AN: Sorry for the long time between updates here. School has been kicking my ass. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

One Month Later

Kuvira darted into the office to get away from the rain. September had brought cooler, wetter weather than expected, and it made Kuvira's commute from the office to campus tricky. She mumbled hellos to the others as she made her way to her desk. As she sat down, Kuvira glanced at the picture of her and Su she had tacked to her corkboard. Baatar had taken the picture of them at a party for the firm and had given her a copy. They were both wearing green dresses, and Su had laughed so much at how they had matched. Kuvira's stomach churned every time she looked at it.

She had told Su that she needed time, and Su had been gracious and given her all the time that Kuvira needed. It had been a challenging month, filled with knowing glances from Baatar and hopeful smiles from Su. As hard as that had been, Kuvira didn't regret a minute. Not even when Su's 5 kids had visited for a week at the end of August. Kuvira felt like she had taken enough time to think, and that decision wasn't just because she badly wanted to kiss Su again. Not that at all, she told herself.

"Hey Kuvira," David called.

Kuvira snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah, what?"

"Do you have those landscaping plans for that skyscraper? The Zaofu Tower ones? I want to render them in the program with the building. I finished it last night."

"Yeah, let me find them." Kuvira dug in her bag for the plans. "You finished the render? Nice." She handed David the plans when he came over to her desk. He stayed standing in front of her. "Was there something else? Is that not all the plans?"

"No, no. That's all of them. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to get drinks after work." David shifted. "I mean, some of the guys and I were going to go. If you want to join us."

Kuvira was taken aback. "Oh, thanks for the offer, David. But I don't drink."

"Oh," David looked crestfallen. "I thought maybe we would have a good time."

"I'm sorry David, but I've got a lot of homework, and just want to focus on school right now. Maybe some other time." Kuvira smiled at David and hoped she hadn't hurt his feelings too badly. She did like David, and he had been really nice to her after the whole thing with Anna. He nodded and walked back to his desk without saying a word.

Kuvira sighed. David was nice, but she was much too into Su to even consider dating him. He'd probably be a better person to be going out with, Kuvira thought bitterly. She cursed her heart for making her fall in love with the wrong person. Well, at least Kuvira was certain that she was in love with Su, after a month of thinking.

Kuvira worked until five thirty. That was when she realized that Baatar was gone for the week, and she'd have to walk home. She gathered up her things and left the office. Kuvira wondered about calling Su for a ride, but she shook that thought off. Kuvira didn't need to bother Su. She'd be fine walking home.

She only made it to the end of the block before Su pulled up alongside her. "Can I give you a lift? A young woman such as yourself shouldn't be alone at night." Su laughed as Kuvira climbed in. "Why didn't you call me? I was worried when you didn't come home at 5 or call."

Kuvira blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want to bother you." Now that Su was here, Kuvira could see how silly she had been in thinking it would have bothered Su. It was just hard to reach out and trust people.

"How many times am I going to have to tell you that doing things for you isn't a bother, Kuvira?"

More than once, Kuvira thought. "Sorry, so what are we having for dinner?" Kuvira diverted. "Do we have any food in the fridge?"

"Kuvira, I am truly hopeless in the kitchen. Do you want to go to that Mongolian place you were telling me about?" Su stole a hopeful glance at Kuvira.

"Sure. It's not really fancy or anything, but the food's good." Kuvira was a big fan of Mongolian Barbeque, but she was worried that the atmosphere at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant would clash with Su's upscale style. She quietly gave Su the directions to the restaurant and hoped that wouldn't be the case.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Su asked as they pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall that housed the restaurant.

"Yeah. I did say it wasn't a fancy place." Kuvira glanced across the highway at her old apartment, and she recalled many late nights working on homework there and munching on Mongolian food.

"Okay, I just didn't expect this kind of… atmosphere." Su said carefully.

Kuvira snorted. What atmosphere, she thought. Kuvira was amused by Su's uncertainty, and almost laughed at the thought of Su in her pencil skirt and heels at the restaurant. She figured she'd have a chance to actually laugh at it in a minute.

They went inside and put together their noodle dishes. Kuvira had to explain to Su how it all worked, and the older woman had insisted on having Kuvira help her through the entire process of filling her bowl and putting sauces in it. While their food was being grilled, Su slipped her hand into Kuvira's. "Thank you for bringing me here. I'm having fun tonight." She whispered to Kuvira.

Kuvira blushed and smiled. "I'm glad. I was worried this place wouldn't be up to your standards."

Su laughed at Kuvira's teasing. They grabbed their food from the cook and went to sit down. Kuvira slurped down her noodles in silence. She didn't know what to say to Su. She didn't think it was appropriate to discuss their relationship in public.

