The Olsen-Janeway apartment, Webster, New York....

Petra looked out the front window as the rain began to let up. While the walk home usually proved good for Darien, she hoped that the exercise wouldn't be too much for her. It was nearly nine months since her surgery, and she was undaunted by her recovery. The cat jumped up on the window seat and began rubbing his whiskers against her thigh as she scanned the street.

"Don't worry...she's a trooper...she'll be here any moment." True to her word, Petra pointed down the block as if the cat could understand her.

"There she is..." The cat rubbed against her hand before leaping across and landing on the recliner; his claws digging into the corded fabric of the old chair. Petra smiled and walked into the kitchen.

"Let's see...eggs and turkey sausage I think... and rye toast.”

It was a little treat; Darien's weight had only recently begun to return along with an improved appetite. She had fought against the cancer and had prevailed, almost like a prizefighter facing a long-time rival. The championship was bestowed with the surgeon's scalpel, but not without a steep price. She had lost her left breast and had elected to have the other removed as a preemptive strike against any return of her foe.

Petra sighed as she started cooking.

"You want some, too?" She said as the cat hopped up on the counter.

"No. Sandburg! Get down and I'll get you some sausage, okay?" Sandburg was always reasonable when Petra requested cooperation; her tone soothed any disappointment the grey tabby might have felt as she nudged him onto the floor.

"But you've got to share, okay?" The cat rubbed against her ankles and walked over to his bowl.

"There's a good boy!" She finished cooking the sausage and began the eggs; two over easy with a bit of pepper and some salt. The toast popped just as Darien walked in the front door.

"Lucy, I'm home!" Darien called as she put her jacket in the hall closet.

"Lunch is almost ready...Just buttering the toast right now."

"Oh...gosh...I'm not hungry, honey."

"Oh...Eggs and turkey sausage...Are you sure?" Petra shook her head. More for her; something she felt she could ill afford given her latest attempt at a diet. She was fairly trim to begin with, but she wanted to stay in shape for the 10k run next month.

"Yeah...I'm not feeling all that well. There's a bug going around at the gallery, and I guess I'm in the on-deck circle."

"Okay...no big deal. I'll eat quick and we can take a nap, sound okay?

"A nap would be wonderful. The walk home took a bit more out of me than I expected. Must be this bug." She walked into the kitchen and kissed Petra on the cheek before grabbing a water out of the fridge.

"I thought we could hit the mall this afternoon, but if you're not feeling well we can go tomorrow or Friday...no hurry."

"Oh...no...That’s alright. I know you wanted to get the paint for the porch. Go ahead and go...I'll be fine." Darien sat down on the couch and grabbed the National Geographic from the coffee table before stretching out.

"Hey...nice article about wallabies!"

"Well, we can go to the zoo this weekend to get your marsupial fix, but just think; January we get to go over there for real." Petra said as she walked into the living room. She had a cup of coffee in one hand and the last of the sausages on a fork in the other.

"It'll be good, honey...you'll see."

"Yes...I know it will because you'll be with me." She sat up as Petra came around the back and began rubbing her shoulders.

"Oooh...a little to the right and up....ahhhhhh."

"Have I told you how much I love you today?"

"You're telling me right now." Darien leaned back and pulled Petra close and kissed her. She turned back as Petra came around and sat down beside her.

“I’ve only just begun, my dear!” She giggled as she tried to offer the last sausage to Darien who relented and took the fork from her.

“Almost as sweet as a bouquet and chocolates, sweetie. You cook this with maple syrup? This is good.”

“I’ve got more in the fridge...won’t take but a few minutes.” Petra pointed back to the kitchen with her hand. Dairen smiled and nodded quickly with approval, prompting Petra to get up and walk back to the stove.

“Scrambled?”

“Oh...yes...any more rye bread?”

“I saved the rest for you....nothing too good for my honey.” She laughed, pointing to the generic store brand ‘soft’ rye loaf sitting on the counter.

“These are the things that true romance is made of!” The last comment evoked laughter from both women and the cat jumping off the counter once again.

“It’s so good to see you laughing again. I don’t know how you stayed so strong; I know I couldn’t have gone through that with such resolve. I’d probably have just folded up.” Petra said, turning her face to hide the tears that began to well in her eyes. Her tone, however, made no such pretense.

“Now stop or I’ll start crying too! And you’re the one that gave me strength. When I felt the worst; when it felt like things were never going to get better, your faith lifted me up. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

If Darien had really wanted Petra to keep from crying, those weren’t the words that were going to make it happen. Petra burst into tears, dropping the sausage, which happily fell onto the floor where it was promptly scarfed down by Sandburg. Darien got up and walked into the kitchen.

“Honey...I’m all right. The doctor says that I’m completely clear. She said that Dr. Weiss can fit me in next month. Good as new.” Her words did little to comfort Petra as the woman wept in her arms.

“I was so afraid of losing you. I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.”

“I know...I love you so much. You gave me hope and you gave me life."

Darien didn’t know why; Petra almost always was the one to initiate their lovemaking. It was not a hierarchy so much as a preference by both of them. But Darien took the lead and pulled Petra close to her. It was like for months she had been the patient to Petra’s nurse. But Darien felt strong; perhaps even stronger than she had in her life.

“Let me....I need to do this,” she said. Not a protest, but an urging. She walked into the kitchen and turned off the stove. Sandburg had finished the sausage and looked up in petition. Darien poured some dry food into his bowl before walking back into the living room where Petra stood nervously awaiting her lover.

