Disclaimers: This story belongs to me so I don't give permission for it to be posted somewhere else under a different title, change in names or storyline.
Sex: But of course! J
Note: There will likely be somewhat graphic violence in this story, as part of it takes place during war times.
If you'd like to tell me what a wonderful writer I am or that I royally suck, feel free at: XenaNut@hotmail.com .
by
*****
Danni lay on her back on the narrow hospital bed, Kate in an identical bed five feet away. Megan had asked that her mother help her with breastfeeding, as opposed to the nurse, so the hospital had been generous enough to let Danni and Kate sleep in an unoccupied double bed room. Danni, however was having a heck of a time falling asleep, as she was awakened by every footstep, every sound and every conversation that occurred on the other side of the closed door.
"Danni?" Kate whispered.
"Yeah?" Danni whispered back.
"Are you asleep?"
Danni smiled. "I wouldn't be answering you if I were."
"Oh," Kate whispered. "Good point. Can I come over?"
Danni looked down at the extremely narrow bed, but wasn't about to pass up a chance to actually touch Kate. "Sure."
A moment later, Danni could hear the sounds of Kate climbing down from the high bed, then the bang followed by a quiet curse as Kate ran into something before reaching Danni's bed.
"It's like an obstacle course in here," Kate whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Danni whispered back.
Kate was silent for a moment. "I don't know," she said quietly. "Scoot."
Danni scooted over as much as she could without falling off the other side of the bed. She helped Kate climb up next to her without doing a header into Danni's stomach, which Kate almost did, sending them both into quiet giggles.
"Why do I feel like I'm being naughty?" Kate asked as she settled in, her body cuddled up to Danni's and her head resting on her shoulder.
"Because you are," Danni grinned, thrilled to have Kate against her. "Don't you know you're a grandma, now? Grandmas don't do stuff like this."
"Oh yeah? What do they do?"
"They sit home and bake cookie and they knit," Danni informed.
Kate giggled. "I do not knit."
"Well, you better start learning. One stitch, two stitch." She laughed as she felt fingers digging into her sides. "Careful baby, or I'm gonna fall off the bed."
Kate settled in again, but not before tugging down on the open collar of Danni's button up shirt and placing a kiss on her collarbone. "I feel old. I'm only 42; too young to be a grandma. Grandmas are old and wrinkly."
Danni smiled. "You're the sexiest grandma I've ever seen." She reached down and patted Kate's behind. "Shoot, I wish my grandma had looked like you."
Kate raised her head and looked down at Danni. "I'm glad she didn't, 'cuz that would've just been freakish and weird in a not-so-good sort of way." She loved Danni's smile and brought up a hand to trace Danni's lips with a fingertip.
Danni kissed that fingertip, then guided Kate's mouth down to hers. They shared a deep, leisurely kiss, lips and tongue caressing . There mere seconds to part before the door was pushed open and a nurse stepped through. She was obviously quite surprised to see the unexpected sight of Kate in Danni's bed, but quickly shook herself from it.
"Kate, it's time," the nurse said, Christian held in her arms.
"Thank you, Nurse." Kate slid off the bed. "Be right back," she whispered to Danni, then followed the nurse out of the room.
"Hey, sweetie," Kate said softly as she walked up to Megan's bed.
Megan turned her head and looked at her mother and baby with sleepy eyes. "Is it time?" she asked, her words slurred from both exhaustion and pain medication.
"Yes."
Megan winced in pain as she pushed up to a sitting position, Kate helping by piling pillows up behind her back. With clumsy fingers, Megan managed to loosen her gown and pull it down to reveal milk-swollen breasts.
"Are you ready?" Kate asked, sitting on the bed next to Megan. At her daughter's nod, Kate carefully handed a whiny Christian over. "Careful."
Megan nodded, adjusting her swaddled daughter to her breast. She waited but nothing happened. She looked up at her mother with expectant eyes.
"Sometimes you have to help them, sweetie," Kate said softly. "Guide her to your breast... Good, Just like that." Kate watched, happy to see Christian getting into the swing of her second feeding. During the first, Megan had been half out of it, and Kate doubt she remembered much of it.
