Helena laughed.  ‘Well I don’t actually think I’d carry the baby.  Hopefully my partner would want to, the one perk of being a lesbian.’

The thought of carrying a baby had never enthralled Alexa, she’d never longed for it especially in the context of the heterosexual prison it had previously conjured up in her mind but in that split second she imagined what it would be like to carry Helena’s child, she saw them raising a daughter together and although she knew it was an impossible fantasy the thought made her smile.

‘What are you thinking?’

‘Nothing,’ insisted Alexa.

‘It’s impossible to think of nothing; spill, you have that look on your face.’

‘Hey, there are no looks. I was just imagining how gorgeous you’d look chasing down your beach after a little girl.’

Helena laced a hand through Alexa’s hair and she saw the image too, a little girl with Alexa’s eyes and smile.  The moment was so intense, their connection and dream so unbearably real.  ‘She’s beautiful,’ whispered Helena softly.

Helena pulled Alexa tight to her chest and stroked her hair, no more words were exchanged as they both let their dreams fade into the silence of the night.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Alexa lay sprawled naked on her front, propped on her elbows as she watched Helena dress for work.  ‘Stop looking all sexy like that,’ said Helena wagging a finger at her playfully. ‘Or I’ll have to tell Fiona where you really are when she asks me today.’

‘She asked about me?’ questioned Alexa.

‘Yeah like every five minutes she tells me she’s never seen you at the hotel and that she doesn’t understand why you’re never around.’

‘Shit, what did you tell her?’ asked Alexa, sitting up in the bed and pulling the sheet around her.

‘Not much, that I had you working at the downtown division.’

‘Did she buy it?’

Helena shrugs.  ‘Who cares?  She’s such an intrusive brownnoser I should never have brought her on this trip.’

‘But she’s smart Helena. I think I should come in today, put her off the scent.’

‘I told you Alexa, there’s nothing to worry about.  Besides you said you’d go shopping with Alice today.’

‘I could call her.’

‘There is absolutely no need for you to change any of your plans.  I can’t believe you’re getting so stressed over Fiona!’