“Come with me,” she said, grabbing Petra’s hand. She led her into the bedroom and turned on the bathroom light before leaving the door slightly ajar.

“I’m strong because of you. Let me show you what your love has done for me.” She pulled Petra into a very hard kiss. Her tongue invaded Petra’s mouth and did slow tango. Placing her hands on Petra’s breasts, she caressed them softly through her cami, paying particular attention to her nipples.

“I like the way you feel against my palms...it almost tickles.” She kissed Petra’s neck, sending a shudder up her lover’s spine and coaxing an ‘aaahhhhuhhh from her already parted lips.

“Your neck is soooo graceful, my sweet girl.” Darien kissed Petra’s ear, which lead to her cooing, almost singing to Darien in response to the attention. Petra began to cry and shake. Her hands found Darien’s face, and she began to stroke her cheeks softly while saying softly,

“I don’t deserve you.”

Deserving or no, they were meant for each other, even if their final destination took a circuitous route.

They had been married for twelve years when too long neglected issues drove them apart. Peter and Darien loved each other, but his insecurities and panic left Darien fearful for her husband’s life. He only got help after the divorce was final.

Feelings of inadequacy born out of neglect and nurtured by abuse from his mother after his father died did little to bring him any release. A spiritual awakening took place on his thirtieth birthday, causing him to embrace a new found faith, an new purpose in life that brought him to return to seminary to get a degree, and finally a rediscovery of his femme self after years of dwelling alone and abandoned in the back of his heart.

And the miracle came to pass. Darien had a lumpectomy almost a year after the divorce, but her health had only gotten better for a short period of time before the cancer returned. She had moved by then and she was being attended by Dr. Sharon Weiss, working out of Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.

After her mastectomies, Darien had requested a visit from one of the Chaplains on staff. A nice woman dropped by while she was a bit out of it from her meds, and it wasn’t until after she had left that it dawned on Darien just who the chaplain was.

“Excuse me...May I come in,” a pleasant voice called from the doorway. Darien sat up in excited anticipation.

“Certainly.” She beamed when she saw the face; a bit softer and perhaps prettier than she remembered, but Peter never was very rugged.”

“Peter? Is that really you?” She shrugged and smiled, almost like a teenager.

“Yes...I can get someone else to see you, if that’s what you’d like. I don’t want to impose, and I never would have agreed if I’d known 208B was you.”

“208B...oh you always knew how to make me feel special.” She laughed and Petra turned away, her cheeks burning red.

“Really...I’ll get Cal Naismith to come by...he’s due in about three anyway. I’m sorry to disturb you.” Petra tried to smile, but the moment was just too much for her, and she covered her face.

“No...no...Don’t go. It’s been way too long...Peter...what do you call yourself these days?” She smiled and shrugged again, feeling a bit awkward herself.

“Petra... my name is Petra.” She looked down at herself, feeling underdressed; the last time they talked was in court five years before and Peter was wearing a suit. Petra wore a suit that day, but it was a navy pants suit with a soft baby blue silk blouse.

“You look good...Petra.” Darien said softly with a wistful smile.

“I, on the other hand look like hell.” She gazed down at her chest and laughed softly, but tears began to fall.

“Darien...you have never looked more beautiful than right this very moment.” She knew that Petra wasn’t being polite or even being merely encouraging, if being supportive could be considered mere. Petra smiled at her and continued.

“I know you don’t owe me anything after what I put you through, but if you need anything...I’ll be here for you. And obviously things have changed, so you’ve haven’t so much lost an ex-mate as gained a new sister, okay?” She walked to the bed and kissed Darien on the cheek lightly before walking out the door.

Over the next few weeks the two saw each other; first as sister to sister, but Darien was so blessed by Petra’s faith, that they became closer. And the closeness became more than proximity as the two rediscovered just what had brought them together years ago.

“You’re so strong.” It was a statement that Peter would never have heard from Darien, but that came so easily to Petra.

“I see so much potential in you. I’m so glad you’ve returned to your painting.” Petra told her. The chemo would have worn out Darien but for the constant words of support and praise.

“I think you look like Catherine Bell; the hair’s a bit short, but it suits you. You’re beautiful, and I can see how you’ll make some guy very happy very soon.” Inside it hurt that she was encouraging something that would take the one love she had ever had further away, but she felt that Darien deserved to be happy, and with someone who would love her and treasure her.

“I don’t know what you mean, Rev. Olsen. I’m not quite sure I’m not looking at the person who will make me happy.” Darien smiled at Petra and motioned her closer. She leaned forward and stepped into a very tender kiss, complete with arms draped around Petra’s waist.

“It took you being apart from me to remember how much I love you. I want to be with you, if you’ll have me.” She kissed her once again and pulled something out of her pocket.

“My grandmother’s ring...I had it resized to fit you...it’s your turn to say yes.” She did, and they were married in Montpelier a week later.

The present...later that evening....

"What do you see in me? I don't understand." Petra had gotten better, but still was plagued with doubt and fear.

"What I see is a very attractive woman....in every sense of the word. Whatever was good and true and right about Peter is still the same; maybe more so now that you finally let go of the past...well for the most part." She drew Petra in for a kiss.

"I think that this is the one thing I was so afraid of losing...that had slipped away when we split."

"Our kissing?" Petra lowered her eyes, almost in embarrassment.

"Our connection...the kissing...the hugging...the closeness no matter what. I'm so glad I found you again. I was so afraid that we had lost each other, but I never lost hope." Darien kissed her again as their tears mingled.

And so they moved on...into the loved ones they had always been and were destined to become.

Next: Calleigh's Story