Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Yeah, yeah. I got in this morning. I stopped at the house long enough to lie down for a couple of hours.” Del’s voice shook. This was going downhill so quickly. Now, more than ever she was glad she had flown across the country to see her father.

She thought she was just coming back to her hometown to assess whether or not he could continue living independently. From the looks of things now he was much sicker than anyone realized. The leave of absence was shaping up to be the best decision she’d made in a while.

“Del, I’m so sorry to hear this. If you need anything at all, call me. I’m nearby and can get someone to cover my shift at the clinic. I’m here for you, friend.”

“Thanks, Wyll. That means a lot. And I’ll take you up on it. Right now, they’re getting him prepped to air lift him down to Memorial Hospital. Their cardiology department is equipped to handle his internal defibrillator.” Del looked up as two people rolled a gurney into the ICU room. “Hey, Wyll. Looks like the transport crew is here. I’ll call you as soon as I know more.”

Del walked into the room. It was hard to see her father lying there amid all the wires and IV lines. He seemed so frail. The ICU couldn’t get his heart rate under control. She hoped getting him to the bigger hospital would help.

“Hey there, Mr. Silverbow. We’re getting you all set to fly you down to Memorial Hospital. Sound good, soldier?” The woman in the navy blue coveralls was taller than any member of a flight crew she had ever seen.

“Sounds good to me, honey.” Her father sounded weak, but there was some mischief in his tone.

“Oh, we have a flirty one, don’t we!” She turned and saw Del. “Hi, are you a family member? I’m Karlach. I’m the nurse on this flight.” She extended her hand.

She shook her hand. “Yes, Del Silverbow, his daughter. Thank you for being so quick to get here and take him.”

“Oh, you’re very welcome! It's a quick flight, and your dad’s in great hands. Captain Shadowheart is the best in the area!”

“Shadowheart?” Del looked at Karlach confused.

“On, that’s her call sign from her military days. I think it’s bad ass.”

“Oh! Of course. It does sound bad ass. I’ll let you get back to your preparations.” She stepped to her father’s bedside. “Dad, I’ll meet you at Memorial. They’ll take good care of you. I love you.”

“Love you, too, honey.”

As she walked by Karlach, the nurse said, “Don’t you worry about anything. We got this. Drive safely.”
______________________________________________________________________

Six months later

Wyll was in his element. The care he took with the students reminded Del what a great doctor and teacher he was. She was happy he had talked her into coming back to their alma mater to work with him.

“Okay, gather around everyone. Today, we will be working in the field. We’re driving out to the Hallowleaf dairy farm. There are 300 cows and each one needs an ultrasound to see how their pregnancy is progressing.”

Several of the students talked excitedly amongst themselves. A small number groaned. They knew what was coming.

“Dr. Silverbow and I will be supervising you today. You’ve had hands-on experience with the portable ultrasound units we’ll be using. But, you haven’t used them on an animal as large as a cow. The technique will be different. Anyone want to guess that difference?”

One student shouted, “The big glove!”

Wyll just smiled as the groans filtered through the crowd. He was enjoying this too much.

Del stepped forward. “Alright everyone, settle down. This is important, necessary work to keep the animals healthy. This will be a great experience for all of you. Dr. Ravengard and I have been in your shoes many, many times.”

“Alright people, into the van!” Wyll turned to Del and winked. “This will be fun.”
______________________________________________________________________

The drive to the farm was beautiful. Del had forgotten how much she loved this area in spring. Rolling green hills gave way to verdant forest which stretched to the mountains. She hadn’t appreciated it enough growing up here, instead counting the days until she could leave. If she was honest, she was more than happy to be back. She should have come back sooner, had more time with her father. But she was here now. Time to make the best of it.

Turning off the highway into the familiar driveway, Del couldn’t help the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Her father had worked on this farm with Mr. Hallowleaf, and she had spent many summers there. So many memories made in this place, some very good.

“Earth to Del!” Wyll snapped her out of her reverie. She’d failed to notice he’d parked the van. The students had started unpacking their equipment.

“Sorry, Wyll. Miles away.” Del blushed.

“I can tell. You going to be alright? I remember your Dad worked here.” Wyll gripped her shoulder.

“Oh, yeah Wyll. I’m fine. Feeling nostalgic. I have so many great memories here.”

“Okay, if you’re sure?” Wyll smiled at Del’s nod. “Let’s get these kids set up.”

Del laughed. “Easy with the ‘these kids’ talk. We’re not that much older than them!”

As they unpacked the van, an older man approached. He was tall and slim without a speck of gray in the black hair falling past his shoulders. Mr. Hallowleaf was her father’s age, but he seemed to never age. How did he do it?

“As I live and breathe, Delaclya Silverbow? I heard you were back in the area.”

Del extended her hand to him. “Mr. Hallowleaf! It’s great to see you again.”

“Well, that won’t do.” He ignored her hand, instead he gathered her into a hug. When he released her, he said, “It’s so good to see you. I’m sorry about your father. We really miss him.”

“Thank you, sir. Yes, I’m back. Dr. Ravengard persuaded me to take a position at the school. I think it’s just what I’ll need to… well, what I’ll need.”

“Of course, I understand. You know, Jen’s back, too. She retired from the navy about five years ago. In fact, you might see her today. She’ll be coming off a forty-eight hour on-call shift. Medical transport work, you see. She’d never give up flying.”

“Oh? Jen’s back, too? That’s great news… to hear she’s doing well, I mean.” Del tried to calm her spiked heart rate. “I haven’t seen her in, what, twenty years?”

“I hate to interrupt this reunion, but we’re ready to set up and start the exams. Arnell? Del? Shall we?”

“Certainly, right this way.” Arnell led them into the main barn.
_____________________________________________________________________

Del was exhausted. Working through 300 exams would tax anyone, but adding on supervising a dozen students took its toll. Her neck and shoulders ached and the beginnings of a headache bloomed at her temples.

“How are you doing there, Del? Ready to pack it in?” Wyll walked over to her while scrolling through his tablet.

“Indeed, Wyll! I say we earned a drink.” She flashed him a weary smile.

Wyll returned the smile. “Now you’re talking! The kids are cleaned up and packing the van now. How about you…”

They were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a helicopter’s approach. It flew directly overhead and descended on the far side of the farm complex.

“Well, that’s something you don’t see everyday! Looked like an old traffic report helicopter.” Wyll mused.

“Yeah, that’s unusual, for sure.” Del reached up and reflexively rubbed at the scars on her neck.

“Anyway, the kids are packing the van. Let’s give Arnell our report.” Wyll glanced at Del. “And you can clean up, too. It’s a long drive to be covered in poop!”

Del looked down at herself. Sure enough, her bottom half was spattered in manure. She laughed. “These coveralls and boots have seen everything today.”
_______________________________________________________________________

Jen was tired. Her shift was busy, three transports from the local rural hospital to the larger trauma center in the state. The follow up reports indicated that the patients were stable and on the road to recovery. That was why she did it, for those good outcomes.

Now she just wanted to get home and sleep. Thankfully, it was a quick low altitude flight to the farm. As she hovered over the grounds, she noticed the cows were nowhere in sight. Then her memory sparked, ultrasound day! She membered her father telling her students from the veterinary college would be coming out to examine all the cows. It was just as well, the chopper often spooked some of the younger ones.

After finishing her post flight checklist, she walked to the main barn. She wanted to check in with her father. He was hoping for good news about the herd. Happy and healthy ladies were great for the business.

On her way to the utility room, she spotted the van from the vet school. Students were packing up their equipment. She entered the building and set her backpack at the door. Then she froze. The bathroom was occupied by a woman, a gorgeous one at that.

She was crouching on the floor lacing up her boots, her tanned and well toned arms flexed with each movement. Then she stood to wash her hands. Jen knew she shouldn’t stare, should announce herself, but she couldn’t stop. Something tickled in the back of her mind, something about this woman was familiar, but she couldn’t catch the thread.

Her white tank top and jeans were doing wonders showing off her body. Jen crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame to enjoy the show. Now she was combing through her shoulder length black hair with her fingers. I wonder what it would feel like to do that myself? Jen quickly dismissed the thought. Still staring at the woman’s profile, Jen noticed a wicked set of scars crossing her neck. What had happened there? Jen’s brow furrowed at the thought.