"That feels so weird," Megan whispered, watching her daughter suckle. "Kinda hurts."
Kate nodded. "I know. But, just when you and your breasts get used to it, she'll start getting teeth."
They exchanged a smile. "Is anyone here yet?"
Kate shook her head. "Not yet, sweetheart. Your grandparents are due to arrive early afternoon and Rob's parents will be here later in the evening." Kate ran her hand over the baby's tiny head as she fed. "In a couple days you'll be able to come home and spend time with everyone."
"Did Danni go home?"
"Oh no; she's still here."
"She was great today. I really need to thank her," Megan said softly, meeting her mother's gaze.
"You'll be able to tomorrow, sweetie."
"I can't wait to tell Rob his daughter was born." Megan's smile was magical, filled with so much love and wistfulness.
"You can send him the picture Danni took of you and Christian, too."
Megan's brows drew. "She took a picture of us?"
Kate laughed quietly. "You were pretty out of it, but yes. Christian was only about thirty minutes old."
"Jeez. I feel like I'm missing half the day."
Kate smiled. "Well, you've had a wee bit going on today."
"No lie."
Chapter 43
Kate made her way through the guests that milled about her home, all eventually finding their way to Megan and Christian, smothering the poor girl with their attention. Megan had been home for a day, after having given birth to Christian four days before. Kate had made a veritable feast for both sets of grandparents, as well as Carol and Frank.
"Danni, can you please grab that tray of finger sandwiches?" she called out, her hands loaded down with a tray of drinks.
"Sure." Danni did as asked, quickly following Kate through the crowd with the food.
"I must say, Katherine, your friend has a beautiful home," Kate's mother commented, a glass of wine held daintily in an even dantier hand.
"Thank you, Mother. I live here, too," Kate reminded, offering her mother a plate of finger foods.
"Of course." She sipped more wine and looked at her daughter, whom she hadn't seen since Megan's wedding, seven months before. "I must say, I will never understand why you moved to the frozen east, just simply to stay with a female friend. You both are beautiful women, and should have no problem finding a man."
Kate groaned inwardly, but kept her face pleasant. "I don't want a man, Mother. I did that and we all see how that turned out."
Beth nibbled on a finger sandwich. "Yes, well George was a weak man. I never liked him," she said, knowing full well that she and her husband had essentially forced the marriage.
"I'm happy where I am, Mother."
Beth looked at her with wide eyes. "Living with a woman in the middle of the woods in Maine ?" she asked, sarcastic doubt dripping from her words.
"Yes. More?" Kate asked, raising the plate to her mother, a deliberate move with her left hand, the light shining on her ring.
Beth studied the ring for a long moment then met her daughter's gaze. "Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice low as if she had a suspicion.
"Danni gave it to me over Christmas."
"A ring like that is not some arbitrary thing you gift your woman friends with," Beth snapped.
"No, it's not," Kate agreed, chin raised in challenge. She could see the transformation in her mother's face, and knew a storm was brewing. "Don't start anything here, Mother; don't ruin this time in Megan's life. You've already ruined your relationship with me, don't ruin your relationship with your granddaughter and great-granddaughter." She stared into cold green eyes. "Do you understand me?"
Beth pursed her lips tightly closed then walked away from Kate, setting her wine glass on a nearby table. She found Percy and put a talon-like grip on his arm. "Let's go." She looked to Megan. "Darling, we'll be by in the morning to pick you up at your house for breakfast before we leave this place."
Kate turned away as Megan said her goodbyes to her grandparents, heading back into the kitchen. She heard footsteps not far behind her, then a hand on her back.
"What happened?" Danni asked softly.
Kate took a deep breath then let it out. "Elizabeth Adams is what happened."
"Baby, I told you it would be better to take off the ring-"
"No," Kate said, turning to look up at Danni. "No. I'm sick of hiding who I am, Danni. For years I hid my unhappiness, and now I'm not about to hide my happiness. I walked away from my parents long ago. The only reason they're still somewhat in my life is because of Megan; I'm not about to deny either of them the other. But now, Megan is an adult, and she can make her own decisions. I'm done."