Contrary to what Kuvira thought was appropriate, Suyin brought up their relationship at the first available moment. "I've being trying to give you space, Kuvira. Has it been enough? I'm not used to this… Have I been doing everything right?" Su furrowed her brows as she looked at Kuvira.

"How should I know?" Kuvira blurted out. Su recoiled slightly. "You've been wonderful, and I think I know what to do now. But can we wait to talk about it till we get home?"

Su smiled and nodded. "I would love that." She picked her chopsticks back up and went back to her noodles. Kuvira watched Su eat for a minute and was struck again by how beautiful Su was, even while eating noodles. Kuvira figured that would never end.

Kuvira and Su chattered mindlessly through the rest of dinner. Su told Kuvira about her new teaching gig at the local university, and Kuvira talked about her project at the firm. She left out how David had invited her to drinks. Kuvira didn't think it would be proper to bring it up. Not when she was on a quasi-date with Su. They left the restaurant and walked through the parking lot hand in hand, having not let go through most of dinner.

"Thanks for dinner, Su. You didn't have to do that, you know." Kuvira bumped her shoulder against Su's. It irked her that Su would never let her pay for groceries or food or gas.

"I enjoy doing it. I love spoiling you, Kuvira." Su let go of Kuvira to get in the car. Kuvira watched Su as they drove home. The older woman watched the road with such intensity. Kuvira didn't think she'd ever get used to being the focus of that intense gaze. She had thought this before, but Kuvira couldn't help but compare Su to the sun again. She was just so bright and in Kuvira's mind all the time; she couldn't help but be drawn in by Su's gravity. Her falling for Su was inevitable.

Su glanced over at Kuvira and frowned slightly. "What's that sad face for?"

"Oh nothing, I was just thinking." Kuvira said, and she smile to keep Su from asking her any more questions.

When they got home, Kuvira lead Su down to her room, where she felt most comfortable. They sat on the couch, and Su took Kuvira's hand. Kuvira took a deep breath and looked up at Su. "I'm ready to try this." She pointed at them both. "Su, I've thought about it and you everyday, and this is what I want."

Su looked down at their intertwined hands, one tan and one pale. "Kuvira, nothing could make me happier, but are you sure? I don't want to rush into anything and hurt you. I'm old enough to be your mother, for goodness sakes! I don't…" She trailed off and looked up at Kuvira, her jade eyes filled with apprehension.

"I'm sure, Su. I've thought about the age thing, and it doesn't matter to me. And we don't have to rush into anything. I've never really done good relationships. It would be nice to take this slow." Kuvira hated admitting that she hadn't had good relationships in the past, but she had to be truthful with Su if she wanted their relationship to work. She at least knew that.

"I can do slow." Su let go of Kuvira's hand and moved to undo Kuvira's braid. Kuvira let her, and made a low noise in her throat as Su ran her fingers through Kuvira's long hair. "Can I kiss you?" Su asked.

Kuvira nodded and leaned into Su. The older woman took Kuvira's face in her hands and kissed her. Kuvira let her hands fall to Su's hips as their lips crashed together. Su slipped into Kuvira's lap and pushed her back onto the couch. Kuvira ran her fingers through Su's hair and felt Su moan against her mouth. Su's hands slid to Kuvira's hips and began to wander towards her chest. Startled, Kuvira grabbed them and murmured, "Slow."

Su immediately let go. "I'm sorry." She sat up and moved away from Kuvira. "I got caught up in the kiss and…"

"It's okay, Su. I just wanted to remind you." Kuvira leaned in for another quick kiss. "Will you sleep down here tonight? Just sleep."

Su nodded. "Just let me change clothes and brush my teeth." She darted upstairs.

Kuvira took a deep breath and changed into her own pajamas. It had felt so good to kiss Su, and part of her had wanted to let Su do what she wanted. But the rational part of Kuvira knew that moving too fast would only lead to hurt for the both of them. She sighed and splashed cold water on her face to try and rid herself of some of the thoughts swirling in her head. Thoughts she'd rather not be having while trying to sleep next to Su.

Kuvira crawled into bed to wait for Su. She looked down at the running shorts and old t-shirt that were her pajamas and wondered what Su wore to bed. Kuvira hoped that she wouldn't feel too trashy next to whatever fancy pajamas that Su must own. She wasn't left to wonder long.

Su came back into the room wearing a tank top and flannel pants. Kuvira almost sighed in relief. Su crawled into bed next to her and kissed Kuvira gently. "You ready to sleep, my dear?"

Kuvira wasn't but yes was the right answer, so she nodded. She gave Su another quick kiss settled into the bed. Su lay down behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Goodnight," Kuvira murmured.

"Goodnight."