Just then Del’s eyes turned to the doorway. “Fuck!” She jumped back into the wall. “You scared the shit out of me!”

Jen threw up her hands. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to frighten you. Are you alright?”

Del nodded her head. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Gods!”

“I’m so sorry. I’m Jenevelle Hallowleaf. My father owns this farm.” She stepped into the bathroom, hand extended.

Del took her hand, smiling. “I know. It’s good to see you again, Jen.”

Jen froze. That feeling rose in her again. There was something definitely familiar about this woman’s happy smile, reflected so brightly in her blue eyes. Jen tried to follow the thread, but it hit a dead end in her murky brain.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”

The disappointment in that blue gaze struck Jen in the chest. Not again!

Del released Jen’s hand, an uneasy smile replaced the joyful one. “Yeah. Del Silverbow? We went to school together? I know it’s been twenty years, but I thought you might remember me.”

Jen looked at the floor, anywhere but at this stunning woman she couldn’t remember. “So sorry. I gotta go.” She grabbed her backpack and nearly ran from the building.

She was out of sight before Del had the wherewithal to step out of the bathroom. “Shit!”

Del walked back to the van in a daze. What the hell just happened? She sat in the passenger’s seat without a word. Wyll started the engine and glanced over at her.

“Del? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is everything alright?”

Del hummed. “Wyll, that’s exactly what it felt like. But I’m okay. Let’s just get back to campus. I definitely need that drink.” She buckled her seatbelt and tried to not think about Jen Hallowleaf.

The sun began to set as Wyll drove the van back to the school. A light buzz of conversation filled the van as the students recounted the day. Wyll made comments and answered questions leaving Del to her thoughts.

She kept replaying her interaction with Jen. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand what had happened. Jen had not recognized her. Sure it had been twenty years, but Del hadn’t changed that much, had she? She kept circling back to the worst case scenario, she hadn’t made a lasting impression on the woman.

The opposite was the case for Del. Jen had crossed her mind often during the last two decades. She dreamed of her regularly. She had so many unresolved feelings for that woman, but now it was moot because she didn’t matter enough to be remembered! No, that wasn’t fair. Something else must be going on. What am I going to do?
_______________________________________________________________________

Arnell Hallowleaf knew where he would find his daughter. He had expected her to stop at his office a couple of hours ago when she had landed. When the sun had set without seeing her, he had an idea of what might have happened. Now, he walked along the gravel path to her cabin with a box tucked under his arm.

“I thought I’d find you here.” He climbed the two steps to her porch. He set down the box between them and took a seat in the rocking chair. “How was your shift?”

“Hi Dad. It was good. I just wanted to come sit for a while.”

“Jen, I can tell something’s bothering you. Can you tell me?”

She was quiet for several minutes. “It happened again, Dad.”

“Ah, you bumped into Del, didn’t you?”

“Almost literally! The look in her eyes when I didn’t recognize her… Dad, I thought I was past this.”

“That’s why I brought that box.”

“Oh? What’s in it?”

“Your yearbooks and some photo albums. Del’s back in the area. She’s a veterinarian. Chances are very good you’ll see her again. Take some time, get a sense of the friendship you had. I think she’ll understand when she hears what happened.”

“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. You know, there was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t place it.”

“Take that as a good sign. I remember you as great friends. You could be again.”

“Careful there! You almost sound like you’re playing matchmaker.”

Arnell laughs. “Our families have a history. Her father worked on this farm for thirty years. He was my best friend.”

“Lonnie? Ugh, I was so embarrassed, I didn’t put that together! And he died recently.” Her brow furrowed. “Is that why she’s back?”

Her father shrugged. “Could be. We’re all trying to find where we belong.” He stood up and bent to kiss her on the forehead. “Get some rest. I love you.”

As her father walked out of sight, Jen stood, retrieved the box, and walked inside.
_________________________________________________________________________

The bar near campus wasn’t too crowded as Del and Wyll sat down.

Wyll looked around and laughed. “Just like old times, eh?”

Del smiled. “Yeah, it hasn’t changed much. Is this our old corner?” She gave the table a shake. Sure enough, it wobbled.

“Some things you can just count on, a wobbly table and good friends. What will you have?”

“Whatever’s on tap to start is fine by me, thanks.”

“You got it. I’ll open a tab.” As Wyll stood to make his way to the bar, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind, I invited my girlfriend to join us. It’s hard to get our schedules to line up.”

Del grinned. “Not a problem! I’ve wanted to meet her.”

After a few minutes, Wyll set the pint glass in front of Del. “Alright, out with it. What happened at the farm?”

Del sighed. “I saw Jen Hallowleaf. She didn’t remember me.” She took a long drink of her beer. “And that was very disappointing considering we practically grew up together.”

“Oh shit!”

Del clinked her glass with Wyll’s. “Indeed!”

Before Wyll could say a word, a woman approached the table. “Hey, babe!”

Wyll jumped from the table and embraced the woman. She grabbed a handful of his dreadlocks and pulled him into a fierce kiss. Del sipped her beer, waiting for them to come up for air. When they broke the kiss, Wyll tilted his head to look into her eyes. This woman was easily two inches taller than him.

Del cleared her throat. “Have a seat, stay a while?”

Wyll chuckled as they sat down. “Sorry about that. We haven’t seen each other for forty-eight hours. Del, this is Karlach. Karlach, my dear, this is Del.”

Karlach reached across the table, “It’s good to see you again, Del! Sorry to hear about your father.”

Shocked, Del’s mouth hung open as she shook Karlach’s hand.

Wyll winked. “That’s the reaction you were hoping for at the farm, right?”

Del smirked. “Yeah, something like that.”

Karlach looked from Wyll to Dell and back again. “What am I missing, babe?”

Wyll answered. “We were at the Hallowleaf farm today. Del ran into Jen.”

“Oh, that’s right! Checking in on the ladies. They all good?” Karlach shifted her eyes to Del. “And you ran into Captain Shadowheart?”

Del choked a little on her beer. When she recovered, she asked, “You and Jen flew my father to Memorial? I had no idea.”

Karlach smiled. “That’s right, the best in this business! We just came off a forty-eight hour on-call shift.” She paused to take a drink, draining half the glass. “Anyway, I’m still missing something. What happened between you and Jen?”

“That’s the thing, nothing happened. She didn’t remember me.” Del took another sip. “I get it, it’s been twenty years, but I was hoping she would at least recognize me. After all, we grew up together.”

Karlach scratched the shaved right side of her head. “Ah, you didn’t hear about the accident?”

“Accident? I guess not. What happened to her?”

“Well, it was pretty tragic. You know all those non-combat helicopter crashes you hear about on the news? It was one of those training accidents.”

Del’s eyes went wide. Her hand absently rubbed at her neck. “Shit! How many died?”

Karlach smiled. “Oh ho! None! She’s that good. Everyone was banged up real good, her most of all.”

“I think I know where this is going. Traumatic brain injury?” Del shook her head.

“Bingo! She recovered, had a decorated career. The only lasting effect was the memory loss.”

Wyll spoke up. “It affected big chunks of her long term memory.”

“Yeah, she said there are so many holes in her childhood, she wonders if she even had one. I guess that’s where you got lost, Del.”

“Yeah, it explains why she didn’t know me.” She drained her glass. “I feel like an asshole.”

Wyll frowned. “An asshole? How so?”

“Oh, for being upset that she was angry with me. Well, she might have been angry but doesn’t remember anymore.”

Karlach laughed. “Nope! Your girlfriend hurt her brain and forgot you fair and square! Well, that’s not right, but you get what I mean.”

Del blushed. “Oh! She wasn’t my girlfriend. Just friends.”

Karlach laughed even harder. “Hear that, Wyll? I think we have a project on our hands! Tell me, Del. Would you like her to be?”

Del smiled. “I’ll neither confirm nor deny that. But I will buy the next round, and you can tell me if that’s a possibility.”

Chapter Text

Jen sat at her kitchen table, staring at the contents of the box her father gave her last night. Sipping on her second cup of coffee, she recalled what she’d learned leafing through the yearbooks and photo albums.

All appearances pointed to a strong connection with Del Silverbow. Page after page revealed photos of them inseparable, huge smiles on their faces. Each one caused a tickle in her mind, a thread of memory snapping if she pulled too hard.

