“Yep. Sure was.”

“But I’m ready to go home. Will you drive me?”

“Yep. Sure will.” Teren winked and put an arm around her shoulders.

They said their good byes, with many hugs between all of them. Teren smiled and laughed, amazed at how wonderful it was to have friends again. She felt a slight pang in her heart as she thought of Perry, and how he would have loved the laughter of this group. For a moment Teren was filled with a sense of melancholy. But it passed quickly, unable to stand up under the weight of the hugs of her friends, and the feeling of Alex’s hand in hers as they walked to her car.

They didn’t say much as she drove. They didn’t need to . As Teren pulled to a stoplight, she’d glance over to find Alex’s eyes on her, watching her closely. She’d smile, and Alex would smile back.

Alex’s apartment house was only blocks away when Teren broke the silence.

“Can I stay?”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

Alex opened the door to her apartment, fully expecting to be jumped on by her furry four-legged companion. When she wasn’t, she looked up to find Teren holding Appleby in one hand, high above their heads.

“Teren, what are you doing?”

“He jumped. I caught him.” Even as she spoke, she moved her arm back towards the top of the bookcase, and the cat scrambled back up to his perch, looking rather indignant at having been stopped mid-leap.

“He always jumps. I’m used to it.”

“Yeah, well, if I’m going to be visiting, he and I are going to have to talk about that little habit. He’s gotta stop trying to surprise me, or one day I might turn him into a Swiss Cheese kitty — with lots of little holes in him.” She glared up at Appleby, almost daring him to jump down on her.

He appeared bored, and began to wash himself.

Alex laughed. “Ignored by a cat. Gee, maybe you’re not as tough as you think, Miss Superspy.”

Teren looked at her. “What did you call me?”

“Hm? Oh, nothing. It was just a name Ken invented for you.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll have to talk to him about that.”

They pulled off their coats, and Teren kicked her shoes off. Alex pulled her boots off, and put them in her room.

“Have a seat on the couch, Ter. I have something I think you might like.” She disappeared into the tiny kitchen.

Teren sat, leaning back a bit. She closed her eyes and rested — until the thump of something hitting the floor made her sit straight up.

She glared at Appleby. “You know, cat, you and I are gonna talk.”

He seemed unconcerned, regarding her with an innocent look.

“Ah, don’t play that game with me. I know what evil thoughts lurk in the minds of cats. I had one growing up, and I know what you little guys can do. So, don’t try to play the angel with me — it won’t work, cat.”

Alex stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, regarding her friend on the sofa.

“Talking to the cat? Should I be worried?”

Teren grinned at her. “Nah — Now if I start talking to the walls, then you need to be careful.”

“Gotcha.” She approached the couch, carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I called over to Pedro’s, and asked Phillipe for a bottle of wine. He recommended this one. I hope you like it.” She sat down next to her friend and poured.

Teren tasted the deep red liquid, and sighed. “Heavenly.” She gently swirled the wine in her glass, watching as Alex poured her own glass, and set the bottle on the coffee table. the blonde then turned sideways on the couch to face her. Teren did the same, facing her friend.

For a few minutes, they simply drank their wine, letting their bodies and minds relax. There was no where else they had to be, and nothing else they had to be doing. For the first time since they’d met, neither was occupied with anything other than what was happening, right there, and right then.

Teren found herself tongue-tied.

Alex was just nervous.

“Alex?”

“Yes?”

Teren hesitated. “Thanks for not letting him kill me.”

Alex stared into her glass. If he had, I would have killed myself. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry he hurt you at all.”

“Ah, don’t worry.” She rapped on the side of her head, opposite her wound. “Hard head, remember?”

“Yeah, right.” Alex could still see the blood pouring from her friend’s head, the dazed blinking of the blue eyes as she held Teren in the office of the former Assistant Director.

“Hey.” Teren reached over and touched her face. “Alex? Don’t do that. It’s over. It’s okay.”

Green eyes met blue, and Alex swallowed, unable for a moment to break the spell of memory. Then Teren leaned forward and kissed her.

When they broke apart, she was able to smile.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

They sat for a few more moments, just enjoying the peace, and the wine, and each other’s company.

“Would you like some music?” Teren asked. “I brought a CD over for you. A fairly new group, mainly accoustic guitar and piano. They’re really good. From Colorado. Ann sent it to me.”

Alex winced inside at the name of Teren’s old lover. Teren stroked her cheek again.

“Don’t be jealous, Alex. She said I should play it for you.”

“She did?”

Teren nodded.

“Then I’d love to hear it.”

“Hang on.” She got up and retrieved her jacket, pulling a CD case out of the inside pocket. “I will tell you,” she said as she moved to the stereo, “the lyrics are kind of , um, intense.”

“How so?” Alex wondered if she was seeing things, or if Teren was truly blushing as she put the CD into the player.

“Well, they’re kind of, um, uh —” She stopped. “Just listen, okay? You’ll see what I mean.”

Alex smiled and nodded. Teren pushed the play button and moved back to the couch, picking up her wine glass as she went.

The soft strains of a violin, accompanied by a strummed guitar floated out of her speakers. Alex looked up from her wine glass to find Teren’s eyes on her.

We are long lived butterflies —

always striving towards inner beauty,

inner peace, when daily struggles,

the stresses of life; its routine,

weigh heavily on us; wear us down.

We are chameleons —

changing, sometimes minute by minute …

Alex laughed softly. “That is so unlike you — yet it describes you.”

Teren smiled. “The song is called ‘Changelings.’ The group is really new, and young — Ann said they’re oldest member is like twenty-four or something.”

“What’s the name of the group?”

“Stone Krummholz.”

We are puppets —

manipulated by the strings …

“I like them.”

“Me, too.”

We are actors on the stage of life —

our lives out there for anyone to see,

but only on the outside.

They never see behind the masks.

No, they never see behind the masks…….

Alex nodded, looking down at her glass again. “Have you ever let anyone see behind your mask, Teren?”

Teren nodded. “Yes. But only once.” She waited for Alex’s look of inquiry, then smiled. “Only you, Alex.”

Teren leaned forward and kissed her gently, softly, barely brushing her lips to Alex’s. They stayed that way, quietly sharing soft kisses until the song faded.

Teren pulled back, taking their wine glasses and setting them aside on the coffee table. Teren let her hand caress the side of Alex’s face, sliding down her neck, to her shoulder, and then her arm. Gently she stroked her friend’s skin above her wrist, then took her hand and pulled. Alex moved closer, willingly.

The song changed, this time a solid drum providing the slow but steady rythm. Each beat seemed in time with Alex’s heart, as she felt Teren’s hands on her back, her lips sliding along Alex’s jawline.

I want all of you; I cannot get enough.

Each kiss is more intense as

your touch goes deep, sending me into

a whirlwind of sensation …

As Teren’s lips touched her throat, and hands caressed her shoulders, Alex dug her fingers into her friends back. Quickly, she reached to pull Teren’s shirt from the back of her jeans.