Rome’s International Airport 19:00

Marina stood still, a smile plastered on her face, as she watched the cluster of eight women approach her. Inside, she leaped with joy at the sight of them, of those good companions she’d found in a foreign continent.

However, her heart and soul quivered as her eyes held, lingered upon Jenny Schecter’s piercing blue ones. Memories passed between them, were a dark and ominous pressure on the older woman’s chest. A force that squeezed her throat, stabbed her core. It pounded on her head, put ice cubes in her veins. Was able to yet again turn her world upside-down.

The headache actually got worse when she realized that the writer hadn’t come alone. Another woman, a familiar one, was touching, caressing, and almost supporting Jenny, gestures intimate, full of affection.

The lady was no more, no less than Robin Allenwood. The one Marina had tried to seduce and steer away from Ms. Schecter’s hands.

Yeah, she’d been truly successful at it, hadn’t she?!

Inviting Jenny had been a foolish, unnecessary mistake. What had she been thinking? The distance hadn’t managed to throw a blanket over her feelings, hadn’t erased their joined past. Hadn’t blown away the fiery passion between them.

Marina felt arms embracing her waist, looked down. Saw a very gleeful Alice hugging her.

‘Hello!’ Alice exclaimed. ‘I’m so happy to see you!’

‘Hey, how have you been?’ Bette queried and joined what soon became a group hug.

Jenny stayed as far away from her hostess as possible, put her arms around Tina and Robin. Already she felt breathless, vulnerable. That brief eye contact had been enough to make her pulse race, flutter. Her mind felt caged in recollections, some too sweet, others too painful. Boiling warmth, freezing cold. Neither was bearable or good for comfort.

She reached fro her girlfriend, who squeezed back her hand in a soothing way. The writer hadn’t gone to Italy so as to fall back on Marina’s arms as a helpless damsel. She’d show nothing but strength and how she’d already moved on. She beamed in victory, noticed no one stood at the brunette’s side.

Whereas she could count on Robin for solace, there was absolutely no single person to hold Marina if she fell.