Harriet stood up and sighed as she shook hands with her lawyer. They had successfully won the case against Ellie Foster, who had been found guilty of hit-and-run, reckless driving, and attempted assault. The trial had spanned three long months, encompassing investigations, pre-trial motions, the trial itself, and finally, sentencing. With ample evidence gathered, Ellie was now facing nearly seven years in prison for her actions.
"You can't do this to me!" Ellie yelled as authorities led her away in handcuffs.
Harriet tilted her head, watching Ellie with a mixture of pity and resolve.
"I swear, once I get out of this prison, I'll hunt you down!" Ellie hissed, struggling against her restraints. "You can't do this to me! You can't!"
Rubbing her temple, Harriet clicked her tongue. "Ah, she's really a handful," she muttered to herself.
A hand tapped her shoulder, and she turned to see Vera standing there. "Well done, congratulations," Vera said, extending her hand to Harriet.
Harriet chuckled and shook Vera's hand. "Wouldn't have won the case without your help," she replied, smiling.
Vera shrugged, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "What can I say? This is our expertise."
"Then I guess this calls for a celebration?" Harriet suggested, winking at Vera.
Vera laughed, giving Harriet a playful tap on the shoulder. "Just let me know when. I can clear my schedule for that. But you know you should go to your little girlfriend first," she added, glancing over at Zoey, who was waiting nearby.
"Right, priority first," Harriet said, waving at Vera before jogging over to Zoey.
"Hey, sweetheart," Harriet mumbled, grinning as she approached.
Zoey smiled and cupped Harriet's cheeks. "Hey. Congratulations on winning your case," she said warmly.
Harriet nodded, pulling Zoey into a hug and resting her chin on Zoey's shoulder. "Yeah, now no one will bother us, I guess?" she said, holding Zoey tightly.
Zoey clicked her tongue, pulling back slightly. "That must have been exhausting for you, dealing with this case and your workload as the medical director at the same time for three long months," she said, rubbing her thumbs gently on Harriet's cheeks.
Harriet smiled, holding Zoey's hands on her face. "It wasn't that exhausting because I have you around," she grinned.
"Wow, so cheeky," Zoey teased, poking Harriet's nose playfully. "Well, maybe we should eat out? We haven't been going out since you've been so busy," she suggested with a shrug.
"No more busy days. I've got plenty of girlfriend time lined up for you," Harriet promised, her grin widening.
Zoey laughed and shook her head as Harriet ushered her out of the courtroom, both women ready to celebrate their newfound freedom and the love they shared.
Zoey smiled as she locked eyes with Harriet, who had carefully settled her on the kitchen counter. A soft chuckle escaped Zoey as she watched Harriet sing along to the music playing from her phone, lightly bobbing her head to the beat.
"You're cute," Zoey said as Harriet turned to face her, playfully holding onto her hands.
Harriet raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. "Am I? Really?" she asked, a grin spreading across her face.
Zoey cupped Harriet's cheeks, gazing into her eyes. "I love you," she murmured, delighted to see Harriet's pupils dilate at the words.
Harriet leaned in closer, her gaze flicking from Zoey's eyes to her lips and back again. "Yeah, I love you even more, you know?" she replied, a warm smile lighting up her face.
Zoey chuckled and pierced a piece of pineapple, offering it to Harriet, who smiled before biting into it and savoring the sweet taste. "Right, I still haven't knelt in front of you. Should I do it now?" Harriet teased.
Setting the fruit fork down, Zoey leaned in, cupping Harriet's cheeks again as she pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Do you even want to?" she asked playfully.
"I do, but I want it to be memorable for you, so I'm not doing it here yet," Harriet replied, her gaze softening.
Harriet wrapped her arms around Zoey's waist, pulling her closer and minimizing the space between them. "I guess all your plans aren't finished yet, so I'm putting that part on hold for a moment," she chuckled.
Zoey laughed, rubbing her thumb along Harriet's cheeks. "Well, I bought land, and the building renovation is still in progress. I'm planning to build a non-government organization for children with heart diseases who need assistance," she said with a shrug.
Harriet nodded, a proud smile on her face. "I know, sweetheart, you've told me. Can I help you with something on that? I mean, I know you can handle it, but I want to be involved," Harriet insisted.
Zoey looked thoughtful for a moment before meeting Harriet's gaze. "Can you offer your service instead? If given the chance, would you be able to conduct surgery if a child needed it?" she asked earnestly.
Harriet clicked her tongue playfully. "Of course! That's what my job is. It's my professional responsibility, and it's what I vowed to do, regardless of the circumstances. You can count on me for that," she reassured Zoey.
Zoey smiled, warmth filling her heart. "I'll keep that in mind," she replied softly. "Thank you for always being there for me, for letting me do what I want, and for supporting me all the way."
"Sweetheart," Harriet murmured, leaning in closer, "I intend to do this just for you. I know you can handle things yourself, but I'm here for you. We're in this togetherânot alone." She kissed Zoey tenderly.
"I love you," Zoey mumbled, tugging gently on Harriet's hair to pull her closer and deepen their kiss.
"I love you more," Harriet replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She let the kiss envelop her, her hands sliding under Zoey's thighs as she lifted her. Zoey arched her back, wrapping her arms around Harriet's neck and her legs around Harriet's waist. Harriet carried her towards the couch, gently setting her down and pinning her.
Panting as they broke the kiss, Harriet gazed into Zoey's eyes. "God, I couldn't ask for more. You're more than enough," she mumbled, leaning in to claim Zoey's lips once again. She lightly lifted Zoey's chin, sliding her tongue inside Zoey's mouth, eliciting a soft gasp from her.
Harriet's hands traveled along Zoey's thigh, slipping beneath the hem of her shorts, but Zoey suddenly stopped her, grasping Harriet's wrist.
"What's wrong?" Harriet asked, planting kisses along Zoey's neck.
"Harriet," Zoey gasped, her breaths quickening, "we can't do it."
Harriet furrowed her brows in confusion. "You don't feel like it?" she asked, blinking at her.
Zoey chuckled, cupping Harriet's cheeks. "No, it's just... I'm on my period, remember?" she said, her face flushing.
Harriet scoffed, sitting up straight and rubbing her forehead in realization. "Right, I totally forgot about that," she said with a laugh. "But can't we try?" she suggested playfully.
Zoey groaned, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "That's gross!" she exclaimed, making Harriet burst into laughter.
Zoey smiled as she watched Harriet laugh, her heart swelling at the sight. Biting her lip, she tapped her chest, feeling a warmth spread through her. I know, she thought, gazing at Harriet. I know I can settle down with her right now.
The thought of being the reason for Harriet's smile filled her with a sense of purpose. I want to see her this happy. I want to be the reason for everything in her life. A flutter of uncertainty crossed her mind, and she wondered, Can I be selfish now?
As she contemplated her feelings, the joy radiating from Harriet seemed to pull her closer, urging her to embrace her desires. Zoey knew that this moment was just the beginning of something beautiful, and she couldn't help but hope for a future filled with love and laughter.