Danni smiled at Kate with respect and admiration. "You're one tough lady."
Kate smiled. "Let's hope so."
*****
Kate moaned softly into her kiss with Danni, Danni's hips moving in a slow, sensuous rhythm between Kate's legs as she stroked her deep inside. With the new baby, a week's worth of company and Kate spending the majority of the past two weeks helping Megan settle in as a new mother, Kate and Danni had had little time for each other. So, after hours of kissing and light caresses, they moved together in a slow, steady rhythm that soon had them both breathing too hard to continue kissing.
Kate's moaning was almost constant now as she ran her hands up Danni's back. Danni's mouth was latched onto her neck, licking and nipping at the skin there. Kate was getting close, so she ran her hands back down Danni's back, over the leather straps of the harness and finally cupped firm flesh, encouraging Danni to speed up.
Getting the idea, Danni left Kate's neck and pushed up to her hands, looking down at Kate as she increased her thrusts, making them quicker and shorter. She closed her eyes and moaned as Kate brought her hands up to cup her breasts.
"Always a breast woman," Danni panted.
Kate smiled, but then that smile turned into a loud groan as Danni picked up the pace even more. Within moments she cried out, her hands flying down to cup Danni again, holding them together as Kate was hit with wave after wave of release, Danni's hoarse cry soon following.
They lay still for a long moment, both trying get their breath back and heart rate under control.
"I wonder if there's a certain number of orgasms a body can have in a lifetime," Kate said, her chest still heaving.
"I don't know, but if there is, we're screwed," Danni murmured into the soft skin of Kate's neck.
Kate laughed, holding Danni close. Danni gently pulled out then moved to climb off Kate. Kate held her. "No, stay."
Danni moved a bit further down between Kate's legs so her entire body weight wasn't on the smaller woman, then rested her head on the softness of Kate's breast. "Mmm, I've missed you," she nearly purred, feeling better than she had in weeks.
"I missed you, too," Kate said, running her hands through Danni's hair. "I can't believe Christian is almost a month old already," she said at length, her fingers never faltering in their soothing combing.
Danni sighed at the sensation, her eyes closed in utter contentment. "She's growing so fast," Danni murmured. "Soon she'll be driving."
Kate chuckled. "And I'm sure you'll be taking her off road in your Jeep."
"Of course I will. Doesn't every good grandma?"
"Nooooo, you said grandmas knit and bake cookies," Kate reminded.
"I never said that," Danni teased, flicking her tongue out to swipe at Kate's nipple, which was mere centimeters away from her mouth. She chuckled at the gasp that caused.
"I'm going to take Megan out tomorrow to get some new clothes for her job hunt. Poor thing can't fit into any of her old stuff anymore." Kate laughed at the memory of her own days trying to lose the 'baby weight'. "That and she hasn't gotten a letter from Rob in awhile. Her spirits are pretty low."
"He's probably moving around," Danni murmured. "It's impossible to write when that happens."
"I can imagine," Kate said, bringing her hand around to caress the soft skin of Danni's face. "How on earth is your skin so soft?"
"It's a family secret," Danni said, kissing Kate's palm. "I'm really going to miss her at the office; she was doing a great job there."
"Why don't you ask her to stay? I know she was really enjoying what she was doing. And," she shrugged a shoulder, "maybe you could gear it a little more towards what her degree was in. Maybe she could be in charge of getting advertising campaigns going for your shop."
Danni popped her head up and looked at Kate. "That is an absolutely brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that? Do you think she'd do it?"
"I don't know. All you can do is ask her."
"Are you serious?" Megan gasped, eyes wide. She grabbed Danni in a crushing hug. "Oh my god! This is so exciting."
Danni laughed as she hugged her back. "I'm assuming this is a yes?" she asked.
"Yes, it's a yes!" Megan gushed.
"Alright. Well, you'll be starting the marketing end of Felts Enterprises here, so I want you to check around with various marketing and advertising companies and get me a starting rate of pay for someone with your credentials and we'll go from there, okay?"
