The first morning of the end of their vacations, the two women emerged from their bedroom, their faces flushed with the afterglow of passion and all the love they shared.
Katia's arms were wrapped around Lorelei, her head resting on her shoulder. Lorelei, her eyes sparkling with mischief, reached out and playfully ruffled Katia's hair an action not anyone could say the had ever done, not even Alicia. In fact she lile to comb the with her fingers feeling their softness on her fingers
"I love you," she whispered, her voice filled with a tenderness that melted Katia's heart you her partner loved it that way so she indulged to give her all she wanted.
Letting the morning breeze pushed through them while they walked around the house to go on the big terrace that was almost a part of an open plan living room where the breakfast was held. For that they had to walk almost to the other side of the house.
They walked hand-in-hand through the gardens, the world seemed brighter, the songs of all birds more melodious giving their hearts endless possibilities.
Love was something Katiandra discovered was like drugs. She loved to be in love, her mind raced with so many things to do, to implement for the world, she almost felt reckless sometimes but respect that Lorelei came first forever, if she wanted this time to be endless vacation she could have all she wanted. She owned her that.
Feeling blessed like always the cristal green eyes scanned Lorelei's body for a moment, like always wondering how she had found herself so gifted. Her trained eyes drank in the young woman beauty cautiously. She felt almost drunk with all the happiness, biting her lower lip she could only wish to have it for all the remaining of her time on this Earth, that was her everyday prayer.
Sometime she had woken up from a nightmare where she always open her eyes in her bedroom at the museum just to see that all of this was a dream, but something will happen bringing her back to this reality.
Each time it had happened she was sick to her stomach for a good hour unable to swallow anything, but be glued to Lorelei in hugs the younger woman knew to give her. That had reminded her of what had happened to Benoit a while ago.They had spoken about it each time, understanding weakness was the share of all human being. That had really make her grow found of the young man.
Smiling at her lover peaceful demeanor, Katiandra's eyes closed for a brief moment thankful for the sun rays on her skin, then reopened them to find Lorelei's gaze on her.
In a total spontaneous movement she stopped pulling her in her arms, then give er the softest kiss they ever shared that lingered for a long time, just the touch nothing else smiles on both lips end the moment.
"Okay, I am dying here comes on. I need my share of..."
"Waffles, me and all the creation know Love."
Laughing to her playful sarcasm. Lorelei pulled her softly behind her by her arm for them to enter the room
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the grand terrace , casting a warm glow on the table laden with a sumptuous breakfast spread. The family was already gathered around the table, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
"Hello everyone, a bright day right? I bet wonderful thing will happen today." Lorelei chirped happily while her partner only wave her hand to everyone a big smile on.
One thing they had all learned, is Queen informal wait to be, she had never force on them her dignitary title but, like her daughters before her, had tried to be as normal as everyone. Her humility had won her soon to be parents in law and all the crew of security, not to forget Benoit.
"If you said so Lori, for me it already happened. What? Why are you all looking at me like that?? So you think it is given to have to seat here with katia smiling this big? And Lorelei looking like she drank ten thousand pot of honey? Say this is not already a blessing? Then, well then you add that everyone is smiling, so happy to be here? Nah my dear I take it as a blessing."
" I made a covenant with God to never wait thanksgiving day to be thankful for what I have. For what HE granted to me. I know what it is like to live a life where no one is never happy to wake up or even see you. it happened to me, I was there, I resent it every day. Now ..." Stopping to get a hold of himself chasing away those dark moment of his life, Benoit breathe out in content while everyone settled themselves around the table feeling deeply what he was saying.
To be able to feel thankful for little moment we take for granted was something human thought not about when just breath was a gift of itself.
" Now... ummm, now, I have you all, and I know without bragging that all of you love me, or was not thee case where I come from." Shrugging those moment off, he lift up his coffee mug with a wide smile that reached his eyes.
"So my day is already blessed, I am going on autopilot carefree from here."
All in awe of how simple Benoit could take everything they all cheered clapping to approve what he said, Katiandra's eyes met his, a smile responding to him. For her he was really a soul she could called friend, for him she felt what she had taken years to built with Raphaëlli in Poris. He really was a kindred spirit for her.
"Thanks you Benoit you are a sweetheart dear. Know that we feel the same seeing you. I am sure I can speak for all of us. Your words warm my heart. I love you all. "
The facility she had to declared her love stuns them all for a moment except Lorelei who was used to it, they all nodded some embarrassed others shouting "We love you too".