“Enough of this.” She sighed and stood up. Gathering the books to return to the box, she noticed an envelope slip free. Picking it up, she noticed three things about it: it was from Del, it was postmarked twenty years ago, and it was unopened. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it.

Hey Jen.

I hope you’re well. I don’t know where to send this, so I hope your folks can forward it to you at basic training.
I’m not sure where to start. Look, if I made you feel uncomfortable, I’m so sorry!
You were leaving for basic training within the week. I was leaving for college at the end of the summer. I knew if I didn’t say anything, I would regret it.
You mean a lot to me. I don’t regret kissing you. I don’t regret saying I love you.
I do regret not running after you, but that look on your face, it hurt. You looked disgusted. You might have been, and I couldn’t bear for you to confirm it.
I want to talk to you. If you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll respect that. I just can’t stand not knowing.
If you write back, just send it to the farm. Dad can get it to me.
I hope you’ll write back.

Del

“Fuck!” She balled the letter in her fist. When she realized what she did, she tried to smooth out the creases. “Damnit. Did I receive this letter and not read it? Maybe I never got it?” She couldn’t remember either way. And did it really matter? She never replied.

She picked up the photo albums, quickly flipping through the pages. One photo had piqued her interest, and she wanted to find it. There it was, a 5 x 7 of them. Jen was smirking at the camera, her chin on Del’s shoulder, her arm across Del’s chest clasping the other. It was a possessive look. Del’s smile was so bright it shone through her eyes. Her eyes… She gasped. A beautiful smile and bright blue eyes. This was the face from her dreams. She always felt safe in those dreams, felt loved. Now she understood why she couldn’t place the face, she had forgotten her. Well, almost forgotten. Were her dreams trying to preserve a memory of Del?

She couldn’t dwell on this, she promised her father she would help today. Removing the photo, she walked to her bedroom. Once the letter and photo were safely tucked away in her bedside table, she got dressed for a work day on the farm. She’d have time tonight to think and, maybe, dream of Del. That thought made her smile as she left her cabin.
______________________________________________________________________

Del pulled into the parking area. The last thing she had expected on today’s schedule was driving back to the Hallowleaf farm. Wyll offered to go, but she declined. There was work to do, and, honestly, she hoped she’d run into Jen again. Now that she understood what had happened last night, maybe they could… Could what, Del? What do you want? Rekindle a friendship? Something more? Relax, you’re getting ahead of yourself.

Del wasn’t the only one at the farm today. She was there to check up on the retired cows. The hoof trimmers were setting up by the corral. As she glanced at her tablet, she heard footsteps.

“Ah, good morning, Del! I didn’t expect to see again so soon.” Arnell was always in a good mood. How was that possible?

“Good morning, Mr. Hallowleaf.”

“None of that ‘Mr. Hallowleaf’ business. It’s Arnell. So, you’re here to see my retired girls?”

Del smiled, grabbing her bag. “That’s right, Mr. Hal… I mean, Arnell. And I can stick around in case the hoof guys encounter any serious issues.”

“That would be wonderful! They usually get on fine, but you never know. Come, I’ll walk with you to the barn.”

After a few steps, Arnell spoke, “So, you bumped into Jen yesterday?”

“Yeah. It was good to see her again.”

Arnell stopped and turned to Del. “Just ‘good to see her again?’ You two were inseparable.”

“That was twenty years and an accident ago.” Del frowned.

“Oh? So you heard about that?”

“Only last night. I spent the evening with Wyll and his girlfriend, Karlach. She works with Jen. Why didn’t Dad tell me? I would have wanted to know.”

“I couldn’t say why. But I’m glad you know now. It was a long hard recovery, but she did it. I’m grateful the only long lasting effect was the memory loss. That doesn’t diminish how much work her mother and I, even her other friends, put in to rebuild those bonds.” He trailed off.

“I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”

Arnell nodded and resumed walking. “It was hard, and I don’t envy what’s ahead of you. Just be patient with Jen. She told me about bumping into you. She feels bad about it. I gave her yearbooks and photo albums. I hope they’ll help fill in the gaps. But your bond was so strong. I think you could be great friends again.”

The way he emphasized “so strong” made Del wonder if he knew about the last time she had spoken to Jen. She told her parents about that disaster. They encouraged her to write a letter. That letter was never answered. It broke her heart, but she promised to respect Jen’s wishes. Again, it didn’t matter. It was a long time ago, and Jen didn’t remember it. Let it go, Del.

“Thanks, Arnell. I’d like to be friends.” She followed him to the barn.
_______________________________________________________________________

Jen brushed Daphne. This older cow had become her favorite. When she needed to relax or think, she’d come to the barn and brush her. Her father told her it was something she always did, but she couldn’t remember most of her life before the crash.

“You like this, don’t you girl? So much nicer than those big brushes?” Jen moved the brush in a long sweep down her neck to her shoulder.

Daphne’s head swung around, fixing her large eye on Jen. She uttered a single “moo” and shook her head.

Jen’s laughter rang out in the barn as she continued her work.

Del walked through the door and heard the bright peal of laughter. She looked up from her tablet, and her steps faltered for a moment when she realized the source - Jen Hallowleaf.

“Good morning, Jen. I thought you might be here.”

“Hey, Dad! Just brushing Daphne.” As she turned her head, “Oh! Hello again. You’re the vet today?”

“Yes. I won’t interrupt what you’re doing. I’ll start with the others.”

“Right this way, Del. None of them have any particular complaints, I just like them seen regularly.”

“Of course, happy cows.”

Jen watched her father lead Del away and went back to her work. She whispered, “What do you think, Daphne? I think the doctor’s cute. Will you behave?” The cow once again fixed her with a big brown eye. “Oh, I know that look! I promise to behave, too.”

Jen couldn’t help overhearing bits of the conservation between Arnell and Del. Well, she could have but didn’t. She made herself look busy, tidying an already orderly rack of equipment. When she ran out of work to pretend to do, she walked over to them. It seemed ridiculous to eavesdrop, she might as well actually assist.

Jen was mesmerized by Del. She moved through each exam efficiently but with care. The way she murmured to soothe each animal, her gentle handling of them only endeared her more. Del was checking all the boxes. Her mind recalled the photograph she pulled from the album this morning. That possessive look was starting to make more sense. Had she ever acknowledged her attraction to this woman? Thinking about the letter, she either never thought about it consciously or it had frightened her. Or it was a little of both. Damn her brain! She couldn’t remember, but the feelings were undeniable. She was attracted to Del.

She felt a bump at her elbow. Looking over at her father, she saw a knowing smirk. Horrified, she realized she’d been staring at Del. She closed her mouth, crossed her arms over her chest, and shifted from foot to foot. She hoped the blush she felt creeping up her neck would dissipate soon. For his part, Arnell draped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

Arnell cleared his throat. “If it’s alright, I’m going to check in with the trimmers?”

Del looked up from her tablet. “Oh, not a problem. I’m almost finished here. These gals are ready for their pedicures, too.”

“Excellent. I’ll check in with you later.” He turned his back on Del and winked at his daughter.

Jen felt the flush return. She would get him back for that. In the meantime, her attention returned to the doctor. Del was typing notes into her tablet. Jen tried not to think about what else those fingers could do. Get a grip! Del paused to brush her hair behind her ear. The gesture exposed her neck and those jagged scars.

“What happened there?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Del looked up, “Pardon?”

Jen held up her hand. “I’m sorry, if it’s too personal, but I was curious about the scars on your neck.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. They’re obvious, and I’ve gotten used to the stares. Helicopter crash.”

“Bullshit?! What are the chances of that?” Jen huffed.

Del shook her head. “It’s the honest to God truth! Hell of a coincidence, huh?”

“So, you heard the story?”

“Just the basics. I heard about it last night. Wyll Ravengard is dating your coworker, Karlach. I wish I had learned of it sooner. No one ever told me.”

Jen nodded. “I wish someone had. It would have made running into you last night less awkward.”

“Don’t worry about that. I understand now.”

“So, your crash… any details you’d like to share?”

