*~*~*~*~*

            Helena watched Doyle watching Susan and Alice, a wry smile playing across her mouth.  How could she be so casual?  She knew that Doyle and Susan were lovers, at least some of the time.  They had the easy familiarity of a couple between them, so Helena couldn’t understand how Doyle could find any amusement in the heavy petting between Susan and Alice that resumed as soon as Susan returned to the table and Jo left. 

As if reading Helena’s thoughts, Doyle looked up and gave her a wink.  Helena stiffened and looked away, lips tightening.  Lara stood abruptly.  “I really need to go,” she said to no one in particular, and shot a sympathetic glance at Helena.  “Do you need a ride?”

“Yes, please.  I’d love one.  Perhaps you can come up to my suite and we can finalize the menu for tomorrow night.”  Her eyes slid in Susan’s direction, to see if the hypnotic seductress had taken note.  She had.  Helena smiled. 

Lara gave her a slight nod, understanding immediately.  “That sounds great.  I’ll go grab a bottle of wine.  Any preferences?”  She smiled broadly at Helena.

“Do you have a nice Beaujolais, by any chance?”

“I have an excellent Moulin-à-Vent Château des Jacques that should be just about ready to uncork,” Lara nodded, tucking her red hair behind her ear with a slight grin. 

“Splendid,” Helena clapped her hands in delight, and reached for her purse.  She cast one look at Doyle, who’s eyebrows arched with the seemingly always evident grin on her lips.

Lara put her hand on Helena’s arm and shook her head.  “My treat,” the redhead insisted.

Helena nodded slightly.  “As you wish.”

Alice watched Susan watching Lara and Helena; an unreadable expression on her face, her mood tasted of sorrow and regret.  Doyle watched all four of them.  Is it Helena or Lara she’s missing, Alice wondered.  Doyle knew, it was there, the matching aura’s of the two of them, ying and yang.  They’d once brought out the worst in one another, now they were past that and could bring out the best of each other.  Given the chance. 

That was the end of the gathering.  Jenny made the rounds, kissing each of her friends on the cheek, lingering at Susan’s side a little longer than the others.  Marina looked away, knowing that Susan had done more than bend Jenny to her will.  She had claimed something of Jenny that Marina could never touch.  Still and all, it was Marina she was going home with, and that was sufficient unto itself tonight.