Chapter 25: Family

Alice Stern awoke with a smile, unable to remember the last time she'd slept so well. She stretched her arms and legs luxuriating in the feel of her nude body against expensive sheets.

The cool air hit her breasts, causing nipples to harden and reminding her of last night's video chat with the lovely Helga.

Her smile only broadened as she recalled the best orgasms she'd had in years. As she rolled onto her back, something poked her in a delicate spot. She reached under her ass and found the little vibrator that had served her well of late.

She went to store it the nightstand when she thought maybe she could come up with a better use for the little device.

She let her mind drift to thoughts of the Scandinavian beauty that had been occupying her mind lately.

She turned on the small, powerful vibrator and placed it against her aching clit. She sighed as she felt the familiar endorphin being released into her bloodstream, adding to the pleasure radiating from her core.

She was a woman who was falling in love again. Forgetting all the minutiae of what it would take to woo the Helga, she focused on the feel of the other woman's generous breasts as they'd pressed against her back. The look of desire in those striking blue eyes as the woman watched Alice come apart.

When she pictured herself squeezed between pale thighs taking her first swipes at Helga's slick womanhood, it pushed her over the top.

She moaned Helga's name as her body shivered through the paroxysms of her self delivered orgasm. She turned off her vibrator just before sleep claimed her once again.

The next time Alice opened her eyes, it was much later in the morning. As she padded into the bathroom, the vintage clawfoot bathtub looked quite inviting. She turned on the copper taps then went to empty a full bladder.

She slipped into the tub and took a moment to luxuriate in the not quite scalding water. She stretched her limbs but found that she felt surprisingly well. She tried to remember the last time she felt this relaxed.

"It was probably after a particularly good night with Henry," she thought with a smile.

She and Henry had always gotten along well in bed. She was thinking of a particularly pleasant evening with her late husband when she wondered what it would be like to have a good night with Helga.

She wasn't ignorant of the basics of lesbian sex, and given her growing certainty about her true sexuality, she'd done some research.

She laughed at herself for labeling masturbating to well made lesbian porn as research. She also knew from experience the vast difference between what one could find on the internet and the real thing.

There was so much more to sex than just the visual stimulation that pornography could offer.

The smell.

The sound.

The taste and the feel of another could be quite intoxicating.

Mentally she'd already decided that it was not if, but when and hoped Helga felt the same. Based on last night, it seemed like tonight would be the when.

The only remaining question was how would things proceed.

Would Helga take the lead?

Alice decided she rather liked the idea of being taken by the statuesque younger woman.

In the end, she decided to let things unfold organically and to enjoy every moment. She slipped under the water wetting her hair in the process.

When she came up out of the water, her eyes drifted down to her body.

"Not bad for an old woman," She though without irony.

She'd inherited some good genes from her mother, who maintained her figure for far longer than most women.

She also knew that she'd passed those genes on to her daughter.

"Lucky Ellen," she thought with a grin.

Then again, Anna was pretty lucky too. Ellen was a beautiful woman, and it ran in the family, Andy was a real stunner then so was Miranda.

Given her current amorous mood, she decided to stop ruminating on how she was in a house surrounded by beautiful women.

As she washed her body, her hand ran through her pubic hair. She had always believed pubic hair was a sign of her womanhood, but given tonight's agenda, a trim couldn't hurt.

She was in New York City, so she imagined she had plenty of options.

"A trim up top and a wax below the equator sounds about right," she thought.

"Maybe I'll ask Miranda."

She could not see the elegant woman ever going for the bald prepubescent look that so many young women seemed to prefer, nor could she imagine the woman sporting an unmanaged jungle of hair either.

By the time she made her way downstairs, the house appeared empty.

She found a note from her daughter telling her that they were going for manicures and pedicures and would be back mid-afternoon. A quick survey of the kitchen revealed a wide variety of pastries and a carafe of hot coffee waiting for her.

She chose a bagel and found several types of cream cheese in the fridge. She sat at the island and took a sip of what turned out to be excellent coffee.

"Not up for the whole mani-pedi scene today," came the voice of one of the twins.

She looked towards the girl and was surprised that she felt confident that this was Caroline Priestly.

"I took your advice last night and ended up sleeping late."

The girl toasted her own bagel, and they sat together at the kitchen island to eat.

"So Helga didn't mind the late-night call?" Caroline asked.

"Are you really going to talk to this girl about your sex life?" Alice asked herself.

