher as she fought the burning sensation inside her. Halfway through the gallon, she stopped to breath, and look sheepishly at Tara, and Trouble with bleary eyes. “Well,” she panted. “You were right.”
“Aren’t I usually?” Trouble said, smiling sweetly at her.
“I had forgotten what a bitch your precognitive powers really are.” Sarai lamented, taking another drink.
Trouble smiled broadly, noticing Tara’s barely contained laughter. “Used only for good, my love. I assure you. Shall we talk about your impetuous side?”
Sarai took one last swig of milk, before placing the jug back in the fridge. “That’s me. Always up for a challenge, no matter how foolish.” She returned to the counter, and rejoined Tara, and Trouble in salad making.
Once they had finished building their salads, they moved them to the table, where they added the croutons and bacon bits, while discussing the finer points of seasoning steaks.
‘A little garlic, and pepper for me,” Tara said, shaking bacon bits on her salad, then passing them onto Sarai, who traded her the croutons. “Don’t want to overwhelm the flavor of the meat, occasionally Worcestershire sauce, for a bit of added flavor. But that’s pretty much it.”
“Same here.” Trouble answered, receiving the bacon bits from Sarai. “Although I sometimes like barbecue sauce on my steak, gives it character.”
Tara tilted her head, and looked thought ful. “I guess that would be pretty good. Very flavorful.”
Sarai resembled a spectator at a tennis match, her head turning back, and forth, listening intently, even if she had no idea what the other two were discussing. Her salad completed, Sarai faced the dizzying prospect of picking one out of twelve varieties of dressings.
“Buttermilk, peppercorn, three cheese, guacamole, bacon, cucumber, chipotle… All ranch. Creamy Italian, Italian, Catalina…” Sarai was reading off the varieties, watching Tara and Trouble’s reactions, looking for hints of what they favored.
“I’d like to try the cucumber ranch, please.” Tara remarked, as Sarai pondered how to decide, Trouble went to the counter, and opened a drawer, retrieving a small spoon.
She returned to Sarai, affectionately wrapping an arm around her waist, and smiling happily up at her. “Pour a little bit of each one on the spoon, so you can taste them.” Trouble suggested, offering Sarai the spoon.
Sarai greatfully accepted the spoon, picking Trouble up in a bear hug, and spinning her around. “This is why you are the brains of the operation. Always a mountain ahead.” She set Trouble back down, and began sampling all of the dressings, while Trouble moved over to where the steaks were waiting to be broiled.
“Moooooo,” Trouble said softly, staring intently at the large slabs of meat. Sarai, and Tara looked up from their salads to look questioningly at Trouble, then at each other.
“She’s communing with the spirit of the cow.” Sarai whispered. Tara’s eyebrow arched, and she pursed her lips, debating whether, or not Sarai was serious.
“Are we putting dressing on now, or when the steaks are done,” Sarai asked of Tara, her expression giving nothing away. Tara gave her a shrug, uncertain herself.
“Cheese!” Trouble shouted, slapping her thigh with her palm. Tara, and Sarai jumped in surprise, gazing at each other with wide eyes, momentarily confused. They turned to look at Trouble, who was already at the fridge, digging through the dairy drawer.
“Forget the cheese, Little One?” Tara asked, moving across the kitchen to lean on the island countertop, and watch Trouble pulling packages out of the drawer.
“Nope. I remembered.” Trouble quipped, cheerfully. “And dressing application is personal choice, but I, myself, am waiting.” She finished collecting packages of shredded cheese, and moved them to the table, with Tara trailing behind her. Sarai was still at the table, weighing the merits of croutons which, she decided in the end, were a good thing.
Trouble began tossing the bags of cheese on the table, naming each one as she landed it expertly on the crowded surface. “Mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, Colby-monterey jack, mozzerella, Italian blend, Mexican blend, and cheddar-Colby blend.” She looked at Tara, and Sarai proudly. “Think that will be enough?”
Tara, and Sarai looked from the cheese to Trouble, back to the cheese again, then broke into hysterics. Both doubled over clutching their sides, hanging on to each other, and the table, to stand upright, gasping for breath.
“Should we make a joke about this?” Sarai managed, between gasps.
“It would be too cheesey.” Tara blurted, before falling on her ass, almost howling with laughter.
Sarai wasn’t far behind, dropping to her knees, arms wrapped around her sides tightly. Through bleary eyes, shaking with mirth, they saw Trouble looking at them, arms crossed, expression stern, as if to say, ‘Really?’ Which brought around another fit of conviviality, leaving the two shuddering heaps on the floor.
Trouble spun on her heel, and strode across the kitchen to where the broiler pan waited idly on the counter, scooping it up, and whisking it into the oven. “You two are obviously delirious. First steak is au natural, so we can get some food in you. When you can manage it, pull yourself up into chairs. Something to drink?” She spun back around to face the pair still lolling on the floor, chuckling.