"Danni, you're amazing!" Megan said, plopping a loud kiss on Danni's cheek. "Here, take Christian. I want to go tell mom."
Danni took the baby and watched as Megan almost skipped off to find Kate, who was getting ready for their outing. Danni brought the baby up to her eye level. "I think it's just you and me, baby girl." Danni smiled at the raspberry she got in response.
After the two women left, Danni changed Christian's diaper, talking to her and making googly faces at her the entire time. Danni discovered there was nothing better than a baby's smile, because no matter how stupid Danni acted, Christian seemed to love it.
"Are you ready for our little adventure?" she asked in the goofiest voice she could. The baby was freshly changed and dressed back in her one piece outfit. She lifted her high above her head, the baby's green eyes growing large. "Are you ready for our adventure?" Danni asked again, grinning as the baby bubbled drool from tiny puckered lips. "Come on then." She got to her feet, holding Christian to her. "Let's go explore."
Danni glanced out the window, smiling at the beautiful late May day beyond. The snow was long gone and the sun was shining brightly. "Come on, guys!" she called to the dogs, who quickly bounded for the door. The huskies weren't quite sure yet what to make of the miniature human, as they'd never seen one before.
Danni grinned, thinking that it would be loads of fun for them once Christian was able to chase them and pull their tails.
*****
"So do you think you guys will do it?" Megan asked, sipping from her diet Coke. She was determined to fit back into her old jeans by Labor Day.
Kate shrugged as she chewed the bite of salad in her mouth. "I don't know." She sipped her lemonade. "Are you going to eat that pickle?"
"No, go for it." Megan offered her mother her plate, then set it back down in front of herself once the pickle was plucked. "Have you talked about it since before Christian was born?"
"A little," Kate admitted. She smiled and waved a familiar face that entered the restaurant. "But, with Christian and everything, we just haven't had much time to get back to it."
Megan nodded in understanding. "I never realized just how much time a baby really takes up."
Kate smiled. "Pretty incredible, isn't it? So small but so needy."
Megan blew out a breath. "You can say that again. But, at least she's starting to sleep longer through the night. The other night, she slept for six straight hours!"
"Not bad," Kate complimented. "But, back to a baby for us, there's just a lot to consider."
*****
"This, little Christian is what's called a rose." Danni held the fragrant flower up to the baby, the baby's eyes growing wide at something new presented before her. "I know you don't know what this is right now, but you make every boy you date give you these. Okay? And, if they don't, you call me and I'll make sure they don't forget the second time."
*****
"Mom, there is no way on God's green earth that dress will fit me," Megan said, hand on rounded hip.
"Well, maybe not right now, but eventually it will," Kate insisted, checking the price on the beautiful garment. "Or, maybe not." She placed it back on the rack and walked away.
They continued on back outside to the gorgeous late spring day. "In a way I'm glad Rob isn't here, "Megan said, stopping in front of a shop window to look at the dress the mannequin was dressed in. "I look like a damn blimp."
"You do not," Kate insisted. "And honey, you just had a baby a month ago. You cannot expect to bounce right back to your pre-baby body. And," she said, linking her arm with Megan's as they continued on. "You might as well get this through your head right now: no matter how much weight you lose, your body will never be the same."
Megan groaned. "I was afraid of that."
*****
"You see this beautiful piece of pine?" Danni asked, holding up a recently-shaved piece of wood that would one day soon become a chair leg. "This is my favorite wood to build with," she explained to Christian. Putting the wood down, Danni continued her tour around the shop. "Your grandma would kick my butt if she knew I had you in here close to all these dangerous tools." She kissed the baby's forehead. "But we won't tell her, will we? No, siree. We sure won't. Trust me, you don't ever want your grandma Kate mad at you. Come on, Christian, let me show you a table saw!"
*****
"Come on, Megan. You have got to try this ice cream," Kate moaned, shoving the little plastic spoon into her mouth. "Mm!"
"Mom! How am I supposed to lose this weight if you keep trying to get me to eat crap?" Megan complained, nearly grinding her teeth to not accept her mother's offering. She loved ice cream and her mother knew it!