Del crouched to pack her bag. “I worked as an EMT part time as an undergrad. I had an opportunity to fly on a transport flight. Everything went well. But on the return flight a storm was approaching the area, and the pilot insisted on taking off instead of waiting. A sudden wind gust or something, and we were down. If we hadn’t been right there at the hospital, I wouldn’t be here.” When Del stood up, she was startled to see Jen right in front of her, scowling.

“That was irresponsible as fuck!” She spat. “Did the pilot survive? Lose their license?” She reached out and stroked Del’s neck. Del flinched at the unexpected touch. Jen quickly withdrew her hand. “Sorry.”

Del let the shiver subside. “No worries. Um, yeah, the pilot survived, and he lost his license. And, as you may guess, I never sat in a helicopter again.” She smiled.

Jen returned the smile. “Very sensible and understandable.”

Del raised an eyebrow. “So, you don’t think I’m just being a chicken?”

“Not at all! I still do it because it’s my job. And I love to fly.”

“A ‘back up on the horse’ kind of thing?”

Jen chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it was something like that. If you ever wanted to try it again, I could take you up?”

“Hmm, thanks, I’ll keep that in mind, but don’t hold your breath.” Del picked up her bag. “Well, I should be going. I’ll check in with the trimmers, see if they need anything. It was good to see you again, Jen.”

“Good to see you, too. I’ll be right behind you. Daphne needs her pedicure.”

“Is she your favorite?” Del watched Jen slip a lead over the cow’s head. It looked like she was walking a huge dog.

Jen reached up and stroked Daphne’s head. “She is. When you live on a farm, you try not to get attached to the animals, but Daphne’s special. Dad doesn’t keep all the retired cows. Some are sold for… other purposes. Daphne was retiring when I moved back home. We just kind of… clicked. I know it sounds weird.” Jen shook her head.

“It’s not weird at all, Jen. I think it’s a great thing. You’ve bonded. You help each other. More people should understand how important animals are in our lives.” Del realized she’d struck a serious tone. “Sorry, I’ll get off my soapbox.”

Jen smiled. “Thanks for that. And I’d expect a vet to be passionate about animal companionship, so preach all you want.”

Nodding, Del turned and walked out of the barn.

Jen followed with Daphne. She admired the way Del made that scrub top and cargo pants work. Seriously, Jen, get a hold on yourself! Daphne seemed to sense what Jen was doing and nudged her in the back. Jen let loose another bark of laughter.

Del glanced over her shoulder and smiled. She wasn’t sure she had ever heard a sweeter sound.
____________________________________________________________________

Del and Jen spent the afternoon assisting with the hoof trimming. Jen helped move the herd through the process while Del was on hand if medical advice was needed. Del felt pathetic. Every time she thought she was being discreet, Jen would catch her looking her way. So, she stopped trying to sneak looks and watched her openly.

Jen moved with purpose, guiding the cows through the gates. After an hour, she had slipped out of the top of her coveralls, tying it around her waist. Del hadn’t prepared herself for how beautiful she’d look in a tight fitting sleeveless shirt. She certainly wasn’t expecting the most striking sight, the tattoos on her left arm. The black ink on her shoulder resembled a ribboned disk or dream catcher without the webbing. Her wrist looked like it was wrapped in ribbons.

At that moment, Jen looked over. Smiling, she walked over to Del.

“I don’t mind you watching me, but this scowl on your face needs an explanation.” She stopped in front of Del, hands on her hips.

Del’s eyes went wide, and she flushed a deep red.

Jen continued, mercilessly. “I know I’m beautiful, but you’re practically staring daggers at me. What is it? I know this braid is too long to be regulation, but I’m retired from service.”

Del’s mouth worked, but nothing came out. The blush intensified.

Jen placed a hand on her shoulder, laughing. “Del! I’m only teasing. But, seriously, you were really staring.”

Del cleared her throat, finally finding her voice. “Sorry! I noticed your ink and was thinking about its meaning. Honest!”

Jen twisted her arm into view. “Huh. So, what did you come up with?”

“Well, the pattern on your shoulder…” Del’s hand moved to there, her little finger lightly traced the ink of the circle. “This circle immediately reminded me of dream catchers, but it’s empty, no webbing. You’re not catching anything, does that represent what you lost? Or is it open and ready to take in everything without a filter?” The goosebumps on Jen’s skin did not go unnoticed.

Jen took a deep breath. “Very thoughtful. What do you make of my wrist?” She hoped Del would take the hint and touch her again.

She did. Del traced the lines wrapping her wrist. “Hmm, from a distance, these looked like ribbons, but up close… it resembles a rosary or prayer beads made of thorns. Keeping faith is painful.” Del looked up.

With her heart hammering, Jen stared back. There was no way Del couldn’t feel her racing pulse. “Wow, that’s a long way from a flirty, ‘hey, I like your ink.’ Does that work on all women?”

“This is the first time I’ve tried it, you tell me.” Del smirked, but in her head she was flailing. Where the hell is this coming from?! I’m shit at flirting!

Jen chuckled and withdrew her hand. “Not bad at all. I’m impressed! You’re actually very close to the themes. I spent a few months recovering from the crash. Two broken legs, burns, and, of course, the head injury took time to heal. Between rehab sessions I started doodling some ideas. The crash marked my body one way, I wanted to take control and mark it another.”

“All part of the journey. Warriors mark themselves.”

With a tilt of her head, Jen asked, “Do you make a habit of saying the right thing?”

Del huffs, “Oh, it never feels that way, but I try.”

“You definitely succeed.”

A shout rang out in the barn. “Jen! Daphne’s ready. You want to take her out?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there!” She turned to Del. “Your phone, please?”

Confused by the turn of the conversation, Del frowned. “What?”

“Your phone, give it to me.”

Del patted herself down, muttered, “need more pockets,” before she fished her phone from a pouch on her thigh.

After a few minutes and several taps, Jen returned it. “There, you have my number, you’ve texted me so I have yours, and you have an event in your calendar. I suppose you’ll remember Mom always has a party celebrating Memorial Day. You’re invited.”

Del took her phone. Her mouth hung open in surprise. Jen reached over and tapped her chin lightly to close it. “Careful, flies.” She winked.

As she walked over to fetch Daphne, Jen looked over her shoulder to Del. “I’m looking forward to seeing you again. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

All Del could do in the moment was smile and wave. I don’t know what I just did to convince her I was worthy of her, but I’m glad it worked!

Chapter Text

“Come on, Shady! It’s a party. Cheer up!”

Jen rolled her eyes at Karlach. “Where in the world do you get these nicknames?”

“It’s all in good fun, Jenny.” Karlach winked. “What’s got you all fidgety?”

“Umm, I think I prefer Shady.” She sipped her wine. “She’s late.”

Karlach shook her head. “She’s on-call. You know how that is. Something always comes up right at the end. Why not text her and see what’s going on?”

She drained her glass. “I did… six times.”

Karlach gaped at her. “No!” She turned to look for Wyll. “Babe! How about giving Del a call? Check if she’s alright?”

“Sure thing!” He answered, pulling out his phone.

Karlach turned back to Jen. “Come on, get a refill. It’s girl talk time!”
______________________________________________________________________

“Del? It’s Wyll. Is everything alright at the clinic?”

“Hey, Wyll. Yeah, all good here. A dog came in, hit by a car. Needed surgery, stable condition now. I’ll be heading out to the farm soon. Are you alright?”

Wyll laughed. “I’m fine, but your absence has been noticed.”

“Oh? Hang on.” Wyll imagined Del checking her message app. “Shit, I have six messages from Jen. Am I in trouble?”

“Only the good kind.” Wyll laughed again. “Get yourself here ASAP.”
______________________________________________________________________

Karlach poured Jen another glass of wine and grabbed another bottle of beer. They found the porch swing and sat down.

“Okay, tell Mama K all about it!”

“There’s nothing to tell.” Jen picked at the long braid draped over her shoulder.

“Bullshit! You like her.”

Jen smiled. “What’s not to like? She’s beautiful and a doctor.”

“Yeah, but that’s not all, is it?” Karlach took a sip of beer. “She was your best friend. She knows stuff you can’t remember. That’s gotta be exciting?”

“Hmm, I’ll be honest, that scares me a little. I’ve managed my condition just fine over the last decade. Now the last piece of the puzzle shows up.” Her fingers tapped on her wine glass.

