“Maybe technically,” Dana admitted softly. “But you’re the reason I kept going, Al. We wouldn’t be having this celebration if it wasn’t for you being there and believing in me the way you did. You never let me give up…and I love you for it. You said on your show that you have faith in me, and I just want you to know that if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have faith in anything. I love you, Alice. Sometimes I don’t think you believe me, but you’re so beautiful that sometimes it hurts to even look at you. I don’t ever want you to doubt the way I feel about you, okay?” Alice nodded through her tears, and Dana took her hand and placed it over her heart like she’d done that morning. “You feel that?” she asked, staring into Alice’s eyes. “That’s because of you, baby.”

She wasn’t able to say anything else since Alice was kissing her. This went on for a few minutes until Shane ran out to them. “Kit says you guys need to get your asses back inside before Dana gets sick again and you give yourself pneumonia, Al.”

Alice pulled away from Dana and sighed. “Fine, McCutcheon, ruin our little romantic moment in the rain, why don’t you,” she mumbled as they followed Shane back into the Planet, where Kit was waiting with towels and a slap on the shoulder for both of them.

“I don’t give a shit how cute and romantic you’re being, you ARE NOT to make Dana sick, you understand?” she demanded of Alice.

“Me!? She’s the one that pulled me out there!” Alice retorted indignantly.

“Sorry Kit,” Dana said quietly, taking the towel and drying her short hair quickly, then helping Alice with hers.

“I need to style that stuff, Dane. It looks pretty nice the way it is, but I could piece it for you a little or something. Don’t you have your thing with Lance Armstrong this coming week?” Shane asked, and when Dana affirmed, everyone talked about what a great opportunity it was for her.

About an hour later, the rain let up a little, and so did the party. Dana, though she hated to admit it, was pretty tired, and Alice caught her trying to hide a yawn as they said goodbye to a departing Shane and Jenny.

“Let’s go home,” she whispered. Dana looked like she was about to protest, feeling guilty for leaving her own party early, but she agreed. Not twenty minutes later, after having fallen asleep in the car, Alice was helping her inside.

When they’d gotten undressed and into bed, Alice kissed Dana quickly and wrapped her in a hug. “I love you, Dana,” she whispered, amused when Dana, pretty much asleep by this point, replied into her pillow.

“Iwiqojdiweuhf, Al.”

Alice decided to interpret that as a returned “I love you” and leave it at that.