"Oh come on, live a little."
*****
"Hey there, Danni! Ain't seen you in awhile," diner owner, Merytle called out from behind the breakfast counter, where Danni and Christian headed.
"Well, been kinda busy, Meryt." Danni set Christian's carrier onto their counter then slid onto a stool.
"Who we have here?" the old redhead cooed, hurrying over to Danni.
"This is my granddaughter, Christian," Danni stated, never so proud to say five words in her life.
Merytle drew painted-on eyebrows. "Granddaughter? Since when you got kids?"
Danni grinned. "Long story, Meryt. I'm on babysitting duty today, so I figured I'd introduce Christian to the best place to eat in Munson."
"Well, just for that you eat on the house today." Mertyle handed Danni a menu with a broad, red smile.
"I'm liking this grandma stuff," Danni muttered as she looked over the menu.
*****
"How do you think Danni's doing with Christian?" Megan asked from inside the curtained off dressing room. She studied herself in the mirror, looking this way and that, seeing how her new, larger body looked in the skirt.
Kate laughed from the next dressing room over. "She probably has her out in that damn workshop showing her all of her toys."
Megan laughed. "God help us when she's older. I wonder who she'll be more like: me or Rob?"
Kate ran her hands down the smooth lines of the dress, which was a bit shorter than she normally wore. She tried to picture what Danni's reaction to it would be, as it was fitted and more befitting of the younger women, but she was thrilled that her body actually looked fantastic in it. "I don't know," she said absently, admiring her reflection.
"I miss my baby, Mom."
Kate smiled. "Then why don't you call Danni and see how it's going? I saw a pay phone down the street from this shop."
"Ohhh, good idea!"
*****
"I know, baby. I know," Danni cooed, rubbing the back of her crying granddaughter. She hipped her way into the house, her arms full of baby, baby baggage and mail, which she'd picked up on the way in.
She hurried inside, leaving the door open so the dogs could go outside and do their business, dumping everything but the baby on the couch. "I know you're hungry and tired, sweetheart."
In the kitchen, Danni grabbed one of the bottles that Megan had prepared that morning. Danni warmed it up, testing the temperature on her wrist before giving it to a very angry Christian, who she still carried in her arms.
Danni sat in the rocking chair that she had made - a twin rocker in Megan's living room - and got down to the business of feeding a very hungry baby. "Don't tell your mommy I kept you out too late," she cooed, running soft fingers over Christian's reddened face as the baby sucked contently on her lunch. "She'd string me up for sure, let alone what your grandma would do to me."
Letting out a tired sigh, Danni watched Christian for a moment, then decided to kill two birds with one stone. She glanced over to the couch, which was a few feet away. Trying not to disturb the baby, she stretched with a grunt until she was able to grab the small pile of mail. Getting settled back in the rocker and making sure Christian was comfortable, she set the mail on her available thigh and began to sort through it, tossing the junk to the floor and the important stuff that could wait until later, to the couch.
Christian made a small whimpering sound, which caught Danni's attention. She glanced at her to make sure everything was okay then turned back to the mail. She tossed a piece of junk mail to the floor then gasped at what lay beneath. Her blood froze, her breath stolen.
"No."
*****
Bags of newly-purchased clothes in hand, Megan inserted her coin into the public phone then waited as it rang. On the third ring, Danni answered.
"Hey," Megan said into the receiver. "I'm being a pesky mom, wanting to know how my daughter is."
"She's doing great," Danni said, forcing a smile into her voice. "She's been changed, fed and is now napping."
"That sounds like Heaven," Megan teased. "What did you guys do today?"
Danni squeezed her eyes closed, wanting to cry, but she couldn't dare. "Well," she said, clearing her throat of the rising emotion, trying to sound as normal as possible. "We discovered what roses are, and we met some locals at the diner."
"Did you take her to your workshop?" Megan teased. "You can tell me, I won't tell." Megan grinned at her mother, who stood a couple feet away.
"Would I do that?" Danni gasped, hand to her chest.
"Yes."