“Afraid of learning something bad?” Karlach sat forward. ‘I can’t imagine anything horrible about you.”

Jen shook her head. “Not anything like that, exactly. It’s just… there’s something about her. I look at photos, I spend time with her…” Jen took a deep breath. “I feel a connection with her that’s more than friends. There’s a tickle in my brain, something just out of reach.”

Karlach smiled, eyes wide. “Aw, are we talking about a teenaged sweetheart kind of thing?”

Jen blushed. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Aw, that's so cute! I wonder what happened between you?”

“Oh, I can imagine I chickened out!” She slumped into the swing. Frowning, she took a gulp of wine. “What I’ve pieced together, I was very focused on my career. Officer training, flight school, all of that. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t out before the accident, either. I might have broken her heart, and it was too painful for her to stay in touch.” She recalled the letter. If you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll respect that. It seemed she kept her word.

Karlach nodded and patted her knee. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You can’t change the past. No regrets now! You both have careers to be proud of. You’re older and wiser. Now could be the right time to pick up where you left off?”

Jen smiled. “You’re right. It’s no use dwelling on a past I can’t remember or change. Best to look to the future. I can’t get her out of my head!”

“She is pretty hot! You wanna ride her ‘til she sees stars?” Karlach winked.

Jen flushed a bright red. “God, yes!”

“Fuck yeah! Let’s get her to this party and make that happen!”

They heard footsteps on the porch and Jen’s phone pinged.

Wyll announced, “She’s on her way.”

Jen read her text out loud, “Sorry, I’m running late. I’ll try to make it up to you. Be there soon.”

Karlach laughed. “There you go, Jen! You got some time to get ready. Run and tidy up? Pick up laundry, clean sheets, that sort of thing?”

Jen handed Karlach her wine glass. “That’s a great idea! Thank you!” And she ran toward her cabin.

Wyll watched her run from the porch. He turned to smirk at his girlfriend. “What did I miss?”

Karlach leaned down to kiss him. “Nothing to worry about, just a little matchmaking.”
_________________________________________________________________________

The sun had set when Del parked her truck. The Hallowleaf’s party was well underway, but there were plenty of cars and trucks lining the driveway to the house. That was a relief, she hadn’t missed the whole party. Climbing the front steps, she walked through the door. She made her way through the house to the kitchen. There Del found Arnell and another woman chatting at the center counter.

“Hello. I’m sorry I’m late.”

The woman talking to Arnell turned and cried, “Delaclya? Oh, there’s my other girl!” She quickly came around the counter and embraced Del.

Del hugged her back. “It’s good to see you, too, Mrs. Hallowleaf!”

“Oh, none of that, it’s Emmeline to you now. I insist!” Emmeline released Del. “I’m so pleased you could join us. Don’t worry about being late. I heard you were on-call at the clinic.”

“Everything’s fine there, just an emergency surgery. I came straight from there, actually. I didn’t want to be any later than I already was. I hope you don’t mind the uniform.” Del pointed to her scrub top and jeans.

“Not at all! Arnell, go find Jen and let her know Del’s here. That will give us a chance to chat. I heard you were at the farm twice and didn’t bother to come over to the house and say hi.”

“Arnell, take your time. I might be in trouble with Jen, so no rush?” Del pleaded.

“How about this, I’ll mingle with our guests, and, if I see Jen, I’ll let her know you’re here.” Arnell gave her a hug, then left the kitchen.

“Come, Del, sit with me at the table. Can I get you anything? You must be hungry.”

“Thank you, no. I’m fine right now, but may I have some water?”

Del sat down in the small breakfast nook of the kitchen. Emmeline set a glass of water in front of her and sat down. “It’s good to see you, dear. How are you? And I really mean it, how are you doing?”

Del took a gulp of water. Jen’s mother reminded her so much of her late mom. Emmeline was showing her age far more than Arnell. But the graying hair and wrinkles didn’t diminish the vibrant spark in her eyes.

“It’s been hard, to be honest. The house has too many memories. I find myself throwing myself at more work at the clinic and the school. Anything to not be there alone too long.”

Emmeline reached out and clasped her hand. “I can imagine. Your father never got around to clearing out things after your mother passed. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“I couldn’t ask that. It’s my family’s mess to sort through.”

“Your mother was a dear friend. Your Dad and Arnell were best friends. Our families have history. It’s no trouble. We want to help.”

As much as she tried to fight it, Del couldn’t stop the quiver of her bottom lip. “Emmeline, it’s so hard. I miss them.” She covered her face as she began to cry.

Moving her chair closer to Del, Emmeline enveloped her in a hug. “I know you miss them. Go ahead and cry. I’m right here.”

Del did just that, she laid her head on Emmeline’s shoulder and sobbed. Del’s tears dried after several minutes, her breathing calmed. She sat up. “Thank you, I needed that.” She sniffed, and Emmeline grabbed a box of tissues from the counter behind her.

“Sometimes that’s what we need, a good cry.” She placed her hand on Del’s cheek. “You’re not alone here. Let us help if we can.”

Del nodded and wiped her nose. At that moment, they heard footsteps coming to the door. Jen walked in, smirking. The moment she saw Del sitting with her mother, the smirk turned to a frown.

“What happened? Are you alright?” She stood with her hands on her hips.

Del leapt from her seat. “Oh, I’m fine, really. Emmeline, may I use the bathroom?”

“Of course, dear. Just in the main hallway. You remember where that is?” Emmeline got up from her chair.

The moment Del was out of the room, Jen whirled around. “Mom, what did you say to her? She was crying!”

“She misses her family. Her mother’s been gone ten years, and she just lost her father.”

Jen crossed her arms over her chest. “Right, I imagine she’s lonely. She’s living by herself.”

Emmeline’s eyes lit up. “Jen, you just gave me a great idea! I should invite Del to stay here.”

“Mom, no. That’s a bad idea.”

She raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “I thought you liked her? Or would you rather she stayed with you?” She winked.

Del returned from the bathroom but stopped short of entering the kitchen. She heard a whispered conversation and stopped to listen.

“Mom! Shhhh!”

“Why are we whispering? She’s down the hall.”

“She’ll be back any minute.”

“You like her, ask her out.”

“I did, this was kind of a date for us.”

“Hmm, does she know that?”

“Maybe not. Oh, Mom, what do I do?”

“You two have some catching up to do. Be patient. And next time, be clear if it’s a date.”

“You’re right, Mom. Thanks for the advice.”

“That’s my job, dear. Get back to the party. I’ll send Del out when she’s back.”

Del smiled to herself and tucked this new knowledge away. She waited until she heard a door close before entering the kitchen. She made a show of looking around. “Oh, did Jen leave?”

“She’s rejoined the party. Get yourself out there, too. There’s plenty of food left. Enjoy yourself.”

On her way out of the door, she stopped and hugged Emmeline. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re very welcome, Del. You’re like a daughter to me. Don’t forget that.”

Stepping out onto the porch, Del scanned the crowd looking for Jen. Instead, she saw Wyll and Karlach. She walked down the porch to them.

“Is there any beer left?” She asked when she reached them.

Wyll hopped off the porch swing and gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re finally here! Jen has been prowling the party.”

“No shit! She’s gone full Captain Shadowheart. By which I mean, she’s got that determined focus. You’ve made a real impression on her, Del.” Karlach winks. “I’d say she’s yours for the taking. All you have to do is ask.”

Del blushed. “I see. Is everyone playing matchmaker all of a sudden? I’m getting the strong vibe you want us to get together.”

“Would that be a bad thing?” Karlach stood and engulfed Del in a hug. She bent to whisper into her ear. “Play your cards right, and you might get lucky tonight.”

Wyll interrupted, “Hey, babe. Let Del get something to eat? Meet us back here at the swing.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan. Now that I smell the grill, I’m very hungry.” Del extracted herself from the tall woman.

Karlach frowned. “Do you ever think it’s weird to have a barbecue at a dairy farm? I mean, do the cows know what we’re eating?

Del laughed. “I try not to think too much about it while I’m eating a hamburger. Although… now I can’t help but think about it. Thanks, Karlach!”

