Dana closed the door with every intent on ravaging the writer right there on the spot. They would have plenty of time later to get reacquainted in the bedroom. When Dana turned around to face Alice, she was once again left in a state of disbelief. This woman never ceased to amaze her. There stood Alice Pieszeki, the same woman who was just getting her off in a moving vehicle, looking shy and embarrassed and Dana loved it! ‘Yep, I am one lucky tennis player,’ she thought to herself.

Dana smiled sweetly at Alice and ducked her head down to catch the writers eyes as she approached her. When Alice was within arms reach, Dana brought her hand up to gently cup her chin as she lifted the writers gaze.

"Alice, baby is everything okay?" Dana asked, rubbing her thumb gently along the blond’s jaw.

Alice shivered at the touch and the love she could feel Dana conveying through that simple gesture. She couldn’t explain it, but she felt more nervous right now then she probably had in her entire life. This is what she had wanted and dreamed of ever since Dana left her all those months ago. But any courage that she had felt earlier in the evening had vanished as soon as she set foot in Dana’s condo and all the memories came flooding back to her. She realized that Dana was still waiting for an answer and so she thought that she had better say something before the athlete thought something was seriously wrong. ‘Was there something wrong?’ Alice thought to herself…

"I’m sorry Dane…it’s just. This doesn’t seem real…being here…with you…"Alice trailed off for a moment to collect her thoughts. "I’m scared Dane."

It was a simple and honest statement, and although Dana was definitely a little concerned at the writer’s feelings, she was glad that they were starting that part of their relationship off on the right foot. ‘Honesty’ Dana thought to herself, ‘It’s something that we didn’t do right the first time around. When there was a problem, it got put on a shelf and never looked at again…we all know how that turned out.’ Dana smiled sympathetically to her friend.

"I know baby. Me too…Do you want to wait?" Dana wanted Alice to be ready when they took their relationship to the next level. She wasn’t going to mess this up. Not this time. She would wait forever if that’s what it took.