Danni smiled. "Maybe. That's as much as I'm willing to say."
"Fine. Fair enough. Want to talk to mom? She looks like she desperately needs to hear your voice." Megan grinned at her mother's wide-eyed expression.
"Yes!" Danni said, realizing she sounded desperate. She sighed in relief at Megan's laughter. She could hear muffled conversation in the background, then Kate's voice on the other end of the line.
"I guess you must have missed me today, huh?"
"Kate, I need you to get Megan home right now," Danni said, her voice shaky, the sound of Kate's voice pulling it to the surface. "Don't let on that anything is wrong."
"Is it?" Kate asked, her heart beginning to pound.
"The baby is fine, it's nothing like that, so stop worrying. But, you really need to get Megan home, baby. Now."
Kate glanced over at Megan, who had wondered over to a storefront to look at the display. "What do I tell her?" Kate asked quietly, so Megan wouldn't hear.
"I don't know. Tell her anything."
"Alright." Kate paused, chewing on her bottom lip for a moment. "Danni, is it really bad?"
"I'm not sure. I just know that it's likely not good."
"Oh god," Kate whispered, suddenly feeling very nauseas. "Okay. I'll think of something. I love you and we'll see you soon."
"I love you, too. Bye."
Kate took several deep breaths before she plastered a smile on her face and turned to face her daughter. "Well, sweetie, I'm beat. You ready to hit it?"
"God, yes," Megan sighed. "Definitely ready."
*****
Danni stood at the crib that was kept at their house for when they watched Christian. She watched the baby sleep, lost in the world of angels and puppy dogs, where she knew nothing of pain or sadness. Danni brought a hand down and gently rubbing the baby's stomach, the baby splayed out on her back with her head to the side. Her little arms were raised above her head, bent at the elbow.
"Little angel," Danni whispered, leaning over to place a kiss to Christian's head.
Danni's attention was caught when she heard the sound of Kate's car pull up in front of the house, and the sound of muffled talking and laughter as the two women made their way to the front door.
Danni walked to the living room to meet them, not entirely sure how to proceed. "Hey guys," she greeted, all smiles.
"Hey!" Megan gushed, setting her purchases on the floor next to the door and walking over to Danni to give her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. "Is she still napping?"
"Snug as a bug in a rug," Danni assured. Megan smiled then hurried to check on her daughter. Danni turned to Kate, immediately taking her into her arms and holding her. "I don't know how to do this," she whispered into Kate's hair.
"What happened, Danni?"
"A letter came from the Department of Defense." Danni pulled away from Kate and led her into the kitchen, where Danni had set the unopened letter on the counter. She handed it to Kate, who took it in slightly trembling hands.
Kate remembered the look of the envelope far too well, as too many of her friends had received such letters during the war. "Oh Danni," she breathed. "God, I don't know." She looked into Danni's eyes. "Does this mean..."
Danni shook her head. "Not always. There's just no way to know until Megan reads it."
"What's up, guys?" Megan asked innocently, walking into the kitchen. She looked back and forth between Danni and her mother, her smile slowly sliding from her face. "What's wrong?"
In a moment of silent communication, Danni nodded to Kate. Kate held the letter in her hands, taking a deep breath as she turned to her daughter. "Honey, something came in the mail today, mailed here to our address."
"Okay," Megan said, searching first her mother's then Danni's eyes, trying to find any clue to what was happening. "What is it?"
Kate took another deep breath, then handed the letter over.
Megan accepted the letter, her eyes scanning the typed print and the sender's address and title. A small gasp escaped her lips as her fingers ran across the smooth paper, her heart stopping in her chest. She felt the sting of tears behind her eyes, and no matter how many times she blinked them away, they always came back, blurring her vision once again.
"I don't want to open this," she whispered, shaking her head. "I don't want to open this." Her hand began to tremble so badly, she almost dropped the letter.
Danni quickly took it from her, again meeting Kate's gaze. Kate nodded, her own eyes welling. "Please," she whispered.
Danni nodded, looking down at the envelope as though it were a snake, ready to strike. "Okay."