For the first time in over seven years, The Planet was closed during the day, closed being hard to determine by on-lookers with the onslaught of people in and out constantly throughout the day. Brown paper had been purposely hung over all of the windows only later to unveil the transformation taking place inside.

All of the girls had been asked to aid in some fashion to prepare for this day, the day they would Save the Planet. Bette had contacted all of her major supporters, explaining the significance of the pieces to be auctioned this night, ensuring each of them the prime opportunity to be the first to own a work by the up and coming Marina. Shane had rounded up her buddies to help with whatever labors were needed to ready The Planet that day. Alice worked long and hard to get her Editor to let her put a piece in her magazine, just in time to go out in copy and be on the racks one week prior to the auction. Dana was returning from her tour today, to at least be there in support of her friend and possibly bid on a piece for herself. Tina was even able to get involved but with limitation due to her insistence on not having to work directly with Bette; she just was not ready to deal with that. Jenny, offered herself up to be a laborer along with Shane and friends. She had the added honor of being the one to name the collection.

Guests to the event were by private invitation only. The Planet was able to support enough people to include all of Marinas regular customers on the mailing list in addition to Bettes major supporters. After all, it would have meant nothing to not to have included those who supported The Planet faithfully all these years. To Marina, they were her community, her family, never to be excluded and especially not on this night, this night that could be the catalyst that enables them to stay together.

The time had come to remove the brown paper from the windows and open the doors to their guests. They started removing the paper on the side windows first, leaving the front till last, providing no one to peak too much too soon, almost as if they were its lover and prolonging the climax for as long as possible.

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Bette welcomed the Guests as they entered The Planet, pointing out particular pieces and their location, for they wouldnt want to miss them. Marinas employees volunteered their service to provide hors doeuvres and drinks to the Guests. Shane and Kit, dressed in tuxedos, mingled in the crowd, making sure folks were comfortable and remained interested in bidding on Marinas work. Talking up Marina and her exotic background as if she were some princess from a far off place, ensuring the work remained enticing to the Guests, for through it they could take home a portion of the dark and mysterious Marina. Jenny, never far from Marinas side, listened intently for comments deserving a special word from the artist herself. Finally, Dana, Al, and Tina manned the bidding registration table encouraging no one to go home without one of Marinas pieces.

About an hour into the evening, Bette announced that the auction would begin promptly at nine and everyone should be certain to get their bidding cards and rest comfortably at their tables for the auction to begin, reminding them to not allow themselves to go home without one of these treasures.

Marina was inescapably gracious and accommodating. No question too obscure to deserve a response, even if nothing more than an alluring comment without any telling of her inner self beyond what could be seen in her work.

For a moment, left to her own only briefly, her eyes wandered about the room seeking out the one true piece of art contained within the building. Jenny was dressed in a shimmering charcoal gray floor length gown with only one shoulder, given to her by Marina. Marina immediately upon seeing the gown knew it was the one, a gown that on Jenny would present its own breathtaking masterpiece. The one work of art not created by her, but certainly the one to be possessed by her before this evenings end.

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Jennys admiration of the artist would not and could not be contained. Whenever Marina was near, it was as if an added light glowed from Jenny. Jenny had persuaded Marina to wear soft black leather for the evening; short sleeveless vest with silver and gold lacing leaving a space for ones eyes to imagine what was little was left covered, pants with matching lacing replacing a zipper up the back revealing a hint of depth at the top of her bottom, with boots completing the ensemble. For added charm she wore earrings and a necklace made of a mixture of asymmetrical shapes in silver, gold, and bronze.

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Bette had displayed the name of the collection on an easel just inside the entrance and again in large gold lettering hanging above the bar. Simply stated, Jenny had named the collection, The Battle Within by Marina.

All of Marinas work consisted of women subjects. With an air of romanticism, her sketches were realistic depictions of women holding hands, embracing, making love, with most of the subjects nude and varying in their shape and size. Marinas paintings on the other hand took on a distinctively pseudo-Matisse style of colors and strokes varying dramatically in their overall size and dimension. Marinas work was undeniably her portrayal of her love of women, women who love women.

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The bidding begins with the sketches then moves on to the paintings, smaller items presented first moving up in dimensions as they progress. There were fort-three pieces presented this night, each of them a significant view of the artists greatest love. There was no hesitation in the Guests bidding, the minimum bid of a thousand dollars was quickly discarded as if the crowd were offended by its unqualified representation of the work they had so quickly come to love and yearned to possess.

The bidding went quickly, much quicker than anyone ever imagined, drawing amounts staggering even to Bette for someone who had never shown her work before, someone who had never even been heard of until a few weeks ago.

The girls could hardly restrain their excitement their amazement at what was transpiring throughout the bidding, knowing Marinas goal was most assuredly to be met and exceeded.

When the bidding completed, Bette took the time to passionately thank all of the Guests for the tribute they paid to her close personal friend this night. She shared some details about Marina along with her personal pride in her and her work, presenting Marina to the crowd, Everyone, please welcome, Marina.