Karlach grinned. “You’re welcome! Hey, grab us another beer on your way back?”
___________________________________________________________________

Jen had had too much wine. She’d chalk it up to being nervous about seeing Del at her parents’ Memorial Day party. Karlach’s pep talk about trying to hook-up with Del only added to the anxiety. Now she was at the tipping point between giggly tipsy and needing to lie down.

Where had Del gotten to? She carefully tread the boards of the farmhouse porch. There, on the porch swing sat the gorgeous veterinarian. This woman had been her best friend, but the helicopter crash had robbed her of most of her childhood memories. Over the last two weeks, Jen had reread Del’s letter and looked over old photographs. Even if she couldn’t remember the details of their friendship, she felt a strong connection, an attraction to her. There had been something growing between them before they parted ways, she to the navy and Del to college. That parting had not gone well judging by the letter and the fact that Del had not seen her in twenty years. She sighed, damnit, she wished she could remember so she knew how to proceed!

For now, she would smile and flirt with the vet. “Is this seat taken?”

Del looked up. “Not at all, help yourself.”

Karlach leapt up, “Wyll, we should get going. It’s late and you have work tomorrow.”

Wyll seemed a little confused, but stood up. “True. Thanks, Jen, for inviting us to the party. We’ll find your parents on our way out and thank them, too.”

After they had walked away, Del looked at her watch. “I should think about heading home, too.”

Jen clamped her hand down hard on Del’s knee. “Don’t go yet! It feels like you only just got here!”

Startled, Del looked at Jen. “Are you alright?” She put her arm around Jen’s shoulders.

Jen immediately melted onto Del’s shoulder. “Actually, I’m not. My head is spinning. Too much wine, I think.” She handed Del her half full glass.

“Ah, okay. This porch swing won’t help. Can I take you inside? The living room, maybe?”

Jen only nodded, and Del helped her stand. “Ready to go inside? Take my hand.” Del was surprised by the iron grip Jen had on her hand, but she didn’t let Jen see it. They entered the house through the kitchen. They walked past Arnell and Emmeline loading the dishwasher. Del gave a little smile and wave, but kept walking.

The Hallowleaf’s living room hadn’t changed much since Del was last there. She smiled, looking around her. While the furniture and TV were new, everything was arranged as it had been over twenty years ago when she and Jen would spend weekends together. She coaxed Jen to sit on the sofa, and as Del sat beside her, Jen immediately stretched out on it with her head in Del’s lap.

Del chuckled. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.”

Jen’s eyes were closed, but she smiled. “Thank you. Everything still feels like it’s spinning.”

“Okay. Open your eyes and look at me.” Jen opened her eyes and looked up at Del. “Good. Focus on me. Deep breaths. The spinning should stop soon.”

“Hold my hand, please.” Jen had gone quite pale.

“Sure. You’re doing well. You’ll be okay.”

Jen cracked a small smile. “You act like someone who regularly deals with people swooning around them.”

“As a matter of fact, you’re not a real first year vet student until you pass out in front of an instructor. I’ve had a lot of practice lately.”

“Well, you have an excellent bedside manner, doctor. Thank you.” Jen took another deep breath and closed her eyes.

With her free hand, Del brushed hair out of Jen’s face. Her breath hitched, but her eyes stayed closed.

“Are you feeling better, Jen? Can I get you anything?”

“No, thanks. Just sit with me a little longer.”

Del laughed. “I’m happy to. Besides, I’m trapped.”

Jen opened one eye. “I think you like it.”

Del laughed harder. “Honestly, I’m used to it. You always fell asleep on me, often literally.”

Now both eyes opened. “I hope you have some evidence to back up that claim?”

“I do! You never finished a movie with me. You either fell asleep on the floor, on the sofa, on my shoulder, or in my lap.”

“Hmm, I can see that. My attention span isn’t great on a lot of things. What kind of movies did we watch?”

“We watched most genres, but sci-fi was our favorite. Oh, and period romances like Pride and Prejudice. I love a slow burn romance.”

“Well, we need to revive that tradition. Get a list together. We can have a date night.” Jen closed her eyes.

“Hmm, I can do better than a list. I have all the DVDs.” Del blinked. “Did you say date night?” She looked down at Jen.

Her breathing had evened out. Her lips were parted slightly. Jen had fallen asleep in her lap like she had countless times before. She had felt safe enough to drift off.

Del didn’t want to disturb her. She decided there was nowhere else she’d rather be. Del simply watched her sleep. She took in her relaxed face. Jen was beautiful at eighteen, but now, twenty years later, she was stunning. Noticing a faint scar running under her right eye, Del realized it must be from the accident.

As her eyes roamed over the curves of Jen’s body, she began to wonder if there were other scars. Jen was wearing a short sleeved shirt and shorts, but she couldn’t discern any scars. Perhaps there were others under her clothing? Del shook her head. The last thing she should be doing was thinking about Jen naked in her parents’ home!

“Oh! She fell asleep?”

Del’s head snapped up. Of course Emmeline would walk in just when she was entertaining naughty thoughts about her daughter! How long had she been here like this? Had it been five minutes or half an hour?

“Yeah, she did. And I don’t have the heart to disturb her.”

“You’re sweet, but you’d like to go home, right? Here, I’ll help you.”

Together they propped Jen up just enough for Del to slip off the sofa. After she lay back down on the cushions, Del draped a blanket over her. She fought the urge to lean down and kiss her on the forehead.

Emmeline touched Del’s shoulder. “Thank you for looking after her.”

“You’re welcome. I was happy to do it. She seemed a little too tipsy.” Del started walking to the kitchen. “I should get going.”

Arnell and Emmeline followed Del out onto the porch. There was something she’d wondered about, and now was as good a time as any to ask. She turned to the couple.

“May I ask you something? Did Jen ever tell you what happened between us that summer before we went away?”

Arnell and Emmeline looked at each other. Then Emmeline spoke. “She never told us what happened exactly, but I could tell she was upset. Oh, but it seemed she was upset with herself rather than you.”

Del nodded. “Okay, sure…”

Emmeline quickly continued, “Then I talked to your mother…”

Del’s eyebrows shot up and she slumped against the porch railing. “Oh no! Then you know everything?!”

Arnell and Emmeline smiled and nodded. Emmeline stepped closer and put her arm around Del. “Forgive us? Moms know when something is bothering their kids.”

“Of course, I’m just embarrassed.” Del tried a sheepish smile. “I wrote her a letter. Did she ever get it?”

Arnell answered. “We did receive one from you. We gave it to her when she was on leave around the holidays.”

“Okay, she never answered it, so I wondered.” Del sighed. “But maybe it doesn’t matter. With the accident, she doesn’t remember.”

Arnell moved to sit beside her. “You have some catching up to do, but I think you two still have a strong bond. Do you still feel the same way about her? Let that be your guide.”

“Yes, I still feel the same. I love her.”

Chapter Text

“What do you mean ‘nothing happened?’ You were going to jump her bones at the party!”

“Shhh, not so loud, Karlach.”

Jen and Karlach were at the airfield, running through their safety checklists before their shift. She knew the nurse would react like this. That’s why she refused to discuss it until they were on the tarmac. This was definitely not ready room chit chat.

“It was all my doing, or rather, undoing. I was nervous. I finally, really understand what people mean when they talk about butterflies in their stomachs. I drank too much wine in too short a time. The minute you and Wyll sprinted away - yes, you did!” Jen held up a hand to stop Karlach’s protest. “When you two left, the world started spinning too fast. Del took me into the house, we sat on the sofa, and I fell asleep in her lap.”

Karlach just blinked, her mouth opened and closed several times.

“What? Out with it!” Jen crossed her arms. “I know I’m pathetic.”

“Yeah, both of you are pathetically sweet. At this rate, however, it will be another twenty years before you even kiss!”

Jen laughed. “It’s not that bad! Is it?!”

Karlach put down her clipboard. “Stop the safety check! Get out your phone. Call her right now and set up a date. Do it right now, in front of me!”

“You can’t be serious? Our shift?”

“Then you better get to it!”

Jen scoffed but pulled out her phone. Maybe this was exactly the motivation she needed. She dialed Del’s number, turning on the speaker.

“Dr. Silverbow, how can I help you?”

“Well, for starters, when a woman falls asleep in your lap, don’t leave her without saying goodnight.” She hoped the smirk on her face was coming through.

“Hi, Jen. You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you. I did cover you with a blanket. Does that count for something?”

