---

Tiffany shrugged. “Okay.” she said, and tried to call one of the knives to her. Nothing happened, so she tried thinking about Sarah's father beating her, and about John trying to rape her. She became angry enough, but the knife still didn't appear. “Looks like I can't call them.” she said in relief.

I suspected as much. Trans-dimensional magic is extremely powerful. It's unlikely any Shadowkin artifact would be that powerful. I don't even know if there were any magical objects that powerful in my old master's world at all. Vash sent.

“Why didn't you say so to begin with?” Jill asked.

Those knives aren't from my old master's world, so there was still a chance. Besides, exposure to Sarah's portals could have enhanced their magic as it did all of you. Vash replied.

“What about you?” Mike asked curiously.

What about me? Vash replied, confusion evident in his mental 'voice'.

“Was your magic enhanced by going through the portals?” Mike explained.

I think so. Vash said.

“Oh, how?” Erica asked.

I seem to be stronger than I was before, both physically and magically. I seem to sense the flow of magic more easily, and I can stay invisible longer than before. Although it's a bit of a trade off, since my claws became blunted and my claws and fangs are no longer poisonous. And I look like a child's toy. Vash replied.

“But you're so cute!” Sarah protested. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Sarah looked down, blushing, and muttered, “What, he is!”

“It's okay honey.” Erica said and wrapped her arms around her fiancé. “We're just not used to you saying things like that. You've been holding it back all this time, haven't you?” Sarah turned into her embrace and nodded.

“I guess we didn't consider just how repressed you were.” Jill said. Mike looked at her in surprise, confusion evident on his face. “Think about it Mike. She didn't just have to hide the fact she felt like a girl from everybody, she also had to hide her natural reactions from everyone. They would have given her away in an instant.”

“Oh! Yeah, I see what you mean. So you're saying that Sarah would have been saying stuff like that all the time if she didn't feel the need to hide it, right?” Mike replied.

“Among other things, yes. I suspect Sarah's going to prove to be a bit of a girly-girl.” Jill said.

Erica smiled, “I can live with that! It kind of explains some things I've felt through our bond, really.”

Sarah pulled back and looked at her curiously, “What do you mean?”

“Mostly I've just felt this reluctance, or hesitation from you. Like you were going to do or say something, but did something else instead. But it's felt like that's been fading away recently. It's nice to see you coming out of your shell.” Erica replied with a wide smile.

Sarah blushed and looked down. “I've always tried to not act like a girl, so I wouldn't get teased or beat up as much. I guess I was a little slow to realize that I didn't have to do that anymore.” she said.

“I think it's interesting the way you say that, trying to not act like a girl. Didn't you ever try to act like a boy?” Jill asked curiously.

Sarah shuddered at that, “Yes, I tried. It was a disaster! Everyone looked at me like I was crazy when I did that, or worse. When I tried to act like a boy all my reactions were totally off. And some things I just couldn't bring myself to do”

Jill nodded, “That makes sense. Why were your reactions off, though?”

Sarah shrugged, “I didn't really know how to act like a boy. I guess I was mostly just acting off of stereotypes. Anyway, I didn't understand why boys did certain things in certain situations, but not in others. So I'd get it all mixed up. I was much better off just trying not to act like a girl and avoiding attention.”

“I am totally in agreement with you on that one!” Erica said with a laugh. “I don't understand why boys do half the things they do!”

Jill laughed, too, “The eternal complaint of all women. And men, for that matter, only in reverse. Right Mike?”

“Sure. There's lots of things women do that I don't understand. This explains a few things, though.” Mike replied.

“What things?” Sarah asked.

“Well, there were lots of times I thought you reacted strangely to things. I always put it down to how much trouble you had with the kids at school, and how shy you were. But looking at things now, it was because you weren't reacting like a boy would. I guess that's probably at least part of why the other kids gave you so much grief. They picked up on that.” Mike said.

“What's the matter Erica?” Jill asked, noticing Erica's expression.

“What Mike just said, it fit with things I've felt. All the guys I dated before I met Sarah gave me weird vibes. Their reactions just seemed so wrong! I always put it down to the difference between boys and girls at first. But one of the things that attracted me to Sarah to begin with was the fact that she didn't give me those weird vibes. I still didn't understand a lot of the things she did, but her actions didn't grate on me like that. So then I thought it was because I'd found someone I could love. But now I'm wondering if I was a lesbian all along and just didn't realize it.” Erica said softly.

“Would that be so bad?” Sarah asked fearfully.

Erica pulled her back into her arms and shook her head, “No! That wouldn't be so bad at all! It's just, I thought I knew who I was. Now, it looks like maybe I didn't. Not as well as I thought, anyway. What about you Jill? Did you ever feel like I did, or was your experience different?”

“My experience was different. I didn't understand half of what the guys I dated were thinking, if I was lucky! But most of them didn't rub me the wrong way like that. We just didn't click like Mike and I did. It does kind of sound like you were a repressed lesbian all along. I'm kind of surprised at that, though, considering how open minded your parents are.” Jill replied.

“I'm not.” Mike said. “They're not the only ones you have to deal with. If the feeling you get from everybody else is that being gay is a bad thing, then you're going to assume your parents feel the same way. Even if they give you no reason to think that. Kids soak up the attitudes of society like a sponge; far more so than adults do, I think. It's amazing that Sarah persisted in asserting her femininity around her father as much as she did, considering his reaction.”

“That's one of the reasons I think Sarah's going to be a girly-girl when she really lets herself go. She strikes me as just being that feminine that it overcame her fears, at least for a while.” Jill said.

“So,” Sarah began hesitantly, “how do you feel about finding out you may have been a lesbian all along?”

Erica squeezed her tighter and said, “It doesn't change anything, really. It's a bit of a shock, but I'm marrying a girl anyway, so what's it matter?” Sarah hugged her back when she said that and relaxed.

They watched a movie after that, and then went to bed.

In the morning Erica got Sarah moving and got herself ready to drive her to work. “You don't have to do that, you know. Tiffany can drive me now. She said yesterday that she would.” Sarah said.

Erica smiled, “I know, but I want to! Now don't forget to arrange to get off early tomorrow, you've got that doctor's appointment at three. I've printed out the form you need and you can take it with you. If all goes well you'll be able to get your new driver's license in no time!”

“That would be nice.” Sarah said. “I may be able to portal anywhere I've been or can read about, but that doesn't do me much good if I have to worry about someone seeing me.”

“That reminds me. I'm going to call Dad today and see if he's made any progress with finding information on our FBI friend. Or ways to deal with him, for that matter.” Erica said.

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To Be Continued…