She'd been a little dubious of the idea of this instant connection to a house full of women she'd never met, but she could hardly deny her feelings on the subject.

"She was apparently waiting up in anticipation of my call."

"Way to go, Alice," the young woman said, then she held out a fist.

"Oh," she thought, then clenched her hand before bumping fists with the teenaged girl.

"And you, did you and your Rose have a good evening?"

"I like the sound of that.

My Rose.

Yeah, we had a good evening.

Twice."

Alice could not stop herself from laughing at the girl's good-natured cheek.

Remembering the question she was going to ask Miranda, she looked at the girl and thought, "Why not."

"I was wondering if you knew of a good place to get waxed.

Caroline gave her a long look before responding, "Leg, or...?"

"Or," Alice quickly answered.

The girl smiled, then said, "I know a place. I could use a wax myself if you're OK with some company."

Alice brightened before saying," Actually, I'd like that."

Rose Martinez opened and eye and stretched her long arms and legs. A pleasant tingle ran down her spine partly from the simple pleasure of a good stretch after a good night's sleep and partly from fresh memories of watching her girl's pretty face as she came apart the previous evening.

Twice.

Her mind switched from last night to later this evening. Seeing Caroline in the flesh for the first time since the day they'd met sent a fresh thrill up her spine. Despite her words to the contrary, she was unsure if she'd be able to maintain her current stance on waiting for Caroline's eighteenth birthday in a few weeks before they made love for the first time.

Caroline was not a virgin, so her stance seemed a little silly to her at the moment. She believed that this was the real thing, so she was nervous that she would fuck things up. Rose wondered what Car would wear tonight. She figured it would be something designed to test her willpower.

Then she thought of the dress she'd be wearing tonight and realized it might be Caroline who would have a hard time keeping her hands to herself tonight.

When she thought of Caroline's hands on her body, the tingle moved from her spine to a completely different location. As blood flowed south, she felt herself getting slick between her thighs.

She reached into her nightstand and came out with her trusty vibrator. As she turned the device own and found her clit with its rounded head, she realized her feelings for the device had changed. Instead of it being a manifestation of her lack of a love life, now it was her connection to Caroline.

A broad smile broke out on her face as she went to work on her third orgasm in the last six hours.

With the exhalation of her girlfriend's name, Rose came hard then promptly fell back to sleep.

Later in the morning, the Latina sat naked at her small kitchen table, eating a tin of greek yogurt. Her apartment was small, but the benefits of living alone was not having to worry about the sensibilities of roommates when she chose not to wear any clothing, which was often.

Despite the freedom, the small space offered, she thought it might be time for someplace new.

With Caroline's encouragement, she was seriously considering going back to school, so a place closer to Columbia would be ideal.

Not that getting into Columbia was going to be easy. She'd always made good grades, but taking the MCAT was a daunting endeavor.

Worst still, most of her competition would have the resources to pay tutors to prep them for the standardized test. Despite her disadvantage, Rose decided to do what she always did.

Work harder than everyone else.

She showered then picked out an almost non-existent thong. She tossed on a sports bra, but there would be no room for any such undergarment with the dress Amy and May made for her. She could almost picture the look on Car's face when they finally saw each other later tonight.

She slipped on a pair of her old work pants and a polo shirt without the EMS markings. She worked a lot, so until recently, she had little need for non-work related clothing.

That would change if she were going to continue to be invited to events like tonight's dinner. Caroline's world was so different from hers that Rose worried she wouldn't be able to fit in. It was important to her not to embarrass herself or Caroline by saying, or doing, or wearing the wrong thing.

She pulled her long black hair into a ponytail but did not bother with makeup, given that she and Emma had an appointment with real professionals in a few hours.

She hit the subway and was soon ringing the buzzer at Amy and May's design studio slash loft apartment. She was greeted eagerly by the talented couple who were eager to do her final fitting. She stripped down to her underwear like before but got a pointed look from Amy.

"You're not wearing that under our dress," May said, indicating the clunky sports bra.

She got the point, and without hesitation, she lost the sports bra. She had to smile as both women did their best to ignore her suddenly bare breasts.

They failed, but she didn't mind; she liked her body and had no problem with the attention in this case. Besides, her breasts were certainly worth a second glance.

She slipped on the dress, that now fit her better than anything that had ever touched her skin. She checked herself out in the mirror but could not find a bad angle as she turned this way and that.

"This dress is amazing," Rose gushed, causing designer and seamstress to beam back at her.