Tara, and Sarai managed to pull themselves halfway way up, till they were leaning on their elbows, chorus out ‘Yes m‘am!‘, then give sloppy salutes, before collapsing on the floor again. “By the Fates!” Sarai blurted, between chuckles. “I have not laughed like this in lifetimes.”
Tara rested her hands on her stomach, and tried to calm her breathing, as her mind wandered back through all the times she had sat laughing uncontrollably with Willow, after some bit of nonsense or another. Just one more thing to miss, while her, and her soul mate were apart. Soon. Tara thought. This will all end soon.
Buoyed by the thought, Tara sat up, slowly, and attempted to straighten her clothes, and hair, while next to her, Sarai did the same. “Wow.” Tara remarked. “Usually, only Willow makes me laugh that hard. Must be the positive energy you two are giving off.”
Tara smiled sweetly at Trouble, then Sarai, in turn, then gripped the table, and one of the chairs in an effort to get back on her feet. While Trouble turned over the steak she was broiling, Sarai too, found her way to her feet, and headed for the fridge. “The refreshments are in the… fridge?” She asked, pointing at the stainless steel mammoth, on the far side of the stove.
“Exactly.” Trouble affirmed, walking around the island counter to the cupboard concealing the cups, and pulling out three large glasses. “Right hand side.”
Sarai pulled opened the door, and stepped back in awe, marveling at the seemingly endless contents. “Everything in here is edible?”
Trouble, headed to the table, called back over her shoulder. “Yes, my love. Everything, minus the containers of course, is edible. I want to spoil you while I have you with me. And Tara could use some treats as well.”
Sarai leaned around the edge of the fridge door to peer at Tara questioningly, and watch Trouble walk across the room, for her part, Tara just shrugged, and pulled out her chair to sit down. Trouble set a glass at each of the place settings, then walked over to join Sarai at the fridge.
Trouble wrapped her arm around Sarai’s hip, and leaned in close, pointing to the gallon of milk. “That, you know, is milk. That is orange juice, tart; water; cranberry juice, very tart; soda, very bubbly, very sweet; and wine, a nice red, I think you’ll enjoy it.” Once she had named everything, she placed her small hand on Sarai’s lean stomach, rubbing lazy circles around her bellybutton through the fabric, leaning her tiny frame into Sarai’s side.
“Tara? What are you thirsty for?” Sarai asked, still thinking, and more then a little distracted, she wrapped her long hand around Trouble’s hip, and pulled her in tighter.
“Dare we try the wine?” Tara said, smiling slyly. Sarai, and Trouble looked at each other, and shrugged, then both reached for the bottle at the same time. Trouble pulled her hand back at the last second, letting Sarai snag the bottle, while she ducked under Sarai’s arm, planted a kiss on her breast bone, then crossed in front of her to the stove.
Sarai shook her head, and smiled at Trouble sneaking a kiss, while Tara sat at the table nibbling cheese, and giggling.
“Steaks on.” Trouble announced, pulling the massive steak from the oven, transferring the sizzling meat to a platter, where she cut it into thirds. “And Mouse is living up to the nickname.” She added, glancing at Tara, who was pulling cheese out of a bag.
“Wat? If goood!” Tara garbled in her defense. After she swallowed, she continued. “I’ve never been so hungry in my life!”
“That’s due to the portal’s energy absorption. Leaves you famished.” Trouble explained, making her way to the table with the steak. “We’ll start with this one, I’ll cook up the other two after we’re under way.”
Sarai met her at the table, leaning down, and pulling a stiletto blade from her boot, which she used to open the wine in one swift motion. ”You’ve had some practice.” Tara squeaked.
“Opening wines is a hobby of mine.” Sarai quipped, pouring precisely one third of the bottle into each glass, with out spilling a drop, before taking her seat at the head of the table, with Trouble to her left, and Tara to her right.
After properly settling into their chairs, all three instinctively reached for their glasses of wine, raising them together. “A toast!” Sarai announced, smiling broadly.
“A toast!” Tara, and Trouble echoed back, cheerfully, giggling a bit.
“ To the blessings, and mercy of the Mothers, who have brought us together this night . We thank them for this food, and all we hold dear to us. May they always look upon us with favor. Blessed Be.” Sarai intoned solemnly.
“Blessed Be.” Trouble, and Tara added, in unison. All three brought their glasses together with resounding clinking, then pulled them back, so they could each take a generous sip of the rich, complex, and fruity vintage, which to their delight, was not overly sweet.
As they lowered their glasses, their eyes fell over the food heaped upon the table, and they all smiled wickedly at each other.
“Let’s eat!” All three announced together, descending upon their meal.
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I really liked the magical training session.
please, please, please forgive me my dear and precious kittens. i am so very terrible. i have not responded at all to anyone. please forgive my callousness. for the new year i vow to respond to every reply and get back to reading all of your outstanding fics.
Welcome back to the board Tina!!!
