Nicky shakes her head with a sigh. She tightens her hold on the petite Italian; her big brown eyes gazing softly down at her. ”Guess we’re both worse when we don’t have each other, yeah kid? I mean I go back to doing drugs and your mental health declines—that just proves how much we need each other,” her thoughts voiced aloud.

Nodding her head slowly, the brunette realizes just how true Nicky’s statement is. Ever since she left prison—those eight years ago—her mental health has rapidly deteriorated. And, deep down, she had a slight sense that the quick decline stemmed from not having Nicky in her life anymore. ”I guess ya could be right about that, hon. We always seemed to do somewhat okay when we were in prison together…as fucked up as that sounds,” she says and the two share a small laugh.

”I am right, kid,” Nicky playfully smirks, pressing a small kiss atop the other’s head. ”We’re soulmates—we always have been, even though you didn’t seem to think that. But it looks like ya’ve finally opened those naïve eyes of yours and see the light; the person you’re supposed to be with is the lesbian druggie ya had mind-blowing sex with in prison for three years.”

”Wish I woulda seen that sooner…coulda saved us both the trouble of suffering these past several years,” Lorna sighs. She wraps her arms tight around Nicky’s neck, staring gently up at her. ”Ya sure ya wanna take me back? I mean after how much I hurt you—”

”Stop,” the redhead commands, cupping her face in her hands and pressing a soft kiss onto her lips. Her eyes peer affectionately into Lorna’s. She caresses her cheek with the palm of her hand. ”There’s no way I wouldn’t take you back; I crave you…it doesn’t matter how much ya hurt me—I know it’s not something ya willingly chose to do, baby, and I can’t hold it against you. Not when I love you as much as I love you. We obviously can’t function well alone, kid, so that just confirms to me that I need to take you back. You need me in your life, Lorna, just as I do you.”

Lorna pecks her own lips lovingly over the older woman’s. She snuggles herself closer into the warm embrace and lets out a serene breath of air. ”You’re a beautiful person, Nicky. I promise I’ll never hurt ya again—at least I’ll try not to. You’re so sweet; I’m real lucky you’re my soulmate,” her voice gently speaks against the redhead’s ear.

Cradling Lorna’s head in her hands, Nicky can’t help but smile softly at her while brushing her knuckle affectionately along her cheeks. ”Nah, you’re the sweet one, doll,” her voice softly tingles against the smaller woman’s lips before she presses another kiss to them. She slowly takes Lorna’s head and lays it carefully onto her chest. Her hands reach for the blanket and pulls it up to wrap around the both of them. ”Let’s just rest for a while—ya kinda look ya need a nap, anyway, baby. I’m sure you had a busy day at work; it takes a lotta guts to be a nurse, especially when ya have to handle patients like me.” She brushes her lips warmly across her lover’s forehead, holding her snug in her arms.

With her eyes already drooping shut, Lorna lets out a tiny laugh at hearing that. She nuzzles her head softly against Nicky, letting one arm wrap around her neck and the other around her stomach. ”You were my favorite patient, hon,” she assures her, sleep slowly overpowering her.

”I love you so much. Please wake me up before Nico’s soccer game…needa be there for seven,” her voice mumbles before she completely falls into a peaceful slumber.

Nicky drops a small kiss to her head while reaching one hand over to set an alarm on the clock that sits above Lorna’s nightstand. Once she’s finished, she lets her own eyes close shut and resumes stroking her hands through the brunette’s wavy hair. ”Sleep well; I love you, too, baby.”