They stood as they applauded her, Marina was overwhelmed with emotion and with tears in her eyes she simply said, Muchas Gracias, Grazie Mille, Merci Beaucoup, and Thank You Very Much, from the bottom of my heart.

She graciously waved to everyone as she left the microphone heading to her friends, hugging each of them especially close, with special words or a simple kiss on the cheek for each.

Bette, also with tears in her eyes and with a shaking voice, Everyone, please feel free to remain with us and enjoy this very special celebration. Lights. Music. Enjoy. The lights dimmed and the sound of music filled the air.

Marina took Jennys hand leading her to the dance floor, for the second time they would dance to this song. As the singers melody reaches the words Marina wants Jenny to understand, she whispers them to her, first in Spanish then in English, Que significa, Un ano de amor. The significance, of a year of love.

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Knowing full well no one could mistake her intentions; Jenny takes Marinas hand leading her off the dance floor maneuvering Marina through the crowd. Her face, her walk, assured and determined, declaring to the world this woman is hers; without question without hesitation. Marina steps up to meet her pace, placing her arm gently and lovingly around Jenny resting her hand lightly at the top of hip, assuring the world her declaration is true.

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As they head down the hall and up the stairs, their thoughts are clouded in knowing anticipation. Neither of them questioned why this night, neither hesitant to the movements of the other.

As they reach the landing, Jenny stops and turns with Marina falling into her. Pulling each other hard and crashing one into the other; mouth against mouth, hard, open, tongues colliding, tasting, caressing, breast to breast moving across around into one another, legs parting, each pressing into the fold of the other. All of themselves, caressing and demanding, all of the other.

Jenny turns toward the door, pressing hard against it as Marina presses against her, struggling with the lock, hands moving from the lock to Marinas hands, from the handle to Marinas side, back to the handle, head arching backwards into Marinas assault on her ears her neck her shoulders. Finally it opens, stumbling into the room, their mouths find the others and their tongues begin their dance once again.

Marina turns Jenny and unzips her dress letting it fall to the floor. Then swiftly turns to the lace of her own vest, Jenny moves to her back and unlaces her pants, both are quickly discarded moving on to the remaining few items still creating unwanted barriers.

Finally, standing bare before each other, breathing still heavy and uneven from their journey thus far, they pause. Stopping all movement, they begin to caress the other not with their hands but with their eyes; her hair, her face, eyes, mouth, neck, shoulders, *****, stomach, her hips, her fold.

Marina, youre so beautiful.

As you are, Jenny.

Marina reaches to Jenny running her fingertips down the sides of her neck, between her *****, across her stomach to her hips, down the side of her thighs, journeying slowly inward and up. She stops, as she moves to sit on the floor, she pulls Jenny down with her. Jenny gently wraps her arms and legs around Marina settling on top of her lap. They begin to kiss again, this time slowly, tasting, tongue gliding against tongue, upper lip, lower lip. All the while, Marina caresses Jennys *****, slowly outlining their shape, gently feeling their softness, their fullness, soft fingertips against hard nipples, squeezing, massaging. Slowly she slides her hands around Jenny, caressing her waist, her hips, her bottom, softly massaging, squeezing. Jenny moves against Marina, sideways, up and down, moving their lips to other targets each in turn kissing the others ears, neck, and shoulders. Marina continues with a downward descent, kissing that soft place where the bottom of the neck meets the body, working her way to savor Jennys breast, suckling gentle then hard, one then the other.

One hand remains behind to continue its caress of Jennys soft bottom, while the other moves deliberately to her ultimate target. Caressing her thigh, moving constantly toward it, upon finding it Marina gently begins her assault. Jenny catches her breath at her touch, causing her head to lay back surrendering to it. Marinas lips move to Jennys neck so available to her tongue, she tastes her openly, gliding, licking, loving the sweetness of her skin. With one finger she begins to explore the entrance, wet and warm. She enters with two then three fingers welcomed with a tight embrace from her lovers velvet desire.

Jennys head comes forward, hands grabbing Marinas face, looking deep into her eyes. Marina moves in, out, slowly, pressing the side of the nub with her thumb as she continues her motion. Jennys eyes are inflamed, Marinas eyes are filled with wanting, wanting to please, wanting to see the pleasure shes offering in Jennys face. The need is growing in them both, the need to reach that place, that place they had visited too quickly in the past, wanting to relish the climb.

Marina pulls Jennys hips closer to her as they both are rocking. As they get closer and closer, their rocking is harder, faster, almost unbearable to withstand. The wave comes crashing throughout them, shuddering again and again and again, slowing to that calm, that heavenly calm, heads resting on one anothers shoulder.

Moments pass, Marina raises her head to look at Jenny. As Marina gently strokes the hair back from her face Jenny raises her face to meet Marinas gaze. Looking deep into each others eyes, Jenny softly whispers, I love you.