"There really is something about being in your arms, Bernie," Serena murmured as she rested her head on the taller woman's shoulder. "Even though you overstayed your time in Kiev by far too long."

"Yes, well, I was expecting you to reach out and talk to me."

"I did, once. After Hanssen had given me your email address there." Now that the first blush of seeing Bernie once more was fading slightly, there was an aching feeling in her stomach, as if she was expecting this happy bubble to burst in her face at any moment.

"I thought that you needed more time. I knew that I needed more time. I was scared, and selfish, and I knew that I had hurt you deeply. I could tell that from the short email you sent."

"You could?" she asked.

"Yes. Your sentences were clipped, and normally you're more loquacious. And I believe you asked me what was next?" Serena nodded. "I was hoping that forgiveness was next. In time. I'll have to work towards forgiveness, and I understand that. But I'd like to start tonight. If you'll let me?"

The tenderness in Bernie's voice was something new, and she couldn't help but nod as she leaned up and kissed her jaw. It was odd to taste the salt of Bernie's tears, since she had planned on being the one to do all the crying when they were reunited. "As long as you realise that Jason will be home, and we'll have to be quiet. He knows you kiss girls, and that I do, too. So, you won't have to worry about that awkward conversation."

"By the time we get home, he'll be fast asleep, too."

Serena nodded as she ran her hand up and down Bernie's back, memorizing the way her vertebra felt beneath her fingers. "There is that. I hope that you have a bag or something, because I really need to be at home, much though I would love to see your flat."

"Okay."

Serena sighed as she closed her eyes, swaying in time to the music. The melancholy seemed to lift a little the longer they were touching, and she deliberately decided to let go of the hurt and bitterness that she had been holding onto, knowing that it would do them no good in the long run. "I am so glad you're home, my darling Major."

Bernie nodded as she lowered her lips to the crown of Serena's head, the gesture making her tear up once more. "You are going to have no mascara left on your lashes by the time the music stops, Fraulein."

"Well, you can watch as I wash my face then, once we're home." She found that she didn't want to talk any longer, and so she burrowed ever closer to Bernie, turning her face into her chest. The lovely thing about the dress Bernie had chosen was the deep vee that allowed her to kiss skin and still look like she was being appropriate. And from the way Bernie shivered, she knew that she was having the desired effect on her.

The time passed quickly, and she smiled as she kept pressing quick kisses to whatever bare skin was nearest her at the moment. Finally, the strains of music ended, and she looked up, feeling like she was waking up after a particularly lovely dream. "I think this is our cue, Serena."

"Yes," she murmured as she took hold of Bernie's hand, letting her lead them over to the coat room. After picking up their wraps, Serena let herself relax against Bernie as they walked out into the night air. "The stars are shining bright tonight."

"They're diamonds on velvet."

"Yes." They shared a tender look as Bernie opened the car door for her, helping her inside, and Serena carefully situated herself so that she could watch Bernie drive. She didn't have to give her directions, which should have bothered her, but instead, it just told her how right it was that they were together. "I'd say you could park in the garage, but there's only room for my car there, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Bernie replied as she turned off the vehicle and then came around to her side once more. In mere moments, they were inside, and Serena slipped out of her heels before bending to pick them up. Bernie followed suit, and together they crept upstairs quietly. Serena guided her into her bedroom, and then found herself suddenly short of breath. "Breathe, Serena."

Turning, she gave Bernie a brilliant smile as she nodded. "I know. This is just a big step." Bernie returned her nod before reaching to her side and running the zipper of her dress down her side. "And this is happening."

"It is. I'll just sleep in my underwear, if that won't bother you too much."

Serena swallowed thickly as she shook her head, her hands mirroring Bernie's as she, too, unzipped her dress. They were both careful to lay them out over the chair in the corner before turning to look at each other once more. "You're beautiful," she said as she reached back and unfastened her bra, trying not to get tangled up in the weird straps that Elinor said worked better with her dress. Bernie let out a throaty laugh as she reached out and pulled it over her neck and tossed it to the floor. "Hey! That bra cost more than any piece of lingerie that I've ever bought for myself. I need to take care of it!"

"That would be why I didn't wear a bra, darling." Bernie winked at her before leaning in and kissing her softly. It was a reassuring touch, and Serena gave her a dreamy smile as they drifted over to the bed and climbed in. Serena was the first to pull the covers up around her waist as she turned onto her side and watched Bernie's face.

"I probably will never be able to hear why you chose to stay in Kiev longer than you had to. And I don't want you apologizing over and over, trying to get back in my good graces. You're in my heart, and that's all that matters. Because I love you, and I know that you love me, and you've seen me almost naked, which means that I trust you, implicitly. Please, let me know right now, if you're not in this until the end."

Bernie reached up and tugged on a piece of her fringe, giving her a warm smile. "I want to be in this for the long haul, if you'll have me. I was afraid that I might have hurt you too deeply, and I don't want to do any more damage."

Serena gave her a crooked smile as she took hold of Bernie's hand and intertwined their fingers. "I think that's what happens when we love. We are able to damage those closest to us, because we know the places where we can break the easiest. And I knew that I could break you, when I was so angry."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because in the end, love won out. I'm a damn fool, Berenice Wolfe, and my heart oft times gets in the way of my mind. This was harder, of course, because the anger was so great. And then…"

"Yes?"

"And then, I realized that if I destroyed you, if I broke you, I would be breaking my own heart. Because, you see, e e cummings was right. I carried your heart in my heart, and I wanted no other world, because you are my world, beautiful." She was crying again, happy tears once more, and as her vision began to swim, she could almost swear that Bernie was crying, too.

"Oh, Serena, I feel like I carried your heart in my heart, too." Bernie leaned in and gave her a soft kiss, one that she leaned into, and Serena scooted closer to Bernie, draping her arm over her waist as they continued to kiss. There was nothing frenzied about these kisses, and Serena fell in love all the more the more they kissed. "And I know you're going to hate this, but I really am sorry."

Serena hummed a little as she reached up to run her fingers through Bernie's hair. "I know you are. But this time, we're going to fix things, from the foundation up. We're going to build something precious to us. Okay?"
"Okay." Serena gave her a warm smile as she rested her forehead against Bernie's, breathing in deeply as she let her body and mind relax in Bernie's presence. "So, tell me something good about your time alone. Please?"

"All right." Serena racked her brain for the perfect story to share, finally settling on something she thought would make Bernie laugh. "Raf and I almost kissed."

"What?"

"Yeah, that's when we found out I am a dyed in the wool lesbian. Couldn't even go through with it after half a bottle of wine, we were giggling too much. And I told him that I love you. Because I do." She smiled again before kissing Bernie's cheek. "Tell me about Kiev? What made you love it so?"

As Bernie launched into a story, Serena let herself be carried away by the sound of her beloved's voice, feeling so tranquil now that they were together once more.