‘I understand Bette, really.’

They stood in silence watching Tina laughing as she tried to fly the kite.

‘You two have something special Bette, anyone can see that,’ said Alexa.

‘I guess I’m the one who forgot that for a little while,’ said Bette thoughtfully.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A month later and both Alexa and Helena were due to start back to work in a week.

‘What are we going to do next week?’ asked Helena, tracing imaginary patterns on Alexa’s abdomen, ‘when we can’t just make love at 2:00pm?’

‘It doesn’t bear thinking about does it?’ said Alexa.  ‘I want you to promise me you won’t push yourself too hard at work baby.’

Helena smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her.  Everything was different for her now she had Alexa, it hurt Alexa if she was hurt so she was taking better care of herself, returning to work not before doctors instructions, following every piece of advice rather than charging back as she would have usually done.  ‘I won’t’ she promised.  ‘Besides I think being here with you has been much more physically demanding than my job.’

‘Oh really, demanding huh?  Well if it’s all too much for you,’ Alexa said pretending to move from the bed.  Helena reached out and stopped her, pulling her back down and underneath her again.

‘Idiot,’ she chastised her and pinched her nose.  ‘You’re the one I should be worried about over-doing it at work.  I don’t want you having to work all hours day and night in the hospital Lex, driving yourself into the ground.’

Alexa sighed.  ‘It’s an internship Lena.  I think it comes with the territory.’  Her stomach clenched at the thought.  She’d trained for this job, she’d wanted this job but the thought of starting a job with that much responsibility terrified her and beyond that she feared she’d have little time to spend with Helena.  After weeks of being inseparable she was reluctant for them to become like ships in the night.

‘I understand that,’ said Helena and kissed her sweetly.  ‘But baby and I know you’re going to bite my head off for this but I’m saying it anyway.  If it ever got too much for you or started to wear you down then you don’t have to stick at that job you know.  If it’s your passion fine, I know you’re so smart and you need your career but you can take a break or do something else anytime, you know that right?  I just want you to be happy and if that means this internship then fine but if it means something else or taking some time out after all those years studying then that’s ok too.’