Shane placed a gentle kiss on baby Angelica’s forehead and passed her over to a patient yet anxious Kit. She walked out of the circle of women and plopped down on the couch, spreading her arms across the back of it. Blowing some stray hairs out of her face, she watched as her group of tight-knit friends, and her girlfriend, fonded over the baby.

“My girlfriend” she whispered quietly to herself almost in disbelief. Shane thought that she was undeserving of a lot of things that she had. The life that she lived once was full of sins and debauchery. ‘I’ve seen and done so much *****. She knows the philosophy I used to live by. How could she love me regardless of all that? *****, would she even want to know me if she found about what I did when I was younger?’

“Hey.” Carmen said softly as she sat down next to Shane.

“Hey.” Shane replied as she put her ‘every thing’s good’ face on.

Carmen noticed the change in Shane’s eyes, a wall was put up. “You alright babe?”

Shane just nodded her head and leaned in to place a lingering kiss on Carmen’s full lips. The Latina fought back a moan and returned the kiss with vigor.

“Quit making out on my couch.” a smiling Tina said as she walked into the living-room.

The two lovers smiled into their lip-lock and broke it with chuckles from both sides. “Hey T.” Shane said.

“Hi Tina.” Carmen said as well.

“Hey you two.” Tina walked over to Bette and placed a warm kiss of her own on her wife’s lips, she wrapped her arms around Bette’s waist and Bette in turn draped her arm across Tina’s shoulders. “Hey guys. Sorry I look like ***** I just got out of bed.”

“No problem T, Porter here did a good job in bringing what we came for.” Alice stated as she bounced a now awake and smiling Angelica.

“Missed you too Al.” Tina rolled her eyes.

Kit walked over to where Shane and Carmen were sitting and sat down on a chair across from them.

“Carmen.”

“Yeah?”

“I forgot to tell you that I hired a new D.J. to cover the nights when you’re off. I heard her spin a few nights ago at a club downtown and her style was just off the hook so I offered her a job. I just wanted to let you know so that you two can work out who will spin what and when so we ain’t playin’ the same thing three nights in a row, know what I mean?”