“I’ll admit that was sweet. I was disappointed you weren’t around when I woke up. The party was supposed to be a date.” Karlach flashed a thumbs up in her periphery.

“Understood. I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend any time together. Can I make it up to you?”

“As a matter of fact, that’s why I’m calling. I remember we were talking about movies. I propose a movie night at your house.” Karlach began to dance in front of her. Jen bit her tongue.

“Great! I’ll check my schedule for a free Friday or Saturday night and text you?”

Jen didn’t answer right away.

“Jen, are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Let’s check with Wyll and Karlach.” Karlach began to wave her arms at Jen. She held up her hand. “It can be a double date. It’ll be fun.” Karlach threw her arms up.

“Yeah, that sounds fun. I’ll send some dates in a group chat. I gotta run, it’s getting busy here. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.” The call ended.

Karlach grabbed Jen’s shoulders. “What the fuck was that?! A double date?”

“Ugh, I panicked! It’s hard to explain.”

Karlach crossed her arms. “Try me.”

“I want to be with her, truly. I’ve wasted so much time already.” Jen rubbed her eyes. “Does she want to be with me? I don’t want to mess this up. A few more days to make sure it’s just right won’t hurt. Will it?”

Karlach smiled. “I think I have a cavity. That’s the sweetest damn thing I’ve heard in a while.” She put an arm around Jen’s shoulder, steering her back to the helicopter. “Let’s get back to the safety check and start this shift.”
______________________________________________________________________

Del was exhausted. She’d thrown herself into too much work. The semester had ended but the first summer session was underway. Originally, she wanted to work to avoid rattling around that empty house. Now, she longed for more free time to spend with her friends. No, she had to be honest with herself, she wanted to spend time with Jen. It had been weeks since Jen proposed a double date movie night at her house. Who knew it was so difficult to coordinate schedules for four adults? An entire month had passed without fixing a time.

Del pulled her phone from her pocket. She waited for the call to connect.

“If it isn’t my favorite vet? Making new excuses for not having me over?”

Del could easily imagine the smirk on Jen’s lips. She could also imagine kissing it. “I’m sorry about that! I’m trying to make that work, but I’ve been so busy.”

“I’ll own my part of it. I did suggest the double date.”

She heard Jen’s sigh. “I’ll keep trying. But I will see you this weekend for the July 4th party. I promise we’ll spend some time together.”

“I’ll be holding you to that promise. I’ll track you down. Karlach can throw you over her shoulder, if needed.”

“I don’t doubt that! But I’ll be there. Sorry, gotta run, class is starting.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Bye.”
_______________________________________________________________________

Del was thrilled to see she was an early arrival. She only counted three other vehicles. As she climbed the front steps, she saw the Hallowleafs arranging tables on the porch.

She called out, “I made sure to come early.”

All three turned to her. Del would have been hard pressed to say who seemed happier to see her. Jen walked quickly to her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Del returned the embrace. She realized this was the first time in twenty years she had hugged Jen. Why hadn’t they hugged before now? Whatever the reason, this felt good, and she didn’t want to let go.

Jen sighed and stepped back. Her hands rested on Del’s shoulders. “You kept your promise.”

“I did. Can I help with anything?”

Arnell walked forward and grabbed Del’s arm. “Yes! Come with me to get the other tables.”

“Sure, Arnell. I’m here to help.” She followed him down the steps.

Jen called after them, “When you’re done, Mom and I could use your help, too.” She turned to her mother. “What’s gotten into Dad?”

“I think he wanted to save Del. You looked like you were going to devour her right here.”

“Mom!”

Emmeline crossed her arms. “Am I wrong?”

Jen held up her hands and shook her head. “That’s the last thing I would discuss with my mother. Let’s keep setting up.”

Jen and her mother busied themselves draping table cloths over each table Del and Arnell set up. Next, they hung red, white, and blue banners along the porch under Emmeline’s direction. When more friends and neighbors began to arrive, Emmeline shooed Jen and Del away. “Off you go, thank you for your help.”

“So, what’s July 4th like around here now?” Del sat down on the porch steps with Jen.

“What you would expect. Dad has the grill going. A few neighbors bring desserts and side dishes. I think someone is bringing a karaoke machine. Please do not tell Karlach about that!” Jen bumped her shoulder into Del.

Del laughed. “What about fireworks? There aren’t any planned too close to the farm? That much noise isn’t good for the cows.”

“Some are scheduled at the fairgrounds a few miles south. Around 8:30, we’ll all gather out here on the lawn. There’ll be a good view of the display with only a fraction of the noise.”

Nodding, Del looked at Jen. “Sounds like a perfect evening.”

“You’re here, so it’s off to a great start.” Jen took Del’s hand. She started to lean in.

“Hey you two! Happy 4th!” Karlach called out from down the driveway. Wyll was jogging behind her.

Jen rolled her eyes, but stood to greet her friends. Del rose with her.

“Oh shit! I just interrupted a little moment between you, didn’t I? Sorry about that!” She gathered both of them into a hug. “You have the whole night ahead of you.”

Wyll stepped in to give Del a hug. “Glad you got a few days off. You’ve kept yourself too busy lately.”

Del chuckled. “Thanks. I made sure to not sign up for the second summer session. I’ll need a break before the fall semester.”

Jen perked up at that news. “So, the school will only have you for another three weeks? Will you pencil me into your calendar after that?”

“I can be entirely at your disposal.” Del made a little bow.

Jen grinned. “I like the sound of that! Come along, the party’s starting.”

Karlach leapt onto the porch. “Did someone bring the karaoke machine?”

Wyll groaned. “Ugh, I hope not. Remember last time? You wouldn’t let anyone else sing.”

Del held Jen back a moment. “Did that really happen?”

Jen nodded. “Sure did. She loves karaoke.” She took Del’s hand again. “Come on. Time to enjoy ourselves.
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Del was having fun. Seeing Karlach take over the karaoke was something to behold. But, the best part was spending time with Jen. They were inseparable. Passing by Emmeline, she remarked, “It’s good to see you two like you used to be.” They smiled at each other and continued to the front lawn. The fireworks had started.

After ten minutes of the display, Jen leaned in, “Would you like to take a walk with me?”

“Sure, where are we going?”

Jen winked. “You’ll see.”

They walked along the border of the pond, the sounds of the party growing faint. It was a typical early summer night. A full moon shone brightly. A blanket of stars covered the sky while the drone of cicadas filled the field. Across the pond, fireflies blinked in the woods. An occasional bright report of fireworks peeked over the trees.

Del remembered another night like this, a long time ago. The farm’s pond had been their favorite spot growing up. That’s why she chose it when she needed to confess her feelings for Jen. It was a hopelessly romantic notion, and it had backfired.

But Jen didn’t remember any of it. Here and now, they were just two people reconnecting. It was too much for Del, the butterflies in her stomach fluttered in time with the rapid beat of her heart.

“Why are we out here, Jen?”

“I thought we should talk. This is a nice quiet place to talk.” Jen stopped and held out her hand. Del took it and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. The pond’s smooth surface reflected the moon and stars. Jen’s thumb brushed gentle circles over Del’s knuckles.

“You wrote me a letter, but I didn’t read it until I saw you a few weeks ago.”

Del tried to pull her hand away, but Jen held fast. “Wait, please let me finish? I don’t know why I didn’t read it twenty years ago. Maybe I was upset about what happened between us? Maybe it got lost? With the accident, I just don’t remember.”

Silence stretched on for several minutes before Del spoke, “It happened here, on a night like this.”

“Hmm, I wondered. It felt like a place I’d escape to and think. I’ve done that a lot since I came home. It must have been special for both of us.”

“Yeah, it was.” Del asked softly, “Is that why you brought me here?”

“I have a recurring dream. I’m here with someone. They have a beautiful smile and bright blue eyes. I always feel safe and happy. I feel loved.” Jen turned and looked at Del. “It’s not just a dream. I think it’s a memory. A memory of you.”

“What? Of me?”

Jen stepped in closer. “Del, I wish I could remember our first kiss.” Her fingers brushed Del’s jaw.

Del whispered. “I do too.” She stared into those green eyes, so easily lost in their depths.

“But I promise to remember our next one.” Jen’s hands were in Del’s hair, pulling her into a kiss.