Wearing this dress made her feel for the first time that maybe just maybe she could fit into Caroline's world after all.

She embraced both women, thanking them profusely for making her feel like a princess for once in her life.

With dress in hand, Rose chose to splurge on a Lyft, not wanting to take her magical dress anywhere near the subway.

Traffic was light, so she ended up reaching the Elias Clark building a little early. She stepped into the lobby of the gleaming tower and was pleased to find a visitor's pass waiting for her at the security desk.

She took the elevator up to the 38th floor and stepped off into wonderland,

She could get used to the beautifully decorated and slickly styled offices that belonged to Runway Magazine. She walked down the main hall, and her eyes were drawn to a row of some of the magazine's most iconic covers.

She smiled when she spotted the January of 2006 cover featuring a very nude and very shapely Scarlett Johansson on the cover. Only Miranda had the stones to put a completely nude actress on the cover of a fashion magazine. At the time, the cover had quite the effect on her; in fact, it was probably the thing that finally allowed her to admit she sexual attraction to a woman.

She blushed when she remembered other things she'd done while admiring Ms. Johansson's shapely ass.

Rose was pulled from those memories when someone asked, "May I help you?"

She turned to see a rather officious looking blonde starring back at her.

The woman gave her a once over before saying, "Deliveries are supposed to be left at the security desk."

Rose was about to tell blondie exactly where she could shove the expensive shoes she was wearing, but she swallowed her words.

This was not her domain, and the last thing she wanted was to do something that would embarrass Caroline's mom, or herself for that matter.

"Here I'll take that," The woman said, reaching for Rose's dress.

Rose physically turned to shield the dress from the annoying woman standing before her.

"Do we have a problem here," a quiet voice spoke, drawing both of their attention.

"Shit," Rose thought, instantly recognizing the newcomer's soft-spoken tone.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Miranda I was just dealing with someone who doesn't belong here."

Rose's hung her head in defeat, despite her best efforts to contain things, the situation had now spiraled out of her control.

Before she could formulate an apology, Miranda approached her, saying, "Rose, dear, so good to see you."

Rose looked up in amazement as Miranda kissed one cheek then the other.

She gave the woman a shy smile as a blush crept up her pretty face.

"As for you," Miranda said, turning towards the woman who'd been harassing her for the last several minutes.

"I believe another six months of diversity training is in your future," Miranda added.

"Yes, Miranda," the woman said before fleeing for her life.

"I believe your first stop is with our hairstylist," Miranda said.

Rose nodded her head, not entirely trusting her voice.

"I'll escort you," Miranda said, offering up an arm.

In a bit of a daze, Rose took Miranda's arm and was led away.

"I hear that Emma helped you to procure a special dress for the occasion."

"Two," Rose responded then told Miranda all about the fledgling design house.

"Well, I look forward to seeing it, though I suppose not as much as Caroline."

With those words, Rose snapped out of her haze and began to open up to Miranda, feeling significantly less intimidated.

They arrived at the designated area, and Rose was once again awed. This time it was finding what looked like a five-star salon within the walls of the world's premier fashion magazine.

"It makes sense," She thought, looking around. She had somehow just pictured something less structured.

"Kyle, this is Rose, Rose, this is Kyle Madden."

"What a gorgeous head of hair," Kyle said, is a pronounced New Zealand accent.

"I was thinking that pinning her hair up might be nice. Expose her elegant neck," Miranda suggested.

Rose could not help the warm feelings she suddenly felt for the woman standing before her.

Miranda turned to the other person in the room and spoke, "For her makeup, I'd like to see her cheekbones highlighted and something to complement those intense eyes."

Rose could not believe that Miranda Priestly was taking the time to decide her hair and makeup. Nor could she believe that Miranda thought her eyes were intense.

Both the makeup artist and the hairstylist gave reverent nods just before Miranda swept from the room.

"Wow," Rose said, having gotten the full Miranda for the first time.

"Wow, indeed, honey. I don't know what you did to get on her good list but color me jealous," Carla said.

Rose wasn't sure either, but Miranda had just made her feel ten feet tall.

Caroline was in Cassidy's room as they put the finishing touches on their outfits for tonight's dinner.

"Damnit," Cass cursed in frustration.

Caroline approached her swatted her hand away before saying, "let me do it,"

She unknotted the blue tie around her sister's throat, took it from around her neck, and shook it out.

She put the tie back in place then tied a perfect single Windsor knot.

"How'd you do that?"

"Watching Dad," Caroline responded.