The couple sitting side-by-side, their hands entwined underneath the table on the older woman's thighs, their eyes sparkling with love as the responded to the others around was a sight to see. It rendered love more than a myth, it looked real. The kind that really exists.
katiandra even laughed at Benoit comment, she had gotten found of the young man quickly, she knew he was a keeper that is why she had no restrictions with him, he was a part of her family.
Their arrival started the service, minutes after it was all served a small chatter spread around the table each not disrupting the other.
Alicia and Kayley, their faces alight with excitement, were discussing the latest fashion trends. Here and there Benoit, regaled the family with tales of his latest adventures in his virtual world, he had decided to specialize in creation games, some of the memories that were purchasing him before Lorelei had to rescue him.
They all laughed but katia eyes diverted to Lorelei's alarmed by it, but her gaze reassured it was taken care of, shaking her head the older woman looked at Benoit with a stern face veiling her smile which he sheepishly smiled to making her shake her head in disbelief it was a surprise he was still alive.
Reagan and Bertha, eyes filled with a newfound warmth, watched their daughter and her partner with a sense of pride and contentment, they could have been gone already, but katiandra surprised them one month after she had come asking them to not go.
She ensured them it was their house too, now though they lived in the first level of the south wing of the house, the place was already a huge apartment, right under them Norman family lived, at the second floor was kayley's place too.
Nothing had changed really, the role of handling the house was completely Lorelei's mother, Bertha's role, she was delighted of it knowing she even have an unlimited budget to do as she please, Reagan had tried to plead the Queen to not do it , her answer was,
"Everything for a mother right?"
Suggesting right away her intentions for their daughter. In an alliance, Bertha was her mother now, so she spoiled her roots with what she wanted, power, to do thing unrestricted, a good thing Lorelei's mother was the one responsible of her tender nature, she was a loving woman, creative and soft, but she love shopping, which made it not so dramatic.
Under the woman instructions for the day meal, Martha, the cook, beamed with satisfaction as she served the family their breakfast given by how silent the two women were for a moment only eating with appetite, it was clear they were both very hungry, and liked it.
Their stamina to be always eating like that was something that had made the other wonder about what they were doing alone.Though no one wanted to answer that question.
At some point Benoit alarm started making noise.
"Come on, I just started eating." Pulling himself up with no noise he gave them all an apologetic gaze " I have to take this, time zone is a b..., hmm, a bizarre thing."
Laughing at Katiandra's face who was ready to take him down by using a filthy word, Benoit finally disappeared letting them all chuckling at how he knew how to do thing with the Queen, he did not care that for them all she will always be one, he treated her like a human he loved.
Ten minutes into the meal, the doorbell rang, startling everyone who wondered who it could be, they were not waiting anyone the Queen was sure of it, since neither Blake nor Killian family were in town.
Lorelei and Katiandra's exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued, if the person had made it to the front door it meant the security left them passed wchich was weird by it own.
They want some normalcy that is why she had asked Norman to let them respond to the inside door themselves. Taking her iPad that was sat near her, courtesy of Sloan good work. She looked on the security folder keeping her face still at who was standing on the others side.
"Hmm." She hummed ready to attack subtly but with precision.
The Queen, with all the poise and control like a monarch ready to give a sentence to the worse bandit of her kingdom, rose from her seat and made her way to the door. The family watched as Katiandra opened the door, their eyes widening in surprise as a familiar face greeted them from afar.
It was Michaela, the italian designer who had been dreaming to be with Lorelei from day one, katiandra knew it from that vision that had haunted her for a while, nothing was hidden to her, though her details bodyguards had done all for her to not know.
Michaela's arrival was unexpected, but her warm smile and infectious laughter immediately put everyone at ease.
"Good morning, madam, everyone," Michaela exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement putting on more bravado at the Queen sight, she had no idea of her presence here. "I couldn't resist dropping by to see you all." She chirped still standing with her flowers in her arms.
"Yeah you never does" Alicia mumbled under her breath, replacing the slice of bread she had taken previously to put some syrup on it.
Given the way her mother back was stiffened it was clear that thing were not going to be as they had planned it. Katiandra responded confirmed it second after.
"Oh, does this house look like a place to drop by? So much light you brought us dear... " dripping sarcasm under the poise gaze of the beautify woman gaze, it was really early in the morning, the reflect of the morning sun on her skin made her almost perfect even surreal.
Swallowing under her gaze, Michaela mind searched what to say untill at lost of words she looked down at the bouquet of flowers she was holding which was the only error she did to earn the wrath that follow.