Del clung to Jen, her arms wrapped around her waist.

Jen broke the kiss, smiling. “Was that okay?”

“So much better than that awkward thing I did. You were my first kiss.” Del sighed. “It didn’t turn out how I wanted.”

“I’m so sorry. I don’t remember what happened. Maybe I don’t want to remember, either.” Jen looked at Del’s lips. “May I kiss you again?”

“I wish you would.”

Jen kissed her again, a quick touch of her lips. Then those lips moved along Del’s jaw to her neck. Del sighed and tilted her head as Jen left soft kisses along the scars.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” She gave Del another quick peck on the lips.

“I think I do. I’ve felt the same way.” Del leaned in for another kiss.

Their kisses grew deeper. Del felt light headed. She needed to breathe but stopping was the last thing on her mind. Suddenly, she gasped. Jen had tugged a little too hard on her hair and bitten down on her lip.

Jen released her, grazing her thumb along Del’s swollen lip. “I’m so sorry! Did that hurt?”

Panting, Del shook her head. “No, just surprised.”

“Come home with me? Right now?” Jen kissed her again.

“Lead the way.”

They ran to Jen’s cabin, hand in hand. Jen had the key in the door, but Del’s hands on her hips and lips on her neck were almost too distracting. Almost. The door finally unlocked, and she pulled Del inside.

Jen threw her keys to the floor and kicked her shoes off. Before Del could finish removing hers, Jen’s hands were in her hair again, pulling her into a hungry kiss.

Del paused for a breath. “Jen, I want you. I’ll do it right here, but do you have a bed?”

Jen giggled and led them to her room. Moonlight spilled through the open window blinds. Jen kissed Del once then asked, “Is it alright if we leave the lights off?”

“I don’t mind. The moonlight is perfect.” She leaned in for another kiss.

Jen smiled against her lips. “Get undressed.”

As Del yanked her shirt over her head, Jen was at the button and zipper of Del’s jeans. In moments, she stood nude under Jen’s gaze. Biting her lip, Jen’s fingers drew lines down the center of her chest to below her navel. With a gentle push, Del was sitting on the bed.

“Don’t just stare.” Del’s fingers moved under the hem of Jen’s shirt.

Jen stopped her hand and whispered a plea, “Wait…please. My accident… the scars…”

Del moved her hand to Jen’s face, caressing her cheek. “Please, don’t hide yourself from me.”

She nodded and took a step back. Holding the hem of her shirt, she swiftly pulled it over her head. Each article of clothing was hurriedly stripped away. Jen’s body blocked the light from the window, but Del saw the scars. Long healed burns descended from under her left breast across her hip to the middle of her thigh.

Del reached out but stopped short. She looked up to Jen with a silent question, May I touch you? Nodding, she stepped closer, stopping between Del’s knees and guided her hand to her left ribs.

With the lightest touch she could muster, Del traced the marks with her fingertips. She leaned in to follow her fingers with her lips. Jen gasped at the touch, goosebumps rose on her skin. Wrapping her arms around Jen’s hips, Del pulled her onto the bed.

Their earlier passion shifted to slow, gentle exploration. Del’s hands and lips began mapping Jen’s body. When her fingertips brushed the scars along her ribs, Jen shivered. Del stopped, moving her hand away.

“Sorry, should I not touch them?”

“It’s okay, I want you to.” She pulled Del’s hand back under her breast. “You… you are the first one to touch me like this since the crash.”

“Oh, really?” Del frowned. “This isn’t…”

Jen smiled, her fingers moving in a lazy pattern over Del’s hand and up her arm. “Don’t worry. This isn’t my first time. I might not remember much, but my body does.” With her hand now at the back of Del’s neck, she pulled her close. “My body needs you to touch it.”

Del kissed her, gently at first, but when Jen’s tongue pushed past her lips, Del didn’t restrain herself. She shifted to lie between Jen’s legs. She hooked a leg over Del’s hip, locking her in place.

Del smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“No, you’re not.” She punctuated the statement with a roll of her hips.

Del inhaled sharply at the wet trail she felt on her stomach. “You’re that wet?”

“Mmm, you’re off to a great start.” Jen traced Del’s jaw with her fingertip. “Don’t you dare stop.”

“Good. What do you need? Tell me. I’ll give it to you.” Del held her gaze.

After a moment’s hesitation, “Taste me.”

Del wanted to take her time. Lingering too long kissing Jen’s neck and collarbones, a roll of her hips reminded Del where she was needed. She pressed her stomach firmer into Jen’s core to give her the friction she craved. She was rewarded with a low shuddering moan. Del was enjoying herself, the way Jen felt beneath her lips and how vocal she was. Her fantasies over the years were nothing compared to the here and now.

“Oh God!” Jen tightened her grip on the back of Del's neck.

Del tongued slow circles around her nipple. The slightest pressure of her teeth and Jen’s other leg wrapped around Del’s waist. She rocked into her, keeping up with the pace of Jen’s hips. Jen’s nails dug into her shoulder. A pressure was building within Jen, and she needed more.

“Del… I need your mouth… now.”

She was up instantly. Lips trailed down, tongue lapped at sweat on Jen’s stomach. Kisses followed a path from her navel to her mound. Settling between her thighs, Del took a moment to look up. Jen’s eyes were closed. Her chest rose and fell in rapid shallow breaths. Her hips rolled, seeking the lost friction. Del had never seen a more beautiful sight.

Jen’s hips bucked with the first slow touch of Del’s tongue. As she set a steady pace, Jen’s fingers raked through her hair and held her there. Here again, Del wanted to take her time to explore and map the route to thoroughly undo her.

Jen could weep. Her body needed more than the careful, gentle attention Del was giving her. Jen arched her back after a firm pass of her tongue. “Inside me… please…”

Del looked up. Jen was staring back, breath ragged. Del moved her left hand to Jen’s stomach. Her right let go of Jen’s thigh. The first finger slid in easily. Then she added the second. Jen’s hands left her hair and grasped the bed’s headboard. Her hips rolled to meet each of Del’s thrusts. Her fingers curled searching for that spot while her tongue worked in tighter circles around Jen's clit.

Jen cried out, her hips rolled twice before her body went rigid. Del stopped her movements and rested her head on Jen’s hip. She watched Jen come down from the orgasm.

“Come here.” Jen’s voice was barely a whisper.

Del moved to lie next to her. “Are you alright? Can I get you something?”

She shook her head. “No. Just hold me.”

“Whatever you need.” Del gathered her into her arms.

Jen cuddled in closer, whispering, “Thank you. I want to touch you, but I need a moment.”

Del smiled and held her close. Her fingers drew soothing circles on Jen’s back. She tried to fight a sudden wave of drowsiness, but it seemed futile. Jen had already fallen asleep.

“I’ll be right here when you wake up. I love you.”
_______________________________________________________________

Jen woke, startled, grabbing the bed sheet to cover herself. It was still very early in the morning judging by the light coming through the window. Her body ached in a specifically delicious way. Beside her was the reason why. Del looked so beautiful sleeping, so peaceful. It was a pity she had to wake her.

She reached out and shook Del’s shoulder. She kept her voice low. “Del, please wake up.”

Stirring, Del opened her eyes and blinked. She smiled at Jen, remembering their night together. But then she realized Jen was frowning at her. “Is something wrong? Not feeling any regrets?”

Jen relaxed. “No regrets. You made love to me, and it was wonderful.”

“But something is bothering you. Tell me, please.” Del propped herself up on her elbows.

“You let me fall asleep!” Jen’s head sank into the pillow.

Del failed to smother a smirk. “Oh? It’s more accurate to say that what I did to put you to sleep.” She rolled onto her side, facing Jen.

Jen tucked loose hairs behind Del’s ear. “But I wanted to touch you, too.”

“You still can.” Del took her hand and kissed each knuckle.

They laid there looking at each other for several minutes. Jen’s mind was a whirl of thoughts. Too many words sat on the tip of her tongue.

Del saw it all flash in her eyes. “Hey, I see the gears spinning. What’s on your mind?”

“Del, I want to be with you.”

“I want the same.” Del flashed that beautiful smile.

“Well then,” Jen returned the smile. “Let’s see where this goes?” She leaned in and kissed her.