"After we found out he was sick, I use to get up every morning we stayed with him afraid that he wouldn't wake up.

He'd get ready, and we'd have breakfast together, then he'd tie his tie and put on his jacket.

Do you know what he said when I asked why he always waited until after he ate to finish getting dressed?"

"I'm guessing it was something Mom said." Cass wondered.

"Yeah, that was what I thought, but he told me that it was actually something Andy said. She told him to slow down so he could enjoy the things that mattered."

Cass was silent for a moment, thankful that Andy was in their life.

That they called her Ma, and she thought of them all as her girls.

"She was so good with us before and after Dad died," Caroline added.

"You look good tonight," Caroline said, trying to lighten the mood.

Besides, Cass cut a striking figure in the woman's cut Ralph Lauren suit paired with a french-cuffed shirt, blue silk tie she'd just knotted around her sister's neck.

"The gold blivet* cufflinks are a nice touch."

"They were a gift from Emma," Cass said with a dreamy smile on her face.

Caroline adjusted the belt on her own ensemble. The J Mendel off the shoulder dress with the daring slit up the left side felt like it had been explicitly designed to show off the best parts of her figure.

Which it had been, there were a lot of advantages to being Miranda Priestly's daughter after all.

Both girls made their way into Cass's bathroom so they can do each other's makeup.

"I meant to ask how did it go at the wax place with Alice."

"Judging by her language, I think it was her first time getting her girly bits waxed.

That woman could make a sailor blush," Caroline added with a laugh.

"Then she'll fit in with us nicely," Cass said, also laughing.

"It all looks so nice," Ellen said, looking at a table laid out for twenty or so guests.

Anna had to agree, appreciating all that the Priestly's were doing to make her feel welcomed. Their moment was interrupted as Madeline Elise Priestly breezed into the room.

The little girl looked both women up and down before giving them a huge grin of approval.

Ellen had to laugh at herself when she realized she'd been holding breath while awaiting her granddaughter's judgment.

"You look nice too young lady," Ellen added.

"I know, blue is my color," Madeline said with absolute certainty.

"Don't be so arrogant," Allie said, walking into the room.

"Mom always said it's not arrogant if it's accurate," Madi replied.

Allie rolled her eyes then gave her little sister a tummy tickle. The little girl let out a very unladylike snort of laughter, causing the two adults to laugh along.

When Andy walked into the room, Madeline moved behind her, attempting to fend off her older sister.

"Save me, momma," the girl pleaded dramatically.

"Oh, no, I have a feeling you deserve whatever is coming to you," Andy said, stepping aside.

Seeing no other way out, Maddi ran for it with Allie right on her heels.

"I can't believe how well those two get along," Alice said, shaking her head.

Andy smiled at the retreating forms of both girls then said, "It's like they balance each other somehow."

"Kind of like you and Miranda," Ellen said, joining the conversation.

"Yeah," Andy said, surprised that she hadn't seen it before.

"From the moment I met that girl, it felt like she was a part of me," Andy said, referring to her middle child.

Ellen hugged her daughter feeling bittersweet thinking about her sister and all she'd been through.

"Mom's Home," a dark-haired blur announced as she ran by still being pursued.

Andy shook her head, knowing from experience that her youngest could be deceptively fast.

"Did I hear that mom's home," Caroline said as she and Cassidy descended the stairs.

"Oh, Girls," Andy said, turning to look at her oldest looking all grown up.

Andy could not help herself when she pulled out her phone and took pictures of the twins.

"Mom's suppose to be the sappy one," Cass said with a grin.

"Yeah, Yeah," Andy said, wiping happy tears away from the corners of each eye.

"Why don't we go see if Mom needs a hand," Caroline prompted, pulling her sister away.

"Girls look who I ran into," Miranda said, stepping aside to reveal Emma and Rose.

Miranda could not help her smirk as her twins starred at their respective dates gobsmacked.

"I remember the first time you looked at me that way," Andy said slipping her arm through Miranda's

Miranda turned to her wife before she said," No, you remember the first time you caught me looking at you that way."

Andy threw her head back and laughed.

The End.

AN:

*A blivet is also known as the devil's pitchfork.

It is always bittersweet to bring a story to an end. I really like this incarnation of our favorite ladies, but what I like most is the family they created around them. So I hate to say goodbye to them but the time has finally come. I want to thank all of you who stuck with me all the way to the end. If the inspiration strikes, I can certainly see a short story or two in the future.